Chapter Forty-Four: Reverse Marriage Pressure

While Shen Chen was working as unpaid child labor for Song Zhong, the fate of the realm was shifting like storm clouds on the horizon.

Since the beginning of the year, the situation in Guanzhong had grown ever more precarious. Not to mention the droughts—just the ravages of war alone were enough. After Li Jue killed Fan Chou, the conflict between him and Guo Si became irreconcilable, and the two sides clashed fiercely, resulting in severe internal strife. Emperor Liu Xie was held hostage by Li Jue, while Guo Si seized the imperial court’s ministers. Neither side would yield, and their struggle was as futile and vicious as dogs biting each other.

By June, Zhang Ji stepped in to mediate, and the two finally agreed to a truce, each sending a daughter as a hostage to guarantee the peace. With the cessation of hostilities, Liu Xie managed to free himself from Li Jue’s grasp and, with Zhang Ji’s aid, resolved to escape from Chang’an and return east to Luoyang.

The northwest was in turmoil, and the east fared little better. Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan had been at war for years, but after the Battle of Jieqiao, Yuan Shao finally expelled Gongsun Zan from Ji Province, gaining a much-needed respite to develop his own strength.

Yet soon after, Gongsun Zan eliminated Liu Yu, the governor of You Province, taking over the entire region—his formidable power still left Yuan Shao on guard, unable to relax. Fortunately, at the beginning of this year, Liu Yu’s former subordinates Xianyu Fu, Qi Zhou, and Xianyu Yin chose Yan Rou as their leader. They rallied a great host of Xianbei, Wuhuan, and other tribal forces, amassing tens of thousands of Han and barbarian soldiers to campaign against Gongsun Zan.

Yuan Shao seized the opportunity to dispatch his general Ju Yi to join forces with them. Their combined force of a hundred thousand men dealt Gongsun Zan a crushing defeat at Baoqiu. Now, Gongsun Zan was besieged in Yijing, and the outlook was bright for Yuan Shao.

Over in Cao Cao’s camp, things were also improving. Last year, after a fierce struggle with Lü Bu and a shortage of supplies forced him to withdraw, Cao Cao began his counteroffensive this year. He won three major battles in the field, seized Dingtao, and forced Linqiu into submission.

Following the death of Tao Qian last year, Liu Bei was recommended by Mi Zhu and Chen Deng to become governor of Xu Province. But soon after he took office, Yuan Shu sent a large army to attack, and the two sides fought bitterly at Xuyi and Huaiyin, both suffering losses and gains.

By June, Lü Bu had been driven by Cao Cao from Yan Province and fled east to Xu Province, seeking refuge with Liu Bei. Since Lü Bu had previously, in a roundabout way, saved Xu Province, Liu Bei accepted him—unaware that he was inviting a wolf into his house.

In the south, Sun Ce had already crossed the river, defeated Liu Yao, and taken control of Danyang and Wu Commandery.

At the time, the governor of Danyang, Zhou Shang, was Zhou Yu’s uncle. Thanks to Zhou Yu’s close friendship with Sun Ce, Zhou’s support was quickly secured. Yet, as always, Yuan Shu proved treacherous. He had promised Sun Ce that if he took Lujian, he would be named its governor, but he reneged, appointing Liu Xun instead.

The same happened again: just as Sun Ce seized Danyang, Yuan Shu sent his cousin Yuan Yin to replace Zhou Shang, leaving Sun Ce even more disillusioned.

Meanwhile, in Jingzhou, Liu Biao remained inactive, doing little beyond resettling refugees and organizing agricultural colonies at Nanyang. He neither sent out troops nor expanded his territory, content to defend his province in peace.

Yet as more and more refugees poured into Nanyang, Huangmenting began to flourish. Following Shen Chen’s earlier arrangements, they welcomed refugees, opened up new land, constructed fortified manors, and started recruiting ceramic craftsmen to fire porcelain in the high-kiln caves.

