Chapter 157: Winter Hunt

On the third day of the twelfth month of the first year of the Guanghe era, the weather was clear, cloudless and windless for ten thousand li, yet bitterly cold.

Early that morning, Gongsun Xun rose again when the sky was barely bright, then came out from Feng Zhi's room to wash and rinse, and finally, without waiting for breakfast, directly prepared to don his armor and go out.

The household had long grown accustomed to this, and were even prepared for it, because whenever it was a day for assembly drill or cuju, Gongsun Xun would always go personally to the training grounds to eat together with the various teams of able-bodied men who had gathered there the night before, without exception.

As for today, it was said to be the most arduous part of the assembly drill, the so-called "armed forced march exercise"—that is, in full gear, carrying full provisions, imitating a military march for several dozen li out and back, perhaps even setting up camp and fortifications at the destination, and only after encircling and exterminating the wild beasts on some mountain peak could they disband and return. And assembly drill, as a rule, forbade outsiders from watching, unlike cuju... the days when the cuju league matches were held were always like festivals; in the whole city, from great households to humble doors, almost everyone except that one Prefect Gao, who disliked it, would go to watch—truly bustling and entertaining.

"Husband." After the two concubines had finished helping their lord don his armor, Zhao Yun stepped forward and personally presented the broken blade with both hands. "May my husband have a good harvest on this winter hunt."

On previous forced marches, once they reached the destination, they would routinely encircle and hunt the game on some mountain peak as the final drill, so calling it a winter hunt was not inappropriate.

"Let us hope so!" Gongsun Xun took the blade and said with a smile. "The sky is still early; Mother is probably still sleeping. Besides, these past two months I've been going to the training grounds every few days—it's a routine matter. I won't go specially to pay my respects to Mother. You needn't see me off either; just take good care of her on my behalf once she rises."

Zhao Yun exchanged a glance with Gongsun Xun, merely bowing slightly in acknowledgment, without any superfluous words.

"My lord, rest assured, we will certainly keep your lady mother happy." Feng Zhi, standing to the side, hurriedly spoke up at this, her face immediately flushing crimson. "You must also return early today."

"My lord, take care." Bian Yu also inclined her body in a bow.

Gongsun Xun paid it no mind. He directly fastened the broken blade inside his armor, then stepped out the door, exhaled a puff of white breath, and headed straight out.

"Let us tidy up and then go accompany Mother for breakfast," Zhao Yun said, only then turning her head to sweep her gaze over the two concubines after he had left the courtyard. "A-Zhi, go to my room and bring the cat over for me."

Feng Zhi swallowed a mouthful of saliva and immediately dared not say another word.

At the same moment, on the eastern side of Xiangping City, beside a water source, at a place situated between the Commandery Administrator's residence and the East City Gate, Xiangping Assistant County Magistrate Shen Pei, together with Revenue Officer Wang Xiu, was also exchanging pleasantries with a man.

"Today we must trouble you again, Master Tian." Shen Pei began with a cordial bow. "Today is a forced march, and a full-force march at that, requiring a great deal of provisions. I must ask Master Tian to open the granary doors as quickly as possible; men will be entering the city shortly to transport the grain."

"Ah, it is my duty; what trouble is there?" The man opposite was Tian Shao. After this fellow had been dismissed from the post of Assistant County Magistrate, Lady Gongsun, seemingly feeling somewhat apologetic on her son's behalf, had taken the initiative to seek for him in the commandery a post as a Granary Clerk in charge of the Ever-Normal Granary, a position of three hundred dan.

From the county to the commandery, it was a passable step up in prestige. Moreover, ever since the Ever-Normal Granary was invented by Li Kui, it had long become the primary official granary in the Qin and Han eras, used not only for storing disaster relief and military provisions, but also for the daily functions of stabilizing grain prices and regulating the market; even the distribution of official salaries passed through its hands. Thus, it was by no means an idle post, but rather a prominent one.

"I wonder how much grain and how much fodder will need to be drawn today?" Tian Shao asked seriously, recording the details after ushering them into the courtyard before the granary and having someone bring out the account books.

"Fifty thousand dan of grain, and half the fodder is to be taken," Wang Xiu stepped forward, presenting the documents and speaking earnestly. "Additionally, the miscellaneous supplies needed for this march, such as tents, oil, salt, and vinegar, are all to be doubled!"

