Chapter 5

Since the time of the third generation, there has been a tradition of welcoming guests at the eastern gate, so the guesthouse of the new city of Xiang in the state of Jin was also set outside the eastern gate.

During the reign of Duke Ping of Jin, Zichan of the state of Zheng came to pay tribute to the hegemon. Because the Jin people were negligent and housed him in a lowly servant's quarters, Zichan simply tore down the walls and gates of the guesthouse. The "Houren," responsible for welcoming and sending off guests, came angrily to question him but was left speechless by Zichan's sharp tongue. The then-ruling minister, Zhao Wenzi, known as the "Orphan of the Zhao Clan," had no choice but to follow the good advice and expand the guesthouse, thereby demonstrating the majesty of a great state.

According to the rules established by Jin when it hosted alliances, the various allied states were required to send envoys to the capital of Xiang each year to reaffirm their alliance. Calculating the schedule, the envoys from various states should have arrived around this time, but this year, the eastern gate guesthouse was unusually quiet, a far cry from the bustling scenes during the reigns of Duke Wen and Duke Dao of Jin.

It is understandable, as Jin's hegemony had already declined, and the states of Qi and Zheng had long broken their alliances, forming their own systems and even attempting to win over the small states of Wei and Northern Yan, which had traditionally followed Jin. The only states still loyal to Jin were Song and Lu in the Sishui region.

Therefore, when the Grand Minister of the state of Song personally came to pay homage to Jin, the "Houren" breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that the guesthouse would not be empty this year. However, their hearts soon sank again because some turmoil had occurred in the Jin court. The elderly ruling minister, Fan Yang, whose diplomatic powers had been taken by the Zhao clan, vented his personal grievances on the innocent Song people, neglecting the Song envoy for three days, neither receiving him nor leading him to pay homage to Duke Ping of Jin.

The Song people were thus awkwardly staying in the guesthouse, unsure whether to leave or stay, feeling uneasy.

However, today, a black-clad procession came from the Zhao clan's palace outside the city, personally welcoming the envoy at the guesthouse. Those with keen eyes recognized it as the entourage of the Upper Army General, Zhao Yang.

Perhaps he could no longer tolerate the ruling minister's neglect of an important ally? The people praised the fact that Jin finally had a minister who got things done.

The spies of the various noble clans in the crowd were also pondering the political implications: Zhao Yang, ranked third among the six ministers, had bypassed his two higher-ranking superiors and even the Duke of Jin to personally receive the Song envoy!

At this moment, Zhao Yang stood tall on his magnificent four-horse chariot. He was over forty, wearing a hunting cap, with a fine beard reaching his chest, clad in rhinoceros armor, and a wide, jade-decorated leather belt. He held a bronze sword with tassels, and his chariot attendant held the lacquered black bow and goose-feather arrows bestowed by the Son of Heaven after the suppression of the "Prince Chaoyao's Rebellion."

Zhao Yang was somewhat gloomy, still thinking about the argument with his steward, Yin Duo, that morning.

The power of foreign diplomacy was originally firmly in the hands of the current Middle Army General and ruling minister, Fan Yang. But Fan Yang was old and had to delegate his authority to the young and capable Zhao Yang.

Thus, in Zhao Yang's view, the task of receiving the Grand Minister of Song, Yue Qi, should fall to him.

However, the steward, Yin Duo, did not see it that way. He believed it was against the rules and advised caution.

Zhao Yang patiently tried to persuade the old minister: "Steward Yin, Fan Bo has been in power for many years. He and the Zhonghang clan have been involved in foreign affairs, even corresponding with the Duke of Liu in Chengzhou and the Three Huan of Lu. Look at the current situation; to establish a foothold in the court, how can one not seek foreign support? Moreover, the Grand Minister of Song is a man of integrity, a gentleman, and we have been friends for over a decade. How can I bear to see him neglected at the eastern gate guesthouse?"

"Now, among the feudal lords, only Song and Lu serve Jin. Duke Song, knowing the discord among the six ministers of Jin, must have sent him to test which clan truly holds the power. Even if the Zhao clan does not send someone to welcome him, the Fan, Zhi, Zhonghang, Han, and Wei clans will eventually do so. If Doctor Yue Qi stays in the palace of another clan, and Song forms an alliance with them, the Zhao clan will be isolated and helpless. It will be too late to regret it!"

But the bearded Yin Duo warned, "However, I have a word to say. May I ask my lord, when inviting the Grand Minister of Song to hunt, according to etiquette, should he be welcomed to the Jin state temple or the Zhao clan temple? When on a diplomatic mission, one should not enter a private residence before meeting the ruler, nor form a friendship with a minister before presenting the state letter. This is a breach of etiquette! I dare not put Doctor Yue Qi in such a position of distrust and dishonor! Please, my lord, rescind this improper order!"

Look at that, Yin Duo actually called it an improper order! Zhao Yang was not a patient lord and almost slammed the table, ready to send Yin Duo to Wen to guard the ancestral temple.

Fortunately, his daughter Ji Ying appeared, interrupting their argument, and the lord and minister parted on bad terms. Zhao Yang, known for his decisive actions, did not care what Yin Duo thought. After the morning meal, he led a grand procession with a formal invitation to the eastern gate guesthouse, inviting the Grand Minister of Song to a winter hunt and banquet in the private domain of the Zhao clan.

At this moment, the Song entourage was leaving the guesthouse, slowly approaching.

Zhao Yang collected his thoughts, stroked his fine beard, and smiled in the standard noble manner.

"Bo Yue!"

The Grand Minister of Song, Yue Qi, was on the opposite chariot. Seeing Zhao Yang's grand procession, he felt a bitter taste in his heart. He sighed, as his divination expert had predicted, he was indeed caught in the conflict among the six ministers of Jin.

