Chapter 155: Autumn Hunt (Part One)

In the land of Liaodong, after the autumn harvest the days grow colder one by one. And ever since the heated brick bed came into common use among the people over a decade ago, for those living beyond the frontier — whether mixed Hu tribes or powerful magnates — the turn of autumn and winter has brought an additional proper farming task to do: chopping firewood!

This is only natural. Ever since the Fire-Driller kindled the first bonfire, fuel has been an eternal, unchanging necessity for humankind.

However, in Liaodong, where the land is vast, the people sparse, and the mountains and wilds thick with forest, this large-scale stockpiling of firewood always takes on a distinctive local character — because at the same time, there is generally a hunting expedition of a county-wide nature as well.

And hunting is an activity that always stirs the emotions of nearly everyone. An outstanding catch can not only bring a family some rare extra income, but also bestow ample honor upon the hunter. If someone could shoot or surround and kill a tiger or a bear, the person who served as the main hunter in that effort would even gain a measure of fame throughout the commandery and county, and become the talk of everyone for the entire winter.

Yet the autumn hunt and wood-storing activities that had gradually flourished over many years were unprecedentedly lively in this first year of the Guanghe era. There were even outstanding young men of good family and fierce wandering swordsmen from other commanderies who traveled all the way to Liaodong just to take part in the hunt... And the reason for all of this was simply that the Grand Administrator of Liaodong, His Excellency Gao Yan, was going to personally lead his subordinate commandery and county officials, powerful magnates, soldiers, and militia in a semi-official grand battue!

That’s right — the Grand Administrator had actually issued a formal proclamation through the posting boards at relay stations and inns everywhere. The proclamation read: “This old man, stirred to youthful boldness, with yellow hound on the left and gray falcon on the right, in brocade cap and sable coat, shall lead a thousand riders sweeping the level hills. To repay the city for following their Grand Administrator, I shall at that time personally shoot a tiger and reward the militia!”

Do you see? After the bountiful autumn harvest, with the commandery in great order, the Grand Administrator Gao of Liaodong was actually going to use the occasion of the autumn wood-storing to personally visit the hunting grounds, shoot a fierce tiger, follow the borderland customs, and reward the gentry and commoners — how could this not fill people with joy and inspiration? And how could such words not set the blood of every young man in the commandery boiling? It is no wonder that those young men of good family and wandering swordsmen from other commanderies, seeking a path forward, were so eagerly ready to try their luck and show their faces before Grand Administrator Gao... Ah, even the officials of this very commandery who hadn’t yet figured things out thought their own Grand Administrator Gao had suddenly changed his nature, let alone these people who had been lured here!

“Wenqi has done me wrong!” Inside the gate of the commandery office, Gao Yan grasped the hand of the person before him and refused to budge. “I only agreed to reward the militia — since when did that become personally going on the autumn hunt?! And that proclamation you wrote is far too untruthful... How can an ordinary man shoot a tiger?”

“My Lord!”

Gongsun Xun, in a pheasant-feathered helmet and bound in armor, had both hands seized by the other man, and it wasn’t as if he could just drag the dignified Grand Administrator of an entire commandery out the gate, could he?

So the fellow could only sigh helplessly and explain in earnest: “No one is asking you, my lord, to personally shoot a tiger. That proclamation was nothing more than a rhetorical flourish. You only need to go to the hunting grounds in person, make one round to show your face, then sit up on high ground, have wine heated and dishes cooked, sing loudly to the heavens, and return that very evening. All the matters that follow, leave to me! You will be perfectly safe!”

“And you can still call that perfectly safe?” Grand Administrator Gao shook his head repeatedly. “In this day and age, with fierce beasts attacking people, how is it a matter of simply not provoking them? Wenqi, you may not know this, but earlier, our own Magistrate of Pingguo in Liaodong was on horseback patrolling his county when a tiger suddenly burst out from the roadside and bit him to death... You tell me — having me ride around on patrol in a place like a hunting ground, I’m afraid you can’t exactly call that foolproof either, can you?!”

“No need to ride a horse!” Gongsun Xun said hastily. “You can simply ride in a carriage!”

“Riding in a carriage isn’t safe either!”

“I will also dispatch twenty personal guard cavalrymen to escort you the entire way, my lord,” Gongsun Xun was truly at his wit’s end. “These riders are all men I brought back from Yanmen, veterans of the northern campaign against the Danhan — every one of them is first-rate elite. Twenty men, all armored, bearing spears, wearing swords, and carrying bows. Even if there really were tigers and bears, they wouldn’t be enough for each man to get one thrust of his spear in!”

