One Step Higher
"What? You're telling me to swallow this humiliating lineage adoption without a word of protest? You dare say that to my face?"
Yuan Tan glared at Guo Tu with murder in his eyes and bellowed, as if he might rip the sword from his belt that very instant.
"And whose fault is this disaster? Why did you have to scrape His Lordship's temper raw and bring this horror down on us?"
"Administrator Guo! At the council in the provincial hall, you were the one who urged me to strike first and press the attack! You even added that you'd back me to the hilt! And now you've changed your story?"
At that shallow shifting of blame—Yuan Tan dumping every one of his own bitter blunders onto a subordinate—Guo Tu let out a heavy sigh that seemed to boil up from the pit of his stomach.
"That sigh... you're admitting the scheme you devised was wrong?"
"Colonel Yuan. However splendid the righteous cause, however meticulous the plan, the foundation of politics is reading Heaven's timing and the mood of the man before you. When you first spoke of lineage adoption, did you not see His Lordship's face go cold? You should have withdrawn a step at once."
Guo Tu poured the counsel out coldly, addressing a Yuan Tan who could not grasp the ruthless logic of the political board.
"It was counsel the eldest son had weighed and offered in the provincial hall, with dozens of civil and military officials looking on. His Lordship could not dismiss it outright without losing face, and he must have been turning the matter over in deadly earnest. Yet you failed to read that delicate air. You kept pressing him—and worse, you had the presumption to advise him, to his very face, to have Young Master Mai adopted in your stead. His Lordship took that as a command laid upon him. That is why he is furious. It was no loyal remonstrance from an eldest son. It was an arrogant challenge hurled straight at His Lordship's sovereign authority."
He laid out the principles of politics as if soothing a child, and with no warmth at all.
Yuan Tan was a fierce general, gifted with superb martial skill and the power to command, but that his political judgment could be this wretched and this dull was something even Guo Tu had failed to foresee. Only then did the face that had been flushed and roaring harden, as if someone had struck Yuan Tan across the back of the head. He understood at last, and with bitter clarity, what those pledges of support had actually meant. When Guo Tu and the many officials swore they would back him with vigor, they had meant they would lend their weight if Yuan Shao showed a willingness to raise the matter in good humor and open it to public discussion—not that Yuan Tan should hurl vehement remonstrance at Yuan Shao himself.
"......You're truly saying this cannot be undone?"
"A compromise has already been struck with Biejia Feng. Army Supervisor Ju and Registrar Xu have agreed to that practical course as well. If you dig in your heels here and reject even this settlement, His Lordship will fly into a rage and strip you of every shred of military authority on the spot."
"Biejia Feng dares...? You're telling me he would make an enemy of me for years to come, just to commit a high-handed act like that?"
"Hah. Biejia Feng is quick to read a room, and he likes to get along with everyone. Do you imagine he wanted to wade into this blood-spattered struggle for power inside the Yuan clan? His Lordship's orders were iron, so he was forced to take the burden on. Do not hate Biejia Feng. A day will come when you need his strength."
"......"
Yuan Tan lost the words to argue and only heaved rough, beastlike breaths.
"Colonel Yuan. For now, bow your head, hold your breath, and wait. You must watch for the next opening."
"An opening... do I even have anything like that left?"
"Endure, and wait, and the time will surely come. His Lordship's health is not what it was. He is worse than when we were in Luoyang. If he falls gravely ill and can no longer oversee the government, the officials will look to you, Colonel Yuan, rather than to a young third son. Plant their trust in you against that day. That is what I mean."
The moment Guo Tu invoked even the health of Yuan Shao, the hegemon who commanded Jizhou, a fierce anger flared in Yuan Tan's eyes. But that thin anger vanished before a vast ambition, as futile as a spark. In this age of chaos spinning into madness, Yuan Shao already wielded power none could oppose, little different from a king of Jizhou, and Yuan Tan was a greedy man who would do anything to inherit that throne and command Jizhou himself.
"And, Colonel Yuan."
"What ill tidings are left?"
"The Third Young Master... from the first month of the coming year, he will formally take a seat at the council in the provincial hall. His Lordship has set his mind on placing him in the grave office of Acting Sima."
Yuan Tan drove his fist down with beastlike strength. The solid desk shrieked, split down the middle, and burst apart.
It was a truly dreadful violence, and a dreadful spirit.
In raw force, at least, he is a general of rare caliber.
Guo Tu looked down at the shattered desk and swallowed a bitter sigh. Had even half of Third Young Master Yuan Shang's keen political insight been mixed into that overwhelming martial power, Jizhou would without question have belonged to Yuan Tan. Heaven was impartial, and merciless for it.
