The Child Emperor

Han Ruzi needed to establish a secure camp quickly, otherwise any army from the city could overwhelm him.

This posed a significant challenge. To ensure rapid movement, the army carried minimal supplies and had to rely on local materials, cutting down surrounding shrubs. Their position was in a low-lying wasteland, which experienced generals unanimously considered the worst possible location for an encampment. They needed to move either forward or backward.

Han Ruzi chose to advance several miles to slightly higher ground, closer to the Capital – just over three miles away. If battle broke out, they would have very little preparation time and would need to maintain constant combat readiness. Neither soldiers nor horses could endure this for long.

The Southern Army troops didn’t mind, as they were eager to enter the city and join the battle – the closer, the better.

Han Ruzi delayed using various excuses, the most important being that reinforcements from the Eight Palace Guard Camps were still outside the city. If the Southern Army all entered the city, they could easily be attacked from both front and rear. This wasn’t a lie – scouts reported at noon that troops were mobilizing in all directions around the Capital, clearly moving to support the Palace Guard Army.

This was the most turbulent morning of Han Ruzi’s life. The fighting in the city, armies converging from all directions, and his own camp’s troops – any of these forces could destroy him if they decided to. He was like a lamb surrounded by lions, tigers, and wolf packs, who hadn’t devoured him only because they needed to defeat other predators first.

Han Ruzi didn’t want to remain a lamb. He had three thousand Northern Army soldiers beside him who, though few in number, now stood firmly with him. News of the Champion Marquis’s poisoning had spread, and these Northern troops no longer wavered.

Behind him, another Northern Army force was approaching that could secure victory – the only question was whether they would arrive in time.

In the city, there were also people supporting the Weary Marquis.

Cui Hong hadn’t come personally, which relieved Han Ruzi. His limited influence couldn’t compete with the Southern Army’s Grand Marshal, and fortunately, Cui Hong lacked the courage to come.

The messenger, a Southern Army general with several hundred guards, tried to charge into the camp but was stopped by Northern Army troops led by Cai Xinghai. Only the messenger himself was allowed to enter and meet the Weary Marquis.

Standing before the Weary Marquis, the messenger formally announced: “The Southern Army has taken the entire Capital. Prince Donghai has ascended the throne. The Grand Marshal has tasked me to tell the Weary Marquis that the wise adapt to circumstances. You should immediately surrender the Southern Army troops and enter the city alone to pay respects to the new emperor. A princely title and fief would not be out of the question.”

Han Ruzi smiled: “Grand Tutor Cui is my father-in-law, and Prince Donghai and I are both sons of the Graceful Emperor. Of course I should recognize their authority. However, I have one small request – as soon as the ministers acknowledge the new emperor and come out of the city to convey the imperial edict to me, I will immediately crawl into the city on my knees to beg forgiveness.”

The messenger made various threats, which Han Ruzi received with smiles, insisting on only one condition: he would surrender the Southern Army and acknowledge the new emperor only after receiving word from the ministers and an imperial edict.

He deliberately delayed for some time, until a Northern Army soldier entered the tent and nodded, at which point he politely asked the messenger to leave.

A messenger from Shang-guan Sheng arrived – a palace eunuch with over a hundred Guard soldiers. They had come from the North Gate, which was closer, but having departed later, they arrived after the Southern Army messenger.

The two groups of messengers met at the camp entrance, glaring at and observing each other.

The eunuch was more polite than the Southern Army messenger: “Cui Hong is committing treason. He only occupies a small area in the western city and is trapped there, unable to move. He’ll soon be driven from the capital. You must have heard that reinforcements are rushing here from all directions. Whether your troops are allies or enemies of the court depends entirely on your decision. Please decide quickly – once Cui Hong retreats, you’ll lose the chance to choose.”

Han Ruzi maintained a smiling face and said, “As a descendant of the Han clan, I could never oppose the imperial court. Since you’re delivering a message from the court, do you have an imperial edict?”

