Chapter 380: Life Has Its Old and New (Continued 2-in-1 Debt Repayment)

In the first year of the Early Peace era of Han, the realm fell into great chaos.

At the start of the year, nearly forty regional lords marched against Dong Zhuo; in particular, the Guandong Coalition, mustering over a hundred thousand troops, immediately launched a three-pronged assault on Luoyang from Henei, Chenliu, and Nanyang, so much so that all under Heaven briefly believed that order would soon be restored.

Yet Dong Zhuo killed those he had to kill and moved the capital as he had to move it, and while killing and relocating, he forcefully struck back on all three fronts, thrashing every one of the Guandong lords… Wang Kuang and Sun Jian, one in the south and one in the north, saw their entire armies wiped out; on the central front, Zhang Miao and Zhang Chao fled in utter disarray, while Cao Cao and Liu Bei, who followed close behind, could only start over from scratch; even the coalition leader Yuan Shao was at one point beaten so badly his courage shattered — let alone anyone else.

Thus, with the capital relocation complete and the campaign against Dong Zhuo clearly hopeless, by summer internal discord arose within the Guandong Coalition, and even the Xu-Yang alliance began to fall apart.

The first to make a move was Yuan Shu in Nanyang.

Seeing that the campaign against Dong Zhuo was hopeless, this fellow, though slower than his elder brother to shift his thinking, acted with astonishing speed once he did.

It is said that after Yuan Gonglu cut off Sun Jian’s military provisions, he forced Sun Wentai to come to Luyang and pledge loyalty to him… And while Yuan Shu agreed on the surface, even killing his own close attendants to set Sun Jian’s mind at ease, he simultaneously launched offensives on multiple fronts — westward to seize the territory Li Jue had withdrawn from after retreating to Hongnong, southward to demand this and that from Liu Biao, eastward to demand this and that from Prince of Chen Liu Chong, and southeastward, even stretching his hand as far as Yangzhou.

Never mind how Liu Biao in the south played dead or how Prince of Chen Liu Chong raged — but you have to admit, his expansions westward and southeastward were remarkably effective… because in those places, the Grand Administrators and State Chancellors were so utterly useless that a mere threat from him usually made them docilely submit, sending grain and military equipment alike.

So for a time, Yuan Gonglu’s power swelled enormously; judging solely by territory, it seemed nearly half the south was his! He even once publicly held a grand banquet in Nanyang, declaring, “Gongsun Xun in the north is master of the northern lands; I in the south am master of the southern lands. The south is rich and the north poor — would it not be fitting to strike north with the south?”

In short, crazy talk of that sort… Of course, Yuan Gonglu did bear the Yuan name after all, so even crazy talk frightened quite a few people.

Next was Xuzhou.

It is said that although Xuzhou was rich, it was divided into only five commanderies and princedoms, which gave rise to a long-standing political tradition of powerful Grand Administrators resisting the Inspector. Coupled with the exceptionally unbending character of the old man Tao Qian, a confrontational situation soon developed in Xuzhou. Specifically, the State Chancellor of Pengcheng Princedom, Xue Li, and the Chancellor of Langya, Yin De — these two men in the two northern princedoms — joined forces to oppose Tao Qian, on the grounds that Tao Qian had used his authority as Inspector to forcibly annex Guangling while its Grand Administrator, Zhang Chao, was away on a defeated campaign.

It must be understood that Yin De came from a prestigious family and Xue Li was domineering by nature; moreover, their two princedoms lay in the north, flanking the narrow, elongated commandery seat of Donghai from east and west. Thus, at the time, everyone assumed this would be a difficult situation to resolve.

Yet events proved that Tao Qian, that rough, wild-grown old man, was naturally better suited to chaotic times. While Yin and Xue were frantically scheming, Tao Qian merely dispatched a single envoy northward, directly seeking out the Mount Tai bandit chief Zang Ba, Zang Xuangao, in the region north of Langya, and petitioned to appoint him as Commandant of Cavalry. Of course, now that he was a Commandant of Cavalry directly subordinate to Xuzhou, Zang Xuangao was obliged to “garrison” Langya on orders, to defend against the million-strong Qing and Yan Yellow Turbans of Mount Tai from sweeping south into Xuzhou and causing chaos.

Zang Ba was a bandit, true, but he was known throughout the land, and his ancestors had been a powerful local clan who served as low-ranking officials — for generations they had wanted to wash their hands clean… Now that Tao Qian gave him official rank and territory, why on earth would he refuse to help?

And so, overnight, Zang Xuangao swept south from Mount Tai, leading ten thousand troops in a sudden thrust into Langya, while Tao Qian led his own Danyang troops north from Donghai. Caught in a pincer and faced with the Inspector’s righteous authority, Langya was taken almost without bloodshed. Zang Ba then garrisoned Langya to defend against northern bandits.

As for Yin De, Tao Qian had intended to execute him, but fortunately Zang Ba was a reasonable man and pleaded for his life, allowing the fellow to remain in the commandery office as a figurehead Grand Administrator.

And when Tao Qian, having killed three birds with one stone — pacifying Langya, gaining Zang Ba’s strong army, and completing his defensive structure against the Mount Tai region to the north — turned his troops around to settle accounts with Xue Li, he found, to his surprise, that State Chancellor Xue had fled in panic days earlier with three thousand troops, heading southeast toward the prefectural border.

It is said that in the height of summer, this man fled Xuzhou and headed south all the way, first passing through Pei Princedom under Yuzhou, then crossing the Huai River into Yangzhou, and finally stopping his flight only when he reached the banks of the Great River. There, still bearing the empty title of State Chancellor, he led his several thousand troops in Mobile Corps Commander warfare along the border between Yangzhou and Xuzhou’s Guangling Commandery — just like a bandit!

