Chapter 438

The war was not over. Sun Jian's performance, destined to shake the whole of Huaxia, continued around the Mian and Yu rivers. And though this man had crushed Liu Biao's main force at Deng County in mid-June and lost his beloved general Jiang Qin, he was surprisingly neither carried away by passion nor in a reckless hurry to force a crossing of the Mian River and attack Xiangyang.

There were three reasons for this:

First, Xiangyang City was surrounded by water on three sides and backed by mountains on the fourth. It was easy to defend and hard to attack, a city that truly commanded the Mian and Han rivers. A city like this was simple to besiege but difficult to breach. Liu Biao, after losing Nanyang to Yuan Shu, had chosen this city, right on the border of Nanyang, as the core of his rule — that was no random decision. A hasty river crossing might not succeed.

Second, although Sun Jian had won a great victory this time, his casualties had truly been severe and his troops were utterly exhausted. He might not have the strength to spare.

The last reason was that there were still other enemies behind him who had not been cleared out... Huang Zu and Yuan Shu had combined forces of fifteen thousand on the flank, on the east bank of the Yu River, and they always had to be guarded against.

And so, after leaving his nephew Sun Ben with three thousand troops to garrison the strategic point of Deng County, Sun Jian spent a full ten-odd days resting and reorganizing around Xinye and Chaoyang. Only in late June, after the follow-up provisions, military funds, and part of the auxiliary troops had arrived, did he finally put together a crack force of ten thousand. In a grand and open display, he crossed the Yu River and drove straight for Caiyang!

Inside Caiyang City, Yuan Shu and Huang Zu had long since lost their nerve after the defeat at Deng County. So even though they still had fifteen thousand troops in hand, they never once attempted to cross the river and strike Sun Jian's exhausted soldiers. Instead, they sat and watched as the other side completed its rest and reorganization.

What was interesting, however, was that when this moment came, Huang Zu did not turn back to Jiangxia... Instead, it was Yuan Shu who fled. This General of the Rear abandoned Caiyang City and escaped alone to Jiangxia, leaving only his trusted general Ji Ling with the remnants to follow the Administrator of Jiangxia, Huang Zu, in mustering forces to meet the enemy.

The answer needs no elaboration. Although Huang Zu's army might have had a numerical advantage, the quality of the commanders, the experience of the soldiers, and the morale of the entire army were on entirely different levels — not to mention that the nominal Regional Commander for this battle, Yuan Shu, had abandoned his army and fled!

Therefore, as one side waned and the other waxed, the army led by Huang Zu and Ji Ling practically collapsed at the first clash. Both Huang Zu and Ji Ling were captured together, then escorted into the fallen city of Caiyang and bound before Sun Jian.

The two generals were brought into a large residence that Sun Jian had commandeered and up into the main hall. Zu Mao tried to force them to kneel, but neither of them would. Zu Darong attempted to use force, but Sun Jian rebuked him and waved him off.

"The territory belongs to the General of the Rear, yet he himself would not defend it. Why should you, a subordinate general and a guest general, throw your lives away for him?" Sun Wentai sat upright in the seat of honor, momentarily curious. "And now that you are defeated today, what do you have to say?"

"For the defeat, there is nothing to say." Ji Ling was disheveled all over, his beard and hair matted with blood and grime, his hands bound behind him — yet he stood with his head high. "But that first question is rather laughable... Having become someone's vassal, how could I rebel just to cling to a wretched life? I am not like certain people, who bite the hand that feeds them!"

Sun Jian gave a dry laugh but did not grow angry: "I will not forget the General of the Rear's past kindness to me. That is why, even if I next advance into Jiangxia and capture him, I will send him safely to Chang'an and let the Son of Heaven and the Imperial Secretariat determine his guilt, rather than presuming to punish him myself... General Ji, you speak only of these petty personal debts and minor loyalties. But in this present age, is it not the General of the Rear who has betrayed the great grace of the Han house and defied the great righteousness of all under Heaven? Do you not know what he did in Nanyang? Dying as a subordinate of the General of the Rear, do you not fear being ridiculed for a thousand years after your death?"

