[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-332":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},1223091,1620,"Chapter 332: Warlords Rise East of the Passes (Part 1)","overthrowing-han-chapter-332",332,"\u003Cp>By early July, over a month had passed since Dong Zhuo deposed the emperor, and under the unceasing rain, the areas around Luoyang had fallen into an eerie silence, in stark contrast to the city itself, which was gripped by constant alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until this day, from Henei, just across the river from Luoyang, a call to arms suddenly arrived, instantly shattering the disarray of the many fugitives and leaving them even more bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now there is the traitor Dong, who defies his sovereign and holds the Son of Heaven hostage to command the officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, when the Lü clan rebelled, Chen Ping and Zhou Bo rose up; when Wang Mang usurped the throne, Dou Rong was filled with worry. This is because if loyal ministers do not act, the altars of the state can hardly be secure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xiliang traitor Dong once called himself a loyal and virtuous minister, presenting a false face to others, yet once he gained power, a review of the records shows none surpass Zhuo in violent rebellion, insubordination, greed, cruelty, and savagery:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He arbitrarily carried out the deposition and enthronement, poisoned the Empress Dowager; he brutalized the hundred officials, and tormented the common people...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop reading that part!\" In the city of Xiuwu in Henei, Yuan Shao, whose chronic headaches had returned due to the days of rain and who was lying on a couch, angrily tossed aside the hot towel on his forehead. \"What Dong Zhuo has done, I, Yuan Shao, know better than he, Gongsun Xun, does! Skip ahead and find the important parts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" The attendant holding a printed proclamation hurriedly scanned down and then began to read aloud. \"Because the realm is disappointed, and to follow the heartfelt will of all under heaven, now the Grand Marshal and Governor of Youzhou, Liu Yu, descendant of Emperor Guangwu and the Prince of Donghai, has raised the righteous banner to purge these evil fiends. Also, the Grand Administrator of Changshan, Dong Zhao, wishes on the twenty-second day of the seventh month to offer sacrifices at the Northern Marchmount, to settle the people's hearts...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hold on!\" Guo Tu, who had just risen to personally wring out a fresh hot towel for Yuan Shao, suddenly turned and stopped the attendant. \"Dong Zhao, Dong Gongren, was he not the Commandant of Changshan? How has he become the Grand Administrator of Changshan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is there even a need to ask?\" Xu You, seated to the side, curled his lip and said. \"Given the situation in the north, with the Grand Marshal, the General of the Guards, and the General of the Right all together, who would dare refuse to recognize the appointment of a Grand Administrator or the like? And as for that man Gongsun Wenqi, it would be strange if he didn't take this opportunity to purge and replace a few people. If my guess is correct, besides Changshan, the previously vacant post of Grand Administrator of Liaoxi, and those commanderies like Guangyang, have probably all been swallowed by him in one gulp... Continue reading.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant helplessly stole a glance at the grim-faced Yuan Shao, then continued reading: \"Now we invite the lands of You and Ji, south linking to Sanhe, north reaching the distant Liao, east encompassing the Bohai, west merging with the Taihang. Iron cavalry in herds, jade axle-caps touching. The red millet of Guangyang, the granaries' stores are endless; the white horses of Liaoxi, how far can the merit of restoration be? Moreover, the General of the Guards is a renowned commander under heaven. If the troops, horses, grain, and fodder of the various routes are entrusted to him, with this to subdue the enemy, what enemy cannot be crushed? With this to pursue merit, what merit cannot be achieved?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he read, the attendant himself realized he had made a mistake... Yuan Shao had only told him to read the key parts, not this following passage extolling military prowess, but the writing was truly good, and he had gotten carried away and blurted it out, so he hurriedly stopped again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But by now it was too late. In fact, upon hearing this section, the dozen or so people in the room all changed color... At this moment, which of these clever men did not understand that the actual leader of the alliance was none other than Gongsun Xun, and not Liu Yu, who was grandly proclaimed in the call to arms but had previously been rumored to be under house arrest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Empty words and intimidation, nothing more!