[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-146":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},1222905,1620,"Chapter 146: Unwilling to Accept","overthrowing-han-chapter-146",146,"\u003Cp>In the seventh month of the first year of the Guanghe reign of Han, Gongsun Xun rode straight into Xiangping City — the seat of Liaodong Commandery and the greatest city beyond the frontier — with only a few horsemen. Then, inside the county office in Xiangping, he exchanged documents, seals, and ribbons with the remaining Assistant County Magistrate, formally becoming the new Magistrate of Xiangping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To add a word, this Assistant County Magistrate, whose surname was Tian and given name Shao, was a member of the largest household in the area, second only to the Gongsun clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, the Tian clan was one of the few great surnames in Youzhou that could compare in scale with the Gongsun clan. However, this surname’s main population centers were in the core regions of Youzhou, such as Guangyang and Yuyang, extending outward to both flanks in a long strip. The Gongsun clan, by contrast, was rooted in Liaoxi and spread along the Bohai coast, its distribution map resembling an unclosed circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Gongsun Xun’s former colleague in Liaoxi, Tian Kai, and the subordinate before him now, Tian Shao — they were, in fact, much like his local clansman Gongsun Yu, whom he had yet to meet. All had left their hometowns to take up posts in other regions, and after leaving office, having acquired assets and connections, they were too lazy to return home and simply established households near their posts. This, in fact, was the primary means by which surnames spread and dispersed in this era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But returning to the matter at hand, facing this local power figure and several dozen county clerks, Gongsun Xun, having just hung the seal and ribbons on his person and standing in the main hall of the county office, found his expression shifting between shadow and light. He neither sat nor spoke, merely turning his head to scrutinize the man up and down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Shao, in his early thirties, had a prosperous look and fine bearing. Coming from a great clan and having served a term as Assistant County Magistrate, he naturally had a discerning eye. He immediately bowed low. “Does the Magistrate have further instructions? You have just arrived at your post, and it is precisely the time for us to serve you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun nodded slightly, but his face was expressionless, making his thoughts impossible to read for a moment. “There is indeed a difficult matter that requires you, Tian Jun, to share my burden.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Magistrate need only speak,” Tian Shao replied, unable to help but breathe a sigh of relief. “In the land of Xiangping, whatever command the Magistrate issues, if you let your subordinates carry it out, there is nothing that cannot be done!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the several dozen county clerks below all nodded in agreement — after all, the statement was, in truth, all too accurate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is like this,” Gongsun Xun said noncommittally, merely frowning slightly. “Before taking up my post, in Luoyang, I happened to encounter the court eunuch, Grand Prolonger of Autumn, and Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Cao Jie, who was there framing the loyal minister of our dynasty, the former Minister of Works, Chen Qiu, Lord Chen. Not content with pinning a charge of treason on him, he even sought to implicate his family. Out of righteous indignation, I confronted Cao Jie in the Masters of Writing’s office and, it could be said, intervened to save Lord Chen’s family.” Pausing briefly here, Gongsun Xun swept his gaze over the somewhat stupefied Assistant Magistrate Tian and the county clerks below. “Does Tian Jun understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah,” Tian Shao replied blankly. “This subordinate seems to understand, yet also feels somewhat dazed. Truly, this Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Grand Prolonger of Autumn, Minister of Works, treason… this, this… and then what? And what does the Magistrate require of this subordinate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Listen as I continue,” Gongsun Xun said, unconcerned. “Since I saved Lord Chen’s family, his household steward at the time, the Hebei renowned scholar Shen Pei, Shen Zhengnan, was overwhelmed with gratitude toward me. And on the day I received my appointment, not yet knowing how to administer, and with his master, Lord Chen, inevitably facing wrongful death in prison, I invited him to come to Xiangping to manage governance on my behalf. He may arrive in a month or two. The Assistant County Magistrate has long been at his post — could you help me arrange a position for Shen Zhengnan? It must be properly arranged; do not let me bear the reputation of mistreating a renowned clan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh!” Only upon hearing this did Tian Shao respond with sudden understanding. “I understand now. This steward of the Minister of Works’ household, this Hebei renowned scholar, is coming to condescend to our