[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-107":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},1222866,1620,"Chapter 107: Surging Tides","overthrowing-han-chapter-107",107,"\u003Cp>In winter, the sky brightens very late, but torches were lit early at Gongsun Xun's residence. This Court Gentleman, who had no need to go to the Masters of Writing office so early, had actually left his lovely wife alone in bed, risen early, and busied himself with something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wenqi...\" Under the courtyard torches, Lu Fan's face was nearly bloodless. \"Are you truly going to act in this way?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course,\" Gongsun Xun replied nonchalantly, still tying something on the ground. \"But Ziheng, you didn't lose your composure like this when we killed people before. What does today's matter count for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fan's face remained pale, and he could not help asking again: \"Wenqi, is this thing truly formed by nature?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed,\" Gongsun Xun said frankly. \"My mother told me about it when I was little. It is actually a rather common thing. But as for scholars — how many of them would have seen much of this thing? And those who are not scholars, even if they see it, may not necessarily take note.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fan let out a long breath: \"The reasoning is correct, but I still find it somewhat revolting, so contrary to the Way of Heaven...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough,\" Gongsun Xun interrupted helplessly. \"It has been hard on you, Ziheng, to actually find such a thing for me. Go and rest now...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fan immediately cupped his hands: \"That would be best. Wenqi, do not come looking for me in the next couple of days; allow me to recover.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, of course!\" Gongsun Xun nodded with great understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fan then fled in utter disarray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Lu Ziheng stumble away from the courtyard, Gongsun Xun finally finished his preparations. He picked up a large wooden document box with one hand, slung a sack of blighted grain over the other, kicked aside a slightly plump calico cat at his feet, and then strolled leisurely out the door. Escorted by Han Dang, he boarded his carriage and headed for the Southern Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the Southern Palace was the seat of imperial authority, with strict regulations. But after all, it was a place where several hundred officials worked, and there was still some difference from the purely restricted inner palace of the Northern Palace. Thus, the palace gates were ultimately somewhat more relaxed... To examine it closely, it was probably just that no weapons other than ceremonial swords were allowed inside. As for other items, as long as they were not too taboo, bringing them in was not really an issue — it was just that entry was permitted but exit was not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, Gongsun Xun would not have been able to stroll in every day carrying a sack of blighted grain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Court Gentleman Gongsun.\" By the light of the torches at the palace gate, a Captain of the Tiger Guard Army cupped his hands slightly in greeting — this was one benefit of having faced off directly against Duan Jiong that day. \"You have come very early today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The rooster at home crowed too early,\" Gongsun Xun replied with a smile. With both hands full, he could not return the courtesy. \"Since I couldn't go back to sleep anyway, I came early. What, is it still you on duty today, Captain Yu?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" this Captain surnamed Yu replied with a wry smile. \"The year's end is approaching, and colleagues are all taking leave to go about visiting. Someone like me, with no roots or influence in Luoyang, can only keep standing guard without end.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun understood immediately — this was the most common situation among guard-duty court gentlemen and even among the soldiers in Luoyang. Those with influence need not be mentioned, and those with money, as long as they were willing to spend it, could easily shirk their duties. Then the situation would arise where 'the rich die of idleness, and the poor die of exhaustion.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of thing was especially prominent among the court gentlemen of the Former Han, to the point that a certain General of the Gentlemen of the Household made corresponding reforms and earned lasting fame. But by the Later Han, only the Feathered Forest Gentlemen and the Tiger Guard Gentlemen still faced this predicament... Of course, it was also an accumulation of abuses and corruption that was only natural after the state had lasted over a hundred years. If the Great Han court were truly governed with clarity and the realm free of worries, that would be strange indeed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But Court Gentleman Gongsun is also a very busy man, is he not?