Jinting Han people

After a night of commotion at the Sili Prefecture, when Lu Yun awoke, he felt a splitting headache and his vision was blurry. He groaned and instinctively tried to turn over, but the strange sensations around him made him realize something was wrong, and he instinctively tried to sit up. However, his limbs were weak, and he could only lift his upper body slightly before collapsing due to exhaustion.

A familiar voice sounded from the side: "You'd better get up slowly, be careful not to fall."

Lu Yun followed the sound and saw that it was indeed Liu Xian speaking. The rain outside the window had not yet stopped, and the sky was still rather dark, so candles were lit inside. The newly appointed Commandant of the Capital Region sat upright on a wooden couch, holding a short knife in one hand and a green pear in the other. Tea was bubbling in front of him, and it seemed that he was preparing to make a bowl of fruit tea.

Liu Xian smiled at Lu Yun, quickly peeled the pear in his hand, cut it into pieces, and threw it into the teapot. Then he stood up, poured a bowl of bitter-smelling medicinal soup from another medicine pot, carried it to Lu Yun, and said:
"Here, this is the medicine for typhoid fever. You still have the strength to carry the medicine, right? Take it. Drink it first, and the sweet tea soup will be ready in a little while."

After Lu Yun took it, Liu Xian sat back on the wooden couch, added some rock honey to the tea, and joked, "You really know how to scheme. You didn't eat or drink and stood in the rain for four hours. If you develop any illness here, when word gets out, everyone in Luoyang will say that Liu Huaichong is cold-hearted and narrow-minded."

To Lu Yun, these words sounded like a reproach. He had regained some strength and finally sat up straight with the bowl in his hand. He bowed his head and apologized to Liu Xian, saying, "Lord, this was not my intention. I just wanted to... clarify some... misunderstandings."

"A misunderstanding?" Liu Xian's smile gradually faded. He used a spoon to stir the rock honey until it dissolved, then tapped it twice on the teapot, poured the soup into it, and said, "I know what the misunderstanding is. You don't need to tell me, Shilong."

"You know?"

"Of course I know." Liu Xian wiped his hands with a wet wipe, raised his eyes to look directly at Lu Yun, and calmly stated, "I have known Shi Heng for almost fourteen years. I know him all too well. Although I guessed his thoughts wrong, now that things have happened, I can understand what he is thinking."

"When I last met Shiheng, he mentioned King Zhao and Sun Xiu to me, probably trying to test my attitude towards King Zhao. However, I unexpectedly had the idea of ​​assassinating Sun Xiu and was unusually resolute in my attitude, which surprised him and left him at a loss."

“Sun Xiu had already colluded with the princes. As long as the Empress Dowager’s faction eliminated the Crown Prince first, he would be able to seize the opportunity and win. If I killed Sun Xiu, all of this might be over. This was an opportunity he had been waiting for for a long time. If he missed it this time, he didn’t know when he would get another chance. So after much hesitation, he told Sun Xiu about my assassination plan and hoped that Sun Xiu would not go to the meeting.”

"Shilong, I know what you're trying to say. It's simply that Shiheng never intended to harm me, right?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yun couldn't help but exclaim in genuine amazement. Liu Xian's prediction was exactly the same as the truth! He felt a mixture of admiration and doubt, and said, "Then are you willing to help..."

Liu Xian said resolutely, "Shilong, I will not help him."

Faced with Lu Yun's astonished and disappointed gaze, Liu Xian decided to speak frankly: "Everyone knows that Sun Xiu and I have a life-or-death relationship. Someone as smart as him couldn't possibly not know that, could he? After he tells Sun Xiu my plan, is it possible that Sun Xiu will do nothing?"

"He definitely didn't know, or rather, he pretended not to know; he lied to himself that he didn't know!"

“I always thought Shiheng would stand by my side, but he sided with Sun Xiu. How can I forgive him? I’ve always been a forgiving person, but I’m not one to be indiscriminately kind. For so many years, he’s been my best friend, yet he’s hurt me to this extent. I’ve already done more than enough by not kicking him while he’s down. You still want me to help him? I’m sorry, I can’t do it!”

Liu Xian spoke faster and faster, and the emotions that had been building up over this period of time poured out.

Liu Xian had made many friends, some of whom were close friends who had helped him in life-or-death situations, such as Zu Ti; others who were not particularly virtuous, but who always considered friendship and let him off the hook, such as Meng Guan; and still others with whom he had pleasant conversations, but who turned out to be incompatible and eventually parted ways, albeit a peaceful one, such as Liu Cong.

Of all these people, only Lu Ji was a true confidant to Liu Xian, with whom he shared almost everything. Yet, Lu Ji turned the tables on him. How could Liu Xian possibly forgive him?

