Volume Two: Lord and Grandson Chapter 37: Grandfather

Wei Fufeng’s grandfather was not as accomplished as his elder brother—his learning fell short, and in his youth, he tried his hand at several trades to make a living.

When Wei Zhaodu became a powerful official in the imperial court, he secured a position for his brother two decades prior, appointing him as the county constable of Deng County.

Deng County lay within Deng Prefecture of Shannan East Circuit, in the Nanyang Basin. There, Wei Fufeng’s grandfather served for several years, until the sudden outbreak of Huang Chao’s rebellion forced him to abandon his post and flee back to Jingzhao.

After the defeat of Huang Chao’s forces, the grandfather assumed office as chief secretary in Shang Prefecture, serving there for nearly a decade.

Wei Fufeng’s father had once been appointed by Wei Zhaodu as the chief recorder of Fufeng County. Yet the situation around Fengxiang Prefecture was fraught with turmoil; military governors were replaced as rapidly as a lantern’s revolving shadow, and since Fufeng’s father lacked the skill to build his own power, he was nothing more than a salaried ornament.

When the turmoil of Huang Chao was quelled and Emperor Xizong returned from Western Sichuan to Chang’an, his route passed through Fengxiang. There, the imperial procession was ambushed by the rebellious military governor Li Changfu. The commander of the Divine Strategy Army, Song Wentong, fought bravely to defend the emperor, slaying Li Changfu and, as a reward for his valor, was installed as the new military governor of Fengxiang and granted the name Li Maozhen.

Once in power, Li Maozhen began to suppress all local opposition. Wei Fufeng’s father, already little more than a figurehead, was threatened and forced to resign for the sake of his family’s safety, leading his household to settle in Shang Prefecture.

Wei Fufeng was referred to as the Seventeenth Young Master, a designation reflecting the order of the great clan. In truth, he had only one elder brother, Wei Yunqing, the legitimate son of the first wife, who was twenty years of age, as well as an elder sister now married and two younger sisters.

At the age of eleven, Wei Fufeng requested leave from his mother to live alone. While his sister was still at home, she had often cared for him with affection; his relationship with his brother, however, was merely cordial, as they each tended to their own affairs.

To those in the household, Wei Fufeng was the embodiment of solitude and aloofness.

It was the first wife who had won for him the privilege of living alone in a small courtyard. His own mother was a personal maid who had accompanied the first wife as part of her dowry, and the bond between mistress and servant was closer than that of sisters—they had always lived together.

The chief secretary’s residence was vast, and Wei Fufeng’s quarters were at the outermost edge. To reach his grandfather’s study, he had to walk several hundred meters.

Upon arrival, he saw Chief Steward Fu and his Fourteenth Uncle—actually his seventh uncle by birth. Fourteenth Uncle was twenty-two, tall and powerfully built, with bold brows and tigerish eyes, dressed in the belted attire of a military man, exuding heroic energy. Of the grandfather’s seven sons, only the seventh had earnestly practiced martial arts.

Wei Fufeng rarely interacted with Fourteenth Uncle, though he had watched him perform martial drills. Yet after meeting Old Feng, Wei Fufeng’s judgment of his uncle’s skills could be summed up in a single phrase: all show and no substance.

Two years earlier, he had witnessed Fourteenth Uncle’s wedding to the daughter of a wealthy Shang Prefecture family. Yet his new aunt was notoriously fierce, a veritable tigress. The once-valiant Fourteenth Uncle became a docile mouse in her presence, and his fear of his wife was a frequent subject of gossip among the household staff.

Fortunately, this “tigress” of an aunt usually resided with her own family, only visiting during major festivals, so Fourteenth Uncle seldom returned to the chief secretary’s residence after his marriage.

“Seventeenth Young Master, you’ve returned at last.” Upon seeing him, Chief Steward Fu offered a beaming smile and a respectful bow.

Wei Fufeng found this unfamiliar; in the past, Chief Steward Fu’s tone had always carried a trace of disdain, and it was this very contempt that had partly prompted Wei Fufeng’s resolute departure for Bashu.

Wei Fufeng nodded calmly and, saluting, greeted his Fourteenth Uncle: “Uncle Fourteen.”

“Mm, Fufeng, I hear you visited your Great Uncle Wei Zhaodu in Western Sichuan,” Fourteenth Uncle said bluntly.

Wei Fufeng was momentarily taken aback. “How did you know, Uncle?”

“Great Uncle’s letter arrived some time ago,” Fourteenth Uncle replied.

Wei Fufeng nodded; it was only natural for his great uncle to write to his brother. At that moment, Chief Steward Fu interjected, “The master is waiting for the Seventeenth Young Master. Please, go in.”

Wei Fufeng nodded and walked toward the study, with Fourteenth Uncle and Chief Steward Fu following.

Inside, he found a man behind the desk, wearing a gauze cap and round-collared robe. His face was full and luminous, his beard streaked with white, and two young pages in blue stood by his side.

Wei Fufeng halted before the desk, bowed deeply, and intoned, “Your grandson Fufeng pays his respects, Grandfather.”

“Good. I haven’t seen you in over a year, and you’ve matured greatly,” his grandfather replied warmly.

“Thank you for your praise, Grandfather,” Fufeng answered respectfully.

“You’re very courageous. Your great uncle’s letter lauded your daring and discernment, calling you a rising star of the Wei family. He even wrote to Lord Li Xi to propose a marriage alliance on your behalf; Li Xi’s household has already agreed, awaiting your return,” his grandfather said with a smile.

Wei Fufeng was astonished. His grandfather’s words were entirely unexpected—Wei Zhaodu praised him? And even proposed a marriage for him to Li Xi’s family—why?

