[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-178":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},1222937,1620,"Chapter 178: The Sun Rises in the Southeast","overthrowing-han-chapter-178",178,"\u003Cp>To be honest, Gongsun Xun had always thought this man’s surname was Zhang, given name Fei, and courtesy name Yide!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But thinking it over now, Zhang Fei should be quite a bit younger than Liu Bei — perhaps still a youth at this time. Even if this man had already met Liu Bei, what use would a \"matchless warrior\" whose body hadn’t yet fully grown be if you got your hands on him? What difference would there be between him and that \"matchless against no insects\" fellow in Yanmen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Put plainly, Gongsun Xun had long realized that a person’s growth requires experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Setting aside the half-finished example of Lou Gui… was that sorry figure of Cao Mengde bathing in the Guo River that day already the posture of Wei Wu who would scourge the realm? And the teenage Liu Bei who spent his days racing dogs and carts is clearly not the same person as the Liu Bei now, orphaned by his mother’s death and left all alone, is he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Gongsun Xun himself — if he had not gone to Luoyang to study the classics, how could he have set aside his reverence for classical learning? If he had not executed eunuchs at the Imperial Secretariat, how could he have thoroughly abandoned his last shred of hope for the imperial house and the noble clans? If he had not led ten thousand troops to extinguish a kingdom, how could he have become as self-assured as he is now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Gongsun Xun did not look down on these \"heroes of the Three Kingdoms.\" Quite the opposite — he held them in high regard. After all, his mother’s talk of the \"survivor effect\" when discussing these people struck him as quite sound. Perhaps within every ten paces there must be a fragrant bloom; perhaps among the volunteer followers behind him were hidden countless heroic figures. But those whose names survive in the annals of history have already proven themselves in both ability and luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking it a step further, since he had resolved to contend for supremacy, gaining some advance understanding of certain people’s character and moral nature would bring many benefits. Shen Pei was a perfect positive example — if he had not boldly entrusted his rear to Shen Zhengnan that day, the outcome of the Goguryeo campaign might not have been so clean and decisive! And why had Gongsun Xun been so bold as to entrust his rear to this man? Was it not because he had long known that this Shen Zhengnan not only possessed wisdom and stratagem, but was also a man of utter loyalty, who would never betray his lord!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, Gongsun Xun’s attitude toward these \"Three Kingdoms heroes\" was in truth one of anticipation tinged with a certain equanimity. He acknowledged the abilities and qualities they had displayed in his mother’s tales, and was willing to expend effort to seek them out — but he did not insist upon it. Moreover, if he truly encountered them, he would still have to choose the truly appropriate way to interact based on his own and the other party’s actual circumstances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu from before, for instance. Dong Zhuo is now a standard loyal subject of the Great Han — no matter how much you secretly guard against him in your heart, you absolutely cannot treat him as a traitor to the state, can you? As for Lu Bu, that fierce tiger of the age who is off doing who-knows-what right now, Gongsun Xun’s first reaction that day was to keep far away. Not only because of the vile character of the \"thrice-surnamed slave\" his mother spoke of, but more importantly because Lu Bu had once shot an arrow at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adding the two together, Gongsun Xun was naturally ten thousand times wary of this man!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, if Lady Gongsun knew her son’s thoughts, she would surely remark that this was a hodgepodge of romanticism and realism — utterly unrefined!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, returning to the matter at hand: upon hearing that the man was not Zhang Fei but some entirely unheard-of Qian Zhao, Gongsun Xun, who had been holding a thread of anticipation, was momentarily stunned. But he immediately suppressed his disappointment and returned to his usual demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since he is my younger brother’s life-and-death friend, he may as well take a seat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Many thanks, my lord!\" Qian Zhao, himself just a young man barely of age, could not hide his delighted surprise at these words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zijing is no ordinary fellow,\" Liu Bei added from the side, his expression unchanged. Though it seemed a casual remark, it was in fact a pointed reminder. \"He and that Shi Lu over there, who has yet to receive his cap, are both students of the Anping notable, Master Yue Yin, and have thoroughly studied the classics…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Gongsun Fan, Shen Pei, Wang Xiu, and a few others all raised their brows, while the rest of the company universally regarded the man with heightened esteem. Whatever else, in this age a cultured man always commanded respect — especially one who looked so robust and vigorous, making him accomplished in both civil and martial arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Liu Bei having spoken thus, the underage Shi Lu also mustered his courage to come forward, bow, and take a seat. And next, the sole remaining leader of the group had little choice but to come over as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jian Yong of Zhuoxian, courtesy name Xianhe.