Chapter 443: White Snow Falls in Flurries Upon the Courtyard (Part 1)

"Truly a masterstroke." Among the seven or eight people in the hall, the dark-skinned, heavyset Dong Zhao, seated on one of the Grand Commandant's chairs to the side, chimed in with agreement. "Without a single act of betrayal or breach of faith, without the slightest excess loss of troops or horses, he lightly seized the lands of Runan, brought an end to years of turmoil in the Central Plains, and earned gratitude from all sides — one could say he has fully captured the grace and spirit of the Central Plains... However, in my humble view, the most important matter is that this Liu Yuzhou of ours has reorganized and expanded the Central Plains Alliance... But then, was all of this not forced by you, my lord? Had my lord not watched coldly from afar in Hebei, how could those Central Plains lords have set aside their former grudges and joined together to plan such a grand undertaking?"

Gongsun Xun finally laughed aloud, but then shook his head and asked the others, "Judging by the timing, the Nanyang covenant assembly should be nearly over by now. Surely they can't drag it out past the new year without a decision?"

"In truth, from the moment Tao Gongzu personally arrived at Xinye, the Nanyang covenant assembly was effectively concluded. The rest, after all, is merely trivial detail," Shen Pei remarked casually from the side.

Gongsun Xun nodded slightly in agreement.

It must be said, the Nanyang covenant assembly had been proposed at the end of autumn and the beginning of winter. But because Tao Qian had set out personally, and his health truly could not withstand the jolting of travel, the journey was unavoidably slow. Thus it was delayed again and again, only truly beginning in late October of early winter. By this time, in the eleventh month, the various lords should have largely settled matters. In fact, many things had already been transmitted through various channels, and what Gongsun Xun had been reading earlier were the established facts summarized and reviewed by Xi Zhong...

However, as Shen Zhengnan had said, these were all trivial details.

Because the true significance of this covenant assembly was absolutely not about the issues of Nanyang, Jiangxia, or Yuan Shu, nor was it about opening borders to jointly clear out the bandits and petty warlords along the lords' frontiers. Rather, it was about re-establishing and expanding the Central Plains Alliance after Sun Jian's death, so that the Central Plains region could truly produce a military and political unified entity with the hope of confronting Hebei.

This grand alliance, because of Sun Jian's previous policy of military adventurism, had originally had its only possibility of success in Sun Jian personally annihilating Jingzhou — only thus could it have been barely achieved. But this time, Sun Jian's death, much like 'filling one's own eyes' in a game of Go, instead left room for maneuver after the alliance's core power dissolved... Thus the Central Plains lords fought amongst themselves in Nanyang, and it actually allowed Liu Bei, with a stroke of genius, to break into Jiangxia, thoroughly seizing the weak points of Liu Biao and Lu Bu, forcing them to sit down together and form a new, more solid alliance with even greater political appeal.

Once this alliance was formed, it would stretch across five provinces and twenty-six commanderies and kingdoms, including monstrous super-commanderies like Nanyang, Runan, and Nanjun. In terms of population and troops, this alliance in the Central Plains would be no less than, and might even considerably exceed, that of Hebei.

And in terms of political influence, the Central Plains had always been the absolute foundation of the Later Han dynasty, possessing a tradition of upholding the Han central authority, in stark contrast to Hebei's separatist and antagonistic stance toward the Han... One could well say that the two inherently possessed a natural and absolute attribute of political opposition, even a tradition of antagonism.

In other words, once the alliance was formed, it truly allowed the various lords to see a hope of success in a tripartite resistance against Gongsun Xun, along with a fifty-percent possibility of self-preservation.

At such a time, from this perspective, the unity and solidarity of the lords outweighed all trivial affairs. And what political gesture expressing unity and solidarity could be greater than the highest ruler personally traveling to participate in the covenant assembly? Thus, from the moment Tao Qian and the accompanying Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Yang Biao, arrived together in Nanyang, the remaining matters truly became unimportant.

"General, you must not be careless," Tian Feng said, seeing Gongsun Xun remain as nonchalant as ever after putting down the letter, and could not help but add a few more words. "Those convening the covenant are all heroes of the realm. The Central Plains is populous and rich in resources. Once the five provinces rise together, they will advance from multiple routes with full force — no less than three hundred thousand horse and foot. To treat this so casually seems somewhat flippant."

