[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-29":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},1222788,1620,"Chapter 29: Bright Flowers, Dark Willows","overthrowing-han-chapter-29",29,"\u003Cp>After gaining a teacher who ranked among the Nine Ministers, the first thing the three Gongsun brothers felt was that their horizons had suddenly broadened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Figures they had never even seen before now flashed before their eyes like flowing water, and at close range; weighty affairs of state they had never dared imagine now rang in their ears every day; circumstances they had never understood before, they could now survey from a higher vantage point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, though Liu Kuan was a grandee who liked to drink but disliked washing his hands, he was still one of the Nine Ministers of the current court. At the court assembly held every five days, even counting the newly come-of-age Emperor, he knelt in the first three rows. As for the post he held — what exactly did the Superintendent of the Imperial Household do? The answer: he was the grand steward who commanded the palace guards... This post carried two extremely important authorities. The first, naturally, was garrisoning the imperial palace; the second was managing the Gentlemen Cadets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as has been said more than once, the Gentlemen Cadets of the Han dynasty functioned somewhat like a central party school. Whether you were recommended as Filial and Incorrupt or as Abundant Talent, or whether you were retained by the court after serving as an Annual Accounting Clerk, you all had to pass through a position in the Three Bureaus of Gentlemen Cadets before you could become a court-appointed official. Or, to put it the other way, when the court truly prepared to employ someone in a vital role, a person without Gentlemen Cadet credentials was most unlikely to be selected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the brilliant talents one could meet while following behind the Superintendent of the Imperial Household were truly beyond counting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, during the mere few days that Gongsun Xun lingered at Liu Kuan's residence in Luoyang, he had already met many renowned talents, and these men were either scions of famous houses or the foremost figures from various commanderies and kingdoms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, there was Wang Yi of the Taiyuan Wang clan. His position under Liu Kuan was probably akin to Gongsun Zan's position over at Mount Goushi. But to be honest, because Gongsun Xun had no impression of this name, he inwardly rather looked down on him — he was not very old, and if he left no fame behind in the coming chaotic times, then he was either dead or a worthless mediocrity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Gongsun Xun did not know, however, was that this man had in history actually been a minor regional warlord, holding out in Hedong for many years before finally being forced to surrender to Cao Cao... And the reason he did not know was simply that his own mother was not quite that broadly learned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was also one named Fu Xie, who came from the borderlands and was a year younger than Gongsun Yue. His place under Liu Kuan was probably equivalent to Liu Bei's position over at Mount Goushi. But — from Liu Kuan to Gongsun Zan, from Wang Yi to Gongsun Yue — in short, apart from the impassive Gongsun Xun, nearly everyone felt that this young whelp was bound to achieve great things! Just as on Mount Goushi, apart from Gongsun Xun, everyone felt that the brat Liu Bei was sure to amount to nothing...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just look at that Fu Xie: born in the borderlands, he was skilled in both civil and military arts, and moreover was exceedingly studious. More importantly, though young, he could already conduct himself with gravity. Those examples of lofty integrity in the books — whatever he could practice, he would certainly learn to do. Those behaviors the books criticized — whatever he could avoid, he would certainly avoid. At the same time, though still young, he already stood over seven chi tall; once he came of age, a description like \"eight chi in stature, majestic in appearance\" would surely not be lacking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no helping it — in this age, people were judged by their looks. Gongsun Zan was handsome, so a Grand Administrator took him as a son-in-law; his voice was loud, so Liu Kuan took him as a student. That big-eared Liu Bei would certainly never have such luck... Even the fact that Liu Kuan had so readily accepted Gongsun Xun and Gongsun Yue as students that day owed no small part to their robust physiques and proper features.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gongsun Xun still rather looked down on him, for the same reason as with Wang Yi — he always felt that anyone his mother had never mentioned was either dead young or worthless. This Fu Xie was certainly not worthless, but he probably would die young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, there was one more, named Xu You, courtesy name Ziyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, Xu You was a man of Nanyang. Considering that Liu Kuan had once served as Grand Administrator of Nanyang, and that the latter habitually liked to lecture during his tenure, this Xu You was presumably either Liu Kuan's disciple or his former subordinate, or perhaps even both... It did not matter. Liu Kuan was not short of this one disciple and former subordinate who was now serving as a Gentlemen Cadet, and Xu You, with his wide circle of acquaintances, seemed not to be short of Liu Kuan as a teacher either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what did matter was that this advisor, who had left a deep impression during Lady Gongsun's two-month serialized tales of the Three Kingdoms, got on with Gongsun Xun like a house on fire, becoming exceedingly familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is Xun-di in?