Chapter 21: CH 20

Yang Feng told the Emperor another two stories of the Founding Emperor for him to consider.

The last Emperor of the previous dynasty was debaucherous, tyrannical, and cruel, causing the realm to fall into chaos. Men rose in rebellion, with many vying for the throne. After a period of consolidation, three factions emerged in importance. The Founding Emperor’s Chu was just one of them — he had two opponents that matched him in strength.

In the north was the State of Zhao, founded by Zhuang Chui. Like the Founding Emperor Han Fu, Zhuang Chui also came from the pugilist world. He became renown earlier than Han Fu, and his standing was higher. His family was reputed in the pugilist world since his grandfather’s time. When it came to his generation, the men in his family were all part of the pugilist world. Zhuang Chui’s reputation was the most stellar and was known as “Most Gallant of the North”.

When the Founding Emperor was on the run, he was often a guest of the Zhuang clan. He got along well with Zhuang Chui and they regarded each other as close friends, but they became enemies when they fought to conquer the world.

If one were to speak of selfishness and ruthlessness, Zhuang Chui was more than the Founding Emperor’s match. He had one simple rule: whoever had received the aid of the Zhuang clan, whether directly or indirectly, would owe the Zhuang clan a debt. That debt must be repaid with interest, sometimes with one’s life.

Even with such a harsh rule, the State of Zhao was the strongest faction for a long period of time. It attracted many men for a simple reason: the Zhuang clan was like a nest for producing capable generals. Just a simple youth in his teens would be able to lead men into battle. Many would follow the lord with the highest potential, even if it meant incurring a heavy debt.

When all was said and done and one could look back in hindsight, one would discover that one key reason for King Zhuang’s failure was that there were too many cadets of the Zhuang clan, leaving no room for the promotion of the others.

As for the currently rebellious Princedom of Qi, back then it was also a strong faction. Unlike Kings Han and Zhuang, the King of Qi, Chen Lun, was of very noble birth, his family having held a Marquisate for ten generations. The noble clan had managed the region of Qi for hundreds of years, and was widely regarded by its populace as their uncrowned sovereign. When King Chen of Qi rose in rebellion and declared himself King, he was one of the first to do so, and he quickly gained many supporters.

The Founding Emperor regarded his allies as tools. When he used them, he used them tirelessly. When he could not use them, he abandoned them like unfitting clogs. King Zhuang of Zhao regarded his allies as debtors, constantly demanding repayment, relentlessly extracting value from them. Compared to these two, King Chen of Qi was more like a true King. The generals under his banner were nearly all from noble clans which had followed the Chen clan for at least two generations. Any outsider who wanted to join the Qi faction had to start as a minor clerk and accumulate merits to rise in the rank.

The State of Qi’s defeat was nearly inevitable. King Chen’s ambitions were not great: he just wanted to hold on to his existing territory, and then expand a little while Zhao and Chu were fighting it out. But in the end, just when the Founding Emperor and King Zhuang’s fight was at its zenith, they suddenly called a ceasefire to mount a joint offensive against Qi. In just three months, the State of Qi was annihilated.

The State of Qi had the most number of loyal subjects. There were many who committed suicide to follow King Chen unto death. Strangely, many who did so were not from the State of Qi but had joined as outsiders. They did not receive much from the Chen clan and yet they slit their own throats and jumped off walls in droves.

To conclude, of the three Kings, the Founding Emperor was not the most selfish, nor was he the most adept in winning the hearts of followers. Yet it was he who won the day.

“Your Majesty will meet a new teacher tomorrow. He will be speaking of national history. May Your Majesty pay attention and think carefully.” Yang Feng was like a guide — he was not opposed to his student receiving information from elsewhere.

Han Ruzi went through yet another sleepless night. The next morning during class, Prince Donghai noticed the Emperor’s swollen eyes. Confused, he asked, “What happened to you? You look as though you have tons of work to do, though you are the most idle Emperor in the world.”

“I was so idle that I could not fall asleep.” Han Ruzi said while laughing. He was curious as to which old man his new teacher would be. To think that the Empress Dowager would agree to him being taught national history, how strange!

The new teacher arrived, and he was not particularly old. He looked to be in his forties, thinly built, with a stern appearance. His gaze was sharp, and his narrow eagle-like nose pointed at the Emperor like a small knife.

“This commoner Luo Huan-zhang pays his respect to Your Majesty.” The new teacher had no special privileges, and had to pay the proper respects. What caused Han Ruzi to be surprised was that the usually insolent Prince Donghai actually paid his respects to the teacher in turn. He was much more respectful to the man than to the Emperor.