If you think about it carefully, after all this chaos, aside from Tao Qian imposing his authority over all Xuzhou, it was nothing more than Xue Li and Zang Ba swapping identities — the legitimate State Chancellor reduced to a bandit on the prefectural border, while the bandit on the prefectural border transformed into a Commandant of Cavalry… One can only say that in these chaotic times, Xuzhou enjoyed an exceptionally peaceful existence.

Of course, compared to the minor skirmishes of that old man Tao Qian in Xuzhou, the movements of the paragon of the realm, Yuan Benchu, in Yanzhou were truly earth-shaking.

Once he resolved to contend with Gongsun Xun for supremacy, he suddenly struck. First, under Hulao Pass, he used the pretext of a defeated army to forcibly absorb the troops of Zhang Miao and Zhang Chao (this was the spark that ignited the chaos in Xuzhou). Then, leading this massive army, he compelled the other three Yanzhou lords — namely Yanzhou Inspector Liu Dai, Chancellor of Jibei Bao Xin, and Grand Administrator of Dong Commandery Qiao Mao — to march east together and attack the million Mount Tai Yellow Turbans… under the fine-sounding name of aiding Qingzhou.

And laughably, faced with the hundred thousand troops of the Guandong Coalition, who now had some combat experience, the million Mount Tai Yellow Turbans, unable to resist in haste, could only split into two — one group crossing the Yellow River in an attempt to flee toward Pingyuan, the other heading directly east into the heartland of Qingzhou… In the end, all six commanderies of Qingzhou were thrown into chaos instead.

It must be said, the chain reaction from this move was enormous!

First, Grand Administrator of Dong Commandery Qiao Mao was publicly executed by Yuan Shao on the charge of poor military performance and allowing the rebel army to enter Qingzhou. And because Yanzhou Inspector Liu Dai bore a personal grudge against Qiao Mao, not only did he fail to protect this Grand Administrator of his own province, but he actively persecuted him, thereby losing the hearts of the Yanzhou people almost instantly… By this point, Yuan Shao, commanding a powerful army, had effectively annexed the rich and populous Yanzhou.

Second, it was precisely at this moment that Zang Ba was brought into Langya by Tao Qian to defend against the Mount Tai Yellow Turbans.

Third, Qingzhou had just lost its Inspector, and among its six native commanderies, apart from Kong Rong, Chancellor of Beihai, who had some prestige and seemed able to rally support, there were no other strong figures. In fact, even Kong Rong soon revealed his utter incompetence in military matters… Left with no choice, each commandery and princedom in Qingzhou acted on its own, and could only separately seek aid from the powerful armies on their borders.

Thereupon, Yuan Benchu released the troops from the areas he already controlled to return home for the autumn harvest, then personally took command of the sixty thousand troops of the remaining lords (Han Fu, Liu Dai, Bao Xin), entered Jinan, and swiftly swept through nearly three hundred thousand second-wave Yellow Turbans who had lost their base, gaining a vast population and source of recruits.

Meanwhile, Gongsun Zan, having received the official seal and ribbon and been petitioned by Yuan Shao as Grand Administrator of Bohai, also led his troops south. With twenty thousand cavalry and infantry, he crushed two hundred thousand Yellow Turbans within Pingyuan, and smoothly swallowed Pingyuan, Qingzhou’s largest commandery with a population of a million… For a time, his prestige in Hebei was unmatched; there were even rumors that Gongsun Zan, with the tacit approval of his younger cousin Gongsun Xun, would march south and annex the remaining five commanderies of Qingzhou, while Gongsun Xun would soon return in person to devour the four remaining commanderies under Han Fu in Jizhou!

When that time came, the Gongsun clan would naturally take all of Hebei.

Of course, it was precisely at this moment that news suddenly arrived: General of the Guards Gongsun Xun had succeeded in his campaign against Dong Zhuo, approached the Weiyang Palace, and annexed the Three Adjuncts… While this sent shockwaves through the hearts of all under Heaven, it also shattered a certain rumor.

At the very least, Han Fu no longer needed to worry about Gongsun Xun coming to swallow him up anytime soon.

But setting aside how Gongsun Xun alone commanded the spotlight and imposed his authority across the realm… the problem now was, with the situation having reached this point, could Gongsun Zan — who had gained a mere two commanderies yet possessed a population of two million, with strength rivaling the entire province of Youzhou — stop? Could Yuan Shao, whose interlocking schemes had reached a moment of exquisite timing, stop? Or could Yuan Gonglu, who believed his own power was the greatest under Heaven, stop?

Even men like Tao Qian, Liu Biao, Liu Yan, and Han Fu — if you demanded they surrender their territories and obey the edicts issued from the Weiyang Palace, would they listen?

Never mind whether they themselves would listen — even if some among them truly wished to extricate themselves, the commandery and provincial gentry and powerful families who followed them and had gained local political power because of the central government’s collapse would surely not allow them to listen.

The fragmentation of the realm, from outward appearance to inner reality, had already formed completely and irreversibly!

And the General of the Guards who had declared before the Weiyang Palace that he would scourge the realm — if he wished to truly impose his authority across the land, he could only take up his blade and reason with these men one by one. Yet everyone also understood perfectly well that the blade Gongsun Xun kept at his side, having fought bitterly for a full year and pierced through thousands of li, was too badly worn and could not be drawn to reason with them in the short term.

Moreover, the Guanzhong region was a tangled mess and could not be easily stabilized.

Thus, after a brief moment of hesitation, the lords of the realm once again lowered their heads and went about their own business; some even quickened their pace specifically, preparing to seize sufficient strategic advantage while Gongsun Xun was occupied in Shaanxi.

“Since the takeover is complete, there should be no issue with the troops’ rewards, correct?” In mid-July, a mere three days after the assembly at the Weiyang Palace, within Chang’an City, in the former Grand Tutor’s residence — now the General of the Guards’ residence — Gongsun Xun, seated in the spacious main hall, had already begun discussing certain unavoidable problems with certain people. “And what of the logistics and provisions?”