\" At that moment, Feng Ji, who had been silent all along, suddenly stood up. \"Although the General of the Guards controls Youzhou, the five frontier commanderies beyond the passes led by his father-in-law are too far away. If troops are dispatched from there, who will support the logistics? Therefore, what that man relies on is merely the nine commanderies under his military authority. And among these nine, Liaoxi, Youbeiping, Dai, and Shanggu are all acknowledged as barren and impoverished lands. What can hastily support him on an expedition of thousands of li is actually only the grain he has accumulated over these years from the military colonies in the three commanderies of Guangyang, and a great deal was already expended in Liaoxi... That amount of grain cannot support a large army marching to Luoyang.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But what if, under the banner of punishing Dong, he marches south into Jizhou and takes the opportunity to annex Hebei?\" Xu You disagreed. \"Or what if the various commandery and state officials throughout Jizhou all respond to his call to arms and join the alliance? It is true that Youzhou has strong troops but a sparse population and a poor economy, insufficient to support a large army on a distant campaign. But Jizhou's nine commanderies have fertile plains stretching a thousand li and flourishing trade! If the people from these places all truly go to Changshan, then at that time, it will no longer be a question of whether we can go to Luoyang.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Ji was immediately at a loss for words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All of you, stop talking. Finish reading first,\" Yuan Shao, pressing the hot towel Guo Tu had wrung out onto his forehead, said in a somewhat stern tone. \"Continue reading.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant dared not be negligent and immediately held up the proclamation to continue reading:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It also says: You, sirs, either inherit noble titles of Han through your families, or are kin to the royal house by marriage, or have been entrusted with commands as claws and teeth, or hold tallies of authority overseeing rivers and seas. Emperor Ling, that autocrat, brought calamity and chaos to the realm, not worth a sneer, yet the four-hundred-year foundation of the House of Han—can loyalty be forgotten in our hearts? Now Yu wishes to appoint the General of the Guards as commander, to wield his tally and purge the sovereign's side, to uphold Heaven's mandate and quell the state's calamity! He hopes all lords under heaven will together establish the merit of serving the king, and not abandon the mandate of the House of Han. All noble titles and rewards shall be sworn by the mountains and rivers. If any cling to their isolated cities, hesitate at crossroads, and blindly ignore the omens of the times, they shall surely incur the punishment of latecomers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behold the realm today—whose house's domain is it under heaven?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What a line—'Behold the realm today—whose house's domain is it under heaven?!'\" Hearing the final sentence, Yuan Shao suddenly flipped up from the couch and, for the second time, threw off the hot towel on his forehead. \"Who wrote this call to arms?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm...\" The attendant hurriedly flipped through the document. \"Reporting to my lord, it says here: drafted by Wang Xiang of Wen County in Henei!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Truly a brush like a great rafter, capable of curing the realm!\" Yuan Shao, standing barefoot in the room wearing only his inner garment, laughed in extreme anger. \"A half-day's headache, and it has suddenly dissipated. But why do I not have such an outstanding literary talent under my command? And this Wang Xiang is clearly a man of Henei, yet he followed Gongsun Xun to Changshan! If word gets out, won't the realm laugh at me for failing to recognize talent?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Feng Ji seemed about to speak but then held back, clearly seeing that Yuan Shao was in a fit of anger and choosing to swallow his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpectedly, Yuan Shao's eyes were sharp and he noticed at once: \"Yuan Tu, do you have something to say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord!\" Feng Ji rose and replied. \"To my knowledge, there is a famous literary brush right here in Henei at this moment. However, when this man served under Grand General He Jin, he often acted in ways that put him at odds with you, my lord, so he may not dare to come.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you speaking of Chen Lin, Chen Kongzhang?