[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-238":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},1222997,1620,"Chapter 238: A Hundred Million Coins for a Single Coin","overthrowing-han-chapter-238",238,"\u003Cp>Probably due to the situation, the envoy from Luoyang arrived extremely quickly, and immediately, crisply and straightforwardly agreed to Gongsun Xun's request to waive Dong Commandery's taxes for one year!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, regarding the Dong Commandery army, the central government's arrangements for both its next destination and, most importantly, the rewards, were all entirely unexpected yet reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The destination was simple: the Son of Heaven, through the Masters of Writing and the Yellow Gate Supervisors, issued a formal decree ordering Gongsun Xun to swiftly lead his troops to Changshe in Yingchuan, join forces with Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun, and crush the hundred-thousand-strong army of Bo Cai in Yingchuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Objectively speaking, considering the large number of cavalry and the soldiers' places of origin, Gongsun Xun and his army were clearly more suited to fighting in Hebei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But given the current situation, the fighting in Hebei was going smoothly and they simply did not need Gongsun Xun's support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Zhi, leading forty thousand elite Northern Army troops, had beaten the forces of Zhang Jiao and Zhang Liang in battle after battle; now the General of Heaven and the General of the People had been defeated all the way back to Guangzong, a key town at the junction of Julu Commandery, Anping, and Qinghe, and they had also voluntarily abandoned their occupied territory in Qinghe, fully consolidating and contracting their troops, battle lines, and supplies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the same further north: the Inspector of You Province, Guo Xun, leading the troops of You's various commanderies with the Colonel Protector of the Wuhuan, Zong Yuan, as his deputy, moved cautiously and cast a wide net, similarly forcing the General of the Earth, Zhang Bao, to abandon his large occupied area in Anping and concentrate his troops and supplies in Xiaquyang, a key town at the northernmost tip of Julu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Correspondingly, the situation in the south was very dire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, Bo Cai's army was the closest to Luoyang and posed the greatest threat (they had even fought to Huanyuan Pass), which was why the central government pressured Zhu Jun to march out rapidly... However, after Zhu Gongwei left the pass, whether due to underestimating the enemy or excessive pressure from the central government, he actually tried to recapture Yangdi, the administrative seat of Yingchuan Commandery, right from the start!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result: not only was the strong city difficult to take, but a hundred thousand Yellow Turban troops surrounded him and nearly wiped out Zhu Jun's entire army. In the end, this force of nearly twenty thousand men retreated all the way to Changshe in the northeast corner of Yingchuan before stabilizing their footing, but they were then completely surrounded by Bo Cai's hundred thousand troops. In early May, seeing the situation turn grim, the court directly ordered Huangfu Song to urgently lead twenty thousand reinforcements to Changshe. The two forces combined numbered forty thousand, yet for days they remained immobile, as if these twenty thousand reinforcements had also been besieged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under such circumstances, and with Gongsun Xun right there in Dong Commandery, not far from Changshe, the somewhat panicked court naturally thought of ordering him to lead his troops there to provide relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, few in the army, from top to bottom, had held much expectation for them. This was mainly because those with connections and good backgrounds did not care... Just like Gongsun Yue and Shen Pei — in the blink of an eye, they were directly recruited as Thousand-Bushel Majors, and everyone in the court and the army took it for granted! A famous scholar from Hebei and a scion of the Gongsun clan should naturally start as a Thousand-Bushel Major! And then there was Cao Cao, who jumped out as a Two-Thousand-Bushel official; after this battle, a position as Grand Administrator or Chancellor was certainly waiting for him, and everyone felt that was exactly as it should be!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for those without connections, especially the heroes of humble origin who had followed from You Province, they had already been fully satisfied back when Gongsun Xun reorganized the army in Henei; they generally felt that the appointments made at that time were sufficient as rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take Liu Bei, who had only recently managed to rise up. Historically, he toiled bitterly fighting the Yellow Turbans in Hebei for an entire year and was finally given the post of County Commandant. What was a County Commandant? A rank of Two Hundred Bushels... and he still had to be extorted for bribes by a Hundred-Bushel Investigator! But now? Thanks to Gongsun Xun's protection, he, who had been a commoner in Zhuo Commandery just months ago, had in the blink of an eye become a proper Platoon Commander, with a rank of Six Hundred Bushels!