Chapter 181: Under the Eaves, a Proliferation of Weeds

The main hall soars as if built to reach the heavens, its vermilion lattices dazzling and spreading light. Coiling dragons and serpents wind and twist, bearing the flying beams of a majestic rainbow. Cloud pavilions are joined in the southern wing, and clustered terraces rise in the eastern quarter.

Within the Zhao royal palace, renowned throughout the land for its magnificence and splendor, merely sitting outside the hall before a small table and watching the singing and dancing inside across the threshold was enough to make Qian Zhao and the others feel dizzy and dazzled. These young men, especially those sons of You and Yan who had only followed after Gongsun Xun was enfeoffed this year — how many of them could have imagined that merely by following this lord for a few days, they would be seated directly in the Zhao royal palace to attend a banquet?

Of course, the volunteer followers who had come from Bingzhou were far more composed. They had strolled along Bronze Camel Street, helped old Liu Kuan carry who knows how many wine jars at the Grand Commandant’s residence, barged into the homes of Cao Jie and Wang Fu who controlled court affairs, and some had even personally arranged the fates of one or two Regular Palace Attendants or Yellow Gate Eunuchs. So facing a feudal prince whose palace, however splendid, held no real power — naturally, it was nothing special. In fact, after a few cups of wine, newcomers like Yang Kai and Qian Zhao were even mocked by these veterans.

However, once this mockery began, the Zhao royal guards and low-ranking clerks seated in attendance began looking at each other in dismay, even growing alarmed and fearful... and the atmosphere of the banquet soured.

And it did not stop there. A moment later, in the main hall, after the famous dancing girls of Zhao had withdrawn, when Gongsun Xun casually mentioned the disgraceful affair that the Prefect of the Gentlemen of the Palace, Zhao Ping, had committed today south of the city, the atmosphere in the hall also turned somewhat awkward. The Prince of Zhao, Liu Yu, who had been chatting and smiling pleasantly, enjoying a cordial host-guest rapport with Gongsun Xun, even excused himself on grounds of indisposition and left directly.

"What is the meaning of this? Does the Prince of Zhao hold me in such contempt?!"

Seeing this, Gongsun Xun could not help but feel a mix of genuine and feigned anger. Feudal princes, though they enjoyed every luxury, held no real power whatsoever. They were the sort of people with whom one maintained mutual courtesy if things went smoothly, but whom one need not bother with if they did not. Throughout the Han dynasty, countless high officials had risen by trampling on feudal princes... and now, as it turned out, he himself had been the first to lose face at the hands of a feudal prince?

To be honest, although it was not worth quibbling with such a person, to receive this kind of treatment at a first meeting, in full public view, and without any reason — not showing anger would only invite contempt.

The remaining people around looked at each other, apparently aware of some inside story. However, since the State Tutor Han Tuo, as the ranking official, found it awkward to speak due to his position, these Zhao royal clerks exchanged glances and finally pushed forward another high-ranking Thousand-Dan official among them — the Zhao Royal Steward, Chen Li.

"Does the Marquis of Wulu truly not know?" Chen Li asked with a helpless, bitter smile.

"What should I know?" Gongsun Xun grew increasingly baffled, and his indignation deepened. "What Zhao Ping did today is known to half the city, and he committed it right under my nose. Why can it not be spoken of?"

At this moment, Gongsun Xun was beginning to feel genuinely angry. And no wonder — ever since he had entered Handan City, nothing seemed to have gone smoothly. The three most important figures he had encountered were each more exasperating than the last:

The State Chancellor Xiang Xu had that kind of character; the Prefect of the Gentlemen of the Palace Zhao Ping, backed by Zhao Zhong, was as slippery as an eel; and now a Prince of Zhao dwelling deep within his palace had also, without any reason, shown him a sour face — and these people actually thought it was perfectly justified?

Did they truly think he was easy to bully?!

"It seems the Marquis of Wulu truly does not know," Chen Li sighed. "However, I beg the Marquis of Wulu not to be overly angered. His Highness, my prince, was under the impression that the Marquis of Wulu was mocking him..."

"Is there some hidden story behind this?" Gongsun Xun frowned.