Xiangping County? The Magistrate wishes me to help arrange a suitable post for him, and must by all means not let you bear the reputation of mistreating a renowned…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But halfway through repeating these words, Tian Shao, the Assistant County Magistrate, turned pale, unable to utter another half-sentence — it was clear he had now fully grasped the meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consider: why say “mistreating a renowned clan” instead of “mistreating a renowned scholar”? Are a renowned scholar and a renowned clan the same thing? The renowned scholar refers to Shen Pei, but what of the renowned clan? A son of the Liaoxi Gongsun clan comes to serve as Magistrate of Xiangping, so the largest local clan, the Liaodong Gongsun, must avoid suspicion and cannot be used. Thus, the so-called local renowned clan is none other than his own Tian clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, this county magistrate before him had not been in the county office with his official seal hung upon him for even half a quarter-hour, and he was already driving him out to make room for his trusted man. And what was more, he wanted him to resign voluntarily, to spare himself the bad reputation of “mistreating the local renowned clan”!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was truly, truly overbearing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, standing in the hall, Tian Shao turned the matter over in his mind, but truly did not know how to respond to the man. To agree outright — that he was truly loath to do. After all, the post of Assistant County Magistrate was the legitimate, powerful deputy of a county, the one who oversaw all county governance. And Xiangping was the foremost city beyond the frontier, a county of ten Battalion Commander. But to refuse — was this Gongsun Xun some county magistrate without roots, backing, or ability? Setting aside the dizzying talk of Cao Jie and Wang Fu just now, just considering the Gongsun clan’s local power, if he truly resisted head-on, would he not die an ugly death? Yet to truly agree — how could he bear to part with it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just as Tian Shao was wavering there in indecision, unexpectedly, Gongsun Xun, standing above him, had already shown a slight change of expression, growing somewhat impatient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One must understand that no matter how absurd Lou Zibo’s Eight Strategies might be when adapted to Liaodong’s local conditions, the single principle of “eliminating dissenters” was an unassailable truth of officialdom wherever it was applied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without eliminating dissenters, what could one possibly accomplish?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as before his eyes: a county of ten Battalion Commander, by regulation having one Assistant County Magistrate and two County Commandants. If he did not drive out the current Assistant County Magistrate, how would he place Shen Pei when he arrived to condescend to his service? The man was originally a renowned scholar of Hebei, and the chief steward of a Three Excellencies’ household. When he went to Wang Yun’s residence, Wang Zishi himself would come out to greet him. Now that he was coming to your county, would you not even give him the post of Assistant County Magistrate?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was not only this Assistant County Magistrate — Gongsun Xun intended to drive away both County Commandants as well, to make room for Lu Fan and Han Dang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Think about it: Lu Ziheng had followed him south and north, east and west. Though he never spoke of it, given his nature that yearned to rise above others, he surely longed in his heart for a proper position. The Assistant County Magistrate post was given to Shen Pei — would he not even reserve a County Commandant post for his true confidant?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Han Dang, who had followed him the earliest and repeatedly resigned from proper posts for his sake — he too must be shown recognition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two, along with Lou Gui, who had suffered a severe psychological blow days before; Wei Yue, who had escorted Yang Qiu’s family on a grueling journey of thousands of li back home; and Wang Xiu, who had only recently joined him — these men, if they had no merit, they had toil; if no toil, they had personal bonds; and even without personal bonds, when men cross the sea with you, you must give them some account.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, these prominent clerks in the county before him — unless in the next instant they suddenly announced that their names had changed to Zhuge Liang or Jia Wenhe, and in any case were no longer called Tian Shao — absolutely could not be kept. Even the remaining mid-level clerks, if they could not declare their stance before Lu Fan and the main force arrived, he had no need to keep them either. One must know that among his volunteer followers, there were quite a few who came from great Yanmen clans, had merit, and could read!