“Yellow Sky”: Crisis for the Han Dynasty sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
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“Forgive me for saying this, but as much as the ones we face are not men, it is true that they are not human either, not at heart… they are animals,” Chen Fan replied. “They act as a dog would, without restraint of desire, simply taking what they want and caring nothing for the consequences, or who gets hurt. So were the Liangs, in the end… and so we should act as one should when faced with a dangerous dog. However, we have already taken legal steps now, and it is too late to turn back now. They will expect us to act, so we must be clever… continue submitting memorials, and make it look like we are determined to do this ‘properly’. We shall make plans to the contrary, and hopefully strike when they least expect it.”
Dou Wu agreed silently.
A day later, Chen Fan finished presenting his own memorial to a surprised and uneasy court and awaited the hidden Regent Dowager’s obvious rebuttal.
“…Again, we are presented with groundless claims of treason against the attendants of the court, this time by a man that we respected as ‘Grand Tutor’,” the Dowager said with condescending disappointment. “Must I repeat myself…?”
The eunuchs cowered and simpered as they had done when Dou Wu’s memorial had been read; the Dowager turned to them and gave them a reassuring smile that the court would sense but not see.
Chen Fan groaned involuntarily as he left the court later that morning.
“We should retire to my office,” Dou Wu said with urgency.
Dou Wu and Chen Fan reached Dou Wu’s office a short while later.
“We’re now committed to this,” Dou Wu said as he sat at his desk.
“Why such an obvious statement…?” Chen Fan wondered.
“I’m… not sure,” Dou Wu admitted. “Alas, how we are, or perhaps were, so highly regarded for our wisdom… now, I am like a lost child, unable to outwit a few slimy court attendants! How can it be that the best plans of the ablest minds can be so easily outwitted by beauty, flattery, greed and general stupidity…?”
“Such lamentations solve nothing, Dou Youping,” Chen Fan suggested, referring to Dou Wu by his courtesy name as a sign of respect and friendship. “You have to be resolute.”
“I intend to be, Chen Zhongju… do not worry about that!” Dou Wu promised as he reciprocated the gesture and referred to Chen Fan by his own courtesy name. “I intend to mount a legal case… something that my muddle-headed daughter cannot simply rebut, and give them a taste of their own bitter fruit… they will know what it is to suffer the partisan’s fate!”
“Be sure and be stealthy about it,” Chen Fan pleaded.
“I will be,” Dou Wu said. “In fact, I shall do as you said and forget the official nature of the thing at first… I will speak to her, try and make her understand.”
Dou Wu arranged a meeting with his Dowager daughter which took place in her private audience room.
“You wish to make another claim of treason against the attendants, I suppose,” the Dowager said with a yawn.
“I think that you forget one of the founding stones on which the state is built, daughter,” Dou Wu scolded. “You forget the Confucian principle that you should always show respect for your parents… always. When you became the guardian of His Majesty, you did not then cease to be my daughter.”
The Dowager was taken aback by the admonishment, but as it was a correct statement with regard to the Confucian beliefs that she had been raised to follow, she hung her head in shame and said, “I understand, Father, and apologise. Father, the eunuchs seem to be quite genuine… are you sure that you have not been misinformed…?”