[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-237":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},1222996,1620,"Chapter 237: Hard to Let Go, Harder to Find Peace","overthrowing-han-chapter-237",237,"\u003Cp>On the fifteenth day of the fifth month, a mere five days after the battle at Cangting-Dongwuyang, Dong Commandery was fully recovered. Gongsun Xun had no further reason to occupy those county towns, so he immediately assembled his entire army — now swollen to over twenty thousand by absorbed prisoners — and gathered at Puyang, the great city that served as Dong Commandery's seat of governance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By this time, Gongsun Xun had already learned that Guan Yu had taken in a horse-thieving youth named Pan Zhang, and that a man called Yu Du had killed the Dong'e County Magistrate to avenge Wang Du... He could only sigh with mixed emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it probably stopped at a sigh. He turned around and bestowed that divine white steed upon Guan Yunchang, exhorted him to properly raise and instruct Pan Zhang, and reported the Dong'e County Magistrate's death to the central authorities. Beyond that, there was little else he could do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What else could he do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, since that battle, Gongsun Xun himself, though not exactly sunk in gloom, had found it hard to let go of his cares. Under such circumstances, he had no time to lament even Liu Bei taking such a deep blade wound, let alone matters like Pan Zhang or Yu Du.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the day he entered Puyang City, this General of the Household of All Purposes followed his custom of first making a round of visits to the settled wounded and sick — which naturally included Liu Xuande, who could be counted as either utterly unlucky or utterly fortunate — and then hurried back to the commandery office he had commandeered. There, he led all the army's officers and civil clerks in listening to a lengthy report from Army Chief Clerk Wang Xiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The report was very long, but whether it concerned the elimination, selection, and organization of prisoners, or the discussion of military merits among the various units, everything actually proceeded fairly smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was not to say that these proud, fierce soldiers and officers were all good-natured folk unwilling to haggle over matters concerning their honor and tangible benefits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather, it was that:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, Wang Shuzhi was indeed a man with some admirable qualities, and he had achieved overall fairness;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, the officers who could come into the hall and find a stool to sit on were all at least of the six-hundred-dan rank of Qu Military Marquis and above. For them, the most important matter — \"personal promotion\" — was actually controlled solely by Gongsun Xun and the central authorities. Arguing here was useless... and in fact, Gongsun Xun's recommendations and descriptions of their military merits had already been sent by fast horse to the capital several days earlier;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third, in the final analysis, after that battle, Gongsun Xun's personal prestige within this army had reached a certain level. In his presence, no one truly dared to act out! Moreover, Gongsun Xun had shown few smiles these past few days, so even Cao Mengde sat there honestly, eyes on his nose and nose on his heart, not daring to quibble in the slightest!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, this large-scale military council remained uneventful right up to the end, until Wang Xiu, in closing, suddenly read out a string of figures!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How much?\" Gongsun Xun, seated at the head and nearly drowsing off, jolted awake with a start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Across one commandery's eighteen cities, plus the rebel army's Cangting main camp, a total of over three hundred jin of gold, over five hundred jin of silver, over a hundred bolts of brocade and satin, over ten thousand bolts of cloth and silk, and coin... over three hundred million.\" Wang Xiu, holding the account book, read it aloud once more. \"The remaining armor and weapons have long since been absorbed into the army and cannot be tallied. Grain and fodder are piled in excess and have yet to be calculated.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hall fell momentarily silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The numbers were too vast. Whether it was Cheng Pu, Guan Yu, and the other commanders, or Lu Fan, Lou Gui, Shen Pei, and the others, or even Cao Mengde seated closest — even Gongsun Xun, who was accustomed to large sums of wealth, could not help but fall silent for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after a long pause did this Staff-Bearing General of the Household solemnly inquire: \"Shuzhi, how can there still be so much wealth and goods? When I pacified Goguryeo, although there was much gold, silver, and treasure, the coin and silk compared to this place seem hardly worth mentioning!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord,\" Wang Xiu answered solemnly after closing the ledger, \"there is no other reason. It is simply that Dong Commandery is too rich. Goguryeo cannot compare.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun was speechless again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Wang Xiu said was, of course, the plain truth. To have so much captured wealth was simply because Dong Commandery was too rich.