\" Captain Yu added, pointing at the huge wooden box the other man held in front of him. \"So many documents — could they be matters entrusted to you by others?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun immediately laughed: \"Where are these really documents? They are a few jars of honey, picked out from the New Year's gifts sent by my family back in Liaoxi. This time I plan to give them to my teacher, Master Lu, so he can mix them with warm water to drink while working.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I knew it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, wait for me here this evening, and come to my home for a drink,\" Gongsun Xun added casually to comfort him. \"After all, the New Year is almost here, and we are all away from home — no need to stand on ceremony.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In that case, She thanks Court Gentleman Gongsun for his kind offer.\" This guard-duty court gentleman immediately clasped his fists in reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately after, without any inspection whatsoever, Gongsun Xun sauntered into the Southern Palace and headed straight for the Masters of Writing office, which should have just been unlocked. After stepping into the office, where there were probably very few people, he glanced around, then walked briskly to that window he knew best... He opened the window, untied the cloth strips binding an object inside the wooden box, and directly placed it into the chicken coop... The whole process was crisp and efficient!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Gongsun Xun place the sack of blighted grain by the window, calmly carry the box, take the cloth strips, and stroll into his own office to light the lamp and begin processing documents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, as a member of the Metropolitan Officials Section in charge of floods, fires, disasters, bandits, and public order, the moment those bamboo slips were opened, the current state of the empire's foundation — riddled with a thousand gaping holes — immediately confronted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, how could it be only Luoyang? The whole realm was full of disasters!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nanyang had no rain for months, and no one knew if the spring plowing would be hindered; a band of several hundred bandits had risen in the Jingzhao region, looting and pillaging everywhere, while the Governor of Jingzhao was ill and helpless; the various commanderies of Hebei sent reports that the prisons were full and they did not know how to handle it; the various buildings at the Pingcheng Gate of the Southern Palace had not been greatly damaged during the earthquake, but after the earthquake, cracks had appeared everywhere, and they were likely to collapse...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun sighed. No wonder Liu Tao spent his days burning with anxiety. Any loyal minister who stayed long in this Metropolitan Officials Section position would probably be 'burning with anxiety.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Opinion... The Son of Heaven should be petitioned to send imperial guards to Nanyang to pray for rain!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Opinion... Jingzhao is the vital region of the Western Capital; rewards for capturing the bandits should be swiftly increased. Moreover, the current Governor of Jingzhao is plagued by illness and has repeatedly submitted letters requesting to leave his post; this matter should be transferred to the Personnel Section for deliberation!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Opinion... A general amnesty should be granted in Hebei.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Opinion... The Pingcheng Gate of the Southern Palace should be repaired.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Opinion...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to lift his brush to write again, suddenly, several loud crowing sounds came from outside — the sky had evidently brightened into full day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corner of Gongsun Xun's mouth twitched. He paid it no further mind, shook his head, and continued lifting his brush to handle official documents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time quickly passed to the afternoon. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the Masters of Writing office grew heavy. The tall and sturdy Lu Zhi walked past the corridor with an expressionless face, and the surrounding Masters of Writing, Chiefs of Staff, and others all hurriedly got out of his way. At the window under the distant corridor, Liu Tao's hand, clutching his beard, had already begun to tremble uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half a shichen later, Lai Yan, who oversaw the Masters of Writing, also arrived, panting for breath and supported by a Junior Attendant of the Yellow Gates. Another half a shichen later, Cao Jie, Wang Fu, Yuan Kui, Yuan Feng, Yang Ci, Qiao Xuan, Zhang Ji, Chen Qiu, Liu Kuan, Yang Qiu... all arrived one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, Gongsun Xun was seeing many of these great figures in person for the first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, Qiao Xuan, whom he had once emulated, was now old and decrepit, no longer the unyielding figure of the old stories; another example was his own mind's primary target, Wang Fu, who was indeed swaggering and looking around arrogantly, showing no courtesy to anyone except Cao Jie, Yuan Feng, Yuan Kui, and Yang Ci; yet another example was Chen Qiu, that unlucky fellow who had just lost his Three Excellencies position and was also Shen Pei's master — at this moment, he wore a thoroughly worried and gloomy expression...