Swinging the Hoe

"Your Majesty, the Grand Minister of Ceremonies is unwell and could not come out to welcome you. Please do not hold it against him."

With a miserable expression, Hua Biao stood firmly blocking the residence's entrance. As he looked at Cao Mao before him, grief and indignation filled his heart.

If only I'd known, I never would have asked for this assignment.

He had thought it would let him climb another rung. Who could have imagined this Duke of the Village would be so good at stirring up trouble?

Wang Su had it easy. He shut the inner chamber's door, declared himself unwell, and waited for the Grand General's orders. Zheng Mao had also plunged into the inner chamber under the pretext of caring for Wang Su, leaving Hua Biao to deal with the mess outside.

Cao Mao had arrived without warning, saying he wished to pay his respects to the worthy men of the Imperial Court.

But the Grand General's orders had yet to arrive. How could Wang Su dare meet him?

What would they do if he stirred up more trouble?

Since ancient times, installing an emperor had been a fast track to promotion. Merely escorting an emperor to the Capital was enough merit to earn a marquisate and additional fief lands.

Thus, the Sima Clan had sent their staunch ally Wang Su to welcome the new Son of Heaven, accompanied by Zheng Mao, whom Sima Shi greatly admired.

As for Hua Biao, he had volunteered.

Sima Shi thought little of him, considering him a man with no real ability and an empty reputation. Still, because he had a good father, Sima Shi had allowed him to come along.

Yet none of the three had imagined that installing this emperor would become so complicated.

Wang Su cherished his spotless reputation and refused to get involved in anything dirty. He also kept Zheng Mao well protected.

In the end, Hua Biao was the one pushed out to face it.

Looking at the palace attendant's conflicted expression, Cao Mao warmly took his hand.

"It's quite all right, quite all right! Meeting you is a pleasure in itself! Among the imperial envoys, Lord Wang is virtuous and worthy, Lord Zheng is richly talented, and you possess both their strengths!"

"I have long felt a fellowship with you in spirit!"

Hua Biao immediately grew cautious. "Your Majesty flatters me! How could a subject presume to befriend his sovereign?"

"Haha, there is something you do not know. The Director of Guidance in my household has admired Marquis Jing of Anle Township since childhood. He often held him up as his model and swore to follow his example. I studied under him, so once I learned who you were, I felt a desire to befriend you."

Hua Biao breathed a sigh of relief and hastily replied, "With so many worthy men around Your Majesty, Great Wei is truly blessed!"

Cao Mao seized his hand. "Since you won't let me enter the residence, let us find a Gao Family Restaurant and have a proper chat. Some things puzzle me, and I hope you can clear them up!"

Without giving him any chance to refuse, Cao Mao pulled him away.

The two soon arrived at a Gao Family Restaurant in the county town.

The proprietor courteously served all his signature dishes.

Hua Biao's mind, however, was nowhere near the food.

Cao Mao asked, "Master Hua, I have not yet ascended the throne. Why do you all address me as Your Majesty?"

"The Grand General ordered us to come and welcome Your Majesty."

Hua Biao answered honestly.

This was also an indirect declaration of his position. Whether Cao Mao became emperor was not for Cao Mao to decide, but Sima Shi. Sima Shi had sent them to receive the emperor, so Cao Mao was their Majesty.

It was not respect for Cao Mao, but obedience to Sima Shi.

Cao Mao nodded, then resumed his questions.

Contrary to Hua Biao's expectations, Cao Mao asked nothing sensitive. He merely asked about his father's life.

"I heard that Marquis Jing was an incorruptible man. When Emperor Wen bestowed money on him, he refused it all and lived in poverty. When Emperor Wen bestowed beautiful women on him, he accepted them, then set them free so they could marry elsewhere. Is all that true?"

"Of course it is!"

At the mention of his father, Hua Biao's floodgates opened, and he grew more excited with every word.

Unlike the image of a fawning scoundrel found in fictional retellings, the historical Hua Xin had been a highly capable and worthy minister. Together with Wang Lang, he had assisted the sovereign and made enormous contributions to pacifying and revitalizing the north.

Cao Mao also offered him wine.

After only a short conversation, Hua Biao actually felt he had found someone who understood him.

Life had not been easy for Hua Biao these past years. When he had just come of age, his father's influence had won him a position as palace attendant. Then... he had remained in that position ever since.

After his father's death, those who had once treated him with exceptional respect had all grown cold.

Nor had he latched onto the Sima Clan's thigh in time, as Wang Su had.

This left him in an awkward position at the Imperial Court. He had little ability himself, and Hua Xin, renowned for his integrity and dislike of factional struggles, had left his son no network of former students and subordinates.