"I will not hide it from the Marquis of Wulu," Chen Li said awkwardly. "The late Prince of Zhao also once encountered a mulberry-picking woman by the roadside outside the city and attempted to invite her into his carriage, only to be publicly rebuked. Moreover, the woman the late prince invited to share his carriage was the wife of his own Household Steward, Wang Ren... Although nothing came of it, the late prince's reputation was ruined. In addition, the late prince once went to Yecheng in disguise for amusement and was recognized. The State Chancellor at the time combined these matters and reported them directly to the late Emperor. The late Emperor was furious and even stripped Zhao of one county's fief."

Having heard this piece of gossip, Gongsun Xun immediately understood.

"A son does not speak of his father's faults," the State Tutor of Zhao, Han Tuo, seated at the head, spoke up at the appropriate moment. "Although His Highness was somewhat discourteous, considering that he had his reasons, I beg the Marquis of Wulu not to take it to heart."

"It was my own rashness as well." Since it was purely a misunderstanding, Gongsun Xun naturally had to give face to the highly respected Han Tuo. He immediately rose, bowed, and withdrew from his seat to apologize.

"Steward Wang," Han Tuo nodded slightly, then instructed Chen Li, "Since the Marquis of Wulu was also unaware, go and explain to His Highness. Persuade him to return and share a cup, lest the matter spread and give rise to rumors."

Chen Li immediately bowed and departed with quick steps.

A short while later, the Prince of Zhao also returned, looking embarrassed. However, this time Gongsun Xun did not take the initiative to rise and apologize. He merely sat in the lower seat and raised a cup with the other, drinking a mouthful, and let the matter rest. His earlier bow to Han Tuo was out of respect for the State Tutor as an elder, a man of learning, and a court-appointed Two-Thousand-Dan official. In comparison, what was the Prince of Zhao, Liu Yu, not yet thirty years old, worth? Did he deserve another bow?

The grand ceremonial obeisance at their first meeting had already left Gongsun Xun deeply unimpressed... The royal line of the Goguryeo kings had lasted several decades longer than the Zhao prince's line before him, and had he not, with a single stratagem of borrowing a knife to kill, left them dead either by the blade or by fire?

But in any case, the banquet had reached a point where, although it was not yet dark, it could no longer continue. So the company sat stiffly for a while longer, and after the Prince of Zhao downed a cup of wine and uttered, "I am overcome by the wine," the affair came to a natural end.

Interestingly, it was not the Royal Steward Chen Li who saw Gongsun Xun out on behalf of the Prince of Zhao, but the highly placed State Tutor Han Tuo.

Gongsun Xun thought nothing of this. He actually walked slowly through the Zhao royal palace with this man who, though his title was largely empty, was after all one of only two Two-Thousand-Dan officials in the state. They strolled in the setting sun and even talked with great pleasure.

"In truth, that day the late prince was not merely coercing another man's wife by the roadside," Han Tuo said with a cold laugh, shaking his head. "My lord..."

"Lord Han is my elder; please call me Wenqi," Gongsun Xun said hastily.

"Very well! Wenqi does not know — that day, he did this while still in mourning! And after failing to take his own Household Steward Wang Ren's wife, he not only drove Wang Ren out, but also conducted a grand selection of beautiful women, purchasing seven or eight concubines..."

"Truly reckless and audacious," was all Gongsun Xun could say.

"It did not stop there," Han Tuo continued with a sigh. "That time he went out through the Sima Gate in white commoner's clothes to amuse himself in Yecheng also resulted in a death. On the road, he lodged with his servants at a post station. Someone in the next room recognized him, and he actually ordered his subordinates to take a knife and kill the man to silence him. The knife was too small and did not kill the man on the spot, which alerted the station chief, who arrested him. It is only because we conceal the faults of the honored that it was merely said he went out through the Sima Gate in white clothes... otherwise, why would the late Emperor have been so enraged?"

"This is truly..." At this point, Gongsun Xun did not know what to say. "Truly laughable and shameful!"

"Enough, let us speak no more of this," Han Tuo said to Gongsun Xun with a smile. "In truth, the women of Zhao are widely famed for their beauty, and there have been quite a few incidents like today's affair with the Prefect of the Gentlemen of the Palace, Zhao Ping. Nor is the late prince the only example..."

It was only then that Gongsun Xun's interest was piqued: "Apart from the late Prince of Zhao, there have been similar incidents?"