\" The man gave a carefree salute with clasped hands, even more at ease than the previous two. \"My family has fallen into ruin, and I’ve had no renowned teacher — I can barely make out a few characters, that’s all. My lord need not pay me any mind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun listened carefully and could not help shaking his head with a rueful smile. This man before him might actually be the one big fish here! But given such unrestrained insolence, he feared the man might not be so easily recruited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this thought, Gongsun Xun turned his head back toward Liu Bei. \"Deren, A-Bei… ah, Xuande my brother!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here!\" Liu Deran and Liu Bei hurriedly bowed in acknowledgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am to proceed to Handan to serve as County Magistrate and cannot tarry long. I came here specifically to seek you two out,\" Gongsun Xun said bluntly. \"You are both of age now — are you willing to follow me out into the world and take up some work? You would gain experience in government offices, which surely beats idling away at home?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elder brother, you were once our senior and are now our superior. When a respected elder summons us, how dare we refuse?\" Liu Deran, of course, had no objections — he could not even conceal his delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As Deran says,\" Liu Bei also bowed once more in thanks, though he could not help a trace of disappointment. \"Elder brother’s kind intentions — how could I dare refuse? But with my mother’s mourning not yet complete, how could I simply abandon my home and leave?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was, of course, within expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Liu Bei’s clan and household had both clearly declined. Now he was utterly alone in his home, already faintly reaching a point of having no way forward. Why had he become a youxia? On one hand, it was certainly the martial culture of the Yan and Zhao region; but on the other, was being a youxia not precisely the \"profession\" that youths and young men with no prospects were forced into? So when Gongsun Xun summoned him, this \"Emperor Zhaolie\" — who had not the slightest inkling that the Great Han was doomed — was in fact quite willing to follow this elder brother who had always looked after him and ascend into the halls of power. Even if his mother were still alive, she would surely urge her son to follow this nobleman with the purple cord and gold seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But, as it happened, he was right in the middle of mourning his mother. And the ironic thing was: if Liu Bei had no chance at a proper path, then as a down-and-out youxia, no one would care how long he had observed mourning. But if he intended to take this \"broad and smooth road\" that Gongsun Xun offered and step into officialdom, then he, Liu Xuande, absolutely had to be beyond reproach on the matter of the mourning period for his mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, he had no choice but to publicly decline this opportunity. And Gongsun Xun likewise had no choice but to publicly accept his refusal, without even leaving any gifts — during the mourning period, one was theoretically supposed to abstain from all material comforts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, Gongsun Xun let out a long sigh, then answered with a solemn expression: \"Xuande’s filial conduct shines brightly — how could I force what is difficult for a man? But between you and me, we have been close friends since youth. There is no need to fixate on this one moment. Once your mother’s mourning is complete, come seek me out at any time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Bei could only bow deeply again and again beneath the great mulberry tree, offering his profuse thanks with full ceremony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And what of you all?\" Just as everyone thought the matter would conclude with Liu Bei’s mourning obligations, Gongsun Xun suddenly turned to Jian Yong and Qian Zhao. \"Shi Lu has yet to receive his cap, so we may set him aside. But you two — since you are Xuande’s close friends, you are my close friends as well, and I imagine you are both talented and virtuous. Since we have had the rare fortune to meet, would you be willing to accompany me on a journey to Handan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Bei, of course, had no reaction — it would have been strange if he did! Jian Yong and Qian Zhao were both his friends. His own career as a youxia leader had already been cut short by his mother’s death; how could he possibly interfere with his two friends?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quite the opposite, in fact — he felt even more grateful to Gongsun Xun in his heart because of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to remember: back when he, Liu Bei, was at Mount Goushi in Luoyang, spending his days cockfighting and dog-racing, stirring up trouble everywhere, it was only the man before him who was willing to look after him. And when he returned home dejected, having accomplished nothing, it was again only this man who remembered him specially and left him a great amount of wealth and goods — though he had squandered it all in lavish spending once he got home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In those youthful days, he had merely taken it for granted. But looking back now, it was an immense kindness, weighty indeed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Bei even faintly shared a suspicion similar to what others held: that both of them had lost their fathers in childhood and been raised by widowed mothers, and so could not help but sympathize with each other’s plight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, sympathy aside, the other man now bore the purple cord and gold seal, had been enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed to high office, his whole person gleaming with radiance. While he himself remained destitute and dim, having even lost the one mother he could rely on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zijing, Xianhe!