Dragon Boat Race Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Chapter 13: Undercurrents

Epigraph: Triumphant return brings great favor, but who knew the feast was a trap? This is not the time for success and retreat; hidden arrows are hard to guard against and cause greater alarm.

The banquet hall of the Marquis of Zhenbei’s Residence was brightly lit, filled with the clinking of cups and the exchange of toasts. This was Wu Ge’s first banquet after being conferred the title of Marquis, and almost all the powerful officials in the capital were present. Qin Gong, as the Vice Minister of War, was seated to the lower right of Wu Ge, an arrangement that sparked much speculation among the guests.

“Congratulations, Marquis, on your triumphant return!” The Minister of Personnel raised his cup. “This pacification of the Northern Frontier is truly a blessing to the nation.”

Wu Ge raised his cup in return, his expression calm. “It was merely my duty, nothing worth mentioning.”

Su Mingyuan sat to Wu Ge’s left, his smile genial. “The Marquis is too modest. If not for the Marquis’s brilliant military strategy, who knows how many more years the threat of the Northern Di would have persisted.”

Qin Gong sat quietly to the side, observing every person present. He knew exactly how many of these smiling dignitaries offered genuine congratulations, and how many were hiding daggers behind their smiles.

“Vice Minister Qin.” Su Mingyuan suddenly turned to him. “I hear the Vice Minister has been quite ostracized in the Ministry of War recently? If you have any difficulties, please feel free to speak up.”

His voice was not loud, but it was enough for those at the nearby tables to hear. Immediately, many eyes focused on Qin Gong.

“Thank you for your concern, Chancellor.” Qin Gong replied composedly. “My experience is still shallow; I should be learning more from my seniors.”

“It is good for young men to be humble,” Su Mingyuan nodded in satisfaction, then changed the subject. “However, being too humble can seem distant. Marquis, wouldn’t you agree?”

Wu Ge set down his wine cup, his gaze slightly cold. “This Marquis knows Vice Minister Qin’s talent best. As for some others, they have little ability but too many schemes.”

The words were spoken without reservation, and the atmosphere in the banquet hall instantly froze.

Just then, an inner attendant rushed in and announced loudly, “His Majesty has arrived—”

Everyone hurriedly rose and knelt in greeting. The Emperor, dressed in casual attire, slowly walked in, surrounded by guards.

“Rise, all of you.” The Emperor smiled. “Today is the Marquis of Zhenbei’s auspicious day; We have come to join the fun.”

The Emperor’s sudden arrival made the meaning of this banquet far more complex. Qin Gong noticed that Su Mingyuan’s expression had subtly changed.

“What were Our beloved officials discussing just now? It seemed quite lively.” The Emperor sat down in the main seat, asking in a seemingly casual manner.

Su Mingyuan immediately replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, this old official was just discussing matters of the Ministry of War with Vice Minister Qin.”

“Oh?” The Emperor looked at Qin Gong. “Does Our beloved official Qin find things satisfactory in the Ministry of War?”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern, everything is well,” Qin Gong answered respectfully.

The Emperor nodded, then suddenly said, “We recall that Our beloved official Qin has not yet married?”

The question came abruptly, setting off alarm bells in Qin Gong’s heart. “Reporting to Your Majesty, this official… is indeed unmarried.”

“That will not do,” the Emperor chuckled. “A man should establish a family before establishing his career. Beloved official Su, We recall that your daughter is also unmarried?”

At these words, the entire hall was stunned. Su Mingyuan hastily said, “My little girl is unruly; I fear she is unworthy of Vice Minister Qin.”

Qin Gong felt a chill run up his spine. The Emperor was personally acting as matchmaker, intending to tie him to Su Mo. If he refused, it would be defying an imperial decree; if he accepted, it would mean aligning himself with Su Mingyuan’s faction.

“Your Majesty…” He was about to speak, but Wu Ge suddenly stood up.

“Your Majesty, this official has a matter to report.” Wu Ge’s voice was steady and strong. “This official and Vice Minister Qin have already made a lifelong commitment in the army. I beg Your Majesty to grant us your blessing.”

In an instant, the entire banquet hall fell silent. Everyone was stunned, and even Qin Gong looked at Wu Ge in disbelief.

The Emperor’s face instantly darkened. “Beloved official Wu, do you know what you are saying?”

“This official is very clear.” Wu Ge knelt down. “This official and Vice Minister Qin are deeply in love. I beg Your Majesty to grant us your blessing.”

Su Mingyuan abruptly stood up. “Nonsense! Wu Ge, do you know this is a crime of deceiving the Emperor!”

“This official dares not deceive the Emperor.” Wu Ge looked up, his gaze firm. “Every word this official speaks is true.”

Qin Gong also knelt down. “Your Majesty, this official and the Marquis… indeed share this sentiment.”

