Chapter 405: Desolate Passes and Forts, the Road Ahead Is Hard

In late July, Gongsun Xun led the White Horse Volunteers — now expanded to over two thousand men — along with part of his staff and the imperial envoy’s ceremonial retinue, traveling north along Mount Wangwu and Mount Huoda, exiting Shugu Valley. Taking the familiar route, they entered the territory of Taiyuan Commandery within a few days.

The reason they did not follow the current downstream into Henei was mainly to avoid forcing Zhang Yang into revolt. The man’s own strength was limited; even after seizing most of Henei, he had at best ten to twenty thousand troops. But if he saw the situation turning against him and directly defected to Yuan Shao, that would be troublesome. More importantly, two thousand men were not enough to swiftly settle the Henei issue… However, just after they exited Shugu Valley, Gongsun Yue, coming to meet them, brought his elder brother an interesting piece of news — the Jingxing road leading toward Changshan was blocked due to bandit unrest!

Perhaps with the autumn harvest imminent, the mountain bandits, desperate for grain, had lost control and come down from the hills… This was everyone’s first reaction.

Even so, everyone grew serious, because Jingxing was far too important — so important that everyone understood its significance.

That statement may sound a bit convoluted, but it is the truth.

One must understand that none of the Eight Passes of Taihang are simple narrow passages. They cut across the entire Taihang mountain range — some are a few dozen li long, others several hundred li. At their narrowest, they are only a few paces wide, but at their widest, they are broad enough to establish fortifications and cities, even to garrison hundreds of thousands of troops. Among them, Jingxing has the most complex terrain. It was here that Han Xin fought his desperate battle and routed the two-hundred-thousand-strong army of Chen Yu and Li Zuoche, and in later ages, Niangzi Pass was also located here.

However, the most critical point is this: of the Eight Passes of Taihang, four lie in the Southern Taihang, at the border of Shangdang and Henei, and two lie in the heartland of Youzhou, where their current strategic value is relatively minor… The ones that can truly play a decisive strategic role in the great Hebei conflict are Jingxing, which connects Taiyuan to Changshan, and Fukou Pass (Wu Pass), which connects Shangdang to Wei Commandery. Therefore, these two places — especially Jingxing, which links Gongsun Xun’s core territory — cannot be allowed to suffer any mishap at this time.

That said, it must also be remembered that as early as the western expedition, Tian Feng had already raised the importance of the Taihang bandits in the overall Hebei situation. In his view, the strategic priority of clearing out the Taihang Mountains was even higher than a decisive battle with Yuan Shao.

Thus, in a sense, this incident was not entirely unexpected.

It can only be said that the times are chaotic, and it is impossible for Gongsun Xun to carry out every so-called strategic plan in a calm and orderly fashion.

By early August, when he reached Jinyang City, the administrative seat of Taiyuan Commandery, Gongsun Xun received a detailed written report from Qian Zhao in Shangdang, and only then did he gain a clear understanding of the whole affair.

Indeed — setting aside Gongsun Xun’s speechlessness upon learning of Yu Du’s absurd antics — Chen Gong’s stratagem had succeeded beyond all doubt.

Yuan Shao’s troops may not have been worthy to compare with the northern elite that Gongsun Xun had painstakingly built up over more than a decade, but when they went up against mountain bandits — arguably the worst in quality and most poorly equipped in this chaotic age — especially when a full half of the bandits were willing to surrender, act as guides, or simply turn around and serve as vanguard to offer their tokens of allegiance, the phrase “sweeping away like dry twigs and rotten wood” was perfectly apt.

In a mere twenty days, six stockades of the so-called Yu Du Black Mountain Bandit faction in the Southern Taihang were pacified, and three were stormed and taken… Though these were all small stockades of barely over a thousand people each, with the civilians living inside them totaling no more than thirty or forty thousand, combined with Yuan Shao’s public declaration of clearing the Southern Taihang, it greatly intimidated the bandits in the mountains.

Thereupon, the indomitable Yu Du, after suffering a minor setback against Yuan Shao’s “vanguard,” made a prompt decision. He led Sui Gu (White Rabbit) and Bai Rao — the two bandit chieftains in the Southern Taihang whose strength was second only to his own — gathered six or seven thousand troops, took the women and children from their respective stockades, claimed to number in the tens of thousands, and immediately marched south into Henei, becoming roving bandits. But with this move, the many “Black Mountain remnants” in the Southern Taihang completely lost their bearings. Moreover, alongside military coercion, Chen Gong simultaneously employed rumors, planted agents, and spies. Thus, he finally succeeded in uprooting the remaining bandits of the Southern Taihang, forcing them, before the autumn harvest, to take their elderly and children and flee northward into the Northern Taihang.