“No issues at all,” Wang Xiu, standing in the hall, immediately responded. “According to the spoils from Mei Fort that Zhicai handed over, plus the original stocks in the various treasuries and granaries of the Three Adjuncts, everything is more than sufficient. Especially the gold, silver, and jewels from Mei Fort — the figures are simply staggering… But aside from that, there is one matter I must specifically bring to Your Lordship’s attention.”

“Speak,” Gongsun Xun said, frowning slightly as he gazed at the mountain of documents piled before him.

“Previously, inside and outside the palaces in Luoyang City, as well as inside and outside the imperial mausoleums, there were bronze figures and bronze horses. These were also transported to Chang’an and have already been melted down into ingots. After we took over the workshops at Duling, we discovered that some of them had already been made into coins…”

“What of it?” Gongsun Xun, seated in the Grand Commandant’s chair behind his desk, was baffled. “At this point, are we supposed to recast them into bronze figures and haul them back to Luoyang to stand them up? Better to mint them into coins and be done with it.”

“Your Lordship, please look.” Wang Xiu sighed, then pulled a handful of coins from a pouch in his sleeve and personally placed them on Gongsun Xun’s desk.

Gongsun Xun merely glanced at them and was instantly speechless. He waved his hand and ordered Zhang Ji, Jia Kui, and others beside him to distribute the coins to the other important officials waiting in their seats in the hall for inspection… It turned out that these coins were tiny, hollow, shriveled, and light, with not even a stamped inscription on the edges. Using such coins as proper one-wen wuzhu coins to pay out, or using them as one-wen coins to buy goods, would probably be worse than outright robbery.

And sure enough, everyone in the hall clicked their tongues in shock and immediately advised halting the minting of such coins.

“This is not merely a matter of halting the minting,” Gongsun Xun said, shaking his head at once. Having been raised by his mother and steeped in the Anli Trading Company, he understood a thing or two about financial order. “Even the coins already minted must be replaced with the old molds and immediately remelted… Have any been circulated?”

“Some, but not many,” Wang Xiu replied helplessly. “Mainly some officers of the Guanxi Army used them to forcibly purchase properties within Chang’an City earlier…”

“This matter cannot be ignored,” Gongsun Xun said, truly exasperated. He had intended to assign Wang Shuzhi to handle it, but worried the man was too overworked, so he could only casually point to someone else. “Zhang Ji… you are a native of the Three Adjuncts and already serve in the local government. You will handle this matter. Take one regiment of troops with you — first oversee the melting down of these debased coins, then use newly minted full-weight coins to recover as many as possible within the city.”

Zhang Derong immediately acknowledged the order and departed on his mission. Wang Xiu watched him leave, yet still stood motionless in the hall.

“Shuzhi, if you have something to say, say it,” Gongsun Xun said with a helpless, bitter smile at the sight. “You have worked hard…”

“My lord,” Wang Xiu said, bowing with clasped hands and replying earnestly, “it is not only I who have worked hard. The soldiers — especially the elite troops drawn from the various commanderies of Youzhou — have also worked exceedingly hard. From what I understand, they do not worry that Your Lordship will short them on rewards, nor do they worry that those with merit will fail to receive promotion. They are simply desperately homesick. So these past few days, from the frontline soldiers to the support troops, many have been asking me: when can we go home?”

Gongsun Xun immediately grew solemn, and everyone seated in the hall also straightened their expressions, for this question touched upon the overall grand strategy of Gongsun Xun and his military-political bloc, and was, moreover, exceptionally sensitive.

The troops had fought bitterly for a full year and were utterly exhausted. As the saying goes, a spent arrow cannot pierce thin silk. By both sentiment and reason, they should be allowed to return home and recuperate there… Otherwise, not only would army morale be shaken, but even if they were forcibly kept here, the army’s combat effectiveness would be greatly diminished.

Did anyone truly think these tens of thousands of soldiers were puppets?

They were living men, each one — men with parents, with friends, men who could think. They had risked their lives for the General of the Guards for an entire year. They missed home, missed their wives, and those without wives wanted to take their rewards back and find a local wife to miss! Was that unreasonable?

To take an extreme example, these young men, who generally could not stomach the millet of Guanxi, were probably also longing for the noodles and steamed buns of their hometowns!

That’s right — these young soldiers preferred the wheat-based foods that had gradually become widespread in Youzhou during their formative years… Halfway through the campaign against Dong Zhuo, while resting and reorganizing in Taiyuan, Gongsun Xun had specifically ordered large quantities of flour to be milled.

And it was precisely one trivial thing after another, like flour, that had enabled this army to fight ten to one at Gaoliang Pavilion and disregard life and death at Pujin… If they were not allowed to go home, this army truly would lose its combat effectiveness.

"They all say Xiang Yu and his troops were 'Chu men washing their hats and wearing them.'" Gongsun Xun was silent for a long moment, then could only stroke the saber at his waist and sigh with a rueful smile. "Yet looking at it today, after smashing the cauldrons and sinking the boats, how could Xiang Yu have defied the Jiangdong soldiers' longing for home?"

"General!" Tian Feng immediately straightened his expression and rose. "Guanzhong must not be abandoned! You must not even entertain the slightest thought of it! The hardest times have already passed — at this moment, you absolutely must not waver over such matters."

"I know." Gongsun Xun nodded slightly. "For the present plan... on one hand, we must increase rewards and tell the troops of Youzhou origin that they will certainly be allowed to return home for the New Year before it arrives, to soothe their hearts. On the other hand, we must urgently finish reorganizing the Guanzhong forces — from local garrison duties to establishing a field elite force just like our Youzhou army — all must be accelerated."

"In that case," Lou Gui also rose and brought up a matter, "the Hongnong situation can no longer be delayed. If my lord truly refuses to pardon Li Jue and Hu Zhen, then we can only seize the moment and use force! Otherwise, how can Yi Gong, Suqing, and Bojin carry out a large-scale reorganization of the Guanxi troops?"

