Cai Yan (2)
“I never imagined that Chancellor Cai would have a residence inside Luoyang.”
Cao Cao looked around the interior of Chancellor Cai's estate.
As the son of a family as prominent as Cao Cao's, it wouldn't be surprising that he was curious about a residence in Luoyang. After all, his father Cao Song also had a home inside Luoyang.
It was only natural that Chancellor Cai would wonder how he had managed to secure a residence within the imperial capital.
That was a question I shared.
Chancellor Cai was a renowned upright Confucian scholar.
Although he had some influence as a local magnate in Runzhou, he couldn't possibly have amassed enough wealth to build a residence in Luoyang.
“His Majesty has provided you with this residence.”
At Cao Cao's words, Chancellor Cai smiled awkwardly.
We were clearly in a place where even the imperial family could not easily approach, and Chancellor Cai had grabbed us by the sleeves.
If Chancellor Cai had not gone mad and invaded there, it meant that he was one of the few people permitted to enter that forbidden zone.
“His Majesty has many eyes and ears among his subordinates. Many believe that His Majesty favors only the eunuchs, but in truth, he has opened other eyes and ears to avoid relying solely on the eunuchs. I am one of them. Lord Cao is no different, are you not?”
“I suppose so. I am from a eunuch family, but I am not a eunuch myself. This allows me to provide His Majesty with a different perspective than Zhang Yang or Cao Chong.”
Chancellor Cai was His Majesty's eyes and ears.
Upon reflection, there was one strange aspect in Emperor Ling's actions.
During the Partisan Prohibitions or the extermination of the relatives, Emperor Ling was ruthless, but one day, he gathered renowned scholars from various regions to compile the classics, as if to soothe the Confucian scholars.
He planned to edit the Confucian classics, which had many transcription errors and thus many versions, to establish a single official canon.
Among the scholars who participated in this work was Chancellor Cai.
The edited classics were now engraved on stone tablets in front of the Imperial Academy.
Of course, compiling the classics was an important task, but even after it was completed, Chancellor Cai remained in Luoyang.
No, not just remaining; he was even wandering into the forbidden areas of the imperial palace.
“Was the exile to Bingzhou last time also as His Majesty's 'eyes and ears'?”
“The Xiongnu prince, or rather, what title is he using now…… Seeing how he has grown, I am pleased.”
“You may call me 'Gahan' or 'Da Hou Mu'. The meaning is the same.”
“Gahan is correct. The exile was merely an excuse; I went to Bingzhou to investigate whether a war with Tanshihuai was even possible.”
At that time, he had said he would return to Luoyang and advise the emperor that the war was impossible.
Chancellor Cai looked at me and Cao Cao in turn and said.
“This time, I am exiled to Wu Commandery in Yangzhou.”
“Then, what are you investigating in Yangzhou?”
“First, come inside.”
After soothing his daughter Cai Yan, who kept pestering him, and making her go play elsewhere, Chancellor Cai led me, Cao Cao, and Xiahou Dun into the study.
“Unintentionally overhearing, but it seems Lord Cao and the Xiongnu prince Gahan have grasped His Majesty's intentions to some extent.”
Chancellor Cai let out a long sigh and continued.
“I am going to Yangzhou to investigate whether the Taiping Dao has extended its influence there.”
Cao Cao's brows furrowed.
“If the Taiping Dao has expanded its power to Yangzhou, that means they have crossed the Yangtze River.”
“Not quite that far yet. The regions where the Taiping Dao has firmly established control are Jizhou, Yan Province, Qing Province, and Yizhou. I see four provinces there. Although the Taiping Dao has some presence in parts of Bingzhou and Youzhou and Xuzhou, it is not comparable to those four provinces.”
“So…… If the Taiping Dao were to rebel, those four provinces would definitely fall into their hands.”
“Yang Province has already suffered from the attack on Jiuquan Commandery by Tanshihuai, and Bingzhou and Youzhou have suffered no less. Yizhou is troubled by the rebellions of Pan Jun and Pang Sun, and Xuzhou by those of Jiang Hao, Wu Rong, and others. If the Taiping Dao harbors ill intentions, they will have no choice but to recruit troops from Sili, Xuzhou, and Yangzhou.”
