[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-404":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},1223163,1620,"Chapter 404: Do Not Presume to Laugh at Benchu, Gongsun","overthrowing-han-chapter-404",404,"\u003Cp>As mounted scouts came and went, Yuan Shao learned that very night the true reason for the fall of Yecheng — part of the Wei Commandery garrison had openly turned traitor and let the bandits into the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made perfect sense, because Yu Du and his dozen or so mountain bandit bands were not immortals; if a rabble like that could easily breach the foremost city of Hebei, then every last man of Yuan Shao’s eighty-thousand-strong army stuck before Handan City ought to jump into the Zhang River and drown himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after careful questioning did it emerge that the commander of Wu City, the branch city furthest west of Yecheng, had been promoted by Han Fu and was therefore particularly resentful of the sordid business surrounding Yuan Shao’s takeover of Yecheng. Moreover, Yu Du had declared that he was attacking on orders from Chang’an, and that the court-appointed Governor of Jizhou, Gongsun Yue, was already in Shangdang — whereupon this man took the initiative to switch sides. In other words, rather than holding Wu City, this commander acted as the vanguard himself, successively tricking open the gates of Jiuhou City, Wu City, and finally Yecheng itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the torrential rain, the Yecheng garrison was caught completely off guard. Yu Du fought his way into the city as if entering uninhabited land, promptly capturing and executing the Grand Administrator of Wei Commandery, Li Cheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having learned the reason, Yuan Shao remained outwardly composed, but inwardly his alarm grew, and with it a flood of regret. Every outcome has its cause; had he not treated Han Fu so brutally back then, today’s events would never have occurred. Otherwise, a mere few tens of thousands of bandits, lacking any proper siege equipment, would have been stopped at Wu City and then easily annihilated beneath the walls by the troops he sent back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sleepless night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, by the afternoon of the next day, just after Yuan Benchu had forced himself to appear calm, withdrawn his army southward, and hurried to Liangqi City, he received a second piece of utterly unbelievable news at the government office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yecheng has been retaken?” Yuan Shao was dumbfounded. “The families of the various generals, and my own family, are all unharmed and on their way here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Reporting to my lord!” Though a fine rain still fell, the mounted scout was panting with exhaustion. “The bandits, over ten bands in all, each seized a district to plunder the moment they entered the city. Yu Du took the commandery office and killed Grand Administrator Li, to say nothing of the rest. Among the bandits, two men — one called Ku You, formerly a County Commandant from somewhere in Julu, and one called Tao Sheng, formerly a minor official from Neihuang County in Wei Commandery — instead of seizing valuables upon entering the city, one protected my lord’s residence and the other protected the families of the various generals and gentlemen. They loaded them onto large carts and, under cover of night, left the city to deliver them here. Then Generals Wen and Ju met them, took custody of the families, and in turn used the two bandit bands as vanguard to advance straight to the city walls. They entered easily, then defeated the enemy piecemeal. Yu Du has already fled in panic!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The way events had unfolded left Yuan Shao at a complete loss for words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, Heaven helps those who help themselves. Had my lord not remained calm and resolutely turned the army back, how could Yecheng have been retaken so easily and the bandits driven out?” Guo Tu, standing nearby, hastened to flatter him. “And had my lord’s awe-inspiring reputation not cowed all of Hebei, how could those Taihang mountain bandits have willingly served as my lord’s vanguard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is no need for such talk.” Yuan Benchu, wearing a northern dog-fur hat as cover, suddenly felt his head sweating beneath it. Momentarily stifled by the heat, he involuntarily touched his head, still unaccustomed to the hat. “This affair was far too dangerous; our entire foundation nearly toppled in an instant. What I truly cannot understand is why Gongsun Wenqi is so vicious. Can such bandits really be used?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perhaps, being in Chang’an, he is unaware of the situation here and, worried that Handan might fall, resorts to any means necessary?” Xin Ping, realizing it had been a false alarm, had also regained his composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord!” Just as Yuan Shao was about to speak and continue denouncing Gongsun Xun, Chen Gong, who had been standing to the side with his head lowered in silence, suddenly looked up. “Your subordinate believes that not only does General of the Guard use these bandits, but we must also use these bandits! In doing so, we may break the deadlock and, at the same time, perhaps cause the General of the Guard to become ensnared in his own trap!