"Naturally, and even more remarkable ones," Han Tuo said, folding his sleeves and strolling as he spoke. "It is said that decades ago, there was a local woman — I do not know whether she was betrothed from childhood to a young talent of the Wei clan, the Handan clan, or perhaps the Li clan — and the two were joined in marriage. However, only a few days after the wedding, when the wife was but fifteen or sixteen and the husband twenty, they were separated because the husband was nominated as Filial and Incorrupt. The husband went to the capital to serve as a Gentleman, and then followed the wandering life of an official, rising and falling. When he returned five or six years later, he was already honored as a county magistrate and made a detour home specifically to fetch his wife."

Listening to the State Tutor of Zhao strolling and talking beside him, Gongsun Xun more or less guessed the story that followed: "Could it be that this county magistrate's carriage was traveling along the field paths when he too encountered a beautiful mulberry-picking woman and, unable to restrain himself for a moment, invited her to share his carriage?"

"Exactly." Han Tuo stroked his beard and smiled. "Wenqi is truly perceptive..."

It was not perceptiveness, but rather that he had heard this kind of story pattern too many times, Gongsun Xun thought silently to himself. However, the other man's subsequent account did pique his interest once more.

"And what was even more coincidental," Han Tuo continued, "was that this mulberry-picking woman was precisely the wife of this county magistrate who had been so long away from home. There have even always been two versions of this affair. One says that the county magistrate recognized his own wife and deliberately teased her to test her... if that were the case, it could be considered a beautiful tale. The other version says he did not recognize his wife, and that she, strictly preserving her wifely virtue for him, refused him sternly. But when she returned home and husband and wife met, the wife, in her indignation, actually divorced him... That would be an ugly affair!"

"Then which version does Lord Han believe to be true?" Gongsun Xun asked curiously.

"Ah, why must one distinguish truth from falsehood in such matters?" Han Tuo said lightly. "Perhaps it was simply two stories woven together. Even adding the late prince's story and today's story of the Prefect of the Gentlemen of the Palace, it does no harm. All of them make one admire the beauty of the mulberry-picking women... Their beauty lies in their appearance, and also in the mulberry fields by the path, and even more in the women's moral integrity. I will not hide it from Wenqi — I am actually planning to compose a narrative ballad to make people praise these mulberry fields by the paths outside Handan. And I intend to write only the woman's words of refusal, without writing the outcome, to leave a lingering resonance."

"Mulberry — si — is silk, representing women's work," Gongsun Xun could not help but sigh with admiration. "So 'Mulberries by the Path' refers to women engaged in agriculture. That is ingenious. And to have the narrative stop abruptly, leaving only ripples for people to guess at — that is truly exquisite... But Lord Han, in composing such a ballad, do you not fear that the Prince of Zhao, that Prefect of the Gentlemen of the Palace, and that county magistrate from who knows which family will bear a grudge against you for it?"

"And what if they bear a grudge?" Han Tuo still smiled. "I am the State Tutor, one of only two Two-Thousand-Dan officials in the state, and I am specifically charged with overseeing this prince... That being the case, as long as the State Chancellor does not come looking for trouble, who in Zhao can do anything to me, a man who spends his days reading and writing in the palace?"

"In that case," Gongsun Xun suddenly stopped walking and said with a serious expression, "if this poetic ballad is completed, I hope Lord Han will certainly allow me the first look."

"Why stop at the first look?" Han Tuo also said gravely. "I must also rely on your family's commercial house to publish it... My official career has not gone smoothly, and I estimate it will go no further than this. But over these years, I have collected quite a number of Hebei folk ballads and stories, and I am just preparing to publish a small book to console myself in this life."

"Certainly, certainly!" Gongsun Xun bowed with a smile. "Back on Goushi Mountain, I used to hear that boy Han Rui boast all day, saying that although his own poetic compositions were utterly poor, he had an uncle of the first rank in talent and learning. I did not believe it then... In truth, if not for the fact that one of my volunteer followers is from Anping, I would never have dared to believe just now that the State Tutor is actually the uncle of that classmate of mine."

"In the end, it is simply that I have no fame," Han Tuo laughed again. "For a personage like Wenqi — back when you burned Danhan Mountain, that nephew of mine spent all day standing in front of his house with a sword at his waist, boasting to people that you, Wenqi, were his classmate, as if he too had once fought shoulder to shoulder with you... But speaking of which, does Wenqi truly have someone from Anping among his attendants?"