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do not underestimate Six Hundred Bushels. According to Han institutions, Six Hundred Bushels marked the start of being an imperial appointed official. The magistrate of a large county of over ten Battalion Commander began at Six Hundred Bushels, and above that were only the two major ranks of Thousand Bushels and Two Thousand Bushels — that was the peak of an official career! In other words, each of these three thresholds was exceedingly difficult to cross; most people could never surmount even one to reach the next level in their entire lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at this moment, not only Liu Bei, but Zhang Fei, Qian Zhao, Yang Kai, and others had all, within a few short months, gone from commoners to formal Six-Hundred-Bushel imperial officials. Even Chu Yan had gone from a Two-Hundred-Bushel County Commandant to a Six-Hundred-Bushel Platoon Commander. What more could they want?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, the general speculation throughout the army beforehand was that the greatest reward would likely go to Guan Yu, Guan Yunchang; his Acting Major should become a full Major, thus stepping into the ranks of Thousand Bushels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, when the rewards actually came down, the entire army was stunned!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out that Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Gao Shun, and Cheng Lian — all four of them — had transformed in an instant and become Thousand-Bushel Army Majors!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And on closer thought, it really made perfect sense. Among them, Guan Yu had slain the Guangyang Yellow Turban Commander Cheng Yuanzhi; Zhang Fei had killed the Guangyang Yellow Turban Deputy Commander Deng Mao; Gao Shun had led a thousand men to block twenty thousand rebel troops; and Cheng Lian had cut down the Dong Commandery Yellow Turban Deputy Commander Zhang Bo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was well-reasoned and well-founded, leaving everyone in the army, from top to bottom, with nothing to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention, these four Majors seemed utterly dim in the face of another person's reward — the former Independent Division Major Cheng Pu, Cheng Demou, was promoted to Captain, becoming a Two-Thousand-Bushel grandee in one stroke!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This also seemed to make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, Cheng Demou had very high seniority. From a young age, he had successively served as a clerk in the province and commandery, then joined the army at Yanmen as a Platoon Commander, became an Acting Major, and was transferred to Independent Division Major — step by steady step, his path was very stable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, in this great battle, although the Bing Province troops arrived very late, their battle achievements were outstanding... After all, according to the Great Han's military structure, Gao Shun and Cheng Lian were theoretically just Cheng Pu's subordinates, and their merits also counted toward Cheng Pu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the most important point was that everyone in the army knew Cheng Demou was a fellow villager and former subordinate of the Gongsun clan! Clearly, this was an alternative form of commendation chosen by the court and central government because the prolonged warfare prevented them from formally rewarding a political figure of Gongsun Xun's level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within this, there was certainly Gongsun Xun's active hint... or rather, his promotion and yielding of credit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Correspondingly, Gongsun Xun himself did not even receive a single step up in his noble rank this time; rewards and commendations — he got nothing at all... Even if rewarding a political figure of his level required proper arrangements after the war, this still seemed off, didn't it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where his merits went, there was no need to elaborate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consequently, Cheng Pu and below, along with the four newly appointed Majors, upon receiving the decree, all rushed immediately to Gongsun Xun to express their gratitude... However, they were stopped on the spot by Han Dang and persuaded to go back, because this General of the Household of All Purposes bearing the imperial staff was currently receiving a guest, and a very important guest at that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Ziyuan, you've had a hard journey.\" In the shade of a tree in the rear courtyard of the government office, Gongsun Xun was sitting on the ground, smiling as he entertained an old friend. \"When the court envoy came galloping over, I thought you might come too, but I didn't expect you to be so swift...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hard indeed.\" Xu You rubbed his backside and carefully sat down on the soft cushion prepared for him, but immediately lifted himself up again, clearly because the weather was too hot, and finally sat sprawled on the ground in a strange posture. \"But with Wenqi so sought-after right now, I dared not be slow!