The eunuch’s face reddened slightly as he coughed, “His Majesty has unfortunately passed away. Prince Ying has been installed as the new emperor in the palace. With Cui Hong’s rebellion and everything happening so hastily, there hasn’t been time to issue an imperial edict. But this very situation presents an opportunity for the Weary Marquis.”

Han Ruzi had only been testing him. If they had produced an imperial edict, he would have found other excuses. But the eunuch’s demeanor revealed that Shang-guan Sheng, who had installed Prince Ying as the new emperor in the palace, couldn’t even produce an imperial edict – this was rather suspicious.

Han Ruzi played along but ultimately insisted on one point: “I’m sorry, but I need to see an imperial edict.”

The eunuch didn’t make any threats, but left visibly dissatisfied.

As more Southern Army soldiers arrived, the three thousand Northern troops seemed increasingly insignificant. While Han Ruzi could easily deal with messengers from Cui Hong and Shang-guan Sheng, he had to be extremely careful with the Southern Army in his camp. But he noticed that as their numbers grew, their willingness to enter the city and join the battle actually decreased.

Han Ruzi allowed news from both sides in the city to spread throughout the camp, making sure most understood one thing: the battle for the Capital was far from over, and joining now would be extremely risky.

The Southern Army was restless but remained inactive. Several times they nearly mutinied. Cai Xinghai and others were extremely tense, never daring to remove their armor, while Han Ruzi sat calmly in his tent, neither summoning the Southern Army officers nor meeting them.

Among the many rumors was one claiming that some people in the city didn’t recognize Prince Ying or Prince Donghai as the new emperor, instead declaring that the Weary Marquis had been and still was the emperor.

The Weary Marquis was one of the three “emperors” Cui Teng had mentioned.

However, the Weary Marquis’s followers hadn’t left the city, apparently trapped somewhere. Meng E, who had promised to return by noon, hadn’t kept her word – night fell with no sign of her.

Han Ruzi felt the days dragging endlessly.

While the Southern Army under the Weary Marquis remained inactive and noncommittal, their numbers kept growing. Han Ruzi knew morale was extremely unstable, but the people in the city didn’t. Shortly after nightfall, Cui Hong and Shang-guan Sheng each sent a second group of messengers.

Shangguan Sheng’s messengers arrived first this time – just two eunuchs and two Palace Guard generals. They were very polite and presented an “imperial edict” in which Prince Ying praised the Weary Marquis’s many achievements in an adult’s tone, then identified Prince Donghai as the culprit who had poisoned the Champion Marquis. Thus, of the four contenders for the throne, only Prince Ying remained, making him the legitimate heir. The edict then demanded the Weary Marquis immediately enter the city to quell the rebellion, or at least declare his allegiance.

Han Ruzi read it carefully, returned the “edict,” and smiled, “I understand the court is in chaos, but such mistakes shouldn’t be made. This isn’t an imperial edict – the seal is wrong.”

The emperor had twelve seals, but only the Imperial Seal could be used on imperial edicts. The other seals had lesser uses – for sacrifices to Heaven, ancestors, praying for rain – and two were purely decorative to make up the number twelve.

The four men, exposed on the spot, all blushed. One Imperial Guard general asked the other three to leave the tent and stayed behind, glancing at the ten guards on either side.

Han Ruzi didn’t dismiss any guards – he absolutely wouldn’t meet strangers alone now.

The Imperial Guard general stepped forward and said quietly, “To be frank, the Imperial Guard and Southern Army are at a stalemate. While Cui Hong indeed holds the western city and has more troops, we’ve secured the palace. The northern and eastern cities are also under our control. The Weary Marquis should understand what this means.”

“What does it mean?” Han Ruzi deliberately played dumb.

After a pause, the general said, “The ministers and nobles are all under the Imperial Guard’s control, as are the people in the palace.”

“Please speak plainly, General.”

