Chapter 176: Enfeoffment as Marquis Was Never My Intent

In the midst of spring, all living things burst forth with vigor.

In the late morning, when the imperial envoy arrived at Xiangping, Gongsun Xun was outside the city inspecting the spring plowing with the Grand Administrator of Liaodong, Gao Yan. Thus, before he even returned to the city, he learned of his reward from the messenger sent back by his own mother.

Marquis of Wulu Ting, with a fief of four Company Commander, and transferred to be Prefect of Handan.

Not immediately becoming a two-thousand-dan official, but instead having to serve another term as a county prefect — this was undoubtedly the result of angering Teacher Lu. However, judging from the fief of four Company Commander, this ting marquis title clearly came with preferential treatment and compensation... It seems that Gongsun Xun's declaration that day, that "three parts go to the Son of Heaven," had played some role.

As mentioned before, because of the Oath of the White Horse — that none but the Liu clan could be made kings, and none without merit could be made marquises — the Han dynasty's marquis rank was extremely weighty. Consequently, there was further obvious refinement within the marquis rank itself... Setting aside the Guannei Marquis, who had no fief, among marquises with fiefs, county marquis, township marquis, and ting marquis were the three primary grades. The Great Han had over a thousand counties, nearly four thousand townships, and close to twelve thousand tings — their relative importance was clear at a glance.

For example, Gongsun Xun's father-in-law Zhao Bao's title of Marquis of Shu was actually Marquis of Shu Township. In history, Lord Guan's title of Marquis of Hanshou Ting was a ting marquis, only that ting was called Hanshou Ting. As for Zhuge Liang's Marquis of Wuxiang, it has always been debated — some say it was a township marquis, but others say there was a county called Wuxiang somewhere, so it was the highest-grade county marquis... This is not impossible, because the Great Han had a Marquis of Ma Ting recorded in the histories. At first glance it seemed a ting marquis, but it was actually Marquis of Ma Ting Township — that township just happened to be named Ma Ting Township.

Beyond that, however, there was also the distinction between du ting and du xiang. The so-called du ting and du xiang referred to townships and tings within cities. And needless to say, tings and townships within cities were far superior to ordinary tings and townships in terms of wealth, population, and status — thus they carried the sense of being half a rank higher.

As for Gongsun Xun's Marquis of Wulu Ting, it was a classic du ting marquis. The "Wulu" in Wulu Ting originated from an alternate name for Mount Yiwulu, and this ting was located right within Lingzhi City — that was why he could have a fief of four Company Commander!

If he had truly been enfeoffed with some other ting outside Lingzhi City — for instance, north of Lulong Fortress there were Bailang Ting and Bailu Ting (derived from Mount Bailang), and also Qinglong Ting (derived from the Qinglong River), all under the jurisdiction of Lingzhi County — then some Marquis of Bailang or Marquis of Qinglong would have emerged, with a bizarre-sounding name aside, and the fief absolutely could not have exceeded three Company Commander, while the political status would have been half a rank lower.

So, returning to the matter at hand, although he had not yet reached two thousand dan, with a du ting marquis title soon in hand, even facing his nominal superior Gao Yan, Gongsun Xun could not help but feel fully confident... To put it plainly, the Great Han's marquis titles were far rarer than two-thousand-dan posts! Some two-thousand-dan officials could work a lifetime and never obtain a marquis title, but a marquis, when he came of age, could not possibly fail to become a two-thousand-dan official!

Moreover, a marquis title came with a gold seal and purple ribbon!

In fact, on the way back, Gao Yan openly and honorably invited Gongsun Xun to ride in the same carriage with him.

"Wenqi, ah, Wenqi!" After boarding the carriage, Grand Administrator Gao could not help but grasp the other's hand and offer repeated congratulations. "To extinguish a state and be enfeoffed as marquis is a matter of course, but to accomplish this at the age of barely twenty — not only is your future boundless, but your name will be recorded in the histories... Truly rare, truly rare!"

"I hear that Your Excellency has also been enfeoffed as a township marquis, though the name of the township is not yet known."

"It all relied on Wenqi's bitter fighting at the front," Gao Yan now seemed quite sincere. "Only thus could I claim heaven's merit as my own. To think that I earlier even heeded the nonsense of subordinate clerks and specially sent men to call you back — it is laughable... I hope even more that you will not take offense."

