[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-395":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},1223154,1620,"Chapter 395: Returning Home Feels All the More Joyful (7k, Barely 2-in-1)","overthrowing-han-chapter-395",395,"\u003Cp>\"Clerk Ci normally handles litigation, and Clerk Fu must also be a master of speech. Could it be that today you intend to emulate the traveling persuaders of the old Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and move me with words alone?\" Faced with Fu Xun's composure, Guan Yu was clearly somewhat dismissive, and with his nine-foot stature, long beard, and red face, even sitting there with a slight snort, an imposing aura naturally arose. \"If that is the case, Sir Fu is being a bit presumptuous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I may say so, General, those words are somewhat biased.\" Fu Xun stood in the hall, facing Guan Yunchang's displeasure, yet still unhurried and unflustered. \"Whether it is speech or persuasion, if what is said lacks reason and yet people still listen, then the speaker is sinister and the listener is foolish; and if what is said has reason, yet no one listens, then the speaker lacks self-awareness, and the listener is arrogant beyond words... Therefore, I only speak reason. The General need only listen. Whether it succeeds or not, it is not too late to decide after hearing it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words increasingly seemed like playing with rhetoric, and so Guan Yu also increasingly furrowed his brow, only refraining from acting out of consideration that the other party was Gongsun Xun's direct subordinate clerk. But he ultimately kept his mouth shut and quietly waited for the other to explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"General.\" Fu Gongti straightened his expression and bowed formally, speaking earnestly. \"Let me first address one of the General's unease. Regarding what you just said about going north to Handan and leaving Zhaoge—was there not a concern on the part of Guard General that you, sir, were insufficient to hold a sector alone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed.\" Guan Yu loftily stroked his beard and said. \"The Lord Marquis said he would personally lead the great army to Hebei after autumn... That being the case, at most it is but one summer and one autumn. And I, Guan Yu, leading three thousand troops at Zhaoge, ask myself how I could not hold it for three to five months? If Yuan the traitor comes with ten thousand, I will hold it for the Lord Marquis myself; if he comes with several thousand, I will swallow them for the Lord Marquis myself! Why must we abandon the city and leave?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You have it backwards!\" Fu Xun could not help but laugh. \"The Guard General is not worried about being unable to hold Henei at all! His meaning is clearly that he fears Handan may be lost, and therefore wants to borrow your heroic valor and the three thousand troops here to go aid and protect Handan... This is precisely trusting your command ability, which is why he entrusts this matter to you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Yu was slightly taken aback, and for a moment had nothing to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for why Handan must be defended,\" Fu Gongti continued in the hall, spreading his hands with a smile, \"General Guan is the one who leads troops, and has stayed in Handan before, and now has been stationed at Zhaoge for many years—you should understand better than I...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Yu fell silent in thought for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"General!\" Seeing how well Fu Xun could smooth one's fur, Yang Jun, amazed in his heart, also hurriedly rose to persuade. \"The Lord Marquis's intention is already very clear. It is precisely because he worries about State Chancellor Shen and values the General's martial valor that he made this special arrangement... Moreover, Handan is an ancient capital, truly fertile in land and populous, far surpassing Zhaoge, and furthermore it shields the Taihang Mountains—it cannot be lightly abandoned!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, as a man of the age who understood military matters, how could Guan Yunchang not understand strategic affairs? He even understood more than Yang Jun, and indeed knew that Handan's strategic importance was greater than Zhaoge's. Or rather, he had known from the start that Zhaoge's existence was far more offensive than defensive in nature—it had been meant from the beginning to support Gongsun Xun's attack on Yecheng from the Henan direction. But now Yuan Shao had clearly seized the initiative, first launching an offensive with a great army, so under the overall offensive and defensive situation, Zhaoge's significance was actually not that great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An isolated city hanging in the rear, with three thousand troops—perhaps it could be held, but if this place is held and Handan is lost, what then? If it truly came to that, Gongsun Xun would certainly have to go through Hedong into Bingzhou and then turn to Changshan or Zhao, so what meaning would there be in holding Zhaoge here until the end of time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, Guan Yunchang's misgiving was simply the feeling that abandoning Zhaoge for Handan was like a bereft family going to seek refuge with Shen Zhengnan, and his nature made him instinctively displeased. But once Fu Xun reversed the perspective, placing him in the position of a rescuer and smoothing his fur, the knot in his heart was actually already untied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Guan Yu did not continue to feign displeasure, and slightly straightening his expression, he continued: \"With the overall situation before us, I naturally understand the principle of rescuing key locations. But whenever troops are commanded in battle, there must be a distinction between commander and deputy, otherwise there will be struggles for authority and chaos... And I am General of Manifest Valor, while Shen Zhengnan is Chancellor of Zhao, both of two-thousand-dan rank. When the time comes for battle, who commands and who follows? That the Lord Marquis did not clarify this is truly strange.