Chapter 229

Gongsun Xun was a man who did what he said, never dragging his feet or beating around the bush.

That very day he entrusted the main camp to Cao Cao, but merely ordered him to devote full effort to building siege equipment and wait for his return with "reinforcements" before resuming battle. Then, astonishingly, he set off that very night with Han Dang, Guan Yu, and eight hundred cavalry, heading for Chengshi in Jiyin Commandery, several dozen li southeast of Weixiang.

Such an action left Cao Mengde utterly baffled, yet also set his imagination running wild.

On the other side, it was only after crossing Weixiang and entering Jiyin Commandery, and through the detailed account given by the squat, rotund Dong Zhao along the way, that Gongsun Xun finally gained a more direct and concrete understanding of the Li clan of Jiyin.

Their strength was immense: the claim that this family had several Battalion Commander and over ten thousand able-bodied members was no exaggeration, but fact.

Their influence was also vast. With Chengshi in Jiyin as their core and the Great Wilds Marsh northeast of Chengshi as their private domain, the Li clan's commerce and lands extended along the Pu River, the Ji River, and the Great Wilds Marsh, their power spreading through virtually every commandery in Yanzhou.

The clan's internal cohesion was extremely strong. Though they had grown so powerful as to span commanderies and link provinces, the entire lineage remained firmly in the grip of the main branch of the direct line, showing no sign whatsoever of dividing the family assets.

"At present, the ones in charge of the entire Li clan are three brothers of the direct line," Dong Zhao continued his introduction that night, during a halt to rest and drink water. "The eldest, Li Qian, courtesy name Bojian, is currently in Chengshi and is the de facto head of the family. The second, Li Zhen, courtesy name Zhongduan, is now in Shanyang Commandery, overseeing the Li clan's power there. The third, Li Gen, courtesy name Shujie, now assists his eldest brother and also remains in Chengshi..."

"Who is this Li Jin?" Gongsun Xun suddenly interrupted. "What makes you, Dong Gongren, so fixated on him that you even used his name as a cover back in Jizhou?"

Dong Zhao's expression turned solemn for a moment as he replied, "Li Jin, courtesy name Jinxian, is a paternal cousin of the three brothers who head the Li clan, so he's considered a close branch of the family. He's just past twenty, ordinarily fond of feats of valor and brawling, and is likely the one who routinely rallies the clan troops for military matters. I've heard that the private salt trade between the Li clan and the Mi clan of Xuzhou is his daily responsibility... As for why I used his name as a cover that day, I won't deceive you, my lord. It's not that I bear any personal prejudice against him, but because the Li clan's power is so great that even though I was recommended as Filial and Incorrupt and became a court official, I still dared not use the three brothers of the direct line as a shield. Using Li Jin's name was already the limit! And when we arrive at Chengshi tomorrow morning, I would also suggest that my lord only recruit this Li Jin, who handles military affairs, and not the three Li brothers who head the family. Otherwise, even if my lord has no worries in the future, I, Dong Zhao, whose family resides in Jiyin, would still have a difficult time."

"Hmph!" Before Gongsun Xun could speak, Guan Yu, who had been listening for a long while, could finally hold back no longer and let out a cold snort. "In the heartland of the Central Plains, to have such an overbearing household—from what you say, Commandant Dong, even the Grand Administrators and Inspectors dare not provoke them? Or is it simply that you, Commandant Dong, are timid and afraid of trouble?"

Dong Zhao naturally would not take offense at someone like Guan Yu. He merely gave a simple, good-natured laugh and said, "Commandant Guan, you mock me. I am indeed somewhat timid and afraid of trouble... However, it is also a fact that successive Grand Administrators and Inspectors have dared not touch this household. Otherwise, I would not be borrowing my lord's authority to suppress these people."

"In that case, tomorrow I shall see for myself what sort of characters dare to be so arrogant!" Guan Yu's brows were furrowed and his eyes blazed with anger, half contempt and half indignation.

