Chapter 103: Close Thunder and Wind (Part 1)

Chapter 103: Imminent Thunder (Part 1)

The Prince of Northern Liang, Xu Xiao, had been in the capital for ten days. During this time, Xu Xiao visited no one, nor did anyone deliver a calling card to the Xiamawei Imperial Lodge where he was staying. Logically, as a prince of a different surname, Xu Xiao was not bound by the strictures of the "Law on Vassal States." The capital's nearly ten thousand officials, from high-ranking to low-ranking, usually excelled at currying favor. Even on the days when imperial examination results were announced, a considerable number of officials would approach the newly appointed, previously unknown scholars, claiming to be from the same hometown and trying to build connections. So why was it that when it came to Xu Xiao, not a single person showed up?

A little thought, however, made the reason clear. In the imperial court, roughly speaking, Grand Secretary Zhang led the civil officials, Gu Jiantang commanded the military generals, and the Azure Faction, while establishing its own identity, also attracted a group of "rogue elements." The elders from the eight fallen kingdoms also formed a mutual support network. These factions were still relatively distinct.

However, with the gradual rise of the second generation of "legacy elites," the earlier animosity and opposition began to fade, and they started to integrate into the existing tripartite power structure. Among the eight former kingdoms, further divisions emerged. Western Shu, being closest to Qingzhou, had most of its people absorbed by the Azure Faction. Western Chu, with its many scholars, naturally felt a strong affinity for Grand Secretary Zhang Julu, who rose from the ranks of the Grand Eunuchs. Meanwhile, the fierce people of Eastern Yue and other "barbarian" regions favored General Gu Jiantang, who also found these young men—capable of both martial prowess on horseback and literary pursuits off it—to his liking. Consequently, the older generation of national pillars, such as the former Grand Secretaries, generally found themselves at odds with Xu Xiao. The current generation of prominent officials, influenced by their ancestors and the Spring and Autumn Warring States period, would not actively align themselves with the isolated Prince of Northern Liang, whether out of self-preservation or a belief that their talents were too valuable to be easily given away. Most of them had already been distributed among the four visible factions.

Of course, if the Great Pillar of the Nation actively favored someone, no one would refuse such immense honor. Didn't Jin Lanting, a minor official from Yongzhou, become an extremely esteemed Grand Eunuch simply by virtue of a letter of recommendation from the Great Pillar of the Nation?

At today's morning court, Xu Xiao was not late. As he stepped out of his carriage, he was already clad in a blue silk five-clawed coiled-dragon python robe. In the past, when officials attended court, Grand Secretary Zhang Julu was almost always the first to arrive and enter. General Gu Jiantang, who always arrived just in time and entered last, would follow behind, and no one dared to overstep this unspoken rule.

Beyond that, there was little adherence to who entered the court next, second or third. Generally, it should have been based on seniority and official rank. However, with the intensifying factional struggles in court, there was increasingly less order or adherence to rules. General Gu's faction, primarily composed of military men, utterly despised the defeated elders of the fallen kingdoms and showed little respect for the Azure Faction. The most powerful faction, Grand Secretary Zhang's, on the other hand, had always been outwardly gentle and modest. If the two significant variables of imperial relatives and eunuchs were also considered, the overall situation was truly chaotic and intricately entangled. At today's court assembly, most officials knew that General Gu had gone to Liangliao two days prior and would certainly not return anytime soon. This greatly disappointed many spectators who had hoped to see the two renowned Spring and Autumn generals clash fiercely in the Hall of Preserving Harmony. Probably because their "tiger" was absent, General Gu's faction, which usually rudely vied for entry, was unusually low-key today. They were not rushing through the Zhengnan Taian Gate, but instead, glared menacingly at the old limping man in the blue silk python robe.

General Gu's faction remained still. Grand Secretary Zhang's faction, because Grand Secretary Zhang himself stood by the entrance with his hands tucked into his sleeves as if waiting for someone, also did not enter. Grand Academician Wen Shouxin of the Wuying Hall, known as the "conscience of the civil officials" and a pillar of Grand Secretary Zhang's faction, stood beside the Grand Secretary, his forehead sweating, because the Grand Secretary wasn't entering, and a hunchbacked old man was approaching.

Xu Xiao, in his coiled-dragon python robe, chuckled and asked, "Grand Academician Wen, why didn't you bring a coffin to court today?"

Wen Shouxin, still possessing some courage and spirit, let out a heavy snort, ignoring the sarcasm. Earlier, he had instructed his old household servants to carry a coffin to court and formally request his own death, impeaching Prince of Northern Liang Xu Xiao for ten capital offenses, and pleading with His Majesty the Emperor to take his life in exchange for Xu Xiao's. This was truly a grand gesture; who among the capital's officials and common people didn't give him a thumbs-up? Originally, some colleagues within Grand Secretary Zhang's faction had secretly grumbled about his promotion to Grand Academician of the Wuying Hall, but now they had all fallen completely silent, effectively acquiescing to Grand Secretary Zhang's arrangement. Grand Secretary Zhang's faction was the most far-reaching and influential, capable of operating without anyone, which often led to the most intense internal conflicts. Zhang Julu, however, was surprisingly unconcerned by this internal friction; as long as it didn't cross a bottom line, he never interfered. Over the years, only a handful of individuals had been purged from Grand Secretary Zhang's faction, and their fates were bleak: either exiled to the frontier or permanently barred from holding office.

