An Uneasy Rescue.
As a disclaimer, since this is a story that takes place in Han Dynasty China I'm making the effort to abide by the use of courtesy or style names. These names are names that would be said in place of one's given name by peers or people younger than you to be respectful, although I might be using them more than they were used. Also, I'm using the East Asian naming order of family/surname first, given name second. ie: Liu Bian instead of Bian Liu, with Liu being the family name and Bian his given name. A notable person of this period would be Cao Cao, for this story, he would be referred to as Cao Mengde, except in possibly informal situations.
September 22nd, 189 CE (First year of the era Guingxi)
Sili Province, Han Dynasty
On the outskirts west of Luo Yang a carriage had stopped near the northern river bank of the Luohe River, its wheel had broken upon a rock. It was carrying just a few of the many people trying to desperately leave the Imperial Capital of the Great Han, although it would not look that way if one saw it. As flames rose from one of the palaces in the city, violence filled the streets.
Inside the carriage were not ordinary citizens of the city or even officials, but Emperor Liu Bian, and his younger brother the Prince of Chenliu, Liu Xie. However, they were not men expected to fight, but merely children, and their guards could not handle what was the chaos of armies clashing in the streets. [1]
Bian was breathing heavily, trying not to panic from the chaos around him. He only knew that this situation was happening because he was valuable. Why else would the Ten Regular Attendants capture them and send them away? Where was his mother, she was let go two days ago, but was she still alive?
Before Bian could think any further the sound of arrows whistled passed hitting their targets as shouts and cries seemed to surround the carriage.
"Protect the Emperor and the Prince." The speaker's voice drew closer and soon a face came into view it was Zhang Rang, leader of the Ten Regular Attendants. He was a close aide to his father and to him. But even if his father said Rang was a father figure to him, he never felt much like a grandfather. [2]
Rang had poked his head further into the carriage, with his hand urging them to come out quickly.
The emperor and his brother stepped out to the sounds and sights of death. They were beset again by more soldiers after the Ten Attendants, their once splendid robes dirtied by the terrain.
"Your Majesty, it is no longer safe for you here. While we are to be destroyed you must compose yourself." Zhang Rang said as his face became pale. Gulping he jumped into the waters of the Luohe.
"Brother I think we can hide in these reeds." At his younger brother's urging they ran to cover as the sounds of more fighting grew ever closer.
Bian looked out and saw someone get stabbed in the gut. His hands shook, and he could not help but throw up. He felt his brother's arms wrap around him.
"Thank you, Xie." His brother only nodded.
"Commander, we've found footsteps. They led this way." Both children panicked.
"What if they have come to kill us?" The young Emperor tried not to lose control.
"They need us alive, we are the Emperor's sons."
The footsteps drew closer, two rough-faced soldiers looked through the foliage and had found them. They quickly gave a bow before turning around.
"We've found them! We found the Emperor and the young prince!" A few soldiers had gathered around, some bowing, a few others offering friendly smiles.
Moments later two men on horseback came one who looked like an official, the other a general of the army. Bian swore he knew them, but before he could ask. The official and general dismounted their horses and kneeled.
"Your Majesty, I am Lu Zugan, Master of Writing. The official said, still not looking up. [3]
"I am Min Gong, commander of these local forces. We are here to take you back to the Imperial Palace, Your Majesties."
"We are most grateful." Truthfully he did not know what to say or believe, Bian looked back towards the River where the body of Zhang Rang had finally come to the surface. 'Father, if I could call him that outside of our shared blood, trusted these men. Mother also trusted these men, and have they not put both of them in danger? Why did his uncle send forces against them if his parents trusted them?'
A burning question remained on the young emperor's mind. What exactly happened to his mother?"
"Master Zugan, do you know where my mother is." The old man seemed to smile, Bian hoped he already had his answer. [4]
"Two days ago, we managed to rescue her from the Attendants, although I am sorry we did not rescue all of you at once."
Both Zugan and Gong brought their horses forward.