“What do we make of this?” Inside Jinyang City, Gongsun Xun, his path blocked, was forced to halt here temporarily and openly summoned his subordinates to discuss countermeasures.

“Yuan Benchu, unaware that Your Excellency is here, devised this plan. Since Your Excellency has arrived first in person, why not meet him head-on?” The speaker was Chang Lin, also known as Chang Bohuai, the Grand Administrator of Taiyuan. A native of Henei, he had been among the first cohort of staff to follow Gongsun Xun after the latter became General of the Guard, and had remained steadfast ever since. As the half-host here, he naturally spoke with confidence. “Since they are recruiting and driving off bandits in the Southern Taihang, my Lord should recruit and suppress them in the Northern Taihang…”

“This proposal is feasible,” Xi Zhong immediately chimed in. “One must understand that since Yuan Benchu is using his main army to clear Taihang and drive out the bandit masses, he is bound to meet resistance at Handan, or at least be locked in a stalemate. That being the case, why shouldn’t my Lord calmly deal with this matter here? It is merely suppressing and recruiting bandits — relying primarily on the commandery troops and local officials, augmented by my Lord’s prestige, it can be done with ease. Only, with the autumn harvest imminent, we can first send envoys to pacify them and delay for a few days. Once the autumn grain is stored, it will not be too late to dispatch the commandery troops to suppress the intractable ones among them.”

“Since Handan is safe for now, we can also take this opportunity to send a messenger through Feihu Pass from the north, asking General Jianwei (Cheng Pu) to assist,” another person proposed. “In any case, the two sides are now merely exerting force against each other across the Taihang Mountains. The force takes time to transmit, so we can respond at our leisure… In summary, Your Excellency surpasses the Yuan traitor in all things and always moves before him. Therefore, as Prefect Chang said, we simply meet him head-on in every matter. Why worry?”

This man’s words immediately drew praise and approval from many of the local officials.

Gongsun Xun followed the voice to look at the man, but did not recognize him. However, judging from his local accent, the black silk cord and bronze seal at his waist, his echoing of Chang Lin’s words, and the local officials’ unanimous agreement with him, he was likely a Commandery Assistant or County Magistrate of local origin. And with that, it became clear why he had spoken so eagerly:

Chang Lin spoke out of his nature — he said exactly what he meant. Xi Zhong seemed to have a sense of loyalty that disregarded his own safety; after the Liaoxi campaign, he had always been unreserved, even somewhat impatient, toward Gongsun Xun. This man, along with those local officials, was more eager to make a statement, or rather, to demonstrate loyalty. They were not original followers; they had no notable achievements, nor did they have the confidence of being from the Three Adjuncts, which formed the foundation of Gongsun Xun’s rule. Yet now, swept along by the tide of events, they found themselves under this General of the Guard’s jurisdiction and serving him — so of course they had to be more enthusiastic.

Of course, this could also be seen as a commendable attitude in its own way, and Gongsun Xun naturally had to offer some encouragement.

“Gentlemen, there is much merit in what you have said…” Gongsun Xun replied with a smile.

However, Gongsun Xun’s hypocrisy immediately drew the displeasure of one person standing nearby — none other than Tian Yuanhao.

The man gave a cold snort and directly interrupted Gongsun Xun’s perfunctory words: “General, those words are mistaken! Precisely because the General surpasses Yuan Benchu in all things and always moves before him, the Jingxing matter absolutely cannot be handled so lightly… In my humble view, this affair is likely to cause a major disaster, and it will not permit us to wait calmly until after the autumn harvest. As for the General, knowing full well where the problem lies, yet speaking of ‘merit’ or ‘no merit’ — that is simply making a laughingstock of oneself!”

Seated at the head of the room, Gongsun Xun could only laugh awkwardly in embarrassment.

It must be said that Tian Feng’s status was lofty. He was not only one of the rare few Two-Thousand-Bushel officials in the great hall of General Ning Shuo’s mansion, but more importantly, he was Gongsun Xun’s personal “Military Advisor” and a Bureau Head in the General of the Guard’s office, inherently carrying Gongsun Xun’s own authority. Thus, when he spoke, the many local officials naturally held their breath.

