The night had grown deep. Han Ruzi quietly sat up, tilting his ear to listen. He could faintly hear Zhang Youcai’s breathing from the outer room and Ni Qiu’s light snoring. He put on his indoor slippers, draped on an outer garment, and quietly pushed open his bedroom door. After standing still for a moment, he tiptoed toward the main entrance.
He gently pushed the door, about to apply more force, when suddenly a cough sounded from outside. Han Ruzi was startled, then helplessly shook his head. He simply stopped trying to conceal himself and pushed the door open.
Pengcheng was heavily guarded, with a circle of guards standing beneath the corridors. What Han Ruzi was concerned about was not them, but a eunuch at the entrance.
Chief Overseer Liu Jie bowed and said, “Your Majesty is not sleeping in the deep of night. Has something disturbed you?”
Liu Jie was experienced and guessed that the Emperor might want to visit the female guard, so he had personally stood watch outside for most of the night.
“Have assassins been found in the city?”
“No, from what we can tell so far, there was only Meng E.”
“Meng E is not an assassin,” Han Ruzi said with certainty.
Liu Jie sighed softly. “Meng E may not be an assassin, but Your Majesty should still not trust her so completely.”
“We cannot trust her?”“Your Majesty cannot trust anyone.”
“Including you?”
“Including me.”
Han Ruzi understood Liu Jie’s character, so he was not angry, only felt it strange. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Please come inside to speak, Lord Liu.”
“Dawn has not yet broken. Your Majesty should rest more.”
“Since We are already awake, sleeping more would be useless.” Han Ruzi turned and went back into the room. Liu Jie hesitated for a moment, then stepped inside to follow.
Liu Jie had personally supervised the eunuchs in arranging the room, so he was very familiar with the furnishings. He walked to the table in a few steps and skillfully lit a candle. The bronze candlestick was a gift from the Marquis of Luoyang’s residence, shaped like three court ladies raising their hands to hold up a small round plate. It was lifelike and quite exquisite. The candle was also a gift, emitting a clear fragrance when lit.
The palace had all these things, but the Emperor had departed too hastily, and Liu Jie had no time to bring them along, so he had to take some from Luoyang.
Zhang Youcai, who had been sleeping, was awakened by the candlelight. He lifted his head to look, immediately sat up, and prepared to serve the Emperor.
Han Ruzi waved his hand, letting Zhang Youcai continue sleeping.
Ni Qiu turned over, facing away from the candlelight, and continued sleeping soundly.
Han Ruzi sat down and gestured for Liu Jie to sit as well, but the Chief Overseer strictly observed protocol and respectfully stood to one side.
“If the Emperor cannot trust anyone, wouldn’t he truly become a lonely man?”
“Your Majesty, the Emperor trusts no one, but also doubts no one. Neither trusting nor suspecting, punishing when there is guilt and rewarding when deserved—everything clear and transparent, never letting outsiders guess.”
Han Ruzi fell silent again for a while. “The Martial Emperor killed pugilists throughout the realm based on mere suspicion. Does Lord Liu hope We will do the same?”
Liu Jie bowed deeply. “The Martial Emperor often said that in benevolence and righteousness, the Emperor cannot compare to sages; in eloquence, the Emperor cannot compare to diplomats; in martial prowess, the Emperor cannot compare to generals; in intelligence, the Emperor cannot compare to civil officials. The Emperor can stand above all people for two reasons: first, by relying on ancestral merit and virtue, and second, by relying on decisive judgment. All great matters under Heaven are decided by the Emperor alone—either with complete trust or distrust, or with immediate decisive action. He must never be ambiguous and allow the people under Heaven to harbor suspicions. Regardless of the reason, once the Martial Emperor decided to execute the pugilists, he showed no mercy. The Martial Emperor hoped not only to inherit ancestral merit and virtue, but also to establish a foundation for ten thousand generations for his descendants.”
Liu Jie clearly regarded the Martial Emperor as the model of emperorship, worshipping him to the extreme. By the end of his speech, his voice was trembling slightly.
“A foundation for ten thousand generations.” Han Ruzi revealed a slight smile. He too revered the Martial Emperor, but had different thoughts about how to be an emperor. “Does Great Chu still look like it has a foundation for ten thousand generations?”
Liu Jie said seriously, “Great Chu does have internal troubles and external threats, but once Your Majesty ascended the throne, you had soldiers and generals under your command, grain in the granaries, horses in the stables. When your edicts are issued, all under Heaven respond. The ministers may be cunning and cowardly, but they are also respectful and obedient, not adding troubles for Your Majesty. Your Majesty should consider—what would it be like if there were several more ministers in court who loved to meddle in affairs?”
Han Ruzi said nothing. If the court ministers dared to think and act boldly, he might have become a true emperor from the beginning, but he could also have become a sacrifice in various power struggles. Most crucially, no matter who became emperor, they would become a puppet of the ministers due to their youth.
“The Martial Emperor left behind a sharp weapon that may have developed some rust, but Your Majesty need only polish it from time to time, and it will eventually reveal the appearance of the Son of Heaven’s sword, sweeping across the realm, invincible and unstoppable.”
Han Ruzi’s heart stirred, though his face remained expressionless. “A foundation for ten thousand generations… decisive when action is needed… Lord Liu, you may withdraw.”
