Chapter 394: Departure and Stay, Both with Unfettered Ease

Yuan Benchu, as it turned out, still had courage after all. Even in the wake of defeat, he still managed to dispatch a third of his forces that retained intact organization, sending Zhang He to make a night dash straight for Pingyuan City. This left Gongsun Zan and Tian Kai with no room left to maneuver whatsoever… They had clearly just won an unprecedented great victory, yet could only flee in disarray with five thousand victorious troops.

The situation seemed farcical, but not fleeing was simply not an option. Pingyuan City, as the capital of the Pingyuan Principality, was not only the core defensive city directly facing Yuan Shao's forces to the west, but also the primary logistical base for the Yellow River defense line to the south, as well as the political headquarters of the entire Pingyuan Principality. The defection of this city would directly precipitate the collapse of the Yellow River defenses and the swift transfer of the entire Pingyuan Principality into enemy hands.

If they did not leave now, once those four to five thousand cavalry, cut off from all logistical support, were trapped inside that city, the terrible outcome awaiting them would likely be total annihilation.

Looking at the bigger picture and further ahead, the fall of the Pingyuan Principality so easily would undoubtedly allow Yuan Shao, on top of immediately seizing control of all Qingzhou, to gain an absolute strategic advantage in the chaotic situation in Hebei.

After all, with this incident, Han Fu, already defeated once and a former subordinate of the Yuan family, might very well waver completely. And Gongsun Zan would be left with no strategic leverage whatsoever — between Bohai and Pingyuan, there were actually no defensible strategic points to hold, and using the strength of a single commandery to resist Yuan Shao, who held fifteen large commanderies and principalities, seemed to offer little hope no matter how one looked at it.

Moreover, the bizarre outcome of this campaign clearly demonstrated to everyone under Heaven that in this great age of contention, with warlords rising together, countless heroes had drawn their blades in quick succession, each striving for supremacy. Yet those who relied on military force alone could, at most, be arrogant and overbearing for a time. To become someone who could truly contend for that unutterable position, apart from the necessary military force, one also had to possess a complete political group of one's own, a political platform that need not be lofty but absolutely had to be displayed, along with a certain degree of administrative capability.

Because only in this way could one give everyone in these chaotic times the hope of restoring the old order, or establishing a new one.

In a certain sense, as Gongsun Zan retreated northward, he gradually came to realize why Gongsun Xun had been so determined to punish Dong Zhuo back then — because compared to Yuan Shao, the Gongsun clan was simply far too lacking.

Yuan Benchu's status as a scion of a family that had produced Excellencies for four generations in itself represented a certain political promise, signifying a particular political platform. Supporting him meant supporting a return to that era of joint governance by the great clans and self-indulgence by the powerful magnates. He himself possessed absolute rallying power over the great clans and powerful magnates, the two core strata of the Great Han dynasty.

As for Gongsun Xun, if he could not succeed in his punitive expedition against Dong Zhuo, relying solely on his identity as a scion of a frontier commandery family plus half a scholar, he could conquer cities and seize territory, but how could he possibly proclaim his own political platform before the Weiyang Palace?

There were certain things that Gongsun Zan, as Gongsun Xun's clan elder brother and Lady Gongsun's nephew, had not been without vague inklings of; certain opinions he had not been without some exposure to in Liaoxi... But had it not been for today's great victory or great defeat, he might never have been willing to contemplate these matters.

"Bogui."

By the campfire, just as Gongsun Zan was in a dazed trance, Tian Kai approached, hand on his saber, and asked helplessly, "Nanpi lies ahead — what exactly do you intend to do?"

"Gongzhi..." Gongsun Zan understood perfectly well in his heart, and answered directly and bluntly. "At this point, you need not hide anything from me. Do you also have your own intentions?"

"It is not that I have intentions, but that these several thousand sons of Youzhou all have intentions." Tian Kai sat down somewhat dejectedly and replied. "You must understand, when I recruited troops for you back in our home county, the reason we could bring so many people was not because of how you and I were regarded in Liaoxi, but because the General of the Guard did not need so many troops... The remaining sons of Youzhou who wished to establish merit and make their careers had nowhere else to go, so they followed us here."

"I know." Gongsun Zan sighed faintly, but did not say much more.

It must be said that Gongsun Zan had indeed come to some realizations at this moment. Back when Gongsun Xun went on his western expedition, he had only conscripted one regiment of a thousand shock cavalry per commandery, and as a result, despite holding most of Youzhou, he had only raised seven thousand Han cavalry and four thousand Wuhuan light cavalry. Gongsun Zan had laughed at him then for sitting on a mountain of treasure and not recognizing it, so later he seized the opportunity to have Tian Kai recruit five thousand cavalry for him in one go, feeling immensely pleased with himself, thinking he had gained the upper hand.