Not only that, but Lou Gui had long since become prudent; Xun You was naturally taciturn; Xi Zhong was utterly uninhibited, but his first reaction was to ponder the meaning behind Tian Yuanhao’s words. The only one who could occasionally jab back, Gongsun Xun, now had his own words held against him by Tian Feng and could hardly retort…

However, in the hall today, besides these people, there was also Chang Lin, Chang Bohuai, whom Tian Feng was not familiar with. The latter, back when he first entered the staff in Henei, had been able to bluntly confront Lu Fan. Hearing this today, his eyes immediately flared with anger, making Gongsun Xun inwardly groan, but before he could speak, it was already too late.

“If the Left Military Advisor has something to say, why not speak plainly?” Chang Lin was tall and his voice deep and powerful. Now, glaring in fury, his voice was actually a full octave higher than Tian Feng’s. “His Excellency has entrusted the Left Military Advisor with heavy responsibility, intending to borrow his talent to pacify the realm… If a colleague speaks rightly to His Excellency, you may agree or remain silent; if they speak wrongly, you should argue based on reason… What is being discussed in this public hall today is a matter of state, concerning the lives of millions. For you to speak with such veiled barbs, accusing His Excellency of making a laughingstock of himself — are you not making yourself ridiculous?!”

Tian Feng was harsh and offended his superiors — but only his superiors. In other words, the sole target of his temper on ordinary days was Gongsun Xun. He himself had never offended others, nor had he ever been offended by others.

Thus, when Chang Lin erupted, Tian Yuanhao, for a moment, was actually left speechless and dared not respond.

Seeing this, Gongsun Xun felt a rare surge of inward delight — to think there was actually someone who could keep Tian Feng in check was truly astonishing.

However, delight aside, Gongsun Xun could not allow a rift to form between two important ministers, so he immediately spoke to mediate: “Bohuai, there is no need for this. Yuanhao is merely worried about the situation; he did not intend offense. As for the ‘major disaster’ he speaks of, I am actually fully aware of it as well… Scattered bandits can, of course, be dealt with through a combination of suppression and recruitment, and resettled calmly. But you must not forget that there is still one man in the Northern Taihang who enjoys considerable renown among the bandits and holds the substance, if not the title, of their leader — that is Zhang Yan, the Purple Mountain Bandit, based near Jingxing on the Changshan side… And if I am not mistaken, the trouble at Jingxing at this moment is certainly connected to Zhang Yan. Because no matter how incompetent he may be, as long as he has the will, he would never fail to control the situation near his own lair.”

Hearing this, everyone was startled into alertness.

“But isn’t the Purple Mountain Bandit Zhang Yan a former subordinate of Your Excellency?” someone could not help but ask. “And what about the Black Mountain Bandit Yu Du…”

“Do you truly believe that the Taihang bandits are my hidden pieces, and that the attack on Yecheng was my doing?” Gongsun Xun could not help but shake his head. “I will tell you plainly: Yu Du has no relation to me. I sent envoys to recruit him earlier solely for the sake of keeping Fukou Pass open, but unexpectedly, he used that to stir up trouble. Even Zhang Yan…”

“Even Zhang Yan — now that he has controlled the Northern Taihang for many years, commanding a population of hundreds of thousands, and has long since become a Two-Thousand-Bushel General of the Household, his ambition has already swelled,” Tian Feng, having recovered his composure, seized the opportunity and interjected with a serious expression. “To put it bluntly, if he were truly loyal, from the General’s western expedition to the successful campaign against Dong Zhuo, there was ample time for him to surrender… Since he did not, it means he has developed ambition. And since he has ambition, he is bound to cause trouble this time! Because as a former subordinate of the General, he knows very well in his heart that the General is, in fact, stronger than Yuan Shao!”

At these words, from Gongsun Yue on down, many of those standing in the hall felt a slight stir in their hearts… Gongsun Yue, who had remained silent all along, even glanced at his elder brother.

“Correct,” Gongsun Xun remarked with a sigh from his seat. “I am not clear about that man Yu Du, but as for Zhang Yan, it is only natural that he has developed ambition… And in the current Hebei situation, with him positioned between two powerful forces, now that he harbors disloyalty, it stands to reason that he would aid the weak against the strong! Now, with trouble breaking out at Jingxing, which is closest to him, the hidden truth is obvious — Yuan Benchu must have already colluded with him!”