\" Xu You, with his small eyes and wispy beard, once again strolled through the gate of the side courtyard of Liu Kuan's residence, hands clasped behind his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ziyuan-xiong.\" Gongsun Xun hastily set aside the mind-numbing Book of Changes and went forward to greet him. \"What brings you here with free time today?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah... listen to you. Can I not come find you without a reason?\" Xu You cheerfully twirled his wispy beard. \"What, could it be you're already tired of me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What words are these, Ziyuan-xiong?\" Gongsun Xun directly took hold of the other man's hand with a beaming smile. \"We brothers hit it off at first meeting. These days in Luoyang, you, my elder brother, have helped me tremendously! I still haven't properly thanked you for the last time you introduced us brothers to Han Wenyue (Han Sui)!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No matter!\" Upon hearing the word 'thank,' Xu You gripped the other's hand with one hand while the other nearly twisted his beard off, his face unable to conceal his delight... There was no helping it — who asked him to have been born utterly defenseless against the thing called money? And who could have imagined that this uncapped kid from Liaoxi would be so rich and so generous?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eight Kitchens of the Partisans were generous too, but unfortunately, he was not yet qualified to enjoy the Eight Kitchens' wealth. He had been just thinking about finding some master who did not lack money to follow around, when who would have thought that a Gongsun Xun would fall from the sky, utterly dazing and bewitching him with gleaming silver and glittering gold!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And on the other side, Gongsun Xun was actually also... ah, quite appreciative of this Xu Ziyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Greed for money was no problem, as long as he could get things done! And this Xu You, Xu Ziyuan, always delivered once he took the money. Whether Gongsun Xun wanted to get to know someone, or participate in some activity, or make a name for himself, the man never put on airs. As long as he was paid, he was absolutely willing to help with all his might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, this Xu You was himself a man of Nanyang. As mentioned before, in this era, Wan and Luo were one; the region of Nanyang, Henan, and Yingchuan was universally acknowledged as the core triangle of the Great Han dynasty. So the man indeed had wide connections and wild methods, often being old family friends with so-and-so, or childhood bosom buddies with so-and-so...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, this man truly was a highly qualified guide to the social circles of Luoyang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it was hardly surprising that these two hit it off at first meeting, clasping hands and chatting merrily, or that sharing the same foul tastes made them confidants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the two exchanged a few idle words, then went together to sit on a mat in a sunny spot within the side courtyard, turning the conversation back to social matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xun-di, you don't know,\" Xu You said with a touch of pride. \"This man Cai Yong, Cai Bojie, does not hold a high official post. The position of Court Gentleman Consultant he holds is merely a subordinate office under the Superintendent of the Imperial Household that can directly submit memorials to the court — that is, a subordinate of our Teacher Liu... But his reputation is immense, and his circle of acquaintances is extremely wide. If you wish to become known here in Luoyang, you might as well pay him a visit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why is that?\" Gongsun Xun humbly asked for instruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because this man Cai Bojie possesses three arts that others cannot even begin to approach, known as the Three Uniques... The first is calligraphy. Cai Bojie's calligraphy has reached the point of founding a school, distinctly forming its own style. In this calligraphic style, streaks of white show through the brushstrokes, as if written with a dry brush — it is said to be wondrously peerless, moving in accord with divine skill, and is called 'flying white'!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This, I have naturally long admired his great name for. What of the other two?\" Not only Gongsun Xun, but many of those reading in the side courtyard, including Gongsun Zan, Gongsun Yue, as well as Wang Yi, Fu Xie, and others, could not help but prick up their ears at this. Gongsun Zan and Gongsun Yue even more naturally gathered around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The other two — one is prose so gorgeous that none in Luoyang can match it.