Chapter 294: Three Thousand Li from Henan to Saibei

Just as Liu Xuande, with a resolute and decisive stance, accepted Cao Cao's invitation, at the very same moment, Gongsun Xun, having received from the Youzhou Inspectorate the signal of Cheng Pu's transfer to Yuyang Commandant, also immediately set out according to plan.

However, unlike Liu Bei, although Gongsun Xun also wished to travel to Sili with banners furled and drums silent, his status was simply too high, so it was impossible for this General of the Guard to truly go lightly and alone.

In fact, just before departure, the mere assembly of the White Horse Volunteers and the handover of matters here caused the area below Mount Mang at Changping to bustle with extraordinary activity... For a time, squadrons and groups of riders could be described as coming and going like dragons!

This was the distinctive character of the border commanderies; apart from a few pure classical scholars like Wei You, the vast majority of border commandery gentry and magnate sons all rode horses and wore swords, drew bows and practiced with spears, and moreover led retinues when traveling.

Not to mention that many chieftains of foreign tribes were also mixed in among them.

"Has the headman of the Mohu tribe still not arrived?" Eighteen-year-old Tian Yu, acting as a member of the White Horse Volunteers for the first day, was inevitably somewhat unsteady. "Chief Clerk Lü keeps asking... Chengde is so close, how can he still not be here?"

The crowd seated in the outer hall awaiting summons looked at each other, but no one answered; it was very clear that Mohu Tan was indeed not present.

Tian Yu had no choice but to turn back from the outer hall to the inner chamber to report to Lu Fan... However, what he did not know was that, separated by a single General of the Guard's mansion, in the rear courtyard of the Anli Trading Company's merchant hostel to the south, Gongsun Xun, who should have been facing the heroes of the three commanderies, was at this moment actually alone, speaking face-to-face with Mohu Tan about something.

"So, the matter is settled?" Gongsun Xun, who had hurried over, inquired with rare solemnity.

"Rest assured, my lord." Mohu Tan, now also entering middle age, still prostrated himself on the ground to answer as respectfully as that destitute fellow of years past upon seeing the other arrive. "How would this humble one dare delay my lord's important affairs? As soon as Brother Yigong reached Chengde, I personally led a dozen trusted men and waited until..."

"There is no need to elaborate on the details." Gongsun Xun frowned and interrupted him. "Yigong is just outside the door; he will naturally explain everything clearly to me. As long as the matter is accomplished, that is enough... Mohu Tan, I will not hide it from you, this merit of yours is truly no small thing to me. I will keep it in my heart, and there will be an accounting sooner or later. Rise."

Mohu Tan was immediately overjoyed: "My lord is clear in rewards and punishments; this humble one has always been sincerely convinced and submitted."

Gongsun Xun could not help but laugh upon hearing this: "You now wear Han clothing, speak the Han tongue, and even use idioms. I almost cannot recognize you as a Xianbei man... If you ask me, you might as well change to a proper Han name; it would sound more agreeable to the ear."

Mohu Tan, who had just climbed to his feet, was momentarily quite embarrassed but did not respond to this suggestion.

"Let us set that aside for now." Gongsun Xun did not mind and directly continued with his instructions. "These past few days, I have actually been waiting for news from you and Yigong. Since the matter is settled, I can also leave Youzhou with peace of mind..." Pausing here, Gongsun Xun, relying on his height, looked down at the increasingly deferential Mohu Tan. Seeing that the other had no superfluous reaction, he then continued. "I do not know when I will return from this journey, so there are some words I must still exhort you with."

"My lord, please speak."

"You are in Chengde, serving as the northern gateway for the three commanderies of Guangyang. You must be careful on my behalf to guard against the Xianbei and the Wuhuan. It is not that I fear them, but rather that if those mixed barbarian scum were truly allowed to surge into the foundation of my power, cleaning them up would be somewhat troublesome... Especially the Wuhuan chieftain of Youbeiping, Wuyan, who styles himself the Hanlu King. Even Qiuliju and Kebineng can settle down, yet he spends his days leaping and bounding about outside Lulong Fortress, unable to find peace for a single moment."

"Rest assured, my lord." Mohu Tan immediately raised his head and guaranteed, "This humble one swears an oath here: I cannot control Lulong Fortress, but here at Chengde, I will absolutely not allow those mixed barbarians to break through. Otherwise, let my Mohu tribe be utterly extinguished for it... As for Wuyan, if my lord has the intention, just leave him to me as well. That man's strength is merely a hundred-odd encampments; fully mobilized, he has only two or three thousand men. A clownish figure, yet he dares call himself king! Within one winter and one spring, I will certainly settle him for my lord beyond the frontier!"

