C82. Zhou Gongdan's Ingenious Plan.
Is Emperor Jianyuan dying?
Yuan Li suddenly realized, "No wonder..."
No wonder Cai Ji was so hurriedly transporting wealth and properties out. It turns out he also knew that Emperor Jianyuan was dying.
If Emperor Jianyuan dies, chaos will ensue in the world. He fears that they will seek revenge for what he did before.
Yuan Li said to Chu Hechao, "Cai Ji is preparing to run away."
Chu Hechao indifferently replied, "Let him run, he's just a parasite, with or without him makes no difference."
Yuan Li nodded, "If he leaves, I can easily arrange for a new magistrate of Guangyang County."
After speaking, he fell into contemplation.
Chu Hechao pinched his cheek, "What are you thinking?"
"Thinking about how our parents should handle this." Yuan Li muttered, patting his hand.
His parents were in Ruyang County, a day's journey from Luoyang. If there's a mutiny in Luoyang or a major event, his parents still have time to prepare. But Prince Chu and Madam Yang were in Luoyang, and with Chu Hechao commanding a standing army of 130,000 in the northern border, no matter who the new ruler is, they won't easily let Prince Chu and Madam Yang leave, using them to control Chu Hechao.
Yuan Li was worried about Prince Chu and Madam Yang, but seeing how calmly Chu Hechao was drinking with others, he guessed that Prince Chu must have given his assurances.
Indeed, Chu Hechao calmly said, "They will leave Luoyang before the Emperor died, and come to Youzhou with your parents."
Yuan Li was surprised, "Will my parents come along?"
"Yes," Chu Hechao pinched the back of his neck, "You are far in Youzhou, and have made significant contributions. If chaos erupts, someone might hold your parents hostage to threaten you. Also, the Yuan family and the Chu family are now linked, if my parents escape, it might affect yours too."
Yuan Li nodded thoughtfully, sighed, "I'm afraid my father won't want to come."
Ruyang County was their stronghold, where Yuan Song had invested countless efforts. It would take a real crisis to bring him there.
He hoped his parents would be persuaded to come to Youzhou. Just in case, he would send a letter to the family tomorrow.
Chu Hechao pinched the back of his neck again and informed him of the situation in Luoyang.
After Emperor Jianyuan fell ill, conflicts arose between the Empress's brother, Li Li and the eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department, each vying for power after Emperor Jianyuan's death, wanting to support a puppet prince to contend for the throne.
With the Emperor's children being few, he had only three princes, the eldest being twenty-three, the best candidate to succeed. However, when Emperor Jianyuan fell seriously ill, the eldest prince had already passed away earlier.
Officially, it was said he died of illness, but they all knew deep down, whether the eldest prince's death was caused by the Empress Dowager or the eunuchs. The remaining two princes, one was just twelve, and the other just seven, couldn't stabilize the constantly shifting Northern Zhou.
They would eventually become pawns in the power struggle between the Empress Dowager and the eunuchs.
After hearing all this, Yuan Li couldn't help but feel despondent and fell silent, no longer speaking.
Chu Hechao noticed his demeanor and asked, "What's wrong?"
Yuan Li remained silent.
Chu Hechao lifted his chin forcefully, "Say something."
Yuan Li slowly said, "I feel a bit uncomfortable."
Chu Hechao frowned, then suddenly stretched out his arms and pulled the young man onto his lap, coaxing, "If you're uncomfortable, give me a kiss."
Yuan Li: "..."
Chu Hechao hissed, "Why do you always pinch me?"
Yuan Li couldn't be bothered to respond to him.
The man's hands massaged Yuan Li's back, one after another, in a languid and content voice, he asked, "Tell me, what's bothering you."
"The Patriarch Grandfather..." Yuanli buried his face in Chu Hechao's neck, his voice muffled, "He didn't have to die."
If only they had known that Emperor Jianyuan would pass away this year, if only they had known... If only they had known...
But no one could have known.
Earlier, upon learning that the Patriarch Grandfather would die for him and for the family, Yuan Li felt a heavy and oppressive weight, unable to shed a tear. But now, his eyes were moist, wetting a patch of Chu Hechao's clothes on his shoulder.
He didn't have to die.
The most distressing thing is not the weight of Mount Tai's death, but sacrificing for the family, only to find that one's own death is as light as a feather.