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there was also Yang Qiu — who knew why this Court Architect would appear here?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Attendant Liu!\" Wang Fu, that man, was fair-skinned and plump, with graying temples, and his features were rather regular. Were it not for his lack of a beard, he would have appeared quite prosperous. At this moment, he stood by the window with his hands tucked in his sleeves, his face full of impatience. \"Can't you let the palace have peace even during the New Year? In the tenth month, there was a solar eclipse and an earthquake, and for that, two of the Three Excellencies were dismissed in succession. Last month, you people submitted letters continuously, from the Masters of Writing to the Censorate to the Court Gentlemen-Consultants, insisting on spouting nonsense about 'yin encroaching upon yang,' making it so His Majesty couldn't even sleep well. Now that we've finally settled down, why must you stir up trouble again for no reason?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Was this trouble stirred up by me?\" As soon as the other finished, Liu Tao questioned him back sternly. \"Did I, Liu Ziqi, cause the solar eclipse by practicing sorcery, or did I cause the earthquake by stamping my foot on Bronze Camel Street? Besides, when the state has yin energy violating the sovereign, it brings about such celestial phenomena. This has been the established conclusion of the sages for several hundred years, recorded in the classics! How is it that I am spouting nonsense?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What 'recorded in the classics'? Wasn't it just you, Liu Ziqi, shouting it out on Bronze Camel Street?\" Wang Fu grew increasingly sarcastic. \"Don't think I don't know — isn't the interpretation of the classics just whatever you people say it is?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Liu Tao's beard and hair all bristled: \"The Confucian classics — are they not decided by us who do the scholarship, but by you, a Regular Attendant?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't know whether what this Regular Attendant says counts or not,\" Wang Fu suddenly sneered, disregarding the expressions of those around him. \"But at the very least, it counts for more than what you, a mere Attendant, say! After all, those Grand Generals and Three Excellencies who thought my words didn't count back then — I recall they've all died off cleanly by now!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, from the eldest, Qiao Xuan, to the youngest, Yang Qiu, all the ministers and high officials turned to look. Even an old softie like Liu Kuan and people like Yuan and Yang all fixed their gazes on Wang Fu with ambiguous smiles... This made the latter feel utterly uncomfortable for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough!\" At this moment, Cao Jie, his hair fully graying, could not help but cough. \"How to interpret disasters and anomalies is precisely the duty of the great Confucian scholars; Regular Attendant Wang need not say more. And as for the matters of the tenth month, Lord Wenrao (Liu Kuan) and Lord Bozhen (Chen Qiu) have already set an example for the altars of state, so naturally there is no need to speak further. Let us discuss the matter at hand. Attendant Liu... hmm, Attendant Lu, rather — you are a straightforward man, so please quickly explain today's matter. His Majesty is still waiting in the Northern Palace!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, many high officials nodded hurriedly. Wang Fu and Liu Tao exchanged a glance, each gave a cold snort, and then said no more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zhi, expressionless, stepped forward and bowed to the assembled ministers, then spoke bluntly without embellishment: \"To be frank with you, my lords, the matter is actually quite simple. Our Masters of Writing office has always kept chickens. Today, while feeding the chickens, a group of Masters of Writing discovered that a male chicken had inexplicably appeared in the coop... They all believed it to be an omen of 'the hen transforming into a rooster' as described in the texts, and thus every one of them was terrified.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn't this nonsense?\" Wang Fu could not help but interject again. \"Perhaps they simply remembered wrong? One chicken more, one chicken less...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord Wang,\" Gongsun Xun suddenly interjected, disregarding rank. \"No matter how ignorant we are, we would not mistake one male chicken for two. We can still tell one from two.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Fu was momentarily speechless, and the ministers crowded in the corridor also looked at each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This...