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was an acknowledgment of Fu Xun's earlier sophistry, and Fu Gongti, relieved, hurriedly continued his fur-smoothing argument: \"If I may speak frankly, in my humble view, the Guard General has already divided the duties very clearly here. When you go to Handan, there will absolutely be no struggle for authority... In fact, the division of authority and responsibility between you two lies precisely in this distinction of the two-thousand-dan ranks.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, Guan Yu had begun to find Fu Xun somewhat agreeable, and his speech carried a measure of courtesy as he slightly raised his hand in gesture: \"Please, Clerk Fu, explain this to me in detail.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This matter is simple, and can be made clear in a single sentence.\" Fu Xun hurriedly bowed in return, and only then spoke frankly. \"The General has merely been stationed in the provinces for so long that he has not thought it through for a moment. In truth, these years, our Lord Marquis has acted with proper form, placing even greater emphasis on matching name with reality. In the provinces, military and civil administration are mostly separated, and even in the army, the rites of Zhou are emulated—those who go out to fight are the field army, those who stay and defend are the garrison... Therefore, you, sir, are General of Manifest Valor, and should fight to manifest valor and display might; while Lord Shen is Chancellor of Zhao, and should defend his capital with the duty of guarding the land. If one must speak more precisely, it is nothing more than that all defense must be preceded by offense. When Yuan the traitor's great army arrives, naturally State Chancellor Shen will defend the city, and General Guan will go out to battle. Only thus can one be ever-victorious!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Fu Gongti was truly not just smoothing fur—on the contrary, he was practically both reasonable and measured. And Guan Yu, hearing the clear logic, could not help but stroke the armrest of the Grand Commandant's chair and rise loftily: \"Sir Fu's words are indeed irrefutable!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Fu Xun not only showed no pleasure, but instead stepped aside, cupped his hands, and smiled wryly in apology: \"I am honored by the General's praise, but as an envoy, I should have conveyed the Guard General's meaning clearly and resolved doubts and confusions. Yet although these two doubts have been resolved, regarding your other hesitation, I have nothing to say, and have pushed a difficult matter onto the General—how could I have the face to accept praise?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final topic of soldiers and common people was indeed troubling, and Yang Jun, standing by, though also helpless, as the local Assistant County Magistrate and a former subordinate of the Guard General, could not well avoid this topic either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, just as Yang Jicai sighed and rose, preparing to persuade this General of Manifest Valor, Guan Yunchang had already stepped forward with his hands behind his back, and then spoke, setting the policy to Fu Xun: \"There is no need for Clerk Fu to speak of the other matter. I have already made my decision! Or rather, this matter can only be handled this way from the start, so as not to betray my heart!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people in the hall were for a moment startled and uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the height of summer in the sixth month, the weather was scorching. Hebei, the Central Plains, Guanzhong, Xu and Yang—everywhere entered the hottest time of the year together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in this sweltering sixth month, compared to the methodical progress of the melee in the Central Plains, compared to the dead silence of Guanzhong, Yuan Shao, relying on two great battles—one victory and one defeat—along with the might of his personally leading the masses of over ten commanderies from Qing and Yan northward, and a key defection and surrender of a city at a critical time and place, had finally thoroughly emerged from the three-way melee in Jizhou, thereby swiftly settling the overall situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the beginning of the sixth month, when Gongsun Xun's messenger had not yet returned to Changping, Yuan Shao decisively adopted the suggestions of Chen Gong, Xu You, and others, and still chose to summon the elite troops from Jieqiao, along with the Qingzhou great army that had crossed the river and the pacified Pingyuan soldiers, and of course his own slightly rested main force, to immediately march north with absolutely superior numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His