“Yellow Sky”: Crisis for the Han Dynasty sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
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Despite the fact that they were supposed to be invisible minions of their monarch and his vast harem of wives and consorts, eunuchs often became close confidantes of men and women alike, even the emperor, and in some cases, their advice was sought; and because they were politically invisible, a careful eunuch could muster great wealth from his salary and from other sources, providing more than amply for his family - and himself - and ensuring a clandestine life of luxury. Some did, and some went further, playing politics within the court to such an extent that they effectively controlled the court from behind a façade of penitent grovelling; others were simply favoured by the Emperor, and received rewards regardless of their original intentions. Cao Cao liked to have it known that his father’s adoptive father - the eunuch Cao Teng - was more the latter, though there were some that said otherwise.
Cao Cao returned to the opulent home of his natural father, the ‘Director of Retainers’ and hereditary marquis Cao Song, after a meandering journey through the streets; since fleeing the sight of an older youth - a university student and promising tutor - being arrested, he had seen a lot of other things along the way that had left him with an increasing list of questions for his father - if he had not also been arrested. Cao Cao was relieved to find that his household had been left untouched by the events that were now sweeping the capital, and he entered the house with that relief foremost in his mind. His father was knelt on an ornate rug in the living room of the house, where he was penning a letter on a piece of cloth that was placed on a low table in front of him; the walls were decorated with artwork and famous quotes from intelligent men of eras gone by, and Cao Cao was compelled to look at some of those quotes for inspiration while he waited for his father to acknowledge him.
“A’ Man,” Cao Song said with disappointment.
“Father,” Cao Cao replied numbly.
“A’ Man” was one of the many ‘pet names’ that Cao Cao would be known by; it was his baby name, given to him at a time when his survival could not be guaranteed in an age where infant mortality was painfully high. Men and boys could be referred to in later life by this early name as a sign of contempt, affection, or disappointment with poor conduct. This day, Cao Song intended the latter.
“…Where have you been…?” Cao Song asked angrily.
“Walking… well, no, running… something strange was going on, so I looked to see what was going on, and they’re arresting people, Father,” Cao Cao explained. “I… I think they arrested my classics teacher, and I just saw Mister Cheng being taken away by soldiers. …And everyone’s blaming eunuchs, Father.”
Cao Song coughed uncomfortably and said to the 11-year-old Cao Cao, “You’re worldly before I’d like, having to see such things… Cao’er, this is a dark time. But you must retain objectivity… the ability to see things from atop a hill, viewing all things on all sides, rather than down a corridor, subjectively, from one point of view and with only one singular vision to behold.”
“Some of the other boys, they say that we’re where we are because of eunuchs, and that we’re ‘corrupt’,” Cao Cao complained.
“This is a time of great upheaval, when a man must make the most of the opportunities presented to him,” Cao Song replied carefully. “That is to say, a man should be steadfast where he can, but he should also be flexible.”