\" Wang Fu suddenly spoke again, as if pondering. \"Is there anywhere nearby that also keeps chickens? The Masters of Writing office is in the very center of the Southern Palace. A male chicken's plumage is lush; perhaps it flew in from somewhere.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In reply to Lord Wang,\" Gongsun Xun answered again without the slightest hesitation. \"Within the Southern Palace, only the Masters of Writing office keeps chickens. I have checked the records. This is a custom left behind when the renowned minister of this dynasty, Lord Yang Huai, served as Prefect of the Masters of Writing. He was extremely diligent in governance and very strict with his subordinates. He would often come to work at the Masters of Writing office before dawn, and when the chickens he kept crowed, he would come out to inspect, checking whether the various Section Chiefs and Masters of Writing were all present. No other place in the Southern Palace has chickens...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Fu was even more speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So that's how it is,\" Cao Jie suddenly spoke again. \"Then... I recall you are Gongsun Wenqi, correct? Have you all first examined this... this 'male chicken'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We did not dare to touch it lightly,\" Lu Zhi abruptly interjected. \"The Masters of Writing office is the vital hub of the central government, and 'the hen transforming into a rooster' is an omen of great ill fortune, so we dared not disturb it. Moreover, Attendant Liu and I, upon hearing the commotion, immediately stood guard here, watching over it the entire time, and did not allow anyone to touch it. We have only been waiting for all you lords to arrive...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be frank with the Grand Prolonger of Autumn,\" Liu Tao also once again raised his head and argued defiantly. \"I dare stake my life on it: today, not a single person has made any move in that chicken coop. We have merely been waiting for you all to come.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Jie studied Liu Tao, then looked at the tall and sturdy Lu Zhi and Gongsun Xun hiding behind him. Only after a long while did he slowly nod: \"I understand. In that case, since everyone is here, let us go down and send someone to catch it and have a look!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zhi and Liu Tao each signaled, and immediately a group of Gentlemen of the Masters of Writing and Chief Clerks of the Masters of Writing circled around to the outside of the Masters of Writing office, entering through the main gate of the chicken coop. For a moment, outside the window there truly was flying chickens and smashed eggs… Of course, the struggles of a flock of chickens were utterly meaningless, and very soon, not to mention the two roosters, even the heap of hens were all caught cleanly — only to be released again later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, two Junior Attendants of the Yellow Gate, following Cao Jie's instructions, each took one \"rooster\" and ran outside the Masters of Writing office to await inspection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the assembled high ministers and dignitaries also slowly paced outward, preparing to personally verify whether these two chickens were indeed monstrous anomalies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, just as the crowd was about to reach the open ground outside the Masters of Writing office, Cao Jie suddenly stopped with his hands clasped beside a Tiger Guard armored soldier holding a long halberd: \"To be honest, I harbor some petty-minded suspicions. A hen transforming into a rooster — what exactly counts as transforming? Surely there must be a process?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assembled ministers and Masters of Writing all halted, then looked at each other at a loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does Lord Cao mean?\" Yuan Feng, who was following alongside, had no choice but to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My meaning is very simple.\" Cao Jie suddenly sneered coldly, the white breath from his words streaming continuously in the air. \"When we go to inspect the chickens shortly, if one of those two roosters is half-hen and half-rooster, then naturally that is a hen transforming into a rooster, and you may say whatever you wish. But if there is merely an extra normal rooster, and you claim it is a hen transforming into a rooster, then I say someone in the Masters of Writing office with treacherous intent secretly brought it in hidden in their clothes! After all, there were previously some partisans who specialized in spreading rumors, polluting the political situation, harboring disloyal intentions… At that point, I will have no choice but to order the Tiger Guards to follow the clues and thoroughly search all thirty-six Gentlemen of the Masters of Writing and eighteen Chief Clerks of the Masters of Writing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why only search?!\" Wang Fu also suddenly raised his voice to a high pitch. \"If that is the case, better to wrongly condemn all than to let a single one escape! I say, as long as those two chickens are ordinary roosters, all fifty-four of these men should be thrown into prison and dealt with, and even two of the Palace Attendants and Masters of Writing must be sent to prison for thorough interrogation under torture!