Du Qian Men
A low-ranking but talented bureaucrat before the Ascension, Du Qian Men was recognized and promoted to Minister of the Censurate by Emperor Zou. One of his first duties was to punish the Zhang Family for their support of the old emperor.
After political conflicts in Zou's court led to the endangerment of his daughter, Du Qian Men attempted to use the Zhangs and Ruya Ilkin as leverage to save his family before being persuaded by Rui Sheng to side with the Zhangs and their allies and start the War of Eternal Day. Qian Men was part of the assassination team and saved Zhang Xiong's life. His daughter, Rui Sheng, married Zhang Huai Shi after the war.
Qian Men worked in military administration in his younger years before the Ascension. His work was thorough and objective, though often his data compilations changed as they passed through the hands of upper administration. Despite the high quality of his work, Qian Men was passed over for promotions and often pressured to work longer hours, given the most difficult tasks, and bullied or disregarded because of his low birth and status. Nevertheless, then-General Zou noticed that the department where Qian Men worked had the ability to respond to increasingly difficult orders within a short amount of time. Though the administration head, Pan Shoushan, claimed the credit, Zou knew that the man was not intelligent enough to produce such results. He eventually found Qian Men and offered him a position as his aide. Qian Men turned it down because it would take him away from his ailing wife, Du Wen, but Zou made a point of stopping in when he could personally deliver an assignment or wanted Qian Men's analysis of a person or situation.
Shortly after his Ascension, Zou summoned Qian Men to his court in Longjiang and offered him the position of Minister of the Censorate. He praised Qian Men and told him it was time to receive credit for his talents. Qian Men thanked the emperor and accepted the appointment, hopeful that Zou would continue to make merit-based appointments in secular and religious positions and change the empire for the better, creating a brighter future for his daughter Rui Sheng.
As Minister of the Censorate, Qian Men was tasked with auditing the other ministries for corruption or incompetence and reporting directly to the emperor. Qian Men's first assignment was to carry out the punishment of the Cold Wolf Sect. When Qian Men asked if that wasn't better carried out by the Ministry of Defense, Zou brusquely agreed, but said that he wanted Qian Men to personally take care of the Zhang family. Qian Men realized that rather than an impartial third party to the administration of the empire, he was to be the emperor's sword - someone who could enact reprisal against any ministry or office that offended Zou. Qian Men sought out Zhang Xiong and told him that he could save Xiong and his family if Xiong appealed to the emperor's vanity and gave a public apology for his sect's corruption. Qian Men persuaded Zou to accept Xiong's humiliation and spare the lives of the family. Zou agreed, but arranged for He Shirong to remove Xiong's golden core as additional punishment and insurance that Xiong would not bring him any trouble. Zou also brought Qian Men and his daughter into the palace to reside there under his power.
Throughout his reign, Zou continued to have Qian Men police his ministries and enact brutal punishments against those who displeased him. Any resistance from Qian Men brought tighter restrictions to his and his daughter's freedoms; Qian Men learned quickly that Zou was willing to swiftly carry out threats. As he had when working as an anonymous bureaucrat, Qian Men kept his head down and submitted to orders. He became numb to the abhorrence and shame of his work and focused on keeping his daughter safe, though he found it increasingly difficult to curb her reckless actions at court and abroad in the country.
Qian Men's relationship with the emperor deteriorated steadily over time. Zou recognized Qian Men's distaste for his position and enjoyed manipulating and bullying the man. Eventually tiring of this, he created a rival position in the Censorate, meant to undermine Qian Men. This led to Du Rui Sheng and Fan Jin Fei fighting over the appointment. After the Standoff at Jiliang, Fan Jin Fei was appointed to the position and immediately began tearing down Qian Men's position and power.
