Chapter Thirty: Between Sovereign and Minister

The residence of the Cai family was draped in white silk, and the gatekeepers wore mourning clothes and simple attire. Inside the main hall, Cai Mao, dressed in plain mourning garments, sat high in the principal seat, while the rest of the family members took their places on chairs.

Cai He’s face was flushed with anger. “Elder brother, Father has been dead for two full days, yet Sun Jian hasn’t mentioned the matter at all. If he continues to shield his family like this, how can our Cai family be expected to serve him with loyalty?”

Cai Zhong sneered, “Although Sun Jian has dispersed his troops among the cities for farming, you, elder brother, still command twenty thousand soldiers in Xiangyang. If Sun Jian shows such disrespect to our Cai family, we can always seek a worthier lord elsewhere!”

“Reporting to the young master, the strategist and wine steward Jiang Wen requests an audience at the gate.”

“He’s nothing but Sun Jian’s loyal hound. Tell him to get lost; I don’t want to see him!” Cai He shouted.

From his seat of honor, Cai Mao spoke calmly, “Take him to my study.”

Cai He protested, “Why meet with him now, brother?”

“As long as we have not openly rebelled, we remain subjects of the Minister of Works.”

Led by the gatekeeper, Jiang Wen entered the study. Cai Mao pushed open the door and came in. Jiang Wen bowed in greeting, “Your subordinate, strategist and wine steward Jiang Wen, pays respect to the Rear General.”

“Today in court, I must thank the wine steward for maneuvering on my behalf,” Cai Mao replied, returning the bow and setting out two cushions. “Please, sit.”

Jiang Wen and Cai Mao settled upon the seats.

Expressionless, Cai Mao spoke, “Wine steward, I have just submitted a memorial to the Minister of Works, requesting to observe three years of mourning for my father. Is there official business you wish to discuss?”

Jiang Wen smiled calmly, “Once, Wu Zixu and his father were wronged and fled from Chu to Wu. Years later, he stormed Chu, exhumed King Ping’s tomb, and flogged the corpse three hundred times to avenge his father’s death.”

The pointed words made Cai Mao’s expression shift. He gave Jiang Wen a deep look and feigned indifference, “Wu Zixu was a man of the Warring States. Are you wishing to discuss history with me?”

“Rear General knows my meaning well. I simply wish to say that Wu Zixu’s fate was not a good one.” Jiang Wen took up a porcelain bowl, sipped water, and narrowed his eyes.

“Wine steward, you are astute,” Cai Mao’s gaze slowly filled with murderous intent. “Since you already know, are you not afraid of the executioners within my residence?”

Jiang Wen replied unhurriedly, “Because I know the Rear General is not so irrational. To raise troops and rebel would bring only momentary satisfaction, but it would sever the lineage of the Cai family.”

“I was never truly Sun Jian’s subordinate. In truth, much of my willingness to follow him was because of you, wine steward!” Cai Mao gradually withdrew his murderous aura. “Though you are young, your talent and insight have won my respect, and also the admiration of Ziyou and Yidu. I am certain that with your assistance, Sun Jian will reach the final step.”

“But today in court, how is Sun Jian worthy of my loyalty!” Cai Mao suddenly roared, eyes bloodshot. “On my father’s seventieth birthday, what should have been a joyful day turned into this tragedy. What did Sun Jian do?”

“Though I lost my parents early, I understand your pain, Rear General. When the Yellow Turban uprising began, my father protected me, enduring ten sword strikes from the rebels. Blood splattered my face until my uncle rescued me; only then did my father dare close his eyes…”

“The greatest error for a man is to be unfilial and disloyal. Your father surely wished for the family to thrive. If you rebel, it will be the crime of exterminating three clans, violating the old man’s wishes—this is unfilial. Now you are a subject of the Minister of Works; if you rebel, you are disloyal.”

“If battle erupts in Xiangyang, blood will surely flow through the streets! The city, now prosperous and peaceful, has allowed the common people to settle and build lives. They yearn for lasting peace. If war comes, their homes will be destroyed and families ruined. Does the General truly wish for this?”

“Do you wish to become a man condemned for disloyalty and unfilial conduct, reviled by the people?”

Cai Mao laughed bitterly, “My father was killed. If I do not avenge him, what filial piety is there? If the ruler errs and treats his ministers with contempt, what loyalty is there?”

Rising from his seat, Jiang Wen bowed solemnly to Cai Mao. “The land is in disarray, enemies surround us, and both Minister and people need talents like the Rear General. You said yourself that you follow the Minister because you trust my abilities. If you trust me, please observe your mourning in peace. Within three months, I will give you an answer.”

“If you do not trust me, then spill blood here and rebel!”

The study fell silent. Four breaths passed before Cai Mao stood and solemnly returned the bow. “I am willing to trust your talents, wine steward. My current position is thanks to your recommendation. I leave this matter to you!”

Jiang Wen departed the Cai residence and boarded his carriage.

Returning to the Jiang residence, Jiang Wen stared at the bamboo slips before him, frowning deeply in thought. “Tao’er, quickly invite Ziming to my house. Also, inquire whether Bofu and Gongjin have returned.”

“Yes.”

To conquer the world is hard; to govern it is harder still. The gap between ruler and minister is truly an awkward divide…

Lü Meng entered Jiang Wen’s mansion. “What good fortune brings me here again?”

“Come, sit.” Jiang Wen handed him a cushion. “Ziming, you’ve followed the Minister of Works since childhood. Do you know Sun Zhong?”

“Sun Zhong? He’s nothing but a rascal,” Lü Meng replied furiously after a moment’s thought. “Once, I went to suppress the Shanyue bandits. The provisions should have arrived in five days, but because of him, they were delayed five days. Naturally, we lost the battle, and fled for ten days before escaping!”

“To delay military supplies is a grave crime, yet he was let off lightly because he is the last child of the Minister’s brother. When the Minister was young and campaigning against bandits, that brother saved his life and died in his place. The Minister raised his brother’s child as his own, even granting him the Sun surname.”

“But neither Bofu nor any other family members respect him. He spends his days idle and ignorant, so lazy that even mounting a horse frightens him half to death!”

Tao’er entered, bowed to Jiang Wen, and said, “Young master, the middle rank general has sent a letter, saying he will return in three days and invites you to his wedding feast.”

Upon hearing the report, Jiang Wen nodded, while Lü Meng, somewhat surprised, remarked, “Bofu has really married Qiao Gong’s daughter. The Two Qiaos are renowned beauties!”

Lü Meng’s words, full of lascivious intent, made Tao’er roll his eyes. “The middle rank general is far more handsome than you, Ziming. Why wouldn’t he marry her?”

“What use is looks?” Lü Meng dismissed Tao’er’s words, muttering a few lines under his breath, then grinned mischievously at Tao’er.

Tao’er shrank back, confused by the look.

Lü Meng suddenly turned to Jiang Wen, “Changsu, recently at the inn, I saw a woman of extraordinary beauty. Will you come with me to see her? If you’re pleased, you can take her as your wife!”

“No!” Before Jiang Wen could reply, Tao’er, like a tigress, protested urgently.

“I invited Changsu, not you. Why so anxious?”

…

The bickering pair did not disturb Jiang Wen’s thoughts. After pondering deeply for some time, he finally devised a plan, though he was not entirely confident it would succeed.

Yet since Sun Jian harbors imperial ambitions, he hoped this strategy would prevail.