Volume Two: Lord and Grandson Chapter 62: The Second Audience with the Emperor

As the sun set in the west, Wei Fufeng and his subordinates arrived at Chang’an during the twilight hour. Since his future father-in-law was absent, he did not head for Xinchang Ward, but instead went straight to Chang’an’s most renowned Pingkang Ward.

Pingkang Ward was the bustling center of singing birds and dancing swallows, situated to the left of the Eastern Market. Upon arrival, Wei Fufeng sought lodgings and sent fifty of his men off to enjoy their night, keeping only Amber’s father by his side.

Amber’s father, clad in chainmail, now held the rank of Tooth General. The cavalry armor he had acquired in Hedong was forbidden by Wei Fufeng from being worn in Chang’an; the rest of the guards were also ordered to change into simple hemp clothing with ordinary military sabers.

Having reached Chang’an, Wei Fufeng ate and then slept to restore his strength. Amber’s father stood silently guard at the door, sitting as if dozing, yet always alert.

The next morning, the guards returned one by one, their faces flushed with wine and pleasure, chatting comfortably. But upon entering the courtyard and seeing Wei Fufeng in his purple robe, they immediately straightened and offered respectful military salutes.

Wei Fufeng instructed the soldiers to rest at the lodging and not to stir up trouble. He hired a carriage and went alone to the Daming Palace to meet the emperor, as Pingkang Ward was only four wards away from the palace.

Arriving at Danfeng Gate, he explained his purpose to the gatekeeper and waited half an hour before being summoned by a eunuch. This was Wei Fufeng’s second time entering Daming Palace; he followed the eunuch to the Yan Ying Hall.

The eunuch entered the hall to report, then soon returned to invite Wei Fufeng in. Wei Fufeng felt uneasy, worried that the emperor might suspect the Fufeng Army of involvement in the Jinzhou affair, but there was no avoiding it.

Upon entering, he deliberately glanced at the emperor, noting the ruler’s calm expression, neither gloomy nor angry. Wei Fufeng stepped forward and respectfully bowed. “Your servant, Marquis of Fufeng, greets Your Majesty.”

“Mm, take a seat,” Emperor Zhaozong answered gently, and a eunuch brought a chair for Wei Fufeng.

The emperor’s granting of a seat put Wei Fufeng at ease. He thanked the emperor respectfully and then produced Sun Kui’s memorial, which a eunuch took away. Wei Fufeng sat, uneasy, occupying only half the chair.

Emperor Zhaozong glanced at the memorial, then looked at Wei Fufeng with a placid expression. “Your achievements in Hedong bring me much comfort.”

“My accomplishments were mainly due to the unexpected maneuvers of the Hedong army. They did not anticipate the court’s surprise attack on Shizhou. From what I learned in Shizhou, most of their forces had been diverted south to resist the Xuanwu Army, leaving few troops to defend against the imperial forces, the defenses almost empty,” Wei Fufeng explained.

Zhaozong’s expression darkened. The imperial army’s campaign against Hedong had stalled, unable to advance to the gateway of Taiyuan, Fenzhou. The fact that Hedong’s forces dared to leave defenses thin before the imperial army meant they were well aware of the court’s actual strength.

Zhaozong calmed himself and looked at Wei Fufeng. “Wei Zhaodu is your great-uncle?”

Prepared for the question, Wei Fufeng nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty, I am from a collateral branch, of low standing in the family, and have never had the honor to meet my great-uncle.”

“How did you become acting Military Commissioner of Southern Sichuan?” Zhaozong asked.

“At home, I could barely earn a bowl of porridge a day, starving and desperate. I traveled to Bashu intending to seek my great-uncle’s patronage. On the way, I was stopped and questioned by Xingyuan troops. Unexpectedly, the officer was a descendant of the Wei clan and, upon verifying kinship, turned out to be my clan uncle.

“My uncle told me that Yang Shouliang greatly feared Wang Jian’s valor and ordered me to meet Yang Shouliang, claiming I was sent by my great-uncle to borrow troops for an assassination attempt on Wang Jian of Western Sichuan, proposing the establishment of a Southern Sichuan Military Commissioner as a condition. Yang Shouliang agreed, and after the court appointment, my uncle led troops south and took Luzhou, installing me as the commissioner,” Wei Fufeng explained calmly.