Grand Administrator Gao released one hand, stroked his beard, and pondered for a moment, yet still hesitated somewhat: “Tell me, this business of hunting is utterly bloody — why do people still treat it as a custom? You won’t end up making me preside over inspecting the kills, will you?”

“No, leave everything to me!” Gongsun Xun answered without the slightest hesitation, and at the same time, probably driven to exasperation, he couldn’t help but speak in a tone half reminder, half warning. “My lord, you must not delay any further. You know as well as I that this is a local custom... Since you are the lord of this commandery, you ought to go and honor the custom, to lift the spirits of the gentry and commoners! And now the whole city, the whole commandery, is waiting on you alone — how can you still keep dragging this out?”

Grand Administrator Gao, helpless, could only crane his neck and look to the left and right outside the commandery office gate... And sure enough, the main street before the commandery office was already packed solid with men and horses and covered with banners and flags!

From the greatest local magnate, the former Grand Administrator of Xuantu Gongsun Yu, to the various officials of the commandery; from the well-equipped private retainers of the Gongsun clan to the commandery troops and county troops of this very commandery — every one of them either stood with spear and bow or straddled a blade and held a banner... And now, these men, whether on horseback or standing solemnly, were all staring expressionlessly at him.

To be honest, Grand Administrator Gao truly had no desire in his heart to go do this sort of thing, but even he, dull as he was, knew that his stalling had provoked public wrath, and he was even less willing to go against the general will. On top of that, he recalled how, ever since Gongsun Xun had taken office, the rear residence had received many gifts from the Anli Trading House, and he couldn’t save face either. So he could only hold his nose and walk out for the time being, allowing the Magistrate of Xiangping, Gongsun Xun, to help him into the carriage, and at last, amid the clamorous escort of the crowd, head out of the city.

Of course, driving the barking hunting hounds to the rear column seemed unavoidable as well.

“A bookish weakling like this, who can barely truss a chicken — why doesn’t he go to the court and become an Erudite of the Five Classics? Why must he come to a strategic border commandery like Liaodong to be Grand Administrator?” The carriage moved slowly. The gray-haired Gongsun Yu, riding behind, watched as even the Goguryeo falconer with his majestic sea eagle was driven to the rear column, and could no longer contain himself. “A perfectly fine affair, and he’s ruined the whole mood!”

“The five commanderies beyond the frontier form a world of their own, and the court must always have its rules,” Gongsun Xun couldn’t help but laugh. “From time to time they transfer officials from the interior to serve as governors in the border commanderies — it’s also a way to prevent local powers from growing too strong... As for the mood, elder brother, you needn’t worry. Once we get there, he’ll naturally go sit idle, and you and I can do as we please.”

Gongsun Yu shook his head repeatedly: “You are his subordinate, so of course you must speak in his defense, but what you say is far too perfunctory... What does this have to do with being from the interior? Your father-in-law is from Qinghe in Jizhou, and yet he can fight a battle. Grand Administrator Ju of Xuantu Commandery is from Beihai in Qingzhou, and I hear that after taking office he can draw a bow and wield a blade. So why is it that this one of ours can’t bear the sight of blood all day long?!”

Gongsun Xun smiled but did not answer... Wasn’t this even better? Otherwise, how could he dare to carry out the matter at hand on his own authority?

In truth, Gongsun Xun himself felt a bit of this same odd sensation toward Gao Yan, Grand Administrator Gao. He always felt the man was a little excessively timid — could he be playing the pig to eat the tiger? But after slowly spending more time with him, he had truly confirmed the fellow’s caliber.

And what Gongsun Xun did not know was that in another time and space, this very Grand Administrator Gao, during his tenure in Shanggu — likewise a major border commandery, likewise holding a heavy military force — would, as soon as great chaos erupted, immediately die a violent death, and in a manner utterly baffling: Yuan Shao, after fleeing Luoyang, demanded money from him to fund the Guandong coalition army. After he sent all his money and it was still not enough, Yuan Benchu sent him a single letter telling him to pay with his life — and this Grand Administrator of Shanggu actually did slit his own throat and pay with his life!

With a death like that, who can say whether he was cowardly to the extreme, or whether, pushed beyond his limit, he used his life to display the unyielding martyr’s spirit of the late Han?

