Shadows of Succession
Jojo fixed me with a piercing gaze, urging me silently to speak my mind. I hesitated, wondering how much of my knowledge to reveal, then opened my mouth.
"A few days ago, I looked at the sky and saw turmoil around the Zimi Palace." (Note: In astronomy, this refers to the imperial palace.)
"If you're facing a major event, you move on solid evidence, not the heavens. Tell me about human affairs, not celestial ones."
I'd tried to brush it off with the excuse of palace unrest in the stars, but he saw right through me. Under Jojo's sharp scrutiny, I had no choice but to touch the Go board again.
"The palace is in turmoil—because His Majesty the Emperor is gravely ill."
I picked a stone smaller than the others and placed it down, representing Emperor Ling's two princes.
"Once His Majesty passes, the chaos will erupt over which of the two princes ascends the throne. Neither has an overwhelming claim to succession."
Stones clustered around the two princes. Black represented the Ten Attendants; white, the imperial relatives. There were more white stones than black.
"Hongnong King Liu Bian has the support of Empress Dowager He and the relatives, while Bohai King Liu Xie has Empress Dowager Dong and the Ten Attendants."
I placed the Go bowl lid between the two clusters of stones. It was too small to cover both groups.
"Two can't sit on one throne. The faction that enthrones the emperor seizes control over life and death for the other side, so those supporting each prince will fight desperately to claim the seat."
"That makes sense. There's no future where both the relatives and eunuchs are satisfied."
I pointed out the fewer black stones to continue.
"The Ten Attendants' power base was granted by the emperor, and while they've filled their coffers, they've made many enemies. Their position is weak. To survive, they'll back Bohai King Liu Xie—someone they can easily influence—over Hongnong King Liu Bian, who has the relatives' support."
When I piled the black stones onto the lid, the white stones were pushed from the board's center.
"Proximity to the emperor is an advantage that can't be ignored. They could intercept his final words before the relatives hear them or seal the palace to prevent interference in selecting the successor."
The displaced white stones then began encircling the black ones. With their numbers, the relatives easily formed a siege net around the Ten Attendants.
"Of course, the relatives won't accept it and will use their military command to block the enthronement. The eunuchs can only fend off the sword with legitimacy, but the brush can't beat the blade—blood will flow."
"In peaceful times, the brush might triumph over the sword, but we're on the brink of chaos."
I removed all but two black stones and lifted several white ones from the board. The lone black stone tried to break through the siege alongside its fellows.
"The crux is at the crossroads. The eunuchs will surely try to spirit away the emperor before they're all slaughtered, and the relatives will block it. If the Ten Attendants and emperor escape, things get complicated; if not, this phase ends."
I couldn't mention forgetting details or badmouthing Yuan Shao, but I'd covered the core Jojo wanted. I swept the remaining stones back into their bowls and tidied up.
Jojo mulled over my words for a long while before asking, "But if His Majesty truly designates Bohai King Liu Xie, won't the relatives be powerless?"
"Even then, the waters will flow to the same place. If the Ten Attendants spread rumors of tampering with the will, who will know the truth or believe them?"
In short, the enemy-ridden Ten Attendants were doomed the moment Emperor Ling died without discovering the elixir of immortality—which even Qin Shi Huang had failed to find. It was a fixed future.
"You want to ensure the crossroads doesn't veer off course. That's why you chose Brother Benchu out of everyone."
"Yes. If possible, I'd like to act preemptively."
For me, Yuan Shao was the best option. Key figures wouldn't listen even if I arranged a meeting; lowly ones might accept my ideas only to have them buried on the way up.
"One more question. Why tell me to stay away from court politics, yet involve yourself?"
"The situation has changed. When I advised you, I thought needless movement would make you a target. But with His Majesty's condition worsening, the clash between factions is about to explode. If we don't act now, the crossroads could shift."
I'd planned to take it slow at first. If I'd known, I wouldn't have advised at all.
"Another reason?"
"Our positions differ. You're a court officer living off the government's rice as a Colonel, while I'm just a commoner without office. Your actions are public; mine are private. If your secret meeting leaks, you face repercussions; mine can be dismissed as a casual encounter."
"If I'd known it was this deep, I would've just set up the meeting and bowed out."
Jojo decided to think alone and ended the meeting. I bowed and left the room.
The next day, Jojo said he'd arrange a meeting with Yuan Shao if I ran an errand for him. Though he couldn't guarantee the timing, the promise of such a meeting was welcome.
