Chapter 33: The Charity Hostel (7k2 Combined Chapter)

The weather was sweltering, and the sun was sinking in the west.

The charity hostel at the foot of Mount Goushi was actually still under construction, but since there were already a tavern and several residential courtyards that could be used, it did not delay the lodging of travelers.

However, when most people arrived at this charity hostel, they were never in a hurry to enter, because their gazes would mostly be drawn to a huge bulletin board-like thing erected in front of the hostel — this thing was simply too large, so large that it felt more like a spirit screen than a notice board, especially since it had a wooden rain-proof eave, making it seem more like a building than the buildings themselves.

And for some unknown reason, from morning till night, a large crowd always gathered here, and even passing travelers who were not staying at the hostel could not help but stop and take a look.

Just this evening, a young man carrying a bundle on his back but dressed in the uniform of a government runner was also squeezed in front of this notice board, looking around curiously. Seeing that he was a government man, the crowd, though saying nothing, instinctively stepped back a few paces, which actually made things more convenient for him.

Looking closely, this enormous notice board was artfully divided into four sections.

The far left was a general introduction to the charity hostel, which used the semi-permanent method of wood carving and painted lacquer to explain the hostel's origins — there was no florid rhetoric, just a simple and direct explanation that this was built by Gongsun Xun, a scholar from Liaoxi. After coming here to study and seeing that there were many travelers but lodging was very difficult, he thus carried forward the sage's benevolent heart and built this charity hostel.

Looking on, the second section had several sheets of low-quality paper pasted on it, the kind commonly used in government offices, so brittle and stiff that it could only be written on when pasted onto a wooden board. Listed on them were some general rules of the charity hostel — for example, that regardless of status, different levels of treatment were provided based solely on age; and that each person's free meal allowance was fixed, and fodder was limited to one horse per person, with any excess to be paid for, and so on; and also that brawling, quarreling, or cursing were strictly forbidden in the hall, otherwise the hostel had the right to expel the offenders or report them to the authorities, etc., etc...

In any case, they were all very reasonable rules, and the man in the runner's uniform nodded repeatedly as he read them.

What was rather amusing was that one of the rules specifically mentioned that there was some kind of card game to play in the evening, but then a new handwritten note had been added afterward, saying that gambling with it was forbidden and offenders would be expelled without exception, which made this runner burst out laughing on the spot.

Looking further down, the third section was the largest in area and drew the most onlookers. There were even idlers who specifically begged others to read it aloud for them. The runner cast his gaze over and saw that at the very top of this section, the four characters "Local News" were prominently carved in wood, and his interest was immediately piqued.

Taking a closer look, it was indeed also written on that same low-quality paper, but the content above made this government runner unable to suppress a series of wry smiles:

For instance, one sheet of paper prominently stated that a certain Zhang family in Dazhangli behind Mount Goushi had lost three sheep and was willing to offer ten qian for information on their whereabouts. Finding lost property was one thing, but one had to wonder why this family was so stingy as to think three sheep were only worth ten qian?

Another example: another sheet of paper said that a certain Wang, a wealthy man from the county seat of Goushi, had countless wives and concubines, yet after several years of marriage had sired over a dozen daughters in a row. He was therefore using this place to seek a prescription. If anyone had a supreme method for begetting sons, this Wang was willing to offer ten jin of gold! Ten jin of gold was certainly a weighty sum, and most of the people in front of the notice board were discussing this matter, with quite a few eager to give it a try. But for such a matter to be posted here showed just how desperate this Wang had been driven by the matter of producing a son.

There was also a sheet of paper with crooked handwriting, stating that Liu Bei of Zhuo Commandery hereby issued a challenge to race horses against Zhao Fan of Hongnong on the last day of this ten-day period. The loser would do nothing else but run five li along this official road with disheveled hair, bare feet, and a naked torso!

Below were the signatures and handprints of both men!

The young runner shook his head repeatedly, wondering whose family's sons these were, that no one was keeping them in line.

Then, seeing that the sky was gradually darkening and many of the onlookers were dispersing, the man in the runner's uniform finally saw the last section — this place served no other purpose and, just like the rules at the postal relay stations, was plastered with wanted posters for major criminals.

