[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-312":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},1223071,1620,"Chapter 312","overthrowing-han-chapter-312",312,"\u003Cp>Objectively speaking, the situation in Youzhou was not too dire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For one, the arrangements made before leaving had taken effect — Cheng Pu in Yuyang, Gongsun Fan in Zhuojun, Lu Fan in Guangyang, with both civil and military support providing a safety net, so that Gongsun Xun's most relied-upon base, the three Guangyang commanderies with a combined population of a full million, had not suffered any real incursion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For another, it was naturally Cheng Pu and Gao Shun's string of victories. Never mind the deep-seated economic reasons, the so-called heavenly mandates and ambitions, or the ethnic conflicts — war may be the continuation of politics, but it is also the final resolution of political contradictions... win the battle, and everything becomes negotiable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, those truly familiar with Gongsun Xun understood that beneath the General of the Guard's calm demeanor still lay the most transcendent fury... because this was likely the first time in his life he had encountered such a direct and unadorned betrayal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consider this: if not out of trust, how could Gongsun Xun possibly have handed Chengde, such a crucial node beyond the frontier, to the Mohu tribe?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or to put it the other way, everything the Mohu tribe now possessed — aside from Chengde City, which Gongsun Xun had built by mobilizing the manpower and wealth of the three commanderies — the tribe's own expansion over the past decade and more had, from an economic standpoint, relied entirely on the Anli trading house, and from a political and military standpoint, relied entirely on Gongsun Xun's protection...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a long time, Gongsun Xun had regarded the Mohu tribe as his own domesticated servants and hunting hounds, and Mohu Tan had expressed the same attitude toward Gongsun Xun, and the people of Youzhou had all seen it that way. But now, this very watchdog meant to guard the gate had actually seized the gate it was defending for itself, and might even open the gate to welcome bandits... How could this be tolerated?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord, how do you intend to deal with Mohu Tan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A day later, the group resumed their journey. With spring plowing in full swing all around and the population here being quite dense, and since Gongsun Xun's party had more or less arrived home, their pace inevitably slowed. After hesitating repeatedly, Xi Zhong finally could not resist asking one more question. \"If he comes, will he be publicly executed according to the law?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I did that, would I not be breaking faith with others?\" Gongsun Xun, riding slowly forward, answered expressionlessly, shaking his head. \"If he comes, I will confine him in Changping, elevate Mohu Lu or his underage son to take his place, and send someone to supervise Chengde...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If that is the case, then Mohu Tan will certainly not come,\" Xi Zhong responded immediately. In truth, this was exactly the answer he had been waiting for. \"My lord, after returning yesterday I thought a great deal... Mohu Tan has followed you for over ten years; he surely knows your character and surely understands your attitude at this moment. So hearing that you have returned, his fear will instead make him afraid to go to Changping lightly. We must make plans early.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xi Zhicai's words were clearly meant to advise his lord not to act on impulse, but Gongsun Xun avoided answering. Not only that, but Lou Gui and Han Dang beside him also remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Xi Zhong himself understood that Gongsun Xun was already angered to a certain degree, and his own words were utterly meaningless at this moment... but ever since learning that trouble had broken out in Youzhou, as the one among the original advisors who had first indulged Gongsun Xun in leaving Youzhou, Xi Zhong had been somewhat reproaching himself, so even knowing it would do little good, he still had to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, constrained by Gongsun Xun's mood, the group could only keep silent for the time being along the road. But a few days later, when they finally returned to the General of the Guard's residence beneath Mount Mang in Changping and met Lu Fan and Wang Xiu, who had remained behind to guard the place, as well as Cheng Pu and others who had hurried over, certain matters could no longer be avoided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, it was exactly as Xi Zhong had said — Mohu Tan personally wrote a letter couched in extremely craven and fearful terms, yet still did not come to Changping to pay his respects to Gongsun Xun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, according to scouts' reports, Mohu Tan himself had at one point reached the border wall beneath the Yanshan mountain range. The man had hesitated repeatedly but ultimately wrote this letter at the foot of Mount Yan, then turned back and returned to Chengde.