Jinting Han people

Chapter 41: Jane in the Emperor's Heart (4k)

When it comes to the center of the Nine Provinces, it is of course the capital Luoyang, and when it comes to the center of the Luoyang court, it is of course the Luoyang Imperial Palace.

As autumn deepened, Sima Yan, the emperor of the Western Jin Dynasty, went boating on Tianyuan Pond in Hualin Garden. Facing the autumn sun, osmanthus blossoms, and the shimmering water, he asked the palace maids around him to leisurely sing "Song of Wu and Chu":
The men of Yan are beautiful, and the women of Zhao are pretty.
The room is located near a cliff.

The clouds are the chariots and the winds are the horses.
Jade is in the mountains and orchid is in the wild.

Originally built during the Eastern Han Dynasty, this palace is one of the few remaining palaces after the Dong Zhuo Rebellion. Sima Yan loved the scenery there, and while boating there he often felt a sense of being detached from the world, his soul wandering in the heavens.

At this time, a eunuch came to the edge of the pond and said to the pond: "Your Majesty, Zhang Hua has something to report..."

"Keep singing!" Sima Yan was very dissatisfied when the singing stopped, and ordered the palace maids to continue singing his ballad. Zhang Hua went to the pavilion of Tianyuan Pond and waited for the emperor to finish listening to the ballad.

The clouds have no end, but the wind has a stop.
Who can understand so many thoughts?
When the maiden finished singing, Sima Yan waved his sleeves, oblivious to the crowd, and said, "Dock!" His voice was calm and commanding. The maidens rowed respectfully to the shore. Sima Yan laughed heartily, "Hahaha, Mr. Mao, you've listened to all my songs. How's it going? Are you alright?"

Zhang Hua studied the emperor's face and replied stiffly, "The song is as melodious as an oriole's, and the melody is soft and gentle. It is indeed a beautiful piece of music, but Your Majesty, it is ultimately a decadent piece of music that shows no ambition. You should listen to it less."

This wasn't entirely sincere. In the past, Zhang Hua would have joked with the emperor, even composing gentle, erotic songs to foster a closer relationship. But after the Qi factional strife, Sima Yan exiled Zhang Hua to Youzhou, shattering the harmonious relationship between the emperor and his subjects. Although Sima Yan would still summon Zhang Hua to the palace as if nothing had happened, there were certain things Zhang Hua no longer dared to say.

After hearing Zhang Hua's answer, Sima Yan remained unconcerned. He leaned against the railing with his shirt open and said with a smile, "What nonsense are you talking about, Mr. Mao! The Nine Provinces have already been unified. Further advancement will only waste the people's energy. Now is the time to emulate the wise policies of Emperor Wen of Han and rule by inaction. What else can you listen to besides these frivolous songs?"

Zhang Hua didn't say much, but nodded in agreement.

Only then did Sima Yan return to the main topic and ask, "What do you want to say this time?"

"I came here this time because I received an invitation and heard some news, so I'm a little unsure."

Sima Yan waved his hand, summoning a palace maid holding a fruit plate. He casually picked up an orange and said with a smile as he peeled it:
"Oh? It's not often that Zhang Qing is so unsure. Let me guess, is it about the royal family? Or is someone seriously ill again? Or is one of the children causing trouble?"

"Neither, Your Majesty, it's a matter of the literary world."

"The literary world?" Sima Yan laughed a little, his slightly tense spirit instantly relaxing. After swallowing a slice of tangerine flesh, he closed his eyes and clapped his hands, letting the musicians beside him play a light and airy tune. Then he asked, "What big news could there be in the literary world? Could it be that Zuo Si has finished writing 'Fu of Three Capitals'?"

"No."

"Did Pei Wei and Wang Yan start a debate?"

"No, Your Majesty."

"Hmm?" Sima Yan was a little confused. He patted his stomach and laughed, "Then I can't guess. Maoxian, just tell me the answer directly."

"Your Majesty, this is about compiling history. Chen Shou traveled south for five years and completed the Records of the Three Kingdoms. He returned to the capital this month."

"Compilation of history? 'Records of the Three Kingdoms'?" Upon hearing these words, the emperor straightened himself, but a casual smile still lingered on his face. He was already somewhat interested. The emperor immediately urged Zhang Hua, "Tell me everything you know."

