Chapter Ninety-Three: Court Rewards

At that very moment, one of Cai Yong’s stewards entered and said respectfully, “My lord, there is a young gentleman surnamed Gu outside. He says he is your disciple and has come to pay his respects.”

Cai Yong was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. “How fitting that he should arrive just like this. Go at once and invite Yuan Tan in.”

Before long, Gu Yong was led into the hall by a household servant.

“This student, Gu Yong, pays his respects to my teacher.” As soon as he saw Cai Yong, Gu Yong bowed deeply. He was only about twenty years old, not much older than Liu Yao.

“Yuan Tan, come, come. Let me introduce you. This is your junior brother, His Highness, the Eldest Prince, Liu Yao.” Cai Yong hurriedly drew Gu Yong forward and made the introduction.

Gu Yong was startled. He had long known that his teacher Cai Yong had taken the current Eldest Prince as a disciple, but for all these years he had remained in his hometown of Wujun and had never had the chance to meet him. Over these same years, Liu Yao’s fame had spread far and wide. He had crushed the Wuhuan and broken the Yellow Turbans; who in the realm had not heard of him? Gu Yong had come to Cai Yong precisely because he hoped to use Cai Yong’s influence to be introduced to Liu Yao and seek an official post. He had some confidence in his own ability.

“This commoner, Gu Yong, greets Your Highness.” He hastily knelt and bowed.

“Yuan Tan, please rise. If anything, I should be calling you Senior Brother.” Liu Yao said with a smile.

“I would never dare,” Gu Yong said quickly, waving his hands.

Liu Yao deliberately put on a displeased expression. “Why would you not dare? Since we are both disciples of our teacher, that title is only fitting. I have also long heard of Senior Brother’s great renown, though fate never allowed us to meet. Tell me, would Senior Brother be willing to serve under my command?”

Gu Yong was overjoyed. “Gu Yong pays respects to my lord. I came here today precisely to throw myself under my lord’s banner.”

“Excellent! With Senior Brother’s talent, even a commandery administrator would be far too modest a post. Once we return to Youzhou, I shall appoint you as the Administrator of Shanggu. What say you?” Liu Yao asked with a smile.

To his surprise, Gu Yong showed no joy at all. Instead, he shook his head and said, “My lord, I do not wish to serve as a commandery administrator. I would ask instead that you first appoint me as a county magistrate. If I can achieve some real results, it will not be too late to take up a commandery post.”

Liu Yao’s opinion of Gu Yong rose yet another notch. He understood Gu Yong’s thinking very well. Gu Yong did not wish to rely on Liu Yao’s connection to attain a high office, for that would inevitably invite accusations that Liu Yao favored his own people. What he wanted was to rise step by step through his own practical ability. In this way, he would not cause trouble for Liu Yao, and he would also hone his own skills, killing two birds with one stone.

“Very well. Since Senior Brother has such ambition, I, as your junior brother, naturally agree,” Liu Yao said with a smile.

“Thank you for your understanding, my lord.” Gu Yong said gratefully.

“Haha! With Senior Brother’s arrival today, this is a day of great rejoicing. Why not drink to our hearts’ content?” Liu Yao laughed.

Cai Yong frowned. “Yao’er, have you forgotten that you must attend court tomorrow? How can you afford to drink yourself into a stupor?”

“Oh.” Liu Yao had truly forgotten that, and could only smile bitterly. “In that case, Senior Brother, we must postpone it for a few days. Then I can also introduce you to your future colleagues.”

“An audience with the Son of Heaven is what matters. The rest are but trivial matters. My lord need not keep them in mind,” Gu Yong said solemnly.

Since he had court to attend the next day, Liu Yao could only retire early.

One thing worth mentioning was a woman’s skill at making friends, especially among those of similar age. In only one afternoon, Cai Yan and Diao Chan were already addressing each other as sisters, and their relationship had become remarkably close. As for Liu Xin, she was especially fond of the two future imperial sisters-in-law. Having grown up with only Liu Yao as her playmate, she was naturally thrilled to suddenly have two girlfriends her own age.

That very night, Zhang Rang learned of what had happened from those two palace eunuchs. Of course, the tale was heavily embellished. Zhang Rang could not help feeling somewhat displeased. After all, he was one of the Emperor’s favored men. Liu Yao might be the Eldest Prince, but whether he would one day inherit the throne was still an open question. To dare humiliate him like that inevitably kindled a trace of resentment.