Upon hearing Liu Xian's words, Lu Yun fell silent. He knew that what Liu Xian said was true, but as a brother, how could he watch his elder brother die tragically in prison? He could only drink the medicine in the bowl sip by sip. The bitterness made him cough repeatedly. After coughing, there was silence, with only the sound of the tea bubbling in the room.

After a long silence, Lu Yun slowly said, "Lord, my fourth brother... he didn't side with Sun Xiu. He was just too proud and too afraid."

"He is already forty years old. My father (Lu Kang) was already a general at that age, and my grandfather was the governor of Jingzhou, guarding half the country. But he is forty years old, famous throughout the land, yet he is still a mere writer. He can't wait any longer. He is afraid that if he continues to wait, he will achieve nothing, and history will record that Lu Xun's grandson, Lu Kang's son, Lu Ji, was just a sycophant who was good at writing."

"He was terrified of failure. Although he never said it, I knew that he would often wake up in the middle of the night and play the zither alone, playing 'Battle of Xiling.' Others often thought that he was reminiscing about his father's great achievements, but I knew that he was afraid, afraid that he would dishonor the honor and reputation of the Lu family. This is something that even writing ten thousand famous poems and essays could not buy."

"My lord, my fourth brother...it's not that he didn't want to stand with you, he was just too terrified by this fear...and ran away at the last minute. But after running away, he still...gave nothing..."

At this point, Lu Yun struggled to sit up and bowed deeply to Liu Xian, saying, "Lord, I know it's too late to say anything, but as long as you can rescue my fourth brother, I will do whatever you ask of me in the future, even if it means going through fire and water!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Xian remained silent for a long time. He understood this burden all too well. He frowned and said, "Shilong, I've heard this kind of talk too many times. What do you mean by 'I'll do anything'? Shiheng owes me a life. Can you repay it with your own?"

Lu Yun raised his head and said resolutely, "If the Prefect wants my life, he can help spare my fourth brother. I am willing to atone for my sins with my death!"

Having said that, he immediately struggled to get up and reach for the sword hanging in the bedroom. Seeing how much he cared about his brotherhood, Liu Xian felt a pang of pity. He quickly stopped Lu Yun, saying, "Stop! What use do I have for dead men? If you want to sell your life to me, you'd better see if I'll take it."

After a pause, Liu Xian pondered for a moment and then said, "How about this, Shilong, I'll give you a chance. I'm currently the Commandant of the Capital Region and I'm planning to govern the capital. If you can say something that I'll readily agree to, I'll plead with the Prince of Qi to release Shiheng. What do you say?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yun was overjoyed. A surge of energy seemed to spring from somewhere within him as he sat up straight and asked, "Is it a deal, Lord?"

Liu Xian smiled and said, "It's a deal!"

After a moment of contemplation, considering Liu Xian's current needs and desires, Lu Yun quickly determined his approach and asked, "A few days ago, I saw a group of ships sailing east from Mengjin. I heard that the Prefect had arranged for them to buy grain in Hebei. May I ask if this is true or not?"

Liu Xian said, "That is indeed the case." Lu Yun then said, "In that case, the Prefect is probably worried about the people's livelihood and intends to stabilize prices, right?"

It wasn't hard to guess, and Liu Xian nodded again: "That's right."

Lu Yun said, "But this round trip will take at least a month, or at most three months. Meanwhile, rising prices are imminent, and distant solutions cannot quench immediate thirst. In order to lower grain prices, the Prefect must have other measures in mind. And these past few days, some of the gentlemen in the Prefect's residence have been frequently visiting the residences of princes and nobles, which must be for this matter."

Liu Xian was slightly surprised. He did not expect Lu Yun's observation to be so sharp that he could deduce the truth from these details. He nodded and said, "That's right. I think we should have these princes take out some of their stored grain and sell it to Taicang at the current market price. Taicang can then sell it to the market at a lower price, and the price level can be maintained."

Lu Yun stared at Liu Xian and said, "With your wisdom, Lord Prefect, you must understand this principle: the price of grain changes almost every day. Every day the princes delay, they can earn more. As the saying goes, human desires are insatiable, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. They will never agree to your request, Lord Prefect."

He went straight to Liu Xian and asked, "Based on my understanding of you, Lord Prefect, you haven't already made up your mind to use your power to force the princes to submit, have you?"

Liu Xian had never revealed this matter to outsiders. Seeing that Lu Yun had accurately stated his plan, he was surprised again, thinking, "Shilong actually knew about me?" But he revealed a meaningful expression on his face and began to ask mysteriously, "What if it is? What if it isn't?"

