[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-352":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},1223111,1620,"Chapter 352: Standing Firm Amidst Tigers and Wolves (Continued)","overthrowing-han-chapter-352",352,"\u003Cp>After the Shangyuan Festival, Huchuquan was released from the pavilion lodge and, together with Gongsun Xun, left Jinyang and headed south to Qixian. Accompanying them were over twenty thousand combat troops, over ten thousand auxiliary troops, and a large number of officers and civil clerks. Upon arriving at Qixian, a key strategic point in Jin, they were joined by Wang Xiu, who had long since arrived there, along with his force of over ten thousand auxiliary troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, the Youzhou army, having received ample reinforcements in Taiyuan Commandery, totaled twenty thousand combat troops and twenty thousand auxiliary troops. Moreover, the countless warhorses and pack horses nearly clogged the entire passage; supplies such as grain, fodder, weapons, and equipment had long been piled up like mountains along both banks of the Fen River within Qixian’s borders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, from Huchuquan’s perspective, there was probably no such distinction as combat troops and auxiliary troops, and he was also somewhat helpless regarding the source of so many warhorses and pack horses… But regardless, he saw the most powerful army he had ever witnessed in his life and gained a relatively clear understanding of the situation under Heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namely, this General of the Guard in Taiyuan, the Guandong Alliance Leader Yuan Cheqi who was remotely controlling the Suanzao coalition from Henei, and Chancellor of State Dong, who had routed Yuan Shao — these three great figures were the true powers under Heaven! Everyone else, no matter how ambitious, no matter how many ideas, no matter how capable or strong, could only temporarily choose one of the three to serve… and then, either sheltered under the wings of these three, or stepping over the corpse of one of them, could they hope to achieve anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, once this thought took firm root, Huchuquan did not grow smug because his elder brother had connected with Yuan Benchu. On the contrary, he began to worry about his brother being caught between two titans — if it really came to blows, what use were his brother’s four or five thousand cavalry, plus Zhang Yang’s four or five thousand infantry, against an army like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the time came, should they surrender, or should they flee along Huguan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they surrendered, they would likely be directly annexed by this General of the Guard, who already controlled part of the Northern Xiongnu forces in Bing; if they fled into Henei or Wei Commandery, strangers in an unfamiliar land, they would probably also be annexed by Yuan Shao… That Alliance Leader Yuan had recently been exceedingly harsh toward the surrounding coalition forces!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if they neither surrendered nor fled, they could only fight… which would be even more straightforward! It was quite possible that the four-hundred-year legitimate line of the Xiongnu Chanyu court, passed down since Modu Chanyu, would end right there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, this worry soon vanished like smoke, because shortly after arriving at Qixian, Gongsun Xun summoned Huchuquan and then gave him a thorough scolding, saying that he had avenged the brothers’ murdered father, yet the two of them had dared to occupy Shangdang and block the road — utterly shameless!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This display forced Huchuquan to kowtow repeatedly, apologizing on behalf of himself and his elder brother, and then, with tears and mucus streaming down his face, he expressed his gratitude to the General of the Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, this General of the Guard told Huchuquan to get back to Shangdang. Accompanying him were Wang Rou, the former Colonel Protector of the Xiongnu, and a scholar from the General of the Guard’s staff named Xi Zhong. The two, one as chief envoy and one as deputy, would travel with Huchuquan on a return visit to Shangdang. The former would serve as the formal envoy, while the latter would go to Boxian on the border between Henei and Shangdang to receive Lu Zhi, Gongsun Yue, and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And before departing, Huchuquan saw even more clearly: the Youzhou army at Qixian had already begun moving out in force, advancing methodically southwest along the Fen River, clearly heading for Hedong… By the time they left, over ten thousand troops were already on the move, and they were still streaming out in an endless flow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sending a return envoy and dispatching troops — clearly, though this General of the Guard spoke harshly, he was still extremely pragmatic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One might even put it another way: his mouth was vicious, but his body was very honest!