Holding the Emperor Hostage : Chapter 49

That night, under someone’s shameless begging, Shengtu Yang got his wish and moved into the emperor’s sleeping quarters.

This was still the first time Shengtu Yang had entered the inner chambers since the emperor relocated to Youzhou. He looked around the luxurious and exquisite palace rooms with some curiosity, and after a while asked with satisfaction, “Does Your Majesty like this place?”

Yin Shuhuai smiled, “Not bad.”

What Yin Shuhuai was most satisfied with was that when Yao Wenruo constructed the sleeping quarters, he had specially had craftsmen build a heated kang bed in the side hall. When the weather was cold, lying on it, covered with a quilt, drinking tea, admiring the snowy scene outside the window, there was nothing more comfortable.

Shengtu Yang tilted his head to look at Yin Shuhuai, then with his hands behind his back, strolled leisurely into the side hall. At first glance he saw stacks of snow white silk fabric on the kang table. No, that wasn’t right!

Shengtu Yang reached out, picked up a piece as thin as a cicada’s wing of “silk fabric” and gently rubbed it between his fingers. His expression immediately changed, “This is paper?”

As early as several hundred years ago, paper had already appeared in the Yin dynasty. The earliest paper was a byproduct of the silk floss floating method. It was accidentally discovered during the process of soaking and bleaching hemp and silk. When broken hemp fibers were evenly spread in water, then scooped out with a bamboo screen and dried, paper could be obtained.

Only the paper of that time was still quite rough and fragile, and couldn’t be used for writing. Most of the time it was used for wrapping things.

Until a hundred years later, a certain Director of the Imperial Workshop led skilled craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department to improve the paper making process. They changed to using tree bark, old fishing nets, rags, and hemp ends as raw materials, producing paper rich in plant fibers. This kind of paper was not only low cost, but also more convenient for writing. After the paper was made, the court had once issued an order to promote the new paper throughout the realm, replacing heavy bamboo slips and more expensive silk fabric.

But for various reasons, paper still hadn’t been popularized in the Yin dynasty.

Shengtu Yang had known ever since receiving Yin Shuhuai’s flying flower message that the Son of Heaven had at least several exquisite paper making techniques in his hands. Those papers were as white as jade, with various floral patterns printed on the surface, and even gold foil and silver threads. One look and you knew the production technique was extremely exquisite, and the production cost extremely expensive. But now the stacks of white paper on the kang table, although they looked white and delicate, and felt quite durable, anyone with eyes could see that the production cost of these papers absolutely wasn’t as expensive and refined as the flying flower message paper.

Shengtu Yang’s heart stirred, “May I ask Your Majesty, what is the production cost of these papers?” Was there feasibility for large scale promotion?

Yin Shuhuai smiled slightly, “This is mulberry bark paper. The raw material for making the paper is mulberry tree bark.”

This mulberry bark paper making method was something Yin Shuhuai learned in his later life from an old master who made intangible cultural heritage mulberry bark paper. Strictly speaking, one had to select mulberry tree bark harvested after the Awakening of Insects and before the Clear and Bright festival each year. Through layer by layer peeling, choose the most essential parts, and expose them to the sun. Until the mulberry bark was thoroughly dried, then put it in a water trough to soak, allowing the bark to fully absorb water and soften.

During this process, poor quality bark also needed to be removed, so as not to affect the paper quality. Then put the carefully selected mulberry bark into a pot, add plant ash water and boil for two hours. Plant ash water contained considerable alkalinity. The purpose of this step was to remove excess impurities and gum from the bark.

Finally, filter and scoop out the mulberry bark from the pot, wash away residual dirt in cold water, then use a pestle to continuously pound the clean mulberry bark until it was thoroughly mashed into pulp. Put this paper pulp into a clear water trough and stir evenly, use a screen frame to scoop out the pulp, press out water and air dry, then peel off the paper and place it on a heated drying wall to bake dry. The peeled paper was the famous mulberry bark paper!

Even in later generations, this kind of mulberry bark paper was an essential material for cultural relic restoration work.

Because the making method was similar to cold skin noodles and rice noodle rolls, after Yin Shuhuai successfully guided the Imperial Household Department craftsmen in making mulberry bark paper, he also had the Court of Imperial Entertainments cooks try making cold skin noodles and rice noodle rolls using mung bean ground into bean flour. The taste was indeed not bad.

