[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-102":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Overthrowing Han",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1222861,1620,"Chapter 102: The Lang Bureau","overthrowing-han-chapter-102",102,"\u003Cp>When Gongsun Xun came to Luoyang this time, the people and matters he had to deal with were as numerous as the hairs on an ox. Yet no matter what, the very first thing he had to do was report to the Public Carriage Office, and then go to the Lang Bureau to take up his post… As for everything else, it would have to wait whether he wanted it to or not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Public Carriage Office, there was naturally nothing worth mentioning — it was nothing more than going through the procedures at this central grand reception room, handing over his official documents, exchanging his seal of office, saying a word of greeting, and then naturally he could leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Lang Bureau he had to go to next — that required the utmost caution!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, that place was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Every year, the Filial and Incorrupt nominees selected would all serve as Lang officers there for a time. Every year, the sons of Two-Thousand-Bushel officials and the sons of various marquises would be granted Lang posts by imperial favor. And every year, if the annual reporting clerks sent by the commanderies to report on their work performed outstandingly, they too would be directly appointed as Lang officers…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention, even in the normal course of official promotions, one generally had to first be sent to the Lang Bureau to serve as a Lang officer for a time — it carried both the sense of inspection and training, and the feeling of strengthening central authority. Officials like Gongsun Xun, stuck at the threshold of the Thousand-Bushel rank, had to come; those preparing to be promoted to Two-Thousand-Bushel grandees also had to come; and even when certain Two-Thousand-Bushel officials got caught up in political storms and were left idle in the capital, they still had to be attached as Remonstrant Lang officers before any follow-up moves could be made.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, Gongsun Xun asked himself whether he had the capital to act arrogantly in the Lang Bureau, and the answer was no. So after he came out of the Public Carriage Office, he simply sent everyone else back. Without a single guard, he went alone, his heart uneasy, straight to the Lang Bureau located in front of the Southern Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, one more word must be added: by this period of the Later Han, the significance of the Lang officer itself had already been thoroughly officialized. There was absolutely no more drama of carrying a great axe and standing beside the Emperor to watch court disputes, nor was there much possibility of running into the latrine to carry out a consort who had encountered a wild boar…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is not to say that Lang officers had no possibility of accompanying the Son of Heaven as attendants, but rather that this was no longer the proper duty of a Lang officer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In reality, the situation now was that if the Son of Heaven wished to summon a specific Lang officer in the Northern Palace where he long resided, a special decree had to be sent to the Lang Bureau, and then the Lang Bureau would issue a notice to find the person. As for where the Lang Bureau would then go to call someone, that was hard to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was because nowadays, Lang officers in the central government did practically everything! Or rather, every central institution would borrow Lang officers from the Lang Bureau to handle all sorts of matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Teacher Lu was compiling the history at the Eastern Pavilion, besides Cai Yong and Yang Biao, there was a whole group of low-ranking Lang officers assisting at the Eastern Pavilion — even Cai Yong himself was a high-ranking Lang officer. And when the Imperial Secretariat handled government affairs, there was also a group of the most outstanding Lang officers serving as secretaries nearby. Of course, at the palace gates of the Southern Palace and Northern Palace, and in militarily flavored places or institutions like the Tiger Guard and the Feathered Forest Guard, one could still see the figures of Lang officers from military backgrounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, Gongsun Xun still had not figured out even now whether he was going to shoulder a halberd and stand guard, or pick up a brush and compile books. It was a pity that of his two teachers, one was still in Lujiang and the other had just left office — otherwise, why would he need to be so uneasy and cautious? What awaited him would surely be a cushy post!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like that, lost in wild thoughts while strolling forward, in no time at all Gongsun Xun had already arrived before the main gate of the Lang Bureau. However, although the gate was not far ahead, he was forced to stop, utterly unable to advance… For no other reason than that at the main gate of the august Lang Bureau, several dozen people were making a racket, pushing and shoving with the soldiers guarding the office — quite a bizarre spectacle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are we not permitted to enter the Lang Bureau to receive our assignments?