"Yes, after he returned to Beijing this time, he immediately invited many scholars to visit his house, and it caused quite a stir in the literary world."

"Who have been invited?"

"There aren't many important ones, the main ones are Yu Huan, Sima Biao, Xiahou Zhan, Cao Zhi, and Wang Chong."

Without waiting for Sima Yan's further questions, Zhang Hua continued, "Except for Wang Chong, who was from the same hometown as Chen Shou, the others had no regular contact with him; their meeting was purely due to their literary connection. As a result, they all highly praised the 'Records of the Three Kingdoms,' saying it was second only to the 'Book of Han' and the 'Records of the Grand Historian,' and could perhaps be called one of the 'Three Histories.'"

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the pavilion suddenly became solemn. The smile on Sima Yan's face completely disappeared, replaced by a serious look. He stood up and began to wander, pacing and admiring the flowers, while saying in a nostalgic tone, "The Three Histories, what a remarkable evaluation."

"Emperor Wen of Wei, Cao Pi, once said that literature is the great cause of governing a country and an immortal event. But achieving immortality is so difficult! Who would read a piece of writing that wasn't a gem of a word? Mr. Mao, do you still remember the 'Book of Wei' compiled by Yuan Gong of Boling?"

Zhang Hua certainly remembered it. He recounted, "During the Zhengyuan period, when the late emperor first came to power, he ordered the then-Secretary General, Duke Yuan of Boling, Wang Shen, to lead a group of literary masters including Ruan Ji, Xun Yi, and Fu Xuan. They spent eight years compiling the forty-four volumes of the 'Book of Wei'."

"What happened?"

"..."

Zhang Hua remained silent, but Sima Yan seemed quite open-minded. He waved his hand and smiled, "What's there to be ashamed of? It was almost thirty years ago. It was just that some people criticized the 'Book of Wei' for being flattering and lacking any integrity! That's when I realized that compiling history is as difficult as governing a country!"

He probably had an idea in his mind at this time. He sat back by the railing, looked at Zhang Hua and asked:

"Chen Shou was only a native of Shu, yet his history book is so highly praised. Maoxian, do you think he deserves this accolade?"

Zhang Hua replied matter-of-factly, "I haven't read it yet, so how can I comment on it?" But after a pause, he added, "However, in my opinion, even if Chen Shou doesn't deserve this reputation, he is still the foremost historian of his time."

"How to say?"

"Yu Huan was already approaching ninety. He called himself a minister of Wei and wanted to emulate Boyi and Shuqi. Since the founding of the Jin Dynasty, he had devoted himself to historical studies, ignoring worldly affairs. He ultimately wrote the eight-million-word "Wei Lue," a truly unprecedented work. While he may not be the most profound and erudite historian in the literary world, his integrity and integrity are universally acknowledged. And now that he holds Chen Shou in such high esteem, even if his vision is flawed, it's not far behind."

Speaking of Yu Huan, Sima Yan raised his finger and jokingly said, "Yes, yes, yes, I remember him. It was this old man who took the lead in criticizing the Book of Wei. At that time, the late emperor saw that he was so old and bald that he didn't bother with him. I didn't expect that he is still alive now!"

He then questioned, "But I don't think integrity, as you say, is something that should be overestimated. The court has countless officials, and who doesn't have their own flaws? Some are greedy, some are lustful, and some are drunkards. I've never met a perfect person."

"I think Yu Huan is too obsessed with fame. He wrote the eight-million-word 'Wei Lue' just to orchestrate the court. How could he possibly understand the sage's doctrine of the mean? His praise of Chen Shou doesn't necessarily indicate that his 'Records of the Three Kingdoms' is any good. Perhaps it's just a mediocre work satirizing the court."

At this point, Emperor Sima Yan's stance was clear: he was deeply dissatisfied with the trend of scholars writing private histories. Regardless of the quality of the writing, whether it was good or bad, it was ultimately outside the control of the imperial court. Of course, many things escaped the control of the imperial court, but this one, involving the Sima family's original sin of usurping power, was particularly unbearable for Sima Yan, leading him to execute Chen Shou and Yu Huan with a single blow.

Zhang Hua certainly sensed the emperor's dissatisfaction. But he also knew that, given the emperor's personality, this wasn't an irrevocable rule. Sima Yan, as an emperor, had been able to unify the Three Kingdoms and end the separatist regimes. This was undoubtedly due to his exceptional ability: tolerance. Sometimes, the more the opinions contradicted his own, the more tolerant and cautious he became.