Gongsun Xun smiled, about to reply, but unexpectedly, Dong Zhao beside him interjected first, directly shaking his head in opposition: "I, on the contrary, feel that Military Advisor Tian is overthinking things somewhat. The Central Plains is fat and Hebei is lean — this is known to all under heaven. If it were truly a matter of the Central Plains deciding Hebei, then of course one must be doubly cautious. But this time is entirely different..."

"What Gongren means is simply that their commands issue from many doors, each harboring their own intentions, and ultimately they are not one unified body — is that not so?" Shen Pei, probably fearing that Tian Feng might suffer at the hands of the dark-skinned, heavyset man opposite, proactively interjected to take over the topic. "However, with the realm divided and heroes rising everywhere, once a decisive confrontation occurs, it becomes a matter of state and war that determines the life and death of hundreds of thousands. These heroes gathered in Nanyang — even if we consider them separately, we should still be doubly cautious... Gathered together, can we possibly say their strength has instead become weaker?"

"That is not what I meant," Dong Zhao defended helplessly.

It must be said, since ancient times, one thing always conquers another. Gongsun Xun feared Tian Feng's prickly defiance of authority, but this dark-skinned, heavyset Dong Zhao had no such fear. Yet when facing the ever-forceful Shen Pei, he could not help but be at a disadvantage.

However, there was also someone in the hall whom Shen Pei naturally respected and deferred to.

"It's not that I, as the one in the middle, wish to smooth things over — I truly believe both sides are correct," as expected, Gongsun Xun, seeing the dispute in the hall reach Shen Pei, took the opportunity to speak with a smile, his hand resting on the saber at his waist, and spoke eloquently. "In my view, whenever discussing warfare against an enemy, one must always divide it into grand strategy and actual circumstances. The former is called strategic planning in the temple, the latter is frontline tactics... No matter how strong the enemy, before the actual battle is joined, when discussing in the temple, one must absolutely not overvalue them, nor can we let their every move disrupt our own footing and ruin our overall design. And no matter how weak the enemy, when facing them in a life-or-death battle, one should emulate the lion pouncing on the rabbit — exerting full strength, leaving no room for reversal! What Gongren said is essentially that at the level of temple strategy, we should despise these men; what Zhengnan and Yuanhao said is essentially that when it comes to the actual battlefield confrontation, we must have complete preparation and full confidence... The two are not actually contradictory."

Shen Pei and Dong Zhao rose together, cupped their hands, and acknowledged this. Tian Feng, having no alternative, also had to rise and acknowledge it.

"All of you, sit," Gongsun Xun waved casually. "This, then, is my opinion on this matter... Making a show of it lightly would instead cause unrest among those below. So the overall situation remains unchanged — we sit steady as a mountain. Only, we must be clear in our minds. That is also why I called you here. Speak, all of you... Regarding this covenant assembly, what are the things we must understand clearly in our minds? Write them down and hand them to Wang Xibo to file, and also send them to Shuzhi in Chang'an and Wenhe's place, so they too are clear in their minds."

The seven or eight people in the hall immediately sat upright and, without prior agreement, all looked toward the first seat on the left, where Lu Fan had remained silent the entire time. However, after a moment of deliberation, Lu Fan still did not speak.

Since that was the case, Shen Pei took it upon himself without hesitation: "This subordinate believes that Liu Biao can still be drawn in... His joining this covenant assembly appears voluntary, but is not truly so. Compared to the other lords, his state of mind is somewhat subtle. For one, the strategic territory of Jiangxia is held in Liu Bei's grasp. For another, he previously suffered repeated major defeats with heavy losses — one could say he dared not refuse to come. And judging from the information transmitted so far, it is already a foregone conclusion that Lu Bu will take Dengxian, Xinye, and Chaoyang counties to establish a foothold. Looking at it this way, Liu Biao still harbors wariness and fear toward Cao Cao and Liu Bei. Otherwise, he would not have allowed Lu Fengxian, who just betrayed him once, to serve as a buffer in front of him."