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean by that?” Yuan Shao’s spirits were visibly roused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today’s events show that the so-called Taihang mountain bandits, though appearing monolithic, are in fact internally complex, with each band leader harboring his own designs. Among them, men like Ku You of Julu and Tao Sheng of Wei Commandery, who come from minor official or local strongman backgrounds, see the shifting situation under Heaven. With their perspective, seeking official rank and title is by no means a coincidence…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gongtai, are you speaking of offering amnesty and recruitment?” Yuan Shao grew even more animated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Amnesty and recruitment are inevitable,” Chen Gong replied loudly. “The battle at Jiudu and the battle at Handan have made it abundantly clear that our troops are weak while the General of the Guard’s troops are strong. That being so, why not play to our strengths and avoid our weaknesses? Moreover, these are existing troops in Hebei; there is no need to laboriously recruit from Qingzhou and Yanzhou, needlessly unsettling those regions. Furthermore, these bandits are hardened outlaws of many years; they have long forgotten how to produce and know only how to plunder. Unlike the Qingzhou Yellow Turbans, they cannot be settled on the spot to farm military colonies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. Chen Gong had hit the nail on the head. Compared to conscripting laborers from Yanzhou and Qingzhou, recruiting the Taihang mountain bandits would impose far less logistical strain. Moreover, the Taihang mountain bandits were even wilder and harder to tame than the previously recruited Qingzhou Yellow Turbans, making them far more suitable as cannon fodder to fill the gaps!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using these bandits as expendable assets, then reorganizing the local troops brought by the various strongmen to serve as the elite core of the central army, seemed even more appropriate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beyond that,” Chen Gong continued with a dark expression, “the General of the Guard, that disgrace of a man, drives bandits to raid Yecheng. Why don’t we turn his own tactic against him? While offering amnesty to those bandits willing to surrender, we fiercely attack the stubborn ones. We drive the main army forward, using the surrendered bandits as vanguard to uproot their stockades, while simultaneously driving them deeper into the Taihang Mountains?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Driving them into the Taihang Mountains, what good would that…” Guo Tu began with a scoff, about to retort, when he suddenly grasped the point and, changing mid-sentence, clapped his hands and laughed. “Driving them into the Taihang Mountains is a brilliant stratagem!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was indeed a brilliant stratagem — one could even call it a stroke of genius!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Think about it: while Yuan Shao uproots their stockades on the southern side and drives the bandits deeper into the Taihang Mountains, will the bandits simply stay in the mountains and never come out? One must realize, bandits are still human; they need to eat. Many of them have their families, young and old, in tow, and there are even female bandits in the Taihang Mountains. When these people are driven into territory occupied by other bandits, they will have no room to survive. Their only option will be to coerce the local bandits into coming down the mountain together to seek food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And since Wei Commandery is blocked off here, where will they go?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wherever they go, calamity will follow. Especially with the autumn rains lingering like this, a reduced grain harvest in the Zhang River basin east of the Taihang Mountains is already a foregone conclusion, which will inevitably cause massive losses to the local areas. And herein lies the crux of Chen Gong’s stratagem: if they go to Zhao, Changshan, Shangdang, or Taiyuan, it will naturally give Gongsun Xun a massive headache and might even significantly delay the movements of Gongsun Xun’s main force. Even if they head west into Henei, into Zhang Yang’s territory, we can conveniently drive the tiger to devour the wolf!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, as Chen Gong had said, although the decisive battle with Gongsun Xun would still unfold in the Handan-Yecheng region, given that they had clearly already suffered a major setback at Handan, a flanking breakthrough was clearly an excellent opportunity to break the deadlock!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If executed well, the prospects were immense. This was a weakness that Gongsun Xun had actively exposed — a weakness these men had not noticed before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The stratagem is absolutely brilliant, but such a strategy will inevitably damage my lord’s reputation,” Xin Ping said, seeing Yuan Shao slightly moved yet still hesitating to declare his stance. He immediately grasped what this General of Chariots and Cavalry was thinking. “I recall the General of the Guard once said in Hedong that with the realm in turmoil, whether one carves out a territory or contends for all under Heaven, it is all forced by the circumstances of the times and there is nothing to be said about it. Only whether one commits acts that harm the common people will be the sole basis for judgment once peace is restored. Although if our lord gains the realm he can naturally disregard such things, the General of the Guard’s words, like his military colony policy, have gradually gained acceptance across the realm and are widely emulated. If we truly do this, we may not be able to silence the endless criticism of the world in the future.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zhongzhi overthinks this,” Chen Gong retorted darkly. “Was it not the General of the Guard who first broke the rules? Did Yu Du not tell that commander of Wu City that he was attacking Yecheng on orders from Chang’an? It was clearly Gongsun Wenqi who is duplicitous, first using bandits to bring calamity upon the people of Yecheng and cruelly harm the common folk of Wei Commandery. Can we not follow his example today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well said!” Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao no longer hesitated and immediately made up his mind. “It was Gongsun Xun who lacked virtue first, not I, Yuan Shao, who am ruthless and merciless. Pass down the order: confer upon both Ku You and Tao Sheng the rank of General of the Household, with a full two-thousand-dan salary, and assign them to Wen Chou and Ju Yi respectively. Then allocate ten thousand elite troops to each of the two generals, using these two bands as vanguard and guides. Starting from Yu Du’s lair, carry out a comprehensive encirclement and suppression along the Taihang Mountains, ensuring that every bandit nest is cleaned out for me! Those who surrender will be granted office; those who refuse will be driven into the mountains!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, send someone to contact Zhang Yan, who is situated in the very heart of Gongsun Wenqi’s territory, and promise him high office and noble rank!” Chen Gong added from the side as a reminder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct! Dispatch an envoy to travel secretly to Purple Mountain to seek out Zhang Yan!” Yuan Shao’s voice, beneath his dog-fur hat, grew even harsher. “Gongsun Wenqi thought this move could overturn my foundation, but he never imagined that I, Yuan Shao, only grow more resolute with each setback! The struggle for Hebei will not be settled so easily!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assembled men roared their assent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, the self-righteous Yuan Shao and Chen Gong were completely wronging Gongsun Xun. While it could not be said that Yu Du’s breaching of Yecheng was entirely unrelated to the latter, it was absolutely not directly connected. At the very least, Gongsun Xun had never imagined such a thing would happen!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In reality, Gongsun Xun had merely followed Tian Feng’s suggestion, before dispatching his troops, to attempt to recruit and pacify the Taihang mountain bandits like Zhang Yan and Yu Du, in order to ensure his lines of communication remained open, or to ensure that the foolish scenario of having his rear base raided by mountain bandits while he was fighting at the front did not occur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, what he had never anticipated was that the Taihang mountain bandits had already reached a certain breaking point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the bandits that had sprung up everywhere after Dong Zhuo’s chaos, this group was the first wave of bandits forced into rebellion by Emperor Ling after the Yellow Turban Rebellion. By now, they had been mountain bandits for a full five or six years, and severe internal divisions had emerged. On one hand, the bottom ranks still struggled bitterly for survival; on the other, the core followers had become irredeemably bandit-like in nature. Meanwhile, the upper echelons had grown weary of this life hiding in mountain hollows and had developed certain ambitions — either seeking amnesty or outright attempting to carve out commanderies and counties for themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These three factions restrained one another yet were inseparable, creating an extraordinarily complex situation. But without a doubt, securing greater living space was the consensus among them. Previously, when Zhang Yang was in Shangdang, he had only controlled half the commandery. Of the remaining half, three-tenths was due to the eastward incursion of the Hedong Bobo bandits, while a full seven-tenths was the Taihang mountain bandits seizing the opportunity to press into the commanderies and counties — a direct manifestation of this complex dynamic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, returning to the earlier point, when Gongsun Xun dispatched envoys in the name of the imperial court to seek out Zhang Yan, Yu Du, and the others, demanding their submission, something interesting happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the saying goes, the same millet can feed a hundred different kinds of people. Zhang Yan, the Purple Mountain bandit entrenched in the northern section of the Taihang Mountains, was an ambitious man. This man likely saw his own value in the standoff between the two great powers of Huabei, so his stance was ambiguous, he haggled for a higher price, and may have even harbored the malicious notion of helping whoever was weaker to stir up major trouble. In short, he remained silent, neither agreeing nor opposing, and took no action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Du, the Black Mountain bandit entrenched in the southern section of the Taihang Mountains, was of an entirely different mind. This man was a born bandit chieftain, filled from head to toe with the rebellious spirit of the lumpenproletariat. He had played cat-and-mouse games with Guan Yu for years in the mountains north of Zhaoge and had never been willing to surrender — so why would he now? Thus, without a second thought, he rejected the amnesty terms delivered by Qian Zhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he was a man with a mind for action. For one, after Guan Yu left, the man who had previously held him by the throat had vanished, and he had already been growing restless. For another, autumn had arrived, the harvest was approaching, and it was indeed time to come down the mountain and plunder a wave of grain. And so, as soon as Qian Zhao’s envoy departed, Yu Du used the name of the court envoy to rally over ten bands of bandits from the southern Taihang Mountains and, under Gongsun Xun’s banner, descended the mountain to pillage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the subsequent events — encountering heavy rain, and then