Merits and Demerits; Wuji's First Show . . .
Prime Minister Zuo chose to close his eyes, opting not to entangle himself further. "I don't want to provoke the king, nor do I want to confront Cha Nantian. I certainly won't clash with the scholars' group. One mistake, and I'll offend them all... It's best to feign ignorance."
However, at that very moment, he heard the king's voice and involuntarily quivered. "God, why does it have to be me again? Do I have some peculiar affinity for being ensnared in these situations? Why is it so arduous to avoid these entanglements?"
All the officials and the king had focused their gaze on him, and he appeared dreadfully unsettled. He found himself in an untenable position. Should he support Cha Nantian and the king, thereby opposing the scholar group, or should he take the other route, which would offend the king? The decision weighed heavily on him.
"What am I to do? I can't opt for this, nor can I choose that!" As the prime minister, the head of the scholar officials, he racked his brain to devise a solution. Finally, he spoke, "The conquest of the north by Great General Cha is an extraordinary achievement. I believe he deserves ample recognition."
The officials glared at him with intense disdain. They wished they could devour the old man whole. "What are you thinking? You're a scholar and our leader. What on earth are you doing? You're undermining our own credibility!"
The king, however, appeared intrigued. "Oh?"
Prime Minister Zuo quickly continued, "Nevertheless, the death toll in this campaign is enormous. He has caused extensive loss of life, which is immoral and sinful. He should be punished accordingly."
The king was taken aback, and the officials were left dumbfounded. "What is this? You first recommend rewarding him and then call for his punishment! What is your true stance? Whose side are you on? By supporting both options, you offend both sides!"
The king partially closed his eyes and asked, "What course of action do you propose? Should I reward him or punish him?"
Prime Minister Zuo bowed humbly and responded, "I don't possess any particular recommendations. General Cha has both merits and demerits. The truth is that it is your prerogative to decide whether he should be rewarded or punished, your majesty."
The king's expression twisted in exasperation. "You old codger, you've spoken in circles."
"You have merely evaded the issue and shifted the responsibility back to me. What a shrewd move. You've neither offended one side nor the other, while maintaining your stance in the middle." The officials suddenly held great admiration for this wise old man.
What is the most essential skill in the court? It's precisely this—the art of language. This difficult situation had been effortlessly resolved with just a few words. He had not antagonized anyone and had divested himself of any responsibility. This was the kind of lesson everyone should learn, and the officials decided to take heed of it.
The king wore a sardonic smile as he gazed at Prime Minister Zuo. The elderly statesman, keeping his head lowered, refrained from returning the king's gaze.
"Reevaluate the matter, and leave the court!" The king waved his sleeve and departed.
Prime Minister Zuo exhaled a sigh of relief. In the following days, the king refrained from appearing in court, and there was no rush to proceed.
"It's just a matter of time before you return to the court," the officials silently mused.
"As Prime Minister Zuo suggested, we shall await your verdict. If we find it unsatisfactory, we can voice our objections."
That night, after Prime Minister Zuo returned home, he engaged in a conversation with his grandson, Zuo Wuji, who was engrossed in reading within the study. "Wuji, you once expressed a desire to become an official as soon as possible. Well, now there is a golden opportunity that has arisen. It might be time for you to enter the court."
Zuo Wuji's eyes sparkled with interest. After his grandfather had shared the details with him, he pondered for a moment before speaking, "Grandpa, what do you think I should do?"
"What do you wish to do?" Prime Minister Zuo inquired.
"I want to..." Zuo Wuji hesitated, weighing his words carefully.
"Go ahead," encouraged Prime Minister Zuo.
"I want to draft a report for the king," Zuo Wuji slowly began. "I believe that, when the kingdom is at peace, it would be wise to grant the man his freedom so that they can continue to maintain a fraternal relationship. Allow him to depart and await his return. This way, the disturbance can end, and there will be nothing but peace."
Prime Minister Zuo's eyes lit up. His white beard bristled as he declared, "Splendid! Splendid! Splendid!"
He repeated "splendid" three times, rising from his seat. "Brilliant! The House of Zuo has produced a gifted child!"
The following day, the king finally made his appearance in court. He felt extraordinarily uneasy facing the assembled officials, but he had no alternative. Their arguments were founded on morality and righteousness, principles that even a king could not readily dismiss. Consequently, he relied on Prime Minister Zuo to facilitate the resolution.
Prime Minister Zuo appeared somewhat dispirited as he spoke, "I must admit that I am at a loss regarding General Cha. However, last night, my grandson learned of the situation and drafted a sealed report for your consideration, your majesty. He requested me to present it here. Although he may be inexperienced, his limited perspective might contain something of value."
With that, he retrieved an envelope sealed with a wax imprint and presented it to the throne.
The king furrowed his brow. "Hand it over."
A servant took the envelope and presented it to the king. The king cast a brief glance at Prime Minister Zuo before unsealing it.
The moment he began to read, his eyes lit up.
Upon concluding his perusal of the report, he fell into contemplation for a brief period. He then spoke in a subdued tone, "Prime Minister Zuo, are these truly Wuji's words?"
Prime Minister Zuo replied, "Yes."
"Are you aware of its contents?" inquired the king in an unemotional tone.
Prime Minister Zuo bowed respectfully and said, "While Wuji did consult with me, I do not believe my words were reflected in the report. One should nominate those individuals who possess moral and virtuous qualities, even if they are relatives. In my opinion..."
"I see," the king interjected. "Imperial decree!"
An official promptly stepped forward, and the servants readied the necessary materials.