Chapter 32: The Underworld Purge Operation

Whoever benefits the most is the prime suspect. If only one person gains from it, that person is most likely the true culprit.

Liu Bei found Yang Qiu’s suspicion quite reasonable; indeed, Wang Pu was the most likely suspect.

But the problem was that Wang Pu was currently the most powerful eunuch. His entire family—father, brothers, and sons—held high-ranking positions as ministers, governors, and magistrates throughout the Han Empire. His clan was entrenched in power and influence.

Considering his own safety, Liu Bei truly did not want to get involved in such a high-stakes affair.

Yet Yang Qiu mentioned the title “Champion Marquis”...

Liu Bei knew exactly how Wang Pu had earned that title.

In the first year of the Xiping era, Wang Pu orchestrated the accusation of Prince Bohai, Liu Kui, for treason. Liu Kui was imprisoned by imperial decree and died in custody, leading to the abolition of the Bohai fief.

At that time, Emperor Liu Hong ascended the throne thanks to his youth and the support of his maternal relatives. Before becoming emperor, he was merely a distant member of the royal family, holding the title Marquis of Jiedu Pavilion, only distantly related to the deceased Emperor Huan, Liu Zhi.

Prince Bohai Liu Kui, however, was Emperor Huan’s own younger brother—the closest royal bloodline to the late emperor.

The year Liu Kui died in the imperial prison was also when Liu Hong began his personal rule.

Moreover, Liu Kui’s death was officially ruled a “suicide” in prison...

Since there was no concrete evidence of treason against Liu Kui, it was assumed he “took his own life out of guilt.”

In reality, many officials had been implicated in the partisan purges. To prevent these partisans from rallying behind Liu Kui as a rival claimant, Wang Pu had to brand him a traitor first, thus averting any threat to the throne.

By eliminating the royal closest in blood to Emperor Huan, Wang Pu secured the emperor’s position.

For this, Liu Hong granted Wang Pu the title of Champion Marquis.

But to Liu Bei, this was utterly revolting.

The title Champion Marquis ought to belong to a peerless hero like Huo Qubing, a military conqueror crowned with glory—not a scheming, power-hungry eunuch!

How could a mere eunuch stand on the same footing as a warrior who had conquered the wilderness?

To bestow the title of Champion Marquis upon a eunuch was, in Liu Bei’s eyes, far worse than openly selling government offices.

It was an insult to the soldiers who had died for the country, an affront to the centuries of Han glory!

Ever since Wang Pu, the title Champion Marquis became a disgrace. No Han son would willingly accept it.

Yet Wang Pu dared to claim the title for himself, flaunting it everywhere with pride.

For this alone, he deserved death!

...Death, without exception!

“With Wang Pu’s current power... how can the Directorate of Justice deal with him?” Liu Bei asked.

Though Liu Bei was a man from another time, his blood still boiled with a few drops of righteousness; he could no longer shirk the risk.

“The emperor favors Wang Pu now, so I cannot have him imprisoned directly,” Yang Qiu replied.

“But Wang Pu has an adopted son, Wang Meng, the Junior Steward of the Eternal Joy Palace. This man is arrogant and lawless. I can find a charge to imprison Wang Meng for interrogation.”

“However, as a palace official, I cannot subject Wang Meng to brutal torture. That’s why I need you to coerce him in prison, forcing him to confess Wang Pu’s collusion with the Xianbei that led to the army’s defeat and national humiliation.”

“Concrete evidence is not necessary. As long as Wang Meng implicates Wang Pu, I can bring the villain to justice and eradicate him utterly.”

Yang Qiu looked at Liu Bei, implying that he wanted Liu Bei to torment Wang Pu’s adopted son in prison, forcing him to betray Wang Pu.

So he didn’t want Liu Bei as an undercover agent, but as a prison bully?

Moreover, it wasn’t even about gathering real evidence; even if Wang Meng framed Wang Pu, as long as Yang Qiu had a pretext to imprison Wang Pu, it would suffice.

