Taiheiki

Chapter 219 Conspiracy
If you were to ask a Han Chinese person in the second century AD which city was the greatest at the time, the answer would undoubtedly be Luoyang, the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty. If you were to ask which city was the second greatest, the answers would likely vary. Some might say Chang'an, the capital of the Former Han Dynasty; others might say Chengdu, the land of abundance; some might think it was Ye, which borders the Zhang River and stands majestically in Hebei; others might think it was Jinyang, a strategically important city in Shanxi; as well as Shouchun, Xiapi, and so on.

However, if a vote were held to select the greatest city excluding Luoyang, Wancheng would undoubtedly be chosen. The reason is simple: during the Eastern Han Dynasty, Nanyang Prefecture was the largest prefecture in the land, with a population of 243 million. Wancheng was also the hometown of Liu Xiu, the founding emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and many of its nobles and former officials were from Nanyang. Its prosperity was naturally unmatched by any other city.

However, in January of the second year of Jianning (169 AD), Wancheng was devoid of its usual bustling prosperity. The once official roads were now teeming with people of all ages and backgrounds, from barefoot girls to women carrying infants. Some drove horse-drawn carriages, while others rode on ox-drawn carts, or on various pack animals: plough horses, ponies, mules, or donkeys. Everyone was facing north; not a single person was heading south.

The news brought by the refugees was bizarre and even contradictory. Some said that General Feng Kun had been completely annihilated, and Xiangyang had been captured by the Moth Rebels. The Moth Rebel army was just behind and would attack in three to five days, or at most seven or eight days. Others said that the government troops had set up an ambush and defeated the vanguard of the Moth Rebels, but the rebel leader, the Great Virtuous Teacher, was performing magic that could bring the dead back to life, so the Moth Rebels were growing in number and the government troops were in a bad situation. Some said that the Moth Rebels did not attack Xiangyang to the north but turned towards Jiangling. Still others said that Jiangling had already fallen, but not by the Moth Rebels, but by the Wuling Barbarians. Those cannibalistic and blood-drinking barbarians had crossed the river, joined forces with the Moth Rebels, and were marching towards Xiangyang.

The only common thread among these chaotic rumors was that only heading north was safe, and the further north, the safer. The strength of the Moth Bandits was exaggerated a hundredfold, a thousandfold. When the locals of Wancheng expressed doubt, these refugees would reveal that bleak smile unique to the desperate: "You'll see for yourselves!"

This caused great anxiety among the residents of Wancheng. Of course, the vast majority of them still firmly believed that the imperial court would not abandon Wancheng. After all, Emperor Guangwu was from Caiyang County in Nanyang Prefecture, which was only a two or three-day walk from Wancheng. His ancestors and relatives' tombs were still in Nanyang. Even if the emperor didn't care about the dead, so many nobles and old friends in Wancheng, such as the Deng and Yin families, were still there. Would he not even care about them? What kind of emperor would he be if he didn't even care about his ancestors and relatives?

The presence of Deng Zhong and Deng Shimao gave the residents of Wancheng a much-needed boost of confidence. This noble young man's ornately decorated four-wheeled carriage traveled between Wancheng and the Deng family's Wubao fortress outside the city every morning and evening without fail. Although the people of Wancheng usually had many complaints about the extravagant lifestyle of this noble young man from the Nanyang Deng family, Deng Zhong's composure and unwavering demeanor during the critical moment when the bandits were pressing in, as if nothing had happened, earned him the praise of all the people of Wancheng.

"Look at their demeanor and bearing! No wonder they're descendants of the Deng family!"

"Yes, although they may be a bit extravagant on ordinary days, they still have the integrity of their ancestors when it matters!"

"Is this what you call extravagance? Your fields have had a good harvest this year, yielding two extra bushels of wheat per acre, and you still take on an extra concubine. Their ancestors followed Emperor Guangwu, risking their lives to pacify the country and leaving behind such a vast legacy. Isn't it only natural for their descendants to enjoy a little of it? Who are you to gossip about it?"

"Yes! Who wouldn't enjoy their newfound wealth? Honestly, with the Moth Bandits about to attack, so many people are filled with anxiety, but seeing the Deng family's carriage puts everyone at ease!"

"That's right, with the Deng family around, the imperial court won't abandon Wancheng!"

Inside the carriage, Deng Zhong was not as calm as the passersby on both sides of the road. He closed his eyes slightly, leaned back on the soft brocade cushion, and listened to the steward reporting the accounts.

"I checked yesterday. The grain reserves in Wu Fort are enough for three years, and the arrows, iron, fish oil, and other defensive and offensive supplies are also plentiful. The wells and reservoirs have been cleaned, and the walls have been reinforced. All the gold stored in the official residence has been transported to Wu Fort, totaling 2,100 catties of gold and 9.44 million coins—"

"Alright, no need to report anymore!" Deng Zhong raised his right hand: "Any new news from Luoyang?"

