[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-220":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Overthrowing Han",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1222979,1620,"Chapter 220: Worthy of the World","overthrowing-han-chapter-220",220,"\u003Cp>On the morning of the second day after Gongsun Xun and his \"grand army\" arrived at the north gate of Fanyang City, the unclosed-eyed head of Cheng Yuanzhi, commander of the Youzhou Huang Jin Army, was duly hung above the south gate of Fanyang City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day, as if truly intimidated, Zhang Bao, who still held a sufficient advantage in military strength, remained utterly silent all day, making neither any move to attack the city nor any attempt to retake the northern camp outside Fanyang that had been abruptly lost the day before. By noon, this General of the Earth had even sent another envoy to the city walls to call out, saying he wished to exchange the high officials and nobles captured earlier in Jizhou for Cheng Yuanzhi's head and the captured senior members of the Youzhou Taiping Dao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding this, Guo Xun, the Inspector of Youzhou inside the city, could not make up his mind for the moment—or rather, he had to respect Gongsun Xun's opinion. Consequently, that afternoon, Wei You, Attendant Clerk of the Youzhou Inspectorate, hurried out of the north gate to visit his fellow townsman and junior once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it happened, when Wei You left the city and entered the camp, passing through the northern camp occupied by the Han army, he saw reinforcements from Zhuoxian busily repairing the ramparts under the supervision of officers of various ranks, and he could not help but show a worried expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after he was led before Gongsun Xun's command tent, he relaxed slightly again... because inside the tent, whose flaps were rolled up high, the master of this place, the commander of an army, was seated sideways in the center of the tent, reading a book with perfect composure!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please sit, Sir Wei.\" Gongsun Xun set down the scroll in his hand, rose to greet him with due courtesy, but showed no intention of making small talk. \"May I ask what matter brings you here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the enemy at hand, Wei You knew this was no time for elaborate formalities, so he casually sat down on a camp stool inside the tent, then came straight to the point, directly recounting Zhang Bao's demand for the head and the prisoner exchange, and on Guo Xun's behalf sought advice on how to handle the matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just agree to it,\" Gongsun Xun replied quite casually. \"I had Cheng Yuanzhi's head hung up precisely because I respected his courage in daring to die; even if Zhang Bao did not ask for it, I intended to collect and bury it after the battle. As for exchanging prisoners, there is even less to discuss—each side simply takes what it needs. There is only one matter: we must ask Zhang Bao about the whereabouts of the Prince of Anping and his family... otherwise, neither I nor the Inspector can give a proper account.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei You immediately shook his head: \"There is no need to ask about that. When Anping fell, many people from that place fled in panic all the way to Fanyang. According to them, the Prince of Anping was sent straight to Zhang Jiao immediately after his capture...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then there is nothing more to say,\" Gongsun Xun said, even more dismissively. \"Let Sir Guo handle it himself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei You hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun knew in his heart that this was the real substance of the visit, so he immediately laughed and said, \"Did I not say it? Sir Wei is an elder of my hometown; what words cannot be spoken frankly between us? Besides, though the tent is open at this moment, there is no one else inside.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is not really a private matter,\" Wei You said, also laughing awkwardly at this. \"It is because you, my lord, are a famed general of the northern frontier, and so I wished to ask about the direction of the war... after all, we civil officials truly do not understand military affairs, and this battle array is something we have never seen in our lives.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can see that,\" Gongsun Xun shook his head and laughed. \"Those who understand military affairs would not have sealed all four gates themselves before the city was in real danger.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei You could not help but flush slightly at these words: \"In truth, this was a measure of last resort. When the Huang Jin rebels first besieged the city, because the rebel army was so vast, there was considerable unrest within the city, and we, from the Inspector down, truly did not know how to respond, so we hastily resorted to this poor strategy to prevent any rebel collaborators inside from rising up in response.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That barely makes sense, I suppose,\" Gongsun Xun still said dismissively. \"Speak plainly, Sir Wei. What do you wish to ask?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First of all,\" Wei You rose, moved his camp stool forward, and sat close to the other's desk, \"how is the siege of Fanyang to be lifted? And how can Zhang Bao be driven out of the territory?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The siege of Fanyang is already lifted,\" Gongsun Xun answered calmly. \"Zhang Bao will withdraw on his own in a few days...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei You was momentarily stunned on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun, seated behind the desk, found this amusing and had no choice but to remind him: \"Think about it, Sir Wei. If they were not anxious to withdraw, why would they be in such a hurry to exchange prisoners and demand the return of the head?