[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-28":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},1222787,1620,"Chapter 28: A Turn in the Road","overthrowing-han-chapter-28",28,"\u003Cp>\"Tell me every anecdote you know about Lord Liu — one silver ingot for each tale.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time was that very evening. The speaker was Gongsun Xun, and his audience was a group of low-ranking clerks from the villages and hamlets below Mount Goushi. Between Gongsun Xun and these clerks lay a pile of gleaming silver ingots, ingot-shaped, dazzling under the candlelight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be said that silver was basically not used as currency in the Han dynasty. The true circulating currencies of the Han were copper coins, bolts of cloth, and gold; silver was generally used to craft silverware. However, as a naturally occurring precious metal, its value was beyond question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why a certain someone always rewarded others with nothing but gleaming silver ingots — that is a question for a certain lady of peculiar tastes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enough digression. Back to the scene at hand. One could pity this group of low-ranking clerks — to avoid stirring up trouble, Gongsun Xun had not even invited anyone of the rank of Township Overseer or Hamlet Chief. They were all local men living at the foot of Mount Goushi: village scribes, hamlet heads, thief-catchers, and the like. They had some worldly knowledge, living at the foot of the imperial capital, but likely had never in their lives shared a room with so much silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I shall tell the Young Lord one matter concerning Lord Liu.\" A village scribe was the first to lose restraint — indeed, scholars have been unreliable since ancient times. \"Lord Liu is exceedingly fond of drinking, and he is a particularly indolent man who rarely washes his hands or bathes. From his hometown of Hongnong to Nanyang, where he once served as Grand Administrator, nearly everyone knows of these habits. In earlier years, someone in Luoyang even composed a proverb about it, though I truly cannot recall the exact wording.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So that's how it is!\" Gongsun Xun beamed with delight and directly handed over an ingot of silver. \"Fond of drinking, too lazy to bathe... well said. Is there anything else?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others stared, eyes wide. Damn it, even such universally known gossip earned silver? What was there left to hesitate about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young Lord.\" A hamlet head, relying on his loud voice, directly seized the conversation. \"Let me tell you an anecdote about Lord Liu from last year... Lord Liu is famously lenient and kind. Last year, on one occasion, he was returning from Luoyang to his hometown of Hongnong. He brought no servants, just driving an ox-cart alone along the road. On the way, he happened to meet a man who had lost an ox, and the man insisted that the ox pulling Lord Liu's cart was his own. Guess what happened? Lord Liu, without a single word, got down from the cart, untied the ox, and gave it to the man, then walked home on foot. Two days later, the man found his own ox and was deeply ashamed. He made a special trip, bringing that ox to Lord Liu's residence in Luoyang to apologize... Lord Liu said: 'An ox is not a person; mistaking it is perfectly normal. What need is there for an apology? On the contrary, I have troubled you to make a special trip into the city.' In the end, Lord Liu even treated the man to a meal before sending him off with a smile.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Gongsun Xun was truly dumbfounded... This Liu Kuan was a tutor to the Emperor, ranked among the Nine Ministers — an undisputed heavyweight — yet his temper was this good? In the border commanderies, if anyone tried to swindle another man's livestock, it would likely end with a white blade going in and a red blade coming out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, if giving up the ox on the spot could be considered a wise man avoiding immediate trouble, what did it mean when the man came to his very home and he was still this lenient? Was he truly a bodhisattva at heart?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well said! This is exactly the kind of thing I want — tell me more!\" After recovering his senses, Gongsun Xun directly handed over two silver ingots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I also know something.\" Another man spoke up impatiently. \"Lord Liu's leniency has reached an unimaginable degree... It is said that he has never lost his temper, not once in decades, so much so that even his wife found it strange. So one time, before an early court session, just as Lord Liu had finished dressing and was about to leave home, his wife had a maidservant bring in a basin of scalding meat broth and pretend to accidentally spill it on Lord Liu, to test him... Guess what happened? Not only did Lord Liu not get angry, he directly took hold of the maidservant's hand and asked if she had been burned...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mentally prepared this time, Gongsun Xun handed over two more silver ingots with an unchanged expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this way, tale after tale, incident after incident, the image of an elder statesman slowly took shape — a man of exceedingly gentle temper, exceedingly fond of promoting juniors, exceedingly addicted to drink, exceedingly indolent, and exceedingly learned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun's heart settled, for he had also discerned that this Lord Liu, if not a true sage, was determined to play the role of a sage for his entire life... And was there any difference between the two?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he was such a good-natured old man, whether the man was inwardly clear-headed or not, Gongsun Xun would just hold his nose and lean on him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could hitch a ride on that fortune-blessed kinsman's coattails once, he could naturally do so a second time... Would Gongsun Zan feel displeased? It wasn't as if he'd lose a chunk of flesh over it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, after listening to amusing anecdotes for half the night and giving away an entire stack of silver ingots, early the next morning, Gongsun Xun appeared full of vigor. He even repeatedly urged Aunt Jin to prepare things, and then, together with Gongsun Yue and Han Dang, escorted the cart toward Luoyang City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gatekeeper of Liu Kuan's residence was just as amiable as the gatekeeper of Liu Yu's residence. But this time, the man did not even look at the name card; he merely inquired about the situation and directly opened the main gate to let them in... Gongsun Xun took it in stride, having been somewhat mentally prepared, but Gongsun Yue and Han Dang were already dumbstruck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once inside, servants naturally took over receiving the gifts while guiding Gongsun Xun and the others to the main hall to meet the master of the house. And it was not only Gongsun Xun and Gongsun Yue — even Han Dang was led into the hall, making the latter thoroughly uncomfortable. He was a wandering swordsman from the border commandery of Liaoxi, whose highest post had been a Fort Barrier Commandant at two hundred dan, not yet formally assumed. Now he was merely a commoner retainer — how could he be led into the main hall of the home of Lord Liu, tutor to the Emperor and one of the Nine Ministers?