Tian Shao took the two documents, which everyone in the commandery knew bore the Commandery Administrator's seal, and without even opening them, handed them directly back. He then signaled the assistant clerk behind him to record the matter... but unexpectedly, that clerk, holding a fine brush, let a drop of ink fall onto the paper, yet stood there gaping, unable to write a single word, as if frozen stiff by the weather.

"Is there a problem?" Shen Pei asked, narrowing his eyes at the clerk as he rested a hand on his sword.

"Yes, is there a problem?" Tian Shao also couldn't help frowning. "Is it not just fifty thousand dan, and doubling the tents? The tents will be returned anyway, and a bit of salt and vinegar—this has all been approved by the Administrator..."

"Granary Assistant Tian," the clerk said, trembling as he handed over the account book and fine brush, "this matter is of great importance. Why don't you write it yourself?"

"Why ever not?" Tian Shao impatiently snatched the account book and raised his brush to write, but after writing just one character, he too looked up, gaping. "F-fifty thousand dan? Gentlemen, the tents, salt, and vinegar are no issue, and the fodder is also manageable, but fifty thousand dan of grain... could Assistant Magistrate Shen and Revenue Officer Wang have made a mistake?"

"There is no mistake," Shen Pei answered without hesitation, his hand still resting on his sword. "It is precisely fifty thousand dan of grain. The civilian laborers are already assembled outside the East City Gate, only waiting for the Granary Assistant to open the granary so they may enter the city and collect it."

Tian Shao's face turned pale. He wanted to speak but hesitated, unsure of what to do... because, as he had just said, everything else was easy to explain, but these fifty thousand dan of grain alone were far too sensitive!

The dan is a very interesting unit of measurement. First, it is a unit of capacity; one dan in the Han system is roughly around twenty thousand milliliters. However, because its primary use is to measure grain, the very foundation of the state and people's livelihood, it was soon extended to become a unit of weight as well. One dan of grain, that is, twenty thousand milliliters of unmilled millet, is roughly one hundred and twenty Han jin, hence the saying that one dan equals four jun, and one jun equals thirty Han jin. Finally, because grain was often used to pay official salaries, the dan was soon further extended to denote official rank...

But regardless, whether viewed as a unit of capacity or a unit of weight, one dan of grain should be around one hundred and twenty Han jin. And considering that one Han jin is roughly equivalent to half a later market jin, or a quarter of a kilogram, then roughly equating one dan of millet to thirty kilograms of grain in later terms is not far off the mark.

Fifty thousand dan, then, is one million five hundred thousand kilograms, or three million market jin of grain—a quantity that, disregarding transport losses, could probably feed ten thousand people frugally for over half a year.

And thinking of it this way, it was no wonder Tian Shao was dumbstruck... he had thought it was five hundred dan just moments ago!

"Assistant Magistrate Shen, you must not jest?" Tian Shao's hands trembled as he could only grit his teeth and verify. "Fifty thousand dan... it's just a one-day forced march. Even if they disband tomorrow, it's only four or five thousand men eating three meals. Why would they need fifty thousand dan?"

"This forced march is an exercise in simulating grain transport," Shen Zhengnan declared without blushing. "We will take out fifty thousand dan of grain, escort it to Xuantu Commandery, and then escort it back. The grain transporters at the gate have already prepared the livestock and large carts."

"Why use real grain?" Tian Shao was utterly speechless. "Just make fifty thousand dan of adobe bricks to put on a show..."

"Our County Magistrate simply prefers using real grain and real fodder... what of it?"

"This..."

"Granary Assistant Tian, say no more of this," Shen Pei was clearly growing impatient. He stepped forward, hand on his sword, and asked with a stern expression. "I only ask you this: Liaodong is a great commandery in Youzhou, with vast lands and a dense population, and it bears the frontier defense responsibility of supporting the four surrounding commanderies. Surely this granary does not lack even fifty thousand dan of grain?"

"Of course we have it," Tian Shao hurriedly explained. "But grain is stockpiled for border defense and disaster relief. Apart from deploying troops or providing disaster aid, how can we release so much in one go..."

