The Negotiation That Won Cao Cao's Highest Praise
All right, then. Shall we listen in on a constructive little talk among the men of Yingchuan—about raising a provisional capital at Xu County in Yingchuan Commandery?
"Elder, I truly never expected this. On the day Luoyang burned you cast aside your office and returned to the countryside. That was not so very long ago, was it?"
Zhong Yao opened the attack. Chen Ji was a man who had already served as Prefect of the Masters of Writing and as Grand Coachman even under Dong Zhuo's regime. But when Dong Zhuo died in Chang'an and the swine came flooding in—Lü Bu, Li Jue, Guo Si—he had already put a long distance behind him, drifting as a refugee until he reached Xuzhou. Zhong Yao, in those days, had remained in Chang'an to the last as Vice Director and seen the Emperor safely out. Chen Ji had left before that.
"Dong Zhuo meant to set me up as one of the Three Excellencies of a puppet court. How could a scholar of Han eat the realm's salary from a seat like that? Even during the Partisan Proscriptions there was a time I left, because I could no longer bear to look at the court."
"Elder, then—if the capital is moved to Xu County, here and now, does that mean you yourself would return to office?"
"Me? Ehh—at my age they'd point fingers and call it an old man's greed gone too far. Day after tomorrow I'll be seventy. I've only come to offer a few words of advice, because a matter as grave as moving the capital has brought Yingchuan into the talk."
That was the truly frightening part. If Chen Ji had come back angling for something like an emergency-committee chair, or the interim chair of an urgent shareholders' meeting, every strategist in the room—no, Cao Cao himself—would have offered him a seat among the Three Excellencies on the spot, treated him as the supreme elder statesman, and roasted him soft by whatever means it took. But Chen Ji, as he stood now, was a senior minister who wanted nothing in return and could flatten them on sheer seniority alone: a man who had weathered the Partisan Proscriptions, the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the chaos of the Ten Attendants, and the campaign against Dong Zhuo.
"Haha, yes. We would be grateful for Teacher Yuanfang's valued counsel. Please, favor your unseasoned juniors of Yingchuan with your advice."
"First: if His Majesty has permitted the move to Xu County, then a memorial should go up at once to fill the posts of Colonel-Director of Retainers and Intendant of Henan, and the restoration of Luoyang should begin from there. Rebuilding a capital of the ages may see mountains and rivers change more than once. You will need a man clearly responsible for the work, and great clans willing to set the example by paying their taxes to the realm. Plan the works at Xu County and at Luoyang together—but never forget that the priority is the restoration of Luoyang in the Sili province."
Perfectly obvious, once you heard it. Cao Cao was not going to sink his roots in Xudu. If it was a provisional capital, then let it behave like one: restore the true capital with all diligence, and staff the inner court with care.
"Furthermore, whatever anyone may say, the rescue of His Majesty rested on the righteous spirit of Lord Mengde, Governor of Yanzhou, and of Lord Liu Xuande, Governor of Xuzhou. If those two heroes are to join hands hereafter, serve Han with loyalty, and support His Majesty, then the people of their two bases must move as one body."
"Nothing could be more true."
"And yet Yanzhou can come down to Xu County whenever it pleases, while Xuzhou, to reach Xu County, must pass through three counties—Xiaopei, Liang, and Chen—before it arrives. So how would it be if Liu Xuande were given command of those three commanderies, so that he might travel that road in safety?"
"Wh—what?!"
"T-Teacher, that is..."
"Simply cede three commanderies of Yuzhou to the Marquis of Zhongshan?"
Well. I can't draw a map in here, and a picture is out of the question. Roughly, though, it lays out like this.
North: Luoyang — Yanzhou — Yanzhou — Xiaopei — Xuzhou
Middle: Xu County — Chen — Liang — Xiaopei — Huai River
South: Nanyang (Jingzhou) — Runan — Yiyang — Anfeng
Cao Cao could leave Yanzhou whenever he liked, pass Luoyang, and drop straight down to Xu County. Liu Bei could not. He would have to cross Cao Cao's territory to get there. Accounting for the awkwardness on both sides, the ask was to cede Liang and Chen in Yuzhou to Liu Bei, so he could come and go freely from Xuzhou to Xu County at any time. That had been my plan from the start. Say the words territorial cession myself, though, and the mood in Cao Cao's camp would have died on the spot—and I would have been asked, in so many words, what I really meant by gluing myself to land that bordered Yanzhou directly. But with Master Chen, it was different. Explain the situation, and he solved it at once.