\" Xu You paused slightly here. \"In truth, these two uniques are already enough for him to swim like a fish in water in Luoyang. Think about it, Xun-di: what is such skill most suited for? Writing funeral eulogies and erecting stele inscriptions, of course. So throughout the Wan-Luo region, whenever someone dies in any great and powerful house, who wouldn't want to invite him to erect a stele and write a eulogy? And funeral matters have always been those that incur the deepest gratitude. So one might say this Cai Bojie has rather the air of rising in the world on the backs of the dead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is true enough.\" Gongsun Xun nodded repeatedly, but could not help glancing at Fu Xie, who was earnestly reading to one side, because he had clearly seen this fellow visibly frown upon hearing the phrase 'rising in the world on the backs of the dead.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The last unique is his attainment in music and pitch.\" Xu You was in the full flush of his discourse and had not noticed the others' reactions at all. \"But Xun-di, do you know that this Cai Bojie nearly had his official career cut short back in the day because of his musical achievements!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Think back — this Cai Bojie also came from a rather high family background, and moreover studied under famous masters. At a young age, he was acclaimed as a great Confucian scholar of the classics, and his future prospects were originally excellent...\" At this point, Xu You could not help laughing. \"You wouldn't know, but at that time, five great eunuchs at court, known as the Five Marquises, heard of his fame and learned that his lute-playing was divinely inspired. So the five jointly urged the late Emperor to summon him to office... and also to play the lute for His Majesty. You must understand, music is also a refined pursuit, and for a subject to play the lute for His Majesty is also a matter of great ritual. But for a scholar, in the face of the Partisan Prohibitions, to be neither summoned by the Three Excellencies nor selected by the court, but jointly recommended by the five most domineering eunuchs in the court — if he, Cai Bojie, had truly taken that post, he could never again call himself a scholar!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is true enough.\" Everyone nodded in agreement — scholars and eunuchs were irreconcilable, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So this Cai Bojie, after receiving the imperial summons, dawdled along the road. When he reached Hulao Pass, he truly dared not go any further and could only claim illness.\" Xu You continued, laughing. \"And when the late Emperor learned of this, he was naturally furious. In the end, for the remainder of the late Emperor's reign, Cai Bojie could not serve in office. It was not until the third year of the present Emperor's reign that Minister over the Masses Qiao Xuan, Qiao Gong, remembered him and issued a summons. Only then did Cai Bojie start from the beginning again... but half his life had already been wasted.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, everyone grew even more emotional — this was truly a classic case of a man sitting at home when a wok falls from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But those are all old matters now.\" Xu You waved his hand dismissively. \"Now that Cai Bojie has re-entered officialdom, his circle is wide, and moreover he plays the lute exquisitely, renowned throughout Luoyang. So high officials, noblemen, and scions of great houses all enjoy going to his residence for amusement, just in hopes of hearing a single tune... And so, by degrees, the Cai residence has vaguely become one of the sights of Luoyang.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So that is how it is.\" Gongsun Xun feigned a sigh of admiration. \"Such a splendid scene — I wonder whether we, Xun and the others, might have the chance to see this Cai Bojie's residence for ourselves?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu You had been waiting for precisely these words. He immediately tugged at the other's sleeve and said, \"This matter is easy. I will speak with Cai Bojie. Next time we... ah, whether Xun-di, Bogui, or Ayue, in any case, we will all go together. He will certainly give us face.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then many thanks to Ziyuan-xiong.\" Starting with Gongsun Xun, the three brothers all cupped their hands and bowed in salute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No matter, no matter.\" Upon hearing the word 'thanks,' Xu You once again beamed with delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Xu You could originally have stopped there, but carried away by his own smugness, the fellow could not help adding one more remark: \"However, I have one word of advice for you worthy brothers. After going to this Cai Bojie's residence, there is no harm in using the place to associate with the talents of Luoyang. But should you happen to meet Cai Bojie himself, treat him with due courtesy and nothing more. By no means should you become too deeply acquainted with him...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why is that?\" Gongsun Yue asked, slightly puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You worthy brothers do not know.\" Xu You twirled his beard and laughed. \"Do you think that this Cai Bojie, possessing the Three Uniques and with a fame that fills the world — with countless great and powerful houses indebted to him for erecting steles and writing biographies for their ancestors — and having been in office for several years now, would still be a mere six-hundred-dan Court Gentleman Consultant for no reason?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could the Gongsun brothers know such things? Naturally, they looked at each other in bewilderment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because he is far too rigidly pedantic!