"As I said, say no more of this," Shen Pei again stepped forward, hand on his sword, forcing the man before him to retreat a step. "I ask Granary Assistant Tian once more: are our documents fake? Is the commandery office's great seal on the documents fake?"

"That is naturally..."

"In that case, what concern is this matter to Granary Assistant Tian?" Shen Pei continued to press. "If something truly goes wrong, do you think our County Magistrate Gongsun would shirk responsibility and implicate you clerks? And besides, it's merely fifty thousand dan. Even if it were truly lost the moment it left the gate, could the Gongsun clan possibly not afford to compensate for it?"

Wang Xiu also hurriedly stepped forward at this moment and said earnestly: "Master Tian, this year there has been a great harvest beyond the frontier. Currently, in the Liaodong market, top-quality polished rice is four hundred qian per dan; the millet in the granary, mixed with aged grain from previous years, is merely two hundred and twenty qian per dan... Fifty thousand dan is only about ten million qian, or, at the current market price of gold, merely seven or eight hundred jin of gold. Coupled with the great harvest beyond the frontier this year, do you truly believe our County Magistrate cannot afford to pay?"

Tian Shao fell silent for a moment... he naturally understood this reasoning. In fact, by his own estimation, even if the Anli Trading Company did not specifically purchase grain, the stockpiles in its various trading posts beyond the frontier probably amounted to fifty thousand dan at this very moment.

But the more this was true, the more horrified he became, because this County Magistrate Gongsun, instead of using his own clan's grain, insisted on using the official granary—clearly to facilitate centralized transport by the civilian laborers outside the city. And considering his previous practice of mobilizing the entire commandery's civilian laborers and able-bodied men for military drills and cuju, this was clearly premeditated, with the intention of accomplishing some great undertaking beyond his own imagination.

It truly was beyond imagination... military drills, drawing official grain out of the city—surely he wasn't planning rebellion? That was the only thought Tian Shao could entertain at first. But if it were rebellion, why not launch it directly within Xiangping City? Why transport the grain out?

Seeing the other man's uncertain expression, Shen Pei knew he was wavering. He released his grip on his sword, stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said frankly: "Our County Magistrate has a saying, which I shall relay to Master Tian: regarding today's matter, if it fails, he will not implicate anyone; if it succeeds, he will not forget the grace of all who aided him! As for what the matter is, you will all know in a few days."

Tian Shao let out a long sigh... Yes, even considering the worst possibility, that this Gongsun clan truly intended to rebel, they could probably sweep through Liaodong in a short time. Even if he did not wish to join the rebels, could he afford to ignore the practical situation?

Besides, it didn't look like they were going to rebel, right? So, just get through this one ordeal!

"Fifty thousand dan it is, then," Tian Shao gritted his teeth, lowered his head to record it, but couldn't resist asking one more question. "But this matter is of great importance. Might I be permitted to report it to the Administrator afterward?"

"I fear the city will be alarmed the moment the grain leaves the gates," Shen Pei couldn't help but smile. "However, if Prefect Gao takes no notice, then Master Tian and all the granary clerks might wait two or three days before reporting. At that time, our County Magistrate will certainly be deeply grateful."

Hearing this, Tian Shao relaxed even more... being permitted to inform the Commandery Administrator meant it was nine-tenths certain not to be rebellion. And as long as it wasn't rebellion, who cared?!

"The account book has been recorded," Tian Shao put away the book, cupped his hands, and said, "I will immediately have someone remove the courtyard gate's threshold and begin checking the provisions. I must ask Assistant Magistrate Shen to have the men enter the city and transport them at once... while the sky is still not fully light and there are few people about, the transport will be somewhat quicker."

"Precisely as it should be!" Shen Pei retreated several steps, bowed deeply with cupped hands, and said, "Many thanks to Master Tian for this... I imagine Master Tian will surely become known throughout the realm because of this matter in the future."

Tian Shao could only give a bitter smile.

The city gates had long been opened under the County Commandant's orders. The civilian laborers and able-bodied men, who had been ordered the previous afternoon to bring their weapons, village carts, and livestock to the training grounds east of the city, had actually already eaten breakfast there. Now, under Han Dang's leadership, they entered the city to transport the provisions... The information they received was that the commandery happened to need to send fifty thousand dan of grain and a considerable amount of fodder to Xuantu, and County Magistrate Gongsun had conveniently invited them to make this the content of this drill.