“That being the case, it’s not just Zhang Yan — Zhang Yang in Henei… seems also to warrant vigilance!” Xi Zhong finally caught on. “Is he also leaning toward Yuan Shao?”

“Vigilance may not be necessary; Zhang Yang would not dare to take risks. But that he leans toward Yuan Shao is beyond doubt.” At these words, Gongsun Xun suddenly laughed. “And it’s not just Zhang Zhishu. The lords of the realm, though most appear deferential, even if they have no intention of swallowing the empire, as long as they harbor some ambition, deep down they all secretly hope that Yuan Shao can win a few battles against me. And should Yuan Shao grow a bit stronger, they will then secretly hope in their hearts that I can, in turn, suppress Yuan Shao a bit… Such is the human heart; it is probably human nature!”

The many people in the hall all laughed along obsequiously.

“Therefore, there is no need to discuss this matter further,” Gongsun Xun said slowly after the laughter subsided. “Immediately dispatch scouts and envoys to Jingxing to investigate, find out Zhang Yan’s movements, and then inform him plainly that I have arrived… and observe his reaction. He is my former subordinate and knows my character well. He must understand in his heart that I will not give him another chance. At that point, he will either surrender immediately, or he will take advantage of the window before the Youzhou troops muster after the autumn harvest and boldly send his own elite forces to establish a stronghold within Jingxing, locking down the passage! And then, there will be nothing left but a fight.”

In the hall of General Ning Shuo’s mansion, everyone once again grew solemn.

And so, the meeting ended. Most people naturally dispersed to attend to their respective duties. Gongsun Yue alone, as the host here, could not leave under any circumstances. He first led Gongsun Xun to the rear residence, where he met his adopted sons and daughters, then personally arranged a family banquet. After the two brothers finished their meal and chatted idly for a while, that night they naturally shared the same couch to sleep.

However, just before the lamp was extinguished, Gongsun Xun suddenly spoke up on his own initiative: “Ayue, after the afternoon discussion, I noticed you seemed somewhat out of sorts. Is there something you wish to say?”

Gongsun Yue, who had grown a beard for many years, appeared even older than the clean-shaven Gongsun Xun. Hearing this, he hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke to his elder brother: “To be honest with you, brother, it was hearing what Tian Yuanhao said today that stirred something in me. It’s not that there is any particular matter…”

“What stirred you? Tell me.”

“I have always wondered why Yuan Benchu rose so swiftly. Even with four generations of Three Excellencies, it should not have been so rapid — to seize three provinces and nineteen commanderies within two years… It was only today, hearing Tian Yuanhao’s words, that I gained some insight.”

“…”

“Yuan Benchu’s rise was not merely due to his four generations of Three Excellencies. More importantly, it was because you, brother, rose even faster!” By lamplight, Gongsun Yue, seated on the couch, placed his hands on his knees and spoke with a serious expression. “Brother, you were already a renowned general of the realm, with an aura of near-invincibility. And once you overthrew Dong Zhuo, held over twenty commanderies across You, Bing, Si, and Ji provinces, with Liangzhou as an appendage, and held the Son of Heaven, questioning the realm before the Weiyang Palace… At that moment, though the fragmentation of the realm was already a foregone conclusion, the momentum was truly on your side. The other lords, including Yuan Benchu, were not yet formidable, and no one could shake your position as the strongest in the realm! Yet it was precisely from that moment that Yuan Benchu began to sweep across Qing and Yan with astonishing speed, then easily crossed the Yellow River north to seize six commanderies in Hebei, so that he could effortlessly possess the strength he has today, forming a standoff between two great powers… Why?”

“Why do you think?”

“Because countless people in this realm, fearful or simply resentful of the words you spoke before the Weiyang Palace, rallied behind the most suitable and most promising lord to wrestle with you,” Gongsun Yue grew increasingly solemn. “So those who assisted Yuan Shao in resisting you were never Yuan Shu, but those in this world who were dissatisfied with or afraid of you shifting the blame for the realm’s collapse onto the great clans and powerful families.”

