[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-154":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},1222913,1620,"Chapter 154: Setting the Strategy (Part 2)","overthrowing-han-chapter-154",154,"\u003Cp>\"Young Madam,\" the serving maid who had been watching from afar hurried back into the room to report. \"County Commandant Lu and the others have left, but that 'Mushroom King' has been brought back by County Commandant Han.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yun remained impassive upon hearing this, but picked up a book beside her again and leaned back against the fat cat behind her: \"It's fine... My husband is the county magistrate of a great county of ten Battalion Commander, so all sorts of matters are naturally complicated; you must not disturb him. Besides, it's just meeting one person — there should be a result soon enough... You needn't report every little thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The serving maids brought from Luoyang hurriedly bowed and withdrew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honorable Kelu,\" Gongsun Xun, indeed, had already cut straight to the point with a dark expression. \"I respect you as an elder, so I have treated you with courtesy. Why then do you keep making excuses? You are merely a clan chief who has lost power in the tiny kingdom of Goguryeo, while I am a newly appointed thousand-bushel county magistrate — it's hardly clear who outranks whom...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is not a matter of who is stronger,\" Yaya Kelu replied helplessly in a low voice. \"Lord Gongsun, I naturally know that your Great Han surpasses our Goguryeo a hundredfold. But this matter concerns the life and death of my clansmen. If I cannot see sufficient possibility of success, I absolutely dare not lay my heart bare.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My mother has only me as her son, and my father-in-law, the Grand Administrator of Liaoxi and Regional Commander of the Liaodong Dependent State, the Marquis of Shu, has only me as his son-in-law... Do you truly think I am powerless?\" Gongsun Xun questioned with a dark face. \"If I resolve to achieve this great merit, would our Grand Administrator Gao of Liaodong really refuse to give me face? And Honorable Kelu, when you brought this matter up yourself during the banquet earlier, if those words were not meant for my ears, were they meant for my mother's?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yaya Kelu sighed with emotion: \"I will not hide it from Lord Gongsun. At the banquet yesterday, those words of mine were actually meant for Grand Administrator Gongsun Yu. That you, the county lord, stepped forward instead was an unexpected delight for me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun was momentarily stunned, but his expression did not change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In truth, from the very start of this journey, I was going to Xuantu Commandery to seek aid. After all, the troops there are strong and well-equipped, and they border Goguryeo in many places, so they know the terrain and the inside situation. But unfortunately, just as I arrived in Xuantu Commandery, I learned that the Grand Administrator there had just been replaced. I have absolutely no acquaintance with the newly arrived Grand Administrator Ju Teng, and I imagine he does not know me either. With no other choice, I turned south. On one hand, it was indeed to visit old friends; on the other, I hoped to persuade the old Grand Administrator Gongsun Yu to urge his disciples and former subordinates to change the situation in Xuantu. Ideally, one or two Separate Division Commanders would be willing to step forward, or perhaps we could simply convince Grand Administrator Ju.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Yaya Kelu spread his hands frankly and said: \"We Goguryeo people are from a small, weak country. Many of us are even unclear about where Liaoxi and the Liaodong Dependent State are located. What we know is limited to Liaodong, Lelang, Xuantu, the Fuyu people to the north, and the Xianbei to the west. Among these, Xuantu Commandery, because it is specifically tasked with militarily dividing us Goguryeo from Fuyu and we have clashed repeatedly, has troops whose reputation is immense in my Goguryeo. If we are to overawe the domestic situation, Xuantu Commandery must take precedence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So this is a case of only recognizing the iron axe, not the golden axe? Gongsun Xun was momentarily lost in thought, but he quickly adjusted his mindset and asked with a serious expression:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That clan brother of mine, though retired for ten years, still holds such authority in Xuantu?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is only natural,\" Yaya Kelu said casually. \"For example, the Separate Division Commander Xu Rong, garrisoned at West Gaima (later Fushun), has over fifteen hundred cavalry under his command, a full third of Xuantu's troops, positioned right at the border between our Goguryeo and Fuyu. In terms of intimidation, it is this very force that the country fears most... And as far as I know, both Xu Rong and his father received great favor from Grand Administrator Gongsun. His father was promoted to a term as Separate Division Commander during Grand Administrator Gongsun's tenure, and Xu Rong himself became a commandery clerk at that time. To speak from the heart, even if Grand Administrator Ju does not move, if this man can be moved, it would be barely sufficient.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xu Rong...\" Gongsun Xun mused thoughtfully, then suddenly asked, \"But now, although that clan brother of mine knows the situation perfectly well, he is clearly old and frail, unwilling to stir up more trouble. It is I, Gongsun Xun, who single-mindedly desires this achievement... If Xu Rong truly reveres my clan brother so much, and your plea is useless, then if I go to ask, this force could be grasped in my hand... Given such circumstances, what does Honorable Kelu have to say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yaya Kelu lowered his head and fell silent for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after a long while did he raise his head and ask with a serious expression: \"Lord Gongsun, exactly how many troops do you have?