Lu Yun took this as tacit agreement and bowed, saying, "Lord, if you have such a plan, I advise you to give it up."

“I know you are not an unfeeling person; you just want to sincerely serve the people. However, the imperial clan is currently the most powerful force in Luoyang. The three regents—the Prince of Qi, the Prince of Chengdu, and the Prince of Changsha—although they all claim to be wise princes, are ultimately of the Sima clan. No matter how good your reputation is, there is still a distance between you and them. If you offend these princes too much, they will flock to the three princes to complain. Do you think the three princes will side with you or with the princes?”

Upon hearing this, Liu Xian frowned, paused for a moment, and replied, "I have indeed considered what Shilong said, but how can one do anything without taking risks? Even if I end up being dismissed from my post, wouldn't I be the one who suffers the embarrassment? The three regents will lose all face because of this. I bet that if we really fight to the end, they will still stand on my side."

Lu Yun said, "Indeed, Your Excellency's plan is quite brilliant. But has Your Excellency considered that even if the Three Princes are on your side, wouldn't they harbor resentment after such a falling out with the Imperial Clan? If the Imperial Clan were to secretly seek revenge, how would they respond?"

The answer is not hard to come by: indulgence, of course. Liu Xian sneered, "Someone wants to draw their sword against me? I'd be happy to oblige. Let's see whose sword is sharper!"

"Absolutely not!" Lu Yun solemnly advised, "Your Excellency, if you are to accomplish great things, you must not have such thoughts! As the saying goes, governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. The more you endanger yourself, the more you must handle things with ease. Otherwise, if you harm your own life, who will the people rely on?"

Liu Xian naturally understood this principle, but he countered, "If I don't do this, how can I quell the unrest in the capital and stabilize prices?"

Faced with this question, Lu Yun remained calm and composed, revealing a touch of nonchalance. He said, "I have a plan that can help you succeed, Lord."

"Oh? What's the plan?" Liu Xian became somewhat curious.

Lu Yun said, "The princes and nobles hoard grain simply to profit from selling it. But they can't hoard it forever; there will always be a time when they sell it at a low price. May I ask, Your Excellency, when will they sell grain at a low price?"

Liu Xian said, "Of course, it's when there's plenty of grain in the market and no shortage of food."

Lu Yun said, "Then why doesn't the Prefect set a trap for the princes and nobles, making them mistakenly believe that Luoyang has no shortage of food and supplies?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Xian's eyes lit up, and he waved his hand, saying, "Continue."

Lu Yun continued, “You can first transfer a batch of grain, claiming it was transported from another region, amounting to nearly a million bushels. Then, you can publicize it in the capital, unload the grain in public, and sell it at a low price on the market.”

"In reality, you only need to make a show of it during the day, put tens of thousands of bushels on the front ship, and fill the rest with mud and sand, only putting grain and fodder on the top layer. Unload during the day, and when the curfew comes at night, you can use your authority as the Commandant of the Capital Region to load these goods back onto the ship, and repeat the cycle."

"How can those princes and nobles sit idly by when they see that the grain is inexhaustible? They will surely think that the price of grain will fall, and then they will sell off large quantities of grain. By then, you won't even have to wait for the grain to be transported back from Hebei; the price of grain in Luoyang will probably have already fallen back to previous years."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xian couldn't help but slap the table and exclaim in admiration, "What a brilliant idea! Shilong is truly ingenious!"

He excitedly rose and paced back and forth in the room, pondering the pros and cons and feasibility of the plan. The more he thought about it, the more confident he felt it was foolproof. Originally, he was 70% certain of success, which wasn't low, but it did carry the risk of cutting off his own escape route. However, if he implemented Lu Yun's plan, there would be few worries. After all, even if the princes discovered they had fallen into a trap afterward, what could they say? They would simply be considered less intelligent, and it wouldn't damage their reputation.

Seeing that Liu Xian was happy, Lu Yun tentatively asked, "May I ask, Lord, what about my fourth brother...?"

Liu Xian then seemed to wake from a dream, stood up, and solemnly said to Lu Yun, "Shilong, rest assured, since I have promised you, I will definitely keep my word and save his life."

Liu Xian paused here, pointed to himself, then to Lu Yun, and said, "But according to the agreement, from now on, your life belongs to me. Do you agree?"

Lu Yun took a deep breath and bowed for the third time, saying, "I am willing to serve you like a dog or a horse!"

Liu Xian laughed loudly, "Good! From this day forward, you are the Chief Clerk of the Sili Prefecture!"

The two then continued their discussion about rectifying the situation in the capital. Neither noticed that the tea that had been boiling in the teapot beside them had quietly boiled dry. (End of Chapter)