"T-Teacher. That is not a matter to be cut and dried so lightly. And for the realm's territory to be—"
This time Xun You rose to say it could not be done, and Chen Ji lifted a finger at once.
"When I said the road should serve the Marquis of Zhongshan's passage, did I mean private land?"
"Th-that, of course, we know you did not."
"I cannot imagine what you lot are thinking. All of this is Yuzhou. And what does it mean, that passage back and forth would be possible? What I am saying is that Liu Xuande ought to be recommended as Governor of Yuzhou."
Yes. Exactly that. The lawful way for Liu Bei to travel from Xuzhou to Xu County was simply to become Governor of Yuzhou in proper form. So I lifted a hand and added a word of my own.
"Since we're speaking in this company—Governor Liu of Xuzhou took up the seal and governed after the former Governor, Tao Qian, died, but the post has never been recognized as a formal appointment. Taking the governorship of Yuzhou on this occasion should be quite enough."
"A merchant standing back there with neither title nor office is truly grating. Aside from being Xuande's sponsor, is he a man with any authority of his own?"
Was that Guo Jia just now? I really ought to give him one sharp word—
In that instant Chen Ji raised a hand to stop me, jabbed a finger straight at Guo Jia, and spoke.
"Boy of Yingchuan, watch your tongue. It is because local magnates of the provinces exist that righteous men arise to support those who keep a loyal heart toward the Han."
"Kh—khk?!"
"Guo Jia, you whelp. Do you realize the years between your age and mine are greater than four times the mountains and rivers have turned?"
He wasn't... wrong, was he? Guo Jia was born in the year 170, and Master Chen Ji in 129.
"You are too young to know the old tale. When Emperor Gaozu of Han meant to take Xiang Yu from the lands of Ba and Shu, there were Zhang Er and his son Zhang Ao, who had lost every title and every fief and still offered all the property that remained to Gaozu, and so helped raise up the Han. Do you not even know that?"
"Kh—ghhk!"
Watching Guo Jia get skinned alive like that was something I would remember for the rest of my life. Drop a tactical nuke on four Yingchuan tanks and the dopamine spiked in real time. I could have done plenty of it myself—but the sweetest thing is still when the man I set in motion cuts the other fellow down.
The situation having come to that, Xun Yu hurried forward, bowed, and addressed Chen Ji with every courtesy he had.
"Master Chen. Forgive the discourtesy. How could scholars of Han fail to know the tales of Emperor Gaozu's meritorious ministers of the founding? Guo Jia spoke so only because a gathering like this is a sensitive one. As a great elder, please find it in you to be generous."
"Then, Wenruo, shall you and I talk? From the time your father served as Chancellor of Jinan, I heard often that of all the Xun clan, Wenruo was the most brilliant."
"Y-you flatter me."
Xun Yu went on with cold sweat running, forcing the rest of what he had to say out into the open.
"Considering the Marquis of Zhongshan's merit, I do believe it right to recommend him as Governor of Yuzhou and submit the memorial. But, Teacher—the two commanderies of Yuzhou you spoke of had become lawless ground. The Governor of Yanzhou himself put them down with the troops of Yanzhou, rebuilt the walls, sent soldiers to till the fields, and developed them. Even if the Marquis of Zhongshan becomes Governor of Yuzhou, how could such lands simply be handed over?"
In other words: Cao Cao had poured himself into developing the choicest stretches of Yuzhou, and it was a bit much for Liu Bei to lick them up just because he held the title of Governor. Was that it?
"Hah. Since when do provincial officials, laboring for the realm, develop the territory of another province and then demand their share of it?"
For an instant Cao Cao's face twisted at a frightening speed, and his hands began to shake. He was a breath away from drawing his sword, or from snatching something up and hurling it, when Chen Ji cleared his throat and lifted his tea.
"...Put that way, this old man must sound as if he knows nothing, and slights the devotion of a Governor of Yanzhou who has moved for the sake of the realm. Isn't that so?"
