[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-297":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},1223056,1620,"Chapter 297: Casually Brandishing a Treasured Sword That Stirs the Constellations","overthrowing-han-chapter-297",297,"\u003Cp>Whether out of regard for his identity as a military scion of Liangzhou, or for his steadily rising political standing in Luoyang, when Gai Xun came visiting lightly attended through the night, Gongsun Xun could not refuse to see him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it happened, both men came from border commandery aristocratic families. After meeting, they clasped hands amiably, exchanged a few pleasantries, drank two bowls of ginger broth to warm themselves, and then discussed the situation in Liangzhou, inevitably mentioning mutual acquaintances such as Fu Xie, who had died the year before, and Huangfu Song, now living in retirement in Fufeng — and in this way they gradually grew more familiar with each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the atmosphere steadily improve, Gai Xun decided to stop beating around the bush. Ignoring the presence of Han Dang and Xi Zhong, who were there to keep them company, and ignoring the two volunteer guards standing duty inside the tent entrance, he simply came straight to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"General of the Guard!\" Gai Xun pondered briefly, then clasped his hands from his seat. \"The realm is gradually tottering, and all those with insight know that one must make a decisive stand and commit fully if one is to restore the state. And you, General, bear the moral prestige of Hebei and have long been acclaimed as a tiger minister and good shepherd. Now, at this very moment, you have returned to the Sili region — this is, in truth, something the whole realm has long been awaiting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I dare not claim to bear such prestige,\" Gongsun Xun replied composedly from the host's seat. \"But on this journey I do indeed intend to act!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That being so, I have one perplexity, and I beg the General to resolve it.\" Gai Xun continued to hold his clasped-hands posture in a show of courtesy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Yuangu, please speak plainly,\" Gongsun Xun said, unconcerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then may I ask the General of the Guard,\" Gai Xun said, his gaze burning bright, \"this 'action' you intend on this journey — is it action on behalf of the Son of Heaven? Or action on behalf of the Grand General?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment these words were spoken, Xi Zhong, who had been sitting to one side in utter boredom, was suddenly stunned. Even the two volunteer guards standing with hands on their swords inside the tent immediately straightened their expressions. Han Dang, however, with the temperament he had tempered over many years, remained as oblivious as a fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet faced with so sharp a question, Gongsun Xun merely froze for an instant before letting out a snort of laughter. \"I had thought that Brother Yuangu, a loyal and steadfast man of Western Liang, would surely have words of gold and jade for me. I never expected only this level of discourse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What part of my words is incorrect?\" Gai Xun immediately responded with a solemn expression. \"The Grand General is merely the Son of Heaven's maternal uncle, and it is through that connection that he has obtained the authority to govern. The chronic maladies of this dynasty lie first with the eunuchs, and second, in truth, with the imperial in-laws. If...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And from where does the Son of Heaven's authority to govern come?\" Gongsun Xun suddenly interrupted, asking with evident disapproval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does the General of the Guard mean by that?\" Gai Xun asked, startled and alarmed. \"The Son of Heaven is supreme by birth!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Was Emperor Guangwu of our dynasty also supreme by birth?\" Gongsun Xun sneered again. \"May I ask Brother Yuangu, what is the meaning of the saying, 'Even if Emperor Cheng were reborn, the realm could not be obtained'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gai Xun's face turned pale, and he was left speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun's words alluded to a historical episode: when Emperor Guangwu, Liu Xiu, the founding emperor of the Later Han, was confronting Wang Lang, who had set himself up in Handan in Hebei, Wang Lang sent envoys claiming that he was a descendant of Emperor Cheng and therefore ought to possess the realm — that even if he surrendered, he should be made a marquis of ten Battalion Commander. Liu Xiu then spoke those words publicly in reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The record is clear for all to see, set down in the annals of history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In bringing up these words now, Gongsun Xun was not making some veiled comparison to his own ambitions; rather, he was very forcefully refuting Gai Xun's theory of being \"supreme by birth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One must understand: when Emperor Guangwu was born, Emperor Cheng of the Former Han had just died, and the one who was supreme by birth at that time was Emperor Cheng's nephew, Emperor Ai. If one truly followed the theory of being supreme by birth, then the realm should by all rights have remained in the line of Emperor Cheng. How then did it come to pass that there was a Guangwu Restoration?