"In truth, what does my own grievance count for?" Gongsun Xun slowly shook his head and sighed. "In this campaign against Goguryeo, setting aside those Hu cavalry who came for wealth and the Han troops with proper establishment from Xuantu Commandery, our Liaodong sent out over three thousand troops. Whether fighting bravely at the front or exerting every effort in the rear, most were temporarily organized village braves and conscripts... My lord, I speak frankly: if the rewards cannot extend to them, then even if I obtain the rank of ting marquis, even if I turn around and go to Handan to take up my post, my heart will never be at ease."

"I understand Wenqi's meaning." Gao Yan grasped the other's hand and spoke earnestly. "Let us do this: Wenqi, have someone deliver all the determined rewards in full. As long as the commandery can make the arrangements, I will certainly carry them all out before you leave office, and do my utmost to give these men official standing!"

Hearing this, Gongsun Xun finally broke into a smile: "To receive such a word from Lord Gao truly makes one feel as if bathed in spring breeze!"

"Wenqi," Gao Yan, seeing this, released his hand and sighed. "It is only because you have achieved success and renown, and are about to travel far to another land, that I say a little more here... You are a man of ability — how could I not know that? And I am a man of no ability, relying only on my family's lofty lineage to serve as a two-thousand-dan official — how could I lack self-awareness? When a man like you wants to accomplish things, what use is it for me to oppose you? Would you then not do them? It would only be futile and bring disgrace upon myself. Not to mention, in the end I have received great kindness from you and obtained a marquis rank — that is enough to comfort me for a lifetime! Whatever you wish to do, whomever you wish to appoint, before you leave, just act as you see fit."

Gongsun Xun gave a dry laugh and, from within the carriage, slightly cupped his hands toward the other in salute as a courtesy. After entering the city, the two dismounted, took their leave, and went their separate ways, each entering their respective government offices to receive their own reward-bearing envoys.

"Lord Marquis!"

After receiving the palace decree, and then the official documents from the Grand Commandant's office, the Imperial Secretariat, and the Public Carriage Bureau, and finally being fitted with the gold seal and purple ribbon, Gongsun Xun formally transformed into a marquis. And Wei Yue, just as the envoy was being escorted to the rear courtyard to rest, was the very first to change his form of address. "Congratulations, Lord Marquis!"

"Greetings to the Lord Marquis!"

Unlike Wei Yue's loud exclamations, the others — starting with Lu Fan, then Shen Pei, Lou Gui, Han Dang, Wang Xiu, and all the rest who held official positions in the county office — formed a neat line and formally saluted Gongsun Xun, causing Wei Yue great embarrassment, though he could only retreat and try to learn from them.

However, by the time Wei Yue retreated to the back row and followed in saluting, these men had already finished their salute and risen, which made the former even more embarrassed.

"Gentlemen," Gongsun Xun, in his moment of triumph, could not be bothered with Wei Yue's predicament. "That Xun has achieved what he has today largely relies on the mutual enhancement of your talents and virtues. I cannot be parted from you for even half a moment. Yet today the court has specifically decreed that I go to Handan as prefect... Ziheng, Zhengnan, Zibo, Yigong, Shuzhi — would you be willing to accompany me to Handan and experience the local customs of the Zhao region?"

"For the Lord Marquis's virtue, there is no way to repay it." At this moment, the sequence of names Gongsun Xun called carried great political significance, so Lu Fan, as was only right, stepped forward first and cupped his hands. "Thus, though Fan is without talent or virtue, he is willing to devote his heart and strength to the Lord Marquis."

"Good!" Gongsun Xun and Lu Fan had known each other for a long time; the latter was someone he truly trusted, so he could not be bothered with grand speeches and merely nodded slightly.

"A scholar dies for the one who knows him," Shen Pei also made a lofty pledge. "The Lord Marquis trusts and values me — how could I not know it? Pei is willing to follow the Lord Marquis to accomplish great deeds, to fulfill his lifelong aspirations!"

Gongsun Xun also nodded slightly.

In truth, over the preceding half year or more, the relationship between Shen Pei and Gongsun Xun had been more like some kind of "trial period." If they truly found each other disagreeable, once this term in Xiangping ended, they would have simply parted ways. But fortunately, in the Goguryeo campaign, each had given the other a perfect score — one felt the other's strategic acumen was truly outstanding, the other felt this was a man who could accomplish great things and was also willing to trust him unconditionally. Thus, as early as before the spring plowing, when the army had not yet withdrawn, the two had already reached a tacit mutual understanding at Heulsunggol Fortress.

And this time, what the two sides settled on was a "long-term contract."

Next it was Lou Gui's turn. He simply stroked his beard and smiled: "I have long been my lord's private retainer. My lord, skip over me and Yigong, and ask Shuzhi directly!"

