Chapter 298: The Commissioner of the Three Rivers Recruits Youths (Debt Repayment Success)

The power of the emperor is a profoundly subtle thing.

It is a kind of authority condensed from the hearts of the people through the system; when effective, it can stir up storms of blood and terror at any moment, but when ineffective, it is nothing more than that — and the process of transition is extremely delicate and swift.

Just a few months ago, when the Son of Heaven's illness was not yet apparent, although everyone under heaven wished this emperor would get lost, any truly intelligent person still knew that Wang Fen's scheme to depose and replace him was absolute nonsense, and its chance of success was extremely low!

But very soon, as the Son of Heaven's illness became evident, even though the man was not yet dead, the people's hearts immediately began to waver. And as the Grand General challenged the Son of Heaven — or rather, succeeded in seizing power — everyone immediately lost all feeling for the still-living, still-lucid Son of Heaven in the Northern Palace. Instead, they all felt a sense of relief, and many even began to roll up their sleeves in anticipation...

However, when a hundred thousand Liangzhou rebels surged out from that corner of Liangzhou, attempting to seize the western capital of Chang'an, everything became subtle once more... The fear of the cowardly toward the Liangzhou rebels, and the worry of the loyal about the consequences of Chang'an's fall, instead granted new political vitality to the ailing Son of Heaven on his sickbed.

A legitimate Son of Heaven who had reigned for over twenty years, under the banner of defending the Sili region, could make any political decision without permitting anyone to refuse!

Because that was Chang'an, that was Guanzhong, that was the very lifeblood of the Han dynasty!

Chang'an is six hundred li from Luoyang; Tongguan is four hundred li from Luoyang.

But in reality, these numbers cannot accurately describe the true distance between the two, because the Guanzhong Plain — that is, the Weihe Plain — is flat and open, a single integrated whole. From a military perspective, once the rebels occupy Guanzhong, the mere four hundred li from Tongguan to Luoyang becomes utterly meaningless. Because the rebels would then hold the mighty pass, occupy the strategically advantageous terrain, while Luoyang would have no defensible positions.

Therefore, this political responsibility is one that no one but a dying legitimate Son of Heaven could shoulder — not even He Jin could... Having not slaughtered pigs for many years, he has lived a life of luxury and ease, and it is said he has long since grown fat; where would he find the strength?

And correspondingly, the strategy that Zhang Rang offered to Jian Shuo hit the nail right on the head.

The first person to leave was Gai Xun; he was appointed Intendant of Jingzhao — that is, the governor of the commandery where Chang'an is located — to go west and resist the rebels.

There was no helping it; Zhang Rang and the other old eunuchs were very clear-headed. In their hearts, they knew that the Son of Heaven's body was failing after all, and this was not the time to show their faces and attract hatred. So they egged on the younger Jian Shuo, having him use the pretext of protecting the imperial second son, Liu Xie, to truly step forward and handle this matter.

And for Jian Shuo himself, Gai Xun was his most direct political rival in terms of sentiment, because this man from Liangzhou was competing with him for the Son of Heaven's favor.

When Gai Xun received the decree, it struck him like a bolt from the blue... It was not that he feared the Liangzhou rebels, nor that he was unwilling to go and stop them; in fact, he knew the Liangzhou rebels inside and out and was happy to serve in this capacity. But the timing was too sensitive. What truly made this loyal man of Liangzhou unable to accept it was that, at the final moment, this Son of Heaven had ultimately chosen the eunuch Jian Shuo as the guarantor of his posthumous affairs, and not him, Gai Yuangu.

Just imagine, without the Son of Heaven's nod, how could the Imperial Secretariat possibly have drafted the decree honestly according to procedure?

Gai Xun neither accepted the decree nor refused it on the spot; he merely attempted to go to the Western Garden to have an audience with the Son of Heaven, yet was actually denied entry. Instead, the young eunuch who delivered the decree followed him to the front of the Western Garden and publicly demanded that he accept the edict at once... And Gai Yuangu, after all, was not Gongsun Xun. Thus, just like Yang Qiu, who years ago kowtowed endlessly before the palace hall, he too ultimately could not refuse the imperial command!

And so, with military affairs urgent, the newly appointed Intendant of Jingzhao, Gai Xun, in a daze, accepted the imperial edict that very day and hurried off toward Chang'an. Before departing, the man said not a word, merely sighed toward the heavens, and rode away, leaving those who had come upon hearing the news to see him off feeling an overwhelming sense of desolation.

Everyone knew that the eunuchs, borrowing the political correctness of resisting the Western Liang rebels, had once again put the sharp blade of imperial power to use — a small test of the blade, and a great success!

The next target was not Gongsun Xun and Yuan Shao, but the Grand General He Jin — the reason was very simple: whether Gongsun Xun or Yuan Shao, the reason they currently had the confidence to openly or covertly challenge the Son of Heaven here was, in the final analysis, because they had the signboard of the Grand General to shelter them from wind and rain. The Grand General's existence allowed part of the legitimacy of the Han imperial power to be transferred outside the Northern Palace.

And after the Son of Heaven, on his sickbed, listened carefully to Jian Shuo explain his plan, he made his choice almost immediately... because he was truly worried about his youngest son, Liu Xie!

Liu Xie was not yet ten years old this year, clever and adorable, and his relationship with his elder brother Liu Bian was also very good, so there was no need to worry about fratricide. But as someone who shared her bed, the Son of Heaven knew all too well what kind of person his Empress — the mother of the eldest imperial son Liu Bian, and the younger sister of Grand General He Jin — truly was! If no arrangements were made, Liu Xie would, nine times out of ten, be done to death by Empress He, just as she had so easily done to death Liu Xie's birth mother, the Beautiful Lady Wang, years ago.