The only slight imperfection was probably that the Yin dynasty had no chili peppers. Although evodia had some spiciness, compared to chili peppers, it was always lacking that little something.

As Yin Shuhuai chatted, he suddenly developed an appetite. He looked up at the sky, and indeed it was time for a midnight snack, so he asked Shengtu Yang, “Do you want to eat cold skin noodles and rice noodle rolls?”

Shengtu Yang, “…” He had just finished a big feast!

However, Shengtu Yang was very clear that when Yin Shuhuai asked him if he wanted to eat rice noodle rolls and cold skin noodles, it wasn’t actually really caring whether he wanted a midnight snack, but that Yin Shuhuai himself wanted to eat.

So Shengtu Yang very wisely said, “I can accompany Your Majesty in eating a little.”

Yin Shuhuai was satisfied, and immediately instructed Zhuang Wuwei to go to the Court of Imperial Entertainments to order food.

After Zhuang Wuwei left, Shengtu Yang with difficulty pulled the topic back, “So the production process of these papers isn’t particularly complex, and the raw materials aren’t expensive…”

Because the court vigorously promoted water powered spinning wheels, all commanderies in the realm were widely planting mulberry and hemp. Yan was naturally no exception. If the raw material for these papers really was only mulberry bark, that meant the feasibility of promoting paper in Yan would be greatly increased.

Thinking of the benefits that successful paper promotion would bring to Yan, Shengtu Yang couldn’t help excitedly clenching his fist. “Your Majesty…”

“Don’t get excited yet.” Yin Shuhuai waved his hand, called a young eunuch to bring a brocade box, and handed it to Shengtu Yang, “Look at this first before you speak.”

Shengtu Yang took the brocade box, opened it, and inside were actually several books.

The topmost one was clearly “Six Secret Teachings,” and the ones below were respectively “Three Strategies,” “The Art of War,” “Sun Bin’s Art of War,” “Wu Zi,” “Wei Liao Zi,” “Sima’s Methods of War”… seven military books in total.

These military books were all highly regarded military treatises from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, which Yin Shuhuai had people search through the palace collection to copy and reproduce. Even though Shengtu Yang was honored as the Duke of Yan, he might not have a complete collection.

Not to mention that these military books were written on paper. Compared to bamboo slips, they were lighter and easier to carry, suitable for keeping at hand and frequently consulting.

Shengtu Yang looked at Yin Shuhuai with both surprise and delight, “Your Majesty, this is…”

“A gift for you.” Yin Shuhuai said with a smile, “Do you like it?” This was his true reward for Shengtu Yang. So called giving someone what they like, nothing more than this.

Shengtu Yang of course liked it, he liked it so much he was going crazy. He carefully opened the topmost “Six Secret Teachings,” and ignoring the rites between ruler and subject, buried his head and earnestly began studying. After reading a few lines he realized something was wrong, “Your Majesty, this handwriting…”

“These books were all uniformly printed using woodblock printing.” Yin Shuhuai stood with his hands behind his back, saying lightly.

His gaze involuntarily fell on the swaying tree branches outside the window, and for a moment he felt somewhat melancholy.

Actually these books had already been printed back in Luoyang. The completion time was after Huo Yan agreed to the court opening large numbers of elementary schools in Guannei, Henan, and other areas. Besides military treatises, Yin Shuhuai also had the Imperial Household Department print large quantities of the Four Books and Five Classics and various schools of thought. He had originally wanted to distribute these books for use as teaching materials by elementary school students in Guannei and Henan. He hadn’t expected that just as the books were printed, Huo Yan stopped him.

“If Your Majesty doesn’t want to inexplicably die in the palace, don’t continue this matter.” At that time Huo Yan was busy butting heads with the major aristocratic families, and his tone was somewhat impatient when speaking.

“Why?” Yin Shuhuai truly couldn’t understand. Wasn’t light paper much more convenient than heavy bamboo slips? Why did Huo Yan disagree with him promoting new books throughout Guanzhong?

“Has Your Majesty ever thought about why, after paper was invented so many years ago, the realm still uses heavy bamboo slips when copying texts?”

Yin Shuhuai was startled upon hearing this, looking at Huo Yan with clear and confused eyes.

