Chapter 113: Interfering in State Affairs

Xiangyang Prefecture, Imperial Academy.

"Sima Yi seems the most unassuming among us scholars, yet he is the first to enter government service, and he was even handpicked by the Chancellor's brother. It truly makes us envious!"

"Indeed. I thought the first among us to serve would be Yang Xiu, Yang Dezu, but the ways of the world are truly unpredictable!"

"However, I personally feel that Dezu has always held himself in too high regard, looking down on everyone. Now he knows that there is always someone better!"

"Hahaha, Ziyu is absolutely right!"

"Although Yang Xiu has not yet entered service, with his talent, no one would turn him away if he wished to join. Yang Xiu possesses genuine brilliance; such a man would never be buried. We are here gossiping, but is this matter really worth so much attention? Do you know that I have a major piece of news?"

"Seeing Dezu get deflated is a piece of news we all love to see. What could possibly be more important than that?"

"If I say it, it is naturally more significant than that. If you don't want to hear it, I won't say it!"

"You've already brought it up, why be so coy?"

"Exactly, what is this major news? Tell us!"

"Very well, I shall speak. I heard that someone has brought up the 'New Policy' in the imperial court!"

"New Policy? What New Policy? Is it beneficial to us?"

"If it weren't beneficial, would I bring it up here? I heard that the New Policy changes the previous method of selecting officials, moving away from being limited to official recommendations!"

"Really? If the current selection method can be changed, doesn't that mean we all have a chance to enter the court as officials?!"

"That is hearsay; I don't think it's necessarily reliable. You must know that recommendation has been the way of selecting officials for hundreds of years. How could it be changed just like that?"

"This is not hearsay. Do you know who created this new law?"

"Who!"

"The former Military Advisor, now the Censor-in-Chief, Jiang Wen!"

The students looked at each other, their expressions complex, but filled mostly with admiration.

"Then do you know the specific details of the New Policy?!"

"That I do not know. I only overheard it by accident when my father was talking to his concubine."

"But this..." one student paused, stunned, and said, "This is truly earth-shattering. I had thought his talent lay in strategy, but I never expected his administrative ability to be so peerless as well. If this New Policy can truly shake the foundation of the recommendation system, then Lord Jiang will be remembered through the ages!"

"But for now, it's just a thought. If it were to truly appear, that is still a long way off!"

"Do as he says," Han Dang laughed heartily. "The lad speaks very well!"

"This is merely my humble opinion, General. You overpraise me. I shall take my leave."

Sun Quan nodded, and after Sima Yi bowed, he left the mansion.

"This Censor-in-Chief has quite a few tricks up his sleeve. We owe a debt to Zhongmou for finding such a talent. Otherwise, we would have been kept in the dark, and by the time we discovered it, it would have been too late!"

"But digging out the aristocratic power behind him is no easy task. Where should we begin?"

Sun Quan said, "Uncles, do not be impatient. As long as there is movement, traces will inevitably be left behind. These aristocrats cannot hide forever. For now, the most important thing is to pressure the Censor-in-Chief in the court."

"Hmph, blame Zu Mao and Huang Gai for that. Now that they have given up military power, the Chancellor has his own, and our words carry less and less weight. In the past, I could have wiped this Jiang Wen out before he even stepped out of his house!"

"Jiang Wen is but an ant; he cannot escape our grasp. A scholar with no real power, even if he has influence in the military, cannot stir up any real waves. You must remember that the military power ultimately remains in our hands."

"General Wu, are you suggesting?"

"Kill him directly, so we don't have to worry about him every day."

"That will not do." Many generals shook their heads. "It has been said that many generals in the court have ties to Jiang Wen. Taishi Ci, Lü Meng, Gan Ning, Zhou Yu—if we really killed him, that would be true trouble!"

Sun Quan said, "The uncles are right. Now that the New Policy is out, even if we kill Jiang Wen, as long as the policy remains, someone else will sooner or later become the new Jiang Wen."

"Enough of this bickering! You all wait here if you wish, but I cannot tolerate this. Even if I cannot kill him, I must give him a taste of our power today!" Wu Jing downed a bowl of wine and stormed out of the house. Before the other generals could stop him, he was already gone.