Previously, having Dong Zhong, the nephew of Empress Dowager Dong who raised Liu Xie, appointed as Grand General of Agile Cavalry, and having Jian Shuo establish the Eight Captains of the Western Garden, was of course to restrain Grand General He Jin. But why restrain him? Was it not so that Liu Xie could be properly preserved?

When a man is about to die — or rather, when such a selfish man is about to die — the only things that can tug at his heart are his two sons.

Deposing the elder and establishing the younger might have been merely an impulse and a kind of backup plan; having both sons survive intact was his fundamental wish.

It was precisely based on this psychology that the Son of Heaven, after pondering briefly, summoned the Gentleman Attendant at the Yellow Gate and then publicly issued an edict, ordering the Grand General to lead troops to Guanzhong to resist the Western Liang rebels.

The Son of Heaven's sacred will was open and aboveboard, beyond dispute, and the edict was issued without haste. It passed through the Yellow Gate Supervisor to the Imperial Secretariat; after review, the Imperial Secretariat formally drafted the decree, which was then taken back by the Yellow Gate Supervisor, ready to be formally conveyed with imperial credentials to the Grand General early the next morning.

In truth, even before the decree was formally drafted, He Jin, who already had some control over the Imperial Secretariat, learned of the news — and then found himself utterly helpless... because he could not refuse this decree!

As the Grand General who commanded all the troops under heaven, how could he possibly refuse a decree to defend Chang'an?

If he truly did such a thing, the legitimacy of his position as Grand General would likely be half lost immediately. But with the situation in Luoyang as it was, who knew how long the Son of Heaven could hold on? If he left now, wouldn't he be handing over everything he had previously gained to Jian Shuo?

"What is to be done?"

In his panic and urgency, Grand General He Jin summoned the wise and strategic minds from his staff and command overnight to discuss this matter together.

At this time, He Jin had a great many wise and strategic men under him; those with names and surnames were roughly these:

Chief Clerk Wang Qian (from a line of two generations of Three Excellencies); Registrar Chen Lin; Major Xu Liang (the initiator of the military review); Attendant Clerk Wang Yun; Ordinance Officer Bian Rang (the teacher of Yang Jun); and Officials of the Grand General's Office — Kuai Yue, Wang Kuang, Wu Kuang, Wu Fu.

Beyond these, there were also a great many people who had been transferred from He Jin's office to various posts throughout Luoyang, as well as those directly promoted and employed by him:

Such as General of the Gentlemen of the Tiger Guard Kong Rong; General of the Gentlemen of the Feathered Forest Huan Dian (the former "Piebald Horse Censor"); Northern Army Inspectors Liu Biao and Bao Xin; Remonstrance Grandee Zhong Shao; and Intendant of the Palace Censorate Dong Fu (the one who told Liu Yan that Yizhou had the aura of a Son of Heaven)...

And after the military review ended, when the troops from various regions that had entered Luoyang and most of the Western Garden's Imperial Army formally pledged allegiance to the Grand General, this list would also include Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Zhang Yang, Zhang Liao, and a whole host of others.

Beyond these, Gongsun Xun's clansman Gongsun Yue, Liu Yan's eldest son Liu Fan, and Dong Zhuo's younger brother Dong Min were also all in this group; they represented a very important link in He Jin's power structure.

As for those stationed in various places who could not easily leave their posts, there were even more — the commanders guarding the eight passes of Luoyang, the ministers in the Imperial Secretariat, the provincial governors and administrators in the outer regions — too many to count.

Of course, with so many people, it was certainly impossible for all of them to meet with He Jin face to face. He Jin's core decision-making circle could only consist of his directly subordinate officials in the Grand General's Office, along with the most outstanding of his partisans placed in various posts around Luoyang. As for the newly arrived Western Garden Imperial Army and local armed forces, with the sole exception of Yuan Benchu, everyone else — from Cao Cao on down — could only carry a little stool and sit in the outer hall, waiting to hear the decisions made inside!

That's right — Cao Mengde had been squeezed out!

But who could blame him, given his awkward status? The outer relatives and the scholar-officials were sharpening their knives to deal with the eunuchs. Although you, Cao Mengde, had submitted a pledge of allegiance the moment you entered officialdom, when it came to matters of life and death, who could truly trust you?

Perhaps your childhood friend Yuan Benchu could trust you; perhaps your comrade-in-arms Gongsun Xun could trust you. But what about the others? What about the Grand General?

Thus, Cao Mengde, despite his rank as a two-thousand-bushel Captain of the Imperial Army, could only sit awkwardly in the outer hall, drinking with a group of thousand-bushel military officers, while preparing to offer his opinion on the decisions made by the front-row figures in the inner hall... He could hear and laugh, hear and rage, hear and rejoice, hear and sigh — but he could not directly participate.

In the same boat as him were Liu Bei, Zhang Yang, Zhang Liao, and others, as well as the lower-ranking military officers and subordinate officials of the Grand General's Office, such as Wang Kuang, Wu Kuang, Wu Fu, and even the attendants brought by Yuan Shao and others, such as Wu Chen and his ilk.

Of course, compared to Cao Cao, this group of people could not even manage to "hear and laugh" — they lacked the qualifications to laugh at the people inside.

The night in Luoyang was deep and dark, and the Grand General's mansion had gathered far too many people, with even more to come in the future. Among these people, there were dragons and tigers, snakes and worms; some were utterly loyal and wished to support the Han dynasty, some were wolf-hearted and dog-lunged, solely scheming for personal advancement, some colluded with each other with grand designs, and some kept their mouths shut, seeking only to preserve themselves... Yet there were hardly any who were truly loyal to Grand General He Jin!

"What is to be done?" Under the red beeswax candles, a specialty of Liaodong, the somewhat pot-bellied He Jin asked once more, earnestly.

The crowd remained silent as before.

