Chapter 213: The Injustice of Fanyang

Guo Xun was, after all, somewhat older; he rested for half a day before setting out to return to Fanyang... and, interestingly enough, it was only under Lu Fan's repeated urging that he finally made the journey.

In fact, the latter had gone out at first light to prepare carriage and horses for this Inspector of Youzhou, which unexpectedly meant that Gongsun Xun and the families of his subordinates, who had stopped at Fanyu Pavilion, were forced to wait yet another day.

But regardless, by that evening, just as the sky was darkening, Guo Xun finally returned to the city of Fanyang, and no sooner had he entered the city than he ran headlong into a group of anxious, long-waiting provincial clerks.

"What is the situation?!" Guo Xun was extremely tense.

The provincial clerks looked at one another for a long time before one of the officials in charge stepped forward to report:

"My lord, you must go and take control! This morning, that Grand Administrator Gongsun entered the city. We had only just arrested the county magistrate when he forcibly seized authority over the matter, and none of us could resist him..."

"Set that aside for now." Guo Xun was momentarily choked with anger. "I only ask you, how did he handle those cases and prisoners we had previously settled on?"

"I dare not deceive you, my lord, I was just about to speak of this." Under the light of the gate tower lamps, the man's face was full of terror. "Right now, all the youxia in the city, whether they killed or not, have been disarmed in whole gangs under the name of criminal associations and sentenced to wall-building labor. All the traveling merchants everywhere have likewise had their homes confiscated and been thrown into prison. And the leading figures of several powerful clans have mostly been bound and locked inside the government office. Whoever dares utter half a word of refusal, the new Grand Administrator says they are plotting rebellion... Right now, only the Lu clan is barely holding out, surrounded but not yet touched!"

Guo Xun was dazed for a moment, and only after a long while did he fully understand why Lu Fan had repeatedly urged him to come as quickly as possible... If he had delayed any longer, would the city of Fanyang not have been swept completely clean?!

And so, Inspector Guo did not dare to think further. He hurriedly climbed back into his carriage and had the group of provincial clerks lead him swiftly toward the Lu residence.

When he arrived there, he saw the front of the Lu residence brilliantly lit, surrounded by an unknown number of men, each holding a torch in one hand and a weapon in the other. And there was Gongsun Xun, purple cord and gold seal at his waist, sitting upright and imposing on a Grand Commandant's chair before the Lu gate, also surrounded by several extraordinary men. Among them, one man was a full nine chi tall, with a long beard and a red face, holding a gleaming, peculiar great blade in his hand—majestic and awe-inspiring, yet chilling to behold!

Meanwhile, the eldest son of the Lu family was at that moment sprawled atop the wall. Under the glow of the lamps, he wept bitterly while speaking to the person opposite him, a sight that stirred pity in those who saw it.

"Come out!" Gongsun Xun glanced at the arriving Guo Xun but paid him no attention whatsoever, merely continuing to speak with some impatience to the man on the wall. "For the sake of Teacher Lu, I will not put restraints on you, Senior Brother, lest people say I am disrespectful to our teacher's school. Nor will I send you to Luoyang for our teacher to discipline, lest he beat you to death in public to uphold the school's reputation..."

"I won't come out!" The eldest son of Lu Zhi wept even more bitterly. "Do you think I don't know? All those people were sentenced by you to wall-building labor. If I also have my head shaved and am forced into wall-building labor, I might as well be beaten to death by my father!"

"It won't come to that!" Gongsun Xun quickly raised his voice to persuade him. "As long as you, Senior Brother, come out and then donate some wealth and goods—cloth and grain would be best—and also send out all your household's retainers and slaves to serve as frontier guards, then you might not even need to have your head shaved!"

Wall-building labor and frontier guard service are both forms of penal labor under Han law; the former is labor responsible for maintaining and repairing city walls, while the latter is labor performing garrison and patrol duties.