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord.\" Once Gongsun Xun was seated in the main hall of the General of the Guard's residence, Lu Fan immediately presented the letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun took the letter, and though his expression remained as composed as ever, he tore it to shreds in public without even glancing at it. Instead, he amiably bade everyone take their seats on the spot, then immediately convened a military council... his intent to strike with deadly force was evident without a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since Demou is in Yuyang keeping watch on Chengde, who is at Lulong Pass to serve as defense?\" Gongsun Xun came straight to the point without a moment's pause, directly questioning Cheng Pu about the military deployments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Gongsun Xun adopt such a manner, even Lu Fan and Wang Xiu were as silent as puppets, let alone Cheng Pu. Hearing this, he dared not delay and immediately moved to rise and answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speak while seated,\" Gongsun Xun said, a single sentence making Cheng Pu promptly sit back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In reply to my lord,\" Cheng Pu hurriedly sat back and answered at once. \"At Lulong Pass, it is Gao Suqing leading over a thousand elite troops from his own command, plus a thousand commandery soldiers and a thousand civilian laborers jointly dispatched by the two commanderies of Liaoxi and Youbeiping behind him... three thousand men in total.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With Suqing at Lulong Pass, I am at ease.\" Hearing that Gao Shun was there, Gongsun Xun naturally nodded slowly. \"Then how many troops do you currently have there in Yuyang?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At its peak before the new year, apart from my own main force, there were commandery soldiers from various commanderies, sons of the great clans from each commandery, and sons of good families all providing aid, plus the twenty thousand garrison troops dispatched by Chief Clerk Lu — over thirty thousand men in total... However, after the new year, as the battle situation reached a stalemate, most of the troops were disbanded and sent back for spring plowing. With Gao Suqing gone to Lulong Pass, I have no more than four thousand men there now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Four thousand?\" Gongsun Xun frowned momentarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There are also two thousand men under the Colonel Protecting the Wuhuan, Gongqi Chou, who hurried over from Dai Commandery only after the battle and are now encamped in Youbeiping. If you, my lord, had not returned, he naturally would not obey our orders, but now that you have returned, those troops will certainly follow your commands.\" Cheng Pu hurriedly and respectfully added this detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That makes six thousand.\" Gongsun Xun still frowned. \"In the end, it comes down to spring plowing not being finished, making it difficult to mobilize on a large scale... is that not so?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is.\" Lu Fan had no choice but to respond proactively. \"But after spring plowing, if the localities cooperate, with Guangyang, Zhuojun, Yuyang, Youbeiping, and Liaoxi all combined, we can immediately mobilize an army of fifty thousand...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How many troops do the rebels have?\" The season could not be defied, so Gongsun Xun immediately abandoned this unsolvable question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hard to say,\" Cheng Pu replied earnestly. \"Although the Liaoxi Wuhuan have lost three engagements, those were between cities and fortresses within the frontier, and only flesh wounds. If they come out in full force near their base beyond the frontier, they could certainly still field twenty to thirty thousand cavalry, but it cannot possibly be only that many...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The miscellaneous Hu tribes beyond the frontier are said to number a hundred clans; of course it cannot be only that many,\" Gongsun Xun interjected dismissively. \"But when it truly comes to a decisive battle, those people will not actually go all out to fight to the death... no need to count them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if we disregard these fence-sitters, we must still guard against the Liaodong Wuhuan.\" As the chief general left to guard the region, Cheng Pu was naturally prepared. \"With the roads cut off for so long, other things aside, I do not believe the Liaodong Wuhuan chieftain Su Puyan has not been persuaded by Qiu Liju. Su Puyan should have five or six thousand cavalry under his command. But in terms of troop strength, the key still lies with the Xianbei... Kebineng is gradually unifying the former central and eastern Xianbei tribes. If he does not have thirty thousand cavalry, that would be self-deception.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this the extent of it? Or are you saying the Wuhuan are so formidable that once they rebel, they will overturn the entire situation in Youzhou?