\" Seeing his two friends looking uneasy, unsure whether to decline or whether it would be awkward to accept outright, Liu Bei forced himself to set aside his own feelings and spoke to them earnestly. \"This elder brother of mine is no ordinary man. You two need not feel constrained, nor need you hesitate. Why not…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xuande!\" Jian Yong, hearing this, suddenly shifted his posture and spoke frankly. \"Why not let Zijing go first? I will stay here and keep you company. In the future, when you go to seek out this lord, I will go with you then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Zhao immediately flushed red — clearly his thoughts had been read. Yet he also felt that going alone would make him seem somewhat mercenary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What reasoning is this?\" Gongsun Xun certainly did not want to lose Jian Yong, so he immediately asked in earnest. \"Does Xianhe have some particular argument for this arrangement?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In reply to my lord,\" Jian Yong also adopted a rare solemnity. \"I, Yong, am indeed not jesting casually, but speak from what I have heard and pondered…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xianhe, please speak.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord, you have met me and Zijing for the first time, yet you extend an invitation based solely on Xuande’s friendship — have you not noticed the indignant looks on the faces of so many riders behind you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun shook his head with a rueful smile. \"How could I not see them? But what Xianhe does not know is that I know Xuande through and through — how could his sworn friends be men of no ability? Once you two come to my side, you will be like an awl placed in a sack, certain to pierce through and emerge. That being the case, why should I care about my colleagues’ momentary glances? In time, they will surely be convinced of your worth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, never mind how Jian Yong reacted — Gongsun Xun himself was suddenly startled in his heart midway through his own words. Indeed, if this Qian Zhao was someone Liu Bei held in such high regard, how could he possibly be a waste? He had probably just had poor luck and died early, or been buried in obscurity for some other reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That being so, he truly should not have slighted the man just now — not even in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord flatters me excessively.\" Jian Yong still ignored the various complicated gazes around him and simply spoke eloquently beneath the mulberry tree. \"To be perfectly frank, between the two of us, Zijing is accomplished in both civil and martial arts, with an extraordinary bearing. He and Xuande have always been recognized as the two most outstanding young youxia across the two commanderies of Anping and Zhuo. For a man like him, once he decides to take the proper path, the sooner the better, naturally. He is precisely the model of what my lord called an awl in a sack, certain to pierce through and emerge…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun lowered his head and smiled. Even Lu Fan, Shen Pei, Lou Gui, and the others nearby had the corners of their mouths slightly lifted. They could all see clearly: this Jian Yong had perceived Qian Zhao’s inner thoughts and also noticed the indignation of the volunteer followers around them, so he had specifically seized upon Gongsun Xun to lavish praise on Qian Zhao, in order to seize the initiative and make a strong first impression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, judging from this alone, this Jian Yong was likely an outstanding character himself — at the very least, an outstanding debater and persuader. For he could both read expressions and discern moods, and also grasp the key points of a matter or a person and elaborate on them. For a destitute scholar of his age, this was truly quite impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, I myself am merely an insolent and unrestrained eccentric.\" Seeing the reactions of the few men before him, Jian Yong understood clearly and became forthright. \"I can wield a sword, but I am Xuande and Zijing’s defeated opponent within ten moves. I have read a little, but only enough to chatter idly with people — I have no real grounding in the great principles of classical learning. More importantly, I am utterly reckless when it comes to ritual and propriety. So if I truly went to my lord’s side, I fear not only that I would hinder my lord’s proper business, but also that I myself would find it somewhat stifling!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Jian Yong bowed deeply in a grand gesture of thanks. \"Therefore, I am deeply grateful for my lord’s kind intentions, but I beg you to look after and employ Zijing all the more. I am truly accustomed to idle freedom and unwilling to travel far, whereas Zijing truly possesses great talent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand.\" Seeing the man so candid, Gongsun Xun was no longer inclined to force the melon off the vine. He simply turned to Qian Zhao. \"This Zijing… I imagine you have also felt Xuande and Xianhe’s goodwill. So, are you willing to come among my volunteer followers and be an awl that pierces through the sack?