According to Han law, the former applies to more serious crimes, generally requiring six years of service, and because the applicable offenses are graver, it usually also entails head-shaving, the so-called kun punishment. The latter requires fewer years of service, generally two years, so the proportion of cases with the additional kun punishment is also smaller.

"That's even worse than having my head shaved!" The eldest son of Lu Zhi showed not the slightest trace of his father's bearing, his disgraceful behavior fully exposed. "Junior Brother, Lord Marquis, Governor... for my father's sake, spare me! I absolutely dare not compete with your family's Anli Trading House anymore. I thought your family was truly withdrawing, and only then could I not resist gathering up those traveling merchants. And the wealth and goods I've accumulated over these years are all lawfully earned by my family in ordinary times, earned through hard work..."

"Senior Brother, you put me in a very difficult position!" Gongsun Xun turned his head to glance at Guo Xun, who stood to the side watching coldly, and when he looked back at his senior brother on the wall, his tone became helpless. "You see, as a disciple, I can't very well smash down the gate of my own teacher's house in public, can I? Just how long do you intend to stay up there? All night?!"

Before the eldest son of Lu Zhi could reply, Guo Xun also sighed, then stepped forward and began to negotiate with Gongsun Xun in a serious manner.

A moment later, Gongsun Xun turned and left the area. Inspector Guo, now taking charge of the scene, ordered his subordinate provincial clerks to assault the Lu residence, and that weeping Lu son was dragged out in public!

In just a single day, the city of Fanyang was turned completely upside down.

After Guo Xun had seized the eldest son of the Lu family and returned to the county office, naturally there were provincial clerks to take over and interrogate him in detail. As for Guo Xun himself, his mind full of thoughts, he went again to seek out Gongsun Xun.

He had not walked more than a few steps, just entering the gate of the county office, when he saw the other man standing there with his hands behind his back, speaking some inexplicable nonsense with that nine-chi giant holding the blade under the lamplight: "If Yunchang is not accustomed to using this blade, then just use a long spear instead. How can life-and-death combat on the battlefield be taken lightly?"

And that red-faced giant replied, still composed: "I understand your meaning, Lord Marquis. But although this blade is strange, it has the advantage of being tempered a thousand times, cutting through iron like mud—it can be called a divine weapon... On the battlefield, it might actually have unexpected effectiveness! Moreover, this blade is extremely heavy; using it in daily practice to train arm strength is far superior to stone locks."

"In that case, still use the long spear, and find someone specifically to carry this blade for you on the battlefield, so you can switch weapons as needed." Gongsun Xun was meticulous.

"That is indeed a method." The red-faced giant sighed slightly. "I am already heavy of body, and wear out a horse every few months. If I add this blade of eighty-two jin, I fear it will be one horse per month!"

"Then pick a sturdy one from among those sentenced today to wall-building labor or frontier guard service, pardon his crime, and have him carry the blade for you exclusively." Gongsun Xun said this casually, only then turning his head to look at the newcomer. "My lord, why have you come so late?"

Seeing that the Inspector of a province wished to speak with the Grand Administrator of a commandery, everyone from that nine-chi giant on down took their leave. The other clerks of province, commandery, and county coming and going also detoured around that side of the gate, each carefully entering and exiting, and then busied themselves once more.

"Why I came late—does Grand Administrator Gongsun not know?" Seeing everyone clear the area, Guo Xun sighed, but then cupped his hands in apology. "Setting other matters aside, previously it was I who measured a gentleman's heart with a petty man's mind... I misunderstood you, my lord, and I hope Grand Administrator Gongsun will forgive me."

"My lord enforces the law impartially; I admire you greatly, so how could I be displeased?" Gongsun Xun said dismissively. "I merely did not wish my own reputation for integrity to be damaged, which is why I acted as I did early this morning. It is I who should be embarrassed before you, my lord... Also, our families are old friends, and you, my lord, are my elder; just call me by my given name."

Guo Xun wanted to speak but hesitated.

Gongsun Xun remained distracted.

