Chapter 130: Inspecting The Marshes
Wen Pin returned to his manor, sighing deeply in his heart. He strongly supported the Northern Expedition. Previously, the Governor had ordered him to prepare to lead twenty thousand troops to follow Liu Bei on the Northern Expedition.
Wen Pin was exhilarated. During this time, he had been drilling troops, rubbing his fists and eager to follow Liu Bei and make a big push.
Unexpectedly, last night he urgently received a secret order from Governor Liu Biao, forbidding him from sending troops. This truly left Wen Pin extremely disappointed and dejected.
Wen Pin was not yet thirty this year. He was from Wancheng in Nanyang Commandery, accomplished in both civil and military affairs, with a burly build and deep gaze.
He had followed Liu Biao for a full ten years, always hunkering down in Jingxiang with no opportunity to realize his ambitions. Those he had once looked down on, who were inferior to him, were now all doing better than him.
Wen Pin did not want to hunker down in one region. He did not seek this kind of comfort and ease. Deep down, he wanted to go out and strive, to struggle. He yearned for this opportunity.
But now……….
Wen Pin paced and sighed in his manor. At this time, the butler reported from the hall below, “General, Master Water Mirror has arrived.”
Wen Pin perked up and immediately said, “Quickly invite the esteemed master to the Guest Hall. I will come right away.”
Master Water Mirror, Sima Hui, was precisely Wen Pin’s mentor. Over ten years ago, Wen Pin had studied with Sima Hui for five years before entering officialdom as a general.
Wen Pin arrived at the Guest Hall. His mentor Sima Hui was sitting in the hall drinking tea.
Wen Pin hurriedly knelt and paid respects with a grand bow, “Your student Wen Pin pays respects to his mentor!”
Sima Hui sighed and said, “As Heaven’s movement is ever vigorous, so must the gentleman strive unceasingly to be strong. This was the parting gift your teacher gave you when you entered officialdom. I hoped you would take supporting the Han Dynasty as your duty. But in the blink of an eye, ten years have passed, and you have achieved nothing, leaving your teacher very disappointed.”
Wen Pin said shamefacedly, “Your disciple keeps his teacher’s teachings in mind at every moment and wishes to serve the country, but the opportunity has not come, and your disciple is helpless.”
“Is it that the opportunity has not come?”
Sima Hui stroked his beard and said with a cold laugh, “Today you clearly could have followed Imperial Uncle Liu on the Northern Expedition. Why did you not go?”
Wen Pin was stunned and said after a long pause, “Your disciple of course wants to go, but the Governor’s military order forbids it, and your disciple dares not disobey the order.”
“Liu Biao previously promised to send one hundred thousand troops on the Northern Expedition, but later changed it to twenty thousand, and finally refused to send any troops. Do you know why?”
“Your disciple does not know!”
Sima Hui sighed and said, “Liu Jingsheng is no longer the Liu Jingsheng of old. He is only nominally the master of Jingzhou. In reality, he has been controlled by the Jingxiang Noble Families. It is the Jingxiang Noble Families who do not wish to send troops. Do you know that this time I came to Wancheng at the invitation of Young Master Liu Qi?”
“Ah! The Eldest Son……”
Sima Hui nodded, “Jingxiang is already showing signs of internal strife. Liu Biao can see that he will not live for many more years. Once he dies, the Jingxiang Noble Families will inevitably support the Second Son Liu Cong to succeed him. What will the Eldest Son do? He will have only the path of death.
Now, the Eldest Son’s only external support is Imperial Uncle Liu. The Eldest Son hopes that you will lead your army to follow Imperial Uncle Liu on the Northern Expedition.”
Sima Hui took out a letter and handed it to Wen Pin, “Take a look!”
Wen Pin took the letter. It was actually written by Liu Qi to him. He hurriedly opened it and read it carefully. He was somewhat stunned. Liu Qi was actually asking him to follow Liu Bei on the Northern Expedition.
“Mentor, I do not understand the Eldest Son’s meaning. He asks me to follow Liu Bei on the Northern Expedition, but without the Governor’s command, sending troops on my own would mean I am betraying the lord, would it not?”
“Yes! It looks very contradictory, but this is the Eldest Son’s only way out. In the current Jingxiang, Liu Biao has gradually become a puppet. Having Liu Cong stationed in Jiangling was arranged by Cai Mao. Having Liu Cong follow the army on campaign was also arranged by Cai Mao. Once Liu Biao passes away and Liu Cong ascends, he will be an outright puppet. Liu Qi hopes Imperial Uncle Liu can help him.”
