[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-15":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},1222774,1620,"Chapter 15: The Brat","overthrowing-han-chapter-15",15,"\u003Cp>Han Dang coming to pledge allegiance, though unexpected, was entirely within reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Frontier Watch Commandant post, a two-hundred-dan rank, could already be considered a step up in the world for a wandering swordsman of common birth from the borderlands — but for Han Dang, it was a dead end. He was a man who would stake his life on his future, and all his skill, as he himself put it, rested in the blade in his hand. If he took up that post, he could certainly stay on in Lingzhi City and live a stable life, but his future prospects would be sealed off forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, after this whole affair, Han Dang — just barely past twenty — had come to a bitter and indignant realization: in this age, vast as the realm might be, the overwhelming majority of those truly in power were unwilling to leave any upward path open for men of lowly origin. No matter what they did or whom they employed, they would first ask after a man’s surname and weigh his pedigree… Under such circumstances, Gongsun Xun stood out all the more starkly. His own origins were excellent and his future prospects vast; more crucially, he was willing to overlook a man’s birth and value him for himself!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To abandon the Frontier Watch Commandant post and choose Gongsun Xun was to take a step back from a blind alley and find a path to survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there was also some extra emotional recognition mixed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, that night, this scion of a great house whom he had never met before had chosen to fight shoulder to shoulder with him, clashing at close quarters with the enemy. And again, after he resolved to give up the commandant post, he had for a time felt too ashamed to face Gongsun Xun, his “patron.” He had originally planned to distribute the rewarded wealth to the families of the cavalrymen who died in that night raid, and then fly far away. But when he reached those cavalrymen’s homes, he discovered that not only had Lady Gongsun already arranged everything properly, but Gongsun Xun himself had even visited in person during the New Year’s snow… And so, moved by gratitude, Han Dang finally resolved to seize hold of this candidate right before his eyes, rather than go wandering off into the unknown south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, none of this was spoken by Han Dang, nor did Gongsun Xun ask. Their bond of lord and retainer was already settled — what need was there for more words?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The convoy rested for a night at Gongsun Zhao’s residence in Tuyin City, and inevitably Cheng Pu saw them off for yet another stretch of road. After that, there were no more lingering attachments. Traveling by day and resting by night, though the roads were muddy and slick, within a few days they duly arrived at the Lu residence in Fanyang City, Zhuo Commandery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be said, Lu Zhi was a renowned Confucian scholar of the realm. In his early years he had already established a school in his hometown and recruited disciples widely. Now summoned by the court as an Erudite, he continued his teaching at Mount Goushi in the southern outskirts of Luoyang. Scholars from Youzhou and northern Jizhou essentially took it as an honor to study the classics under him, and he himself, like his teacher Ma Rong and his junior fellow-disciple Zheng Xuan, could claim in name to practice “education without discrimination.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it was only “in name.” Studying in Luoyang now versus studying locally in Zhuo Commandery in the old days — the difference in expense was anything but ordinary. This invisibly used the students’ family assets to carry out a first elimination. Moreover, Lu Zhi was now a high-ranking court official of the two-thousand-dan tier. Apart from the hometown disciples of Zhuo Commandery whom he could not turn away, anyone from an outside commandery who wished to enter his tutelage would need a letter of recommendation from an official of equal two-thousand-dan rank, wouldn’t they? This invisibly carried out a second elimination based on pedigree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for those truly ambitious paupers — the sort mentioned before who would strap on dried rations, weave straw sandals, and walk thousands of li — to be honest, they would rather go to Beihai in Qingzhou and listen to the lectures of Zheng Xuan, the “Classics Sage,” than seek out Lu Zhi in Luoyang where rice was so expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, although the area around the Lu residence in Fanyang bustled with extraordinary liveliness, with the comings and goings of convoys even churning the newly fallen snow on the roads into a muddy soup… in truth, the real principals of this journey — those young scholars who possessed letters of recommendation and were preparing to formally travel to Luoyang this year to study the classics — numbered no more than a mere twenty-odd people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet it was precisely these twenty-odd people who, stiff-necked and obstinate, staged a whole chain of regional and pedigree-based discrimination right at the Lu residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those from Jizhou looked down on those from Youzhou, claiming Youzhou was too remote.