"In that case, Wenqi." Guo Xun said helplessly. "Let me ask you, have your punishments not been somewhat excessive? I heard from the provincial clerks that all the youxia and ruffians in the city, regardless of their crimes, were sentenced by you to wall-building labor; all the wealthy merchants had their homes confiscated and were thrown into prison... and at the slightest refusal, you accused them of plotting rebellion. Moreover, only on the way here did I learn why the son of Lord Lu was so terrified. Did you truly kill seventy or eighty people because others resisted?"

"What are seventy or eighty people?" Gongsun Xun sighed, his eyes drifting restlessly. "In any year of great plague, in any year of refugee unrest, do not thousands upon tens of thousands die? And I am under suspicion—even you, my lord, thought I was connected to these people. If I did not use a heavy hand, how could I prove my innocence? Even if we set aside ten thousand considerations, if I, a dignified Grand Administrator of a commandery, were to issue orders in the morning and change them by evening, would I not be ridiculed?"

Guo Xun was silent for a moment, and only after a long while did he speak: "Then what about the Lu clan and these powerful families? How do you intend to deal with them?"

"If they hand over the greater part of their household's coin, grain, retainers, and slaves, they may escape punishment." Gongsun Xun said frankly. "Zhuo Commandery is a large commandery; these powerful clans and aristocratic families have connections in many places. Some face must be preserved."

"Wenqi." Guo Xun said seriously. "What exactly do you intend to do with so much grain, cloth, coin, and goods? And so many wall-building laborers and frontier guards—is this not somewhat excessive?"

"Lord Guo is overthinking it." Gongsun Xun still replied distantly. "Coin and grain—used to relieve the poor peasants in the surrounding countryside, one can never have too much. As for so many wall-building laborers and frontier guards... after the new year, come spring and summer, the court will inevitably issue a general amnesty, and they will be released then... And taking this opportunity to repair the city defenses of the various cities in this commandery—what harm is there? For example, this city of Fanyang, the gateway to Youzhou, has always been a great and imposing city, yet it has fallen into disrepair over the years."

"That is true!" A look of sudden understanding appeared on Guo Xun's face.

"I will be going to Zhuo County. I must trouble Lord Guo to remain stationed here in Fanyang for two months. What do you say?" Gongsun Xun continued. "Firstly, overseeing so many wall-building laborers and frontier guards requires a capable person. Secondly, repairing the city walls is a major undertaking. I will leave extra wealth and grain with you, Lord Guo... In any case, until the spring plowing is done, you, my lord, cannot very well go on inspection tours of the provinces and commanderies, can you?"

"Be that as it may, could it be that you simply do not wish to live in the same city as me?" Guo Xun frowned slightly. "Is that why you want me to stay in Fanyang?"

"There is some of that meaning as well." Gongsun Xun did not even blink. "I have always acted with thunderous decisiveness. If Lord Guo and I were both residing in Zhuo County, I fear we would both be constrained. Rather than conflicting with and hindering each other, it is better to take this opportunity to separate for a time. In any case, someone truly does need to hold the fort here in Fanyang, and it will not delay Lord Guo in handling provincial affairs."

Guo Xun thought it over, then simply nodded... The other party had just taken office when this matter erupted, and he himself did not wish to continue making things too rigid with him. Moreover, the key point was exactly as the other had said: with so many people dealt with here in Fanyang and the city walls to be repaired, it truly was something he could not set his mind at ease about.

One must understand, this case was originally one he had initiated himself. For the other party to hand the prisoners from this case back to him could also be considered seeing things through to the end.

The two sides having agreed on the broad outlines, the details would naturally be handled by their subordinates. Guo Xun, weary from the carriage journey, was also preparing to go and rest. But after turning around, he finally could not hold back and actually turned his head again: "Wenqi, your eyes have been drifting restlessly this whole time. What exactly are you looking at?"

"At some writing!" Gongsun Xun laughed and replied, then stepped back several paces and pointed toward the main gate of the Fanyang government office.