Yet now, looking back, Gongsun Xun's method of forming organized units based on population and commanderies/principalities was the true long-term strategy — one man dies, one man replaces him, like water with a source, like a tree with roots. Gongsun Zan's five thousand cavalry, while not appearing much inferior in the early stages, once they arrived in Jizhou, every man lost was one man fewer, like water without a source. More critically, he had not considered the economic pressure of maintaining troops at all, because in Pingyuan and Bohai, the necessary infantry and garrison forces had not been reduced — these five thousand cavalry were an entirely additional burden. So in hindsight, to support these five thousand shock cavalry, he had indeed somewhat excessively drained Bohai and Pingyuan.

In a certain sense, although Gongsun Fang was a pedantic Confucian and Gongsun Du was a scoundrel, the fact that the two of them could so easily gain the support of the local people of Pingyuan in the city was, in the end, because Gongsun Zan had failed to win the hearts of the people there.

Of course, given Gongsun Bogui's character, even if he had some realizations in his heart, he would never speak these words aloud.

And likewise, considering the other's character, Tian Kai hesitated to speak.

"How many people, exactly, want to return to Youzhou?" Gongsun Zan collected his thoughts and took the initiative to pierce the paper window.

"All of them want to return to Youzhou!" Tian Kai shook his head helplessly. "Many in the army are scions of local Youzhou families or sons of good families who have seen the wider world. Once one person speaks up, an entire squad understands the situation. But everyone is also grateful for the patronage and rewards you have given them before, and everyone also thinks you lead troops and fight battles superbly, so they still want you to lead them back together..."

Gongsun Zan slowly nodded, then sighed long and deeply — he nodded because the soldiers were still willing to follow him at this moment, and he was still very grateful for that; he sighed because he truly could not resign himself to this.

But at this moment, what could he do even if he could not resign himself?

"Bohai cannot be held." After a long silence, by the campfire, Gongsun Zan finally spoke, somewhat awkwardly, amid the expectant gazes of those around him. "And I will not let the sons of Youzhou throw their lives away following me in vain. Besides, the battle the day before yesterday allowed me to vent some of my resentment, and let everyone under Heaven know the name of Gongsun Zan... Returning to Youzhou now is not out of the question."

The crowd all showed relief.

"But I have two conditions, and I hope Gongzhi will make a trip to Changping to explain them on my behalf..." Gongsun Zan continued, still somewhat awkwardly. "First, no matter what, I am a dignified Commandery Administrator, and I have five thousand cavalry, so when I return to Youzhou, I will only follow Wenqi, not Wendian. This matter requires a formal statement from Wenqi in Chang'an. Second, my five thousand troops must not be broken up, and they must have a formally designated station... If these two conditions are granted, I will return to Nanpi, move the armory, treasury, and grain stores of Bohai to that place and garrison there, guarding Youzhou for Wenqi. Otherwise, you gentlemen may lead the sons of Youzhou back on your own, and I will lead my hundred-odd personal followers to die in Bohai! That would at least fulfill the duty of a Commandery Administrator to defend his territory to the death!"

"As long as we can return, what difficulty is there in this?" Tian Kai assumed it was merely a matter of the other's pride making him unable to back down gracefully, and naturally thought nothing of it. "Bogui is, after all, the General of the Guard's closest brother, and so capable in battle. In my view, Chief of Staff Lu in Changping and the General of the Guard in Chang'an will certainly agree readily... As for a location, isn't Yijing north of Hejian perfect? On one side, the Yi River serves as a barrier; on the other, it leans against Youzhou. Moreover, that place is positioned right in front of Wendian, naturally serving as the eastern shield of Youzhou. We can move Bohai's stores there and organize the local populace for military farming..."

At this point, Tian Kai suddenly realized — this was probably exactly the wishful calculation Gongsun Zan had made. He simply wanted to go to Yixian, where he could advance to maintain a semi-independent posture, or retreat back into the heartland of Youzhou. And if it truly came to a full-scale standoff between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Xun in Hebei, given this position, he might very well replace Gongsun Fan as the commander of the easternmost front.

At this thought, Tian Kai could not help glancing at Guan Jing, Guan Shiqi, who had been silent all along beside him. Without a doubt, this must have been the proposal the two of them had carefully discussed beforehand.