"There is some sense in that," Gongsun Xun nodded slowly, quite approving. "Previously, when Jia Wenhe went to see Liu Biao, he returned and said that Liu Biao is a man of both talent and virtue, a fitting Three Excellencies for a peaceful age, but alone in failing to perceive changing circumstances, being suspicious and indecisive, and incapable of achievement... This is to say that Liu Biao is a watchdog guarding his household, only thinking of managing and defending his territory, with no thought of actively participating in the greater game. Moreover, he does not understand matters of attacking cities, seizing lands, and contending for hegemony. Even when he previously faced Sun Jian, though it seemed he took the initiative, it was actually him passively defending... Note this down. At critical moments, this man can be used to confuse perceptions and employ delaying tactics."

Led by Jia Kui, Yang Xiu and Fa Zheng beside him immediately set their brushes in motion together, recording in triplicate simultaneously.

"Next is Tao Qian's health," Shen Pei, seeing Gongsun Xun approve of his insight, continued to speak aloud. "This time, Tao Gongzu traveled from Xuzhou to Nanyang, merely crossing a mere Xiapi, a Peiguo, and a Runan, yet it took nearly a month. Even discounting the initial hesitation and discussions within the province, it should not have taken so long. Moreover, his character was always strong and unyielding, his actions forceful. Yet this time, not only did he only make this journey after being subject to public debate within the province, but upon arriving in Nanyang, he had virtually no words or opinions to offer. It is evident that this man is truly aged and enfeebled, his heroic spirit shortened, gradually becoming incapable... If Tao Gongzu were to suddenly pass away, would the ownership of Xuzhou not lead to chaos, just as Sun Jian's death has now?"

"That is not necessarily so..." Gongsun Xun leaned sideways in his chair, propping his forehead in thought. "However, the transformation of Xuzhou is indeed a major matter that must be considered and prepared for. The five commanderies of Xuzhou, aside from some initial turbulence, are actually a rare stable area within the Central Plains heartland. To be somewhat generous, consider it five hundred Battalion Commander, three million people. Add to that figures like Zang Ba, Chen Deng, and Mi Zhu — it would be no joke to say they could field a hundred thousand horse and foot. And once such a great province falls under someone's control, whether it be Cao Cao or Liu Bei, it will be like adding wings to a tiger... Zhicai, you must pay ten thousand times the attention to this matter and prepare early. When the time comes and change occurs, even if the hope is slim, you must strive to attempt it!"

Xi Zhong rose, cupped his hands, and acknowledged the order, but did not sit back down. Instead, he took the opportunity to call out to someone in the hall: "Yang Xiu, go to my office and seek my subordinate clerk. Fetch a dossier on Xuzhou!"

Yang Xiu dared not delay. He immediately stopped writing, lowered his head in acknowledgment, and was about to hurry out of the hall. Seeing this, Fa Zheng, who was beside him rapidly recording with his head down, could not help but let the corner of his mouth curl up slightly.

"Why must it be like this?" Gongsun Xun had understood Xi Zhong's intent from the start but clearly thought little of it. "The son of the Yang clan has been with me for several years. He has served diligently and faced life and death. If we judge him by his father's actions, would that not chill the heart? Besides, when Yang Wenxian previously bore the imperial credentials out to the Wei River, he originally had the chance to take his son along, and he knew I would not obstruct it. Yet he instead sat by and watched his son remain with me to this day — clearly balancing the foresight of Jin Midi with the licking affection of an old ox... Gentlemen, if Yang Wenxian as a father has such painstaking intentions, do I, as a lord, not have some awareness of the need for leniency and benevolence?"

Yang Xiu nearly wept. He immediately knelt and kowtowed repeatedly to express his feelings, but was chased back by a somewhat impatient Gongsun Xun to continue serving as scribe.

"But Yang Wenxian must still be guarded against!" Xi Zhong hesitated slightly, but still spoke with effort. "Since this man has borne the imperial credentials to Nanyang, his intentions are already abundantly clear. We must guard against him colluding with Guanzhong and plotting regarding Chang'an..."

Yang Xiu felt a pang of sorrow in his heart, and the urge to weep grew stronger. But seeing Fa Zheng opposite him stealing glances, he forced himself to assume a pragmatic demeanor, gritted his teeth, and continued recording.

