Taiheiki

Chapter 273 Cursed to Death
"Dou Ji, the Marquis of Weiyang? What is his relationship with Dou Wu?"

"He is Dou Wu's youngest son, and the Empress Dowager's beloved younger brother!"

"Dou Wu's youngest son?" Wei Cong laughed. "Has Dou Wu lost his mind? Even at a time like this, his son is still causing trouble like this. Is it that Heaven truly intends to destroy the Dou family, thus blinding the minds of his descendants?"

"Lord Wei, the boy the authorities are arresting speaks with the accent of the Hejian Kingdom, but the Emperor is also from the Hejian Kingdom!"

"You mean Dou Wu is arresting the emperor?" Wei Cong immediately realized.

"What I mean is that the emperor is no longer in the palace, and the Dou family no longer has the emperor in their hands!"

"That's right!" Wei Cong slapped his thigh, his gaze toward Shi Xie now completely different. Although what Wei Cong said wasn't entirely wrong, what Shi Xie said was the real key point—if the emperor had truly escaped the palace and was no longer under Dou's control, then Dou's biggest bargaining chip in preventing Wei Cong from entering Luoyang was gone, and naturally the original plan would have to be modified accordingly.

"I have a question. How can we be sure that your guess is true, and that the Dou family is currently arresting the emperor, not the Marquis of Weiyang's favorite servant?"

On his way out of the city to surrender, Shi Xie had already thought through the whole matter from beginning to end. Without hesitation, he replied, "General, you can set up the emperor's regalia in the army and claim that the emperor has escaped Luoyang and is now in the army. If the emperor is still in the palace, Dou Wu will have the emperor go up to the city wall to expose the lie. If not, then the emperor is definitely not in Dou's hands!"

"Absolutely not!" Deng Zhong exclaimed urgently. "If the emperor is still in the hands of the Dou family, wouldn't Marquis Wei be exposed as a false emperor in front of the whole world? Even if, as you say, the emperor is no longer in the hands of the Dou family, how can Marquis Wei's actions be hidden from the emperor who is lurking in the shadows? Even if the emperor doesn't say anything now, he will remember this act of treason, and it will cause endless trouble in the future!"

Wei Cong nodded and asked Deng Zhong, "Then what do you think, Brother Deng?"

"In my opinion, Shi Xie's guess is very likely true, but Marquis Wei doesn't need to take such a big risk at this time!" Deng Zhong said, "Why not just send people to spread rumors in the city that the emperor has escaped from the palace and that the runaway slave that Dou Wu is cracking down on is the emperor? In this way, the truth will be immediately revealed!"

"Dou Wu is definitely guarding the city gates tightly right now. Even if we're outside the city, can we still spread rumors into it?" Wei Cong asked.

"Hehe!" Deng Zhong laughed: "You broke through Yique Pass and your army marched straight to the city. The morale in Luoyang City has long been shaken. Those captains guarding the gates are also human. They also need to find a way out for themselves. No matter how strong the pass is, it still needs to be guarded. Otherwise, how did this brother escape? Brother, don't you think so?"

Shi Xie was a quick-witted man, and he immediately understood Deng Zhong's implied meaning. He quickly bowed and said, "This humble servant is willing to return to the city and implement this plan!"

"Good!" Wei Cong laughed. "If you are willing to return to the city, then our past will be wiped clean. In addition, I will appoint you as a military advisor in my staff. What do you say?"

"Thank you for your magnanimity, General!" Shi Xie hurriedly prostrated himself in gratitude.

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When news of Wei Cong's army arriving outside the city reached the palace, the Empress Dowager spent the entire night in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. The sounds of weeping, prayers, the clanging of armor, and the rattling of hinges on the doors mingled together, creating a strange and terrifying symphony of national ruin. Facing the memorial tablets of Emperor Guangwu and Emperor Ming, the Empress Dowager wept silently, while the eunuchs and palace maids below looked on in fear, none knowing what the future held.

More than 140 years have passed since Emperor Guangwu established his capital here and revived the foundation of the Yan Han dynasty. This place has always been the heart of the greatest empire. The people living in the deep palace never imagined that they would be besieged by an army, let alone a large army flying the Yan Han banner.

Dou Ji hurriedly entered the hall, and it was not difficult to see that he was wearing iron armor under his outer robe. He walked to the Empress Dowager's side, bent down and whispered, "Sister!"

"Has it not been found yet?" the Empress Dowager asked.

Dou Ji knew exactly what the Empress Dowager was asking, and he shook his head in a panic.

"Then why haven't you gone to look for it yet?" The Empress Dowager rarely spoke angrily to her most beloved younger brother. "At this point, are you still not willing to put your heart into it?"

"No!" Dou Ji was so frightened by the Empress Dowager's anger that he knelt on the ground: "I heard some rumors outside, so I came to report to you!"