A minor friction had arisen between Dong Zhao and Guan Yu before him, but Gongsun Xun said nothing, merely gazing at the sky full of stars and sighing inwardly with emotion... In truth, by this point, how could he not understand why Dong Zhao had secretly schemed to trip up this Li family? A local magnate household of such gargantuan scale, entrenched in the very heart of the Central Plains, spanning commanderies and linking provinces, acting with reckless impunity, with no Inspector or Grand Administrator daring to control them—how could anyone from the same commandery not feel as if a thorn were piercing their back?

In fact, judging by the family's immense power and yet the three brothers all being mere commoners without office, it was likely that their daily conduct was utterly unrestrained and their reputation exceedingly poor. This had aroused the wariness of the province and commandery, who had long since cut off the entire family's path to official careers two generations ago.

As for Dong Gongren using his hand to rap this family on the knuckles, Gongsun Xun likewise had nothing to say. For one, Dong Zhao had made no attempt to conceal his intent. And moreover, in his own campaign to suppress the rebellion, Gongsun Xun did indeed seem to need a powerful local force to help him break through the linked walled cities of the Yellow Turbans before him... He had no reason to let this family slip by.

Of course, what Gongsun Xun did not know was that he was still underestimating the Li family.

In another timeline, after Dong Zhuo threw the government into chaos and the Guandong coalition rose, this family, under Li Qian's leadership, once attempted to establish their own independence. It was just that they had real strength but utterly lacked political prestige, and thus could not gain the realm's recognition. Only then, in a state of semi-autonomy, did they go to join—or rather, bring their assets and buy in, forming a powerful alliance with—the then Grand Administrator of Dong Commandery, Cao Cao.

Yet even Cao Mengde, faced with the immensely powerful and highly cohesive Li family, could do nothing about it. When Li Qian died, his son Li Zheng took over the clan troops; when Li Zheng died, his paternal cousin Li Dian in Shanyang took over the clan troops... That was why Li Zheng, at a young age, became Inspector of Qingzhou, and Li Dian, before he was even twenty, became a General of the Household and Grand Administrator.

In the end, it was only after Cao Cao had crushed Yuan Shao and his power became unshakeable that Li Dian relocated his entire clan to Yecheng, signifying his complete submission. And at that time, after decades of warfare and chaos, Li Dian astonishingly still retained in Chengshi a private clan strength of "three Battalion Commander, over thirteen thousand souls"!

In other words, this Li clan was very likely the foremost magnate household of the Central Plains, perhaps even the foremost magnate household of the entire Great Han dynasty!

Yet even so, they still could not contend against the great clans... Of course, this perhaps had much to do with the fact that the paternal cousins Li Zheng and Li Dian both died far too quickly. Even Li Dian, who held power the longest in that family during the chaotic times, died at only thirty-six. And the Li Dian, Li Mancheng, whom Gongsun Xun knew from his mother's stories, was actually more like a historical composite of these three: Li Qian, Li Zheng, and Li Dian.

However, Gongsun Xun never once thought to connect this household with that Li Dian... This was truly because the image of Li Dian in his mother's stories was exceedingly fine, whereas the overbearing conduct of the Li clan before his eyes—even without having met them—already exuded a fierce and arrogant aura that struck one full in the face, making it truly difficult to form such an association.

Of course, even if he had made the connection, it would likely have been useless, because at this time Li Dian was merely three or four years old, clearly destined from childhood to be a younger brother figure before the likes of Zhang Liao and Yue Jin.

After a night of swift riding, by the morning of the next day, Gongsun Xun had led his eight hundred cavalry to appear abruptly outside the county seat of Chengshi.

The county, seeing armed troops appear, was first thrown into panic and chaos. Only upon spotting the banners of the Han army did they settle down slightly, yet they still kept the city gates tightly shut... After a long while, only an Assistant County Magistrate came out, leading a few men trembling with fear and carrying some soup and flatbread to offer as provisions for the troops.

