Taiheiki

Chapter 274 Hidden Execution
At this moment, the attendants had already lifted Hu Guang onto the carriage. Wei Cong shouted, "Everyone has seen what happened today. If you dare to distort the truth and blame me for Hu Guang vomiting blood, someone will naturally come to settle accounts with you after we enter the city!"

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Inside Luoyang City, at the Sikong Mansion.

The sudden autumn rain turned the courtyard walls a dark red, like congealed blood. Yuan Shu hurried across the courtyard and arrived at the oxcart guarded by soldiers. Through the window, he whispered, "Uncle, Minister Hu is back!"

"So fast?" Yuan Wei's eyes widened in surprise. "If I remember correctly, didn't he just leave the city? Did Wei Cong send him back?"

"No!" Yuan Shu looked a little embarrassed. He glanced around, and Yuan Kui coughed, "Let's talk in the carriage!"

"Yes!" Yuan Shu got into the carriage: "This is what happened. After Minister Hu left the city, Wei Cong personally led his men out of the camp to greet him, and the etiquette was very respectful. Everything was fine at first, but Minister Hu, for some reason, accused Wei Cong in front of everyone of sending troops to attack Luoyang, causing great suffering to the people, and even said that these words would probably not look good in the history books in the future!"

"Oh?" Yuan Wei was taken aback. He hadn't expected Hu Guang to publicly embarrass Wei Cong in front of everyone. Clearly, the old man was prepared not to return. But was Wei Cong so easily provoked? Would he send Hu Guang back?

"What did Wei Cong do? Did he take action to send Hu Situ back?"

"How could that be!" Yuan Shu laughed. "You underestimate Wei Cong. After hearing Hu Situ's accusations, this fellow first said that as long as Empress Dowager Dou and the Grand General were willing to relinquish power to the Emperor, he would be willing to apologize to the Emperor. This guy is very shrewd; he's stuck on the Emperor's name, meaning that everything he's done is under the Emperor's orders, and only the Emperor can punish him. Anyone who criticizes him should go to the Emperor first. Isn't this guy formidable!"

"Heh, just a matter of words!" Yuan Wei laughed. "Minister Hu has studied the Five Classics for decades. It would be a miracle if he couldn't even win against Wei Cong with a few words! What did that old man say later?"

"Uncle, you guessed right!" Yuan Shu gave a thumbs up: "Minister Hu didn't argue with Wei Cong about whether he was guilty or not, he only asked Wei Cong if he had a guilty conscience?"

"Good question!" Yuan Wei clapped his hands and laughed, "So how did Wei Cong answer? Did he get angry and embarrassed on the spot?"

"This—!" Yuan Shu said with a wry smile, "According to those who were present at the time, Wei Cong retorted, mentioning the story of Hu Situ Jianhe and the first year!"

"The story of the first year of Jianhe? What is this?" Yuan Wei's expression suddenly changed drastically as he spoke: "What else did he say? How did Minister Hu react at the time?"

"The people in the carriage said they didn't hear very clearly at the time, only that they heard something about eating Han's food, saving the master, sighing and weeping. As for Minister Hu, he suddenly vomited blood and fainted. Then he was carried onto the carriage and taken back to the city!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Wei immediately understood the story Wei Cong had mentioned about the first year of the Jianhe era. He couldn't help but sigh, "That Wei Mengde! His tongue is indeed like a halberd, his words are all piercing to the heart. Minister Hu's reputation has been shattered by his few words. Ah, prepare to go visit Minister Hu!"

"Go now? Should we wait? We don't know how Hu Situ is feeling right now."

“If we go now, we might still be able to see him one last time. If we go any later, it will be too late!” Yuan Wei sighed. “After hearing Wei Cong’s words, if Hu Boshi had even a shred of humanity left, he would not be able to live in this world.”

"Huh?" Although Yuan Shu didn't understand his uncle's meaning, he still obediently followed Yuan Wei to the Situ's residence. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, the residences of the Three Dukes were not far apart, and they arrived in no time. Yuan Wei didn't need anyone to announce his arrival; he got out of the carriage and said in a deep voice to the steward who came to greet him, "Yuan Wei of Runan has come to pay his respects to Situ Hu and hopes to be granted an audience!"

Seeing this, the gatekeeper hurriedly ordered someone to open the gate while saying to Yuan Wei, "Lord Yuan, my master is now—"

"I know everything!" Yuan Wei sighed. "That's why I came here today!"

As they spoke, the gates of the mansion opened, and Yuan Kui entered directly, followed by Yuan Shu. The uncle and nephew proceeded to the inner hall, where a scholar in blue robes stepped forward to greet them. It was Hu Guang's youngest son, Hu Shuo. His expression was sorrowful, and he bowed to Yuan Kui, saying, "Minister Yuan, my father went out of the city today to see Wei Cong. I don't know what Wei Cong said, but it made my father vomit blood, and he hasn't been well since he returned."