By October, Liu Xie entered Anyi County in Hedong. At this point, Yuan Shao was pushing hard against Gongsun Zan and, with the pressure much relieved, his prosperous and powerful Ji Province now made him the foremost warlord in the land. It was then that Ju Shou advised Yuan Shao to welcome Liu Xie, “hold the Son of Heaven to command the lords, and raise troops to punish the disobedient.”

But Guo Tu and Chunyu Qiong argued that the Han throne had lost its power and the imperial banner meant little now. Moreover, if the emperor was brought to Hebei, every decision would require his approval—a needless complication. They counseled Yuan Shao to ignore Ju Shou’s plan.

After careful consideration, Yuan Shao found Guo Tu and Chunyu Qiong’s reasoning sound and dismissed Ju Shou’s advice. Meanwhile, Cao Cao presented tribute to Liu Xie and was appointed governor of Yan Province in the tenth month of the second year of Xingping.

At the same time, Lü Bu took advantage of Liu Bei’s main forces being engaged in battle with Yuan Shu in Huainan and launched a surprise attack on Xiapi. Liu Bei was forced to flee to Guangling, which, ravaged by Ze Rong, had become impoverished. Liu Bei’s soldiers could only survive by eating the corpses of the fallen, and his plight was dire.

Fortunately, before Shen Chen left, he had advised Mi Zhu to sell off family assets and stockpile grain early in preparation. So when Liu Bei fell into crisis, Mi Zhu immediately sent a large supply of food and provisions, easing the life-or-death emergency.

On October 11th in Jingzhou, by the banks of the Han River near Xiangyang, Shen Chen and Deng Hong were meeting an old friend.

Zhou Lin was still on his boat when he spotted Shen Chen and Deng Hong waiting for him on the dock. As soon as he came ashore, he greeted them with warm courtesy. “Master Youshuo, young Shen, it’s been so long.”

“Demao, it has indeed been a while,” replied Deng Hong with a smile, using Zhou Lin’s courtesy name.

From his robe, Zhou Lin produced a small wooden box. “Young Shen, this is for you.”

“Thank you, sir,” Shen Chen accepted without demur, as was customary. Among acquaintances—neither strangers nor particularly close friends—especially when journeying from afar, it was proper to exchange gifts. Stone carvings like the “Travelers’ Tableau” and numerous ancient texts from the Han Dynasty recorded such practices, which later generations came to call “souvenirs.”

Deng Hong also presented a wooden box in return.

Zhou Lin’s gift was a book; in those days, gifts ranged widely, but bamboo slips, jade pendants, and wild geese were common choices. Deng Hong’s return gift was a piece of porcelain, a tri-colored ware crafted in the kilns of Huangmenting.

It was this very porcelain that brought Zhou Lin here. Last year, he and Shen Chen had agreed that, when Zhou next passed through Jingzhou on business, he would send word to Shen Chen in Xinye when he reached Jiangling.

In July this year, Zhou Lin journeyed to Jiangdong and, upon reaching Jiangling, kept his promise by sending a servant to Xinye. Large-scale merchants like them had partners in every region, especially in Jingzhou and Jiangdong. Each year, Zhou Lin would sell local products from Jingzhou and Jiangdong in Yizhou, then purchase goods from Yizhou to deliver back east.

So, after a few days in Jiangling handing off his cargo to local partners, he set out for Jiangdong. There he exchanged goods again, and by the time he returned it was already September. At the end of that month, he reached Jiangling once more, where his servants—dispatched earlier—were waiting, along with a cartload of exquisite porcelain.

Seeing this porcelain, Zhou Lin immediately recognized an opportunity. Han Dynasty porcelain typically came in a single color—mostly celadon or white, with only a few pieces in yellow or green glaze. The porcelain Shen Chen had given him, however, was not only finely made and smooth, but also boasted vibrant, multicolored designs. Whether or not they would sell, they were at least strikingly attractive.

