The Mandate of Heaven (58 page)

Three
. Your Highness is commended to raise and train as large a force as his domains may support, both land forces and naval forces, to assist the Army of Righteous Reprisal upon its arrival in Hou-ming Province.

Four
. Traitorous elements amongst the population must be identified and harried, so that those wavering towards treason are dissuaded from throwing in their lot with the bandits. His Majesty states: ‘Beware of corrupt or inept officials! Each is as bad as the other, as one rat is as bad as ten mice.’

Let it also be known that His Imperial Majesty entertains grave suspicions of the lower elements of the Daoist clergy and would encourage rigorous scrutiny of their activities. Let it similarly be known that those proclaiming the cause of the Buddha Maitreya are to be punished mercilessly, while those worshipping the Buddha Makhala shall have every benefit heaped upon their temples and monasteries, especially those clergy from Tibet spreading messages of peace and obedient harmony.

Six
. Your Highness will understand the importance of tempting the bandits into a decisive engagement with our forces before winter. All policy must tend towards that objective, even at the risk of giving the Yueh Fei bandits temporary advantages.

On behalf of His Imperial Majesty, Hsieh-Ho, Chief Minister of the Right Hand Secretariat.

The diary of Chancellor Liu Shui

(Written in a code decipherable only by those closely familiar with Yun Cai’s ‘Lotus Poem’.)

Early summer, 1322

14
^th
Day, 4
^th
Month, 1322
Arrived back in Chenglingji towards dusk. As our flotilla approached the land, I glanced back to the West and was amazed by the depth and complexity of the sunset: sunbeams slanting directly towards the Noble Count’s palace. Surely a sign! But when I remarked upon it to the captain he said that midway between equinoxes the sun often went down at that angle. The implication is that Heaven is unsure whether to grant its favours to the Noble Count.

My mind was full of Navy Commissioner Ma Fu’s report concerning the poor condition of our fleet upon which all our schemes depend.

Later, on arrival at the Temporary Palace, I received appalling news. Not only was His Highness indisposed and incapable of seeing me until the morrow, but the Bureau chiefs reported to me in whispers that Navy Commissioner Ma Fu had been accused of spying by Ministers Chao and Hua. A short trial that very day had led to his immediate execution, as demanded by Admiral Won-du. It is impossible Hsiung could have taken so severe a step without the clearest proofs. Yet if Ma Fu – with us since the very start of our rebellion – was a traitor, whom may we trust? I prepare for sleep with a heavy heart.

15
^th
Day, 4
^th
Month, 1322
A most dismal day. The monsoon returned with fresh force, making the roofs of our Temporary Palace resound like warning drums. Little light in the sky. Much grey.

I was finally admitted to the Noble Count in his quarters. I thought him ailing, his face bloated and pale. When I drew near, he reeked of strong spirits despite the early hour. Naturally, I begged to discover what evidence had condemned Ma Fu. At first he was reticent, then he said – remorsefully, I thought – that Minister Hua had reported his suspicions concerning the Navy Commissioner at the end of a long banquet. Although he could not remember it exactly, it seemed he had ordered Hua to execute poor Ma Fu at once and that Minister Hua, though terribly reluctant, had obeyed sooner than risk His Highness’s wrath. As he spoke I noticed the Noble Count’s hands shaking: never a good sign with him.

At that moment there was a most disturbing occurrence: the Lady Ying-ge appeared through a side door and stood watching us silently, her large brown eyes unwavering. Her beautiful face – and it is an exquisite ornament – turned towards His Highness. At the sight of her, he puffed out his chest like a pigeon in spring and frowned angrily. At me! At
me
! Then he ordered our audience was over. I left crestfallen.

16
^th
Day, 4
^th
Month, 1322
I spent the morning contemplating my retirement to a monastery. Towards noon the Noble Count called upon me in a very apologetic frame of mind. He said that he has been sick of late. So much so that a doctor specially summoned from Hou-ming by the Lady Ying-ge has prescribed medicines. Then he told me (for the hundredth time) how a gift of a jade disk from that lady saved his life after the Battle of the Salt Pans. Though I tried to turn the conversation to the condition of the navy and Admiral Won-du’s fitness for command, the Noble Count seemed distracted. Few decisions were reached.

Tonight, as I write, a riotous banquet can be heard in the Noble Count’s wing of the palace. It grieves me to hear such shameless echoes of excess.

18
^th
Day, 4
^th
Month, 1322
Yesterday His Highness was again too ill to receive me. At dawn I sought out Honourable Deng Teng and found him practising divine exercises to the rhythm of the rising sun, his legs and arms tensing and relaxing as one breathes in and out to the rhythms of Eternity. He is a most graceful, handsome gentleman. Yet as soon as he observed me, Deng Teng slumped upon a bench, apparently exhausted by his exertions. I believe his frailty is a matter of policy.