"Grand General, you absolutely must not leave Luoyang at this moment!" The one who spoke was Yuan Shao, Yuan Benchu — or rather, the previous silence of the crowd had been because everyone was waiting for this man, the head of the noble houses of Luoyang and leader of the partisans, from a line of four generations of Three Excellencies, to open his mouth. "If you are in Chang'an and something happens behind you in Luoyang, how could you adapt to the situation in time? If something truly changes in the Northern Palace — Zhang Rang controlling the Northern Palace, Zhao Zhong controlling the Southern Palace, Jian Shuo controlling the Western Garden — then it is not impossible that everyone here could, in a single moment, all face death and the extermination of their clans!"

He Jin rubbed his belly with one hand and heaved a long sigh: "Benchu, how could I not understand this reasoning? But as Grand General, if I cannot accept the edict to garrison and defend the imperial tombs at Chang'an, I fear I will be ridiculed by all under heaven. On what grounds would I then assist the Son of Heaven in the future? And, speaking of a matter beyond the immediate point, the rebels now have a hundred thousand men, their momentum fierce and terrifying; I fear they will reach the Guanzhong Plain in the blink of an eye... The rebels come from Liangzhou, mostly cavalry with long spears. Once they reach the plain, if they cannot be stopped, and they truly take Chang'an, then come for Luoyang — wouldn't people like you and me still face death and the extermination of our clans?"

"Then, Grand General, you might as well accept the edict and dispatch the troops," said Registrar Chen Lin, who had remained silent until now, suddenly speaking in a stiff tone. "Go to Chang'an, and leave Luoyang for others to handle!"

However, as Wang Qian at the head of the table turned to glance at him, Chen Lin, Chen Kongzhang, immediately smiled apologetically and retracted his words: "No, I've been led in circles. Truly, as the Grand General says, the current situation is indeed difficult. Not accepting the edict loses the people's hearts, yet going on the western campaign is absolutely out of the question."

"Then there is only one path left," Bian Rang suddenly interjected. "Accept the edict but do not act on it — stall for time."

"But if we do that," Liu Fan across from him frowned and asked, "what about Guanzhong? Guanzhong absolutely cannot be lost... If we merely stall for time without taking any action regarding Guanzhong, then what will all under heaven think?"

"We could send a great general-caliber talent to campaign on the Grand General's behalf!" Yuan Shao suddenly proposed. "Find a veteran general of sufficient rank, grant him imperial credentials to go west of the passes, make him the chief of all commanders, and have him manage the affairs west of the passes for the Grand General!"

The crowd fell into contemplation for a moment.

"Grand General, my lords," at that moment, a man from the corner cautiously rose, came to the center of the hall, prostrated himself, and bowed — it was none other than Dong Zhuo's younger brother, Dong Min. "Since my elder brother returned from the western campaign under General of Chariots and Cavalry Zhang in former days, he has been stationed in Fufeng, commanding twenty thousand troops to confront Western Liang. If he could be made commander, it would presumably be a case of knowing both himself and the enemy... He has long said that if the rebels came to attack, he would be willing to share the Grand General's burdens."

"Does Dong Zhongying have such an intention?" Before He Jin could speak, Yuan Shao immediately asked with a smile. Dong Zhuo had once served as a subordinate official under his uncle, so this did not seem discourteous.

"Exactly so," Dong Min replied cautiously.

"Dong Zhongying has long been in Xiliang and can be called a veteran general," Bian Rang frowned and interjected. "But how can his twenty thousand troops withstand the hundred thousand Xiliang rebels this time?"

"Indeed, we still need to send more troops..."

"The Sanhe cavalry must still be mobilized, and the parade troops brought from various regions could perhaps be gathered together as well."

"No, the parade troops are to be conscripted into the Western Garden Imperial Army. Better to dispatch the Five Regiments of the Northern Army..."

"The rebels' claim of a hundred thousand is certainly false, but excluding the miscellaneous Hu and such, I estimate their fighting men number fifty or sixty thousand. It would still be best to have another thirty or forty thousand reinforcements. How many men do the Sanhe and Five Regiments actually have left?"

"It would still be better to have another general lead the expedition." The crowd broke into discussion.

Dong Min smiled awkwardly and consciously stepped back... To put it bluntly, everyone looked down on Dong Zhuo, a typical frontier military man who didn't read books, even though he was the only one who preserved his troops intact after Zhang Wen's western campaign and was now a full Township Marquis.

Regional prejudice plus political prejudice — it was that blunt.

"What about Zhu Gongwei?" Someone tentatively inquired, setting aside Dong Zhuo.

"Zhu Gongwei just took up his post in Henei, how could he be used?" Yuan Shao smiled ambiguously.

"Then what about Huangfu Yizhen?" Chen Lin suddenly asked. "He has been living in retirement at his fief in Fufeng all this time and could conveniently be used as Regional Commander. Huangfu Yizhen as chief, Dong Zhongying as deputy — both are Xiliang veterans. We could levy some more troops, lead fifty or sixty thousand men in total. Wouldn't that be just right?"

He Jin in the seat of honor was greatly tempted.

"Huangfu Yizhen might be acceptable..." Yuan Shao immediately grew anxious. "But can one ever have too many elite troops and fine generals? I propose the Marquis of Ji is at Mengjin, and the Marquis of Ji is an old friend of the Grand General. This military review is also something the Grand General relies upon. If he were made Regional Commander, then all under Heaven would know that the Grand General has not abandoned Guanzhong! Why must it be only those two generals? Besides, the Marquis of Ji has suffered almost no defeats since he came of age. If he were Regional Commander, with Huangfu Yizhen and Dong Zhongying, those two Liangzhou veterans, as deputies, not only could we stabilize the situation in Chang'an, but driving the rebels out of Guanzhong might not be impossible either!"

Yuan Benchu had revealed his true intent, and He Jin could not help but be deeply moved in his heart. More importantly... among the many talented men present, most actually nodded in agreement.