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, such slander could only remain in Huchuquan’s heart. The gap in status and power between the two was too vast. Not only Gongsun Xun, but even Wang Rou as an envoy had to be treated with the utmost deference, served as if he were Huchuquan’s own father… And indeed, when Wang Rou had served as Colonel Protector of the Xiongnu years ago, he had actually been on quite good terms with Huchuquan’s father. Then Wang Rou had retired from office to teach, while Huchuquan’s father, Qiangqu, had first inexplicably become the Xiongnu Chanyu and then died in the Xiongnu civil strife — truly the vicissitudes of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, showing filial deference to an elder like Wang Rou, with whom he genuinely had ties, was something no one would look down upon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, regardless of anything else, Huchuquan’s mission was a great success. Yufuluo and Zhang Yang, in their excitement, treated Wang Rou with exceptional courtesy. As for Xi Zhong’s move to go south and receive people, this strange warlord alliance had no reason to object… In fact, they could not wait for Gongsun Yue and Lu Zhi to come over sooner! It would be best if Qian Zhao from Boxian and Cheng Lian, who was escorting Gongsun Yue, also came over!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Qian Zhao and Cheng Lian together probably had nearly two thousand men. With Gongsun Xun now in Taiyuan Commandery to the north, Yufuluo and Zhang Yang truly dared not let those men pass. So, the two sides agreed to let Gongsun Yue and Lu Zhi take He Jin’s family dependents to Taiyuan first, “wait a moment,” and then discuss the disposition of Cheng Lian and Qian Zhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be said, the speed of a large army on the march, a small unit on the move, and a lone rider traveling back and forth are not the same thing… By the time Xi Zhong, bringing Lu Zhi, Gongsun Yue, and He Jin’s several dozen family dependents — and even Qian Zhao’s teacher, Yue Yin — followed the Qin River into Shangdang, crossed Mount Yangtou, and arrived at Zhangzi County, the seat of Shangdang Commandery, Gongsun Xun and his great army had only advanced as far as Jiexiu, arriving beneath Jie Mountain and the other Mount Yangtou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, Shangdang had two Mount Yangtous. One lay south of Zhangzi County, locking the Shangdang basin together with Huguan east of Zhangzi County. The other stood at the border between Shangdang and Taiyuan Commandery, facing Jie Mountain at Jiexiu in Taiyuan from afar, yet together with Niexian on the main passage into the Shangdang basin, it locked the basin’s northern side… Two wild mountains of treacherous terrain, one south and one north, guarding the heart of Shangdang — rather intriguing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the matter at hand, Lu Zhi and Yue Yin were both renowned scholars of the realm, Gongsun Yue was a trusted clan cousin of Gongsun Xun, and He Jin had even been Zhang Yang’s benefactor. With all these people arriving together, how could Yufuluo and Zhang Yang dare to slight them? So they immediately arranged a special banquet in their honor, with every courtesy meticulously observed throughout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the banquet, Zhang Yang even vacated the commandery offices he had been occupying, allowing Lu, Yue, Gongsun, the earlier-arrived Wang Rou, and He Jin’s family dependents to lodge there together, while he himself went to the pavilion lodge instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, carrying a four- or five-tenths tipsiness to the city’s central pavilion, before he could even lie down to sleep, Zhang Yang suddenly received a report that his trusted subordinate Yang Chou had unexpectedly arrived from outside the city with a few riders, bringing with him a hero from Jiuyuan in Bing Province. He could not help but be overjoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course he was pleased… In this era, ties to one’s native place mattered immensely. Yet Zhang Yang’s native Yunzhong happened to be one of the four Hetao commanderies, sparsely populated — even all four commanderies combined had only a few tens of thousands of people, so one rarely encountered a fellow townsman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, his close relationship with Lu Bu back in Luoyang had also stemmed from this. When away from home, one rarely met old acquaintances from one’s native place, so a sense of closeness was inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this time, the Hetao fellow townsman brought by Yang Chou was indeed an old acquaintance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Greetings, Governor Zhang!” Cheng Lian entered the pavilion lodge with Yang Chou, unhurried and unflustered, raising his clasped hands in salute with an air of confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Lian had been stationed at Pingcheng for many years. Zhang Yang, though from Yunzhong, had served as a provincial clerk — how could he not recognize him? Thereupon, he hurried forward, grasped his hand in welcome, and they sat down together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as soon as he opened his mouth, Zhang Yang seemed somewhat helpless: “I thought Colonel Cheng was still at Boxian with County Magistrate Qian, holding the southern Taihang mountain pass. I never expected you to come here in secret… Meeting privately like this, is there some matter? So long as it is not an impossible difficulty, I will certainly do my utmost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Governor Zhang thinks too much.” Cheng Lian laughed despite himself. “I am but a military man, unworthy to serve as the claws and fangs of the General of the Guard. What difficulty could I possibly have? I am merely entrusted by another to ask Governor Zhang to meet one more person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhang Yang glanced at Yang Chou, who merely looked curious, then studied Cheng Lian’s composed expression. Instead of hastily asking whom he was to meet, he asked about something else: “The realm is in turmoil, and every man has his own aspirations. Colonel Cheng, separated from the General of the Guard by such distance and having not seen him for many years, why do you remain unswervingly loyal, calling yourself his claws and fangs?