[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-304":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},1223063,1620,"Chapter 304: Li Guang","overthrowing-han-chapter-304",304,"\u003Cp>The night passed without a word. The next day, the ninth of the first month, Gai Yuangu indeed handled the communication flawlessly. Gongsun Xun arranged to meet Han Sui, Dong Zhuo arranged to meet Ma Teng, and Huangfu Song arranged to meet Wang Guo — the other side agreed to all of them without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, leaving aside the fact that the rebels were already uneasy and suspicious when they saw the Han army suddenly shift camp and press closer, Dong Zhuo and Huangfu Song’s prestige in Liangzhou was absolutely unmatched by any third person. Think back — even when Gai Xun was surrounded by rebels, they still willingly let him go; when Fu Xie was surrounded, there were rebels willing to let him return home of their own accord… how much more so for these two requesting a meeting? In fact, even on the Han army’s side, there was virtually no dissuasion, because Dong Zhuo and Huangfu Song were the greatest guarantee of safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That being the case, Gongsun Xun was actually borrowing Dong Zhuo and Huangfu Song’s prestige. However, it was also true that he had a personal friendship with Han Sui, not to mention his own rank being what it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for those two Liangzhou Grand Administrators who had betrayed the state, no one paid them any attention, because everyone knew full well that these two could not possibly come to see the imperial army’s commanders — especially since, on the day Fu Xie died, he had rebuked one of them to his face, and by his own death set the most direct example of a two-thousand-dan Grand Administrator’s duty to defend his territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that affair, what could they even do by coming to see the imperial army’s commanders — disgust the other party, or come to be scolded all over again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, at the agreed-upon noon hour, both sides indeed, as arranged, each brought only three thousand cavalry to screen the formation, and came to the midpoint between the two armies’ encampments, halting their lines two to three hundred paces apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Gongsun Xun rode out first, bringing only Han Dang, who carried a bow on horseback, and Jia Xu, who bore a small bundle. He personally left the ceremonial canopy behind and took the initiative to advance. And what sort of men were Dong Zhuo and Huangfu Song? Naturally, they would not show any timidity either. Seeing this, the two also followed the agreement, each bringing one warrior and one civil scholar, and followed Gongsun Xun forward toward the rebel lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three commanders of the imperial army were so open and forthright that it instead made Wang Guo, Ma Teng, and Han Sui, who had originally been somewhat hesitant, feel a moment of shame. It must be understood that, facing those three across from them, these men felt a deep-seated sense of inadequacy. Even Han Sui did not feel he had any qualification to be mentioned in the same breath as the three opposite him — so how could they dare delay? At once, the three each hastily brought only one warrior and one trusted aide and hurried forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when the two sides drew near, Dong Zhuo suddenly dismounted first, startling all nine men opposite into losing their composure. They then immediately dismounted as well and, of their own accord, bowed from a distance in greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Dong Zhuo, hand on his belt, laughed loudly from afar: “I am old and stout; talking on horseback is inconvenient. I’ve made a laughingstock of myself before you Liangzhou countrymen… But no matter, since I’ve dismounted, dismount you shall — it makes talking easier. Men like Shoucheng, please make yourselves at ease.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Teng naturally protested that he dared not, and then took the initiative to step forward and pay his respects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the other two, Wang Guo and Han Sui, they exchanged wordless glances. In the end, they did not remount either, but stood where they were, and when Gongsun Xun and Huangfu Song arrived, they bowed their heads in salute once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving aside how Huangfu Song and Wang Guo faced each other, on this side Gongsun Xun simply jumped down from his horse, stepped forward, and took Han Wenyue’s hands to raise him up, then for a moment was overcome with wordless emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Han Sui, raising his head and looking at Gongsun Xun, did not know what to say for a time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between the two of them, though these were said to be battlefield probings, every meeting came with shifting circumstances — how could there not be a measure of genuine feeling?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, Gongsun Xun finally spoke first, yet his tone was still bleak and hard to bear: “Brother Wenyue, back in the days of youthful recklessness, when you and I met in Luoyang, you told me that the world’s affairs were murky and hard to name, and that we should form a bond to make future meetings easier… But who could have imagined that, after we parted in Henei, the next time we met would be before two armies in formation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Sui looked at the other’s face and could only clasp his hands and sigh: “General of the Guard, back in Luoyang I said that the court lords regarded Xiliang as a remote frontier and that chaos would come sooner or later; in Henei I said that if the eunuchs were not swiftly executed, Xiliang would inevitably fall into repeated turmoil… That we face each other like this now can only be called Heaven’s will, can it not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the other’s words, which clearly carried a note of self-vindication, Gongsun Xun could not help but laugh: “Why speak of ‘General of the Guard’? We have been friends for over ten years — just call me by my courtesy name. Only, Brother Wenyue, if we go on speaking like this, shouldn’t I now say to you: the execution of the eunuchs in Luoyang is imminent, so why not surrender now? Yesterday’s letter made it clear — today we speak only of personal friendship, not the past. Such matters need not be discussed further.