He was the third son among Emperor Pei Hui of Beicang, the founding emperor of Beicang, and Lady Meng, a woman with whom Pei Hui had an illicit affair.
Before the age of eleven, he was placed by Pei Hui in an imperial villa on the outskirts of Yanzhou, forbidden from appearing in public. To outsiders, it was said only that the Third Prince suffered from a severe illness and needed convalescence. Every day, he could do nothing but watch the sunrise and sunset within the confines of a single garden.
At the age of six, when he began his formal education, Pei Hui arranged for a tutor to teach him. It was then that he first met anyone other than the eunuchs and maids who served him.
He was highly intelligent, grasping everything the tutor taught him with ease. By the age of ten, he had already read extensively across the Hundred Schools of Thought. The tutor often sighed while looking at him, lamenting that if this child had been born from one of the emperor’s legitimate consorts, he would surely have risen above all other princes, become crown prince, and later a wise sovereign.
These praises eventually reached Pei Hui. He came to see this son and, indeed, found Mei Yan extraordinary in both appearance and demeanor. Delighted, he said, “When I conquer the south of Jiangnan in the future, I shall appoint you as a king there.”
Pei Hui had long coveted the fertile lands of Jiangnan, as well as the Later Yue and Later Sui territories in the southwest. Yet since they could not be taken in a short time, Mei Yan said, “As recorded in the Art of War, Yi Zhi served Xia, Lü Ya served Shang. The rise of Zhou was aided by Lü Ya in Shang. In the conquest of the six states by Qin, spies among officials and rulers played an indispensable role…” He elaborated on the importance of intelligence gathering and advised Pei Hui to recruit talented persuaders, wanderers, and mystics to act as covert agents, infiltrating Later Yue and Later Sui to observe their courts.
Pei Hui was overjoyed. “Yes, yes, you are right. I will have Chancellor Zhang handle this immediately.”
“Your Majesty,” Mei Yan said, kneeling, “if Chancellor Zhang acts openly, word may spread and alert Later Yue and Later Sui. Once they become wary, it will be difficult to operate.”
“Why not allow me to secretly go to Later Yue instead? I can recruit men there, gather intelligence, and send reports back to Beicang. When the time is right, we can march south…”
He volunteered not only to serve as an intelligence agent but also to find his own path out of confinement. Since Beicang had no place for him, he would leave for now.
At that time, Beicang had only recently been founded, and Pei Hui was eager to consolidate power and establish a wise ruler’s image. He had no desire to keep this illegitimate son too close. Yet hearing of Mei Yan’s talent, he was pleasantly surprised. “A child with such ambition. Very well, I will consider it.”
“However, once you leave Yanzhou, you must act with extreme caution. Do not reveal your identity, and do not place yourself in danger. Understand?”
“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty,” Mei Yan replied. “I will remember it.”
Thus, preparations for his departure to Later Yue began. Pei Hui also bestowed upon him a new name, Pei Jin.
Two months later, as Beicang and Later Yue were engaged in battle at Yingtian City, Mei Yan first traveled there under the guise of supplying the army. Soon after, he established a new identity along the border between Beicang and Later Yue: Mei Yan, son of Mei Tingyu, a scholar from a prominent Later Yue family in Changshu who had once traveled north to lecture but had died prematurely by drowning.
Upon arriving in Lin’an, he did not rush into gathering intelligence. Instead, he studied under various masters, formally becoming a disciple of the renowned scholar Fan Dun, learning poetry and composition.
Over eleven years had passed. He now spoke fluent Lin’an dialect, his essays and poems were widely praised, and he had become well acquainted with the young noblemen of Lin’an. They often gathered to travel, drink, and compose poetry together.
He also knew the noble ladies of Lin’an, though he rarely remembered their faces. The only exception was a glimpse he once caught during the Shangsi Festival the previous year. At that time, he and his companions encountered the procession of Crown Prince Song Yu and his consort. Among them, the beauty of Cheng Zhixiang struck him like a sudden flash of brilliance. He quickly averted his gaze.
Yet his heart remained undisturbed.
Then, as he turned away, he inadvertently saw another young lady beside her whose figure was similar but features softer, her eyes brighter, less composed than Cheng Zhixiang’s. She seemed younger, lively and innocent, lifting her skirt as she ran lightly with a faint sheen of sweat at her temples.
She reached the roadside where peach blossoms were in full bloom, the trees heavy with pink petals like clouds of rosy mist. Standing beneath the blossoms, she spread her sleeves to catch petals drifting in the wind, leaning casually against a tree trunk with a bright, unrestrained smile as her hair ornaments swayed gently.
Occasionally butterflies would pass by, and she would sweep her wide sleeves upward, sending petals flying into the air to dance with them.
Something struck his heart at that moment.
Although her elder sister was even more beautiful, his gaze lingered longer on the younger girl, unwilling to look away. He scolded himself inwardly for being so improper. He thought the feeling would fade quickly, yet the girl’s image took root within him like wild seeds scattered into soil, growing endlessly, persistently.
So this was the inexplicable nature of human emotion.
Then he would marry her, he eventually thought. But how to do so required careful planning.