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun smiled without speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are five armies in total: two are locked in stalemate, two are besieged, and only Wenqi, leading ten thousand men, crossed the Great River four times in ten days to sweep through Dong Commandery, annihilating forty thousand rebels in a single morning... Therefore, while the court is full of amazement, they also hold you in even greater regard and expectation.\" Seeing this, Xu You immediately spoke. \"Wenqi is a clever man, and we are close friends, so I'll speak plainly. This time, Yuan Benchu sent me to find you to probe your intentions...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is there to probe?\" Gongsun Xun couldn't help but laugh. \"Ziyuan, does Brother Benchu think that I, the man who killed Wang Fu, would go full circle and end up colluding with the Northern Palace? Or does he think I would be deceived like Zhang Huan? Ziyuan, the current Grand General and I are friends from humble days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wenqi is absolutely right.\" Xu You smiled slowly. \"But don't be too hard on Benchu. To be honest with Wenqi, the situation in Luoyang is exceptionally tense right now. It's not just me coming to find you; Benchu even sent He Yong to probe Cao Mengde, and even sent someone to the besieged Huangfu Song... He is terrified that one misstep could lose the entire game!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yong was a famous scholar from Nanyang, known throughout the land from an early age for avenging a friend. During the second Proscription, when he became a wanted man as a partisan, his fame grew even greater. Like Xu You, he had always been one of Yuan Shao's \"roving friends,\" a core figure in the partisan group led by Yuan Benchu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the reason this Mr. He Boqiu later became famous in the history books was not because he was Yuan Shao's confidant, but because of his assessments of two people:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was Cao Cao. At a certain period, He Yong said to Cao Mengde, with whom he had an excellent relationship, that famous line: \"The Han house is about to fall; the one who will bring peace to the realm must be this man.\" The other was Xun Yu. Very early on, He Boqiu passed through Yingchuan and suddenly said to the very young Xun Wenruo: \"Xun Yu of Yingchuan has the talent of a king's counselor!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Cao and Xun Yu — practically the most outstanding and brilliant handful of people at the end of the Han — were both foreseen by this man in a single phrase, and with great accuracy! One wonders whether He Yong, He Boqiu, truly had divine insight, or whether he just liked to speak grandly to everyone and happened to stumble upon the truth by blind luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Has it really reached this point in Luoyang?\" Gongsun Xun, of course, had no time to ponder He Yong's level of judgment, because upon hearing this, he immediately grew tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was truly tense, because if the partisans and eunuchs really intended to resort to arms right now, considering that the current Son of Heaven was still alive, how exactly should he, a General of the Household of All Purposes leading troops outside, act?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It hasn't reached the point Wenqi imagines.\" Xu You immediately shook his head, then spoke earnestly. \"But the court struggle has become white-hot; both sides are just preparing for the worst.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What exactly is going on?\" Gongsun Xun asked with a frown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After Wenqi left.\" Xu You stroked his beard and sneered. \"The Son of Heaven, in the Southern Palace, saw the memorials that Lord Yang, Lord Liu, and the others had submitted about the Way of Great Peace back then. On one hand, he enfeoffed Lord Yang and our Lord Liu as marquises to commend them and calm people's hearts; on the other hand, he also had Lord Yang take charge of the Masters of Writing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is good news!\" Gongsun Xun answered with a serious expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even better things were yet to come.\" Xu You continued sneering. \"No one expected that after Lord Yang took record of the Masters of Writing and assumed overall control of the court, his entire temperament changed; he became like a wooden statue, not uttering a single word on any matter... With a hundred thousand troops out suppressing the rebellion and provinces and commanderies falling, the Son of Heaven had even begun to seriously handle state affairs — how could he tolerate this? So in less than seven or eight days, the Son of Heaven dismissed Lord Yang from his record of the Masters of Writing and appointed the former Master of Writing, the imperial clan heavy minister, and also Wenqi's old superior, Lord Liu Tao, as Prefect of the Masters of Writing!