Since his father's death, this was the first time someone of high standing had shown him such respect and placed such importance on him.

Listening to him, Cao Mao asked in astonishment, "With your talents, Master Hua, you became a Gentleman of the Yellow Gate at twenty and rose through the ranks to palace attendant. How is it that you never inherited your father's mantle?"

A flash of anger appeared on Hua Biao's face. "Isn't it all because I didn't have a good daugh-"

Halfway through, Hua Biao suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly shut his mouth.

Cao Mao immediately frowned and slammed his hand against the Wooden Desk before him.

"This is all because the King of Qi lacked virtue!"

"A worthy and talented man like you, yet the King of Qi refused to employ you! He brought calamity upon the state and suffering upon the people, unable to tell good from bad! He left worthy men stranded in the wilderness and truly ruined the realm of our Great Wei!"

Hearing Cao Mao suddenly unleash a torrent of abuse at Cao Fang, Hua Biao was dumbfounded. A member of the imperial clan might dare curse him like that, but Hua Biao certainly did not.

"Your Majesty, please do not be angry... I actually have little ability."

Cao Mao took his hand again. "You can still speak well of a ruler as benighted as the King of Qi. That alone proves you are a truly worthy man! But rest assured!"

"In a few days, the Prince of Pengcheng, the wisest and most virtuous member of the imperial clan, will inherit the throne!"

"The Prince of Pengcheng is nothing like the King of Qi. His worth is known throughout the realm. His virtue is lofty, and he is a sage sovereign like Yao and Shun! Once he becomes emperor, how could he fail to promote a worthy man like you?"

Cao Mao happily patted Hua Biao on the shoulder.

Hua Biao's face was utterly blank.

"Actually, if you ask me, there may also be some problems with the Imperial Court's policies."

"There are so many worthy men today! The talent throughout the realm is already beyond anything the Han could match. Wei's worthy men are as numerous as the stars in the sky, yet we have scarcely more official posts than the Han did. That is why worthy men remain stranded in the wilderness."

"When the wise Prince of Pengcheng ascends the throne, I will certainly submit a memorial urging him to create more official posts and throw open the paths for worthy men, so that every worthy man in the realm can assist the emperor. If all the realm's worthy men gather in the Imperial Court, how could Great Wei fail to flourish?"

Hua Biao's eyes lit up. "Your Majesty is right!"

"Exactly! Since ancient times, emperors who accomplished great deeds have always had countless worthy men assisting them. The more worthy men there are, the stronger the state. That is an unchanging truth!"

Cao Mao hurriedly nodded in agreement. "Precisely! Once the Prince of Pengcheng ascends the throne, perhaps we can submit a joint memorial to the new emperor, asking him to establish more offices and titles and bring all the realm's worthy men into the Imperial Court!"

"There are still too few rank assessors, and far too few worthy men recommended each year. Both numbers ought to be increased!"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!"

The two had a thoroughly enjoyable conversation. Even at the end, when it was time to part, Hua Biao looked reluctant to leave.

After their conversation that day, Hua Biao's opinion of the youth had changed dramatically.

Who said the emperor was foolish and incompetent? Look at his breadth of vision-he wants to employ every worthy man in the realm! Such an enlightened sovereign appears only once in a thousand years!

If he could become emperor, it truly would be Great Wei's good fortune!

Seeing Hua Biao's reluctant gaze, Cao Mao merely smiled and bade him farewell.

Zheng Mao could not be dug away yet. Although he was not a diehard member of the Sima faction, with Cao Mao's present strength, it was still too early to swing the hoe at him.

Wang Su was even further out of the question. He was staunchly loyal to the Sima Family, and unless they were wiped out to the last man, he could not be swayed.

Hua Biao, on the other hand, was someone Cao Mao could try working on.

Hua Biao had little ability and no great standing, but he represented the large body of powerful clans in the present Imperial Court who were friendly with the Sima Family without being their steadfast allies.

They were friendly with the Sima Family only for profit. If offered greater benefits, they would readily abandon them.

Of course, conspiring with these woodworms was merely a temporary expedient. Cao Mao loathed these vermin from the bottom of his heart.

But to topple the Sima Family, which loomed like a mountain, Cao Mao had to unite every force he could and make use of people of every standing.

He had no right to pick and choose his followers.

Still, these great families and powerful clans would have to be dealt with sooner or later. If the day comes when I hold supreme power, you dog-hearted scoundrels will get what's coming to you.

Pondering these matters, Cao Mao slowly returned to the residence.

He had just reached the entrance when he heard a cacophony of curses coming from inside. It sounded utterly chaotic.

Alarmed, Cao Mao hastily drew his sword and led the Wanderers charging into the residence.