great army, having gathered all its main strength, counting both combat troops and support troops, was far more than a hundred thousand. And these hundred thousand troops, divided into two columns along the old course of the Yellow River, advanced northward in mutual support. Along the way, their military appearance was strict and orderly, advancing step by step with fortified camps, focusing on attacking cities and seizing territory, with no intention of seeking a decisive battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with this, Gongsun Zan, unable to find an opening for battle, had no choice but to retreat step by step... Fortunately, he had transferred the supplies and armaments from Nanpi north of the Zhang River toward Yixian ahead of time, so he could be considered to be traveling light to meet the enemy, advancing and retreating with composure, and thus was not trapped by the enemy on the southern bank of the Zhang River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the twelfth day of the sixth month, Nanpi fell; on the eighteenth day of the sixth month, Zhangwu fell; on the twentieth day of the sixth month, after receiving Gongsun Xun's definite reply relayed from Changping, Gongsun Zan formally crossed the Zhang River, left Bohai, and headed for Yixian in Hejian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the twenty-first day of the sixth month, Gao Lan, healed from his wounds and returned, led troops across the river in pursuit, but was instead counterattacked by the Youzhou shock cavalry by the Zhang River bank. Fortunately, follow-up troops arrived one after another, preventing greater casualties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the twenty-second day of the sixth month, as Gongsun Zan led his remaining cavalry through Maoxian in Hejian, retreating toward the Yishui River, he encountered Zhang He, a native of Maoxian who had split off his troops earlier and infiltrated there, leading a surprise attack, and suffered another minor defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, everyone knew that after Gongsun Zan's Pingyuan campaign suddenly collapsed, these minor victories and defeats no longer mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In summary, after the realm fell into chaos, Gongsun Zan's attempt following the surge of his personal ambition came completely to an end here. This man had started from a Commandant about two years ago, and in just over a year had swept across Ji and Qing provinces, taking the two largest commanderies in the two provinces, possibly also the two largest commanderies among the four provinces of Hebei. Yet after formally engaging Yuan Shao in battle, despite a clearly brilliant performance, he still hastily met his end in less than half a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other than the phrase \"no fault in his battle,\" one hardly knows what else to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at the same time, returning to the twelfth day of the sixth month, after the fall of Nanpi, Han Fu, the Governor of Jizhou, lost his last shred of will to resist. He rejected the suggestion of his Chief Clerk Geng Wu, his Administrative Supervisor Min Chun, and others to lead the last ten thousand troops to hold the city, and instead decided to accept the advice of his many old friends from Yingchuan—namely Xin Ping, Xin Pi, Xun Chen, Guo Tu, and others... and formally dispatched an envoy to offer surrender to the most awe-inspiring of his former patron the Yuan clan, Yuan Benchu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In all fairness, Han Fu in Jizhou seemed to have already resisted to the best of his ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very beginning, facing the greatest threat, Gongsun Xun, he immediately clung to Yuan Shao's thigh in the campaign against Dong Zhuo; then when Gongsun Xun went on his western campaign and Yuan Shao tried to forcibly seize the support troops sent by Jizhou, this Han of Jizhou again sent the province's famed general Pan Feng to reorganize them, attempting to take back the troops; later, when Yuan Shao formally marched north in force and seized Qinghe, he also decisively tore off all pretense and attempted a night raid... It was just that all these measures either failed or backfired in the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By this time in the sixth month of the first year of Jian'an, this man had only ten thousand remnant troops left, and his territory of four commanderies had been encroached upon until only one Wei Commandery and half of Anping remained. Then, as a man who could basically be said to have no troops, no generals, no officials, and no clerks, facing the hundred thousand troops of his former patron Yuan Shao at his side, and the persuasion of countless old friends from Yingchuan, surrendering at this moment truly seemed to be his only choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One cannot be too harsh on him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, those who had truly been in Yecheng these past two years all knew that this man's fate had been decided as early as over a year ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, during the campaign against Dong Zhuo, Liu Hui and Ju Shou had actually secretly advised Han Fu one after another, both urging Han Wenjie to personally lead troops south against Dong Zhuo, rather than giving troops and armaments to Yuan Shao while he himself sat idly in Yecheng... but they were clearly refused by Han Fu. And from then on, Liu Zihui and Ju Gongyu never advised him again, watching coldly from the sidelines all the way to this point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reasoning is very simple. Although Jizhou is an extremely wealthy and developed place, it is not a strategic stronghold, and moreover, being stuck between two powers, its situation is actually very poor. And in chaotic times, it is either you die or I live, so to truly establish oneself, the only way out for a power in Jizhou is to proactively strike out!