Holding the Emperor Hostage : Chapter 7: Instant Kill

The emperor who was content to be a puppet while eating and drinking in the palace had no idea that a casual flying flower message he sent out would make the Chancellor lose his composure so thoroughly. But even if he had known, Yin Shuhuai would not have cared, because not long after, even more devastating news arrived from the north.

Jiang Yang, who had led one hundred thousand troops to Yan to suppress the rebellion, had actually been cut down from his horse and severely wounded during battle with Shentu Yang, then taken prisoner. Tens of thousands of the one hundred thousand troops were killed or wounded, and the rest were all captured.

When Yin Shuhuai received the news, he was in the palace eating roasted whole lamb. The six month old lamb was tender and flavorful, marinated just right, then roasted over fire until the skin was golden and glistening, crispy and fragrant, while the meat inside was also tender and juicy. One bite and the crispy skin and tender lamb exploded simultaneously in the mouth, so fragrant he nearly bit off his own tongue.

His Majesty did not bite off his tongue while eating the lamb, but when he heard the news of Jiang Yang being wounded and captured, he was so shocked that he bit his tongue. The sharp pain instantly brought him back to his senses, and he asked in disbelief: “The General Who Suppresses Rebels was severely wounded and captured? Does the Chancellor know about this?”

Huo Yan certainly knew.

It was said that when Huo Yan received the news, he was so furious that he vomited blood on the spot and fainted. As soon as he woke up, he was shouting about assembling a million strong army and personally leading troops to attack the rebel.

Yin Shuhuai accepted a piece of fragrant melon presented by a eunuch and asked while eating: “How old is the Chancellor this year?”

Zhuang Wuwei respectfully replied: “The Chancellor is fifty seven this year.”

Yin Shuhuai: “…”

Alright then, fifty was also an age for making one’s mark.

As a puppet emperor in name only, Yin Shuhuai did not intend to interfere with the Chancellor’s military proposals. However, the entire court and countryside opposed Huo Yan’s plan to lead a million strong army to attack Yan. The reasons for their opposition were quite simple.

First, they did not want to sit by and watch Huo Yan’s power grow even larger. The second reason was that Shentu Yang was simply too fierce, and Shangdang and Henei were too close to Luoyang. They worried that once Huo Yan met with defeat, Shentu Yang would take advantage of the situation to attack and enter Luoyang.

“…Rather than risking the fall of the capital to attack Yan, it would be better to offer amnesty to Shentu Yang. According to court precedent, enfeoff him as the Lord of Yan and let him guard against the Xiongnu and Wuhuan in Yan, continuing to serve as the court’s protective barrier.”

At the grand court assembly, Grand Tutor Liang Gong spoke eloquently, trying to persuade Huo Yan to abandon the idea of sending troops.

The Grand Minister of Agriculture also spoke: “Winter is bitterly cold, with frequent snow disasters and roaming bandits causing chaos everywhere. The court must both open the granaries to relieve disaster victims and send troops to suppress the bandit uprisings, while also preparing for next spring’s planting. We truly cannot spare the money and grain to prepare provisions for a million strong army.”

“Short sighted!” Huo Yan’s face changed suddenly, and he spat out: “That Shentu child has the heart of a wolf and the ambition of a wild beast. Since he has already rebelled against his superiors, the court should suppress the rebellion with the force of thunder to eliminate future troubles and make an example of him. You all do not know to be vigilant in times of peace, yet still foolishly dream of plotting with a tiger for its skin, offering him amnesty. Do you not know that this is actually coddling a villain?”

“Why must the Chancellor use such alarmist language?” Liang Gong said calmly: “The reason Shentu Yang killed the Lady of Yan and the heir apparent Shentu Yuan at the Lord of Yan’s funeral was first to avenge his mother, second to protect himself, and third to remove harm for the state. This is clearly an act of loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness, only he did not inform the court in time. After killing the wicked, Shentu Yang also deeply regretted his rash actions, and immediately sent an envoy to the court to plead guilty, and even had the envoy bring evidence of the Lady of Yan’s collusion with local powerful clans and secret communication with the Xiongnu.”

At this point, Liang Gong took out several yellowed letters from his bosom and handed them to the assembled officials: “The evidence is conclusive, as solid as a mountain. The Lady of Yan’s crimes deserve no less than death…”

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Huo Yan: “Secret communication with the Xiongnu is the crime of treason. According to law, the entire clan should be executed and the state abolished…”

Liang Gong did not wait for Huo Yan to finish speaking, and directly retorted: “The court sent one hundred thousand troops to attack Yan, and the one hundred thousand troops crumbled like dirt and broke like tiles. Even the commander in chief was severely wounded and captured. This was merely the ability of Shentu Yang alone. The Shentu clan has been established in the Yan territory for over six hundred years, with deep roots and intertwined connections. Does the Chancellor truly have the confidence to execute the entire Shentu clan and abolish their state?”

