Chapter Sixty-Four: Bestowed the Title of Marquis

Majestic Han Palace, the endless joy of Chang’an.
Golden glazed tiles crowned the layered eaves of the grand halls, harmonizing perfectly with the azure sky; the towering vermilion pillars seemed unbreakable, steadfast in their duty.
The flagstones underfoot, resembling white jade, ascended stair by stair, leading toward the pinnacle of countless aspirations.
The palatial halls loomed with solemn grandeur amidst verdant, ancient trees. Fragments of Han tiles still lingered, yet their glory had faded from bygone days.
Upon the dignified court, Dong Zhuo sat with sword at his side, boots on, sprawling with a boldness that acknowledged no one.
Yet someone sat beside him.
A youth, keen-eyed and dignified, wore the black jade crown adorned with twelve tassels, and the ceremonial robe of dark upper and scarlet lower patterns. His posture was upright, exuding a measure of authority.
He was the Son of Heaven, Liu Xie. Beyond his imperial title, he was indeed exceptional; Dong Zhuo’s audacity to depose the former emperor was in no small part due to this boy’s courage and bearing.
Yet, he was still too young.
Fortunately, he was still too young.
“Your Majesty, Zhang Yu from Zhongshan, famed for brewing fine wine, has arrived in Chang’an. Would you like to summon him for an audience?”
“If the Chancellor wishes to see him, let him be summoned.”
“Ah, Your Majesty is busy with affairs of state, there’s little reason for a meeting. It would be better to grant him some rewards.”
The youth frowned at this, then adjusted his tone slightly, “So the Chancellor’s intention is…”
“Just bestow him a marquisate, give him a hollow title, and send him off to brew wine under imperial decree!” Dong Zhuo declared carelessly.
“That cannot be!” The young emperor seemed to hear something of utmost severity, losing his composure in his urgency. “To be granted a marquisate in the Han is the highest honor—how can it be treated so lightly—”
“Lightly?” From the ranks below, a minister stepped forward. Liu Xie looked and recognized him as Li Ru, the one who had caused his brother’s death—Li Wenyou!
“What is the Han’s marquisate? During Emperor Wu’s reign, there was Tian Fen, an arrogant kinsman who was granted the title of Marquis Wu’an; the alchemist Luan Da, merely for offering so-called ‘immortal prescriptions,’ was made Marquis Letong; as for Dong Xian… does Your Majesty need me to continue?”
“Li Ru! Your arguments are twisted!” Liu Xie was furious, yet could not find a retort. He wished to have this sinister man dragged away and torn apart by horses, but who would heed his command?
“Chancellor, this must not be done!” An official cried out.

“What’s so unacceptable?”
“The founder decreed, none but those of Liu blood shall be made kings, and marquisates awarded only for military merit—”
“The rebellion of the Lü clan shattered that rule, didn’t it?” Li Ru squinted at him. “Besides, of those I mentioned, which had military merit?”
“He’s just a brewer!” Liu Xie mustered his courage and called out to Dong Zhuo.
“What of it!” Dong Zhuo slammed the table, startling the court into silence. “Without fine wine, where would my warriors find their valor in battle? Without battle, who would safeguard your throne? If not for my diligence in protecting the Han, the realm would have long fallen to those rats from the east!”
All were speechless, none dared respond. Dong Zhuo drew his sword and pointed at the minister, “You! You’re ruining the state! If I grant a marquisate, who dares object?”
But the minister did not flinch, shouting at Dong Zhuo, “Dong Zhuo, the true ruiner of the Han is you, you villain! Witness my loyalty and courage, spilled upon you!”
With those words, Ding Guan hurled his ivory tablet at Dong Zhuo, who sprang up to dodge, appearing quite discomposed.
“Insolence!” Dong Zhuo roared. “Guards, seize him—execute him!”
Several warriors rushed forward and dragged Ding Guan away. His curses echoed until they abruptly ceased.
Dong Zhuo stormed out, leaving behind a trembling young emperor—uncertain whether from anger or fear—and terrified, silent ministers.
“Wenyou, have I gone too far today?”
“No need for concern, Grand Tutor. These ministers have no other skills, but their words are sharp. With your and my status as outsiders, winning their hearts is impossible. Only with strength, with force, with the might of our Xiliang warriors and your supreme authority, can we stand firm in this court.” Li Ru replied.
“But granting a marquisate—this is no trivial matter…” Only before Li Ru did Dong Zhuo show a less hardened side.
“Precisely because it is a marquisate—an important matter! The title is not for others, but for yourself and the Dong clan. You now bear the title of Marquis of Mei, earned through your service to the throne, but to truly subdue them, your word must be kingly, weighty, unchallenged.”
Li Ru spoke steadily, “Because granting a marquisate is difficult, you must decide. Who receives it is secondary; the crucial point is that the decider is you, Grand Tutor.
Zhang Yu is merely a test stone. If His Majesty firmly opposes, I have other plans; if he agrees, you can grant rewards without restraint.
Besides, the marquisate is but an empty honor, not a significant cost. If even a brewer can be ennobled by your hand, who in the court would dare challenge your authority, and who among our warriors would dare hesitate in their loyalty?”
“That’s true enough. But I won’t grant it unless he offers five jars of the Jade Emperor’s Drunken Elixir.
Also, Dong Min and Dong Huang—Feng’er already has the title of Lord Weiyang, but these two must have marquisates as well.” Dong Zhuo nodded in agreement, then patted Li Ru’s shoulder, “With Wenyou, I can rest easy!”

“Ru thanks Grand Tutor for your trust!”
Departing from Dong Zhuo, Li Ru left the palace alone.
As Dong Zhuo’s most trusted strategist, his loyalty was unwavering, but even more remarkable was his immense ability.
He had elevated a minor warlord of Xiliang step by step to the greatest overlord in the realm; Dong Zhuo owed much of his rise to Li Ru, and it was impossible to calculate his contributions precisely.
No one understood better than he the true hearts of these ministers. If you are fierce as a tiger, they cower like mice; if you show weakness, adopting a gentle and wise demeanor, they will scheme to destroy you.
No one knew more keenly than he how difficult it was for Dong Zhuo and himself to gain a foothold in the court. This world belonged to the aristocratic clans; he sought to achieve unprecedented feats, to overturn the rule of these gentry families. Only Dong Zhuo dared attempt it, and for that, he was willing to offer his entire cunning, even his life.
If you are defiant, I will force you to submit, force you to obey.
If Jia Xu was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, outwardly harmless but full of poisonous plots, then Li Ru was an unmasked viper, coiled beside Dong Zhuo, ensuring that any threat to Dong Zhuo’s ambition met a venomous end.
Below the guesthouse, a man and a woman stood.
“Han boy, will you let me in or not?”
“Miss Dong… Young Lady, the young master is still resting. Please wait here for a moment—”
“What’s there to wait for! My time is precious; I won’t waste it here. I am going in to find him!”
“Young Lady, shall I announce your arrival to the young master?”
“Get out of my way!”
Today, Dong Bai was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit of bright green, looking especially spirited. Seeing Han Long blocking her way, she drew her sword from her waist, “If you don’t let me through, I’ll kill you!”
“By the young master’s order, I must obey,” Han Long said, drawing his gleaming blade as well, “Miss Dong, forgive my rudeness!”