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Gongsun Xun had not originally intended to act so hastily. After all, the main force had not yet arrived, so the best approach was to feign compliance for now, temporarily record things in a little notebook, and make his move once his personnel were assembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why, in the end, did he act so rashly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer was simple: the Anli Trading Company had operated beyond the frontier for twenty years, deeply rooted and flourishing. When it suddenly exerted its power, he naturally had nothing to say. But within this Xiangping county office, Gongsun Xun could not help but suspect — could his mother also arrange everything for him here, clear and plain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One must know that human nature is thus: greed for power and attachment to office are common human feelings. Could his mother truly arrange even these people?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He, Gongsun Xun, truly refused to believe it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To launch a sudden attack just after arriving was indeed somewhat unprincipled, unwise, even unnecessary — but he simply wanted to be overbearing this once and vent his frustration!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is Tian Jun thinking?” Gongsun Xun’s malice surged, and he suddenly barked sharply. “Could it be that you would shirk even such a trifling matter? Who do you think you are?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This subordinate has long been prepared to yield his post to a worthy man!” With a thud, Assistant County Magistrate Tian actually fell to his knees in fright to beg forgiveness. He ultimately felt he had no possibility of successfully resisting, and that forceful resistance might truly bring the calamity of clan extermination. “I only worried that if I left today, and Shen Zhengnan did not arrive for who knows how many days, it would harm official business. That is why I hesitated…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In this Xiangping County,” Gongsun Xun, seeing the man kneel, could not help but tilt his head back and laugh in spite of himself. “I fear it could remain peaceful and prosperous through all four seasons even without a county magistrate, let alone without you, a mere Assistant County Magistrate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Shao was bewildered and uncomprehending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very well,” seeing the man so obedient, Gongsun Xun suddenly felt it had lost its savor. “Rise. Continue to manage the county’s miscellaneous affairs for now. We will speak of yielding your post to a worthy man after Shen Pei arrives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Shao could not help but be overjoyed — an Assistant County Magistrate for one or two months was still an Assistant County Magistrate, enough time for him to arrange things properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You will also vacate the post of Household Cao in the county,” Gongsun Xun continued to instruct. “Shuzhi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xiu, standing to the side, though somewhat startled, hurriedly stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Household Cao shall be taken over by Shuzhi,” Gongsun Xun ordered casually. “Are both County Commandant posts fully manned?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The county clerks below, hearing this, once again lowered their heads even further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes,” Tian Shao hastily replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Point out the inferior one,” Gongsun Xun instructed flatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Shao was momentarily speechless, but in the end raised his hand and pointed to someone behind him. The man pointed at also turned pale, but ultimately dared not speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dismissed from office. Yigong shall take it,” Gongsun Xun said with a casual wave of his hand. “Then Yigong and Zibo may discuss the matter of ‘community defense and collective security’ in the villages…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Gui and Han Dang showed expressions of sudden understanding, and the former finally seemed to rally his spirits somewhat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Personnel matters end here,” Gongsun Xun said, still standing stiff-faced in the hall, but his words made all the remaining county clerks below — except those who had just lost their posts — breathe a sigh of relief. “On my way here, I heard the locals say that Liaodong is vast in land but sparse in people, and most lacking in manpower. Is this so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Magistrate sees clearly!” Tian Shao quickly replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then go to the Anli Trading Company’s commercial station in the city and find the local shopkeeper. Have them purchase as many Samhan slaves as possible from Samhan. I will provide the funds. All county clerks, from top to bottom, from Assistant County Magistrate to Village Chief, regardless of rank — one for each household. Those from wealthy families should not disdain the small number. You must understand that the lower-ranking clerks live extremely hard lives. This small token of regard will spare them some toil.