Anshi: The Lost Eagle of the Steppes

Drunken Rambling

The next time they met, two nights before the caravans left for Qian, Anshi and the High Minister had been avoiding each other. Anshi was giving the High Minister the cold shoulder as usual. His equilibrium was off-center when Han was around. There was something so off-putting as the older man seemed to come out of nowhere, watching him. So used to their history, Anshi was always on edge, convinced that High Minister Han was going to fall into the old role of critical analyst, finding fault, expressing disapproval with a side glance and tight lips. He HADN'T yet, but he COULD. And Anshi was no longer a frightened friendless child desperate for never offered approval. Besides, the Eunuch had been a kid too, at the time, hadn't he? Finally, he decided to act first and invited the Minister over for a light dinner and some drinks. He felt more secure in his own home. At least he didn't need an instrument of torture hanging around to remind him to be perfect, flawless, and eternally cautious.

The dinner had been business as usual, and Anshi decided to be blunt. "High Minister Han, you have been here several days and I am sure you have seen a lot of my management skills. I wish you would get to it and offer any advice on my many errors. I am sure your list is extensive."

Han looked at Anshi in astonishment. "Why on earth would I offer any advice to you, Chieftain? I am not here to judge your leadership and if I were, I have seen no faults. I was not here to look for any. Chieftain, we have mutual enemies. In my business, I would never allow my country to ally itself with someone who was a weak and inefficient leader. You are neither of those."

Anshi absorbed this then walked over and removed a bottle of liquor from his cabinet.
"I may have misjudged you in this matter. I apologize."

Han nodded his acceptance of the apology. "What is the liquor?"

"My brother Wei Ying's favorite. Emperor's Smile."

"I have tried it before, at a bar in Gusu. I like it."

"You surprise me, High Minister. You have a lighter side."

"At times." He knocked the drink back and held the cup out for a refill. Anshi quickly complied and did the same for himself.

"I do not know much about you, whereas you know all of my childhood story. You have me at a dis-advantage, and I find I do not like that."

Han looked at him cautiously. "Go on."

"I have been curious, since the day I met you. I have never heard a thing about your circumstances. I would like to hear it. But if it is something you do not wish to discuss, I will not press."

For a moment Anshi thought he had seen a look of fear on the Minister's face. The older man took a moment before formulating his reply. "I...had not thought that my story would interest you. And I am...not sure. The one living person that knows the details, outside of my family, is the Dower Queen. I am not ...a man who divulges personal matters easily. I do not trust many. Anshi, ours is not an easy relationship and I have never deliberately handed this knowledge to anyone unless they have my trust."

"High Minister, the one thing that I know about you is that you are absolutely a man of your word. I hope you can say that about me. If you do, then I would listen, without judgment. Think on it. If the answer is no, I will not be offended."

Anshi started to turn away but the measured tone of the High Minister stopped him. "I think this may take several more drinks first."

He drank the next cup as quickly as the first two and it still took a while for him to find his words.

"I remember when I was 4, how drastically my life changed.

My father was a mid-level administrator and had reach the pinnacle of what he could achieve. I had two older brothers whom I adored and being the baby, I was the special apple of my mother's eye. I remember that my parents began arguing one day, their voices muffled and harsh. It was not like them, and I knew, whatever was being discussed, my father had prevailed, leaving my mother weeping behind locked doors.