The runner fixed his eyes on it and was immediately speechless.

For no other reason than there were simply too many wanted posters! Moreover, unlike the previous two sections, it seemed no one was regularly cleaning and replacing them here, so they were layered and piled up, pasted so densely that one could only barely make out the newest few wanted notices.

It must be understood that in these years, criminals were becoming more and more numerous, to the point of affecting the functioning of society. Therefore, the imperial court had to find a pretext to issue a general amnesty every two years, otherwise daily life would become impossible.

Returning to the matter at hand, the runner furrowed his brow and carefully examined a few, then sighed repeatedly, though whether he was lamenting the deteriorating state of law and order in the Great Han dynasty was unclear. However, as the sun sank more noticeably in the west, he hesitated for a moment, and finally, pressing down on his saber and carrying his bundle, he turned and entered the charity hostel.

The main hall was incredibly boisterous, filled with merchants traveling from south to north, travelers darting east and west, and perhaps even desperate criminals fleeing for their lives. Accents from various regions and all kinds of topics were all mixed together. But all of this vanished without a trace the moment a man dressed in a government runner's uniform entered the door.

This young runner seemed to have anticipated this reaction long ago. He simply took the bundle off his back, lowered his head, and waited quietly.

"What business does this government man have here?" Sure enough, a lean, hawk-eyed, robust man quickly appeared with seven or eight companions. However, upon seeing the bundle the newcomer carried, his tone quickly softened. "Your face is unfamiliar to me. Could it be that you are an out-of-town official passing through and seeking lodging?"

"That is exactly the case." The runner hurriedly cupped his hands in salute. "I have come from Nanyang, traveling to Luoyang on official business. I heard that the postal relay station next door is already housing some noble personage, and I truly do not wish to suffer any indignities. I also heard that a certain Young Master Gongsun has built a charity hostel here, so I thought I would try my luck."

"So that's how it is. Since you are not on official duty, then one who comes to the door is a guest." The robust man immediately relaxed. "Go find a seat for yourself, then go over there to get a number token. Use the token to get your meal and lodging... What this charity hostel emphasizes is ease and peace of mind."

"Many thanks, brother." The runner cupped his hands again. "I have long heard of this Young Master Gongsun's great name as the Timely Rain. Coming here today, his reputation is indeed well-deserved."

The surrounding din of noise roared back to life. For the many merchants and travelers in the hall, a runner coming here to cause trouble and an out-of-town runner passing through and seeking lodging were not the same thing at all... The former required ten thousand precautions, while the latter could barely be considered harmless.

Of course, even if harmless, no one was willing to sit with a government runner. Fortunately, this runner was self-aware; he did not share a table with others and took the initiative to sit down at the last empty table — there were no rush mats or low tables in the hall, but rather a kind of high-legged table and chair that he had heard of but was seeing for the first time. However, the hall was packed full, so there was no need to worry about not knowing how to sit and making a fool of oneself.

He took a number token, collected his meal, and then the runner even spent five copper coins of his own to get a small bottle of slightly sweet, unfiltered wine. He sat there eating slowly, listening to the travelers from all over tell interesting tales of distant places, which was quite entertaining for a time. And as the sky quickly darkened, the main hall became even more interesting, because he saw the card game that had left such a deep impression on him from outside.

As soon as the charity hostel staff lit torches around the main hall at everyone's urging, a group of people hurriedly and proactively set up several tables in the center of the hall, and then scrambled to get on the tables by drawing lots. Those who were new here could not help but crowd around to watch.

This was only natural. Although the smell of pine torches was a bit pungent and the hot weather made people feel stifled, for travelers who lacked evening entertainment, the card games on these few tables were truly a novelty... Besides, wasn't there an unlimited supply of cooled boiled water?

This so-called card game was actually a number-point game, from one point to twelve points, corresponding to the twelve zodiac animals, and further divided into the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Thus, each season had one additional largest season card as the thirteenth point, and finally there were two divine cards: August Heaven and Mother Earth. A full deck consisted of fifty-four cards, all made of fine hardwood, blank on the back but each uniquely crafted on the face. Three players competed, using various rules to play cards in combinations, and whoever emptied their hand first was the winner!