He Jin pondered for a moment, then looked somewhat embarrassed: "I won't hide it from you all — that day I boasted and promised to make Wenqi the Governor of Jizhou to sweep through Mount Taihang... Now, just when I should fulfill that promise, I must trouble him to go to Guanzhong instead. This seems somewhat unfair to him!"

Everyone looked toward the Gentleman Attendant of the Yellow Gate, Gongsun Yue, who had remained silent all along. He still sat upright, his expression unchanged, clearly caught off guard by the sudden development and having received no instructions, hence his silence.

"This requires the Grand General to show sincerity." After a moment's thought, Kuai Yue of Xiangyang, bypassing Liu Biao beside him, softly suggested, "If the Grand General believes this plan is best, why not personally visit Mengjin tonight and discuss old friendship and current difficulties with the General of the Guards? And besides, the Xiliang rebels have left their homeland of Liangzhou and come to Sili — they are fighting on unfamiliar ground. Even if they cannot be easily repelled, as long as the General of the Guards can hold Chang'an, they will not be able to endure the supply situation and will retreat within a few months. By then, the situation in Luoyang will be settled, and the General of the Guards will return to Luo with great merit. Whatever favor the Grand General wishes to repay him with, there will be no obstacle!"

Yuan Shao stared at Kuai Yue diagonally opposite him, stroking his beard in praise and nodding repeatedly, and the rest of the gathering also fell silent.

He Jin deliberated again and again, finally made up his mind, and then abruptly rose: "In that case, I will leave the city immediately tonight and meet Wenqi face to face! You all stay here, plan and allocate the troop deployment, and also discuss the distribution of forces in Luoyang after the General of the Guards departs. We must not let that eunuch Jian Shuo gain power!"

"I will accompany the Grand General!" Chief Clerk Wang Qian also volunteered to follow. "If there are words the Grand General finds inconvenient to say, I will say them."

"Good!" He Jin praised him greatly. "I was just about to trouble the Chief Clerk."

Everyone hurriedly rose to see them off. Even Cao Mengde and the others, who had been drinking and chatting nonsense outside, were alerted and followed out... After all, those who could truly remain in the residence to prepare for troop deployment were certainly the military clerks of the Grand General's office; the rest were also taking the opportunity to take their leave.

Thus, He Jin's retinue hurriedly departed through the North Gate, and most of the attendees also returned home under the escort of the Grand General's clerks.

People gathered in small groups, discussing animatedly.

Kuai Yue was seeing off Liu Biao.

The curfew had not yet fallen in Luoyang at this hour, and the streets were still fairly lively. Moreover, with the times being bad, there were quite a few noble carriages traveling about like this. Some people, having left one political gathering, might even be heading to a second. Unlike elsewhere, Kuai Yue and Liu Biao shared a carriage for a long time, almost reaching Liu Biao's residence, yet they barely exchanged a few words.

In fact, during the earlier discussion of "great matters" in the inner hall, Liu Biao had not spoken at all.

Finally, Kuai Yidu could not contain himself: "Brother Jingsheng, why did you not utter a single word tonight? You are not usually a person of such temperament."

"What would Yidu have me say?" Liu Biao smiled and countered. "Should I advise the Grand General to accept the edict and go on campaign, falling into the eunuchs' plot? Or advise the Grand General to openly refuse the edict and fail in his duty as a subject? Should I advise the Grand General to adapt to circumstances and make a crude man like Dong Zhuo commander, giving him tens of thousands of troops? Or advise the Grand General to privately bestow favor and use personal obligation to induce the General of the Guards to become commander? Should I, having received the favor of the Grand General's summons, speak on behalf of Yuan Benchu? Or should I, having been a partisan for decades, stand against the model of the realm? The state is in peril, and I, Liu Biao, cannot pacify the situation, so I can only keep my mouth shut to preserve my own integrity."

Kuai Yue, who as a clerk of the Grand General's office had repeatedly assisted Yuan Shao in formulating strategy, was extremely embarrassed, then overcome with shame. But after a long while, he finally bowed his head in the carriage: "Brother Jingsheng is truly a gentleman of utter sincerity!"

Liu Biao also bowed his head slightly in return, thinking nothing of it.

Whether Kuai Yue felt ashamed or not, He Jin, having made his decision based on his advice, ultimately left Luoyang in the dark of night. His carriage and retinue traveled without stopping. When they reached Mengjin, garrison troops came out to meet them and hastily stopped them, preventing the Grand General from crossing the river.

It turned out that during this month, because the winter weather had been exceptionally severe, the Yellow River at the Mengjin section had suddenly entered its freezing period due to snowfall over ten days earlier. The ice was several chi thick, and if one were careful, even horses and carts could cross. While such conditions were quite convenient for the common people, they were somewhat unsuitable for Grand General He's carriage and retinue.

But He Jin, after all, understood the gravity of the matter, and being of butcher origins from Nanyang, he did not put on airs. He simply left his carriage and retinue with Chief Clerk Wang Qian, taking only Wu Kuang and a few trusted warriors, along with a guide from the local garrison, and walked directly across the river on foot.

Even Gongsun Xun, who had gradually developed a depth of cunning, was somewhat astonished and shaken upon hearing that He Jin had come in person and seeing him cross the river in such a manner.

The camp instantly blazed with lantern light, and Gongsun Xun, hastily risen, led his men out to welcome them.

In the freezing cold, the two had no time for much pleasantry before they withdrew into a tent to warm themselves by the fire, boil soup, and discuss the purpose of the visit.

He Jin made no pretense; at this point, there was nothing to hide, and he laid out his purpose fully. Gongsun Xun, however, hesitated for a time.

Of course he would hesitate, and the reasons were known to He Jin — it was nothing more than this matter being far too troublesome, with no telling when he could extricate himself once involved, thus delaying his acquisition of the Jizhou governorship.

Of course, the weight of the Jizhou governorship in the eyes of He Jin and the vast majority was not the same as in Gongsun Xun's eyes — what He Jin and others saw as merely a provincial governor, Gongsun Xun saw as an immense advantage for easily seizing the realm in the future.