The county's behavior was, of course, understandable. Soldiers passing through were like bandits, and no one dared let these cavalrymen into the city. Yet at that moment, the sky was somewhat darkening, with a clear trend toward rain. They feared that if they refused them entry, these soldiers might cause a disturbance, so they sent out this Assistant County Magistrate to take the blame.

Gongsun Xun, however, had no mind to frighten these people. He simply accepted the hot soup and flatbread in peace, sat down on a camp stool, and began to eat. But there was no need for him to do any frightening at all. Once that Assistant County Magistrate exchanged a few words with Dong Zhao, and then swept his gaze over the double set of seals and ribbons Gongsun Xun wore at his waist—the purple ribbon and gold seal of a Marquis of a Village, the green ribbon and silver seal of a General of the Household—and then glanced at the staff of authority beside the White Horse Banner, he very nearly frightened himself into a faint.

Thus, after a short wait, the city gates were immediately thrown wide open. The County Magistrate and a host of officials and clan leaders from within the city also lined up to come out and welcome him. This time, not only was there a large quantity of wine and livestock not yet slaughtered, but the County Magistrate even gritted his teeth and invited Gongsun Xun to enter the city and rest.

Yet Gongsun Xun remained entirely unimpressed. He simply continued sitting on his camp stool, drinking hot soup and eating flatbread, leaving Dong Zhao to handle the pleasantries... Only when he had unhurriedly eaten and drunk his fill did he rise and look toward this group of people.

"Has anyone from the Li clan of Chengshi come?" Gongsun Xun had no intention of beating around the bush.

"I am Li Gen, courtesy name Shujie." A man of twenty-five or twenty-six, with the appearance of a young scholar, immediately stepped out from the crowd and bowed respectfully. "I pay my respects to my lord."

"I know your second brother, Li Zhen, is not in Chengshi. But where are Li Qian and Li Jin?" Gongsun Xun asked, his face expressionless and awe-inspiring. "Do they dare not come out to greet me?"

"In reply to my lord," Li Gen, hearing the ominous tone, immediately prostrated himself to beg forgiveness. "My lord has only just arrived at Chengshi. Even the County Magistrate and we ourselves learned of it at the last moment. My elder brother and my cousin did not yet know my lord had come here!"

"Do they know now?" Gongsun Xun asked, looking down at him from a superior height.

Li Gen instantly broke out in a sweat like rain, utterly at a loss as to how to respond... The other party was clearly coming with ill intent. His elder brother, precisely because he had heard there were troops outside the city and out of caution, had only sent him out to investigate. If, according to the wishes of this personage before them, the family head, his elder brother Li Qian, and his cousin Li Jin, who was responsible for the clan's military affairs, were both to come out, and they were seized on the spot, would not the Li clan of Jiyin be left to the mercy of others?

Yet, facing a general bearing the imperial staff of authority, what would happen if he did not answer now? Not to mention Li Gen, the man directly involved, even the County Magistrate and the other powerful families and officials beside him were already trembling in their legs, terrified that chaos might erupt at any moment.

"As expected," Gongsun Xun sighed at the sight. "It must be that you, the Li clan of Jiyin, have always lacked virtue and proper conduct, and likely have repeatedly engaged in lawless acts. That is why your guilty consciences make you so fearful, and you dare not come to see me... Li Gen!"

"I am here." Drenched in sweat, Li Gen knelt down crisply and decisively.

"I will not make things difficult for you," Gongsun Xun said, clasping his hands behind his back. "Since Li Qian and Li Jin are unwilling to come, I shall enter the city and go see them myself... I hear that half the city is your family's property. Then let us not trouble two masters for one task. Have your household make arrangements so that my eight hundred cavalrymen, who have ridden all night to seek out your family, may have a good rest. Also, prepare a clean room for me to rest briefly."

The tone of this staff-bearing general remained unfriendly, but upon suddenly hearing that the other party intended to bring troops into the city and into his own home, Li Gen actually breathed a sigh of relief... For no other reason than that this move at the very least indicated the other party had no intention of launching a sudden attack. Otherwise, he would not personally venture into a place of danger!

