Chapter 63: Verbal Battle

Taking over the conversation, Assistant Liu Xian proceeded with the primary intent behind Liu Biao's assembly of his civil and military officials that day—to crush the momentum of Zhang Song, the envoy from Yizhou.

"I have heard that in the second year of Chuping, the former Governor of Yizhou, Lord Liu Junlang, commissioned over a thousand imperial carriage assemblies and equipment. I wonder if you, Master Zhang, as a man of Shu, know whether this matter is true or false?"

Liu Xian targeted Liu Yan, intending to use him as a breakthrough point. Imperial carriages and equipment were reserved for the Son of Heaven; such actions by Liu Yan were rebellious and lawless.

Furthermore, the fact that Liu Yan had manufactured over a thousand sets of imperial carriages was widely known. Liu Biao, the Governor of Jingzhou seated at the place of honor, had previously memorialized the imperial court, stating that Liu Yan's actions were "akin to Zixia in Xihe doubting the sages' teachings"—implying that Liu Yan harbored treasonous designs and disloyal ambitions.

This was precisely the root cause of the enmity between Jingzhou and Yizhou.

"Such a matter indeed exists," Zhang Song replied. The affair had spread far and wide and could not be covered up; it was better to acknowledge it openly and gracefully.

Seeing Zhang Song admit to it, Liu Xian immediately seized the opportunity. With a stern expression and righteous indignation, he rebuked: "Imperial carriages and equipment are used by the Son of Heaven alone. The former Governor of Yizhou, Liu Junlang, harbored such treasonous intent. As a man of Shu, are you not ashamed, Master, or are you completely devoid of loyalty and righteousness?"

Zhang Song smiled, shook his head, and explained: "The Assistant knows only one side of the matter, not the other."

"The former Governor of Yizhou commissioned the imperial carriages and equipment solely to welcome and serve the Son of Heaven, not for personal use."

"Living in a remote and secluded region, the Assistant is blind to the broader view, like a leaf blocking the eye, so I naturally do not fault you for such shallow insights." He displayed magnanimity toward the ignorant Assistant Liu Xian.

"Oh?" Liu Xian sneered, showing no mercy to Zhang Song. "Master, do not resort to sophistry. The former Governor of Yizhou, Liu Junlang, manufactured imperial carriages, and his rebellious traces are so blatant. Yet you still dare to make the excuse that they were meant for welcoming the Son of Heaven."

"Master Zhang, are you not ashamed?"

As if provoked to anger by Liu Xian, Zhang Song sharply retorted: "Assistant, have you not heard that this very year, the former Governor of Yizhou joined forces with General Who Conquers the West, Ma Teng, to uphold the royal house, advancing upon Chang'an to suppress the two bandits Li Jue and Guo Si?"

"It is only regrettable that success fell short at the very last step. My lord Liu Yizhou's elder and second brothers both perished in this national endeavor, falling victim to the two bandits Li and Guo."

"Can this still not prove that the imperial carriages and equipment were crafted for the Son of Heaven?"

At this point, Zhang Song's words grew increasingly fierce. Like an enraged lion, he denounced Liu Xian, saying: "The former Governor of Yizhou sacrificed two sons for the state. Such heroism is doubted by petty men like you—how truly lamentable!"

"You serve as a minister of Han, yet with the state fallen into the hands of villains, your cohort lives in leisurely ease, never pondering how to serve and repay the country. Instead, you question martyrs of loyalty and righteousness. What face do you have to utter such grand and reckless words before me? Silence yourself and speak no more."

"You—" Publicly berated, Liu Xian stood up, pointing a trembling finger at Zhang Song. Yet, seeing Zhang Song close his eyes in meditation, acting as though he disdained further speech with him, Liu Xian felt a surging rage within his chest, utterly unable to utter a single word in response.

Seeing this, Counselor-in-Waiting Han Song stepped forward to champion Liu Xian, pressing the issue: "If the former Governor of Yizhou was truly so loyal and righteous, how is it that when the various lords raised troops to subjugate Dong Zhuo, he did nothing at all?"