Although this felt somewhat like corvée labor conscription, with someone organizing it, it was acceptable. After all, there were meals provided, saving grain for their families, and Xuantu was extremely close—they could simply treat it as a few days of hard drill... indeed, two consecutive months of assembly drills and cuju had built a certain degree of trust in Gongsun Xun among these men.

Fifty thousand dan of grain, plus half a granary of fodder, was certainly no small amount, but before several thousand well-prepared civilian laborers and a large number of livestock and carts, it was handled with ease. Not to mention that Wang Xiu directed operations properly, blocking the roads, with entry and exit from the city both kept to the right... In the end, by the time the sky was fully bright, everything had already been transported out of the city.

And although the city was already bustling with people by then, even Cui Qi-yi, Lady Gongsun's trusted aide who had come out early to do the shopping, only heard from passersby that the commandery office was sending provisions to Xuantu and had temporarily commandeered the armed civilian laborers from the assembly drill, thus blocking the roads for a time... She thought nothing more of it. In fact, even when Lady Gongsun did not see her son the next day and casually inquired, learning of this matter, she too did not give it much thought.

After all, from Xiangping City, the administrative seat of Liaodong Commandery, to Gaogouli City (yes, that is correct—it was the garrison before Goguryeo's rebellion, the administrative seat of Xuantu Commandery, located northeast of later-era Shenyang), was merely a little over a hundred li. With sufficient carts and livestock, traveling along the main road, it was a journey of only two or three days.

However, after traveling for just two days, on the morning of the fifth day of the twelfth month, Gongsun Xun suddenly changed course, crossing the frozen Little Liao River to its western bank, bypassing Gaogouli City east of the river, and continuing northward. And on the third day, the morning of the sixth, he unexpectedly gave no further orders for the civilian laborers to move. Instead, he waited motionless in the camp on the western bank of the Little Liao River, and even had the laborers go to the frozen river beside them to chop ice and fish, improving their meals.

The civilian laborers were organized into squads, each squad leader originally elected and possessing considerable prestige. Over these two months, Gongsun Xun had further subjected these squads to elimination and consolidation during the assembly drills. The more outstanding squads were organized according to the Han army system: two squads formed a platoon, two platoons a company, five companies a battalion, and five battalions a regiment. A total of one regiment was retained, precisely selecting one thousand men. The remaining fifty or sixty squads were roughly organized into companies of five or six platoons, forming a large regiment of a full two to three thousand men.

But regardless, the military structure was now in place. Coupled with the prestige Gongsun Xun had accumulated and sufficient provisions, the civilian laborers and conscripts did not overthink it — they simply followed orders… until that afternoon, when suddenly dust billowed on the western side of the camp. Several thousand cavalry were approaching from the west bank of the river, and a closer look revealed that the majority were Hu riders.

"You need not panic. Return immediately and inform your units — these Hu riders have been summoned by the Grand Administrator of Xuantu and will accompany us north to Gaoxian City in Xuantu Commandery."

Lu Fan and Han Dang, each commanding a division, now stood with swords at their hips, leading several dozen sworn followers as they gave this explanation to the officers of the two divisions who had already been summoned.

Although the officers of the two divisions had undergone some drill, they were still of civilian mentality at heart, so as soon as they dispersed, each group buzzed with ceaseless discussion.

"Transporting grain and summoning Hu riders — looks like there's going to be a fight at Gaoxian!"

"I heard some powerful minister in Goguryeo wants to usurp the throne, so he needs an external war to build prestige. But our Liaodong trains constantly — the Goguryeo people surely wouldn't dare come here…"

"Are you saying the Goguryeo people are going to attack our Xuantu? They probably don't have the guts for that either!"

"Brother Wang, you've misunderstood. I'm saying the Goguryeo people will probably attack the Buyeo people, and hasn't your Xuantu Commandery always sent troops to support the Buyeo?"

"Little brother, you've hit the mark there! It's just a pity — are we really only going to be transporting provisions?"

"If Brother Wang seeks merit and achievement, why not enlist after we're disbanded?"

