Chapter 539: Turtle Scoundrel Old Wang

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He Xinliang (User post title)

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An inconspicuous guest from out of town arrived at the Yao residence. The Yao family, known for its five distinguished figures, received a constant stream of visitors daily, so no one paid much attention to this particular arrival. Although the Yao family was a newly prominent noble household in Tai'an City, few genuine high-ranking officials of the imperial court visited them among the numerous dignitaries. Not even Grand Secretary Zhang, let alone any of the heads of the Six Ministries, had ever come.

However, today, an old man finally "broke the rules." Carrying a pot of Jiannanchun liquor, he came looking for someone to drink with, startling the Yao residence's doorkeeper. To their surprise, it was none other than Grand Master Huan Wen, the Left Minister of the Department of the Grand Secretariat, who had arrived. With no time to report to the family head, the doorkeeper hastily decided to open the main ceremonial gate to welcome him. Unexpectedly, the old man, as if greased, slipped directly into the residence through a side entrance.

Yao Baifeng, the Neo-Confucian master of the current dynasty, quickly led people to search for the venerable Master Tan. To their surprise, they eventually found the old man in a pavilion. Inside, a young scholar from the capital was engaged in a game of Go with Yao Baifeng's eldest grandson. Spectators of similar age, who had come not for food and drink but to gain a reputation, formed a circle, strictly observing the gentlemanly rule of "watching chess in silence." Only one old man, unable to squeeze into the crowd, simply stood on a pavilion chair, looking down at the intense chess game. He always liked to offer random, unhelpful advice. If it had been wise counsel, they might have tolerated it, but his suggestions consistently revealed the level of a terrible player, making him quite annoying. Thus, his every rambling comment was met with countless eye rolls, yet the old man, reeking of alcohol, seemed to enjoy it immensely.

Yao Baifeng was caught between laughter and tears, silently leaning against a corridor pillar, not wishing to disturb Master Tan's leisurely enjoyment. Beside Master Yao was a young face, quite unfamiliar to the Yao residence. This young man also stood on a corridor chair to observe the chess game's progression. Grand Master Huan Wen merely glanced at him before continuing to give advice and instruct Yao Dengzhi where to place his pieces. Yao Dengzhi, the eldest grandson, who had been subjected to constant chatter for half the game, gave a helpless smile. Naturally, he did not follow the drunken old man's advice. After he made his move, he heard the old man from above coldly huff the words "blunder."

It was unclear who first noticed the Left Libationer of the Imperial Academy sitting in the pavilion. They quickly offered a loud greeting. As a result, no one paid attention to the outcome of the chess game anymore. One by one, they respectfully bowed. Most of the scholars in the pavilion came from humble backgrounds, and their ability to recognize Yao Baifeng was due to some new students at the Imperial Academy who had heard the Neo-Confucian master lecture from a distance.

Yao Baifeng smiled, raised an arm, and pointed to the old man holding the wine who was standing on the chair. He said gently with a laugh, "My children, why bow to me? Don't you see there's a Left Minister here? His official rank is much higher than mine. Master Tan, isn't that right?"

Huan Wen said indignantly, "The game is more than halfway done, keep going, keep going! Don't you two act like eunuchs who can't finish things."

The scholars in the pavilion were quite startled and momentarily stood dumbfounded. Just then, the young man standing beside Master Tan jumped off the chair, moved through a gap in the crowd, and walked towards the chessboard. He bent down, picked up a white piece, and gently placed it in a spot, smiling faintly, "The endgame is complete."

Then he straightened up, turned to the crowd, and said with a smile, "Come on, don't just stand there foolishly. Let's all bow to the Left Minister. Don't miss such a great opportunity."

Huan Wen stepped down from the long chair, waving his hand. "No, no, that's alright. I'm just a guest today, and I certainly wouldn't dare to bear the bad reputation of a guest overstepping his host. If you're sensible, don't push an old man like me into the fire pit. Otherwise, if you ever fall into my hands someday, I might just make you walk seven or eight li to buy wine, and you'd even have to pay for it yourselves."

Yao Baifeng had his eldest grandson escort the group of deeply honored scholars out of the pavilion. Only three remained: Huan Wen and Yao Baifeng, the old and new Left Libationers of the Imperial Academy, sat facing each other over the chessboard. The young man who had "finished the endgame" stood behind Yao Baifeng. Huan Wen stared at the board and chuckled, "He really did finish the endgame for you. Those kids just now didn't have that kind of chess skill."

Yao Baifeng nodded, "Master Huan, this is Sun Yin, whom I mentioned to you earlier. He is undoubtedly the top scholar in this year's imperial examination."

