Chapter 196: A Single Thought Raises a Tall Tower (Part 1)

By the golden autumn of October, a tall tower had suddenly appeared in Handan City. Its height far exceeded all surrounding buildings, as if it had risen straight from the level ground.

Of course, in this day and age, within a mere few months, no miracle could truly conjure a tall tower from flat earth.

In truth, a vast architectural complex had already stood here — a side hall of the Prince of Zhao’s that he rarely used. Later, Gongsun Xun had found a way to persuade him to donate it, and then, atop the broadest three-story brick-and-wood building within, he added an extra two-and-a-half stories of wooden tower, carrying out a large-scale renovation centered around this tower.

When the renovation was first completed, an incident arose: it was said that according to regulations, no structure within Handan City was permitted to exceed the height of the Prince of Zhao’s palace... This was an explicit statute, impossible to fudge. Later, fortunately, Lou Zibo, returning from a county inspection, thought of an excellent solution — he added two more stories of wooden framework to a taller pavilion within the Prince of Zhao’s palace, making the latter surpass the former once more, which finally left everyone with nothing to say.

Indeed, this side hall originally belonging to the Prince of Zhao is now the Handan Public Academy. As for that exceptionally tall and conspicuous high-rise, it is the library that Lady Zhao of the Wulü Marquis’s household donated to this academy!

In Lady Zhao’s words, just as the Southern Palace has its Eastern Pavilion, the Imperial Academy has its Stone Classics, and Cai Bojie’s residence has its Eastern Gallery, so too must the Handan Public Academy have a library... As it happened, the Wulü Marquis’s household possessed ten thousand scrolls of books, so they specially printed them for the shared use of Handan’s scholars and students.

How to put it?

When these words were first released, everyone watched with cold indifference... It was not a matter of stance, but genuine disbelief!

You say ten thousand scrolls, and they’re just ten thousand scrolls?!

Back in the day, the reason Cai Bojie’s fame shook the realm and no one denied his talent was precisely because he led that little angry youth on a tour of his Eastern Gallery, holding up a lamp to let him see the ten thousand scrolls of books in his home! And you, Gongsun Xun, a scion of a frontier clan, where would you get a tradition of classical scholarship passed down through generations?

Even if there are rumors that when Cai Bojie was demoted and exiled, he gave you quite a few books, would you be willing to bring them out?!

Of course, the level of these Zhao bumpkins is just that, and one truly cannot blame them. After all, in this era, information travels this slowly, and even when passed by word of mouth to their ears, after two or three retellings, the flavor changes... Did you not see, when Gongsun Xun first came to Handan bearing a purple ribbon and gold seal, Zhao Ping came forward and directly stated his stance, yet those local magnates still had to wait until the Shen clan was exterminated, and then for Gongsun Xun to promise them benefits layer by layer at the banquet before they submitted, heartily convinced and kneeling?

So, how could they know that back then, Gongsun Xun had truly nearly emptied Cai Bojie’s Eastern Gallery?

In fact, even if some people truly knew that Gongsun Xun’s household possessed ten thousand scrolls, and truly knew that the Anli Firm could print them with woodblocks, they still could not believe that so many books would appear in the library... Because a book-printing activity of this scale had absolutely never happened before!

Things that have never occurred, even if somewhat reasonable, remain unimaginable to them.

Thus, when Zhao Yun ordered the household maids and servants, in sequence and along the main street, each carrying one scroll, to deliver ten identical copies of the block-printed books in an endless stream from her own home to the library, the people of Handan went nearly mad... That very evening, Wei Song sent his son Wei Chang to personally drive a cart over from the south of the city, and even the Prince of Zhao lay prone on his own rickety wooden pavilion, peeping over in this direction!

A love of learning, overflowing beyond words! Gongsun Xun has already decided that he must submit a memorial to the Inspector Liu Yan, praising this Prince of Zhao’s virtue.