The elite soldiers of Dan'ao County in Yang Province are famous. It's no wonder Tao Qian stands out as one of the warlords. Sun Jian, who is south of Xuzhou, will also be mobilized.
The army of Jia Province is too far away to be called upon, and suppressing the rebellion in that region alone is already a burden.
In ancient times, when a rebellion occurred in Jia Province, they mobilized armies from Yan and Yizhou to suppress it, but concluded that since it was too far, they should incite discord among the rebels and seek cooperation from the locals to let Jia Province suppress it itself.
When I was fighting Tanshihuai two years ago, the rebellion that had been dragged on for years in Jia Province was finally being suppressed. The commander of the suppression force was Zhu Jun, who had fought alongside Huangfu Song in the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
Anyway, at the time of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the armies that could be mobilized were from Sili, Xuzhou, and Yangzhou.
Although there are thirteen provinces in the Later Han, four provinces are in rebellion, and six are dysfunctional.
“What concerns me more is if the chaos the Taiping Dao will cause is 'His Majesty's intention'.”
Chancellor Cai wondered if the Taiping Dao would inevitably rebel.
“Does His Majesty intend to completely eliminate the gentry of the Guandong provinces through the Taiping Dao?”
“An alarming thought. After wiping out all the great families in the provinces, would the Taiping Dao still follow His Majesty's will? Or…… would they turn their sights on Luoyang itself?”
Chancellor Cai seemed to view the Taiping Dao as a force beyond his control. If the magnates were to be slaughtered as per His Majesty's intention, then even the emperor could not control the Taiping Dao that had grown too powerful, and it would point its sword at Luoyang.
……I seemed to understand something.
“Lord Cao.”
“Why so, Gahan.”
“His Majesty seems to know what you pointed out about the Taiping Dao.”
Chancellor Cai's eyes turned to me.
“What is it?”
“His Majesty is unlikely to be unaware of the problem Chancellor Cai has pointed out. Or, based on the appearance of His Majesty today, he would not be pleased with the Taiping Dao having such a large following among the people, even if it is outside his control.”
Chancellor Cai and Cao Cao simultaneously stroked their chins.
“His Majesty and the Taiping Dao are negotiating over 'when His Majesty will take over the position of Grand Master of the Taiping Dao'…… That is, 'when he will take command of the Taiping Dao's military authority, and when the Taiping Dao's followers will accept His Majesty as their controller'.”
And at the moment when this negotiation breaks down, a traitor will emerge within the Taiping Dao, thinking 'this won't do'.
He will denounce the eunuchs who are mere messengers of the emperor and the Taiping Dao's insiders. In response, Emperor Ling will order the eunuchs who were in charge of the negotiations, such as Zhang Rang, Feng Xu, and the Taoist Ma Yuan, to be killed.
War will begin.
Since commanders and magnates' troops are needed, the Partisan Prohibitions must be abolished. People who are dissatisfied with the Han system will all rush out, gathering power under the pretext of suppressing the Yellow Turbans.
“At the moment when that negotiation breaks down, the Taiping Dao will harbor ill intentions.”
Cao Cao licked his lips.
“Did the Xiongnu prince Gahan notice that? So he brought Zhang Jue, or planned to meet Zhang Jue's disciples in Luoyang?”
“His Majesty's true intention is what he recalled after hearing Chancellor Cai's words today. Previously, he had thought he should meet someone from the Taiping Dao side to hear their story.”
Cao Cao lowered his head slightly, lost in thought.
I turned my eyes toward Cai Yan, who had entered the courtyard near the study again.
……If left alone, the Han Dynasty would naturally descend into chaos as per history.
Depending on how I use it, it could descend into even greater chaos.
Could I not prevent that from destroying this girl's life?
Thinking that, standing next to Cao Cao, who had threatened the original Xiongnu Liu Bao to hand over Cai Yan.
Well, since Cao Cao didn't take Cai Yan as a concubine, it was bearable.