When I broached the subject of the Lady Ying-ge he became cold and suspicious. By these tokens I suspect he has some prior knowledge of her that he is afraid to reveal. Perhaps that knowledge might aid us all, however dangerous he seems to think it.

8
^th
Day, 5
^th
Month, 1322
Weeks have passed since my last entry. The reason: business of state. Above all, a journey to the Salt Pans to ensure the workers there are adequately fed and that the blocks of salt keep flowing. Both aims were achieved.

Today I returned to Chenglingji days before I had notified the Noble Count he could expect me. Perhaps that explains his surprise and annoyance that I had arrived to witness an event of importance.

At noon the Newly Adhered Navy conducted extensive manoeuvres on the lake, which we observed from a special platform built at the end of a long pier. The climax was to be a mock naval battle between different halves of our navy, in which countless missiles of finely ground flour (a lamentable waste when so many are hungry all over our domains) were thrown at the opposing vessels until many were ghostly white – a most unpropitious omen, of course, white being the colour of mourning. The Noble Count seemed hardly to notice, his eyes oddly glazed and glance flickering frequently towards Lady Ying-ge. I detected every sign of a lovers’ quarrel between them. I have never seen him like this, yet dare not enquire too deeply lest he enters one of his dark moods.

As the Newly Adhered Navy sailed clumsily back and forth I witnessed Honourable Deng Teng trying to approach His Highness, only to be rebuffed sarcastically in a way that greatly reduced our noble guest’s dignity. Directly afterwards I noticed Hsiung glancing for approval – how well I know that look! – towards Lady Ying-ge, who seemed to be smiling behind her fan.

Does she, then, have some prior acquaintance with Honourable Deng Teng that makes her ill-disposed towards him? If so, I fear for his safety.

20
^th
Day, 5
^th
Month, 1322
Today I prepared a lengthy discourse on the virtues of the righteous, benevolent ruler for the edification of the Noble Count. Although Hsiung pretended to listen I could tell his thoughts were elsewhere. Would that had been true of his yawns! I left disappointed.

In the afternoon I interviewed our new Lesser Ministers, Chao and Hua, to learn the exact nature of their duties and divine their general intentions. They seem to have the title and rewards of a Minister without any burden of responsibility. Chao is certainly the stupider of the pair and more easily gulled – although his physical strength makes him more intimidating than his constant companion. Hua is a quick-witted fellow who hides his true thoughts behind suave pleasantries and flattery when in the company of superiors; with inferiors he is merciless. I am not so foolish that I do not realise they whisper ceaselessly against me to the Noble Count.

As he left, Hua remarked casually that even the highest can turn out to be cunning traitors and that, as His Highness’s spymaster, he would never lower his vigilance. What disturbed me was his next enquiry – so innocent as to be positively menacing – concerning the state of Honourable Deng Teng’s health. Clearly he is up to something that bodes ill for our noble guest.

Letters to Salt Minister Gui from anonymous agents misfiled in a ledger designated
Extraordinary Duties
.

(All are written in code, hence, perhaps, the secretary’s error. None of the usual copies of an official reply are attached to the letters, suggesting none were ever sent.)

Summer, 1322

20
^th
Day, 5
^th
Month, 1322
Salt Minister Gui, are you still the one our letters go to? Reply by the agreed way: red (yes), blue, (no). Tell the Prince: attack still planned for autumn, exact date to follow as soon as known. We shall report in person as soon as possible to discuss our reward. Ox and Snake.

2
^nd
Day, 7
^th
Month, 1322
Salt Minister Gui, did you receive our last letter? Red (yes), blue (no). Date of attack set for 9
^th
Day, 9
^th
Month. No reply received from previous message. Confirm our reward as agreed please! Red (yes), blue (no). Ox and Snake.

1
^st
Day, 8
^th
Month, 1322
Salt Minister Gui, did you receive previous message? Please confirm without delay. Red (yes), blue (no). Speak again, we beg Your Excellency, to your superiors regarding our agreed reward. We shall send another message nearer to the 9
^th
Day, 9
^th
Month if you do not reply to this. Ox and Snake.

Police Report to Salt Minister Gui.

Late summer, 1322

Your Honour, the monthly report you requested some time ago concerning the registered scholar, Deng Nan-shi, is hereby attached. Does Your Honour still wish to receive these reports? I humbly beg forgiveness if this question is presumptuous, but it is many months since you asked for them and we have heard nothing from Your Honour. Inspector of Police, Er Dan.

Report: Our informant in Cloud Abode Monastery states the scholar Deng Nan-shi’s health remains very grave: ‘It is as though he is waiting for something before he allows himself to die. When not resting, he occupies himself in meditation or staring into space. Sometimes he writes poems. He receives neither visitors nor messages, but spends time with Abbess Yun Shu, for whom he demonstrates a great affection and respect.’ Conclusion: no cause for arrest or interrogation at the present time.