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am a Lang officer personally bestowed by the Son of Heaven — why are we treated like this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Son of Heaven granted us official status — do you dare not recognize it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does not the Great Han dynasty govern the realm with filial piety?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you've got the guts, stab right here!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet no matter how much pushing and shoving there was, those soldiers never retreated half a step. Moreover, they struck when they should strike and pushed when they should push, showing not the slightest concern for any so-called \"Lang officer personally bestowed by the Son of Heaven.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun dismounted and watched from the crowd for quite a while, but was utterly baffled. Just as he was looking around privately, preparing to ask some of the Luoyang residents watching the excitement, a young man in the crowd — fair-skinned, handsome in appearance, yet tall and upright in stature — smiled faintly in this direction and cupped his hands in salute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking closely, this man was also wearing a black cord and bronze seal, and the calluses on his hands were of the same shape as his own, formed from long gripping of weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thereupon, Gongsun Xun immediately understood that the other party must be, like himself, a high-ranking Lang officer. Moreover, this man had outstanding looks and courteous bearing, and seemed a few years older than himself, so he hurriedly cupped his hands in return salute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The common folk around them, seeing this, naturally understood the practical situation and quickly parted to make a path, allowing the two officials to come together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"May I ask, elder brother,\" Gongsun Xun asked directly and bluntly as soon as he led his horse over, \"what is going on here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These are all the Filial Sons of Xuan Mausoleum,\" the man replied amiably. \"You, sir, must have just arrived in Luoyang, which is why you do not know of this matter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly so,\" Gongsun Xun said, still full of puzzlement. \"I just came from the Public Carriage Office. May I ask, elder brother, what is this business about the Filial Sons of Xuan Mausoleum?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The matter is like this…\" This handsome man, his tone natural, immediately and genially explained it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it turned out, according to this handsome fellow's description, the so-called Filial Sons of Xuan Mausoleum were mostly Luoyang locals who had made a name for themselves by wailing in filial piety at Xuan Mausoleum. And the so-called Xuan Mausoleum was in fact the tomb of the late Emperor, Han Huan Emperor Liu Zhi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You see, Liu Zhi had no sons, which was why the current Son of Heaven, when he was just over ten years old, was brought from the Anguo Principality to Luoyang by Cao Jie to ascend the throne. And since he had no sons, this gave some people an opportunity… No one knew exactly when, but suddenly a quick-witted Luoyang local city dweller had the idea: since those scholars could gain fame through filial conduct and loyal conduct, be recommended as Filial and Incorrupt, and receive office, then if he went to Xuan Mausoleum and wailed in filial piety for the heirless late Emperor, wouldn't that count as both loyal and filial?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could he not thereby gain fame and rise to prominence?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So this man, thinking it and doing it, immediately ran to Xuan Mausoleum and wailed and wailed, truly drawing sidelong glances. And very quickly, this behavior sparked imitation. In the end, a great crowd of Luoyang local merchants and city dwellers swarmed to Xuan Mausoleum, wailing and wailing until their voices shook the wilderness!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When word reached the court, the current Son of Heaven was also quite moved, and with a stroke of his brush decreed that this would not be taken as a precedent, but at the same time appointed those who had gone to wail earlier either as Cadets of the Heir Apparent or as Lang officers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In any case,\" that handsome Lang officer said with a dry laugh, \"this group of people can be considered to have gotten what they wished for… It's just that, judging from the Lang Bureau's reaction, the scholars are probably ashamed to be in the same ranks as these people, and will absolutely not allow them, like other Lang officers, to train in the central government!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun nodded repeatedly, but inwardly laughed to himself… Ashamed to be in the same ranks? The scholars probably wished they could slaughter this lot!