Chapter 145: Understanding

The inn’s largest and finest guest room was the so-called sea-view chamber. Above the door lintel, right in the center, were inscribed the four characters “Gaze Upon the Sea, Listen to the Waves” — quite imposing, though no one knew whose calligraphy it was.

At this moment, the inn’s heir, Gongsun Xun, Young Master Gongsun, was sitting cross-legged on the bed by the window in this very room, gazing out at the sea and listening to the waves, lost in thought for a time. As for the two scholars under his command, Lou Gui and Wang Xiu, they sat at the other end of the bed — one looking up, one looking down — both silent.

“Young Lord,” after a long while, it was Han Dang, coming in from outside, who finally broke the silence. “The innkeeper has already handed the notice strictly forbidding the circulation of internal books to our trading company, and it has been urgently dispatched along the trade routes in all directions. The letter you wrote to the mistress has also been sent off by fast horse. Moreover, the innkeeper helped us exchange for a few white horses from the trading company and nearby merchants. As for the man himself, I have also reassured him according to your wishes.”

“That is good.” Gongsun Xun withdrew his gaze from the window as if waking from a trance, then let out a long breath. “You have worked hard, Yigong… This matter was actually my mother’s whimsical idea, and a momentary oversight by the people below. We shall stop here and speak no more of it.”

Lou Gui, Wang Xiu, and Han Dang, who had just sat down, hurriedly nodded in agreement.

“However, since our identities have already been revealed in an inn with so many traveling merchants, there is no way to keep our movements hidden any longer,” Gongsun Xun said, forcing himself to rally. “Rest for a day or two. Once my body has recovered, we shall ride straight into Xiangping.”

The three men again hastily assented.

“But if that is the case,” Gongsun Xun sighed again, “being newly arrived, I have neither experience governing a region nor knowledge of the local details. Once we reach Xiangping, how should I proceed?”

“This matter is difficult to speak of, yet also not difficult,” Lou Zibo, as always, liked to speak first. “After all, there are many commonalities across the realm, and the administrative affairs of a county are nothing more than those few things.”

“Tell me, then,” Gongsun Xun, at this moment having no other recourse and with no one else around, could only choose to listen and trust him.

“First, to encourage agriculture; second, to promote education; third, to maintain public order,” Lou Gui answered calmly, stroking his beard. “These three matters are the fundamental duties of a county magistrate. As for anything beyond that — military affairs, personnel matters — those are the duties of a commandery administrator and are essentially unrelated to a county magistrate. Therefore, a county magistrate’s governance must, in all cases, center on these three matters.”

At these words, Han Dang was indifferent, but Wang Xiu beside him nodded repeatedly. Even Gongsun Xun, after pondering it over and over, could only nod in agreement — it was true, after all. These three matters were indeed the three great principles of a county magistrate’s governance, and the core responsibilities within the scope of a county magistrate’s office.

Even for a commandery administrator, where the commandery is treated as a state and the administrator is akin to the ruler of a state, at most one would add the heavy responsibility of selecting talent, and in frontier commanderies, the additional duty of military defense… And if one were to speak in detail, talent selection is actually part of the work of promoting education, and military activity is also part of maintaining public order.

“In that case,” seeing that Lou Zibo had for once spoken some sound reasoning, Gongsun Xun could not help but grow considerably more serious, “how does Zibo think these three matters should be concretely carried out?”

“Let us first speak of agriculture,” Lou Gui discoursed eloquently. “Agricultural affairs are nothing more than two strategies: one is called promoting farming techniques, which is to enrich the land and increase yields; the other is called constructing waterworks, which is to prevent disasters, open up wasteland, and expand the area of arable land…”

Gongsun Xun nodded slightly in approval. “Speaking of constructing waterworks and opening wasteland to prevent disasters, I am suddenly reminded of the famed official of our dynasty, Zhang Kan. I recall that Yuyang Commandery was originally only a middling commandery-state, yet Emperor Guangwu appointed Zhang Kan as Administrator of Yuyang. He was able to resist the Xiongnu on one hand while opening wasteland along the Gushui River on the other. In the end, not only did he beat the Xiongnu so badly they dared not raid the borders, he also opened up over eight thousand qing of wasteland, giving Yuyang an entirely new county, Hunu County, and making Yuyang leap into prominence as a great commandery. This should be the ultimate expression of this measure… Liaodong has vast territory, yet is crisscrossed with rivers, and may well be suited for waterworks and land reclamation.”