Chu Hechao felt Yuan Li's silent tears and used his rough fingers to wipe away the tears from Yuan Li's temples and forehead.
"Don't cry," he kissed Yuan Li's hair, "Your tears break my heart."
His heart genuinely felt the pain, thumping heavily.
Under his comforting embrace, Yuan Li's tears flowed even more uncontrollably. He buried his head, his hands encircling the man.
After a while, the man sighed, his voice low and gentle, "When we return to Ruyang in the future, I'll accompany you to pay respects at the Patriarch Grandfather's grave, okay?"
Yuan Li had regained his composure but now found himself drifting into an awkward phase after the emotional breakdown. Feeling the dampness on his face and the heat rising to his cheeks, he silently nodded.
Chu Hechao said, "Good boy."
Yuan Li shook slightly, "...Are you being too intimate?"
"Intimate" was the affectionate term of that era.
Chu Hechao blushed deeply, feeling embarrassed, "Can't I be a little intimate with my wife?"
Seeing him becoming embarrassed, Yuan Li reassured him and wiped his tears on his body.
Chu Hechao glanced at him disdainfully, "You've got your snot on me now."
Yuan Li earnestly stated, "I didn't have snot."
Chu Hechao casually replied, "Hmm, if you say you didn't, then you didn't. That snot must have been mine."
Yuan Li's hand twitched, "I really didn't have snot."
Chu Hechao pressed his face down and landed a kiss, "It's okay, I love you even if you have snot."
Yuan Li: "..."
He was so irritated that he kicked Chu Hechao off the bed.
*
The next day, Yuan Li summoned strategists Liu Jixin and Zhou Gongdan to discuss with them the matter of Cai Ji planning to escape from Youzhou.
After hearing this, Liu Jixin pondered for a moment and asked, "Lord, do you want to let him go, or..."
Without hesitation, Yuan Li said, "Kill him."
Following the warning sounded by Xiao Ce, Yuan Li understood clearly that he could not afford to be merciful to the source of trouble.
Cai Ji was such a source of trouble.
If they were to let him escape today, who knew what calamities he might cause in the future?
If sacrificing him could possibly avert uncertain disasters, Yuan Li would not hesitate to make that choice.
"He knows too much about Youzhou," Yuan Li said calmly, "Having been a magistrate in Youzhou for decades, he is well-versed in the affairs of Youzhou. Moreover, whether it's about potatoes, cotton, or the dispatch of my troops to Yanzhou to suppress bandits, he is likely to have some knowledge. Even about the thunderclap cannon I made and the heavy rain in April, I am not sure how much information he may have. If he decides to use it against us, it would be detrimental to us."
Having witnessed Yuan Li's growth firsthand, Liu Jixin was both amazed and gratified by how quickly he had matured. With a bowed head, he said, "Lord, your intentions align with Jixin's thoughts."
Zhou Gongdan shared the same sentiment, "Ideally, we should ensure he does not leave Youzhou alive. But Lord, you must not act hastily. Though Cai Ji is deserving of death, he has the backing of the Cai family. The Cai family is a renowned noble family, with the current highest-ranking official being Cai Yi, a Chief Military Officer. Previous generations included eminent scholars who attained the rank of Senior Imperial Secretary. They have countless disciples, and their family ties with many influential aristocratic families. It would not be beneficial for us if the news of a magistrate fleeing and being pursued by a commandant were to spread."
Yuanli chuckled, "Wen Ning is right."
The three of them chatted a while and decided on how to kill Cai Ji.
They agreed to pretend to allow Cai Ji to escape, and once he left Youzhou, they would disguise themselves as Baimi Rebellion members or bandits and kill him on the way.
On the evening of the second day, Zhao Ying reported to Yuan Li that Cai Ji had fallen ill.
According to his investigation, the magistrate's residence was closed to visitors, but nightly shipments of goods to Jixian County had not ceased.
This made Yuan Li even more certain of Cai Ji's intentions to flee. He instructed Zhao Ying to keep an eye on Cai Ji and report immediately if he saw Cai Ji leaving Jixian County with his family.
Despite Zhao Ying's close surveillance, for three consecutive days, only goods were being transported out, while Cai Ji, supposedly ill, never left his residence.