Luo Huan-zhang called himself a commoner, so he was not an official of the court, nor did he have a noble title. Han Ruzi recalled something that Prince Donghai had said before, and blurted out, “You are Prince Donghai’s teacher, right?”

Luo Huan-zhang rose and replied, “This commoner once taught His Highness Prince Donghai for a few years. My talent was wanting and my knowledge was shallow, hence my teachings did not produce a good student.”

Prince Donghai turned red as he looked down and kept silent. He seemed very afraid of his teacher.

Han Ruzi was rather bewildered. Even though the Empress Dowager and the Shang-guan clan had eased relations, they were still in opposition. That she would call Prince Donghai’s teacher into the palace did not seem to make sense.

For all he knew, Yang Feng might use this to pose a question to him. As though by habit, Han Ruzi started to think about this matter. But even though the other teachers largely ignored the Emperor, Luo Huan-Zhang was not like the rest. He coughed lightly and asked, “I have been ordered to speak on national history. Where would Your Majesty like me to begin?”

Han Ruzi was not used to being asked for his opinion. He flipped the book on the desk and thought for a while, before saying, “The Founding Emperor. We would like to know why the Founding Emperor was able to conquer the realm.”

“Your Majesty is wise. That is a very good question.”

Prince Donghai’s face grew even redder. For unknown reasons, he was extremely well-behaved in front of this commoner teacher, and did not dare speak a single word.

A eunuch brought a stool, but Luo Huan-zhang did not sit. He remained standing and said, “The last Emperor of the previous dynasty was debaucherous, and the officials of his court were unruly. They lost hold of the country, giving able men the opportunity to rise up. The Founding Emperor was of humble origins, and established himself in the countryside. Within several years, he eliminated tyrants and protected the people, finally establishing the dynasty. The reason that he was able to do so was very simple.”

Even though Han Ruzi was not able to think of the answer despite his efforts, the great Confucian scholars must surely have their conclusion. He perked his ears, afraid of missing what the teacher was about to say.

“Benevolence and righteousness.” Luo Huan-zhang spoke these words solemnly, like a master of ceremony within the Ancestral Temple.

“Could you be more specific?” Han Ruzi was a little disappointed.

“What the previous dynasty lost, was what the Founding Emperor had. The previous dynasty treated the people like slaves, using harsh laws to bind them. They gouged out the eyes of those who looked them the wrong way, cut the tongues of those who grumbled, and executed those who criticized them. The Founding Emperor rose to power and did the opposite, abolishing cruel laws and establishing the virtues of benevolence and righteousness. He reduced taxes and penalties, allowing the people to recover. Within five to six years, he had hold of the realm.

“In the past, when King Tang of the Shang dynasty was on a journey, he encountered a hunstman who had laid an elaborate trap that covered all four sides. The huntsman said, ‘Those who fall from the sky, those who come from underground, those who come from all four directions, shall enter my net.’ King Tang kept away three sides of the net, leaving only one. He said, ‘Those who wish to go left may got left, those who wish to go right may go right. Those who wish to go up may go up, those who wish to go down may go down. Those who don’t wish to live may enter my net.’ Upon hearing of this, more than forty states said, “King Tang is so virtuous that he is benevolent even to animals’ and they submitted to his rule. And so we see, putting a net on four sides will catch you a bird, but leaving a net open on three sides will win the hearts of nations. Benevolence is about leaving a net open on three sides.”[1]

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As Luo Huan-zhang spoke righteously, Prince Donghai drooped his head, as though secretly laughing. Han Ruzi listened on hazily as he grew more confused. “So the Founding Emperor defeated King Zhuang and King Chen through benevolence and righteousness?”

Luo Huan-zhang’s gaze grew stern. Adding on to the knife-like nose of his, his gaze caused the Emperor to lower his head to think about what he had said wrong.

“Your Majesty must have heard some idle gossip. Something about how the Emperor conquered the world through ruthlessness and backstabbing?”

Han Ruzi did not wish to betray Yang Feng’s confidence, and just grunted in response.

“But has anyone told Your Majesty this: The previous dynasty had a million-strong army, its spies covered every alleyway. Its officials’ tyranny forced the populace into rebellion, and within just two years, the last Emperor burned his palace and killed himself, burying himself together with his dynasty, becoming the laughing stock of the world.

In the east, the State of Qi had large swathes of land and hundreds of fortified positions. The Chen clan had held the Marquisate for ten generations, with deep roots in the Qi region. But when Chu and Zhao attacked it, it fell in a matter of months. Eight hundred and sixty men committed suicide to follow the King of Qi in death.

