The Blood of Political Strife Does Not Stain
It wasn’t long before a major incident shook Xuchang.
“Your Majesty, your subject, Minister of Works Cao Cao, hereby submits a petition to interrogate the traitors in this very hall.”
“Minister of Works, this is…”
“The recent uprising by the White Wave Bandits and Yuan Shu could not have happened without collaborators inside Xudu. I beg Your Majesty to grant me, by imperial decree, the authority to investigate them.”
Cao Cao’s bold petition sent the entire court into a buzz. Several officials trembled visibly.
“So… be it.”
The young emperor had no choice but to yield before Cao Cao’s overwhelming momentum.
As the court session ended and we filed out, a familiar voice called to me.
“Ziye.”
“Grand Tutor, sir.”
Cao Song approached with his usual kindly smile, laughing heartily.
“Zisu has gone to Luoyang on some other errand for me. Would you escort this old man home?”
“It would be my honor.”
Cao Song was nearing seventy. By the standards of the time he was truly elderly, and whispers had already begun that he should retire unless the emperor bestowed upon him the ceremonial staff of honor.
“It seems Aman is about to do something big again. He means to sweep away everyone connected to the Yuan faction from within.”
Even a rotten fish still has its uses. Though he had once bought his way into high office with bribes, Cao Song still understood the currents of the court better than most. As we left the palace, a carriage waited. He gestured for me to ride with him.
“You have been more active than my eldest grandson Zisu lately. I knew you would be the one to step forward this time.”
“Are you speaking of the… purge, sir?”
“Indeed. And it seems Aman truly cherishes you. He has kept you away from the blood that must be spilled in factional strife. Magistrate Man Chong of Xu County will handle that dirty work.”
“Grand-uncle, then does that mean Zisu’s trip to Luoyang was also…”
Cao Song merely smiled without answering.
Cao Cao was preparing a full-scale purge, yet both his eldest son Cao Ang and I had been deliberately excluded. If it truly was the consideration Cao Song described, then it was Cao Cao’s way of protecting us.
“Grand-uncle, but won’t many innocent people suffer as well? Shouldn’t we prevent that?”
“Who? Me? And why should I?”
“If word gets out, it could tarnish the family’s reputation…”
“If they are truly innocent, they will come knocking on my door carrying heavy gifts. Haven’t the storehouses of those who arrived penniless from Chang’an begun to fill lately? Hehehe—”
Ah, Elder Cao Song…
“Aaaargh! Graaah!”
Inside the Court of Judicial Review, which oversaw prisons and punishments, all manner of screams echoed.
Both civil and military officials had already been dragged in. Several were being tortured within.
“Unhand me! What crime have I committed?”
“Whether you have committed a crime or not will be determined by the Court of Judicial Review.”
“The Court of Judicial Review? Are you calling me a traitor?”
“That too will be verified!”
Another official was hauled past me and thrown inside.
I was only passing by on my way home, yet the sight made me frown deeply. Were there really Yuan Shu’s spies among them?
“Those with any connection to Yuan Shu are being prioritized. They will drag one another down in chains.”
“Ah, Master Xun You!”
I turned to see Xun You greeting me with a smile. Even after hearing the screams from the prison, he remained perfectly composed. Thanks to that, we were able to walk together and talk.
“The White Wave leaders Yang Feng and Han Xian, along with Inspector of Henei Zhang Yang, have all thrown in their lot with Yuan Shu and are eyeing Xuchang. Moreover, because of the Yuan clan’s long-standing prestige as a family that produced three generations of the Three Excellencies, everyone in Hebei who opposes Yuan Shao can be considered aligned with Yuan Shu—except for our lord.”
“But weren’t those men the ones who came to the court out of pure loyalty after Chang’an?”
“Loyalty may have brought them here, but there are still those who look toward the various warlords surrounding Xudu rather than our lord.”
Xun You spoke as if the post-war purge was the most natural thing in the world, fully endorsing Cao Cao’s actions.
“Once we clean house this time, no local official near Xudu will dare oppose the Minister of Works in the future.”
In other words, he intended to turn every influential minister in the central government into a staunch Cao faction member. The Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu factions would be reduced to powerless remnants confined to the provinces, unable to set foot in the capital.
“The glory of the Four Generations and Three Excellencies will end in this fourth generation. They will kneel before the court.”
Having said his piece, Xun You quietly bowed and turned toward his own residence.
When I returned home, loud voices rang from the main hall.
“My lord, this cannot be allowed. No matter what, he is a senior minister who has served as both Director of the Secretariat and Minister of the Masses.”
“Then Man Chong will interrogate him properly.”
“How can you throw a minister who has risen to the post of Prefect of the Secretariat into the Court of Judicial Review?”
It was Xun Yu and Cao Cao. They were talking about imprisoning the Prefect of the Secretariat?
That had to be Yang Biao.