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei You slowly nodded, then slowly shook his head again: \"But what if the rebels are deliberately using this to lull us, and then secretly making other plans? Wenqi, although the rebels have lost one battle, they have only lost a single camp; their fifty-thousand-strong army is still intact and still double our strength. If they insist on fighting...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wouldn't that be even better?\" Gongsun Xun answered immediately. \"Think about it, Sir Wei. Now that I have brought reinforcements here, and with Fanyang City itself having high walls and strong fortifications, they can hardly take the city in a short time. And if they insist on fighting, while troops from the other commanderies of Youzhou are also sending reinforcements... wouldn't this so-called General of the Earth very likely be annihilated in one stroke beneath the walls of Fanyang along with his fifty-thousand-strong army? And if Zhang Bao throws away these fifty thousand troops, who will guard Zhang Jiao's rear to the south?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei You suddenly saw the light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, what Gongsun Xun spoke of was precisely the complex interlocking relationship between combat, campaign, and war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the combat level, as Wei You had said, Zhang Bao's strength was undiminished; if he insisted on fighting, no one could stop him. But returning to the campaign level, what meaning would there be in doing so? Zhang Bao had come to try to join forces with the Guangyang Huang Jin to jointly seize Zhuo Commandery, the gateway to Youzhou—he had not come to act out of spite against anyone. To force a fight would mean risking the failure of the entire campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, returning to the fundamental grand strategy of the war, Zhang Bao simply could not afford to fail! Because any clear-eyed person could see that when the Huang Jin Army rose up, the main thrust had to be toward Luoyang; even if the scheme to raid Luoyang failed, they should continue striking in that direction. That was why Zhang Jiao himself had taken his youngest brother Zhang Liang and struck south along the line of Wei Commandery and Qinghe... while Zhang Bao's role in the north was, from the very start, merely to protect his brothers' rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, this campaign launched by the Huang Jin Army against Zhuo Commandery was, from the beginning, a military gamble undertaken by Zhang Bao himself after the Taiping Dao uprising developed beyond expectations... relative to the overall war situation and the original plan, this was beyond the scope. And now, since the hope of a campaign victory had greatly diminished, Zhang Bao should immediately contract his forces and fall back, thereby continuing to secure his elder brother's rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this point, Gongsun Xun firmly believed that Zhang Bao and his army would remain rational, because they had been planning this rebellion for who knows how many years, and they surely possessed the most basic strategic thinking. Even if Zhang Bao himself or someone else grew hot-headed due to the setback, Zhang Jiao to the south and the vast majority of the core rebel cadres would make him calm down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To put it plainly, at this point, the Huang Jin Army truly had no need to keep dragging this out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the matter at hand, Wei You might not necessarily understand such complex military theory, but he could certainly grasp this general logic. Thus, he soon ceased to dwell on that question and turned instead to inquire about the next steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In that case, Wenqi,\" Wei You, now relaxed, lowered his voice slightly and continued to ask, \"after the rebels withdraw, what then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Gongsun Xun did not answer directly. Instead, he pondered slightly, stroking the scroll that lay on the desk. Wei You took the opportunity to glance at it, and his eyelid could not help but twitch... as it turned out, it was a woodblock-printed copy of the Taiping Jing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir Wei,\" Gongsun Xun said slowly, staring at the cover of the Taiping Jing on the desk, \"tell me honestly, are you asking this question on behalf of the Inspector, or on behalf of the people of Yan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei You withdrew his gaze from the Taiping Jing, and became somewhat embarrassed again: \"What difference is there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A great difference!\" Gongsun Xun shook his head repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What if it is on behalf of the Inspector?\" Wei You could not help but straighten his expression upon hearing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then please convey to the Inspector,\" Gongsun Xun shook his head, \"that the ten thousand troops under my command are merely hastily assembled levies and the like; after successive great battles, they are already a spent force and unfit for use. Therefore, after Zhang Bao withdraws his army, I will disband this force and devote all my efforts to comforting the people of Zhuo Commandery, seeking only peace within this commandery. As for how to defend Fanyang in the future, resist the enemy from Jizhou, and how to clear the fallen cities of Guangyang and Yuyang—please let the Inspector, in his provincial capacity, deploy the various troops, slowly assign them, and slowly suppress the rebels...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then what if it is on behalf of the people of Youzhou?\" Wei You pressed urgently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is even simpler.