But how could such words possibly be spoken? And with He Jin coming in such a manner, if Gongsun Xun wanted to refuse, he would have to find a truly irrefutable reason, wouldn't he?

Otherwise, it would mean an outright falling-out. And falling out at this moment would not only cost him his greatest political capital but also bring disgrace and ridicule from all under Heaven — that White Horse General, always putting on airs, but in truth, isn't he just after office?

"Wenqi!" He Jin sighed at the sight, set down his soup bowl, moved his Grand Commandant's chair forward to sit beside Gongsun Xun, and seized the opportunity to grasp his hand. "I am truly at my wit's end... Help me once more. I do not seek victory in battle, only that you hold Chang'an secure and wait for the enemy to retreat on their own, and I will be endlessly grateful. As long as we can endure this crisis, after it is done, never mind the Jizhou governorship — when the time comes, I will kill Dong Zhong, and you shall become General of the Agile Cavalry. You, me, and my younger brother He Miao, the three of us, together with the noble houses of Luoyang, shall jointly govern the state — what harm is there in that? Let us also emulate the books and establish a Gonghe Regency!"

At these words, the tent fell utterly silent, breaths audible. Not only was Gongsun Xun stunned where he sat, but even Wang Qian and Wu Kuang, who had come with He Jin, and Lou Gui, Han Dang, and Xi Zhong, who were attending nearby, were all greatly astonished.

First of all, no one had taught him these words, because no loyal subordinate would ever urge He Jin to share power. And that faction of partisans around Yuan Shao had painstakingly maneuvered against Gongsun Xun precisely to prevent such a situation. The first step of their plan was for the Yuan and He clans to govern jointly, and then to see if the He clan could also be pushed aside — they were on guard against someone like Gongsun Xun entering Luo and causing chaos!

So, these words could only be He Jin's own... it was just unclear whether they were words from the heart or his own cunning and adaptability.

Secondly, these words were spoken with great sophistication... The Gonghe Regency refers to a period in Western Zhou history when the people rose in revolt and drove out King Li of Zhou, after which the Duke of Zhou and the Duke of Shao governed together — historically called the Gonghe Regency.

This is the beginning of Chinese chronological history, the origin of Chinese civil governance... The utterance of this term truly shows that He Suigao has made some progress over these years!

Of course, Gongsun Xun would not be intimidated by some Gonghe Regency, because for many years now, having traveled far and wide and seen much, he was convinced in his bones that this realm would collapse, that everything must be torn down and rebuilt, that the so-called House of Han could not be revived, and that he, Gongsun Xun, could not but harbor great ambition!

At this moment, he could not possibly view anything in the central government as a treasure. His coming out of retirement this time was, in truth, like Liu Yan who fled — he wanted to take advantage of this final political storm to seek a great tangible benefit in the provinces.

Yet the problem was, with He Suigao coming in such a manner, Gongsun Xun found it even harder to refuse!

"My heart is somewhat troubled." Gongsun Xun pressed the other's hand and spoke earnestly. "Brother Suigao, please allow me to go out and speak with my subordinates... Rest assured, I will give you an answer tonight!"

He Jin remained composed and did not press him excessively.

Gongsun Xun led a few confidants out and moved to Han Dang's tent next door. Han Dang himself need not be mentioned; the main ones were Xi Zhong and Lou Gui.

"What is to be done?" In the middle of the night, even though Gongsun Xun had been somewhat prepared for the political storm triggered by the Liangzhou rebels' invasion, he was still thrown into confusion by this move of He Jin's.

"First we must ask what exactly My Lord is worried about," Xi Zhong took the lead without hesitation. "The Grand General asks My Lord to go to Chang'an. My Lord finds it hard to refuse. So if you go to Chang'an, what does My Lord fear most?"

"I fear most the delay!" Gongsun Xun answered helplessly. "The overall situation in Luoyang changes in an instant, and I seek only the Jizhou governorship. If I return only after the Liangzhou army retreats, I fear by then Luoyang will have already undergone upheaval, and I will have no time at all to set Jizhou in order — or even fail to obtain it at all, or simply have nowhere to seek the Jizhou governorship."

"So that is it," Xi Zhong said thoughtfully. "The Son of Heaven's physical condition is there for all to see, which indeed makes one hesitate... But I still have two matters I wish My Lord to answer."

"Speak."

"First, even if the Grand General had not come today, the outriders reached Luoyang the day before yesterday, yesterday Gai Yuangu was driven to Chang'an, and then today the Grand General says he will receive the edict tomorrow..."

"You are not wrong." Gongsun Xun understood halfway through, and then grew increasingly troubled. "Even without the Grand General's request today, I fear the Son of Heaven and the eunuchs would still issue an edict to pack me off to Chang'an... As a general, I can refuse to enter Luo to serve as an official, but it is hard to refuse an appointment to defend the imperial tombs at Chang'an."

"True." Xi Zhong continued. "Second, I am no expert in military matters... May I ask, my lord, exactly how long will this trip to Chang'an delay us? Are the rebels truly so powerful and hard to contain? We said before that we cannot enter Xiliang..."

"No, no." Lou Gui suddenly stroked his beard and interjected. "Liangzhou is Liangzhou, Guanzhong is Guanzhong — Zhicai, do not confuse the two. In fact, from a purely military standpoint, going to Chang'an does not necessarily mean there is no chance of victory, nor does it mean we must rely on Chang'an's walls and waste time against the enemy... In my view, although the rebels claim a hundred thousand and seem fiercely aggressive, their fighting strength may not be exceptional."

"What Zibo says is correct." Gongsun Xun nodded immediately, his expression unchanged.