"I heard that Minister Zhang Wen offended General Dou Wu in court and has been dismissed from his post, ordered to lead troops to aid General Feng. In addition, the General has also selected officers from his own staff to go to the four prefectures of Qing, Xu, Yan and Yu to recruit heroes and form a new army!"

"Drawing men directly from the General's Mansion to recruit soldiers?" Deng Zhong sneered. "This Dou Youping is too arrogant. He really doesn't respect the Emperor at all!"

The steward lowered his head, not daring to comment on his master's evaluation of the current general. After a moment, he heard Deng Zhong say, "Never mind, we also need to hurry up with the matter of recruiting local heroes. It seems that the world is about to descend into chaos!"

"Here!"

Upon returning home, Deng Zhong had just finished bathing when he was greeted by an unexpected guest—Kuai Sheng from Nanjun. Although the two had never met, they had long heard of each other. Deng Zhong quickly ordered someone to welcome him into the hall.

"Brother Shimao, please forgive my rudeness for coming here so abruptly!" Kuai Sheng looked thin and travel-worn, completely lacking the demeanor of a famous scholar from Jingzhou. He must have suffered a lot on the way.

“Brother Anping is a distinguished guest whom we can’t invite even on ordinary days, why do you say such a thing!” Deng Zhong grabbed Kuai Sheng’s right arm and invited him to the main hall, while shouting, “Men, prepare a banquet to welcome Brother Kuai!”

"No need to rush this!" Kuai Sheng said in a low voice, "I have important business to attend to. Is there a private place to discuss this?"

"All of you, step back! Do not come up unless summoned!" Deng Zhong waved his hand, dismissing the servants. Kuai Sheng looked around to make sure no one was in the hall, then took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it over: "Brother Deng, I have come today to deliver a letter to an old friend of yours!"

"An old friend?" Deng Zhong took the letter, his eyes scanning the familiar handwriting on the envelope: "Brother Mengde?"

"Indeed!" Kuai Sheng laughed, "But now he is the Governor of Jiaozhou and the Marquis of Buqi! Time flies, and the years are unpredictable!"

"Yes!" Deng Zhong recalled his past with Wei Cong, and couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion: "Brother Wei's talent is truly like an awl in a bag; given time, he will stand out. We mediocre people are truly ashamed in comparison!"

"Hehe!" Kuai Sheng laughed, "Brother Deng is too modest. It's just that the time hasn't come yet. Take a look at Lord Wei's letter, and you'll understand!"

"Hmm!" Deng Zhong composed himself, opened the letter, and began to read. In the letter, Wei Cong first reminisced about the past, thanking Deng Zhong for his help, and briefly recounted how, after killing the county magistrate Wang Gui in a fit of rage in Baling, he went to Yuzhang County to gather people to forge iron and smelt copper; after the E'zhai uprising, he led his troops south across the Five Ridges, took Jiaozhou, pacified Linyi, quelled the rebellion, and was enfeoffed as a marquis and governor of a prefecture. Then Wei Cong mentioned the death of Zhao Yannian in battle, and that he was about to lead his troops north, via the Lingqu Canal, to Lingling to attack the Wuling barbarians, take the four prefectures of Jingnan, and then go down the river from Baling to attack the E'zhai. At the end of the letter, Wei Cong mentioned the trade route that Deng Zhong had wanted to take, and now that all conditions were ripe, after the E'zhai were pacified, he would go to Wancheng to prepare wine and reminisce about their parting.

Deng Zhong read the letter twice, suppressing his excitement, and tucked it into his sleeve. Kuai Sheng, standing beside him, smiled and asked, "Brother Deng, what do you think?"

“In just two years, Mengde has accomplished such great things. Compared to him, how are we any different from good-for-nothings?” Deng Zhong sighed.

“That’s not how it works!” Kuai Sheng laughed. “Lord Wei’s achievements are naturally beyond our reach, but the court is currently facing many troubles. The Emei rebels are causing chaos in the south, and the Xianbei and Qiang tribes are causing trouble in the north. It is truly a time of crisis and survival. Brother, you are a descendant of a noble family; don’t you wish to cleanse the court and leave your name in history?” “Cleanse the court and leave your name in history?” Deng Zhong, hearing this, immediately sensed a hidden meaning in Kuai Sheng’s words and asked, “I don’t understand Brother Kuai’s meaning; please speak frankly!”

"Brother Deng, you must have heard that Zhang Boshen spoke frankly in court, offended the Grand General, was dismissed from his post, and was ordered to lead troops to aid General Feng, right?" Kuai Sheng said with a smile.

“Not bad!” Deng Zhong nodded. “But so what?”

“Zhang Boshen’s wife is the daughter of the Cai family of Jingzhou, so she is practically a native of Jingzhou. Her uprightness and fortitude go without saying!” Kuai Sheng said, “Brother Deng, don’t you think General’s actions today were a bit excessive?”