I could imagine how heartbroken Guan Yu must have been when Du Ying was taken from him by Cao Cao.
No, that wasn't important now.
We stood at the crossroads of whether to start the Yellow Turban Rebellion in 184 or not.
What should I do? Or what…… can I do?
“Chancellor Cai.”
Cao Cao called out to Chancellor Cai after finishing his thoughts.
“Chancellor Cai, please proceed with your exile to Yangzhou as planned. Once there, you will surely receive proper hospitality from the prefects and commandery governors and the local magnates, won't you?”
“My name should be worth that much.”
“Then, rather than investigating the local affairs there, please ensure that the Taiping Dao's forces do not cross the Yangtze River.”
“I will try.”
“I will have to find another way to talk directly with the Taiping Dao according to the plan the Xiongnu prince has put forward.”
“If things go wrong and it gets entangled in some other way, Lord Cao could be accused of being a traitor as well.”
“Still, I have to try. I can't stop His Majesty from being determined, but…… at least I can try to prevent things from leading to a dead end.”
Cao Cao, Xiahou Dun, and I bid farewell to Chancellor Cai.
As we were about to leave Chancellor Cai's residence, Cai Yan came running out again.
Cai Yan's eyes, which had been filled with a slight fear and shyness when I first saw her, were now filled with curiosity about the boy who was four years older than her.
Moreover, my clothing was different from that of Han people, and my face was close to that of a Turkic or Iranian ethnic group, so it would have drawn more curiosity.
I casually approached Cai Yan, knelt on one knee in front of her.
Since I was taller than my peers, my height roughly matched that of the seven-year-old girl who mainly ate grains.
I took out a gold ornament that made a tinkling sound from my pouch and offered it to her.
It was a Xiongnu relic that I had intended to use as currency, but it would be fine to use it this way.
“Miss, this is a gift. It is something from a northern Xiongnu, and it would be difficult to see in Luoyang.”
Cautiously, Cai Yan extended her small hand. I placed the ornament on her hand.
The regret of the original Xiongnu Liu Bao, who wanted to give more gifts, struck a corner of my heart.
When I smiled, Cai Yan also smiled awkwardly.
I stood up and was about to leave again, but since some attachment remained, I said something.
“If you need someone to be your bow and arrows, please find this leopard.”
* * *
“Gahan. Does Chancellor Cai's daughter have a heart?”
“……No, that's not it.”
“There is also the story of Wang Xijun, and there is no law that a Xiongnu cannot marry a Han woman.”
“That is not the case.”
“In six or seven years, Gahan will be sixteen or seventeen, and Chancellor Cai's daughter will be around twelve or thirteen, a good age for engagement.”
“As long as nothing happens during those six or seven years.”
“Oh, it seems you have a heart?”
This lecherous old man.
When I got angry and looked up, Cao Cao smiled and patted my shoulder.
“Let's shake off the tension. From now on, Luoyang is……”
Although he didn't remove the smile, Cao Cao's eyes showed he couldn't shake off the tension either.
“……A battlefield without swords and arrows.”
* * *
“Yan, may this father look at this gift for a moment?”
The innocent Cai Yan held the gold ornament with both hands and offered it to her father.
But children are children.
She looked up at the gold beads, wrapped in a gold-foil flower and leaf design, anxiously, wondering if her father might not return it.
Chancellor Cai turned the ornament over and over, then smiled and handed it back to Cai Yan.
“It would look pretty on clothes. Go and ask your mother to put it on.”
As he said that, he lightly pushed Cai Yan's back, and Chancellor Cai fell into thought.
Xiongnu metal craftsmanship has reached a considerable level. If the Xiongnu made it themselves, it means they have secured such artisans, and if they imported it from the Western Regions, it means they have accumulated that much wealth.
Chancellor Cai closed his eyes.
I wonder if the Xiongnu are recovering their old power.
Inside, this era feels like a time of chaos.
Outside, if the Xiongnu become a great power that crosses the Great Wall again…… Then, what will the Cai family do with the future of this young daughter.
Deep wrinkles formed on Chancellor Cai's brows.