"What's going on!" The Empress Dowager tensed up, subconsciously looking around to make sure the nearest eunuch was far enough away.

"The Emperor has already escaped from the palace!" Dou Ji whispered. "They even said that while we claimed to be apprehending escaped slaves, we were actually looking for the Emperor!"

"What!" The Empress Dowager's face turned deathly pale, then flushed red: "Who is so bold as to dare to leak this information?"

“Sister, it’s hard to say now,” Dou Ji said with a bitter smile. “The main problem is that Wei Cong’s army is right outside the city, so people are in chaos. Too many people are looking for their own way out, so—” “It’s all fate!” The Empress Dowager let out a desolate sigh. Although she was not yet twenty, the palace was probably the cruelest and most shameless place in the world. She had seen and heard far too many stories of people going from being guests in the palace in the morning to prisoners in the evening. In such a place, everyone gravitates towards power, everyone flatters power, and when power leaves you, people will quickly follow. Loyalty is simply too precious.

"Sister, sister!" Dou Ji called out twice in fear and unease. Compared to Empress Dowager Dou Miao, he had never experienced the dangers of serving the emperor in the palace. He had just become aware of things when he was overwhelmed by endless wealth and glory. He was too busy enjoying it to learn anything else. Now that the tide had suddenly receded, he suddenly realized the cruelty of reality.

"Never mind!" The Empress Dowager patted her younger brother's cheek, knowing there was nothing she could say to him now. "Where is Father?"

"At the Ministry of Personnel, we've been discussing countermeasures with Minister Yuan!" Dou Ji whispered. "Sister, do you think Minister Yuan might betray us? After all, so many people—"

"It might have been possible before, but it's impossible now!" The Empress Dowager laughed. "Have you forgotten? Yuan Shao was killed by Wei Cong. After this incident, even if the Yuan family were willing to let it go, Wei Cong wouldn't trust them. His foundation is too shallow, and he climbed too fast. If he can't kill his enemies, once the situation reverses, he'll be hated by everyone. So, it's absolutely impossible for Minister Yuan to side with Wei Cong!"

Dou Ji nodded, somewhat bewildered: "Then what should we do now?"

"Don't rush. After all, I am still the Empress Dowager of the Han Dynasty. Wei Cong is just a subject of the Han Dynasty. If we can buy some time, we can always talk!" the Empress Dowager comforted her gently.

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Dou Wu didn't keep Wei Cong waiting long. The evening after Wei Cong's army arrived at Luoyang, the imperial envoy arrived—Hu Guang, Marquis of Anle and Minister of Works. This renowned scholar-official, who had served since the reign of Emperor An of Han, for over thirty years, adhered to the Doctrine of the Mean, and was known as a master of the Five Classics and a scholar of all arts and sciences, was chosen as the envoy. It was clear that Dou Wu and his advisors had put considerable thought into selecting him. This nearly eighty-year-old man, holding the imperial insignia, still maintained a straight back and a ruddy complexion. Although he had been marginalized and sidelined by Dou Wu and Yuan Wei, he was not yet old and frail.

"General Wei Cong of the Left pays his respects to Lord Hu!" Wei Cong knelt before the carriage and horses, bowing deeply. Regardless of Hu Guang's personal seniority or the imperial insignia he held, Wei Cong had to show the due respect.
"Lord Wei, please rise!" Hu Guang alighted from his carriage and reached out to help Wei Cong up. "I have long admired Lord Wei's name, but meeting you today, I realize that seeing is believing. You are truly an unparalleled sage!"

"Lord Hu is too kind! I, Wei, am unworthy of such praise!"

"This old man is not praising you, but telling the truth!" Hu Guang shook his head: "I entered the court as a Gentleman of the Palace during the reign of Emperor An, which is more than thirty years ago. I have reviewed at least six or seven hundred people, all of whom have outstanding qualities, but they are far inferior to you, Marquis Wei. But Marquis Wei, have you ever thought about how future generations will record your actions?"

If anyone else had asked Wei Cong such a question, it would have been tantamount to suicide. But Hu Guang was different. First, his reputation was widespread, and he had countless disciples and former officials. Killing him would cause Wei Cong endless trouble. Second, he was nearly eighty years old; dying at that age would be considered a long life, so he wasn't afraid of death. Third, after Dou Wu came to power, although Hu Guang was one of the Three Dukes, he didn't hold the additional position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, being one of the Three Dukes without the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat was essentially a nominal position with little real power. Therefore, he was definitely not part of Dou Wu's faction, and his question didn't represent Dou Wu, but rather the others in Luoyang.

"I have no enmity with the Dou family!" Wei Cong smiled. "I was ordered by the Emperor to attack the Dou family and allow the Emperor to assume personal rule. As long as the Empress Dowager and the Grand General are willing to allow the Emperor to assume personal rule, I will naturally withdraw my troops and apologize to the Emperor!"