At this, everyone burst out laughing together, and amid his laughter, Han Dang could not help but feel grateful... Had he been made to speak like Lu Fan and Shen Pei, he could not have done it. Lou Gui had, in a roundabout way, resolved his predicament.

"What words does Shuzhi have?" After everyone had laughed, Gongsun Xun looked toward Wang Xiu, and the rest of the crowd was also quite expectant.

To be honest, Wang Xiu was the kind of person who seemed utterly unremarkable at first meeting, but the longer you spent with him, the more you felt you could not do without him... It was not just that he did his work well; more importantly, he was wholeheartedly devoted and responsible, bearing toil and grievance without ever causing trouble for those above, below, or beside him. Moreover, if something truly improper fell within his duties, this Wang Shuzhi would still speak out bluntly and point it out to you.

He could be considered a rare pure minister.

However, precisely because of this, while Gongsun Xun was expectant, he could not help but feel some unease, for at this moment he was somewhat worried about the lingering effects of the earlier tomb-raiding incident!

It must be said that although, under the reproach of many people including his own mother, Gongsun Xun had protected the army while also imposing considerable punishments on the many soldiers and officers involved in the tomb raiding, and even on men like Mo Huchuo and Tadun, in the end it was all thunder but little rain. Moreover, those punishments were utterly disproportionate to the profits they had gained.

Thus, when Gongsun Xun disbanded the mixed Hu forces and led the Han army back home, Wang Xiu, just having finished the relocation work, was the very first to offer direct remonstrance, and his tone was of a rare vehemence... It left Gongsun Xun unable to save face for a time, yet he knew he was in the wrong and had no face to refute him.

So now, although Wang Xiu had also been the first to salute and offer congratulations, if he truly chose to go with the flow and let the matter drop, Gongsun Xun would genuinely have no recourse.

"In reply to the Lord Marquis," after thinking carefully for a moment, Wang Shuzhi cupped his hands in salute and said, "In the past, when I came to Liaodong by sea, I heard Brother Zibo's Eight Strategies for Governing a County at the Tingtao Pavilion, and I have always deeply agreed with them. But Liaodong, being beyond the frontier, differs in customs from the Central Plains, so I have always harbored some regret. Today, Xiu is willing to follow the Lord Marquis to Handan, to see with my own eyes how the Lord Marquis there suppresses the strong and supports the weak, and governs the region!"

This reply stirred the crowd's emotions for a moment and made them look at Wang Xiu with new respect. Shen Pei, probably not knowing what the "Eight Strategies of Tingtao" were, glanced at Wang Shuzhi a few more times with slight puzzlement. From Gongsun Xun's perspective, however, it did not matter... because the few talents he valued were, after all, going to follow him in full — and for the Marquis of Wulu Ting, who had made up his mind and was looking further ahead, this was far more important than anything about Handan or not Handan.

And having completed this most crucial part here, Gongsun Xun could not idle about, for he was, after all, soon to leave his post and take up his new appointment. He had to follow his agreement with Gao Yan and quickly have his trusted confidants review the final matters to be wrapped up in Liaodong.

First were those who had rendered merit in this campaign. For instance, a certain commoner Liu, once the foremost hunter of Liaodong, had leapt to become a township bailiff; a certain chivalrous gang leader Liu, from a powerful family in Pingguo, had abruptly transformed into the County Commandant of Pingguo; and Tian Shao, who had released military grain for Gongsun Xun, after going full circle, had now returned to serve as Assistant County Magistrate of Xiangping, preparing to administer county affairs before Gongsun Xun left office and the new prefect arrived...

This was a case of sharing glory and sharing ruin. But no matter what, these were ultimately military merits recorded in the registers, and could not be called acts of private favor — rather, they carried an air of being open, aboveboard, and beyond reproach.

Not only that, Gongsun Xun also dispatched messengers to Xuantu, to ask whether Xu Rong and his colleagues and subordinates had received thorough and fair promotions. Then, suddenly slapping his forehead, he hastily wrote a letter at his desk, supplementing Gongsun Fan with the status of a volunteer who had followed the campaign, and openly and honorably had someone take it to Gao Yan's office, preparing to send it to Liaoxi via Liaodong Commandery's official dispatch. Finally, busy until dusk, when he wearily returned home, his elder clansman Gongsun Yu and a host of prominent commandery households had long since sent people over to offer congratulations, and he spent the evening in a muddled haze of receiving flattery.

Thus, it went on until the second watch of the night, and the Gongsun family's private residence, separated by one street behind the county office, was still brightly lit.

