The carrier lot of goods was late by eight days. Shop owners were desperately waiting for their supplies. Every item sold in the capital, had not come since eight days ago. When the shop owners kept their eyes fixed on the capital northern gate. It opened wide and hoard of carts were lined one behind others. Merchants, traders, supplier even sailors rushed in the capital with supplies and new goods from ports. All the business around the capital got busy again. Every dealing took place in food stalls, restaurants and pavilions.
In a pavilion, a group of loud and rich traders, merchants and sailors were having a chirpy conversation.
Sailor 1 : "Had it not been for general you would have lost all your goods, merchant Wen."
Merchant Wen : "Who? Which general?"
Sailor 2 : "General Xu Guoqiang!"
Merchant 1 : "How is he of help? He has nothing good to give to us people."
Sailor 1: "He is the previous crown prince how can you speak like that of him? In public?"
Merchant Wen : "He does not have any good reputation around these streets. His called by various names what was it...?"
Another merchant : "Blood-sucking beast, disgrace of Xu family and monster who burned an entire village because they offended him."
While the merchants and the capital folks giggled and joked about the reputation of general Guoqiang.
Sailor 1 : "General Guoqiang despite his contribution is not honourable in the capital. It's a shame... Your goods would have been lost in sea and at higher prize you would have to get your goods from the fareway port. Now you are able to make this profit is due to general Guoqiang and his troops who helped in subduing the pirates."
Merchant 2 : "Isn't he just a mere general? He has only battled on land how can he be at sea."
Sailor 3 : "We initially thought that the government sent help. We have been sending letters to the court to provide safety against piracy. But in vain. When general arrived we thought our plea was heard. But it was later when we got information that the (now whispering) government never assigned anyone for arresting pirates. Out of his own will, general arrived to survey the situation and immediately strategised and fought the pirates and got to their base and arrested the rest. The cove that pirates had infested was a dreaded place. It was close to the route that goes to hinterland and to the capital city. Traders always frequented that route to cut past toll tax on the gates. Knowing this the pirates stationed themselves there and looted any passing cart with goods."
Trader : "The magistrate would not report it, he said that it was the traders fault for not taking the official route. But how can we poor people give such heavy toll to pass into city. It was a relief, when General cleared those pirates."
This chat was the talk of the town. Everyone was sharing this story with another as to why the goods were delayed and this heroic feat of the general saved them. This spread like wide fire. More stories were weaved and it finally reached the court and to the Emperor's ears. The court was in a brawl. Emperor could not take this rumor and had to stop it from going any further. It was at this time ex-military general Qin addressed the court, with a proposition that crossed no one's mind.
Ex military general Qin speaks out in a full court, " Emperor, the word on the street is that the emperor and prime minister Xu have neglected their duty as an uncle and as an adopted father. General Guoqiang has long past a marriageable age. The rumours get more bizarre that Prime minister Xu wish to degrade General Guoqiang. By never letting him stay at his mansion and that he lives in the side annex of the Xu residence."
Prime minister Xu : "There is no way our emperor will neglect his meritorious nephew. And as for where he resides in the residence is after his own choice not my doing. But do tell what you have in mind, you seem to a meticulous plan. what is it honarable Qin proposes?
Ex military general Qin : a marriage proposal between Xu Guoqiang and reformer Bai's daughter Bai Yue.
It was baffling, this tie between general and a reformer will losen emperor's strength. Reformer Bai mandated civil code and orchestrated young scholars into forming a community for the service of state and often rebel against local magistrate for corruption and nepotism. He grew influencial in the past 5 years and got himself as the member of the court thus creating two groups reformers and traditional courtiers. If the entire reformer party sides with Guoqiang then it would be easy for him to overthrow the emperor and reformers have string people support. Emperor could see his reign go in turmoil if this alliance was to be made. As half of the agreed to the alliance.
Emperor spoke, "Is there any other suggestion? Any other proposition for this marriage."
Half of the court only voiced one opinion. Amongst this noise a lowly court historian Lu rose to address the emperor directly. "Emperor, I have two daughters. If both my daughters were to be married to two sons of Prime minister Xu, I'd be the most content father in this entire kingdom."
This took the entire court room by storm. Sudden silence fell, prime minister was too stun to speak. His son, Xu Da who was also part of the court, could not believe this atrocious suggestion. Before any one could voice their differences, emperor agreed.
"Historian Lu and Prime minister Xu, I bestow this joyous union to your families. Two daughters of the Lu family will wed, two sons of the Xu family. On the occasion of Mid-Autumn festival." as he signed the decree.
It was a quick reaction from the emperor even before anyone could react or oppose. Emperor was pretty adamant about this matter, therefore he signed the marriage decree even without a second thought or opinion. This could not be retrieved, it was now set in stone.
...
At the Xu residence.
Frustrated prime minister and his some Xu Da storm inside after their court session was over. By passing the wife's greeting, sits down at the outdoor pavilion in their central courtyard. Prime minister wife Xu Jin asked with concern, "What happened at the court.?"
"Emperor bestowed a marriage on our family," said prime minister Xu.
"Isn't that a wonderful thing?" said Xu Jin delightfully not knowing the entire situation at hand.
Their son Xu Da spoke, to clear the confusion. "No it's emperor's way of dealing with Xu family. Killing two birds with one arrow."
Indeed it was emperor's way of wilting prime minister Xu's growth. Early the court of Emperor Taizong had two powerful ministers, Prime Minister Xu and Imperial Chancellor Xie. They were always opposing. Prime minister Xu had grown in power due to which Emperor Taizong could not do anything of his own will. Nevertheless with the rise of the scholar groups and reformer Bai emerging as as their leader. Created a unlikely situation for prime minister Xu. His reforms put his power in jeopardy, as new recruits and talents were given government posts. They worked without malice, fully transparent and were difficult to taint as they were all about people welfare and for the subjects well being and strongly voiced peoples discomfort and pain. They gained people's favour and due to this situation, reformer Bai gained a court position an chancellor. Xu and Xie had to become shake hands to overthrow a common enemy. Politics was already proving to be a sheet of thin ice that Xu was walking, when this marriage decree came in. Never he thought that his son would be married down.
"Your right, just when our power within the court was increasing. Emperor decided to curb it by tying us to a no name low ranking court historian." Said prime minister with gritted teeth.
Xu Jin trying to understand the matter asked, "Xu Da, your marriage is with the Lu family?"
Xu Da exclaimed, "Mine and Guoqiang!"
Xu Jin confused asked, "Why his!? What does his marriage has to do with my son (looking at her husband) and who is Guoqiang marrying?"
Xa Da : "Lu family's daughters!!"
To break the matter down prime minister Xu explains, "Qin brought up marriage with Reformer Bai for Guoqiang in court. Saying I neglected duties as his adopted father. "
Xu Jin : "Bai Yue is a good daughter, well-behaved, well-versed, gentle and obedient. She would have been a wonderful match for our son. But having her marry Guoqiang is like throwing flowers in mud. Why can't this proposal be our son's..." With a deep sigh, "Forget it, this situation makes me mad... But wait there's something not right. Lu Ke (court historian) has only one daughter," explained Xu Da's mother.
Prime minister Xu still in disbelief said, "Lu Ke told the emperor he has two daughters to match with our two sons."
Xu Jin as she recalls, "I've met Lu Ke's daughter Lu Mei. Very beautiful but also very bold, knows how to hold her place, does not let things slide easily. But no other daughter was ever mentioned... I'll investigate this."