A merchant’s keen nose for profit told Zhou Lin these wares might find a market. He moored his fleet at Jiangling and personally traveled by boat from Yunmengze to Jingling, then up the Han River to Xiangyang.

Both parties brought several retainers. Guided by Deng Hong, the group made their way to Deng’s residence inside Xiangyang.

Along the way, Zhou Lin asked Deng Hong, “Is it true that Youshuo now serves Governor Liu of Jingzhou?”

Deng Hong smiled broadly. “I am currently chief secretary to Governor Liu, overseeing documents and the archives—not a high post.”

He had been promoted the previous month, rising from librarian to head librarian. The previous head’s father had passed away and, as was the custom, he left office to observe mourning. With only two people in the entire library, Deng Hong’s promotion was inevitable. Now his salary was equivalent to three hundred shi, just one grade below Zhuge Xuan.

Shen Chen, walking beside them, couldn’t help but remark, “It’s all well and good to have won the governor’s favor and become chief secretary, but Uncle has reached twenty-seven and still hasn’t married. If our great-uncle’s spirit knows of this, he’ll find it hard to rest.”

Deng Hong’s face stiffened. He leaned in to whisper to Shen Chen, “You rascal, must you embarrass your sixth uncle so? Besides, that girl from the Cai family you mentioned…I’ve seen her—she’s built like a fat pig, astonishingly ugly. How am I supposed to marry her?”

“Uncle, don’t you want our clan to flourish in Jingzhou? Now is the time for you to sacrifice yourself for the greater good of the family,” Shen Chen whispered back. “Besides, ugly as she may be, I’ve heard she’s gentle and virtuous—the perfect wife and mother.”

After arriving in Xiangyang, Shen Chen had made inquiries everywhere to help Deng Hong settle his marriage. Not long ago, Zhuge Xuan married off Zhuge Liang’s eldest sister to the Kuai family’s Kuai Qi. On the wedding day, Shen Chen and Deng Hong had attended to offer gifts and congratulations. The Zhuge family thus quickly entered the upper echelon of Jingzhou society.

This made Shen Chen anxious, leading him to search for a suitable match—and he learned that the Cai family happened to have a daughter of marriageable age, the daughter of Cai Mao’s cousin, already twenty but still unwed due to her looks. Shen Chen was determined to arrange the match.

At their age, both were considered late to marry. Though the girl’s appearance left much to be desired, her family was wealthy and, compared to Deng Hong’s own, the match was acceptable.

But when Deng Hong heard, he secretly managed to catch a glimpse of the girl. Ever since, he refused to discuss it further—no amount of Shen Chen’s persuasion could move him, much to his frustration.

Hearing Shen Chen’s words, Deng Hong continued to demur. “No rush, no rush, work comes first, we’ll talk about it later.”

His excuse was much like the ones Shen Chen himself used to fend off his parents in later generations.

Shen Chen snorted. “It’s not up to you. In a few days, I’ll write to Great-Uncle and Second Uncle, and have them force you. Now that your parents are gone, they can decide your marriage.”

“A-Chen, you!” Deng Hong was nearly in tears—never had he imagined his own grand-nephew would betray him like this!

It was always said that elders arranged marriages for the young—but how could a junior arrange one for his senior? The world had turned upside down.

The two continued their whispered argument until they reached the city. Deng Hong hired two carriages—one for himself and Shen Chen, one for Zhou Lin. The servants walked. They headed west.

Deng Hong’s home lay in the western outskirts—not a large house, and close to the west gate. It was a four or five kilometer walk to Governor Liu Biao’s office, and over twenty to the Xiangshan Academy where Shen Chen resided. Yet, in Xiangyang, land was so precious that owning a house at all was a blessing—what more could one ask?

The three to four kilometer ride from the north to the west of the city took about half an hour. Deng Hong led them inside, left the servants at the gate, and ushered his guests into the main hall for their discussions.