Chapter 292: Fleeting Fame Is Worth but a Cup of Water (Two-in-One Debt Repayment)

"Zhicai, why have you gone and come back again?"

Gongsun Xun was standing in the courtyard with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing up at the river of stars. When the other man reached his side, he remained perfectly still, as if he had long anticipated this very situation.

"My lord." Xi Zhong bowed slightly and was about to speak. "I..."

"Zhicai." Without waiting for him to speak, Gongsun Xun countered with a question of his own, not even turning his head. "We often say the bright stars in the sky reflect the heroes and champions upon the earth. But tell me, what kind of person truly counts as a hero or champion?"

"I..." Xi Zhong was clearly caught off guard.

"Knowing full well the Son of Heaven is a Jie or a Zhou, yet dying for the house of Han anyway — does Fu Nanrong count as one?" Gongsun Xun continued, still gazing up at the river of stars.

"He most certainly does," Xi Zhong answered at once. "But..."

"But a hero like that is not to be emulated, because he merely threw his life away in vain, without accomplishing any great enterprise... is that it?"

"Exactly so." Xi Zhicai finally regained his composure and stepped forward as well, standing beside his lord to gaze at the river of stars. "Dying is not impermissible, but it must yield something, must resound with meaning. Even a dissolute wanderer like myself still yearns to accomplish some deed of merit — to live with endless wine, women, wealth, and pleasure, and to die with a name inscribed in the histories. A man like Fu Xie, born of a renowned frontier family, destined to be the seed of a province or commandery, yet dying so lightly, so pointlessly — in the end, it was not worth it!"

"Well said — not worth it!" Gongsun Xun suddenly sighed. "Those very two words... Zhicai."

"Here."

"In truth, back when my mother wished me to remain in Liaodong, she once mentioned an interesting notion in her letter. She said that so-called heroes and champions are merely the servants of the sweeping tide of events... The seven states warred, and when the time came, someone was bound to become the First Emperor. The tyrannical Qin fell in its second generation, and someone was bound to reunify the Nine Provinces and grant the people rest. Wang Mang's new dynasty descended into chaos, and someone was bound to emerge, restore the rivers and mountains, and let the common folk eat their fill again. In other words, the great momentum of the world is like the rolling wheels of a chariot — unstoppable. So-called heroes and champions are merely ordinary mortals who happen to be flung onto the crest of the wave. To put it another way, she meant to tell me that all the deeds of heroes and champions are, in truth, not worth a single sneer."

"Does my lord believe such a notion?" Xi Zhong asked dismissively. "If that were so, then since ancient times, what are those heroes and champions shining bright in the histories, compared to common, ordinary men? Are they all just mud upon the chariot wheels? The Elder Lady was surely only speaking to suit the occasion."

"Of course I do not believe it," Gongsun Xun answered with a rueful laugh. "Otherwise, how could I have defied my mother's wishes, forced my way out of that comfortable nest of Liaodong to serve in the provinces, to pacify the Yellow Turbans, and then to halt here in Guangyang to open up farmland? And yet — serving in the provinces, pacifying the Yellow Turbans, settling the fields and soothing the people — after all these years, having seen so many pitiable and laughable men, so many wretched and lamentable souls, having watched the great momentum of the world plunge into ruin without cease, having watched the people of the world driven ever more radical by that momentum... I cannot help but faintly, dimly come to believe those words after all..."

Xi Zhong's face remained full of unconcealed dismissal.

"Zhicai." Gongsun Xun suddenly put away his smile, lifted his face to the sky, and asked with solemn countenance, "These years in Changping, there have been times when I, just like today, would stand alone gazing at the sky and pondering, gazing at the sky and sighing. Since in my heart I faintly, dimly believe this nonsense of my mother's, why is it that I still feel a knot of frustration in my chest, still feel restless and agitated, still time and again long to draw my blade and rise?"

"Because of injustice?" Xi Zhong ventured, then immediately added two more words. "And because it is not worth it?"