Indeed, although Gongsun Xun had brought eight hundred cavalry, in Li Gen's view, as soon as these eight hundred soldiers entered his family's domain, they would be entering "a place of danger," and there would be no room left for direct hostile action!

Of course, having no room for hostile action did not mean there was no need to continue respecting this General of the Household who had come bearing the imperial staff. After all, though the Yellow Turban rebellion had erupted, looking at the situation before them, the Li clan did not feel that the authority of the Han house could be defied, nor were they prepared to rebel or anything of the sort... In truth, a single glance at the map would show that if not for the stance taken by the Li clan of Jiyin, the Yellow Turbans might well have linked up from Youzhou all the way to Jingzhou in one continuous sweep!

As for whether this Li clan had, when the Yellow Turbans of Dong Commandery were seizing cities and territory, dispatched some clansmen or trusted followers to join their ranks, that was an entirely different matter.

On one side, Gongsun Xun, heedless of all else, directly mounted his horse and led his troops into the city. On the other side, Li Gen hurriedly sent men to report and make arrangements, while personally leading the way. As for the County Magistrate of Chengshi, the clerks, and the other powerful families outside the city gate, they could only watch as these people went about their business, treating them as if they did not exist.

Entering the city, it was just as Dong Zhao had told Gongsun Xun: likely more than half of the entire county seat of Chengshi was a settlement area for the Li clan members... And this was only within the city. Outside the city, the fields and manors were probably also mostly owned by the Li clan. With a magnate household of this scale before one's eyes, if real trouble broke out, eight hundred cavalry might truly not be enough.

However, it seemed Gongsun Xun indeed had no intention of taking action. He did not even glance at the vast Li clan settlement, nor did he concern himself with how the Li clansmen were hosting the eight hundred cavalry he had brought. Instead, he directly followed Li Gen's guidance to an extremely spacious courtyard, dismounted, and entered its inner hall!

Soon after, a capable-looking middle-aged man and a tall, powerfully built young man hurried over and stood respectfully in the courtyard awaiting orders... But Gongsun Xun surprisingly did not summon them. Instead, he went straight to the rear hall and lay down on a couch.

Li Gen stared blankly at this general, who had begun to emit faint snores, then looked at the two military officers bearing seals and ribbons standing below the hall, and finally turned his gaze to that dark-skinned, rotund man who was actually quite familiar... But in the end, he could only withdraw helplessly and stand together with his elder brother and cousin in the courtyard.

And so it was: Li Qian, Li Gen, and Li Jin—the three men of power within the Li clan—stood in the courtyard; Dong Zhao stood beneath the eaves; Guan Yu and Han Dang stood inside the hall; and Gongsun Xun slept on the couch in the innermost chamber... Though the former two occasionally exchanged a few words, on the whole, the situation had reached a stalemate.

However, as the saying goes, the weather is unpredictable. Though it had not been apparent the previous evening, by the time the eight hundred cavalry arrived outside the county seat of Chengshi that morning, the sky had already taken on a somewhat overcast look... Now, with Gongsun Xun sleeping on and on, it had gradually grown dark outside, with dense clouds gathering, clearly threatening rain.

The tall, youthful, and impetuous Li Jin was the first to lose patience: "Elder brothers, why don't we go take shelter under the eaves? That would not be considered a breach of etiquette!"

Li Qian, already past thirty, with hard, angular features, tilted his head back to gaze at the cloud-laden sky, utterly ignoring his cousin's words.

Li Gen, who appeared refined and cultured and had been quite polite before Gongsun Xun earlier, upon hearing this, opened his mouth and cursed right back: "Take shelter my ass! If getting drenched in a single rain could let us escape this calamity, then the entire clan should come out and get drenched together!"

Li Jin's face immediately flushed crimson with stifled frustration, and he could only hang his head low.