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One must understand, Dong Commandery had a population of over six hundred thousand, far more prosperous than Goguryeo to begin with. More importantly, Dong Commandery straddled the Yellow River, its terrain long and narrow, situated almost at the very center of the Great Han. It was a premier crossroads and a place of wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In such a great commandery, with a hundred years of accumulated powerful families and merchant magnates — even though the Yellow Turban army had largely avoided or co-opted the gentry clans, even though many government treasuries and rebel hoards had been openly divided up on the spot by rank-and-file soldiers and local armed forces when the cities were recovered, even though a great deal of wealth had scattered — still, so much remained!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phrase \"spoils of war\" was truly fitting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, Gongsun Xun, keeping silent, pondered for a long while, but in the end could only manage a dry laugh: \"I never imagined Dong Commandery was so much richer than Goguryeo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a typical piece of nonsense meant to cover his lapse in composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Cao Mengde simply cupped his hands in congratulations: \"Wenqi, why overthink it? It is yours by right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other commanders also offered their congratulations, showing no intention of discussing this enormous windfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did this mean? Why was Gongsun Xun discomposed? Why did Cao Cao and all the army's officers below him offer congratulations?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer was simple: the wealth Wang Xiu had read out — apart from the grain, fodder, and military equipment to be absorbed into the army — the gold, silver, coin, and silk listed earlier were already Gongsun Xun's private property!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's right! The wealth accumulated over more than a century by many Dong Commandery magnates caught up in the war, and even the contents of official treasuries, having passed through the hands of the Yellow Turban army, now naturally became Gongsun Xun's \"spoils of war\"! Moreover, the officers and soldiers below had long since taken their own share during the process of \"taking over\" and \"pursuing fugitives\" in each county and town. The very fact that this money appeared in Wang Xiu's ledger meant that, from start to finish, according to the rules, it belonged to Gongsun Xun alone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this point was tacitly accepted, even encouraged, by the imperial court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even this figure, which had once shocked Gongsun Xun himself, was still reasonable... For example, the over ten thousand bolts of cloth and silk in it seemed like a lot, but back when Dong Zhuo, serving as a Major under Zhang Huan, independently led a column to coordinate with Zhang Huan in defeating the Qiang, because there were no direct spoils, the court had rewarded him with nine thousand bolts of cloth and silk in one go as compensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, in summary, this enormous sum of wealth was Gongsun Xun's to dispose of as he saw fit right now, and he bore no political risk, nor even moral risk... because at this very moment, the entire Great Han dynasty already recognized this money as Gongsun Xun's private property.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was one of the rules of leading troops into battle in this era!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun started to speak, then stopped. He wanted to say something, or make some arrangement, but in the end, he merely waved for everyone to disperse and sat there, momentarily lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such behavior was not because Gongsun Xun was dazzled by the money. He was not that disgraceful! When Dong Zhuo, whose family was not wealthy, received a reward of nine thousand bolts of cloth, he knew not to keep a single bolt for himself and distributed it all to his subordinates. How could Gongsun Xun, whose family wealth was in the hundreds of millions, be so shallow?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, if this wealth had been slightly less, Gongsun Xun might well have immediately assembled the entire army and publicly distributed all the wealth to curry favor with the troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason for his hesitation was that this sum was indeed somewhat beyond his imagination. Coupled with his earlier discussion of the post-war situation with Cheng Yu, and that scene on the river embankment, this Staff-Bearing General of the Household of All Purposes who had come to Dong Commandery felt some degree of sympathy for the common people of Dong Commandery after the chaos of war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, he instinctively wanted to use this wealth to benefit the local populace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the crux of the problem was that, in his haste, Gongsun Xun could not think of any way to directly benefit the common people at the bottom! Because any method would have to pass through the hands of the local gentry clans and magnates, and the local gentry clans and magnates had themselves suffered grievous losses. Passing through their hands would only mean that as soon as Gongsun Xun led his troops away, they would seize all of this wealth... Such an act would be utterly meaningless!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What else could be done? He couldn't just line people up and hand out money directly, could he? If he did that, what would the soldiers in the army think? Not giving money to us, but to those people?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord!\" Just as Gongsun Xun was frowning in thought, the guard at the hall entrance cupped his hands and reported. \"Chief Clerk Wang has gone and returned. He requests an audience.