\" Yuan Shao immediately laughed. \"When Chen Kongzhang served as Registrar to the Grand General, he was a loyal and dutiful servant to his master. How could I blame him for that? Since he has also fled here to Henei, very well then, prepare gifts immediately. In a couple of days, I will go in person to invite him. But before that, you must first express my goodwill on my behalf; do not frighten away this world-renowned talent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Ji nodded at once and sat back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Setting aside the fine writing for now,\" Yuan Shao sat back down on the couch, cupped his hands to everyone present, and said, \"Gentlemen, you are all renowned wise counselors under heaven, and you have all voluntarily followed me to Henei. Let us dispense with superfluous words... Please instruct me: this call to arms was likely issued over ten days ago. In other words, it is already too late for us to stop what is happening in Changshan. Given the current situation, what should I, Yuan Benchu, do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is no need for 'what to do,'\" As soon as Yuan Shao finished speaking, Xu You, seated to the side, spoke up without hesitation. \"For the present plan, there is only one strategy... However, Benchu, may I first ask you three questions?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ziyuan, please speak,\" Yuan Shao stood up with a solemn expression and, barefoot, actually bowed to Xu You on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Xu Ziyuan, who usually prided himself on his wisdom, had to rise and step aside to avoid the gesture at this moment. Only after Yuan Benchu had sat back down on the couch did he, under the gaze of the many advisors in the room, solemnly inquire:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First, is Dong Zhuo friend or foe?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Foe, not friend!\" Yuan Shao answered almost without thinking. \"We have wasted over a month here in Henei, and if we have gained anything, it is the certainty that Dong Zhuo is beyond reason! Although he appears to want reconciliation, he acts tyrannically and without scruple, killing the Empress Dowager, having He Miao's corpse flogged. In recent days, because political and personnel matters do not go his way, he has been arbitrarily killing ministers to assert his authority. Because of this, who knows how many have hung up their seals and fled... How could such a man possibly be a friend?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu You slowly nodded, but then pressed forward with another question: \"Second, is Gongsun Wenqi friend or foe?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shao paused for a moment, but only for a moment, before immediately giving an answer: \"This man is neither friend nor foe, and also both friend and foe!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Benchu speaks truly!\" Xu You let out a long sigh. \"That is precisely the meaning... Right now, no matter how you look at it, Dong Zhuo is an unreasonable man; there is nothing to be said between us and him. And at this time, Gongsun Xun has not, as we previously feared, joined hands with Dong Zhuo. To put it bluntly, we should thank him. Otherwise, we people would have no choice but to flee far beyond the mountains and seas.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people in the room all nodded very solemnly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But conversely, we left Luoyang and have been observing the situation here in Henei, and we still needed time to conclude that Dong Zhuo is an unreasonable man. Yet this man Gongsun Wenqi is already about to convene an alliance of Hebei's righteous men at Changshan. When exactly did he resolve to punish Dong?\" Xu You asked sharply. \"How swift is this man? How decisive?! And with such a man, whether this campaign against Dong succeeds and he becomes the first to enter the Passes and be made king, or, as I just said, he marches south to seize the opportunity to swallow all of You and Ji, emulating Emperor Guangwu in taking control of the lands north of the Great River... what then should we do? Benchu, we must begin to guard against Gongsun Wenqi right now!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shao nodded repeatedly without stopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Third,\" Xu You asked again, \"I dare ask Benchu, are the governors of the provinces and commanderies under heaven friend or foe to you? Can you, relying on your status as the scion of the Yuan clan, the leader of the partisans, and the head of the eunuch-purge faction, draw them to your side?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"West of the Passes aside, east of the Passes and in Hebei, most are friends!\" Yuan Shao immediately caught on. \"I understand Ziyuan's meaning. You want me to pretend ignorance of this call to arms and now, right here in the area around Luoyang, organize my own alliance, appoint myself as its leader, and contend with Gongsun Wenqi on equal footing, vying for allies!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This move is not merely about competing for temporary prestige,\" Xu You pressed closer to him and said. \"Organizing our own alliance at this moment has two enormous advantages, or rather, strengths... First, we are right near Luoyang. Compared to Gongsun Xun, who is two thousand li away, dealing with Dong Zhuo is far more convenient for us and easier to accomplish. Second, we take this opportunity to draw the governors of the surrounding commanderies and states to our side, making it difficult for Gongsun Xun to expand and press forward. Everyone is punishing Dong; he can't very well steal everyone's territory from behind while we are toiling away fighting Dong Zhuo, can he? If he did, how would the realm view him? This is what is called: attacking Luoyang while guarding Changping, simultaneously establishing your authority, Benchu—killing three birds with one stone!