Finding The Way

by Ng, Wayne;

  Prince Meng waited but a moment to respond. Then he turned to the King.

  “Heavenly Father, perhaps my brother’s injuries have affected his thinking. This quest for order is no different from a permanent state of fear and perpetual war, albeit with more efficiency. How this will help to sow morality among the people is incomprehensible to me. Prince Chao’s proposal would encourage people to take a perfidious course towards your followers and those with Royal blood. He proposes meritocracy. Is he saying that faithful ministers and followers such as Yi Ban lack competence and are mere sycophants? They are not only loyal subjects, but are also of Royal blood. It is not order that he speaks of, but privilege for a few, servitude for most and chaos for all. This is absurd. I will not be a party to it.”

  “This is an irreversible course, dear brother,” Prince Chao said. “The Son of Heaven can see beyond the horizon. He and I are not without our own philosophical beliefs. I can quote not only Confucius, but also General Sun Wu’s book on military tactics, although it is more about spying and deception than war... most useful. You see, we are not naïve idealists such as yourself. Our Heavenly Father sees this and he has empowered me to review all aspects of governance. He listened favorably to my suggestion of retaining a standing army, of proper taxation, of standardization of all elements of commerce and trade and the construction of schools of enlightenment. With these, all lands and regions will be bound not only by blood, but in every aspect of life. In short, we will not simply join the technological revolution, we will overtake it, and in time we will re-unite the empire.”

  Prince Meng’s voice took an uncharacteristically menacing tone. “This is not for you alone to decide.”

  “Did you not hear me? Our Heavenly Father already has.” Prince Chao sighed.

  The King made no move to repudiate this statement but shifted uncomfortably as though he realized he had said too much and no longer wished to be present.

  “How can you can speak of virtue whilst ignoring me, the future King? How can you expect to pursue this course once I am on the throne? Or does my dear brother believe the throne will be his? Do not provoke me, or…”

  “Or you’ll hone your archery skills and not miss again?” Prince Chao shot back.

  “Enough!” The King commanded.

  Prince Meng was silent. Neither Confucius nor I dared to break the tension.

  “Do not think, Prince Meng, that you alone stand for virtue and compassion,” Prince Chao said, then paused to take a breath. “A strong dynasty means a strong nation, and a contented people with full bellies. We cannot achieve this standing still whilst others ride in circles around us. We must move forward. In time you will see this, regardless of who sits on the throne.”

  Prince Meng stormed out of Prince Chao’s Hall, leaving Yi Ban and I struggling to keep up. The younger Prince had out-maneuvered his elder brother. The hunting incident had swung the King’s ear firmly in his direction. And in many respects, Prince Chao spoke correctly. The world had indeed been evolving as Zhou stood by. For generations, the world had only known war, but now the scale and scope of the conflicts had mushroomed. Kingdoms were learning better how to wage it. It had become a conduit for change. Regional lords needed ever-more skilled, literate officials and teachers, the recruitment of whom was based on merit rather than on blood and favors received. Also, commerce was being stimulated through the introduction of coinage and technological improvements. New metals were even replacing bronze, making possible the forging of new weapons. In essence, man was becoming better and more efficient at conducting war.

  These advances also benefited society in other ways. The manufacture of sturdier farm implements led to higher yields. My father’s methods from forty years ago were no longer new and had been copied widely. Public works on a grand scale meant the digging of canals to move troops and supplies quickly. But they also resulted in better flood control. Enormous walls were being built around other cities and towns, just like the capital’s, as well as along broad stretches of the northern frontier.

  Confucius seized the moment and capitalized on it. In fact, he likely had a hand in steering the tides of change, as his musings found an eager ear in the younger Prince. I found it objectionable that Confucius had used his position to exacerbate the conflict between the Royals and wanted to tell him so. I arranged a meeting with him at my favorite inn outside the city on the Luo River. It had been many months since I had had an opportunity to relish its quiet surroundings and savor its porridge. The inn was as removed from the Palace as Confucius’ ideas were from the daily conversations of the common people. I wanted Confucius to see this.

  Yet as I climbed the hill towards the inn, a completely unexpected scene greeted me. A high brick wall had replaced the crumbling low stone wall and the roof of the structure was now peaked with new clay tiles. A large, unmarked door was the only access. I thought I had misjudged my bearings until a guard, the former assistant innkeeper, cracked opened the door. Because I was wearing my work robes, he didn’t recognize me at first, but when he did, he flung open the door and greeted me like an old friend. He explained how the inn had been taken over some months ago by General Wu and turned into a bawdy house. I was stunned and speechless as he led me through a haze of incense smoke and a cacophony of drunken laughter and gambling to a small table against a wall where once an open panorama of the river had been framed for customers. A woman in a fine silk gown led a procession of luxuriously dressed young women around the tables. She knew every patron in the room and joked with them like old friends. When they arrived at my table the woman welcomed me with a flourish then offered a choice of any of the women behind her. Stunned, I declined and instead asked for snacks and drinks. She gave me a puzzled look, then smiled and suggested that she also had some precious young men who would soon be available. I re-stated my request for a snack and drink which dampened her smile. She and the young women quickly moved on.