At the end of the second lunar month this year, Pei Hui’s iron cavalry of Beicang had conquered Shu, and the land of abundance had fallen under Pei rule. With Beicang’s influence spreading southward, it was clear that war with Later Yue was inevitable.
And finally, his opportunity had come.
Following Mei Yan’s earlier advice, Pei Hui sent multiple spies into Later Sui, and earlier this year Later Sui was destroyed. Now Beicang was eager to cross the river and attack Later Yue, but lacked a just cause for war. The Later Yue emperor Song Yu ruled prudently and left no obvious pretext for invasion.
Understanding Pei Hui’s intent, Mei Yan sent a secret letter to Yanzhou. In it, he wrote that although Later Yue’s generals were mediocre, its southern wealth supported an army of no less than four hundred thousand soldiers. They were loyal and far from disorganized rabble. Without certainty of victory, a hasty war would bring heavy casualties and exhaust grain and manpower.
It would be wiser to erode them slowly while waiting for the right opportunity.
After laying out the risks and benefits, he added that long ago Beicang had once sent an envoy to Later Yue to propose marriage alliance and tribute, only to be rejected. Envoy Gao Yao had returned in humiliation, leaving Beicang somewhat embarrassed.
Now, they could use this old matter and send Gao Yao again to propose marriage and tribute. Times had changed. The new emperor Song Yu was weak and would not dare refuse as his predecessor had. If he agreed, Beicang could buy time and stabilize the situation.
As for the marriage, Mei Yan wrote that since Later Yue’s royal family had no marriageable princesses, he was willing to marry Cheng Yunxiang, daughter of the Ding’an Marquis, and requested that this be included in the imperial edict carried by the envoy.
After finishing the letter, he stepped out of his study and looked north.
Eleven years earlier, when he left Yanzhou, it had been deep autumn. Dragon Pavilion Lake was lined with reeds swaying in the wind, and the trees along the shore glowed in shades of red, orange, and gold. The lake was clear and bright, birds skimmed the surface leaving trails of water like scattered jewels, almost dreamlike.
He missed home.
Over the years, his network of spies in Later Yue had already formed an extensive web. Every move of its court was under his surveillance. It was time for him to return to Yanzhou.
To make the marriage appear more legitimate, he bribed others to persuade Prince Song Jiming, using the prince’s affection for his daughter to induce the Song household to adopt Cheng Yunxiang as an adopted daughter, thereby elevating her status to that of a royal kin. The Song household, fearing she might be selected for marriage alliance, eagerly agreed.
…
Five days later, Emperor Pei Hui of Beicang received the secret letter and asked his ministers, “What do you think of Jin’er’s proposal?”
Chancellor Zhang Xiliang read it and said, “The Third Prince’s plan is sound, steady, and far-sighted.”
Pei Hui rose from the throne, his broad face and tiger-like eyes fixed on Zhang Xiliang. “He does not seek a princess of Later Yue, but a daughter of the Cheng family. I have heard the Cheng sisters of Jiangnan are both peerless beauties. It seems he is both acting for the realm and moved by beauty.”
“Your Majesty,” Zhang Xiliang replied, “as far as I know, the Emperor of Later Yue greatly favors Consort Chen, and she in turn deeply cherishes her younger sister. The Cheng daughters may carry no less weight than imperial princesses.”
“Moreover, Later Yue currently has no marriageable princess. Only the adopted daughter of Prince Song Jiming remains, but Prince Song holds no real power. In my view, she is inferior to the Cheng daughter.”
Pei Hui remained irritated.
Zhang Xiliang continued, “In the past, Han and Southern Xiongnu formed alliances. Lady Zhaojun was merely a palace attendant. Your Majesty need not be constrained by status…”
Beicang’s concern was Later Yue’s tribute, not the identity of the woman.
Pei Hui’s expression darkened. “Southern Xiongnu cannot be compared to Beicang.”
Zhang Xiliang immediately bowed. “This minister spoke improperly. Please punish me, Your Majesty.”
Pei Hui quickly eased his expression. “Enough. What you say is not without reason. Tribute is what we require. Proceed with Jin’er’s plan and send Gao Yao to Lin’an at once.”
He urgently needed funds to train a naval force.
…
Chang Wuji hurried to the inn to meet the Beicang envoy Gao Yao. Gao Yao did not rise when he arrived, only casting a cold, disdainful glance. “Lord Chang?”
It had been Chang Wuji who first met him over a decade ago, though back then he had received a cold rejection from Emperor Song Ting.
Gao Yao was tall but gaunt, like a dried branch, his hollow cheeks giving him a sharp, unpleasant air.
“Lord Gao,” Chang Wuji forced a polite smile, though he was displeased. “It has been many years. Your demeanor remains unchanged.”
“Lord Chang seems more refined than before. It seems Jiangnan’s climate is indeed more nourishing than the north.”
Chang Wuji’s smile stiffened. “You flatter me.”
After three rounds of tea, Gao Yao finally smiled faintly and turned to the main topic.
“This official has been entrusted by His Majesty to propose a marriage alliance between our two states. Our Third Prince wishes to marry the second daughter of the Ding’an Marquis, Cheng Yunxiang. What does Lord Chang think of this proposal?”
Ding’an Marquis’s second daughter.