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, a bunch of merchants and marketplace commoners — did their loyalty and filial piety even count as loyalty and filial piety? One had to be a scholar first to have human rights, and only then be qualified to speak of loyalty and filial piety. You weren't even human — how could you be qualified to become an official based on filial conduct? The scholars would rather praise things like lambs kneeling to nurse than acknowledge you, because lambs would only be made into meat and served at their banquets, whereas these marketplace commoners wanted to snatch their offices… How could they tolerate that?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No more racket!\" Just at that moment, a court appointed official with a black cord and bronze seal finally walked out of the Lang Bureau. This man had a stern countenance, and the moment he appeared, he frightened those Filial Sons of Xuan Mausoleum into silence. \"I am Xu Yong, Left Supervisor of the Feathered Forest Guard, and one of the vice-seal-holders of the Lang Bureau… The court bestowing official status upon you is the court's business, but if I say you are not permitted to enter the Lang Bureau, what words do you have to say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group of Filial Sons of Xuan Mausoleum looked at each other, and finally pushed forward a somewhat older, more mature middle-aged man: \"Left Supervisor…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is 'Left Supervisor' for the likes of you to call me?\" Xu Yong, standing with his hands behind his back, suddenly flared with anger. \"Marketplace commoners, merchant types, flocking to the imperial tombs, falsely claiming filial piety under that name! The Son of Heaven may have been deceived by you, but I will not be! I tell you bluntly: for those of you of marketplace origin, even if you have obtained official status, so what? Do you truly think you can stand in the same ranks as us classical scholars? Dare to say one more word, and I will immediately send a dispatch requesting the Luoyang Magistrate to investigate the conduct of the other members of your families… You may be officials, but your family members are not!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Filial Sons of Xuan Mausoleum were instantly thrown into panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am going to the palace for guard duty,\" Xu Yong continued with a cold laugh. \"Disperse at once!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Filial Sons of Xuan Mausoleum immediately scattered and fled… It had to be said, Xu Yong's manner might have been a bit harsh, but these Filial Sons of Xuan Mausoleum were probably indeed mostly opportunists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quiet was restored before the Lang Bureau, and even the Luoyang city dwellers watching the excitement dispersed in a hubbub. But Gongsun Xun and that handsome Lang officer both showed no intention of stepping forward immediately. Instead, each with an expressionless face, they led their horses aside to make way for Xu Yong… However, what was very interesting was that when this Feathered Forest Left Supervisor, who had been so overbearing moments before, rode past this spot and saw Gongsun Xun and that handsome Lang officer, he actually seemed somewhat flustered. Not only did he take the initiative to cup his hands in salute from horseback, but he also clamped his horse's belly and hurried away with his retinue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun was meeting this Feathered Forest Left Supervisor for the first time, so Xu Yong was definitely not flustered because of him. Therefore, as soon as the man was gone, he immediately turned back and fixed his gaze on the handsome \"colleague\" before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gongsun Xun of Liaoxi, courtesy name Wenqi. I have just been relieved of the post of Commandant from my position as Colonel of the Separate Division at Yanmen, and came to the Lang Bureau to see how things stand.\" Gongsun Xun cupped his hands and smiled. \"I do not yet know your honorable surname and great name, worthy elder brother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you, sir, are the White Horse Commandant who burned Danhan and shook the northern frontier with his fame?!\" The man immediately showed a look of delighted surprise and once again cupped his hands in salute. \"I have long heard that you come from a renowned family, studied under famous Confucians, and are accomplished in both civil and martial arts… I never expected such a fortunate encounter today! To be frank with you, Commandant Gongsun, I too have been appointed as a Commandant on this trip, and that we meet here before the Lang Bureau is quite a stroke of fate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So that's how it is.\" Gongsun Xun grew even more interested, and then without further hesitation, he directly took half a step forward and grasped the other man's hands right there in the street. \"I feel like old friends with you at first sight, worthy elder brother — just call me by my name… However, I still do not know your honorable surname, given name, and native place?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man, being \"grasped by the hands and engaged in cheerful talk\" by Gongsun Xun, had originally been laughing heartily, but now his expression suddenly tightened, and only then did he answer seriously: \"I won't hide it from you, Wenqi. I am a man of Nanyang, surname He, given name Jin, courtesy name Suigao!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So it is you! I have long admired your great name!