Chapter 20: The Ambition of Liu He

In the residence of the Governor of Jing Province, Liu Biao gazed at the first draft of the "Finalized Chapters and Sentences of the Five Classics" laid before him, feeling immense joy.

As the Governor of Jing, he lacked the ambition to pacify the chaotic world; his sole desire was to maintain his hold on Jing Province and ensure the stability of his domain. In his youth, Liu Biao had been renowned throughout the land, listed among the "Eight Gentlemen," and he possessed a profound love for the classics. Because his rule over Jing Province was relatively stable, thousands of scholars from Guanzhong, Yan, and Yu flocked to him. In this environment, he established academic offices, actively recruited Confucian scholars, and sought out lost texts, leading to a collection of classics that filled his province.

Amidst this rich cultural atmosphere, Liu Biao took the lead, commissioning a group of scholars to excise the redundant and trivial content from the Five Classics and compile a new academic textbook. After a period of diligent effort, his subordinates, Qiwu Kai, Song Zhong, and others, produced the first draft of the "Finalized Chapters and Sentences of the Five Classics."

Liu Biao picked up the bamboo scrolls from his desk with both hands, savoring them carefully. He stroked the characters carved into the bamboo as if he were caressing the smooth, fair skin of his beautiful young wife, Lady Cai.

The ancients spoke of the "Three Immortals." As recorded in the twenty-fourth year of Duke Xiang of the Zuo Zhuan: "The highest is to establish virtue, the next is to establish merit, and the next is to establish words. Though time passes, they do not perish; this is what is called the Three Immortals."

To establish words—to write books and create works that pass classics down to posterity—filled Liu Biao, a man of Confucian learning, with a joy that overflowed. This was an immortal undertaking, an achievement sufficient to carve his name into history and grace his legacy with praise.

Although this "Finalized Chapters and Sentences of the Five Classics" was not yet perfect, with time and further refinement, it would surely become flawless. While he could not reach the level of Lü Buwei’s "Lü’s Springs and Autumns," where a single word change earned a thousand pieces of gold, Liu Biao was certain that his work was easily worth a hundred pieces of gold per word.

Just as Liu Biao was about to savor the scrolls once more, an untimely figure appeared.

"Governor, how can you still have the leisure to read? The world is in turmoil; this is the time for dragons to rise in the Central Plains, the day to achieve great things!"

Liu He, the Assistant Governor of Jing, spoke with grand passion, hoping to stir the man before him.

Looking at the gaunt face and handlebar mustache of Liu He as he delivered his stirring speech, Liu Biao felt not a ripple of emotion. He wondered how many times this had happened—the seventh or eighth time this assistant had come to his study to preach such grandiloquence.

Sighing inwardly, Liu Biao regretted appointing Liu He as his assistant. He had given him the position out of a sense of kinship, both sharing the surname Liu, never expecting him to be so restless, constantly goading him to conquer the world.

To contend for the Central Plains—it was not so easily done.

"Assistant, what counsel do you bring?" Liu Biao asked, inquiring into the purpose of Liu He’s visit.

"Governor," Liu He urged with earnest weight, "have you not heard that Liu Yan has passed away? His fourth son, Liu Zhang, is the new Governor of Yi Province. It is rumored that Liu Zhang is cowardly and incompetent, unfit for the task. With the current state of Yi Province, this is a golden opportunity!"

Liu He’s emotions surged, and he stepped closer to Liu Biao, raising his voice as he spoke.

How could Liu Biao not know that Liu Yan had died and been succeeded by Liu Zhang? His spies in Yi Province had reported it long ago. This was precisely why Liu Biao had been in such a good mood lately. He and Liu Yan had had significant conflicts; in the second year of Chuping, Liu Yan had constructed over a thousand carriages and robes in Mianzhu, violating ritual standards. Liu Biao had memorialized the court to impeach him, suggesting that Liu Yan showed signs of someone like Zixia in Xihe discussing the sages.

Consequently, Jing and Yi had become enemies. Furthermore, since Yi Province lay upstream from Jing, Liu Biao could not afford to be careless. But now, the ambitious Liu Yan was dead, and the new, cowardly Liu Zhang posed no threat. The worry of an attack from the west was gone, and a great enemy had vanished.

