Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

As Sun Ce's envoy, Zhang Hong went to Chang'an, where the emperor was, hoping to meet him and report the affairs of Jiangdong.

Zhang Hong received the order, fully aware of the heavy responsibility and the arduous journey ahead. He trekked through mountains and rivers, dodging the intrusions of various factions and the harassment of bandits. After overcoming countless hardships and dangers, he finally arrived in Chang'an.

Entering the august court, Zhang Hong, though slightly nervous, remained composed. The entire court, dressed in resplendent court robes, stood in neat rows, their gazes fixed on the envoy from Jiangdong. The emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, his face visibly weary yet still dignified.

Censor Pan Jun spoke first, his voice booming as he asked, "Who are you? What brings you all the way to Chang'an?"

Zhang Hong stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and spoke in a clear voice, "Your Majesty, I am Zhang Hong, serving under Sun Ce in Jiangdong. I have come to report to Your Majesty on matters concerning Jiangdong. During their time in Wujun, Xu Gong and Wang Lang engaged in numerous inappropriate actions. Xu Gong secretly colluded with various factions, exploiting the people for his own selfish gain and causing them to suffer greatly. And Wang Lang, though knowledgeable, lacked the talent for governance. Faced with rampant banditry and the separatist separatism of local tyrants, he was helpless, leaving the people of Wujun suffering terribly."

Upon hearing this, the entire court, both civil and military officials, began whispering and discussing the situation. Zhang Hong paused, then continued, "My general, Sun Ce, is devoted to the Han Dynasty and cares deeply about the country. Seeing the people of Wujun suffering, he could not bear to sit idly by. For the sake of the court's dignity and the people's peace, he disregarded his own safety and resolutely led an army to reclaim Wujun. He disciplined his troops rigorously, and wherever he went, he harmed no one, earning him the support of the people. Today, Wujun is gradually stabilizing, and the people's lives have improved."

At this time, Wang Jie, the Grand Counselor, stepped out of the ranks. He stared at Zhang Hong with a stern expression and a sharp gaze. He shouted, "Zhang Hong, stop your flattery! Wang Lang and Xu Gong were officials appointed by the court. Even if they were guilty of poor governance, the court should have dealt with them according to the law. How could you, Jiangdong, act on your own and raise an army to attack them without the court's permission? This shows disregard for the court and the law. What is your punishment?"

Undeterred, Zhang Hong bowed slightly and responded righteously, "Your Excellency is mistaken. Although Xu Gong and Wang Lang were appointed officials by the imperial court, they failed to fulfill their duties, leading to chaos in Wu Commandery. Our General, Sun Ce, was compelled to raise an army. Wu Commandery was in imminent danger. If we had not acted promptly, it would have fallen into the hands of the Shanyue bandits, becoming the root cause of chaos for the imperial court. Furthermore, when General Sun Ce launched his rebellion, he sent envoys to the surrounding counties to explain the situation, intent on stabilizing the region for the imperial court, not seeking personal gain. Now that Wu Commandery is pacified and its people are living and working in peace, isn't this beneficial to the imperial court? If we had followed the old ways and waited for the imperial court's slow response, who knows how much more suffering the people would have endured, and how much more disaster would have befallen Wu Commandery. I hope Your Majesty will understand, and I hope you gentlemen will understand our general's earnest efforts."

Wang Jie stared at Zhang Hong with a hawk-like gaze, pressing him with questions: "Since the Shanyue are in rebellion, what is the situation of the Shanyue now?"

Zhang Hong remained calm and unhurried, replying, "My Lord, the Shanyue have been influenced by our General Sun Ce and have now left their homes and submitted to the prefectures and counties. The general has used both kindness and authority to educate the Shanyue people, teaching them farming methods and etiquette. He has also provided them with safe homes, allowing them to live a stable life. The Shanyue are grateful for your kindness and have since wholeheartedly submitted to us."

Upon hearing this, Wang Jie laughed heartily and said, "That's a nice thing to say! Anyone with a discerning eye can see something fishy going on. The Shanyue have always been barbaric and unruly, entrenched in the mountains and forests for years. How could they so easily leave the forests and submit to the imperial court based on just a few words of persuasion from your general? There must be some deception. Perhaps your general has ulterior motives and is resorting to some unsavory tactics!"

Zhang Hong's face flushed crimson under these questions, and he looked embarrassed. Though he was furious, he didn't know how to refute them. The story of the Shanyue's surrender was completely groundless. The Shanyue had already surrendered to Ma Chao, but the difficulties and twists and turns involved were far too numerous to explain in a few words. Moreover, he was now officially Sun Ce's envoy, and the hidden truth could only be revealed quietly to the emperor. If he openly exposed Ma Chao and Sun Ce's actions, he would no longer have any place in Sun Ce's sight. Helplessly, he could only look at the emperor with a look of resignation, his eyes full of hints, hoping that the emperor would understand and summon him privately.

The emperor frowned slightly, his gaze flickering between Zhang Hong and Wang Jie. After a moment's hesitation, he spoke slowly, "Zhang Hong, please tell me in detail how your general managed to influence the Shanyue people and convince them to submit. If it's truly as you say, then it's a great achievement, and I will reward you. But if you've deceived me, I will not forgive you."