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be said that even though Gongsun Xun had seen much more and grown much deeper in shrewdness over these years, at this moment he could not help but hurriedly lower his head in greeting, and only after taking three full deep breaths did he raise his head again with an expression of composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, everything else aside — the calluses on the other man's hands and such were completely understandable — but could a pig butcher really be this handsome?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet on second thought, there seemed to be nothing wrong with it, was there? Could a pig butcher not be handsome? And besides, his younger sister must be very beautiful, right? If the younger sister was beautiful, why shouldn't the elder brother be handsome?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Worthy younger brother, you have actually heard of me, He Suigao?\" Just as Gongsun Xun was experiencing a mix of emotions, He Jin could not help but ask with delighted surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is only natural,\" Gongsun Xun blurted out. \"Even as far away as Yanmen, I knew that your honorable younger sister currently resides in the Lateral Courts and is raising the current dynasty's only Imperial Prince…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lateral Courts, in Han dynasty usage, referred to the areas flanking the Empress's palace and the Emperor's palace to the east and west, generally where the rear palace consorts lived, and thus at this time generally referred to the imperial rear palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, yes!\" He Jin could not help but give a dry laugh. \"My younger sister currently resides in the Lateral Courts as an Honorable Lady… and indeed is raising the only Imperial Prince.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then it seems that Brother Suigao's visit to the Lang Bureau will likely not last more than a few days?\" After adjusting his mindset, Gongsun Xun could not help but relax. After all, it was better that He Jin was easy to talk to than difficult, wasn't it? \"I fear within two or three months you will be appointed to a high position.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who can know such things?\" He Jin said solemnly, holding Gongsun Xun's hand. \"It is all merely the grace of His Majesty; we as subjects should not presume to speculate. And besides, someone like me who suddenly becomes an official relying on the Son of Heaven's favor can never compare to you, Wenqi, who faced death and danger to render meritorious service to the state…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun could not help but break into a smile: \"Brother Suigao's words actually fill me with respect. To suddenly occupy a high position without one's heart being disordered — that too is admirable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You make me blush, Wenqi… In truth, with your background and achievements, sooner or later you too will become a pillar of the court!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then you and I need not imitate those Filial Sons of Xuan Mausoleum here, pushing and shoving,\" Gongsun Xun continued with a smile. \"Why not enter the bureau sooner, take care of our proper business, and see if we can become pillars of the court today?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As it should be.\" He Jin also smiled, then with one hand pulled over his own mount, while the other still tightly gripped the other man's arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun had no choice but to lead his own white horse as well, then walk arm in arm with this \"Butcher Song Yu\" — also known in his own mother's words as the \"unparalleled fool\" — toward the Lang Bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They tethered the horses, presented their documents, and entered the Lang Bureau. Without a moment's delay, an official of the thousand-dan rank came out to receive them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Both of your documents arrived long ago, and arrangements were already made.\" This man was quite amiable toward Gongsun Xun. \"First come, first served — Gentleman Gongsun's documents have been here for some time...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun gave a hollow laugh, not quite knowing how to handle this... To be honest, even if they assigned him to be a mere clerk in the Eastern Pavilion, he would have to hold his nose and accept it now. After all, it was only a temporary post!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gentleman Gongsun...\" The man opened the sealed official dispatch, then immediately smiled. \"I fear we must now call you Physician.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun was momentarily stunned, and before he could react, He Jin over on the side had already cupped his hands in congratulations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It should be explained that the term Physician in the Han dynasty did not mean a seller of medicine, but was an alternate title for a subordinate clerk in the Imperial Secretariat. As the actual administrative center responsible for the daily operation of court governance under the current Han system, the Imperial Secretariat would generally prioritize selecting outstanding individuals from among the Lang officials to serve as subordinate clerks. Once appointed to this post, one was initially called Physician; after a full year, one could be called a Secretariat Gentleman; and after three full years, one could be called a Vice Minister!