Guo Xun looked in that direction and saw, under the lamplight, on one side of the government office gate, the two characters 'Jia Zi' written conspicuously in white powder... neither large nor small, not very conspicuous, yet difficult to ignore. Who knew what mischievous person had written it.

"Oh!" Guo Xun thought for a moment, then suddenly understood. "The new year is coming, and the coming year is a Jia Zi year! You have worked hard, Wenqi... I fear you will have to toil even during the New Year festival to take over the commandery affairs."

Gongsun Xun smiled in response.

Immediately after, the two men, one to the left and one to the right, went their separate ways.

Among them, Guo Xun was going to rest in the government office, while Gongsun Xun claimed he was going to rest at his honored teacher's residence. It was unclear whether the Lu mansion, whose main gate had been smashed open, actually welcomed this Marquis of Wulu to visit again.

However, facts proved that the Lu family probably did not do anything to Gongsun Xun, because a day later, this newly appointed Grand Administrator of Zhuo Commandery, full of energy, took his family members who had caught up from behind and, still proudly, headed north toward Zhuo County.

When they were still a full ten li from Zhuo County, Liu Bei, bringing Zhang Fei, Jian Yong, and also Qian Zhao, who had arrived a step ahead, along with several dozen youxia who hung around the vicinity of Zhuo County, came to welcome them by the roadside.

"Xuande!" Seeing the other party from afar, Gongsun Xun could not help but laugh and jump down from his carriage, for he saw an exceptionally burly man, with a beard no less impressive than Qian Zhao's, also bowing respectfully toward him. His mood instantly lifted. "I trust you have been well since we parted."

Despite the other's warmth, Liu Bei could only smile bitterly.

It must be said, he was well enough, but he was somewhat worried... A few days ago, the other party, together with the provincial Inspector, had acted jointly, capturing the traveling merchant group in Fanyang in one fell swoop, and incidentally shaving the heads of several hundred city youxia and ruffians and sentencing them to wall-building labor. Even that eldest son of Teacher Lu had his head shaved, was thrown into prison, and fined coin and grain for harboring unlawful traveling merchants. This matter had thrown everyone in Zhuo Commandery, high and low, into panic. So how could Liu Bei, a youxia leader who had just taken in traveling merchants, not be worried?

"My brother, do not worry." Gongsun Xun walked forward, personally helped Liu Bei up, then with one hand pulled this fellow along, and with the other personally helped Jian Yong, Qian Zhao, and that burly giant up in turn. "I have already heard about this matter from the messenger Zijing (Qian Zhao's courtesy name) sent. Rest assured, this matter is not what you think. Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping are not people I intend to purge. You can set your mind at ease."

Liu Bei could not help but let out a long breath.

"Lord Marquis." Just as Gongsun Xun was about to open his mouth to ask something, that Jian Yong, Jian Xianhe, suddenly spoke up to inquire. "Regarding the Fanyang affair, everyone is discussing it, but no one knows the details. Now, Lord Marquis has also told Xuande that Su Shuang and Zhang Shiping are not people you intend to purge. What exactly is the plan? I beg Lord Marquis to instruct us, so as to settle the hearts of the people in Zhuo Commandery as soon as possible."

"This matter is simple." Gongsun Xun glanced at Liu Bei's lips, which had barely sprouted a few more hairs in three years, and immediately laid out his reasoning. "Xuande, let me ask you — what business are Su and Zhang in?"

"Horses... and also cloth and silk." Liu Bei quickly answered in earnest. "They trade horses from Liaoxi and cloth from Zhongshan!"

"That's exactly it!" Gongsun Xun explained at once. "Horses, cloth, and silk can all be considered practical goods, whereas those traveling merchants in Fanyang mostly just traffic in luxury items..."

Liu Bei and the others all suddenly understood.

"Behind the vermilion gates, wine and meat rot; out on the road lie the bones of the frozen dead!" Gongsun Xun continued with a cold sneer. "If we don't crack down on them, who should we crack down on?"