"It is because others' lives are not worth it, and so my heart cannot bear the injustice." Gongsun Xun finally turned his head to look at his trusted advisor. "I myself, young in years yet at the pinnacle of official rank, with wife, concubines, children all complete — even if a true age of chaos arrives, I can retreat to Liaodong and grow old in peace. What is there that is not worth it for me? But in this world, there are far too many people who, like Fu Nanrong, die deaths that are not worth it. And if I do not step forward, in the future there will be even more who live lives not worth living, and die deaths not worth dying... That is why my heart cannot be at peace! That is why I must kick down those who are clearly nothing but laughable fools yet steal high office, and take their place! Tell me, even setting aside all personal ambition, how could you hand the world over to be trampled by people you despise?"

"This subordinate understands." Having stared fixedly at his lord for a long moment, Xi Zhong finally managed to answer. "I... understand."

"What do you understand?" The summer night stars blazed brilliantly, and from the house behind them came the faint sounds of children laughing and playing. Gongsun Xun could not help but pace around behind the other man and ask with a smile. "Do you all think I want to throw my weight around, to go out to war regardless of the greater picture?"

For a moment, Xi Zhong was speechless.

"So you really did understand. And I really am thinking exactly that." Gongsun Xun circled past him and continued gazing at the river of stars overhead, smiling. "Right now, I desperately want to go to Luoyang and face Yuan Benchu directly, to test our strength against each other. But wanting to is one thing; it does not mean I will actually go... I also want to go to Liangzhou to suppress the rebellion, but given the current situation in Liangzhou, who could enter and win? To try such a thing would be nothing but bringing disgrace upon oneself."

"I..." Xi Zhong sighed for no apparent reason. "My lord, whatever you may think, and however matters may develop in the future, as your minister, there are several points I must speak to you today... And the first is this: no matter what, my lord must not enter Liangzhou itself to wage war. Because the hearts of the people in Liangzhou do not belong to Han. Whoever enters now cannot win."

"Well said." Gongsun Xun took up the thread without concern. "But Zhicai, if something happens in Jizhou, we could give it a slight try, could we not? After all, Jizhou is right before our eyes. If Wang Fen seeks his own death, there would be no need for me to hide and hold back — I could simply lead light cavalry in a swift raid and take him down, what do you think?"

"My lord." Xi Zhong immediately spoke with a grave expression. "This is the second matter I wished to raise. Unless Wang Fen openly raises troops in rebellion, my lord must absolutely not openly make himself his enemy, and even less may he use overt means to report Wang Fen's affairs to the imperial court."

"Why is that?" Gongsun Xun was finally somewhat curious.

"Because the Son of Heaven's fatuous perversity is known to all. Though the people of the world do not speak it openly, most already hate him to the marrow of their bones," Xi Zhicai explained at once. "At a time when men's hearts are in turmoil, although Wang Fen's scheme is unworkable, so long as he does not rebel for a single day, everyone will secretly sympathize with him, and may even be happy to see him succeed. To inform on him at such a moment would be to lose a portion of the people's hearts!"

"Then what should be done?"

"Find another method," Xi Zhong urged. "Did Yuan Benchu not use a diviner to tell Wang Fen, via astrological signs, that the eunuchs must be eliminated? My lord could also have a diviner spread rumors in Luoyang, saying that by observing the qi, blade-fire is seen in the north, and the Son of Heaven should be dissuaded from coming to Hebei. Then, the moment Wang Fen makes the slightest move, my lord can volunteer to take the field, claiming to sweep away the bandit hordes of the Taihang Mountains. When that time comes, as soon as my lord leads troops south, Wang Fen will surely be stricken with terror. He may well decide to fight to the death like a cornered fish, or simply flee outright. At that point, my lord can seize the momentum, pursue and destroy him, and then use military authority to bring Jizhou to order."

Gongsun Xun slowly nodded. "That is a good plan. In truth, Zhicai, I will not hide it from you — the reason I am minded to take the field now is also, from a selfish perspective, to seek the post of Governor of Jizhou... You surely know that Liu Yan is jumping up and down at court, seeking to restore the system of provincial governors... And if I can get Jizhou legitimately into my hands before this Son of Heaven of ours passes away, future endeavors will yield twice the result with half the effort."

