The Child Emperor

Meng E changed into palace attire, and Han Ruzi praised, “These clothes suit you better.”

Meng E replied coldly, “You think I was born to be a palace maid?”

Han Ruzi smiled, “No, no, you misunderstand, I just… just don’t like armor.” He quickly changed the subject, “Marquess Ping’en is Xiaojun’s half-sister. When you meet her, bring some gifts, treat it as normal interaction between relatives.”

“Hmm, and then?”

“Then listen to what she has to say. Many imperial clan members and noble families oppose the Champion Marquis, but they can’t act directly. They need to probe and pass messages through their women – that’s your task.”

Meng E narrowed her eyes slightly, seemingly not particularly fond of this assignment, “Is that all?”

“Marquess Ping’en will find a way to bring you into the palace. If you have a chance to meet Xiaojun, give this to her.” Han Ruzi pulled out a bamboo bookmark from his sleeve.

Meng E took it, glanced at it, and put it away.

“If you can meet my mother, that would be even better. You’ll probably need Xiaojun’s introduction for my mother to trust you.”

“Yes, that’s it.”

Meng E remained silent for a moment.

“If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I need all kinds of suggestions right now,” Han Ruzi encouraged.

“It sounds like the husbands and fathers behind these women are cowards. How can they accomplish anything great? They might even rush to inform on others.”

Han Ruzi smiled. In terms of martial arts, he was the student and Meng E was the strict teacher who made him practice internal cultivation daily. But when it came to human nature and power struggles, he had learned from Yang Feng and could guide Meng E.

“Let me think how to explain this… Say someone challenges you to a fight. They have a hundred people behind them, while you’re alone or have ten followers. Would you fight?”

“Of course not.”

“If forced, would you surrender?”

Meng E thought for a moment, “I’d have to surrender. Better than being killed.”

“See, you’re ready to retreat or surrender at the sight of a hundred people, without considering how many are just there for show, or how many would actually fight with all their might.”

Meng E fell silent again, thinking longer this time, “Isn’t that just bluffing or making a false show of power?”

“Not just that. Would those hundred people be afraid or retreat when they see you only have about ten people?”

“No, with superior numbers, they’d be confident… I understand now, you’re saying sometimes a false show of power can become real power?”

Han Ruzi nodded.

Meng E thought even longer. She wasn’t slow, but always considered things multiple times. “How did you understand this principle? Did Yang Feng teach you?”

“Yang Feng taught some, but my most important teachers were these.” Han Ruzi patted the stack of books on the table. “When the Founding Emperor was fighting for the empire, he always chose just one enemy at a time. As for other forces, he tried his best to win them over, not asking for troops or supplies, just superficial support. It was with these nominal allies that the Founding Emperor quickly rose from a commoner to a contender for the throne.”

This time Meng E didn’t think long, “The state of Qi made this mistake: they alienated both Chu and Zhao, thinking they could watch from the sidelines, but the two tigers stopped fighting to temporarily join forces and eliminated Qi first. Chu and Zhao weren’t truly allied, but with their combined strength giving them courage in numbers, Qi, despite being one of the three strongest states, couldn’t resist. They admitted defeat when Chu and Zhao attacked together.”

Qi, though called a strong state, only lasted three months under the attack from Chu and Zhao before falling. Their descendants, Meng E and her brother, could only trade their martial arts for the Chu Emperor’s help in restoring their state.

“Exactly.” Han Ruzi stroked the cover of the history book, sighing: “Non one knows more than the history books, and I’ve only learned a little. If he had built power step by step, the Founding Emperor would never have had the chance to compete for the empire, let alone me now. Though the Great Chu faces internal and external troubles, they’re not hard to solve. When the new emperor ascends, he won’t need great talent – just keeping the court running normally will restore peace to the realm. At most, I could become another Prince Qi.”

The Prince Qi that Han Ruzi mentioned was the one who rebelled last year, rising up at an inopportune time with few supporters, ultimately failing and dying.

They both fell silent, each thinking of different Qi states.

After a while, Han Ruzi said, “To be honest, except for the few people around me, all the power I control is borrowed authority and bluffing. As long as the various forces don’t know about each other, especially if my enemies don’t know, I can turn illusion into reality. So, I need support from the imperial clan and nobility. Now it’s the women, and when they believe I truly control the Northern Army, their men will step forward to support me publicly. When there are enough of them, it will influence the ministers, and when the ministers begin to waver…”

Han Ruzi stopped there, keeping some things to himself even from Meng E.

Meng E didn’t pursue it, “Is this your idea, or Yang Feng’s?”

“Actually, it’s your idea. You told me that when fighting against many, hide in the shadows, strike with a sword here, throw a dagger there, confuse the enemy into thinking you have superior numbers, making them flee in fear.”

“But you’re not in the shadows.”

“Meng E, sometimes being in the light is being in shadow. The purpose is the same – to confuse the enemy.”