"Zijing," Gongsun Xun immediately beckoned and introduced him. "Qian Zhao, courtesy name Zijing, a man of Guanjin in Anping, who studied under the renowned scholar Yue Yin..."

"And a distinguished student of Brother Yue as well?" Han Tuo felt an even greater sense of kinship.

It turned out that when the State Tutor of Zhao, Han Tuo, and Gongsun Xun had earlier introduced themselves to each other, the latter had sensed a note of warmth in the former's words. It was only after being reminded by Qian Zhao, a man of Anping, that he suddenly realized: this Lord Han was actually the elder relative of a classmate with whom he had studied on Goushi Mountain!

Moreover, that classmate surnamed Han, who hailed from the Anping Principality, had once, together with Gongsun Xun, killed a man in Julu Commandery, not far east of this very city of Handan... It seemed the man killed was a clan cousin of this very Zhao Ping, and naturally a distant clan cousin of Zhao Yun as well.

This kind of encounter could be called fate, but it was even more a matter of inevitability. Was not Shen Yu, the magistrate of Bairen County at the northernmost edge of Zhao, also a classmate? He was merely a student of Liu Kuan. And this was the network of connections among the aristocratic youth: find two good teachers, form a few good marriage alliances, serve a term as Prefect of the Masters of Writing in the Secretariat, fight two battles on the northern frontier, and participate in a few political upheavals in Luoyang... After completing such a career, to go anywhere to take up a post and not find friends and old acquaintances through some roundabout connection — that would be the strange thing!

Even if Gongsun Xun were exiled to Jiaozhou at this moment, he would not be afraid — was there not his former colleague Shi Xie to look after him?!

But thinking of it the other way, what kind of network must those men of four generations of Three Excellencies, Yuan Benchu and Yuan Gonglu, possess? Just imagining it was probably enough to make one's heart quail and scalp tingle.

Returning to the matter at hand, whether by inevitability or chance, this man's appearance had suddenly given Gongsun Xun, who had found no leverage anywhere, an extra fulcrum within Handan City... Amid all the day's frustrations and helplessness, it was a small comfort.

The two men looked at each other and smiled, then walked out of the Zhao royal palace in the last rays of the setting sun. The State Tutor Han Tuo also stopped at the steps before the palace gate... given his status, it was indeed not proper for him to see the guest off any further.

"Wenqi," Han Tuo said at last, pointing to the lights gradually kindling outside the palace walls, "I am the State Tutor. It is not my place to speak much of state governance, nor is there much I can do to help you. But since you share the bond of classmates with my nephew, I cannot refrain from expressing something. Allow me to overstep my bounds here and offer you a word of warning..."

"Lord Han, please speak without reserve." Gongsun Xun immediately bowed in thanks.

Han Tuo nodded slightly and then said with a serious expression: "Handan City is an ancient capital of several hundred years, and its surroundings are a region of the first rank in prosperity. A single county has fifty or sixty thousand registered inhabitants, not to mention the great clans and wealthy households, each maintaining servants and residing here long-term, with merchants, travelers, and migrants coming and going ceaselessly. In my view, if the actual population of Handan is not seventy or eighty thousand, it is not far off... The court has entrusted such an important place to you. I hope, Wenqi, that you will advance and retreat appropriately, and take good care of yourself."

Gongsun Xun felt a stir in his heart, but he said nothing more, merely cupping his hands in farewell.

Just as Han Tuo had said, the prosperity of Handan City was beyond anything Liaodong could compare to. Riding through the streets, Gongsun Xun even had the fleeting illusion that this place was livelier than Luoyang by a few degrees… and not without reason, for he soon discovered that the local customs leaned markedly toward extravagance. The wealthy merchants and great households passing to and fro were all surrounded by attendants before and behind, their servants carrying lanterns in procession. The prominent residences lining the streets threw open their gates, exposing their courtyards to view, while singing girls, dancing women, lavish guests, and kinsfolk streamed in and out of the doorways without the slightest reserve.

At the cusp of spring and summer, Handan was a place of dazzling splendor — amid the surging clamor of voices, the glow of lanterns and candlelight scattered everywhere.