"From this day, conduct yourself with caution, and with caution again. When battle breaks out, be the first to volunteer. Stand in the vanguard, drench yourself in blood, and win merit. Raise military achievements so overwhelming that every official in Jizhou must look up to you, and become a giant the Third Young Master, sitting in his chamber, cannot even approach. There is no other way to surpass him. Do not let the throne His Lordship sits upon be taken from you."
"......I understand. I will climb out of this bone-deep humiliation and this crisis by my own strength. I won't let that uncanny little whelp, still reeking of milk, steal everything that belongs to me as the eldest son."
Guo Tu had used the impious word throne to set a fierce fire under Yuan Tan's ambition. At this rate Yuan Shang would become Yuan Shao's successor, and Yuan Tan and Guo Tu had been driven that far into desperation. So Guo Tu flung dry kindling onto Yuan Tan's chest, that the flame of ambition might blaze.
Yuan Tan ground his teeth like a beast as he trampled the splinters of the shattered desk. Not long ago he had thought of Yuan Shang as nothing more than a clever, endearing youngest brother. But the moment absolute power blurred before his eyes, those bloodshot pupils marked the boy as an enemy he had to surpass.
"Father!"
I had been reading when I shot to my feet and ran to throw myself into my father's broad embrace. He stroked my hair with the warmest, most contented gaze in the world. Then his robes stirred as he settled with dignity in the seat of honor, and I went before him, knees together, and sat with all due respect.
"Our Shang is already reading the difficult Book of Rites?"
"Fortunately your son is not dull, and I have been diligently taking it in. But my learning is still shallow, and I am far from able to hold the deeper meaning between the lines."
"Modest brat."
As if amused, Father picked out several thorny passages and questioned me sharply. I recited them without a stumble and unfolded their meaning according to principle. At that perfect memory and exact interpretation, wonder and admiration kindled in his eyes.
"Shang'er."
"Yes, Father."
In an instant the affectionate voice sank low. I straightened my back and drew every nerve taut. He was a father who loved me without limit, but the words about to leave those lips would be the stern counsel of the Inspector of Jizhou, the man who commanded the province. Whenever he spoke of public affairs, he always lowered his voice.
"As I hinted when we spoke alone last time, from the first month of next year you will hold the seal of Acting Sima and formally take your seat at the council in the provincial hall."
"Yes, Father."
"And... as for the heir who will continue your uncle's line, I have resolved to adopt the eldest, Tan. It has not yet been formally proclaimed in the hall, but what remains is mere procedure."
"I will give my utmost to the duty I have been given."
I brought my hands together and offered thanks with the greatest respect and courtesy I could muster, letting an unshaken resolve show through. How precisely that fierce determination would reach him, I could not know. I only wanted to show my will in silence, so I might answer in full the expectations of the father who had trusted me and laid so extraordinary a board.
"Yes. A man ought to have at least that much spirit."
He offered the praise, then kept a heavy silence for a long while. A faint shadow had settled over his face, so I did not rashly open my mouth. I even guarded my breath, and watched.
"A clever boy like you has already guessed it. A great many civil and military officials of Jizhou are watching you with uneasy eyes, and if you commit a blunder they will bare their teeth and tear. Most of them do acknowledge, in their hearts, your sharp insight and your ability. That is why I could set this fierce opposition aside and lay the heavy office of Acting Sima on you. But... the jealous stares that say you shoved a perfectly sound eldest brother to the cliff's edge and seized his place will keep tightening around your throat, so long as you attend the council as Acting Sima."
His worry was not finished, so I kept my mouth firmly shut and listened to the cold counsel.
"They will recommend difficult tasks, meaning to test you. Not safe civil work that asks only for a clever head, I expect, but rough martial duties where you must see blood and stake your life—work meant to drive you onto killing ground. I am not telling you to take up a blade and fight yourself. Even so, you will have to show some ability in that quarter as well. Considering that you will soon be thirteen, it is a truly cruel and heartless thing... If you mean to draw the stipend of an Acting Sima and stand as this father's firm successor, you must prove an overwhelming ability with your own hands. At first it will be very painful, and very hard. Simply taking the field is hard. But if you endure it and complete the tasks, the eyes that look on you with hostility will, in the end, turn to eyes full of favor."
For an instant a heart-wrenching pity passed across his steadfast face. He must have thought the weight of power a young son would have to bear alone was far too harsh, and far too heavy. Father and many civil and military officials would help, of course, but far more of it I would have to cut through myself. That was what he feared.
"Shang'er. If that burden grows too heavy, too hard to bear... tell this father honestly, whenever you wish. There is no need to rush. You may take the long way around."