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even though Han Wenjie could only control four commanderies at the time, that was still enough to be called a top-tier warlord in the realm, and he had the conditions to go out! But since he chose to hole up back then, he was destined for this outcome today... a little more or a little less drama is not worth mentioning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even those later measures, to be honest, in the eyes of people like Ju Shou, only increased casualties in vain. It would have been better to pick a side and surrender from the start! That would have saved today's embarrassment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what can one say?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first two years of chaotic times are precisely when the great waves wash away the sand, the time when this kind of person is intensively eliminated by the era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two years ago, nearly forty warlords campaigned against Dong Zhuo. Adding Dong Zhuo himself, and Liu Yan, Han Sui, Ma Teng, and others, the realm's separatists numbered far more than forty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet in just two short years, some died, some perished, some were defeated, some fled. The powerful like Dong Zhuo, the weak like Han Fu, the incompetent like Liu Dai, the skilled in battle like Gongsun Zan, the lucky like Kong Rong, the unlucky like Bao Xin... those who should exit the stage all exited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this very moment, those who could remain were nothing more than these few types.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Shi Xie and Liu Yan, relying on remote geography to rest in a corner; like Liu Biao and Tao Qian, able to pacify and overawe an entire province; like Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and Sun Jian, spending most of their time attaching themselves to the powerful as a buffer... and the rest, are Gongsun Xun and the two Yuans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention Yuan Gonglu, that thousand-year oddity, who was being beaten back step by step by the three men Cao, Sun, and Liu, along with Liu Biao, losing half of Runan and one Jiujiang in just two short months, and even losing several cities in Nanyang... Gongsun Xun and Yuan Shao, these two men, had actually already formed a terrifying scene of a full-line confrontation stretching thousands of li along the entire Yellow River basin, which was at that time the acknowledged core region of Han civilization, and it was on the verge of erupting at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could be completely foreseen that the two sides would stage a comprehensive decisive battle on the unshielded Hebei plains that would determine the fate of all of North China!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some clever people had even already seen, based on the timing and geography, that with the autumn grain entering the storehouses in the Three Adjuncts, Hebei, and the Central Plains as the line, Yuan Shao would attack first, and Gongsun Xun would counterattack later, and the battlefield would inevitably erupt between Handan and Yecheng... In the words of Lady Gongsun, it was like a turn-based game, mysteriously fitting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And whether or not they sensed the impending war, in the last ten days of the sixth month, just before Yuan Shao was about to return with his army, at the border between Wei Commandery and Henei Commandery south of Yecheng, a large migrating crowd numbering in the tens of thousands suddenly appeared, even mixed with several thousand soldiers with strict banners and clear formations... and they were moving continuously from south to north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside Yecheng, Han Fu had just sent out his seal and ribbon of office. Hearing of the commotion outside the city, he simply moved his entire family out of the government office and hid in the former residence of the late Regular Attendant Zhao Zhong, using this as a pretext to decline involvement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The incident was sudden, and the situation unclear. The various factions in the city were also at a loss, so they had no choice but to gather together and seek out Su Ju, the Grand Administrator of Wei Commandery. And Su Ju, although the only two-thousand-dan official in the city, now that Yecheng was about to change hands, with Yuan Shao about to arrive but not yet arrived, and Han Fu about to leave but not yet left, how could he well make a decision?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, as a two-thousand-dan official after all, how could he not understand in his heart? So he immediately pointed with his hand, assigning the authority and responsibility over the last ten thousand troops in Yecheng and the surrounding supporting cities to Xin Ping, Guo Tu, and the other Yingchuan men... and then returned to his residence for his midday rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this was exactly what Xin Ping and the others sought!