POV: HANFU SONG (GENERAL OF THE LEFT)
LOCATION: SONG FAMILY MANOR IN LOUYANG.
TIME: A WEEK AFTER THE LAST MEETING
About a week after the emperor's private deliberation he invited all the court officials to the palace and proclaimed before you all that starting that day, his first born son Liu Bian was to be the master of the armory with the duty and authority of ensuring the full readiness of the army while his second son Liu Xie was to become the master of the Yan Hi grain distribution committee until the famine is over. The reason he gave for this was that since either of the boys will become his heir some day then they both need to start learning the intricacies of governance as soon as possible. However despite the flowery words he used to shield his actions, you and everyone else in that court saw the proclamation as a bare faced betrayal of every single official in the court in order to favour a concubine's son and that is why immediately the court ended for the day you and every other general gathered in your house to find out why this was so.
"So you are saying that the prince paid the eunuchs for the committee?" Zhang Jun asked
"Not the eunuchs general but the emperor."
A palace maid corrected
"I saw him going into the emperor's study with six large chests carried behind him."
"And the emperor did not wonder where that much money comes from?" He Jin queried
"The emperor did ask but the boy simply poured him a cup of wine and asked him how much he would pay for it." The maid answered
You glanced at the new fruit wine you have been drinking
"And because of such flimsy paltry sum of money our emperor trades the whole belly of the nation into the hands of a young boy who is not even old enough to grow hair beneath his chin?" He Jin cried angrily
"What was the reaction of the eunuchs?"
"The enunuchs were livid my lord." The maid reported
"Not only had the emperor slighted them by not giving the post to one of their own but he even added insult to the injury by going behind their back to collect funds thereby denying them their share of the money. The ten attendants are dissatisfied my lord. They plan to make their displeasure known at the next meeting."
As soon as you heard those words your anger flared up and you could not stop yourself from smashing your palm on the table you were all eating on.
"Is the land so rotten and the emperor so weak that mere enunuchs will speak when the son of heaven makes a decision without their consent?!!!!" You cried
"Shouting will not change anything my friend. What this calls for is far more technical."
He Jin then turned to the maid.
"How did your mistress receive this?"
"The affairs of the empress are not mine to speak my lord but be rest assured that she is as displeased about this as you all are."
"And prince Chenliu?" You ask
"what is his reaction?"
"The prince has not spoken a single word to anyone since the announcement my lord." She said
"However yesterday night he gave the eunuch Zhao letters to send to all the Yan Hi granaries in Louyang."
"And you did not follow those letters?" He Jin's voice was filled with scorn.
"We sent our people after the eunuch my lord."
She replied in a defensive tone
"They still have not returned until now."
"It is quite likely they never will my dear." You said casually and then glared at He Jin
"Some of us have seen first hand just how well protected the boy is."
He Jin nods slowly
"Be that as it may, if the son of a concubine can persuade the father to give him the field, how long do think it will take before he starts wanting the house?" Zhu Jang asked and the rest of the generals roared in agreement."
"But you heard the maid did you not?" Another general asked
"If the boy is as well protected as she says how do we act against him?"
This sent the gathering into silence as everyone ran through his thought before daring to open his mouth.
"The boy is indeed protected but by taking up an official position he has opened up a weakness we can use." He Jin finally said
"What weakness general He?" Another general asked
"Is it only the chairman of the committee that moves the rice?" He Jin asked
"Is it not also the many members of the committee that handle the day to day tasks of distribution?"
The suggestion hits you like a blow.
"Are you suggesting that we go after the common worker in the Yan Hi?"
"Of course." He replied
"They are not protected from us are they?"
"But if we kill that many workers would that not cause an uproar."
"I am not suggesting we kill them general Yi. I am suggesting that we bribe them or threaten them into intentionally delaying the movement of grain from one point to another. This will slow down his work, dissatisfy the people and eventually lead the son of heaven to appoint someone better.
You slowly stood up, took a bag of coins and tossed it to the maid.
"Tell your mistress that we are very pleased with the information and use the money for yourself."
"I will inform her my lord." She said as she took the coins
"But I do not need your coin. My mistress pays me well."
So saying she dropped the coin pouch on the table and left.
"So how do we deal with the bastard prince and his protectors?" Another general asked
"Well I believe that since we have all seen just how well protected the boy is? It is best to avoid striking at him personally for now."
You said.