In any case, having this sort of person as one’s superior was, in some respects, actually quite nice.

And so, chatting and laughing, with banners and fine steeds, falcons and yellow hounds, the party made its way to the foot of the hills east of the city... The forested hills east of Xiangping City were part of the so-called Thousand Peaks mountain range, a branch range of the Changbai Mountains. The ridges ran every which way, so numerous they were called the Thousand Peaks, with countless peaks large and small, and the hillsides were thick with dense forest — perfectly suited for dividing into teams to hunt.

And only after the large-scale hunt was over could the common households, including women, children, and the elderly, be allowed into the hills with peace of mind to chop firewood and gather dead branches... killing several birds with one stone, so to speak.

At the foot of the hills, banners and flags fluttered everywhere. From time to time one could make out names like “Pingguo County Tiger-Catching Squad,” “Xuantu Volunteer Corps,” or “Luo Township Militia Unit.” When these people saw the Grand Administrator’s ceremonial procession arrive, they all bowed in salute and waved their flags to display their names.

Gongsun Xun did his best not to look at those strange banners and squad names, and with some effort turned back to explain to Gao Yan: “For this battue, each county’s officials and each township’s militia form the units. In addition, young men of good family and brave warriors from this commandery or others, if they can gather fifty men, may form their own unit and register regardless of status. In total, eighty-seven units have registered. Each has brought their own weapons, provisions, and water, and drawn lots to be assigned to different hills. Each will rely on its own skill to go hunt and make its catch.”

Gao Yan was distracted and merely nodded from within the carriage, while signaling for the carriage to quickly proceed and make one round. Gongsun Xun, helpless, could only let the matter drop and hastily accompany him past the assembled units, heading toward a certain hillside.

When they reached the foot of the hillside, as Gao Yan and his party dismounted and walked up the slope, Gongsun Xun immediately took over command and ordered the commandery clerks to go at once and shout the orders, to prevent an awkward lull.

“No fighting or brawling over prey! No crossing boundaries to intercept prey that others are pursuing! No stealing the kills of others! No shooting young beasts without authorization! Violators will be severely punished without leniency!”

“The hunt will last three days. At noon on the third day, the kills will be weighed and compared fairly. Any single kill exceeding two hundred jin will count as double its weight; any exceeding three hundred jin will count as triple its weight; bears, tigers, and boars will be doubled again! The top three winners will receive grand rewards from the Lord of the Commandery!”

“The kills themselves belong entirely to each unit. They may be sold directly, or they may freely use the coarse salt sponsored by the Anli Trading House to cure the meat on the spot. The government will not interfere in any way!”

“Those of extraordinary bravery who shoot tigers or kill bears will receive special additional rewards!”

The commandery clerks carrying flags on their backs went everywhere proclaiming the orders. With the words they spoke, the edge of the forest, already covered with banners, instantly erupted in excitement. Many people rubbed their fists and wiped their palms, while neighboring units raised their banners at each other in shows of bravado.

Though, the strange names on their banners always made one struggle not to laugh.

“At the stroke of noon, the drums will beat to begin the hunt! For now, set up the command tent and open the hall!” Seeing that Gao Yan, Zhang Jian, and a few Confucian scholars had begun setting out wine and enjoying themselves on the hillside, and even though the Commandery Adjutant was right there beside him, Gongsun Xun took it upon himself without hesitation to direct the various matters of the battue — and, as it happened, no one else raised any objection. “Once they’ve gone, delineate the duties and divide the areas. From the large scales for weighing to the coarse salt for curing the meat, everything must be prepared in advance and arranged in perfect order!”

For a time, the officials of the commandery were as responsive as limbs to a brain, each carrying out their tasks steadily.

“Wenqi, aren’t you going to test your own skills?” Gongsun Yu, who was sorting his bow and arrows nearby, asked curiously. “I see your subordinates have all gone too...”

“Indeed. Shen Zhengnan is leading the Xiangping county clerks, and Han Yigong is leading my personal retainers — they’ve split into two units and are also entering the hills. But since Grand Administrator Gao doesn’t want to bother with the mundane affairs here, I must take overall charge of this matter, so I can’t go...”

“Then why are you still wearing a pheasant-feathered helmet and bound in armor?” Gongsun Yu was utterly speechless.

“Doesn’t it look imposing?” Gongsun Xun was quite frank.