\" Upon hearing these words, Gongsun Xun suddenly became stern. He immediately rose, hand on his sword, and answered with awe-inspiring clarity. \"Please convey to the people of Yan that my Gongsun clan has lived in Youzhou for generations and has always received the grace of the local people. Now that many cities in Guangyang and Yuyang have fallen into rebel hands, to me it is as if my own kin have fallen into rebel hands. Therefore, even if the troops are exhausted, even if the Inspector forbids it, even if the court should later assign blame, I, Gongsun Xun, will still lead my army to sweep away the rebels of Youzhou as quickly as possible and restore a bright and clear order to the land of Yan...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Gongsun Xun slowed his speech, released the broken blade at his waist, and raised his clasped hands to heaven: \"Only thus can I be worthy of the people of Yan!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei You was speechless for a long moment, then suddenly rose, bowed deeply to the other, and departed in haste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun thought nothing of it. He merely summoned the various officers in the camp, gave them some instructions, and then returned to reading the Taiping Jing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, the stars were dense and the moon a crescent. Inside and outside Fanyang City, just like the day before, fell into an eerie silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, at midnight, after spending a great deal of time comforting a group of Anping nobles who had been exchanged back that evening, Guo Xun, Inspector of Youzhou, still followed his routine from the past few days of defending the city and summoned the various subordinate officials and military officers from the province and the city to inquire about the situation on the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, today it seemed to be merely going through the motions... from the provincial administrative clerk in charge of provisions to the officers on the walls, everyone simply cupped their hands and reported that all was quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Guo Xun was about to wave his hand and dismiss everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet just at that moment, Wei You, the Attendant Clerk who held a rather high position among those in the hall, suddenly let out a sigh, drawing everyone's sidelong glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Attendant Clerk Wei,\" Guo Xun at the head of the hall was also momentarily speechless. \"The situation before us is excellent; when you returned this afternoon, you even told us that Administrator Gongsun had concluded the rebels would withdraw. Why do you act this way now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have been remiss,\" Wei You hurriedly cupped his hands in apology to Guo Xun and even to the colleagues around him, and took the opportunity to explain. \"In truth, I am not worried about the immediate situation. It is because the rebel army outside the city is about to withdraw that I suddenly thought of my clansmen back home in Youbeiping... The rebels rose up so suddenly; half of Guangyang has fallen, and I hear two counties in Yuyang have also fallen. The roads are cut off, and there is no news at all. Now I truly am sick with worry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Xun fell silent for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the other colleagues in the hall at this moment abruptly split into two groups... one group, like Guo Xun himself, merely stood in silence; the other group was clearly stirred, and could not help but whisper among themselves, their grief palpable, discussing endlessly. One said his own home was also cut off, with no news of the situation; another said outright that some student, relative, or friend of his was simply in Guangyang or Yuyang, and it truly tugged at his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason for such a scene was actually exceedingly simple—half of Guo Xun's staff were from Bingzhou, and half were from Youzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This, of course, was very easy to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former group came from Guo Xun's own hometown, his old friends and relatives in Bingzhou, just as when Gongsun Xun took office he brought those several hundred retainers with him—in this era, it was precisely the way of things that when one man found success, his friends and family rose with him; whenever someone became an Administrator or Inspector, relatives would often bring their entire households to join him. The latter group, however, were like Wei You, recruited locally from Youzhou... this point needs even less explanation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stances in the hall were clearly divided: one side remained silent, while the other side buzzed with discussion, and even the sound of lamentation gradually rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Guo Xun suddenly let out a long sigh, which for the moment quieted the hall... however, quiet as it was, Wei You and those local Youzhou provincial clerks still stood proudly in the hall without moving, showing no intention of returning to their places and standing solemnly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Attendant Clerk Wei,\" Guo Xun said, his head aching terribly at the sight. \"What you said when you returned from north of the city this afternoon—though I did not agree on the spot, I did not refute it either. Clearly, I meant to wait until the enemy had withdrawn before discussing it further... but why are you all so impatient? Can you not even wait a single day before pressing me for a promise?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei You, unhurried and unflustered, bowed deeply: \"My lord, this action of mine is not meant as pressure, but as the fulfillment of my duty and loyalty. I beg Your Excellency to discern this clearly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean by that?\" Guo Xun shook his head repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord,\" Wei You remained unhurried and unflustered, \"may I ask why Your Excellency recruited me as an Attendant Clerk for the province?