"Well said." Gongsun Xun shook his head repeatedly, but then instinctively looked toward Jia Xu, who had remained silent and still the entire time. "I made it very clear in Hedong... I do not care about those who resist or act independently due to the circumstances of the times, but I cannot forgive those who hold their positions yet only bring ruin to their people! Li Jue killed innocents to claim merit; Hu Zhen treated the common people in his jurisdiction as pigs and sheep. They absolutely cannot be pardoned! They must die!"

"Reporting to my lord, if you are concerned about losing troops in vain, you can have Duan Wei and Li Meng take action." Jia Xu waited until Gongsun Xun finished speaking, then rose and bowed, delivering a measured speech without haste. "However, specifically speaking, it must be tailored to each man. Duan Wei values reputation and seeks security — you can commend his merit in pacifying the local populace by honoring his elderly mother who remains in Chang'an. Li Meng is merely a military man, fearful of the strong and inwardly insecure — you can directly send an envoy to rebuke him for his earlier failure to surrender promptly. Then, General, have the two of them dispatch troops together and first strike Hu Zhen, who is the weakest and situated between them... Once Hu Zhen is dead, Li Jue will be trapped between Wuguan and Yiyang. Then send someone to offer amnesty and sow discord among his subordinate troops. Tell them that my lord wants only the heads of Li Jue and some of his officers, that severe punishment is reserved for those Qiang people and his core troops, and that ordinary soldiers from Liangzhou and the Three Adjuncts will not be indiscriminately killed. When that time comes, they will certainly deliver Li Jue's head themselves! And then, with the heads of Li Jue and Hu Zhen presented, along with the submission of Duan Wei and Li Meng, reorganizing the Guanzhong forces will actually become easier!"

"What an excellent chain stratagem." Gongsun Xun listened with heartfelt admiration. "In that case, I must trouble Wenhe to personally return to Tongguan and handle this matter with full authority... You are originally from Liangzhou, so they will trust you more."

"It is what I desire." Jia Xu cupped his hands in answer, then calmly sat back down under the strange gazes of the others present.

"Is there anything else?" After discussing these matters, Gongsun Xun grew increasingly weary. In truth, the sky outside was already very dim, and Jia Kui and the others had already signaled for the serving women to come in and light the lamps and add oil.

"There is one matter to report to the General of the Guard!" Zhong Yao, the Gentleman Attendant of the Yellow Gate seated by the door, suddenly rose.

"Speak."

"Yuan Shao has submitted a memorial, recommending Cao Cao as Inspector of Yuzhou." Zhong Yao quickly spoke. "Adding the original Inspector of Yuzhou, Kong Zhou, and Sun Jian, whom Yuan Shu recommended as Inspector of Yuzhou, there are now three Inspectors of Yuzhou under Heaven..."

"This is Yuan Benchu wanting to swallow all of Yanzhou, so he is using Cao Mengde as a shield behind him." Gongsun Xun sighed. "But, Yuanchang, as you can see, the Three Adjuncts are a tangled mess, and my troops cannot move out for the time being. Even if I wanted to intervene in the Guandong situation, I would probably have to wait a year or half a year at least... And even then, Hebei would have to take priority."

"This subordinate understands." Zhong Yao immediately nodded, then pressed on hurriedly despite the beads of sweat on his forehead. "But I have a stratagem... Perhaps we can divide Yuzhou, turning the two Yuans, and even Tao Qian of Xuzhou, against each other. At the very least, we can prevent them from forming an alliance against my lord."

For a moment, no one in the hall spoke. Gongsun Xun also sat behind his desk, rubbing his palm in thought. Xun You, who had remained silent all along, carefully scrutinized his close friend for a moment, then continued sitting motionless in his original place without a sound.

"Speak." Seeing the beads of sweat on the other man's forehead growing more numerous, Gongsun Xun still gave him a chance.

"I have heard that Cao Cao, Sun Jian, and Liu Bei, after their earlier defeat against Dong Zhuo, swore a pact of life and death on Mount Goushi..." Zhong Yao let out a breath and immediately spoke.

"I know of this matter." Gongsun Xun nodded at once. "Earlier, before Meiwu, my mother sent a letter from Hedong specifically telling me about this. She even asked me whether there were peach blossoms on Mount Goushi. I said the peach blossoms would certainly have withered by then, though there would be some miscellaneous mountain flowers... Continue."

Although no one understood why such a trivial piece of news would attract Lady Gongsun's attention and reach the ears of the General of the Guard, they all quickly regained their focus and pricked up their ears to hear Zhong Yao's stratagem.

"My lord," Zhong Yao continued earnestly, "Cao Mengde is Yuan Benchu's childhood friend. Moreover, his official post and his general's title were both recommended by Yuan Shao. Therefore, everyone knows that he was able to become Inspector of Yuzhou firstly because he is one of Yuan Shao's men, secondly because his family wields great power in Pei State north of Yuzhou, and thirdly because he gained some renown by disregarding his own life during the campaign against Dong Zhuo."

"Correct, penetrating and incisive."

"And as for Sun Wentai, his reliance is, first, naturally his own fierce valor, and second, the support of Yuan Shu. Otherwise, with his reckless and aggressive nature, he might not necessarily be able to... establish himself in Yingchuan, west of Yuzhou."

"Correct."

"There is also Liu Xuande. He too is a man of ability, and his performance in this campaign against Dong Zhuo also drew the sidelong attention of all under Heaven... But what is even more interesting is that he was able to set out that day only with the support of Tao Qian of Xuzhou, and furthermore — furthermore, he has a past connection with my lord!" Zhong Yao stopped abruptly halfway through and hurriedly lowered his head.

For no other reason than that, once the name Liu Xuande was spoken, Gongsun Xun fixed his gaze intently on Zhong Yuanchang from behind his desk.