“Grandfather, I did meet Great Uncle, but I don’t understand what you mean,” Wei Fufeng replied in confusion.

His grandfather smiled. “It’s simple. Your great uncle, by proposing this marriage, took the opportunity to recommend you to Lord Li Xi. Lord Li Xi is Vice Minister of Personnel and can find you a local post.”

Wei Fufeng was speechless. What was this? In the past, he might have been delighted, looking forward to the future, but now he could only laugh wryly.

His grandfather continued, “Lord Li Xi and your great uncle have always been close in court; they were fellow graduates. Your great uncle, being far from the capital, must maintain his influence there. By proposing a marriage, he draws closer to Lord Li Xi, and Li Xi’s acceptance shows their friendship endures.”

Wei Fufeng found himself even more at a loss—his marriage had become a kind of touchstone for high officials’ tacit understanding.

If Vice Minister Li Xi rejected the marriage, it meant estrangement from Wei Zhaodu; if he accepted, they remained in the same camp. Wei Zhaodu’s conduct in Western Sichuan was questionable, but he excelled at court intrigue—his body in the west, his mind forever in Chang’an, Wei Fufeng thought bitterly.

His grandfather then asked, “Fufeng, what did you discuss with your great uncle in Western Sichuan?”

Wei Fufeng set aside his thoughts and gave a respectful account, concluding, “Your grandson was brash and disrespectful to Great Uncle.”

His grandfather frowned. “So, the situation in Western Sichuan is very unfavorable for your great uncle?”

“Yes. After being appointed by the court, Wang Jian immediately campaigned on all sides, seizing more than half of Western Sichuan and commanding fifty or sixty thousand troops. My great uncle has been besieged in Chengdu, his forces dwindling daily, with barely a thousand men under his direct command and morale dangerously low,” Wei Fufeng replied.

His grandfather was silent for a time, then said, “Your great uncle’s marriage proposal for you seems to be his way of seeking an exit from Western Sichuan.”

Wei Fufeng was startled. “Does Great Uncle intend for Lord Li Xi to speak on his behalf to His Majesty?”

His grandfather nodded. “Though the situation is dire, your great uncle cannot openly request to leave Western Sichuan, or he would face grave censure.”

Wei Fufeng privately disagreed. If things dragged on, it would only worsen for all involved; wouldn’t it be better to confess the truth to the emperor as soon as possible? Relying on others to intercede would only make it harder for the emperor to make the right decision.

Still, whatever he thought, he would not openly criticize his great uncle before his grandfather, who was a powerless and far less renowned local official.

“Fufeng, your Fourteenth Uncle is heading to Chang’an to join the Divine Strategy Army,” his grandfather suddenly changed the subject.

Wei Fufeng was taken aback and turned to look at his uncle.

Fourteenth Uncle met his gaze. “Fufeng, I’m now an officer in the Dragon Martial Army, deputy to a captain.”

Wei Fufeng nodded calmly. His uncle’s face darkened with displeasure. “Aren’t you going to offer congratulations?”

Wei Fufeng replied solemnly, “With war in Hedong looming, I don’t wish for you to join the Divine Strategy Army, Uncle.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Precisely because there’s going to be a campaign against Hedong, it’s a chance for a man to earn merit!” his uncle retorted with excitement.

“Victory brings merit, but what if we lose?” Wei Fufeng replied evenly.

“How could we lose? Don’t you know, Li Keyong of Hedong was recently defeated and now cowers in Taiyuan. The court has allied many military governors to suppress the rebellion—Li Keyong is doomed.”

Wei Fufeng shook his head. “I think, Uncle, you shouldn’t go. The Hedong army is like a fierce tiger—the court’s campaign is like inviting disaster.”

“You—what nonsense!” Fourteenth Uncle angrily pointed at him.

Wei Fufeng bowed. “You’re my dearest uncle—I beg your pardon for speaking out.”

“What do you know? Even if the Hedong army is a tiger, it can’t withstand a pack of wolves from every side,” his uncle argued.

Wei Fufeng fell silent, unwilling to argue with his elders.

His grandfather broke in. “Fufeng, why do you doubt the campaign against Hedong?”

Wei Fufeng looked at his grandfather. “Grandfather, I believe that no matter the outcome, the court stands to lose. The military governor of Hedong has twice come to the court’s aid and has always respected the emperor. His Majesty should not strike a man when he is down.”

“That’s only the argument of righteousness. Taiyuan is the northern capital, cradle of the dynasty. His Majesty’s campaign is justified,” his grandfather said.

“Even if it is justified, it will harm the court’s moral authority. Even if Li Keyong is destroyed, the court will have to face the scramble for spoils by the other military governors. Does Grandfather believe the court can hold Hedong? Do the other governors want the court to have it? If Li Keyong falls, the court’s armies will be next to perish,” Wei Fufeng countered.

“That’s sophistry! Any land won by the court’s armies belongs to the court,” Fourteenth Uncle retorted.

“Uncle, Shang Prefecture is part of the empire too—why can’t the court control it? Don’t expect the governors to play by the rules—they know that today’s campaign against Li Keyong means tomorrow the knife will turn on them. So this campaign against Hedong can only end in loss,” Wei Fufeng argued.

Fourteenth Uncle opened his mouth, then waved his hand. “I can’t argue with you. I’ve already joined the Divine Strategy Army.”

“Uncle, joining the army doesn’t mean you must fight. I suggest you feign a fall from your horse,” Wei Fufeng advised.

“You—how can you suggest I do something so shameful?” Fourteenth Uncle stared at him in disbelief.

“There’s no point risking yourself in a hopeless cause,” Wei Fufeng replied calmly.

“The court has a hundred thousand troops—it’s not as hopeless as you say!” his uncle snapped.