Well aware that he no longer had the emperor's protection and desperate to protect his daughter from her rival, Qian Men arranged for the capture of Ruya Ilkin as she returned from her annual trip to Garal with the intentions of turning her and the Zhang family in to get back in Zou's favor. He had kept tabs on their training and recruitment efforts for years. Rui Sheng thwarted the attempt, however, and proposed instead an alliance with the group of friends, against the emperor. After learning of the return of Gao Zhong Hu, Qian Men agreed to meet with the group. He, Zhang Xiong, Zhang Yin Da, Gao Zhong Hu, Ruya Ilkin, and Wei Ang Jian formed the core of the rebellion.
Qian Men was appointed Quartermaster of the rebel army, overseeing supply needs and distribution. He worked with Zhang Huai Shi to protect shipments of supplies, though he often used his aides as intermediaries, recognizing Huai Shi's deep dislike of working with him. Nevertheless, when Huai Shi approached him about writing to his daughter, Qian Men eventually agreed.
During the Gilded Retribution, gave needed information that got the assassination party into the emperor's palace at Longjiang. He guarded the secret entrance into the throne room to ensure a swift escape until he saw Zhang Xiong bleeding to death and intervened. He fought with the wounded imperial cultivator Feng Gui and managed to kill her.
After the war, Huai Shi asked for permission to visit Rui Sheng. Qian Men agreed on the condition that he hear directly from Huai Shi's parents about it. Relations between the two families improved slowly, largely due to Huai Shi's efforts and Xiong's indifference to holding a grudge after everything that had happened. Zhang Yin Da and Zhang Shu Qing assisted in lifting Rui Sheng's curse from the Eye of the White Leopard. In return, Qian Men tracked down documentation granting ownership of their old sect land so that the family could reestablish their sect despite opposition from Emperor Su Chao. Shortly after, arrangements were made between the two families for an engagement between Huai Shi and Rui Sheng.
Early Career
Qian Men worked in military administration in his younger years before the Ascension. His work was thorough and objective, though often his data compilations changed as they passed through the hands of upper administration. Despite the high quality of his work, Qian Men was passed over for promotions and often pressured to work longer hours, given the most difficult tasks, and bullied or disregarded because of his low birth and status. Nevertheless, then-General Zou noticed that the department where Qian Men worked had the ability to respond to increasingly difficult orders within a short amount of time. Though the administration head, Pan Shoushan, claimed the credit, Zou knew that the man was not intelligent enough to produce such results. He eventually found Qian Men and offered him a position as his aide. Qian Men turned it down because it would take him away from his ailing wife, Du Wen, but Zou made a point of stopping in when he could personally deliver an assignment or wanted Qian Men's analysis of a person or situation.
Shortly after his Ascension, Zou summoned Qian Men to his court in Longjiang and offered him the position of Minister of the Censorate. He praised Qian Men and told him it was time to receive credit for his talents. Qian Men thanked the emperor and accepted the appointment, hopeful that Zou would continue to make merit-based appointments in secular and religious positions and change the empire for the better, creating a brighter future for his daughter Rui Sheng.
Minister of the Censorate
As Minister of the Censorate, Qian Men was tasked with auditing the other ministries for corruption or incompetence and reporting directly to the emperor. Qian Men's first assignment was to carry out the punishment of the Cold Wolf Sect. When Qian Men asked if that wasn't better carried out by the Ministry of Defense, Zou brusquely agreed, but said that he wanted Qian Men to personally take care of the Zhang family. Qian Men realized that rather than an impartial third party to the administration of the empire, he was to be the emperor's sword - someone who could enact reprisal against any ministry or office that offended Zou. Qian Men sought out Zhang Xiong and told him that he could save Xiong and his family if Xiong appealed to the emperor's vanity and gave a public apology for his sect's corruption. Qian Men persuaded Zou to accept Xiong's humiliation and spare the lives of the family. Zou agreed, but arranged for He Shirong to remove Xiong's golden core as additional punishment and insurance that Xiong would not bring him any trouble. Zou also brought Qian Men and his daughter into the palace to reside there under his power.