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I spoke out of turn.” Han Sui could only give an awkward, bitter smile. “Let me introduce these two to the General of the Guard — to Wenqi. Cheng Gongying, Cheng Gongshirong — Wenqi, you remember him, don’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without haste, Gongsun Xun stepped forward and smilingly clasped Cheng Gongying’s hands: “Shirong, when you refused my recruitment back then, it pained my heart to this very day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Gongying, his hands held, could not bow properly, so he could only lower his head helplessly: “A man who has betrayed his state, unworthy of my lord’s misplaced regard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun laughed again, but said no more. Instead, he looked toward the guard behind: “I thought I would see Pang Lingming. Who is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a man of my home region, Yan Xing, quite valiant and strong,” Han Sui said offhandedly. “As for Pang Lingming, Liangzhou is in chaos. He and his fellow villagers have fortified a stockade to protect themselves, and this time he is not with the army.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s how it is.” Gongsun Xun thought nothing of it. He simply accepted a bow from Yan Xing, then turned and gestured toward Jia Xu. “Yigong needs no introduction — Wenyue certainly knows him. This is my Army Major, Jia Xu, Jia Wenhe. He was a Filial and Incorrupt nominee from Wuwei over a decade ago. You should know him too, I imagine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Sui grew ever more emotional: “A famous scholar of a neighboring commandery — how could I not know him? I never thought that meeting before the lines today would bring together so many old acquaintances!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun’s smile did not fade: “Speaking of old acquaintances, Wenyue, do you know why it is I who command the Guanzhong campaign today? It is also because of an old acquaintance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Sui was naturally puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Gongsun Xun, without any evasion, laid out the whole story of his open strife and covert struggle with Yuan Benchu. He simply said that both men had their minds set on affairs in Luoyang and had undermined each other, so that one went west to Guanzhong as commander, while the other went east to Runan to recruit troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, he actually seemed rather pleased with himself: “Wenyue, that Yuan Benchu who once looked down on us because we are from the border commanderies — now, even acting on behalf of the Yuan clan and holding the advantage of Luoyang’s terrain, he can barely manage a draw with me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is because Wenqi has strengthened himself, standing alone yet able to tip the balance of the realm… How could Yuan Benchu compare to you?” Han Sui promptly echoed, but then turned and asked in return, “I wonder where your elder brother Gongsun Bogui, and your younger clansman Gongsun Yue, who was not yet of age back then, are now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun naturally did not conceal anything, and spoke of Gongsun Zan and Gongsun Yue’s experiences over the years. After finishing, he in turn asked about the other’s wife and children. Han Sui answered each question, holding nothing back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, the two spoke at length, and indeed truly spoke only of personal friendship, touching on nothing else. Nor was it only them — beside them, Huangfu Song, Dong Zhuo, Wang Guo, Ma Teng, and the others did the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had been talking for quite a while, and the sun was already slanting west, when suddenly a clamor arose nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out that Dong Zhuo and Ma Teng, chatting idly there, had brought up a Qiang chieftain known to both of them, who was said to be in the opposing formation. Dong Zhuo wished to see him, and Ma Teng also wanted to call the man over, but due to the agreement between the two sides, it was inconvenient to summon someone over privately. So he had the Qiang warrior attending him turn back and fetch the man in his place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would have thought that Dong Zhongying would think nothing of it? With one hand on his belt and the other dragging Ma Teng, he brought only the two men who had accompanied him on this trip — namely his two sons-in-law, Niu Fu and Li Ru — and simply strolled forward. He walked several dozen paces, then directly called out the Qiang chieftain’s name before the lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rebel army’s formation stirred for a moment, and the Han army behind was also somewhat shaken. Ma Teng was nervous as well. But when that chieftain, overjoyed, came out of the formation and knelt before Dong Zhuo, the Han army settled down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the reason it is said only that the Han army settled down is that after Dong Zhuo stepped forward and called the man, the officers in the opposing formation all crowded forward, vying to see Dong Zhongying, whose name had shaken Liangzhou for decades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Dong Zhuo thought nothing of it and simply laughed heartily. He shook off Niu Fu’s attempt to stop him and, leading the hand of the chieftain he had just raised up, advanced further, until he had nearly reached the very front of the rebel formation. Only then did he point at his own belly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fellow countrymen of Liangzhou, do you wish to see me, Dong Zhuo? There is nothing much to see about me — only that as I’ve grown older, I’ve grown stouter. This belly of mine is worth a look…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he finished speaking, the Han and Qiang leaders in the opposing rebel army all burst into laughter. Then, no one knew who led it, but these men all dismounted and bowed in greeting… The Qiang chieftains mostly knelt, while the Han leaders mostly bowed at the waist, calling him “General.