20demayo Chapter 100: Lure the snake out of its hole
Chapter 100: Lure the snake out of its hole
Lujiang, Qiao Family Compound.
When Yuan Tan's carriage arrived, the main gate of the Qiao residence was not fully open; instead, a steward led them in through a side gate.
The courtyard was deep and the ancient trees reached the sky. As we walked along, the servants lowered their heads and kept their eyes lowered, maintaining strict discipline.
Lord Qiao received Yuan Tan in the main hall.
He was about fifty years old, lean and refined, with his hair and beard meticulously combed. He was polite and considerate, yet there was a hint of arrogance about him.
After serving tea and exchanging a few pleasantries, a subtle silence fell between them.
Yuan Tan understood that Lord Qiao was waiting for him to speak first, and he was putting on a very high and mighty attitude.
He was not surprised. The Qiao family was a top-tier aristocratic family in Lujiang and even the Jianghuai region. They were a family of scholars and had been noble for generations. Their influence was deeply rooted and far beyond that of ordinary powerful families.
"Master Qiao,"
Yuan Tan put down his teacup, his smile gentle, and got straight to the point.
"Tan Xinding has settled in Lujiang, where everything is in need of rebuilding. I have long heard of the Qiao family's tradition of scholarship and propriety, their upright character, and their exemplary conduct among the scholars of the Jianghuai region. I, Tan, though unworthy, wish to invite Lord Qiao to come out of seclusion and take charge of the education and talent selection in the prefecture, to recommend virtuous and capable individuals for the court, and to reassure the local scholars. I wonder what Lord Qiao's opinion is?"
Mr. Qiao lowered his eyelids slightly, gently stirring the floating tea leaves with the cup lid, his tone so flat that no emotion could be discerned:
"You flatter me, Magistrate Yuan. I am old and frail, and in recent years I have only known how to stay at home reading and teaching my children. I have become unfamiliar with the affairs of the outside world and am truly unfit for this important task. I fear I will fail to live up to your expectations and I am ashamed."
That old scoundrel actually refused outright, without even a single polite word of leniency.
Yuan Tan's eyes flickered slightly, and he continued to escalate the situation, his tone becoming even more earnest:
"Master Qiao is too modest. If you find worldly affairs too troublesome, I dare not insist. There is another matter. I am establishing a state school in Qingzhou, which welcomes talented people from humble backgrounds. However, it requires a great Confucian scholar to preside over it to maintain a proper academic atmosphere. Master Qiao is a great Confucian scholar. If you are willing to come north to lecture, the scholars of Qingzhou will be overjoyed. I am willing to treat you with the respect due to a teacher and recommend your son for an official position in the court."
I've given you face twice already, I hope you won't be ungrateful.
Qiao Gong remained unmoved:
"Your Excellency's promotion of education is a benevolent act that benefits the country and its people, and I admire it greatly. However, I am a native of the Jianghuai region and am accustomed to the local climate and water, so I cannot comply with your request to go north. As for my son, he is not very talented and still needs to be trained, so I dare not presume to hold a high position."
To refuse again was to show no respect to Yuan Tan whatsoever.
The atmosphere inside the hall grew increasingly tense.
The strategists Yuan Tan brought, such as Jia Xu and Guo Jia, were all discerning and clear-headed:
The Qiao family is unwilling to board Yuan Tan's ship.
Yuan Tan's smile faded slightly, but he still maintained his composure.
He suddenly changed the subject, seemingly mentioning it unintentionally:
"I have heard that Master Qiao has two daughters, both renowned for their beauty and exceptional talent, and both unmarried. I also have outstanding men under my command, such as Zhao Yun and Zhang He, both heroes of our time, who are also unmarried. If Master Qiao would not mind, I would be willing to act as matchmaker and help them achieve their happy ending, which would be a beautiful story."
Using Zhao Yun and Zhang He to win over the two daughters of the Qiao family was already a desperate measure for Yuan Tan.
If someone were to shamelessly propose taking the other man's daughter as a concubine, that man would probably overturn the table on the spot.
Upon hearing this, a slight ripple finally crossed Qiao Gong's usually calm and composed face.