"Lord Dong," after cursing his cousin, Li Gen then fixed his eyes on the squat, rotund man standing beneath the eaves. "We are men of the same region. Would you mind giving us a hint? This White Horse General, whose great fame precedes him, instead of fighting the Yellow Turban rebels, why has he come to our Chengshi, and specifically sought out our family?"

Dong Zhao, hearing this, quickly cupped his hands in salute. "Brother Shujie, you shame me. How dare a mere Thousand-Bushel Commandant like me be addressed as 'Lord' before you?"

Li Gen gave a faint, ambiguous smile.

"As for why the General of the Household Gongsun has come here," Dong Zhao, seeing the other's expression, could only smile wryly. "It is somewhat embarrassing to say, but it has a bit to do with me... A few days ago, our army took Baima and Yanxian in succession, and then yesterday we surrounded Weixiang. General Gongsun, knowing I am from Jiyin, took the initiative to ask me: within a hundred li of this place, whose family has the most heroes and the greatest power? Tell me, your esteemed family's reputation hardly lacks my single mouth to spread it, so I had no choice but to speak truthfully!"

"And then, this staff-bearing General of the Household simply abandoned Weixiang and came directly to my home?" Li Gen's smile grew even more sardonic. "Gongren, I have a sense of what's behind this, and I truly do not blame you. But you must tell me the truth: does he want money, or grain, or is the siege at Weixiang going poorly and he wants able-bodied men?"

"That's right," Li Jin, who had been enduring with his head lowered, suddenly interjected from the side. "I heard there was a battle at Weixiang the day before yesterday, and the government troops were utterly routed, with the commanding general even taking a blade to the backside. Is that true or false?"

"It is true." Dong Zhao slightly cupped his hands and smiled. "It was precisely because the fighting at Weixiang went badly that the General of the Household personally led the main army to Weixiang yesterday, and only then did he come here today... As for what General Gongsun wants, forgive me, but my rank is not high enough to know."

"Dong Gongren, you are also a Major with a thousand-dan salary — how can you not know?" Li Jin grew increasingly impatient upon hearing this. "Could it be that you know perfectly well but are unwilling to speak... We are men of the same district; why conceal things for an outsider?"

"In truth, I do know a rough outline, but I truly dare not speak plainly!" Dong Zhao suddenly grew solemn. "Do you worthy brothers know that since he came of age, this general seated within has attacked the Xianbei and burned their royal court at Mount Danhan, killed corrupt eunuchs and hung their corpses, and annihilated Goguryeo, sending four hundred thousand of its people into slavery... With such a man, even if I could guess somewhat at his intentions, how would I dare tell you? Do I not value my life?"

The Li brothers were momentarily speechless... Even Li Qian, who had been gazing at the sky the whole time, finally lowered his head and looked seriously toward his own rear hall.

At the turn of spring and summer, muffled thunder rolled, and the courtyard fell silent for a time.

After a brief moment, as the Li clan head, Li Qian finally spoke for the first time: "Gongren, I understand you have your difficulties, but there is one matter you must be forthright with me about... This General Gongsun, serving as a main commander of the court on this campaign, how many troops does he bring? And how many are at Weixiang?"

"I will not hide it from Brother Bojian." Dong Zhao slightly cupped his hands in reply. "This time the court has fully deployed the Three Rivers and Five Colonels, along with elite troops from the provinces of You, Bing, Liang, Xu, and Yang. In total, no fewer than a hundred thousand crack troops have been mobilized across the various fronts... However, General of the Household Gongsun currently has only six or seven thousand men under his direct command here!"

The three brothers showed different expressions upon hearing this — Li Jin visibly revealed disdain, Li Gen seemed lost in thought, while Li Qian grew increasingly solemn: "Have the reinforcements not yet arrived, or is he to recruit soldiers locally? And are these six or seven thousand men all cavalry as supremely elite as those we saw today?"