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without waiting for the ministers to respond, Wang Fu instead raised his voice even louder: \"Did you not hear?! Quickly summon more Tiger Guards!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the words fell, several Junior Attendants of the Yellow Gate immediately bowed to receive the order, addressed him as \"my lord,\" and sprinted away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, within the Masters of Writing office, the air grew chill without any wind. The six Section Masters of Writing and dozens of high ministers, facing a single gray-haired Cao Jie standing beneath a long halberd, found not one among them daring to speak again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Gongsun Xun, who was at the very back, also narrowed his eyes slightly at this moment, as if seeing this Grand Prolonger of Autumn anew — the man who had seemed quite amiable when they first met — completely unaware that both of his teachers had, without prior arrangement, each glanced at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The differences between roosters and hens are known to all.\" Seeing the situation brought under control, Cao Jie could not help but laugh. \"One lies in the tail feathers, the other in the comb… Let us not waste time. Have those two lads holding the large-tailed ones step forward. My lords… the gentlemen of the Masters of Writing need not go. I ask the rest of you lords to go together and see whether there are combs or not. I, a mutilated man, will stand here and not follow to be an eyesore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having said this, Cao Jie instead urged these ministers to go inspect, while Wang Fu also sneered without cease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several serving court ministers had no choice but to step forward one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after several ministers successively surrounded the so-called \"rooster,\" each wore a hesitant expression and for a moment dared not speak much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well?\" Seeing a squad of armored Tiger Guards approaching, Wang Fu could not help but urge them. \"Just a glance at the comb — all you lords are learned great Confucians, are you all blind?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come look for yourself then!\" Yang Ci was the first who could bear it no longer. \"Come over here and look at this chicken! The tail feathers are brilliant, completely those of a rooster, yet the comb is short, small, and shapeless, no different from a hen's! This is clearly a hen transforming into a rooster, and only half-transformed at that!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Wang Fu and Cao Jie were stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, Yuan Feng, who had been examining the other chicken, also turned around and cupped his hands helplessly: \"Lord Cao, it is not that we speak recklessly, but we have truly seen it with our own eyes and dare not disbelieve. This chicken is exactly the same — brilliant tail feathers, yet a short and small comb…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the words had fully settled, Wang Fu, furious and exasperated, actually stepped forward to personally inspect it, and then, in shock and suspicion, hurriedly threw this \"rooster\" to the ground: \"The comb is the proper standard for judging male and female! That being the case, how could it not be a hen with brilliant tail feathers? Perhaps it can even lay eggs…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mid-sentence, the words of Regular Attendant Wang came to an abrupt halt, because that \"hen with brilliant tail feathers\" that he had thrown to the ground actually crowed loudly and vigorously!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone's expressions changed, and then, regardless of whether they were eunuchs or ministers, they all stared at that strange \"hen\" with faces full of terror, as if looking at some prehistoric monster. Even the other Junior Attendant holding a chicken was so frightened that he let go and threw the other \"hen\" away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It must be a monstrous anomaly!\" At that moment, from the Masters of Writing office, the young Wang Lang could not help but be the first to break the silence. \"Everyone, you do not know — several times I have come to the Masters of Writing office before dawn to handle documents, and each time I could hear a rooster announcing the dawn… But if both these chickens are hens, is this not a case of the hen doing the crowing after the hen transformed into a rooster?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Ci turned back to look at his most trusted student, his own face also blank and speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing these words, the already frightened Wang Fu grew even more terrified, and actually covered his face with his hands, leading a flock of Junior Attendants of the Yellow Gate in a disheveled flight. Cao Jie also stood with his hands clasped, speechless, and only after a long while let out a sigh and went straight toward the Northern Palace… The Tiger Guards, seeing this, could only disperse as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the eunuchs and soldiers had all vanished, the area in front of the Masters of Writing office became thoroughly lively. On one hand, everyone was shocked and uncertain, truly staring at those two chickens as if they were demons; on the other hand, they quoted classics and authorities, discoursing at length on what the appearance of \"a hen transforming into a rooster\" and \"the hen doing the crowing\" at the Masters of Writing office portended… But did this even need to be argued? Was it not simply that the eunuchs held power?