After breakfast, Chen Caozhi did not go into the study to read and practice calligraphy as usual. He told his mother where he was going, then went to the South Tower to see his fourth uncle, Chen Xian, the current patriarch of the Qiantang Chen Clan.
Chen Caozhi asked his fourth uncle to summon the clan elders and adult men of the Chen Clan to the ancestral hall for a discussion. He said it concerned the rise or fall of the Qiantang Chen Clan, and he wished to lay it before the elders and clansmen in person.
Chen Xian guessed what Chen Caozhi had come about and asked, "Caozhi, have you thought everything through?"
Chen Caozhi said, "I ask only that you consider the whole clan, Fourth Uncle, and uphold justice."
Chen Xian said, "Very well. I will speak for you."
Inside the Hall of Order, the dozen or so adult Chen Clan men who were not away sat solemnly on their heels, arranged in four groups representing the East, South, West, and North Towers. The West Tower's group consisted only of Mother Chen Lady Li and Chen Caozhi. The East Tower likewise had a mother and son; the son, Chen Tan, had originally been Chen Xian's second son from the South Tower, adopted into the East Tower as its heir, and had already fathered two grandsons for that branch. The South Tower had Chen Xian, his two sons, and his eldest grandson, who had come of age. Of Chen Man's four sons from the North Tower, three were present, naturally including the frivolous-looking Chen Liu.
Chen Liu thought the West Tower intended to make a formal division of half its land and property to him before the clan elders and younger men. Secretly delighted, he kept his expression unchanged and assumed a solemn air. He planned to refuse at first when Chen Caozhi proposed dividing the property, declining repeatedly before reluctantly accepting out of affection for a fellow clansman.
In Chen Liu's view, the West Tower's orphan and widow could never amount to anything. Although he had heard that Chen Caozhi had made Chu Wenqian lose face in a calligraphy contest, hearsay was no proof. The weakness of the West Tower Chens was plain to see. If Lu Clerk wanted to squeeze them dry, the West Tower could only count itself unlucky.
Chen Xian, Clan Chief, began to speak. First came a discourse on passing down propriety and righteousness through the family, loyalty, filial piety, and brotherly affection. Then he praised the diligence and love of learning of Chen Caozhi and his nephew from the West Tower. He also spoke of how Chen Caozhi had won renown for his calligraphy on his recent visit to the Ding Clan's villa and brought back the two maids, Xiao Chan and Qingzhi, adding luster to the Qiantang Chen Clan.
At Chen Xian's signal, Chen Caozhi straightened his clothes and cap and rose from sitting on his heels to kneeling upright. He first greeted the uncles and brothers present, then changed the subject. "Fourth Uncle's words about loyalty, filial piety, and brotherly affection remind me of an ancient worthy's devotion to his brothers. I have heard that during Emperor Guangwu's reign in the Later Han, there was a man named Xu Wu in Kuaiji Commandery. His father died young, leaving him two younger brothers, one named Yan and the other Pu, both still children. When Xu Wu worked in the fields, he had his young brothers watch beside him, and at night he taught them to read. When Xu Pu refused his instruction, Xu Wu went to kneel in the family shrine and confess his fault, believing the blame lay with himself-"
Most rulers through the dynasties had advocated "governing the realm through filial piety." Filial devotion and brotherly affection were universal principles deeply rooted in people's hearts. Apart from Chen Liu, who vaguely sensed something amiss, everyone present nodded in admiration.
Chen Caozhi continued, "-Through his diligence in study and affection for his brothers, Xu Wu became renowned in his home district and was recommended as Filial and Incorrupt. Xu Wu thought that while he himself had gained reputation and position, his two brothers remained unknown. He therefore divided the property into three shares, keeping the fertile fields and spacious residence for himself and giving the inferior portions to his brothers. Neither brother complained. People then praised Xu Yan and Xu Pu and despised Xu Wu. Thus, both Xu Yan and Xu Pu were recommended as Filial and Incorrupt and entered office. Only then did Xu Wu invite all his relatives together and, with tears in his eyes, explain why he had divided the property that way and return the land and property to his brothers."
The Chen Clan members in the Hall of Order were still praising Xu Wu's brotherly affection and wisdom when Chen Caozhi suddenly stood and declared in a clear voice, "Honored uncles and aunts, I have something to tell the elders and brothers of our clan. Earlier, Seventh Brother Chen Liu said the county was going to reassess the grades of our land and told me to give him half my property so he could bribe Lu Clerk. He could then ensure that the remaining land of our West Tower would not be raised in grade. Elders, judge this clearly: could Seventh Brother's words and actions mean he wishes to emulate Xu Wu and ruin his own reputation?"
An uproar filled the Hall of Order. Then, as though a great hand had suddenly snatched away every voice, it fell utterly silent. Everyone's eyes settled on Chen Liu.
Chen Liu had never expected Chen Caozhi to use Xu Wu's story as a lead-in and suddenly turn the flames on him. Flustered and tongue-tied, he stammered, "Nonsense! Why would I ruin my own reputation? I-I-"
Without the slightest anger, Chen Caozhi asked calmly, "Since you do not wish to emulate Xu Wu and ruin your reputation, Seventh Brother, do you truly mean to collude with outsiders and swallow up our West Tower's property?"
