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Fei Min's concession allowed Fei Qian to breathe a sigh of relief.
This was always the way at the negotiation table. The one who could no longer resist broaching the main topic first was the one who had already lost the psychological upper hand. That Fei Min was no longer beating around the bush and was preparing to discuss the current situation could, to some extent, be considered a form of acknowledgment towards Fei Qian.
When Fei Qian had first returned to Luoyang, he had once attempted to communicate with Fei Min, but that attempt had been a complete failure. At that time, Fei Min still regarded Fei Qian as a pawn to be utilized, even going so far as to imply that Fei Qian could be abandoned for the benefit of the Fei clan.
But now, although Fei Min had not explicitly stated that he was convinced or anything of the sort, he had at least adopted the posture of sitting down as an equal to talk.
Previously, no matter how bad Fei Min's attitude had been, even to the point of greedily attempting to seize the belongings left by Fei Qian's father, Fei Qian had still done his utmost to maintain a humble stance and avoid direct conflict with the Fei family. The most important reason for this was that the Han Dynasty was an era where the scholar clans held the overwhelming majority of the power of discourse.
Early in the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang, in order to eliminate the old feudal lords and nobles left over from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods who clung to the theory of bloodline, had mixed in a great deal of sand by enfeoffing numerous princes. His intention was to use these Liu surname kings to suppress the old forces in various regions—namely the Six Great Ministers that had existed since the Spring and Autumn period: the Zhao, Han, Wei, Zhi, Fan, and Zhonghang clans. However, he had not anticipated that these newly enfeoffed imperial clan princes would become new malignant tumors.
This was because, at the very beginning of the Han Dynasty, these princes held extremely great power. They had independent judicial, administrative, and military authority, and could even mint their own currency, effectively becoming states within a state. Furthermore, the legalist, strategist, syncretist, and other schools of thought left over from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods attached themselves to these princes. For their own benefit, they engaged in mutual intrigue, with some even goading the Liu princes to rebel...
These people all knew what kind of person Liu Bang truly was, and what the so-called 'slaying of the white serpent at Mount Mangdang' was really all about. Since Liu Bang had had the opportunity to become emperor, and his subordinates like Zhang Liang and Chen Ping enjoyed the sacrifices, why couldn't they do the same?
During the reigns of Emperor Jing and Emperor Wu of Han, in order to control the increasingly unwieldy imperial clan princes and also to safeguard imperial power, the father and son implemented a series of measures. Because the Crown Prince Liu Rong had failed to meet Emperor Jing's expectations, Emperor Jing did not hesitate to have Liu Rong killed on a very ridiculous charge, paving the way for Liu Che, Emperor Wu of Han, to ascend the throne.
But what Emperor Jing and Emperor Wu had not foreseen was that, through various means, they had eliminated the old six ministers left from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, only to allow more minor noble families to develop. They had originally believed that by suppressing the legalist, strategist, syncretist, and other schools and leaving only Confucianism, which promoted the emperor as the Son of Heaven, would be more conducive to the rule of the central government. However, they had not expected that Dong Zhongshu's so-called Confucianism was actually built by pilfering some of the main ideas and literature of the legalist, strategist, and syncretist schools. On one hand, it promoted the divine mandate of the Son of Heaven, while on the other, it mixed in a great deal of private content intended to limit the unlimited expansion of imperial power.
The most typical example is the so-called 'interaction between Heaven and mankind,' where disasters sent down by Heaven were warnings against the emperor's lack of virtue...
After more than three hundred years, by now, the new scholar clans that had grown up under the banner of Confucianism held the reins of the entire empire's government. They formed a vast community of interests with a relatively complete set of values and concepts, subconsciously adhered to by the entire scholar clan.
For instance, if Fei Qian, while still an obscure collateral relative, had brazenly opposed the main Fei family, although the family head, Fei Min, might not have necessarily punished Fei Qian, once word got out, everyone from scholar clans would have intentionally or unintentionally shunned this Fei Qian for his poor character, and all doors to advancement would have been closed to him.
Just like some individuals within certain noble families today who are sidelined, they have no other path besides withdrawing from the world.
But now things were rather different. Fei Qian was not only a collateral branch of the Fei family but also the son-in-law of the Huang family of Jingxiang. To a certain extent, he could also represent the Jingxiang scholar clans. Therefore, some conflicts with Fei Min on certain issues became normal disputes of interest between scholar clans, unrelated to matters of character or the like.
This was also the main reason why Fei Min had ultimately given up on using kinship or his status as family head to apply pressure. Because for Fei Qian now, whether the Fei family supported him or not was no longer of utmost importance. It would be better to have it, but it wouldn't matter if he didn't...
Of course, to put it another way, if he could gain the support of the Fei family, regardless of how much it actually increased his strength, at least in terms of public opinion, Fei Min would step forward to defend and promote him.
The noble scholar clans were the driving force of the Han Dynasty's progress, but they were also its impediment...
Fei Qian placed his hands on his knees and did not answer immediately. After a long silence, he said, "The current situation is confusing and unpredictable. Perhaps I am ignorant, or perhaps, even though there is chaos, it will surely not last long and will be resolved quickly?"
This was the presumptuous statement Fei Min had made when Fei Qian last visited. By bringing up the past, Fei Qian not only wanted to sound out Fei Min's current attitude but, more importantly, to disrupt his rhythm...
Fei Min, having been interrupted by Fei Qian, was somewhat displeased. He said, "Nephew, I have shown you sincerity. Why do you speak jestingly?"
"My abruptness deserves your forgiveness, Uncle. I wonder if anyone from the Yuan residence has visited before?"
Fei Min blinked, stroking his beard over and over again, evidently considering whether to speak. Finally, he made up his mind and said, "Indeed... an official from the Grand Tutor's office came visiting previously."
"And did he not mention the Yellow Turbans at Hangu Pass at all, only speaking of the court's turmoil and the need to join forces to uphold the state?"
Fei Min stared at Fei Qian for a while before saying, "Indeed."
Naturally, there were also some hints about promotions after stabilizing the state and so on. Such things didn't need to be said aloud; both of them understood clearly.
The official from the Grand Tutor's office naturally wouldn't be so foolish as to tell Fei Min explicitly that they wanted Fei Qian to keep his mouth shut, to say what should be said and avoid what shouldn't. In their view, making such a gesture was enough. Everyone was sensible and didn't require special explanation.
Fei Qian sighed and said, "Uncle, do you know... why Senior Official Li has not sent anyone?"
"Senior Official Li?" Fei Min certainly knew who this senior official referred to. He pinched his beard, pondering, his eyes darting about.
As the head of a scholar clan, although the Heluo Fei family wasn't particularly large, he was, after all, not a foolish man, having not only studied the classics thoroughly and achieved some cultural accomplishment. Upon hearing Fei Qian's words, he understood Fei Qian's meaning.
The reasons Li Ru hadn't sent anyone were either that he hadn't thought of it, or that he simply didn't care...
And given Li Ru's character, was it possible he hadn't thought of it?
Obviously not. So it could only mean one thing: Li Ru simply had no intention of wasting words on whether it was the Yellow Turbans at Hangu Pass or not. Either he didn't plan to investigate, or he had already made up his mind and was merely deciding when to act...
This also indicated, from another perspective, that the Yuan residence was now losing its composure...
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A/N: Among the scholar clans, there were quite a few individuals who, because their views conflicted with their families', found themselves confined for life... The Han Dynasty was an era that emphasized reputation. Liu Bei, at the very beginning, didn't even have a seat and could only bring his own folding stool. It wasn't until later, after being acknowledged by Emperor Xian of Han, that he truly began to rise to prominence...