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Dong Zhuo laughed even harder, and actually went forward alone, personally raising up each of these enemy leaders one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, Huangfu Song and Gongsun Xun exchanged a glance at this sight, merely laughed and shook their heads, and then the two each took hold of Wang Guo and Han Sui respectively and strode forward to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huangfu Song, of course, needs no elaboration — who in Liangzhou did not know him? For a moment, those Liangzhou Qiang and Han chieftains all saluted again, some kneeling, some bowing, some calling him “my lord” according to border commandery custom, some calling him “General” according to official rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, when Gongsun Xun stepped forward, these men were somewhat hesitant… After all, compared to the two before him, Gongsun Xun was still too young, and truly unfamiliar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Sui gave an embarrassed laugh and had no choice but to hastily make introductions himself: “This is the General of the Guard, Marquis of Ji, Gongsun Xun of Liaoxi…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Western Liang rebels heard this, the Han leaders — most of whom were former imperial officers and naturally understood the weight of the title — followed suit and saluted again. Only those Qiang men truly showed little reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter how much Lord Han says, we still don’t know what sort of person this is…” One Qiang chieftain spoke bluntly in rough, halting Han speech. “We don’t know, compared to Lord Dong and Lord Huangfu, is this general greater or lesser?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Greater!” Han Sui told them with a serious expression. “Of the Han army facing us this time, the General of the Guard is the Regional Commander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qiang chieftains were still doubtful. But Dong Zhuo and Huangfu Song each remained silent — one rubbing his belly, the other stroking his beard — clearly still harboring resentment and somewhat enjoying the spectacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Wenyue, why speak of things they don’t understand?” Seeing this, Gongsun Xun was not the least bit impatient or angry. Instead, he said with a laugh, “I refuse to believe that none of you here once followed Lord Dong and Lord Huangfu out to fight the Yellow Turban rebels. Have you really not heard even a little of my name, the White Horse General?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this last title, one Qiang chieftain was suddenly startled: “The fame of the White Horse General — we often hear the Xianbei and the Xiongnu speak of it in the northern lands. They all say there is a Han White Horse General in the east, always skilled in battle… Could it be that you are that general?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is no second White Horse General under Heaven!” Han Sui told them with even greater gravity. “You just spoke of the Xianbei, but I forgot to tell you — in earlier years, when this White Horse General was just past twenty, he went beyond the frontier and burned the royal court of the Great Khan Tanshihuai… Surely you haven’t forgotten that event!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qiang chieftains broke into an uproar, and then they too knelt in salute. Gongsun Xun, disregarding the smell of sheep on these men, hastily stepped forward and made a show of raising them up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After rising, one Qiang chieftain looked past Gongsun Xun and the others toward the rear and asked an interesting question: “May I ask the White Horse General — I have heard that your mounts have always been white horses. I did not think carefully just now, but looking now, may I ask which one it is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Dang, to be safe, had long since led the horse over. Gongsun Xun thought nothing of it, turned around, and pointed it out to him directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet after looking at it, the man was greatly disdainful: “The General has shaken the realm with the name White Horse — even we in the west know of those in the east. Why then do you ride such an ordinary white horse?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this situation, Gongsun Xun naturally would not say something like “I no longer need to charge into battle, so the truly fine white horses have all been given to my warriors,” and so on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, after thinking for a moment, this General of the Guard pointed at Dong Zhuo’s belly and said with a serious expression: “Brave men of Liangzhou, you probably do not know — Lord Dong is fond of drinking. In my camp, every day he drinks only the finest wine. During the month and more we spent east of the Qian River, he drank my camp’s fine wine dry, and I had no choice but to sell my own good horses to buy wine for him… This belly of his is, to some extent, bought with my own mounts!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the rebel chieftains all roared with laughter. Even Dong Zhuo, stroking his own belly, threw his head back and laughed. The atmosphere before the lines, which had grown somewhat solemn due to the arrival of the stranger Gongsun Xun, instantly dissolved into nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be understood that in those days, a big belly — what was called “a paunch” — was, like a long beard, a mark of a handsome man… Of course, Gongsun Xun had no taste for either, but that did not mean Dong Zhuo could not take pride in it, nor did it mean Gongsun Xun could not use it to lighten the mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the laughter, the Qiang chieftain who had earlier posed the question seemed somewhat embarrassed instead: \"I originally thought the General was a man of the east, and would surely be haughty, looking down on us Qiang people of the Liangzhou borderlands. That was why I spoke to make things difficult. I never imagined the General, so young, would possess such heroic spirit… I must make amends.