However, after the hall had been silent for a long while, the General of the Guard suddenly let out a cold laugh: "Well said! Are Cao and Sun the only heroes under Heaven? The one who can contend with Cao Mengde and Sun Wentai and hold Yuzhou for the state — I see only Liu Xuande! Yuanchang... an excellent stratagem! Excellent judgment!"

Zhong Yao let out a long breath.

"Kong Zhou is incompetent." Gongsun Xun immediately continued. "Tomorrow, draft a blank commission to the Imperial Secretariat, dispatch an envoy to dismiss Kong Zhou, and appoint Liu Xuande as Inspector of Yuzhou!"

Zhong Yao hurriedly bowed to receive the order.

"Enough." After saying this, Gongsun Xun looked at the candlelight in the hall and the pitch-black sky outside, then shook his head again. "The Guandong warlords are already entrenched. I fear it will take more than ten years of effort to completely pacify them. Do not be concerned with a single morning or evening. Moreover, Guanzhong is not yet settled — a thousand tangled threads must all wait until Guanzhong is stabilized... Gentlemen, the hour is late today, so we shall not discuss the Guandong situation further. Only if there are major matters concerning Guanzhong may we discuss them a little more. And if they are not major matters, you have all worked hard today — you may as well return and rest first!"

"Reporting to my lord." After a round of exchanged glances, Wang Xiu, who had been standing motionless in the hall the entire time, finally spoke again. "There is a major matter in Guanzhong right now that must be discussed, but once spoken, I fear it cannot be resolved at once..."

"Speak, then."

"My lord, my lord earlier ordered me to disband the civilian laborers from various regions and send them back to prepare for the autumn harvest. This was inherently a benevolent policy." Wang Xiu spoke somberly. "But a portion of the civilian laborers conscripted in Guanzhong begged me not to drive them away so easily... because even if they dispersed, they would have nowhere to go."

Gongsun Xun was immediately moved — this was yet another great problem he had encountered today, after the army's homesickness and the chaos in Guandong, one that absolutely could not be solved by skill or method alone.

When Dong Zhuo moved the capital, a million scholars and commoners from Henan came to Guanzhong. Two or three hundred thousand died or scattered along the way, but the remaining seven or eight hundred thousand are now dispersed all across Guanzhong — some were haphazardly resettled in the Meiyang region, which had been depopulated earlier by the great chaos in Liangzhou; some were resettled in cities with highly developed handicraft industries like Baling, Duling, and Gaoling.

But what about the rest?

The fighting was so urgent, the war so brutal. These people, dragging their families and abandoning their homes, and in such enormous numbers — how could proper resettlement possibly be found for them?

Even those resettled in Meiyang were panicked and at a loss — the autumn harvest was approaching, yet on the empty land crudely allotted to them, there was no grain to be had!

Gongsun Xun had seized Guanzhong, taken the land of the Three Adjuncts, subdued Han Sui and Ma Teng, and even stood unbridled before Weiyang Palace, first 'lashing' the central court officials. It all seemed splendid, his momentum unmatched... yet there were a thousand tangled threads, a hundred wastes waiting to be revived.

And to make matters worse, the challengers over in Guandong had already begun their intense preparations.

"First, use the grain from Meiwu for relief. We must survive this winter." Gongsun Xun sighed. "The rest can be planned over the long term."

"What of my lord's desire to expand his headquarters and add the various bureaus of the Three Excellencies to the General's office?" Xi Zhicai also quickly asked about another major matter. "Seeing how exceedingly busy my lord is, why not proceed with that first?"

"This matter also cannot be accomplished in a single stroke." Gongsun Xun frowned. "It must be handled together with the recent decree seeking worthies, allowing them to present themselves at my gate... However, as one must sharpen one's tools before doing good work, this matter can indeed be given some priority. Let us do this: Yuanchang and Gongda have long been in the central administration. Zhicai can work with them to select some talented men from the Chang'an court for me. When the time comes, I will naturally make the selections personally."

"Aye." Xi Zhong could only hurriedly bow, but after rising, he seemed to want to speak yet hesitated.

"What do you wish to say?" Gongsun Xun frowned further.

"Some in the court wish for my lord to declare himself Grand General, to settle people's hearts..."

"Do not bring this matter up again." Gongsun Xun's face darkened almost instantly. "Sneaking around, not daring to come say it themselves but sending old Cai Bojie to speak, and thinking themselves clever? To others, it may be one thing, but to you few, I can speak plainly... First, my daughter will absolutely not marry the son of a despot like Liu Hong! Second, the Grand General, the General of Agile Cavalry, and the General of Chariots and Cavalry are all already gone. As General of the Guard, I can justifiably assume overall military and administrative authority — why would I need an additional title?! I would rather like to see, after the events of the day before yesterday, who in the court still dares to contend with me for power? Huangfu Song? Wang Yun? Or perhaps Liu Yu, who will arrive in Chang'an in a few days?!"

"Be that as it may," in the entire hall, only Tian Feng was unafraid and advanced despite the difficulty, "has the General considered that if you do not grant yourself a higher title for this campaign against Dong Zhuo, how should the officers in the army be rewarded with titles and honors in the future?"

"Is that not for the best?" Gongsun Xun frowned slightly. "For lower-ranking officers and soldiers, whether I take a higher title or not does not delay their promotions and rewards. And for the meritorious senior generals, if I do not take a higher title, would they not be even more embarrassed to actively seek titles for themselves? With the order of the world collapsing, are there few instances of indiscriminate titles and excessive rewards in the military? In my view, Dong Zhuo was actually more rigorous in this matter."

"There is one person..." After Tian Feng slowly nodded and withdrew, Jia Xu suddenly spoke. "The Marquis of Wen, Lu Bu — his official post and noble rank both seem somewhat excessive, especially now that he is merely a surrendered general."