"Your Majesty, you and your brother should not have to walk."
The two young men were helped up on the horses and were then guided back along the road to the Imperial Capital in the east.
Bian had rode close to his younger brother. "Brother, do we know these men serve?"
"I only know they oppose the Ten Attendants. Perhaps they serve our uncle?" [5]
The small group started to march back to Luo Yang. As they reached the road, right behind them was a large army with some horsemen racing ahead of them.
One of the horsemen stopped.
"Halt!"
Bian swore he saw Zugan give a disgusted look at the army behind them.
"I have been sent by my commander Dong Zhou, who operates under the authority of the General in Chief." [6]
"I am one of the General in Chief's advisors, I killed the Regular Attendants who had captured His Majesty and the Prince of Chenliu."
"Hmph, my commander will be the one to judge that." The horseman had ridden off.
"Are we to wait for them? While we have the Emperor in tow?" Gong asked.
"It would prevent confusing things further, as dangerous as this situation is. As much as I warned the General in Chief to not trust Dong Zhou." Bian did not know who this general was, but it seemed Zugan didn't like him.
'Why don't Uncle's supporters trust each other?' It was a question Bian believed he could ask later.
Seconds started to seem like minutes until another man clad in general's armor rode up toward them. His face seemed almost expressionless to the young emperor except for the eyes, they reminded him somewhat of a tiger. his figure was big but intimidating.
The man dismounted and bowed towards the two young men "Your Majesties."
"Who are you?" Bian hoped he could mask his fear.
"I am Dong Zhongying, General of the Vanguard. Your Uncle sent for my aid. How exactly did you end up in this situation? It is unacceptable." Zhongying seemed to glare at Zugan
Bian had steeled himself. "I do not know too much. The regular attendants said my Uncle had planned to overthrow us. They had led us out of the capital for two days, we were just rescued by Master Zugan." [7]
The General seemed to nod. "Very well, I shall accompany you back to the Capital. Their procession had started moving again toward the capital.
The young emperor could not help but notice Zugan glare at the General, but the General soon rode up to him.
"Have you heard any news of the General in Chief?" Zugan stopped glaring for once and a look of sorrow replaced it."
"We were sent out to find the Emperor and his brother. We had last heard the attendants may have killed him."
"How? He had an army with him?" Bian could hear the shock and outrage in the general's voice.
"He went into the palace with only a few guards, he was tricked by the Ten Attendants."
"That fool." Zugan reluctantly nodded as if even that seemed too much, "Why? Why would he go into the lair of those damned parasites?"
"A letter was forged and sent in the name of the Empress Dowager."
'Did my mother truly send that letter?' Bian at least knew she kept in contact with the Ten Regular Attendants.
"This is why we need strength. For too long the Emperor let those attendants rule and do whatever they wished."
"You are right about the late Emperor, but strength without forethought just leaves the land open to more cruelty."
"Do you think Uncle-, the General in Chief is still alive?" The young emperor asked of both men interrupting their conversation.
"Knowing those rats, he might be dead. I am sorry." The Zhongying's words had seemed genuine if a little rough.
Two hours had passed with relative silence until they reached the open gates of Luo Yang. The city streets were cleared of what few bodies Bian could remember from being brought out of the palace. The streets were lined with soldiers, his soldiers, or they acted like it. But if the Attendants are dead, and possibly so is his uncle, who is going to be his new protector.
At the end of streets lined by soldiers were several men wearing ornate uniforms. The young Emperor tried not to notice the palace had looked burnt as they neared the small group at the end. As they neared this other group they all bowed as the two sons of the late Emperor rode to the head of procession.
"Your Majesty. We are glad you are safe. I am Yuan Benchu, an aide to your uncle, the General in Chief." [8]
"Is he still alive?" The man seemed to slightly smile.
"He was wounded, but he barely survived." Bian thought he heard sighing from behind him from the generals who found him. [9]
"I am relieved and would like nothing more than to see him soon. However, what is to happen after all of this?"