  At last Confucius arrived. I studied him as he was escorted to my table. He nodded greetings to several patrons. He appeared more at ease with the establishment than I, and he made no reference to it being a brothel.

  We greeted each other with our customary layers of salutations: as friends, as highly-regarded colleagues, fellow members of the intelligentsia, even minor nobility. After some yellow wine and honey cake, I could hold back no longer. I congratulated him on his position within Prince Chao’s circle, but expressed disappointment at his not sharing this with me earlier.

  “Honorable Lao Tzu, Prince Chao scarcely gave me a moment to catch my breath. The accident has given him the energy and will of a thousand horses.”

  “A thousand wild horses,” I snapped back.

  Confucius looked around to ensure no one was within earshot.

  “Discretion, Master Scholar. Even here the eyes and ears of the Palace roam. I feel you may have misunderstood Prince Chao. His desire to seek a path ahead is noble and enlightened.”

  Prince Meng’s frustrations were reflected within me and I could not hold back.

  “I see now how dangerous is this path, wholly unnatural and unintuitive to the course of man. You seek order through strict regimes, you foster division where none should exist, you encourage the anointment of privilege under the guise of virtue, as though power and position are incorruptible.”

  Confucius was momentarily taken aback, but he quickly recovered and revealed no loss of face. He even cracked a slight smile.

  “Honorable Lao Tzu, you cannot deny that man is divided so many ways already. This is a given. One of these divisions is virtue. I see that perhaps you under-value virtue and forget the advancement and security that our ancestors gave us. Virtue means more to man than either water or fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have never seen a man die from treading the course of virtue. Surely you cannot find offense in loyalty, reciprocity, dutifulness, filial and fraternal affection, courtes
y and good faith?”

  “I harbor no qualms about virtue or any of those other attributes. It is rather the unnatural and aberrant ways in which you seek to sow them. You assume that virtue is the purview of nobility, that it is an unnatural creation that can be bought, molded and re-sold as mortar to bind society. But these are not bricks to build for men, but to imprison them.”

  Confucius’ smile faded. “Perhaps Honorable Lao Tzu finds comfort in the primitive ways of men. Perhaps you see beauty in endless wars and conflicts, in humans in conflict, in corruption and malevolence. If this is your way, then there are many barbarians beyond our realm amongst whom you may find followers. But this is not the way of the world here, and it is not the wish of the Son of Heaven and Prince Chao to continue in such a way.”

  “My dear Confucius, I once believed that heaven saw through the eyes of men. It heard through the ears of men, and that it inevitably sent down calamities, but that there was always hope of weathering them. But when men bring misfortune upon themselves, there is no hope of escape. I now know that the fate of man rests with the impartiality of the Way. Your ideas, however, deny man’s ability to overcome unnatural barriers.”

  Confucius remained still.

  “I fear, Confucius, that your position is much removed from the people. Otherwise you would see that when people have nothing to lose, uprisings will result. Do not take away their land or their livelihood. If their burden is not heavy, they will not shirk it. Scholars such as we must maintain ourselves without accepting tribute, profit or personal glory. We must not forget that it is the interests of the ordinary people that are paramount.”

  Confucius shook his head and sighed, as though he had just heard the protestations of a child. I could see that further discussion was futile.

  More wine and honey cakes arrived. I had no stomach for food but Confucius ate as though a famine was approaching. The manner in which he so ardently and casually devoured his food stirred my discontent even further. Then I remembered a saying I had heard from some soldiers: ‘It is easier to lose a yard than take an inch. In this manner one may deploy troops without marshaling them, bring weapons to bear without exposing them, engage the foe without invading them, and exhaust their strength without fighting them. There is no worse disaster than misunderstanding your adversary. To do so endangers all.’

  I had miscalculated Confucius and his intentions. Years of contemplation had not prepared me for this, and suddenly I felt very vulnerable. For the first time, my standing in court mattered to me, and I feared it was slipping. I knew I had to arm myself with a new approach to tactics.

  I commended Confucius on his thoughts and partook of the lavish treats before me.

  14

  Royal Defilement

  “Captain Yin, Captain Yin!” A corporal rushed into the shelter, interrupting Lao Tzu’s story.

  “What is it?” The Captain scrutinized the soldier, who was one of the new recruits who often praised Lieutenant Zhang to his face, but demeaned him when he was not present.

  “It is Lieutenant Zhang, sir. He took a mount, one of our stronger ones. He aims to meet with the General as soon as possible.” “When did he leave?” the Captain asked.

  “At mid-day, sir.”

  “And you waited until now to report?”

  The corporal struggled for words. Then the scribe rescued him.

  “It’s about time someone around here showed some sense. These ramblings are completely unbelievable. It’s a waste of good ink and tablets.” He dropped his brush and looked defiantly at the Captain and Lao Tzu.