Ji Ling was silent for a moment, then still answered with a solemn face: "Nowadays, the great powers under Heaven all regard the Gongsun clan as righteous and the Yuan clan as rebels — how could I not know? As for what the General of the Rear did in Nanyang, it is even more impossible for me to pretend ignorance. But I, Ji Ling, am a mere commoner from east of the mountains. I entered the court as a Tiger Guard through the 'good family' selection. Without the grace of the Yuan clan, how could I have risen to prominence and become a General of the Household with a rank of two thousand shi? With the talent of a common man, I have only these petty personal debts and minor loyalties to sustain me in this life... And besides, you say that being a subordinate of the General of the Rear will make one a laughingstock. But if I were to surrender to someone like you and sell my life for you, could that be considered upholding great righteousness and escaping the ridicule of later generations? A man who stabs his lord in the back, a man who seizes the territory of his sworn brother, a man who, as a father, killed his own son — what right has such a man to lecture me on great righteousness?"

The earlier part of Ji Ling's speech could still be considered a statement of his position, but that last sentence abruptly froze the atmosphere in the hall... However, as Sun Jian had now completely annexed the elite heartland of the Central Plains and was showing momentum to continue devouring the Jing-Xiang region, his authority was gradually taking shape. His surrounding subordinates and close followers, like Zu Mao, dared not act rashly before him without orders.

In fact, when they saw that Sun Jian's expression only shifted slightly and he gave no further reaction, Zu Mao and the others could only forcibly suppress their anger and let it pass.

"And what of Administrator Huang?" Sun Jian spent a long while loosening his tightly clenched fists beneath the table, then leaned on the table and looked at the other man. "You are a guest general. Why go to such lengths?"

"That question from a melon-seller is far too laughable." Huang Zu's appearance was somewhat cleaner than Ji Ling's beside him, so his sneer for the moment seemed rather composed. "What kind of man is that Yuan Gonglu, and what does he have to do with me? What guest general, what chief general — what meaning does any of that have?"

"Yet today you were clearly risking your life to block us for Yuan Gonglu's sake, were you not?"

"I was repaying Liu of Jingzhou's grace in recognizing my worth!" Huang Zu suddenly straightened his face. "What is Yuan Gonglu worth, that I would sell my life for him? If not for this bastard Ji Ling telling me that if I didn't let his lord flee first he would not fight alongside me, I would have twisted that so-called General of the Rear's head off long ago!"

Sun Jian suddenly understood: "Liu Jingsheng has only been in Jingzhou for four years, and he has already won such loyalty?"

"I, Huang Zu, may be crude, but let me tell you, there are some things a Wu melon-seller like you could never understand." Huang Zu swelled with pride. "I can't speak for others, but I hail from the Huang clan of Anlu... Do you know of the Huang clan of Anlu?"

Sun Jian lowered his head and gave a dry laugh... As the Administrator of Changsha, how could he not know of the Huang clan of Anlu, the top-ranking aristocratic family in Jingzhou?

The Huang clan of Anlu traced its origins to Huang Zu's great-great-grandfather, Huang Xiang. As a child, Huang Xiang was already hailed as "Unmatched under Heaven, Huang Xiang of Anlu." He later rose to become Prefect of the Imperial Secretariat, effectively a chief minister managing all affairs of the realm. Subsequently, Huang Zu's great-granduncle Huang Qiong and his clan uncle Huang Wan (a cousin of Liu Yan) both ranked among the Three Excellencies... Such prestige was just like that of the Zhou clan of Lujiang next door in Yang Province, or the Chen clan of Xiapi in Xu Province — all were acknowledged leaders of their province's aristocratic families.

"It seems the melon-seller does know my family background." Seeing this, Huang Zu ignored his bonds and continued proudly, "Then do you know about the matter between my clan uncle, Lord Ziyan (Huang Wan), and Liu of Jingzhou?"

"I imagine they were naturally close friends..." Sun Jian replied listlessly.

"Wrong!" Huang Zu answered with his head high. "There is nothing to hide. Our Huang clan had many marital ties and dealings with Liu Yan, the Governor of Yi Province, who was born locally. My clan uncle, Lord Ziyan, and he were actually first cousins. Yet that old fellow went off to Yi Province instead. And going to Yi Province was one thing, but he kept trying to meddle back in Jingzhou time and again. These past few years, Jingzhou and Yizhou have actually been fighting frequently in Shangyong and Ba Commandery. Liu of Yizhou never stopped stirring up us old families in the province to make trouble for Liu of Jingzhou, while Liu of Jingzhou kept sending memorials to the court saying Liu of Yizhou was plotting rebellion..."