The runner listened intently while eating, and in no time at all, he had mastered the rules. He knew in his heart that this game involved both the luck of gambling games and a contest of wits, making it truly far more interesting than chupu. Thus, he had long been itching to play... Of course, fortunately, he still knew that his identity was special and that he should not be showing his face at this time, so he could only do as most people did and sigh, mock, or praise those who were playing.

"This government man, may I ask if this seat is taken?"

Just as this runner's mind was wandering, he suddenly heard someone ask a question in a Hebei accent. He turned his head to answer, but then hastily put down the chopsticks in his hand, stood up, and saluted: "I dare not accept such a question from an elder. I am the only one at this table. Please, elder, make yourself comfortable."

It turned out that the speaker was a middle-aged man in gray clothes.

One must know that in these times, a person of forty could already call themselves aged and decrepit, that is, a publicly acknowledged elder in society. And while this man might not quite be forty by his looks, for a runner in his twenties, why would he quibble over such a detail?

In any case, he was much older than himself, so he was an elder, and that was that.

Moreover, although this man wore only a dusty gray garment, his stature was extremely tall. Standing there, not counting the wooden cap on his head, he was probably around eight chi and two or three cun in height. Coupled with his lean frame, his height was even more striking. Just standing there, he could be said to have an extraordinary bearing.

What was more, this man even had two young men in white following and attending to him, who were either his juniors or disciples... Given this, the man's status was thought-provoking.

And faced with such a personage, how could this runner dare to be disrespectful?

"Many thanks." The gray-clad man sat down without looking around and, without turning his head, instructed the two behind him: "There should be a place to get number tokens at the entrance. Go get three tokens, and then use the tokens to get some food to eat."

"Yes!" The two young men in white answered in unison. Then, the more lively one, just as he was about to turn back, could not help but ask another question: "Teacher, the sky was already dark when we entered, and we saw nothing. How did you know there would be number tokens to take?"

"I am a man of Youzhou." The middle-aged man in gray was quite amiable with his disciples. "The moment I entered and saw these tables and chairs, I knew the origin of this charity hostel. It's the Liaoxi Anli Trading Company, the business of Lady Gongsun. This trading company is accustomed to producing new things. Some are renowned throughout the land, like the ginseng hailed as a life-hanging sacred medicine, which was discovered by this company. Some are unknown to the world at large but have spread in certain specific places due to their practicality, like this furniture, and the heated brick beds you will likely never see in your lifetime. And some find it difficult to gain a foothold, like the bulletin board in front of this hostel, which, because it encroaches on the function of postal relay stations, can only be used in their Gongsun clan's home commandery of Liaoxi. There are even some that vanished without a trace as soon as they appeared, which I can't quite recall clearly..."

After listening to their teacher's explanation, the two disciples bowed once more and hurried off to get the food.

"However, how did the Anli Trading Company manage to extend its business to Goushi?" After the students left, the gray-clad man could not help but shake his head slightly. "Wasn't it only able to operate within the circle of Bohai for over a decade?"

The runner stole a glance at this unusually tall "teacher" from Youzhou and immediately could not resist interjecting: "Elder, you may not be aware, but the sky is dark now, and you probably didn't see the explanation on the notice board at the entrance... This establishment is indeed connected to the Gongsun clan of Liaoxi, but it is the personal undertaking of a Gongsun clan scholar who came from Liaoxi. This person is called Gongsun Xun, and he came here to study. Because he is generous and magnanimous, he seems to have gained quite a reputation in this region between Wancheng and Luoyang these days."

"Gongsun... Xun, is it?" The middle-aged man in gray was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then he stroked his beard thoughtfully. "The character Xun comes from the Huainanzi, in the phrase, 'Among the beauties of the east, there is the xunyuqi jade of Mount Yiwulu.' This Mount Yiwulu is in Liaoxi. And this Gongsun Xun, if I am not mistaken, should be the only son of that Lady Gongsun of the Anli Trading Company..."