Seeing this, Guan Jing did not bother to hide it, but simply rose to his feet: "Commandant Tian, you, my lord, the General of the Guard, General of the Wave-Quelling Pacifier, and General of the Calm North, were once colleagues serving as clerks together, and you are also a former subordinate of the General of the Right. You are the only person suited to speak on this matter. In any case, after this affair, you should also go to Chang'an to pay a visit to the General of the Guard..."

Tian Kai slowly nodded, because even though Gongsun Zan's little scheme was so obvious, he still could not think of any reason for Gongsun Xun to refuse. And he indeed ought to make a trip to Chang'an: "There is no time to lose. I will immediately ride light to Fanyang and Changping. If possible, I will personally go to Chang'an to pay my respects to the General of the Guard... You two make preparations in Nanpi. If Yuan's army comes surging fiercely, you may as well go ahead to Yijing first and establish a stockade."

Gongsun Zan and Guan Jing both breathed a sigh of relief.

It must be said that Gongsun Xun naturally had no reason to refuse Gongsun Zan — this is not to say he wanted to indulge this clan elder brother of his, but rather that once he freed up his hands, he would have ten thousand ways to get those five thousand shock cavalry into his grasp.

Besides, he was, after all, the clan elder brother with whom he had shared a room in their youth, and he had promised his own mother. Since the fellow had returned alive from under Yuan Shao's hand, he could not very well secretly chop him up, could he?

In all honesty, Gongsun Xun had already regretted what he did with Gongsun Du after doing it just once — that was truly not something a statesman should do.

But while approving the plan reported by flying courier from Changping, Gongsun Xun also had to admit that Gongsun Zan had still stirred up an enormous mess for him — the fellow had fought brilliantly, but from a strategic perspective, the collapse had come far too quickly.

"This is far too fast!" Twenty days after the Battle of Jiudu, in the fifth month, Gongsun Xun looked at the several trusted advisors who had been hastily summoned from their various offices throughout the residence and were now passing letters among themselves. Though he had not lost his composure, he was clearly somewhat stern. "That Yuan Benchu would sooner or later sweep through the six commanderies of Hebei — I was long prepared for this. But for it to happen so quickly is still somewhat unexpected, and it has ultimately disrupted my original strategy. What do you gentlemen think should be done?"

"Mere coincidence and accident!" Tian Feng repeatedly shook his head and frowned. "I have met Gongsun Fang's subordinates before — he is nothing but a pedantic Confucian. I have also heard of Gongsun Du's reputation; in Pingyuan, relying on his family's wealth and power, he acted recklessly and was always without scruples. These two indeed seem like people capable of doing such things... So the General need not take it to heart. Adapt to the circumstances and make slight adjustments, that is all."

Gongsun Xun slowly nodded: "In that case, according to our previously agreed plan, if before autumn Yuan Shao shows signs of entering Yecheng, let Guan Yunchang abandon Zhaoge first, cross Wei Commandery, and join up with Shen Zhengnan at Handan. It's just... these two have equally rigid personalities. I suddenly have some concern — whether the two of them might have some discord..."

"General, I do not understand your words." Tian Feng gave a cold laugh. "Previously, it was you, General, who told us that Shen Zhengnan was utterly loyal and Guan Yunchang was peerlessly faithful, that these two were your greatest hidden pieces in Hebei, and that all matters could be entrusted to them. How is it that today you worry they might let personal feelings interfere with public duty, to the point of jeopardizing the greater situation? If they are truly utterly loyal, then you, General, should employ them without suspicion. And if their personalities are truly so rigid and incompatible as to cause mishaps, then you, General, should suspect them and not employ them."

Gongsun Xun could not help but laugh. He rose, leaning on his desk: "Yuanhao is right. I was overly discomposed. At this stage, to still harbor doubts is unavoidably laughable... Very well, I shall personally write a letter to Zhengnan and Yunchang, offering a few words of counsel and comfort."

Tian Feng smiled but said nothing.

With this matter settled, Gongsun Xun went off to write his letter. The others withdrew from the hall. Tian Feng and the many others who had their own offices in the General of the Guard's residence also departed. Xi Zhong, however, was lost in thought. A notion stirred in his heart, and he suddenly changed course, seeking out his fellow townsman and close friend — none other than that Xun You, Xun Gongda, who habitually kept his head down and remained silent.

"What does Gongda think — what exactly was the cause of the Lord Marquis's loss of composure this time?" Xi Zhong stopped Xun You and came straight to the point.

Xun Gongda could not help but laugh: "The General did not truly lose his composure this time, did he? It was merely that the matter was indeed unexpected, causing slight unease — nothing more than ordinary human sentiment."

