Chapter Twenty-One: Silver-Tongued Eloquence

Xu You now understood: in the five years since He Ru’s return to the country, he had devoted himself to just one endeavor—using every possible means to undermine An Zidào’s power. A little loosening of the soil here, some weeding there—as the saying goes, if the hoe is wielded skillfully, there is no foundation that cannot be toppled. He Ru had disguised himself as an itinerant monk, a wandering Taoist, a destitute scholar, and even as an obscure scion of a lesser noble house. Using these identities as cover, he made full use of his silver tongue and various avenues, and through both clandestine and public opportunities, managed to get close to several princes, visited prominent ministers, and even infiltrated the governor’s office in Jiangzhou, serving as a subordinate official for five months. With unparalleled wit and unfailing strategy, he danced upon the knife’s edge in shackles, spent his days among wolves and tigers, yet always emerged from danger unscathed.

In these five years, he had incited unrest among the Panhu and Wushui tribes in Jing and Yong provinces, provoked the governors of Ning and Yi provinces into mutual strife, and instigated the Prince of Nanhai to levy crippling taxes and forced labor upon the Li people of Guangzhou—sparking brutal and bloody suppressions after the inevitable uprisings. On the surface, he seemed to be drawing ever closer to success: Jing and Yong formed the military bulwark of Chu; should the tribes revolt, the Huai River defense line would be threatened. Ning and Yi, situated deep in the heartland, were economic powerhouses—the former thriving on maritime trade, contributing a significant share of the national tax revenue annually, and the latter, the nation’s granary and a commercial hub. Instability in either would have obvious repercussions for the state. The extortion and bloody crackdowns in Guangzhou also planted deep seeds of hatred among the common folk at the bottom rungs of society. (A note from history: in over 170 years of the Southern Dynasties, more than forty recorded tribal uprisings occurred, including eighteen among the Li people; harshly put, this was due to excessive exploitation, though one could argue such events also accelerated the process of ethnic integration.)

Yet for He Ru, all this was still much too slow. He was already thirty-one—well past the age of establishing oneself. Years spent by the lamplight, enduring the torment of his ambitions, had sapped away much of his vitality; his face was weathered, his figure gaunt, appearing more like a man of forty. Since his flight back to Jiangdong, every scheme and desire pitted him against the darkest hearts and ugliest sides of human nature. Each day lived was one more day of exhausting effort, and his health declined with every passing moment.

He did not know how much longer he could endure, but he sensed that his time was limited—perhaps twenty years, perhaps only ten.

And those he had approached, lobbied, or sought to support? They were either content to rule a single province or county, greedy and lustful men hungry for fame and profit, ambitious yet lacking in talent and resolve, or else too shrewd—always suspicious, ever wary, their every move calculated to keep him in check, never allowing him to fully display his abilities.

To entrust his ambitions to such men—never mind ten or twenty years, even half a century or a hundred years—it was doubtful the road would ever reach its end!

And yet, even these choices were the result of precise calculation, thorough investigation, and countless comparisons; they were, for now, or at least for the next three to five years, the most suitable candidates for his designs.

“How is it that, with so many heroes in Jiangdong, you have not found a single one to your liking?”

He Ru shook his head. “He must possess a certain rank and power, boundless ambition, the ability to control all matters, a lack of loyalty or sense of belonging to the An clan, and, when the time comes, the courage to draw his sword and slay the white serpent. Most importantly, he must be able to accept my identity without the slightest hesitation, heed my words, and trust me without doubt.”

Xu You sighed. “Such a man would indeed be hard to find.”

“It is difficult, but—fortunately—I have finally found him.”

Xu You narrowed his eyes. “Oh? And who is this fortunate soul who has won your favor?”

He Ru replied coolly, “Why, you, Xu You, seventh son of the Xu family.”

Zuo Wen, who stood at Xu You’s side, furrowed his brow and cast him a worried glance. For years he had served the Yuan family’s household, loyal to them rather than to the state of Chu itself. Of course, he bore some allegiance to the emperor, but no more than a comb-seller in Jinling might. Thus, he was not concerned that Xu You would be swayed by He Ru into rebellion; rather, he feared that associating with such a man, whose words seemed unreliable, would only bring trouble in the days ahead.

Xu You laughed heartily. “I am flattered by your mistaken regard, Master He. At present, I am a mere commoner, without office or position, uncertain even where I shall find lodging come morning. I am accompanied only by a maidservant from Yixing and a single loyal friend. I possess neither power nor ambition, nor any special ability or courage. As for your identity—not to look at the monk, but at the Buddha—your father and my grandfather were sworn brothers on the battlefield, and he died unjustly in prison, a fact known to all under heaven. I have always held you in high esteem, and would never harbor any resentment towards you because of it.”

He Ru seemed to have anticipated this answer. “That is enough for me… Only recently have I come to understand: all those other criteria are secondary. The main thing is to find someone who can accept me, and what I intend to do.”

Was this not the language of a woman vowing to marry no other?

Xu You let his laughter fade, straightening his posture. “I don’t understand. If you had come to me a few months ago, when the Xu family still possessed its power and estates, perhaps your words would make sense. But now, times have changed; what use is there in seeking me out?”