“Next is promoting education…” Lou Gui, seeing Gongsun Xun so approving of his argument, grew increasingly pleased with himself. “This matter needs little elaboration; it is nothing more than two strategies: establishing schools and rewarding proper customs.”

The others again nodded repeatedly.

“As for public order, it is also two strategies. First, one must adjudicate lawsuits and settle cases, propagating the rule of law; second, one must organize collective defense and community governance, rewarding the villages.” At this point, Lou Gui could not help but cast a meaningful glance at his lord. “Liaodong is, after all, a frontier commandery. Brave men should be selected and trained into a civilian defense force, to prepare for unforeseen needs… This commandery does have an iron office; it must not be wasted.”

Gongsun Xun naturally understood what the other was implying, and nodded slightly to show he took the meaning.

“What Brother Zibo says is extremely correct,” at that moment, Wang Xiu suddenly furrowed his brow and asked, “and I imagine it is indeed the principle of governance… Yet, to my knowledge, most officials across the realm also understand these principles, but in the end, few are able to achieve them. I imagine there must be some truly difficult points within?”

Gongsun Xun also immediately furrowed his brow and looked at Lou Gui.

Unexpectedly, the latter seemed to have been prepared all along. Not only did he not feel that Wang Xiu, a young newcomer, had given offense, but he stroked his beard and praised the other: “Shuzhi’s words hit precisely upon the crux of the matter. To have such a thought at such a young age — you are bound for great achievements in the future!”

Wang Xiu hurriedly bowed in thanks for the praise and took the opportunity to lower his posture and seek instruction… This was, in truth, asking on behalf of Gongsun Xun.

“Everyone understands the principles, so why can they not accomplish anything?” Lou Zibo sneered. “There are only two reasons: obstruction and powerlessness!”

“What is obstruction, and what is powerlessness?” Gongsun Xun could not help but ask with a serious expression.

“What is called obstruction means that those who hold office cannot avoid being harassed by superiors and subordinates, by colleagues to the left and right, so that all their mental energy is consumed by the officialdom… As the saying goes, superiors have demands, subordinates have things to hide, and then colleagues come to contend for power — there is simply no time to do these things.”

“That does get to the root of it,” Gongsun Xun could not help but shake his head and laugh wryly. “From the central government to the localities, in the officialdom, where is there not factionalism and attacking those who differ? How is this matter to be resolved?”

“This matter has no resolution!” Lou Gui suddenly said sternly. “If one wishes to achieve something in the officialdom, one can only press forward bravely and contend with those people! And one must contend and win before one can implement policy!”

Wang Xiu was momentarily hesitant, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

“Those are indeed words of gold and jade,” Gongsun Xun’s spirits visibly lifted a level. “But in the end, how does one contend and win?”

“Within the city of Xiangping, that Gao Yan is the master of the entire commandery and also the lord of you, Young Lord. What his attitude is, we must observe further,” Lou Gui had clearly prepared thoroughly, and answered immediately. “As for the rest, it is nothing more than the four words: eliminate dissenters! From the commandery office down to the county clerks, whoever does not comply — remove them! And as for how to remove them… that is for the Young Lord to decide for himself!”

Wang Xiu was speechless for a moment, and even Han Dang was somewhat astonished. Only Gongsun Xun slowly nodded: “This matter I already understand. And what is the explanation for powerlessness?”

“What is called powerlessness refers to the fact that implementing policy requires manpower and material resources, and in the realm today, the greater half of manpower and material resources are in the hands of the great clans, powerful households, local strongmen, and lineages.” At this point, Lou Gui could not help but sneer. “And they are mostly greedy, ignorant types who deceive their superiors and hide things from those below. In ordinary times, they are unwilling even to hand over the most basic poll taxes, let alone contribute their labor. Therefore, even if the officials are united and govern diligently, if they cannot restrain and command these powerful clans and great families, they will likely be unable to accomplish anything. This is called powerlessness!”