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Magistrate’s great kindness!” Tian Shao was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, then immediately prostrated himself again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the county clerks behind him also prostrated themselves one after another, voicing their gratitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only, it may not be enough!” Having temporarily escaped a purge and suddenly received a reward, these county clerks became considerably more animated. Moreover, with their own immediate interests at stake, someone actually dared to raise his head and remind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could it not be enough?” Gongsun Xun gave a cold laugh. “So long as there are wuzhu coins, those Samhan chieftains would even sell their own mothers! And if it truly is not enough…” Pausing here, Gongsun Xun pointed again to Han Dang and Lou Gui. “I have these two carry out ‘community defense and collective security’ precisely to organize and train a civil defense force. When the time comes, if public order in the villages is good, let them lead the civil defense force and follow the Anli Trading Company’s trade caravans into the mountain hollows of Samhan to capture some! I, Gongsun Xun, am a man of my word; you will certainly not be shortchanged!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clerks below the hall grew increasingly stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough!” Only now did Gongsun Xun sigh and speak. “The handover is done, and we have met. We will be dealing with each other for a long time to come. Let your minds not be restless; simply attend to your respective duties. Assistant County Magistrate Tian!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This subordinate is here!” Tian Shao bowed his head once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If there are unresolved lawsuits or prison cases, send them all to me. If there is no backlog of cases at present, bring out all the persons detained in the jail. I will retry each and every one!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will the Magistrate not go to see the Commandery Governor, or the former Administrator of Xuantu, Lord Gongsun, who is living in retirement here?” Tian Shao was stunned once more. “And that gentleman at the city school?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So long as the lawsuits and prison cases remain unclear by a single day, I will refuse to see these people for a single day!\" Gongsun Xun waved his hand, signaling the man to get out and do his work. \"Quickly have the Thief-Catcher send over the case files, and have the jailer bring up the prisoners. I will handle official business right here today — I don't want to waste a single moment!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The county clerks instantly scattered like birds and beasts. For a moment, only three trusted confidants remained in the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shuzhi, you'll have to work a bit harder — go at once and inspect this county's money and grain supplies.\" Gongsun Xun was inevitably much gentler when speaking to his own people, and he finally sat down as well... The seat here was actually a Grand Commandant chair paired with a high-legged desk, showing how deeply Anli Trading House had eroded local customs. \"Yigong, same for you — go at once and inspect this county's armory and county troops. These two matters are extremely urgent; do not delay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Dang and Wang Xiu naturally took their leave as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zibo,\" once everyone had left, Gongsun Xun finally turned to Lou Gui and spoke to him alone. \"I see your expression is troubled. Could it be that you feel dissatisfied because I haven't given you an official post?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could that be?\" Lou Gui hurriedly spread his hands. \"I, Lou Zibo, am hardly one to care about a mere county clerk's position. Besides, if I'm not mistaken, when you investigate the cases shortly, Young Lord, you'll inevitably find some fault to dismiss the Thief-Catcher as well, and then have me take over the post — so I can coordinate with Yigong on this 'community prevention and control' matter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun nodded slightly. \"True... Then why is your expression still unsettled?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am merely still feeling ashamed,\" Lou Gui sighed for a moment. \"Since childhood, I have prided myself on my wit and intelligence, to the point of behaving absurdly. Yet ever since I followed you back north, Young Lord, I have come to realize how short my wisdom and schemes fall... Regarding what you said the day before yesterday in Wen County, I am both grateful that you regard me as a trusted confidant, yet I also feel that I am truly incompetent and laughable!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zibo!\" Gongsun Xun also sighed with emotion. \"When I was still in swaddling clothes, my mother began establishing Anli Trading House in Lingzhi. Within three years, she had accumulated enough capital to reach into business beyond the frontier. It has been twenty years now — twenty years of painstaking management, accumulating deeply before bursting forth. How could that be matched by a mere turn of our minds? You feel incompetent and frustrated — and what of me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Gui could not help but feel a stir in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I'm not mistaken, I fear that for the next ten years I will be circling around Liaodong...