The runner's demeanor became increasingly cautious. A learned man with students in this era, and with such an extraordinary bearing... In ordinary times, he would certainly have done his utmost to befriend him. But now, with a mission on his shoulders, sharing a table with such a big shot — who knew if it was a blessing or a curse?

"These cards have also been improved quite a bit." The middle-aged man continued without turning his head, speaking just by listening to the clamor behind him. "Before, they were just numbers and things like plum blossoms and squares, and no one played with them at all. Now they've been changed to the twelve zodiac animals and the four seasons, which is indeed much more interesting. I reckon it will soon replace chupu and spread throughout the land..."

The young runner mumbled in agreement, not daring to say much at all.

"Teacher." As they spoke, the two young men in white had already brought the food over. The one in the lead, while setting out the dishes, introduced with keen interest: "When we were getting the food over there, they heard we were getting it for our teacher. Not only did they specially reheat the dishes for us, but they also gifted us a small cold appetizer. Moreover, as an elder, Teacher was entitled to sweet wine. They said we honored our teacher and revered the Way, so they added a bit more... The wine and food are nothing special, but this charity hostel, amidst all its bustle, truly has rules and etiquette, where refinement and vulgarity coexist without being annoying."

"That is only to be expected." The gray-clad man let out a rare snort of laughter. "Let us dine!"

The man dressed as a runner finished his meal first. After going out to rinse his mouth, he returned carrying four cups of cooled boiled water, then sat there drinking water while pretending to listen to the card game over yonder... In truth, by this time, this man was inwardly feeling as if he were sitting on a bed of nails.

The thing was, he had originally not wanted to continue sitting with this awe-inspiring gray-clad man. It was only when he went out to rinse his mouth that he realized that if lodging was assigned by number token, his number happened to be consecutive with these three! If he fell asleep first and they came in later, and overheard some words he muttered in his dreams, that could very well lead to disaster.

It was just a trip to Luoyang, a route he had often taken in the past. Why was it so difficult this time?

A short while later, the gray-clad man and his two students also finished their meal. The gray-clad man held the sweet wine gifted by the hostel, savoring it slowly, while his two students sat upright and proper, holding two cups of cooled boiled water and sipping them in small, slow mouthfuls... It was clearly the etiquette they had cultivated in their daily lives.

Seeing this man's bearing so lofty, the young man in the runner's uniform grew increasingly uneasy in his heart.

“Forgive my presumptuous intrusion upon an elder.” Just at that moment, the one who came to smooth things over suddenly arrived — it was none other than that powerfully built man with the sparse beard and hawk-like eyes from before. This time, however, he came alone, and he was personally carrying a tray laden with both wine and dishes, all clearly refined and of high quality.

So the manager of this charity hostel isn’t blind after all! The officer sighed inwardly, but couldn’t help feeling a wave of relief.

“None of these. And take the food away too.” The gray-robed middle-aged man raised a finger without the slightest courtesy. “That slightly cloudy sweet wine I’ve been drinking is best. Bring me a whole jar of it, and fetch a large wooden bowl as well.”

Aside from the two disciples dressed in white, everyone around — starting with that government runner — was, to a man, nearly dumbstruck. The fellow holding the tray froze for a moment before hurriedly agreeing. Before long, he had personally lugged over an entire jar of sweet wine, and then personally attended to the gray-robed middle-aged man as he drank.

“Judging by your accent, elder, are you perhaps from our Youzhou?” The sturdy man asked the moment he finished pouring the wine, unable to hold back the question. Probably feeling that such a direct inquiry was somewhat discourteous, he immediately added a self-introduction. “I am Han Dang, courtesy name Yigong, a man of Lingzhi in Liaoxi. Because my young master needs to study regularly, I am the one who looks after this charity hostel.”

“You are from Lingzhi in Liaoxi?” The gray-robed middle-aged man drained a large bowl of sweet wine in one gulp without so much as blinking, merely gesturing for the other to keep pouring. “You don’t look very old. Could you be a household foster son of the Gongsun clan?”