Huan Wen's smile was serene. "Ah, Left Libationer, did your deepest wishes truly come true? You were dozing off, and things conveniently fell into place with Beiliang's help? Is there some secret? Tell me about it."

How could Yao Baifeng not discern the "hostile intent" in Master Tan's words? He clearly distrusted Sun Yin, who was from Beiliang, and frowned. Sun Yin smiled calmly, "As the distance tests a horse's strength, so time reveals a person's heart."

Huan Wen looked up and asked calmly, "Oh? How so?"

Sun Yin replied, "After three years of silence, and then startling with a single cry, I hope Grand Master Huan's Department of the Grand Secretariat will take me in."

Huan Wen continued to himself, "Hmm, not participating in the imperial examinations for three years, for an ordinary person, it's nothing; they wouldn't achieve great honors anyway. But I hear you're skilled in 'zhiyi' (literary composition for exams) and are aiming to pass all three highest-level exams consecutively, which is quite rare. Not going to the Imperial Academy, which offers easy access to power, not going to the Six Ministries to gain benefits from the Grand Secretary, not going to the prestigious Hanlin Academy to gain reputation, but instead running to the low-influence Department of the Grand Secretariat to take an uninfluential position? That's interesting. While there are no outsiders in the pavilion, I'll use this drunkenness to speak plainly. Beiliang produced Yan Jiexi, and it produced the ingrate Jin Lanting. As the old saying goes, 'things don't happen more than three times.' I always feel that a heroic figure, one who is physically loyal to the Zhao imperial family but whose heart is with the Xu family, should emerge. Therefore, no matter how eloquently you speak, I still don't trust you. As for Yao Baifeng, I, Huan Wen, know him well. That old man has spent his life only dealing with sages in ancient texts; he doesn't understand the treacheries of human hearts and can't recognize treacherous people. I'm different; I've spent most of my life navigating the complexities of officialdom. Young man, I don't like you, I really don't like you. So, as long as I live, I won't allow you to achieve high official status through exams. You can only start as a petty official in the Department of the Grand Secretariat. How about that?"

Sun Yin said calmly, "No matter."

Yao Baifeng was furious. He no longer called him Master Tan or Left Minister, but directly used his name, "Huan Wen! Don't be so overbearing!"

Grand Master Huan took a sip of wine and squinted. "What, you want to beat me up? A gentleman uses his words, not his fists. Besides, I've already beaten up the Right Libationer Jin Lanting. If I were to fight you, the Left Libationer, where would the Imperial Academy's dignity go?"

Yao Baifeng stood up and angrily said, "Sun Yin, don't mind this scoundrelly old man. Let's go. Let him carry on his antics by himself."

Huan Wen chuckled, "Alright, alright, Old Yao, stop acting. Look at you, more anxious than the eunuch when the emperor isn't. Sun Yin is still perfectly calm. Don't push your luck. If it weren't for our decades-long friendship, I wouldn't bother playing the villain. To be frank, even if this kid really got all the top honors in one go—Jieyuan, Huiyuan, Zhuangyuan—do you think the court would dare to use him? Would the Grand Secretary use him? Becoming famous too early and too prominently is not a good thing. The success Zhao Youling and the others enjoy today isn't due to their great abilities, but to how broad-minded the Grand Secretary is. In scholarship, you, old man, are naturally formidable, a Wang Xianzhi of the literary world. But as an official, you're not as good as your junior, Sun Yin. Although I don't like this favored student of yours whom you intend to pass your legacy to, I've taken the risk of damaging my own reputation in my later years to become his protective charm. Once he enters the Department of the Grand Secretariat, he'll avoid trouble and can establish himself in Tai'an City. The court already has Jin Sanlang; it's difficult to promote young people from Beiliang exceptionally again. Furthermore, if Sun Yin dares to go against the Grand Secretary in the next few years, he'll be severely punished, even if he doesn't die. If you keep yelling at me, I'll take back my words and let you be the one to harm Sun Yin. How about that?"

Yao Baifeng was speechless.

Huan Wen tossed the wine gourd to the Left Libationer, "Go, fill it with wine for me yourself. Consider it your apology."

Yao Baifeng angrily threw the wine gourd back and sat down again.

