“A Prince?”
The two words, heard unexpectedly, caused Cao Zhi to pause before he quickly waved his hand. “My ambition has never been for the position of Prince. I only wish to follow in the footsteps of my father and Master Lu, working together for the nation, benefiting the common people, building an eternal enterprise, and carving everlasting achievements.”
Hmm…
Hearing this, Zheng Xuan’s eyes narrowed, though there was a hint of delight in his gaze.
“Well said, ‘working together for the nation, benefiting the common people.’ However… such achievements cannot be realized by merely being a son of the Prime Minister’s mansion!”
This…
Cao Zhi was taken aback. “But…”
Before his words could be fully spoken, Zheng Xuan’s voice rang out again. “The newspaper controls the discourse of the realm. Do you know, young Master Zijian, why Prime Minister Cao and Lu Ziyu entrusted the newspaper to you?”
Cao Zhi replied frankly, “My father and young Master Lu appreciate my poetry and prose, believing I can be competent in managing the newspaper!”
“Hahaha!” Zheng Xuan laughed. “The Prime Minister and Lu Ziyu not only appreciate your poetry and prose; they have also seen your unrestrained demeanor and magnanimous spirit! Indeed, this newspaper, with its words, can sway public opinion across the land. To hold such a crucial position requires vision and courage, and more importantly, a sincere heart, all of which you, young Master Zijian, possess!”
This…
Cao Zhi was startled. “Mr. Zheng, are you suggesting I contend for the position of Prince?”
“No, that is too audacious. I am a son of a concubine. Even if my elder brother, Ziyou, were to relinquish the position of Prince, my second brother, Zihuan, is the most suitable candidate.”
“Hahaha!” Zheng Xuan was still laughing. “That you, Zijian, can think this way puts my mind at ease.”
“Your father has now pacified the four northern provinces, his might renowned throughout the land. The Son of Heaven of the Han Dynasty willingly lends his assistance to your father. With all this, your father will sooner or later ascend to the supreme position of the Nine-Five. The future Prince may very well be the future Emperor. Facing such temptation, you can still remain composed. Truly, Lu Ziyu has not misjudged you. In the future, only you, Cao Zijian, can guide the discourse of the realm.”
Cao Zhi did not understand why Zheng Xuan spoke in such a manner, his mind filled with questions.
Zheng Xuan, however, patted his shoulder.
“Zijian, many things are not yet clear, but as someone who has walked this path, I hope you will inherit your father’s aspirations and boldness, and not fail Lu Ziyu’s trust and cultivation. Within this newspaper, in the arena of public discourse, achieve something earth-shattering, allowing the world and history to remember the great name of Cao Zijian! As for those things you should not contend for, nor should you think about, let them drift away with the wind…”
“Zijian, remember my words, and you will benefit your entire life!”
Upon saying this…
Zheng Xuan flicked his long sleeves and stood up abruptly. He ceased discussing this topic further, his gaze turning to the Emperor’s article in his hand.
He murmured, “Abolishing the head tax, you say? The Son of Heaven has indeed thought of this matter too simply…”
“However, Zijian… this is an achievement. For thirty years, I, Zheng Xuan, have pondered why the once prosperous Han Dynasty has descended into an age of chaos. But in recent years, I have come to understand that the foundation of the Han Dynasty, its institutions, have long been rotten. Chaos requires radical reform; minor mending is of no avail!”
“Whether it is your father, or the Son of Heaven… or Lu Ziyu, they are the ones enacting this ‘radical reform.’ To save the common people, the traditional, pedantic ways must be discarded. Only by establishing a new system can a new era be ushered in.”
He paused slightly, then looked at Cao Zhi with an even more meaningful gaze.
“Zijian, you are fortunate to live in this era! An era where there is a choice!”
With that, he spoke his final words!
Zheng Xuan raised his head and gazed at the sky. He wondered, in his youth, if someone had dared to undertake ‘radical reform,’ would he have supported them?
Perhaps…
Perhaps he would have!
