novelAbuy Chapter 58 The Great Han Chess Saint
Chapter 58 The Great Han Chess Saint
In 176 BC, Emperor Wen issued an edict stating that agriculture was the foundation of the nation, and he also established friendly relations with Nanyue, exchanging envoys and opening border markets.
Also in that year, Jia Yi, the brilliant Han dynasty poet and thinker, was demoted to tutor to the King of Changsha, where he spent four years and wrote his timeless masterpieces, "Lament for Qu Yuan" and "Ode to the Peng Bird."
Three years later, in Chang'an City, at Changle Palace.
Changle Palace was built in the low-lying southwest corner of Chang'an, covering a vast area and connected to Weiyang Palace, occupying 60% of Chang'an's land.
"Your Highness, the Prince of Liang's heir has arrived."
A commotion suddenly came from outside the palace. A eunuch hurriedly entered the Jiaofang Palace, came before Crown Prince Liu Qi, and reported.
Jiaofang Palace is the most brightly colored palace in Changle Palace. Its walls are coated with pepper powder and mud, giving it a warm color and a faint fragrance.
"Oh, Keran has arrived? Please come in quickly."
"Here you are."
Liu Qi put down the bamboo slips in his hand and stood up from the couch. The Jiaofang Palace was brightly lit, and the palace servants stood with their hands at their sides. He waved his hand to indicate that there was no need for formalities and strode towards the palace door.
A moment later, a man entered. He was tall and upright with calm eyes and brows. He was Zhang Keran, the heir of Zhang Wuji, the King of Western Liang.
"Your subject Zhang Keran pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince." Zhang Keran bowed respectfully.
Liu Qi grabbed his arm and laughed, "There's no need for such formality between Ke Ran and me. I was just reading the strategy presented by Master Chao and was getting drowsy when the Prince of Wu's heir entered the palace. I'd like to play chess with him. You'll come with me."
Liu Qi was the sixth son of Emperor Wen, and his mother was Lady Dou.
When Liu Qi was born, his father, Liu Heng, was the King of Dai. Liu Qi was the middle son among Liu Heng's sons. When Liu Heng was the King of Dai, he had four sons with the Queen of Dai. The Queen of Dai had passed away before Liu Heng ascended the throne.
In the eighth year of Empress Gaozu of Han (180 BC), after Liu Heng was enthroned as emperor, all four sons born to the Queen of Dai died of illness.
A few months after Liu Heng ascended the throne, the ministers and officials requested the establishment of a crown prince. Among Liu Heng's sons, Liu Qi was the eldest, so Liu Qi was made crown prince and his mother, Lady Dou, was made empress.
Zhang Keran was originally the Imperial Physician and also Emperor Wen's attendant. He shouldn't have been too close to the Crown Prince, but Emperor Wen allowed him to accompany the Crown Prince in his spare time.
Zhang Keran responded and followed Liu Qi out of the Jiaofang Palace. He was the heir of Prince Liang, Zhang Wuji. Last year, Emperor Wen summoned him to Chang'an to serve as the Palace Attendant and concurrently as the Imperial Attendant.
The Palace Attendant was in charge of palace gate security, and the Imperial Attendant was the emperor's personal guard. These two roles meant he shouldn't have been too close to the Crown Prince, but Emperor Wen specially instructed him to accompany the Crown Prince in his spare time.
Zhang Keran understood that this was Emperor Wen's trust in the Zhang family, and also a way to win them over—the Liang Kingdom was located in the southwest of Guanzhong, bordering Longyou and Shu, and was the southwestern barrier of Guanzhong. Emperor Wen needed to personally verify the loyalty of the Liang King's heir.
The two walked through the corridor of Chang Le Palace and headed towards the side hall.
Prince Liu Xian, the heir apparent of the King of Wu, was already waiting in the hall. A chessboard was set up in front of him, with two baskets of black and white chess pieces placed on either side.
Seeing Liu Qi enter, he rose and bowed. His gaze paused slightly when it fell on Zhang Keran, then he smiled and said, "Your Highness brought helpers?"
Liu Qi casually sat down opposite the chessboard and waved his hand, saying, "Ke Ran is just watching the game, he won't help. Come on, make your move."