"Thank you, Lord Jojo. What is this errand you mentioned?"
"Report back on how the militia recruitment in Chohyeon Castle is progressing."
The request was far from what I'd expected, so I froze upon hearing it. Even rushing, round trip from Luoyang to Chohyeon would take a month—assuming no mishaps and flawless execution. With time running out, it was a tough ask.
Jojo surely knew this, so I asked immediately, "Why entrust this to me instead of a servant?"
He counted off on his fingers.
"First, servants can't handle recruitment, so they're stuck with menial tasks. Any servant would fall short, but you've already raised a militia—you understand the situation better."
His need for someone reporting pure facts made sending me convincing.
"Second, I want to send a gift to my old friend Yeo Baeksa. Better you than a servant."
I hadn't expected that name, one that would sour any relationship. If I'd been smiling, my face would've hardened.
"Third—and this is a bit lame lately, I haven't even seen Brother Benchu's face, so I don't know when he can make time. While you're away, I'll secure a slot with him."
The third point silenced any objection. With Jojo saying it was hard to arrange, I couldn't push with "Please hurry."
"Finally, you don't have anything else to do right now, do you?"
Now, all I could do was rush to Chohyeon and pray nothing happened while I was gone.
"Understood. I'll go run the errand."
"I'll try for the earliest possible date."
I packed for the Luoyang-Chohyeon trip right away. The road was urgent, but I couldn't forget my tasks. First, I delivered Jojo's gift to Yeo Baeksa, then visited my father-in-law recuperating at Mount Song for greetings. Detours to avoid bandits delayed me—half a month after leaving Luoyang, I reached Chohyeon.
I sought Hahou Don first, as he was nearest and eldest.
Learning I'd come, Hahou Don laughed heartily and welcomed me.
"Long time no see, Little Myeong. Too busy last autumn to meet—good to see you now!"
"Lord Jojo sent me on an errand."
"An errand? Why you instead of a servant?"
Hesitating whether to tell the truth, I decided.
"To check on militia recruitment and training."
Normally, I'd hide my purpose, but I'd be training with them—no point pretending sole loyalty to Jojo. Declaring it openly would secure cooperation for a quick return.
Hahou Don nodded, then sighed.
"Good you came. Honestly, it's tough. All the able ones starved or turned bandit; we're left with plow-handed farmers."
Three years ago, Yellow Turban refugees provided good instructors. Now, bandits and remnants had taken them, leaving scraps.
"Lord Wonang, this isn't the time to pick gems from stones. We need to grasp pebbles and carve them into jade. Fill the numbers first—quantity becomes strength."
He stared, then burst into approving laughter.
"You're right! Now I see why Brother Mengde praises you. Fine, I'll show you the pebbles I've gathered."
Hahou Don led me to the recruits.
God is dead. If he exists, I'll kill him—proving the prior statement true. If God existed, he was mocking me, reincarnating me at this ambiguous time and place. And today, he dunked me again.
"What? National mourning?"
While overseeing recruitment, a squat man rushed up with urgent news. E Xin, militia leader from East Yanzhou Commandery.
"I just heard it too."
Details: Emperor Ling had passed, national mourning imminent.
Even imperial couriers couldn't outpace word of the emperor, slowed by proclamations en route. Timing suggested death at least ten days prior.
"Heard who succeeds?"
"Hongnong King ascends."
This matched history. Ten Attendants had tried altering the will; He Jin caught them. Soon Yuan Shao would advise He Jin—my time was short.
Militia looked fine; no reason to linger. I prepared to rush back to Luoyang.
Luoyang was a house of mourning. The self-proclaimed ruler of all under heaven was dead—what else could it be? Wails leaked over the walls, mournful even outside. Inside, houses competed in volume.
Do they wail so for the Han's coffin-maker, Emperor Ling? Is that unrewarded sobbing loyalty or mere insects?
No tears from me confirmed my modern soul. I filled my head with thoughts to suppress a smile and headed to Jojo's residence.
"You returned fast. Right on schedule."
"The situation demanded haste."
Jojo wore mourning white, but worry-free. A loyalist might scold him; my face matched, so no issue.
"Meeting with Brother Benchu in ten days. Chaos delayed it a bit."
"No problem. Fulfilling such a tough request is enough."
I didn't recall exactly, but soon some Ten Attendants would die. Arranging within ten days amid that? Jojo was impressive.