"Sigh, they are all hot-headed from years of war. General Wu will surely suffer a great loss this time!"

"Forget it, let him go. Even if he goes too far, as long as no lives are lost, I believe it won't cause a major incident!"

***

"Speaking of which, I suddenly thought of someone," Han Dang said, looking at the other old generals. "This person might be able to help us a little."

"Who?"

"Lady Wu."

"My mother?"

***

At Jiang Wen's mansion.

Jiang Wen and Zhou Yu were drinking tea. Zhou Yu held his cup, "Why is the tea in your mansion so delicious?"

"Brewing tea requires skill. From the water to the tea leaves, the method must be carefully studied to produce a fine brew."

"Indeed. Recently, news of the New Policy has spread from my household. Although I don't know how many people are aware of it, it should help a little."

"I have full confidence in Gongjin's work..."

"Young Master, something terrible has happened!"

Outside the gate, Wu Jing and his personal guards arrived on horseback. There were scorched marks in many places in front of the mansion. Li Er and Yang Wu had already drawn their swords. "Why are you lighting fires in front of our gate!"

"You two lowly servants, not even holding the rank of Gate Supervisor, are you fit to ask me for an explanation?"

"Then may I, the Censor-in-Chief, demand an explanation from you, General?" Jiang Wen walked out, his face showing a hint of anger. Passersby were already pointing; the fire had reached over two meters high.

If not for the quick-witted servants, it would have reached the inner courtyard.

Wu Jing sat on his horse, laughing loudly: "Censor-in-Chief, I thought you were busy writing your memorials at this time. Why would such a trivial matter disturb you?"

"You set fire to my gates, yet call it a trivial matter? Must I report you to the Chancellor before it counts as a serious matter?!"

"Oh, I heard there is a rat infestation in the city. I saw quite a few rats just now, so to maintain your mansion, I thought I would burn them out!"

Jiang Wen smiled. "I have lived in Xiangyang and never heard of any rat infestation. You spout such nonsense and even endanger the lives of high-ranking court officials. General, are you looking to lose your head?!"

"Are you threatening me?" Wu Jing narrowed his eyes. "Don't think that just because you know Bofu, you can hold yourself so high. You should know that even if I killed you right now, Bofu would have nothing to say!"

"Since you have said so, I have a word for you: You set fire to my gate, drawing onlookers. Remember, this is Xiangyang, a place governed by the Chancellor. Your actions today only tell the world that the Chancellor's subordinates are all lawless, cruel, and vicious men, just like the Xiongnu who only know how to burn, kill, and plunder!"

"You certainly have a sharp tongue. Jiang Wen, remember this: today is just a warning. If you dare bring your garbage policy before the Chancellor again, it won't just be a wall that gets burned!" Wu Jing turned his horse around and shouted to his guards, "Let's go, let's have a good meal today!"

Zhou Yu walked out from the side. "It has only just begun, yet I did not expect these generals to be so brazen. If the New Policy does not succeed and these generals remain in power, I fear we shall see chaos like the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling all over again!"

"Brainless fool, I haven't even made him pay for the damages!"

***

At the Chancellor's office, Sun Ce's face was dark.

He looked at the bamboo slip in his hand and sneered. Cai Yan, standing beside him, asked with concern, "Is my husband troubled by something?"

"These old generals are truly something else. They actually asked my mother to pressure me."

"What my husband is doing is a great undertaking. Perhaps Mother does not understand. Shall I go see her..." Cai Yan asked softly.

"No need," Sun Ce set the bamboo slip aside and smoothed Cai Yan's hair. "You said it yourself, this is a great undertaking. My friend has pushed me forward with his life, so I must see it through for him, and show it to the world. I will be the Chancellor of a nation, or even a King. On this path, no one can stop me!"

"Report," a soldier saluted. "General Wu Jing took his personal guards to the Jiang mansion, poured oil, and set it on fire!"

"Prepare my robes at once, and summon them all to me now!"

"Yes!"

Generals and civil officials flooded into the Chancellor's office. Jiang Wen stood behind the civil officials, many of whom did not look at him kindly. After all, Jiang Wen sought to amend the ancient laws, which touched the nerves of many officials.