Throughout his reign, Zou continued to have Qian Men police his ministries and enact brutal punishments against those who displeased him. Any resistance from Qian Men brought tighter restrictions to his and his daughter's freedoms; Qian Men learned quickly that Zou was willing to swiftly carry out threats. As he had when working as an anonymous bureaucrat, Qian Men kept his head down and submitted to orders. He became numb to the abhorrence and shame of his work and focused on keeping his daughter safe, though he found it increasingly difficult to curb her reckless actions at court and abroad in the country.
The War of Eternal Day
"I have many enemies, and the emperor no longer protects us. I do not say this to justify my actions, only to explain them. I am willing to do whatever I must to protect my daughter. Even if it means we find ourselves at odds once again."
Qian Men's relationship with the emperor deteriorated steadily over time. Zou recognized Qian Men's distaste for his position and enjoyed manipulating and bullying the man. Eventually tiring of this, he created a rival position in the Censorate, meant to undermine Qian Men. This led to Du Rui Sheng and Fan Jin Fei fighting over the appointment. After the Standoff at Jiliang, Fan Jin Fei was appointed to the position and immediately began tearing down Qian Men's position and power.
Well aware that he no longer had the emperor's protection and desperate to protect his daughter from her rival, Qian Men arranged for the capture of Ruya Ilkin as she returned from her annual trip to Garal with the intentions of turning her and the Zhang family in to get back in Zou's favor. He had kept tabs on their training and recruitment efforts for years. Rui Sheng thwarted the attempt, however, and proposed instead an alliance with the group of friends, against the emperor. After learning of the return of Gao Zhong Hu, Qian Men agreed to meet with the group. He, Zhang Xiong, Zhang Yin Da, Gao Zhong Hu, Ruya Ilkin, and Wei Ang Jian formed the core of the rebellion.
Qian Men was appointed Quartermaster of the rebel army, overseeing supply needs and distribution. He worked with Zhang Huai Shi to protect shipments of supplies, though he often used his aides as intermediaries, recognizing Huai Shi's deep dislike of working with him. Nevertheless, when Huai Shi approached him about writing to his daughter, Qian Men eventually agreed.
During the Gilded Retribution, gave needed information that got the assassination party into the emperor's palace at Longjiang. He guarded the secret entrance into the throne room to ensure a swift escape until he saw Zhang Xiong bleeding to death and intervened. He fought with the wounded imperial cultivator Feng Gui and managed to kill her.
Alliance with the Zhangs
"It is only one of many lost things, but I hope its return brings you some peace." - Qian Men to Zhang Yin Da
After the war, Huai Shi asked for permission to visit Rui Sheng. Qian Men agreed on the condition that he hear directly from Huai Shi's parents about it. Relations between the two families improved slowly, largely due to Huai Shi's efforts and Xiong's indifference to holding a grudge after everything that had happened. Zhang Yin Da and Zhang Shu Qing assisted in lifting Rui Sheng's curse from the Eye of the White Leopard. In return, Qian Men tracked down documentation granting ownership of their old sect land so that the family could reestablish their sect despite opposition from Emperor Su Chao. Shortly after, arrangements were made between the two families for an engagement between Huai Shi and Rui Sheng.
Relationships
I Am a Stone
Family Name
Du (Stop, prevent, birchleaf paper tree)
Personal Name
Chun Chao (Agreeable, genuine, honest | Tide, current)
Courtesy Name
Qian Men (Humble, modest, unpretentious | Door, symbolizes a gateway to something good)
Du (Stop, prevent, birchleaf paper tree)
Personal Name
Chun Chao (Agreeable, genuine, honest | Tide, current)
Courtesy Name
Qian Men (Humble, modest, unpretentious | Door, symbolizes a gateway to something good)
Spouses
Feng Wen
(Spouse)
Siblings
Children
Belief/Deity
Hantzu
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