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To elaborate further, taking up this post meant one was already participating in the central governance of the court, so the position was extremely prestigious — the most coveted post among the Lang officials. And precisely because of this, although this post was theoretically also a transitional one, it was not uncommon for someone to hold it for several years...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun had never expected this outcome, so for a moment he was at a loss, unable to tell whether it was good or bad. At the same time, he had even less idea who had exerted influence behind the scenes... Was it Liu Kuan, who had long since given him a helping hand? Or was it his wife's uncle acting in secret? Or was it that his achievements were truly outstanding, the result of a consensus within the Imperial Secretariat?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heaven only knew!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But whatever the case, Gongsun Xun had no reason to look displeased, so after collecting himself he hurriedly thanked the man, then took the documents and stood to one side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, it was He Jin's turn to step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gentleman He is naturally to go to the Tiger Guard Army. Please seek out the Right Deputy Commander of the Tiger Guard yourself.\" Faced with an imperial in-law, this official of the Lang Bureau was neither servile nor overbearing — one might even say he had an air of keeping others at arm's length, a stark contrast to his earlier warmth toward Gongsun Xun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun, standing to the side, pondered quietly. Of course he knew that one important duty of the Tiger Guard Army was, in fact, to stand guard at court assemblies with axes in hand. But he also knew even better that He Jin would certainly not be going to stand guard!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In practice, as an imperial in-law, He Jin would likely just greet the Right Deputy Commander of the Tiger Guard, then go home and wait. Then the higher-ups would naturally and suddenly arrange some ceremonial task, like offering sacrifices and praying for rain... Once that was done, it could be called a great achievement, and then it would be hard to say — he might even leap straight to General of the Household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that was only a possibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the current Empress was surnamed Song — she was the original wife chosen when the Son of Heaven came of age and married. And although the Honored Lady He had given birth to the only imperial prince, she was still not the Empress. And so long as she was not Empress for even a single day, the legitimate imperial in-laws of the Great Han dynasty were the Song family... This, too, was likely an important reason why the official before them was neither servile nor overbearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Gongsun Xun, waiting to the side and letting his thoughts run wild, knew better than anyone in his heart that this Honored Lady He was destined to become Empress He!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that case... the thought suddenly struck him, and he had a moment of realization — why had Guo Yun earlier spoken of the court being treacherous and unpredictable of late, and told him to be careful? At first, he had thought the man was only referring to the matters of Xia Yu, Zang Min, Tian Yan, and the others!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now it seemed — was the rear palace also in great turmoil?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>———————I am a dividing line as beautiful as Song Yu———————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He Jin, styled Suigao, was a man of Wancheng in Nanyang. His half-sister by a different mother was selected to enter the Lateral Courts as an Honored Lady and bore a son, Bian, who found favor with Emperor Ling. He Jin was thereupon appointed Physician... The man was handsome in appearance and skilled in speech, though due to his origins he was not well-regarded by the scholar-officials. At the end of the Xiping era, the Grand Ancestor of our dynasty entered the court. At that time, the northern campaigns had met with disaster and chaos, and only the Grand Ancestor had returned with his army intact, his fame just then shaking the realm. It happened that they met at the Lang Bureau, and the Grand Ancestor called him by name and spoke with him. He Jin, astonished and overjoyed, said: 'Does the White Horse Gentleman also know of He Suigao?' And so they became friends.\" — A New Account of the Tales of the World, Chapter on Speech\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thanks to Qingqing Qiaoqiao Hehe for the second red-ticket sponsorship. Also, for the new book group, interested readers can join: 684558115.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",4085,"2026-06-04T19:42:03.441Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","be01ee5a253debcd1c82270fa5b0ca985334bb1ce7d1b18845d748438365c348","overthrowing-han-chapter-103","overthrowing-han-chapter-101",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]