  The Captain glared at the scribe. “Your presence here is for one purpose alone.” He took a step towards the scribe. “Your opinion has not been requested. Pick up your brush.”

  The scribe hesitated for a second, then complied.

  “Master Scholar, please do not delay,” the Captain said to Lao Tzu. “I suspect the Lieutenant may find a sympathetic ear with the General. Our time may be limited. I implore you to continue with your story. But first, tell me how it is you are able to account for events and details for which you could not have been present.”

  Lao Tzu grinned. “Your query is reasonable, but betrays impatience. The conclusion of my story will reveal all. But I can tell you those parts of the story where I was not present were reliably conveyed to me by those who were. Shall I continue with my ramblings?”

  He looked at the Captain and then the scribe.

  ******

  It is said that for a snail to alter speed and direction, generations must wait idly by. This usually holds true for governments too. But Chengzhou was suddenly different. After Prince Chao’s recovery from the hunting accident, the King effectively granted his youngest son free rein in all aspects of administration. Prince Chao wasted no time in re-shaping the Royal territory of Zhou. Several of the generals, naturally, wholeheartedly supported the establishment of a permanent standing army of paid soldiers and new equipment. Tax reforms burdened farmers with extra levies, but also provided greater incentives for production. Plans to widen roads and add new ones were made, as well as to dig canals and to codify the laws. One of Prince Chao’s most ambitious proposals was to create a meritocracy within the bureaucracy, thus significantly impacting all levels of government, a massive undertaking that required the creation of schools with standardized examinations. All this had Confucius’ imprint on it.

  All these and many more changes were meant to add to the Royal coffers and leapfrog us into modernity. It was impossible to escape the breadth of the changes, not even within the Archives. I wondered how Zhou would sustain this pace, and how it would be paid for.

  During these dizzying times I once encountered the servant girl Mei just outside the Palace walls. She recognized me immediately and bowed.

  “Ah, Lord Lao Tzu, the man with compassion for a fortress,” she said. “We meet once more. I have heard much of you since we last met, and have seen the fondness that Prince Meng has for you, my Lord.”

  I motioned her to rise. She was wearing a simple silk robe fashioned with a pattern of stitched chrysanthemums. Yet she carried herself with a grace and dignity untainted by the false perfection of one so close to nobility and privilege. With a discrete but mindful gaze and an airy yet attentive posture, she looked very much like the heroine that all classes and manner of men would gladly claim. Together we walked towards the Central Square.

  “I see Mei, that you continue to wander outside the Palace without an escort, even though your garments now are a step above that of a kitchen thief. And that jade hairpin has Royal markings on it.”

  She smiled. “There was a time that I would have quickly sold such a luxury. This hairpin alone would feed my family and buy seed for the next five seasons.”

  “But now we are at a different station in our lives. You have done well in a short time, progressing from slave to maiden to one of the Son of Heaven’s favorites. I have observed you accompanying him on many occasions.”

  She glanced at me, betraying not a hint of satisfaction or smugness. It was more a puzzled look that I would state the obvious. The King’s established reputation for sexual avarice didn’t reconcile with my first image of Mei. Viewing her as such still seemed peculiar. She seemed to read my thoughts, thus confirming my initial impressions of her intelligence.

  “You stare at me, scholar, as though I am still that farm girl or kitchen hand, lost in a Palace world that sullies all. It would be well within reason to think so, given where I sleep in the Palace. But as you know, my Lord, there are many legends, myths and secrets within the Palace walls.”

  She looked around then whispered, “One rumor is the King’s voracious love of women. It is true that he jealously protects his women, but his insatiable appetite is a myth. His pleasures with women are not really carnal. And one secret is his, how shall I say it… loss of authority. I believe it has been some time si
nce he has fulfilled his full manhood. I have been told how he treats women with scorn and contempt, rejecting all but a few whose presence he values.”

  I interrupted her. “This is what many would call idle gossip, and it is dangerous. You should learn discretion, my child.”

  “That goes without saying, my Lord. Yet much goes on within the palace, much of it unintended for commoners such as myself. Still it would be beneficial to have a trusted and sympathetic ear to guide me.”

  “Like the Black Serpent who was instrumental in you feeding your family?”

  She nodded.

  “Was his identity ever revealed to you?”

  “Unfortunately not. He was a life-saver when we needed him. I wish I could have thanked him. There are so few one can trust within the Palace.”

  We each took a nonchalant but careful look at our surroundings.

  “Is it necessary for me to once again prove my discretion?” I asked her.

  She shook her head. “It is not the Son of Heaven who worries me the most, it is that hot-headed Prince. He has many faces, particularly with women about.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He presents himself with such chivalry and grace in the court. Yet I suspect there is much beneath that veneer, things untoward ready to happen. Are you surprised, my Lord?”

  “Not entirely, though I am curious to know how you came to your understanding.”