In other words, the people here clearly cared far more about the enjoyment of life, and their customs were far more open — not at all like living at the foot of the Son of Heaven’s throne, where everyone had to observe every rule of propriety. And from the look of things, it was only because the concepts of inns and wine shops had not yet spread here from Liaodong; otherwise, it would surely be even livelier still.

In truth, as he made his way back to the county temple, Gongsun Xun had long since noticed that many among his personal guard following behind him had grown restless at heart, stirred by the dazzling scene before them. Even Liu Deran, who had spent time in Goushi and was now here as a guest, wore a look of transfixed fascination… but Gongsun Xun could not be bothered to address it. One must understand — he, Gongsun Xun, had already given them their chance. Those who could keep up would naturally keep up; those who could not, well, they were free to go their own way.

After all, in the years to come, Gongsun Xun was determined to make his mark in these prosperous inland regions, to earn a reputation through exemplary service in commanderies and counties, to steadily accumulate renown, enrich his following, cultivate connections, and hone his abilities — so that when the realm descended into chaos a few years hence, he could ride the current and rise. In the meantime, those who could not keep pace could simply be cast aside at his convenience whenever he was promoted or transferred.

Leaving aside Gongsun Xun’s winding thoughts for the moment — once he had entered the county temple and was just about to wash up and rid himself of the dust and the smell of wine, Wang Xiu, who had remained behind at the temple, suddenly sought him out. It must be said, Wang Shuzhi was a truly dependable man. The moment they entered Handan City, he had led men ahead to assist in taking over the county temple. He had not gone to pay respects to Xiang Xu earlier, and later, when Gongsun Xun had been so vexed by that slippery Zhao Ping that he had flung his sleeves and gone off to the banquet, it was Wang Xiu who had stayed behind to handle the loose ends of that case. He could truly be described as bearing every hardship without complaint.

“Shuzhi, you have worked hard.” Gongsun Xun had already removed his outer robe, yet he still came to the door in person, clapped the other man on the shoulder, and ushered this capable official into his bedchamber. “Come in and we’ll talk… Is there still some unfinished business with that case of Zhao Ping and the woman of the Qin family?”

“Reporting to my lord,” Wang Xiu replied earnestly as he followed his lord into the room, “there is nothing much left to say about that earlier case. The Qin woman has already been taken back by her family, and Zhao Ping just came in person again to pay the fine. What I wished to speak of is that I just went to make a cursory inspection of the household registers and account books, and I discovered that whether in finances or in land records, there are quite a number of obvious omissions and errors.”

“Many errors and omissions?” Gongsun Xun asked in return, but without much surprise.

“Precisely. From the collection of poll taxes to land transactions, from the conscription of able-bodied men for local security units to the allocation of corvée labor — there are problems everywhere.”

“For instance?”

“For instance, last year this county’s grain shipment to the commandery’s Ever-Normal Granary…”

Just as the two were about to discuss this matter in detail, a sudden commotion arose from the front courtyard of the official temple. It was clearly the personal guards, temporarily crammed into the temple for lodging, making some kind of racket. Gongsun Xun’s face darkened on the spot — earlier on the road he had already sensed that with so many men gathered, the quality of these guards was uneven, but now it seemed they were revealing their true colors far too quickly.

However, it did not take long. Once a few of the leading men among the guards — Wei Yue, Yang Kai, Qian Zhao, and the like — had calmed the situation and come forward on their own to report, Gongsun Xun, upon learning the reason, found that he could actually understand these young warriors after all.

“The Prince of Zhao has sent over the world-renowned dancing girls of Zhao?” Gongsun Xun let out a cold laugh. “As an apology for his earlier discourtesy?”

“Yes!”

“Since it is offered in good faith, bring them in and let me have a look.” Gongsun Xun spoke dismissively. “If there are too many, we can give some to you men as wives. There’s hardly enough room here for dancing anyway…”

Han Dang, Lu Fan, and Lou Gui were all absent. Among the guards, the most senior now was Wei Yue, a somewhat frivolous lecher. Though the pretty young widow back home would soon be arriving with the main wife’s convoy, and though there were far too many unmarried men among the guards for it to be his turn to rejoice, at this moment he was by far the most excited, and was the first to dash out and lead the way. Yang Kai, Qian Zhao, and the others had no choice but to withdraw in embarrassment.

A fellow who can’t be put on display! Gongsun Xun cursed inwardly, then prepared to resume his earlier discussion with Wang Xiu.