Chen Liu excelled at underhanded tricks behind people's backs, but confronted face-to-face like this, he had neither a sound argument nor a clear conscience. He blurted recklessly, "It's Lu Clerk who wants to fleece you! What has that got to do with me?"
Chen Caozhi asked, "Then why did you demand ten qing of my land?"
Chen Liu had no answer. With the eyes of the East and South Towers fixed on him, his face swelled purple. He appealed to his father, Chen Man. "Father, I truly wanted to help Sixteenth Brother."
Putting on a brazen face, Chen Man smiled appeasingly at Chen Caozhi. "Caozhi, we are all brothers of the same clan. Speak reasonably. Since you refuse to divide your property and let our North Tower perform the service obligations for you, who would force you? Since that last incident, your Sixth Uncle hasn't said another word, has he?"
Chen Caozhi said, "Sixth Uncle, you are an elder. Let me ask you this: under our clan rules, how should someone who colludes with outsiders to seize a fellow clansman's property be dealt with?"
At these words, Chen Man drew in a sharp breath. The people of Jin placed the greatest importance on their clans. In these unsettled times, only the clan could be trusted and entrusted with one's life and death. Clansmen could survive only by standing tightly together. Colluding with outsiders to harm the clan's interests was therefore something everyone spat upon and loathed. Chen Man dared not defend his son further. He glared fiercely at him and cursed, "You worthless wretch! Apologize to the West Tower and admit your fault to your Fourth Uncle!"
Humiliated into anger, Chen Liu stiffened his neck in defiance.
Chen Caozhi said, "Fourth Uncle, Sixth Uncle, Third Aunt, to think that our ancestor Duke Changwen devised the nine-rank official selection system, yet now even his descendants cannot be counted among the gentry. It is truly lamentable. But things depend on human effort, and we bring blame upon ourselves. Our Qiantang Chen Clan is not without a chance of rising again, but it is also very likely to sink further. Word has it that Seventh Brother has a very bad reputation in the county. The family reputation established when my father, my brother, and Fourth Uncle held graded office has been all but ruined-"
"Nonsense! My reputation is excellent! Lu Clerk thinks very highly of me." Chen Liu flailed his arms, his face contorted, looking ready to bite someone.
Chen Caozhi said, "Yes, when you offer up your clansmen's property with both hands, Lu Clerk would naturally think highly of you."
"You-!" Chen Liu screamed hoarsely.
Chen Xian thundered, "Chen Liu, silence! Do you think you may make a scene in the ancestral hall?"
The Hall of Order fell quiet, save for Chen Liu's harsh, heaving breaths. Chen Caozhi stood quietly to one side, still as a maiden.
Chen Xian had always handled matters mildly. He said, "Under the clan rules, colluding with outsiders to seize a fellow clansman's property warrants expulsion from the clan. Considering that Chen Liu was misled by an outsider and lost his senses for a moment, he shall receive twenty slaps, pay a fine in money and silk, and repent and reform-"
Before Chen Xian, Clan Chief, could finish, Chen Liu leaped up in fury and roared, "Slap me? Fine me money and silk? Don't even think of it!" Pointing at Chen Caozhi, he said, "Chen Caozhi, just you wait! Even if I don't take your property, someone else will sooner or later. Lu Clerk-"
Chen Xian, Clan Chief, was truly enraged. He snapped, "Anyone who tries to seize Caozhi's property makes an enemy of the Qiantang Chen Clan! We swear to fight him to the end, even unto death! From this day forward, Chen Liu, you are no longer a member of the Qiantang Chen Clan. The property allotted to you by the clan will be reclaimed today. If you dare claim to belong to the Qiantang Chen Clan again, I will go to the county myself and slap your mouth!"
Chen Man had never seen his cousin so furious and was too frightened to utter a sound. Besides, this unfilial son was indeed far too outrageous. To talk back at a time like this, with no sense of when to advance or retreat-what a worthless wretch who did not know death when he saw it!
Chen Liu's bluster faltered. No longer daring to shout, he muttered, "Then I'm not. It's not some great aristocratic clan anyway. What's so precious about it?" He walked out with one shoulder tilted to show he did not care, then shot his father, Chen Man, a glare, resenting him for failing to fight on his behalf.
Chen Liu rarely stayed at Chen Family Cove. He owned a house in Qiantang County town, where his wife and children lived. Now, too ashamed to linger in the Fortified Manor, he called his servants, took his ox cart, and returned to town. All along the way, he seethed with resentment, cursing Chen Caozhi and Chen Xian and swearing to leave Chen Caozhi utterly destitute-
But the farther he went from Chen Family Cove, the more desolate and frightened Chen Liu became. His heart felt hollow and adrift, with nothing to lean upon. In the world as it was, a man without his clan's support and protection could scarcely gain a foothold and was easily bullied.
Chen Liu was both furious and afraid, yet it never occurred to him that he himself had done wrong. Even if there was fault, it belonged to someone else.
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