Volume Two: Grandfather and Grandson, Lords of the Domain Chapter 43: Plotting for Jinzhou (Part Two)

Just as they were speaking, Wei Xuan arrived. Upon seeing his son, he was momentarily taken aback before bowing respectfully to his father. “Father.”

“Mm, take a look at this,” the grandfather replied, walking over to the desk to retrieve an official document and handing it to Wei Xuan.

After reading it, Wei Xuan’s face changed drastically and he shot a sharp glance at his father.

His father spoke calmly, “This is the appointment I had Fufeng request from Lord Li Xi in Chang’an.”

“Father, this isn’t appropriate. How are we to go to Jinzhou?” Wei Xuan asked anxiously.

“Jinzhou is not an option, but can you remain long in Shangzhou? Your uncle is in dire straits in Xichuan. If he returns, he may be dismissed from office. When that happens, I’ll lose my position as chief secretary too; without that office, how could I continue to protect you? Would you then become a common soldier in Han Jian’s army?” his father said with a hint of anger.

“Father, Jinzhou is said to be in chaos. What use am I there?” Wei Xuan replied bitterly.

“Are you saying I have made a mistake?” Grandfather asked, displeased.

“No, no, I meant Jinzhou itself. I fear I can do nothing there,” Wei Xuan replied, flustered.

“Whether you can accomplish anything is another matter. Now that Han Jian controls Shangzhou, our whole family is in grave danger—at any moment, he might seize on some pretext to confiscate our property. If that happens, you’ll become a laborer, your wife and daughters reduced to slaves. For the sake of your future, as a man, you should not remain idle at home,” Grandfather admonished earnestly.

Wei Xuan’s expression shifted; he lowered his head, gritted his teeth, then nodded. “I am willing to go, but I fear I may disappoint you, Father.”

“I will not be disappointed. You are only going ahead of me. Once you’ve assumed office as county deputy, I will also seek reassignment as chief secretary in Jinzhou. We can no longer remain in Shangzhou,” Grandfather sighed.

Wei Xuan was surprised, but then nodded. “I understand.”

“Go and make preparations. In two days, you and Fufeng will set out for Jinzhou. Fufeng, you stay,” Grandfather said.

Wei Xuan nodded, took his leave, and bowed to his father. Fufeng immediately bowed as well.

As Wei Xuan was about to leave, Grandfather said suddenly, “Do not speak of my transfer to anyone.”

Wei Xuan quickly turned and nodded in agreement. Grandfather added, “After you leave, listen to Fufeng’s advice. Of all my grandsons, he is the most capable.”

Wei Xuan nodded again, and only then did he depart as his father waved him away.

Once the study door closed, Grandfather motioned for Wei Fufeng to come to the desk, and their previous conversation resumed.

“Though Jinzhou is poor, there are still wealthy families there. The richest in Xicheng County are the Lis, who hail from the imperial clan. They own vast lands in Jinzhou, have built fortified manors, and command over three thousand private soldiers,” Grandfather said.

“Does Grandfather mean to strike at the Lis?” Wei Fufeng asked.

Grandfather nodded. “If the Lis are not removed, it will be difficult to establish ourselves in Jinzhou. Their main residence is in Xicheng County, and they have two fortified manors, one each in Xicheng and Ankang, each defended by a thousand household troops.”

Wei Fufeng nodded; he knew this. The Lis were hereditary Dukes of Xicheng.

In fact, the Li imperial clan was fragmented, their influence entrenched in the capital region and surrounding areas, but they refused to support the Emperor, each guarding their own interests.

Grandfather continued, “Fufeng, you will lead troops to attack one of the Li’s manors, causing shock in Jinzhou’s officialdom and forcing their attention outside the city.”

“We cannot storm the city—only lure the snake from its hole and destroy it in ambush. I’ll disguise our force as mountain bandits to attack the manor; the Lis in the county seat may send their private troops to assist,” Wei Fufeng explained his plan. An assault on the city would be too costly, a risk he could not bear.

“If the Lis do not send reinforcements, what will you do?” Grandfather asked.

“The Lis’ roots run deep; it’s unwise to move against them directly. Better to first seize the prefect, then use official power and military force to deal with the Lis in the city, and only afterward take their private troops in the countryside,” Wei Fufeng replied.

“To attack the Lis in the city head-on would be difficult to justify and would certainly cause a stir in Chang’an. My intention is first to weaken the Lis,” Grandfather said, concerned about the consequences of openly massacring members of the imperial clan and provoking a complete break with the court.

“Grandfather, Jinzhou is plagued by banditry; if the bandits kill the county magistrate and the Lis in the city, you could then request to be made chief secretary of Jinzhou, and the affair would have nothing to do with you. As for later suspicions, suspicion is not the same as proof,” Wei Fufeng argued.

Grandfather stroked his beard and nodded, signifying his approval of Wei Fufeng’s strategy.

...

After leaving his grandfather’s residence, Wei Fufeng went to pay his respects to his parents, whose faces were clouded with gloom—though not toward him.

After greetings, his mother chided, “Fufeng, when your grandfather asked you to seek an office, why didn’t you tell your father first?”

“Grandfather forbade me to speak of it,” Wei Fufeng replied evasively.

His mother was speechless. Wei Fufeng added, “Mother, Grandfather instructed us not to speak of our journey to Jinzhou.”

“Your father already mentioned it. Just be careful on the way; Jinzhou is perilous,” his mother said, worried.

Wei Fufeng nodded. “This is a desperate move by Grandfather to seek a way out. The Military Governor Han Jian of Huashang needs to expand his army, which requires great wealth. If Grandfather fails to leave Shangzhou in time, Han Jian will surely find a charge to confiscate our property.”

His mother nodded, and Wei Fufeng said, “I must prepare now.”