Mohu Tan was impassioned and fervent, but Gongsun Xun could not help falling silent for a moment.

It must be said, when Lady Gongsun and more than half of the Gongsun clan members moved into Liaodong, while he, Gongsun Xun, placed his focus on the heartland of Youzhou—namely the three commanderies of Yuyang, Guangyang, and Zhuo Commandery—the two commanderies of Liaoxi and Youbeiping, serving as the corridor connecting North China and the Liaohe Plain, inevitably appeared somewhat weak... Especially that critical five-hundred-li corridor, with the Liaoxi Wuhuan Qiuliju tribe to the east and the rising Xianbei power Kebineng tribe to the west, both truly great powers with tens of thousands of soldiers, was truly a cause for worry.

One could even say outright that this connecting region was the weakest point in Gongsun Xun's Youzhou layout.

But this was also a matter beyond help, because it involved geographical reasons insurmountable by human effort and historical debts—north of the Yanshan mountain range was a gradually rising hilly zone with complex terrain, a natural dwelling for small nomadic tribes, but for the main Han armies, there were only those few pathways; as for the critical position of the Liaoxi Wuhuan, it was originally a deliberate act by the Han court back then.

At the end of the year before last and the beginning of last year, Gongsun Xun had actually already dispatched troops once, fighting a small battle with Kebineng beyond the frontier, and taking the opportunity to hold a covenant assembly with the Liaoxi Wuhuan and the local so-called hundred tribes of mixed barbarians... This could already be considered targeted suppression and pacification, but it still could not change the objective reality that the Kebineng and Qiuliju tribes existed and were powerful.

And precisely because of this, Gongsun Xun inevitably needed to rely on local powers; Mohu Tan's ability to establish a city at Chengde was a result under this background.

In all fairness, this helpless indulgence was an established strategy, a helpless choice made after discussion between Lady Gongsun and Gongsun Xun. Gongsun Xun's trusted advisors also approved after discussion, and Mohu Tan himself had always been obedient. Yet Gongsun Xun still harbored some vigilance from the bottom of his heart.

Because the education of border commandery noble sons he received from childhood, and some historical 'trajectories' Lady Gongsun later slowly recounted, both made Gongsun Xun somewhat uneasy about Mohu Tan's identity as a foreigner.

Returning to the present, thinking back, when he first met Mohu Tan, that fellow had only two or three hundred motley soldiers, then five or six hundred able-bodied men, then two or three thousand troops, and now he vaguely had the shape of four or five thousand troops... One could only say that over these ten-odd years, those in this world who strove ever forward were not only him, Gongsun Xun.

And if he were truly allowed to swallow these two thousand Wuhuan tribesmen, he would then have six or seven thousand bowstring warriors! In the future, when the Central Plains fell into turmoil and he himself was powerless to handle matters beyond the frontier, would he end up raising a true vicious tiger from this? At this thought, Gongsun Xun naturally hesitated.

"Does my lord have another idea?" Mohu Tan had been speaking until spittle flew, but seeing no agreement from Gongsun Xun, his heart also chilled.

"It is not that I have another idea." Gongsun Xun sighed for a moment. "I just feel there is no need for such trouble; it would be better to prioritize driving them away... Drive them to the side of Liucheng in the north; the Duan tribe is there and can also assist you somewhat."

Hearing these words, Mohu Tan, who had spent over a decade struggling and surviving in the cracks between great powers, understood immediately: his own expansion had been too rapid, so much so that the other party now harbored wariness.

Thus, the headman of the Mohu tribe, disregarding his heartache, immediately responded with a solemn expression: "Rest assured, my lord, I will certainly unite with Duan Ririming with one heart and drive Wuyan three hundred li beyond the border walls!"

Seeing the other so obedient, Gongsun Xun nodded slightly, then paid him no further mind. He turned, joined Han Dang who was guarding the courtyard gate, and went north to meet those heroes of the three Youzhou commanderies.

Mohu Tan naturally hurried to follow as well.

It was not only beyond the frontier; affairs within the three commanderies were also complex. Gongsun Xun busied himself for a day and a night, meeting many people and entrusting many matters. Only on the morning of the second day did he muster five hundred Volunteers, take Lou Gui, Han Dang, and Xi Zhong, three trusted aides, along with Wei Yue, that 'hunting dog,' and head straight south.

