Chapter 232: Iron Cavalry Ranges a Hundred Li (Part 3)

Gongsun Xun's thinking was actually not all that profound — he had simply drawn inferences from one case to another, realizing that if Bu Ji could send people to rally the troops south of the Yellow River, he would not fail to send people to rally the troops north of it as well.

In other words, Gongsun Xun had set his sights on the entire Dongjun battlefield and was unwilling to treat only the forces Liang Zhongning had now gathered as his target. That was why he wanted to advance rapidly, using cavalry to encircle, pursue, and block the enemy, forcing them to cross the river northward and link up with more troops, so he could accomplish the whole task in one decisive battle!

What was more, once he intercepted a larger force of the Yellow Turbans, he might even be able to draw Bu Ji out from the strong walls of Puyang!

Among the commanders in the tent, Cao Cao and Lou Gui had grasped this on their own, and after hearing Lou Zibo's explanation, the other commanders quickly understood as well and immediately set about carrying out their orders.

Later events also bore out Gongsun Xun's judgment. Several thousand Han troops marched a hundred li through the night, forcing their way to Dong'e, and indeed threw Liang Zhongning — who had just rallied the Yellow Turbans from several counties and was leading a full ten-thousand-plus men — into a state of panic. He had no idea how many Han troops had come, or when they had seen through his plan.

In his panic, this deputy commander, the only man among the Dongjun Yellow Turbans with any strategic vision, at first tried to head straight for Puyang, but was quickly cut off by the Han army exploiting their cavalry advantage. Attempts to go toward the cities further east met the same fate. After hesitating for two or three days, short on supplies and clothing, he had no choice but, with his heart pounding in terror, to do exactly what the Han army wanted: forcibly commandeer boats and cross the river directly from Cangting, the famous Yellow River ford north of Dong'e, attempting to link up with Zhang Bo to the north.

Curiously, during the river crossing, the Han army offered not the slightest harassment.

Returning to the morning two days earlier, outside the city of Dong'e.

"Are you Cheng Zhongde?" Gongsun Xun, who had been sitting on the ground eating soup and flatbread, immediately rose to greet him, still holding his bowl.

"I am Wen Rensheng, the County Magistrate of Dong'e." The man at the front, wearing jade ornaments and perfumed, seven chi tall and fair-complexioned, hurriedly bowed with respect at these words. "The dew outside the city is heavy, General. After a hard night's toil, you might as well enter the city and rest for now."

"I was not speaking to you." Gongsun Xun raised his hand and thrust the soup and flatbread into the other man's arms. The Magistrate Wenren was caught completely off guard; unsteady, he had hot soup splashed all over him, which drew a great roar of laughter from Cao Cao, who was sitting on the ground, his beard dipping into his soup bowl.

"Are you, sir, Cheng Zhongde?" Gongsun Xun cupped his hands and bowed toward the extremely tall yet gauntly thin 'elderly man' behind Magistrate Wenren. "Ever since I came to Dongjun, I have long heard of the great name of the Venerable Zhongde. All the cities of Dongjun fell; only Dong'e County was preserved intact, entirely thanks to the Venerable Zhongde's wisdom and courage!"

Although Cheng Li had a notoriously foul temperament, he was, after all, a mere county clerk being treated with such courtesy by a general bearing a staff of authority, whose status was immeasurably higher. He had no reason to show a sour face, so he immediately returned the salute with respect: "Many thanks for the General's kind regard, but I dare not be addressed as 'Venerable' before the General. Since the General came to Dongjun, you have won battle after battle and restored territory with great speed. How dare one bring up one's own trifling merit before the General?"

"The Venerable Zhongde is too modest." Gongsun Xun chuckled. "I have heard it said, 'In perilous times, a subject's integrity is seen; in a chaotic age, loyalty is known.' A person's ability is normally invisible; it takes a crisis to reveal one's true skill. For someone like the Venerable Zhongde, who suddenly faced great chaos and almost single-handedly preserved an entire county — that is true ability. As for someone like me, commanding over ten thousand crack troops to sweep through county seats held by only a thousand or so men — no matter how fast, that is merely doing one's duty!"