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At Xu Rong's position, there are fifteen hundred elite Han cavalry. Here, I have twelve hundred Han infantry,\" Gongsun Xun answered without the slightest shame. \"How many mixed Hu tribes can be summoned by such a number of elite Han troops — does Honorable Kelu not know? Or do you think my Anli Company lacks the funds and provisions to summon them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In that case,\" Yaya Kelu's expression finally turned fierce. Bracing himself against the table before him, he rose and declared, \"The institutions of the state have already been utterly destroyed by Myeongnim Dapbu. I, Yaya Kelu, as chief of the Gunna clan, must naturally rid the country of this villain!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let us set that aside for now,\" Gongsun Xun said with a furrowed brow. \"Honorable Kelu, how many troops do you have?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will speak plainly.\" At this point, the Gunna clan chief no longer held back. \"My strength lies mainly in three areas. First, naturally, is the power of the Gunna clan itself. However, they are extremely scattered, located everywhere, and can probably only relay some messages...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did the other three clans not resist?\" Gongsun Xun asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There certainly was resistance,\" Yaya Kelu admitted candidly. \"There are not a few who hate him to the bone as I do. But their vision is generally narrow; they only know how to circle within Goguryeo's borders. Those like me, who are proficient in Han writing and understand something of the greater situation, are few. Therefore, I dare not rashly contact them. In fact, if Han troops suddenly crossed the border, although they deeply hate Dapbu, they might still follow military orders and fight the Han army to the death!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A look of sudden understanding appeared on Gongsun Xun's face... So they were a bunch of patriots after all — the powerful minister of their own country could only be killed by themselves. But then, what did that make this Yaya Kelu, dressed as a Confucian scholar?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, Lord County Magistrate need not worry,\" Yaya Kelu had clearly misinterpreted the other's expression and hurriedly explained. \"I also have a core following within the country... Our Gunna clan has long commanded the palace guard forces. As long as the Lord County Magistrate can break through the Jwawon defense line, and then take our old capital of Holseung Golseong, crossing the Hunjiang River at that time and advancing upon the national capital of Jiancheng, with just a show of force, I can calmly seize control of the country's situation, and this affair will be concluded...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So that is how it is. When the army reaches the city walls, people's hearts will waver on their own.\" Gongsun Xun nodded slightly. \"But the Jwawon fortifications stretch on continuously — how can they be taken?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will do my utmost to keep Myeongnim Dapbu tied down in the capital, preventing him from sending reinforcements. Then, if possible, I will also do my best to open one or two key fortresses for the Lord County Magistrate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You just mentioned three areas. Where is the third source of strength?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will not hide it from the Lord County Magistrate,\" Yaya Kelu could not help but lower his head and answer. \"I also have a Fuyu force that I can mobilize. It is not large, about a thousand men...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun was immediately speechless: \"Haven't you Goguryeo people and the Fuyu people been beating each other's brains out?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We are, after all, of the same stock,\" the Mushroom King admitted frankly. \"When I previously held state power, I kept some foresight and adopted a gentle stance toward the Fuyu people, which earned me some good reputation there. So there are some willing to help...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The military strength is already sufficient. Just tell me, what can you give me after the deed is done?!\" Gongsun Xun pondered briefly, then sternly interrupted the other's account.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Lord County Magistrate is young, so what you seek should be merit and achievement above all — otherwise, you would not forcibly involve yourself in this matter.\" Yaya Kelu's spirit was also roused, and he cupped his hands and said, \"If we fail, there is naturally nothing to say. If we succeed, then the puppet king installed by that powerful minister will naturally also be deposed. At that time, after the new king ascends the throne, he will formally declare himself a vassal and offer tribute to the Great Han, and then return the land of Jwawon to Fuyu. The two countries... no, the three kingdoms, will thus have tranquil borders. And on the memorial that reaches the Great Han Son of Heaven, this matter of restoring order, abolishing the old and establishing the new, will inevitably be credited to the Lord County Magistrate alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ceding territory and declaring vassalage is fine, but who will be the new king?\" Gongsun Xun nodded, then could not help but sneer. \"Could it be that the Mushroom King, spoken of in jest before, truly intends to become king?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am an old, decrepit man — how could I become king?\" Yaya Kelu puffed out his chest and said. \"However, my son, Yaya Ketan, is eighteen years old, exceptionally intelligent, and has long held a good reputation in the country...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unless Yaya Ketan becomes the new king, there is no guarantee of vassalage and territorial cession, nor any guarantee that my achievements will be recorded in the state letter, correct?\" Gongsun Xun could not help but laugh. \"Honorable Kelu, although our family has great wealth and extensive enterprises, our resources did not come from the wind. Setting aside failure, if we succeed, the soldiers of the various armies will have fought and died for your family's throne — surely you don't expect me to pay for the pensions and rewards out of my own pocket?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kelu thought for a moment, then nodded crisply: \"This is a minor matter. If we succeed, the pensions and rewards will all be paid by my family!