the commander of Wu City’s resentment toward Yuan Shao, which led to Gongsun Xun being saddled with an enormous, undeserved blame — that was simply the coincidence of chaotic times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, later events proved that whether it was Zhang Yan of the northern Taihang or Yu Du of the southern Taihang, they were merely so-called alliance leaders. In Yu Du’s case, he barely even qualified as an alliance leader; they simply could not control their nominal subordinates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, the million mountain bandits of the Taihang Mountains were an utter monstrosity — simultaneously a single entity and a collection of independent fiefdoms; capable of unified action yet liable to spiral out of control at any moment. They were a million living souls, poor commoners gathered together to survive, yet internally riven by class divisions, with the middle and upper ranks deeply corrupted, displaying the standard behavior of outlaws. Had Gongsun Xun truly ventured into the Taihang Mountains, he would surely have been reminded of the Yellow Turban Army of years past — only this was something even less organized, even more riddled with holes internally, and compared to the Yellow Turbans, they had even lost that most precious sense of historical mission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This million-strong multitude was nothing more than a crease formed by the folding of history — seemingly a sudden rising force, but in truth destined to achieve nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The route and overall strategy for the campaign have been set. Yuan Shao is pressing his offensive too urgently; I originally intended to set out for Hebei first. The reason I did not depart was precisely to wait for Wenhe,” Gongsun Xun said, seated in the main hall of the General of the Guard’s residence in Chang’an, addressing the many assembled generals and advisors. “Now that Wenhe has returned today, there is no need to hesitate further. I will lead the Volunteer Followers and set out first. Bojin, Gongming, Wenyuan, and the others can wait until the autumn grain is stored half a month from now before bringing the entire army to follow. Before I depart, there are some instructions and arrangements I must convey to you all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men in the hall all became solemn and attentive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gongzhi, you will set out with me in the vanguard. Upon reaching Hebei, do not concern yourself with me; proceed immediately to rendezvous with my brother Bogui,” Gongsun Xun said, first singling out Tian Kai, who had previously come to Chang’an to pay respects and had been promised the rank of General of the Household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Kai did not dare be remiss and immediately acknowledged the order with deference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhicai as well,” Gongsun Xun said, pointing to another man. “But you must remain in Taiyuan to assist Wenchao in overseeing the overall situation in the Jin region!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xi Zhicai also stepped forward with a solemn expression and respectfully accepted the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scope of responsibility for these two men differed vastly, but to put it plainly, both roles were half-assistance and half-oversight — openly and justifiably so, entirely within the bounds of what was expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next, Zibo, Yuanhao, and Gongda will accompany me, overseeing all military affairs at my side,” Gongsun Xun continued naming individuals. “I will not bring many other advisors. Military affairs must be kept simple, not complicated. Of the various bureaus in the General of the Guard’s residence, aside from Sima Lang, Han Hao, and Wang Xiang, all others will remain behind under the joint command of Shuzhi, Yuanchang, and Wenhe. Oh, and Wang Jingxing, who recently arrived from Xuzhou, will also accompany me, bearing the imperial tally as a court envoy…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, everyone’s spirits were roused. Of the ten men named, all stepped forward except for Wang Lang, who was not present here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Among them, Shuzhi will oversee the headquarters and concurrently manage civil affairs in Guanzhong. He must ensure the logistics for the twenty-thousand-strong army marching east in half a month!” Gongsun Xun exhorted earnestly. “Yuanchang is to properly reassure the court and concurrently oversee public order in Guanzhong. He must ensure Guanzhong remains peaceful and stable! Finally, Wenhe…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Xu, who had just returned from Liu Biao’s territory, stepped forward another pace upon hearing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wenhe has been away south for a long time and has only just returned. What kind of man is Liu Biao?” Gongsun Xun inquired with a serious expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In reply to my lord,” Jia Xu answered unhurriedly and with perfect composure, “Liu Jingsheng is a man fit to be one of the Three Excellencies in times of peace, but in times of chaos, he is merely a watchdog guarding his household!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words, spoken openly before who knows how many staff officers of the Guard General’s residence and numerous generals, caused a moment of shock and doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun, his hand resting on the back of his chair, immediately laughed in spite of himself: “The Three Excellencies of a well-ordered age are the pinnacle of governance — why, in an age of chaos, would they degenerate into mere house-guarding hounds?