Cheng Li was about to reply when, unexpectedly, Gongsun Xun stepped forward and, ignoring the flatbread crumbs all over his own hands, took the man by the hand and said in a low voice with a smile: "This principle was taught to me publicly in the Imperial Secretariat back when I was young and impetuous, after I had slain Wang Fu and Duan Jiong in Luoyang, only to be utterly routed by Cao Jie's counterattack and return in defeat. I remember it to this day."

Cheng Li could not help but change countenance slightly.

"What do you say?" Gongsun Xun continued earnestly, holding the other man's hand. "I wish to recruit the Venerable Zhongde to accompany the army on campaign. Civil post or military post, the choice is yours. Once the Dongjun affair is settled, a career worth a thousand dan is guaranteed!"

Everyone around looked on with sidelong glances.

Yet at these words, Cheng Li looked the man before him up and down, but still shook his head: "The General's regard is profound, but this old man is already forty-four, decrepit and aging. How could I endure such exertion?"

"Jiang Taigong at eighty, Baili Xi at seventy, Gongsun Hong at sixty, Zhu Maichen at fifty — since ancient times, worthy talents have achieved great things late in life. Is the Venerable Cheng inferior to these men?" Gongsun Xun still refused to let go of his hand.

Cheng Li sighed: "How could I not recognize the General's sincere intent? But I am merely a petty clerk; how dare I compare myself to those ancient sages?"

"I have heard it said," Gongsun Xun still did not release his hand, "that in his youth, the Venerable Cheng dreamed of holding up the sun atop Mount Tai. My given name is Xun — the Xun of 'Yiwulü xunyuqi' jade — and my name contains the sun. Tell me, could this be Heaven's will that you and I achieve great things together?"

Cheng Li was momentarily stunned. This was something from his youth, and quite a few people knew of it, but having Gongsun Xun suddenly bring it up now — he had to admit, it truly stirred the heart of Cheng Zhongde, who had always brooded over that dream.

"Wenqi, all you know is how to bluff people!" At that moment, Cao Cao could not help but set down his soup bowl and scoff. "Your name contains the sun — does my surname not also contain the sun? Does Commandant Dong's name not contain the sun? The man does not wish to leave his home; why must you pester him so shamelessly?"

Gongsun Xun could only laugh wryly at this, and finally released the hand.

Hearing Cao Cao's words, Cheng Li also could not help but laugh, then turned back to Gongsun Xun, cupped his hands, and said with a solemn expression: "The General's profound regard — I am deeply grateful in my heart. But to be honest, in these troubled times, I wish only to stay at home and protect my children. It is not that I am fishing for fame and refusing to help."

Gongsun Xun sighed. There truly was little more he could say. With a powerful local clan like the Li family, he could act without the slightest scruple no matter how great their influence. But a scholar, and a renowned one in the commandery at that, especially at this age — it probably would not do to forcibly recruit him.

Besides, he had heard that this Cheng Li had a superbly foul temper. If pushed too far, he might do something disastrous, and then regret would come too late.

"So be it!" Gongsun Xun sighed. "But the Dongjun campaign still requires the Venerable Cheng's full support. I ask you to disregard matters of rank and assist me with your planning."

"Since it concerns my homeland, this is only right and proper." Cheng Li stepped back several paces and bowed with respect. "I beg the General to quarter his troops temporarily in this small city, so they may be settled."

"I am obliged to you." Gongsun Xun wiped the crumbs from his mouth and accepted the invitation without the slightest hesitation.

Thereupon, with Cheng Li as guide, Gongsun Xun led his entourage unhurriedly into the city of Dong'e. Throughout the entire exchange, neither side so much as glanced at the Magistrate Wenren, who still stood to the side holding the soup bowl.

However, there was not much military planning done in Dong'e that day. This was mainly because most of Gongsun Xun's troops were still out in the field, detached to drive and block Liang Yuan and the ten-thousand-plus Yellow Turbans under his command. With the situation unclear, it was not appropriate to engage in idle discussion.