"At that time, the bandit clans of southern Jingzhou were rampant, which is why Jingzhou did not join the alliance. Yet I wonder why the former Governor of Yizhou also remained entirely inactive."

He interrogated Zhang Song regarding the campaign against Dong Zhuo, offering an excuse for Liu Biao's own absence, eager to see how Zhang Song would defend Liu Yan.

"Although the former Governor of Yizhou did not join the alliance, he nonetheless fought against Dong Zhuo." Zhang Song wore a relaxed expression. To him, hailing from a prominent clan of Shu Commandery, this question was as effortless as food delivered right to his doorstep. He revealed a guarded secret.

"At that time, the national traitor Dong Zhuo dispatched Minister of Works Zhao Qian to lobby Ren Qi, the Administrator of Jianwei Commandery, and Jia Long, an assistant of Yizhou, inciting them to raise a rebellious army. The flames of war spread right to the walls of Chengdu City—it could truly be described as perilous in the extreme."

"The former Governor of Yizhou sortied forth with the Qingqi tribes to do battle, and only thus managed to survive. How can you claim he never fought against Dong Zhuo?"

Before long, he noticed Han Song's expression freeze mid-speech, followed by a deeply furrowed brow of contemplation.

The fact that Dong Zhuo had dispatched Minister of Works Zhao Qian was known to very few. Combined with the isolation of the Shu region, for Han Song to bring up this question was nothing short of inviting humiliation upon himself.

"Master, you are so arrogant and headstrong, wishing to use your three-inch tongue to emulate Li Sheng persuading Qi! If so, the boiling oil cauldron before the hall is set precisely for you." Kuai Yue felt a tinge of helplessness and pulled out his ultimate trump card, threatening Zhang Song with the boiling oil cauldron situated right before the hall.

Between life and death, few could remain calm.

Seeing Kuai Yue resort to threats, Zhang Song remained completely unfazed, even finding it somewhat amusing. He feigned flattery toward Kuai Yue, saying: "I have heard that in the past, when Liu Jingzhou entered Jingzhou alone, it was Master Yidu who devised the strategy, using material gains to lure the bandit clans to come, annihilating them in a single stroke."

"Indeed." A faint look of gratification flickered across Kuai Yue's face; Zhang Song's words had scratched the exact place that itched.

When Liu Biao was appointed Inspector of Jingzhou and entered Jingzhou alone, the bandit clans were rampant at the time, and the common people were unattached. Yuan Shu was stirring restlessly in Nanyang, casting covetous designs upon Jingzhou. Liu Biao wanted to recruit soldiers and horses for defense, yet feared the populace would be unwilling to follow him.

Consequently, Liu Biao hosted a banquet in Yingcheng for him, his elder brother Kuai Liang, and Cai Mao to deliberate on this grand enterprise.

His elder brother Kuai Liang suggested that Liu Biao should concurrently practice benevolence and righteousness, arguing that the common people would thus gladly submit, and recruiting soldiers and horses would pose no problem. Kuai Yue had refuted this, saying: "In times of great peace, one emphasizes benevolence and righteousness; in times of chaos, one values statecraft and tactical power."

Following that, he offered his own scheme: relying on the renown of the Kuai clan, they would dispatch lobbyists to entice the greed-driven leaders of the bandit clans. Once the leaders arrived, they would execute the cruelest ones and annex their followers, thus accomplishing a grand enterprise.

Liu Biao adopted his strategy, casting aside his elder brother's so-called path of benevolence and righteousness. Relying on the reputation of the Kuai family, they successfully lured fifty-five bandit chieftains at the time. By slaying these chieftains and annexing their followers, Liu Biao was able to secure his hold over Jingzhou.

Hearing that even a rustic ignoramus from Shu like Zhang Song knew of this event filled Kuai Yue with a sense of pride, causing his expression to grow somewhat buoyant and self-satisfied.

Observing Kuai Yue's complacent expression, Zhang Song's face turned scornful. With a tone laced with dark irony, he addressed Kuai Yue: "Master Yidu is truly a man of Chu, possessing quite the refined air of the former Hegemon-King of Western Chu, Xiang Yu."