Xi Zhong was momentarily stunned. "I had not thought that far. But if the governorship of Jizhou were truly possible, from the perspective of us advisors, we should instead do our utmost to have my lord attempt it... It is like gambling with beast cards. Previously, we were unwilling for my lord to take the field because even if we won that round, the rewards were few. But if there is a chance at the governorship of Jizhou, I fear neither Ziheng nor Bohou would raise any objection."

"Easy to say, hard to do." Gongsun Xun's smile was ambiguous. "He Suigao is no longer the honest man of years past. And as for that Son of Heaven of ours, his wariness toward someone like me is plain for all to see."

"This brings me to the third point." Xi Zhong reined in his astonishment and daydreaming over the words 'Governor of Jizhou' and hurriedly continued. "The governorship of Jizhou is certainly worth a gamble. But if my lord truly means to take the field, whether going to Jizhou right at our doorstep or to the treacherous, turbulent capital province of Sili, once you leave Guangyang, Youzhou must have a great general holding military power to guard the rear! Because no matter what, the foundation of Guangyang must not be lost!"

Gongsun Xun nodded again. "What about Cheng Pu? He is a man of Youbeiping. Let him come to Yuyang to hold the seat, while Ziheng remains here in Guangyang. Then there will naturally be no worries."

"That would naturally be excellent. However, Young Master Fan has served as a Gentleman of the Secretariat for several years now; it is time he was appointed to a local post." Xi Zhong could not help but solemnly remind him. "Let him go to Fanyang or Zhuoxian in the south, what do you think? In this way, the two of them — one civil, one military, one in front and one behind — can assist Chief Clerk Lü in guarding the Guangyang foundation... And after all, Young Master Fan is my lord's cousin and a legitimate son of the Gongsun clan. With him here, the local magnates will also be much more settled, will they not?"

"Then nothing could possibly go wrong." Gongsun Xun nodded. "Even if chaos broke out suddenly, it could not harm our roots... I only fear he may be unwilling to return to the countryside. I must find an opportunity to explain things to him properly."

"This is the fourth point... My lord is different from Young Master Fan. If chaos arises in Youzhou," Xi Zhong stepped forward and once more warned him with a solemn face, "do not even speak of the Governor of Jizhou — even if the Son of Heaven granted my lord the post of Grand General, my lord must not cling to it. You must cast aside everything at once and return to Youzhou! Yuyang, Guangyang, Zhuojun — these three commanderies, with a million people, have received my lord's grace and are willing to die for my lord. They are the very root from which to contend for supremacy in the south! In those days, Emperor Guangwu's success did not rely on his fame at Kunyang that shook the Son of Heaven, but on the troops and horses of Youzhou and Jizhou! Emperor Gaozu's success did not rely on gathering the feudal lords, but on the hearts of the former Qin people within the Passes!"

"Only Zhicai can speak such naked words..." Gongsun Xun could not help but laugh again. "Du Ji understands in his heart, but he only pretends I am waiting for the Son of Heaven to die so I may act as the Duke of Zhou assisting the government. Wang Shuzhi also understands in his heart, but he has his own moral integrity and ministerial principles and does not wish to get involved. Ziheng has gradually become more prudent and does not wish to lose his dignity. Zibo is also direct and straightforward, but over the years he has seen and experienced much, and understanding his own limits, he is unwilling to speak much beyond military matters. As for Chang Lin, Han Hao, Zao Zhi, and the rest — it is not without reason that I assigned them to oversee land reclamation. And men like Wei You, Tian Chou, Tian Yu, and the others — their mindset is largely that of local compatriots, naturally attaching themselves to me. They can be used but cannot be entrusted with the deepest matters."

Xi Zhong could not help but smile bitterly. "Who asked your subordinate to be a dissolute gambler who cares for nothing at all?"

"Zhicai, I have fully understood your sentiments and your counsel." Gongsun Xun suddenly turned, placed his hands on the other man's shoulders, and spoke. "If this round is lost, you and I are both men who accept defeat in a gamble, so there will be no need for further words. If it is won, then in the histories of the future, there will surely be a place for Zhicai."