In fact, Gongsun Xun managed to get a rare half-day of good rest in Dong'e that day. He commandeered Magistrate Wenren's official residence, took a hot bath as soon as he entered the city, and then fell into a groggy sleep. He did not rise, refreshed and invigorated, until the afternoon, whereupon he casually set up a Go board on the couch in the room with Lu Fan and began to play.

But perhaps because word had spread that Gongsun Xun was awake, someone suddenly came to visit.

The visitor was, naturally, Lou Zibo.

"The military situation is still unclear, yet Zibo already has a brilliant plan?" Gongsun Xun could not help but pause the game and look curiously at his trusted confidant.

"It is not about the military situation." Seeing that only Lu Fan was present, Lou Gui gave a slight bow, then sat down casually and came straight to the point. "It is about this morning's incident. My Lord, in my view, everything Cheng Zhongde said this morning was a pretext. The man is simply reading the times and assessing the situation. Seeing that the realm is about to descend into chaos, yet there are not two suns in the sky, he does not know which sun he ought to hold aloft, and so he is unwilling to lightly stake his family's fortunes!"

Gongsun Xun laughed in spite of himself: "That being the case, what do you think I can do about it?"

Lou Gui spread his hands: "I merely had a small insight and came to mention it. Whether anything can be done still depends on my Lord's own inclination."

This was Lou Zibo's consistent style — he would provide the kill but not the burial, offer the strategy but not the effort. At this, all three laughed together, promptly swept aside the Go board, and turned instead to playing Animal Cards.

Yet they had barely played two rounds when a guard at the door reported that Dong Zhao, the Army Attendant Clerk, sought an audience.

Lu Fan and Lou Gui each looked startled, but Gongsun Xun, as if he had anticipated this all along, remained unperturbed and instead told the two to stay calm.

"Has Gongren come to play cards?" As soon as the man entered, Gongsun Xun asked teasingly. "These Animal Cards can be played by three, or by four. Just come up onto the couch."

Dong Zhao smiled wryly at this. He could only cup his hands and bow to each in turn, then apologize and speak frankly: "My Lord, forgive me. After I finished bathing and resting, I thought it over and felt there is a matter I should discuss with you. The cards can wait until after I have spoken."

"Then speak," Gongsun Xun said, still unconcerned.

Dong Zhao glanced at Lu Fan and Lou Gui, then gritted his teeth and spoke bluntly: "My Lord, Cheng Zhongde's polite refusal today was probably not merely because of his advancing age, but for another reason."

"Let's hear it," Gongsun Xun said, his curiosity piqued, while Lu and Lou also turned to listen with serious expressions.

"To be frank with you, my lord," Dong Zhao said with a solemn face, "I fear Cheng Zhongde harbors misgivings because my lord is a man of Yan."

"Regional prejudice?" Gongsun Xun let out a rare long sigh. "I never imagined a wise man like Cheng Zhongde would hold such a notion."

"Such is the prevailing custom in the realm; Cheng Zhongde is not the only one," Dong Zhao said, growing increasingly helpless. "Fellow provincials, local partisans, treating one's commandery as one's state — this is unavoidable everywhere. Did my lord himself not benefit from this very thing in Hebei?"

"Is that all you have to say?" Gongsun Xun pondered for a moment, then asked in a deep voice.

"There is one more thing," Dong Zhao offered. "In the end, it is Cheng Zhongde being constrained by regionalism and failing to recognize my lord's brilliance. I am willing to go and speak with him again on my lord's behalf."

"With such an overbearing man, can you, Gongren, even talk to him?" Gongsun Xun laughed aloud.

Dong Zhao was at a loss for words.

"If you cannot talk to him, then do not go. Spare yourself the humiliation of following my example." Gongsun Xun beckoned. "Come up onto the couch. The march has been hard; a rare day of leisure is hard to come by. Do not overthink it."

Dong Zhao let out a long breath, cupped his hands again toward Lu Fan and Lou Gui, and only then climbed onto the couch and took a seat.

The four had just settled down when the guard outside the door came to report again, saying that Cheng Li of this county requested an audience.

The men looked at one another in sudden understanding, then all turned their gazes toward Gongsun Xun, who was seated on the eastern side of the couch. After a moment's thought, he gave the order to invite the man in, yet remained seated where he was.