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those from Youzhou also looked down on those from Jizhou, since Lu Zhi himself was, after all, a man of Youzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the people of Youzhou itself, those from Zhuo Commandery and Guangyang Commandery looked down on the scholars from the other commanderies, because the other Youzhou commanderies were all border commanderies, and border commandery folk were too coarse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the scholars from the border commanderies looked down on all the other scholars, finding those people too soft and weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the families that had produced officials for generations naturally looked down on those “powerful houses” whose pedigree was insufficient and who had never produced a two-thousand-dan high official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the powerful-house families looked down on those local Zhuo Commandery paupers who had tagged along and whose families had basically already fallen into decline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The local Zhuo Commandery paupers, in turn, united in shared hostility to look down on those families who clearly had a two-thousand-dan lineage yet degraded themselves by engaging in trade for profit — specifically, the three Gongsun brothers and that Zhen Yi, Zhen Dayin, of the Zhongshan Zhen family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, those born of the principal wife were certain to look down on those born of concubines. Someone like Gongsun Zan, begotten by a lowly maidservant (this is not an insult), who could only come here by clinging to the high branch of a Grand Administrator, would naturally be pointed at and whispered about behind his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Gongsun Xun even vaguely sensed that the several adult sons of Lu Zhi who remained at the Fanyang Lu residence, though outwardly impeccable in their propriety, in their bones universally looked down on everyone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no help for it — they were a classics-study lineage, their father was already a high two-thousand-dan official, and they were also these people’s senior fellow-disciples. From any angle, they naturally sat at the very top of the discrimination chain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, during these few days of waiting at the Lu residence, Gongsun Zan, who had already become the ringleader of the border-commandery faction of scholars, had also noticed this. He secretly told Gongsun Xun that once he became Grand General in the future and held the reins of power, he would definitely give these outwardly courteous but inwardly duplicitous Lu fellows a good lesson!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he had long known that his elder cousin’s character was somewhat twisted, and that he harbored ten thousand grievances against anyone of better birth than himself, Gongsun Xun was still a bit taken aback at the time — never mind that their surface manners were decent enough; even if they weren’t, these were your teacher’s sons, weren’t they? Was that really necessary?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this age, the principle was that a teacher for a day is a father for life!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, these days that felt so chaotic and disintegrating to Gongsun Xun soon came to an end. Not only because the scholars had finally all assembled and the whole party formally set out in grand procession for Luoyang, but more importantly, a certain brat whom Gongsun Xun cared about one hundred thousand percent had also formally joined the company on the very last day before departure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And all along the journey, Gongsun Xun could not help but observe this person in secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This brat had a pair of big ears and long arms. The clothes he wore seemed rather plain. Judging by his age, he had probably just barely bound up his hair — meaning he was only fourteen or fifteen, his frame not yet filled out, with no sign of a beard whatsoever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was entirely possible that this kid had specifically bound his hair early just to catch this trip to Luoyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after only seven or eight days on the road, every time evening fell and the group sought lodging with the local powerful families, the moment this brat jumped down from his cart, he would invariably become the center of attention, and all the scholars would look at him and laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, the local powerful and eminent families were very happy to host these young scholars overnight. They hardly lacked the paltry cost of hospitality, and these scholars were all of extremely high birth, destined for great futures. Exchanging names today might prove immensely useful someday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the prerequisite was that everyone had to seriously exchange names and pedigrees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Zhen clan of Wuji in Zhongshan? Ah, I have long admired your name! The family of the Grand Guardian Zhen Han — a renowned clan of hereditary two-thousand-dan officials, right in the neighboring commandery. How could a man of Anguo not know of it? Your esteemed uncle serves at court as Bearer of the Gilded Mace, does he not? ‘To serve as an official, serve as Bearer of the Gilded Mace!’ Forgive my presumption, but has the young master already been capped? Your courtesy name is Dayin — a fine courtesy name!… Have you taken a wife yet? I won’t hide it from you, young master, I have a daughter at home, just fifteen, as fair as a flower… You already have two children? What a pity!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Gongsun clan… which Gongsun clan? The Bohai Gongsun, or the Guangyang Gongsun, or perhaps… the main line of the Liaoxi Lingzhi Gongsun? Ah, I have long admired your name! This one I naturally know as well — also a renowned clan of hereditary two-thousand-dan officials. We have even had some dealings before, having purchased fine steeds from your clan’s Anli Trading House… This capped young lord has also taken a wife? The daughter of a Grand Administrator? This is truly… Oh, the uncapped young gentleman beside you is the junior proprietor of the Anli Trading House? A pleasure, a pleasure!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Tian clan of Guangyang… your esteemed father serves as Prefect of Quanzhou (present-day Wuqing in Tianjin)?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anguo… Ah, aren’t you the prodigy of the Han family? Heading to Luoyang, so you’ve taken a detour away from your home’s direction, right? Even so, you’re practically half a host here. Come stand over here for now and help me entertain your fellow disciples.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Liu of Changshan… a scion of the imperial clan?