Xi Zhong bowed slightly with clasped hands. Between lord and minister, the so-called Four-Point Covenant was thus settled. And when Gongsun Xun's other advisors heard of the three words 'Governor of Jizhou' and this Four-Point Covenant, they too, one after another, found themselves with nothing left to say.

And so, to say nothing of how the ambitious schemed in secret, in the fifth year of Zhongping, the world was in truth trending toward instability everywhere. The Son of Heaven, seeing that Hebei was for once at peace, had originally planned to make an imperial tour of the homeland of his youth — the region of Anping and Hejian. But suddenly, a diviner in Luoyang spread a rumor that there was a conspiracy in the north... and these words were immediately formally reported to the Son of Heaven through the mouth of the Grand Astrologer.

The Son of Heaven was instantly on his guard. He immediately halted the plan to return to his homeland and issued an order to Wang Fen, the Inspector of Jizhou, telling him to suspend the bandit-clearing operations he had undertaken to prepare for the imperial arrival, and to come to Luoyang for an audience with His Majesty instead.

Quite a few people immediately began rubbing their hands in anticipation.

However, correspondingly, the performance of Wang Fen, Inspector of Jizhou, exceeded everyone's expectations. This man, who previously, when plotting to depose and enthrone, had called friends and allies from south to north as if the Mandate of Heaven rested upon him — now, once his scheme seemed faintly exposed, panicked like a rabbit!

He neither raised troops in rebellion, nor waited for Gongsun Xun to volunteer to march south and exterminate some Taihang mountain bandits. Instead, he directly relinquished his seal and fled. And no sooner had he left Jizhou and reached Pingyuan than he panicked again and committed suicide!

The whole world was stunned!

From the Son of Heaven in Luoyang to the champions of Hebei, from Gongsun Xun on the frontier to Yuan Shao in the central government — nearly everyone was thrown into dizzy confusion by this wretch's performance.

It can be said without exaggeration that this good-for-nothing used his own life to make fools of both Gongsun Xun and Yuan Shao at the same time! Both men's schemes instantly became a joke!

Tell me, you were the Inspector of Jizhou, in Jizhou for four years, with a foundation right there — could you not have put up a little resistance? Did you not see that the Son of Heaven himself feared you, Wang Wenzu, and dared not arrest you but instead 'invited' you to Luoyang 'to serve as an official'? Yet who could have imagined that he would be scared into suicide by a single imperial edict?!

It was simply the greatest farce under heaven!

Or rather, why must a good-for-nothing put on the appearance of a bold and righteous hero? And keep up the act for decades? Deceiving everyone's feelings for nothing.

Gongsun Xun's plan to move into Jizhou was aborted midway. Yuan Benchu's original plan to use the opportunity to purge Jizhou also became somewhat awkward. In fact, after the central government was dazed for several days, it too seemed to feel that leaving the matter there was best — a quiet, private purge of the provincial officials would suffice... So they dispatched a man named Gongsun Du to serve as Inspector of Jizhou.

However, that wretch Gongsun Du had not been in office for half a month before his methods proved too brutal, and he was dismissed and sent rolling back to his old home in Liaodong.

The official circles of Jizhou fell into utter chaos.

In the end, the imperial court had no choice but to appoint the renowned official Jia Cong as the new Inspector of Jizhou, hoping that this 'Lord Jia' could pacify the situation. However, Jia Cong had previously been stationed in Jiaozhou, and it was estimated he would not arrive until the end of the year.

And just when there was no opening left to exploit in Jizhou, and Gongsun Xun's advisors were half lamenting the lost chance at the governorship and half going with the flow to urge their lord to cease his activities for the time being — in this season of troubles, plans could not keep pace with changes, and incidents suddenly began to occur one after another in Luoyang.

The root of it all was simple: the Son of Heaven's health suddenly began to deteriorate sharply, and he himself, along with the eunuchs, outer relatives, and great ministers around him, all acutely sensed it.

And so, the Son of Heaven, clear-minded in his heart, no longer dared to engage in empty gestures. He immediately began laying out his posthumous arrangements, and most of his measures revolved around the military disposition of the Luoyang Imperial Guard:

First, he appointed the Empress Dowager Dong's nephew, Dong Zhong, as General of the Agile Cavalry, commanding over a thousand men;

Then he also established the Eight Commandants of the Western Garden.