After three days, Yuan Li began to feel uneasy. He informed Chu Hechao, and together, with their guards, they went to the magistrate's residence to "visit" Cai Ji. However, upon barging in, they were astonished to find that Cai Ji had already fled.
The residence was now only inhabited by some servants and women.
After interrogation, it was revealed that Cai Ji had received the news as soon as Guan Zhihuai entered Jixian County. He speculated that Chu Hechao and Yuanli might have also received the unfavorable news of the emperor.
That very night, he decided to leave Jixian County prematurely, instructing his servants to claim illness and continue transporting goods out of the county to feign the appearance of still being present in Jixian County.
Having served as magistrate in Youzhou for decades, Cai Ji was aware of the spies lurking in Youzhou and was no fool to risk his life for money. Recognizing that preservation of life was paramount, he promptly abandoned his remaining wealth and unaccompanied family members upon sensing danger, and managed to escape swiftly.
Yuan Li, with a somber expression, sent Wang Er to pursue Cai Ji. However, he knew that it had been three days since Cai Ji escaped, and even with Wang Er's speed, he was unlikely to catch up. It was probable that Cai Ji had already left the jurisdiction of Youzhou.
Underestimating Cai Ji, Yuan Li called for his strategists after returning and informed them of the situation.
In the study, Liu Jixin and Zhou Gongdan sat below, their expressions slightly tense, pondering over the matter.
Seated at the head, Yuan Li had regained his composure, focusing not on regretting Cai Ji's escape, but on strategizing how to remedy the situation. Taking a sip of tea, he asked the two strategists, "Do you have any ideas?"
Liu Jixin inquired, "Do you know where Cai Ji fled to, Lord?"
Yuan Li nodded, "Among the concubines he left behind in Jixian County, one of them mentioned that he planned to flee to Yizhou and seek refuge with the Yizhou commandant Wu Shanshi."
Liu Jixin was slightly surprised, "Wu Shanshi, he is not an easy person to deal with. Descendant of the Wu family in Runan, with a reputation for generosity and favoring talent. He is highly esteemed, and scholars are fond of seeking his patronage."
Yuan Li had also heard of Wu Shanshi's reputation, an extraordinary hero who openly criticized eunuchs during their persecution of scholars, once stating, "If a eunuch sits at my table, it's like eating with flies. I'd rather cut ties than associate with them." This drew the ire of the eunuchs, leading to his exile from the central government to the regions, where he garnered the support and admiration of scholars.
He enjoyed associating with scholar heroes and had a wide network of contacts. The Runan Wu family was among the most influential noble families of the time; if Yuan Li was a scholar from humble origins, Wu Shanshi was the epitome of the elite scholarly families, likely to receive widespread support and loyalty in times of chaos and conflict.
Yuan Li praised, "I have heard of his reputation; he is indeed a hero of our time."
"Nevertheless, he is not without flaws," Zhou Gongdan rose and chuckled, "Lord, while Wu Shanshi may appear tolerant, he is exceedingly suspicious. Due to his lineage and reputation, he attracts many followers and a multitude of strategists. While this may seem advantageous, his strategizing can be influenced easily, becoming indecisive when faced with opposing views from subordinates. By the time he makes a firm decision, it may have passed the opportune moment. Furthermore, he tends to seek glory and adulation, which are his weaknesses."
Liu Jixin sighed, "But his lineage is sufficient to compensate for these shortcomings, and the competent strategists around him will plan effectively. He is ambitious and a formidable adversary; Cai Ji carrying news from Youzhou to him could prove troublesome."
Zhou Gongdan nodded, smiling faintly, "For that reason, Gongdan has a clever plan to offer."
Arching an eyebrow, Yuan Li prompted, "Oh?"
Zhou Gongdan bowed deeply to Yuanli and declared in a loud voice, "Gongdan is willing to go to Yizhou and feign allegiance to Wu Shanshi!"
Upon hearing this, both Yuan Li and Liu Jixin were somewhat taken aback.
"Wen Ning, do you really intend to pretend to join Wu Shanshi?" Yuan Li hastily set down his teacup, his expression serious, "This is no joking matter! If Wu Shanshi discovers your deceit, you will have no place to escape!"