"Hmph, fighting as a wandering swordsman under those nobles in our Xuantu Commandery — even if you earn merit, you might not gain official rank. How could one go? Better to have hope here!"

"What does old brother think?" Seeing the people around him buzzing with discussion, and the debate growing even more chaotic as the explanation filtered down to the lower ranks, the leader of the Liu-clan wandering swordsmen from Pingguo could not help but ask the man beside him.

"The company commander jests — what would I know of such things?" The man addressed, who was none other than the aforementioned Liu-clan hunter, the finest in Liaodong, now flushed red in the face. "But if it's those Goguryeo dwarves, we've seen them plenty in the mountain forests. Even if it came to a real fight, I wouldn't be afraid — might even earn some merit. What I fear is that there'll be nothing for us civilian laborers to do."

"Who says otherwise?" The middle-aged leader of the wandering swordsmen grew somewhat agitated. "I just fear we'll deliver the grain and come back, with nothing to do with us. You must know, in my youth I roamed widely and saw much. I know the rarest thing under heaven is a noble lord who rewards and punishes fairly regardless of birth. Having finally found myself under Magistrate Gongsun, to encounter a battle and not be able to take part — wouldn't that drive a man to distraction?"

The middle-aged Liu-clan hunter sighed as well.

It must be said, although these two came from very different backgrounds, because they shared the surname Liu and had both been selected into that elite force of a thousand, the wandering swordsman leader had become a civil defense company commander (not daring to call himself a Captain), while the honest hunter had become a platoon commander within the company. The two had grown increasingly familiar with each other over time.

Just as the two were about to continue their discussion, the Hu riders on the other side of the Little Liao River had formed orderly ranks and, led by several men, entered directly through the camp gate. The two immediately dropped their conversation, each leading their subordinates, and like everyone else, gripped their weapons and came to the main road in the center of the camp to watch the arrivals.

Interestingly, at the very front of all the Hu riders and Hu nobles were two young noblemen dressed in Han attire. Standing in the center of the great camp, Gongsun Xun watched these two, and though laughter brimmed in his eyes, he still wore his pheasant-feather helmet and bound armor, a great cloak over his shoulders and a sword at his waist. He then led Lu, Lou, Shen, Han, Wang, and the others to stand composed and utterly motionless.

"We pay our respects to Elder Brother!"

"After so many years apart, has Elder Brother been well?!"

The two young nobles who had brought several thousand Hu riders dismounted as soon as they entered the camp. Upon reaching Gongsun Xun, they actually prostrated themselves directly on the ground.

"A-Yue, A-Fan, you two have worked hard." Gongsun Xun raised his hand slightly but made no move to personally step forward and help them up — not because he was putting on airs, but because the three of them tacitly understood this was precisely the moment to establish authority. "A-Yue, after so many years apart, you've grown increasingly martial and imposing. And A-Fan… ah, Wendian, delaying your trip to Luoyang for my affairs — I am ashamed."

"I had indeed intended to accompany Elder Brother Bogui to Luoyang, but upon receiving Elder Brother's letter, I was overjoyed. I missed the Battle of Danhan Mountain, so this time I am eager to witness Elder Brother's tiger-like might!" Gongsun Fan raised his head and puffed out his chest, cupping his fists as he spoke — his words coming out in polished, practiced phrases.

Of course, Gongsun Xun knew this fellow was not telling the truth… That day, this man had indeed been prepared to go to Luoyang with Gongsun Zan, who had been nominated as Filial and Incorrupt. But Gongsun Zan did not care for this legitimate-line clan cousin, so at the time Gongsun Fan had voluntarily stayed home, planning to go to Luoyang after some time had passed — only to unexpectedly receive a private letter from Gongsun Xun forwarded by Zhao Bao.

Indeed, Gongsun Xun's summons of these Hu riders this time had gone through his wife Zhao Yun's connections, using the name of his father-in-law Zhao Bao, and had been carried out by Gongsun Yue and Gongsun Fan in Liaoxi. Of course, there had been some complications along the way — for instance, his father-in-law had initially refused. But fortunately, just as brine curds tofu, one thing subdues another. His father-in-law, a mama's boy, how could he possibly withstand his wife's mother — a woman of both bold vision and penetrating insight?