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Zhao sighed with emotion and immediately bowed. \"As my lord says, I am fully aware of my two close friends’ intentions. I, Zhao, though unworthy, am willing to serve at my lord’s command. In the future, I will certainly not betray the earnest efforts of my two close friends!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In that case, I give you a white horse and a fine blade. Do your best with them!\" Gongsun Xun was equally decisive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone nearby immediately fetched a blade and led a horse over — it was the leader of the squad Lady Gongsun had dispatched back in Liaodong, a man called Yang Kai, a standard orphan from the border commanderies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Zhao first performed a grand salute to Gongsun Xun, then bowed to Liu Bei and Jian Yong. And then, to everyone’s surprise, he rose and even gave Yang Kai a bow before donning his blade, leading his horse, leaving behind his dumbstruck young friend Shi Lu, and going directly to fall into formation among the volunteer followers. This act caused everyone from Gongsun Xun down to the volunteer followers to regard him with heightened esteem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since matters here are settled,\" Liu Deran, who had long been growing impatient, suddenly spoke up, \"why not invite my lord and Elder Brother Ziheng and the rest to my home for a brief sit? It would let me fulfill my duties as host.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That won’t be necessary.\" Seeing that there was nothing left here to hold him, Gongsun Xun rose decisively. \"Deren, your father is an elder — Ziheng and I must naturally go pay our respects. But the day is still young; if we set out quickly, we can still cover some more distance. After we have seen your father, there is no need to linger. Handan still lies ahead!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None dared say more, and all rose with acknowledgments of assent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day, because Liu Bei had to observe mourning and could not travel far, he asked Jian Yong and Shi Lu to lead some wandering swordsmen to see him off. They escorted him for two or three days, traveling over a hundred li, until they had sent Gongsun Xun out of Zhuo Commandery’s borders and into Jizhou, and only then did they return to report… Of this, naturally, no more need be said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after bidding farewell to Liu Bei, once he left Youzhou and entered Jizhou’s territory, Gongsun Xun moved even more swiftly. Along the way he stopped only briefly at Wuji in Zhongshan to pay a visit to the Zhen family… However, it was only then that he learned that Zhen Yi, like himself, had been appointed a county magistrate and was currently away on official travels in Henan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, since in these times infants and pregnant women were not suited for long journeys, just as Gongsun Xun had left Bian Yu behind in Liaodong, Zhen Yi’s wife had also remained here with their several young children. And because of the bond of having formally paid respects to the wife, she now entertained him without any scruple of impropriety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is worth mentioning here is that, setting aside how that Zhen Jiang had grown a little older, what Gongsun Xun found especially admirable was that this senior brother Zhen Yi had actually fathered yet another daughter, still in swaddling clothes, and moreover with his lawful wife… However, she was still not called Zhen Fu, but was named Zhen Tuo!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Gongsun Xun could only sigh with a few words of emotion, and then set out on the road again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And from Wuji, which lay at the southernmost tip of Zhongshan, moving further forward, the Principality of Zhao and Handan were in truth not far off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Handan lay at the southernmost edge of the Principality of Zhao, and from Yecheng, the administrative seat of Wei Commandery, it was actually separated by a mere fifty li… In fact, if one later added the Great Ming Prefecture that would emerge, it would form a pattern of three capitals coexisting within a hundred li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, although they belonged separately to the Principality of Zhao and Wei Commandery, Handan and Yecheng together formed the core urban cluster of the entire Hebei region. This area was economically developed, with fertile land, and moreover had the Zhang River and Fuyang River as water transport routes — truly extending in all directions, a scene of thriving prosperity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And from this perspective, Teacher Lu’s arrangement of sending Gongsun Xun to be magistrate of Handan in the Principality of Zhao was also painstakingly deliberate… The Principality of Zhao was too small, with a third of its population in Handan; placing Gongsun Xun here meant that, from an administrative standpoint, he could not stir up much trouble. And Yecheng, where the Inspector of Jizhou resided, was only a few dozen li away, making it convenient to keep watch and supervise him. At the same time, Handan was truly prosperous, so stationing him here could barely be justified as a passable arrangement!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What else could be done?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One must understand, in these times the two most famous specialties of the Principality of Zhao were the bewitching women of Xiangguo and the dancing girls of Handan… all great beauties! What more could you possibly want?