So Zhang Hua patiently explained, "If it were just Yu Huan, it's certainly possible. But with Sima Biao and Xiahou Zhan present, and they also spoke in the same way, Your Majesty, this can only be a masterpiece."

"Um...what did they say?"

"Sima Biao said he wanted to copy it and pass it down to his family. Xiahou Zhan even burned his own work in public, saying he would never write history again in his lifetime."

"Is it really this good?" Sima Yan couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. But in an instant, his attitude changed. He smiled as if he had never had any prejudice. "Well, Maoxian, go and take a look at it for me. If it is worthy of the reputation and is truly a masterpiece, I will reward Chen Shou with the title of Grand Chamberlain and transfer him to the Secretariat. What do you say?"

Zhang Hua gave a wry smile, feeling the emperor joked too much. The position of Grand Chamberlain was one of the most influential positions in the imperial court, assisting the emperor in decision-making. Because of its proximity to the emperor, its immense influence, and its simplicity and ease of handling affairs, it was revered by scholars as a "clean position." Such a crucial position, with so many nobles eyeing it, was clearly impossible to give it to Chen Shou, who had been away from the court for so many years. After weighing Chen Shou's background, reputation, influence, and age, he offered a suggestion: "In my opinion, we should promote Chen Shou to the position of Prince's Secretary, to serve as a talent reserve for the Eastern Palace."

Upon hearing this suggestion, Sima Yan showed an amused expression. He said, "Becoming an official under the crown prince is not a good position. Wouldn't it lead to people criticizing me for not treating talented people well?"

Zhang Hua said calmly, "Criticism is human nature. Nothing in the world is perfect. In court administration, it is important for everyone to fulfill their duties. Your Majesty, you have fulfilled your duty by promoting him. I, in recommending him, have also fulfilled my duty. If Chen Shou is a truly virtuous minister, he will know how to fulfill his duty."

"Then let's do it!"

Sima Yan waved his hand disinterestedly, preparing to return to his boating trip. But after a few steps, he suddenly remembered something. He turned back to Zhang Hua and asked, "I remember you said five people went to visit Chen Shou, but you just mentioned four. Why did Cao Zhi go to see him? I remember that he was interested in literary theory, not classics and history."

When asked this question, Zhang Hua replied expressionlessly, "The Duke of Juancheng has served as a doctor and chief academic for so many years. How could he not be good at classics and history? Your Majesty is underestimating him."

"makes sense."

"However, Your Majesty is also right. Duke Juancheng's visit to the Chen residence was indeed not simply to read the "Records of the Three Kingdoms."

"Oh?"

"And also to see his son-in-law..."

"Oh!" Sima Yan clapped his head and said suddenly, "I remember now. Chen Shou's disciple was that Liu Xian! He also had Ruan Xian as his teacher."

"It is Prince Anle."

"Prince Anle..." The emperor murmured these five words, then smiled leisurely at Zhang Hua, "Come to think of it, when Cao Zhi told me about this marriage, I was shocked! He was so audacious to let Liu Bei's great-grandson marry Cao Cao's great-granddaughter! But then I thought, this can help these two families resolve their feud and form an alliance, which also shows the benevolence of our Great Jin, so I agreed."

"I didn't expect that within a few days, Duke Anle would go insane and accidentally kill his pregnant wife. Mr. Mao, you weren't in the capital. I don't know what a joke this was. It caused such a stir that I thought the marriage was over. I didn't expect Cao Zhi to refuse to rescind the engagement..."

"It is also the virtue of Your Majesty."

"Come to think of it, this kid has been in mourning for two years, and it's almost over." Sima Yan shrugged and asked Zhang Hua directly, "Mr. Mao, you live next door to him. Tell me, what kind of person is this Prince Anle?"

Zhang Hua's answer was simple: "It's hard to say. He's only fourteen."

"Fourteen is not young. Whether it's a dragon, a snake, a tiger, a dog, an eagle, or a sparrow, at this age you should have some clues."

"Your Majesty, I can't say for sure whether he is a dragon or a tiger."

Sima Yan was stunned. He had not expected Zhang Hua to give such a high evaluation. His interest was immediately piqued. He walked back to the pavilion and sat down. One hand stroked the waist of the palace maid beside him while the other hand tuned the strings of his zither. "Then tell me, what does it mean to be unsure whether it is a dragon or a tiger?"