Liu Jie quietly withdrew from the room.
Han Ruzi sat for a while, then reached out to extinguish the candle. The surroundings suddenly darkened, so black he couldn’t see his hand in front of his face. Ni Qiu’s snoring continued without pause, and Zhang Youcai rustled as if about to get up again. Han Ruzi said softly, “Sleep. I’ll sit for a while.”
Zhang Youcai fell silent.
From outside came the sound of a zither, with passionate and generous tones, clearly played at Liu Jie’s instruction.
Han Ruzi discerned some of the zither’s meaning, but was not deeply moved—far less than by that tune which sounded quite plain to outsiders, the “Empty Sound Melody.”
Before long, the sky began to brighten and the qin music stopped. Zhang Youcai immediately got out of bed, woke Ni Qiu, and together they attended to the Emperor’s dressing and washing.
Han Ruzi called Liu Jie in. “The Capital said they would send the four Xiongnu envoys to the army. Go ask if they’ve arrived yet. If they have, bring them to see Us.”
Liu Jie moved swiftly. Just as Han Ruzi finished eating, he had already brought the Xiongnu envoys and left them waiting outside for the Emperor to summon them after his meal.
The four Xiongnu envoys knelt on the ground, one of whom was Jin Chunzhong.
“Jin Chunzhong, We hear you want to return to the grasslands?”
Among the four, only Jin Chunzhong could speak the Central Plains language. He replied, “Yes, Your Majesty. Most of the envoys have already set out on their return journey. We four were ordered to come see Your Majesty.”
“The Great Chanyu no longer wants to negotiate?”
“The Great Chanyu’s orders were to wait until spring. If Great Chu shows no intention of negotiating, the envoys need not wait any longer.”
“The negotiations have not ended. Jin Chunzhong, in a moment We will dispatch Great Chu envoys who will travel with you, returning together to the steppes to continue discussions.”
“Your Majesty, I am a subject of Great Chu and wish to remain. I do not wish to return to the grasslands.” Jin Chunzhong had expressed this intention before and now insisted upon it.
“After successful negotiations, you will have your choice. Now is not the time. You must depart before noon, riding hard without delay.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Jin Chunzhong could only kowtow in gratitude.
During the morning court session, Grand General Cui Hong expressed the common view he shared with the military officers: the former guard Meng E was highly suspicious. Even if she was not an assassin, she was trying to draw away the Chu army to reduce pressure on the rebel forces. However, the Xiongnu could not be left unguarded, so he suggested launching the attack against the rebels earlier—changing from ten days later to seven days later. Once Linzi City was captured, half the forces would immediately be sent north, while the remaining soldiers would clean up the battlefield.
This was an extremely prudent plan.
Han Ruzi agreed, then said: “The Xiongnu remain a great threat, but war should be delayed rather than rushed. We wish to send an envoy to negotiate with the Great Chanyu to stabilize the situation. Which of you ministers is willing to go?”
No one spoke up. Although this was an opportunity to display loyalty and curry favor with the Emperor, their lives were still more important. Everyone understood this was not genuine negotiation, but merely a deception of the Xiongnu. Once Great Chu launched its military campaign, the envoy would be the first to lose his head.
Han Ruzi waited a moment, then said to Vice Minister of Revenue Liu Zeqin: “Vice Minister Liu is as trusted Our very own hand. No one but you can undertake this mission to the Xiongnu.”
“Your Majesty…” Liu Zeqin fell to his knees with a thud, never having imagined he was so highly regarded, but truly not wanting to go. His voice carried a tearful tone.
Han Ruzi gave him no chance to object: “Depart before noon. You may now go select your accompanying personnel and draft a letter for Us, stating that We are touring the realm and will soon lead Our forces to the border to drink together with the Great Chanyu on the steppes.”
Liu Zeqin dared not oppose him directly and could only withdraw to prepare for the mission to the Xiongnu.
Throughout the morning, people continuously came to persuade the Emperor to rescind his order or send a less important minister to the steppes instead. Even Zhang Youcai made such a suggestion, receiving Han Ruzi’s rebuke and retreating awkwardly.
Before noon, Liu Zeqin and the four Xiongnu envoys took their leave of the Emperor, leading fifty attendants as they hastily set out. Han Ruzi also dispatched five hundred soldiers to escort them for dozens of miles, supervising their non-stop journey northward.
When the envoys had traveled far enough, Han Ruzi summoned Grand General Cui Hong and Chief Overseer Liu Jie, dictating an imperial edict to be sent urgently back to the Capital. He ordered the Southern Army to deploy fifty thousand men who, together with all the palace guards remaining in the Capital, would proceed to Divine Hero Pass. There they would follow the commands of Marquis Piyuan Zhang Yin, deploying to different passes. The Northern Army would also deploy fifty thousand men, proceeding directly to Mayi City.
“The rebels cannot be allowed to remain. We trouble the Grand General to lead the three Chu armies to quickly pacify the Qi rebellion. We will personally go to Mayi City and absolutely will not allow the Xiongnu to advance south.”
Han Ruzi chose to believe Meng E and was prepared to take immediate action.
[1] The Fengshan ceremony was the most prestigious and important rite that the Emperor performed to pay homage to Heaven and Earth.
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