gnovel Chapter 60: The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss, the Loyalty of the Descendants of Marquis Liu!
Chapter 60: The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss, the Loyalty of the Descendants of Marquis Liu!
"Zhang Bingyuan".
"I can tell you don't like the military."
In the main hall of the Crown Prince's palace, Liu Ju gazed at the young man before him who resembled more of a Confucian scholar than a warrior—a descendant of Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liu.
"Your Highness."
Zhang Bingyuan panicked. Was he going to be abandoned? He had finally managed to get into the Crown Prince's palace.
"Don't worry."
"His Highness has other plans for you."
Zhang He, the Crown Prince's steward, gently comforted him from the side.
"Ugh!"
Zhang Bingyuan was stunned for a moment, completely baffled.
"Your Zhang family has connections with many renowned wandering knights."
"Your Highness."
Zhang Bingyuan panicked. Everyone knew that after Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, ascended the throne, he deeply hated wandering knights and used the power of the whole country to suppress them. The existence of wandering knights had seriously threatened the peace of the empire, and he could not guarantee that Crown Prince Liu Ju did not have similar thoughts.
The law states: "Knights-errant use martial arts to break the law, and scholars use literature to disrupt the law."
"These are the two major sources of disaster."
Liu Ju said expressionlessly.
'Thump!'
These words made Zhang Bingyuan's heart leap into his throat.
"The origin of chivalrous wanderers came from the Mohist school, which has long since disappeared into the dust of history."
"Confucianism is inclusive and open to all kinds of ideas. It was highly valued by the emperor, who dismissed all other schools of thought and exclusively honored Confucianism."
"The Han Dynasty has always adopted a policy of appeasement and pacification towards wandering knights, but this has been taken advantage of by those with ulterior motives, threatening the rule of the empire."
"During the Former Qin period, Marquis Liu exhausted his family fortune to hire strongmen to assassinate the First Emperor at Bolangsha."
"This marked the beginning of the Zhang family's association with wandering knights."
What are your thoughts on wandering knights?
"Your Highness."
Zhang Bingyuan's back was already soaked with sweat, and he said in a trembling voice, "Knights-errant are often praised by the people for their generosity, willingness to risk their lives for righteousness, and dedication to helping those in distress."
"However, some commoners, with their limited power to kill, rely on their strength and are not afraid of the authorities, and kill people at will."
"Taking Guo Jie, Zhu Anshi, and others as examples of chivalrous heroes, they had no fewer than a thousand retainers and followers."
"I believe that wandering knights are truly weapons of mass destruction."
"A murder weapon?!"
Nodding slightly, Liu Ju said indifferently, "Having a sharp blade hanging over their heads might make them more sober."
"Whether royalty, noble families, and powerful clans can continue to be in a position of power is probably just a matter of a single thought."
"Even my maternal uncle, Marquis of Changping and General Wei Qing, pleaded for Guo Jie, which shows the influence of chivalrous knights!"
"promise."
Zhang Bingyuan respectfully agreed, not daring to offer any further judgment.
"Have you heard the rumors about the recent power struggle at court?"
Liu Ju continued to keep his gaze on him.
"Your humble servant has indeed heard of this."
Zhang Bingyuan replied.
What do you think?
"this...."
Zhang Bingyuan didn't know how to answer, and his face showed hesitation.
"Is it that you don't understand, or that you're afraid to answer?"
Do you know Bai Qi?
Liu Ju suddenly stood up and looked down at Zhang Bingyuan.
"One of the four great generals of the Warring States period, he buried alive 40 surrendered Zhao soldiers during the Battle of Changping, earning him the nickname 'Butcher of Men'."
"In his seventies, King Zhaoxiang of Qin bestowed upon him a sword and ordered him to commit suicide."
Zhang Bingyuan was filled with unease, wondering what the Crown Prince meant by mentioning Bai Qi.
"That's right, this is the historian's record."
"However, there are still some that haven't been recorded."
"Bai Qi once had a conversation with King Zhaoxiang of Qin, in which Bai Qi asked: What crime have I committed?"
King Zhaoxiang of Qin replied: "I know you are not disloyal, but you have the ability to rebel, and that is your crime."
"I am the Crown Prince, the heir apparent of the Han Dynasty. This sin has been on my shoulders since the moment I was born."
"Being born into an imperial family is an inherent sin, and I am well aware of it."
"As it turns out, King Zhaoxiang of Qin's decision may have been a mistake, but who can truly know whether a decision is right or wrong before making it?"
"Power is poison; if the container cracks, the poison will spread."
"Perhaps the poison has already begun to spread, and I am merely a victim."
"Your Highness."