“Nephew, there’s no need to say more!” Yuan Wei sighed and patted Hu Shuo’s arm twice. “Today’s events can only be described as Hu Situ’s misfortune. He really shouldn’t have gone out of the city to see Wei Cong. Anyway, take me to see him!”

Hu Shuo dared not ask Yuan Wei for details, so he led Yuan Wei into the back hall. As soon as they entered, they smelled medicine and blood. Hu Guang was lying half-reclined on the brocade couch, his back against the brocade cushion. Two maids were feeding him medicine. The floor and the blanket covering him were covered with blood and medicine. Obviously, Hu Guang vomited blood while being fed the medicine, and it spilled all over him.

"How did you two serve us?" Hu Shuo was furious when he saw this and was about to scold the two maids, but Yuan Wei stopped him with a gesture: "Enough, it's not their fault. Both of you, step back and let me and Lord Hu be alone for a while!"

"Huh?" Hu Shuo was stunned, and subconsciously cast a questioning glance at his father. Hu Guang, his face ashen and pale, nodded as well: "Do as Master Yuan says!"

"Yes, sir!" Hu Shuo responded, leading the two maids away. Yuan Shu glanced at his uncle and also left. Yuan Kui sat down beside the couch, picked up the bowl of medicine, and asked, "Brother Boshi, would you like to take your medicine?"

“What use is this to a dying man?” Hu Guang sighed. “Since you’ve come, you must know the situation. Although I still have a breath left, I’m already a dead man. Wei Mengde, oh Wei Mengde, how ruthless! You put me to death with just a few words. Isn’t this a covert execution?” Yuan Wei sighed and remained silent. The “covert execution” Hu Guang referred to was a special term in Han Dynasty high-level politics. During the Qin and Han dynasties, the government usually announced crimes and judgments in public places, carried out the executions openly, and displayed the corpses. This series of actions was called “public execution” or “public slaughter.” In contrast, when dealing with high-ranking officials, such as high-ranking bureaucrats, nobles, and members of the royal family, the “covert execution” was usually used. This meant that the crimes and judgments were not announced in public, the executions were carried out publicly, and the corpses were displayed openly, to distinguish the ruling class from the ruled class and to give them appropriate dignity. However, some covert executions involved official decrees, such as King Fuchai of Wu bestowing a sword upon Wu Zixu and King Qin bestowing a sword upon Bai Qi.

There were also cases where no explicit edict of execution was issued, but rather an edict of condemnation was issued, implying suicide. For example, the edict might only list the capital offenses but not mention execution. In this way, the recipient knew their crimes were unforgivable and would then voluntarily take their own life. Such treatment superficially demonstrated the court's benevolence, giving the illusion that the criminal was atoning for their sins with their own death.

After the failure of the Rebellion of the Seven States of Wu and Chu, Liu Ang, the King of Jiaoxi, surrendered to the Han army camp. Han general Han Tui, the Marquis of Gonggao, then "read the imperial edict to the king. After reading it, he said: 'Your Majesty should make your own plans.' The king said: 'If Ang and the others are guilty of more than enough crimes, they should die.' So he committed suicide." When Liu Dan, the Prince of Yan, was discovered to be plotting a rebellion, "a pardon was issued, and the prince read it, saying, 'Alas! Only officials and commoners are pardoned, but I am not.'" "The emperor then sent an envoy to bestow upon the Prince of Yan a sealed letter, which read: '...Now, Your Majesty, your own flesh and blood, is an enemy of us all, yet you conspire with other clans and foreign tribes to harm the state, favoring those you have distanced yourself from your relatives, showing a rebellious heart and lacking loyalty and affection. If the ancients could know this, how could they face the Qi wine offerings to the ancestral temple of Emperor Gaozu?' Upon receiving the letter, Liu Dan entrusted the seal and insignia to the chief physician and apologized to the prime minister, saying, 'I have failed in my duty; I deserve to die.' He then hanged himself with the ribbon. Later, more than twenty of his wives followed him in committing suicide."

Therefore, during the Han Dynasty, "reprimands" by the imperial court and government officials were severe punishments, often leading to suicide. For example, Li Guang was reprimanded by the chief secretary of General Wei Qing for being late (a form of interrogation during the Han Dynasty where the interrogator and the interrogated answered questions in writing). Li Guang committed suicide. Those who received imperial reprimands but did not immediately commit suicide were often subsequently arrested, imprisoned, and tortured to death, like Zhou Yafu; or executed in the marketplace, like Dou Ying.

Sometimes, the government wouldn't even issue an edict of condemnation, but instead use various hints. For example, when Emperor Wen of Han executed Bo Zhao, he ordered court officials to wear mourning clothes and weep at Bo Zhao's door, ultimately forcing Bo Zhao to commit suicide. There was also the practice of the emperor bestowing cattle and wine upon ministers who had committed serious crimes. According to custom during the Han Dynasty, if a minister was ill, the emperor would bestow upon him ten bushels of wine and a cow; if a healthy minister received such a gift, the minister had to feign illness. Often, the minister would immediately claim illness upon receiving the gift and die a couple of days later, making it impossible to discern in historical records that the minister was executed by the emperor. Other forms of covert execution included being summoned to the Court of Justice, imprisonment, death by mist or dew, death from grief, and death by starvation.