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Living in this world, the most valuable thing is to know oneself,” Cheng Lian sighed. “I am a military man from the border commanderies. Having met an enlightened lord who is fair in rewards and punishments and can let my family dwell in peace, why should I think of anything else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yang slowly nodded and pursued the matter no further: “Then may I ask Colonel Cheng, is this person you say wishes to see me the General of the Guard’s staff member, Xi Zhong, Xi Zhicai?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Lian laughed in spite of himself, then nodded easily. Seeing this, Yang Chou was also momentarily astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is not that I can divine the future,” Zhang Yang explained helplessly to Yang Chou. “It is that Colonel Cheng calls himself the General of the Guard’s claws and fangs, and went through the trouble of taking a roundabout route through you, covering his tracks. So the person who wants to speak with me must be a trusted confidant from the General of the Guard’s side. And at today’s banquet, only that Master Xi could not hold his liquor and excused himself to ‘rest’ midway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Chou suddenly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is Master Xi?” Zhang Yang turned back to Cheng Lian. “I shall change into plain clothes immediately to see him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just outside the door,” Cheng Lian replied frankly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yang drew a sharp breath: “In that case, I am instead somewhat apprehensive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is only to meet and to listen,” Cheng Lian urged with effort. “Even if Governor Zhang does not consider the bond of us being fellow townsmen, should you not also think of the sentiment when my lord presented you with that sword?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yang remained silent. Yang Chou, however, knowing that his superior had always been generous and kind-hearted, simply went out on his own to receive that Master Xi, who was right outside the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And sure enough, this Governor Zhang, who even when faced with a subordinate’s rebellion would only weep and reproach himself, did not stop him, but instead stood waiting just inside the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Governor Zhang!” Xi Zhong, in a plain cloth robe and black headscarf, strode in with his tall frame and came straight to the point. “My lord wishes to exchange a large commandery for Shangdang. I beseech Governor Zhang to consent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yang had originally intended to invite him to sit, but upon abruptly hearing these words, he could not help but be stunned: “Master Zhicai, do not jest. Where would the General of the Guard get a large commandery to trade for Shangdang? And the idea of trading one commandery for another is somewhat laughable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xi Zhong gave a light laugh and opened his mouth to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at that moment, Zhang Yang had already realized once more: “Could it be you mean Hedong? You want me to go to Hedong, and then the General of the Guard takes Shangdang? But fine as Hedong is, it has a hundred thousand Bobo bandits. With my mere few thousand troops, going there would be courting death, would it not? And if the General of the Guard defeats the Bobo bandits and takes Hedong, why would he give it to me in exchange for nothing? Hedong is rich, lies between Chang’an and Luoyang, and is naturally a strategic stronghold, whereas Shangdang… Master Zhicai, do not deceive me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is not Hedong,” Xi Zhong said unhurriedly, simply standing within the lodge door, and easily revealed the answer. “It is Henei!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yang instinctively found this absurd, even more absurd than Hedong. But just as he opened his mouth to refute, he found himself frozen in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Governor Zhang has probably also thought of it, hasn’t he?” Xi Zhong responded with a light laugh, hands clasped behind his back. “Wang Kuang of Henei previously indulged in wanton cruelty and punishments within the commandery and has long since lost the hearts of the Henei people. Then, after his defeat at Xiaopingjin, he lost his troops as well. Even what little scholarly reputation he had became rootless water after Yuan Shao forced him to kill his own brother-in-law, the Bearer of the Gilded Mace Hu Wuban, one of the Eight Chefs. Therefore, if Governor Zhang leads his troops south, with Qian Zhao, Magistrate Qian, opening the way at the Taihang mountain pass, you could actually easily replace him. And the prosperity of Henei — even if you only occupy the half of the commandery that Wang Kuang holds — is far better than sharing half a commandery with the Xiongnu in a place like Shangdang, is it