"He does not even count as a surrendered general." Gongsun Xun let out a long breath. "But since I have said we will not pursue past matters, to avoid unsettling people's hearts, let him be set aside for now... Of course, this man alone is short-sighted, yet his valor is like a raging tiger, unmatched in the age. We must be extra cautious and not let him be beguiled by anyone... Many thanks to Wenhe for the reminder."

Jia Xu bowed his head in acknowledgment.

"Today's matters end here." Gongsun Xun shook his head and sighed, clearly utterly exhausted. "You gentlemen are also extremely weary. Best return and rest quickly... Affairs must be handled one at a time."

The men expressed their thanks and took their leave. Gongsun Xun then had Jia Kui and others fetch some precious items from the former Grand Tutor's residence to distribute among them and escort them out — these details need not be elaborated upon.

And so, as the sky turned completely dark, these wise and strategic men whom Gongsun Xun could rely on all boarded their carriages and returned to their residences... Some, like Jia Xu, would set out on their missions tomorrow; some, like Wang Xiu, still had their own logistical systems to labor over with a thousand tangled threads; and some, like Tian Feng, suddenly received an invitation from an old friend that he could not decline and could only brace himself to attend the banquet... All of this goes unmentioned.

Let us speak only of Xun You, Zhong Yao, and Xi Zhong, who had received their instructions. These three old friends from Yingchuan rode back in the same carriage and then gathered at Zhong Yao's residence for a light drink, where they also discussed the matters raised in the hall that day.

"Let us set aside for now the matter of seeking out usable talents in the central administration for our lord," Xi Zhong said after three rounds of wine, setting down his cup. Sitting cross-legged on the couch with his head held high, he questioned them without pause. "Today was your first time participating in deliberations. May I ask what you two, renowned scholars of famous lineages, think of these wise and strategic men in my general's staff? Are they worthy of your talents and virtue? And what of my general? Can he compare to figures like the so-called models of the realm?"

It must be said that Zhong Yao and Xun You were true friends bound by life and death, and both were among the sharpest minds under Heaven. With a single exchanged glance, how could they not understand that Xi Zhong, having suddenly risen to prominence, was like Gongsun Xun questioning the ministers before Weiyang Palace the day before yesterday — using the wine to vent the pent-up frustration in his heart?

But understanding was one thing. Given their old friendship, the two of them truly were not afraid of him.

"I knew our lord even earlier than you did — how would I not know of his divine martial prowess?" As Xi Zhong's recommender, Zhong Yao was completely unruffled and directly spoke with a serious expression. "It is only these wise and strategic men — they appear to be of outstanding intellect and willing to devote themselves to their duties, but certain elements among them have already become hidden dangers. If not handled properly, I fear trouble will arise..."

"What hidden troubles?" Xi Zhong was indeed somewhat angered. "Zhong Yuanchang, do you truly look down on us, the men of humble and unorthodox backgrounds?"

"That is not my meaning." Zhong Yao answered with a stern face. "I was looking at those seated in this hall today... a mere seven people, yet three are from Yingchuan, all old friends of decades. Tell me, if these three were narrow-minded, to the point of forming private cliques and excluding others, would that not ruin our lord's great undertaking?"

Xi Zhong was stunned for a long while, so embarrassed he could die, and could only drink in silence, while Xun You and Zhong Yao found it hard not to laugh.

After the laughter ended, Xi Zhong also recovered his composure and was just about to apologize when Xun You, who had barely uttered a word all day, suddenly spoke up with a serious expression:

"Today I have truly broadened my horizons. Like Jia Wenhe, who fathoms men's hearts and strikes true with a single blow; like Wang Shuzhi, diligent in his duties and unafraid of hardship; like Lou Zibo, advancing and retreating with proper measure, missing nothing and leaking nothing; and like Tian Yuanhao, upright and fearless, pointing directly at difficulties... every single one is an extraordinary figure. And of course, there are also Yuanchang and Zhicai — one who deflects a thousand pounds with four ounces, the other who disregards personal gain or loss, sacrificing himself for his lord. They too have opened my eyes."

"And what of our lord?" Xi Zhong set down his wine cup and asked with a serious face. "And what of you, Xun Gongda?"

"What of me, Xun You — do you not already know?" Xun You smiled faintly. "As for the General of the Guard... from that meeting before the Weiyang Palace, and the day before yesterday when he summoned me to draft the 'Edict Seeking Worthies,' I can only recall the words that the late Qiao Gong left behind... outwardly firm, inwardly resilient, his sharpness crowns all under heaven!"

"And then?" Zhong Yao asked with a drunken sneer. "Gongda, do not pretend before us... are you willing to follow him?"

"The general trend is thus, and I have received the General of the Guard's courteous treatment — naturally I shall serve with sincere heart." Xun You continued to smile. "But at this moment, I truly still wish to observe the General of the Guard's foundation a little longer..."

"Observe what foundation?" Xi Zhong questioned with a cold eye.

"I have witnessed the outward firmness, but what of the inner resilience?" Xun You spoke earnestly. "Dong Zhuo is violent, brutal, and cruel, regarding the common people as nothing, to the point that living souls are trampled in the mud — this is naturally the most contemptible of men. And although the General of the Guard has not spoken it directly, his intent to take the people as the foundation, while simultaneously suppressing the powerful magnates and pressing down upon the great clans, is already very clear..."

Under the influence of wine, Zhong Yao furrowed his brow slightly, and Xi Zhong narrowed his eyes slightly.

"There is nothing unspeakable about such matters." Xun You sighed softly. "My clan uncle Xun Yue, like me, was orphaned young, so I know him deeply. And his thinking is extremely similar to the General of the Guard's... First, the powerful magnates annex the land, so that the people's livelihood withers; second, the great clans form chains of office, where disciples and former subordinates regard their patron as their sovereign — this custom greatly undermines the central government's power; third, vengeance has become a custom, and wandering swordsmen gather in bands, which in truth destroys the rule of law and causes the localities to slip out of control; fourth, when the sovereign diverges from the Great Way, then follow the Way, not the sovereign... Gentlemen, do you think that the wise men of the realm, seeing the realm collapse, truly have not reflected and examined themselves?"