"We are to rebuild, and hopefully bring peace back to the land." The aide's remark felt optimistic but cautiously unsure.
The Emperor could not feel such optimism for he wondered what had changed. Perhaps he could understand when he was older, but was the Son of Heaven supposed to feel so powerless? All that could wait, for now at least this crisis was over and he could sleep somewhere that wasn't a camp.
[1] Liu Bian better known as Emperor Shao, because he died at a young age. Liu Xis is his younger half-brother who succeeded him as Emperor Xian, the last Han Emperor.
[2] Zhang Rang was the head of a group known as the Ten Regular Attendants or the Ten Enuchs these were men who had considerable sway over Emperor Ling of Han. Zhang Rang historically died this way.
[3] Lu Zhi Courtesy name: Zigan. Lu Zhi was a famed scholar and general who was the teacher of people like the warlord Gongsun Zan and Liu Bei, founder of the State of Shu-Han.
[4] Empress He, was the mother of Liu Bian. She was the first concubine of Emperor Ling who gave him a healthy son.
[5] He Jin. The brother of Empress He, Who was a butcher before rapidly rising up the ranks from Administrator of Yingchuan to General-in-Chief against the Yellow Scarves/Yellow Turbans.
[6] Dong Zhou, Courtesy name, Zhongying. Famous for deposing Emperor Shao, and later having him killed after putting Liu Xie the Prince of Chen Liu on the throne as Emperor Xian.
[7] Two days prior He Jin attempted to outmaneuver and arrest the Ten Regular Attendants, but they ended up tricking and killing him.
[8] Yuan Shao, Cortesy name Benchu. A member of the prestigious Yuan family, and rival of Cao Cao for control of the Central Plains of China.
[9] Something of a 'big' part of the POD, along with Liu Bian making a better impression on Dong Zhou. Here He Jin is not quite dead, but I don't think he is going to be long for the world.
Guess who is back with, another TL about a period of time inspired by his love of Koei games, and reading a translation of a 14th-century novel? Anyway, this is going to be a limited and admittedly episodic idea, especially since I am throwing a hell of things out of the equation of the period that's going to be largely confined. Although I'm always going to doubt my ability to do the period justice. Xiaomu is meant to be what Emperor Shao's posthumous name is meant to be instead of Shao, and it means filial and solemn.
September 22nd, 189 CE (First year of the era Guingxi)
Sili Province, Han Dynasty
On the outskirts west of Luo Yang a carriage had stopped near the northern river bank of the Luohe River, its wheel had broken upon a rock. It was carrying just a few of the many people trying to desperately leave the Imperial Capital of the Great Han, although it would not look that way if one saw it. As flames rose from one of the palaces in the city, violence filled the streets.
Inside the carriage were not ordinary citizens of the city or even officials, but Emperor Liu Bian, and his younger brother the Prince of Chenliu, Liu Xie. However, they were not men expected to fight, but merely children, and their guards could not handle what was the chaos of armies clashing in the streets. [1]
Bian was breathing heavily, trying not to panic from the chaos around him. He only knew that this situation was happening because he was valuable. Why else would the Ten Regular Attendants capture them and send them away? Where was his mother, she was let go two days ago, but was she still alive?
Before Bian could think any further the sound of arrows whistled passed hitting their targets as shouts and cries seemed to surround the carriage.
"Protect the Emperor and the Prince." The speaker's voice drew closer and soon a face came into view it was Zhang Rang, leader of the Ten Regular Attendants. He was a close aide to his father and to him. But even if his father said Rang was a father figure to him, he never felt much like a grandfather. [2]
Rang had poked his head further into the carriage, with his hand urging them to come out quickly.
The emperor and his brother stepped out to the sounds and sights of death. They were beset again by more soldiers after the Ten Attendants, their once splendid robes dirtied by the terrain.
"Your Majesty, it is no longer safe for you here. While we are to be destroyed you must compose yourself." Zhang Rang said as his face became pale. Gulping he jumped into the waters of the Luohe.