Sun Jian nodded repeatedly, recalling this matter... Liu Yan and Liu Biao had been constantly feuding — their subordinates clawing at each other below while they fought lawsuits above. In the end, the court had dispatched none other than Huang Zu's clan uncle, Huang Wan, bearing a staff of authority, to mediate the matter.

"The Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, bearing the staff of authority, was sent to inspect Jing and Yi. Where is he now?" At this thought, Sun Jian could no longer pretend ignorance.

"He declined Liu of Jingzhou's recruitment, and truly did take the staff and go downstream to Yi Province to investigate the matter of Liu of Yizhou's treason," Huang Zu answered frankly. "In other words, our Anlu Huang clan first colluded with Liu Yan, trying to stir up trouble, and then the man in charge simply walked away... At that time, it happened to coincide with the Gongsun and Yuan clans contending in Hebei — the so-called authority of the imperial court had utterly collapsed. The entire clan, high and low, was actually quite terrified, fearing that Liu of Jingzhou would seize the opportunity to deal with us."

"I understand," Sun Jian said, finding it increasingly tedious. "He still, out of regard for your Anlu Huang clan's two generations of Three Excellencies, treated you with extra generosity. He even violated the Three Mutual Avoidance Law to promote you, sir, to be the Administrator of your own home commandery..."

"You understand shit!" Huang Zu flew into a rage. "At that time, though the leaders of my clan were absent, the clan was still full of men in high caps and flowing sleeves... I alone, Huang Zu, though born of a famous house, had been a gallant and willful youth who only loved sword-fighting and killing. Later, I merely joined the army and became a simple military man. The whole province, high and low, said I disgraced the family name. The entire clan, high and low, thought nothing of me. Even if Liu of Jingzhou wanted to buy the hearts of Jingzhou's aristocratic families, how could it ever have occurred to him that it would fall on my head? Yet Liu of Jingzhou alone said to me, 'The realm is in turmoil, and it is precisely men like you that are needed to stabilize our homeland!' The grace of preserving my family — of course I am grateful. But the grace of recognizing my worth — that, I, Huang Zu, can even less forget! Now that you have broken Deng County and Xiangyang is in peril, crude as I, Huang Zu, may be, how could I stand by and let you easily take all of Nanyang and then leisurely turn to attack Liu of Jingzhou?! Do you think I am an ungrateful melon-seller like you?!"

Sun Jian's face was expressionless. He was silent for a long time, then slowly stroked his sword and spoke: "I underestimated Administrator Huang, and I underestimated General Ji. Now that things have come to this, I have only one thing to say... Surrender and live; refuse and die. What will it be?"

"I do not fear death," Ji Ling answered calmly.

"I do fear death," Huang Zu also said bluntly. "But I fear betraying Liu of Jingzhou even more! Grant me a swift end!"

"Good!" Sun Jian replied just as bluntly. "My beloved general Jiang Gongyi died at the hands of the two generals Lü Bu and Huang Zhong. My heart has been heavy with grief ever since. I was just about to borrow your two heads to make an offering to him... Darong, take my Ancient Ingot Blade. Do it yourself, and let these two gentlemen have a swift end."

"Many thanks, Sun Polu." Ji Ling answered with half a word, and ignoring his bonds, turned directly and walked out of the hall. Huang Zu followed him out.

However, just before leaving the hall, Huang Zu turned his head back. He looked at the horizontal inscribed board hanging in the hall — a fashion that was gradually becoming popular nowadays — and could not help stopping to sneer: "In consideration of Sun Polu not making things difficult for me, I have one matter I would like to bring to Sun Polu's attention."

"Administrator Huang, please speak," said Sun Jian from the seat of honor in the hall. He had just handed the Ancient Ingot Blade to Zu Mao beside him, but upon hearing this, he unusually composed his face.