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after obtaining military authority and administrative power, before these people could figure out what was going on, someone soon came to their door to report... A rider came straight to the walls of Yecheng and then shouted up at the city, saying that the people of Zhaoge, hearing that the court's rebel Yuan the traitor was about to arrive near Wei Commandery, to avoid the calamity of war, were supporting the elderly and carrying the young, preparing to go to Zhao... and also saying that the officials in Yecheng should prepare grain, water, and so on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words were somewhat hard to believe, but as scout riders came galloping in to report that several thousand troops had suddenly been dispatched from Handan in the north heading south, seemingly to coordinate with the people coming from the south, the crowd in Yecheng then looked at each other speechlessly, confirming who the arrivals were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This must be Guan Yu of Zhaoge and Shen Pei of Handan, hearing that Yecheng is changing hands, driving the common people to muddy the waters and fish in troubled waters, seeking to steal the city!\" Returning to the empty government office, as soon as everyone took their seats, Guo Tu blurted out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The General of the Guard would not do such a thing.\" Although Ju Shou was not from Yingchuan and had no decision-making power in this matter, as someone Yuan Shao had personally named as worthy of trust and retention, his words still carried weight. \"Among all the regional lords under Heaven, the foremost in treating the people with leniency is the General of the Guard. If my assessment is correct, this time it is likely a genuine spontaneous migration…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ju Shou's near-certain judgment immediately made Xin Ping, Xin Pi, Xun Chen, and the others who had wanted to speak find it awkward to open their mouths… People like them, their stance was clear — they were all former subordinates of the Yuan clan, all of Yingchuan origin, and had been the main force urging Han Fu to surrender. With a great battle imminent, for them to echo Ju Shou now and speak of how fine the General of the Guard was would be quite meaningless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, having sojourned in Yecheng for a year or two, they had absolute faith in Ju Shou's talent and wisdom, and so none could easily refute him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps the General of the Guard would not stoop to such a breach of decorum, but what about that Guan Yu?\" Only Guo Tu, having been rebuked to his face, and by a mere local of Jizhou at that, could not help but argue back. \"Could this not be Guan Yunchang acting on his own? Separated by a thousand li, could the General of the Guard truly know the real situation here? Moreover, I spent a long time in Henei previously and have always known this man — he is an arrogant and domineering brute, a convict from Hedong by origin, yet he repeatedly dared to drive away the military clerks my master sent to Zhaoge, to the point of delaying the grand campaign against Dong Zhuo…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Guan Yunchang has been in Zhaoge for many years,\" Ju Shou said with rare solemnity. \"We locals also know full well — he is arrogant toward superiors but compassionate toward subordinates. When it comes to cherishing the common people, he is even more so! And Shen Zhengnan is also a man of spotless integrity and uprightness; he would never help Guan Yunchang deceive others! Still less would he drive the people to steal a city!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Tu sneered inwardly and was about to retort again, when unexpectedly, right behind him, someone let out a derisive laugh first. Though the sound was faint, in the surrounding silence where nearly everyone else kept their mouths shut, it was exceptionally clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Gongze turned his head to look and could only feel helpless. The one who had laughed turned out to be a distant clansman of his, called Guo Jia, courtesy name Fengxiao. The man had only recently come of age and received his cap, and had always been dissolute. But with the Yingchuan scholars having suddenly seized political power in this city and set up a joint governance, they were short of hands, so they had disregarded too much and summoned him to handle affairs and join the discussions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Might I ask if you have some instruction to offer?\" Ju Shou, seeing that the man was behind Guo Tu, assumed the mockery was directed at him, and his face turned cold as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have no intention of offering instruction.\" Guo Jia, the fuzz barely grown above his lip, rested a hand on his sword and cast a sidelong glance around him. \"I am merely curious — my clansman and Attendant Ju are locked in such a dispute that your faces have gone red and your ears crimson… What exactly is it all for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Tu gripped his knees, and Ju Shou gently stroked his beard, both of them somewhat angered. Yet just as they were about to open their mouths to retort, they both fell awkwardly silent at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact was, the two of them only now realized — regardless of whether Guan Yunchang was leading the people northward or driving them to steal the city, weren't they going to shut the city gates and defend tightly anyway?