"Unease about what?" Under the covered walkway of the General's residence, Xi Zhong pressed relentlessly. "I have long followed the Lord Marquis and know his temperament thoroughly. In his early years, his nature was outwardly unrestrained, his heroic spirit bursting forth. Later, when Lord Liu passed away and he returned home to open up farmland, he became somewhat withdrawn. But ever since the successful punitive expedition against Dong Zhuo and the interrogation at Weiyang, it has been like clouds parting to reveal the sun — he has returned to his former heroic spirit, even more open and magnanimous than before. As the saying goes, all matters can be spoken of with others, all actions can be shown to others... For him to show even slight unease today is already rare."

Xun You could only smile bitterly: "Why must Zhicai pretend not to know? Did not Brother Yuanhao clarify it from the very start? The General said Yuan Shao was seizing Hebei too quickly, but Brother Yuanhao answered by speaking of the matter of Gongsun Fang and Gongsun Du, offering some comfort. It is evident that the Lord Marquis was not alarmed because Yuan Shao was too swift, but rather felt some doubt because of the treachery of those sharing his surname. But this sort of thing — who would not feel shock and doubt if it happened to them?"

"So that is how it is." Xi Zhong's face was filled with sudden understanding. "The Lord Marquis felt somewhat embarrassed because of the betrayal of those sharing his surname, and Brother Yuanhao, knowing this perfectly well, dispelled his doubts from the very start..."

Walking ahead, Xun You smiled ever more bitterly as he went.

"But at this moment, Yuan Benchu certainly does not yet know that Yuan Huan, the eldest son of the main line of the Yuan clan of Chen Principality, has just rejected Yuan Shu's invitation and instead accepted a summons from Liu Bei, the Inspector of Yuzhou, and is moving his entire family to the region between the Huai and Yangzi Rivers to join Liu Xuande, who has just gone to Jiujiang." Xi Zhicai shook his head for a moment. "The Yuan clan of Chen Principality and the Yuan clan of Runan are genuine close branches of the same lineage. After the deaths of Yuan Kui and Yuan Ji, Yuan Huan is one of the few major figures of the Yuan clan apart from Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and Yuan Yi... Gongda, what do you think goes through the minds of these people from great clans? Do they not understand the situation under Heaven? Why do they all, one after another, betray their own lineage?"

Xun You sighed softly and finally stopped walking: "What does Zhicai think?"

"I think these people are all deliberately doing this to preserve their families." Xi Zhong immediately spoke up. "They feel that since they are of the same lineage after all, even if they do not follow today, should the realm be settled by someone of the same surname in the future, they would not necessarily be treated too harshly — at most, they would be demoted and left unused... And if the realm is not settled by someone of the same surname, can they not continue to endure unbroken, avoiding disaster? Such stratagems and calculations are, after all, quite common."

"Perhaps so!" Xun You answered with a serious expression. "There are always some who think this way, and it may indeed be so. But why can it not be that each man has his own aspirations? The Lord Marquis, over many years in Hebei and now up to the present in the Three Adjuncts, has made his stance of disciplining the powerful magnates and suppressing the great clans evident for all to see. And Gongsun Du, according to what Brother Yuanhao said, is a lawless, great magnate. Even if such a person shares the General's surname, when the General eventually pacifies Hebei, how would he ever be spared? So why could he not genuinely wish to follow Yuan Benchu? Take Yuan Huan, for instance — he is from a commandery neighboring ours. You and I should both know that this man has always been of a quiet and pure nature. Yuan Shu assassinated a Chancellor of Chen Principality who was so well-regarded, in such a manner. As a man of Chen Principality, why could he not bitterly hate Yuan Gonglu's lawlessness and accept a summons from the legitimate Inspector of Yuzhou? And besides, in these chaotic times, from officials of the two-thousand-bushel rank down to the common people, all live in constant peril. In such times, drifting with the current for the sake of survival is the common posture, is it not? Perhaps Gongsun Du merely felt that Pingyuan could not be held and sought temporary safety; perhaps Yuan Huan, seeing that Sun Wentai and Cao Mengde were about to go to war with Yuan Gonglu, took the initiative to move to Jiujiang merely to avoid disaster."

Xi Zhong was left speechless.

"Does Zhicai have anything else to say?" Xun You continued, still with a serious expression.

Xi Zhong could not help feeling embarrassed: "It was merely a casual question, nothing more."

"I, however, do have something more to say." Xun Gongda, uncharacteristically, took the initiative. "In truth, I probably understand the meaning behind Zhicai's words. Do you not simply wish for me to urge my several uncles to move our entire clan to the Lord Marquis's side before Yuan Shao does? But forgive my bluntness — you are demanding what is beyond reason!"