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shao leaned forward and grasped Xu You's hand, speaking earnestly: \"I have always been convinced by Ziyuan's strategies! No need to wait a few days; I will go now to visit Chen Lin, Chen Kongzhang, and ask him to write a call to arms against Dong for me, summoning the governors of the surrounding commanderies and states to join me in this great undertaking!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Ziyuan's plan is indeed excellent,\" Guo Tu, who had been listening for a while, suddenly interjected, but for once, he was actually praising Xu You.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu You could not help but look over curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And sure enough...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, before visiting Chen Lin, my lord still lacks one thing,\" Guo Tu said, stroking his beard. \"I dare ask my lord, Gongsun Xun is the General of the Guards, holding the tally to oversee the military affairs of nine commanderies. The two men propping him up are the Grand Marshal and Governor of Youzhou, and the General of the Right and Grand Administrator of Liaodong... What status should my lord use to become the leader of the alliance of the surrounding provincial and commandery governors?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does Gongze think, then?\" Yuan Shao indeed became solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My thought...\" Guo Tu suddenly laughed. \"Did the General of the Guards not refuse the appointment of General of Chariots and Cavalry before? Why doesn't my lord self-appoint as General of Chariots and Cavalry, overseeing the military and political affairs east of the Passes? After all, didn't he, Gongsun Xun, also privately appoint Grand Administrators?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shao was greatly tempted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xu You merely let out a scoff and then sat back down in his original place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then under what name should we initiate the alliance?\" Yuan Shao, hearing the scoff, also felt somewhat awkward and quickly asked further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is simple,\" Feng Ji said dismissively. \"So many people have recently abandoned their posts and fled Luoyang. Just casually find one with a heroic spirit, have him forge a letter from the Three Excellencies, or simply falsify an imperial edict, and, like that Grand Marshal in the north, call for the punishment of Dong. My lord need only act as the alliance leader; there is no need to contend over the roles of initiator and host.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shao nodded even more vigorously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just at that moment, a sudden clamor arose outside the room, and then an attendant specifically responsible for delivering messages came to report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is it?\" Yuan Shao turned and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reporting to my lord,\" the messenger, drenched in rain, cupped his hands and reported from under the eaves outside the quarters. \"Cheng Lian, the Garrison Commander stationed at Shequan Hamlet north of Huai County, has suddenly led his troops northward in the rain. Also heading north with him are Gongsun Yue, who was previously in Wen County, and the family of Grand General He Jin...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Such a trivial matter is of no consequence,\" Feng Ji understood immediately without even thinking. \"It must be that Gongsun Yue received his elder brother's call to arms and has asked Cheng Lian to escort him north to Zhaoge to find Guan Yu, or to Bo County to find Qian Zhao, or perhaps even further north to Zhao State to find Shen Pei... No need to pay it any mind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shao naturally also thought nothing of it... Since everyone was going to punish Dong at this time, they were 'allies,' and the He Jin family members were now of little importance. Presumably, Gongsun Xun was extending protection out of regard for his friendship with He Jin, which was even less worthy of attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is one more matter.\" The man cupped his hands again and said. \"Word has just come from Luoyang that Huang Wan, Governor of Yuzhou, has been summoned to court, and the newly appointed Inspector of Yuzhou is Kong Zhou. Then the General of the Rear, under the pretext of escorting this man to his post, has also fled... He has likely gone to Nanyang.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuan Shao felt a surge of disgust... His own younger brother, even when fleeing, would not take the same road as him. And a fine place like Nanyang — why had he, Yuan Benchu, not thought of it at the time? He could only hate himself for being too flustered back then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is one more matter!\" The attendant carefully gauged Yuan Shao's expression, then spoke in a low voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speak!