With Wei Cong's army besieging Luoyang, the lives of the city's inhabitants depended entirely on his decision. Hu Guang's only protection was his reputation and seniority. Now, Wei Cong had shattered this shield, and Hu Guang had angered him. According to the political conventions of the Han Dynasty, Hu Guang was already a dead man. If he committed suicide, the blame would only fall on him. If he refused, Wei Cong, after entering the city, would petition the emperor to reopen the old case. At that time, Hu Guang would not only die, but die a humiliating death, and his family and clan would also be punished. Therefore, suicide was now the only option. Yuan Wei knew this as well, so he did not try to dissuade him.

"Alas!" Hu Guang sighed deeply. "A person over fifty is not considered to have died young. I am now over seventy, which is considered a long life. The ancients said, 'When life reaches its peak, disgrace follows,' and today I understand that. Lord Yuan, Wei Cong is showing his true colors, and the Dou family cannot be relied upon. You must think about your future!"

“If Yuan Shao died at his hands, and I were willing to submit to him, would he tolerate me and the Yuan family of Runan?” Yuan Wei asked.

"Alright!" Hu Guang gave a bitter laugh. "I'm a dying man, so I don't need to worry about these things. Ciyang, there's a small bottle next to the bookshelf over there. Could you please bring it to me?"

Yuan Wei got up and walked to the bookshelf. He saw a small, dusty bronze bottle hidden behind the bamboo slips. He picked up the bottle and handed it to Hu Guang: "Is this it?"

Hu Guang took the bronze bottle and sighed, "The poison in this bottle was prepared when I was an official in Nanjun. My superior at the time was short-tempered and spoke harshly. I didn't want to be humiliated, so I prepared this bottle of poison, intending to drink it and commit suicide if I was reprimanded by him. I thought I wouldn't need this poison anymore, but I never expected this—" With that, he pulled out the stopper, drank the poison in one gulp, then collapsed onto the bed, his body twitched a few times, and then remained still.

Yuan Wei sighed, helped Hu Guang lie down on the couch, wiped the black blood from the corner of his mouth, closed his wide-open eyes, and then said to the outside room, "Come in, Master Hu has passed away!"

Once aboard the oxcart, Yuan Kui remained silent. Yuan Shu could sense the terrifying aura emanating from his uncle, and he dared not speak, simply holding his breath as he sat inside the cart.

"While Wei Cong hasn't completely surrounded Luoyang City, you should leave the city after dark! Everyone in the manor who isn't an official should leave with you!"

"Huh?" Yuan Shu was stunned; he hadn't yet grasped his uncle's meaning.

"Luoyang City is already a dead end. The Dou family is no match for Wei Cong. As one of the Three Dukes of the Imperial Court, I cannot leave. You have no need to stay in the city to wait for your death!"

"Uncle!" Yuan Shu exclaimed anxiously upon hearing this, but before he could speak, Yuan Kui waved his hand and said, "Time is of the essence. Go back and make preparations. Set off before dark and don't delay!"

"Uncle, does Wei Cong really dare to attack the city? This is Luodu!" Yuan Shu said anxiously.

"Dare?" Yuan Wei smiled. "Look at what he's done these past few years. Is there anything in this world he wouldn't dare to do?"

Yuan Shu was speechless for a moment. After a long while, he stamped his foot and said, "Uncle, please rest assured, after I return to Runan, I will immediately gather heroes from all directions and build up troops so that he will not dare to harm you."

“As one of the Three Dukes of the Imperial Court, I share the responsibilities of the Secretariat with the Dou family. If the Dou family falls from power, it is only right that I should be executed!” Yuan Wei sighed. “As for Wei Cong, you are probably no match for him!”

"So we're just going to leave it at that?" Yuan Shu said angrily.

“Things aren’t that simple. Even if Wei Cong eliminates the Dou clan and installs the emperor to rule in his own right, there will be many troubles to come. After all, his foundation is too shallow. Not to mention the scholars of the land, even Zhang Huan and Feng Kun would not allow him to hold the reins of power!” Yuan Wei shook his head: “However, his edge is extremely sharp, and you don’t need to face it head-on. Do you understand what I mean?”

"Uncle, are you asking me to wait?"

"Yes! That's pretty much the gist of it!" Yuan Wei nodded. "He won't be able to stay in Luoyang for long; he'll be kicked out soon, and then we'll deal with him!"

"Nephew understands!" At this moment, the oxcart stopped, and Yuan Shu got off. He reached out to help Yuan Kui, but Yuan Kui shook him off: "That's enough, go and prepare to leave the city! I don't need you here!"

(End of this chapter)