Chapter 210: Banquet in the Mulberry Courtyard

In the late sixth year of the Han Guanghe era, the end of 183 AD, in Zhuo Commandery, south of Zhuoxian city.

Perhaps because the weather had turned warm earlier this year, under the late morning sun, if one looked closely, one would find that the bare, massive mulberry tree had actually already begun to sprout a few tender buds!

It was the agricultural off-season and the new year was approaching. Liu Yuanqi, father of Liu Deran, the County Commandant of Guangchang County in Zhongshan, was idly sitting under this mulberry tree, which was about to turn green again, sunning himself and casually chatting with his clansmen.

"Uncle," a woman of the younger generation, while airing out the laundry in the sun, could not help but interject. "Your son Deran is so young and has already become a County Commandant, and in a major county like Guangchang no less. Counting from Xuande's father's generation, this is a proper official post our clan hasn't seen in a long time. Why aren't you happy about it, and instead keep saying he's not as good as Xuande, who is a commoner?"

"What do you know?!" Liu Yuanqi frowned and stood up upon hearing this, shaking his head repeatedly with his hands tucked in his sleeves. "Now that the Grand Administrator of Zhongshan, Lord Gongsun, is about to leave his post in Zhongshan, he suddenly arranged this position for my Deran. It clearly shows he thinks Deran is not fit for great responsibilities. It's just that Deran followed him for several years, and out of regard for their scholarly ties, he gave him this as a token gesture! In truth, if Lord Gongsun truly valued him, he would have had him resign from the post and stay by his side. Only then would his future prospects truly be vast! It's laughable that my Deran is completely oblivious to this, and after getting this official post, he even sent people home to spread the news everywhere..."

After all, Liu Yuanqi was getting on in years, and once he started talking, he rambled on incessantly, even using literary phrases. More importantly, his behavior of complaining even after receiving an official post was truly speechless. So the surrounding clansmen all came to persuade him, and even the women airing the laundry secretly talked about how Lady Liu Yuanqi's reaction was completely different after getting the news, and then couldn't help but cover their mouths and laugh...

Of course, after talking for half the day, Liu Yuanqi also realized that these clansmen of his, just like his own wife, completely failed to understand the subtleties involved, and simply thought he was complaining despite having gained an advantage! So, in a fit of frustration, he prepared to get up and leave. But he hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to go out the village gate for a stroll or to find Liu Bei for a chat... In his view, Liu Xuande, who had become increasingly taciturn but also increasingly mature in recent years, was clearly far superior to his own son. Perhaps this young man was the clan's true future pillar.

This was Liu Yuanqi's sincere thought.

The world was getting worse and worse, yet Liu Bei was not only renowned throughout Zhuo Commandery, but also had several dozen young wandering swordsmen from Youzhou following him. The clan's future stability would likely truly fall on his shoulders. Moreover, now that this young man's mourning period was over, and Lord Gongsun had repeatedly sent messengers before, even in terms of official career prospects, his own Deran would likely be far inferior to him in the future.

However, just as Liu Yuanqi's thoughts were churning, suddenly, the urgent sound of horse hooves came from outside the village gate, drawing closer from afar. It was clearly a group of over ten riders heading straight for this place.

The times were bad, and although they knew they were probably looking for Liu Bei, the able-bodied men of the clan still cautiously climbed a tree to get a high vantage point. Only when they saw the riders politely dismount before the village gate did they finally relax.

Upon careful inquiry, they were indeed looking for Liu Bei.

So, Liu Yuanqi had some clansmen lead the visitors to Liu Bei's home while also sending someone ahead to call Liu Bei out to greet them. Then, he himself no longer needed to ponder, and simply went out the village gate along the way, taking a stroll outside.

And just as Liu Yuanqi was leaving through the village gate, in the northwest corner under the large mulberry tree, in front of a wicker fence, a young man with a fair complexion, red lips, a sparse beard, and large ears indeed appeared before the visitors, accompanied by a disheveled scholar and a burly young man with a full beard.