The so-called Eight Commandants were: the Junior Yellow Gate Eunuch Jian Shuo as Upper Army Commandant, Yuan Shao as Central Army Commandant, Bao Hong as Lower Army Commandant, Cao Cao as Director of Standards Commandant, Zhao Rong as Assistant Left Army Commandant, Feng Fang as Assistant Right Army Commandant, Xia Mou as Left Commandant, and Chunyu Qiong as Right Commandant… These men included eunuchs, members of the ducal clans, hereditary families from the western Liang border commanderies, in-laws of eunuchs, hereditary families from east of the passes, old generals of the Northern Army, and other such eccentric figures. It could be called a Luoyang military assembly that strove for the greatest unity and broadest inclusion.

Yet such a large-scale military organization of a palace guard nature was entirely placed under the command of the eunuch Jian Shuo, who was directly appointed by the Son of Heaven, and not under Grand General He Jin, who nominally controlled all the realm’s troops. It even seemed, from the Son of Heaven’s intent, that He Jin was also to be subject to Jian Shuo’s authority. Coupled with last year’s matter of the Son of Heaven making He Jin’s younger brother He Miao General of Chariots and Cavalry, the intention of this ailing Son of Heaven to target He Jin was now basically obvious to all.

That said, He Suigao was no longer the genteel and refined Song Yu the pig-butcher who had stood before the gate of the Gentlemen’s Office several years ago. Having participated in state governance for many years, his wings had long since grown full. In fact, considering the Son of Heaven’s fatuous and unprincipled ways, he had instead gained the widespread support of the scholars and partisans over these years, and thus his power had only grown greater.

The situation was delicate, and with others egging him on, He Jin, unwilling to show weakness, chose to meet the challenge head-on.

Thereupon, rumors once again appeared in Luoyang, saying that someone had observed the qi and learned that Luoyang would suffer a calamity of blades and soldiers, and that blood would flow in the Two Palaces.

Immediately after, the Son of Heaven and the Grand General jointly deliberated and summoned local troops, together with the old and new capital guard armies, to hold a military review ceremony as a means of *yasheng*.

The so-called *yasheng* is the act of warding off evil through ceremony or objects; here, it meant using the military review to resolve this dreadful rumor.

Of course, those truly in the know in Luoyang understood that this was essentially a clash and compromise between Grand General He and his own brother-in-law, the Son of Heaven:

On one hand, both sides needed to struggle. The Son of Heaven needed to prevent He Jin from becoming all-powerful after his death, to the point of a situation like Liang Ji’s, especially since his young son Liu Xie had long been a thorn in Empress He’s eye. And the Grand General needed to do his utmost to protect his nephew’s right of succession, preventing his imperial brother-in-law from suddenly muddling his mind and deposing the elder to establish the younger.

On the other hand, both sides also needed to compromise. After all, the Son of Heaven understood that his body was failing, and his thought of deposing the elder for the younger was ultimately just a thought. Thus, he still needed He Jin, his elder brother-in-law, to support his son and perpetuate the bizarre cycle of imperial power of this dynasty. And He Jin also understood that as long as the Son of Heaven remained the Son of Heaven for a day — a Son of Heaven who had reigned for twenty-two years — his authority was not something that he, Song Yu the pig-butcher, could openly oppose.

Thus, both sides ultimately chose this method of a military review to demonstrate their strength to each other and to compromise with each other.

At this time, it was only mid-August, just over a month since Xu You had gone to see Gongsun Xun; a mere thirty days since Wang Fen’s death; and Gongsun Du’s appointment and departure were even more recent events… Yet in the realm, no one remembered those people or those matters anymore. Everyone had begun to turn their minds to this grand military review in Luoyang.