Perhaps, he would not have!
As for Cao Zhi, he understood some of Mr. Zheng’s words, but much of it remained shrouded in fog.
However…
Cao Zhi was intelligent enough to grasp… Mr. Zheng did not wish for him to contend!
Mr. Zheng did not wish for him to participate in the funeral of this decaying Han Dynasty!
Grasping his wolf-hair brush, Cao Zhi suddenly knew what he had to do!
With a sweep of his wide sleeve…
Scattered across the page, articles denouncing the "head tax" leaped into existence.
…
…
In the Xun mansion, late at night, Xun Yu had just finished bathing. His hair was not yet tied up, but he had already put on his sachets.
It is said, “Lord Xun leaves behind fragrance.” Xun Yu would carry at least three sachets on his person!
Because of this, wherever Xun Yu passed, a lingering fragrance could be detected within ten paces.
Just then…
“My Lord, Imperial Censor Lu Ziyu requests an audience?”
Hmm…
The sudden announcement from the gatekeeper made Xun Yu pause.
He narrowed his eyes. “Have Ziyu wait for me in the main hall for a moment…”
“Yes, sir!”
Beside him, Xun Yu’s wife, Lady Tang, picked up a comb and gently brushed his hair while asking, “So late? This Imperial Censor has actually come! How unusual!”
“Heh… it is indeed unusual.” Xun Yu smiled faintly and turned to look back at his wife.
This daughter of the former Palace Attendant, one of the "Five Marquises" who had committed wicked deeds, Tang Heng… her eyes were filled with tenderness.
Speaking of which…
Xun Yu’s wife, Lady Tang, was originally intended to marry the eldest son of the prestigious Fu family. However, the Fu family did not permit it, which is why Xun Yu was able to marry this daughter of an eunuch. Because of this… in his early years, Xun Yu’s reputation was not good!
This was the only way for the Xun clan to ascend in the officialdom!
In those days, Xun Yu was the one sacrificed by the Xun family…
Of course…
Was his wife not also sacrificed by the Tang family?
“I heard that His Majesty recently traveled incognito along the Ying River to a village called ‘Eagle Tower’!”
As the daughter of an eunuch, Lady Tang naturally had special channels to gather information from the palace!
This caused Xun Yu’s eyes to widen in surprise.
“His Majesty went there!”
He stood up abruptly… quickly tidied his clothes and strode out.
“Husband, why the hurry? Your hair is not yet fully styled!”
Lady Tang spoke…
Xun Yu waved his hand. “I can’t wait any longer. No wonder… Lu Ziyu is departing for Ye City tomorrow, yet he comes to see me tonight. It must be related to His Majesty seeing the ‘Eagle Tower’!”
Upon saying this…
Xun Yu had already exited and was hurrying towards the front hall.
The night was deep.
Lu Yu slowly unfurled a scroll before Xun Yu – it depicted the scene of Emperor Liu Xie seeing the Eagle Tower.
Xun Yu remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the painting.
Infants crying in the darkness!
The tear-streaked faces of the Son of Heaven, the Empress, and the Crown Prince!
And the helpless, white-haired elderly!
After a long while…
Xun Yu finally spoke, “Ziyu, you have presented me with a difficult problem!”
Lu Yu chuckled lightly. “If it were a simple matter, there would be no need to trouble Lord Xun. Indeed, Lord Xun has been influenced by Confucian loyalty to the ruler since childhood. Now, His Majesty intends to do this? Will Lord Xun ‘loyally’ support it, or oppose it?”
Hoo…
Xun Yu exhaled, he caressed the painting, remaining silent for a long time…
After a considerable pause, he suddenly stroked his beard and laughed heartily.
“Since it is His Majesty’s choice, then… I, Xun, shall assist him! It can also be considered… assisting the common people in seeking some well-being!”
“Then, Lu Yu thanks Lord Xun on behalf of the multitude of common people.”
Lu Yu immediately stood up and clasped his hands…
Then… he took his leave!