At this, the other three also held their patience and stayed where they were.

Cheng Li stepped into the room and was startled by the scene before him, but he quickly recovered, then stood inside the door and composed himself before cupping his hands in salute: "General!"

"Please sit, Master Cheng. May I ask what matter brings you to instruct me?" Gongsun Xun asked with a slight smile.

Hearing this, Cheng Li unhurriedly seated himself on the tall stool before the couch, then spoke with a serious expression: "To be frank with the General, after much thought, I felt there was one matter I should speak of honestly, lest mutual suspicion arise. That is why I have come so abruptly."

"Let's hear it."

"May I ask the General," Cheng Li said, stroking his beard with a solemn face, "since the rebellion began, you have traveled from Zhuo Commandery to Henei, and from Henei straight to our Dong Commandery. Along the way, did you see common people displaced and chaos spreading everywhere?"

At these words, Gongsun Xun finally grew serious. He swung his legs down from the couch and stood up. At his movement, Lu Fan, Lou Gui, and Dong Zhao all rose as well, some standing in attendance, others sitting upright.

"To be frank with you, Master Cheng," Gongsun Xun said, his brow tightly furrowed. He thought for a long while, but still shook his head repeatedly. "Perhaps because my mind has been so focused on military matters since the rebellion began, I truly have not seen such scenes of spreading chaos... And midway, in Zhao State, although I discussed with Commandant Dong some instances of officials and commoners fleeing, those were mostly people joining the rebels. It did not seem to be the kind of chaos you refer to... May I ask, Master Cheng, why is that?"

"Because the time has not yet come," Cheng Li said with a stern face.

"The time has not yet come?" Lou Zibo asked, suddenly curious.

"Indeed." Cheng Li could not help but sneer. "The great chaos has just begun. The Yellow Turban rebels are mostly attacking cities and seizing territory, focusing on capturing government storehouses and the estates of great households and powerful families. They rarely disturb the villages. Meanwhile, the government troops, though hastily dispatched, are fully equipped with armor and weapons and well-supplied, their minds also fixed on battle. Even now, because local officials everywhere have fled, the common people can evade their usual taxes and levies, so their days are actually somewhat easier! However... what happens after the autumn harvest? What happens if the war drags on?"

Gongsun Xun clasped his hands behind his back and tilted his head up, lost in thought... He had not considered this direction before, but now, with Cheng Li's prompting, his mind grew clear — the absence of visible chaos now was no good thing!

Quite the opposite: it meant the disaster was immense, and the Han realm was so vast that it simply needed time to manifest.

If the war dragged on, and local officials continued to flee, bandits would soon appear in great numbers. But that was not the most terrifying thing. The true terror lay in the autumn harvest... What Gongsun Xun had seen along the way was that the war had severely damaged the young crops. Moreover, many peasants in areas not occupied by the Yellow Turbans had abandoned their homes to join the rebels. This meant vast tracts of land had been left fallow... So when the autumn harvest came, with the same number of people but far less grain, how great a turmoil would erupt in an agricultural society?

It was not that there was no chaos — the time had simply not yet come.

"Naturally, there will be freezing cold and starvation, and bandits rising on all sides," Lou Gui, standing nearby, could not help but interject.

"This is precisely why I am unwilling to leave my home lightly." Without even glancing at Lou Gui, Cheng Li rose and addressed Gongsun Xun with an unyielding air, cupping his hands. "How could I not know of the General's prestige and virtue? But once chaos has begun, even if there are heroes like the General to sweep the realm clean for the court, the turmoil across the land is only just beginning... Therefore, although I, Cheng Li, possess some modest personal integrity, I must still keep the safety of my homeland in mind! I beg the General not to heed the words of petty men who would claim I am merely holding out for a better price like them, harboring ill intentions!"

Gongsun Xun was silent for a moment, then turned back and said with a smile, "Master Cheng, you worry too much. No one has offered such counsel."

"That is well, then!" Cheng Li cupped his hands again. "I have intruded rashly and spoken rash words, relying entirely on the General's magnanimity. I beg leave to depart."