Deng Zhong was speechless upon hearing this. After a long while, he finally said, "The Empress Dowager is the daughter of the Grand General. Our dynasty governs the country with filial piety, so it is not an exaggeration!"

"It is true that the Empress Dowager is the daughter of the Grand General, but the Emperor and the Empress Dowager have no blood ties. He has indeed been the one who supported the Emperor's ascension to the throne, but he has not shown any filial piety towards his mother!"

Hearing Kuai Sheng's words, Deng Zhong felt as if a thunderbolt had struck him. Just as Kuai Sheng said, the late emperor had no sons, and the current emperor was adopted from a collateral branch of the main line. Therefore, while Empress Dowager Dou and the emperor were nominally mother and son, they were not in reality. Naturally, Dou Wu, as the maternal uncle, was not truly his. This was common knowledge, but with the Dou family in power, no one dared to expose it. Kuai Sheng's purpose in saying it at this time was obvious.

"Today, it is only the two of us in the hall, Brother Kuai, you may speak frankly!"

"Very well!" Kuai Sheng smiled. "General Dou has not rendered any great service to the world, yet he has been able to wield power. He relies not on anything else, but on the reputation he has accumulated over decades and the title of Empress Dowager. But what has he done since he came to power? Zhang Boshen was stripped of his position as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat simply for speaking a few truths. Is this truly outrageous? If we're talking about titles, the Dou family has daughters, but doesn't the Deng family have daughters too?"

Kuai Sheng had already revealed his true intentions at this point, and Deng Zhong knew it all too well. He snorted coldly, "What do you mean by this?"

"The Emperor is not yet married!" Kuai Sheng said coldly. "After Wei Gong quelled the E'er rebels, his achievements were unparalleled, yet he has nowhere left to advance and nowhere to be rewarded. Dou Wu will surely plot against him. Rather than that, it would be better for you, Lord Deng, to replace Dou Wu as Grand General and take control of the country!"

"Brother Kuai, did you come up with these nonsense on your own, or did you hear them from others?" Deng Zhong said, "I don't see a single word about this in Mengde's letter!"

"Brother Deng, you jest!" Kuai Sheng laughed. "Such confidential matters, which could lead to the extermination of an entire clan, can only be spoken of by you and heard by me. Not even a third person can know about them. How could they possibly be recorded on paper? Let alone Lord Wei, even I, once I leave this hall, would not recognize a single word!"

Deng Zhong's expression softened slightly: "Then how do I know that what you're saying isn't something you made up?"

"The troops under Duke Wei should arrive in a few days. You can ask him directly!"

"Then why are you telling me all this now?"

"Bo Shen will arrive in Wancheng in a few days! He was dismissed from his post as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat because of the Emperor. If anyone wants to contact the Emperor, they cannot do without him!"

Hearing this, Deng Zhong nodded to himself, just as Kuai Sheng had said. No matter how powerful Wei Cong was, he was only a governor in Jingzhou. Unless he rebelled and marched to Luoyang, he would still have to play by the rules of the Eastern Han political game. And the Eastern Han political game was that when the emperor was young, power was held by his maternal uncle; when the emperor grew older, the eunuchs would eliminate his uncle's family, and he would either seize power himself or have it controlled by his maternal relatives.

Now that the eunuch faction has been crippled and the current emperor is a weakling, to seize power from the Dou family, he either needs loyal scholar-officials or his own maternal relatives, namely the empress's relatives. Therefore, the key to this game is to send the Deng family's daughter to the current emperor's bed and have her made empress. With this, both Deng Zhong and Wei Cong will have their own political banner. As long as they eliminate the Dou family, they can legitimately and truly wield power in the court. Otherwise, even if they painstakingly bring down the Dou family, power will only fall into the hands of others, and no one is willing to do such a foolish thing.

"How old is the current emperor?" Deng Zhong asked.

"He's already fourteen!" Kuai Sheng tried his best to give a large number.

"Fourteen?" Deng Zhong frowned. "I have two daughters, one is fifteen and already engaged, she will be married in May, the other is only nine years old!"

“Nine years old is just right!” Kuai Sheng laughed. “As long as she has the title of Empress first, they can consummate their marriage a few years later!”

“However, the General will definitely oppose it vehemently!” Deng Zhong said.

"Oppose what? The emperor getting married? How can we object to that?"

"The emperor is still young. Besides, even if they get married, I'm afraid the general wouldn't want the emperor to marry a daughter of the Deng family!"

Kuai Sheng nodded. Just as Deng Zhong said, if the emperor were to marry a daughter of the Deng family, the Deng family's considerable power would certainly diminish his authority. Rather than that, it would be more advantageous for him to find a woman of humbler status to be his empress.

"That depends on how people act!" Kuai Sheng laughed. "It's simply a matter of who contributes money and who contributes strength. In the end, I don't believe everyone in Luoyang will be satisfied with the General's abuse of power."

(End of this chapter)