In the north, Zhao was established in defensive terrain, and King Zhuang was unmatched in strength, with a thousand fierce generals and three hundred thousand elite soldiers. Each soldier was the match for ten, and he crushed his opposition for five years. But he met defeat one day, and his edge was halved. Another defeat, and he fell into self-doubt. A third defeat, and King Zhuang slit his own throat, his clan surrendered to Chu, and his powerful army submitted to the Founding Emperor.”

“I know some of that.” Han Ruzi said softly. He began to understand why Prince Donghai was so well-behaved in front of Luo Huan-zhang. This Confucian scholar was not simple. Once he opened his mouth, it was like a barrage of arrows. The listener was no match — before he could understand, he would raise his hand in surrender.

Luo Huan-zhang’s tone softened. He raised his right arm, and slowly clenched his right fist. “Your Majesty, look. When we clasp our hands into a fist, can we not hold things more securely?”

“Of course.”

“Look again, Your Majesty. The fist has been formed. What can it hold?”

“It can hold nothing. A fist… is just a fist.” Han Ruzi began to understand what Luo Huan-zhang was saying.

“Cunning ploys and battle prowess are like clenching your fist.” Luo Huan-zhang threw a fist out. He was not a martial artist so this punch was rather weak. “The fist can hit someone, but it cannot attach you to someone. The Founding Emperor knew how to use his fist, and so did King Zhuang and King Chen — their fists were even tighter. But those two kings, once they lost in battle, their rule quickly collapsed. Yet the Founding Emperor always had second chances even when he lost in battle. It was because the Founding Emperor knew the way of relaxing the fist. The populace had been suffering under harsh laws for too long, and the Founding Emperor’s benevolence was like rain for arid land. And hence he won the hearts of the people.”

“The hearts of the people helped the Founding Emperor defeat his enemies?” Han Ruzi asked.

Luo Huan-zhang shook his head. “The people think of peace and are unwilling to fight wars. The Founding Emperor had to rely on his own abilities to defeat his strong enemies. But whenever the Founding Emperor lost in battle, his people never lost faith. Wherever the Founding Emperor went, gates would open to him, provisions made available to him, and within a month, he could muster yet another army. King Chen could gather people around him, and many of them followed him into death. But the general populace had no intention to restore the State of Qi. In the war against Qi, Chu attacked the south while Zhao attacked the north. But before King Zhuang’s armies could arrive, the people ran south to join Chu. All that because the Founding Emperor was benevolent.”

Han Ruzi muttered to himself. “The Founding Emperor was good at running away, because there was a place for him to run to. Benevolence may not win you a battle, but it can keep doors open. Some people may not win you wars, but may save you in a time of danger.”

Luo Huan-zhang frowned. “Who is teaching Your Majesty such things? How can one be so disrespectful to the Founding Emperor?”

“Teacher Luo, do forgive Us. We were not well educated when young, and hence did not hear much of the teachings of the sages. Hence, We speak nonsense, sometimes.” Han Ruzi hurriedly kept his mouth shut.

Luo Huan-zhang did not ask further, but Prince Donghai stared at the Emperor, evidently not believing his words.

This lesson was more tiring than usual. Han Ruzi did not have the chance to wander into his own thoughts. Luo Huan-zhang was like an experienced animal handler — he always knew how to keep the beast under the control.

After Luo Huan-zhang withdrew for the day, Prince Donghai said to the Emperor, “Your days of suffering have only just begun. I hope you enjoy them.”

Han Ruzi did not feel like he had suffered. Rather, he felt like he had learnt much. But the doubts in his mind grew, which he could only resolve by asking Yang Feng.

In the afternoon, his martial arts class was more ordinary. Meng Che spoke more than showing his moves, seeming to be rather perfunctory in his teaching. The young accompanying nobles did not mind either. They sparred with each other, and had much fun. Nobody dared to spar with the Emperor, so Han Ruzi could only practice by himself. A few times, he looked at Meng E standing by the corner. He wished to speak with her, but could not find the right chance to do so.

That night, Yang Feng did not come. He was always busy with something. Even though he was nominally the Emperor’s personal attendant, he often was not around, probably out somewhere “carving a path” for the Emperor.

Having had many consecutive sleepless nights, Han Ruzi was soon overcome with sleep. But just as he was sleeping soundly, he was awoken by someone shaking him.

He was surrounded by darkness. Han Ruzi could discern a silhouette at the head of his bed, looking like one of his servant-girls. “Ah? What is it?”

“Do you wish to learn true martial arts?”

Han Ruzi was jolted awake. He quickly sat up.

Yang Feng had warned him that the first person to contact him would surely have ulterior motives. Han Ruzi never expected that this person would be Meng E.

[1] King Tang is recorded as the first King of the Shang dynasty. This story of keeping a net open on three sides is one from Chinese history.

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