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, everyone also knows that it was because Emperor Guangwu, starting as a mere scholar from Nanyang, toiled for many years to reconquer the realm, and only thus was able to sit upon it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But knowing it is one thing; coming back to the matter at hand, could Gai Xun really hold his nose and refute the fundamental political principle that the two Han dynasties form one continuous entity? Could he say that Guangwu was a rebel and a usurper, rather than a scion of the Han imperial clan who answered Heaven's mandate and continued the Han?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, after a long silence, Gai Xun could only force out a counter-question: \"Then what does the Lord Marquis believe gave Emperor Shizu the right to possess the realm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course it was because Emperor Shizu had merit and virtue that he bestowed upon the realm,\" Gongsun Xun answered forthrightly, raising his voice. \"When I read the histories and came to the account of Emperor Shizu's establishment of institutions, the historian wrote: 'In that year, wild grains gradually grew scarce, and the acreage under cultivation daily grew more abundant'... from this I knew that the realm was indeed meant for Emperor Shizu to sit upon!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gai Xun was left even more speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Yuangu,\" Gongsun Xun said, and at this point he rose abruptly to his feet and faced him. \"You asked me whether I act for the Son of Heaven or for the Grand General. I will answer you now: I, Gongsun Xun, have come this far on this journey not for any private individual, but for the public good of the realm! This talk of yours about the Grand General and the Son of Heaven is, I fear, of a rather low order — if it were spread abroad, people would laugh at it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gai Xun was stunned for a long while. In the end, helpless, he could only rise and face him with respect: \"General, it was also for the public good that I wished you to join me in assisting the Son of Heaven...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you truly had the public good at heart, you would know that the realm has long ceased to hold the Northern Palace in any regard!\" Gongsun Xun said with a cold laugh. \"This Son of Heaven of ours, in his twenty years on the throne, has step by step caused the realm within the seas to disintegrate, turmoil to arise on every border, bandits and rebels to spring up everywhere, and the people to be left with no means of livelihood. Moreover, I have neither followed Wang Fen's example in plotting deposition and enthronement, nor followed Han Sui's example in acts of treason and rebellion. I have merely done as Fu Xie did when he heeded counsel — when the state has the Way, then serve; when the state lacks the Way, then sit quietly in one's place and await Heaven's timing. My earlier refusal of the imperial edict was simply because I no longer wished to be a money-raising tool for some private individual — how is that in any way impermissible?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gai Xun paused for a long time, then said helplessly: \"Lord Marquis, the Son of Heaven is in fact very intelligent...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know,\" Gongsun Xun replied, his cold laugh growing even more pronounced. \"And that is precisely why he has been able to bring calamity and chaos upon the realm to this extent!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing such blunt slander, Gai Xun could not help but heave a long sigh. He then rose from his mat, sat upright, and said: \"General, regarding the words you have spoken to me, I truly have no way to refute them; and regarding your resentment toward the Son of Heaven over past events, I also have nothing to say. You must understand, when the whole of Liangzhou fell, how could I not also have harbored resentment against the present Son of Heaven? But today I have words from the bottom of my heart, and I beg you to consider them clearly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please speak,\" Gongsun Xun said. Seeing the other man relent, he too sat back down composedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Son of Heaven today is not the same as the Son of Heaven of those days,\" Gai Xun said with a solemn expression. \"Since the start of this year, the Son of Heaven has in fact shown many signs of a desire to rouse himself — selecting the worthy and appointing the capable, rooting out disorder and securing the state...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now that is something new,\" came the mocking interjection from Xi Zhong, who had several times been on the verge of speaking but had seen Gongsun Xun fend off these reproaches on his own. \"Apart from the eunuchs, these are the first words of praise I have heard for that Son of Heaven in the Northern Palace in all these years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is true,\" Gai Xun explained helplessly. \"It is only that affairs of the realm often reach people's ears with considerable delay. At the end of last year, after Fu Nanrong's death, the Son of Heaven was deeply shaken, and thereafter he repeatedly took action. First he stripped Zhao Zhong of his position as General of Chariots and Cavalry, then he vigorously promoted Liu Yu, Liu Yan, and other important ministers of the imperial clan...