Wang Xiu, who had been somewhat silent, could not help but sigh at this: “What Brother Zibo says is absolutely right. In Qingzhou, I often saw the powerful acting without virtue or conduct, doing whatever they pleased… Then I imagine that whether by co-opting or suppressing, this restraining of the powerful is the eighth strategy that Brother Zibo presents to the Magistrate?”

“Correct!” Lou Gui stroked his beard and answered proudly. “Promoting farming techniques, constructing waterworks, establishing schools, rewarding proper customs, adjudicating lawsuits, organizing collective defense, eliminating dissenters, restraining the powerful — these are the Eight Strategies that I, Lou Zibo, present to the Young Lord for governing Xiangping!”

Hearing this, Gongsun Xun could not help but be stirred. He rose from the bed, grasped the other’s hands, and said with emotion: “After three days apart, a scholar must be looked upon with new eyes. I truly should not still regard Zibo as that scion of a great clan who did not even understand the inner workings of tax collection! These Eight Strategies, I, Gongsun Xun, accept them all!”

Lou Gui also laughed proudly: “Young Lord, do not take it to heart. As the saying goes, one fights bravely after knowing shame. Had it not been for what I saw and heard in Zhongshan, which greatly shook me, I would not have spent my time in Liaoxi and Goushi learning and asking about these matters from those around me.”

Gongsun Xun clasped his hands and smiled… The awkwardness from after they had disembarked vanished completely, never to return.

And so, the night passed without a word. When they set out on the road again, Gongsun Xun’s party, having settled upon the “Eight Strategies of Listening to the Waves,” had a well-thought-out plan and headed proudly for Xiangping.

And indeed, along the way, what the party saw on all sides only confirmed that Liaodong’s territory was vast, its fertile soil everywhere. Moreover, although it lay beyond the frontier, its climate was pleasant, faintly resembling Qingzhou — a natural place for cultivation. No wonder that whenever there were refugees in Qingzhou, they mostly came beyond the frontier… And this, too, faintly matched the two agricultural strategies Lou Zibo had presented.

However, it was the seventh month of the lunar calendar, just the beginning of autumn, and the crops were all in the fields. As Gongsun Xun’s party rode north, pointing out the rivers and hills, they always felt that the surrounding wasteland was excessively abundant… By the time they reached Wen County (later Yingkou) and entered the bounds of the Liaohe Plain, seeing the land around them fertile and the terrain flat, yet still so much of it lying waste, the party finally began to sense that something was indeed amiss.

Thereupon, Gongsun Xun went straight to a government post station outside the city of Wen County, brought his attendants inside, and summoned a village petty official. In the village office, he revealed his identity and inquired about the matter of farmland in the area.

Although this village petty official was somewhat muddled, once the other party revealed his identity, he immediately became exceedingly respectful. He warmly invited Gongsun Xun to take the seat of honor, while he himself stood to the side and replied to the question:

“In reply to County Magistrate Gongsun, this county has indeed never undertaken any measures for constructing waterworks or reclaiming wasteland and establishing fields…”

“Why is that?” Lou Gui stepped forward first and interjected.

“Because there is no shortage of fields here!” The village petty official was much more at ease facing Lou Gui, and spread his hands as he spoke. “To be frank with you sirs, in our place of Liaodong, a single commandery is no smaller than half a province of the Central Plains. And from our Wen County northward, it is all one plain, crisscrossed with rivers and full of fertile soil. So, let alone the locals, even the utterly destitute who flee famine from Qingzhou and Jizhou — as long as they are willing to put in the effort, they can casually find a piece of good land, freely clear it, and plant crops. Why would the county or the village need to undertake such matters? Would that not be a waste of our already scarce labor power?”