After saying this, Liu Qi sat down and drank wine with Liu Xian, playing Liubo chess. Since Liu Xian's teachers were all from Chu, he developed a frivolous and fierce personality and was usually very arrogant. When playing chess with Liu Qi, he argued over the moves and was disrespectful.
This infuriated Liu Qi. Zhang Keran noticed something was wrong and was about to try to persuade him when Liu Qi suddenly swung the chessboard and smashed it on Liu Xian's head.
Liu Qi's blow was extremely heavy. The chessboard was made of sandalwood with copper plating at the four corners. It struck Liu Xian's forehead, drawing blood on the spot.
Before Liu Xian could even utter a sound, his body swayed and he fell off the couch, his head hitting the bronze lamppost in the hall with a dull thud. By the time Zhang Keran rushed forward to check his breath, he was already dead.
The side hall was deathly silent. Several palace servants standing there were so frightened that their faces turned ashen. They smashed the wine jugs in their hands on the ground with a crash, spilling wine all over the floor.
Zhang Keran slowly stood up, glanced at Liu Xian's corpse on the ground, and then at Liu Qi, who was sitting opposite him on the chessboard, his chest heaving violently.
Several thoughts raced through his mind in an instant. King Liu Bi of Wu was Emperor Wen's elder brother and the most powerful of all the feudal lords. His heir died in Chang'an at the hands of the crown prince. If this were to spread, the feudal lords would surely be shaken.
"Your Highness," Zhang Keran said in a very low voice, "Do not worry, I am here. Please have Your Highness immediately send men to seal off the side hall, and no one shall be allowed to enter or leave. I will go and report to His Majesty."
Liu Qi looked up at him, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't utter a single word.
Zhang Keran bowed to him, then turned and strode quickly out of the side hall. His steps were extremely steady as he walked through the corridors of Chang Le Palace, his face showing no emotion whatsoever.
Zhang Keran strode through the corridors of Changle Palace and headed straight for Weiyang Palace.
His steps were extremely steady, and his face showed no emotion. When he encountered eunuchs and palace servants along the way, he simply nodded slightly without stopping.
After exiting the east gate of Changle Palace and passing through the covered walkway connecting the two palaces, the roof ridge of Weiyang Palace comes into view.
He stopped at the foot of the steps in front of the palace and said to the guard, "I have important business to discuss with His Majesty. It is of great importance. Please report to His Majesty immediately."
Upon hearing that this was a major event, and given that Zhang Keran was currently enjoying the Emperor's favor, the General of the Palace turned and rushed into the palace.
A moment later, hurried footsteps echoed in the hall; Emperor Wen had summoned him. Zhang Keran straightened his clothes, stepped over the threshold, and knelt down three steps before the imperial desk to kowtow.
"Your subject Zhang Keran pays his respects to Your Majesty."
Emperor Wen was sitting behind his desk reviewing memorials when he heard this. He put down his vermilion pen and looked up.
He looked at Zhang Keran kneeling on the ground, but did not speak immediately. The only sound in the hall was the dripping of the water clock.
"What is it?" Emperor Wen's voice was neither loud nor soft.
Zhang Keran raised his head and said in a calm voice, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince was playing chess with the Prince of Wu in a side hall when they had a verbal altercation, and he accidentally killed the Prince."
"I have ordered people to keep the news under wraps, and those palace servants who witnessed the incident are all in the palace now."
Emperor Wen did not speak, remained silent for a moment, then slowly stood up, walked to Zhang Keran, and looked down at him.
"Liu Xian? Dead?"
"Yes. I saw it with my own eyes."
Emperor Wen turned away from Zhang Keran, gazing at the deepening twilight outside the hall. After a long silence, he finally spoke: "In your opinion, how will you explain this to the Prince of Wu?"
Zhang Keran kowtowed and said, "In my opinion, there are three urgent matters: First, the side hall must be sealed off, and no palace servants present should be allowed to escape, so that the news will not leak out for the time being; second, His Highness the Crown Prince is currently in a state of fear and panic, and Your Majesty should first appease him; third, King Liu Bi of Wu has long harbored ulterior motives, and if this matter is reported back to Wu, it will surely become a pretext for him to launch a rebellion. The court must make preparations as soon as possible, and the troops stationed at Hangu Pass, Wu Pass, and Hulao Pass should be secretly reinforced."
