Chapter 4: Consultation

The sky had already darkened. In the room beneath Lulong Tower where Gongsun Xun lived alone, Han Dang, who had come as a guest, sat restless, having removed his armor and wearing the crimson straight-hemmed robe standard issue to the Han army. Beside him lay a bolt of brand-new Shu brocade worth a city, and atop it rested a hard bow of exquisite decoration yet outstanding quality.

By this point, how could Han Dang not know who this young man in fine clothes truly was? It was the eldest son of Lady Gongsun! His family's wealth was measured in the hundreds of millions, and he himself cut a striking figure. At such a young age, he had already become an Assistant Clerk of the two-hundred-dan rank in the Accounts Office... Rich, handsome, capable, and a son of a distinguished lineage — he was unmistakably a young noble with limitless prospects.

It was only that since coming of age, the other party had been serving as a minor official in Yangyue City, and he himself had never had the chance to make his acquaintance.

But the question now was: why would a scion of a distinguished family with such limitless prospects regard a common man he was meeting for the first time so highly? Not only had he spoken up to help him earlier atop Lulong Tower, but now he had invited him over, presenting him with both precious Shu brocade and a fine bow?

"For the Accounts Clerk Gongsun to regard this humble one so highly truly leaves me uneasy. May I dare ask if there is something you seek?" Such was the custom of the times, and Han Dang, a frontier wanderer by origin, naturally asked directly since he had doubts in his heart.

At this point, Han Dang paused briefly and offered an additional piece of information: "My parents both perished in an epidemic in my early years. I often followed my uncle to trade horses at your esteemed family's Anli Trading House and was greatly looked after by Lady Gongsun. So if it is within my power, I will certainly not refuse."

Gongsun Xun smiled faintly upon hearing this. Wasn't that stating the obvious? Of course he sought something — it was just that what he sought was the man himself.

Indeed, the moment Gongsun Xun suddenly realized that this "Tiger Minister of Jiangbiao," whom his mother had mentioned to him in passing, was merely a squad leader and, moreover, a fellow native of his hometown, his mind had immediately begun to stir. With his status and family background, taking on a squad leader as a retainer — was that not an exceedingly common occurrence?

And once this thought arose, he could no longer suppress it. Why not? Just because, who knows how many years later, the man would become some so-called Tiger Minister of Jiangbiao?!

Of course, while thinking this in his heart, Gongsun Xun spoke aloud a different, more refined set of words: "Today's matter is really nothing much. It is mainly that Brother Yigong's bearing truly won my admiration, which is why I specially invited you over to make your acquaintance! As the saying goes, 'To don armor and take up arms is to be steadfast unto death'... Since one dons armor and wields sharp weapons, standing at the frontier, one should disregard life and death and serve the state! Does Brother Yigong know the allusion behind 'donning armor and taking up arms'?"

"I truly must ask for instruction on this." Han Dang, a frontier wanderer, was naturally completely baffled.

So Gongsun Xun promptly explained.

It turned out that the phrase "To don armor and take up arms is to be steadfast unto death" came from the Zuo Commentary edition of the Spring and Autumn Annals.

It told of a battle between Qi and Jin. The Jin Regional Commander, Xi Ke, was gravely wounded and could not help but tell his chariot driver, Xie Zhang, and his right-side guard, Zheng Qiuhuan. The driver Xie Zhang, seizing the chance while speaking with Zheng Qiuhuan, immediately replied, the gist of his meaning being:

"I too am gravely wounded; the chariot wheel is stained red with my blood... Yet, since we have donned armor and taken up weapons, we should fight to the death for our state. What of it if we are wounded? You, a Regional Commander, and I, a driver, each have our own duties on the battlefield! Therefore, so long as we are not yet dead, I must ask you, Regional Commander, to continue the fight!"

Thus, later on, this phrase came to specifically denote a soldier's duty, saying that since a soldier has come to the battlefield, he should disregard life and death and pursue the interests of the state.

The Eastern Han revered the Classics and Commentaries; a man not versed in them had no qualification to hold high office or ascend to lofty positions. Gongsun Xun's use of this allusion at this moment, though simple in meaning, appeared exceedingly refined and greatly pleased Han Dang:

"So such a principle already existed in the Spring and Autumn Annals?"

"Who says otherwise?" Gongsun Xun sighed, shaking his head. "It is only a pity that those powerful local clans and assistant officials in the commandery are all fearful of death and greedy for life, which has caused Brother Yigong's wholehearted devotion to the state to come to naught. And after this affair, I fear that your fellow officers within Lulong Fortress will also regard Brother Yigong as a thorn in their eye and a spike in their flesh."