The Emperor stared intently at them. After a long silence, he suddenly burst into laughter. “Good! What a Marquis of Zhenbei! What a Vice Minister Qin!”

He stood up, his voice cold as ice. “Since the two of you are so devoted to each other, We shall not stand in your way. However…”

He paused, saying each word distinctly, “Wu Ge, you shall hand over the Tiger Tally tomorrow and rest easy as the Marquis of Zhenbei. Qin Gong, you need not return to the Ministry of War. Just stay quietly in the Marquis’s Residence.”

With that, he flicked his sleeve and departed.

The banquet ended unhappily. Guests hastily took their leave, their eyes filled with shock, disdain, and a touch of schadenfreude as they looked at Wu Ge and Qin Gong.

After everyone had left, Qin Gong whispered, “You shouldn’t have been so impulsive.”

“Was I supposed to watch you marry Su Mo?” Wu Ge gripped his hand. “I couldn’t do it.”

“But now…”

“It’s just handing over military authority,” Wu Ge said dismissively. “This is fine, too. We’ll have peace and quiet.”

However, things were not that simple.

The next morning, impeachment memorials flew toward the palace like snowflakes. Some accused Wu Ge of deceiving the Emperor and acting outrageously, others of corrupting moral principles, and still others of hoarding military power. Qin Gong was also impeached, accused of using his looks to bewitch his superior and disrupt the court.

Worse still, news arrived from the Northern Di. Hearing that Wu Ge had surrendered his military authority, they had begun to stir again.

“Marquis, urgent border report!” Captain Sun rushed in. “Northern Di cavalry crossed the border and attacked three villages!”

Wu Ge shot to his feet. “What did His Majesty say?”

“His Majesty… His Majesty dispatched General Zhao with thirty thousand troops to suppress them.”

Qin Gong’s heart sank. Although General Zhao was brave, he lacked strategy and was likely no match for the Northern Di.

Sure enough, ten days later, a battle report arrived: General Zhao had fallen into a Northern Di ambush, suffered heavy losses, and was forced to retreat to Liangzhou.

The court and the public were shaken. It was then that officials began to remember Wu Ge’s competence.

“Your Majesty, the only one the Northern Di fears is the Marquis of Zhenbei. We implore Your Majesty to let the Marquis resume command!”

“Absolutely not! Wu Ge was just dismissed. How can we go back on our word?”

The court debated endlessly, and the Emperor was in a difficult position.

On this day, Su Mingyuan suddenly paid a visit.

“Marquis, Vice Minister Qin.” He still wore a smile, as if the unpleasantness of that day had never happened. “I presume you two have heard about the Northern Di situation.”

Wu Ge’s face was cold. “What advice does the Chancellor have?”

“I dare not offer advice,” Su Mingyuan said. “This old official has merely come to show you two a clear path.”

He said slowly, “As long as the Marquis is willing to marry my daughter, this old official guarantees that tomorrow in court, all voices opposing the Marquis’s reinstatement will disappear.”

A chill ran through Qin Gong’s heart. So, all of this had been within Su Mingyuan’s calculations.

Wu Ge sneered. “The Chancellor calculates well. Unfortunately, this Marquis would rather not be the Marquis of Zhenbei than marry Miss Su.”

“Why be so stubborn, Marquis?” Su Mingyuan looked at Qin Gong. “Does the Marquis have the heart to see Vice Minister Qin remain a powerless commoner forever?”

This struck Wu Ge’s weak spot. He could give up power, but he could not bear to see Qin Gong suffer injustice.

“Chancellor, please leave,” Qin Gong suddenly spoke. “The Marquis will not agree.”

Su Mingyuan narrowed his eyes. “Vice Minister Qin should think carefully. Without the protection of power, how far can you two go in this capital city?”

After seeing Su Mingyuan off, Wu Ge tightly held Qin Gong’s hand. “I’m sorry, I dragged you into this.”

“Don’t say such foolish things.” Qin Gong smiled. “I care more about you than about power.”

However, reality was far more brutal than imagined. As General Zhao suffered continuous defeats, the calls for Wu Ge’s return grew louder in court, but the Emperor consistently refused to yield.

One day, Qin Gong was surrounded by several ruffians on the street. Although he was eventually rescued by patrolling soldiers, it was clear to anyone with eyes that this was deliberate intimidation.

“They are warning us,” Wu Ge said, his face grim. “If I don’t compromise soon, next time it won’t just be a warning.”

Qin Gong looked at the deep darkness outside the window and said softly, “Perhaps… we should leave the capital.”

“Go where?”

“Anywhere is fine,” Qin Gong leaned on his shoulder. “As long as I am with you.”

Just the night before they planned to leave the capital, disastrous news arrived from the border: General Zhao was killed in battle, and Liangzhou City had fallen.

The Northern Di iron cavalry was now pointing directly at the capital.