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at the same time, from the Censorate, the Eastern Pavilion, and even the sweeping clerks on duty, upon hearing the news from here, each and every one came sprinting to see!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun even spotted Tian Feng in the crowd, staring straight at him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the chaos, Liu Kuan shook his head, tucked his hands into his sleeves, and walked toward Gongsun Xun. And just as he reached the side of this student of his, a suspicious-looking Lu Zhi also sidled a couple of steps closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I only released one.\" Before either of them could speak, Gongsun Xun confessed everything. \"I had Lu Ziheng search the countryside of Goushi for seven or eight days before he finally found one, and only threw it into the chicken coop this morning… The other one, this student truly does not know — I fear it truly transformed on its own within the Masters of Writing office!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zhi and Liu Kuan could not help but freeze on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, Gongsun Xun had actually guessed correctly. Historically, the incident of a hen transforming into a rooster did indeed occur at the Masters of Writing office, and it was discovered precisely during this time period. In other words, of the two abnormal chickens, one he had painstakingly captured, while the other was a genuine historically famous chicken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just as the teacher and two students were each lost in their own suspicions, several Tiger Guard armored soldiers, hands on their sabers, came sprinting up the main avenue from the south. The one leading them was none other than the gate guard Yu She… However, this action only drew everyone's attention and did not cause alarm, because clearly escorting in the midst of those armored soldiers was a clerk from the Public Carriage Office, and this clerk was carrying a box for holding documents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It went without thinking — some major incident had occurred somewhere requiring the urgent handling of the Masters of Writing office, and it was unrelated to this matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is it?!\" Contrary to everyone's expectations, before the several Masters of Writing and Lai Yan, who was \"overseeing the Masters of Writing,\" could step forward, the Court Architect Yang Qiu quickly strode up and demanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This clerk from the Public Carriage Office was already bewildered by so many people gathered here \"watching chickens,\" and now, being questioned by Yang Qiu, he was even more at a loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I had an audience with His Majesty just today!\" Seeing this, Yang Qiu hurriedly explained loudly. \"Lord Lai is frail in health, so the Son of Heaven has transferred me to be Prefect of the Masters of Writing. Before the New Year's Day ceremony, I am to be responsible for overseeing the Masters of Writing office… If there is a matter, report it to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was quite an interesting appointment — a universally acknowledged cruel official, the so-called enforcer of the Son of Heaven, had within a single year gone from a disgraced convict to a Court Gentleman Consultant, then suddenly leaped to become Court Architect, one of the Nine Ministers, and now had become Prefect of the Masters of Writing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed the Son of Heaven indeed had some ideas of his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, now was not the time to ponder this. The clerk from the Public Carriage Office, upon hearing Yang Qiu's self-introduction, immediately bowed and presented the official document in his hands: \"Reporting to the Prefect of the Masters of Writing, an urgent report from Jiaozhou. The barbarian tribes of Hepu and Jiaozhi commanderies have rebelled, and there are also insurrections of disorderly people in Jiuzhen and Rinan. Of the seven commanderies of Jiaozhou, four have now fallen. I request that the Masters of Writing office handle this with all haste!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ministers and officials once again descended into chaos… Gongsun Xun was also dumbstruck, and Shi Xie, who was following behind Liu Tao, was so anxious he was spinning in circles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the matter was not yet over. At that very moment, like a sudden clap of thunder on dry ground, right within everyone's field of vision, the inner rooms at the Southern Palace gate, the armory rooms, and the outer eastern wall rooms all suddenly collapsed entirely, front and back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for Gongsun Xun, who abruptly recalled the official documents he had processed that morning, everyone else was utterly dumbfounded, not knowing what to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ominous portents arise repeatedly, calamities and anomalies come one after another — there must be demons in the state!