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Liu of Zhuo Commandery — Liu Deran, also of the imperial clan? Oh, oh, your esteemed father once served as a County Magistrate, I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And this young gentleman — where are you from, and what is your name?” The host finally turned his attention to the last and youngest of them, the brat, while the scholars traveling with him all curled the corners of their mouths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am a descendant of the Prince of Zhongshan Jing, Liu Bei of Zhuo Commandery!” The brat raised his head and puffed out his chest, his legs trembling, yet he seemed somewhat giddy with pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Er, which Prince of Zhongshan Jing was that?” The host was utterly baffled. “When was his fief established? The Zhongshan Principality is right to the north, but I have never heard of a Prince of Zhongshan Jing in this dynasty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He was a son of Emperor Jing of the Former Han,” the brat replied, still brimming with righteous confidence. “His fief was established in Zhongshan Principality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Zhen Yi, the scion of a two-thousand-dan Zhongshan family, on down, everyone snickered, and the host joined in the laughter. The gateway was suddenly plunged into an atmosphere of merriment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet on closer inspection, three men’s expressions were markedly different from the rest. Among them, Gongsun Zan from Liaoxi frowned slightly, as if quite displeased that everyone was mocking another over the issue of birth. Liu Deran, who shared the same clan as Liu Bei, was red-faced, seemingly deeply ashamed. And then there was Gongsun Xun, whose face was calm and composed, betraying neither pleasure nor anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Liu Bei himself still straightened his back, looking thoroughly self-righteous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s it, so that’s it — I have long admired your name, long admired it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the merry atmosphere, the host hastily nodded in perfunctory acknowledgment, then began leading the scholars to the banquet. At the same time, he had his household members guide these men’s servants and trusted aides to find their lodgings, and did not forget to order his own servants to heat up hot soup for the retinue and attendants encamped in the open space outside the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Bei, as if a great burden had been lifted, strode boldly to catch up with the group of scholars, and without the slightest modesty squeezed his way to the front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid this chaotic scene, Gongsun Xun, who had fallen to the very rear, finally spoke to his one and only trusted subordinate at present: “Brother Yigong, what do you make of this Liu Bei’s claim of being ‘a descendant of the Prince of Zhongshan Jing’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be said, although their bond of lord and retainer was already settled, Gongsun Xun remained extremely courteous and respectful toward Han Dang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m just a rough fellow,” Han Dang shook his head repeatedly. “How could I possibly appraise people and their pedigrees? However…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“However what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“However, I can somewhat understand his behavior,” Han Dang said with a touch of emotion. “Among the twenty-odd people traveling together, this man is the youngest, his family the poorest, his birth the lowest. Yet he is also, as it happens, a pleasure-loving youth with a roguish disposition. These past few days in the convoy, I haven’t seen him reading books; he only likes to stare at our fine steeds and circle around them. When he sees someone else’s fine carriage or fine clothes, he can’t tear his eyes away. And from what I hear Liu Deran complain, this man was only able to come here entirely through his family’s sponsorship… So, if he wants to hold his ground in this company, the only thing he can bring out is probably this ‘descendant of the Prince of Zhongshan Jing.’ If he can’t straighten his back and tell people this, what else can he say? It’s just like me, Han Dang, back at Lulong Fortress — the only thing I could bring out was the blade in my hand. If I couldn’t volunteer for battle and stake my life, what else could I do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is true,” Gongsun Xun sighed softly. “Put that way, he does have a few redeeming qualities after all. And he is, in the end, still just a youth. With this kind of spirit, some things he lacks now, he may not necessarily lack in the future… Brother Yigong, please go pick out one of our very best steeds, and also ask Aunt Jin to select some valuables and clothes. After dinner, I will deliver them to him personally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aye!” Han Dang cupped his fist and departed at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke, they had already reached the hall, and it seemed the seating was beginning. Everyone once again fell to chatting and laughing merrily. But Gongsun Xun stood outside the hall, gazing at the setting sun, lost in thought… Liu Bei was, after all, still young. What he would become in the future could be observed slowly; for now, he could set his mind at ease. But in another day or two of travel, they would likely reach Julu. The Zhang Jiao and his Way of Great Peace that his mother had spoken of — no matter what, he had to take a careful look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mob of commoners, a few Daoist priests — how had they overturned this vast Han firmament so full of merry atmosphere? Could it be that this Way of Great Peace truly possessed some divine power?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Liu Bei, courtesy name Xuande, a man of Zhuo County in Zhuo Commandery, descendant of Liu Sheng, Prince of Zhongshan Jing, son of Emperor Jing of Han… He took little pleasure in reading, but was fond of hounds and horses, music, and fine clothing. His fellow disciples all regarded him with shame; only the Grand Ancestor thought him extraordinary and befriended him.” — Old Book of Yan, Scroll 28, Hereditary Houses, Part Three\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wind Whisperer’s Alliance Master… feeling so guilty I can’t stand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2890,"2026-06-04T19:42:03.441Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","772179a822af36118ffc39e78359e17dd06ec3cee61a33b47ceadfacc2e72f12","overthrowing-han-chapter-16","overthrowing-han-chapter-14",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]