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And not only that. Previously, the Liangzhou rebellion spread into Bingzhou, where the White Wave bandits and assorted Xiongnu tribes rose up together in the Xihe region. The Son of Heaven appointed Ding Yuan as Inspector of Bingzhou and Cui Jun as Grand Administrator of Xihe, and now the situation in Bingzhou has gradually improved. In this, can one say the Son of Heaven's appointments were inappropriate?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Or take the Qing-Xu Yellow Turbans, who seized Mount Tai and repeatedly threatened to press into Xuzhou. The Son of Heaven appointed Tao Qian as Inspector of Xuzhou, employing both suppression and amnesty, and now the situation in Xuzhou is also improving. The Qing-Xu Yellow Turbans holding Mount Tai can no longer advance southward — this too is something everyone knows.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And then there was the rebellion in southern Jingzhou at the end of last year. The Son of Heaven placed great trust in the Grand Administrator of Changsha, Sun Jian, who crossed borders to suppress the bandits. The Son of Heaven not only refrained from holding him accountable but even enfeoffed him as Marquis of Wucheng — is this not the bearing of a sage ruler?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is also Lu Kang, who had previously been dismissed and cast aside for remonstrating. He too was reinstated by the Son of Heaven and quelled the rebellion in Lujiang, and afterward was greatly commended by the Son of Heaven.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And there is Master Yang, who hung the fish to refuse bribes — he too was specially appointed and entrusted by the Son of Heaven, serving as Grand Administrator of Nanyang and then being promoted to the ranks of the high ministers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even the General of the Guard in Youzhou — was it truly only the Grand General's protection? Without the Son of Heaven's tacit consent, how could the General of the Guard, holding no official post, have brought stability to the northern frontier?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not to mention that the Son of Heaven has now established the Eight Colonels of the Western Garden, making many selections of outstanding talent. Beyond this, the court is also deliberating the institution of regional governors to deal with the realm's spreading disorder... 'Selecting the worthy and appointing the capable' is by no means empty talk!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And one more matter: in my role assisting with the troop review in Luoyang, the Son of Heaven himself said this very morning that he is willing to distribute the wealth and goods of the Western Garden to the troops under review. Must this too be harshly criticized?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this earnest speech, Gai Xun sat to the side of the mat and clasped his hands in salute: \"I beg the General of the Guard to consider this clearly. In my observation, the Son of Heaven truly intends to rouse himself and take action! If you and I, along with Colonel of the Central Army Yuan Shao and Grand Minister of Ceremonies Liu Yu, all join forces — first exterminating the eunuchs, then assisting the Son of Heaven while simultaneously curbing the Grand General's power — why should we worry that the realm cannot see 'wild grains gradually grow scarce' and 'the acreage under cultivation daily grow more abundant'? Why must the General of the Guard necessarily align himself with the Grand General?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun waited quietly for the other man to finish his lengthy discourse, showing no intention of rebutting him throughout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was very simple. First, what the other man said was true: judged solely by these appointments and measures, they could not be called fatuous or perverse — they could even be called selecting the worthy and appointing the capable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, there was no need to rebut him, because Gongsun Xun was inwardly quite certain that the Son of Heaven was about to die. Whether that selfish, utterly self-centered autocrat had truly been shaken and repentant over Fu Xie's death in the previous year, or had suddenly gone mad and decided to exert himself — in any case, he was going to die, so it was all useless!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for whether Gongsun Xun was moved? Of course not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just think about it... the one now patching up the holes is Liu Hong — but who was it that, for the sake of his own personal comfort, went around poking holes everywhere in the first place?