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What else? Was there a second path to take?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, Yuan Shao was not here — could it be that someone wanted to take the common people along and ambush those three thousand troops? Had their brains short-circuited? In this government office, who could propose such a thing, who would dare give such an order? Did they not care about their family's reputation anymore?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for opening the gates to send out grain…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, every single clever person around gradually came to the same realization, and then fell into awkward silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How about this then.\" Amid the unbearably awkward silence, it was Xin Ping who shamelessly stepped forward and offered a sensible suggestion. \"On one hand, we send men to the three surrounding satellite cities, to supervise the troops in shutting their gates and defending themselves, under the pretext of bringing them relief. On the other hand, we can also send an envoy to tell Guan Yu, frankly, that we will permit him to pass beneath the city walls at his leisure, but we truly cannot give him any grain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd nodded one after another, yet for a moment no one knew whom to send as envoy, or whom to assign to oversee the defenses of the three small cities around Yecheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One had to understand, other places aside, the people in this government office more or less knew Guan Yu's temperament and capability… Although he had not become famous throughout the realm after the chaos of the Dong Zhuo campaign, during the Yellow Turban Rebellion he had traveled through both Yingchuan and Hebei, and had been quite renowned for a time. Moreover, when Gongsun Xun campaigned against Dong Zhuo, apart from Gongsun Fan, he had only petitioned for two general's titles, which showed his trust in and reliance on this Guan Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, coming back to the matter at hand, just think about it — if they sent a man from Jizhou, what if Guan Yunchang narrowed his eyes, declared, \"A traitor to one's lord — every man has the right to kill him,\" and then lopped the man's head off with one stroke?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they sent someone from Yingchuan, it would be even more direct — \"A follower of rebels — killing him is only right and proper!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And furthermore, among the three small cities, the others aside, Wucheng, the westernmost one, was very far away, separated by two rivers neither large nor small. On top of that, it was highly likely the place where Guan Yu would cross the foul waters and rendezvous with reinforcements from Handan… Although everyone understood that taking just Wucheng alone was meaningless, what if Guan Yu was in a bad mood, or simply decided to dismantle Wucheng for the sake of future battles?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What would the defender of Wucheng say then? Would he be chopped down too?! And even if he could return alive, with the General of Chariots and Cavalry Yuan arriving any moment, how would you explain losing a city first?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, this was truly not a good assignment, yet someone had to do it nonetheless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The envoy must be someone of no consequence,\" the government office was full of clever people, and Xun Chen, for instance, quickly summed up the most critical requirement for these two candidates. \"It would be best if Guan Yunchang did not take him seriously at all. For Wucheng, we need someone steady, otherwise it will be hard to hold the city or handle unexpected events… Which of you gentlemen will go?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ju Shou and the other men of Jizhou, along with those who had previously held provincial posts, naturally closed their eyes to rest. In any case, those in power were the Yingchuan men; it was not the turn of these Jizhou men to take risks. In truth, many provincial officials at this time were still extremely unable to accept Han Fu's surrender of the seal and ribbon of office, and it was said that quite a few were secretly still plotting… At this juncture, those who could come here and speak were already considered quite decent, and men like Xin Ping and Xun Chen knew they could not push these people further away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How about Fengxiao as the envoy?\" In yet another awkward silence, suddenly, a man of twenty-seven or twenty-eight behind Xun Chen spoke up softly. His face was like polished jade, his expression clear and bright — it was none other than the former Gentleman Attendant of the Yellow Gate and Prefect of the Palace Guard, the most outstanding figure of this generation of the Xun clan, Xun Yu, courtesy name Wenruo. \"And then I shall go to Wucheng to bring relief to the troops, how about that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xun Chen seemed about to speak but then hesitated, and the people around all looked at one another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then it is settled!