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was even given a seat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a short while, Gongsun Zan came out first. He winked and made faces for a moment, and then Liu Kuan's eldest son, Liu Song, emerged. The group hurriedly rose to greet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be said that this Liu Song was already middle-aged, his beard grown quite long, a man with an established family and career. Yet upon coming out, he was also very courteous. He first exchanged names, and then naturally they had to discuss the purpose of the visit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun hastily explained once more their relationship with Gongsun Zan and the matter of the formal tuition gifts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh.\" Liu Song stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly. \"The gifts have been temporarily taken in by my mother. However, besides the six formal tuition gifts, you honorable brothers have also brought many other substantial presents. Our family discipline is very strict; whether to accept them or not must await my father's decision. You gentlemen might as well wait a while.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Yue was extremely nervous and, almost instinctively, pressed a question: \"May I ask what Lord Liu is busy with? If there is an important matter, we can take our leave first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No matter.\" Liu Song continued stroking his beard. \"Because my father accepted Bogui as a student, he was in excellent spirits last night and drank a few extra cups. He is still soundly asleep... In any case, he will certainly wake by noon. If you gentlemen have nothing else to do, why not sit idly with me and tell me about the customs and sights of Liaoxi, so that I may broaden my knowledge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Yue and Han Dang grew increasingly bewildered — wasn't this just airing the family's dirty laundry? Only Gongsun Xun remained unruffled — very well, this could only be described as very Liu Kuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this era, there was no such thing as lunch. Although Gongsun Xun had been spoiled by his mother's cooking, he could only endure it and discuss topics like the Wuhuan and Xianbei with this son of a Nine Minister... At noon, sure enough, an old gentleman with dark circles under his eyes, dressed casually, and with hands visibly grimy, ambled slowly out from the inner quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Liu Song to Gongsun Zan, from Gongsun Xun to Han Dang, everyone hurriedly rose to bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sit, sit.\" The old gentleman waved dismissively. \"Living in this world is about being free and easy. Why must a group of young men be so rigid? Don't be like my children, taught by their mother from childhood, who have already lost their edge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Liu Song right before them, no one knew how to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When I got up just now, I heard my wife say that you have come to present Bogui's formal tuition gifts?\" Liu Kuan said to himself after sitting down. \"Although I heard there is much fine wine among the gifts, which moves me considerably, was all this really necessary? I am a man who collects students wherever I go — from Donghai to Nanjun, from Hongnong to Luoyang, my students are everywhere. And this child Bogui, he has an imposing bearing, understands courtesy, and comes from a good family. I took a liking to him at first sight yesterday...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You old muddlehead!\" At that moment, an elderly woman's voice suddenly came from behind the hall. \"Are you truly muddled or has the wine not worn off?! Their gifts, from the six formal tuition gifts to all kinds of exquisite objects, were all prepared in three sets. And three brothers have come together. It is perfectly clear that these two also wish to become your disciples. How can you ramble on and on, only speaking of Bogui?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Yue paled in shock, and Han Dang was so startled that he directly stood up. Only Gongsun Xun, Gongsun Zan, and Liu Song turned a deaf ear, barely maintaining their composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahaha!\" Liu Kuan, the current Superintendent of the Imperial Household, clapped his hands and laughed heartily upon hearing this. \"My wife's instruction is correct. I am an old muddlehead. Since you two are so earnest in seeking learning, then come forward and bow to me as well!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite their previously varied expressions, Gongsun Xun and Gongsun Yue could not help but be overjoyed at this moment. The two hurried forward to kneel and bow, even directly addressing him as Master. Just like that, after Lu Zhi as their nominal classics teacher, they had gained another true, formally inducted direct teacher... and one who was a tutor to the Emperor, ranked among the Nine Ministers, and an elder of the realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Martial Emperor, Founder of the Dynasty, was fond of learning. In his youth, he studied the classics under Lu Zhi of Zhuo Commandery at Mount Goushi. However, when Lu Zhi was appointed Grand Administrator of Jiujiang, the youths played without restraint. Only the Emperor remained solemn, studying day and night in his quarters. Later, the famed Han minister Liu Kuan passed by Mount Goushi. Hearing the Emperor's recitation through the gate, he said: 'How can a fine jade be left here?' He then pushed open the gate, took him in as a personal disciple, and taught him by word and deed — a story celebrated in scholarly circles.\" — Miscellaneous Records of the Scholarly Circles, Chapter on Exhorting Learning, recorded by an anonymous Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: There is also a new book group. Interested students can join: 684558115.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2115,"2026-06-04T19:42:03.441Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","a710a9ca51aba1ddbc9ce559f0a5fd8b32fc3005072d82f7e0bdf39e26ca769e","overthrowing-han-chapter-29","overthrowing-han-chapter-27",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]