"However since he has taken up the leadership of the Yan hi committee we must send our people to be amongst the common people so that when his endeavors fail as I am sure they would, then we will be ready to take advantage of it. I also believe that we should start working with the Enuchs in order to isolate Enuch Zhoa at court."
This brought an up roar among those seated there.
"You would have us Sully our honor by working with such men?"
One of the generals cried in a tight ridge
"I would have us win general."
You counted smoothly
"Think about it. What do the enuchs fear more than us right now? Prince Chenliu my brothers because he has proven to be a head strong boy who will not listen to any advice other than his own and an emperor the enuchs cannot advise they cannot control and if they cannot control him who is to say that Liu Xie might not decide to get with them rid of them all one day?"
"So you are saying that we should leave Liu Xie to the enuchs?"
He Jin asked
"It is called two tiger strategy general He."
You explained
"If Prince Chenliu devours the Enuchs he would be so weak that we can control or crush. On the other hand if the enuchs defeats Prince Chenliu then they will be too exhausted and too marginalized to be able to counter our influence a court. Either way the ultimate winners will be us and we would have gathered enough advantage against either of our enemies who survive the other."
The whole room group grew silent as every general inside began seriously thinking about your words.
"I agree with general Hanfu."
He Jin agreed
Why should we waste time and resources just to combat two fools who are already at each other's throat? Shouldn't such time be better spent making sure that my nephew's task that is given by the emperor proceeds without a hitch?"
"But we have already made plans to sabotage prince Chenliu my Lords."
Another general pointed out
"Are we to discard such plans given our new discussion?"
"No"
Zhu Jang cried
"If anything we should sabotage the boy and make it look as though it is the enuchs who is to blame. That way he has a valid reason for going against them at the same time we have a way to keep our hands clean."
The rest of the generous turned to He Jin to see if he approved of that decision and he simply nodded.
"The question then remains how do we make it seem as though it was the enuchs that are responsible?"
You asked
"Oh a well place rumor here and there should do the trick"
Zan Jun replied casually
"I happen to know a group of people who are experts in spreading such a rumors."
"Very well."
He Jin declared
"Brothers I know we have only spoke on a obstacle since our gathering here and I apologize for it. However I also know that with our collective mind we will be able to push these obstacles out of our way and pave the path for true dragon king to preside over this land. I promise you that when our task is done and my cousin sits on the throne of his father you all will not be forgotten."
So saying he rose up and gave a small bow to all of you and he left. Soon afterward every single general began working away one by one until your house was entirely empty.
"Yi Sen."
You called and a smallish looking manservant walked in
"You called for me my lord"
"He asked
"That thief who once called himself the leader of the Yan Hi commission is an absolute coward. So that means that if he was bold enough to steal from the imperial treasury then he must have been having a much powerful support. I want you to find out who the support is and bring them as well as proof to me."
"Of course my lord
He said
"But may this lowly one ask a small question my lord?"
You nodded
"If if you happen to acquire the proof you need do you intend on bringing the matter before the emperor?"
He asked
"It is right and just that the emperor should know Yi Sen"
You replied
"And if he still refuses to take action despite the proof I will bring before him then it is up to me as his general to act where he will not."
"Even if the culprit turns out to be a general my lord?"
You took a deep breath and then said with absolute conviction
"Even if it is a member of my household such man should be brought before Justice"
You cried
"A man who keeps children hungry has no right to feed himself."
"As you command general."
Yi Sen said and walk away
Before long another of your servant girls walked up to the door and knelt at the door post.
"My lord there's a man outside who wishes to speak with you."
She said
"He said it is very urgent."
"Is he an official from the court." You asked
"No my lord he does not have the face of an official."
"Is he a general then?"
"No my lord he does not carry himself with the posture of a man used to battle."
Came the reply
"Does he come from the song household?"
"No my lord I do not recognize him."
You sigh deeply and said
"Tell such man that they are proper visiting hours in the song family manor and whatever urgent business he has can wait until then."
"I have tried my lord but he insists on seeing you"
She explained
"He says that there is a fire in the capital and that if you do not listen to him then that fire will burn you and everything you care about."
"Is he some sort of charlatan?"
"If he was I would have not let him in my lord."
"Very well."
You acquized
"Bring him to me."
The servant girl bowed and left and a few moments later she brought in a man who looked raggard from his journey wearing a leather skin cloak.
"I am told you have something for me?"
You asked
The man knelt down before you and placed his head at your feet.
"My name Tang Zhou my lord."
He said
"And there is a fire in the capital."