"When Marquis Wei raised his army, the whole world was shaken!" Hu Guang sighed. "Not to mention that the troops of You and Bing were also alarmed and marched south. If the Xianbei took the opportunity to march south, countless lives would be lost, and hundreds of millions would perish under the sword. Marquis Wei, considering this, can you not bear it?"

Faced with Hu Guang's aggressive questioning, Wei Cong suddenly laughed: "So, Mr. Hu, all these faults are on me alone?"

"Of course, that's not how it works, but Lord Wei, you were the one who started this whole thing, so that's not wrong, is it?"

"The one who started this whole mess is the Emperor. If the Emperor hadn't drafted an edict for Young Master Dong, ordering him to come to Jingzhou to deliver the decree to me, General Feng, and Minister of Agriculture, how could this have happened today?" Wei Cong sneered. "Lord Hu, why didn't you consult the Emperor before you set off with your imperial credentials?"

"This—" Hu Guang was speechless at Wei Cong's sarcastic retort. He had served as one of the Three Dukes more than 20 years ago, and even an arrogant general like Liang Ji had never spoken to him like that. He never expected Wei Cong to retort to his face like that.

"Moreover, I have heard that the Emperor has already fled from the palace, and the Dou family is currently conducting a large-scale search throughout the city. I do not know whose tally you hold! Besides, a subject dies when the ruler is disgraced, and a subject is disgraced when the ruler is worried. The Emperor is in a critical situation now. You have been receiving the Han's salary for decades, do you not have even the slightest thought of saving the Emperor? Do you intend to do what you did in the first year of Jianhe (147 AD), wait until the Emperor dies, then sigh with shame and shed a few tears, and pretend that nothing happened?"

"You—, how could you—?" Upon hearing Wei Cong mention the first year of Jianhe, Hu Guang's face changed drastically. He pointed at Wei Cong, speechless. It turned out that Wei Cong was referring to a story from the past. In the first year of Benchu, the powerful minister and general Liang Ji assassinated Emperor Liu Zhi. Liang Ji wanted to enthrone the young Marquis of Liwu, Liu Zhi (later Emperor Huan of Han). Grand Commandant Li Gu, along with Hu Guang and Minister of Works Zhao Jie, jointly advised Liang Ji against this. However, Liang Ji intimidated the officials at court, frightening Hu Guang and the others. Only Li Gu and Du Qiao remained steadfast, and were thus dismissed. Hu Guang was appointed Grand Commandant and concurrently Minister of the Imperial Secretariat to replace Li Gu. Subsequently, for his role in supporting Emperor Huan's ascension, Hu Guang was enfeoffed as Marquis of Anle Township, Yuyang County. In October, he was appointed Minister of Works. In November, Li Gu was framed by Liang Ji and imprisoned, and soon after, he was murdered.

In his will, Li Gu accused Hu Guang of failing to fulfill his duty as a subject due to fear of Liang Ji's coercion, thus plunging the country into crisis. (Li Gu, having received great favor from the state, devoted himself wholeheartedly to supporting the royal family, disregarding death, and aspiring to emulate Emperors Wen and Xuan. How could he have imagined that the Liang family would become so misguided, and that you, swayed by their errors, would turn good fortune into misfortune and success into failure? The decline of the Han dynasty began from this point. You, receiving generous rewards from the emperor, failed to support the fallen, causing the collapse of a great undertaking. Will future historians have any personal bias? I am dead, and I have done my duty; what more is there to say!) Upon reading Li Gu's will, Hu Guang felt both ashamed and sorrowful, sighing and weeping. This was the first thing that had ever caused Hu Guang such shame, but only a very few high-ranking officials involved knew of it. Unexpectedly, Wei Cong revealed it, leaving him both ashamed and horrified.

"How would I know?" Wei Cong sneered. "Hasn't Lord Hu heard the saying: 'If you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place'? What Lord Hu did back then is witnessed by Heaven and Earth! How could no one know? Lord Hu, you just asked me how future historical records should record my actions. Well, I'd like to return that question to you. How do you think future historical records will record your deeds in the first year of the Yuan Dynasty?"

When Hu Guang heard Wei Cong say this, he felt a sweet taste in his throat, and a warm liquid welled up from his throat. It was blood. He collapsed to the ground and fainted.

"Help! Help! Hu Situ is vomiting blood!" The attendants around Hu Guang were terrified and rushed forward to support him, searching for a doctor. Deng Zhong, standing nearby, whispered, "Mengde, this Hu Guang is very famous. What should we do?"

"Have someone take a look, then send him back. Just don't let him die here!" Wei Cong sneered. "That old scoundrel has a lot of faults, yet he dares to use his reputation to intimidate people. He really doesn't know what's good for him!"

(End of this chapter)