Thinking of this, Liu Biao replied to Liu He: "Naturally, I know. I believe Liu Zhang will not act with the same presumption as his father. Jing and Yi can live in harmony."

"Governor!" Liu He was anxious at these words and leaned in close. "Now that Liu Zhang has just arrived in Yi, his roots are not yet deep. In the north, the 'Rice Thief' Zhang Lu is in rebellion; in the south, the various barbarians are in revolt. If you were to lead your army upstream, with your prestige, Yi Province could be taken in an instant!"

As he spoke, Liu He’s eyes shone with a hypnotic power.

Liu Biao, however, frowned. Did this fellow not chew cloves to sweeten his breath? A stench of halitosis wafted toward him, making him want to flee.

He said, "Assistant, please take a seat. During a time of mourning, to attack another's state is not the act of a gentleman. Moreover, Liu Zhang and I are both of the imperial clan; we should support each other and restore the royal house."

Liu He, sharp-witted and eloquent, did not sit. He immediately rebutted: "Governor, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. A child like Liu Zhang cannot hold Yi Province; sooner or later, it will be seized by another. Since you are of the imperial clan, and all land under heaven belongs to the Emperor, no one would speak ill of you for taking Yi Province. If you hesitate, I fear others will seize the lead."

Seeing that Liu Biao remained reluctant, Liu He decided to increase the dosage. "If you gain Yi Province, Jing will have no worries from the west. Furthermore, Yi is wealthy, with a million households and four armies. It produces everything needed; there is no need to seek treasures elsewhere. This is the foundation of an emperor."

"If you possess both Jing and Yi, and send another force to conquer Jiangdong, half the world will be in your hands."

"As a member of the imperial clan with a name renowned throughout the land, with half the world, you can make peace with the barbarians, pacify the south, govern well, and train your troops. When the world changes, send one army through the Qin pass and lead another toward Wan and Luoyang. Which of the common people would not bring food and drink to welcome you?"

"Truly, if you do this, you can recover the Central Plains, restore the Han, purge the world, and unify all within the eight wildernesses. After ten thousand years, you could be the founder of a new Han dynasty."

Liu He spoke with increasing fervor, as if he had become Zhang Yi or Su Qin, using his tongue to stir the world and painting a magnificent, promising blueprint for Liu Biao.

Liu Biao, however, was bored to tears and couldn't even be bothered to blink. He decided that next time, he would force his visitors to chew cloves at the door before speaking to him; Liu He’s breath was truly foul.

He replied perfunctorily, "Assistant, this matter is not easy. Allow me to ponder it deeply."

For Liu Biao, holding Jing Province was enough. He had no thoughts of Yi Province; having someone like Liu Zhang upstream suited him perfectly, allowing him to study the classics in peace. He had never even considered invading Yi Province—his old bones could not handle such turmoil.

Hearing this, Liu He knew he was being brushed off, so he decided to volunteer himself: "I am willing to be your vanguard. I will ride alone to the west, using the tongue of Zhang Yi and Su Qin to win over the heroes of Shu and shake the foundations of Ba and Shu for you."

"I can sign a military pledge. Even if I cannot take all of Yi Province, I will convince the heroes of Ba to defect to you and split the province in two."

*This Liu He is truly tiresome. Why can he not just be content?* Liu Biao cursed inwardly. Once war begins, grievances are better tied than untied. He feared that instead of taking Ba and Shu, he would only provoke the Shu army.

Yi Province held the strategic advantage of being upstream from Jing; if they drifted down the river with the wind, they could reach the gates of Jiangling in a single day. Even if Liu Zhang was weak and his soldiers not strong, Liu Biao knew his own military strength well enough. Jing and Yi were evenly matched; once forces clashed, the outcome would be uncertain.

But seeing Liu He’s determination, Liu Biao knew that if he did not give him an answer today, the man would not leave. He made a decision and dismissed him: "Since you have such great ambition, how could I not be moved? Very well, you shall go as the vanguard. I will reorganize my troops, reward my men, and provide support from behind."

Liu He was overjoyed, retreated several paces, and bowed. "I accept your command."

"If I do not succeed," Liu He declared, "I shall never see you again."