\" Xu You shook his head and sighed. \"As a Court Gentleman Consultant, he is qualified to submit memorials directly on affairs of state. In the years before His Majesty came of age, it was not yet apparent. But ever since the Emperor began his personal rule, this Cai Bojie has acted as if possessed. He is always submitting memorials speaking great, honest truths that make everyone uncomfortable, and he prides himself on it! Little does he realize that in this world, those who feel gratitude are few, while those who bear grudges are many. In these few years, the goodwill he has lost through his outspoken memorials exceeds all the favors he accumulated over the previous decades... Were it not that he is still a subordinate of our Teacher Liu, and everyone is willing to give Teacher Liu face, otherwise... heh! Just you watch — once our Teacher Liu is promoted to the Three Excellencies, and the post of Superintendent of the Imperial Household falls into someone else's pocket, this Cai Bojie will inevitably have to flee for his life and wander the rivers and lakes! Tell me, is there any need to form a deep friendship with such a man?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three brothers each sighed with emotion, all left speechless. Gongsun Xun, recalling the fate of that Cai Yong that his mother had spoken of, was even more moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, these words finally provoked a youth who had been reading to one side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of talk is this, Xu Jun?!\" Fu Xie threw down the bamboo scroll in his hand and angrily rebuked him. \"As a subject, to submit memorials speaking plainly is precisely one's duty. Lord Cai, disregarding personal gain or loss, loyal and daring to speak out, is a model for our generation. To associate with such a gentleman should be an honor. How can you instead urge Brother Bogui and the others not to form a deep friendship with Lord Cai?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, everyone hurried to mediate, and the three Gongsun brothers were even more anxious... None of the three were fools. If Fu Xie were to emulate that famous Beihai scholar Guan Ning and cut his mat to sever the friendship, thereby winning fame across the land, then what would that make the three of them? Wouldn't they lose face all the way back to their grandmother's house?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, however, Xu You was a man of transparent mind. Probably for the sake of Gongsun Xun's lovely money, he did not take issue with Fu Xie. He simply smiled, waved his sleeve, and left — though before departing, he did not forget to say that he would have the chance to introduce Gongsun Xun and the others to another Nanyang fellow-townsman named Feng Ji... much to everyone's relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That Fu Xie has gone too far.\" As the three brothers saw Xu You out, before they had even turned back, Gongsun Zan could not restrain his expression of utter disgust. \"It is as if the whole world is filthy, and he alone is of lofty integrity... What was wrong with what Xu Ziyuan said? Was that speech not for our own good?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Actually, eldest brother,\" Gongsun Yue said, shaking his head upon hearing this, \"though Fu Xie is indeed overly rigid, compared to Xu You, he is still more reassuring... A man like Xu You, today he may disparage Cai Yong here because Xun-xiong is generous, but tomorrow he might also disparage us because someone else is generous. But that kid Fu Xie — no matter what, as a friend, he can always set one's mind at ease.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, even Gongsun Zan, as the eldest brother, was momentarily at a loss for words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We might as well move out,\" Gongsun Xun said helplessly, trying to smooth things over. \"For someone like Fu Xie, the best approach is to respect him and keep a distance, which will also spare us such incidents. As for this Xu You, of course he cannot be relied upon for the long term, but in the short term, we still need him to cultivate connections... In any case, we won't be staying in Luoyang long, so it does not matter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Zan and Gongsun Yue nodded in unison. So the three brothers discussed and decided: Gongsun Zan would search for a small residence in the vicinity of Liu Kuan's mansion, while Gongsun Xun and Gongsun Yue would make a trip back to Mount Goushi together to fetch some money, to facilitate their activities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When the Grand Ancestor was young, he once appraised the figures of Luoyang with his clan brothers... Yue said: 'Xu Ziyuan is a vicious and licentious man, impure in nature and conduct.' Zan said: 'Fu Xie is rigid and immoderate, certain to invite fatal calamity.' The Grand Ancestor said: 'Why so harsh? In all things and matters, people are the foundation. Talent is hard to come by. Though Xu You is greedy, his cunning and stratagems can still be used; though Fu Xie is rigid, he can still be entrusted with one's innermost thoughts. That is all.' Zan and Yue then apologized.\" — Old Book of Yan, Volume 1, Annals of the Grand Ancestor, the Martial Emperor\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: There's also a new book group. Interested readers can join: 684558115.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3509,"2026-06-04T19:42:03.441Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","7f94706515daa94c2027a5020ca55f0d998e737ef83a81ac4f94dcbb3ebf24bf","overthrowing-han-chapter-30","overthrowing-han-chapter-28",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]