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The deal is made,\" upon hearing this, Gongsun Xun suddenly said with a stern voice. \"Visiting friends takes but two or three days. Honorable Kelu should not linger long in Xiangping, lest Myeongnim Dapbu grow suspicious. Pack up tonight and leave the city to return home early tomorrow morning!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand the gravity.\" Kelu rose and bowed. \"When the time comes, I will communicate the details with the Lord County Magistrate via the Fuyu people, taking the northern route in a detour. I also ask the Lord County Magistrate to assemble his forces here as soon as possible. Farewell!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun raised his hand slightly. Han Dang, who had been standing guard in the shadows all along, emerged and escorted the man back, hand on his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was already the third watch of the night. Zhao Yun was still leaning against the fat cat, reading a book — and had already started a new one. But after turning no more than two pages of this book, she finally grew impatient: \"Has that Mushroom King still not left?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In reply to the Young Madam,\" the serving maid outside hurriedly ran in, flustered. \"The Mushroom King left long ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then is my husband discussing matters with County Commandant Han?\" Zhao Yun asked with a frown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" the serving maid quickly lowered her head and answered again. \"County Commandant Han also left long ago after escorting that Mushroom King and has not returned... The County Lord has been sitting alone behind the table in the courtyard, motionless, until now!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yun immediately stood up and questioned: \"Why did you not tell me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The serving maid was momentarily speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Zhao Yun recall that she herself had forbidden them from reporting further. And at this moment, this was ultimately not the time to pursue that matter. She picked up an outer garment and went straight outside to look for her husband.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, beneath the stars and moon, the courtyard was littered with scattered cups and dishes in complete disarray. But her husband, Gongsun Xun, heedless of the cold night wind, sat upright and solemn in the seat of honor, eyes closed in meditation, as if waiting for someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Zhao Yun felt both heartache and exasperation. She hurried forward and draped the garment over him: \"My lord sitting here — are you waiting for a star or moon to descend to earth, or waiting for the autumn wind to transform into a beauty to attend you? I have recently heard Mother tell quite a few such stories...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun opened his eyes and, seizing the moment, grasped her hands: \"I was originally a stubborn stone on Mount Wulu, transformed, waiting solely for an immortal herb that can revive the dead to descend to earth as a beauty and save me... Has the immortal maiden come to save me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yun was stunned speechless, her expression shifting again and again — first not knowing whether to laugh or cry, then her face flushing crimson: \"My lord, were you waiting here for me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are indeed two difficult matters for which I wish to ask my wife's help, so I waited here specifically for you,\" Gongsun Xun admitted frankly. \"I will not hide it from you, A'Yun. I do not know whether this matter is public or private... If I rashly went inside to speak of it, it would feel rather like using charm to entertain and seeking a favor in return. So I waited here specifically.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yun truly could not help but laugh: \"Now when you seek me to do something, it actually counts as using charm to entertain?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very well, then let it be using charm to entertain,\" Zhao Yun said helplessly. \"What is the matter? Speak quickly, and when you are done, we can return to the room to rest. It is too cold here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You must not tell Mother,\" Gongsun Xun said with a serious expression, holding his wife's hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That goes without saying,\" Zhao Yun grew increasingly helpless. \"If there is a matter, speak of it quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wish to ask my father-in-law to help me with something...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is this about... Let us go inside quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You could write a letter to Grandmother, and let her speak to Father-in-law. Otherwise, Father-in-law is too rigid and pedantic and may not agree...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go inside, quickly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—————I am the dividing line that sits motionless—————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Grand Ancestor lost his father in childhood and rose from a commandery clerk. Over several decades he hacked through thorns and honed his edge, braved death time and again, never relying on another's hand — and thus his achievement culminated in the imperial enterprise!\" — Old Book of Yan, Volume 1, Annals of the Grand Ancestor, the Martial Emperor\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Is dividing into chapters good or not? Before, when I didn't split chapters, everyone said to split them. So why, once I did split them, are there still people saying they can't accept it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, once again thanks to the fifth cute Mo Shaoshang classmate...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And there's the new book group 684558115, everyone can join.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2800,"2026-06-04T19:42:03.441Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","5f3f5603a910c844945d1f549b7e021f43cfbf62c130f374dab8890989bd7844","overthrowing-han-chapter-155","overthrowing-han-chapter-153",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]