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, I kill you for no reason, then feel a twinge of guilt, and then dig a pit to bury you — does that mean I'm no longer a murderer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And besides, Gongsun Xun did not believe, in his heart of hearts, that this Son of Heaven had truly repented. At most, the man had sensed that his body was failing, and so, for the sake of his offspring's security, he had begun to make a strenuous effort to paper over this realm that he, Liu Hong, had tormented to the point of near collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's right — having lived through so many events over the years, Gongsun Xun was, at the bottom of his heart, prejudiced against the Son of Heaven. He felt that this man, down to his very bones, was probably a selfish, self-centered autocrat until the day he died! It was just that now, faced with this situation, the Son of Heaven no longer dared to act recklessly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"General of the Guard!\" After his lengthy discourse, Gai Xun could not help but be full of hope. \"I beg you to see clearly... the Son of Heaven has truly come to an awakening!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh!\" Gongsun Xun responded as if suddenly understanding, then rose with a smile and inquired: \"Then may I ask Brother Yuangu... when these worthy talents you speak of assumed their posts, did they pay the official fee or not?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, the tent fell utterly silent, and then, after a brief pause, Xi Zhong actually burst out laughing despite himself. The two volunteer guards with their hands on their swords also wore strange expressions, and even the increasingly steady Han Dang seemed on the verge of laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, the ashen-faced Gai Xun forced himself to rise, but hesitated, wanting to speak yet stopping... for he had just recalled that among the examples he had cited, Yang Xu had only been able to rise as high as the Nine Ministers, and not to Grand Commandant, precisely because when he was originally slated to be appointed Grand Commandant, he had no money to hand over to the Western Garden, and had thereby angered the Son of Heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, the grand discourse on righteousness had been shattered by the story of Emperor Guangwu, and the argument about selecting the worthy and appointing the capable had been demolished with a single sentence. And Gai Xun was, after all, a man who cared about his dignity; unable to out-argue the other, he had nothing more to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, with a strained clasp of hands, he walked out directly, utterly crestfallen and disoriented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a word, Gongsun Xun rose and escorted him to the camp gate. Seeing the man standing solitary and alone beneath the crescent moon, he felt a pang of pity and could not help but call out a word of warning:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Yuangu, of all the myriad words you spoke today, one sentence was indeed correct — that the present Son of Heaven is extremely intelligent. And you are not the first person I have seen who believes he will rouse himself and is willing to die in his service. I won't mention those close at hand; there was one from farther back, named Yang Qiu, Yang Fangzheng!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gai Xun turned his head back, saying nothing, only shaking his head repeatedly. It was impossible to tell whether he was disappointed that Gongsun Xun had used sophistry to refuse to serve his sovereign and father, or whether he did not believe that he would end up like Yang Qiu, betrayed by the Son of Heaven!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the other party depart into the distance, Xi Zhong shook his head and laughed ruefully: \"The title of Son of Heaven is truly useful — even reduced to such a state, it can still command such a loyal and steadfast man to sell his life for him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun smiled without answering, but suddenly turned his head to look at a tall, imposing warrior beside him: \"Zitai, what do you think? Can the Son of Heaven be preserved?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Chou, who had just undergone his capping ceremony before coming, held his head high and gripped his sword, shaking his head slightly: \"Truly as my lord has said, our mission here is for the realm, not for private ends... With such a Son of Heaven on the throne, it is better to quietly await Heaven's timing, and then discuss the matter of righting the peril and settling the chaos.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well said!\" Gongsun Xun smiled faintly, then turned and went back inside the tent. \"The winter days are cold — have everyone prepare more firewood and build another sturdy, windproof stable... We will be staying here for some time longer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Dang, Xi Zhong, Tian Chou, and another volunteer retainer on duty — none other than Zhang Fan, Zhang Liao's own elder brother, who had followed Gongsun Xun for many years since Yanmen — all cupped their fists in acknowledgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, regardless of anything else, Gai Xun returned disappointed, and Yuan Benchu ultimately failed to 'drive the wolf to chase the tiger.' Thus, Gongsun Xun still sat quietly at the ford, fixing his gaze on Luoyang with a tiger-like, covetous stance, which set the Grand General's faction especially at ease, while leaving certain others perpetually helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a time, there was even a children's rhyme circulating in Luoyang, saying: 'In Henei there is a white horse, lying still like a tiger, like a dragon,' and so on...