\" It was Guo Tu, who had once served alongside Xun Yu as a clerk when the Grand Administrator of Yingchuan was in Yinde, who suddenly rose to his feet and agreed in one breath. \"We cannot let it be said that we Yingchuan scholars lack a sense of responsibility… With Wenruo and Fengxiao undertaking this heavy task, surely that will be enough to satisfy everyone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd was speechless and could only accept this as the decision. They then discussed two candidates to \"bring relief to the troops\" at Jiuhou City and Wucheng, and then dispersed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, Xun Yu walked the slowest, but as soon as he stepped out of the hall, under the blazing sun, he was hastily called to a halt by his own elder brother Xun Chen, who had been waiting in front of the hall: \"Wenruo, why must you personally take this risk? And wasn't it agreed — the general trend is set, I came out first to cope with things, and when Yuan Benchu arrives, we will observe carefully before discussing anything else?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In chaotic times, one cannot avoid such matters.\" Xun Yu stood before the hall and smiled faintly at his elder brother. \"How can one avoid taking risks? As for why I am going to Wucheng, it is merely a moment's curiosity — I wish to see whether Guan Yunchang is leading the people northward home or driving them to steal a city. Elder brother need not worry overmuch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Didn't Fengxiao just say it? In such matters, there is no difference…\" Xun Chen was helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fengxiao is wrong.\" Xun Yu sighed and shook his head. \"For some people, certain things make no difference, but for others, certain things touch upon the very foundation… Elder brother need not worry. I do not think Guan Yunchang will necessarily kill anyone. And even if he does kill, Fengxiao will die first. Once he is dead, with no one to report his safety to me, I will simply slip away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half helpless and half amused, Xun Chen could only turn and walk away. But after only a few steps, he saw Guo Jia, hand resting on the long sword at his waist, standing leisurely and at ease behind a large tree in front of the hall. He had clearly heard every word of Xun Yu's earlier jest. Xun Chen could only shake his head even more and walk off on his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unhurried and unflustered, Xun Yu continued forward to beneath the tree, not the least bit surprised by Guo Jia's presence there, as if he had seen him long ago. He merely cupped his hands slightly in apology: \"Fengxiao…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elder brother Wenruo need not explain.\" Guo Jia rested one hand on his sword and covered his nose with the other as he spoke. \"I originally wished to broaden my experience and meet the men under the General of the Guard. When I went to Handan before, I only met Shen Zhengnan; I have yet to meet this Guan Yunchang… And besides, never mind that by observing the common people's condition from afar, I will be able to tell whether they are being driven or migrating spontaneously — even if I am truly unlucky and get carved up alive, I will certainly send someone first to report a false safety, to trick elder brother Wenruo into staying in Wucheng, so that you may journey to the Yellow Springs together with me in the future… That being the case, what is there to be resentful about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So that is how it is.\" Xun Yu could not help but laugh. \"It seems I miscalculated — I never knew Fengxiao was so treacherous… But could you stop covering your nose? I know the summer incense mixed with sweat smells unpleasant; I will throw away the sachet once we return, alright?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Throw it away now!\" Guo Jia said earnestly. \"It is truly foul; I cannot bear it a moment longer! Besides, when you led us in fleeing from Yingchuan to this place, you did not use it on the road, and did anyone disdain you for it? Now that we are slightly settled, why must you take up incense again? And to make it worse, you cannot afford good incense and can only buy the inferior kind! Such inferior incense mixed with sweat…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Merely a habit.\" Beneath the dappled shade of the tree, Xun Yu lowered his head, untied his sachet, emptied its contents, and then sighed softly with a touch of melancholy. \"A habit of decades — how can it be easily changed? That a man's fundamental nature is set in his youth — is this an empty saying?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————I am habit become second nature————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xun Yu of the late Han was handsome and dignified in bearing; conversing with him was like bathing in a spring breeze, and he was fond of wearing incense. Thus it was often said: 'When Lord Xun visits a home, the place where he sat remains fragrant for three days.'\" — A New Account of the Tales of the World, Chapter on Appearance and Demeanor\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: For the sake of chapter completeness, I finished writing this during my lunch break…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",5985,"2026-06-04T19:42:26.060Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","2c8021c2993cbeab1a1c1946228f4e85949dccab6ec1c690a51822a9f6299b35","overthrowing-han-chapter-396","overthrowing-han-chapter-394",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]