This visit was effortless for him, both in coming and going. It only left Xun Yu… his shoulders seemed to be pressed down by a thousand jin of weight!
It wasn’t the heaviness…
It was simply the feeling of being suffocated!
Could it be, as the ancient stone tablets foretold – that destiny belongs to Cao?
…
…
The sun had set, and the evening glow was fiery.
Within Ye City, Cao Cao stood in his study at the yamen, pacing back and forth. In his hand, he held a scroll of paper; to be precise, it was not paper, but a newspaper!
As for the articles published therein, one was by Emperor Liu Xie, and the other was by his son, Cao Zhi, also known as Cao Zijian.
And the content, all of it, pointed a finger at the “head tax”!
Beside him, Xi Zhicai narrowed his eyes, his head bowed.
“Prime Minister, this matter is of great consequence!”
Xi Zhicai’s expression was not pleasant. One must know that this seemingly simple abolition of the head tax, in reality, harbored the interests of the aristocratic clans!
In fact, it was quite easy to understand. With the head tax abolished, then what?
How would the Han Dynasty’s treasury be replenished?
Inevitably, local magnates and clans would have to pay substantial taxes. In the current climate, this was a move that would affect the entire situation.
“Hahaha…”
“Hahahahaha!”
On the contrary, Cao Cao let out a long, hearty laugh…
Even a child could figure out that the abolition of the head tax, though authored by His Majesty and Zijian, must have had Yu’er pulling the strings from behind the scenes.
– Abolish the head tax, consolidate the tax base!
This policy, Yu’er had proposed as early as when he, Cao Cao, was implementing the military colonies.
However, for the current Son of Heaven of Han to become the vanguard of such a “reform,” such a “change,” was something Cao Cao had not anticipated.
Yu’er, what a brilliant stratagem!
In fact, this stratagem almost shook the hearts of all the “Han officials,” causing their faith in the Han Dynasty to waver, making them potential targets for Cao’s camp!
Killing two birds with one stone, achieving two objectives with one action!
“Hahaha…”
His unrestrained laughter echoed through the heavens.
Cao Cao saw a drum in the courtyard of the yamen and couldn’t help but stride towards the drum with his imposing gait.
This was the Dengwen drum, where the common people of Ye City would beat it to lodge complaints and petitions. Cao Cao picked up the drumstick and began to strike it.
Everyone who heard the sound gathered around…
Cao Cao, however, remained oblivious and continued to beat the drum as if no one else were there.
The resonant drumbeats echoed throughout Ye City!
“What’s gotten into Father?”
The Second Prince, Cao Pi, and the Third Prince, Cao Zhang, hurriedly asked Xi Zhicai with expressions of concern.
Xi Zhicai smiled faintly.
“The Prime Minister has seen the Fourth Prince’s article! He’s become so exhilarated!”
Hoo…
As these words were spoken, Cao Pi’s and Cao Zhang’s eyes narrowed.
At this juncture, with the eldest brother Cao Ang having withdrawn from the contention for the position of Prince, and with the Fourth Brother Cao Zhi having presented an article that so delighted their father, the implications were profound!
Cao Zhang didn’t think much of it…
Cao Pi’s eyes narrowed into a slit; he felt particularly uneasy.
“Father has never beaten the drum like this before, has he?”
“Heh heh!” Xi Zhicai chuckled. “I never thought the Prime Minister would beat a drum as sonorous as that of Mi Heng!”
…
…
In Jingzhou, at Wolong Ridge, within a thatched cottage, a group of people had gathered around a Go board…
“Zhu Ping, I concede.”
Zhuge Liang placed the last stone. He had won this game.
“Kongming, ever since you resumed your true name, your Go has become increasingly refined… Is it that your mind is now free of distractions?”
The speaker was a young man in his twenties, named Meng Jian, courtesy name Gongwei, from Runan…
Beside him stood Shi Tao, courtesy name Guangyuan, from Yingchuan.