Meng E looked confused, probably feeling she had asked too much today and needed time to understand. She didn’t ask further, only saying, “What gifts should I bring to Marquess Ping’en?”

“Go find He Yi in accounting, he knows what to send.”

Meng E took her leave, and Han Ruzi read for a while, waiting for Yang Feng’s return. Though he had gained some insights from Meng E, principles were just principles – he still needed Yang Feng’s help for specific plans and implementation.

Yang Feng didn’t return until evening. He first listened to the Weary Marquis’s account of Prince Donghai’s marriage, then said, “Prince Donghai is determined to make you the front man.”

Han Ruzi also felt Prince Donghai’s drunkenness had been partly real and partly fake, but he didn’t mind, “Marquess Ping’en reaching out to me shows the imperial clan and nobility don’t fully trust me yet. I should find a way to have the Northern Army do something.”

“After you get Han Xing’s Chief Commander seal, have the Northern Army release those noble sons back to the Capital.”

“But they don’t support me, many oppose me, and they’re quite familiar with the Northern Army soldiers…”

“It doesn’t matter. I heard those noble sons are quite afraid of you?”

Han Ruzi nodded.

“That’s enough. Let the Champion Marquis suspect them.”

“Alright.” Han Ruzi began thinking about how to contact Chai Yue and how to make those noble sons bring back favorable news about him. “How are things with Guo Cong?”

Yang Feng had spent the whole day discussing with Guo Cong and several other scholars, “They still hope you and Prince Donghai will withdraw from the succession, but now there’s another young son of the Martial Emperor, which troubles them. Prince Ying is clearly controlled by the fate seers, and the scholars can’t intervene. Guo Cong made some concessions, agreeing to introduce some scholars and perhaps several ministers to you, so you can understand the prevailing opinion and withdraw accordingly.”

Han Ruzi laughed, “I really don’t understand these scholars. Supporting the Champion Marquis is tantamount to acknowledging the fate seers. Don’t they understand the implications? Are they willing to be manipulated so easily?”

Yang Feng’s expression became serious, “Of all the forces in the empire, if I had to choose the strongest, I would only pick the scholars and the civil officials who come from their ranks.”

Han Ruzi was reminded again that this eunuch was once a scholar, “Where is their power? I still haven’t seen it. The Empress Dowager can control them, the fate seers can manipulate them. Officials like Xiao Sheng and Shen Mingzhi who fight for power can still make some noise, but the others might as well not exist. I’ve always thought Yin Wuhai was an inadequate Chancellor.”

Yang Feng gave a slight laugh, “That’s because you’ve never truly dealt with state affairs and matters of the realm. You’ll understand gradually. Your contact with Guo Cong is an opportunity.”

Han Ruzi could only choose to believe Yang Feng, but he had one question: “If scholars are the most powerful force, Master Yang… why did you give up your scholar status back then?”

Yang Feng’s smile gradually faded, and like Meng E, he pondered for a moment before replying, “I didn’t give it up – I was exiled.”

Yang Feng must have experienced many things, but he was unwilling to say more, and Han Ruzi didn’t ask further. “When should I go see Guo Cong?”

“After you get Han Xing’s official seal.”

The next day at noon, Han Xing’s reply arrived. He only had the Grand General’s seal with him, not the Chief Commander’s seal, but he wrote an order and sent back a trusted subordinate to accompany Han Ruzi to the Office of the Chief Commander. After some negotiations, Han Ruzi obtained the official seal. The process went very smoothly.

As it was already late, Han Ruzi decided to wait until the next day to go to the Hall of Diligent Administration, and arranged with the officials at the Chief Commander’s Office to return the seal intact before dark the following day.

Meng E also returned, bringing no particularly valuable information. Entry to the palace would still require some waiting. She had met with over ten noble ladies at the Marquis Ping’en’s manor. They didn’t offer support but made many demands, all wanting promotions and titles for their husbands or sons.

Meng E listened more than she spoke, but her memory was excellent. She recited these requests on the spot, repeating the names, titles, and official positions almost word for word, which satisfied the noble ladies.

Early the next day, Han Ruzi went to the Hall of Diligent Administration. He had a jade token that allowed him to pass through the first palace gate.

By coincidence, Prince Donghai also came to deliver his official seal that morning. Newly married, he appeared listless. Upon seeing Han Ruzi at the palace gate, he nodded to him. As they walked toward the Hall of Diligent Administration, he lowered his voice and asked, “Do you know who’s supporting Prince Ying?”

Among the five highest-ranking officials, three already had chosen sides, leaving only two without positions. Han Ruzi said, “It must be either Grand Preceptor Wang Ji or Grand Guardian Deng Zhu.”

Prince Donghai pursed his lips and said, “I heard Prince Ying is going to give us all a big surprise.”

“Who told you that?” Han Ruzi was most concerned about this. If Prince Donghai had hidden sources of information, their alliance would be even more superficial.

Prince Donghai was reluctant to answer, but after walking a few steps, he said, “The Tan family’s daughter told me last night.”

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