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun suddenly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be said, with the Proscription now lifted, partisans everywhere had begun to stir, and many were already being recruited, their strength swelling greatly for a time, while the eunuchs had suffered a major blow due to their murky connections with the Way of Great Peace... With one side waning and the other waxing, a political struggle in the court was bound to happen; otherwise, Gongsun Xun would not have immediately grasped the meaning of the word \"probe\" in Xu You's mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the newly appointed Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Liu Tao, would undoubtedly intensify this political struggle at the central level to an extreme degree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Gongsun Xun knew his old superior too well. Although he was an imperial clan member, he was a man deeply colored by partisan sympathies, and his stance and attitude toward the eunuchs had always been radical to the extreme!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With him in overall charge of the court at the Masters of Writing, and a man like Zhao Zhong serving as Grand Prolonger of Autumn, when two such narrow-minded individuals collided, it would be strange if Luoyang did not erupt into chaos... One could almost imagine that blood would soon be spilled in the central government.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No wonder.\" Gongsun Xun couldn't help but sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then Wenqi...\" Xu You pressed further. \"Can you do something to show your stance?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course!\" Gongsun Xun did not even blink. \"Brother Ziyuan, rest assured, I will act swiftly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the eunuchs and partisans at such odds, everyone had to pick a side. And as early as when Gongsun Xun came to Luoyang to study in his youth, he had already understood that he could only choose the partisans, because the partisans were the scholar-officials... Given a choice between the scholar-officials and the eunuchs who represented imperial power, was there any need to ask? Unless you cut off your balls and entered the Northern Palace, were you mad to become a eunuch partisan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then again, with hundreds of thousands of troops fighting chaotically outside, involving seven or eight provinces and dozens of commanderies, with casualties in the tens of thousands, the court was impatiently launching a full-scale political struggle and even forcing the generals leading troops outside to declare their stance — it only seemed all the more ridiculous!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having received a definite answer, Xu You felt as if a stone had been lifted from his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the meeting had reached this stage, it could already be considered a proper beginning and end. Yet Gongsun Xun showed no intention of concluding the visit; instead, he gazed at Xu You with profound meaning, silent for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu You immediately caught on, but couldn't help scratching his head and cheeks in puzzlement: \"Wenqi, is there something else?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does Ziyuan know how much I seized when I crushed the enemy in Dongjun?\" Gongsun Xun asked crisply and directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How much?\" The moment Xu You heard this, he felt his whole body go weak, and unconsciously he leaned forward, bracing himself against the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Three hundred jin of gold, five hundred jin of silver, a hundred bolts of brocade, ten thousand bolts of plain silk, and in coin... three hundred million!\" Gongsun Xun wore a faint, ambiguous smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu You was dumbstruck — truly dumbstruck. His eyes went blank, and he could not utter a single word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A pity!\" Gongsun Xun grew even more amused at the sight. \"Such an enormous sum of wealth, yet I have already promised Shen Zhengnan that it will all be distributed as reward to the entire army...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu You felt as if a knife were twisting in his heart, as though the money were his own, but it also jolted him back to his senses: \"Wenqi must have something he wishes to ask me?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed.\" Gongsun Xun admitted frankly. \"With so many officers in the army receiving promotions, I do not intend to reward them with excessive gold and silver... Perhaps I can still scrape together a hundred jin of gold!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu You's eyes went wide, his beard quivering: \"Wenqi, do not toy with me for your amusement... What could I possibly have on me worth that much gold?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just one question.\" Gongsun Xun lowered his voice and fixed his gaze on the other man. \"Ziyuan, tell me honestly — how exactly does Yuan Benchu regard me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu You, ignoring the pain in his backside, immediately sat up straight and stroked his beard uncertainly, falling into a contemplative silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun gave a long sigh and rose at once: \"If Ziyuan is unwilling to speak, then let it be!