Huan Wen carefully caught the wine gourd, glared, and then sighed softly, "Among the Three Departments and Six Ministries, the court has always deliberately kept the Department of the Secretariat without a principal official. Although I, Huan Wen, have taken Sun Xiji's place as the Left Minister of the Department of the Grand Secretariat, this department has never truly gained influence. By rights, it should be the echo chamber of the Department of the Secretariat. However, now the Department of the Secretariat is engaged in a standoff and rivalry with those Grand Academicians of the Hall and the Hanlin Academy, unable to make much noise, so the Department of the Grand Secretariat has become a pathetic entity. This is how the Grand Secretary, acting as the Minister of the Department of State Affairs, became the Grand Secretary of this dynasty. But the Six Ministries are too powerful, and this is not a long-term solution. 'A door hinge doesn't get worm-eaten, flowing water doesn't stagnate.' In this grand house that is the imperial court, some pillars should be replaced. Sun Yin, I will test you. I have posed a question; you are to analyze and elaborate on it. Broadly speaking, describe the future direction of the imperial court and why it will be so."

Sun Yin smiled, "Then let's start with two of the three imperial decrees: Lu Baijie's promotion to Minister of War, and Yuan Guo's appointment as Minister of Rites. The Department of State Affairs has the Zhang and Gu Factions, wielding immense power across the realm. Currently, the Gu Faction has transitioned from Grand General Gu Jiantang to 'Little Butcher' Chen Zhibao, and then to the 'Tangxi Sword Immortal' of the Lu clan in Yang Province. The Gu Faction's influence is gradually dissipating; it's difficult for them to remain united as before. With Lu Shengxiang of Guangling entering the Ministry of War, it truly becomes His Majesty's Ministry of War. The Gu Faction now merely exists in form, lacking its spirit. Before his departure, its second leader, Chen Zhibao, suppressed Huang E, the Director of the Imperial Treasury, and the original backbone of the Gu Faction, Gu Jiantang, deliberately ignored it. This was a deliberate message sent from the border to the court: the Gu Faction is no longer surnamed Gu; what it will be named in the future is up to His Majesty.

"With the Gu Faction gone, only the Zhang Faction remains entrenched. This should have been an opportunity for them to ascend further, but the Grand Secretary did not act in this manner. In fact, over the past decade, the Grand Secretary has intentionally cut off his own branches and leaves, expelling Yuan Guo, dismissing Han Lin, deliberately distancing himself from the Hanlin Academy where his power base originated, allowing the Crown Prince's tutor, Yin Maochun, to change his allegiance, and finally letting Zhao Youling of the Ministry of Personnel and Wang Xionggui of the Ministry of Revenue fight like two tigers. The Zhang Faction made an unexpected choice, retaining the relatively weaker Minister of Revenue instead of Zhao Youling. It can be said that the Zhang Faction in the court has been retreating step by step in recent years, but it doesn't matter; as long as the Grand Secretary oversees the Zhang Faction, no one dares to act rashly.

"The Grand Secretary's decade-plus period of obscurity in the Hanlin Academy was an unknown opening move. His arrangements in the Department of State Affairs were a mid-game strategy that left many perplexed, and now it's likely time for the endgame. The fact that the Minister of Rites position was not given to Yin Maochun, the Crown Prince's tutor and the popular choice, is clearly the first step in the 'struggle between a wise monarch and a powerful minister' during the endgame phase. Both sides have an unspoken understanding: Yin Maochun, in the coming years, will end the fragmented structure of the Department of the Secretariat with no principal official, becoming the nominal Grand Secretary and de facto second-in-command, sharing power equally with the current Minister of State Affairs, Zhang Julu. Meanwhile, Yuan Guo, the Minister of Rites, will take over the Grand Secretary's position as Minister of State Affairs, not Wang Xionggui of the Ministry of Revenue, who would have been the rightful next leader of the Zhang Faction. With Grand Master Huan overseeing the Department of the Grand Secretariat as a mediator, the Three Departments will be harmonious, preventing excessive depletion of national strength due to factional strife. As for Zhao Youling of the Ministry of Personnel, at best, he will receive the title of Grand Academician of the Hall before his death, and a very honorable posthumous title afterward. He loses substance first but gains face later, which is generally acceptable, especially since his in-law, Yin Maochun, will ascend to a prominent position first, requiring Zhao Youling to avoid suspicion."

Huan Wen nodded frequently, smiling. "Then after I, old Huan, die, who will control the Department of the Grand Secretariat? Sun Yin, don't harbor extravagant hopes. Before I die, I will secretly report to His Majesty to ensure you don't gain too much power."

Sun Yin's expression was calm as he smiled faintly, "Grand Secretary Zhang isn't the only one capable of playing this game of chess. Since Yin Maochun, the Crown Prince's tutor, has emerged, there will naturally be a next 'hidden' Crown Prince's tutor, a 'latent dragon in the abyss.' However, who this person is and where they are, I, Sun Yin, cannot guess. It will probably take many more years. But this person will certainly not be a disciple of the Grand Secretary or the Left Minister."