Encouraged, Lou Gui at once continued explaining to Xi Zhong: "First, the fighting will not be in Liangzhou but in Sili, on the Guanzhong plain. The rebels are not defending their homeland — they have fought their way out. They have no roots in Guanzhong, and because of their plundering they will inevitably face resistance and hatred from the common people of Guanzhong. Second, although Guanzhong is flat and open — six or seven hundred li that a galloping horse can cross in a few days — the cities and towns are all in government hands. The rebels must take them one by one to make any progress, while government forces can come and go freely and hold the initiative. Moreover, the men of Liangzhou have many cavalry and are certainly excellent in field battles, but how many of them are skilled at sieging cities? Finally, they have mobilized so many troops — how many days can their logistics hold out? How can they compare to government forces backed by the Luoyang armories?"

"Then..."

"If you ask me!" Lou Gui lowered his beard-stroking hand and faced Gongsun Xun with a solemn expression. "My lord, if we can concentrate fifty thousand elite troops and set up layered defenses, then once winter passes and spring warmth returns next year, when the rebels are utterly exhausted from siege warfare, our army might be able to win in a single battle and drive them back to Liangzhou!"

"So that is how it is." Seeing Gongsun Xun nod slightly, Xi Zhong could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. "I am no expert in military matters and thought this war would be fought in Liangzhou... But if it is about defending the realm in Sili, that is an entirely different matter. My lord, this does not violate our agreement."

"So, Zhicai, you want me to accept?" Gongsun Xun frowned and asked in return.

"It is not that I want my lord to accept." Xi Zhicai said with a serious expression. "My lord, the truth is that in terms of the situation, the people's hearts, and the law, my lord has no grounds to refuse. This is an edict that even the Grand General must receive and then shift onto someone else, asking my lord to take his place. Can my lord defy it? And besides, did you not all say that this war is actually winnable?"

"That may be so." Gongsun Xun shook his head for a moment. "But first, losing the Jizhou governorship so abruptly still leaves me unwilling at heart. Second, I remain somewhat worried... I feel that this time I have fallen into someone else's scheme."

Xi Zhong was just about to urge him further when a somewhat familiar voice suddenly sounded from outside the tent:

"General of the Guards, I humbly request an audience."

The four inside the tent looked at one another. They naturally knew this was the voice of Wang Qian, Chief Clerk to the Grand General, so they could only compose their expressions and invite Wang Qian to enter.

"How is it that Lord Wang has come? Could it be that Suigao has grown impatient waiting?" Gongsun Xun smiled despite himself as he responded.

"No." Wang Qian entered the tent and faced them calmly. "I have come on my own initiative, to present myself before the General of the Guards as a persuader... Would the General be willing to hear a few words from this persuader?"

Gongsun Xun felt helpless at heart and could only cup his hands in invitation.

Yet as soon as Wang Qian opened his mouth, the hearts of the men in the tent grew solemn:

"My lord, in my view, the reason you hesitate now is not that you do not understand the greater situation, but rather, first, unwillingness — unwilling that your carefully laid plans to obtain Jizhou and unite Youzhou and Jizhou into one should thus come to nothing; and second, worry — worry that behind this there are people with ulterior motives targeting you... Is that so?"

"The position of Provincial Governor is but a temporary appointment." Gongsun Xun kept his expression unchanged and merely steeled himself to explain. "At the shortest, one or two years; at the longest, two or three. Once the bandits across a thousand li of Mount Taixing, north to south, are swept away, it will naturally be relinquished... How then does it amount to uniting Youzhou and Jizhou into one?"

Wang Qian stood inside the tent entrance and smiled again: "Within a private chamber, Qian is but a frail scholar of letters. Never mind the five hundred Retainers outside — even this Commandant Han here could cleave me in two with a single blade. General of the Guards, what have you to fear? Moreover, the realm is in turmoil — this is something everyone knows. At such a time, some people scramble toward the center of power, trying to overturn the clouds and summon the rain; others move out to the provinces, seeking to secure a firm foundation, to preserve themselves and their ambitions. These are all perfectly reasonable courses of action — surely they do not warrant such deep taboo?"

Han Dang remained expressionless. Lou Gui and Xi Zhong exchanged speechless glances.

Gongsun Xun, however, gave a light laugh: "What Lord Wang says is quite right... That being the case, is there something you wish to teach me?"

"There is." Wang Qian stepped forward two paces to stand before Gongsun Xun, raised his head, and spoke frankly. "I have come to address the two hesitations in my lord's heart by relating two matters... Speaking of which, back on Mangshan in Changping, does my lord know why I so readily agreed to the matter of the 'Jizhou Governor'?"

Gongsun Xun was momentarily at a loss for words.

"Because of famine." Wang Qian answered his own question. "Last year, in spring and summer, there were great floods across the commanderies and kingdoms of the Central Plains. From south of the Dahe all the way to the Huai and Si rivers, nearly everything was devastated. By the time I was hurriedly dispatched as an envoy, it had long since turned into famine and bandit chaos... Dozens of my clansmen who fled from Shanyang to the capital starved or died of illness on the road, and several dozen more died at the hands of bandits..."

"Has it reached such a point?" Xi Zhong could not help but interject. "Lord Wang's clan has produced two Excellencies in three generations."

"In such circumstances, what use is it to have produced two Excellencies in three generations?" Wang Qian asked helplessly in return. "I had wine and meat in Luo, money and grain — but how could I send it across a land full of famine? In truth, it is not only me. Among the nobles and ministers in Luo, those whose families are in the Central Plains have all experienced similar things. Under the great tide, dukes and commoners alike are but ordinary mortals. Take, for instance, my lord's old acquaintance Cao Mengde. Last year he was appointed Court Consultant while his father still held the post of Grand Commandant, yet his younger cousin could only live half-civilian, half-bandit, gathering men and seeking food between the Huai and Si rivers. And I have heard that some relatives, said to be of higher moral integrity, actually starved their own children to death in order to preserve the children of their kin... General, in the years you have been away, there is a reason the realm has gradually come to hate the Son of Heaven to the bone!"