“That is not the case.” The sturdy man — Han Dang — hurriedly explained further. “In my youth, though I helped the men of the Anli Trading Company trade horses, I myself was a free man. My family is a humble one from Liaoxi. After I came of age, I even joined the army and rose to the rank of a minor clerk drawing a salary of two hundred dan...”

“Then why did you later follow your young master?” The gray-robed man poured another bowl of wine down his throat as if it were water, making the government runner across from him stare wide-eyed. “I’ve been away from Youzhou for a few years. Has this Anli Trading Company already hollowed out Liaoxi? Is there no way for a man of Lingzhi to survive unless he follows the Anli Company?”

“The elder jests.” Han Dang gave a dry laugh, then hurriedly recounted, one by one, the story of his enlistment at Lulong Fortress, the subsequent night raid, and how he was transferred to the post of Fortress Barrier Commandant after the battle.

The tale was naturally thrilling. Not only those nearby, but even the men playing cards couldn’t help turning their heads repeatedly. The officer beside them listened with rapt fascination, his mouth hanging wide open.

Only this exceptionally tall, gray-robed man drank as he listened, his expression utterly unchanged. He paused only slightly upon hearing how Gongsun Xun had joined the night raid and fought desperately to break the Xianbei. He waited until Han Dang had finished before unhurriedly opening his mouth:

“Han Yigong, is it? Let me ask you: when your young master opened this charity hostel here, was it not for the purpose of making a name for himself?”

Han Dang stiffened, but in the end, he honestly nodded his head: “There is indeed that intention.”

“Then why is it that so many people here seem to be hearing about this night raid by thirty riders for the first time?” The gray-robed man gestured to those around him. “A deed like this would surely make one’s name resound throughout Hebei... Publicizing it would also add considerable renown to your young master.”

“I dare not deceive you, elder.” Fine beads of sweat had already appeared on Han Dang’s forehead, though whether from the heat of the day, one could not say. “I asked my young master about this matter as well... He said: for military affairs of the border commanderies, it is enough to make one’s name resound in Hebei; there is no need for it to resound in Henan.”

“That is true enough.” The gray-robed man nodded slowly at these words, then downed another bowl of wine without blinking. “Since you’ve come to Luoyang, you absolutely must not be seen as a mere warrior from the border commanderies. The fact that you can fight battles can wait to be remembered when the court needs to fight battles... Han Yigong, did you seek me out just to say these things?”

“Of course not.” Han Dang was drenched in sweat and spoke with effort. “In truth, my young master came to the foot of this Mount Goushi originally to study the classics under our Youzhou great Confucian scholar Lu... Master Lu, and he did indeed linger here for a very long time. Otherwise, he would not have thought of acquiring property here. It’s just... it’s just...”

“Just what?” The gray-robed man asked curiously. “Speak your mind.”

“It’s just that because Master Lu went to Jiujiang to suppress the rebellion, there was no one to teach him. Moreover, before Master Lu left, he left word that the disciples who came seeking instruction should be entered into the register regardless, and that if any of them could find another renowned teacher on their own... they were free to go... and that it would be no hindrance.” Han Dang delivered these few sentences with extreme stiffness, reciting them as rigidly as a child who had just begun his schooling.

The meaning of the words, however, was conveyed. At the very least, the two white-robed young men who were students had already hurriedly risen and stood with their hands at their sides, eyes fixed on their noses and noses fixed on their hearts.

“It seems there were such words. But which renowned teacher? Tell me, so I may broaden my knowledge.” The gray-robed man held his wine bowl and asked with a hint of mockery.

“It is one of the current Nine Ministers, surnamed Liu, personal name Kuan, the Excellency of the Imperial Household, Master Liu.” Han Dang quickly answered, then added a supplementary note. “It was quite a coincidence. That day, Master Liu’s carriage broke down right at this crossroads, and he entered my family’s villa to borrow a carriage. It just so happened...”

“Does Liu Wenrao not usually style himself an elder?” The gray-robed man drained another large bowl of wine in one gulp, then suddenly slammed the wooden bowl upside down on the table and demanded in a stern voice, “Is snatching away another man’s disciple something an elder should do?!”