It is worth mentioning that this time, apart from Lu Fan, who naturally stayed behind in Guangyang, Wang Xiu, Du Ji, Chang Lin, Zao Zhi, and others, who were adept at internal administration, also did not go. Even Han Hao was specially left behind with Yang Kai to serve as a direct force under Lu Fan, leading three hundred Volunteers still stationed below Mount Mang. As for the five hundred Volunteers Gongsun Xun brought on this journey, more than half were newly recruited members. Among them were local Youzhou gentry and magnate sons, such as Tian Chou, Tian Yu, Zhang Nan, Jiao Chu, Wen Ze, Zou Dan, and others, all included... It was clearly an opportunity seized by Gongsun Xun.

Five hundred White Horse riders, each also leading a packhorse to carry burdens, traveled from north to south, unhurried and steady along the open areas of the North China Plain. They quickly descended smoothly, arriving at Henei at their leisure in the tenth month, and went directly to encamp beside the ferry crossing on the Henei side of Mengjin!

White horses like a forest—this was a unique symbol under heaven. Moreover, the route mostly passed through places where Gongsun Xun had served and fought. Therefore, as soon as he arrived in Henei, all under heaven knew. If the Son of Heaven could not act, then this troop review would be a victory for the Grand General He Jin!

And at this time, Liu Bei had just returned to Luoyang with Cao Cao after laboriously recruiting troops in Yuzhou.

As for Zhang Yang, Zhang Liao, and the others sent by the Inspector of Bing Province, Ding Yuan, although they had arrived earlier, they were merely encamped at the ferry crossing on the south side of Mengjin... Ordinarily, they were not even permitted to enter the gates of Luoyang.

"That is the Grand General's envoy, Chief Clerk Wang Jun himself has come. I hear his grandfather and father both ranked among the Three Excellencies; he is from a top-tier famous clan." Inside the encampment on the Luoyang side of Mengjin, Yang Chou, a subordinate of Zhang Yang and acting Junhou, leaned on the stockade fence, looking at the boats on the river and the flags at the ferry, striving to identify them. "There are also envoys from the General of Agile Cavalry, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, and envoys from the Three Excellencies have all come. The rest should be high ministers and great officials who have come in person to pay respects or sent envoys to convey greetings, right? For such a scene, they must at least be officials of the two-thousand-shi rank, like Captains, right?"

Hearing these words and looking at the dense array of insignia and flags at the ferry, the former Bing Province Wumeng Attendant, now acting Major Zhang Yang Zhang Zhishu, standing to the side, also did not know what to say.

"Major, look over there!" Suddenly, Yang Chou loudly exclaimed again. "Is that the Northern Army Captain, Lu Bu Lu Fengxian? Last month you took us to Luoyang to pay him a visit; he's from the commandery neighboring yours... Back then, everyone thought it was already remarkable for a fellow from the border commanderies of Bing Province to become a Captain, and now he has actually come in person to pay respects to the General of the Guard!"

Under the early winter afternoon sunlight of late autumn, visibility was good. Zhang Yang, with his keen eyesight, also spotted Lu Bu from afar. He saw him riding abreast with two other officers wearing green ribbons and silver seals, and one wearing a black ribbon and bronze seal, talking and laughing as they went. Judging by appearances, the three around him were either colleagues or old acquaintances.

Such a demeanor was clearly not the same as when he had met them, those 'down-and-out fellow townsmen,' back then.

And as Zhang Yang carefully scrutinized these four men, each different in height, build, and weight, a thought suddenly stirred in his heart.

It must be said, Zhang Zhishu was different from Yang Chou. Yang Chou only knew to watch the excitement, while Zhang Yang, as the leader of the Bing Province troops, understood from the very beginning the strangeness between the Grand General and the Son of Heaven behind this troop review... As for so many people before his eyes, to say nothing else, just speaking of Lu Bu and the three men beside him, these four were certainly officers of the Luoyang Imperial Guard. However, since they were Imperial Guard officers, even if discipline was somewhat lax with the review imminent, how could they casually leave Luoyang and cross the river to the opposite side under normal circumstances?

It must be known, the opposite side was Henei territory!

So there was no need to ask; this was certainly the doing of the Grand General He Jin. He had either directly issued an order, or half-pushed, half-allowed these men to take leave, and then hinted something, only then could they all cross the river and come here.