Upon hearing this, Han Dang's face showed a bitter smile. Before his eyes, the dark faces of Platoon Leader Tian and even several Company Commanders flashed almost instantaneously... For a mere squad leader like himself, skipping who knows how many ranks to clamor before the Chief Clerk and then request a hundred horsemen to raid the camp — he had naturally violated a military taboo. How could he possibly not know this?

"I had originally thought to use the blade in my hand to win a career at the frontier, but unexpectedly it has come to such a result." Han Dang was quite helpless. "I have made a laughingstock of myself before you, Young Master."

"In that case, does Brother Yigong have any plans? I won't hide it from you, Brother Yigong — I am now preparing to go to the commandery to seek the Grand Administrator's recommendation, and then go with my clansman Gongsun Zan to Luoyang to study under a great Confucian scholar and master the Classics and Commentaries. How about..."

Han Dang immediately fell silent.

It must be said, Han Dang was no fool. Even if he truly were a fool, with the other party now speaking so bluntly, he would inevitably have realized: this scion of a distinguished family had taken a liking to his martial skill and wanted to recruit him as a retainer.

But such a matter was not so simple or easy, because according to the life experience and social customs Han Dang had known since childhood, once he bowed his head, he would likely have to serve this man for life. And this scion of a distinguished family before him, though his surname was powerful enough and his family wealthy enough, was ultimately too young. Even to take an extreme view, at this very moment, while the other party indeed had great prospects, if one truly got to the root of it, he was instead about to find himself in the awkward position of a commoner scholar...

In other words, if things truly went badly, if something went wrong in the process of seeking education in these next two years, the other party might well end up like a phoenix fallen to earth, worse off than a chicken!

Moreover, a good horse does not turn back to graze on old pastures. He had just left the other party's family trading house to join the army, seeking to establish merit, win titles for his wife, and bring honor to his descendants. To swallow his pride and go back after barely half a year — would that not make him a laughingstock?

Furthermore, was he, Han Yigong, a man of Yan, to abandon the archery and horsemanship, the physical strength he took greatest pride in, at the most unrestrained age of his twenties, to follow the other party to Luoyang and study some Classics and Commentaries?!

That sort of thing was of heaven-sent use to a scion of a distinguished family like Gongsun Xun and a two-hundred-dan official in the commandery, but what use was it to a son of a humble family like himself? Even if he wanted to study, no one would accept him! Going to Luoyang, he would at most serve as a guard under the name of a retainer — how could that compare to winning a career on the battlefield?!

While Han Yigong across from him was lost in gloomy thought, Gongsun Xun was even less of a fool. In fact, he even knew of a strange concept called survivor bias, so he was well aware that the squad leader before him might not be very clever, but as a future member of the Tiger Ministers of Jiangbiao, the man would lack none of the qualities he ought to possess. Thus, the man before him had absolutely understood his meaning. And his current demeanor was surely because he was hesitating in his heart and simply unwilling.

But so what?

His mother always told him that he should make his name known among the feudal lords, so that he might barely preserve his life in the coming chaos. But in Gongsun Xun's view, if the coming chaos was as his mother described, even becoming a feudal lord might not guarantee survival. To endure, one must have sufficient capital in hand... And of all things, people are the foundation — this was what his own mother had taught him since childhood.

That being the case, with talent so close at hand and of such lowly status, if you asked Gongsun Xun to give up now, he would certainly be unwilling.

Besides, the Xianbei outside the gate were currently blocking the very path of his life's prospects!

"What is Brother Yigong thinking?" At this thought, Gongsun Xun suddenly spoke, deciding to take a risk according to his previously prepared backup plan.

"Accounts Clerk Gongsun..." Han Dang sighed helplessly, secretly changing the slightly more intimate "Young Master" back to the formal official title. "I won't hide it from you — your treating me so cordially truly fills me with shame, for I truly do not know how to repay you... You are about to go to Luoyang to study the Classics and Commentaries under a great Confucian, while I, possessing only brute strength, fear I can only win a career here within Lulong Fortress."

Han Dang's direct refusal was not unexpected. After all, at this moment, he was merely a man of courage from a frontier wanderer background who had once traded horses — what cunning could he possibly have to play?

But on the other side, upon hearing these words, Gongsun Xun could not help but laugh inwardly: If only you could truly content yourself with winning a career here in Lulong Fortress! I could just wait until I return after becoming a Reporting Clerk or some such prestigious position and then come to win you over. But what I fear is that one day, unable to bear the stifling frustration here, you will inexplicably run off to Sun Jian's side... That Sun Wentai is called the Fierce Tiger of Jiangdong and must be a southerner. You, a big man from Liaoxi — how did you end up under his command right from the start?!

