Chapter Eighteen: The Jade Seal Bestowed

Late at night, Jiang Wen dressed carefully, glanced at Tao’er sleeping soundly across from him, and quietly left the tent, making his way to Sun Jian’s quarters.

“Your humble servant, Military Attendant, bows to the Grand General!”

“Come in,” Sun Jian replied. He had not removed his armor, and his eyes shone as he gazed at a remarkably exquisite piece of jade before him—the Imperial Jade Seal. Rather than presenting it to the Son of Heaven, he had kept it for himself.

“From this day forth, you are appointed as Military Advisor and Chief Libationer, with a salary of eight hundred bushels and a thousand coins. You may advise me directly on all matters, without further permission,” Sun Jian said, withdrawing his gaze to look at Jiang Wen.

Jiang Wen bowed deeply. “I thank you for your grace!”

The post of Military Advisor and Chief Libationer was later established by Cao Cao for Guo Fengxiao, yet hearing it now from Sun Jian’s lips struck Jiang Wen as unusual. He shifted his gaze from the Seal. “Does the general still worry over the Jade Seal?”

Sun Jian replied, “The Han has lost its sacred artifact, and the lords of the realm all vie for it.”

Jiang Wen said, “I have already advised you, General. I urge you to consider carefully. At present, this Jade Seal is but an ordinary piece of jade; do not let your thoughts dwell on a mere stone.”

Sun Jian nodded, sighing deeply. “How could I not know? Very well, I shall heed the words of my Chief Libationer.”

He wrapped the Jade Seal, his face filled with hesitation. Jiang Wen watched in silence.

To resist the temptation of the throne requires a broad heart; not everyone can be as magnanimous as King Wen of Zhou, and most end up like Yuan Gonglu. Even Cao Cao, as his power grew, approached the pinnacle of authority, eventually proclaiming himself King of Wei, only a step away from the imperial throne. The reason he did not take that step was largely due to the constraints imposed by the Han court and the aristocracy; otherwise, it would not have been Cao Pi who usurped the Han.

There is doubt in his heart. Many interpretations describe Cao Cao as a loyal minister, pushed by the forces behind him into his actions. Yet they overlook his famous words: “I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me.”

Emperor Gaozu of Han once said, “Any who claims the throne without being of the Liu clan shall be struck by all under heaven.” Cao Cao’s self-proclamation as King of Wei was entirely for his own benefit, unrelated to those behind him. It was his own heart that had turned from the Han, not the urging of his peers.

The supreme imperial throne, standing above all, grants the power of life and death over the realm.

Jiang Wen admired those of loyalty and righteousness, but could not fully comprehend their spirit. The Han dynasty, already shattered beyond repair, could not be saved, yet there were still those who strove desperately to preserve it—a foolish loyalty that was both admirable and faintly laughable.

The firewood in the brazier crackled; sparks danced and died instantly on the floor. Sun Jian carefully put away the Jade Seal. “If that is so, tomorrow I shall present the Seal to the Son of Heaven.”

“General, you must not!” Jiang Wen interjected. “At present, the seat of governance in Jing Province, Wan City, is occupied by Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu’s ambitions mirror yours, and he also seeks to seize Jing Province. You intend to attack Jing Province, but Liu Biao will undoubtedly send envoys to meet Yuan Shu and offer great rewards. Yuan Shu may then strike at our rear!”

Sun Jian nodded. “That Yuan Shu is indeed a petty man, greedy and faithless. Chief Libationer, do you have a plan?”

“Give Yuan Shu the Jade Seal to stabilize him. Once Jing Province is taken, you can use the Son of Heaven’s authority to demand Yuan Shu return the Seal. Should he refuse, you may denounce him as a rebel for hiding the Seal and immediately call upon the armies of the realm to restore order!”

“In times of chaos, warfare requires cunning; governance demands benevolence. Yuan Shu is fickle and untrustworthy; General, you need not concern yourself with him.”

Sun Jian pondered for a moment, reluctantly caressing the Seal once more before handing it to Jiang Wen with solemnity. “In that case, I order you to go as envoy to Yuan Shu. Will you accept?”

“I shall serve with all my heart, sparing no effort!”

Jing Province is a vital crossroads, commanding the north toward the Han, benefiting the southern seas, linking east to Wu, and west to Bashu. It holds the advantage of time and place, making it a strategic military location. One may advance west to Yizhou, north to the Central Plains, or east to Jiangdong.

The army departed Luoyang and traveled three hundred li toward Wan City. In three days, they would arrive. Jiang Wen looked at the bag before him. In this age where the Han has lost its sacred artifact, he felt the Jade Seal was not so important.

At dawn the next day, two fleet horses stood before Jiang Wen. He held the imperial edict and handed it to the courier before him. “This is the Son of Heaven’s decree for Moling. You need not ride hard, but do not lose the edict! Stay in Moling, and when the General has pacified Jing Province, deliver it to the Prefect of Moling.”

“I obey, and will risk my life to deliver it!”

Jiang Wen mounted his horse, as did Lü Meng. Jiang Wen smiled at Lü Meng. “Yuan Shu is unfriendly toward our army. Are you sure you wish to accompany me?”

Lü Meng rolled his eyes. “Do you think I am your deputy for nothing? If he tries anything, I’ll escort you out of Wan City!”

Sun Ce bowed. “Changsu, Ziming, the rear guard has prepared a banquet. May you both return victorious!”

Jiang Wen glanced at Tao’er, took up his whip, and shouted, “Go!”

Wan City, high at four sides and low in the center, its walls stood grand and imposing. A long, broad moat formed a fortress, solid as rock. Surrounded by mountains west, north, and east, it was considered the base for contending for the Central Plains!

Yuan Shu commanded forty thousand troops and occupied Wan City. He frowned over the map. Liu Biao had fled to Xiangyang to avoid him—such a vast expanse of land!

Yuan Shu glanced at an elderly man beside him, white-haired and bearded. “Chief Historian Yang, Registrar Yan, with forty thousand troops stationed in Wan City, how should we proceed to take Jing Province?”

Registrar Yan bowed. “I believe we should first occupy Runan and Xinye, recruit soldiers in three cities, and after some time, advance on Xiangyang.”

Chief Historian Yang replied, “I think Registrar Yan’s plan is flawed. Liu Biao has now seized all of Jing Province; Xiangyang’s garrison is weak. We should march straight for Xiangyang and abandon Wan City!”

Registrar Yan retorted, “Liu Biao’s officers are all capable, not fools! Chief Historian Yang, because Liu Biao has taken Jing Province, we must recuperate. In a province ravaged by bandits, the people’s hearts are scattered. Liu Biao cannot restore order in less than a few years. If we recruit in three cities and then strike, Liu Biao will have no way to resist!”

Chief Historian Yang scoffed, “Such shortsightedness, to praise the enemy and belittle ourselves! Are you saying all our troops are fools, Yan Xiang?”

Yuan Shu intervened, “Enough, be quiet. Sun Jian is leading sixty thousand troops toward us; recruiting now is impossible. I will adopt Chief Historian Yang’s plan.”

“Report! Sun Jian’s Military Advisor and Chief Libationer brings an imperial edict from the Son of Heaven for the Rear General!”

Yuan Shu rose. “Sun Jian? And an imperial edict? That old fox—is he not plotting for my Wan City?”

“Let them in!”

Jiang Wen entered, upright and confident, imperial edict in hand. Beside him, Lü Meng carried the Jade Seal, handing his weapons to the guards as they entered together.