Thus, the matter was finally settled. Zhao Bao, holding his nose, followed Gongsun Xun's wishes: the Mohu Xianbei, the Duanbu Xianbei, the private forces of Tadun (nephew of the Wuhuan Chanyu Qiuliju), elite Hu riders from three divisions, along with several scattered mid-sized tribes — totaling over three thousand riders — were led by Gongsun Yue and Gongsun Fan, carrying documents from Liaoxi Commandery, traveling the main road of Liaoxi directly to this place.

Having greeted his two clan cousins, Gongsun Xun then looked past them toward the several Hu chieftains behind.

It must be said, although Tadun at the front had some status, in the end he respected Zhao Bao and also knew the man before him was no longer the mere commoner who had rescued people before the battle lines with only a few men… The Battle of Danhan Mountain — there was no one on the northern frontier who did not know of it. So, for the time being, he reined in his edge and offered a respectful salute.

Next, Duan Riyuming, chieftain of the Duanbu Xianbei, meeting Gongsun Xun for the first time, hurried forward and prostrated himself reverently… Of course, the Duanbu had reason to be so reverent. This Xianbei tribe had lost its foundation after the Battle of Liucheng and had nearly been annexed by the Wuhuan and taken back as slaves. But fortunately, their chieftain Duan Riyuming had always possessed some foresight. After escaping, he rallied a large number of the remaining scattered Xianbei forces after their defeat and voluntarily pledged loyalty to Zhao Bao.

Because of this, not only did he re-establish himself, but he also became the representative of the Xianbei forces kept by the Great Han authorities. The Duanbu grew increasingly powerful, and among the Liaoxi Xianbei, they were no less than the Mohu tribe.

However, Duan Riyuming's reverent prostration did not achieve a particularly good effect. Instead, it appeared somewhat awkward and insufficiently reverent.

Because immediately after, Mohu Tan, who had deliberately waited for this moment, suddenly stepped forward. Right there, before the several thousand Han soldiers and several thousand Hu riders — including his own tribe — he threw himself prostrate on the ground, wrapped his arms tightly around one of Gongsun Xun's feet, and wailed loudly!

"At the Battle of Danhan Mountain, this little slave was separated from my lord! I thought I would be searched out and killed, that I would be parted from my lord by the divide of yin and yang — I never imagined that, blessed by the Heavenly Gods, I could live to see my lord's face once more!" Mohu Tan's tears fell like rain as he cried out without cease, nearly choking from grief. "Even less did I expect that I could once again offer my service as a hound and horse to my lord!"

Shen Pei, Tadun, and most others were dumbstruck. Duan Riyuming, Wang Xiu, and the more honest men all flushed red in the face. But Lou Zibo and Gongsun Fan, who had witnessed this man's caliber before, merely looked on coldly… Well, well — claiming credit is one thing, pushing aside the Duanbu is another, but since when did Young Proprietor suddenly become "my lord"?

"Chieftain Mohu, please rise," Gongsun Xun said, suppressing a shudder of revulsion as he helped the man up. "In this campaign against Goguryeo, I am the Regional Commander, and I need Chieftain Mohu to lend me the strength of his arm. How can you wrap both arms around my foot instead?"

At these words, the Hu riders and nobles of both Han and Hu sides merely took it in stride, but the Han soldiers watching from the sidelines gradually stirred — and then suddenly, the camp could no longer be contained. The entire encampment erupted in jubilant cheers, so loud they shook the Liao River.

Everyone was momentarily stunned, not understanding the reason. Seeing this, Mohu Tan was so startled he dared not cry any further.

—————— I am the dividing line that cannot cry ——————

"When the Grand Ancestor was at Xiangping, he secretly formed ties with Goguryeo exiles, plotting subversion. Once the plan was settled, he covertly summoned a multitude of Han and Hu troops. However, fearing that the military structure was newly formed and not yet ready for battle, he falsely claimed the Han troops were transporting army provisions, and further claimed the Hu riders were on a winter hunt, gathering across the Liao River with word of attacking Goguryeo. The multitude, unable to withdraw, then consented." — New Book of Yan, Volume 1, Annals of the Grand Ancestor, the Martial Emperor

PS: There is also a new book group 684558115, everyone can join.

(End of Chapter)