Seeing Yuan Li's immediate concern for his safety, Zhou Gongdan felt reassured. He offered a composed smile and said, "Lord, do not worry. I have a plan in mind. Gongdan is just an insignificant figure; even if Wu Shanshi is formidable, he has only heard of your reputation. How could he pay attention to an obscure strategist by your side?"
After careful consideration, Liu Jixin thought it plausible but harbored some concerns. Furrowing his brow, he said, "What if Cai Ji recognizes you?"
Zhou Gongdan laughed heartily and quipped, "Brother Changyue, you worry too much. If Cai Ji could consider joining Wu Shanshi, I, a humble commoner who has only been in your service for a month, surely can be a candidate for his allegiance."
Changing his tone, he continued, "If Cai Ji truly recognizes me, then I won't need to persuade him further. If Wu Shanshi learns of my connection to you, whether he suspects me or becomes conceited about winning over talents from your side, he will be more attentive to me. As long as I perform well, I will soon stand out among Wu Shanshi's strategists and earn his trust."
Liu Jixin's eyes sparkled with approval of the idea. But as he pondered, Zhou Gongdan's mysterious nature and lack of family members with Yuan Li raised concerns. If he were to truly defect to Wu Shanshi, what would be the consequences?
Zhou Gongdan possessed more detailed knowledge than Cai Ji, causing Liu Jixin to glance at him thoughtfully, remaining silent.
Liu Jixin always prioritized caution and foresight in any decision, considering risks before every move. While Zhou Gongdan's plan seemed promising, it also carried a high likelihood of unexpected outcomes.
Yuan Li, on the other hand, appeared decisive. He stood up, grasped Zhou Gongdan's arm, and sincerely stated, "If Wen Ning is willing to take on this task, then I entrust it to you. Be cautious on your journey, prioritize your safety above all else. I eagerly await the day of your return."
Witnessing Yuan Li's immediate trust in him, Zhou Gongdan felt deeply touched and affirmed his commitment, "You can rest assured, Lord. Gongdan will not disappoint you!"
Yuan Li patted his shoulder.
Zhou Gongdan added, "Before I depart, I kindly ask for two items from you, Lord."
Yuan Li inquired, "Please speak."
"One is potatoes that cannot be planted, and the other is a small box of cotton," Zhou Gongdan smiled, "With just these two items, regardless of what Cai Ji may say, I can earn Wu Shanshi's trust."
Yuan Li immediately responded, "Very well, I will have these items prepared for you."
Zhou Gongdan gazed deeply at Yuan Li and once again lifted his robe, kneeling before him. "Please rest assured, Lord. If I were to betray your trust, let me perish in blood, with no resting place for my soul."
Yuan Li helped him up, furrowing his brow gently as he reproached, "What kind of talk is that? I trust you, and there is no need for suspicion. Wen Ning, go with confidence, and whether you succeed or not, I only wish for your safe return."
Zhou Gongdan took a deep breath. "Yes."
After he left, Liu Jixin expressed a hint of concern, "Lord, if Zhou Gongdan truly pledges himself to Wu Shanshi, then..."
Yuan Li shook his head, watching Zhou Gongdan's figure fade into the distance. "Changyue, I understand your concerns. But I also understand the principle of trusting without suspicion and employing without doubt. If I have indeed misjudged him, I am not afraid of the consequences of failure."
In history, how many heroes were petty and fearful, and how many never experienced failure?
Sending Zhou Gongdan to Yizhou had a fifty percent chance of success. With that much potential, Yuan Li was willing to take the gamble.
If he failed, it would only mean sending some information to Wu Shanshi. Yet, through this, Yuan Li could potentially root out a hidden threat by gaining valuable insights. From Yuan Li's perspective, it was a beneficial outcome.
Witnessing Yuan Li's demeanor, Liu Jixin paused for a moment, feeling that compared to Yuan Li, he was overly cautious. He chuckled, shook his head, and exhaled deeply. "Your magnanimity, Lord, truly impresses me."
Yuan Li chuckled.
Over the next two days, Zhou Gongdan hurriedly packed his belongings to prevent any unforeseen events. On a clear morning, he bid farewell to Yuan Li and the others, setting off with his entourage towards Yizhou.
Yuan Li, Liu Jixin, and the rest watched as his figure gradually vanished into the mist.
Liu Jixin felt a mix of complex emotions, sighing softly as he thought, "Zhou Gongdan, may you never betray the trust of our Lord."