"Yes," Zhang Hua bowed slightly and said to the emperor, "Because I am not sure, what I am going to say next is just my personal opinion. If there is anything wrong, please correct me, Your Majesty."

"It doesn't matter if you say so."

"Your Majesty, according to common sense, being born into the nobility of a fallen nation is inherently a bad thing. People from fallen nations often harbor resentment, and when resentment is not smooth, character declines, and when character declines, family traditions fall. This is self-evident."

"That's right. That's how Lord Anle became mad."

"But with the Anle Mansion's declining family tradition, Liu Huai Chong has been quiet and serene since childhood, unlike ordinary people."

"How is he so calm?"

Zhang Hua pondered, "He has a compassionate heart and can endure loneliness. His father was tyrannical and extravagant, but he remained unaffected. He has always protected the servants and earned the admiration of everyone in the family. He was isolated by his peers since childhood, but he remained calm and focused on his studies. In the end, he was appreciated by the Duke of Juancheng and was recruited as his son-in-law. He must have been a very accomplished scholar and a man of great learning."

Sima Yan thought for a moment and smiled, "Poverty makes one more resolute, and one is quick-witted and eager to learn. While this is rare, it's not entirely surprising. Wasn't Duke Wang Xiang of Suiling also from a tragic family, oppressed by his stepmother? Later, the Duke requested suicide in person, moving his stepmother with his filial piety. Yet, Liu Xian hasn't been able to correct his father's mistakes. Clearly, while he's a remarkable individual, he's not as good as the Duke. Isn't he a young phoenix, similar to Cao Zhi? How can you not see that?"

Wang Xiang does not have the burden of a lost country on his shoulders, Zhang Hua thought to himself but did not say it out loud.

As time went by and his achievements were established, the emperor's vigilance was getting lower and lower. After defeating King Sima You of Qi, Sima Yan's tolerance reached an alarming level. He seemed to have completely lost the sarcasm and suspicion that was deep in his grandfather Sima Yi's bones. He even made some casual comments about Liu Xian without even meeting him.

Some things, some people, can only be truly understood when witnessed. Zhang Hua had seen Liu Xian's iron gaze, but he also knew that some words wouldn't make sense at this moment. Continuing to persevere would do no good, other than provoking Cao Zhi.

Therefore, Zhang Hua immediately said in agreement, "Your Majesty is wise."

At this point, Sima Yan ruffled his beard and smiled faintly, "I still remember when I was young, I thought studying was a chore and I had no interest in learning. That's why I fell behind Tao Fu (King of Qi Sima You). Later, I studied with Cao Zhi. With a good friend as my companion, I didn't find the time difficult, and my grades improved."

The emperor recalled the past, which made Zhang Hua a little confused. What was his plan?

Sima Yan said, "Speaking of which, not many of my sons like to read, which is not a good thing. Since this Prince Anle resembles Cao Zhi, I might as well arrange for him to be a study partner with one of them."

"Study companion? But Liu Xian is too young and still in mourning..."

"It's not something that will happen right away." Sima Yan plucked the string a few times and said with a smile, "Cao Zhi lost my face last time, so how can I just throw myself at him? I have to wait until this guy enters the government before I can make arrangements for him."

"However, when you go to Chen Shou's appointment this time, you can bring a few princes with you. First, to broaden their horizons and see what a good historian is. Second, to appease Chen Shou and dissuade him from harboring resentment. Third, to take another look at this Liu Xian. If he is truly a talented person and there are any princes who can get along well with him, then please tell me and we can arrange for him to be your companion."

After such a long conversation, the conversation finally came to an end. Sima Yan didn't want to talk any more, so he waved his hand and asked the eunuch to come and see him off. When Zhang Hua slowly left, the emperor was already lying in the arms of the palace maid without any scruples. Soon, the soft and gentle singing voice could be heard again from the pavilion:

"The bright moon shines brightly in the night, and the crickets chirp on the east wall.

Yuheng points to the beginning of winter, and the stars are so clear.

The white dew wets the wild grass, and the season suddenly changes.

The autumn cicadas chirp among the trees, the black bird flies away peacefully..."

As the singing went on, the lake rippled and willow leaves fell like rain.

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(End of this chapter)