“Because the aristocratic families don’t like it.” At that time Huo Yan stood just as he was now with hands behind his back, saying indifferently, “As the saying goes, the law is not lightly transmitted. The reason aristocratic nobles can stand high above others is precisely because they hold the ‘law’ of governing the world. If Your Majesty promotes paper and your so called woodblock printing throughout the realm, letting common people in the fields be able to afford reading and learning the ‘law.’ The more people in this world who read and understand reason, the more people who can govern the world, then how can the aristocratic families’ nobility and indispensability be displayed?”

The foundation of the king and scholar officials jointly governing the world lay in the fact that besides scholar officials, there was no one else available in this world. If common people could all understand the learning of managing the world and helping the people, where would that place the aristocratic families?

The principle that things are precious when scarce never applied only to trade. Aristocratic nobles who had always considered themselves rare goods understood better than anyone the benefits of treasuring even a worn out broom.

So despite the court promoting paper for so many years, scholars throughout the realm still mainly used bamboo slips when writing, and considered the more complex and exquisite seal script elegant. And the more convenient clerical script was despised by many great scholars as “writing used by humble people,” and they wouldn’t allow their disciples to learn it.

The root cause was nothing more than that they wanted to use more complex writing and heavy bamboo slips to raise the threshold for common people to read and become literate, thereby monopolizing the channels of knowledge transmission and the paths of court official selection.

Huo Yan agreed to Yin Shuhuai promoting elementary schools in Guanzhong, Luoyang, and other areas to bestow kindness on common people and consolidate the court’s rule in the capital region. But he didn’t want to completely offend the aristocratic families of the realm. So when he learned that Yin Shuhuai wanted to promote paper and books in Guanzhong, Luoyang, and other areas, he brutally stopped Yin Shuhuai’s actions. He even went so far as to threaten Yin Shuhuai with life and death safety.

Yin Shuhuai was indeed afraid of death, so these books were thrown into the depths of the storeroom.

Until after the court relocated, Yin Shuhuai tested the waters several times and discovered that the Yan ministers, regardless of what they thought in their hearts, at least in action had all done their utmost to execute the court’s policies. The court was united in purpose, and even the aristocratic nobles who had tried every possible way to obstruct him in Luoyang were beginning to show signs of surrender.

This inevitably made Yin Shuhuai begin to stir restlessly again.

So he moved these books out from the depths of the storeroom, dusted them off, and eagerly presented them before Shengtu Yang.

Shengtu Yang looked at Yin Shuhuai’s expectant eyes, and in an instant inspiration struck his heart, “Your Majesty wants to promote paper and woodblock printed books throughout Yan?”

Yin Shuhuai didn’t quibble over Shengtu Yang’s misspoken words, nodding like a chick pecking rice, “What do you think of this idea?”

“Excellent!” Shengtu Yang was concise, with only his slightly rising voice revealing his excitement and agitation.

Yan was bitterly cold, a frontier land of Youzhou and Bingzhou, where literary culture and ritual education had never flourished as they did in the Central Plains since ancient times.

Although Shengtu Yang and his trusted followers always looked down on the Central Plains aristocratic families in various ways, feeling those aristocratic nobles were all useless soft eggs. If they really mounted horses to fight, none would be a match for them. But even so they had to admit that to properly govern the world, they truly couldn’t do without these educated people.

The Yan ruler and ministers were simultaneously disgusted by the aristocratic nobles’ corruption and greed, while also coveting their abundance of talent. Just like this time when the court needed to settle millions of refugees from Guannei, if only local officials were responsible for this matter, their experience was insufficient, and with too many refugees, they would definitely cause some incidents that would give everyone headaches.

But when the aristocratic young men stepped forward, although they would also win people’s hearts during the refugee settlement process, they made the entire settlement process orderly, with almost no major disturbances.

Such talent was truly enviable!

What was even more tragic was that such talent was already rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns for Yan, but for the major aristocratic families with hundreds of years of heritage, it was merely the most basic quality that clan members had to master before entering government service.

Reading, self cultivation, managing the family, governing the state, bringing peace to the world… these aristocratic families who had managed local areas for hundreds of years, cultivating talent with the power of their entire clans, were indeed all stunningly brilliant talents for governing the world.

Including Yin Shuhuai, everyone coveted these aristocratic young men with both envy and hunger. They cherished their learning, yet because of their positions, didn’t dare easily trust them.