"Liu Bei of Zhuo Commandery greets you both," Liu Bei politely saluted the two middle-aged men who were the leaders, though he couldn't help but feel some doubt, which he simply didn't show on his face. "I have never met you two before, may I ask why..."

"Merchants from Zhongshan, Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping... we greet Lord Xuande." As visitors, the two middle-aged men naturally hurried to introduce themselves.

Liu Bei and the two behind him felt a sense of understanding upon hearing the words "Zhongshan," and without further ceremony, immediately invited them inside.

"These are two close friends from my hometown, Zhang Fei, style name Yide, and Jian Yong, style name Xianhe." Once both parties had sat down on mats spread in the courtyard, Liu Bei raised his hand to point them out and got straight to the point. "These two are my sworn brothers, bound by life and death. If you have anything to say, please do not feel the need to hold back."

Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping exchanged a glance, but said nothing. They merely signaled to their attendants in the courtyard with their eyes. Seeing this, the attendants immediately took some items off the horses outside the courtyard gate and laid them out on the mat between the two groups.

It was nothing messy, just a full several hundred jin of gold.

However, Liu Bei sat upright without moving, not even glancing at the gold before him. Even Jian Yong and Zhang Fei merely sat there, one leaning crookedly while stroking his beard thoughtfully, the other sitting upright with a face full of curiosity.

Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping looked at each other in dismay, and could only bow deeply and state the purpose of their visit.

"You are horse traders from Zhongshan and wish to seek refuge under Xuande?" After hearing them out, Jian Yong was the first to laugh and speak. "That doesn't make sense. Although Xuande has considerable fame in Zhuo Commandery and the local wandering swordsmen are willing to give him face, if you merely wanted to borrow Xuande's name so those swordsmen wouldn't harass you, a small donation, a banquet, a few horses, or a few weapons would suffice. Why go so far as to gift several hundred jin of gold and directly speak of seeking refuge? And two families coming together at that?!"

"Well said!" Zhang Fei, with his full beard, had a very loud voice. "You merchants are always extremely calculating. Since you're willing to give my elder brother several hundred jin of gold today, the matter you seek must be extremely difficult... Could it be that you've gotten into some kind of trouble?"

Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping.

"You two come from Zhongshan," Liu Bei suddenly spoke at this moment. "Do you know that my elder brother, the Grand Administrator of Zhongshan, Lord Gongsun, is about to leave his post and may come to Zhuo Commandery as the Commandery Governor?"

Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping each sighed, then together prostrated themselves and bowed again. After rising, Su Shuang straightforwardly revealed the answer: "We will not hide it from Lord Xuande. It is precisely because we know this matter that we have come to seek refuge! If the three of you do not find us long-winded, please allow us to explain slowly..."

Liu Bei remained expressionless and silent, but Jian Yong continued to take over the conversation, engaging with them calmly.

It turned out, according to their account, this involved decades of competition between the Anli Trading Company, the Zhen clan, and other powerful merchants of Zhongshan.

One must understand that the Anli Trading Company's foundation had always been in the region around the Bohai Sea, and for many years it had failed to make any breakthroughs. But this was not because the Anli Trading Company itself was unwilling to expand, nor because it lacked the competitiveness, but rather because doing business in this era required political protection and cooperation from local magnates. And the Gongsun clan's sphere of influence had previously never been able to extend beyond this circle!

To the south, the Mi clan of Donghai, relying on the complex situation of Mount Tai, had always blocked the line at Langya. And towards the interior of Hebei, the ones blocking the way had always been a large group of nobles from Zhongshan and Anping, led by the Zhen clan of Zhongshan... They connected north and south, and had always monopolized the western and southern parts of the Hebei Plain.

But, hadn't Gongsun Xun gone from being an official in Yanmen to Zhao State, and then all the way to Zhongshan?

Previously, when Gongsun Xun fought a battle at Mount Danhan north of Yanmen and Shanggu, the Zhen family immediately and obediently yielded the barren northern trade route leading to Bingzhou as a gesture of goodwill. Later, when Gongsun Xun went to Zhao State, although the Anli Trading Company did not expand in a massive, annexing manner, it smoothly formed a permanent trade route with the Cao, Xiahou, and Ding clans of the Central Plains. Then Gongsun Xun went to be the Grand Administrator of Zhongshan...