Inspector of Bingzhou Ding Yuan was the first to answer He Jin’s call. He dispatched his subordinate Zhang Yang, leading Zhang Liao and others who had just been temporarily recruited as Attendants, to enter Luoyang and await orders. Director of Standards Commandant Cao Cao was ordered to return to his home district of Pei to recruit troops, but temporarily recommended to the Son of Heaven that the Prefect of Pingyuan, the imperial clansman Liu Bei, be made Army Major, hoping the man would come to assist him. The sole remaining loyal Han minister in Xiliang, Gai Xun, was even directly summoned by the Son of Heaven to enter Luoyang…

For a time, the Son of Heaven and the Grand General each used every means at their disposal, each displaying their divine powers. Envoys traveled back and forth in an unending stream, and the realm was thrown into commotion.

As for certain individuals… Yuan Benchu also began to earnestly cultivate ties with his Western Garden colleagues and study the military configuration of Luoyang. Meanwhile, Gongsun Xun once again welcomed an old acquaintance of distinguished status in Changping — the Grand General’s Chief Clerk, Wang Qian, a man from a family that had produced Three Excellencies for two generations.

The Grand General’s subordinate clerks of four years ago and those of today were not the same concept. Therefore, though the man had only come in haste, Gongsun Xun still made a grand display, leading his followers out to welcome him — not only his own subordinate clerks, but also the famous scholars and scions of hereditary families of Youzhou gathered in the Changping and Jixian area, as well as the provincial and commandery clerks originally stationed in Guangyang.

For a moment, it could be called solemn and grand.

“Greetings to General of the Guards, greetings to all the worthies of Youzhou!”

Gongsun Xun personally leading his followers out to welcome him could be considered giving full face. And correspondingly, Wang Qian lived up to his name, showing not the slightest airs, but instead proactively lowering his posture, respectfully greeting and paying his respects to everyone one by one before the Stone of Abundant Virtue. This especially pleased the Youzhou scholars and disciples following behind Gongsun Xun. As people from the border commanderies who were looked down upon, when had they ever encountered such courtesy from a high-born noble of Luoyang? Back in the day, when Lu Zhi, the foremost Confucian of Youzhou, first emerged from retirement, he had merely been a subordinate clerk to the Grand General of that time.

And after a round of pleasantries, the man finally formally bowed to Gongsun Xun: “Qian, in my capacity as Chief Clerk, bearing the Grand General’s command, have come to pay my respects to you, my lord.”

“After all these years, Chief Clerk Wang’s bearing remains as distinguished as ever.” Gongsun Xun, unhurried, took the initiative to raise the other man up with a smile. “I still recall our meeting at the Grand General’s mansion in Luoyang, when we set out wine and conversed together.”

Wang Qian smiled slightly, but did not take it to heart.

It was autumn, the season of clear skies and crisp air. To suit the season, Gongsun Xun arranged a banquet with wine on Mount Mang in Changping. The local Youzhou scholars, who rarely had the chance to meet a high-born and famous scholar from Luoyang, also attended in great numbers. The two sides drank and discussed refined matters of the wind and moon, while in the distance below the mountain stretched a vast expanse of golden yellow, a sight that set one’s heart at ease. It could truly be said that both host and guests enjoyed themselves.

However, all banquets under heaven must end. From morning drinking into the afternoon, as the attendees one after another grew hazily drunk and took their leave, even Wang Qian’s own accompanying attendants were helped away.

Yet amidst the scattered cups and dishes, Gongsun Xun and his core advisors remained seated where they were, and began a most interesting conversation with Wang Qian.

“What does the Grand General intend to do?” As Chief Clerk to the General of the Guards, Lu Fan did not yield the responsibility.

“My Grand General has no other intention, but only seeks peace of mind,” Wang Qian set down his wine cup and answered calmly. “As for the General of the Guards here, the Grand General sent me over precisely to ask, rather, what the General of the Guards intends to do.”

“Why does Chief Clerk Wang say such a thing?” Lu Fan immediately frowned.

“My Grand General regards the General of the Guards as his bulwark to the north. Therefore, for this military review, he specifically summoned the troops of Commandant of Yanmen Cheng Pu, intending for him to lead his subordinate Gao Shun, Senior Major Gao, and a thousand elite soldiers to enter Luoyang for the review, yet was met with a refusal… May I ask Chief Clerk Lu, what is the meaning of this?”