And having figured out this key point, Zhang Yang could not help but be tempted, preparing to follow this fellow townsman to show his face before the General of the Guard... After all, although he, Zhang Shuzhi himself, was merely an acting Major, at this moment he represented Ding Yuan, and even the entire Bing Province military establishment, so he still had some slight standing. Perhaps he could become known throughout the land in one stroke.

Of course, that was hard to say.

Because while it was easy enough to approach Lu Bu, judging by the scene before him, the General of the Guard would inevitably have too many people to see today, and each one was a high official or prominent noble. If he shamelessly went along with his fellow townsman, only to find that upon arrival, the General of the Guard did not recognize who he was and simply refused to see him, then wouldn't this trip just be a loss of face in front of his fellow townsman?

However, just as Zhang Yang hesitated, unsure whether to step forward and greet Lu Bu, suddenly, not only Yang Chou beside him, but half the people at the ferry crossing were momentarily stunned and broke into an uproar. Then everyone at the entire ferry crossing stopped as if under a paralysis spell.

Zhang Yang looked in that direction and was also instantly astonished. It turned out that on the official road to the south, a contingent of men bearing a imperial warrant had actually arrived!

In other words, the Son of Heaven had also sent someone to Mengjin at the first opportunity!

With no time to ponder the political implications, seeing everyone halt and wait quietly, preparing to let the Son of Heaven's envoy board the boat first to cross the river and see the General of the Guard, Zhang Yang suddenly realized one thing clearly—since the Son of Heaven had sent an envoy here, the General of the Guard would certainly not be able to see too many people today. Did that mean he need not worry about losing face in front of his fellow townsman?

In that case, he might as well just follow the crowd and go.

With this thought, Zhang Shuzhi said nothing, but directly led out a fine horse and, without drawing attention amid the chaos, quietly moved up behind Lu Bu.

"Xuande, look over there. There will be a spectacle to watch on the other side of the river today." Beside Lu Bu, a short man with narrowed eyes wearing a green ribbon and silver seal, seeing the imperial envoy's procession pass by, simply sneered repeatedly.

Hearing these words, the pale, beardless man wearing a black ribbon and bronze seal—none other than Liu Bei Liu Xuande—remained expressionless and utterly speechless... It was unclear whether he was in a bad mood or naturally had a paralyzed face.

The imperial envoy boarded the boat and crossed the river. The ferry crossing bustled once more as everyone set off to follow. Only when it was time to board did Lu Bu notice an extra young fellow from his hometown behind him, but he said nothing about it and instead introduced him to Cao Cao, Xu Rong, and Liu Bei.

Xu Rong aside, who were Cao Cao and Liu Bei? Even Liu Bei, preoccupied as he was, did not neglect propriety, which immediately put the uninvited Zhang Yang at ease, as if bathed in a spring breeze.

Correspondingly, however, it was only at this moment that Zhang Yang discovered an extra young fellow from his hometown behind him as well. He likewise could not very well say anything in public. On the contrary, he too had to hold his nose and introduce him to everyone: "Gentlemen, this is the Bingzhou Attendant, Zhang Liao, Zhang Wenyuan. He just came of age this year, but because of his outstanding martial valor, he has been quite well-known in the province since his youth. For this entry into Luoyang, our esteemed governor, considering the need for brave warriors to add luster to the military review, specially selected him as an Attendant!"

"Greetings to all my superiors," said the tall and sturdy Zhang Liao, who had secretly followed Zhang Yang onto the boat, cupping his hands in salute yet with an air of proud self-assurance. "Actually, what Brother Zhishu just said was not quite right. Although I have been known in the province since my youth, it is not because of any martial valor, but rather for my fame in cuju... I do not mean to boast, but ever since I bound my hair, my cuju skills in the province have been said to be without rival!"

Hearing this, Cao Cao stroked his beard and laughed heartily. Liu Bei remained silent as before. Lu Bu was momentarily curious. Xu Rong was baffled and uncomprehending. Zhang Yang wore an expression of utter disdain.

——————I am the dividing line of utter disdain——————

"Zhang Liao, styled Wenyuan. A man of Mayi in Yanmen. Originally a descendant of Nie Yi, he changed his surname to avoid enmity. In his youth he served as a commandery clerk. At the end of Han, the Inspector of Bingzhou, Ding Yuan, considering Liao's martial strength to surpass others, summoned him as an Attendant and sent him with troops to the capital." — Old Book of Yan, Scroll 71, Biographies, No. 21

PS: Wishing everyone success in their graduate school exams!

(End of Chapter)