Gongsun Yu was momentarily at a loss for words.

“What, does elder brother also have a mind to test his skills?” Gongsun Xun changed the subject with a smile, sizing the other man up.

“Didn’t the proclamation say? ‘This old man, stirred to youthful boldness’...” Gongsun Yu, nearing fifty, stroked his beard and said, “Though I have lived in idleness for ten years, I have never stopped tempering my body for a single day. Three days of wild hunting — I may not necessarily be worse than the young men! Besides, even setting aside personal considerations, living here for so long, one must always be mindful of the community... The elders of Yongning Ward in the city came to me for this, so how could I have the face to refuse to be their squad leader?”

“That is true,” Gongsun Xun nodded hastily. “If you, elder brother, did not serve as squad leader, I’m afraid no one in Yongning Ward would dare to...”

Gongsun Yu was momentarily quite pleased with himself.

“But why didn’t my nephew come with you this time, elder brother?” Gongsun Xun suddenly asked with curiosity. “Isn’t he just in his prime right now?”

Gongsun Yu’s beloved son had died young. Later, he took a liking to Gongsun Du, who shared the same name and age as his deceased son, and he helped the young man marry and sought opportunities for him to gain official standing. But the problem was, the young man had his own father and mother, so Gongsun Yu couldn’t truly take him as a son... They had the substance of a foster father-son relationship without the name. Still, in those days, carrying on the ancestral incense was of great importance, so he eventually adopted a son from a collateral branch of the clan.

But with old people, first, because his son died early, he imagined that deceased son to be infinitely wonderful; second, that former substitute, Gongsun Du, was genuinely a remarkable person and truly outstanding... So when the two were added together, the son he later adopted was made to look utterly worthless in comparison. It was no wonder that whenever his adopted son was mentioned, Gongsun Xun’s elder brother’s face would twist with displeasure!

“He came,” Gongsun Yu, upon hearing this, let out a cold sneer as expected, then pointed toward the distant hillside where the Grand Administrator’s party was raising curtains and said, “Holding a copy of the Book of Documents, saying he wants to consult the Grand Administrator on scholarly matters... I just don’t understand. Our Gongsun clan has been border commandery officials for generations. Even if you want to pursue scholarship, you must first understand border affairs, no? Without establishing military merit, what use is there in discussing the classics? Isn’t this putting the cart before the horse? With such posturing, I fear the Liaodong branch of the Gongsun clan will perish in his hands!”

Gongsun Xun immediately shook his head and laughed: “In the end, he is one of our own clan’s sons. Why must elder brother worry so much? As long as we, his kinsmen in the clan, can find some path forward, we can always secure him a place to settle and make a living.”

Gongsun Yu finished adjusting his bow and arrows, then looked his much younger clan brother up and down, and frankly laughed in scorn: “If you have something to attend to, Wenqi, go and come back to talk. Between us brothers, there’s no need to stand on ceremony!”

Gongsun Xun immediately nodded in understanding.

In the blink of an eye, it was high noon. As the drums pounded like thunder all around, Gongsun Xun, positioned halfway up the hillside, watched with his own eyes as a force of a full five or six thousand men, following their respective routes, split into columns and surged clamorously into the mountains... For a moment, the banners were distinct, blades and spears glittered, and with the hunting hounds racing and howling, it truly bore something of the air of a battlefield.

Of course, one regrettable thing was that on the mountain ridges they could only use so-called "guoxia horses" — the short pack horses commonly used for hauling goods between the ridges. In this era, only the Goguryeo cavalry, due to their terrain, used such short horses as warhorses; elsewhere they were only used for carrying cargo. In any case, most of the fine steeds suited for galloping across the plains had been left behind, and without sufficiently imposing warhorses, the display inevitably lacked a certain grandeur.

And what Gongsun Xun found even more regrettable was that all these able-bodied men before him, such excellent soldier material, were men summoned by a single notice from the Grand Administrator — in a few days they would disperse, and had little to do with him. He wondered whether today's venture might succeed.

"My lord!"

Just as Gongsun Xun, armored and wearing a brown-feathered cap, sat on the hillside watching the hunting procession advance into the mountains, Wang Xiu stood nearby holding an account book, hesitating as if wanting to speak. He was one of the few Xiangping county clerks who had not voluntarily joined the hunt and had not been eliminated.

"What is it?" Gongsun Xun asked without turning his head.