And from the second day onward, people came in droves from Yecheng, Yiyang, Xiangguo, Wucheng, Guangping... Later, scholars and sons of powerful clans from half of Hebei arrived, drawn by the news. Most of these people came driving carts or riding horses, some even with a retinue before and behind, instantly clogging the vast Handan City to the point of gridlock. At its worst, the line of carts stretched from the main gate of the Handan Public Academy all the way outside the city.

And seven days later, the prices of brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones used for copying books in Handan City had simply more than tripled outright!

"They all say that Magistrate Gongsun’s conduct is harsh and severe, skilled in punishment but not in virtue... Yet looking at it now, what virtue could compare to this library?!"

"Isn’t that so! Just now, when I went in to receive a number, Lord Gongsun, despite his marquis status, personally and kindly asked for our names and even personally bestowed the number tokens... He is clearly a modest and courteous gentleman!"

"Actually, thinking back now, the Shen clan must have been utterly immoral and unprincipled people who preyed upon the countryside, and the Xiangguo Chief was an unpardonable criminal whose death alone could not appease the people’s anger... The old rumors truly were not worth mentioning, and no wonder the new Grand Coordinator, upon arriving, openly and clearly commended Magistrate Gongsun!"

"It’s just a pity that you and I are not students of the Handan Public Academy, and can only take turns entering to copy according to our number tokens... I hear that the students of the Handan Public Academy have a special number token, allowing them free entry and exit, and they can even borrow books to take home!"

"That is something we can only envy; you and I are not from Handan, and more importantly, we both already have teachers..."

"But it’s hard to say. Brother, did you see those people seated beside Magistrate Gongsun today? Among them was the renowned scholar of Anping, Master Yue Yin, Yue Gong... I faintly overheard that Magistrate Gongsun wishes to invite Yue Gong to stay and teach at the Handan Public Academy."

"That is indeed a path... My number token only comes up the day after tomorrow. I shall go back and write a letter to my honored teacher — first, to describe the grand occasion here, and second, to discreetly reveal some matters about the Handan Public Academy!"

At noon, outside the county office, due to the blocked roads, two Hebei scholars who had just received temporary entry permits for the library from Gongsun Xun stood waiting at the intersection, casually expressing their feelings. Only after a long while did they move to leave, which so infuriated an elderly man in a headscarf, blocked at the intersection while traveling against the flow, that he repeatedly pounded the carriage rail in frustration.

"Father!" After the two scholars walked past, a delicately pretty little girl of about ten years, with her hair in tufts, suddenly emerged from behind the old man. "They are using our family’s books to curry favor and make a name for themselves... When we first arrived in Changshan, this Wulü Marquis’s reputation was not very good, yet now, because of this library, everyone praises him in unison; any literate person extols him! While you, who gave away ten thousand scrolls of books, can only be driven from place to place!"

The old man wearing the headscarf, who had a pronounced upturned nose, grew even more indignant upon hearing this. He was about to say something when a large white cat suddenly darted out from behind the little girl, then sprang into the crowd, instantly causing a commotion.

Several sturdy servants beside the carriage hurriedly scrambled to catch it, but with the traffic already congested and surrounded on all sides by carts, horses, and people, how could they possibly catch it? Even an exceptionally tall young man, who had originally been about to deliver a name card, turned back but could not assist in time, watching helplessly as the large white cat slipped away in a flash into a spacious residence opposite the government office!

The crowd at the entrance of the government office had never seen such a strange beast and was momentarily bewildered! But a moment later, they actually saw that same large white cat chasing a skinny calico cat as it darted out of that residence, first crossing the street, then leaping onto the walls along the street, once again throwing the just-recovered street into utter chaos!

That was not all; in an instant, several maidservants rushed out in panic from the main gate of the residence, only to stand dumbfounded before the densely packed crowd.

"Fengxian, we are not going to the government office!" The old man with the upturned nose, seeing this, was slightly startled, and instead called back the tall young man who had been about to deliver the name card. "Never mind the cat either... The residence diagonally opposite this county office must be the Gongsun family mansion. Deliver the name card to their servants!"