Huan Wen burst into laughter. "Kid, you're good! For the next twenty or thirty years, it will likely be as you say. Later, I'll take you to the Grand Secretary's residence. You can play a few games of Chinese chess with him. The Grand Secretary, who will most likely lose, will surely resent you, and then you can settle more comfortably into your role as a minor official in the Department of the Grand Secretariat."

Yao Baifeng's face showed displeasure, and he snorted heavily.

Sun Yin hesitated, then asked curiously, "Grand Master, why did you punch that Jin Sanlang?"

Huan Wen curled his lips. "That Jin Lanting kid, he'd probably be a good 'parent official' to the common people of Liyang, and he's certainly loyal as a subject to His Majesty. But when it comes to being a person, he's just too unprincipled. I punched him for his own good, to prevent him from becoming too complacent and arrogant, thinking that with me and the Grand Secretary supporting him, he can look down on everyone. Oh, and Old Yao, that kid was forming cliques at the Imperial Academy. I vented some anger for you, and I let it be known that I'd repay him the money for the 'shuxuan' (a type of paper). Will you pay him back for me?"

Yao Baifeng sneered, "Do you think I'd help you pay for that?"

Huan Wen shook the empty wine gourd, a helpless expression on his face. "No money, no wine, I can't live like this."

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Sun Yin continued to ask, "I heard that the new Prince of Beiliang has deployed troops to the Youzhou border and refused to accept the imperial decree?"

Huan Wen chuckled, "Between two evils, choose the lesser. This way, after probing his limits, the court should now know that this new Prince of Liang is not a soft persimmon to be easily provoked. From now on, when dealing with Beiliang, they'll have to reconsider. Overt moves like bestowing posthumous titles won't be as many, but covert, underhanded tactics, such as those concerning the grain transport from the south to Beiliang via canal, will be more frequent than before. Speaking of which, during the discussion of the posthumous title in the great hall during the Awakening of Insects, Yan Jiexi was only half-sincere in speaking his mind; half of it was pretense. Only you, Yao Baifeng, foolishly brought great misfortune upon yourself. In the future, the Imperial Academy will certainly be Jin Lanting's personal domain. That's fine. I never wanted you, Old Yao, to hold any official position anyway. A scholar should just focus on scholarship; that's better than anything. After Liyang unified the Spring and Autumn period, His Majesty has been very lenient towards scholars across the land, and there hasn't been a single literary inquisition. I certainly don't wish for one to occur to your Yao family."

Yao Baifeng sighed with emotion, "If he can tolerate the entire realm, why can't he tolerate an honorable posthumous title for a dead man?"

Huan Wen rolled his eyes. "Yao Baifeng, Yao Baifeng, have you studied yourself into foolishness? Is a monarch not human? Can't he have emotions and desires? Just be content. To serve such an enlightened ruler is already a tremendous blessing for a subject."

Yao Baifeng let out a mournful sigh.

Huan Wen handed him the wine gourd, "Old Yao, I'm begging you, get me a good pot of wine. My stomach is full of old wine-worms rebelling against me!"

Yao Baifeng, having no choice, took the wine gourd and left the pavilion.

Huan Wen chuckled, "Sit down. That pedantic old scholar has finally left. Now you and I can say some truly rebellious things."

After Sun Yin sat down, he said softly, "Between the late emperor and the current emperor, there was the Prince of Beiliang. Between His Majesty and Crown Prince Zhao Zhuan, it's our Grand Secretary's turn. The Grand General, at least, was far from the emperor and held 300,000 elite soldiers. With Northern Mang watching covetously, the court dared not discard him after his usefulness. They could only wait until Xu Xiao's death to insult him with a posthumous title. But Grand Secretary Zhang..."

Huan Wen glanced at the young scholar and slowly asked, "You're so smart, does Beiliang know?"

Sun Yin retorted, "I came to Tai'an City not to scheme for emperors, but for the common people. Does Grand Master Huan believe that?"

Huan Wen stared at Sun Yin, then sighed, "There was once a scholar named Xun Ping who had the same ambition. In the end, he died a terrible death."

In the courtyard outside the pavilion, a flock of orioles chirped, vying for the warm branches bathed in sunlight.

Huan Wen suddenly said, "If the Northern Mang cavalry rides south, and the Prince of Beiliang dies defending the northwestern gate for the Central Plains, with the court doing nothing to help, and Xu Fengnian falls in battle at the border... If that truly happens, Huan Wen hopes he would already be dead and not witness such a sight."

Sun Yin said blandly, "If there truly comes a day when the entire court and common people celebrate, when I visit the grave to offer wine, I will surely tell you, Grand Master."

Huan Wen laughed and cursed, "You turtle's grandson!"

Sun Yin, expressionless, cursed back, "Old bastard!"

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