I run a training class in Shu Han

Chapter 31 Loyalty and Righteousness

"The people kneel in worship, and all the officials submit. The new policies will surely strengthen our Great Han Dynasty, Your Majesty..."

At a tea stall not far from the official residence, Zhao Tong was so excited he almost shouted out.

Liu Shan, sitting opposite him, quickly made a shushing gesture.

Brother, I'm traveling incognito. Doesn't your voice just tell everyone?

Zhao Tong realized he had misspoke and quickly corrected himself, bowing and saying, "Brother!"

Liu Shan came in person because he was worried that the announcement of the results would cause considerable unrest among the gentry.

While his father Liu Bei certainly had many capable ministers and generals under his command, there were also many who were unworthy of their positions, and these were precisely the root of the chaos.

"Military Advisor Ma, do you have any further questions?"

Ma Su gained the support of many students simply by stepping forward. If he had stood with the officials who had failed the exams, they would have formed a force that would have posed a significant obstacle to the new policies.

As the official in charge of announcing the results, Dong Yun was truly facing this undercurrent of unrest.

Ma Su stood upright, with a gentle and refined demeanor, displaying the air of a scholar.

"His Majesty's revival of the Imperial Academy is for the purpose of selecting talents for the country. Everyone is free to debate, all for the sake of fairness and justice. I hope Lord Dong will see this clearly."

Dong Yun nodded and said, "Of course. His Majesty selects talents regardless of rank; anyone with a skill can be employed. If there are any doubts, please raise them. Everyone can speak freely, learn from each other's strengths, and make up for each other's weaknesses. This would be a wonderful thing..."

No sooner had he finished speaking than someone called out, "Lord Dong, is it truly permissible to speak freely?"

"Of course. A hundred schools of thought contending is a blessing for the nation."

"Very well." The man continued loudly, "His Majesty selects officials for the country regardless of their social status, giving us poor scholars the opportunity to realize our ambitions. However, for officials, loyalty and righteousness must come first. I wonder if Your Excellency agrees?"

"That's only right!"

"General Huang Quan, the General Who Guards the North, accompanied the late emperor on his campaign against Sun Quan. After our Han army withdrew to Shu, Huang Quan not only did not retreat, but instead led his troops to surrender to Wei. Wei was a usurper of the Han throne, and Cao Pi bestowed upon Huang Quan gold, silk, carriages, horses, clothing, curtains, wives, and concubines. Huang Quan's actions were undoubtedly acts of betrayal and seeking personal gain. Now, his son Huang Chong has been spared from being implicated, which is already a great favor from the emperor. Yet, he has even been allowed to enter the Imperial Academy. If he were to rise to a high position in the future and collude with his father, it would be nothing but harm to the court."

"Although I am just a student, I know loyalty and filial piety. I speak frankly from the bottom of my heart and have no personal grievances. I hope Lord Dong will investigate."

His words were righteous and forceful, convincing everyone that he was speaking out for justice.

"shut up!"

A loud shout erupted from the crowd.

"My father was loyal to the emperor and served his country; how can I humiliate him like this?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw the young man in brocade robes, his eyes wide with anger, his right hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightly, and his left hand pointing angrily at the student.

Although the student was intimidated by his angry glare, he quickly straightened his back and said boldly, "I am merely stating the facts and have no other intentions. Since ancient times, virtuous ministers have been loyal to their rulers and loved their people, willing to die for their country. Your father surrendered to the Wei Kingdom and obtained high office and generous salary, which inevitably raises suspicions."

The concept of collective punishment originated with Shang Yang, and the Han Dynasty inherited this tradition, but its implementation was more flexible during times of chaos.

Firstly, in order to attract talent and establish a benevolent image as their ruler, the various feudal lords usually would not kill the families of those who betrayed them.

Secondly, there was a complex network of powerful clans. In times of chaos, major clans established a close-knit network of relationships through marriage, protégés, and former officials. Killing surrendered family members could easily provoke discontent among the gentry.

Huang Quan was an important figure in the Yizhou faction. After Liu Bei took control of the Hanzhong Kingdom and became the King of Hanzhong, he appointed Huang Quan as the Chief Administrator, which was equivalent to Liu Bei's Secretary-General and Director of the General Office. Huang Quan was a core advisor to Liu Bei's group.

Given Huang Quan's identity and position in Yizhou, the intelligence he possessed about Shu Han became particularly deadly after his surrender to Wei.

Huang Chong, as the son, was not only not implicated, but also not placed under house arrest or surveillance by the court, and was even able to serve as an official, which inevitably aroused suspicion.

Is this the privilege of aristocratic families?