Behind Sun Quan, Jiang Wen squinted at an official. He had caught a glimpse of him during the last court session and found him somewhat familiar.

"We pay our respects to the Chancellor! Long live the Chancellor!"

"A few days ago, I told you all that I intend to campaign against the rebel Han Xuan and reclaim Jingzhou. I have already made up my mind," Sun Ce said with a smile. "I just don't know which general is willing to provide troops. Wu Jing?"

"Chancellor, recently bandits have been ravaging the area. I was just about to request your permission to deal with them!"

"Han Dang?"

"In the region I guard, there are signs of Xiongnu invasions. Though I have the will, I lack the strength."

"The Xiongnu are a scourge to the nation. It is enough that you defend us, old General; there is no need to be distracted," Sun Ce laughed. "It seems the other old generals also have the nation's safety at heart, so I will not press the matter."

"However, there is one thing," Sun Ce looked at the generals below and smiled faintly. "My servants reported to me just now that a certain general may have lost his mind, publicly leading troops to threaten a high-ranking official and even setting fire to his gate."

Han Dang's eyebrows twitched, and the other generals were startled. They knew Wu Jing was hot-headed, but they didn't expect him to act so recklessly!

"Which general was it!" Sun Ce scanned the room. "Ah!"

Han Dang stepped forward and said, "Chancellor, even if Wu Jing is at fault, he is a frontier general. If you punish him now, I fear it might..."

"By General Han's logic, as long as one has defended the frontier, one is free to set fires and threaten the lives of high-ranking officials?"

Sun Ce smiled. "I am the Chancellor, so tomorrow, should I go to your house and set it on fire?"

Han Dang's expression darkened. "Chancellor, you speak too harshly. I only feel that General Wu is at fault, but I beg for leniency!"

"Leniency? Very well. Bring them in!"

Sun Ce shouted. Jiang Wen watched as several soldiers were dragged in. "When my father was alive, he governed his army with strictness and virtue as his goals. Those who committed minor offenses received light punishment to teach them a lesson, while those who committed major offenses lost limbs or their heads. That is how my father built an army that was fearless and righteous."

"And this is Xiangyang!"

"These men committed a crime today. I have already had their arms and legs crippled," Sun Ce declared, "which is giving General Wu some face."

***

At Sun Quan's mansion.

"He really punished me! He actually punished me!" Wu Jing said with red eyes. "I fought alongside his father through thick and thin; I am practically his uncle, yet he treated me like this!"

"This matter was entirely your fault. How could you act so recklessly!"

"That Jiang Wen makes me so angry, so I did it. But the Chancellor shouldn't have been so biased! Without us, how could the Chancellor fight wars!"

"Exactly! Just for one Jiang Wen, and burning a wall, he crippled ten personal guards! These soldiers could have killed dozens of enemies on the battlefield. As for Jiang Wen, isn't he just a weak, powerless scholar? Could he kill even one enemy soldier?"

"Stop arguing! Let's go find Lady Wu, shall we?"

***

At the Chancellor's office, Lady Wu sat on the couch. Sun Ce entered. "My son, Sun Ce, pays respects to Mother."

Lady Wu sat upright. "So you've come. I thought that since becoming Chancellor, you no longer recognized me as your mother!"

"I would never dare; I always think of you," Sun Ce said respectfully. "May I ask why you have summoned me?"

"Why? I ask you, was it you who ordered the punishment of Wu Jing's guards?"

"It was."

"Why?"

"They committed a grave offense. Even death would not have been too severe."

"Do you know these were Wu Jing's personal guards? By punishing them so, you will provoke the resentment of the generals. And as for that 'New Policy,' stop listening to it. Find a time to strip Jiang Wen of his post."

"It seems Mother is the same. I thought you came for a chat, but it seems you were invited by the generals."

"So what if they invited me? You treat these generals this way, but you must remember that they all fought alongside your father! If you anger them, who will fight for you?!"

Sun Ce smiled. "Mother, I do not lack strategists or generals. I have Jiang Wen and Zhou Yu for strategy, and countless martial officers. Why worry about having no one to command an army?"

"As for these old generals, they hoard military power, occupy fertile land, and promote their own kin. Have they ever truly regarded me as their Chancellor?!"