He raised his eyes, looked at Yuan Tan directly for a moment for the first time, then lowered them again, his voice remaining calm:
"I appreciate your kind intentions, Your Excellency. However, my daughter is still young and inexperienced. My wife and I wish to keep her for a few more years. Marriage is still a long way off."
That old rascal, Zhao Yun must have had countless female admirers in later generations.
You've really hit the jackpot by letting me marry off my daughter, do you even know that?
After being rejected three times in a row, even Yuan Tan, with his deep cunning, couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
The hall was completely silent; you could hear a pin drop.
Just then, a clear and melodious zither tune drifted from the backyard, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, occasionally accompanied by the soft laughter of women carried on the breeze.
Qiao Gong frowned slightly, then bowed to Yuan Tan:
"The women in my household are ignorant and have disturbed Your Excellency."
Yuan Tan's heart stirred; the sound of the zither and the laughter, though he had not yet seen the person, allowed him to imagine their charm.
He suppressed his displeasure, laughed heartily, and stood up with feigned nonchalance:
"It's alright, it was I who was presumptuous to disturb you. Since Master Qiao has made his plans, I cannot insist. Today's visit has been very beneficial. The peace and tranquility of Lujiang still needs the continued care of venerable elders like Master Qiao. I'll take my leave now."
"Please take care, my lord."
Mr. Qiao rose to see him off, displaying impeccable manners, yet maintaining a respectful distance throughout.
As soon as Yuan Tan left the Qiao residence and got into the carriage, the smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a grim expression.
Jia Xu said in a low voice, "My lord, the Qiao family... their hearts are with Jiangdong."
Lu Su also sighed, "His refusal was extremely firm. I'm afraid he has already reached a tacit understanding with Sun Ce..."
Yuan Tan snorted coldly:
"What a family tradition of scholarship and propriety! What unyielding integrity! Does he think that by not siding with me, he can remain unscathed in this chaotic world? Or does he believe that Sun Bofu is a better choice?"
A cold glint flashed in his eyes:
"Send people to keep a close eye on the Qiao family, especially their dealings with Jiangdong! People from Jiangdong have probably already been here!"
……
Lujiang, the Prefectural Governor's Residence.
Zhao Yun, covered in dust, knelt on one knee:
"This humble general is incompetent! I was ordered to track down the suspected spy from Jiangdong. The enemy was extremely vigilant, changing carriages and horses several times along the way, taking a roundabout route, and finally escaped into the Yangtze River by fast boat in Liyang. We could not catch up with them."
Yuan Tan turned his back to the crowd and remained silent.
The fact that Zhou Yu's men arrived so quickly and left so cleanly can only mean that Jiangdong's infiltration of Huainan far exceeded expectations, and the Qiao family's attitude is probably also related to this.
"Get up, Zilong, it is not your fault."
Yuan Tan slowly turned around, his face revealing neither joy nor anger.
"Zhou Yu's methods are unpredictable and beyond our comprehension; this isn't the first time we've witnessed them. Since he dared to come, he must have a foolproof plan. However..."
His gaze swept over the strategists Guo Jia, Jia Xu, Lu Su, Liu Ye, and others.
"This further confirms our judgment that the Qiao family, and even some of the gentry in Lujiang, no longer have their hearts set on me, but on Jiangdong."
Lu Su looked worried:
"My lord, Zhou Yu has personally ventured into this dangerous place, secretly colluding with the Lu and Qiao families. His intentions are far from trivial. The Lu family is aware of the situation, while the Qiao family's intentions remain ambiguous. If we cannot resolve this quickly, it may become a major threat."
"solve?"
Yuan Tan sneered.
"The Qiao family is a prominent clan in Huainan. If we kill someone without cause, we will surely lose the support of the people."
"Since the snake is hiding in its hole and refusing to come out, let's create an opportunity that forces it to emerge!"
Yuan Tan's hard-earned reputation for benevolence and righteousness cannot be ruined by a single corrupt official.
A glint flashed in Guo Jia's eyes; he had already understood Yuan Tan's intention:
"Does our lord intend to... lure the enemy out?"
"good!"
Yuan Tan was resolute.
"Not only should we provoke them, but we should also give them a seemingly foolproof opportunity to rebel! We must make the Qiao family put their own necks in the noose!"