"Hmm?" Hearing this, Kuai Yue reined in his complacency, knitting his brows in deep thought as he wondered what possible connection he had with Xiang Yu.

Just as Kuai Yue began to dawn upon the implication, he heard Zhang Song continue: "In former days, Xiang Yu hosted the High Emperor at the Hongmen Banquet, seeking to assassinate him during the wine feast—fortunately failing to harm the High Emperor."

"Speaking of which, compared to Xiang Yu, Master Yidu has truly surpassed the master and blue is extracted from the indigo plant. What does mere Xiang Yu amount to compared to Master Yidu's supreme brilliance?"

"During your previous endeavor, Master Yidu lured the prominent surnames of Jingzhou and slaughtered them right during the banquet. Your merit was consummated to perfection, and not a single one managed to escape."

"Alas." Zhang Song let out a sigh toward Kuai Yue, and then lamented further: "I originally thought that since Liu Jingzhou established academies and widely sought out Confucian scholars, the land of the Jing barbarians would surely undergo transformation, and Master Yidu would likewise cast aside his scheming heart to embrace the virtue of benevolence and forgiveness."

"Little did I expect that today, setting up this cauldron here, you once again desire to boil and slaughter a distant guest in the midst of a banquet."

"It seems that upon seeing a visitor arrive at your door, your old professional itch became unbearable and your old ailment flared up anew."

Then, Zhang Song's tone turned fierce as he cursed Kuai Yue, who had threatened his life: "Wretches like you who manipulate power and schemes, utterly devoid of benevolence and righteousness, what face do you have to sit securely at the banquet table?"

"You are not worthy of conversing with men of noble character. Silence yourself and speak no more."

Hearing these words, Kuai Yue's face flushed a deep crimson, his lips quivering, yet he was utterly blocked by Zhang Song's barrage and left entirely speechless.

Seeing his younger brother's complexion, Kuai Liang sighed inwardly. This younger brother of his was fond of political maneuvering and disliked moral transformation; Kuai Liang had frequently admonished him in the past, but Kuai Yue had dismissed the advice under the pretext that times of chaos required abandoning benevolence and righteousness.

Now, left speechless and cornered by Zhang Song, the Yizhou envoy, with a hall full of Jingzhou's elite scholars looking on, Kuai Liang knew that if word spread, the reputation of the Kuai family would inevitably plummet several notches.

Kuai Liang stepped forward; at this moment, he had no choice but to act. He spoke up: "Master Zhang, playing with the tongue and engaging in verbal combat is merely the work of village crones and petty folk methods."

He then proceeded to flatter Liu Biao's virtues and achievements: "My lord, Governor Liu, has pacified ten thousand miles, winning the joyful submission of the masses. Furthermore, he has established the classics and founded schools, cherishing the people and nurturing scholars."

"He has widely recruited Confucian scholars, having men like Qi Guangming (Qimuan Kai) and Song Zhongzi (Song Zhong) compile the work *Exegesis and Finalization of the Five Classics*."

"To establish words that endure—this alone constitutes the proper path."

"Oh?" Zhang Song uttered in surprise. Establishing words that endure was no trivial matter, so he pursued the questioning: "Yet I have never heard of any such book called the *Exegesis and Finalization of the Five Classics*."

"This book has only just been completed and has not yet been published, which is why you are unaware of it, Master." Liu Biao himself chimed in, having calmly watched his subordinates spar verbally with Zhang Song. The *Exegesis and Finalization of the Five Classics* was his crowning masterpiece, destined to be passed down to future generations.

Presently, none of Jingzhou's civil or military officials could defeat Zhang Song in debate, so he hoped to salvage some face for himself through the *Exegesis and Finalization of the Five Classics*, letting Zhang Song know that under his civilizing influence, Jingzhou was no longer a land of barbarians.

He beckoned to his attendants, intending to broaden the horizons of the man before him: "Quickly fetch a copy for Master Zhang to peruse."