"It is like this: the coarse salt and reward money provided by the Anli Trading House have all arrived, but there is not much grain or fodder for the horses left behind by the various teams and the personnel staying here. Do you think we could have the county quickly send out a portion of grain and fodder from the city?"

"This is a commandery-level affair," Gongsun Xun said, rising abruptly and pacing back with his hands behind him, as if he had long been prepared. "How can we make the county pay for it? Isn't the Grand Administrator right up on the mountain?"

A look of sudden understanding crossed Wang Xiu's face, but he shut his mouth and said nothing, merely following his county magistrate up the mountain with the account book in hand to seek out Gao Yan.

"Wenqi, you've come at just the right moment!" Grand Administrator Gao had by now completely shed his earlier timidity and helplessness. "I didn't expect it would be so peaceful here after everyone left. Setting out wine and discussing the classics has its own special charm. Come, sit down quickly!"

"How can I sit?" Gongsun Xun gave a wry smile. "Shuzhi."

Wang Xiu, hearing this, hurried forward and explained the matter of the grain and fodder.

Gao Yan, upon hearing it, did not take it seriously in the slightest. He immediately summoned someone to draft a document and prepared to apply his seal to allocate the grain.

"My lord, please wait a moment," Gongsun Xun said, suddenly stepping forward and sitting down beside Grand Administrator Gao, then using his hand to stop the other man from untying his seal. "That would be far too troublesome!"

"What do you mean by this?" Gao Yan was immediately puzzled.

"To report to my lord," Gongsun Xun said frankly, sitting within arm's reach of the other man, "the need for the commandery office to mobilize grain and fodder will likely not be limited to this one occasion. For these three days, some grain and fodder must be allocated; when the hunt concludes in three days and the soldiers and people are rewarded, more coin and grain must be allocated; after that, when winter arrives, there will be the year-end rewards for the civil defense drills; and I also plan to hold a cuju tournament in winter, having all eleven cities of the commandery participate, to boost morale and stir the people's spirit — and that is yet another expenditure of grain and fodder!"

"Wenqi, where do you come up with so many schemes?" Gao Yan was instantly speechless. "The hunt is a local custom, meant to drive away wild beasts so the people can stockpile firewood for winter — that is why I went along with it. But what are these so-called civil defense drills and cuju leagues?"

"My lord, please see clearly," Gongsun Xun explained with a serious expression. "These measures are meant to overawe Goguryeo!"

Gao Yan immediately panicked and hurriedly grabbed the other man's wrist. "Wenqi, do you mean that Goguryeo intends to invade my Liaodong?"

To tell the truth, Grand Administrator Gao's words had instead turned the tables and left Gongsun Xun, who had a bellyful of prepared arguments, at a loss for words. He had been devoting all his effort to preparing to destroy Goguryeo — how had it become Goguryeo coming to invade? Even if you gave that Myeongnim Dap-bu ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare come to Liaodong, would he?

If that were really the case, wouldn't everything be so much simpler?

But still — wasn't this perfect?!

"My lord speaks truly!" Gongsun Xun abruptly seized the other man's wrist in return and said with a grave expression, "From what I know, the Goguryeo minister Myeongnim Dap-bu's ambitions grow daily, and recently he seems to harbor intentions of usurping the throne. And a powerful minister, when he wishes to carry out such an act, generally must establish military merit abroad to overawe his own country. In winter, when the Hunjiang freezes over, it is actually ideal for Goguryeo to move large armies across the border and mass for an invasion!"

"Then what is to be done?!" Gao Yan grew increasingly flustered and turned to ask a person beside him, "Elder Yuanjie, you have been here a long time — do you know the situation in Goguryeo? Is it truly as Wenqi says?"

"Perhaps so?" Zhang Jian had no choice but to steel himself and muddle through. "I don't know about the rest, but it is a fact that Myeongnim Dap-bu intends to advance further within his own country. Everyone in Goguryeo knows it, and I have just heard someone speak of it as well."

Grand Administrator Gao's hands and feet grew even colder.

"My lord need not panic," Gongsun Xun quickly seized the moment to say. "Our Liaodong has eleven cities, vast lands, and a prosperous populace. Even if we truly faced an incursion, we would not fear them. But precisely because of this, we must boost morale and gather more civilian laborers and commandery troops for drilling. If our momentum gradually rises and the people's hearts can be put to use, Myeongnim Dap-bu will likely not dare to rashly invade."