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a second thought, Xu You hurriedly reached out with both hands and grabbed the other man's robe, then spoke with earnest sincerity: \"It is not that I am unwilling, but I fear that a poor answer would not be worthy of Wenqi's hundred jin of gold... I am carefully pondering Benchu's attitude toward you! Please, wait a moment!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Gongsun Xun sit back down and wait quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Had you not asked today, I might have let it pass, but now that I think carefully, it is indeed strange.\" After pondering for a long while, Xu You finally frowned and replied. \"Yuan Benchu is actually very concerned about Wenqi, and on major matters he has repeatedly made overtures and probings, yet at the same time there is a sense of keeping you at a respectful distance... It is as if he has considerable reservations where Wenqi is concerned, or as if he deliberately wishes to maintain a certain image of grace and bearing! Why is that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun's face was expressionless, but inwardly his heart was stirred with waves of emotion — this was, in fact, precisely what puzzled him as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had sensed this long ago: he and Yuan Shao clearly had no conflict in political stance, both were young men who enjoyed making friends, and both were typical prominent figures of the younger generation — yet the two of them always kept each other at a respectful distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his own perspective, it was naturally because he could not help feeling somewhat guilty over Yuan Feng's death. But what about Yuan Shao? Why did Yuan Shao treat him the same way?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wenqi.\" Xu You, having thought it over repeatedly, was both frustrated and helpless, and could only plead earnestly. \"I truly cannot figure it out in such a short time. Why not let me leave this hundred jin of gold on deposit, and when I return to Benchu's side, I will carefully investigate for you... How about that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then it is settled.\" Gongsun Xun agreed at once. He had no choice — with the lifting of the Partisan Prohibitions, Yuan Benchu was unstoppably becoming the central figure in the political struggle at Luoyang, and he too urgently needed to clarify this question. \"I will send someone to deliver the hundred jin of gold to my younger brother Gongsun Fan. Whenever you obtain reliable word, I will give it to you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A gentleman's word!\" Xu You could not wait to rise and extend a palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cannot be overtaken by a team of four horses!\" Gongsun Xun expressionlessly grasped the other man's hand and, in the same motion, pulled him to his feet. \"Ziyuan, take your leave now... I still have matters to attend to here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu You, his mind full of questions, clutched his backside and took his leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching Xu You depart, Gongsun Xun immediately sent someone to summon Lu Fan and Lou Gui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well?\" Facing his two trusted confidants, Gongsun Xun came straight to the point. \"What did Attendant Zhao's trusted household man come seeking me for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is laughable, really.\" Lou Zibo stroked his beard and smiled. \"He actually came to demand a bribe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The two of us talked with him for half the day, and all he would say was that Attendant Zhao had heard that his niece's husband had 'reaped considerable spoils,' and that his nephew Zhao Ping had recently been transferred to be the Privy Treasurer of Yongle Palace and needed money to smooth things over — hence he came to request some.\" Lu Fan could not suppress a laugh either. \"When we asked how much he wanted, he hemmed and hawed and could not name a figure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun stood with his hands clasped behind his back in the rear courtyard of the government office, listening to the cicadas chirping overhead, and merely sneered coldly beneath the trees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could Zhao Zhong possibly be here just for money?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the fact that Xu You had come on Yuan Shao's behalf, it was clear that Zhao Zhong, seeing the uncertain situation in Luoyang and the renewed struggle between the Partisans and the eunuchs, had some fear in his heart, and had therefore specially sent someone to probe this 'niece's husband' of his who held troops in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What other explanation could there be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun himself had only learned how much money he had seized after his memorial was sent to Luoyang. How could Zhao Zhong, separated by dozens or even a hundred li, know that he had 'reaped considerable spoils'? Even if he had guessed, a demand for a bribe should have a specific figure — why come in such a muddled fashion?