In this way, wouldn't the new policy of the Imperial Academy, which would apply to all students regardless of social status, be nothing more than empty talk?

"Nonsense!" Zhao Tong slammed his fist on the table and stood up angrily. "I know Huang Chong, and he is definitely not the kind of person who would betray his master for personal gain. This student is deliberately making things difficult for us; he must be acting under someone else's orders."

Given Huang Quan's status in Yizhou, a local student would never dare to speak so disrespectfully.

"Sit down and have some tea!" Liu Shan ordered.

"Your Majesty... Elder brother, you know General Huang's character best. How could I allow others to insult him?"

Liu Shan gently blew on the tea leaves in his cup to disperse them and took a sip.

"What's the rush? If Dong Yun can't even handle this small matter, he's not fit to be the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat."

Huang Quan's surrender to Cao Pi already made Huang Chong unable to hold his head high in Yizhou.

My purpose in entering the Imperial Academy is to use this opportunity to enter officialdom, serve the court, and wash away the shame.

Although he was on the list, his past was exposed in public, which enraged him. Ignoring the servants' attempts to stop him, he drew his sword with a clang.

The people nearby were shocked and scattered in panic, fearing that they might be accidentally injured, and the scene fell into chaos.

"Huang Chong, put down your sword!"

Dong Yun roared, his voice booming like a bell, instantly bringing the situation under control.

"Lord Dong, this man has insulted my father. If he is not killed, Huang Chong will be unworthy of being a son."

"If you take action now, you will be violating the laws of Shu, which would be a disgrace to your father's name."

Helpless, Huang Chong sighed and sheathed his sword, bowing apologetically and saying, "Huang Chong should not have used his sword to act so violently. I am willing to accept the punishment."

Dong Yun nodded and said loudly, "Huang Chong provoked trouble in the street with a weapon, disturbing the market and violating the law. However, considering his remorse and the fact that no one was injured, he is to be punished with ten strokes of the cane as a warning to others."

"Huang Chongling was punished."

Dong Yun's punishment was just, and the people cheered.

"Scholar, do you believe Huang Chong should not serve in the government because his father surrendered to Cao Wei, making him an unfaithful and disloyal person?"

After the unrest was quelled, Dong Yun began to address the students' prejudice against Huang Chong's admission to the Imperial Academy.

"It's not that I don't trust General Huang Quan, but his behavior is despicable."

Huang Chong clenched his fists tightly when he heard that his father had been humiliated again.

"Then let me ask you all, what is loyalty and righteousness?"

The common people and students were taken aback.

Loyalty and righteousness are simply about fulfilling one's duties to one's sovereign and keeping to one's own business. They also mean being trustworthy and fair to others and friends.

"Speaking of loyalty, General Huang Quan followed the late emperor in his campaign against Wu, and once volunteered to serve as the vanguard, engaging in battle with the Wu army. Later, the late emperor ordered him to command the troops north of the Yangtze River to defend against an attack by the Wei state. Afterwards, our Han army's front line south of the Yangtze River was defeated by the Wu army, and Lu Xun cut off the Shu Road, which blocked General Huang's return route, preventing him from returning."

"General Huang, having received the late emperor's favor, volunteered for the battle before it began, and refused to surrender to Wu after the defeat, thus fulfilling his loyalty as a subject."

"In terms of righteousness, General Huang was unable to return to Shu because the Shu roads were blocked. However, for the sake of his thousands of soldiers, he had no choice but to surrender to Wei to save their lives. This is the greater good."

"Such loyalty and righteousness was even mentioned by the late emperor, who said, 'I have failed Huang Quan, but Quan has not failed me.' He treated Huang Quan's family as before."

"Do any of you have any further questions?"

The people sighed upon hearing this.

They only knew that Huang Quan surrendered to Wei and received rewards from Cao Pi.

Little did they know that the Shu Road had been cut off by the Wu army, leaving them no choice but to surrender to Wei in order to save the lives of their soldiers.

Huang Quan's loyalty is a flexible and responsible approach.

Huang Quan's righteousness lies in the compassion of a general for his soldiers.

Compared to those so-called "blind loyalty" and "righteousness," what makes people feel more sorry for his bumpy fate is his actions.

The student walked up to Huang Chong and bowed with his hands clasped.

"I have spoken without thinking, please forgive me, Young Master Huang."

Huang Chong knew his father was loyal and righteous, but the fact remained that he had surrendered to Wei, so he had no choice but to keep quiet and endure the gossip.

Now, through Dong Yun's words, he defended his father, and his bitterness was relieved, bringing tears to his eyes.

"The late emperor was wise and Your Majesty is benevolent. Huang Chong is willing to serve you like a dog or a horse to repay the emperor's kindness."