"Th-that is so."
"Lord Chen has the right of it."
That old gentleman's push and pull was no joke. A battle of words among the great scholars of Han, in an age like this, was an absolute delight.
"Since the Governor of Yanzhou is present, I should like to make a proposal."
"...Speak."
One word from Cao Cao, forced out only after he had crushed his anger down and clawed his way back to something like composure.
"The soldiers and supplies you have poured into those two commanderies—take them back. Then, once Lord Liu Xuande, Marquis of Zhongshan, formally ascends as Governor of Yuzhou, let the two of you pledge that the lands developed up to that time shall be held on lease. Afterward, when the rebel remnants are destroyed along the other road from Xuzhou to Xudu—Runan, Lujiang, and Yiyang—petition His Majesty then for ownership. How does that strike you?"
Like the historical lease of three Jingzhou commanderies between Liu Bei and Sun Quan—was this the court standing guarantor while Cao Cao transferred three commanderies of Yuzhou to Liu Bei? Was that even possible?
"Those who will guard His Majesty from this day are you and Lord Liu Xuande, the two wings that hold the court aloft. Let the two of you form an alliance. One will root out the bandit remnants of Sili and crush the mongrel warlords still lingering in Guanzhong. The other will reach through the remaining three commanderies of Yuzhou, through Huainan and the Yangzhou region, and suppress those who set themselves against the court."
"I am to take the northwest, toward Guanzhong and Sili, and Xuande the southeast, toward Yangzhou and Runan... You mean each of us should walk his own road?"
"Two heroes have joined their strength. From now on, shouldn't they run themselves ragged in every direction to establish the authority of the court?"
"Ha—hahaha! Hahahaha!"
Cao Cao laughed as if he could not believe what he was hearing, and then he nodded.
"I will discuss it with Xuande, petition His Majesty, and formally recommend him as Governor of Yuzhou."
"You have done what is right, for a loyal heart toward the Han. This will be a court of Han held steady by true men of prowess—not a pack of curs like Dong Zhuo, Li Jue, and Guo Si."
And so it was settled. Cao Cao seemed to feel that this was about as far as it ought to go, and he was just letting out a breath when I raised my hand.
"Er—may I actually say it now?"
"Go on. You came as a participant in this council as well. Let's hear it."
"The Governor of Yuzhou will reside at the provincial seat, and the Governor of Yanzhou will remain as well, to raise the capital at Xu County. Even so, I think offices of the inner court will also be needed."
A jolt went through the room.
"To hold the three pillars—provincial administration, the outer court, and the inner court—suitable men should be recommended, each to a suitable place, and a cabinet formed. Will that be done at Xu County?"
The moment I said the last of it, Cao Cao could not bring himself to answer, and Xun Yu and Zhong Yao rushed to stop me.
"Baijin, on that matter there is still His Majesty to consider, and the elder ministers in Luoyang. Let us all discuss it slowly."
"Q-quite so! That is absolutely not something to be said here. Don't you know how the White Wave bandits fell into schism?"
I knew. I knew, which was why every office handed out to those White Wave bandits had already been taken back, and I was sounding out how the redistribution would go. Surely Cao Cao wouldn't stoop to some shameless split of nine to one.
"Then shall we consider the council concluded at this point? It is hard for this old man to sit so long. Hup—easy, now—"
"Master!"
Zhuge Liang, who had watched and heard every bit of it as it happened, hurried to support Chen Ji. This time not only the scholars of Yingchuan but Cao Cao himself rose and offered their respects, and Chen Ji smiled toward them as he spoke.
"Governor of Yanzhou."
"Yes, Master Chen."
"Just in case—an old man's fussing—I will say one thing."
While the four of Yingchuan went stiff with dread at whatever he meant to tell Cao Cao next, Chen Ji spoke with a kindly face.
"When all of this is proclaimed, the greatest reaction, I should think, will come from Hebei. This is truly nothing but an old man's fussing, but..."
Chen Ji stepped in close to Cao Cao and let it fall, lightly, for him alone.
Cao Cao went still.
It was like a hint laid down with Yuan Shao already placed on the board: when you negotiate with Hebei, remember this.