“Well said.” By the candlelight, Gongsun Xun looked at his cousin with rare gratification. “For Ayue to articulate such reasoning today, he can indeed be entrusted with great responsibility… You are right. My struggle with Yuan Shao is, of course, a case of heroes rising together in a chaotic age to contend for the realm. But is it not also true that there are still many in this world who refuse to accept me, who are unwilling to follow me, and so they all add fuel to the flames?”

“But…” Gongsun Yue suddenly felt puzzled. “Since you, brother, have long understood this principle, why did you have to speak those words before the Weiyang Palace? If you did not foresee the consequences at the time, then when Yuan Shao began annexing Qing and Yan, why did you still forcibly carry out the land survey in the Three Adjuncts? Why not ease up for a while? If you had eased up, put on an act, wouldn’t the realm have fallen into your hands effortlessly?”

“Those are two separate questions,” Gongsun Xun replied with a faint smile. “The first is easy to answer. Before the eastern watchtower of Weiyang Palace, when I interrupted the imperial envoy, I had not yet decided what to say. But once I stood before the palace, looking at the assembled court officials, I suddenly understood what I had to say… It was what they call being unable to restrain oneself, anger welling up from within — everything I had seen, heard, felt, and pondered over more than a decade, combined with a hundred thousand troops outside the city as my backing, finally left me with no more reservations.”

Gongsun Yue slowly nodded.

“As for later sitting by and watching Yuan Shao grow powerful, without making any adjustments…” Gongsun Xun gradually broke into a cold sneer. “Ayue, let me tell you something else. Do you know that long before the campaign, while I certainly could not have foreseen the scene of questioning the realm before Weiyang Palace, I had already anticipated that Yuan Benchu would be the first to rise and become my foremost enemy, and I had also long foreseen that he would come to Hebei, to Handan, to do battle with me…”

"Elder brother, did you deliberately indulge them?" Gongsun Yue's expression changed abruptly. "Then hope to face them on the battlefield, clean them out in one battle, and save yourself trouble in the future?"

"More or less!" Gongsun Xun laughed scornfully. "Since I harbor a faint ambition to scour the realm, I also know that to pursue this ambition, the path ahead is bound to be rough — how could I not prepare early? And Ah Yue, do you understand? Just as today's struggle with Yuan Shao is not a clash between two families or two surnames, but a joint effort by those who oppose my ambition to block me; so in the future, there will surely be those who hold their own ambitions and, because our paths diverge, will fight me to the death; and further in the future, within our own inner circle, there will certainly be those who, constrained by the greater situation to follow me, yet harbor secret discontent and covertly defy my ambition, stirring up waves again... These things are simply unavoidable."

"Such decisive battles will happen more than once?" Gongsun Yue was momentarily dazed. "And in the future, there might even be internal troubles?"

"That is only natural." Gongsun Xun withdrew his smile, leaned sideways on the couch, and seemed somewhat listless, then casually pointed eastward toward Mount Taixing. "Breaking the bandits in the mountains is easy; breaking the bandits in the heart is hard... I say my ambition is right — on what grounds? Who believes it? So it is fated that we can only settle it with swords. And I have long known that my ambition to purge the realm, suppress the powerful, and dismantle the great clans is in fact going against the current of the times, destined to be arduous. So I once hesitated, wondering whether I should just let it go — take the realm and become a King Wen of Zhou, what would be wrong with that? Or simply be an Yi Yin or a Duke of Zhou, wouldn't that be fine too? But after speaking those words before Weiyang Palace, my heart became open and forthright, with no more hesitation. Ah Yue, do you still remember that I issued that 'Decree Seeking Worthies' that very day?"

"Of course I remember."

"That was certainly a way to declare my stance, but was it not also because I knew the road ahead was rough and I genuinely longed for comrades?" Gongsun Xun spoke with emotion. "Of course, I also know that such comrades, apart from my mother who taught me certain things since childhood, may not exist anywhere else in this world. So I do not expect to gather many comrades around me, working together with one heart... Whether it be the bond of lord and subject, or bought with the fame, profit, emolument, and rank I offer — as long as someone is willing to lend me a hand and walk on with me, I am already content."

Gongsun Yue was silent for a moment upon hearing this, but finally spoke with earnest sincerity: "Elder brother... between you and me, there should be no need to speak further words of fealty and following. But since elder brother has rarely spoken his innermost thoughts, I can only say this once with full intent... I have heard some of those principles you and Aunt share, but I truly only half understand them. Yet I have followed elder brother since childhood. Even if what elder brother holds in his heart might truly be some grand ambition to set things right, a true principle — even if it were to go against all reason and right, I would still follow elder brother all the way to the end, until death alone stops me!"