It was the worry of an ordinary, warm father who loved his son without limit, the cold face of a man of power cast aside. To protect that warmth, I gathered my reason all the colder, and all the firmer.
"Father. Whatever task is given me, I will carry it out willingly. I am of the Yuan blood. How could I walk only the easy road?"
"Truly... will you really be all right?"
"Yes. I will see to it that not a single flaw, not a single disgrace, touches the brilliant renown of my father, Inspector of Jizhou. The world is full of remarkable talents who grow old and die in vain in the wilderness, never even granted a chance to use their ability. Your son, young as I am, has been given boundless opportunity upon the board you opened for me. I count that a fortune bestowed by Heaven. I will bring every task to perfect success, and shut the mouths of those who slander and envy me from behind. And in the end... I will make every one of them support me."
"Hahaha! Good! If you're of my blood, you ought to have that much nerve, and a streak of venom!"
Father burst into hearty laughter, as if the deep worry pressing on him had been washed away. It was certainly not the laugh of a man merely charmed by a youngest son's boastful daring. It was the joy of a father, and of Jizhou's absolute ruler, who longed more eagerly and more desperately than anyone for the brilliance stored in my head to leave this narrow residence at last and shine, overwhelmingly, in the real contest.
After he turned his back and left the room, I trembled for a moment with an elation that surged up from deep in my chest. To rise to Acting Sima in the Inspectorate of Jizhou at so young an age, and to have every eye in the province fixed on me—it was truly glad, and thrilling. If my heart was pounding this hard, then I had never been fated to shut myself in a back room and live quietly.
I pressed the heat of that mood down with cold reason and drew the desk close. Taking up a brush soaked deep in black ink, I stilled even my breath and wrote a letter with the greatest care. Recalling the brilliant eyes of a man I had happened to meet in Luoyang the year before, I laid all my sincerity, and all my effort, into every character.
"Please... he has to answer this earnest invitation of mine."
In all honesty, it was half expectation and half dread. If I reckoned the odds coldly, the chance of refusal was far greater. Even so, I hoped with all my heart that he would take my hand. With an unwavering hand I folded the letter neatly and slid it deep into the envelope.
"Hui."
"Yes, Young Master."
The firmly shut door opened, and Li Hui entered quietly and bowed with due respect.
"You will have a long road to travel. The destination is Yingchuan Commandery in Yuzhou. Speak my name to Cavalry Commandant Zhao, and he will readily give you ample swift Jizhou cavalry. You must see the man in person and deliver this letter with the fullest courtesy. His name and residence are written precisely on the face of the envelope."
"By your command. I will deliver it without mishap and return."
Li Hui answered shortly, in a voice heavy and loyal. I gave my man a warm smile and went on.
"There will be a great many things we must cut through together from now on. I, too, will formally take a seat at the council in the provincial hall from early next year, in the capacity of Acting Sima."
"My sincere congratulations, Young Master."
Li Hui offered another deep bow, his posture hard as rock. In all the time he had guarded me like a shadow, he had never once shown a disordered or careless face. He was a guardsman loyal by nature. When my station rose higher still, I would raise Li Hui with it. He had already shown loyalty and talent enough to deserve it.
Watching him bow his head in silence, I understood something. Across this vast world, even men who never left a single line in the histories lay scattered everywhere, thick as grains of sand on a riverbed.
"And on your way out, send word to the officials who support me as well... no. Never mind. Simply deliver this letter exactly, and return. If he gives a reply, bring it back."
"Yes. Then I will be on my way."
Li Hui offered a crisp military salute and left the room.
In truth, I had meant to ride this surging momentum, summon every core official who supported me to my residence, and bind us tighter. But my father's words of a moment ago came back to me, and I quietly folded that impulse away. Within the Inspectorate of Jizhou there were a great many civil and military officials who envied and resented my every move, my eldest brother Yuan Tan among them. In this sensitive hour, with my eldest brother struck from the line, there was no need to gather my people and hand my enemies a handle. Those cunning men would surely tear into me the moment I received office, claiming I had formed a private faction and was stirring up cliques.
I resolved, coldly, to consolidate what I already held. I shut the Book of Rites I had left open at the side of the desk without a second look, and at once set a thick, worn volume of military strategy in its place and opened it. From now on I intended to spend far more of my time grasping the principles of warfare, and considering how to apply them on the field, than on studying the moral doctrines of Confucian learning.
Fortunately, engraved intact in my mind were the analyses of the battles of the Three Kingdoms, and the many tactics I had read and dissected countless times in my previous life. I was certain that knowledge of the future, which saw through the current of the age, would soon become the deadliest and sharpest weapon I had for making my place unshakable in the fighting to come.