Now it was much better. They had paper and books, so they could promote elementary schools and community schools among the common people, cultivating their own educated people among the common folk. When they entered government service later, without the support of aristocratic nobles behind them, they could devote themselves fully to executing the court’s policies.

That night, Shengtu Yang’s heart surged with emotion, and he ate ten bowls of cold skin noodles and ten rice noodle rolls in one breath. The next morning he impatiently convened a court session, urging the ministers to promote paper, books, and community schools throughout Yan.

Yin Shuhuai who had only eaten half a bowl of cold skin noodles and one rice noodle roll, “…”

Shengtu Yang’s decision to promote paper and books throughout Yan, and to build large numbers of elementary and community schools to teach children to read, caused a huge uproar among the aristocratic nobles. The worldly wise aristocratic families instinctively sensed that the greatest threat of this policy was that it wanted to dig up the roots of the aristocratic families.

If they were in Luoyang, they would certainly do everything possible to stop the court’s policy. But they were now in Youzhou, forcibly abducted here by Yan’s iron cavalry. Sharp blades were still pressed against their necks. Even though the aristocratic nobles had many grievances about Shengtu Yang’s decision, at this moment they didn’t dare openly oppose the court’s policy.

Not only did they not oppose, some quick witted aristocratic nobles even expressed that they were willing to follow the court’s edict and open schools among the common people. Some even suggested that the court should reestablish the Imperial Academy and the Imperial College in Youzhou, attracting all scholars in the realm to come study in Youzhou.

Clearly they wanted to use the old method of “peaches and plums filling the world” to counter the court’s “planting trees everywhere and blooming everywhere.”

Regarding this, Yin Shuhuai and Shengtu Yang were happy to see it happen.

Regardless of how many little schemes the aristocratic nobles had behind the scenes, as long as they were willing to help the court promote paper, books, and knowledge, the educated people in the realm would become more and more numerous. And as long as more and more poor scholars read books, they would one day form a new power stratum.

At that time, the new ruling power would certainly not be satisfied with the few benefits and authority they possessed. They would launch attacks against the already solidified old power, establishing a new order.

Yin Shuhuai and Shengtu Yang obviously had sufficient patience to wait for that day to arrive.

Like someone who casually planted a spark, patiently waiting for a single spark to become a great fire sufficient to burn the plains.

To make that day arrive sooner, Yin Shuhuai also suggested that Shengtu Yang promote reading in the military. Ordering all soldiers of palace guard rank and above to learn to read and write, and selecting the most outstanding palace guards to enter military school for further study.

“Military school?” Shengtu Yang looked blankly at Yin Shuhuai. What was this again.

“It’s a school specifically for cultivating generals and commanders.” Yin Shuhuai patiently explained, “To select talent, the court established the Imperial College and the Imperial Academy. But the Imperial College and Imperial Academy ultimately still mainly study classical learning and the knowledge of governing the world. Even the teachers instructing students might not understand military strategy, let alone know how to use soldiers. Since the founding of our Yin dynasty, there has never been a school specifically for cultivating grassroots officers. I want to establish such a military school in Ji County, specifically for cultivating talent for generals and commanders. I would like to invite the Duke of Yan to serve as the first military school principal. What does the Duke of Yan think?”

Shengtu Yang stared blankly at Yin Shuhuai. After a while he said, “Your Majesty’s regard for me, I already understand. But I still feel that this first military school principal should be held by Your Majesty.”

Yin Shuhuai looked steadily at Shengtu Yang. He believed that with Shengtu Yang’s shrewdness and capability, he couldn’t fail to see what Yin Shuhuai’s true purpose was in establishing the military school. Much less fail to see the profound implications of serving as the first military school principal. Even so, Shengtu Yang still wanted to give this position to him?

Yin Shuhuai’s eyes slightly lowered, avoiding Shengtu Yang’s burning gaze. After a moment of silence, Yin Shuhuai spoke, “This matter is of great importance. Wouldn’t it be better for the Duke of Yan to return to his residence and carefully discuss it with your trusted advisors?”

“My mind is made up.” Shengtu Yang lifted Yin Shuhuai’s chin, forcing him to look directly into his own eyes. The moment their gazes collided, Shengtu Yang said word by word, “Even if I were to tell them, it would only be to notify them how to prepare and build the military school.”

“My regard for you doesn’t need to be discussed with others.”