Still, Zhang Rang also knew that Liu Yao held a very high position in both the court and Emperor Ling’s heart, so it would be best to keep relations friendly. Thus, that same night, he had the heads of those two palace eunuchs sent to Cai Yong’s residence. As for Liu Yao, if he had not seen those two heads, he would likely have forgotten the matter entirely. He had no time to waste on such insignificant people.

What Liu Yao wanted was to fall out with the Ten Attendants. Or rather, not merely to quarrel with them, but to offend them thoroughly and irreparably. If they could become sworn enemies, Liu Yao would be even more satisfied. If it were not so, many things in the future would be difficult to carry out. And the real power behind the Ten Attendants was Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong. With the Emperor himself supporting him, Liu Yao naturally had nothing to fear from them trying to trip him up.

Early the next morning, Liu Yao went straight to the palace. Led by a palace attendant, he proceeded to the great court hall. The others, such as Huangfu Song, Dong Zhuo, and Cao Cao, also went in turn to await Emperor Ling’s rewards.

In the court hall, Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong, sat high upon the dragon throne. Liu Yao, by virtue of being the Eldest Prince, stood in the foremost rank. As for people like Sun Jian and Cao Cao, being able to stand at the very end already counted as quite decent.

“My loyal ministers, in this campaign to pacify the Yellow Turbans, you have truly rendered great service...” Emperor Ling began with a long round of formal pleasantries. Then he had Zhang Rang read the imperial edict and announce the rewards for everyone.

The first to be rewarded were the two great contributors, Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun. As for Lu Zhi, he was still locked in prison, so there was no reward for him. Huangfu Song was appointed Left General of Chariots and Cavalry, given concurrent authority as Governor of Ji Province, elevated to Marquis of Huaili, and granted the revenues of Huaili and Meiyang Counties, eight thousand households in all. He was also awarded one thousand catties of gold and one thousand bolts of brocade.

Zhu Jun was appointed Right General of Chariots and Cavalry and Palace Attendant Grandee, had his enfeoffment increased by five thousand households, and was further granted the title of Marquis of Qiantang. He too received one thousand catties of gold and one thousand bolts of brocade. In one leap, Zhu Jun had climbed several ranks.

After that, men like Cao Cao, Sun Jian, Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shu also received various rewards, though their official posts were not especially high. As for Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, those two men who had barely even lifted a finger, they still managed to obtain office by virtue of their family’s reputation among the Three Excellencies across four generations.

Dong Zhuo, by contrast, had not only achieved no merit, but had suffered a crushing defeat. By rights, the fact that he was not punished at all already counted as fortunate. Yet Dong Zhuo was willing to spend money, and had long ago bribed the Ten Attendants, so despite being a defeated commander, he still obtained the office of Administrator of Hedong.

As for the men under Liu Yao’s command, such as Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun, they too were not promoted this time. They merely received some gold, cloth, and similar valuables.

Only after all that did the greatest contributor of all, Liu Yao, finally receive his reward.

“Appoint Liu Yao as the Grand General of Cavalry and Archery of Great Han. Award him two thousand catties of gold and two thousand bolts of brocade. So be it.” With Zhang Rang’s voice, the distribution of rewards came to an end.

“We thank Your Majesty.” Everyone spoke in unison.

Yet the reward bestowed upon Liu Yao left the old fox Yuan Feng momentarily stunned. He had never imagined that Liu Yao’s rank would merely be raised to Grand General of Cavalry and Archery. What difference was there between that and no reward at all? Still, this outcome suited Yuan Feng perfectly.

This time, Yuan Feng had originally had no intention of speaking up and causing trouble for Liu Yao. He knew full well that Emperor Ling, Liu Hong, placed absolute trust in Liu Yao. Going up to denounce him would be no different from courting a scolding. Yuan Feng had no desire to indulge in self-torment.

But it was precisely for that reason that he had remained endlessly vexed. As a rule, the relationship between an emperor and the crown prince, or between an emperor and a prince with real power, especially one like Liu Yao who commanded troops and held power in his own hands, was always delicate.

An emperor could not be without an heir, yet he also feared that once that heir had grown strong, he would come to overthrow him. Throughout the history of the Han, there had been no lack of deposed crown princes. Emperor Jing of Han had done such a thing himself, stripping Liu Rong of his position. What Yuan Feng could not understand was why Liu Hong trusted Liu Yao so completely, without the slightest fear that Liu Yao might one day seize his throne.