"Brother Bojian sees with a clarity that spans ten thousand li." Dong Zhao, standing beneath the eaves, remained very deferential. "You have guessed all three correctly. The military situation is urgent, and the Bingzhou troops assigned to the General of the Household have indeed not yet arrived; the General of the Household bears a staff of authority on this campaign and may execute anyone below the rank of two thousand dan, so naturally he may recruit soldiers locally; and as for these six or seven thousand men, they are all elite cavalry of the court."

Li Qian looked slightly enlightened, then asked again: "That being the case, I have only one more question... Major Dong, how many court troops are at Weixiang now?"

"Apart from the thousand or so left to garrison Baima City, the rest are all at Weixiang." Dong Zhao was direct and to the point.

Li Qian rarely showed such a change of expression: "All at Weixiang?"

Dong Gongren lowered his head and made no further reply.

Li Qian also came to a sudden realization, then slightly cupped his hands in thanks: "Many thanks to Lord Dong for speaking frankly, out of consideration for the bond of being fellow district men."

The people in the courtyard fell silent once more, and even Li Jin became much more subdued.

Yet the muffled thunder rolled on, the sky grew ever more overcast, and sparse raindrops were already beginning to fall. Inside the hall, however, there was still no sound, which made the Li brothers — each of a different temperament — all grow uneasy... By now, they were no longer worried about whether they would be soaked like drenched chickens; what worried them was the attitude of the man inside that hall.

"Let me go and ask on your behalf," Dong Zhao said, seeming somewhat embarrassed by the situation. "Worthy brothers, please wait a moment."

With that, this short, stout notable of Jiyin swaggered off toward the inner hall... and once gone, he did not return.

The downpour arrived in torrents, and the three men in the courtyard, each in their own sorry state, all turned pale and uncertain:

The youngest, Li Jin, was purely indignant at the other party's contempt;

The slightly older Li Gen was worried about how much this would cost them;

And Li Qian, as clan head, was deeply troubled, his concerns far heavier.

But no matter what, the three ultimately did not dare to casually leave the courtyard to take shelter under the eaves... even though this was their own home!

Under the heavy rain, no one knew how much time passed before Dong Zhao reappeared in haste within the three men's sight.

"My apologies, worthy brothers." Dong Zhao smiled bitterly again and again. "I went in to rouse the general, but was blocked by that extremely tall Major Guan, who not only forbade me from disturbing the general but also forbade me from coming back out... I have long-standing enmity with him; he was deliberately making things difficult for me... However, the general is now awake and has called for me to summon the three of you inside."

The bedraggled Li Qian glanced at Dong Zhao, but in the end said nothing. Instead, he solemnly performed a bow in the rain, then strode with great steps toward his own inner hall.

The Li brothers stepped into the inner hall. Sure enough, there was Gongsun Xun, his seal and ribbons all in order, wearing a pheasant-tailed cap and gripping a sword, seated high in the seat of honor of their own inner hall. Beside him stood a military officer with hawk-like eyes and a thin beard, holding the staff of authority. And that exceptionally tall officer, said to be surnamed Guan and serving as a Major, stood just inside the inner hall door, holding a long weapon and narrowing his eyes — and he made no effort to conceal the loathing in his gaze toward the three brothers!

Li Jin, after all, was young and hot-blooded, and since he had entered last, his two elder cousins could hardly keep an eye on him. He actually stared back at this Major without the slightest sign of backing down... It was Li Gen who, after taking his position and preparing to bow, noticed no one was beside him and yanked the man over.

"You are Li Jin?" Gongsun Xun, seated in the seat of honor, did not wait for the three to bow before pointing with keen interest at the young man who was locking horns with Guan Yu.

"Indeed!" Li Jin suppressed his fury and, soaking wet, prostrated himself and said, "This humble commoner is Li Jin!"

"A bold and valiant warrior, it seems." Gongsun Xun smiled faintly. "Do you have a courtesy name?"

"My humble courtesy name is Jinxian!"

"Who chose it?"

"An elder of the clan."