"I have not returned home for many years; I did not expect that Master Zhongyu has already achieved such a Great Way. He can be recommended to my lord, and will surely be greatly employed!" Xi Zhong immediately spoke.

"This clan uncle of mine, though he indeed has the intent to achieve the Great Way, is by nature a bookish scholar..." Xun You shook his head repeatedly. "Moreover, he detested the late Emperor Ling, but does not necessarily detest the ten-year-old intelligent Son of Heaven. If he came to court, he would only content himself with writing books and loyally serving the young Son of Heaven. Besides, he is now with Han Fu in Jizhou — how could he come?"

"Does the old grace of the House of Han truly penetrate so deeply into men's hearts?" Xi Zhong gave a cold laugh.

"Speaking of which, Wenruo is also with Han Fu?" Zhong Yao suddenly asked.

"Indeed." Xun You sighed with emotion. "Fortunately, he returned in time and took half the people away with him, otherwise our Xun clan would have been exterminated... No matter what, for the matter of killing Li Jue alone, I shall be grateful to the General of the Guard for my entire life."

Xi Zhong and Zhong Yao also shook their heads repeatedly.

"You just spoke of observing my lord's inner resilience?" Xi Zhong was just about to pour himself more wine when he suddenly recalled something. "Had you not finished speaking?"

"Indeed." Xun You answered earnestly. "My meaning is this: I understand the General of the Guard's aspirations, and with the realm fallen into such a state, how could I not wish to see him accomplish this enterprise and restore order to the realm? Only, harshness is always simpler than gentleness, and a benevolent heart is always more difficult than cruelty... With his sharpness, to flog the powerful magnates and great clans of the realm — I am not worried, and even harbor faint expectations. But what of taking the people as the foundation? Dong Zhuo regards the common people as nothing, and so when he said to move the capital, he could move it successfully. Yet he, taking the people as the foundation, is instead entangled in Guanzhong by the two million living souls of the Three Adjuncts, utterly exhausted... Yet in these chaotic times, there are always those who seize opportunities by trickery, trampling the common people to achieve their enterprise. That being so, how long can he endure? The day before yesterday, he called Emperor Ling a despot, but among those in this world who suppress the realm by military force, which one is not a despot? When he stood before the Weiyang Palace, holding his blade and berating the realm, was that not the act of a despot? With no one to oversee him, will there not come a day when he too feels too weary, and then abandons his own aspirations, one morning lightly regarding the people as nothing?"

Xi Zhong wished to speak but then stopped.

"I am not making excessive demands or assigning blame." Xun You sighed quietly. "In truth, compared to Dong Zhuo, Emperor Ling, and the various lords of the realm, the fact that the General of the Guard can maintain such resolve already moves me beyond words. And I am also willing to labor diligently and contribute my strength to help him cleanse the realm. So, how could I emulate those who fish for fame and reputation, and heap undue pressure upon him? It is only that the three of us are old friends, reunited after ten years, and coupled with the boredom of prison before, where I pondered too much... today I have merely spoken a few extra words under the influence of wine, that is all!"

"Let us drink to the General of the Guard!" Zhong Yao raised his cup with a long sigh.

"To the General of the Guard!" Xun and Xi both raised their cups.

Just as the three old friends from Yingchuan were drinking and sighing, and just as Tian Feng and Wang Yun, two former colleagues from the Censorate, were reminiscing together, Gongsun Xun, who was more or less clear in his heart about all this, could not be bothered to pay any attention. Instead, he finished his meal early, and then personally took up his brush to write a letter, preparing to seek help from his own mother in Hedong... It was not that he had developed a mother-dependency complex, but rather that when it came to the resettlement of hundreds of thousands of people, this heroine who had single-handedly founded the Anli Trading Company might truly be the one and only expert under heaven.

Of course, there was probably also the thought of being angry that his own mother had specially sent a letter earlier to summon away his newly taken concubine, 'Diaochan,' leaving him with no one to keep him company, and thus deliberately causing trouble for his mother... So, in writing this letter, from his heroic bearing when berating the high officials before the Weiyang Palace, to the myriad tangled troubles in Guanzhong today, to the bitter drama of Cao, Sun, and Liu, who had just sworn a life-and-death bond yet were about to come to blows in Yuzhou — he omitted not a single thing.

After he finished writing, outside the open door of the lodge, the twilight was already extremely thick, the moon bright and the stars sparse.

"Who is outside?" Gongsun Xun put away the letter and casually called out.

"My lord!" Yufuluo hurriedly slipped inside and bowed his head respectfully.

Gongsun Xun narrowed his eyes and looked at this man, then directly spoke: "According to regulations, twenty men stand night watch outside the lodge. You are one squad leader, that is correct — where is the other?"

"Squad Leader Zhang just went to relieve himself and happens to be absent," Yufuluo quickly replied.

"No matter... take this to Tian Yu, and have him arrange for someone to go to Hedong tomorrow morning and deliver it to the Old Madam!" Gongsun Xun did not press the matter further and immediately extended his hand to pass the letter.

Yufuluo also hurriedly took it and carefully turned to leave.

"By the way." Gongsun Xun suddenly recalled something. "Han Sui, Ma Teng, and that group of Xiliang military chiefs — have they still not sent over the list of hostages?"

"In reply to my lord." Yufuluo bowed his head again. "That day, after you drove out Cai Bojie, you personally said that we should tell everyone: unless it is a major matter or a summons, then whether old friends or other guests, none are to be seen... Han and Ma were not summoned."

"I was confused." Gongsun Xun suddenly understood. "Forget this rule... That day I was confused by anger... Tomorrow the Edict Seeking Worthies is to be posted; do not let this obstruct talented men who come to submit their visiting cards."