And playing Go against Zhuge Liang was Cui Jun, Cui Zhu Ping, who hailed from Boling in Jizhou. His father, Cui Lie, had served as one of the Nine Ministers, making him a descendant of a prestigious family.
Zhuge Liang, these three, and Xu Shu were close friends in Jingzhou.
Speaking of which…
Jingzhou itself was divided into factions.
The first echelon was the “Jingzhou Upper Clans,” with the most powerful clans being the Cai, Kuai, and Huang families… These three families represented three forces: the Cai family represented the official army of Jingzhou, the Kuai family represented the civil official group of Jingzhou, and the Huang family represented the local army of Jingzhou, that is, the field army, primarily the navy.
The second echelon was the “Jingzhou Middle Clans,” such as the “Pang,” “Ma,” “Xiang,” and “Xi” clans, the local powers of Jingzhou. If one were to go into detail, these were the families of Pang Tong, Ma Liang and Ma Su, Xiang Lang…
The third echelon was the “Migratory Group” of Jingzhou, who were not natives of Jingzhou but had fled to Jingzhou to escape hardship. They had no assets or influence locally.
Sima Hui, Zhuge Liang, Xu Shu, Cui Guangping, Shi Guangyuan, and Meng Gongwei were typical representatives of this group.
Whether it was mutual appreciation or seeking warmth in numbers,
In any case, they were considered the “Jingzhou Lower Clans.”
The Upper and Middle Clans, having assets and influence, naturally saw their talented descendants enter officialdom. However, these Lower Clans, lacking significant influence, could only become reclusive scholars!
Of course…
This reclusive scholar was not necessarily a true hermit; it was a matter of waiting for the right offer!
In addition to these three echelons of clans, Jingzhou also had two families named Liu, Liu Biao and Liu Bei…
Liu Biao was the lord of Jingzhou, but to a certain extent, he was constrained by the Cai and Kuai families!
Liu Bei was an outsider lord. With Liu Biao still in power, he could not attract talents from the Upper and Middle Clans. Therefore, he could only look downwards, scouting for wise individuals among these Jingzhou migratory groups.
And this created the complex situation in Jingzhou…
Despite Zhuge Liang and his friends being “hermits,” they could not help but discuss these matters at all times.
“Zhu Ping seems distracted in today’s game!”
Zhuge Liang looked at Cui Zhu Ping and asked.
Cui Zhu Ping shook his head, hesitating to speak…
“If Zhu Ping has something to say, please speak it. We are all here, and we can discuss it together,” Shi Guangyuan said…
Cui Zhu Ping then took out a newspaper from his怀.
“Look, this is a newspaper brought by merchants from the Central Plains…”
As he spoke, he passed the newspaper out.
Zhuge Liang, Shi Guangyuan, and Meng Gongwei gathered around to examine it closely…
The more they looked, the more they gasped in unison.
“The Son of Heaven actually wrote such an article?”
“Not only the Son of Heaven, but Cao Zijian’s brushwork is also extremely sharp!”
Shi Guangyuan and Meng Gongwei remarked with emotion.
“A well-written and sharp article,” Zhuge Liang’s eyes, however, narrowed tightly. “How is this the article of the Son of Heaven and Cao Zijian? The mastermind behind it is clearly Lu Ziyu and Cao Mengde!”
Hmm…
Everyone was stunned.
Cui Zhu Ping nodded. “Indeed. Without the support of Prime Minister Cao and Lu Ziyu, how could the Son of Heaven take this step? How would Cao Zijian dare to write such an article! It seems that after pacifying the four northern provinces, Lu Ziyu intends to reform the existing systems!”
This…
Shi Guangyuan tapped his forehead. “Kongming, Zhu Ping… what do you think? Is this good or bad?”