"Brother I think we can hide in these reeds." At his younger brother's urging they ran to cover as the sounds of more fighting grew ever closer.
Bian looked out and saw someone get stabbed in the gut. His hands shook, and he could not help but throw up. He felt his brother's arms wrap around him.
"Thank you, Xie." His brother only nodded.
"Commander, we've found footsteps. They led this way." Both children panicked.
"What if they have come to kill us?" The young Emperor tried not to lose control.
"They need us alive, we are the Emperor's sons."
The footsteps drew closer, two rough-faced soldiers looked through the foliage and had found them. They quickly gave a bow before turning around.
"We've found them! We found the Emperor and the young prince!" A few soldiers had gathered around, some bowing, a few others offering friendly smiles.
Moments later two men on horseback came one who looked like an official, the other a general of the army. Bian swore he knew them, but before he could ask. The official and general dismounted their horses and kneeled.
"Your Majesty, I am Lu Zugan, Master of Writing. The official said, still not looking up. [3]
"I am Min Gong, commander of these local forces. We are here to take you back to the Imperial Palace, Your Majesties."
"We are most grateful." Truthfully he did not know what to say or believe, Bian looked back towards the River where the body of Zhang Rang had finally come to the surface. 'Father, if I could call him that outside of our shared blood, trusted these men. Mother also trusted these men, and have they not put both of them in danger? Why did his uncle send forces against them if his parents trusted them?'
A burning question remained on the young emperor's mind. What exactly happened to his mother?"
"Master Zugan, do you know where my mother is." The old man seemed to smile, Bian hoped he already had his answer. [4]
"Two days ago, we managed to rescue her from the Attendants, although I am sorry we did not rescue all of you at once."
Both Zugan and Gong brought their horses forward.
"Your Majesty, you and your brother should not have to walk."
The two young men were helped up on the horses and were then guided back along the road to the Imperial Capital in the east.
Bian had rode close to his younger brother. "Brother, do we know these men serve?"
"I only know they oppose the Ten Attendants. Perhaps they serve our uncle?" [5]
The small group started to march back to Luo Yang. As they reached the road, right behind them was a large army with some horsemen racing ahead of them.
One of the horsemen stopped.
"Halt!"
Bian swore he saw Zugan give a disgusted look at the army behind them.
"I have been sent by my commander Dong Zhou, who operates under the authority of the General in Chief." [6]
"I am one of the General in Chief's advisors, I killed the Regular Attendants who had captured His Majesty and the Prince of Chenliu."
"Hmph, my commander will be the one to judge that." The horseman had ridden off.
"Are we to wait for them? While we have the Emperor in tow?" Gong asked.
"It would prevent confusing things further, as dangerous as this situation is. As much as I warned the General in Chief to not trust Dong Zhou." Bian did not know who this general was, but it seemed Zugan didn't like him.
'Why don't Uncle's supporters trust each other?' It was a question Bian believed he could ask later.
Seconds started to seem like minutes until another man clad in general's armor rode up toward them. His face seemed almost expressionless to the young emperor except for the eyes, they reminded him somewhat of a tiger. his figure was big but intimidating.
The man dismounted and bowed towards the two young men "Your Majesties."
"Who are you?" Bian hoped he could mask his fear.
"I am Dong Zhongying, General of the Vanguard. Your Uncle sent for my aid. How exactly did you end up in this situation? It is unacceptable." Zhongying seemed to glare at Zugan
Bian had steeled himself. "I do not know too much. The regular attendants said my Uncle had planned to overthrow us. They had led us out of the capital for two days, we were just rescued by Master Zugan." [7]
The General seemed to nod. "Very well, I shall accompany you back to the Capital. Their procession had started moving again toward the capital.
The young emperor could not help but notice Zugan glare at the General, but the General soon rode up to him.
"Have you heard any news of the General in Chief?" Zugan stopped glaring for once and a look of sorrow replaced it."
"We were sent out to find the Emperor and his brother. We had last heard the attendants may have killed him."