\" Gongsun Xun sat in the Grand Tutor chair, growing ever more emotional. \"Serve three years as Magistrate of Xiangping County, earn a top evaluation, and by then I'll be twenty-six or twenty-seven. Combined with my previous military merits, they might just give me a post as Commandant of a border commandery. Then, two years later, transfer me to some post like Grand Administrator of Lelang or the like. Finally, watching the situation, let me bide my time and return to Liaodong as Grand Administrator! I probably haven't told you — my mother and my teacher Lu have been corresponding for over ten years. She truly can influence my official appointments and transfers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Gui lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then gritted his teeth and spoke bluntly: \"Observing your words and actions, Young Lord, could it be that you do not wish to be trapped here? The Great Han is visibly declining day by day — do you ultimately wish to enter within the passes and contend for supremacy with the heroes of the realm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun fell silent at this... It was not that he silently agreed, but that he truly did not know how to reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, his mother was also a loving mother at heart, doing everything for his own good... According to that so-called 'grand course of history,' relying on the five-hundred-li isolated stretch from Lulong Pass to Yangyue City, didn't that Gongsun Du carve out a separatist regime that lasted fifty years and four generations before falling? No matter what, he himself was a man whom Qiao Xuan had judged 'stronger' than Cao Mengde — could he truly fail to hold this foundation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, this place allowed one to retreat and defend, or advance and attack — it was not without hope of striking outward... It was just that the five-hundred-li isolated stretch of Liaoxi, along with the Bohai Sea before him where he had been unconscious for who knows how many days, made that 'advance and attack' somewhat difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And precisely because of this, understanding was one thing, but in Gongsun Xun's heart, as Lou Gui had guessed, there was ultimately a trace of unwillingness. Or rather, like every unfilial son under heaven, he ultimately did not wish to be so arranged by his own elder, without any freedom whatsoever!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, although Gongsun Xun's ambitions had been stirring before, they had been somewhat hazy. But that day, after perceiving his mother's arrangements, a thought had suddenly sprung forth — never mind Cao Mengde, wasn't your son, I, Gongsun Xun, at least stronger than Gongsun Zan, who hasn't even been nominated as Filial and Incorrupt yet?! Why couldn't I intercept this man's destiny and replace him, then discuss Hebei together with Yuan Benchu, and thereafter deliberate the realm together with Cao Mengde?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps Lady Gongsun herself did not know — it was precisely her so perfectly appropriate arrangements that gave her son's ambition, for the first time, a path of advance that, though merely a fleeting flash and not necessarily reasonable, was nonetheless very substantive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one could replace Gongsun Du, couldn't one replace Gongsun Zan? Didn't they all share the two-character surname Gongsun?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, ultimately it was his own mother's wholehearted loving care. Gongsun Xun feared it would be very difficult to utter a single word of refusal to the mother who had raised him alone as a widow. Thus, faced with Lou Gui's inquiry, he could only remain 'silent.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand.\" Hearing hurried footsteps suddenly coming from outside the hall, Lou Zibo also continued through gritted teeth. \"I, Lou Gui, having been entrusted as your trusted confidant, Young Lord, must always devise for you a way to break this impasse — one that is open and honorable, yet does not harm the bond between mother and son.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If there truly is such a method,\" Gongsun Xun, also hearing the footsteps, could not help but reply with emotion, \"then nothing could be better! The days are long; Zibo, take your time and plan carefully.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The helplessness in his words lingered still, which only made Lou Gui more resolute in his determination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just at that moment, two people suddenly turned in from outside the hall. The one in front was a county clerk leading the way — not worth mentioning — but the person behind him made Gongsun Xun momentarily set aside his superfluous thoughts, and then directly cry out in great delight:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wei Yue, you rascal, how did you get here so fast? Are the Lady and Ziheng and the others about to arrive as well?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The visitor was none other than Wei Yue, who had escorted Yang Qiu's family directly to Quanzhou (modern-day Tianjin) that very day!