Chapter Eighty-Seven: The Strategy of Yanyi, Part Eleven

Zheng Chong, Commander of the Thousand-Guard Corps of the Eastern Capital, respectfully submits: I hold that the Celestial Dynasty stands above all other realms, not because its territory is vast or its armies mighty, but because it is broad in tolerance and open in gathering the excellence of others. This is truly the foundation of its precedence among nations and its harmonizing of the myriad states. Men and women alike are the flesh and blood of their parents, shaped by Heaven and Earth; in purpose and allegiance they ought not be divided by difference. If talent and virtue are matched to office, then it is only proper to serve family and country with the devotion of hounds and horses. Now I rejoice to hear that beside the Heavenly Empress there are women who answer the summons, who rise with the valor of heaven and earth, and who, beneath the boundless dignity of the greater realm, uphold the rightful succession of the imperial treasure. Since the vassal states are to be embraced as kin, at this grand ceremony of inward allegiance, there should be no hesitation in fully displaying all their splendor. I am no master of borders or territories, but I have always cherished the heart of honoring the worthy. I am willing to take the reins and await your command at the horse’s head, and to give voice to the first call for a female general to command the troops. I humbly beg the Heavenly Empress to grant this request. Then I shall be fortunate indeed, and the empire fortunate indeed.

Shangguan Wan'er slightly lifted her eyelids, then lowered them again. She knew the empress's habits well: she greatly disliked anything left hanging or vague. Memorials of importance that were difficult to decide would often affect the entire pace of review; such documents might be turned over again and again, never lightly set aside.

The memorial in Wu Zetian's hands had already been read dozens of times, yet she still had not put it down. Now she would suddenly show a look of resolve, and now again of delight, as changeable as fair weather and storm.

Shangguan Wan'er knelt and sat a little behind her, drawing in her body as much as possible and striving to diminish her presence. A memorial that could trouble even the empress—if she were asked about it, one wrong answer might well bring disaster upon herself.

Wu Zetian did not ask her. She laid the memorial down, closed her eyes for a long while, then swept her sleeve as she rose. This gesture meant that today's work of reviewing petitions was at an end.

"Your Majesty, the Minister of Rites, the Director of the Court of Ceremonial, and others seek an audience, together with Khagan Ashina Huseluo of the Western Turkic Khaganate."

Wu Zetian stood by the window, feeling the bleak winter wind, with not a trace of pleasure on her face. Through her teeth she uttered a few words: "Prepare the imperial carriage for the Hall of Purple Radiance."

Ashina Huseluo was a man of striking and heroic appearance, tall and powerfully built, having come dust-stained to Chang'an. He wore Western Turkic dress, pointed leather boots, and a tiger-skin cloak, presenting a distinctly foreign air.

"I, Ashina Huseluo of the grasslands, pay my respects to the great Heavenly Empress of the Celestial Court."

With that opening, all the points he had gained in appearance were lost at once. His voice was unpleasant, and his manner coarse and rude. After kneeling, he kept his neck stiff and looked straight at Wu Zetian seated upon the imperial throne, undisguised desire gleaming in his eyes.

"Lord of the frontier, you have made a hard journey. Let the Ministry of Rites and the Court of Ceremonial arrange matters properly. After the grand ceremony in the Eastern Capital, I shall host a banquet in your honor."

Wu Zetian suppressed her displeasure and showed no inclination to converse. With only a few words she dismissed him, then ordered the summoning of the chancellors and the senior and junior Nine Ministers to deliberate.

"I have long heard that Huseluo came to ruin his ancestral inheritance through cruelty and tyranny, but I did not fully believe it. Seeing him today, he is indeed arrogant and impudent. The responsible offices must instruct him well and not allow him to remain uncivilized. If there is the slightest omission or mishap in the court ceremony, I shall take your heads."

When the important ministers had assembled, Wu Zetian's anger was great.

"Your servants obey." Wu Sansi stepped forward with a stiffened spine to accept the order, inwardly uneasy. A country bumpkin vassal from beyond the borders, ignorant and easy to instruct, might be manageable—but someone like this unruly foreign savage truly left no easy place to begin.

"Your Majesty, this subject has a memorial. Huseluo is a Turkic khagan. In former times, when the Turkic Khagan Jieli came to court, High Ancestor once ordered him to perform a dance before the assembled ministers, and it became a famed tale of the age. At the grand ceremony of inward allegiance on New Year's Day, if Huseluo could be made to perform a dance or sing a song, the glory of the Celestial Court would surely be displayed once more."

Wu Chengsi continued his recent political style of relentless pressure against Wu Sansi, determined to make him understand the stakes and cease any further maneuvering. His words, spoken after stepping forward, were like a handful of salt flung precisely into an open wound.