Zhang Bingyuan was trembling with fear, not even daring to breathe loudly. If such words were to spread, not only would the Crown Prince's palace be in turmoil, but the Weiyang Palace would also be in an uproar. Of course, he understood, and he knew even better that what the Crown Prince said was not unfounded, but rather a premonition.
"I have tried more than once to get the poison back into the container."
"But the container is riddled with holes, so how can the poison return?"
"You are a descendant of Marquis Liu, who throughout his life strategized and won victories from afar."
"Can you tell me if there's any other way?"
Liu Ju's voice revealed disappointment, confusion, and even a hint of hope.
"I...have no choice."
Zhang Bingyuan raised his head, looked at Liu Ju, the Crown Prince of the Han Dynasty, and uttered three words with difficulty.
This is not a simple struggle between father and son; it is a battle for power. The aging emperor and the rising crown prince, like the morning sun, are two dragons circling in the sky above the Han Empire. In the end, one of them will fall from the heavens. This is the unchanging law of succession.
"I want to know your decision."
Liu Ju stared intently at Zhang Bingyuan and asked, his eyes sharp.
"Your Highness's life is now bound together with mine."
Zhang Bingyuan answered without hesitation.
"it is good."
Liu Ju smiled and waved his hand.
"Tap tap!"
The Crown Prince's attendant, Shi Zeng, approached Zhang Bingyuan carrying a tray. On the tray was a palm-sized bronze token, with the words "Hidden Dragon" engraved on the front and a pattern of a mythical beast resembling a dragon-fish with wings leaping over waves on the back.
"Your Highness, this is...."
Zhang Bingyuan looked at the bronze token on the tray, his face filled with doubt.
"This is the Flying Fish Talisman, which also belongs to the Commander of the Hidden Dragon Guard."
"The Hidden Dragon Guard is an espionage organization that I established, modeled after the Black Ice Guard of the Former Qin Dynasty, to monitor the world and spy on military secrets."
"Originally, the position was held by the Household Steward. However, the Crown Prince's palace affairs were numerous, and the Household Steward was unable to attend to them all. That is why I chose you to be the second Commander of the Hidden Dragon Guard."
What do you think?
Liu Ju said calmly.
"Huh?"
Zhang Bingyuan was stunned by this sudden surprise and hurriedly knelt down to pay his respects: "Your Highness, I am willing to die for you!"
Just kidding. The Black Ice Guard was an infiltrative organization and secret force personally overseen by successive Qin kings. Since the Hidden Dragon Guard was established in imitation of the Black Ice Guard, it was naturally a trusted confidant of Crown Prince Liu Ju. How could Zhang Bingyuan not be excited by such high regard for him to lead it?
"Rise."
Liu Ju walked up to him step by step, extended his right hand, and patted his shoulder heavily.
"Your Highness."
Zhang Bingyuan had never felt so valued by others before. The saying "a debt of gratitude for being recognized and appreciated must be repaid with one's life" was exactly like this.
"The Qianlong Guard is composed of one Commander, two Deputy Commanders, and four Assistant Commanders."
"The Southern and Northern Garrison Commands were established, each headed by a Deputy Commander."
"The Southern Garrison Command is responsible for internal laws and regulations and military discipline within the Qianlong Guard, while the Northern Garrison Command is in charge of local affairs."
"Thirteen thousand-household offices were set up in each region, corresponding to the thirteen provincial governorates of the Han Dynasty. Hundred-household offices were set up in each prefecture/kingdom."
"A centurion's office is composed of one centurion, two squad leaders, and ten squad leaders. Each squad leader has ten strongmen under their command."
"I want you to extend the tentacles of the Hidden Dragon Guard to every corner of the Han Dynasty within a year."
"In the future, the Hidden Dragon Guard will also need to collect information on the surrounding barbarians, and even those thousands of miles away."
"hiss!!!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Bingyuan was greatly shocked.
The Han Dynasty had at least 100 commanderies and kingdoms, and at least 10,000 strongmen were needed, which was a considerable expense.
"All necessities are provided by the Crown Prince's palace."
"The family will make arrangements."
Liu Ju noticed his concern and added.
"promise."
Zhang Bingyuan was finally relieved.
"Come with me."
Zhang He, the Crown Prince's steward, waved to him, and Zhang Bingyuan followed behind him, leaving the main hall of the Crown Prince's palace.
PS: According to the Book of Han, Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, ordered Zhang Liang to choose 30,000 households in the State of Qi as his fief. Zhang Liang declined and humbly requested to be enfeoffed in Liu (present-day Pei County, Jiangsu Province), the place where he first met Liu Bang. Liu Bang agreed, so Zhang Liang was called Marquis of Liu.