"Yes, Teacher!" The tall young man gave a steady bow, then unhurriedly stepped forward, offered a formal bow to the Gongsun family servants who had rushed out, and only then presented the name card!

This move indeed proved effective!

Half a quarter-hour later, as that servant hurriedly carried the name card around from the rear courtyard into the county office, a clamor arose at the office entrance. The county officials and renowned scholars actually poured out in full force, clustering around the Wulü Marquis, who wore a purple ribbon and gold seal, as he came out.

The scholars in front of the gate were momentarily puzzled, but when Gongsun Xun raised his voice in a question, they all appeared utterly astonished: "Where is my old friend from Luoyang, Cai Bojie, Master Cai? Xun has failed to welcome you from afar!"

The old man with the upturned nose, none other than Cai Yong, upon hearing this, first shook out his robes, then unhurriedly descended from the carriage. Under the gaze of the scholars and magnates filling the street, he clasped his hands behind his back, raised his head, and walked forward with slow, deliberate strides.

Only after taking three full steps did Cai Yong lower his head to look levelly at the crowd coming to greet him, then extended one hand in a gesture of support and said: "Ah... Wenqi, I trust you have been well since we parted?"

Gongsun Xun stopped in the middle of the street and laughed in spite of himself. He then pointed at Cai Bojie, turned his head to the crowd of Hebei scholars beside him, and said with a smile: "Gentlemen, you do not know — this old man is accustomed to putting on airs! A few days ago, an old friend from Yanmen sent word that a certain criminal named Cai Bojie had finally been pardoned. Yet, upon reaching Wuyuan, he put on airs and offended Zhao Yan, the Administrator of Wuyuan and younger brother of the Regular Attendant Zhao Zhong, and was forced to flee overnight. It was only thanks to his old friend Gongsun Xun’s former subordinates in Yanmen crossing the border to rescue him that he was able to miserably gather his family by the Yellow River... Who would have thought that this man, having fled in haste to Hebei and finally met the old friend who saved his life, would still be unable to resist putting on airs in the middle of the street!"

The crowd looked at each other in dismay, and Cai Bojie, with one hand behind his back and the other extended, instantly flushed red with shame, speechless with embarrassment.

"Master Cai!" Gongsun Xun, his smile undiminished, only now stepped forward to grasp the hand the other had extended. "I was merely joking. Between you and me, how could it come to this — even presenting a name card? Back in Luoyang, when Wang Fu’s power surged to the heavens, you and I pledged to eliminate the eunuchs. Later, when your plot was exposed first, you entrusted your clan, wife, children, and book collection entirely to me... Why have we become so distant now? Please, enter my home and rest for a while. I shall have my wife vacate the main hall for your use!"

At this, the honest man Cai Yong immediately felt embarrassed... In any case, vacating the main hall for a guest’s use was itself an extremely high form of courtesy.

Moreover, Gongsun Xun immediately showed concern for the little girl behind him: "The young lady of the Cai family need not speak further either. Your cat has gone to chase my cat and will return sooner or later... After the bumps of the journey, you should also enter my home early and seek out my wife to settle in properly."

Gongsun Xun naturally feared that Cai Yan might once again speak recklessly and embarrass someone in public. But how could he know that the latter, having followed her father into exile in the borderlands, had gained some experience and, aside from complaining about her own father, was already quite sensible in public.

"Gentlemen," Gongsun Xun, having silenced this father-daughter pair, now turned back and said with a serious expression, "Master Cai is a renowned scholar of the realm. His arrival in Handan is Handan’s good fortune. Let us not speak further for now during the day; allow him to rest for a while. This evening, I shall host a banquet to welcome him, and at that time, you are all welcome to join, so you may witness Master Cai’s immortal zither skills, famed throughout the land... Of course, if anyone fears Zhao Zhong’s influence, feel free not to come, or go and inform Zhao Zhong’s clan nephew, Zhao Ping — that is also fine."

The crowd naturally expressed their agreement and response one after another... though most had no idea which way Zhao Ping’s family gate even faced.