Wu Sansi's face turned pale at once. To make Huseluo behave with decorum was already immensely difficult; to have him dance for amusement was simply making things impossible for this minister. Grinding his back teeth, he said, "Your Majesty, I believe Huseluo is disrespectful and presumptuous. We must first compel him to fear our authority and respect our virtue before his arrogance can be curbed. Therefore the military review is especially important. I recommend appointing Lady Xie as commander, to direct the Eastern Capital Thousand-Guard Corps and the Northern Administration's Thousand Cavalry on the spot, so as to enhance the majesty of the Celestial Court. This will certainly achieve twice the result with half the effort."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone in the hall, including Wu Zetian, changed dramatically, yet none of them said a word.

After a long silence, Wu Zetian raised her brows and eyes and asked in a low voice, "What do you all think?"

"I support it." Cen Changqian and Su Weidao, the two chancellors most skilled at preserving themselves, unexpectedly came forward together to agree.

Seeing this, several other chancellors and ministers also voiced their support in unison. With unusual tacit understanding, Doulu Qinwang, Quan Ce, and others immediately caught the rhythm and followed the crowd.

In an instant, those remaining silent were only Wu Chengsi and a few of his faction. Wu Zetian's gaze slowly swept over them.

An extremely sinister trap had come so suddenly that Wu Chengsi lost all composure and immediately knelt to the ground, cold sweat pouring down. "This subject utterly supports this proposal. With Your Majesty's boundless blessings, and with Lady Xie at your side, if Lady Xie commands the troops, she will surely add luster to Your Majesty's divine might and make Huseluo bow and submit."

"Good. Time is short, so make your own arrangements and go."

Wu Zetian's expression eased somewhat. She left the assembly without issuing any specific instructions, leaving the others in the hall looking at one another in bewilderment.

Wu Chengsi braced a hand on his knee and rose. Everything around him felt utterly unfamiliar, and a chill ran down his spine. He could not understand it. Aside from his lofty aunt, the ruler who controlled everything, no one else could play the court's high officials and ministers as though they were pieces in the palm of a hand. And yet why was he the only one left in the dark? He did not fear losing face for the moment, nor did he worry that his younger cousin's painstaking efforts would come to nothing. What he feared was this: when had he lost his aunt's trust?

A slick, detestable face flashed before his eyes: Wu Sansi.

"Minister Wu, the military review, the dance performance, the ceremony of inward allegiance, and the New Year's grand banquet—this spring festival period is bound to keep you very busy."

Grateful for the chancellor's support, this junior official is deeply moved.

Wu Sansi forced a smile, forcing the words out from between his teeth.

Seeing his loss of composure and cold face, Wu Chengsi felt somewhat reassured and regained his poise and confidence. With a cold snort, he tossed off a line about the capable bearing the greater burden, then strode out of the hall with the measured steps of an official. All these matters, one after another, were a gate to hell; there would be plenty of chances to deal with you yet.

The other important ministers also departed one after another, leaving only Wu Sansi and the two vice ministers of the Ministry of Rites, Doulu Qinwang and Quan Ce, lingering at the rear.

Wu Sansi's expression was stern. He cupped his hands toward Doulu Qinwang and Quan Ce. "Grand Director of Ceremonies, Junior Director, at such a time we must surely be of one heart and one mind and weather the storm together."

"What the minister says is entirely right." Doulu Qinwang frowned deeply, his belly rising and falling uneasily. This task was truly too wicked a piece of trouble. "The ceremony of inward allegiance and the New Year's grand banquet both have fixed regulations; the focus lies in the military review and the dance performance. We should first make assignments and divide the work, then act separately."

Wu Sansi lifted his eyelids slightly. "The Grand Director of Ceremonies speaks truly. Junior Director Quan knows military matters and once commanded the Eastern Capital Thousand-Guard Corps. Wu Yanyi is my paternal cousin, so let the two of us accompany Lady Xie to Xin'an County and arrange the military review. As for the Grand Director of Ceremonies and the two vice ministers, all of you are seasoned ritual officials and have much experience managing foreign vassals, so you can take charge of the dance performance. How does that sound?"

Upon hearing this, Doulu Qinwang immediately regretted it. He should never have engaged Wu Sansi, that smiling tiger. The easy assignment had been snatched away, and with such perfectly reasonable arguments too; it was enough to make a man furious. He said darkly, "Time is tight, and Huseluo is stubborn. I fear we must combine orthodox and unorthodox measures to make any real progress. Minister Wu has wide connections, so do not keep your resources to yourself."

"No matter. I shall write you a letter. The people from the Censorate and the Court of Judicature will all want to curry favor with me. As for the hidden dealings, you may command them as you please."

Wu Sansi wore a broad smile, full of heroic confidence.

"Very good." Doulu Qinwang felt reassured and laughed heartily.

Quan Ce stood respectfully on the outer edge, also smiling in response.