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Wei Yue, hearing these words, hurriedly knelt and replied: \"Greetings to the Young Lord. The Young Lady and the others have already reached Liaoxi, but they are stopping to visit various places along the way. And that Lady Bian has also arrived... Since I arrived the earliest, I was ordered by the Old Matriarch to ride swiftly ahead and report their safety, and to deliver letters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun's face showed sudden understanding, and he laughed awkwardly: \"Of course, it could only be that matter at most. A large party could hardly arrive so quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, just as this newly appointed Magistrate of Xiangping received the letter from home, he suddenly reacted again: \"You call my mother 'Matriarch' and call me 'Young Lord' — could it be that you also wish to become a retainer of my house? That day, you went so far as to oppose me because you were unwilling to be a dependent of a great household... Why are you so straightforward today?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In reply to the Young Lord!\" Wei Yue could not help but blush slightly. \"The Old Matriarch arranged a marriage for me. I was overwhelmed with gratitude and wept, and immediately knelt and bowed...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whose child?\" Lou Gui also asked curiously. \"To make you so straightforward?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is...\" Wei Yue was momentarily embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is whom?\" Gongsun Xun asked while opening the letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is the person the Young Lord ordered me to escort that day — the widow of Yang Qiu, Lady Cheng,\" Wei Yue answered through gritted teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun and Lou Zibo looked at each other, speechless for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Given your temperament, could it be that you took advantage of her on the road, and then simply had your way with her?!\" Gongsun Xun suddenly slammed his palm onto the desk. \"Cooked the raw rice into cooked rice, and then used gratitude and obligation to coerce the Yang family?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young Lord, please be at ease. It was not that I bullied or coerced her on the road, nor did I use gratitude and obligation to coerce anyone.\" Wei Yue hurriedly knelt and explained. \"The truth is, after we arrived at Quanzhou, although the Yang clan members were extremely grateful to you, Young Lord, they utterly despised this Lady Cheng — to the point of not even letting her through the door. Seeing her pitiable state, I took her to Liaoxi. As a result, when the Old Matriarch saw us, she directly asked whether I was willing to marry the lady, and also asked that wife of mine whether she was willing to marry me... I am just a destitute household from a border commandery — how could I be unwilling to marry a woman of such beauty? And it was rare that my wife did not disdain me either...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun understood halfway through, and could not be bothered to deal with him further, so he directly lowered his head to read the letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the letter was exceedingly simple, containing only a few brief words: \"Gongsun Wenqi, you've frightened your mother again, and you've also brought your mother enormous trouble. Once I've settled matters clearly here in Liaoxi, we'll meet and settle accounts!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The letter was neither classical nor vernacular, reading with extreme strangeness — clearly the handiwork of his own mother. And after reading it, Gongsun Xun could not help but shake his head in disappointment. Everything here in Liaodong had been arranged so clearly and plainly, yet a single Bian Yu had frightened her so, and she still didn't dare guarantee she could pacify Zhao Yun... It was also rather helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, this kind of matter was not something that could be discussed even with Wei Yue, let alone Lou Gui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with no alternative, Gongsun Xun could only slam the desk and rise, shouting loudly at the guiding county clerk by the doorway: \"What are you standing there for?! Quickly go and urge Tian Shao for me — why have the case files and the prisoners still not arrived?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>———————I am the newly-arrived dividing line———————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The senior clerks (of Xiangping) accepted bribes and were greedy and gluttonous, relying on noble influence; through previous magistrates they went unseen and unexposed. When the Grand Ancestor arrived, in a single day he removed them all. Thereupon governance and moral instruction were greatly implemented, and the entire county became clear and peaceful.\" — Old Book of Yan, Volume 1, Annals of the Martial Emperor, Grand Ancestor\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Also, new book group 684558115 — everyone please join.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",4734,"2026-06-04T19:42:03.441Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","0db2197478da1f1fcc24b12075a2a47fa5c7c844bd6d8cbff66d5ddbf3c4dea8","overthrowing-han-chapter-147","overthrowing-han-chapter-145",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]