“But, does Mentor not understand? Without the Governor’s command, if I send troops on my own to follow Liu Bei on the Northern Expedition, I cannot return. That would mean I have become Liu Bei’s subordinate.”
Sima Hui sighed, “So you have completely thrown away all the principles I taught you. You are a subject of the Great Han, not Liu Biao’s retainer. You must support the Han Dynasty, not be a watchdog for the Jingxiang Noble Families.
Among the vassal lords of the world, all seek their own gain. The only branch single-mindedly supporting the Han Dynasty is left with Imperial Uncle Liu’s line. Your teacher hopes you follow Imperial Uncle Liu also in hopes that you can contribute your meager strength to supporting the Han Dynasty.”
Wen Pin lowered his head and said after a long pause, “Mentor wants me to defect to Imperial Uncle Liu. I understand that Mentor favors Imperial Uncle Liu, but I do not understand why the Eldest Son also wants me to defect to Imperial Uncle Liu? Could this be a transaction?”
“It is not a transaction. Your teacher would not use you in a transaction, nor anyone else. It is I who persuaded Liu Qi. Liu Qi has agreed to give Imperial Uncle Liu some resources to strengthen his strength and become his support.”
“Has Imperial Uncle Liu had contact with the Eldest Son?”
“Of course there has been contact, and more than once. Imperial Uncle Liu has clearly stated his support for Liu Qi.”
Wen Pin sighed, “I completely understand Mentor’s meaning. Let me consider it!”
“You may consider, but give me Liu Qi’s letter. I promised to destroy it afterward.”
Sima Hui took his leave and left. Wen Pin returned to his study and paced back and forth with hands behind his back, truly anxious at heart.
At this time, his wife Liu Shi brought in tea and softly asked, “Has Husband encountered a difficult problem?”
Wen Pin nodded. He did not conceal it from his wife and recounted Sima Hui’s purpose and Liu Qi’s stance.
He sighed and said, “Mentor did not say it outright, but in reality, it is a transaction between Liu Qi and Liu Bei. Giving me and twenty thousand troops to Liu Bei in exchange for Liu Bei’s full support for Liu Qi. The final manifestation would be that I betrayed the Governor. Of course, following Liu Bei on the Northern Expedition is a perfectly honorable excuse. I cannot make up my mind.”
Liu Shi thought for a moment and said, “The key is Master Water Mirror. Why did he step forward?”
One sentence awakened the dreamer. Wen Pin suddenly slapped his forehead, “I am truly muddled!”
“Husband, what is it?”
Wen Pin slowly said, “The Eight Great Noble Families of Jingxiang are actually two factions. One is Cai Mao, Huang Zu, Kuai Yue, Kuai Liang, and others in one faction. The other faction is Sima Hui, Pang Degong, Huang Chengyan, Pang Tong, and others. It should be Sima Hui’s faction supporting Liu Bei.”
“Is there any difference between these two factions?”
“There is a difference. One faction supports the orthodox Great Han and takes supporting the Han Dynasty as its duty. The other seeks to establish a nation independently and hopes to occupy a region. This group currently controls the power in Jingxiang.”
“So what is difficult for Husband to choose? Which faction does Husband support?”
“Of course I stand with Mentor.”
“Then that settles it. Husband following Liu Bei is to support the Han Dynasty. You are not Liu Biao’s retainer or lackey. You have your own choice. As for your subordinate army, take those willing to follow you. For those unwilling, just send them back to Xiangyang.”
Wen Pin sighed and said, “That is easy to say. I am worried about my reputation!”
“Liu Bei is a man of benevolence and righteousness, known throughout the world. Husband following him on the Northern Expedition can only benefit your reputation. Moreover, your mentor will also uphold your reputation.”
Wen Pin nodded, “Tomorrow I will talk with Mentor again!”
……….
The next morning, Sima Hui sought out Wen Pin again.
“How has Zhongye considered it?” Sima Hui asked with a smile.
Wen Pin nodded, “I can lead my army to follow Imperial Uncle Liu on the Northern Expedition, but I have two conditions.”
“Please speak!”
“First, Mentor must uphold my reputation and not let me bear the infamy of betraying the lord; second, I follow Imperial Uncle Liu to support the Han Dynasty. If one day Imperial Uncle Liu betrays the purpose of supporting the Han Dynasty, I will choose to leave.”
Sima Hui nodded, “Rest assured! You are my disciple. I will not let my own disciple bear infamy. I will explain to the Jingxiang aristocracy that you are doing it to support the Han Dynasty. With Imperial Uncle Liu’s reputation, I believe everyone will understand your choice.”
At this moment, Wen Pin finally made up his mind.