The entire hall was stunned. Front and back, left and right — those playing cards, those drinking water, those standing with hands at their sides, those sitting with legs crossed — not a single person dared make another sound. Han Dang was even more at a loss.

“My lord, calm your anger!” At that moment, a young man dressed in brocade suddenly appeared behind Han Dang and immediately knelt in public to plead for forgiveness. “This matter was indeed a frivolous act on our part; truly, it has nothing to do with Master Liu!”

The officer sitting awkwardly to the side stole a glance, understanding in his heart that this kneeling person must be the Gongsun Xun of the thirty-rider camp raid, the master of this place. And that address — “my lord” — also revealed to all the identity of the tall middle-aged man sharing his table: it was none other than that renowned Confucian scholar of the realm, the newly resigned Grand Administrator of Jiujiang, Lu Zhi, courtesy name Zigan.

After all, the form of address “my lord,” setting aside its confused usage among foreign tribes and within the palace chambers, according to proper ritual, could only be used for nobles of princely rank and above, for elders of profound virtue and high prestige with a great disparity in age, and for those who held a clear, direct senior familial relationship with the speaker.

Father and mother were naturally “my lord.” Paternal grandfather and paternal uncles could also be “my lord.” Maternal uncles and fathers-in-law could marginally be “my lord.” And a teacher could, with some strain, be called “my lord.”

As for Gongsun Xun’s use of “my lord” here, it actually carried a flavor of apology and entreaty within it.

“How many days have you been waiting for me here?” The gray-robed man — Lu Zhi — cast a light glance at the person on the ground, then flipped the wooden bowl back over.

Han Dang felt a sudden tug at his trouser leg and started violently. He hurriedly stepped forward again, lifted the wine jar, and filled the other man’s bowl.

“I dare not deceive you, my lord.” Though drenched in sweat, Gongsun Xun, kneeling there, still held his head high with composure. “This young one did indeed harbor the thought of waiting for you below this mountain, but I truly did not expect you to come so swiftly. I only arrived from Luoyang this afternoon and was originally resting in the courtyard across the way when I suddenly heard someone say you had come here...”

“So that’s how it is.” Lu Zhi’s tone softened after a bowl of wine went down. “You may set your mind at ease. I must acknowledge my own words. This matter will not implicate a disciple who has not yet come of age... Our conversation here is disturbing many travelers. Rise and lead me to your courtyard to rest. Then, early tomorrow morning, ride swiftly into Luoyang and invite that Liu Wenrao here for me. Tell him I wish to drink with him and settle accounts!”

“Yes!” Gongsun Xun finally rose to his feet.

At this point, Lu Zhi picked up the half-empty jar of wine and the wooden bowl. Without needing anyone’s support, he stood up straight and strode out.

“One more thing.” After taking just two steps, Lu Zhi suddenly turned his head back and gestured with his chin toward the officer who had shared his table. “Seize this man. Interrogate him thoroughly as to why he is impersonating a government officer. Could he be an escaped convict?”

The “government runner,” who moments before had been watching with such relish, had no time to react before Han Dang and Gongsun Xun jointly pinned him. His entire body was slammed onto the table in a release of pent-up frustration, half his face instantly scraped raw and swollen.

“Goushi is the strategic throat southeast of Luoyang. Emperor Taizu Wu of Yan once established a charity hostel here, where he wholeheartedly befriended all, regardless of whether they were high ministers or commoners. It is said that in those chaotic times, many fugitives from various parts of Henan fled to him. Whenever Taizu inquired into their crimes, if their evil deeds were flagrant, he expelled them; if their actions had extenuating causes, he sheltered them. The clerks and prison officials were also aware of Taizu’s conduct, respected his virtue and righteousness, and dared not intrude. Over several years, it reached the point where high ministers and commoners, bandits and officials, all drank together in one hall and associated with one another as if it were natural.” — *Goushi Local Gazetteer*

PS: Recommending a book, *Strolling Through the World of Film*. This isn’t a quid pro quo deal; it’s written by an old reader from the group... I really didn’t expect him to stick with it. Those interested can go take a look.

(End of Chapter)