The one gathering men and raiding homes between the Huai and Si was none other than the just-come-of-age Cao Ren — and Cao Ren himself had previously come from a noble and eminent family. The one who preserved his integrity must have been either Xiahou Dun or Xiahou Yuan... Gongsun Xun quickly guessed some of the truth, and then thought again of Cao Mengde, who had come here earlier with a grinning face. If the man did not speak of it, who could have imagined that Cao Ren, Xiahou Yuan, and the others had endured such things these past years?

"So that is why, back then, Lord Wang repeatedly observed my military farming settlements." At this thought, Gongsun Xun sighed deeply once more.

"Exactly so." Wang Qian forced himself to steady his emotions and said, "When I set out from Luo and traveled through Hebei, I saw that in the countryside wild grains outnumbered those in the tilled fields. At the time, I did not think much of it in my heart, and it was even less possible that I would shoulder such a heavy political responsibility for my lord merely because of a single past encounter... But when I reached Zhuo Commandery and turned into Guangyang, I saw that order there was strict and upright, and moreover the autumn harvest was imminent — golden fields spread everywhere like a chessboard, shaking the heart. Only then was my heart stirred, and I was willing to exert myself on my lord's behalf."

"I..." Gongsun Xun's heart stirred, and he was about to make some promise.

"I speak of this today not because I wish to seek a place for my clansmen to settle." Wang Qian seemed to understand what the other wanted to say, and opened his mouth to force him to close his. "Because since my lord is determined to build up the provinces, how could he possibly refuse people from a thousand li away without cause? They survived such a severe famine — they have hands and feet, so how can they not till the soil to make a living? Seeking fields and asking after dwellings — that is something our Shanyang Wang clan would still not stoop to do."

"I am ashamed!" Gongsun Xun rarely showed such a solemn expression.

"I speak of this today in truth because I wish to tell my lord that in this realm, so long as a thing is right and you go and do it, it will have its reward. Do not think that doing this is worthwhile while doing that is not... The people of the realm are not blind. They can tell who is a hero and who is merely fishing for fame and reputation!" Wang Qian grew increasingly earnest. "The Jizhou governorship is a fine post. If you could go there and link Youzhou and Jizhou, it would naturally be excellent. But is going to Guanzhong a loss? Is going to resist the rebels a trouble? Forgive my bluntness, but right now most people are in Luo scrambling for power and profit, yet they have forgotten that the scholars and commoners of Guanzhong are panicked and uncertain in the west. If my lord goes to Guanzhong, in the future he will surely gain something from today's loss... Of course, this is merely one man's reasoning, and somewhat abstract at that. Whether my lord heeds it or not matters little."

Gongsun Xun remained silent.

"Aside from this grand principle, which may invite some ridicule, there is actually one more matter to relate." Wang Qian continued. "Today's sending of my lord to Chang'an is indeed the result of someone's secret scheming and targeting... It is none other than Yuan Benchu. This man has been plotting for a long time, forming factions and building his influence, and he truly does not want a blade as sharp as my lord — the sharpest under heaven — to remain in Luo and ruin his grand plans. Of course, if my guess is not wrong, even without Yuan Shao, Jian Shuo would also have acted against my lord. It is just that Luo truly cannot do without the Grand General."

As expected!

Hearing this, Gongsun Xun instead felt relieved. He was about to speak and express his thanks, but for some reason the words reached his lips and he swallowed them back, turning instead to ask another question: "May I ask Lord Wang, do you, the Grand General's subordinate officials, simply sit by and watch Yuan Benchu act so recklessly? Or is it that..."

"It is indeed as my lord suspects." Wang Qian was neither pleased nor angered. "It is probably because the Grand General's origins are too low, while Yuan Benchu's origins are too high. And although the Grand General has a certain breadth of spirit, he is somewhat lacking in intellect and ability. Thus the wise and strategic men under the Grand General's command mostly have their biases... Of course, there are also upright and principled ministers. For instance, Registrar Chen has always secretly reminded the Grand General to be wary of Yuan Benchu — it is just that the Grand General may not necessarily understand what he hears."

Gongsun Xun nodded in response.

A short while later, Wang Qian departed first. After another interval, Gongsun Xun, having recognized the greater situation and that he could not act recklessly, returned to the main tent with his three trusted confidants. As soon as he entered, he went straight to He Jin and spoke bluntly: "Suigao, my mind is made up. I am willing to go forth and secure Chang'an on your behalf!"

He Jin could not help but be overjoyed.

"But there are three matters that I must ask you to agree to in advance." Gongsun Xun immediately set forth his conditions before the other could show any reaction.

"Wenqi, speak freely." He Jin would hardly mind.

"First, I know the Western Garden Imperial Guards cannot be moved, but the Five Colonels of the Northern Army must still be given to me to anchor the formation, along with the raising of the Sanhe cavalry, Guanzhong's local garrison soldiers, and able-bodied conscripts."

"To display your authority as Regional Commander on this campaign, we can only rely on the Sanhe and the Five Colonels." He Jin also sighed. "But you must be prepared — the Northern Army today is not what it was in former years. The Sanhe cavalry have been deployed year after year and many have fled. In haste, I fear there will only be ten thousand troops. As for Guanzhong, I will immediately issue orders to activate Huangfu Song and mobilize the local soldiers of Guanzhong — I expect that can yield another twenty thousand."

"That will suffice... Second, regardless of victory or defeat in this campaign, once the fighting is over, I must ask Suigao to still grant me the Jizhou governorship. As for General of Agile Cavalry and the joint governance, we can discuss those later!"

"If Wenqi insists on this, I have no intention of forcing the matter."

"Good... Finally, let Yuan Benchu be sent out beyond the passes to the east, to Runan, to recruit troops on my behalf! For every day I am in Chang'an, let him spend a day in Runan. Otherwise, forgive me if my heart cannot be at ease and my person cannot act!" Gongsun Xun suddenly set his face and spoke.