Lou Gui was momentarily speechless. Even Gongsun Xun, sitting there without a word, began to doubt his life — truly doubt his life. He had to know that in his youth, he had served as a clerk in the Liaoxi Commandery office. This matter of frontier commanderies lacking people, not land — even if it was far less pronounced in Liaoxi than in Liaodong — was something he really should have known.

But why, that day at Dashi, had he not recalled these things, and instead believed Lou Zibo’s nonsense?

Was it that after years of rushing about east and west, he had gradually forgotten the scenery and customs beyond the frontier? Or had he been too severely seasick that day?

“Is it the same over at Xiangping?” Lou Gui asked, somewhat unwilling to give up.

“Naturally,” the village petty official said bluntly. “Although Xiangping has a somewhat larger population, in the end, the overall situation of few people and much land remains unchanged… And think about it, sirs: even if one day Xiangping truly lacks farmland, as long as the Administrator gives a single order, people can simply be moved over here. Why would there be any need for a great mobilization to build waterworks?”

Lou Zibo was momentarily dejected.

“Even if the matter of constructing waterworks and reclaiming farmland need not be mentioned again, Brother Zibo’s other seven strategies are still excellent,” Wang Xiu, an honest man, hurriedly consoled him upon seeing this. “For example, promoting farming techniques…”

But halfway through his words, Wang Shuzhi stopped himself… In fact, a moment’s thought made it clear: since there were few people and much land, with only labor power lacking and no shortage of farmland, then extensive cultivation would suffice. Why must they, like in the interior, promote so-called farming techniques? Did not those farming techniques that upright officials had vigorously promoted in the past — such as composting and intensive tillage — also require labor power?

In truth, on this land of China, the matter of encouraging agriculture was mostly derived from the contradiction between farmland and population. And when this contradiction did not exist, the traditional means of encouraging agriculture lost most of their meaning.

What even Gongsun Xun beside him and Lady Gongsun far away in Liaoxi probably did not know was that, historically, because the land contradiction in Liaodong was not so severe, and because there were no wars, its agricultural level from the late Han through the Wei and Jin periods was very advanced, even nearly surpassing that of the Yangtze River basin.

Moreover, for over a hundred years thereafter, even the cooling climate of this region did not actually affect agricultural development. Since at that time it was mostly one harvest per year, the cold climate not only did not erode the agricultural cycle, but indirectly caused the vast marshes and saline-alkali lands of the lower Liao River to naturally transform into good farmland, becoming the foundation for many separatist regimes in Liaodong…

In short… for a very long period, Liaodong here did not lack land; it only lacked people!

“I should have thought of it earlier,” Lou Zibo observed the expressionless face of his lord sitting there, and then could not help but laugh dryly. “Back in Liaoxi, every day we saw people from Qing and Ji provinces migrating beyond the frontier — it was precisely because there was a way to survive here. Young Lord…”

"Let me ask you again," Gongsun Xun, who had been silent for a long while, seemingly lost in thought, suddenly addressed the village bailiff once more. "What is the state of schools and moral instruction here in Liaodong? Among Liaodong's eleven counties, does each county seat have a school? In the rural areas, are there any private academies?"

"Surely it can't be that bad?" Lou Zibo also began to panic.

"Replying to County Magistrate Gongsun." The village bailiff indeed became utterly deferential again. "Your Honour truly lives up to your reputation as one of Youzhou's rare men of both wisdom and courage — before even taking office, you already grasp the true situation. Speaking of schools, originally we beyond the frontier had very few. But since last year, I heard that after your esteemed mother, Lady Gongsun, returned from a trip abroad, your family's Anli Trading House began proactively carrying out so-called 'charitable donations to support education' in every city beyond the frontier. Now, in all the cities beyond the frontier — not just Liaodong, but even Lelang and Xuantu — every city has a school."

Gongsun Xun's face was expressionless. He fell silent once more.

"But where would the teachers come from?" Lou Gui grew increasingly flustered. "I heard something of these charitable donations to education in Liaoxi as well, but wasn't it said at the time that they feared no scholars would be willing to come teach the classics in a merchant house's school, and that they would only bring humiliation upon themselves?"