At this, Liu Bei felt somewhat relieved.

After pondering, Liu Bei looked at Yang Qiu again. “What if the real culprit isn’t Wang Pu?”

“It can only be him, and must be him,” Yang Qiu said firmly. “When the proposal to campaign against the Xianbei was made in the court, I was present and witnessed Wang Pu urging the emperor to launch the attack. If it’s not Wang Pu... hmph...” He shot Liu Bei a sharp glance. “The true mastermind can only be Wang Pu.”

Liu Bei was silent.

Yes, it could only be Wang Pu.

“Is it easy to find a charge against Wang Meng? And if he refuses to betray Wang Pu, what then?” Liu Bei asked, shifting the topic to practical matters.

“Charges are easy to find. But if Wang Meng chooses to die rather than yield... then his death is due to your bullying of prisoners. No one else is responsible,” Yang Qiu said candidly. “I have already told you the entire plan to eliminate this traitor. If you refuse to act, I will have to kill you to keep the secret.”

Indeed, Yang Qiu had revealed the entire scheme to Liu Bei. If Liu Bei backed out, Yang Qiu would be forced to silence him.

So Wang Meng must be made to confess Wang Pu...

This was the token of loyalty Yang Qiu demanded from Liu Bei. If he did not cooperate, he would die immediately. If he failed, he would rot in prison until death.

Liu Bei thought Yang Qiu was truly a gangster worth learning from.

“This matter is perilous. I fear I may never emerge once imprisoned. Outside, there is a courtesan named Zuo Ji. I entrust the Directorate of Justice to look after her.”

After careful thought, Liu Bei mentioned Zuo Yuan.

“A courtesan? I see you brought Cao’s horses and mentioned Cao Mengde’s reputation earlier. So you have ties with the Cao family... But you earned your position through military merit. How could you be like Cao Cao, that eunuch’s son who indulges in pleasures?” Yang Qiu sneered and shook his head. “If you ask me to look after that courtesan, is it because you intend to take her as a concubine?”

Yang Qiu clearly disliked all eunuchs, and by extension, Cao Cao as well.

“Since Wang Meng is Junior Steward of the Eternal Joy Palace, he naturally handles tribute. And Zuo Ji is a tribute courtesan, so she should be registered under the Junior Steward.”

Liu Bei looked Yang Qiu in the eye and said seriously, “I do not seek to take her as a concubine. She is my comrade-in-arms. Together, we seek to purge the Han from corruption...”

***

Wang Meng, Junior Steward of Eternal Joy Palace.

The Junior Steward managed the imperial household’s wealth, and the Eternal Joy Palace was the Empress Dowager’s residence.

Wang Meng was essentially the Empress Dowager’s steward.

The position of Junior Steward of Eternal Joy Palace was the most lucrative post in all of Han, because it was the easiest place to amass wealth—without equal.

The emperor’s steward might have to justify his graft, but the Empress Dowager’s steward could act without reason or law.

After all, the Empress Dowager’s affairs were beyond legal jurisdiction, family discipline barely applied, and the emperor himself had to observe filial piety.

Moreover, Wang Meng’s godfather was the influential eunuch Wang Pu. With such a powerful protector, Wang Meng lived a life of luxury.

Once one lives well, naturally one desires more—multiple concubines, numerous children.

In recent years, Wang Meng’s harem had grown rapidly, nearing a hundred concubines.

His children had also surpassed double digits. If he lived a few more years, he might rival the famed Prince Jing of Zhongshan.

But many children also meant many worries.

If he ever lost his position...

It would be best to be granted a marquisate like his godfather, to provide for his descendants.

“Master, tribute has arrived at the Yellow Gate Music Department. Would you like to inspect it?” a subordinate reported to Wang Meng.

Technically, the Junior Steward should not be addressed as “Master,” but simply by his title.

Yet Wang Meng was different... He was not originally surnamed Wang. If called “Junior Steward Wang,” he might get beaten.

But if not addressed as “Master,” he might also get beaten.