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is not quite that dire,\" Lou Gui, who had remained silent all along, finally interjected. \"For one, the terrain beyond the frontier is complex, especially around the Liaoxi corridor, with many mountain ranges and rivers. It is impossible for support to truly be so effective, and the idea that tens of thousands of troops can be assembled at a moment's notice is sheer delusion. For another, those are tribal confederations, not even of the same ethnicity among themselves, with the chieftains naturally harboring their own schemes and distrusting one another. Comparing them to the earlier Xiliang rebels would be an insult to Han Wenyue's reputation. Lastly, whether Wuhuan or Xianbei, they are so poor they cannot even afford a cooking pot — how could they sustain the logistics for an army of tens of thousands for long? What this campaign truly concerns itself with...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What it concerns itself with is, in truth, those few cities beyond the frontier,\" Gongsun Xun interjected. \"Especially the three cities of Chengde, Guanzicheng, and Liucheng... If these three cities fall, not only will the corridor be reconnected, but the Liaoxi Wuhuan will also be locked down once more, and the rebellion will subside on its own. Is that what you mean, Zibo?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is!\" Lou Gui bowed slightly from his seat. \"But the problem now is that all three cities are beyond the frontier. Guanzicheng, for instance, lies two hundred li beyond the frontier, a long and distant journey requiring a long-range raid. Chengde is wedged within the mountain ranges, a city of difficult and treacherous terrain, easy to defend and hard to attack. And Liucheng is not only sturdy but lies a further three hundred li north of Guanzicheng... If these three cities cannot be taken in a single campaign, once the fighting drags on, it will be no different from holding a torch aloft in the deep of night, drawing the many rebel bandits beyond the frontier to converge in one place, making all our efforts futile.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Pu and the others immediately nodded... this was precisely the concrete difficulty of suppressing the rebellion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So what should be done?\" Gongsun Xun remained silent for a long time. In the end, reason overcame emotion, and he barely managed to suppress his anger. Turning to Lou Gui, he solemnly inquired about the strategy for pacification. \"Does Zibo have a foolproof plan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is very simple.\" Lou Gui bowed again and replied. \"I ask my lord to be patient for the time being. After twenty days, when the busy spring season ends, we will dispatch forty thousand troops. Ten thousand to Captain Cheng, having him hold the pass north of Yuyang and keep watch on Chengde. Then my lord will personally lead the main army to Lulong Pass and have Marshal Gao take ten thousand of those troops out of the pass to attack Guanzicheng... With my lord encamped in the rear and the Chengde corridor under watch, the Wuhuan alone will not dare to risk a decisive battle with my lord beneath Guanzicheng, so Guanzicheng can be taken with ease... This is the first step.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Once Guanzicheng has fallen, my lord might as well have Marshal Gao hold Guanzicheng, then personally lead the main army from beyond the frontier to advance on Chengde, attacking Chengde from both sides. When the time comes, whether through a single battle or Mohu tribe's voluntary surrender, Chengde can also be calmly returned to our hands! This is the second step.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And once we have Chengde and Guanzicheng as fulcrums in the rear, my lord can raise a great army and send word to the various commanderies beyond the frontier, as well as to the Elder Lady in Liaodong, asking them to dispatch troops westward from the Liao River, while you march northward from the Liaoxi corridor. Two routes advancing together, openly and honorably knocking on the gates of Liucheng... At that time, the Wuhuan will either have to summon Xianbei reinforcements for a desperate battle beneath the city walls, or they can only sit and lose the city, then submit to our disposal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zibo's is a foolproof strategy.\" Once Lou Gui had finished, Lu Fan immediately stepped forward to express his agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master Zibo's plan is indeed prudent.\" Cheng Pu also immediately stepped forward into the hall to express his agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The year before last and last year were both bumper harvests; my lord need not worry about logistics.\" Wang Xiu also immediately stepped forward to state his position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord, although I had in mind a surprise attack on Guanzicheng... the situation at Liucheng is what it is... Zibo's plan is still the best.\" Xi Zhong also reluctantly admitted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seated in the place of honor, Gongsun Xun fell silent again for a moment, but finally nodded slowly... Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief at the sight. What they feared most was that Gongsun Xun's fury would erupt and he would insist on immediately dispatching troops to retake Chengde.