Emperor Wen turned around, looked at him, and said with deep eyes, "You are quite calm."
"For the sake of the Han Dynasty, for Your Majesty, I must remain calm!"
Emperor Wen paused for a moment, then nodded: "Go and take care of it. I'll leave the side hall to you."
"promise!"
Zhang Keran kowtowed, rose, and left the hall. When he returned to Chang Le Palace through the covered walkway, it was already dark, and the side hall had been sealed off by the General and his men.
Several palace servants who witnessed the incident were gathered in a corner of the hall, trembling. Zhang Keran entered the side hall, where Liu Qi was still sitting opposite the chessboard, his face ashen.
Zhang Keran knelt down in front of him and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, His Majesty is already aware of this matter. I have informed him, and I will handle the rest. Please rest assured, Your Highness."
Liu Qi raised his head, his lips moved slightly, but he only said one sentence: "Ke Ran, I didn't mean to."
"The Crown Prince of Wu has disrespected etiquette and deserves this punishment. Your Highness need not blame yourself."
Zhang Keran replied, then stood up and walked towards Liu Xian's body, personally covering his face with a plain cloth.
Zhang Keran stood in the side hall for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, until the General of the Central Army quietly entered with several trusted officers.
The lamps in the hall were lit, and the flickering flames illuminated Liu Xian's figure, which was covered with a plain cloth, casting distorted shadows on the walls.
"Your Highness," the General of the Palace Guard lowered his voice, "the palace gates are locked, and those on duty tonight are all trustworthy."
Zhang Keran nodded, his gaze sweeping over the trembling palace servants in the corner. Three maids and two eunuchs, all young, were deathly pale.
"Give them paper and pen." Zhang Keran's voice was calm. "Each of you write down what you saw today, from the time the Prince of Wu entered the palace until His Highness the Crown Prince left. After you finish writing, you must not whisper to each other. The officials will collect them separately."
He walked up to one of the older eunuchs, squatted down to face him, and asked, "What's your name?"
"This servant, this servant Gao Shun..." The eunuch's voice trembled.
"Gao Shun, how many years have you been in the palace?"
"Eight years... eight years and three months."
Is anyone still at home?
Gao Shun suddenly looked up, fear flashing in his eyes.
Zhang Keran reached out and pressed down on his trembling shoulder, laughing, "Write it well. Write clearly how the Prince of Wu disrespected the Crown Prince, how he uttered arrogant words, and how he knocked over the chessboard first. His Highness the Crown Prince was only acting in self-defense, which is why he accidentally killed the Prince of Wu."
He stood up and continued to instruct Zhonglang: "After they finish writing, separate them into different prisons. Tomorrow morning, I will request His Majesty's decree to transfer them to Baling to guard the imperial tombs."
Zhonglang understood that Baling was Emperor Wen's mausoleum, which he built for himself, and the guards of the mausoleum were not allowed to leave the mausoleum area for their entire lives.
For these people, guarding the tombs was undoubtedly the most respectable and secure choice.
"Then the Crown Prince of Wu..." The general's gaze fell on the corpse on the ground.
Zhang Keran walked to Liu Xian's body and lifted a corner of the white cloth.
The wound on Liu Xian's forehead had stopped bleeding. He reached out and closed his eyes, which he had not yet been able to close. His skin was still warm.
"Go find a jar of wine," Zhang Keran said.
When the official brought the wine jar, Zhang Keran personally poured the strong liquor onto Liu Xian's clothes and hair, and the strong smell of alcohol instantly filled the palace.
Then he picked up a lamp and lit it.
"boom--"
The flames illuminated Zhang Keran's face the instant they shot up.
He took two steps back, watching the flames quickly engulf Liu Xian's robes. This was the most thorough explanation—an accidental fire was enough to explain the wounds on the body.
As for the Wu Kingdom, Chang'an could claim that the crown prince, while drunk, accidentally knocked over the candles and was unable to be rescued in time.