not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the three others in the room, Yang Chou suddenly understood, Cheng Lian’s expression remained impassive, and Zhang Yang slowly shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Governor Zhang, I have come today bearing the General of the Guard’s sincerity. Otherwise, I would not have waited specifically until Master Lu and his party arrived here before speaking. If you have doubts, please voice them freely, and I will certainly answer honestly,” Xi Zhong said, clearly having anticipated this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine as Henei is, how could I possibly establish a foothold there so easily?” Zhang Yang said helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wang Kuang, in Henei, relying on his many strong troops, committed countless evils and completely lost the people’s hearts. Yet you, Governor Zhang, in Shangdang, though you have only four or five thousand troops and occupy no more than half a commandery, which you must even split with Yufuluo, have never forgotten your duties… For Shangdang to preserve half a commandery under the harassment of the Bobo bandits and the Heishan bandits is already remarkable. Henei and Shangdang are neighboring commanderies. The common people and scholars of Henei are not blind; why would they not want you to come and protect the region and pacify the people? As for the governorship… you can self-appoint, have the General of the Guard appoint you, or seek appointment from Yuan Shao! How can you say you cannot establish a foothold?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you mention Yuan Cheqi, setting aside everything else, just say this: Yuan Cheqi is also in Henei. How could he tolerate me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuan Shao can tolerate Wang Kuang, so why could he not tolerate Governor Zhang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since Master Zhicai is so sincere, I cannot fail to offer some explanation,” Zhang Yang finally revealed an important piece of information. “You do not know, but the reason I froze just now was actually because Yuan Cheqi’s staff member, Xin Ping, Xin Zhongzhi of Yingchuan, once came to me here and specifically mentioned this matter… His meaning at the time was that when the General of the Guard goes to war with the Bobo bandits, and when all of you from Boxian cross Shangdang to go to Taiyuan, I should lead my troops south to attack Wang Kuang… In other words, Yuan Cheqi’s intention to annex Henei himself is already very clear. His earlier coercion of Governor Wang into killing his own brother-in-law was probably precisely to eliminate the last shred of that man’s virtue and reputation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what?” Xi Zhong sneered. “Do you think I did not know that scoundrel Xin Zhongzhi came to Shangdang? But let me ask Governor Zhang one thing: since Wang Kuang is already an empty shell, why doesn’t Yuan Cheqi simply annex him directly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Presumably out of consideration for his reputation?” Zhang Yang speculated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even more so because Henei faces Luoyang directly, and military matters take precedence… He dares not rashly lead troops to deal with this man, lest the Xiliang army on the opposite bank seize another opportunity to strike and rout him once more!” Xi Zhong hit the nail on the head. “In other words, as long as Governor Zhang has troops in hand, with a powerful enemy before him, Yuan Benchu will not risk attacking you. I’m afraid Governor Zhang also does not know — I only understood this upon going to Boxian — that Wang Kuang over there also understands his own predicament and has already sent trusted clansmen back to his home in Taishan to recruit troops. Once those troops return, even Yuan Shao would not be able to easily dispose of him in the face of Dong Zhuo! And you, Governor Zhang, would also miss this golden opportunity!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yang suddenly saw the light, but then seized on a key point: \"Since Henei lies right before Dong Zhuo, and Wang Kuang's force of over ten thousand was easily routed, how could my mere five thousand troops gain any foothold in Henei?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is Lu Bu not an old friend of Prefect Zhang?\" Xi Zhong chuckled softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The words 'old friend' might preserve my life, but how could they secure me a place to stand?\" Zhang Yang could not help but smile bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Prefect Zhang!\" Xi Zhong sighed, then suddenly clasped his hands behind his back and stared at the other with a cold sneer. \"Do you still not understand? In Henei, you may yet preserve your life; in Shangdang, you may not be so fortunate!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yang and Yang Chou immediately changed color, and the latter finally could not resist interjecting: \"What does Master Zhicai mean by this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No other meaning!\" Xi Zhong's expression shifted as he answered sternly. \"My lord bears no ill will toward Prefect Zhang, but because of the Xiongnu harassment in Bingbei, he harbors a deep grudge against Yufuluo and constantly wishes to seize Yufuluo, using his name and position to thoroughly purge the Xiongnu. Therefore, if Prefect Zhang agrees to this matter, he naturally has nothing to fear; if he does not, my lord will have no choice but to advance from Nie County and come personally to speak with Prefect Zhang and Yufuluo!