And only at this moment did those young scholars and sons of powerful clans queuing for number tokens in front of the government office fully react... It was actually the world-renowned Cai Yong, Cai Bojie, who had come to Handan!

And moreover, this Cai Bojie was actually life-and-death friends with Gongsun Xun, to the point of entrusting his wife and children to him?!

This was truly an eye-opener! Having heard this matter today on the street, could they not go back and boast about it?!

"Master Cai, please go straight into my home to rest!" So saying, Gongsun Xun released his hand, then stepped forward several paces and cupped his hands in greeting to the tall young man who had delivered the name card. "Fengxian, after three years apart, you have indeed come as well. But how is it that you have arrived together with Master Cai?"

Lu Bu glanced at the gold seal at the other’s waist, hurriedly retreated several steps, and bowed with great ceremony: "The matter of Bu and my honored teacher is a long story... The three-year agreement has reached its term. Bu has come as promised, and hopes that the Marquis will take me in!"

"Three years of springs and autumns, and people and things have changed. Fengxian, having followed Master Cai, has become refined and courteous." Gongsun Xun’s smile did not fade as he quickly stepped forward to help the other up. "Rest assured, you and I are old friends; certain matters are only natural... You should also accompany Master Cai into my residence to rest. We shall speak in detail this evening."

For some reason, facing this same fierce tiger of the age, this time Gongsun Xun no longer felt that chilling aura pressing upon him.

In short, after a flurry of activity, Gongsun Xun welcomed on the street the long-anticipated Cai Yong family and an unexpected fierce tiger of the age, then had them temporarily enter his home to rest. He himself returned to the government office, continuing to lead a group of Hebei scholars in personally issuing temporary entry permits for the library to the scholars and sons of powerful clans who had come, drawn by his name.

Of course, he could not avoid asking about their names and backgrounds!

By the afternoon, when all the number tokens for the day after tomorrow had been distributed and he had sent off a group of renowned scholars he was preparing to recruit as academy teachers, telling them to return and prepare for the banquet, Gongsun Xun did not rush home to entertain Cai Yong and Lu Bu. Instead, he sent for Lu Fan, Lou Gui, and Han Dang, the three who were currently in the city.

"Does the Marquis not know how to settle this Cai Bojie?" Lou Gui, as always, was the first to ask. Lu Fan and Han Dang, on the other hand, both seemed lost in thought.

"No." Gongsun Xun was also frank. "When Demou sent word earlier, saying he had dispatched Suqing to rescue Cai Bojie’s family at the border between Wuyuan and Yanmen, I was already prepared... In fact, his arrival in Handan at this time was deliberately arranged by me. I intended to use his reputation to settle this month’s Filial and Incorrupt matter, and also to use his reputation to stabilize the Handan Public Academy... However, I truly did not expect beforehand that the ten thousand scrolls of books Cai Bojie gifted me back then would have such tremendous effect. Now, it seems to be merely adding flowers to brocade!"

"Having it is always better than not," Lu Fan said with a light laugh. "And Cai Bojie’s reputation is also here for all to see... Still, this matter ultimately owes to the Old Madam’s foresight. Such a grand gesture — I, too, have broadened my horizons."

"So my lord's meaning is that you simply don't know how to place this… Lü Bu?" Lou Gui carefully pondered his lord's earlier words and suddenly caught on. "Why is that? From what was just said, this man is merely a student of Cai Bojie — if the teacher himself doesn't care, how much less so the student?"

Gongsun Xun fell silent for a moment.

"That day Zibo was not present, so there are things you do not know," Han Dang, standing attendant with his hand on his sword, said quietly. "Back then, on the banks of the Yellow River, our lord was under orders escorting migrants. Passing by the Yellow River, it happened that Cheng Lian among the migrants was trying to flee… This Lü Bu brought Wei Yue to rescue him, and in the night once shot an arrow at our lord!"

"In fact, later when the Lord returned to the Yanmen military camp, he also spoke to me of this matter," Lü Fan added. "He said outright that Lü Bu, Lü Fengxian, is a fierce tiger of this age, surpassing in valor and martial skill. Moreover, because this man shot that arrow in the night, whenever facing him… it is like having a thorn at one's back!"