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus it was, as the spring days were fading, the sun rose in the southeast, and outside Handan there unfolded a scene utterly different from that of Liaodong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On one side were farming and mulberry groves; on the other, merchants and travelers converged. And there were also high officials and nobles coming and going along the great road, while the Zhao maidens picking mulberry leaves displayed their charms along the village paths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was truly intoxicating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at this moment, a young nobleman, with a train of carriages and horses, surrounded by attendants front and rear, rode out from the south gate of Handan in an especially imposing official carriage, then proceeded along the field paths to encourage sericulture!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why it was encouraging sericulture and not encouraging agriculture — who could object, when those picking mulberry leaves were all the famously beautiful women of Zhao? And who could say that picking mulberry leaves was not a farming matter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was all perfectly aboveboard!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young lord, ahead lies Handan!” At the same time, east of the city, Lou Gui, who had halted his horse and was twisting his beard, still used the form of address he was accustomed to. “The city walls are faintly visible. Do you have any plan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What plan could there be?” Gongsun Xun, mounted on his horse, also gazed at the city and smiled. “According to what we’ve learned from inquiries along the way, the Chancellor of the Principality of Zhao is actually that Xiang Xu who recited the Classic of Filial Piety at a solar eclipse. With such a worthless fool as Chancellor, isn’t it absolutely wonderful?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the magistrate of Boren County also said,” Shen Pei at his side suddenly sneered without cease, “that the Chancellor lies abed all day and never rises, so the Commandery Assistant Li Sheng goes to fawn upon the Prefect of the Gentlemen of the Palace of the Prince of Zhao, Zhao Ping… This Zhao Ping is a clansman of the Regular Palace Attendant Zhao Zhong, and thus the governance of an entire principality is actually controlled by the son of a eunuch’s family — is this not utterly outrageous!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By Han institutions, commanderies and principalities existed side by side. In a commandery, the Grand Administrator held governing authority; in a principality, the Chancellor held governing authority — the two were in fact interchangeable. It was just as had been said: the Chancellor of the Principality of Zhao was actually that divinely inspired bookworm, or rather madman, whom Gongsun Xun had encountered before… But no matter what, the man, as people said, simply lay in bed all day reading and paid no attention to affairs at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, adding to this, since these were not yet chaotic times, there was no Commandant in the principality either. And by Han institutions, the Princely Tutor was also an empty sinecure. As for the Prince of Zhao himself — in the Han dynasty, a feudal prince was fortunate if the Chancellor did not make trouble for him, let alone the Prince of Zhao, who came from a remote collateral branch descended from Emperor Guangwu’s uncle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, at present, in the entire Principality of Zhao there was not a single official of the two-thousand-dan rank who managed affairs!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, one rank lower, among the thousand-dan officials, just as Shen Pei had said, there was a relative of Gongsun Xun’s throwing his weight around and abusing his power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Prefect of the Gentlemen of the Palace, in theory, was a subordinate official of the enfeoffed prince. But because this post was responsible for managing the feudal prince’s treasury, it was universally recognized as a fine and lucrative assignment… In fact, this position seemed to have been specially established for the unworthy sons of eunuch families! In the six principalities of Jizhou, the Prefect of the Gentlemen of the Palace of every feudal prince was inextricably connected to the sons of eunuch families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Handan, where the Prince of Zhao resided, was one of the finest places under heaven, so the clan relatives of Zhao Zhong, who were already causing harm throughout Jizhou, would naturally not let this position slip by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, now that Gongsun Xun had arrived — a thousand-dan Magistrate of Handan, plus Marquis of Wulu Precinct with a purple ribbon and gold seal — he rather wanted to see whether that relative of his would show him due respect or not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough,” Gongsun Xun glanced at the people stealing looks at him and spoke lightly and casually. “So what if they are the Zhao clan? If they honestly settle down and behave, I will naturally give them some face for my lady’s sake… If they dare to jump about recklessly, I’ll simply slaughter them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd all breathed a sigh of relief. Whether Gongsun Xun made his stance clear was very important to them, because not everyone was like Shen Zhengnan, who was irreconcilably opposed to the eunuch faction… They only cared about their own lord’s attitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Zhengnan,” Gongsun Xun suddenly spoke again with a serious expression, “you are from Wei Commandery. Since we have come to Handan and Wei Commandery is right before your eyes, will you not go home to visit your family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Pei hesitated for a moment. “I will not deceive you, my lord. Since the day I followed the late Lord Chen to Luoyang, several years have passed. Pei does indeed miss his home!