"At tomorrow's military council," Gongsun Xun said with a light laugh, waving his hand, "I still ask that Master Cheng not stint with his wisdom."

"That goes without saying." With these words, Cheng Li, still without glancing at the other three, walked out on his own.

Silence filled the room for a moment. Lou Gui, in particular, had a pale and shifting complexion — he had likely just witnessed firsthand what Cheng Li's "wretched character" truly meant.

"I shall take my leave as well!" After sitting stiffly for a moment, Dong Zhao, apparently finding the atmosphere awkward, took the initiative to cup his hands and bid farewell.

Gongsun Xun thought nothing of it and waved him off.

Once Dong Gongren had left, Lu Fan reached out and flicked aside a wooden tablet on the couch, then laughed self-deprecatingly: "To be honest, I had intended, after Dong Gongren's departure, to suggest that Wenqi conscript Cheng Zhongde's eldest son, Cheng Wu, as a means of restraint and coercion... But now it seems I, too, am a petty man harboring ill intentions."

At these words, Lou Gui, for once, let out a deflated sigh and could not help but stroke his beard and retort: "Being a petty man is hard. Since I have already taken on that role, why should you, Ziheng, do the same?!"

"Enough, both of you!" Gongsun Xun also tilted his head up in self-mockery. "The man whom three petty men serve — how could he possibly come and join us? Better to focus our minds on the war! Let us, who share the same foul odor, help him sweep his homeland clean."

Lu Fan and Lou Gui, hearing this, each rose and cupped their hands.

On the other side, after leaving the county office, Dong Zhao stopped a passerby to ask a casual question, then headed straight for Cheng Li's home. The latter had just returned home when he heard that Dong Gongren had come calling, and could not help but be stunned on the spot.

"What matter brings Commandant Dong to instruct me?" After composing himself slightly, Cheng Li finally came out to receive him, and without the unyielding, forthright manner he had shown in the county office. This was because the other man was a renowned scholar from a neighboring commandery; they had long heard of each other and were practically fellow locals.

"Master Cheng," Dong Zhao asked with a serious expression the moment he entered, "I have heard that a fine bird chooses the tree on which to perch, and a worthy minister chooses the lord whom he serves. Every man has his own aspirations. Since you already declined General Gongsun's recruitment earlier today, why did you still go and press him so aggressively, even going to his door to deliver further sarcasm? Is such behavior not simply inviting dislike?"

Cheng Li frowned and asked in return: "May I ask, Commandant Dong, if I had not gone and spoken bluntly, what if some petty man had indeed advised General Gongsun to conscript my son as an official? Could I then have still responded with talk of being old and feeble?"

Dong Zhao was silent for a moment, then could not help but ask in return: "Setting that aside for now, is General Gongsun truly not your 'sun,' Master Cheng?"

Cheng Li sighed with rare emotion: "Turmoil is about to rise; dragons and serpents will rise together. Better to protect oneself in one's homeland and sit and observe the events of the time. Besides, General Gongsun is, after all, a man of Yan, and his prestige and virtue lie in Hebei."

Dong Gongren was left speechless.

—————I am... the dividing line—————

"When the Yellow Turbans rose, the Grand Ancestor once passed through Dong Commandery. Dong Gongren served as Attached Army Commandant and recommended Cheng Li of Dong'e. The Grand Ancestor, pleased, summoned him, but Li did not respond. After leaving, Zhao privately asked: 'Can the General not win him over?' He replied: 'The realm is about to fall into chaos; dragons and serpents rise from the land. Let us watch for now.' Zhao fell silent, and Li then departed. Upon returning, Zhao sighed and said to Lu and Lou: 'I have always heard that a fine bird chooses the tree on which to perch, and a worthy minister chooses the lord whom he serves. Now Cheng Zhongde has failed to recognize the moment early; he will regret it when it is too late.'" — New Book of Yan, Volume 70, Biographies, Chapter 20

PS: A few more words — please don't wait up at night... I strongly suggest reading every morning. As a brick-hauling laborer, I have no choice either... especially when my head habitually starts hurting the moment I open the document every day.

Also, there's a reader group: 684558115. Feel free to join if interested.

(End of Chapter)