He was one of the loyal subjects who, together with General of the Rear Dong Cheng, had risked everything to escort the emperor from Chang’an to Luoyang. And now they meant to arrest even him for questioning? The entire Secretariat must be in an uproar.
Curious, I announced myself.
“Uncle, it is Ziye.”
“Enter.”
When I stepped inside, Cao Cao motioned for me to sit and ordered tea brought out. Xun Yu greeted me with a nod before turning back to Cao Cao with earnest pleading.
“My lord, anyone else perhaps, but not the Prefect of the Secretariat. That man risked his life to escape Chang’an for His Majesty’s sake. He is a true loyal subject.”
“Yet his wife happens to be Yuan Shu’s younger sister. There can be no clearer evidence than that.”
So Yang Biao’s wife was Yuan Shu’s sister. They were related by marriage, which gave Cao Cao an open excuse to strike at the head of the Secretariat. In this era, it was rare to find any high official or powerful clan that had not become intertwined through such marital alliances.
“Why spill unnecessary blood? Even without this, the greatest power within Xudu already supports you, my lord.”
“Not the greatest power. I want total support. And who knows? Perhaps a letter Yuan Shu sent to his sister will turn up in the Prefect’s house.”
“If that is the case, then at least place him under house arrest rather than in the Court of Judicial Review.”
“Xun Yu, you really are an upright scholar. Quite the opposite of your nephew Xun You, who told me to strike down anyone who opposes me.”
“I am not the same as my nephew.”
The principled Xun Yu and the pragmatic Xun You. One protested against imprisoning a senior minister in the Court of Judicial Review, while the other supported using this opportunity to purge every Yuan-connected official from the capital.
“Ziye!”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“Go home and have a drink.”
I had simply been listening, yet after the tea was served Cao Cao suddenly told me to go drink. His tone made it clear he did not want me involved in this matter.
“The Wei Merchant Group recently brought in dried abalone from the Yangtze. Tell your wife and she will prepare a fine table for you.”
Cao Cao’s words carried an unmistakable message: do not concern yourself with this, do not even mention it.
“Understood.”
Further eavesdropping would only mean hearing Xun Yu’s continued attempts to dissuade him and Cao Cao’s firm refusals. I bowed and left.
“I really don’t understand any of this.”
I had been kept away from court politics. And just as Cao Song had said, “The blood of political strife will not stain Ziye or Zisu.” There was nothing to do but obey.
I left the main hall and headed toward my own separate residence. The servants were bustling about.
“Ah, my lord. You have returned?”
“What is happening inside?”
“The mistress has called all the female servants in.”
“?”
The male servants were all outside while only the women had been summoned. When I entered, I caught voices from the inner chamber.
“The cramps are terribly painful.”
“Here, drink this tea. It will warm your lower abdomen and ease the pain a little.”
“It happens like this once every month…”
Cai Yan was in great discomfort. From the conversation and the fact that only female servants had been called, I immediately understood. It was that time.
“Ahem!”
I deliberately cleared my throat outside. A reaction came from within.
“My lord, you have returned?”
“Husband, I am sorry. This humble wife is not well enough to greet you properly.”
“I understand the situation.”
This was ancient custom, shared by both East and West. During a woman’s monthly cycle, contact with her husband was forbidden. She was not to handle food ingredients lest she bring impurity, and of course sharing the bed was out of the question. Only after the period ended and she had bathed thoroughly could relations resume.
“I am truly sorry. We will have to sleep separately for a while. I will have the servants bring your meals to you.”
“No need. I will eat out and return later.”
“Very well. I will keep that in mind.”
I could not drink at home. It seemed I would have to visit the Wei Merchant Group after all.
“Dried abalone dish…”
“The Minister of Works is particularly fond of abalone, so our merchant group offers it to him regularly. It is made from precious ingredients. Please enjoy it to your heart’s content.”
The courtesan house run by Wei Hong that had once stood in Qiao County of Yan Province had moved to Xuchang. It now occupied an even larger and more splendid building right beside the Wei Merchant Group headquarters. Countless high officials and powerful clans frequented the place, yet their absolute loyalty remained with Cao Cao.
“Just transporting this from the sea all the way here must have been incredibly expensive…”
Wei Hong answered with a smile instead of words.
“Then I shall call the courtesans. Please relax and enjoy yourself.”
After Wei Hong withdrew, I sat alone tapping chopsticks on the table when two welcome faces appeared.
“Young master, you came?”
“It is good to see you both again.”
One was Huayan, with whom I had formed a connection back in Qiao County. The other was Dayuan, the woman from the distant Western Regions.
“I heard from the mistress a few days ago. It is that time of the month for her…”
“That is part of it. Uncle also told me to go drink without saying anything.”
At the mention of Cao Cao’s name, both women’s eyes flickered for a moment before they calmly attended to me once more. For the time being, I decided to simply stay here like this.
The two courtesans pressed themselves even more closely against my sides, their bodies warm and inviting.