"I am not clear on that matter either," the village bailiff admitted frankly. "I only know that it seems your esteemed trading house invited a great Confucian scholar who had come from the interior to live in seclusion here in Liaodong, and had him go teach at the Xiangping school. And the moment this man appeared in public, all those retired clerks in the surrounding areas who had previously been making excuses and refusing also came forward one after another to take charge of the local schools. Even the county magistrates in various places now frequently go in person to give lectures... they call it carrying out the work of moral instruction!"

"What is this man's name?" Wang Xiu asked curiously.

"That is precisely the strange part," the village bailiff continued. "Those officials above, and those scholars, mostly know this man's name, but they are unwilling to tell us illiterate folk..."

Gongsun Xun could not help but give an awkward smile. How could he not know? This was clearly Zhang Jian, Zhang Yuanjie, whom his family had been supporting beyond the frontier for who knows how many years, finally coming out of retirement in person. He had no idea how his mother could bear to call in this debt of gratitude now.

"What of the private academies then?" Wang Xiu, catching a glimpse of Gongsun Xun's expression and sensing something amiss, hastily changed the subject.

"Private academies are not many," the village bailiff said frankly. "After all, we beyond the frontier have few renowned Confucians — one cannot make bricks without straw, as they say. But since every city now has a school, and as long as one's studies are not too poor, the Anli Trading House will pay the tuition on one's behalf, why would anyone still ask about private academies?"

Wang Xiu first nodded with relief, but then once again looked helplessly toward the bewildered Lou Zibo at his side. Even Han Dang, a pure military man who had been standing guard at the doorway the entire time, had now tasted the flavour of the situation — before they had even reached Xiangping, four of the eight strategies Lou Gui had proposed that day were already rendered useless.

And once they reached Xiangping, the remaining four strategies might well be hard to speak of too, no?

"Then may I ask you, good sir," Gongsun Xun suddenly inquired again, "you too are a functionary serving under the Liaodong administration — do you know what sort of man the Grand Administrator of this commandery is?"

The village bailiff could not suppress a chuckle. "If someone else were asking, how would I dare speak carelessly? But County Magistrate Gongsun is one of our own. Whatever you ask, I will naturally answer..."

"One of your own?" Gongsun Xun also laughed. "I am a man from the outer commandery of Liaoxi!"

"What words are these, Your Honour? Beyond the frontier, the population is sparse, and alien tribes surround us on all sides. The five commanderies ought to unite as one — why speak of Liaodong and Liaoxi as separate?" The village bailiff continued, cupping his hands and smiling lightly. "And besides, the Anli Trading House has operated beyond the frontier for twenty years. I heard its name when I was a youth, and it has continued right up to this day. And now your esteemed house donates to support education and facilitates trade routes — how could we Liaodong people ever regard County Magistrate Gongsun as an outsider?"

Gongsun Xun laughed in spite of himself, then raised a hand to gesture for the man to continue.

"I will not hide it from Your Honour," the village bailiff said, stepping forward. "Regarding the matter of the Grand Administrator, a petty clerk like me drawing a pittance in grain knows little. But there has always been a saying here beyond the frontier about the two Grand Administrators of Liaoxi and Liaodong..."

"Please, try to speak of it," Lou Gui urged hastily.

"Loyal, filial, brave, and fierce — the Marquis of Liaoxi. Cowardly, weak, and utterly useless — the Governor of Liaodong!" the village bailiff declared at once. "Even children by the roadside know this saying."

Gongsun Xun laughed even more, speechless, while Lou Zibo could not help but exchange a wordless glance with Wang Shuzhi.

"Actually, at first, everyone thought Grand Administrator Gao was a scion of a great clan from the interior, one who merely admired literary refinement and detested martial affairs," the village bailiff said, growing more animated as he spoke. "Only later did we gradually come to know that this man is truly cowardly and weak, utterly lacking the bearing of a commandery governor. Not to mention the Grand Administrators of neighbouring commanderies — even the great households within the commandery and the prominent clerks in the commandery offices can deceive and bully him at will, yet he merely sits aloft all day, unwilling to contend with anyone."