"Your Highness, please move aside." Zhang Keran turned to Liu Qi, who was still sitting blankly by the chessboard.
Liu Qi shifted his gaze from the flames to Zhang Keran, and a sliver of clarity finally returned to his eyes.
With Zhang Keran's help, he got up, and the two walked out of the side hall. The hall door closed behind them, shutting out the firelight and the smell of burning.
Zhang Keran then ordered the general to set fire to several parts of the side hall. The fire was neither too big nor too small, creating the illusion of a fire.
"Fire! Fire!"
The general shouted at the top of his lungs, which immediately alerted everyone, and they rushed to put out the fire.
The night breeze from Changle Palace brushed against my face, and the lights of Weiyang Palace twinkled in the distance.
"Keran," Liu Qi suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse, "If it weren't for you today, I..."
"Your Highness, there's no need for further words." Zhang Keran stopped and bowed solemnly. "I am a subject of the Han Dynasty. Protecting the Crown Prince and ensuring the stability of the nation is my duty."
He was referring to Han officials, not the Crown Prince's officials.
The subtle choice of words startled Liu Qi slightly, but he quickly understood its deeper meaning: Zhang Keran's loyalty was first and foremost to the Han Dynasty, and only secondly to him, the Crown Prince. This clear-headed stance, ironically, reassured Liu Qi even more.
"What about the King of Wu..." Liu Qi hesitated.
"Your Majesty will make your own wise decision." Zhang Keran looked up towards the direction of Weiyang Palace. "However, I dare to speculate that Your Majesty will give Liu Xian a grand funeral, posthumously confer a noble title, bestow countless gold, silver, and jade discs upon him, and send an envoy to the Kingdom of Wu to explain the 'accident.' As for whether the King of Wu will believe it or not..."
His voice was low: "The troops stationed at the three passes of Guanzhong should receive their transfer orders tonight."
Liu Qi gasped.
He suddenly realized that only two hours had passed since he accidentally killed Liu Xian, and his father and Zhang Keran had already completed a whole set of countermeasures: blocking the news, altering testimonies, disposing of the body, appeasing the crown prince, and deploying military defenses. How swift they were!
"Your Highness," Zhang Keran's voice pulled him back to reality, "You may rest and pay your respects as usual. At tomorrow's court assembly, if anyone asks about the fire in the side hall, you may simply shake your head and sigh."
"What if the Wu envoy requests to examine the corpse...?"
"There was no body," Zhang Keran said calmly. "The fire was too fierce; only charred bones remained. The Imperial Physician will issue a document proving that he died from suffocation after inhaling thick smoke while intoxicated. As for the injury on his forehead, it could have been caused by a fall and bump."
"I understand. Let's go back."
As the two passed through the corridor, the flames in the distant side hall gradually died down. A eunuch rushed over to report: "Your Highness, the fire has been extinguished, but... the Crown Prince of Wu tragically perished in the flames..."
Liu Qi closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, his expression was one of deep sorrow: "Prepare a proper burial. Order the imperial physicians to conduct a thorough examination and determine the cause of the fire. Also, seal off the side hall; no one is allowed to enter until the Wu envoy arrives."
"promise!"
After the eunuchs withdrew, Zhang Keran bowed deeply to Liu Qi. This bow was a sign that the future emperor was beginning to truly understand the way of the emperor.
That night, the lights in the Xuan Shi Hall of Weiyang Palace stayed on until dawn.
On the table before Emperor Wen of Han (Liu Heng) lay two silk scrolls. On the left was a "testimony" presented by Zhang Keran, written by five palace maids. The contents were largely the same, all accusing Liu Xian of disrespecting the crown prince and behaving inappropriately after drinking. On the right was a tiger tally order, reinforcing the garrisons at Hangu Pass, Wu Pass, and Yao Pass with an additional 5,000 troops each, under the unified command of Emperor Wen.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince of Liang is requesting an audience outside," the eunuch reported in a low voice.
"Announce."
When Zhang Keran entered the palace, it was already midnight. He had changed into a dark-colored casual outfit, his hair was slightly disheveled, and there were faint dark circles under his eyes.