Perhaps because this nearly confessional statement was too direct and naked, Shengtu Yang who usually had thick skin rarely felt uncomfortable and pursed his lips. After saying these words he slunk out of the palace.

He recalled all his trusted brothers to the Duke of Yan’s residence and told them about His Majesty’s intention to establish a military school in Ji County.

This time even the Yan ministers had to be impressed. “Just how is His Majesty’s brain wired? He can actually come up with so many endless new tricks?”

“If we establish a military school, can I go be a teacher for a couple of days?”

“Are there any special requirements for military school student selection? Approximately how many soldiers can be in the first batch to study?”

A group of people were all talking at once, asking about topics they cared about. Only Yao Wenruo subtly frowned, cutting straight to the point, “After establishing the military school, who will serve as the libationer?” This meant whose orders the soldiers who went to study at the military school would ultimately follow!

“Naturally the Son of Heaven will serve as libationer.” Shengtu Yang said calmly, “This way, all military school students will be the Son of Heaven’s disciples.”

The generals were in an uproar, all looking very excited. Clearly the four words “Son of Heaven’s disciples” made them feel very honored!

Only Yao Wenruo frowned deeply, his heart truly displeased. Didn’t this mean that from now on, all soldiers who went to study at the military school would establish the most direct and close teacher student relationship with the emperor?

One must know that in this era, the teacher student relationship was comparable to the father son relationship, and even closer than the father son relationship. At least in court, a son could betray his father, but a student absolutely could not betray his teacher’s school. Otherwise he would be despised and rejected by all scholars in the realm.

If the Yin Son of Heaven drew all soldiers who went to study at the military school to become his own students…

Yao Wenruo’s eyes became dark and deep, saying coldly, “The emperor truly has great ambition, truly deep scheming.”

The Yin Son of Heaven could turn his hand to make clouds and turn it over to make rain, playing such a grand game of chess. The most crucial move was luring the gentleman into the jar. In this whole world under heaven, how many people could resist the temptation of becoming “the Son of Heaven’s disciple”?

Once these words were spoken, the generals who had just been overjoyed all suddenly saw the light, then immediately frowned tightly, their expressions clearly displeased.

Someone snorted coldly and said, “The little emperor is playing us for fools!”

Most of them were rough fellows who had followed Shengtu Yang back from killing through the Xiongnu. They had never bathed in imperial favor, so naturally they didn’t fear imperial authority. They relied only on their own skills and instincts to fight and kill on the battlefield, and most hated this kind of deceitful and scheming petty trickery.

So Yao Wenruo had only used one sentence to stir up everyone’s resentment toward the emperor.

Shengtu Yang glanced at Yao Wenruo and said calmly, “His Majesty originally wanted me to serve as the first military school principal. I refused.”

The generals were greatly shocked upon hearing this, “Such a good thing, why did big brother refuse?”

Everyone couldn’t understand. A pie falling from the sky had hit him on the head, why wouldn’t he want it?

Only Yao Wenruo looked at Shengtu Yang with a blank expression, knowing full well in his heart that his lord must have been blinded by lust again!

Wait, why did he say again?

“The Duke of Yan’s disciples sound nowhere near as impressive as the Son of Heaven’s disciples.” Shengtu Yang said righteously, “His Majesty loves me, which is why he followed me without hesitation in relocating to Youzhou. Since His Majesty relocated the capital, settling refugees, encouraging wasteland reclamation, promoting agriculture, promoting paper and books, and now establishing a military school… item by item, which one wasn’t to make Yan better? He has never been disloyal to me, so how could I not consider for him?”

If the court truly established a military school, the status of the first principal in the soldiers’ hearts could be imagined. If Shengtu Yang served as principal, then in the military they would certainly know only Shengtu and not know there was a His Majesty, just as now. Wouldn’t the little emperor’s calculations completely fall through?

How could Shengtu Yang bear that?

So he planned to let His Majesty serve as principal, while he served as vice principal. This way His Majesty would have the empty title, the soldiers would have the halo of being the Son of Heaven’s disciples, and he could also use the vice principal position to oversee all affairs in the military school. Wouldn’t everyone be happy?

Yao Wenruo, who always felt Shengtu Yang was being self indulgent, opened his mouth to speak but stopped. After thinking for a long time he actually couldn’t think of any rebuttal. For a moment he couldn’t help falling into deep self doubt. Could it be that his lord and His Majesty were truly in love with each other?