Zhaozong fell silent, inwardly cursing Yang Fuke for deceiving the throne.

Back then, Yang Fuke had petitioned for the creation of the Southern Sichuan Military Commissioner, arguing that Yuzhou and Luzhou were occupied by Wei Zheng, and the local tribal peoples resisted Tang authority. To prevent a growing border threat, he recommended appointing Wei Zheng to suppress the frontier.

Zhaozong hadn’t paid much attention at the time, thinking it similar to the establishment of the Jingnan Commissioner, Cheng Wei, and considering Southern Sichuan a remote land of barbarians, not worth much concern.

Now, hearing Wei Fufeng’s account, Zhaozong realized that Yang Fuke’s real motive in creating the Southern Sichuan Commissioner was, like the establishment of the Longjian Commissioner, to further seize control of Bashu.

However, during the creation of the Southern Sichuan Commissioner, the rebel general Wei Zheng of Xingyuan had asserted independence.

Though annoyed, Zhaozong would not deny the legitimacy of Wei Zheng as the Southern Sichuan Commissioner. Many officers had betrayed and set up their own rule; as long as the commissioner honored the court, it was a good thing.

Zhaozong suppressed his annoyance; his questions about Southern Sichuan were mere inquiries, not matters of deep concern.

There is a saying about confusing cause and effect, and in Zhaozong’s mind, Hedong, Huainan, the two Zhes, the interior, Chengdu’s fertile lands, and the Central Plains were the real foundation of the Tang.

Yet Zhaozong paid much attention to the war in Western Sichuan, and he now asked, “You truly do not know much about the Western Sichuan campaign?”

“I truly do not, Your Majesty. From what I’ve heard, Wang Jian is brave and skilled, conquering cities in Western Sichuan and gaining the allegiance of most prefectures. He now commands fifty or sixty thousand troops, while my great-uncle in Western Sichuan is essentially at a disadvantage,” Wei Fufeng replied.

Zhaozong was surprised. “Prime Minister Wei is the Western Sichuan Commissioner.”

“But Wang Jian is the Yongping Army Commissioner and Deputy Conqueror. When he was in Shannan West, he could assemble nearly ten thousand troops to seize Langzhou, making the Shannan West Commissioner, Yang Shouliang, too afraid to act. Later, Wang Jian led his army to attack Western Sichuan, and even Chen Jingxuan, the Western Sichuan Commissioner, with tens of thousands of troops, was defeated and besieged in Chengdu,” Wei Fufeng answered.

Zhaozong frowned. He had established the Yongping Army Commissioner to split Western Sichuan’s power, preventing its commissioner from growing too strong. He had agreed to the creation of the Longjian Commissioner partly to appease Yang Fuke, and also to divide the power of the Eastern Sichuan Commissioner.

“Is Wang Jian truly dominant in Western Sichuan?” Zhaozong asked reflexively.

“Yes. Before my great-uncle arrived in Western Sichuan, Wang Jian had already defeated Chen Jingxuan,” Wei Fufeng replied, trying to persuade the emperor to call off the campaign against Western Sichuan, though he dared not say too much lest he arouse suspicion.

Zhaozong pondered for a moment, then looked at Wei Fufeng. “I approve your plan to deliver supplies directly to Shizhou.”

“I accept the decree,” Wei Fufeng replied respectfully.

Zhaozong continued, “Also, it is unwise for the Fufeng Army to be stationed in Lantian County. Would you be willing to garrison Chang’an itself?”

Wei Fufeng hesitated. He certainly did not wish to be constrained by the capital, but since the emperor had asked, refusal was not an option.

Thinking quickly, Wei Fufeng responded respectfully, “If Your Majesty requires it, the Fufeng Army should garrison Chang’an. Yet stationing the army in the city may provoke resentment among other forces. May I choose a location?”

“Oh? Where do you wish to station your troops?” Zhaozong asked.