"Has everything been handled properly?" Emperor Wen did not look up, still looking at the testimonies.
"Yes. The palace servants will send him to Baling tomorrow morning. The side hall has been cleaned up, and the imperial physician is drafting the autopsy report. His Highness the Crown Prince has already retired for the night."
Emperor Wen finally raised his head and looked at the young man before him, who was only nineteen years old and about to come of age.
Zhang Ling's descendants are indeed extraordinary!
He is decisive and ruthless, meticulous in his thinking, and even more remarkable for his composure beyond his years.
"You possess the spirit of Wu Zhao!"
"Your Majesty, I dare not compare myself to my great-grandfather," Zhang Keran knelt down. "What happened today was my own doing, and I beg Your Majesty to punish me."
"Punish me?" Emperor Wen smiled, a smile that held both weariness and admiration. "What crime have you committed? If you hadn't acted decisively, rumors would be rampant in Chang'an by now. Get up and come for a walk with me."
The two walked out of Xuanshi Hall and climbed onto the high platform on the west side of Weiyang Palace.
From here, one can see the outline of Chang Le Palace, the palace where the bloodshed took place, hidden in the night, with only a few patrol lights remaining.
"Liu Bi won't believe it," Emperor Wen suddenly said. "He's a suspicious and ambitious man. When the late emperor was alive, he dared to mint coins, boil seawater for salt, and harbor fugitives from all over the country. Over the years, I've repeatedly tolerated him, but he's only gotten more demanding."
Zhang Keran was silent for a moment, then said, "The King of Wu may not believe it, but the other lords of the land will. The court's explanation is watertight. If the King of Wu insists on raising an army, he will have no legitimate reason to do so. At that time, Your Majesty can issue an edict denouncing him for disloyalty and then unite with other lords to jointly attack him."
Do you think the other feudal lords will side with the imperial court?
"Yes," Zhang Keran said confidently. "The King of Chu, the King of Zhao, the King of Jinan, and the King of Wu have a long-standing feud. The lineage of the King of Qi has been close to the court since the Rebellion of the Lü Clan. Those who are truly likely to follow the King of Wu are only from two or three counties such as Jiaoxi, Zichuan, and Jiaodong. Moreover, although Wu is rich, its military is not well-equipped. The King of Wu has been living a life of luxury for many years and is no longer the valiant general who fought alongside Emperor Gaozu."
When Ying Bu, the King of Huainan, rebelled, Liu Bi, the King of Wu, accompanied Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang on a personal expedition to quell the rebellion.
Liu Bi was only twenty years old at the time. As a cavalry general, he followed Liu Bang and defeated Ying Bu's army in one fell swoop west of Qi County.
Ying Bu fled and was killed. At that time, King Liu Jia of Jing was killed by Ying Bu and had no heir.
Emperor Gaozu believed that the southeastern region was far from the Han court and could not be governed by any less powerful and strong vassal king. At this time, Liu Bang's own sons were still young and could not shoulder this heavy responsibility. Therefore, he appointed Liu Bi as the King of Wu, who governed three commanderies and fifty-three cities.
This analysis caught Emperor Wen's attention. He hadn't expected that this young heir to the Liang Kingdom would be so knowledgeable about the political situation among the feudal lords.
"Zhang son, you truly live up to your reputation. From Duke Wenzhao, through Duke Lie (Zhang Chengsi), Duke Zhuangxiang (Zhang Buyi), Duke Jingming (Zhang Shen), Duke Wen (Zhang Quzhuo), Duke Cheng (Zhang Du), Duke Wu (Zhang Lin), and then to King Wuzhao, the Zhang family has produced many outstanding sons. I hope you will not fail your ancestors' virtues and ensure that the Zhang family does not fall into chaos. I hereby bestow upon you a stone coffin with the surname Hua!"
Emperor Wen suddenly encouraged Zhang Keran. Upon hearing this, Zhang Keran was flattered and immediately replied, "Your Majesty, I will certainly live up to your high expectations and not tarnish the virtuous name of my ancestors!"
Emperor Wen nodded, then suddenly changed the subject: "What do you think of the Crown Prince?"