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In negotiations of this kind, it was nothing more than the two words: threats and inducements... So once these words were spoken, the effect was indeed striking. Zhang Yang and Yang Chou looked at each other, momentarily speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after the two had stared at each other for a long while, it was Yang Chou who spoke first: \"Prefect, perhaps you should think it over again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The General of the Guard actually intends to swallow up Yufuluo?\" Zhang Yang also murmured hesitantly for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Xi Zhong, who had already gained some understanding of Zhang Yang's character beforehand, knew in his heart... the matter was likely already seventy to eighty percent settled!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thereupon, he immediately changed his expression and earnestly pressed his persuasion: \"Prefect Zhang, in truth I was going to advise you anyway... Think about it: you are a Grand Administrator of the Han, yet you must rely on a band of Xiongnu to control the region. Is this a long-term strategy? What will the world think of you? And this time, going south to Henei is not merely exchanging for a wealthier place; on the contrary, it is the perfect chance to rid yourself of Yufuluo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But Yufuluo, after all, once helped me pacify Shangdang. I cannot bear to struggle against him!\" Zhang Yang's tone was almost pleading. \"Master Zhicai, think about it: if Yufuluo sees me leave, how could he easily let the matter rest?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xi Zhong could not help but laugh again: \"There is no need for struggle. As long as Prefect Zhang does three things... you can exchange Shangdang for Henei without shedding a drop of blood!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Zhang Yang could speak, Yang Chou asked impatiently: \"May I ask, sir, what three things?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First.\" Xi Zhong looked at Yang Chou and said easily. \"Find a way to deceive Yufuluo into leading his main force to Nie County.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is simple.\" Yang Chou could not help but say with ease. \"And the second?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The second is even simpler.\" Xi Zhong continued. \"Second, have Colonel Cheng accompany your main force south. Then Magistrate Qian will naturally open the southern road to Henei, and you gentlemen can use Bo County as your base, lead your troops south, and make a swift raid on Wang Kuang's position... At that time, Colonel Cheng and Magistrate Qian will also come to take over Huguan and Zhangzi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Chou grew increasingly delighted: \"This is indeed simple... But will that suffice? What is the third?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Third.\" Xi Zhong lowered his head and chuckled softly. \"I must ask Prefect Zhang to withdraw in advance those two companies of men from North Yangtou Mountain, allowing my lord's several thousand infantry to enter Shangdang by the small path and cut off the retreat route from Nie County... At that point, with their rear path blocked and before them the Taiyuan Commandery where my lord's great army is stationed, and since those fellows are mostly cavalry and cannot hold out in a strong defense, what can they do but surrender?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Chou was momentarily stunned: \"So simple?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is simplicity a bad thing?\" Xi Zhong retorted with a mocking laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is not what I meant...\" Yang Chou did not know what to say, and looked again toward Zhang Yang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Zhang Yang sighed: \"I merely reflect with some emotion that the General of the Guard is indeed worthy of being the young master of the Anli Trading Company — he drives a fine bargain... To actually use someone else's great commandery to trade for Shangdang, and still make me play the villain to sell out Yufuluo. He, meanwhile, sits back and reaps a whole commandery and five thousand Xiongnu royal court cavalry... Driving the tiger to devour the wolf, taking the profit for himself!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If he truly used his own to trade, would Prefect Zhang dare accept? As for playing the villain, did Yuan Shao not also make Prefect Zhang play the villain?\" Xi Zhong's face showed utter disapproval, and then, having stood just inside the door without venturing further all along, he simply cupped his hands and took his leave. \"As for my lord's plan, without forty thousand troops facing you directly, how could it be carried out? In short, if tomorrow Prefect Zhang sends Yufuluo off toward Nie County, I shall take it that the Prefect has agreed. If not, then I must ask Prefect Zhang to seize our party early, lest when my lord fights his way in, your few thousand troops recruited from Bingbei will not even have a hostage worth keeping you alive!