Uh, with Lord Gongsun's methods, even if he didn't directly strike against anyone, wouldn't the Zhen clan and the various powerful merchants of Zhongshan inevitably suffer severe losses and be utterly drained of vitality in fair competition with the Anli Trading Company?

"Last spring, when the Son of Heaven established the position of the Luji Stable Assistant to stockpile horses, you gentlemen should know about this, right?" Zhang Shiping asked seriously.

"Of course." Jian Yong, hugging his knees, laughed again. "I heard that the Son of Heaven had made so much money selling official posts that the Western Garden was about to overflow. The Ten Regular Attendants were envious and came up with this idea... As a result, horses everywhere were monopolized by powerful and wealthy households, and a good horse was sold for up to a million coins! It's just that we wandering swordsmen had no connections, otherwise wouldn't we have gotten rich too?! So, since you two are horse traders, did you have the chance to make a fortune back then?"

"Fortunately, we didn't have the chance!" Zhang Shiping spread his hands and said. "In other places, this matter was naturally a good opportunity to make money with one's eyes closed, but here in Hebei... you gentlemen don't know, it was precisely because of this matter that the various powerful merchant families of Zhongshan and Anping were caught by the Anli Trading Company's methods. They were almost completely routed and suffered unimaginable losses, and from then on no longer had the strength to compete with the Anli Trading Company in Hebei! However, the Anli Trading Company didn't deliver a killing blow, but instead took a step back and still allowed them to maintain a facade."

"I think I understand your difficulty," Jian Yong continued with a smile. "Previously, the various powerful merchants of Hebei, led by the Zhen clan of Zhongshan, competed with the Anli Trading Company. People like you two clearly spent over a decade taking advantage of the tacit understanding of non-aggression between the two sides, traveling between Liaoxi and Zhongshan, doing some reselling business in horses and cloth. Now that the situation has changed drastically, and the Anli Trading Company has effectively seized the initiative in Hebei business, you feel that your previous way of doing business is somewhat outdated, isn't that right?"

"Xianhe sees clearly!" Su Shuang sighed deeply. "Truly, a single point and it all becomes clear..."

"But there is still one thing I don't understand." Jian Yong suddenly sized the two of them up, then abruptly sat up straight and asked, "You came to find Xuande, probably having heard of the bond between Lord Gongsun and Xuande, and knowing that Lord Gongsun will become the Governor of Zhuo Commandery, which will directly affect your business... However, it's just business. If you only seek to protect yourselves, why not just join the Anli Trading Company directly? Why go so far as to seek protection from Xuande, an unrelated person? And moreover, so much gold, isn't this still a bit excessive?"

"Indeed." Liu Bei also finally spoke calmly. "I, Liu Bei, am not a greedy person. If you only seek peaceful protection and have come to visit, then out of a sense of righteousness, I can naturally introduce you to the local manager of the Anli Trading Company. As for this gold, it is what you have earned through years of hard work in trade. Please take it back!"

"Lord Xuande's sense of honor is indeed as rumored. We have found the right person on this trip." Zhang Shiping sighed with emotion, but then slowly shook his head. "But we will not hide it from Lord Xuande. If we truly only sought to join the Anli Trading Company, given our many years of traveling between Liaoxi and Zhongshan, we would not need an introduction..."

"Then you...?" Liu Bei finally showed a moved and puzzled expression.

"Lord Xuande," Su Shuang explained helplessly. "After autumn this year, there were rumors that Lord Gongsun would become the Governor of Zhuo Commandery. At that time, we had already taken the initiative to seek out the Anli Trading Company to request joining. However, the Anli Trading Company stated plainly that, for the sake of Lord Gongsun's clean reputation, not only did they have no intention of annexing the various businesses in Zhuo Commandery, but they actually wanted to voluntarily withdraw..."