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun's heart stirred, and he hurriedly had him brought in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is my lord pondering how to use these spoils to aid the local people?\" Wang Xiu, still holding his ledger, came straight to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please instruct me, Shuzhi.\" Gongsun Xun did not rise, but spoke directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is no particularly good method,\" Wang Xiu answered solemnly. \"Dong Commandery has been entirely overrun. The gentry clans and magnates have all suffered from the military calamity; it is merely a matter of degree. If my lord uses this windfall to aid the common people, all will be well while you are here, but once you receive orders and depart, this money will not escape the palms of the local magnates.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I cannot just sit by and do nothing, can I?\" Gongsun Xun frowned even more deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps we could allocate some of the army's grain supplies,\" Wang Xiu suggested softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun fell silent for a moment, not responding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Wang Xiu hurriedly offered a brief explanation: \"These past days, as I sailed downriver with Adjutant Shen, I witnessed with my own eyes how both banks of the Yellow River throughout Dong Commandery have been ravaged by war. The young crops in the fields have been trampled and ruined; not three in ten survive. With so many dead right now, famine may not yet be apparent, but after the autumn harvest this year, chaos is bound to erupt. Therefore, no matter how much windfall wealth my lord leaves behind, it would be better to leave more grain in the Puyang granaries.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun finally nodded slightly, and a smile appeared on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rose, walked over to Wang Xiu in the middle of the hall, patted him on the shoulder, and offered some encouragement: \"Shuzhi's benevolent heart — indeed, this is the only way. Since that is so, go back and calculate how much army grain we can spare.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he turned to go back to his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In truth, my lord might also submit a memorial to the court requesting that Dong Commandery be exempted from taxes for one year,\" Wang Xiu could not resist continuing his counsel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I already made such a suggestion to the Son of Heaven when I submitted the memorials for military merits after the battle,\" Gongsun Xun answered without looking back. \"The imperial envoy should arrive in the next couple of days. We shall hear the news then!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was presumptuous,\" Wang Shuzhi said, stunned for a long moment. Only as he watched the other man calmly take his seat did he slightly recover his wits. \"But since that is so, my lord has already done all he can. Why then do I still perceive that my lord's expression is uneasy and his heart is troubled?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because it treats the symptoms but not the root cause,\" Gongsun Xun admitted frankly as he sat down. \"What you and I have spoken of only resolves temporary hardships. Even this campaign against the Yellow Turban rebels is merely an act of cutting away rotten flesh. The Great Han is, in truth, sick to the marrow... What does Shuzhi think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commandery office's main hall was deep and vast. The volunteer guards stood with blades drawn at the hall entrance, blocking the way, so there was truly no third person in the hall who could hear these words. Hearing this, Wang Xiu first started, then remained silent for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do you not speak, Shuzhi?\" Gongsun Xun fixed his gaze on the other and pressed the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xiu held the account ledger and slowly asked in return, \"How would my lord have me answer?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun immediately laughed upon hearing this. \"Since Shuzhi is unwilling to answer, I more or less understand your mind... Rest assured, I have no intention of forcing you, nor do I mean to defy the world's consensus. I merely wish to know — given our ages, there is still much we can accomplish in the future. And if the times fall into chaos and the heavens themselves shift, would you still be willing to follow me onward?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What words are these, my lord?\" Wang Xiu could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. \"Ever since that day when my lord summoned me from my home in Beihai, the bond of lord and vassal between us was already fixed. From that day on, this subordinate has never once thought of abandoning my lord! My only concern today was that my lord might go against the current and lose his virtue — that is all. You must understand, my lord, that in all your past actions, there has never been the slightest deed that betrayed the world. Xiu has always taken pride in this!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand completely!\" Gongsun Xun let out a long-held breath of frustration, then rose once more and walked to the center of the hall. For the second time, he smiled and patted the other on the shoulder. \"To have gained Shuzhi's following is truly a great fortune for me, Gongsun Xun. But to have gained Shuzhi's approval — that is what I take the greatest pride in. Shuzhi, you must know, the talents under my command now could be counted by the cartload and measured by the bushel. That I asked only you about this matter has its reason.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This subordinate is ashamed!\" Wang Xiu bowed in reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord!\" At that moment, the retainer outside once more raised his voice to announce. \"Adjutant Shen has also gone and returned, and comes again seeking an audience.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Invite him in.\" Gongsun Xun naturally had no objection, and his expression grew considerably more spirited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xiu retreated several steps and stood to one side. Shen Pei strode in briskly, hand on his sword. Seeing Wang Xiu there, he was momentarily startled. Then he simply ignored him, cupped his hands in salute directly in the center of the hall, and raised his voice to ask, \"May I know how my lord intends to dispose of the spoils?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does Zhengnan think?\" Gongsun Xun smiled and asked in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have come precisely to offer counsel on this,\" Shen Pei said with a serious expression. \"My lord's family is the wealthiest in the region — why be constrained by mere goods and coin? Better to distribute it all as rewards to the soldiers of the army, to comfort their hearts!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Truly, heroes see things alike.\" Gongsun Xun laughed lightly again. \"Shuzhi just now advised me to do the same!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Pei cupped his hands toward Wang Xiu from a distance in salute, and Wang Xiu hurriedly inclined his body in return, still holding the ledger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In that case,\" Gongsun Xun nodded, \"once the directive from the central government arrives and our destination is confirmed, the two of you shall take the trouble to organize a military review outside the city. We will take the opportunity to distribute all three hundred million cash and ten thousand bolts of cloth as rewards!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Pei grew even more excited at these words and hastily cupped his hands again in praise. \"My lord's generous spirit is enough to draw the gaze of all within the seas!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun smiled and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at that very moment, the retainer outside bowed and reported for the third time. \"My lord, Captain Cheng has also arrived.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let him in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Lian also strode hurriedly into the hall. Seeing Shen Pei and Wang Xiu inside, though he was not familiar with them, he was still quite courteous, greeting each in turn before performing a grand prostration to Gongsun Xun right there in the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is the meaning of this?\" Gongsun Xun raised an eyebrow, hands clasped behind his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This subordinate is presumptuous, and begs my lord to bestow a courtesy name...\" Cheng Lian said carefully, prostrate on the ground. \"For several years I have not followed at my lord's side, but Lian has never forgotten my lord's kindness and virtue, nor would I ever dare harbor the slightest disrespect toward my lord! Of the old Bingzhou comrades — Wei Yue, Gao Shun, and myself — all came from humble and lowly origins, yet now I alone am without a courtesy name bestowed by my lord. It is truly unbearable!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It has already been prepared for you, waiting only for you to come.\" Gongsun Xun immediately responded with an assured voice. \"Lian — one who dwells at the edge. I shall call you Juzheng. You hail from the borderlands, and serve me with martial valor as your claws and fangs. With such reliance, in times of peace, you would not have achieved much. But now the realm is in turmoil and unrest, and no one can say what the future holds. If you can hold fast to your original heart, dwell upright and uphold integrity, and serve me loyally, then perhaps one day you too shall wear the azure and purple, bringing glory to your ancestors!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Lian kowtowed repeatedly, endlessly grateful. Wang Xiu held his scroll in silence, while Shen Pei could not help but feel his eyelid twitch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>———————I am the twitching-eyelid dividing line—————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In former times, the Grand Ancestor defeated the Yellow Turbans at Dongjun and acquired coin in the hundreds of millions. His family being wealthy, he wished to distribute it all to those outside. At that time, Dongjun had been ravaged by the scourge of war, broken and formless. Wang Shuzhi privately advised him to relieve the scholars and common people in order to seek virtue. Shortly after, Shen Zhengnan also arrived and advised distributing all the wealth and silk to those above and below, in order to secure the army's heart. The Grand Ancestor pondered repeatedly, then altered his plan: he distributed army grain to the people, and dispersed the wealth and silk to the army. High and low alike then praised his virtue.\" — New Book of Yan, Volume 68, Biography 18\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Reiterating once more, for everyone's health, please do not wait up at night... I strongly suggest reading every morning... Do not be like me, staying up late every day and harming your health.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, there is a reader group, 684558115. Feel free to join if interested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one day I die suddenly, you must absolutely help my family demand funeral expenses from the entire reader group... I am not joking — everyone bears this responsibility! Crowdfund my funeral!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3460,"2026-06-04T19:42:26.060Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","8df802d6c7d55df5953cb0bc264693a29ae3d863f2d9b106a379162c655bf4ec","overthrowing-han-chapter-238","overthrowing-han-chapter-236",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]