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By mid-October, the increasingly helpless Son of Heaven made one final attempt, dispatching Zhu Jun, Zhu Gongwei, who had returned from mourning, to serve as Grand Administrator of Henei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet in this realm today, probably over eighty percent of scholars and military officers were wishing this Son of Heaven would die sooner rather than later — men like Gai Xun were exceedingly rare!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon receiving his orders, Zhu Jun set out from Luoyang at once, but made a move that left everyone utterly speechless — he simply did not take the Mengjin crossing, but instead crossed the Yellow River at the more distant Wushe crossing, and then turned toward Huai County, the seat of Henei Commandery, to take up his post as Grand Administrator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This veteran general and meritorious official, always known for his firmness and strength, acted throughout as if he were entirely removed from the matter, not even showing his face to Gongsun Xun, let alone clashing with him as everyone had imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, the Son of Heaven, whose body grew weaker by the day, was utterly at a loss. Moreover, since his relationship with He Jin could only be described as seeking compromise through struggle, and they were ultimately not enemies, by late October, when the military review at Pingle Temple in Luoyang was held on schedule, the Son of Heaven still chose to accept his fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day, tens of thousands of infantry and cavalry formed ranks on the open ground outside Pingle Temple, arrayed in separate encampments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Pingle Temple, two high altars had been erected — one ten zhang high, topped with a twelve-tiered canopy; the other nine zhang high, topped with a nine-tiered canopy. The Son of Heaven personally entered the former, while the Grand General He Jin entered the latter, and the two jointly reviewed the troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, the Son of Heaven actually forced his body onward, donned armor, wore a sword, mounted his horse and rode forth, proclaiming himself the Supreme General, making three circuits of inspection left and right before barely managing to stop... And when he stopped, he publicly bestowed his own sword and the military tally upon the Grand General. At this moment, that Colonel of the Upper Army and Marshal of the Western Garden, Jian Shuo, who had previously been said to command even He Jin, merely stood below the platform leading a single battalion to receive inspection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, He Jin had won a complete victory, regaining the formal authority to command all the realm's troops, and this time the form in which he obtained military power was even more public, more solemn, and more indisputable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deed done, he brushed himself off and departed, yet could not fully conceal the merit and fame... Not to mention that Gongsun Xun's emergence from seclusion to assist He Jin this time came with negotiated compensation, even the troops who had been reviewed subsequently received a great deal of reward from the Western Garden, and were also to undergo inspection and receive promotions from Grand General He Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, as the eleventh month began, He Jin, a man of considerable political integrity, immediately lent his support to Liu Yan's proposal for the Zhou Mu system, which prompted the Son of Heaven, who already somewhat approved of the suggestion, to nod at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was not because the Son of Heaven was truly so fatuous as to allow the regions to grow powerful unchecked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the realm was now far too chaotic, with rebellions and bandits everywhere — the Zhou Mu system was indeed conducive to suppressing rebellions and stabilizing the regions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, the Zhou Mu appointment was not for an indefinite term, but a targeted post specifically established to quell rebellions; wherever there was unrest, a Zhou Mu could be temporarily appointed there, and where there was no unrest, the Cishi system would remain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, both the Son of Heaven and the Grand General, as well as the high ministers at the central government who understood the situation perfectly, knew that the authority and responsibility of a Zhou Mu were too great, and that only men both capable and reliable could be selected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the first appointment, the Zhou Mu of Yizhou, was settled on Liu Yan — this was a proposal Liu Junlang himself had brought when he first advocated for the Zhou Mu system; he wished to go to Yizhou to quell the chaos!