"Why does the Accounts Clerk laugh?" Han Dang's face flushed red.

"Brother Yigong, do not be angry." Gongsun Xun waved his hand with a smile. "I merely wished to ask Brother Yigong one thing... Do you feel that leaving like this would leave you unwilling in your heart, yet you are troubled by how to get along with your comrades?"

"That is indeed the case." Han Dang relaxed, and to his credit, was candid. "The Accounts Clerk is a son of a great family — do you have any method to teach me?"

"My mother once taught me... life is like rowing a boat against the current; if you do not advance, you fall back." Gongsun Xun replied. "Brother Yigong's situation is simply a matter of two paths: one is to retreat, the other is to advance!"

Han Dang's heart stirred slightly: "Lady Gongsun's teachings are naturally words worth their weight in gold... But, leaving retreat aside for now, what does advance mean?"

"Naturally, it means finding a way, according to Brother Yigong's earlier plan, to launch a surprise raid on the enemy camp tonight!" Gongsun Xun answered calmly. "If the battle can succeed, then Yigong will naturally gain a career, and the officers in the army will naturally be convinced."

"That is exactly as it should be... Could it be that Accounts Clerk Gongsun intends to help me? But did the Chief Clerk not have no intention of going out to fight?"

"On this, I must first ask Brother Yigong one thing." Gongsun Xun suddenly laughed. "Do you truly dare to fight to the death?!"

Han Dang's expression changed abruptly. He suddenly drew his blade partway from its scabbard: "It is merely life and death. A man of Yan — what is there to fear?!"

"Good! And among your companions, how many are willing to follow Brother Yigong and fight to the death side by side?" Gongsun Xun remained unhurried.

Han Dang thought briefly, immediately released his sword hilt, and answered solemnly: "Fifteen men, all cavalry!"

"I came here in haste from home recently, not for official business. The clan sons and retainers I brought are not many. Among them, the elite retainers skilled in bow and horse... are probably also fifteen or sixteen men." Gongsun Xun mused thoughtfully. "Thirty men going to launch a surprise raid — does Brother Yigong have the confidence to shake the enemy camp?"

"Yes!" Han Dang thought briefly and immediately answered through gritted teeth. "There are only two to three thousand men in the enemy camp, and they are in disorder. For a surprise raid to throw the camp into chaos, thirty men are enough! Of course, if the Accounts Clerk can truly persuade the Chief Clerk, fifty men would be best!"

"There are no fifty men, only thirty." Gongsun Xun answered quietly. "Because for this sortie, I never planned to persuade my uncle."

"What do you mean by this?" Han Dang was stunned.

"I thought it through carefully earlier atop Lulong Tower." Gongsun Xun answered frankly. "Within Lulong Fortress now, besides the original garrison, there are also commandery troops sent as reinforcements from Youbeiping and Liaoxi. Others aside, the men guarding the main gate of Lulong Tower happen to belong to our Liaoxi Commandery and presumably recognize me. Not to mention, everyone in this fortress knows that I am the Chief Clerk's nephew..."

"Could it be that you intend to falsely transmit a military order?!" Han Dang only then caught on.

"No, no." Gongsun Xun shook his head. "As long as I go out beyond the fortress together with Brother Yigong, that uncle of mine, who only has his current good position thanks to my mother's financial support, will inevitably have to exert himself fully to come to our aid. Otherwise, neither my mother nor the clan elders will ever let him off. When the time comes, the false military order will naturally become real!"

"Young Master, your prospects are vast and far-reaching. Why must you accompany me in reckless personal bravery?!" Han Dang was both shocked and ashamed.

The truth was, when he had asked about "advancing" and not "retreating" earlier, he had been certain that the other party was going to urge him to recognize the difficulties and retreat, to become his retainer. He had never imagined that the other party was not only willing to help him continue planning the raid but was also going to go into battle and fight to the death alongside him! Did this not leave him astonished and also deeply ashamed?!

"Why not?" Gongsun Xun, upon hearing this, was not impatient. He merely gave a scornful laugh, raised his head, and asked a single question in return. "I trust Brother Yigong's martial valor — does Brother Yigong instead doubt my courage?! I have not never seen Xianbei before, nor have I never killed a man! Thirty horsemen to raid the camp — I am willing to entrust this life of mine to Brother Yigong. What does Brother Yigong say to that?!"

"Han Dang, styled Yigong, a man of Lingzhi in Liaoxi. Skilled in bow and horse, possessed of physical strength, and knowledgeable in military affairs." — Old Book of Yan, Volume 69, Biography 19.

Thank you all for your generous support… one extra update. Since this is a new book period, I hope everyone will be patient. I ask for recommendations and bookmarks…

(End of chapter)