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, understanding it in his mind was one thing; recalling what he had seen and heard since the Yellow Turban rebellion erupted, Gongsun Xun could not help but find it laughable and even desolate — these days, he had gained some insight into the dual nature and complexity of the Yellow Turban rebels, the powerful local magnates, and the great clans, and had become aware of certain deeper issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, if all these people had their problems, were the eunuchs and the Son of Heaven behind them in the right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Son of Heaven who only knew how to amass money, and a political faction leader who could not even conduct a political probe without resorting to bribery — one could hardly even be bothered to get angry at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the vast and boundless heavens, not a single person is pure! That said, the eunuchs were brazenly eighty percent black from the start; their moral level was such that one need not even feel regret, nor even feel sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Gongsun Xun, who had just bribed Xu You, was hardly anything good either — but he unconsciously filtered himself out of the equation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, even without considering who was right and who was wrong, the great trends of the realm were plain to see. How could Gongsun Xun possibly board their broken-down ship?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, this was precisely why Lu Fan and Lou Gui were laughing... What on earth was Zhao Zhong thinking? Did he truly believe Gongsun Xun would change his political stance for the sake of kinship? What a joke! Not to mention Gongsun Xun — among the five commanders who had led troops out this time, not a single one would likely pledge loyalty to the eunuchs. Otherwise, they could just wait to be reviled and carved apart by the scholars of the realm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is just a pity.\" Lu Fan could not help shaking his head. \"The political struggle between the Partisans and the eunuchs at court is fierce. That previous arrangement of outwardly cooperating with Attendant Zhao is probably no longer viable; going forward, we will instead need to be on guard against him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is a matter for later.\" Lou Gui interjected. \"Right now, with the army in hand, we fear no one. Even when we return victorious to court in the future, with military merit to our name, and after the chaos of the Yellow Turbans, the Son of Heaven will show some leniency toward battle-tested generals — not to mention there is still Grand General He.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is true enough.\" Lu Fan nodded in agreement. \"Then let us not speak of future matters. Wenqi, how should we deal with this household man of Attendant Zhao?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How many came?\" Gongsun Xun finally turned his head and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two.\" Lou Gui answered at once. \"The other one went to see Cao Mengde.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun could not help narrowing his eyes, but at last he spoke slowly: \"Military affairs are urgent as fire. Tomorrow the entire army will advance toward Yingchuan. Before we depart, we will hold a troop review south of the city. Have this household man of Attendant Zhao who came seeking me bound in public and flogged to death alive! Let Xu Ziyuan and He Boqiu come watch! And let all under heaven come watch!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu and Lou's faces changed color at once, but they hurriedly clasped their hands and acknowledged the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A day and a night passed in the blink of an eye. Gongsun Xun was true to his word. The next day, this household man of Attendant Zhao, who had allegedly come to demand a bribe of a hundred million coins from Gongsun Xun, was gagged, bound to a post, and — with the newly promoted Army Major Zhang Fei personally carrying out the sentence — flogged to death alive before the assembled host of tens of thousands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately afterward, Gongsun Xun ascended the platform and distributed the captured gold, silver, and brocade as rewards to the army's officers, and fairly divided over ten thousand bolts of cloth and over two hundred million coins among the more than ten thousand elite Han soldiers who had fought in the previous battle. Then, the civilian laborers who had previously toiled rowing boats downriver with the army and now toiled transporting military provisions — they too were equally given a share of one hundred million coins, so that every man received well over ten thousand coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the seventeen or eighteen thousand Yellow Turban captives from before — now reorganized into over ten thousand grain-transport laborers and several thousand infantry — they received not a single coin... nor could they possibly be given any.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, beneath the blazing sun, the Han army roared \"Ten thousand years!\" in exhilaration, their morale soaring. They struck camp directly from south of the city and set out for Yingchuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Mengde, as the Cavalry Commandant of the two-thousand-dan rank, had this time been assigned four or five thousand newly organized troops as the rear guard, and so was the last to move. Before departing, he could not resist casting a few extra glances at the corpse that had been flogged beyond human recognition — clearly recalling past events from his Luoyang days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High summer was at its peak, and the season of troubles was clearly not far off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is He Gong not leaving yet?