Jia Xu slowly raised his head:
"This plan is dangerous. We must show the enemy weakness and let them become arrogant. We must make the Qiao family believe that we are vulnerable internally and that there is an opportunity for them to take advantage of us before they dare to make a move."
Liu Ye immediately understood and added:
"Having spent a long time in Huainan, Ye knows that although Lord Qiao is aloof, he is not without wisdom. He would never fall into an ordinary trap. We must make him believe that this is a golden opportunity."
Yuan Tan looked at Guo Jia and Jia Xu:
"Fengxiao and Wenhe, how should the layout be arranged specifically?"
Guo Jia and Jia Xu exchanged a glance, their minds in perfect harmony.
Guo Jia stepped forward, gently waving his feather fan: "My lord, I have a plan."
"My lord, you may make a grand announcement that you are heading north to inspect the newly annexed territories of Yecheng and Liu'an, taking only a small entourage and leaving the main force of elite troops to secretly garrison Wancheng. At the same time, spread the news that there has been a change in Qingzhou and that my lord will soon lead the main force back north, leaving Liu Bei to temporarily take over the defense of Lujiang."
Yuan Tan raised an eyebrow:
"Should we put Liu Bei at the forefront?"
Jia Xu chimed in:
"This is killing two birds with one stone. Liu Bei has just joined us, and his intentions are hard to fathom. This is a good opportunity to observe his actions. If the Qiao family makes a move and Liu Bei handles it improperly, or if he has ties with the Qiao family, then we can eliminate them as well."
If Liu Bei were to loyally quell the rebellion, it would further demonstrate the lord's ability to recognize and appoint capable men. Furthermore, Liu Bei's military strength was insufficient; although his reputation was high, his foundation was shallow. In the Qiao family's view, having him govern Lujiang meant that Lujiang was at its weakest point.
Guo Jia nodded:
"Another crucial element is to forge a convincing fake letter from Jiangdong, ensuring the Qiao family obtains it by chance. The letter must imply that Sun Ce's army has secretly assembled at Niuzhu and Ruxu, agreeing to a coordinated attack on Hefei and Lujiang on a specific date! The Qiao family's mission is to launch an uprising in Lujiang on that agreed-upon day, opening the city gates to receive the elite Jiangdong forces!"
Liu Ye gasped:
"This plan... is too risky! What if the Jiangdong army really launches a full-scale attack..."
"Don't worry, Ziyang."
Guo Jia sneered.
"How could the mobilization in Jiangdong escape the notice of our spies? The date on this letter must be before the actual mobilization in Jiangdong! That's exactly the time difference we're exploiting! When the Qiao family receives this letter and sees that it matches our intelligence about the army's weakness, how could they not believe it?"
"If the Qiao family dares to open the city gates on the appointed day, it will be irrefutable proof! I will uproot the Qiao family and their cronies, and before the Jiangdong army arrives, I will first massacre Shucheng! With the blood of the entire Qiao family, I will tell Sun Ce, and all those in Lujiang who harbor disloyal intentions, that those who submit to me will prosper, and those who oppose me will perish!"
Liu Ye clapped his hands:
"Brilliant! In this way, the Qiao family will have no choice but to rebel. If they don't, we'll force them to! Moreover, since it's them who 'voluntarily' rebelled, our suppression of the rebellion will be perfectly legitimate!"
Yuan Tan looked at Jia Xu:
"Wenhe, could your forgery of the secret letter from Jiangdong be flawless?"
Jia Xu bowed slightly:
"Xu has studied the formats of official documents and seals throughout the world. He can forge a letter that is indistinguishable from the real thing within seven days."
I never knew you were such a scholar!
Yuan Tan laughed and said:
"Let's proceed with this plan! Fengxiao will oversee the entire operation, Wenhe will be in charge of secret communications, and Zijing and Ziyang will assist in closely monitoring the movements of the Qiao family and other gentry families in Lujiang, especially any possible contacts with Jiangdong! Zilong!"
"Your subordinate is here!" Zhao Yun clasped his hands in greeting.
"You will lead your elite cavalry and secretly relocate to the nearby mountains and forests. Without my orders, you are not to show yourselves! When the city walls are ablaze, that will be the time for me to close in!"
"promise!"