At this point, Gongsun Xun, his expression unchanged and his heart calm, grasped his Grand Administrator's hands and declared with fervor, "This is what is meant by 'the security of a state lies in virtue, not in natural barriers' — subduing the enemy's troops without fighting! And these matters do not require you, my lord, to appear in person. You may sit at ease within the city. Whether it is boosting morale or truly needing someone to take the initiative and meet the enemy when they come, leave everything to me, Gongsun Xun!"

"Well said, Wenqi!" Gao Yan was instantly overjoyed. "That is exactly how it should be. You are already a renowned commander throughout the realm; I am at ease entrusting matters to you! Now, what was it you wanted from me just now?"

"It is the matter of grain and fodder," Gongsun Xun said frankly. "These training and assembly activities must be held in response to Goguryeo's movements, so the dates are uncertain. The commandery stores must provide grain and fodder on demand. Therefore, your subordinate presumes to ask my lord to issue a document permitting me to freely mobilize the commandery stores before the spring thaw, rather than seeking approval for every single matter."

"That would be fine as well," Grand Administrator Gao said thoughtfully, stroking his beard. "It will save both of us much trouble."

Gongsun Xun's face betrayed nothing, but in his heart he was overjoyed. He had never imagined that all his painstaking schemes would prove unnecessary — he had only needed to frighten the man a little and it was done!

"I fear it may not conform to regulations," at that moment, a young man nearby suddenly interjected softly, rather inopportunely. "My lord, my clan uncle is merely a county magistrate. For him to take charge of commandery affairs — I fear there may be gossip."

"The boy speaks truly!" Gongsun Xun shot a fierce glare at his old clan brother's adopted son — truly, mud that cannot be plastered onto a wall — then turned his head indignantly toward Gao Yan, who was right before him. "I, Gongsun Xun, acted purely out of sincere devotion to the public good. If my lord suspects me of overstepping my authority to meddle with the commandery stores out of corrupt intent, then please, my lord, find someone else!"

With that, he actually made as if to rise and leave.

"What is Wenqi saying?" Gao Yan immediately seized the other man's sleeve to dissuade him. "If it were anyone else, I might indeed suspect them of intending to embezzle from the commandery stores. But Wenqi's family is immensely wealthy — how could he lack such coin and grain? So let no one entertain such thoughts, and Wenqi need not be angry. I shall write a formal directive this instant, granting you free use of the commandery stores!"

"And what of the matter of using the hunt, drills, and cuju to assemble civilian laborers?" Gongsun Xun pressed his advantage.

"As long as I need not appear in person, you may operate as you see fit!" Gao Yan answered without the slightest hesitation. "I shall also issue an additional document, granting you authority to freely conscript able-bodied men and civilian laborers from all eleven cities of this commandery for defensive preparations. How would that be?"

"Only until the spring thaw will suffice," Gongsun Xun finally agreed, but quickly added, "After all, once the Hunjiang and Yalujiang thaw, movement in and out of Goguryeo becomes difficult. And it will also save anyone from saying I harbor improper intentions!"

"Wenqi is far too cautious!" Gao Yan said dismissively.

For a moment, Gao Yan and Gongsun Xun clasped hands and smiled, truly a picture of harmony between superior and subordinate. Gongsun Yu's adopted son stood to the side, his face alternating between ashen and flushed, utterly mortified. Wang Xiu stood solemnly silent. Zhang Jian kept his head down, eating his food.

And just at that moment, a wave of shouts suddenly rose from the foot of the mountain — someone had hunted a deer the moment they entered the hills, a fine start to the autumn hunt!

————— I am the effortless dividing line —————

"When Xun served as the chief official of Liaodong at Xiangping, he shared a deep mutual understanding with Grand Administrator Gao Yan. Yan's literary grace flourished and was praised for a time; Xun's military strategy was outstanding and overawed the surrounding barbarians. Moreover, the two were on profoundly cordial terms, entrusting each other with their very hearts and livers, without the slightest doubt. Thus, within half a year, the commandery was well governed, and the soldiers and people were stirred with enthusiasm. To this day, Liaodong often recalls the virtue of the two lords governing together!" — Records of Heroes at the End of Han, by Wang Can

PS: I've figured out that splitting chapters is all vanity. I'm a part-time hack; once I get busy, it's one update a day — where would I find the time to split chapters?!

Also, new book group 684558115 — everyone can join.

(End of Chapter)