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It means that when serving as an official in a strange land, he values you as a local notable, borrowing your reputation to communicate with the region!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then my action now is precisely communicating with the region on behalf of my lord, to show the hearts of the scholars and people of Youyan.\" Wei You bowed deeply, but said no more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Xun fell silent once again, and the many provincial officials below the hall also had not a single word in reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could they reply?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei You's half-spoken words were already giving Guo Xun considerable face... Did they really have to force him to say outright: you, as the Inspector of You Province, need to consider the scholars and people of You Province and respect the opinions of the local You Province gentry?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One must know, before Fanyang was besieged, the court's first wave of orders for each province and commandery to suppress the rebellion locally had been swiftly delivered everywhere by fast horse, so everyone still had a rough grasp of the overall situation. For instance, everyone knew that Bing Province had no main force of the Way of Great Peace at all, and everyone also knew that You Province here had been struck by the Yellow Turbans — not to mention the rivers of blood at Zhuoxian, the fifty thousand rebels beneath the walls of Fanyang were seen by everyone with their own eyes!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, when Wei You openly deployed such a heart-piercing regional argument, whether it was Guo Xun or the officials of Bing Province origin under him, they were truly left with no words to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for those local You Province officials, their silence at this moment was, in fact, an even more direct expression of their stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Xun pondered repeatedly, and in the end could only resign himself: \"I am not one who craves merit or fame. My earlier concern was only that Governor Gongsun might incur the court's blame, but since he is willing...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had barely gotten halfway through his words when suddenly, everyone heard the distant beating of drums, and shouts and cries erupted like thunderclaps, startling all in the hall and changing their expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, the provincial officials could no longer care about who was from Bing Province and who from You Province, and all clustered around Guo Xun as they hurried outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, after discerning the roaring flames north of the city, they dispatched men to control the city interior while urgently pressing the garrison on the walls to stay alert. And once things had stabilized slightly, Guo Xun immediately led everyone directly to the northern wall to ascend and observe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, something had happened at the great northern camp where Gongsun Xun was personally stationed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, it was the middle of the night, and the beginning of the month, so the sky was exceptionally dark. The people in the city dared not move recklessly and could only stand atop the northern gate tower, watching the extraordinarily lively Han army stockade ahead, each of them anxious and fearful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If Governor Gongsun has failed this time,\" someone on the wall said with a bitter laugh in the darkness, \"wouldn't our earlier dispute be laughable? Never mind who goes to retake Guangyang and Yuyang — I fear even Zhuo Commandery will be lost.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the flickering light of hastily lit torches, Guo Xun and Wei You, standing at the very front, looked at each other, their faces both turning pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet while the turmoil in the great northern stockade was still ongoing, lights suddenly flared up west of the city as well, and then drums and battle cries merged into one din... The men on the wall grew even more panicked, thinking only that the Yellow Turban rebels, relying on their superior numbers, were attacking on two fronts — luring the tiger from the mountain — and were about to assault the city directly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But very quickly, a soldier came rushing up to the wall to report... As it turned out, the source of such commotion was actually the rebel camp to the west!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, the expressions of those on the wall became rather intriguing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, the great northern camp and the great western camp gradually quieted down. The onlookers even saw with their own eyes a fiery dragon emerge from the northern camp, driving the sounds of battle all the way to the east of the city, before turning back again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after who knows how long, someone again came up to the wall to report, saying that all four great camps had fallen silent, but had all become brightly lit. The provincial officials knew that the overall situation outside was settled, but ultimately dared not open the gates, so following the earlier method, they suspended a brave warrior in a basket down the wall and sent him running to the northern camp to inquire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After waiting a little longer, they saw several riders bearing torches gallop hastily to the foot of the northern gate tower, and then face the provincial officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am Lou Zibo of Nanyang. I entered the city to meet with the Governor the day before yesterday...