"I don't believe it!" Zhang Fei couldn't help but interject.

"We didn't believe it at first either." Zhang Shiping smiled bitterly. "But now, in Zhuo Commandery and south of it, only a few major cities still have trading companies. For all the rest, the Anli Trading Company has actually voluntarily abandoned them! We had no choice, and since our future business would almost entirely depend on Lord Gongsun's favor, we could only search everywhere for a local hero with a solid foundation to provide us protection..."

"And we won't hide it from Lord Xuande," Su Shuang continued, "right now, the Lu clan of Fanyang is already overcrowded. We two are from humble, small households and simply cannot afford to approach them. Only after inquiring for half a day did we find our way to Lord Xuande. Please, Lord Xuande, for the sake of our sincere intentions, grant us shelter!"

Liu Bei suddenly understood. After pondering for a moment, he did not hesitate at all: "My elder brother's actions are likely just out of a desire for purity and have no other meaning. But it is also normal for you to harbor doubts... In that case, I am honored that you two think highly of me, Liu Bei. Allow me to investigate a little. If it is truly so, then what harm is there in me shamelessly helping you two out?"

Su and Zhang were overjoyed.

"However, one should not receive rewards without merit." Liu Bei then added. "If your business can be peaceful in the future, then just send some support in the name of those dry shares like the Anli Trading Company does. Take this gold back and settle your business with peace of mind!"

Su and Zhang felt even more that they had found the right person on this trip.

And that day, Su and Zhang set out wine and bought chickens under the mulberry tree outside Liu Bei's home, inviting Liu Bei's fellow villagers and clansmen to a feast. This was the so-called banquet in the mulberry courtyard, a rustic pleasure of the countryside, which naturally needs no further elaboration.

However, after the banquet, when everyone had enjoyed themselves and returned home, Liu Bei, Jian Yong, and Zhang Fei returned to the house for a casual chat, but their hearts could not help but be filled with growing doubts... After all, when Gongsun Xun was in Zhongshan previously, he hadn't been this pure and clean!

Or rather, in this day and age, could there truly be such a pure and clean official under heaven?

Not to mention Jian Yong and Liu Bei, even Zhang Fei, whose family slaughtered pigs, did not believe it.

But, Liu Bei had so many heroic youths under him, most of whom did not engage in productive labor. Relying solely on Zhang Fei's support was fine before, but what about the future? In the future, when Gongsun Xun came to Zhuo Commandery as Governor, and Liu Bei's mourning period had long since passed, he was about to do great things, to seek achievements and establish a career... What would he do without money?

Accepting money from such a legitimate source was better than resorting to corruption when the time came, wasn't it?

Thus, the three discussed it back and forth, and finally went to sleep, still full of hesitation.

But what these three never expected was that at this very moment, in the famous Fanyu Pavilion at the southern end of Zhuo Commandery, the subject of their conversation, the newly appointed Governor of Zhuo Commandery, Gongsun Xun, had already returned to this land of Youzhou.

"Is Yunchang still reading?" In the pavilion lodge, Gongsun Xun, who had been looking up at the stars for half the day, saw that the lamplight was still on in the neighboring room, and directly lifted the cloth curtain and walked in.

——————I am the dividing line of reading by lamplight late at night——————

"On and on the Great River rolls, racing east, its waves having washed away heroes through the ages. Right and wrong, success and failure — all turn to emptiness in a blink.

The green hills remain as ever; how many sunsets have blazed red?

White-haired fishermen and woodcutters on the river isles, accustomed to watching the autumn moon and spring breeze. A jug of cloudy wine — what joy to meet again!

How many affairs of past and present are all left to be told with laughter and jest." — Yang Shen

PS: Spring, first month. The post of Chief of the Luji Stable was first established, to receive and manage horses requisitioned from the commanderies and kingdoms. Powerful families monopolized the trade; a single horse reached two million cash. — Zizhi Tongjian

Another PS: This chapter was from yesterday, mainly because I woke up at nine-thirty... and the boss didn't even scold me.

Also, new book group 684558115, everyone can join.

(End of Chapter)