“This is reform, much like Shang Yang in the pre-Qin era. This reform is extremely perilous!” Zhuge Liang immediately replied. “However, Lu Ziyu’s brilliance lies in making the Son of Heaven the vanguard. Regardless of the success or failure of the reform, he, Lu Ziyu, and Cao Mengde will have room to maneuver. In the end, the Son of Heaven will be the villain, while Cao Mengde will be the good person. And the most ingenious part of this strategy is that it helps Cao Mengde win the hearts of the scholars and the common people of the realm. This is an open stratagem…”
Whoa…
Zhuge Liang’s analysis caused all three to narrow their eyes.
It was Meng Gongwei who spoke first. “I heard that not long ago, Kongming’s younger brother came here to recruit Kongming on behalf of Lu Ziyu. Why did Kongming not go north to follow Lu Ziyu? Your third brother is doing very well in the Dragon Cavalry Camp. Is Kongming’s talent inferior to your third brother’s?”
Hiss…
This question caused Zhuge Liang to pause, then wave his hand.
“My ambition does not lie there!”
“When Cao Mengde has completely pacified the northern territories, he will inevitably move south. At that time… you three can all serve under him, becoming prefects or governors of a region! In the future, you can also leave your names behind and be renowned in history!”
“Then, what about Kongming? What is your ambition?” Cui Zhu Ping asked Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang paused. In these years, had he been strategizing in Jingzhou merely to become a prefect or governor of a region?
Furthermore, with his younger brother, Jun, in Cao’s camp, regardless of what happened, the Zhuge clan would continue to exist.
Why should he, Zhuge Liang, not emulate the ancient Jia Wenhe and contend with Lu Ziyu!
Regardless of victory or defeat, for Zhuge Liang, it was a sure win.
One’s worth, often, requires strength as backing!
“My ambition… is perhaps to become someone like Guan Zhong or Yue Yi!”
Zhuge Liang declared loudly…
Cui Zhu Ping continued to ask, “Then… recently, Liu Xuande has twice visited your humble dwelling to invite Kongming out of seclusion. Why has Kongming not met him? If Kongming wishes to become another Guan Zhong or Yue Yi, in this world today, perhaps only Liu Xuande can fulfill Kongming’s aspirations!”
This…
Zhuge Liang remained silent, merely shaking his head. After a long pause, he finally said, “It’s not that I refuse to meet him, it’s just that the time is not yet right!”
Indeed…
His coming out of seclusion was not to be a mere strategist, but to be the “strategist” under Liu Xuande, a “strategist” holding great power!
Hoo…
Upon thinking of this, Zhuge Liang softly sighed.
If he could not be a strategist,
In the future, in what capacity would he contend with his younger brother, Jun?
In what capacity would he make Lu Ziyu take his talent, Zhuge Kongming, seriously!
“Kongming ah!” It seemed only Shi Guangyuan understood Zhuge Liang. “In my opinion, you’re not aiming to be another Guan Zhong or Yue Yi; you clearly aspire to be like Jiang Ziya, who restored the Zhou Dynasty for eight hundred years, or Zhang Zifang, who strengthened the Han Dynasty for four hundred years. Two visits to your humble dwelling are not enough! Haha, like Jiang Taigong fishing, those who are willing will be hooked!”
Heh heh…
Hearing this, Zhuge Liang smiled.
“Guangyuan, I misspoke just now. Zhu Ping and Gongwei can become prefects or governors, but your insight is enough to make you a provincial governor!”
Despite smiling…
Zhuge Liang’s expression became much more solemn.
He knew that, in the current situation, joining Cao’s camp, serving under Lu Ziyu, was the best course of action for these dear friends!
These dear friends were, after all, natives of the north. They had come to Jingzhou because of the wars in the north.
Now, Cao Cao had pacified the four northern provinces and abolished the head tax. What wanderer would not miss their hometown?
Not just these dear friends!
Once the northern territories truly abolished the head tax, it was predictable that a large number of refugees would return north.
Lu Ziyu’s strategy was undermining the foundations of the southern regions!
Of course…
Zhuge Liang did not know that, according to historical records, three of his dear friends would defect to Cao Cao, while only Cui Zhu Ping would wander the world, becoming a true hermit!
This is a story for later!
…
…