"Speaking of great households," Gongsun Xun suddenly interjected, "do you know which family holds the greatest power in the commandery?"

The village bailiff, who had just been in high spirits conversing, immediately wore a peculiar expression.

Gongsun Xun gave a cold laugh. "Could it be a family with the double surname Gongsun, whose family head is called Gongsun Yu, the former Grand Administrator of Xuantu who recently stepped down from office there?"

The village bailiff nodded awkwardly.

Hearing this, Gongsun Xun asked no further. He merely cupped his hands slightly, then rose and strode out of the village temple in great strides.

"Young Lord!" Lou Gui hurriedly caught up from behind and directly pressed him with a question. "This Gongsun Yu — could he be of the same clan as your own family in Liaoxi? It seems his family split from yours no more than ten-odd years ago? I once saw his name in the Anli Trading House account books; he takes the lion's share of the business in Xuantu and Liaodong!"

"Indeed!" Gongsun Xun said frankly as he adjusted his horse's tack. "Though this man is older, by generational rank he is my not-too-distant clan cousin. And I just recalled — the current Chief Clerk of the Liaodong Dependent State, Gongsun Zhao, is also a clan uncle of mine, and his family has not even split off yet! The greatest local magnate in Xiangping, and even the greatest magnate beyond the entire frontier — is that not precisely my Gongsun clan?!"

"I am truly ashamed!" Lou Gui said, his face flushed red as he cupped his hands in embarrassment. "I never imagined that today I would still prove to have lofty ambitions but shallow abilities, my words exceeding reality! These so-called eight strategies were mostly wild conjectures and reckless talk, utterly useless..."

"How is this time a matter of you, Lou Zibo, lacking wisdom?" Gongsun Xun stopped his hands, turned back, and consoled him with a serious expression. "It is simply that someone made arrangements long ago, and neither you nor I knew anything of it!"

Lou Gui was momentarily stunned, then immediately frowned and asked in return, "The Young Lord means that here in Liaodong, the Old Mistress has made specific moves? But how could she have known that the Young Lord would be appointed as Prefect of Xiangping?"

"How could she not know?" Gongsun Xun looked up to the heavens and sighed deeply upon hearing this. "I fear that even this post of Xiangping Prefect was arranged single-handedly by her esteemed self! Everything arranged for me with perfect clarity — I truly do not know whether I should kneel and thank her esteemed self for a mother's loving heart and all her painstaking care, or whether I should admire how no mother knows her son better than she does... Back then at Yanmen, I had only secretly entertained the thought, and before I had even spoken of it openly, as soon as she returned she took the initiative to find a compromise strategy!"

At this point, seeing that Wang Xiu was still inside the village temple taking ceremonial leave of the village bailiff, and that only Han Dang and Lou Gui were before him, Gongsun Xun could not help but lower his voice and say, "Zibo, Yigong — you have shared life and death with me, and there is nothing that cannot be spoken between us... In truth, my mother's earlier intention was only to have me seize Liaoxi, straddle Lulong, and hold off the alien tribes beyond the frontier, so as to observe the success or failure of the realm. But after the trip to Yanmen, having discerned my thoughts, she likely retreated a step and now wishes for me to hold the lands of the five commanderies beyond the frontier — able to advance and attack, or retreat and defend — and then calmly observe the rise and fall of the realm!"

Lou Zibo and Han Yigong both changed colour and for a long time could not speak. Among them, Lou Gui's face turned especially pale.

————————I am a clear dividing line————————

"Lou Zibo's wisdom and stratagems surpassed others. Before the house of Han had even fallen, he already understood it would; before the house of Yan had even risen, he had already hastened to its side. Moreover, having followed for a long time, he gauged the hearts of men, repeatedly offered extraordinary strategies, and had the merit of establishing the founding policies. Thus the Grand Ancestor also sighed: 'In Zibo's schemes, I am not his equal.'" — New Book of Yan, Volume 70, Biographies, Chapter 20

PS: Also, new book group 684558115, everyone please join.

(End of Chapter)