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, it is worth adding that Liu Junlang had initially sought an assignment to Jiaozhou, but later, no one knew how, as discussions proceeded at the central government, it somehow became Yizhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time in Yizhou, on one hand, the Five Pecks of Rice sect was in internal turmoil — Zhang Xiu in Hanzhong and Zhang Lu in Ba Commandery were at odds with each other, and so both accepted the court's amnesty, settling down just as Zhang Yan had, which was also why Yizhou had previously had the spare strength to send troops to Wudu Commandery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, a second wave of Yellow Turbans had suddenly arisen, causing chaos in the heartland of Yizhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, Yizhou at this moment was in a state of semi-chaos, and from the central government's perspective, it truly seemed like a place that could still be saved, and that urgently needed someone sent to save it — precisely suitable for dispatching a weighty minister as Zhou Mu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Junlang, a dignified and weighty minister of the imperial clan, whose virtue and prestige were known throughout the realm — what reason was there not to trust him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so Liu Yan left his four sons in Luoyang to continue their official careers — those who were officials remained officials, those who were court gentlemen remained court gentlemen — and went alone to Shu Commandery to take up his post. His departure was utterly carefree, and met with great expectations from all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next was the Zhou Mu of Yuzhou, primarily to address the series of consequences brought by the summer floods — the autumn crop failures, the famines, and the current banditry... In any case, Yuzhou bordered Luoyang, and the court, without much thought or even blinking, dispatched Liu Yan's cousin, the Grand Coachman Huang Wan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Wan had nothing to say; he relinquished his post as Grand Coachman, took up the seal and cord of the Zhou Mu of Yuzhou, and also set off directly to assume office — after all, once past Huanyuan Pass, one was in Yingchuan, which was already Yuzhou territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at this moment, Grand General He Jin openly proposed a third candidate for Zhou Mu, suggesting that the General of the Guards, Gongsun Xun, be appointed Zhou Mu of Jizhou, to use his 'knowledge of military affairs' to thoroughly eliminate the million bandits entrenched in the Taihang Mountains and stabilize the overall situation in Hebei... As for the so-called Heishan Bandits and Zishan Bandits, their recruitment that day had only been a matter of expediency forced by the rebellion in Liangzhou!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now was the opportunity — they should be exterminated!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The various ministers at the central government debated back and forth; some thought it feasible, while others felt that since Gongsun Xun was already a general, it would suffice for him to bear the imperial staff and suppress the rebellion, with no need to take up the seal and cord of the Jizhou Mu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, when Gongsun Xun in Henei heard of such disputes as reported by Gongsun Yue and others, he was unconcerned — bearing the staff to sweep through the Taihang Mountains would also be fine... What difference did it make? If it really came to that, perhaps the three commanderies on the eastern side of Bingzhou, bordering the Taihang Mountains, could also be brought under his control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Grand General He Jin cared about face — how could he renege on something he had promised? Besides, having just barely regained military authority, and having received the Son of Heaven's certification to openly assume power, how could he be willing to back down?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, there was this small, lingering dispute at the central government.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was said that the main issue was the Son of Heaven's somewhat rebellious attitude toward the Grand General's aggressive stance, and Zhao Zhong, who had already thoroughly broken with Gongsun Xun, was also involved — the latter was mainly worried that if Gongsun Xun became Zhou Mu of Jizhou, he would directly wipe out the entire Zhao clan in Hebei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for men like Yuan Shao and Jian Shuo, they actually supported Gongsun Xun's appointment as Zhou Mu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You read that correctly — Yuan Benchu supported Gongsun Xun becoming the Zhou Mu of Jizhou. In fact, ever since Gongsun Xun had personally arrived at Mengjin, Yuan Benchu had ceased all such local schemes; at this point, his sole desire was for Gongsun Xun to leave Mengjin quickly, to get as far from Luoyang as possible, with no other thought! One could even say that for as long as Gongsun Xun remained at Mengjin, our Paragon of the Realm did not sleep peacefully for a single day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could it be otherwise? He had no way of knowing that in just one more year, the realm would fracture into warlordism! All he thought of now was how to execute the eunuchs after the Son of Heaven's death, thereby vaulting the Yuan clan into becoming one of the ruling powers!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this line of thinking was, truly, correct!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jian Shuo's thoughts were actually similar — he too had been frightened by Gongsun Xun's tiger-like, covetous stance; for as long as the other party remained at Mengjin, his own authority over the Imperial Guard could not be secured for a single day!