\" At the empty parade ground in the afternoon, watching the great army set off, Xu You, already mounted, could not help urging He Boqiu. \"Our mission here can be considered accomplished without disgrace. What is there still to see in a corpse? Did Mengde not also beat Uncle Jian Shuo to death back then to make his stance clear? It is the same thing!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yong shifted his gaze from the flogged corpse and could not help shaking his head: \"It is not the corpse I am looking at, but the man!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Which man?\" Xu You, after all a man of keen intellect, immediately caught the implication. \"The General of the Household of All Purposes? Then, He Gong, what kind of man do you think Gongsun Wenqi is?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have you not already said it yourself?\" He Yong turned back, stroking his beard with a smile. \"He is much like Cao Mengde... Neither is a man whom Benchu can control!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu You, whose mind was preoccupied, forced a smile in return, yet his thoughts were myriad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, at that very moment, several dozen li from Puyang, a man was riding hard — it was precisely the man Zhao Zhong had sent to Cao Cao's place, who had been driven out of his lodgings... In the summer heat, he had galloped alone for several hours, and at last, drenched in sweat and unable to bear the scorching heat, he dismounted to rest briefly. Unable to resist, he pulled from his bosom a single wuzhu coin, soaked through with sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, this coin was the result of their bribery mission. The previous night, a man named Han Dang had burst into their lodgings, bound and taken away his companion, but had let him go under cover of darkness, giving him a single coin and saying that this coin was the General of the Household of All Purposes' reply to Attendant Zhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this meant to insult his own master?\" The man pondered it over and could only arrive at this understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, when it came to matters between great figures, even an insult was not something he could interfere with... Zhao Zhong had given meticulous instructions before he came — no matter how much money was given, he was to personally inspect and verify it, and every single coin must be delivered before his master!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>End of this volume.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——————I am a dividing line worth a hundred jin of gold——————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When Taizu defeated Dong Commandery, he obtained several hundred million in coin. The Regular Palace Attendant Zhao Zhong heard of this, and on account of his own adopted father's name, sent a household retainer to Dong Commandery to attend to matters of wealth and goods. At the time, Xu You, bearing Yuan Shao's orders, was in the army and also sought wealth and goods. Taizu thereupon issued a thousand jin of gold to Xu Ziyuan, then pointed to a single coin for Zhao Zhong's retainer. Zhong understood Taizu's intent, and from then on they were irreconcilable!\" — A New Account of the Tales of the World, Chapter on Stinginess and Miserliness\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Begging for a wave of recommendation votes! And as always, for everyone's health, please don't wait up at night... I strongly suggest reading every morning... don't be like me, staying up late every night and harming your health. Lastly, there's a reader group, 684558115, feel free to join if interested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS1: \"Your Majesty\" in the late Han was not a term reserved for the Son of Heaven. One theory says it originated as a celebratory phrase used when toasting the longevity of an honored person. For example, a certain historical record states that after Cao Cao defeated Yuan Tan, on the way back he went wild with excitement, jumped straight onto his horse and danced, then shouted \"Your Majesty\" himself. Being punished for shouting \"Your Majesty\" only has records starting from the Song dynasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS2: This wave of political turmoil is recorded in history... Right after Huangfu Song and the others went out to war, the central government's conflicts intensified. Moreover, historically, there is also a record of Zhang Rang soliciting bribes from Huangfu Song, and after refusing, he apparently also had his trusted Army Marshal Fu Xie submit a memorial advising the Son of Heaven to 'expel the petty men at his side,' which can be seen as once again clarifying his own stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",5547,"2026-06-04T19:42:26.060Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","bdfa8399edab6761b2a93c1db7fa1dffbe3431cc0e80c6b7f3a0af3b2aefefe2","overthrowing-han-chapter-239","overthrowing-han-chapter-237",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]