\" As soon as the lead rider opened his mouth, those on the wall let out a long breath of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zibo!\" Guo Xun personally inquired. \"What exactly just happened?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Governor need not worry — what just happened was a good thing!\" Lou Gui shouted from below the wall. \"Though Zhang Bao had thoughts of retreat, he was still somewhat unwilling in his heart. And then, because of the prisoner exchange, with no more worries behind him, he staked everything on one throw, gathering his elite troops to try and retake the northern great camp in a night raid! But my lord, with divine foresight, had long anticipated this. Not only did he calmly repel them just now, he had also secretly dispatched men to lie in ambush outside and counter-attacked the enemy's empty great camp to the west... After this affair, the Yellow Turban rebels are certain to retreat!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, those on the wall could barely restrain themselves from celebrating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Guo Xun at this moment was also thoroughly convinced: \"Governor Gongsun is truly a famed general of the age. With him in You Province, all matters can be free of worry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Gui naturally had to offer a few modest refusals on behalf of his lord... Yet just as he was about to speak, he heard Inspector Guo on the wall giving various instructions, something about the Attendant Officer and the Administrative Supervisor taking up their responsibilities, and then saw another basket being lowered from the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Inspector Guo was actually going to personally visit Gongsun Xun to congratulate him on this great victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Zibo was momentarily dumbfounded, but even more so had no choice, so he had to dismount and accompany this Inspector Guo all the way to the great camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet upon arriving at the great camp, this group learned that Gongsun Xun had actually ridden off in the night to the newly captured great camp west of the city. Having come this far, Guo Xun, his resolve already firm, did not mind at all and was about to pursue him further to the west of the city... Perhaps this was simply his nature; otherwise, he would not have rushed through the night to intercept Gongsun Xun at Fanyu Pavilion back then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Zibo, still helpless, had no choice but to summon more volunteer riders and accompany this Inspector of You Province as they turned once more toward the west of the city. And this time, their trip was not in vain. In the great camp to the west, still bearing traces of blades and bloodstains, before they had even drawn near, this group heard Gongsun Xun's voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"North of the River has many famed scholars, but who compares to Shen Zhengnan?!\" In the night, beneath the firelight and sword-shadows, Gongsun Xun, wearing a pheasant-tailed cap and cloak, armed with blade and armored, was clutching a man's sleeve and laughing heartily with his head thrown back. \"I knew Zhengnan was no idle man, but who would have thought you would coincide with me without prior consultation? Zhang Bao's swift defeat today — I fear he has already been stricken with dread. I imagine even now he still cannot fathom why this western camp fell so quickly?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man being clutched, none other than Shen Pei who had come from North Xincheng to the west, could not help but laugh heartily as well: \"My petty scheme is truly not worth mentioning. When my lord destroyed the rebels at Zhuoxian in five days, I was already astonished beyond words. I never imagined that just one day later, my lord would also seize the northern camp at Fanyang, effectively lifting the siege of Fanyang and rescuing the Governor. I then thought to myself, entrusted by my lord to come out from North Xincheng and serve as a horn-support for Fanyang, I have accomplished nothing. And if I still could not achieve any merit, I truly feared I would have no face to meet my lord! Thus, I devised this plan, selecting and assembling brave warriors to raid this place by night... never expecting to encounter my lord once again displaying his divine might.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun laughed even louder: \"Zhengnan has it backwards. When I hurried south after destroying the rebels at Zhuoxian, it was not to lift the siege of Fanyang and rescue the Governor, but because I thought of you, Zhengnan, being here. I feared that if I arrived too late, all fifty thousand rebels would recognize the difficulty and retreat — that is why I came in such haste...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lou Gui stood behind, listening to these two flatter each other so, and in the deep night felt waves of goosebumps rising... Unfortunately, beside him was the Governor, who seemed to have just been casually stepped on in passing, making things all the more awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wenqi truly employs troops with divine skill!\" Guo Xun could listen no longer and spoke up on his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun released Shen Pei's sleeve and turned to look, and for a moment was also awkward and speechless. But fortunately, in the night under the firelight, everyone's face was as red as Guan Yunchang's, so it was not too embarrassing. And once the night wind blew, he immediately adjusted, his expression turning solemn, and pretending as if nothing had happened, directly led Shen Pei forward to greet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Governor!\" Gongsun Xun cupped his hands slightly in salute. \"You are advanced in years — why are you not resting peacefully in the city, but have come outside instead? Outside the city, battle was just underway; it is truly dangerous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Xun shook his head slightly and stepped forward: \"Just as Wenqi said, with the great army outside clashing by night, I was in the city fretting over the situation, as if roasted over a fire — how could I possibly rest peacefully?