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these words, he turned directly and withdrew, and Cheng Lian also gave a slight cupped-hand salute before following Xi Zhong into the twilight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving aside how Zhang Yang and Yang Chou talked and deliberated within the pavilion lodge, on this side, Cheng Lian and Xi Zhong went outside, pretending to be subordinates of Yang Chou, and left the city to avoid the eyes and ears of the Xiongnu... And having finally made it out of the city, Cheng Lian could not resist adding a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"May I ask, Master Zhicai,\" Cheng Lian inquired earnestly from horseback, \"Zhang Yang is so irresolute and indecisive, and cannot even keep a subordinate like Yang Chou in check; he has only a few thousand troops. Why, then, does he always think of carving out his own territory between our lord and Yuan Shao, establishing his own enterprise? And that Yufuluo, a mere Xiongnu, likewise with only a few thousand troops, forsaking his old home at the Meiji Royal Court, also always thinks of staying in the south to watch the situation. Even Wang Kuang — this man now has no soldiers, no generals, no virtue, no prestige — yet still refuses to let go... Why must it be so?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is what is called dragons and serpents rising together in chaotic times.\" Xi Zhong, however, showed not the slightest puzzlement. \"Some hold to loyalty and righteousness, some rely on courage and strength, some are naturally shortsighted, some are self-righteous, some have no choice, and some are simply unwilling to accept their fate... Such, in any case, is this age. In truth, if every man recognized the times for what they were, that would be even stranger...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Strange in what way?\" Cheng Lian grew even more curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Think about it,\" Xi Zhong reined in his horse and halted, sighing slightly. \"If every man recognized the times, then ever since Tang of Shang, the momentum for dynastic change should never have arisen. Would we not still be in the Xia dynasty today?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Lian looked utterly blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then let me put it another way.\" Xi Zhong laughed at his expression. \"If every man recognized the times, back then the Gao Emperor should have stayed obediently in Hanzhong, and Emperor Guangwu should have obediently submitted to Wang Mang. And today, our lord should also stay obediently in Liaoxi and not make an enemy of Chancellor Dong!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Lian seemed to half-understand, yet the more he pondered, the more bewildered he became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night passed without a word. Early the next morning, Yufuluo, who the previous night had been made dead drunk by Gongsun Yue, had not yet risen when Zhang Yang suddenly came calling in person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reinforce Nie County?\" Yufuluo was momentarily dazed. \"Why? Has our amity with the General of the Guard not already become a settled matter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One must not harbor the intent to harm, but one must not lack the intent to guard against harm.\" Zhang Yang spoke gravely. \"The more a matter is settled, the more cautiously one must take precautions... Chanyu, your troops are mostly cavalry. You can use the banner of escorting Master Lu and Gongsun Yue as a pretext to reinforce Nie County. I, meanwhile, will withdraw my forces from Nie County, but secretly send them to North Yangtou Mountain to strengthen the defenses. Only thus can we be free of worry... Once Master Lu and the others have safely reached Taiyuan, and the General of the Guard has indeed dispatched troops to Hedong and engaged the Bobo Bandits, what harm would there be in the Chanyu returning then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, had it been anyone else, perhaps it would be different. But a man like Zhang Zhishu, gentle and soft-hearted by nature, during his half-year in Shangdang, it had always been a matter of Yufuluo oppressing him, never of him taking advantage of Yufuluo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grand Administrator Zhang's mind is meticulous.\" After a moment's thought, Yufuluo could not help but nod with feeling. \"Since that is so, when I see them off today, I shall personally lead troops to Nie County and make the trip!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—————I am the dividing line of making the trip—————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At the end of Han, great chaos reigned, and heroes rose together. Men such as Dong Zhuo, the two Yuans, Han, Ma, Zhang Yang, Liu Biao, Tao Qian, and their like, held whole provinces and linked commanderies, their multitudes exceeding ten thousand. In their swaggering, each claimed he could follow in the footsteps of Han's founder, or easily surpass Huan and Wen — merely laughable.\" — From the Dianlüe, Yan section, annotated by Pei Songzhi\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thanks to the 2333rd classmate who is the thirty-seventh leader... ten thousand thanks. Also, recently the official site is running an event encouraging everyone to post book reviews and chapter comments; it seems there are fixed amounts of Qidian coins being released. Everyone might as well be a bit more active.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Revised while slacking off again. Feels like a death loop. Is the post-holiday slump really this bad?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",4959,"2026-06-04T19:42:26.060Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","be4b5c581dd8cb69e235bce4d286c33073ca36fc0a574dbd39d8820b7db67e0f","overthrowing-han-chapter-353","overthrowing-han-chapter-351",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]