"Not good." Gongsun Xun laughed and shook his head. "The given name Jin, and the courtesy name Jinxian — far too aggressive. You will suffer for it in the future. Change it! How about Tuizhi? A man should be somewhat modest and restrained."

Even Guan Yu inside the door, whose expression had been cold and stern before, could not help but show a trace of amusement at this. Even Han Dang, holding the staff, could barely suppress a smile. Li Jin himself, however, abruptly raised his head, his face flushing and paling by turns!

"Many thanks to the General for bestowing a courtesy name!" Before Li Jin could speak, clan head Li Qian immediately performed a deep bow to express gratitude, and Li Gen also hurriedly tugged at his cousin's sleeve.

"Many thanks to the General for bestowing a courtesy name." Li Jin, helpless, could only utter the words resentfully.

"Such a brave man, hidden away in the countryside, is a pity." Gongsun Xun continued in a calm tone. "The Yellow Turban rebels bring calamity to the nation; now is the time for brave men to defend the country and their homes, to stake their lives on the battlefield. You should not remain at home — join the army and follow me on campaign!"

Li Jin, for a moment, did not know how to respond and could only stare blankly at his elder brother and clan head.

"To be so valued by the Lord Marquis is an honor for Tuizhi!" Li Qian hurriedly said, prostrating himself on the ground.

"Good, then let this Li Tuizhi serve as a Platoon Commander for now!" Gongsun Xun said dismissively. "Though I bear the staff of authority, I can only execute those below two thousand dan, and cannot appoint officials of six hundred dan or above on behalf of the court... You must understand my predicament."

It took Li Jin a long while to realize who the "Tuizhi" his elder brother referred to was, and upon hearing that it was merely a Platoon Commander — a so-called Company Commander — he grew even more grief-stricken and indignant, yet utterly helpless.

"However," Gongsun Xun continued slowly, "although I have granted the post of Platoon Commander, the army has no surplus troops, nor has any officer fallen in battle... Your clan must help him gather some soldiers and able-bodied men."

"Please rest assured, Lord Marquis." Li Qian gritted his teeth and replied. "We will certainly select a hundred brave men from the district for my younger brother, bringing their own weapons, livestock, and provisions, and then follow the General to campaign against the moth bandits, to demonstrate our clan's loyalty and diligence toward the court!"

"Not one hundred." Gongsun Xun looked down from his elevated position at this Li Qian Li Bojian and spoke calmly. "It is three thousand. Your cousin has nothing but brute courage and no talent for command. With too few troops, he might lose the army and disgrace the state. This one platoon must have three thousand men to barely suffice! Furthermore, for as long as our army operates south of the Yellow River, your Jiyin Li clan must also prepare provisions and supplies for the entire army and investigate the deployments and movements of the Yellow Turban rebels. Only then will it barely demonstrate loyalty and diligence!"

Soaking wet, Li Qian stared blankly up at this "Lord Marquis" seated high above him in his own hall, for a long time not knowing what to say. His younger brother and his cousin both clenched their fists.

"Unwilling?" Gongsun Xun met the other's gaze and looked back at him frankly.

"This truly is..." Li Qian, disregarding propriety, helplessly cried out. "Lord Marquis, my clan numbers only a few Battalion Commander. Three thousand men — would that not mean sending out the entire clan?!"

"And what harm is there in sending out the entire clan to exert yourselves for me and the court?" Gongsun Xun remained unhurried and unangered. "Only thus can your family's loyalty and diligence be demonstrated, is that not so? Could it be that your cousin here intends to refuse my summons?"

"And what if he does refuse?" Li Qian was truly indignant beyond endurance.

"Li Bojian, is it?" Gongsun Xun finally smiled again as he asked.

"Yes!" Li Qian answered through gritted teeth.

"Do you recognize this object?" Gongsun Xun raised his hand and pointed at the item in Han Dang's arms.

"I see it for the first time, but I have long heard of it." Li Qian answered with effort. "This is the staff of authority, representing the Son of Heaven's power, under which anyone below two thousand dan may be executed... Is the Lord Marquis trying to say that if my younger brother does not accept your summons, you will kill the three of us brothers?"