"Yuan Zhouyang, father of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, held the seat of Minister of Works among the Three Excellencies, and sought to hold General of Chariots and Cavalry as well. In the end the generalship was only granted after he was dead. Hmm."
The words struck home.
With that, Chen Ji made ready to leave on Zhuge Liang's arm. I rose as well, gave Cao Cao's party a proper farewell, and came out. We had taken everything there was to take from the negotiation. He never said the words aloud, but it was a mercy he didn't slam the table in supreme rage and bellow that the talks had been a goddamn disaster. Well—the last of it had also been a hint on how to deal with Yuan Shao, and it had saved Cao Cao's face while it was at it.
"Master, this unworthy disciple truly learned a great deal today."
"An old man's talk, tossed out as it came. In time, all of it will be of use. Heh heh heh."
Real light flashed in Zhuge Liang's eyes, and still he asked what he could not let go.
"And yet there is something I do not understand. The border between Yanzhou and Yuzhou is perfectly clear. However much of that land the Governor of Yanzhou developed, I cannot see why anyone would speak of leasing it, or of whose property it is."
Ah. That one, truly...
"That is because of the governor's office—the mu of a province, not its inspector. A governor may hold authority over a province that includes military command, and in the present age of chaos, the warlords who have fought over that are past counting."
"That is true."
"And all this talk of ownership, whatever else it is, comes down to picking at a scab. Will the two heroes who saved the Son of Heaven report this to the court and beg His Majesty to arbitrate? Under the present circumstances, it is an agreement to look the other way, within reason, so that no noise arises until the court is restored and the one who tied the knot can untie it."
"Even so... in principle..."
"Principles do not hold in a chaotic age, so each side understands the other's circumstances and keeps from trespassing. When His Majesty's years bring him to the capping ceremony and he comes of age, the court too will be restored, and everything will be settled through institutions. Fret over such things now, and all you get is red faces and talk of killing or not killing."
Chen Ji had read the situation with a realism that surprised me.
"Wang Yun, Yang Biao, and Zhu Jun sat in the court and could not manage it... tsk."
Ah. Now it made perfect sense.
"Baijin, does this about cover the price of the wine? I'm craving that mellow yellow wine from Xuzhou, and the chicken fried in oil."
And now here was a perfectly hale old man, refusing even an arm to lean on and loosening his own limbs. The frail figure he had shown in the council just now had been an act, every bit of it!
"There will be a banquet to celebrate the Marquis of Zhongshan's elevation. You should come."
"Gladly!"
Crash—wha-boom!
"My lord!"
Cao Cao hurled the brazier that stood in the tent, heaved for breath, and sank down where he was. Xun Yu's face drained white, and he had no idea what to do, while Cao Cao looked at the brazier rolling across the floor in a spill of ash and cinders—and then began to laugh.
"Ha—hahaha! Hahahahaha!"
"My lord!"
He laughed for a long while, wiped at his eyes, and nodded.
"No spears or blades, that's all. This, too, was war. Yes. Today I learned my lesson properly."
"My lord, punish this incompetent strategist!"
"Aigo, don't say such things. Victory and defeat are the common fare of soldiers. Through that old man, we learned how we are to treat the men who call themselves the Confucian elders of Han, from here on."
Cao Cao worked his rage out by himself, and he never let it splash onto the strategists—not Xun Yu, not Zhong Yao, not Guo Jia, not Xun You.
"What that old man said at the end was a fair help. It can be used in the Hebei negotiation."
"Once the capital is moved to Xu County, I will write to the Governor of Jizhou as well. And Master Chen—I will call on him later, even if it must wait..."
"Enough. If you happen to pass him on the road, just offer a greeting."
Having seen Chen Ji this once, Cao Cao was certain of one thing.
A remarkable old man, truly. But will he live another ten years? Twenty? He won't last long in any case. Treat it as an old man's final sharp word, and that will do.
Through the years it would take for things to settle, Cao Cao meant to get along without a collision—whether he liked it or not—with the elder ministers who had escaped Chang'an, with Liu Bei, who had reached in with his spoon at the table Cao Cao was laying, and with Yuan Shao, who had been tightening the leash around his neck from Hebei. And Cao Cao decided he would endure for exactly three years. One experience like today's, with curses nearly flying out of him in the middle of a negotiation, was enough.