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, the Qiang chieftain, under the curious gazes of the crowd, turned back and led a horse out from the military formation — a particularly magnificent white horse:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"General, please look! This horse of mine is one of the finest steeds in all Liangzhou. It is only fitting that it be given to the White Horse General for his use!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun did not decline. He took the horse directly by the reins, and only then did he place a hand on the other's shoulder and say: \"A brave man gifts me a fine steed. If I refused, I would be slighting you. But since this gift is so precious, I should offer a gift in return… May I ask the chieftain's name? This evening I shall have someone send you several jars of fine wine!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd praised him all the more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Wang Guo, Ma Teng, Han Sui, and the others could not help but look at one another in dismay, yet in the end, each remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two sides talked and laughed for a long while, but seeing the sun sinking further west, these Qiang and Han chieftains still remembered somewhat that this was before the battle lines of two armies and understood the gravity of the situation. It would not do to linger, so they took their leave and withdrew one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By this time, to guard against any contingency, the Han army had long since proactively pressed forward. In the end, it was actually the rebel army formation that voluntarily withdrew another hundred-plus paces, leaving space for the commanders of both sides to bid farewell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the commanders of both sides had finished bowing to one another on the ground, and then mounted their horses and cupped their hands in salute, just as they were about to turn away, Gongsun Xun suddenly turned his head and called out to stop Han Sui: \"Wenyue, wait a moment!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Guo and the others, along with Dong Zhuo and his men, simultaneously turned back with heightened alertness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When I came, I brought a gift for you — top-quality ginseng from Liaodong. The cold has not yet receded, so it is perfect for making a nourishing soup. I nearly forgot earlier… Wenhe.\" Gongsun Xun spoke while gesturing with his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Xu, hearing this, unhurriedly removed the case he carried on his back, reined his horse forward, and presented it before everyone. The onlookers saw clearly that a letter was openly wrapped around the outside of the case… but in this situation, this was no time for questioning or probing, so they all kept silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Sui received the case and the letter without giving it much thought, simply turning and handing them to Yan Xing at his side, then expressed his thanks once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as everyone thought this was the end, Gongsun Xun suddenly spurred his horse forward again, personally coming to Han Sui's side and nudging Cheng Gongying aside. Then he pressed his hand on the shoulder of Yan Xing, whom he had been ignoring all along: \"Since your surname is Yan, what is your relation to Yan Zhong, Yan Shude — former subordinate of Lord Huangfu, old friend of Jia Wenhe, former Magistrate of Xindu, and also an old friend of mine?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Xing, holding the case, was caught completely off guard and stammered in reply: \"He was my clan uncle!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard he died last year?\" Gongsun Xun suddenly asked a question that caused the faces of everyone present to change color.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Yan Xing answered with effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Be a filial son!\" Gongsun Xun pressed down on the other's shoulder, left behind this utterly irreproachable remark, and then, riding that divine white steed, turned and departed on his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——————I am the dividing line where loyalty and filial piety are hard to reconcile——————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xun, already in command of the entire army, then led the whole force across the Qian River. The two camps were seven or eight li apart. The rebel army, shaken with fear, requested to meet with Xun and the others. Xun and Sui were old acquaintances in Luoyang; the deputy commanders Dong Zhuo and Huangfu Song were famed generals of Liangzhou and also old acquaintances of the rebels Wang Guo and Ma Teng. Thus they agreed. Thereupon, the next day they met before the battle lines. The three commanders each brought only a single personal guard. They exchanged horses and spoke for a long while, not touching on military matters, but only speaking of personal friendship, clapping hands and laughing joyfully. The rebel generals, seeing Xun from afar seated upon a white horse, awe-inspiring and imposing, and knowing well the weight carried by Huangfu and Dong, famed generals of Xiliang, all bowed in salute from horseback. Han and Qiang onlookers crowded in layers front and back. Seeing this, Xun laughed and took Sui by the hand, then with Zhuo and Song dismounted and walked forward several dozen paces, each approaching the rebels, saying: 'Do you wish to gaze upon us? We are but men like you, only Lord Dong with his great, protruding belly can be called a fine sight!' Zhuo and the others roared with laughter, and the rebels also laughed heartily. Again and again they dismounted before the lines to kneel and bow, and also led out over ten white riding horses, presenting them to Xun as tribute.\" — Records of Heroes at the End of Han, by Wang Can\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thanks to new Alliance Master, Lady Bamboo Shaking… How could it just be those earlier ones during the New Year? I stayed up late to rush this out. Also, a plug for Dudu's new book, Strategist of the Three Kingdoms' Chaotic World.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3927,"2026-06-04T19:42:26.060Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","ad97f89f7a981578c8a5ad25cf81d1b38f0038daae7050dbc1093f8dbb4390fc","overthrowing-han-chapter-305","overthrowing-han-chapter-303",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]