“Since childhood, I have admired the literary talents of the ancients. I once visited Quchi to witness the beauty of the scene where scholars passed their examinations, only to find it in ruins, the pond dry and overgrown. I deeply regret this. If Your Majesty needs the Fufeng Army to garrison Chang’an, I request to station them in Quchi and the adjacent ward, allowing my men to restore Quchi in their daily work,” Wei Fufeng answered.

Zhaozong was surprised, and Wei Fufeng’s words stirred a bittersweet memory—Quchi’s landscape once symbolized the flourishing age of the Tang, but its ruin reflected the empire’s decline.

“Very well, the Fufeng Army shall garrison Quchi, and you shall restore it for me,” Zhaozong said warmly, his impression of Wei Fufeng improving. Only a cultured scholar would lament Quchi’s decline.

Wei Fufeng rose and respectfully accepted the command, then added, “Your Majesty, may I garrison Qinglong Ward? There are irrigation channels leading to Quchi, which would facilitate restoration.”

“You may, but state affairs come first. Do not neglect the supply convoy,” Zhaozong warned.

“I dare not neglect my duties,” Wei Fufeng replied with utmost respect.

“One more thing: you must keep five hundred elite troops stationed in Qinglong Ward at all times, ready to follow orders,” Zhaozong added.

“I accept the decree,” Wei Fufeng replied, and Zhaozong dismissed him from Yan Ying Hall.

After Wei Fufeng departed, Zhaozong paced, pondering. With the Fufeng Army stationed near Quchi under the guise of restoration, he could silence Yang Fuke’s criticisms. Though the location was far from Daming Palace, it would still allow quick mobilization if needed.

The slow progress in the Hedong campaign troubled Zhaozong, stirring anxiety and concern, especially since collusion between officers and the Hedong Army could spell disaster.

Inside, Zhaozong wrestled with indecision: should he risk backlash by confronting Yang Fuke, or wait prudently for Zhang Jun’s return?

As for the campaign in Western Sichuan, Zhaozong had little interest. Wang Jian’s rise in Western Sichuan was news Yang Fuke had once mentioned, advising him to call off the campaign and let Chen Jingxuan contain Wang Jian. Zhaozong, prejudiced, believed Yang Fuke’s motive was to seize Bashu, and rejected the advice.

Now, after hearing Wei Fufeng’s words, he still did not give the matter much weight, thinking that victory in the Hedong campaign would naturally bring Bashu back under court control.

In Yan Ying Hall, Zhaozong debated whether to risk consequences by dealing with Yang Fuke or wait safely for Zhang Jun’s return.

......

Wei Fufeng left Daming Palace, returned by carriage to Pingkang Ward, and rested until the afternoon. Then he hired another carriage in Pingkang Ward and, accompanied by Amber’s father, went to Xinchang Ward.

Alighting in front of the Li Qie mansion, he saw the gate servant hasten down the steps and bow respectfully. “Li Quan greets the honored son-in-law.”

Wei Fufeng nodded, about to speak, when the servant added respectfully, “Second Master instructed that if the honored son-in-law came to the mansion, I should report immediately.”

Wei Fufeng was slightly surprised. The gate servant continued, “Please, honored son-in-law, enter the mansion.”

Wei Fufeng nodded and stepped forward, with Amber’s father following behind. After a few steps in the corridor, he saw a middle-aged man in brocade robes emerge from the main hall—it was Li Xie’s second son, Li Xian.

Li Xian clearly hurried forward, smiling and saluting. “This officer welcomes Lord Wei.”

“Second uncle, you are too courteous,” Wei Fufeng replied with a smile and a salute, dressed as he had been on his previous visit in a sapphire-blue robe.

“Lord Wei, please come inside to converse,” Li Xian said, respectfully inviting him.

“After you, second uncle,” Wei Fufeng replied politely, walking shoulder to shoulder with Li Xian into the main hall.

After exchanging courtesies, Wei Fufeng took the guest seat and smiled, “Second uncle knew I would return.”

“What happens in the palace, I am somewhat aware of. After Lord Wei’s audience with His Majesty, I expected you would call on your kin,” Li Xian replied with a smile.