But he remained calm, smiling and bowing to Zhao Yang.

"Zhao Meng!"

"May I ask, how is Duke Song?"

"My lord is well, thank you for your concern, Zhao Meng."

Both were lower ministers in their respective states. Following etiquette, they had their attendants present the required gifts of young birds, lambs, and geese, paid their respects, and inquired about the well-being of their rulers. Then, they stopped in the middle of the road, beginning to yield to each other.

"Bo Yue is a distinguished guest of Jin, I humbly request that Bo Yue go first."

"I dare not, I dare not. The wise minister of Lu, Zang Xuantu, once said that a lower minister of a great state is equivalent to an upper minister of a great state. I hold a low position, please, Zhao Meng, go first."

"Bo Yue is too modest. You are older than I am. According to Zhou etiquette, the elder should go first..."

After a series of polite exchanges, the two chariots finally moved side by side, with Zhao Yang's chariot slightly ahead, the two ministers close enough to converse easily.

Yue Qi admired the charioteer on the opposite side, "Zhao Meng, is your charioteer the famous 'Baili of Jin,' Doctor You Wuzheng? Indeed, his driving skills are remarkable, controlling the four horses as if they were his own four fingers, truly comparable to the Baili of Qin, the charioteer of Duke Mu of Qin."

Zhao Yang, who always enjoyed gathering talented people, was somewhat pleased. He returned the compliment.

"Bo Yue's staff also includes many talents. I've heard of a man named Gubuzi Qing, skilled in divination and physiognomy, who can predict a person's career and clan's fate with just one glance... Is Gubuzi Qing among your entourage, Bo Yue?"

As he spoke, he turned to look at the secondary chariots in Yue Qi's entourage, hoping to find the famous diviner.

Yue Qi replied, "Gubuzi Qing is a wild man who dislikes the constraints of etiquette. He left the guesthouse early this morning..."

"Left?" Zhao Yang was somewhat disappointed, "It seems I am unworthy to meet him."

Yue Qi stroked his long beard and smiled, "Zhao Meng, don't worry. Before he left, he said he was going to Mianshang to visit the tomb of your famous scholar, Jie Zitui. He left ahead of us, so we might still catch up with him when we reach the hunting grounds."

Zhao Yang nodded, feeling relieved. He looked ahead, hoping the convoy could speed up. The issue of the clan's succession had always been a source of worry for him.

He was not satisfied with any of his sons. Could his eldest legitimate son, Bo Lu, shoulder the clan's heavy responsibilities? This was a matter of the clan's rise and fall, and must be handled with great caution. In the four-hundred-year history of the Zhao clan, each transition of leadership was the most vulnerable moment for the family.

Even worse, it once led to the "Xiaogong Disaster," a clan extermination. Fortunately, Zhao Yang's grandfather, Zhao Wenzi, the "Orphan of the Zhao Clan," continued the family line. Otherwise, the Zhao clan would have declined and perished like the Hu, Xian, and Luan clans in the state of Jin.

According to the custom of the pre-Qin era, when a decision was difficult, one should consult the divination and the spirits. That's why he wanted the diviner Gubuzi Qing to help him determine which of his sons was fit for leadership.

Of course, the low-born son, Wuxu, who had recently caused a serious breach of etiquette at a banquet, was not even considered. In Zhao Yang's mind, Wuxu was never a candidate for the heir.

He only hoped that Gubuzi Qing would not wander into the dense forests near Mianshang, where many fierce beasts roamed, and a single sword would not be enough to handle them.

Zhao Yang's current priority was to win over Yue Qi and bind Song to Jin's war chariot.

Looking at the power struggle in Central China, it had become a contest between Jin and Qi. The state of Song, with its thousand chariots, could tip the balance. Zhao Yang hoped to successfully navigate this diplomatic challenge and help Jin maintain its century-long hegemony.

He was confident, as Yue Qi was a well-known pro-Jin figure. He had recently responded to Jin's call and sent troops to attack Zheng for its disrespect to the Son of Heaven. Zhao Yang and Yue Qi had been friends for many years and knew each other's temperaments well.

Zhao Yang remembered that Yue Qi seemed to have a daughter around ten years old. Should he consider a marriage alliance between one of his sons and her? This would strengthen the ties between the Zhao and Yue clans, and between Jin and Song.

The hunting grounds were at Mianshang, not far from the Zhao clan's palace. Originally a place for the ruler to review troops, it had almost become the private domain of the Zhao clan.

Soon, the yellow and green forests of winter came into view. Zhao Yang had recently built new lodges and high terraces for a panoramic view, and the open area below the terraces was where the Zhao clan's descendants and retainers waited.

Yue Qi looked into the distance and smiled, "The ancients said that hunting is a way to practice martial skills. A joint hunt is also a good way to train the army. The Jin army is known for its 'orderly and composed' reputation among the feudal lords. Today, I look forward to seeing the Zhao clan's army."

Zhao Yang was about to modestly respond when he noticed that his convoy was somewhat noisy and disorganized.

This situation was like a slap in the face. He apologized to Yue Qi and asked his charioteer, You Wuzheng, to drive over to see what was happening.

He saw that the Zhao clan's convoy had three additional prominent riders, one of whom was his low-born son, Wuxu.

At this moment, Zhao Wuxu was riding his horse with his eyes lowered, tightly gripping the reins, his knuckles white from the effort, as if enduring something. His two plain-clothed attendants also looked angry but dared not act due to their low status.

The surrounding people were amused, pointing and laughing at the three riders.

This unworthy low-born son, had he caused trouble again?

Zhao Yang, holding his sword, grew increasingly grim.