"How? He had an army with him?" Bian could hear the shock and outrage in the general's voice.
"He went into the palace with only a few guards, he was tricked by the Ten Attendants."
"That fool." Zugan reluctantly nodded as if even that seemed too much, "Why? Why would he go into the lair of those damned parasites?"
"A letter was forged and sent in the name of the Empress Dowager."
'Did my mother truly send that letter?' Bian at least knew she kept in contact with the Ten Regular Attendants.
"This is why we need strength. For too long the Emperor let those attendants rule and do whatever they wished."
"You are right about the late Emperor, but strength without forethought just leaves the land open to more cruelty."
"Do you think Uncle-, the General in Chief is still alive?" The young emperor asked of both men interrupting their conversation.
"Knowing those rats, he might be dead. I am sorry." The Zhongying's words had seemed genuine if a little rough.
Two hours had passed with relative silence until they reached the open gates of Luo Yang. The city streets were cleared of what few bodies Bian could remember from being brought out of the palace. The streets were lined with soldiers, his soldiers, or they acted like it. But if the Attendants are dead, and possibly so is his uncle, who is going to be his new protector.
At the end of streets lined by soldiers were several men wearing ornate uniforms. The young Emperor tried not to notice the palace had looked burnt as they neared the small group at the end. As they neared this other group they all bowed as the two sons of the late Emperor rode to the head of procession.
"Your Majesty. We are glad you are safe. I am Yuan Benchu, an aide to your uncle, the General in Chief." [8]
"Is he still alive?" The man seemed to slightly smile.
"He was wounded, but he barely survived." Bian thought he heard sighing from behind him from the generals who found him. [9]
"I am relieved and would like nothing more than to see him soon. However, what is to happen after all of this?"
"We are to rebuild, and hopefully bring peace back to the land." The aide's remark felt optimistic but cautiously unsure.
The Emperor could not feel such optimism for he wondered what had changed. Perhaps he could understand when he was older, but was the Son of Heaven supposed to feel so powerless? All that could wait, for now at least this crisis was over and he could sleep somewhere that wasn't a camp.
[1] Liu Bian better known as Emperor Shao, because he died at a young age. Liu Xis is his younger half-brother who succeeded him as Emperor Xian, the last Han Emperor.
[2] Zhang Rang was the head of a group known as the Ten Regular Attendants or the Ten Enuchs these were men who had considerable sway over Emperor Ling of Han. Zhang Rang historically died this way.
[3] Lu Zhi Courtesy name: Zigan. Lu Zhi was a famed scholar and general who was the teacher of people like the warlord Gongsun Zan and Liu Bei, founder of the State of Shu-Han.
[4] Empress He, was the mother of Liu Bian. She was the first concubine of Emperor Ling who gave him a healthy son.
[5] He Jin. The brother of Empress He, Who was a butcher before rapidly rising up the ranks from Administrator of Yingchuan to General-in-Chief against the Yellow Scarves/Yellow Turbans.
[6] Dong Zhou, Courtesy name, Zhongying. Famous for deposing Emperor Shao, and later having him killed after putting Liu Xie the Prince of Chen Liu on the throne as Emperor Xian.
[7] Two days prior He Jin attempted to outmaneuver and arrest the Ten Regular Attendants, but they ended up tricking and killing him.
[8] Yuan Shao, Cortesy name Benchu. A member of the prestigious Yuan family, and rival of Cao Cao for control of the Central Plains of China.
[9] Something of a 'big' part of the POD, along with Liu Bian making a better impression on Dong Zhou. Here He Jin is not quite dead, but I don't think he is going to be long for the world.
Guess who is back with, another TL about a period of time inspired by his love of Koei games, and reading a translation of a 14th-century novel? Anyway, this is going to be a limited and admittedly episodic idea, especially since I am throwing a hell of things out of the equation of the period that's going to be largely confined. Although I'm always going to doubt my ability to do the period justice. Xiaomu is meant to be what Emperor Shao's posthumous name is meant to be instead of Shao, and it means filial and solemn.