Xi Zhong was momentarily abashed, but then awkwardly explained: "On this matter, please do not misunderstand, Gongda. It was I who, on a whim, came to ask on my own. The Lord Marquis knows nothing of it..."

"Our lord would certainly not be so discourteous," Xun You shook his head and sighed. "How could a man who means to scourge the realm be so unreasonable as to coerce others? Not to mention our lord, even Yuan Shao would not resort to coercion... Zhicai, during the chaos of Dong Zhuo, even though my clan fled our home, we still lost half our people because we could not escape disaster in time. Even here in Chang'an, my grand-uncle was hounded to death by Dong Zhuo. As for my several uncles in Yecheng, if they wish to preserve the remaining half of the clan, they will naturally have their own choices. And I, separated by a thousand li, even though I myself believe our lord is a wise master worthy of great trust, would never lightly presume to dictate their course! I only ask you: if because of a few words from me, another half were to die, what then?"

Xi Zhong truly could not hold out any longer and could only offer a grand apology. Xun You shook his head helplessly, then turned and left.

…………

Half a month later, in the height of summer in the sixth month, Guan Yunchang, who was in Zhaoge, received the letter from Chang'an four or five days earlier than Gongsun Zan to the north. Upon seeing Gongsun Xun's handwritten letter, he could not help but frown inwardly. He then summoned several trusted aides and staff in the city, along with the messenger, presented the letter, and consulted those around him.

After reading the letter, men like Pan Zhang had nothing to say in any case, but Yang Jun, who had taken refuge in Zhaoge after the chaos and become Assistant County Magistrate, could not help but ask curiously: "The Lord Marquis has given an order; the General need only carry it out. Why consult us? Is there some hesitation?"

"Indeed!" Guan Yunchang sat high in the seat of honor, stroking his beard as he spoke. "Though the Lord Marquis has given an order, there is one point unclear and two points troubling... What is unclear: if I enter Handan, who between myself and Shen Zhengnan is principal and who is deputy? Why is it not stated plainly? The first trouble: I have been in Zhaoge for many years, and thanks to the Lord Marquis's support, I have hidden three thousand elite troops. Yet these three thousand soldiers are mostly locally recruited. If I abandon them at a word, how do I answer to the soldiers and the common people? Furthermore, if these three thousand troops leave, who will protect the safety of the local villages? The second trouble: the Lord Marquis bids me go north because Yuan Shao is about to enter Yecheng... How could I, here in Zhaoge, not know this... But if I return north for this reason, does the Lord Marquis think me insufficient to hold a sector?"

Yang Jun had followed Guan Yu for several years now and understood his temperament well enough. He simply kept his mouth shut and turned to look at the man present as the messenger — Fu Xun, Fu Gongti, the Resignation Clerk of the General of the Guards' office.

And Fu Xun, indeed unhurried and unflustered, cupped his hands and stepped forward: "The General has three points of hesitation. One of them, I too do not know how to resolve. But the other two, in my view, are hardly worth mentioning!"

————I am the hardly-worth-mentioning dividing line————

"In the early Jian'an era, Tian Kai went to Chang'an to pay respects to the Grand Ancestor. Kai was a friend of the Grand Ancestor from youth. The Grand Ancestor was greatly pleased, appointed him Commandant of Cavalry, and invited him to stay at the General of the Guards' residence, where they shared a bed and he was brought into the hall to pay respects to the Grand Ancestor's mother. Kai was cautious at first but gradually relaxed, and then became overly familiar, disregarding the proprieties between superior and subordinate, even addressing the Grand Ancestor by his courtesy name. Pang De, as Chief of the Volunteer Retinue, was angered and asked leave to kill him. The Grand Ancestor would not permit it, saying: 'Gongzhi is indeed a friend from my youth, an old acquaintance from my home village, a fellow official in the same commandery. How could it come to that?' De went out and spoke of this with Zhang Ji, Jing Ze, and others. Ze said: 'He should be shown the dignity of authority and ritual.' The next day, the Grand Ancestor held a grand assembly at the Mingguang Palace for all the generals and officials of the Three Adjuncts to discuss the war in Hebei. Kai originally had no summons, but was lured in with a false invitation. When he entered the Mingguang Palace, he saw countless high ministers all seated in solemn array. Pang De led the Volunteer Retinue Army, and Jing Ze led the Tiger Guard Army, both fully armored and arrayed inside and outside the palace. And Kai's seat was placed in a far corner. Kai was greatly alarmed and then understood the Grand Ancestor's magnanimity. Thereafter, he served with increased reverence and caution." — Old Book of Yan, Volume 2, Annals of the Grand Ancestor, Emperor Wu

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(End of Chapter)