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go then,” Gongsun Xun instructed. “As a local chief official, it is not convenient for me to leave, otherwise I would also go pay my respects to the elders of your family. And Zhengnan, when you return, you might make inquiries for me about a certain person…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord need only speak plainly,” Shen Pei replied, accepting the task with considerable confidence. “In Wei Commandery, there is no figure of note whom I do not know!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have heard that in Guangping, just a few dozen li southeast of Handan, there is a certain Ju Shou, Ju Gongyu…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, set your mind at ease!” Shen Pei immediately agreed. “How could I not know Ju Gongyu? Forgive my eagerness to return home — I shall leave at once, so that I may also do my utmost to inquire for my lord about Ju Gongyu’s present circumstances…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun nodded at once, and then watched as Shen Pei, leading a few attendants, turned directly onto another road and departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The young lord truly thirsts for worthy men,” Lou Gui observed, unable to suppress a laugh. “Earlier at Xiangguo, he had Ziheng divert to Julu to seek out Tian Feng, and now Shen Zhengnan, while returning home to visit his family, must also help the young lord find this Ju Gongyu…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You go too!” Gongsun Xun suddenly interrupted him. “Go together with Yigong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?” Lou Gui and Han Dang looked at each other, momentarily stunned. “We do not even know any famous scholars of Hebei…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You two also go to Julu,” Gongsun Xun spoke with a serious expression. “Investigate Zhang Jiao of the Taiping Dao for me… Take enough men, investigate carefully, and do not reveal any trace!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Gui and Han Dang still did not understand, and the latter hastily cupped his hands and pressed for details: “Young lord, how exactly should we investigate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Investigate as you would scout an enemy army,” Gongsun Xun replied earnestly. “You can start with that Wang Xian of the Taiyuan Wang clan from the old days — I have heard that he is now in Julu and greatly trusted by Zhang Jiao!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Gui and Han Dang both showed expressions of sudden understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But young lord, if we all leave, what about this Xiang Xu and Zhao Ping?” Han Dang still hesitated somewhat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can deal with them myself!” Gongsun Xun was brimming with confidence. “A mere worthless fool and a piece of trash… why would I need you at my side?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two men immediately bowed their heads in assent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That mulberry-picking maiden over there!” Zhao Ping, who had come out to “routinely encourage sericulture,” had not the slightest inkling of approaching danger. Quite the contrary — at this moment, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he even felt as if his entire life had been illuminated. He hastily ordered his retinue and carriage to halt, and then, leaning on the carriage rail from the field path, he called out in delighted inquiry: “That mulberry-picking maiden over there, the one with the falling-horse bun — what is your name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beautiful mulberry-picking maiden who had been hailed had no choice. She could only carry her mulberry basket over to the path, bend slightly, and reply: “In answer to you, my lord, this humble maiden is from southeast of the city…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I asked what your name is!” Zhao Ping interrupted her, beside himself with joy. “Young lady, what is your name… just tell me that!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This humble maiden is Qin Luofu.” At this point, the mulberry-picking maiden could only abandon all illusions, raise her head, and answer frankly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—————— I am the mulberry-picking dividing line 2 ——————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The sun rises over the southeast corner, shining on the tower of our Qin home. The Qin family has a lovely daughter, who calls herself Luofu. Luofu delights in raising silkworms, picking mulberry leaves south of the city. Blue silk threads form her basket’s ties, a cassia branch forms its hook. On her head, a falling-horse bun; in her ears, bright moon pearls. Fine yellow silk makes her lower skirt, purple silk makes her upper jacket. Travelers who see Luofu put down their loads and stroke their beards. Young men who see Luofu doff their caps and adjust their headcloths. Plowmen forget their plows, hoers forget their hoes. Returning home, they find fault and anger with one another — all because they sat and watched Luofu.” — “Mulberry Path Song,” Han Dynasty, Music Bureau\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Qin Luofu was a native of Handan, and she should indeed be a person of this very period… Bet you didn’t expect that!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",5321,"2026-06-04T19:42:03.441Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","6d2e3e43a7da4ffefa88fb9affc836cfdda906c90e2282671065250b4e340982","overthrowing-han-chapter-179","overthrowing-han-chapter-177",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]