Zhang Hong's heart trembled, and he quickly bowed again, saying respectfully, "Your Majesty is wise. My general, Sun Ce, knows full well that the Shanyue people aren't inherently prone to rebellion. It's simply that they've lived in the mountains for so long, lacking education and suffering from the oppression of powerful individuals, that they frequently stir up trouble. First, the general sent eloquent men deep into the mountains to explain the court's benevolence to the Shanyue people and promise them a peaceful life. Then, the general established schools in the Shanyue settlements, selecting learned men to teach them, and opened up farmland, teaching them advanced farming techniques. At the same time, the general treated the Shanyue leaders with courtesy, granting them status and power so that they could continue to govern their people after their surrender. Witnessing the general's dedication and seeing the tangible benefits, the Shanyue people emerged from the mountains and surrendered wholeheartedly."

While Zhang Hong's explanation seemed coherent, it was clearly flawed. It was as rigid and stilted as the official narrative, making it difficult to fully believe. Wang Jie wanted to press the issue further, dissecting each point, but just then, the emperor raised his hand, silencing him. The emperor's gaze was penetrating, having already read the deeper meaning behind Zhang Hong's fleeting glance.

The emperor frowned slightly and spoke slowly, deliberately changing the subject: "Let's not discuss this matter any further for now. I would like to hear whether your general, Sun Ce, has any specific requests."

Zhang Hong's heart tightened, but as the emperor suddenly changed the subject, he keenly sensed that he seemed to understand his unspoken meaning, and a glimmer of hope surged within him. He gathered his composure and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty is wise. My master, Sun Ce, has devoted himself to the imperial court, recovering the land of Jiangdong and stabilizing the people. All I seek now is a legitimate title. I hope Your Majesty will grant him a reward to justify his position and inspire the spirit of our soldiers."

The emperor nodded slightly, his expression calm, and he remained noncommittal. "The matter of conferring rewards is related to court etiquette, and requires discussion with the ministers in the court before a final decision can be made. Zhang Hong, you've traveled a long way and must be very tired. Please go down and rest first."

Zhang Hong understood that the emperor was politely ending the conversation. He bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consideration." Then he slowly withdrew from the court. Zhang Hong knew that the emperor, having understood his intentions, would undoubtedly summon him privately for further discussion. With a touch of anticipation, he withdrew and returned to his residence, patiently awaiting the emperor's order.

In the court, after Zhang Hong left, Wang Jie's face was filled with confusion. Unable to contain his bewilderment, he stepped forward and asked respectfully yet anxiously, "Your Majesty, what Zhang Hong just said clearly has many loopholes and is unconvincing. Why didn't Your Majesty investigate further? Instead, why did you shelve the matter for now and ask us to discuss what official position should be given to Sun Ce after the court was dismissed?"

The emperor raised his eyes slightly, looking calmly at Wang Jie. His eyes were filled with all-seeing wisdom, and he spoke slowly, "Wang Jie, you are well aware of the current situation in the world. Sun Ce has been holding Jiangdong, his power is growing, and he has already recovered Wujun and other areas. While his words may be untrue, he has also made contributions to the court. If we continue to criticize his words without offering any consolation, we may only arouse his rebelliousness and further destabilize the situation in Jiangdong."

The emperor paused briefly before continuing, "I have asked you to discuss granting Sun Ce an official position. Firstly, this is a recognition of his achievements in Jiangdong, demonstrating the court's benevolence and magnanimity. Secondly, it is also hoped that this will bring him under the court's purview, facilitating future control over him. You must carefully consider the interests involved and must not simply judge by superficial considerations."

Wang Jie was startled by the emperor's words, then suddenly realized what was happening. He secretly admired the emperor's foresight and hurriedly bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is wise. I have been inconsiderate. I hope you will forgive me. I will discuss this carefully with the other ministers and share your concerns."

The emperor nodded slightly and waved his hand wearily, "Alright, that's enough for today. Let's adjourn the court. After you leave, discuss this matter carefully and we'll report back at court tomorrow morning."

All the ministers saluted and responded in unison: "We obey your order." Then they left the court one by one.

After leaving the court, the ministers gathered in groups of three or four, whispering about the official appointment for Sun Ce. Some believed that Sun Ce should be given a higher position to win his heart, while others worried that too high a position would make Sun Ce's power expand and difficult to control. For a while, everyone held their own opinions and the debate continued.

Wang Jie walked silently among the crowd, still pondering the emperor's words. He knew that the discussion about Sun Ce's appointment was of grave importance, and any carelessness could lead to a series of problems. He secretly resolved to weigh the pros and cons of the discussion and make the most appropriate decision for the court.

Before Wang Jie could even get far, a hurried eunuch quickly caught up with him. He breathed slightly, "Sir Wang, please wait. His Majesty has ordered you to appear before him immediately." Wang Jie's heart trembled at this, and the doubts that had just dissipated surged back. He recalled his many unanswered questions in the court, and the emperor's action of stopping him from asking further questions. His intuition told him that there must be a hidden secret behind this matter.

Wang Jie didn't dare delay even a moment. He quickly straightened his official robes, turned around, and hurried back with the eunuchs. His steps were quick yet steady, as he pondered the emperor's intention in summoning him. Was he to explain the court's decisions to him alone? Or was he entrusted with some other important task? Various theories raced through his mind, making him increasingly nervous.