Commandant of the Palace Guards Dong Wan spoke with absolute certainty: “A mere Shentu child, what is there to fear? As long as the court assembles a million strong army…”

“Where would a million strong army come from?” Liang Gong’s gaze fixed directly on Huo Yan, pressing aggressively: “You are now the Chancellor as well. How much money and grain is in the national treasury, do you not know? As the old saying goes, before the army moves, provisions must go first. To supply a million strong army for a northern campaign, how much money, grain, and military equipment would it cost? You have been Grand Commandant for so many years, could you possibly not know?”

“You are clearly acting out of selfish motives, exhausting the military for your own glory, and even forcing loyal subjects to rebel…”

“Ridiculous!” Huo Yan could endure no more and directly interrupted Liang Gong’s nonsense: “If that Shentu Yang were truly loyal, why would he deploy troops at Shangdang and Henei? How dare he severely wound a general appointed by the court? He is clearly rebelling against his superiors!”

“Does the Chancellor mean for Shentu Yang to sit and wait for capture?” Liang Gong retorted, then added: “But if he were truly the type to sit and wait for death, he would not have taken advantage of the Xiongnu internal chaos to lead eight hundred men back to Yan.”

“Shentu Yang endured humiliation and bore a heavy burden among the Xiongnu for fifteen years, all to find the right opportunity to return to Yan. Yet he did not expect that just as he returned to Yan, the Lord of Yan fell gravely ill and lingered on until death without ever opening his eyes to see him again. The vicious woman who had harmed him back then actually wanted to kill him to silence him at the funeral. He was forced into a corner, which is why he killed the Lady of Yan and the heir apparent Shentu Yuan.”

Huo Yan sneered upon hearing this: “You have never even met Shentu Yang, where do you get all this certainty?”

Liang Gong sighed: “I know that the matter of the General Who Suppresses Rebels being severely wounded and captured has caused the Chancellor to lose face. But in battle, swords have no eyes. Shentu Yang also did not expect that the General Who Suppresses Rebels, with his illustrious reputation, would actually be so…”

Huo Yan flew into a rage: “You old scoundrel speak out of turn, do you truly think I dare not kill you?”

Before he finished speaking, Huo Yan suddenly drew the sword at his waist and held it against Liang Gong’s neck.

The civil and military officials in the hall were greatly alarmed at this sight: “Chancellor, you absolutely must not!”

Someone stepped between the two, carefully grasping Huo Yan’s wrist: “If there is something to say, why not sit down and discuss it slowly? Why must it come to this!”

Someone else pointed at Yin Shuhuai sitting at the head and said: “His Majesty is present, how can the Chancellor draw weapons before His Majesty?”

Yin Shuhuai, who had been sitting on the dragon throne like a clay statue all morning, immediately said: “Yes! Yes! Chancellor, do not be impulsive. Let us speak properly, by all means do not harm the Grand Tutor.”

Upon hearing this, Liang Gong could not help sneering and glancing sidelong at Huo Yan: “When the people do not fear death, why use death to frighten them?”

Yin Shuhuai looked somewhat speechlessly at Liang Gong, who was still pouring oil on the fire: “Grand Tutor, please stop talking.” What if he provoked Huo Yan into actually giving him a slash?

Huo Yan snorted with a livid face. His gaze stared straight at Yin Shuhuai sitting properly at the head. He seemed to think of something, and immediately sheathed his sword, bowed his hands to Yin Shuhuai and said: “Shentu Yang fell among the Xiongnu for fifteen years. The moment he seized an opportunity, he could lead eight hundred men in fighting through the Xiongnu. The moment he returned to Yan, he immediately killed the Lady of Yan and the heir apparent Shentu Yuan, seizing real power in Yan. After taking control of the Yan army, he immediately deployed thirty thousand troops at Shangdang and Henei to guard against the court taking action… These various actions are sufficient proof that this man is absolutely not good. For the sake of the rivers and mountains and the altars of soil and grain, why does Your Majesty not dispatch the Night Owl to kill him and eliminate future troubles?”

Dispatch who? To kill who?

Yin Shuhuai pointed at himself with a reversed finger. After confirming that Huo Yan was not joking, Yin Shuhuai could endure no more and directly laughed in anger.