"So that's how it is." At these words, Liu Bei was left with nothing more to say, but then he suddenly recalled a connection and couldn't help asking one more question. "But earlier, when Brother Bogui held this post, he was quite lenient toward the traveling merchants there. I once asked him, and he said it was..."

"It was goods from the Anli Trading House, wasn't it?" Gongsun Xun was also somewhat embarrassed, but it vanished in an instant. "However, my mother also noticed certain things and took the initiative to scale back Anli Trading House... She wrote to me about this months ago, saying that the common people in various regions are growing poorer by the day, bulk commodities for daily life are becoming harder and harder to trade, yet luxury goods have not weakened at all, so she had the idea of withdrawing north of Zhuo Commandery."

"It was actually for this reason?" Jian Yong was also thoroughly enlightened. "I have long heard of the venerable lady's reputation — she is truly a heroine among women!"

Gongsun Xun remained silent... The truth was, when Lady Gongsun chose to withdraw back then, it was partly because of the Taiping Dao matter, and partly because she had indeed noticed the declining purchasing power of the common people in Hebei and made a calculation. However, that calculation merely concluded that once bulk commodities decreased, if only luxury goods remained, there was no need to maintain such an extensive commercial network.

As for that line about "Behind the vermilion gates, wine and meat rot; out on the road lie the bones of the frozen dead" — that was pure nonsense!

In reality, Lady Gongsun's thinking at the time was: when it comes to the money of the rich, if you don't take it, you're leaving it on the table!

As for why Gongsun Xun was coming down so hard on those people in Fanyang... the answer was simple: the moral high ground — he could not let Guo Xun seize it! If Guo Xun really managed to deal with that Fanyang crowd, what would that make Gongsun Xun?! So, he had to be harsher, more severe, more devoted to the people as if they were his own children, more opposed to those scum!

And besides, since they had to mobilize the commandery's war potential as quickly as possible anyway, rather than holding a big meeting to encourage everyone to cheerfully hand over their grain and able-bodied men, it was better to just use the groundwork Inspector Guo had already laid and carve it out with a blade!

Weren't the two characters "Jia Zi" written right there on the Fanyang government office... how many days were left?

Just as Gongsun Xun had barely managed to fob off Liu Bei, Jian Yong, and the others and was about to go ask about that big-bearded man of imposing stature, he suddenly saw a convoy coming down the road ahead — large carts and small carts, servants piled on top of each other, stretching for half a li!

Gongsun Xun frowned in puzzlement. "What is this about? The New Year is almost here, and they're moving house?!"

Liu Bei turned his head back and remained silent.

It was the man with the imposing stature and full whiskers who opened his mouth and said, "Reporting to my lord, this is a great household in the city, always lawless. I imagine they heard that my lord is purging luxury in Fanyang, grew fearful, and want to go to Guangyang to lie low for a while... their clan has a branch in Guangyang."

Gongsun Xun nodded in sudden understanding, then abruptly turned his head. "Where is Yunchang?"

—————I am the dividing line that neither sleeps nor fears water—————

"The Grand Ancestor was ever inclined toward simplicity and frugality; in governance he was pure and severe... He was transferred to be Grand Administrator of Zhuo Commandery. The powerful families of Zhuo Commandery were known throughout the realm for their boundless extravagance. When they learned the Grand Ancestor was about to arrive, the powerful families all trembled in terror; evildoers fled and scurried into other commanderies. The Grand Ancestor arrived swiftly and encountered them by the roadside. He sternly rebuked them, saying: 'You people — do you think you will be safe by entering another commandery?' The powerful and cunning knew his divine might, and all were terrified. Each returned to their own commandery and crawled on their knees to beg forgiveness. The entire commandery was thus pacified." — Old Book of Yan, Volume 1, Annals of the Grand Ancestor, the Martial Emperor

PS: There are still 20k this month... Also, don't get your hopes up about that Eleven-Day Burst Update event... I've given up... Just grab your red envelopes and don't mind me.

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(End of Chapter)