"Aye." Yufuluo hurriedly assented, and was about to hastily leave with the letter, but after taking just two steps, he seemed to recall something and helplessly turned back. "My lord."

"What is it?" Gongsun Xun, who was just then uncertain whether to sleep early or read a book, was dazed and distracted.

"My lord." Yufuluo, holding the letter, turned back and reported. "You just said to abandon the rule from the day before yesterday?"

"Indeed!"

"In truth, just after it grew dark earlier, around the time after the evening meal, an old friend of my lord's came to pay a visit... Because my lord had given orders, we did not come to report, but the person was unwilling to leave and simply waited beneath the front hall."

"It seems he is indeed an old friend of mine." Gongsun Xun was also speechless. "Otherwise, why would you not dare to drive him away even while not reporting? Who is it?"

"It is the young lady of the Cai Bojie household." Yufuluo was even more troubled. "Holding a white cat, wearing a veil, and accompanied by two stout maidservants carrying a large chest... Steward Tian, who was in charge, specifically asked the seniors among the Volunteers, and everyone said that this is indeed an old acquaintance of my lord's. Presumably, she has come to apologize on behalf of Cai Bojie. Only, since my lord was angry, we had no choice but to carefully watch over her on one hand, and not report on the other."

Gongsun Xun grew even more speechless, but waved his hand weakly: "Very well, this has put you in a difficult position... Since that is so, let her come in; it does not matter. I have already calmed my anger anyway."

Yufuluo hurriedly went out again.

In a brief moment, indeed the man returned, leading a woman holding a large white cat, and behind her a chest carried by two stout serving women, arriving before him.

The other squad leader, Zhang, who had just returned, met with Yufuluo, and together they prepared to open and inspect the chest under the open eaves of the corridor in full view. But the chest had a bronze lock on top, which left them helpless.

"They are all unique manuscripts, and can only be viewed by the General of the Guard alone!" The veiled woman, seeing this, actually became somewhat alarmed, so much so that the white cat in her arms was startled, darted out in a flash, and entered Gongsun Xun's lodge ahead of her.

Yufuluo, Squad Leader Zhang, and Huchuquan, whose hand was already on the chest, all turned back together to look at their general's expression.

Gongsun Xun, seeing this, also shook his head helplessly: "Bring it in... Does Cai Bojie have the courage to assassinate me? Nor would Zhaoji harm me!"

The guards, having received the order, instead directly lifted the heavy chest, placed it inside the lodge, and then withdrew from the room.

Immediately, the veiled woman, at a loss, stepped into the lodge, yet forced herself to make a bow: "Please close the door, General of the Guard, and I shall present the apology gifts to the general..."

Gongsun Xun was utterly speechless, but did not stop her either. He simply rose directly to pick up the cat, and then came before the chest: "Why go to such lengths? Your father was merely confused. Though I was angry for a time the day before yesterday, I also knew he was instigated and used by others."

"No, it is not like that..." The woman spoke with effort. "General... no matter what, the general must still harbor anger toward our family."

"Has the sharp-tongued little girl of former days truly become this fearful?" Gongsun Xun shook his head even more. "Let us do this: I accept the gifts. It is late; you may go back!"

"I beseech my lord to be sure... be sure to open the chest personally." The woman continued to plead earnestly. "Only then will I consent to leave."

Gongsun Xun shook his head helplessly, and while holding the large white cat with one hand to make room, he gestured with the other for her to open the chest. The person also hurriedly took out a key from her pouch and tremblingly prepared to unlock it... but then her hand slipped, and she twisted the key until it broke.

Metal locks in the Han dynasty were already of the spring-leaf structure. With this turn of events, Gongsun Xun, while feeling helpless, also grew suspicious. So, holding the white cat in one hand, he took his broken blade from the table with the other, and then, under the woman's alarm, split the bronze lock open with one slash. He then used the blade tip to lift the lid of the long, narrow wooden chest — and immediately froze.

The white cat leaped from Gongsun Xun's arms and darted into the chest, while Gongsun Xun, tongue-tied and wide-eyed, could not take his eyes off it.

"Why go to such lengths?" After a long while, Gongsun Xun finally came back to his senses. "I truly did not condemn your father to this extent..."

"Perhaps so, but when General Wei speaks with a blade in hand, who dares not fear?" Inside the chest, a young woman clad only in her inner garments, cradling a white cat, her face flushed crimson, continued lying there and spoke. "And my father is muddled to this degree — can it happen once, twice, and then a third time?"

"But still, it should not have come to this." Gongsun Xun lowered his head and said. "Over ten years ago, when we first met, I understood in my heart that he was a muddle-headed fool..."

"Years ago, when we parted, I also understood that General Wei is a clever man." The woman in the chest, her face flushed crimson, replied softly. "That is why it has come to this."

"Get out!" Gongsun Xun suddenly turned his head and said sternly to the veiled woman at his side.

————I am the dividing line that must repay its debts————

"When General Wei had subdued Dong Cheng, he entered Chang'an on a white horse and went to Weiyang Palace to pay homage to the Son of Heaven. At that time, the Son of Heaven was ten years old. After he emerged, Cai Yong, as an old acquaintance, approached and said: 'How is the Son of Heaven?' He replied: 'The Son of Heaven is clever.' Yong then rose and bowed: 'Now the Lord Marquis leads a hundred thousand troops across the Wei River, and the hearts of the people in Chang'an are uneasy. Yet the Son of Heaven, at ten, is clever, and the Lord Marquis's daughter is just of marriageable age. Why not permit her to become Empress, so as to calm the hearts of all under Heaven?' General Wei suddenly replied: 'You have a daughter yourself — why not marry her off?' And then he drove him out. After he returned, Yong was fearful and anxious beyond measure, and so he presented his own daughter to General Wei's residence. She became Lady Cai." — "Sanfu Juelu" by Zhao Qi

(End of Chapter)