\" Liu Tao truly could not restrain himself. The last time, it was he who had first shouted similar slogans before the Southern Palace gate; this time, in the very center of the Southern Palace, it was again he who first shouted these words that all scholars wished to cry out!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, in the very center of the Southern Palace, public discussion surged like a raging torrent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, had Gongsun Xun not previously seen Cao Jie summon and dismiss the Tiger Guards with such casual ease, he might very well have been swept up by the crowd's emotions at this moment, then raised his arm and shouted something like, \"The dynasty has nurtured scholars for nearly four hundred years — the day to die for righteousness and honor is today!\" and called upon this crowd to go to the Northern Palace to prostrate themselves at the palace gate… and demand the execution of Cao Jie and Wang Fu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after thinking it over, Gongsun Xun decided it was better not to take this risk. After all, based on experience, the political situation of this Great Han dynasty would ultimately be resolved by the blade. Even men like Wang Yun of the Censorate knew to draw Gongsun Xun in as a blade… This current action was merely to sway the Son of Heaven's attitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Worldly affairs are difficult, the heart is troubled as if drunk.\" Watching the chaos before the Masters of Writing office, Liu Kuan suddenly shook his head slightly. \"I shall go home and drink wine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zhi's expression shifted several times, and he too shook his head, then turned and walked back into the Masters of Writing office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a doubt, even setting Liu Kuan aside, Lu Zhi also felt that this was not the time to be overly hasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as Gongsun Xun and his two teachers were each preparing to endure and hold back, over on the other side, Yang Qiu, Yang Fangzheng, who had been staring blankly at the collapsed palace gate, suddenly smashed the document box in his hand fiercely onto the ground, and then cried out in righteous fury:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If the Son of Heaven would make Yang Qiu the Colonel-Director of Retainers, how could these demons be allowed to run so rampant?! Why have I been made Prefect of the Masters of Writing, able only to write official documents?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Yuan and Yang on down, to Gongsun Xun, Wang Lang, Wang Yun, Tian Feng, and the rest, the entire court of scholar-officials and ministers, Masters of Writing and Censors, all looked at each other in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——————I am the dividing line that heard roosters taste better——————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In former times, at the end of the Xiping reign era of Emperor Ling of the Former Han, in the Southern Palace's Masters of Writing office, there was a hen that transformed into a rooster. All the feathers on its body resembled those of a male, but the comb on its head had not yet changed. When this was discovered, Luoyang was shaken with terror; the eunuchs covered their faces and fled, while the scholars' public opinion surged like a torrent. On that same day, there was also the Jiaozhou incident, with four commanderies falling, and the Southern Palace's Pingcheng Gate collapsed on its own for no reason. At that time, the Grand Ancestor was serving as a Gentleman of the Masters of Writing. He witnessed it with his own eyes and was stunned on the spot. Upon returning, he spoke privately to those close to him, saying: 'I know indeed that the Han's mandate will not last long; I should devote myself in secret to my endeavors.' The Grand Ancestor did not reply.\" — New Book of Yan, Volume 1, Annals of the Martial Emperor Grand Ancestor\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thanks to book friend sao Rui for the lavish reward, and also to book friend group 684558115, everyone can join.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hen transforming into a rooster is a normal physiological phenomenon… Historically, the incident of a hen transforming into a rooster did indeed occur at the Eastern Han's Masters of Writing office. This event is recorded in reliable historical sources, and it was discovered precisely during this time period in the book, after the new year. So, of the two abnormal chickens, one was captured by the protagonist, and the other is a historically famous chicken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",5547,"2026-06-04T19:42:03.441Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","46ecea2f41d374e97558aaf2f98166c3d5f1ff786d89d4ef202d0b8f86f2c6e6","overthrowing-han-chapter-108","overthrowing-han-chapter-106",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]