This is an extremely sensitive issue. Zhang Keran pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "His Highness the Crown Prince is benevolent and filial, and has a strong sense of responsibility. He was able to quickly calm himself down after today's events, which shows the qualities of a ruler. However... he is young and impetuous, and still needs to be tempered."
"Yes, it still needs tempering," Emperor Wen sighed. "But I don't have much time left. In recent years, I have been recuperating and reducing taxes and levies, all for the sake of leaving a prosperous empire for future generations. But the vassal states are growing stronger, and the Xiongnu are eyeing us covetously. If these hidden dangers are not eliminated, the Han Dynasty will not be at peace."
The night breeze stirred their robes. The myriad lights of Chang'an stretched out beneath their feet, reaching all the way to the outline of the distant mountains.
"Zhang Keran." Emperor Wen's voice was exceptionally clear in the night wind. "I want you to stay in Chang'an to assist the Crown Prince. Not as the Palace Attendant, but as the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince."
Zhang Keran suddenly looked up.
The Crown Prince's Junior Tutor is the true Imperial Tutor, one of the future Three Dukes. At the age of twenty, this is an unprecedented honor.
"Your Majesty...I am still too inexperienced to shoulder such a great responsibility."
"Qualifications?" Emperor Wen turned around, his gaze sharp. "Today's events have proven your ability to handle crises. The Crown Prince needs a minister like you, someone who understands court etiquette and knows that extraordinary measures are necessary in extraordinary times. Are you willing?"
Zhang Keran knelt down, lifted his robe, and solemnly kowtowed: "Your subject is willing to die ten thousand times over."
Ten days later, news of the "unexpected death" of Liu Xian, the crown prince of Wu, spread throughout the court and the country.
The court's handling of the matter was impeccable: Liu Xian was posthumously granted the title of Marquis Ai, buried with the rites due to a feudal lord beside Baling, and bestowed with countless gold, silver, jade, carriages, horses, and banners. Emperor Wen personally wrote a eulogy, praising him as "a young and talented man who unfortunately died young," and dispatched Xu Han, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, as an envoy to Wu with generous gifts to appease him.
Meanwhile, the garrison at the three passes quietly completed its reinforcement.
Emperor Wen, under the pretext of autumn defense, assembled 30,000 elite troops in Xingyang. These actions were carried out in secret, and on the surface, Chang'an City remained a peaceful and prosperous city.
Only a few astute individuals noticed the undercurrent.
While in Changsha, Jia Yi received a letter from an old friend who mentioned that the death of the Crown Prince of Wu was quite suspicious. He looked north and added a line to the bamboo slips of "Ode to the Peng Bird": "Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and a blessing may be a misfortune in disguise."
Chao Cuo repeatedly analyzed the situation of the feudal lords in his residence, and finally presented Emperor Wen with the "Policy on Reducing the Feudal Lords", with more vehement words than before.
On the day Zhang Keran officially took over as Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince and received the seal of office, he met Liu Qi at the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince had completely recovered from his initial panic, and his brows now showed a more composed demeanor.
"Young Master," Liu Qi said, bowing respectfully as a disciple, "please continue to teach me rigorously in the future."
Zhang Keran returned the greeting, took something from his pocket, and handed it to Liu Qi.
It was a set of Liubo chess pieces, exactly the same as the one that was broken that day.
"Your Highness, my first lesson today is on how to play chess." Zhang Keran sat down opposite the chessboard. "The true game of chess is not on the board, but within the small space of the board. When you make a move, you must know that every move can determine the rise and fall of a nation and the life and death of thousands of people."
Liu Qi stared at the chessboard for a long time before reaching out and picking up a black piece.
The chess pieces felt cold and heavy to the touch.
Outside the palace, the early summer sun shone brightly. Willow catkins, like snowflakes, drifted over the palace walls and towards the banks of the Wei River.
In Guangling, Wu, on the afternoon he received news of his son's death, King Liu Bi of Wu smashed his most beloved jade cup.
He did not cry, but stared in the direction of Chang'an and said to the strategist beside him, "Go and tell the King of Jiaoxi, the King of Zichuan, and the King of Jiaodong to come to Guangling for a meeting after autumn."