Lu Fan instantly gave a bitter smile: “On Cheng Demou’s side, our lord did indeed send word ahead, but it was not out of unwillingness to assist the Grand General. It was truly a matter of timing… Who could have foreseen something like this military review?”

“I thought as much,” Wang Qian immediately laughed. “The timing does not match up, and in any case, there is no reason for the Lord Marquis to have any discord with the Grand General… Thus, there was much speculation within the Grand General’s staff that perhaps there were some concerns here with the Lord Marquis, and that is precisely why I made a special trip in haste from Luoyang.”

“Just what state have things reached in Luoyang?” Just as the two chief clerks were going back and forth, Gongsun Xun, seated in the host’s place of honor, suddenly cast aside his wine cup and spoke with a smile, his tone mocking and malicious. “I hear the Son of Heaven is about to die. Is it true? I recall he is about my age; how is it that he is about to breathe his last? Could it be Empress Song and the others have come to claim his life?”

The faces of everyone at the gathering changed color.

And Lu Fan’s first reaction was to look around. Fortunately, everyone at the banquet knew that the Grand General’s Chief Clerk had come to discuss serious matters on behalf of the Grand General with the General of the Guards, and so they had tactfully departed early. Moreover, halfway up the mountain, one could see in the distance Tian Yu, Yang Kai, and others leading the Volunteer Followers to form a cordon and stand guard, which instantly set one’s mind at ease.

After finally calming down, it was now Wang Qian’s turn to respond with a bitter smile: “This question of the Lord Marquis leaves me at a loss as to where to begin.”

“If it were anyone else, that would be one thing,” Gongsun Xun said, pointing to one of the paired purple ribboned gold seals at his waist. “That I was able to keep this seal and ribbon of General of the Guards was entirely thanks to the strategy you, Lord Wang, offered that day. Xun remains grateful to this day. And my understanding of the current Son of Heaven’s delusions and shamelessness also began from what I learned from your lips back then… Now, here in the wild mountains and open land, as you and I sit facing each other from on high, what is there that cannot be said directly?”

“The Son of Heaven is indeed going to die,” Wang Qian sighed, and then frankly spoke the truth. “And it is nothing more than overindulgence in wine and women… The Sons of Heaven of this dynasty mostly reach this lifespan. Why must the Lord Marquis be so merciless with his words?”

“Merciful?” Gongsun Xun laughed involuntarily. “I have never seen him show mercy to others. And since he has tormented the realm into this state, on what grounds does he expect the people of the realm to show him mercy?”

“There is no need to dwell on these words,” Wang Qian said helplessly, his expression turning serious. “Let us discuss the main matter… Lord Marquis, the Grand General fears that before his death, the Son of Heaven may muddle his mind and depose the elder to establish the younger. Therefore, he wishes to summon local troops to Luoyang for a military review… to display his majesty and might, and also to protect the Imperial Eldest Son. For this reason, I must ask the General of the Guards for a handwritten letter, so that I may go and arrange for Cheng Demou’s troops and others to assemble in Luoyang!”

“That still will not do,” Gongsun Xun shook his head, still smiling. “I will not hide it from Chief Clerk Wang: I intend to have Cheng Demou, along with Gao Suqing’s troops, transferred to serve as Commandant of Yuyang, to protect our homeland. Therefore, he cannot go to Luoyang.”

Wang Qian was momentarily stunned. Then, the man rose and stood amidst the banquet, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

But for some reason, after he swept his gaze over the boundless, thick fields of golden millet below the mountain, he swallowed the words that, as Grand General’s Chief Clerk, he ought to have said, and instead asked tentatively: “If that is the case… then could the Commandant of Zhao State, Dong Zhao, or the Commandant of Qinghe, Shen Pei, be allowed to lead troops to Luoyang for the occasion?”

“Dong Gongren and Shen Zhengnan are both mere scholars. How could they go to Luoyang for a military review?” Gongsun Xun replied with a faint, ambiguous smile.