“Go on, then,” his mother replied.

Wei Fufeng nodded and, as he was leaving, asked, “Mother, is my brother home?”

“He’s gone to study in Chang’an,” she answered.

Wei Fufeng nodded and left. He asked only in passing; he seldom saw his legitimate elder brother.

...

After Wei Fufeng left, Wei Xuan smiled faintly, “You needn’t worry about me. I’m only going to Jinzhou as county deputy. As long as I keep to myself, I’ll be safe.”

“But Fufeng—he’s only just returned, and now he must go risk danger again,” his mother sighed.

“Everyone has their fate. Earlier, in front of Father, he said Fufeng is the most capable of his grandsons. Father never favored me, but holds Fufeng in such regard,” Wei Xuan said gently.

“That’s a good thing,” his wife replied softly.

Wei Xuan nodded. “I should do my part for the family as well. It’s time for these days of scorn to end.”

...

Wei Fufeng returned to his own quarters, spent some time in amiable conversation with Xiaoxue and Amber, then, taking some treasures with him, left the Chief Secretary’s residence and hurried to Lantian County to join his men.

In Lantian, Fufeng’s force numbered over nine hundred. He entrusted the treasure to Amber’s father, instructing him to deliver it to Mingyu.

After Amber’s father had been gone for half a day, Fufeng ordered a pikeman to disguise himself as a commoner and go to Chang’an to serve under Mingyu.

Having settled family matters, Wei Fufeng mobilized six hundred troops in three detachments to proceed to Jinzhou via the Kugu Trail.

He left three hundred pikemen to hold the banner of the Fufeng Army, then took thirty guards and returned to Shangluo County.

Most of his guards waited in the villages outside the county seat, while Wei Fufeng, accompanied by just two men, returned alone to the Chief Secretary’s residence to await departure.

This time, his mother’s nagging made him feel the preciousness of family.

Two days later, they set out. Grandfather had prepared three carriages to see them out of the county. Wei Fufeng rode with his grandfather.

As the carriage rolled along, Grandfather said gently, “I sent someone to Chang’an to inquire—it’s said you’ve been appointed Military Governor of Qianzhong by the Emperor.”

Wei Fufeng hesitated, then answered, “I memorialized the Emperor, reporting that Qianzhou was occupied by the remnants of the Qin rebels and requesting permission for the Southern Sichuan forces to eliminate them. The Emperor appointed me Military Governor of Qianzhong, but it’s merely an empty title. The Emperor’s true intention is to sow discord.”

“Well said. The current Emperor Zhaozong lacks the vision of a true sovereign, with no broad-mindedness for state affairs. He is but a ruler skilled in political intrigue,” Grandfather remarked.

Wei Fufeng paused. Grandfather continued, “Just look at the campaign against Xichuan. The Emperor is poor at employing talent—the Chancellor is a man for governance, yet the Emperor sends your great-uncle to lead troops. How can military affairs be entrusted to civil officials?”

“The Emperor fears military governors might rebel, like Li Maozhen in Fengxiang,” Wei Fufeng countered.

Grandfather nodded. “Past misfortunes serve as warnings, but perhaps I am biased, or perhaps I simply do not wish your great-uncle to go to Xichuan.”

Wei Fufeng said, “I believe the Emperor’s failing is in not distinguishing right from wrong, nor upholding what is righteous, leading to a loss of authority at court. For example, in Xichuan, the Emperor sought to eliminate Chen Jingxuan, yet recognized Wang Jian’s rebellion as legitimate, hoping to profit from their conflict, forgetting that bargaining with a tiger only invites disaster.”

Grandfather seemed lost in thought, then nodded. “Repeatedly legitimizing rebellion is indeed a grave error. If insurrection cannot be suppressed, it is better ignored.”

Wei Fufeng continued, “Likewise, by supporting other provinces’ campaigns against Li Keyong, the Emperor alienates all the regional powers. Everyone knows he cannot be trusted.”

Grandfather nodded. “Though your post as Military Governor of Qianzhong is nominal, it is still a rare mark of legitimacy—just as my position as chief secretary is, in most eyes, a prestigious office worth serving.”

Wei Fufeng nodded. Grandfather then asked, “Have you spoken to your great-uncle about the Southern Sichuan command?”

“No, it would do no good,” Wei Fufeng replied.

“Why not? If the Southern Sichuan army supported your great-uncle, he might turn the tide,” Grandfather said.

“The command in Southern Sichuan is new; the troops are unsettled. I once tried to lead ten thousand troops to Chengdu, but by the time we reached Nanxi County, morale had plummeted and hundreds deserted. Had we pressed on, there would surely have been mutiny. We had no choice but to halt at Rongzhou,” Wei Fufeng explained, reluctant to admit his nominal title, hoping his grandfather would understand.

Grandfather nodded lightly. Wei Fufeng added, “Later, I went to Chengdu with only ten guards. After seeing the situation there, I was glad I hadn’t brought the army—my great-uncle’s position is too weak.”

“But with ten thousand soldiers, perhaps he could turn the tables. After all, your great-uncle is the true Military Governor of Xichuan,” Grandfather said.

Wei Fufeng shook his head. “If they were ten thousand well-trained warriors, perhaps they could vie with Wang Jian. But if they are just a motley crowd, they would only serve as fodder for Wang Jian.”

“Oh, you mean Wang Jian might turn against us?” Grandfather realized.

“Wang Jian is Tian Lingzi’s adopted son. If he can turn against his foster father, he can just as easily attack my great-uncle. Wang Jian is bold and skilled; he entered Xichuan with just three thousand men and forced Chen Jingxuan to retreat to Chengdu. Now, with tens of thousands under his command, his dominance in Xichuan is unshakable,” Wei Fufeng explained.