"Young... Lord Marquis!" When Aunt Lin Bayi came to summon him, she made a mistake the moment she opened her mouth. "The mistress calls for you."

"Aunt Bayi, why must you be like this?" Gongsun Xun, slightly tipsy, weighed his gold seal and purple ribbon in his hand and could not help shaking his head. "The guests are all gone. Here in the private residence, even if you do not call me A-Xun as you did when I was little, it would be fine to call me Young Master as usual."

Aunt Lin Bayi could only give a bitter smile.

"Very well, where is Mother?" Seeing this, Gongsun Xun reined in some of his smugness and composed himself slightly.

"In the rear courtyard, admiring the moon." Aunt Lin Bayi lowered her voice to remind him. "The Young Madam and Madams Bian and Feng are all there."

Gongsun Xun sobered up a few more degrees, thanked her briefly, and hurried toward the rear courtyard.

"Here comes our Marquis." Lady Gongsun, seated in her rocking chair, saw her son enter from afar even without her spectacles. Then, with a snort of laughter, she released the fat cat in her arms, letting it go and bully the cat-son at her daughter-in-law's feet. "Well then, have your wishes been fulfilled?"

Since returning from Goguryeo, although mother and son had essentially untied the knot in their hearts, on the surface there was instead some awkwardness... Of course, it was mainly the mother directing one-sided sarcasm at the son, while the son shamelessly endured it.

"What is Mother saying?" Gongsun Xun, borrowing a bit of drunken courage, spouted nonsense there. "You must know, being enfeoffed as marquis was never my intent; my only wish was that the Liao lands be at peace..."

"What a coincidence!" Lady Gongsun promptly pulled a long face. "I was just asking your wife whether she has any pity for the bones lying in the hills of Zuoyuan, and whether she regrets urging her husband to seek a marquis title?"

Gongsun Xun immediately stood up straight and tall, then shut his mouth. Even the three madams hurriedly rose and stood in attendance.

"All of you, sit down!" Lady Gongsun at once lost interest. "I wasn't sincerely scolding you — just teasing our Marquis of Wulu! Lord Marquis of Wulu..."

The wife and two concubines hurriedly sat down, leaving Gongsun Xun standing alone and increasingly embarrassed.

"A-Xun, Wenqi!" Lady Gongsun, seated sideways on the rocking chair, could not help shaking her head. "There is a matter I cannot decide on, and I must ask you about it."

"Mother, please speak plainly!"

"You are leaving to take up your post, and Bian Yu will stay here to nurture the pregnancy... If the child is born, what should it be named?"

Gongsun Xun heard these words and looked again at Bian Yu's lower abdomen. All thoughts of rank and renown, of his subordinates' futures, of kingly and hegemonic enterprises, instantly vanished without a trace. Yet when he truly tried to ponder the matter seriously, his mind was equally empty, and for a moment he was at a complete loss.

"My meaning is that you must still leave a name," Lady Gongsun sighed. "It need not be anything extraordinary — something simple, suitable for either a boy or a girl, will do... What is this? On the verge of parting, can you truly not give Bian Yu, give this child you have yet to meet, some account?"

Gongsun Xun looked past the lowered heads of Zhao Yun and Feng Zhi, meeting Bian Yu's expectant face. He racked his brain for a long while and could only force out an utterly ordinary word: "If regardless of boy or girl, then let it be 'Li,' to match the meaning of parting... Gongsun Li... What does Mother think? Is there anything unsuitable?"

Lady Gongsun was at first dismissive, but then suddenly sat upright, and several times seemed about to speak but stopped herself.

"Is something unsuitable?" Gongsun Xun asked, puzzled. "If there is, Mother, please speak freely."

"It is nothing." After pondering repeatedly, Lady Gongsun finally nodded with a strange smile. "Then let it be A-Li. Gongsun Li — a very fine name... At this moment, I rather hope it is a girl!"

Gongsun Xun started abruptly, then slowly nodded.

Bian Yu lowered her head in silence. Feng Zhi could not help raising her chin slightly. As for Zhao Yun, she finally let out a long breath in her heart... though she did not let it show.

Under the spring moon, one name, a family of five, yet each with different thoughts.

—————I am the parting dividing line—————

"In the spring of the second year of the Guanghe era of the Later Han, the Grand Ancestor, for his extraordinary merit in destroying Goguryeo, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Wulu Village. Wulu refers to Yiwulu; Lingzhi was the capital village, matching the name — the people of the time praised it as beautiful." — Old Book of Yan, Volume 1, Annals of the Grand Ancestor, the Martial Emperor

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(End of Chapter)