He Jin was stunned for a moment, but immediately nodded: "I understand. Tomorrow I will drive him out. For every day Wenqi does not achieve victory, he shall not return to Luoyang for a day."

"In that case, may Suigao sit at ease in Luo and quietly await news of victory." Gongsun Xun slowly cupped his hands.

He Jin also slowly nodded once more.

The winter cold wind blew as before. Having obtained the promise, He Jin, unwilling to delay matters, once again walked through the night across the river to return to Luo.

And when he reached the very center of the ice-bound Yellow River, He Jin, supported by Wu Kuang, suddenly halted. Then, under the torchlight in the black night, he looked toward Wang Qian: "Did the Chief Clerk use the matter of Yuan Shao to persuade Wenqi?"

"Yes!" Wang Qian hesitated for a moment, but seeing that only He Jin's trusted confidants were beside him, he simply admitted it.

"Ha..." He Suigao let out a sound half bitter laugh, half sigh. "In truth, I also know that although the men under my command answered my call because of my status as Grand General, most of them look down on me, and to varying degrees they lean more toward Yuan Benchu."

In the cold wind, atop the solid ice, Wang Qian, wearing a fur robe underneath yet still shivering, remained silent.

"And moreover, that Yuan Benchu and Gongsun Wenqi borrow my name to pursue their own schemes, each with their own aims — I am also perfectly aware of this." He Jin continued, but his expression grew increasingly grave. "But, Chief Clerk, tell me — what can I do? Ever since I became Grand General, at first I was utterly ignorant, but later, as I read more books and heard more of affairs, I came to understand that I have no path of retreat... This dynasty has stretched on for several hundred years. Since Wei Qing was appointed Grand General, the only one who ever met a good end was Wei Qing himself. All the rest perished, their clans exterminated!"

Wang Qian's expression remained unmoved.

And He Jin could no longer contain his emotions: "Therefore, every single day, I am in truth just as I am now — standing upon a sheet of ice, a biting wind piercing my bones with no shelter from it; on all sides utter darkness, with no road in sight! Therefore, whether it be Yuan Benchu or Gongsun Wenqi, if they can truly aid me, I am sincere in not begrudging them a share of power, nor their selfish motives... But what I fear most is that, though I seek only the survival of my clan, I will still end up with my body dead and my clan exterminated! Chief Clerk, tell me, is there such justice in the world? What exactly has our He clan done, to deserve such treatment?"

At these words, Wu Kuang beside him could no longer hold back. He directly prostrated himself upon the ice, tears streaming forth: "General-in-Chief, set your mind at ease. We who have received the General-in-Chief's gracious patronage, though we possess only the strength of brute courage, will surely devote our very lives in repayment!"

Wang Qian could only bow his head as well in response.

He Jin patted Wu Kuang's hand, then gestured for him to rise and continue onward.

And Wang Qian, scion of a clan that had produced the Three Excellencies for two generations, once again lowered his head and followed... In truth, he had very much wished to ask He Jin something just now.

First, did you not realize that the lament, "What has our clan done to deserve such treatment?" is not a sentiment unique to you, He Jin?

You must know, in the former Han dynasty, Dong Xian enjoyed the fullest favor and glory through the passion of the cut sleeve, holding the power of all under Heaven. When his father sought to arrange a marriage alliance with another family, the other party was so terrified they knelt and pleaded bitterly, and they too voiced a similar lament... Yet in the end, his body still perished and his clan was exterminated, leaving a stench of infamy for a hundred years.

Why? Because to hold the reins of power over all under Heaven yet lack the ability to wield it — such is the inevitable result! Moreover, to hold the reins of power over all under Heaven and utter such words is in itself utterly laughable!

What has your He clan done to deserve such treatment? What has our Wang clan done, that some among us should starve to death on the roads? What have the common people of the realm done, to deserve such suffering?

Secondly, he also wished to ask He Jin: if your indulgence of Yuan Shao and Gongsun Xun can be considered political compromise, then what do you call allowing men within your own staff to advocate for Yuan Shao? More importantly, while you permit these men to eat your bread yet serve another's interest, have you noticed that Chen Lin, at least, is willing to advocate for you? You may be magnanimous, but you cannot disregard a loyal officer, can you?

However, Wang Qian voiced none of these questions. He remained utterly silent, merely forging ahead with lowered head, slipping and stumbling along the way.

——————I am a dividing line that has repaid its debt——————

"He Jin and Yuan Shao plotted to execute the eunuchs. Jian Shuo, using the pretext that the Liangzhou rebels were disturbing the imperial tombs, claimed the Son of Heaven had issued an edict ordering Jin to proceed to Chang'an. Jin, afraid, discussed the matter with his attendants and wished to accept the decree but not go himself, intending to send the General of the Guards, Gongsun Xun, in his stead. Cao Cao heard this and laughed, saying: 'Liangzhou has rebelled and encroached upon the imperial tombs. The General-in-Chief is the commander of all armies under Heaven; he should take the troops in hand and go forth, attacking and subduing them. Even if trouble arises in Luoyang, with the great army in his grasp and victory to his name, the eunuch officials could be seized by a single prison warden. Why must he seek the General of the Guards to take his place? Would that not simply allow the General of the Guards to achieve the deed?' Those present mocked him, and Cao thereafter fell silent. When Jin departed, he visited Xun by night to seek aid. His attendants again discussed the matter, all saying there was nothing to be gained from it and that the General of the Guards would likely not accept the command. Liu Bei was among those seated and had long remained silent. Hearing this, he spoke but one line: 'The General of the Guards bears the realm as his charge; his civil and martial courage is at its utmost. He will surely accept the command!' Those present did not believe him; only Cao agreed." — Records of Late Han Heroes, by Wang Can

Ps: Thanks to new Alliance Master, the adorable little sister Xiaoxiao...

(End of Chapter)