\" Feng Ji took the initiative to ask on Yuan Shao's behalf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reporting to my illustrious lord and all you gentlemen.\" The man could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. \"Just now, a public call to arms and a private letter were delivered from Chenliu. They are from Cao Cao, who fled at the end of last month. This man actually claims to hold a letter jointly signed by the Three Excellencies, saying that by order of the Three Excellencies, from the Grand Tutor down, the righteous men of Guandong are to gather and campaign against Dong Zhuo, to restore order to the court... In truth, this matter is utterly laughable. After all, how could the Grand Tutor send a letter to him and not to our illustrious lord?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people in the room looked at each other in dismay, while Yuan Shao stared blankly for a long moment. Then, barefoot, he stepped forward to the doorway, only to turn back with a rueful laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Feng Ji beside him who could not help but darken his face: \"How do you know the Grand Tutor would not send a document to Cao Mengde? Remember this: Cao Mengde and our illustrious lord are one and the same person — what is given to him is given to our illustrious lord. Do you understand?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the general confusion, the man hastily acknowledged, which goes without saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Xu You who, no one knew when, had already come to the doorway, and was now stroking his beard as he watched the unceasing rain, his expression subtly moved: \"Truly a timely rain!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But these words went unheeded by anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Zhending, Changshan, Gongsun Xun, who was preparing for the alliance and the troop dispatch, was also looking up at the rain overhead, and those around him likewise had no idea what he was thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be said that in the sixth year of Zhongping, Gongsun Xun's presence had indeed catalyzed certain events, causing things that should have happened months later to occur early, and to become more intense and compressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, there was one thing he could not change... That year, due to the continuous summer rains, the Great Han Empire suffered widespread flooding. But like all large-scale natural disasters, it would be recorded in the histories as nothing more than a single line: 'Many commanderies and princedoms saw great floods.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord!\" Because they were in his home territory, Zhao Yun, who was in charge of security for the alliance gathering, suddenly came to report in haste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is it?\" Gongsun Xun's gaze finally shifted from the rain overhead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The envoy from Commandant Gongsun of Bohai has arrived,\" Zhao Yun said succinctly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun slowly nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The envoy says that the Grand Administrator of Bohai is now Yuan Benchu, but he has yet to take up his post, and as Commandant, if he were to easily leave as well, there would be no one to control Bohai,\" Zhao Yun reported in a low voice. \"Therefore, he truly has no way to come.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elder brother is asking me for an official post, is he not?\" Gongsun Xun turned his head and sighed quietly to Han Dang, who had remained silent beside him. \"Surely he is not simply unwilling to submit to me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Dang immediately let out a dry laugh, which drew a momentary rueful laugh from Gongsun Xun as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————I am the dividing line of each harboring their own schemes————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When the Grand Ancestor issued his call to arms, summoning the righteous men of Hebei to ally at Changshan, Fan was the County Magistrate of Zhuo. Hearing of it, he immediately went to receive orders. Yue was in Henei; hearing of it, he crossed Mount Taixing and traveled north. Zan was Commandant of Bohai; hearing of it, he sent an envoy to Changshan to request the post of Grand Administrator of Bohai. When he did not get it, he then sent an envoy to Henei to call upon Yuan Shao and again request the Grand Administrator post.\" — A New Account of the Tales of the World, Chapter on Wrath and Pettiness\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Today we have two more Alliance Masters... One is a reward from the resurrected Mr. Ma, and the other is the famously clear-headed big shot from Qidian... I am very grateful. During the toilsome New Year period, while spending time with my parents, I am doing my best to maintain updates. I beg your understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3922,"2026-06-04T19:42:26.060Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","336a97e30bf681176967c93f929e89fe9be775bde4f93096fc0c083790fafa25","overthrowing-han-chapter-333","overthrowing-han-chapter-331",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]