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord misunderstands. The phrase ‘house-guarding hound’ is not merely disparagement.” Jia Xu’s expression remained as indifferent as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean that his character, combined with his advanced age, means he has no ambition to expand or dominate, and will not shake the greater balance, yet he will guard his own territory with tenacity, and is not someone easily annexed by others… is that the meaning?” Gongsun Xun suddenly grasped it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Precisely that meaning.” Jia Xu nodded in affirmation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun looked thoughtful, then sighed and shook his head with emotion: “I had intended to discuss the situation in the Central Plains with Wenhe, and speak further of the futures of Yuan Shu, Cao Cao, Sun Jian, Liu Bei, Tao Qian, and the rest. But since you are leaving, and the times shift three times a day, some things are better left unsaid… Wenhe, step forward!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Xu, hearing this, was slightly taken aback, but still took another step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun also rose, walked around to stand before him, grasped his hand, and said: “This is why I want Wenhe to remain behind. You have just returned from that region and know the situation there and the various heroes thoroughly. I am going to Hebei now and do not know when I will return. Therefore, while you are in Chang’an, if chaos arises in the Central Plains, or even in Liangzhou or Yizhou, I entrust it all to you… What edict to issue and to whom, whom to appoint to what office, whom to summon to court, whom among the court officials to send on what assignment, which unit of troops to deploy — decide as you see fit! In short, affairs at court rest with Yuanchang, affairs within the Three Adjuncts rest with Shuzhi, and beyond the Three Adjuncts, Wenhe shall act on his own authority. And if the matters you three deliberate upon conflict, you may seek the Old Madam as witness and decide in a private chamber!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hall fell utterly silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Jia Xu’s receiving such immense authority and responsibility was completely unexpected… That Wang Xiu would oversee the administration of the Guanzhong region had long been foreshadowed; he was one of Gongsun Xun’s original followers, and before entering the Pass, his authority within the staff was second only to Lu Fan’s, and he was hardworking, uncomplaining, and respected by all. As for Zhong Yao, although he was being given important duties, his two responsibilities — the public security of Guanzhong aside, the task of surveilling the court was, in the current climate, always somewhat despised and criticized. Only Jia Xu, a man who had surrendered just over a year ago, a man from Xiliang, who, despite his great merit in the campaign against Dong Zhuo, had never enjoyed a good reputation — that he should now receive such high authority truly left everyone with mixed feelings, each lost in their own thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Jia Xu himself, several times in the middle of it all, seemed about to speak, yet in the end said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, under the astonished gazes of the crowd, he simply stepped back several paces, bowed deeply with solemnity, and said: “My lord entrusts me with great authority. I shall surely repay it with my life, even unto death nine times over!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xiu and Zhong Yao also hurriedly collected themselves and bowed their heads. Gongsun Xun merely laughed softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the latter part of the seventh month of the first year of Jian’an, after Yuan Shao fled from Handan, he turned and sought another path, beginning from Wei Commandery and Henei, attempting to clear the thousand-li southern stretch of Mount Taixing. Meanwhile, Gongsun Xun, utterly ignorant of the situation in Hebei and even more unaware that a bucket of dirty water had been thrown at him, simply led the White Horse Volunteers out of the Pass first, departing through Pujin into Hedong, and then headed north via Mount Wangwu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two sides were separated by a mere two mountains, yet no one knew when they might meet again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—————— I am the dividing line of not knowing when we shall meet ——————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When Jia Xu returned to Chang’an from his mission, the Grand Ancestor discussed with him the talents he had encountered on his travels. When the conversation touched upon Liu Biao, he asked: ‘What sort of man do you take Liu Jingsheng to be?’ Xu replied: ‘A Three Excellencies in times of order, a house-guarding hound in times of chaos!’ The Grand Ancestor laughed but said nothing. When Xu had withdrawn, those nearby asked in curiosity, and the Grand Ancestor told them truthfully: ‘Wenhe certainly knows Liu Jingsheng, but he does not know himself — I laughed because of his words.’ Those nearby asked further: ‘What is he, then?’ He replied: ‘Jia Wenhe — a clerk of the Three Excellencies in times of order, a crouching tiger of the hidden ridges in times of chaos!’” — New Book of Yan, Volume 70, Biographies, Chapter 20\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Continuing to recommend a book, The Illegitimate Son of Unparalleled, a new work by the author of Jiang Bai. Those who enjoy political intrigue can go take a look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This month it’s only 130,000 characters — also a pitfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",4383,"2026-06-04T19:42:52.587Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","da596c7e3f7134d5e18fce3bbcbc73ffbaeff6dfab1aec10c42aa9802bdeee6f","overthrowing-han-chapter-405","overthrowing-han-chapter-403",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]