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the next two days, Changping returned to tranquility. After all, Gongsun Xun was Gongsun Xun — the moment he returned, everyone's confidence was restored, not to mention that this rebellion had never dealt any substantial blow to the core regions within the frontier of Youzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, as word of Gongsun Xun's arrival spread, from the rebel forces to the north, who knew how many miscellaneous Hu tribes, and even some Wuhuan chieftains, sent people one after another to explain their respective tribes' helplessness and to beg for forgiveness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toward these people, Gongsun Xun bore no great fury either, so he treated them with amiable expressions and kind words, comforting and persuading them, drawing them in... For a time, the balance of the situation actually began to shift back with Gongsun Xun's return, with immediate and visible effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before many days had passed, in the first third of the second month, as a large number of messengers and envoys arrived one after another from Luoyang, the atmosphere in Changping abruptly turned solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, naturally, were the various earlier appointments, which arrived here in an unbroken, chaotic stream over the course of several days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, whether it was Gongsun Xun's own commission bearing a warrant to oversee the troops of several commanderies, the appointment of Liu Yu as Governor of Youzhou, the appointment of General of the Right Zhao Bao bearing a warrant to concurrently serve as Grand Administrator of Liaodong, or even Shen Pei's sudden transfer to be Chancellor of Zhao, and Dong Zhao's posting to Changshan — to the General of the Guard's residence in Changping, these were all matters of tremendous impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They compelled careful consideration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And secondly, the Gentleman Attendant of the Yellow Gate, Gongsun Yue, had sent an urgent secret letter by fast horse. The contents of this letter were known only to a few core members of the General of the Guard's residence — it was said that the Son of Heaven's health had suddenly deteriorated rapidly, and he might not last past the second or third month!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, within Luoyang, the situation had suddenly become one of drawn swords and strung bows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And compared to this, another piece of news mentioned in passing in the letter seemed utterly insignificant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out that earlier, the General of the Front, Dong Zhuo, had reluctantly accepted the appointment to go to Luoyang as Minister Steward. But after he handed over his troops and took his seals, credentials, and personal soldiers, following the Northern Army as it returned to Luoyang, when he reached Chang'an, the man suddenly turned back. He then actually went to the Fufeng military camp and, relying on his own strength alone, seized back five or six thousand of his core veterans, and once again set up camp separately from Huangfu Song.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, probably to guard against any move by Huangfu Song, Dong Zhuo had even arbitrarily relocated his camp, stationing it within Mei County, south of the Wei River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, according to what Gongsun Yue said in the letter, this General of the Front must have heard the news of the Emperor's grave illness while in Chang'an, and must have received hints from certain important figures in Chang'an, which was why he acted so recklessly and without restraint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the pond in the rear courtyard of the General of the Guards' residence, just as Gongsun Xun, after much hesitation, had finally given the order to assemble his staff and was about to act immediately, a servant suddenly came to report: \"Mr. Zibo requests an audience.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—————I am the dividing line of a very sour stomach—————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When the court appointed Zhuo as Privy Treasurer, he set out. Upon reaching Chang'an, he heard the Son of Heaven was gravely ill. Zhuo was greatly alarmed and delighted, and hurried back to Fufeng, where he retook command of five thousand personal troops. He submitted a memorial stating: 'The volunteer troops from Huangzhong and the Qin and Hu soldiers under my command all came to me saying: \"Our pay and provisions are incomplete, our grain stipends have been cut off, and our wives and children are starving and freezing.\" They clung to my carriage, making it impossible for me to proceed. The Qiang and Hu are base and fickle by nature; I could not restrain them. I could only placate and comfort them, and have submitted a revised report.' The court could not control him and was deeply troubled.\" — *Old Book of Yan*, Volume 62, Biographies, Chapter 12\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Headache, sour stomach, feeling terribly unwell. I truly want to write this half-volume and the next one well...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3168,"2026-06-04T19:42:26.060Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","be88fae9d05298336d4a1143aaa1f85e03ea2eb6d31e433598ebaad8cedb1361","overthrowing-han-chapter-313","overthrowing-han-chapter-311",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]