Having spoken, Gongsun Yue, still on the couch, performed a solemn and formal salute, so deep that he prostrated himself onto the couch.

"There is no need for such a gesture." Seeing this, Gongsun Xun first helped him up on the couch, then shook his head and laughed scornfully without cease. "It is just idle talk between brothers. And besides, looking at today, the overall situation is ultimately in my favor. At the very least, Yuan Benchu has not yet exceeded my calculations... When the deed is done in the future, the people of this realm will likely come to understand me gradually."

Gongsun Yue said no more.

Five days later, just as the millet and soybeans in the fields were about to ripen, a messenger returned at full gallop from Jingkou, bringing news that Gongsun Xun and most of his advisors had already anticipated — Zhang Yan had set out from Zishan, concentrated over twenty thousand elite troops from the northern Mount Taixing divisions, and established camp within Jingkou, attempting to block Gongsun Xun.

This absolutely could not be tolerated; they had to be struck and broken immediately... This was not only because Zhang Yan had cut off Jingkou, but more importantly, if Gongsun Xun could not swiftly crush Zhang Yan, then as the large-scale bandit forces from the southern Mount Taixing moved north, the ripened crops in the fields would very likely be wasted and lost to a heartbreaking degree amid the disorderly plundering of these lawless bandits.

For public and private reasons, in sentiment and in reason, Gongsun Xun had to swiftly crush the enemy within these mere few days before the autumn harvest, force their surrender, and control the pass.

However, first, time was pressing; second, cut off on the western side of Mount Taixing, Gongsun Xun simply did not have many troops to deploy; third, the terrain of Jingkou was truly complex — so whether he could swiftly crush the enemy was really hard to say.

Or perhaps, it was precisely because of this that Zhang Yan dared to muster his courage, emerge from the mountains, and array his forces.

"Though the bandits are a motley crowd, they number twenty thousand and hold the natural defenses of Jingkou. How many troops does elder brother plan to assemble?" At the next day's military council, Gongsun Yue was noticeably more animated, to the point of frowning and taking the initiative to ask. "With the autumn harvest imminent, if we do not conscript auxiliary troops, only three thousand commandery soldiers of Taiyuan are available. And if we wait for the Yanmen commandery soldiers to come as reinforcements..."

"Three thousand commandery soldiers and two thousand volunteer followers will suffice." Gongsun Xun cut him off and answered with a straight face. "In days past, the Marquis of Huaiyin fought with his back to the river inside Jingkou, and with just over ten thousand raw recruits, he routed Chen Yu's two hundred thousand troops. Today, I am preparing to emulate the Marquis of Huaiyin's old stratagem, repeating that same tactic. So with five thousand against twenty thousand, we actually have troops to spare!"

Gongsun Yue was momentarily stunned.

————— I am the dividing line of having too many troops —————

"At the end of Han, Dong Zhuo disrupted the government, the realm fell into great chaos, and mighty heroes rose together. Yet Yuan Shao, commanding all of Guandong and holding a hundred thousand troops, was selfish and temporizing, hesitating and refusing to advance. He turned aside to annex the three provinces, then gazed tiger-like upon Hebei, his power unmatched. Only the Grand Ancestor, with twenty thousand Yan troops, emerged from Mount Taixing, conquered four commanderies, struck across three thousand li, broke through Pujin, forced the surrender of Tongguan, rampaged across the Three Adjuncts, and executed Dong Zhuo — thus could right and wrong be distinguished... Your Servant Songzhi remarks: The Grand Ancestor devised strategies and laid plans, scourging all within the realm, grasping the legalist methods of Shen and Shang, encompassing the wondrous stratagems of Han and Bai. In appointing officials and assigning talents, each was suited to his capacity. That he could ultimately grasp the imperial reins and accomplish the great enterprise was due above all to the superiority of his brilliant vision. He may indeed be called an extraordinary man, a hero surpassing his age." — Dianlue, Yan, annotated by Pei Songzhi

PS: New book on the shelves, Fairy Maiden, Please Restrain Yourself — everyone go enjoy it!

One more thing: the previous two chapters made a very childish mistake; I hope no one noticed.

(End of Chapter)