Yet no sooner had the topic been picked up again than Wei Yue was shouting from the doorway: “My lord, I’m afraid your bedchamber cannot hold them all… please come out into the courtyard and take a look!”

Gongsun Xun and Wang Xiu exchanged a glance, both clearly exasperated, but they could only go out to see. And it was only then that the former realized he had indeed underestimated the Prince of Zhao’s grand gesture.

“How many people is this?” Faced with the dense mass of figures before him, even Gongsun Xun was momentarily stunned.

“It should be forty-eight,” Wang Xiu blurted out from beside him. “My lord is a marquis, and for the feudal lords it is six rows of dancers… though these are only the dancers; there should also be some musicians.”

Gongsun Xun understood at once. The Son of Heaven had eight rows, the feudal lords six rows — eight people per row, so six rows naturally made forty-eight people.

“Take the musicians along, and send two rows to Cao A’man of Pei. As for the rest, pick out those among the guards who are not yet married, and based on seniority and age, bestow them as wives or concubines as they see fit…” Gongsun Xun made his decision almost instantly. No matter how great the renown of the Zhao dancing girls, he was not about to be beguiled by mere female beauty.

And truly, if one were speaking of female beauty, that healthy and lovely young woman of the Qin family he had seen this afternoon surpassed any of those before him. Better to give them away and win men’s hearts.

Sure enough, at these words, the guards — who had toiled on the road for nearly a month and had, for the most part, not touched a woman in a long while — burst into cheers and jubilation.

“All of you, disperse,” Gongsun Xun barked at the sight, driving them and the dancing girls out together. “Qian Zhao, Yang Kai, and Wei Yue — the three of you take charge. Go to the front courtyard to discuss this matter. Do not disturb my conversation with Shuzhi!”

The rear courtyard fell quiet at once.

“Behind the vermilion gates, wine and meat rot; out on the roads, lie the bones of the frozen dead,” Gongsun Xun had no sooner stepped back inside than he could not help but launch into a bitter mockery of his disgust for the Prince of Zhao. “The dancing girls of Handan are famed throughout the realm, and the bewitching women of Xiangguo are famed throughout the realm as well. Yet the Principality of Zhao has a mere five cities, and two of them are known across the land for their women — is this a good thing? If a girl from a decent family could marry properly, bear children, and raise a family, who would be willing to become a dancing girl or a bewitching woman? Is it not all because their families are so wretched and destitute that they have no means to survive, and so they sell their sons and daughters? A place that becomes famous for its women should feel shame! It is laughable that the Prince of Zhao, as the feudal prince of this land, would take pride in it!”

Wang Xiu stared blankly at the man before him in his anger, and did not utter a single word.

“Forget it, let us speak no more of this.” Gongsun Xun grew uneasy under Wang Xiu’s stare, thinking the other man disapproved of his loss of composure, and hastily changed the subject. “You mentioned earlier that the account books are full of errors and omissions. So, Shuzhi, do you think this has more to do with the previous county magistrate, or more to do with the local clerks and functionaries?”

“Most are errors and omissions from years past,” Wang Xiu let out a long breath before replying. “It likely has little to do with the former magistrate… It is just that the former magistrate was probably much like our present Chancellor of State — unwilling to get involved in such mundane affairs.”

It had only been half a day, and yet even Wang Xiu had come to know of Xiang Xu’s ‘distinguished style.’

“That explains it.” Gongsun Xun sat down on the couch, lowered his head, and sighed. “Back in Liaodong, the land was vast and the people few, so the various governance strategies that Zibo spoke of seemed rather hollow. But Handan is a place of a century’s prosperity, situated in a fertile and flourishing region between the mountains and rivers, where established clans and powerful magnates stand thick as trees, vying in extravagance and flaunting their wealth, while the common folk can only sell their sons and daughters to make real the fame of the Zhao capital’s dancing girls. Matters rooted in land and population like this are bound to be unavoidable.”

Wang Xiu nodded at once.

“Does Shuzhi know?” Gongsun Xun said with a cold laugh. “When I left the Prince’s palace earlier, the State Tutor, Master Han, because his nephew is a classmate of mine, took it upon himself to offer me a word of caution. The gist of it was that the local clans and wealthy magnates are very powerful here, and that I should look after myself… I could not tell whether he was urging me to draw my blade and deal with them ruthlessly, to set things in order, or whether he was advising me to blend in with the dust and avoid stirring up trouble. In any case, I did not understand his meaning.”