“A few months ago, you were but a reckless youth, your name on the Ninth-Rank Register a hollow honor, of no use to me. If martial prowess alone could change the world, would not the three grand masters, ranked first under heaven in the two nations, be the most powerful men alive?” He Ru’s tone was tinged with irony. “And in those days, the Xu family was still loyal to An Zidào. Had I spoken such treasonous words to you, I’d never have made it past your front gate.”

His tone shifted. “Only now, when you, like me, are burdened with the destruction of your clan and harbor a hatred for the An family, do our purposes align, making cooperation possible. That is the first point. Second, were it not for a chance discovery that you are quite different from your reputation—not only possessing keen insight and resourcefulness but also remarkable adaptability—I would not have come to you today. Third—”

“One moment,” Xu You interrupted. “You have only seen me from afar. How did you discern my supposed cunning?”

He Ru sighed, somewhat exasperated with Xu You’s feigned ignorance, but replied nonetheless. “Your famed temper is as well known as the ‘White Tiger’s Nine Strikes’ of the Xu clan, yet you restrained yourself from killing a wicked servant, choosing instead to dismiss him through legal cause—thus preserving the Xu family’s dignity without escalating the matter. That is resourcefulness in crisis. Later, you set aside your aristocratic pride and accepted the Yuan family’s proposal to dissolve your engagement, using their ship to escape Yixing and evade the Shen family’s pursuit. That is strategy in endurance. These two points alone piqued my interest. Then, at Red Leaf Shoals, I witnessed firsthand a masterful move by which you borrowed another’s blade to kill—using Yuan’s retainers to draw out the Four Arrow Assassins, then dispatching them one by one. Such mastery of layout and timing truly impressed me. But that was not all. Your actions in Jinling have shown me what it means to be born with an extraordinary gift, as if knowledge itself were innate.”

Xu You, now accustomed to He Ru’s constant praise, listened as he recounted every episode. Though the details varied slightly, the overall sequence was accurate, as if a shadow had followed his every step. “You might well deduce much about Yixing, being nearby. At Red Leaf Shoals, with dozens of boats, you could observe and infer from subtle clues—that’s clever enough. But how did you come to know all that happened in the Yuan household, as if you had seen it with your own eyes?”

“The first two took some effort,” He Ru sniffed, “but the Yuan residence was by far the simplest. With enough silver and the right words, there was little that happened in those two days—save your private conversation with Yuan Jie—that I did not know in detail.”

Indeed, with money, even ghosts may be made to grind your mill.

Xu You, still wanting to distance himself, said, “Very well, let’s say you are right. But in one respect, our aims are not the same. The disaster that befell your family came by imperial edict, but the Xu clan’s destruction was the work of the crown prince and the Shen family alone.”

He Ru gave a cold laugh. “An Zidào is the sovereign, An Xiuming the heir apparent. What difference is there? If you seek vengeance on the prince, do you think An Zidào will simply look on and do nothing?”

Xu You had no intention of debating this, for in his view, there was a real distinction—the crown prince was not the emperor, and throughout history, replacing a crown prince was always easier than changing the emperor himself.

Seeing his silence, He Ru was well aware of his thoughts but did not press the matter. After all, this was not the most urgent issue—should events ever reach that point, the question of what to do with the An family would be beyond either man’s sole decision. “So you see, my journey to Qiantang is not a whim, nor the folly of a child, but the result of long and careful thought.”

Xu You managed a bitter smile. “Even if you find me somewhat worthy, as I said, I have nothing left. You’d be better off working alone than following me.”

“If I could do it alone, would I have waited until now? Great undertakings are never accomplished by a single man. My heart is cold, my temper harsh, and I am difficult to please or to follow. Moreover, my background and identity are problematic—on ordinary occasions, it matters little, but if I were ever to step into the open, disaster would surely follow. At best, I can be a competent strategist, plotting from the shadows, but never a true master in my own right.”

You have a rather clear sense of self, Xu You thought wryly. “You are too modest…”

“It is not modesty, but the plain truth. What I intend is so difficult that I may deceive the world, but not myself. Without a clear-headed understanding, I would not get far before suffering utter defeat.” He Ru’s voice turned solemn. “But you are different. Your nature is gentle, sincere, capable of tolerance and leadership. Most rare of all, you possess a peculiar charm that puts others at ease. Otherwise, why would Left Marquis Zuo Wen, having just left the Yuan family, pledge himself to your service so resolutely?”

Xu You was silent a moment, then sighed. “After all these words, it is still pointless. Without a foundation or strength, this path you speak of is far too hard and distant. Rather than die of exhaustion halfway, I may as well remain an honest commoner and live out my days in peace.”

He Ru, keen as ever, instantly grasped Xu You’s meaning. He was not truly resigned to a life of obscurity, but wanted to hear a practical plan. He Ru’s eyes gleamed. “Though the Xu family was nearly exterminated, and their influence in court and army purged, An Zidào, out of some lingering sympathy, intervened—deliberately or not—so that some of the Xu retainers in the military remain. Across various provinces and counties, there are still many old friends and former students. Do not underestimate these people; when the time is right, they can exert a power far beyond expectation. Moreover—”

He paused, leaning forward and lowering his voice. “Though nearly all the Xu clan perished during those three days and nights, do not forget—there is still a daughter married out. She is now the consort of Prince An Xiulin of Yidu.”