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But such disputes, with their complex motives, were irrelevant to the larger picture. Neither Gongsun Xun nor He Jin worried that the matter would go unresolved — because after the military review, the Son of Heaven's physical condition was visibly and steadily deteriorating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun could even be certain that this Son of Heaven, having likely overindulged in pleasure in daily life, had contracted some severe, so-called chronic illness of the kind Lady Gongsun spoke of, and was sliding toward the brink of death in a slow yet inexorable manner that was plain for all to see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Gongsun Xun's thinking was very clear: sit tight in Henei, secure the post of Jizhou Mu, then promptly get out. Once the situation shifted in a single stroke, he would sweep through Hebei, and from there advance to seize the realm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even, if time allowed, when the incident erupted the following year, he could preemptively lead his grand army into Luoyang, execute the eunuchs and quell the chaos, secure Guanxi to the left, stabilize the Central Plains to the right, and scourge the realm — that too was not out of the question!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, like a sudden clap of thunder on level ground, just as Gongsun Xun was growing somewhat eager and restless, finding it hard to restrain himself, suddenly, countless mounted scouts came from the west: the Liangzhou rebel army, claiming a hundred thousand strong, had marched out of Liangzhou, entered the Three Adjuncts, and was bearing directly down on Chang'an, still flying the banner of 'Execute the Eunuchs.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The realm was shaken once more, and Luoyang was thrown into momentary panic! Nearly everyone recalled that rumor — that Luoyang would see armed conflict, and that blood would flow in the Two Palaces!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, Gongsun Xun at Mengjin was also somewhat bewildered... He had never imagined that the words he had used to fob off Xu You that day would actually come true! In all honesty, he knew many things that would happen later, even details of certain events in the coming year, but he truly did not know that in this winter, the Western Liang rebel army would actually march out of Liangzhou in full force to attack Guanzhong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ridiculously, he had earlier secretly laughed at Yuan Shao for supporting his bid for Jizhou Mu, but now, looking at it, in a certain sense, he, Gongsun Xun, and Yuan Benchu were much of a muchness! Clearly a pair of self-righteous, laughable fools!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What came next? How could the court possibly still discuss the Jizhou Mu?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The matter is accomplished!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Northern Palace, outside the Son of Heaven's bedchamber in the Western Garden, in the cold winter wind, Zhang Rang, hands tucked into his sleeves, sought out Colonel of the Upper Army Jian Shuo, and then spoke, each word deliberate. \"Have the Grand General, Yuan Benchu, Gongsun Wenqi, Gai Yuangu, and all the rest lead their troops to Chang'an to resist the Western Liang rebels. Then the matters following the Son of Heaven's passing can be handled by you, Colonel of the Upper Army! At that time, the Colonel of the Upper Army can live up to the Son of Heaven's weighty trust, and we old slaves can also survive under your wing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having spoken, Zhang Rang, the foremost eunuch of the Northern Palace, faced Jian Shuo, that former minor Yellow Gate attendant, and bowed with the utmost reverence, prostrating himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For no apparent reason, Jian Shuo, panting heavily, suddenly recalled that jar of wine Gongsun Xun had left on the boat back in Hedong... He had almost forgotten its taste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——————— I am the dividing line that updates even on Christmas ——————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xun had already formed a conspiracy with Yuan Shao and Liu Yu. Colonel of the Upper Army Jian Shuo, troubled by this, happened upon the news that a hundred thousand Liangzhou rebels were raiding the Three Adjuncts, throwing Guanzhong into chaos. Shuo then plotted with the Regular Palace Attendants to persuade Emperor Ling to transfer Xun to be Intendant of Jingzhao. Xun received the decree and was anxious; he therefore sought an audience with the Emperor, but the Supervisor of the Yellow Gate, citing the Son of Heaven's illness, denied him entry. Again a Yellow Gate attendant came bearing the decree, shouting rebukes: 'Does the Intendant of Jingzhao dare defy the decree?!' This happened repeatedly, until Xun finally accepted the appointment. About to depart, Xun gazed at the heavens and sighed: 'The General of the Guards truly did not deceive me — today I understand the affair of Yang Qiu!'\" — From the Dianlüe, annotated by Pei Songzhi of Yan\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Merry Christmas, everyone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",5764,"2026-06-04T19:42:26.060Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","8465f32e46656061dc5d82804e38c8348e9556e59a947d242537f88ac228b4f8","overthrowing-han-chapter-298","overthrowing-han-chapter-296",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]