Seeing the Grand Academician of Wuying Hall feigning deafness and muteness, Xu Xiao patted his shoulder and said with a friendly laugh, "The imperial court truly needs loyal and righteous officials like you. I heard that when Grand Academician Wen was a county official, he was so incorruptible, so utterly clean-handed, that he even let two of his daughters starve to death. When I first heard this news in Northern Liang, I wondered, how could such an official only be an eighth-rank minor official? That's our Grand Secretary Zhang's oversight. Who would have thought that just a few years after Grand Academician Wen's two daughters died, he would, in the blink of an eye, become a Grand Academician of the Wuying Hall? Where does that rank among the Three Halls and Three Pavilions? It seems Grand Academician Wen should have had fewer daughters. If he had two more die, wouldn't there be nothing left for Grand Secretary Zhang to do? Let alone the Grand Academician of Wuying Hall, wouldn't even the Grand Academician of the Hall of Preserving Harmony be within Lord Wen's grasp? But then again, it's hard to say. It's not guaranteed that Grand Secretary Zhang didn't have several teachers. Only one old Grand Secretary had to die for him to achieve his current prominence. In that regard, Lord Wen still can't compare. Oh? Couldn't one say that both of you Lords are profiting from the dead? Haha, I'm just talking nonsense. Both of you Lords are prime ministers with stomachs broad enough to sail a boat through. Please don't take it to heart."

Wen Shouxin's face turned beet red. He wanted to curse but dared not, feeling utterly humiliated.

Among the surrounding officials from Grand Secretary Zhang's faction, many feigned indignation, but few were genuinely angered.

Grand Secretary Zhang Julu, standing nearby, was over fifty but showed no signs of age. The appearance of this most prominent figure in court was particularly lauded; he had a purple beard and green eyes, appearing remarkably imposing. As a child, he was even nicknamed "Green-Eyed Boy." When he served as an aide to the former Grand Secretary, he was highly valued. However, the old Grand Secretary was patient, willing to spend thirty years polishing this raw jade. He didn't rush his growth, repeatedly declining official promotions for his beloved protégé, and even ignoring opportunities for him to be dispatched as a regional governor. Zhang Julu, too, possessed great patience. For thirty years in the Grand Eunuch Bureau, he remained calm and unagitated, observing court affairs with detached patience, only watching and listening, never speaking. Once he left the Grand Eunuch Bureau, he soared like a dragon. Within two years of his mentor's death, he was promoted eleven ranks, filling the former Grand Secretary's vacant position, and even surpassing his predecessor in power.

Zhang Julu, having been ridiculed by Xu Xiao, showed no trace of an unusual reaction. With an impassive face, he said, "Grand Master Yang once said that if one has a Buddha in their heart, they see everyone as a Buddha; if one has excrement in their heart, they see everything as excrement. It is said that when the Grand Master uttered these words, the Great Pillar of the Nation was also present. I wonder if the Great Pillar of the Nation merely heard them with his ears or truly took them to heart."

Xu Xiao burst into laughter. "Whatever Yang Taisui says, no matter what you all think, as long as it's not praising me, I consider it nonsense."

Zhang Julu merely smiled faintly in response.

The main structures behind the Forbidden City's South Gate were the Three Outer Court Halls and the Nine Inner Court Palaces. Among the Three Halls, the Hall of Preserving Harmony was considered the most distinguished. Common folk called it the Golden Imperial Hall, believing all court assemblies took place there, but this was not the case. The Hall of Preserving Harmony was typically used for major ceremonies, while His Majesty the Emperor usually held court in the Palace of Heavenly Purity or the Hall of Nurturing Spirit. It was likely to show solemnity towards Prince of Northern Liang Xu Xiao that both morning court sessions were held in the Hall of Preserving Harmony.

The roof ridges, eaves tiles, drip tiles, and exterior cornices, architraves, doors, and windows of this hall, along with its interior golden pillars, caisson ceilings, and screens, featured a total of eighteen thousand dragon motifs, truly achieving the sight of "ten thousand dragons paying homage." This was merely the scale of the Hall of Preserving Harmony alone; spread throughout the Forbidden City, the number of dragon motifs was countless.

The massive foundation platform of the Hall of Preserving Harmony, facing south from the north, formed the character "土" (tǔ, meaning earth/soil).

Starting from the Forbidden City's true south, the three halls were aligned along the central axis, with not a single tree planted. To have an audience with the Son of Heaven, the imperial pathway was long, and eunuchs and guards concealed themselves in the shadows of the stern buildings on either side, making it feel as if one walked alone between heaven and earth, subtly creating immense pressure.

Thus, when Xu Xiao, who had seen countless battles and bloodshed, first had an imperial audience, he counted his steps to dispel his fear. If even Xu Xiao was like this, imagine how trepidatious an ordinary official making their first court appearance would be. Serving a ruler was like accompanying a tiger, especially as two consecutive emperors of the dynasty had been brilliant strategists with unparalleled imperial cunning. No one dared claim to be skilled at divining the emperor's will, leaving officials walking on thin ice.

Today, Green-Eyed Boy Zhang Julu deliberately arranged for Xu Xiao to enter court first. Xu Xiao, not one to decline, took the lead and walked into the towering palace gate.

It seemed everyone, except Zhang Julu, had forgotten that as long as the position of Grand Academician of the Hall of Preserving Harmony remained vacant, civil officials were to defer to the Great Pillar of the Nation as their leader.