"How could I do something so low and laughable?" Gongsun Xun answered loftily. "Let me ask you instead — do you know that right at Weixiang, I have another four thousand cavalry?"

"Naturally, I know." Hearing the other deny any intent to kill, Li Qian could not help but feel his whole body lighten.

"That being the case," Gongsun Xun could not help but sneer, "if your brother refuses my summons, why would I need to kill a mere three of you? What harm would there be in exterminating your Li clan's three thousand?"

Everyone in the hall was momentarily stunned.

"Bojian, tell me — is it that I lack the strength and cannot do it, or that I have misgivings in my heart and am unwilling?" Gongsun Xun continued with a smile. "I hold strong troops in my hands, I bear the imperial tally, and I am a man of Youzhou with no connection whatsoever to Yanzhou... Why could I not easily wipe out your entire Li clan of Jiyin, then calmly fold my hands and return to court? Tell me, do you truly not understand this reasoning, or have you been arrogant for so long that you simply refuse to think in that direction?"

The three men in the hall still said nothing, only staring fixedly at the man before them.

"Of course, there is also a third path." Gongsun Xun's smile grew broader. "Right now I am in your home. Perhaps you could stake everything on one desperate gamble — first kill me and these eight hundred riders, then before reinforcements from Wei Township arrive, scatter in haste and flee in all directions, to the seas, to Jiaozhou... Perhaps some might still survive. But the foundations your clan has built over generations in Yanzhou — forget about those! So, I say again: today, if I cannot recruit men, then I shall have your clansmen! What say you?"

Under Gongsun Xun's patient and methodical persuasion, the hall remained silent as a crow, while outside muffled thunder rolled, and the Li brothers' faces were all ashen pale and wordless.

A moment later, it was Dong Zhao, who had been hugging his arms and grinning foolishly the whole time, who could not help but put away his smile and stiffly swallow a mouthful of saliva, drawing everyone's gaze toward him.

"Everything shall be as my lord commands!" A moment later, Li Qian, withdrawing his gaze from Dong Zhao, knocked his head to the floor in helpless submission and said, "Three thousand men of the Li clan shall immediately follow Tuizhi on campaign. Provisions, fodder, equipment, and intelligence from all across Henan — my lord need not worry; we dare not offer the slightest falsehood!"

"In that case," Gongsun Xun finally rose from his seat and stepped forward to raise the three men up in a gesture of support, "Tuizhi is now my comrade-in-arms. His family is now my family. You three, please rise!"

Li Jin and Li Gen climbed to their feet, their hands trembling. Li Qian could only smile bitterly.

Immediately after, the three dared not linger. They merely took their leave and departed, saying the matter was of great importance and they must prepare despite the rain. Gongsun Xun made no effort to detain them.

"Ah." Only after escorting the three out did Gongsun Xun seem to react, as if just realizing something, and he turned to look at the person behind him. "Gongren, do you think this will do? Your family won't be bullied by theirs anymore, will they?"

Dong Zhao also smiled an embarrassed, bitter smile, then bowed slightly and replied, "My lord's kindness — this subordinate will never forget it as long as he lives."

Amid the rumbling thunder, Gongsun Xun could not help but clap his hands and laugh.

—————I am the dividing line that can clansmen—————

"When the Grand Ancestor campaigned against the Yellow Turbans and reached Dong Commandery, he heard that in Jiyin there was a scholar named Li Jin, long known for his mastery of the Odes and Documents. He thus traveled through the night to recruit him. Li Jin, moved by his profound virtue, and finding the Grand Ancestor toiling bitterly to take the city, generously raised his entire clan to assist." — Old Book of Yan, Volume 1, Annals of the Grand Ancestor, the Martial Emperor

PS: Continuing to recommend the book "The Lord of the Three Kingdoms."

Also, there is a book-friends group, 684558115; those interested may join.

(End of Chapter)