Wang Qian was drenched in sweat. He turned again to gaze for a long time at the private academy below the mountain, and only then turned back to speak earnestly: “Lord Marquis, if at this moment you cannot make some gesture to let the Grand General know your intentions… then even the best past friendship will likely be of no use. If it truly cannot be done, please, you must let Guan Yunchang and Qian Zijing of Henei make a trip to Luoyang! Otherwise, it will be absolutely difficult for me to return and report, let alone discuss transferring Cheng Demou to Yuyang?”

“Guan Yunchang and Qian Zijing also cannot be moved,” Gongsun Xun said dismissively. “With a million bandits now in the Taihang Mountains, Henei’s safety relies entirely on these two men locking down the southern thoroughfares…”

Wang Qian was immediately speechless.

“Chief Clerk Wang, do not be anxious,” Gongsun Xun suddenly laughed again. “I am not one who forgets old friendships. That I have been able to dwell peacefully in Youzhou for many years is entirely thanks to Brother Suigao’s protection in Luoyang. Now that Brother Suigao needs my help, how could I abandon him?” Pausing here, Gongsun Xun hesitated slightly, then laughed even more heartily. “For this military review, I will certainly do my utmost for the Grand General… What do you think of me?”

“What?” Wang Qian was momentarily bewildered.

“I mean, what does Chief Clerk Wang think of me?” Gongsun Xun said, pointing a finger at his own face. “The root of Brother Suigao’s military review is to display strength so that the Son of Heaven dares not act rashly… That being the case, why must Cheng Demou, Guan Yunchang, and the others go to Luoyang? I, this person, still have some hollow reputation, and perhaps might even be worth two cups of wine. So let me personally set out and make a trip to Sili. How about that? No need for a military review, no need for clamor. As an idle man with no official post or duties, I will simply say I am going to Henei to visit friends and relatives, and directly lead five hundred Volunteer Followers to that place. I imagine the Son of Heaven would not think I am going there to help him, would he?”

Gongsun Xun’s several advisors each remained silent, clearly having received word earlier and merely waiting to see how things unfolded.

And Wang Qian, after staring blankly for a moment, once again gave a bitter smile: “If the Lord Marquis were to lead the White Horse Volunteer Followers to Henei, even with only five Company Commander troops facing each other across the river, it would far surpass ten thousand troops arrayed in Luoyang. This is naturally an excellent thing… but…”

“But what?” Gongsun Xun pressed mockingly.

“But with the Lord Marquis being a distinguished General of the Guards, I fear my Grand General cannot afford to invite you!” Wang Qian grew increasingly helpless. “Consider, Lord Marquis: the positions of General of Chariots and Cavalry and General of Agile Cavalry are both currently filled… The Lord Marquis holds the post of General of the Guards, and there is already no higher rank to which you can be promoted. I fear there is truly nothing with which to repay you!”

“I do not seek rank, but merely a specific office,” Gongsun Xun finally stated his demand. “I have heard that Liu Junlang is in Luoyang, constantly advocating for the Provincial Governor system, and that the Son of Heaven has been tempted several times. Then, aside from arranging for Cheng Demou to be transferred beforehand to serve as Commandant of Yuyang, after this matter is concluded, Xun would further request an appointment as Governor of Jizhou! Would that be acceptable?”

Wang Qian did not answer for a time, but instead turned once more to face south, gazing thoughtfully at the seemingly endless stretches of golden farmland below the mountain… No one knew how long passed before the man finally turned back, bowed deeply, and said: “If the Lord Marquis is indeed so inclined, I will do my utmost to assist you, my lord.”

——————I am the dividing line of not answering for a time——————

“In the past, when Yan Wu established his regime, the Empress Dowager and the Son of Heaven, both in their supreme honor, extensively cherished literary grace, such that talented scholars emerged together, and none gained greater renown than Can. Yet Can merely held the office of Regular Attendant and established the institutions of a generation; in terms of his modest virtue and magnanimous character, he did not match the purity of Wang Xiang.” — *New Book of Yan*, Biographies of the Literary Garden

PS: By the way, thanks to Brother Chaji for the Alliance… also an old reader… Looking back, I realize I’ve actually been writing books for several years now, and last month I even became a legendary Level 5 writer, which also stirs some emotion.

(End of Chapter)