"This is a private residence!" Huang Zu pursed his lips in a sneer. "When I came to Caiyang City and saw that Yuan Shu had forcibly seized a private residence, I was quite disdainful. Because back when I took office in Jiangxia, the Jiangxia commandery office was dilapidated. Unwilling to live in the government hostel, I too borrowed a room in a local merchant's house. When Liu of Jingzhou heard of it, he specially sent me a hundred yi of gold, telling me to rebuild the government hostel, and that an official must not use his position to occupy a private residence..."

Sun Jian suddenly realized, and his expression turned embarrassed.

"Sun Polu, let me ask you — have you ever heard of either of your two sworn brothers, when traveling on inspection tours, refusing to stay in the government hostel and instead lodging in someone else's private home?" Seeing this, Huang Zu sneered with even greater mockery. "Even someone like Han Fu, who is universally acknowledged as weak and cowardly — back in Yecheng, the finest residence in Yecheng was the former mansion of Zhao Zhong, and after Zhao Zhong's death it had no owner. Yet he only moved into that residence to live in peace after he had resigned from office! But you — you despise Yuan Shu for his lack of virtue and use that as your reason to rebel against him, yet you take the plundered spoils that Yuan Shu seized and use them for yourself. What kind of 'using the righteous to punish the rebellious' is this?! In my view, your whole life will never rise above the caliber of a melon-seller! Pity that Jiang Qin — so loyal and brave — followed a brigand just like Ji Ling did, and will be ridiculed for all eternity by later generations!"

With these words, the man burst into hearty laughter. Under the furious glares of Ji Ling beside him and Sun Jian behind him, he turned on his own and walked away. A moment later, Ji Ling, after all, raised his head to the sky with a sigh, gritted his teeth, and followed. Only Sun Jian was left, choking with rage, his face flushed red, yet utterly unable to retort!

A short while later, Zu Mao, in order to vent his lord's anger, hastily beheaded the two men and presented their heads as proof of his obedience. But that matter aside, Ji Ling and Huang Zu, just as in another time and space, never betrayed their respective lords in the end. Both died to repay the grace of having their worth recognized. Yet it left one feeling somewhat mixed and complicated.

"My lord, you must not dwell on this!" When Zhu Zhi received Zu Mao's report and hurried over, he found that Sun Jian had already left the residence he had previously occupied and was simply standing outside the gate. He quickly came to offer counsel. "Ji Ling was foolishly loyal, and Huang Zu is universally known as a greedy, vulgar, and incompetent man. Are the words of such people worth taking seriously? They were merely trying to disturb your clarity of mind before dying!"

"I know those two men are not worth mentioning." By now, Sun Jian had somewhat recovered his clarity, and he frankly leaned on his sword and answered. "But, Junli, what I care about is Gongyi (Jiang Qin). I truly cannot forget Gongyi's death... These days, I keep thinking about the words you all used when remonstrating with me before, and about some earlier events. Tell me, if I cannot achieve great things in the future, how will later generations view Gongyi? Will he be as laughable as Ji Ling and Huang Zu today? And then there is what Huang Zu said just now — though much of it was nonsense, at the very least, this residence should not have been occupied, right?"

Zhu Zhi wanted to speak but hesitated... To tell the truth, if he were not worried that Sun Jian might, like that time in Chen Commandery, have his blood surge up and affect his health, he would instead urge his lord to reflect more, as he was doing now, on how to stabilize his rule. But the last incident had been too frightening. Even Zhu Junli did not dare add fuel to the fire at this moment.

And so, lord and vassal fell silent for a time, simply standing rather conspicuously in front of this residence.

After a long while, just as the sun was about to set, Zu Mao, who had been sent off on a task, hurried back. He finally looked relieved: "My lord, rest easy, there is no need to move again... This residence is already ownerless!"

"What do you mean?" Sun Jian, who had been waiting a long time, frowned and asked.

"The owner of this residence abandoned it in a hurry long before we defeated Yuan Shu at Xinye. The entire family fled down the Yu River to Xiangyang!"

Sun Jian opened his mouth to speak, but just as when Huang Zu had mocked him earlier, he could not utter a single word!

"Zu Darong, you blockhead!" Zhu Zhi was beside himself with rage.

Zu Mao was momentarily bewildered, but Sun Jian simply waved his hand. He merely ordered Zhu Zhi to strictly enforce military discipline throughout the army, then went himself to the government hostel in the city to lodge.

(End of Chapter)