“Why should my lord care about another man’s meaning?” Wang Xiu admonished him with a serious expression. “Hold a post, fulfill a duty, carry out a task, bear a responsibility. The State Tutor’s duty is to remonstrate with the Prince of Zhao and oversee the moral climate of the palace. That he was willing to offer a reminder is a kindness beyond his duty. But my lord’s duty is to oversee the entire administration of Handan — dealing with these people is precisely your proper responsibility…”

Gongsun Xun nodded slightly.

“Besides,” Wang Xiu continued to urge, “we should simply go about our business according to our original plan. If what you yourself do, my lord, does not violate the law or morality, then when you encounter people blocking your path, you should not concern yourself with their status or influence. Instead, you should simply and decisively cut them away! After all, my lord struck down Wang Fu at the central court, purged the eunuchs, broke the royal court on the northern frontier, and destroyed Goguryeo — now that you have come to a little place like Handan, must you still save face for certain lawless magnates and powerful clans?”

“If Zhengnan were here, he might have quite a debate with you,” Gongsun Xun could not help but laugh. “Of course, I understand Shuzhi’s meaning as well… It is just that you, Shuzhi, have underestimated me somewhat. Why would I be troubled by the scale of these people’s power? The reason I am vexed is that Xiang Xu has abandoned his post, Zhao Ping is slippery, and on top of that, the Prince of Zhao and his subordinate officials remain secluded in the palace and show no sign of overstepping their authority… As a result, I have lost my bearings, and even now I have not figured out where the true power in this principality lies! Tell me, if Ziheng, Zhengnan, and the others were to return and find me so discomposed, would they not think their lord somewhat incompetent?”

“My lord thinks too much,” Wang Xiu shook his head at once, but then suddenly offered a serious suggestion. “I do not understand matters of political maneuvering, but I do have one simple, crude method.”

“Speak.”

“As long as you, my lord, take the initiative to seize power, then those who hold power will naturally reveal themselves…”

Gongsun Xun laughed again. “Shuzhi truly hates evil as if it were a personal foe, and delights in curbing the strong to aid the weak… I understand. Among the guards, there are quite a few men of good family background, accomplished in both civil and martial arts, and some have even studied arithmetic specially at the Anli Company. Go and pick from among them as you wish, then bypass the county administration entirely and directly investigate the account books and arrest the offenders. Whether they be county clerks or prominent local households, or even if commandery-level officials are implicated, you may arrest anyone at will… I will bear full responsibility for everything!”

“Thank you for your trust, my lord!” Wang Xiu cupped his hands in salute and was about to take his leave, but after taking just two steps, he suddenly turned back. “My lord…”

“What is it?” Gongsun Xun, who had just removed his silk shoes and put on wooden clogs, was immediately puzzled.

“It is not that I delight in curbing the strong to aid the weak,” Wang Xiu declared, standing within the doorway and raising his voice. “It is simply that from what I have seen and heard since childhood, in this present age, the strong seldom cherish themselves, and the weak have nothing to depend upon!”

Gongsun Xun was taken aback for a moment, then rose to his feet in his wooden clogs and, facing his subordinate, solemnly performed a bow: “What Shuzhi has said today, I will surely inscribe upon my heart.”

————————I am the dividing line of the eight rows dancing in the courtyard——————

“In former times, the Grand Ancestor, as a village marquis, was transferred to the post of Handan Magistrate, and the provinces and commanderies all looked on with sidelong glances… Upon arriving at his post, within a single day, he called upon the Chancellor of State and was vexed by him, met with the Prince of Zhao and was angered by him, and when he returned to the county temple and the clerks presented official business, he looked upon it and was enraged. His attendants could not understand, and the Grand Ancestor then said: ‘The Chancellor of State is incompetent, the Great Prince is without virtue, and official business is in chaos — has the governance of an entire principality truly fallen to this?’ Wang Shuzhi was at his side and raised his voice in reply: ‘Eat his salary, bear his burden. My lord has come here, and all around him are mediocre men — is this not the time for a true man to act?’ The Grand Ancestor was pleased by his words, rose, and bowed to him.” — New Book of Yan, Volume 68, Biographies, Chapter 18

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

(End of Chapter)