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun hurriedly offered casual reassurance: \"After today, Zhang Bao is certain to withdraw his troops. Fanyang is now free of peril, and the Governor can also sleep soundly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Though Fanyang is relieved, it is merely that Zhuo Commandery is free of worry.\" Guo Xun clasped his hands and looked at the armored and blade-bearing man before him. \"The affairs of the province, the affairs of the realm — they still grant one not a moment's peace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun smiled knowingly: \"Then what does the Governor intend?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wish to ask Wenqi.\" Guo Xun still spoke with clasped hands. \"Now that Zhuo Commandery is secure, yet the Yellow Turban rebels still ravage the four directions — you, as Governor of a commandery, what will you do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the night wind, Gongsun Xun narrowed his eyes slightly: \"Then may I boldly ask the Governor: do you ask this as the Inspector of a province, or as a subject of the House of Han?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What difference is there?\" In the night wind tinged with the scent of blood, Guo Xun spread his hands and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Naturally there is a difference!\" Gongsun Xun lowered his hands, rested one on his blade, and looked around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What if I ask as Inspector?\" Guo Xun inquired with a solemn expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun rested his hand on his blade, faced north, and answered: \"If so, the matter is simple. I will not hide it from the Governor — I am willing to disregard the prohibitions, raise the forces of Zhuo Commandery, swiftly sweep away the remnant enemies in Guangyang and Yuyang, and quickly restore peace to the homeland of You Province!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Excellent!\" Guo Xun clapped his hands, a rare gesture. \"If so, I am willing, in the name of the Inspector of You Province, to explain on your behalf and bear responsibility.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun lowered his head and smiled, then fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And what if I ask as a subject of the current dynasty?\" Guo Xun only now recalled the earlier words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is even simpler!\" Gongsun Xun grasped his blade and turned to face south. Before this Inspector of You Province and his many trusted aides and soldiers, he raised his voice in answer. \"The Yellow Turban rebels plotted treason suddenly — the so-called Thirty-Six Divisions rose all at once, the realm was shaken, and the capital thrown into turmoil! I am but a common man from Liaoxi, yet since my coming of age I have repeatedly received the grace of the state, enfeoffed as a Village Marquis and appointed as Governor of a commandery! In this moment of peril, how can I halt my blade within the commandery and rein in my horse within the province because of so-called laws and statutes? Governor! Xun is unworthy, but I wish to borrow three thousand Youyan riders from the Governor and ride straight down to Heluo! Above, to rescue the capital; below, to save the common people. Only thus shall I not fail the people of the realm!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night wind rustled. Guo Xun stood stunned for a long while, then suddenly stepped back several paces, cupped his hands, and bowed before all. And Shen Pei, Lou Gui, and the nearby generals in the army all bowed at once as well!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——————I am the dividing line that kept saying I would ask for leave but stayed up all night——————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xun, having destroyed the Yellow Turbans at Zhuoxian in five days and driven the rebels from Fanyang in ten, saw his renown and authority grow ever greater in the land of Yan... At that time, Guangyang and Yuyang were still overrun, and many provincial officials had families trapped there. They thus advised the Inspector of You Province, requesting that he dispatch the troops of Zhuo Commandery to attack them. The Inspector, citing that it violated the law, was undecided, and rode by night into Xun's camp to consult him. Xun then demanded: 'Does my lord ask as Inspector, or as a Han subject?' The Inspector, greatly surprised, asked: 'What if I ask as Inspector?' Xun replied: 'I have lived for generations in the land of Yan. Though I campaign across borders, it is to preserve my homeland. If I incur blame for this, how have I failed the people of Yan?' The Inspector asked again: 'And what as a Han subject?' Xun grasped his blade, faced south, and answered: 'Xun is but a common man of the land of Yan, yet since my coming of age I have received the grace of the state. Now the Yellow Turbans have risen suddenly and the realm is shaken. I am unworthy, but I wish to lead three thousand soldiers of Youyan south to Heluo to secure the altars of state. If I incur blame for this, how have I failed the people of the realm?!' The Inspector, stirred by his words, rose and bowed.\" — Records of Heroes of the Late Han, by Wang Can\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Recommending a book, Foodie Giant's new novel The Fatuous Ruler of Great Tang. The author claims significant improvement over previous works. Transmigrating into the last puppet emperor Li Zhu of the late Tang, daring to do anything except good deeds. An intelligence-based power fantasy, leaning toward the lighthearted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",5471,"2026-06-04T19:42:26.060Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","1fcd1a2cb359c4560702c13c9589000896a712de0558f00d14bb40c3a3d34b70","overthrowing-han-chapter-221","overthrowing-han-chapter-219",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]