"So that is how it is." Lou Gui suddenly understood. "If he is merely a man of brute courage, and has given offense besides, it is only natural that my lord does not wish to keep him at his side. Then…"

"Better to kill him!" Han Dang suddenly said. "Tonight, get him dead drunk on strong liquor, finish him with one stroke! Just say…"

"No!"

Lou Gui and Lü Fan spoke almost at the same time.

"If one wishes to achieve great things, how can one kill someone who comes to offer allegiance over such a matter?!" Lou Zibo said with rare solemnity. "Besides, even that mountain bandit Chu Feiyan was deliberately tolerated by our lord, precisely to show the world his resolve to broadly accept talent — how much more so a student of Cai Bojie? All the painstaking efforts these days, are they not all for winning people's hearts?"

"That is exactly the principle — one absolutely cannot kill a man without cause over personal feelings." Lü Fan also spoke bluntly. "And furthermore, among the lord's volunteer followers, many are migrants from Wuyuan. They know this Lü Bu, know his abilities and background, not to mention that Wei Yue and Cheng Lian are men of merit… There is no wall in this world that does not let the wind through. If this matter were carelessly discovered by the volunteer followers, I fear it would chill many hearts."

"Then what should be done?" Han Dang countered. "You do not understand — our lord truly finds this man unbearable…"

"If I may speak frankly," Lü Fan said helplessly, "even if it is unbearable, you must give him a future, to show sincerity. At most, simply meet with him less often… Besides, if he truly is as Wenqi said earlier, a fierce tiger of this age, unmatched in valor, how do we know he cannot be turned to our use?!"

Gongsun Xun finally let out a long sigh… This was precisely the difficulty of the matter. At this moment, he could not very well say he was still afraid of the man, but in the end, that arrow from that day had created a rift. He had concluded that this man had an ungrateful nature, and so he harbored deep misgivings! Yet those around him did not see it that way. In truth, right now Lü Fengxian was a hero of courteous and refined bearing, and he had come to offer allegiance according to the agreement made back when Gongsun Xun had spoken rashly — how could he possibly refuse to employ him?

If blame there was, he could only blame his own loose tongue that day!

"In fact," at that moment, Lou Zibo suddenly stroked his beard and chuckled, "I do have a stratagem that might satisfy both sides."

Gongsun Xun's heart stirred slightly.

—————— I am the dividing line of being caught in a dilemma ——————

"In the Guanghe era of the Later Han, the Grand Ancestor was transferred to be Prefect of Handan. He cleared out bandits, suppressed the powerful families, and saw much success. Then, wishing to purify education and transform customs, he posted notices before the temple seeking counsel. A Handan notable, Wei Song, offered this advice: 'Of all endeavors to nurture scholars, none is greater than public education. Public education is what concerns worthy scholars and is the root of moral transformation. Handan has long been in turmoil; now, fortunate to have a wise lord of divine martial brilliance who has cleansed the region and made it a place of peace, I therefore request the establishment of public education, to further manifest the virtue of our wise lord.' The Grand Ancestor approved his words and thus established public education. Once established, the Prince of Zhao heard of it and offered his palace halls as the school; notable scholars of Hebei heard of it and vied to come as teachers; the Grand Ancestor also contributed one hundred thousand scrolls of his family's transmitted books, establishing a library tower, allowing scholars free access to copy and excerpt… When this was accomplished, paper in Handan grew expensive." — Miscellaneous Records of the Scholarly Grove. Yan. Anonymous. Exhortation to Learning.

Finally finished writing. Immense thanks to Alliance Leader Sao Rui… another Alliance Leader added… Recently I do feel somewhat neurasthenic… sleep is not right… But honestly, with everyone being so tolerant and supportive of me, I must show something in return… otherwise I would truly be ashamed… This month I guarantee 150k, let this serve as proof!

Lastly, thank you all once again for your support, understanding, and trust!

(End of Chapter)