“Maiden Wang and the Weary Marquis’s wife are both in the palace.”

Han Ruzi had anticipated that Shang-guan Sheng would use this tactic. Though angry inside, he laughed heartily and said, “Shang-guan Sheng comes from a noble family, yet how can he be so ignorant? Grand Consort Cui is also in the palace – has Prince Donghai surrendered because of that?”

The Imperial Guard general was extremely embarrassed and coughed twice. “The Weary Marquis misunderstands. General Shang-guan has no intention of making threats. Maiden Wang and the Marquis’s wife will not be harmed in any way in the palace. I must return to report now – what should I tell them?”

Han Ruzi thought for a moment. “Since you control the ministers, send one out to negotiate with me.”

Shang-guan Sheng’s messenger took his leave. Soon after, Cui Hong’s second messenger arrived – this time a genuine high official.

Right Chief Censor Shen Mingzhi hadn’t rested for a day and night. The dramatic ups and downs he’d experienced during this time exceeded those of his decades-long official career, leaving him haggard. Yet he still maintained some dignity as he delivered Cui Hong’s ultimatum: “Before dawn, Grand Tutor Cui hopes to see the Southern Army enter the city. Otherwise, he will personally lead troops out to deal with internal threats first, then determine the greater situation.”

“The Southern Army’s troops would be delighted to meet Grand Tutor Cui,” Han Ruzi said, being least afraid of threats at this moment.

“The Weary Marquis must have heard about people in the city supporting you as emperor,” said Shen Mingzhi, the first person besides Cui Teng to mention this.

“Rumors are flying about. They can’t be trusted.”

“I’m here to dispel these rumors. May I speak with the Weary Marquis privately?”

Han Ruzi knew Shen Mingzhi and wasn’t as guarded against him. After some thought, he ordered his guards to withdraw. Shen Mingzhi also gestured for his companions to leave.

When only the two remained, Shen Mingzhi knelt and kowtowed.

Han Ruzi was very surprised and quickly rose. “What is the meaning of this, Chief Censor Shen?”

Without rising, Shen Mingzhi said, “The rumors are true. There are indeed many in the city who support you. I risked coming out to tell you – please hold firm. Neither Prince Donghai nor Prince Ying have the people’s hearts. You are the emperor that Great Chu needs. Please give us some confidence.”

Han Ruzi was even more surprised. Shen Mingzhi had first supported the Champion Marquis, then openly supported Prince Donghai, but was now secretly informing the Weary Marquis. Han Ruzi couldn’t make sense of these actions.

“A hundred thousand Northern Army troops are already on their way. They’ll reach the Capital in three days at most,” Han Ruzi gave Shen Mingzhi some “confidence.”

Shen Mingzhi was overjoyed. “Master Yang said the Weary Marquis wouldn’t leave the city without reason and must be bringing strong reinforcements. He was indeed correct.”

“Where is Yang Feng?” Han Ruzi’s interest was piqued.

“He reportedly entered the palace. His current whereabouts are unknown.”

“Very well, you may go back. Ask everyone to wait patiently. Tell Grand Tutor Cui that if he wants to come out, he’s welcome. If he wants me to enter the city, let Prince Donghai come – we brothers can have an open and honest discussion.”

Shen Mingzhi rose and left the tent to report back to Cui Hong.

Han Ruzi sat in the tent deep in thought, knowing the next few days would be difficult. The Northern Army’s hasty departure meant they might not arrive within three days.

Cai Xinghai lifted the tent flap and entered, looking panicked. “My lord, a large group of Southern Army commanders have stormed into camp demanding to see you immediately. They look hostile – should we arrest them?”

“Show them in,” said Han Ruzi. He couldn’t keep avoiding things; what needed to be faced had to be faced.

The commotion outside had already reached the tent entrance.

If you are reading this on an aggregator site, do consider visiting https://tuzhitranslations.wordpress.com/ to support this translation project by leaving a comment.