"That is only natural," Gongsun Xun replied casually. "Handle this matter in consultation with Wenhe... Is there anything else?"

"There is also the concurrent strength of Cao and Liu, leaving the Central Plains actually without a single master!" Dong Zhao, after a moment's thought, then proposed a notion that caused most in the hall to feel their spirits lift. "Cao Cao now holds five commanderies of Yanzhou and three commanderies of Yuzhou, and has almost entirely occupied Nanyang. In reality, he is the foremost in strength among the Central Plains lords, and when war breaks out in the future, he will in fact be the one at the forefront. But in this covenant assembly, his methods and prestige are slightly inferior to Liu Bei's!"

At this point, Dong Gongren paused briefly. It turned out that Gongsun Xun, for some unknown reason, had at some point risen, supporting himself on his saber. Without donning his outer cloak, wearing only his single-layer robe, he walked through the hall and slowly came to stand inside the doorway of the great hall, which seemed rather gloomy. He pushed open the main door, letting the cold wind blow in from the overcast outside.

Dong Zhao waited for a moment. Watching his lord standing with one hand behind his back and the other resting on his saber inside the hall doorway, gazing silently at the overcast sky in the distance, he then rose, looked around at the people in the hall, and continued to speak aloud: "And consider this, everyone. Liu Xuande followed our lord's side for a long time. In his use of men and governance, in his maneuvering and diplomacy, he possesses a third of our lord's bearing — he can be called a hero. Add to that his control over the entirety of Huainan and Runan, plus half of Peiguo, and his strength cannot be called weak. More importantly, with Sun Jian dead, the person who actually linked Liu Biao, Tao Qian, Zhu Jun, and Lu Bu in this covenant assembly is none other than he — this Liu Yuzhou who seized Jiangxia, held the vital points of the southern lords, and formed a marriage alliance with Tao Qian... And in my humble view, this is precisely why the Central Plains lords' covenant assembly, though its overall framework is settled, still drags on without dispersing!"

"Indeed!" Tian Feng could not help but stroke his beard and praise Dong Zhao, with whom he had gradually fallen out of favor. "Dong Jizhou's words strike at the heart of the matter! Previously, the core of the Central Plains Alliance was the tripartite stand of three powers, hence it was exceptionally stable. But now that Sun Polu is dead, Liu Yuzhou and Cao Fenwu stand as two powers side by side. Although both are wise and perceptive men, knowing the General is in the north and they must unite for a time, it is probably inevitable that they harbor intentions of rivalry... The overall framework of the Nanyang covenant assembly is settled, yet it has long been difficult to disperse. This dragging on without resolution must be because these two are contending for the position of sole alliance leader!"

"Perhaps we could employ a strategy of sowing discord!" Shen Pei also spoke, stroking the back of his chair. "Why not add to Liu Bei's title and rank? It's worth a try, after all!"

At these words, even Lu Fan, Lou Gui, and Xun You, who had remained silent all along, nodded in agreement one after another. Xi Zhong, needless to say, did the same.

"A try is certainly permissible." Just as everyone in the hall thought they had a fine scheme, Gongsun Xun, his back to the assembly, suddenly spoke, clearly somewhat dismissive. "After all, it costs no effort... Grant A Bei a Governorship of Yuzhou and title of General Who Pacifies the North; grant Liu Biao a Governorship of Jingzhou and title of General Who Pacifies the South; grant Tao Qian a Governorship of Xuzhou and title of General Who Pacifies the East; grant Zhu Jun a Governorship of Jiaozhou, and Shi Xie a Governorship of Yangzhou — what of it? But if you think this can shake the two men Cao and Liu, you are somewhat taking things for granted. As for Cao and Liu contending for alliance leader and breeding discord, I find it somewhat absurd... Perhaps the reason they have lingered here so long is simply that they haven't seen each other for years and wish to take this chance to enjoy the snow and drink wine together!"

The hall fell silent for a moment. After a long pause, it was Lu Fan who voiced a slight question: "Why does my lord say this?"

"For no other reason." Gongsun Xun gazed at the snowflakes gradually beginning to drift from the sky, still not turning his head, merely raising his voice to address them himself. "The lords of the Central Plains, each seemingly possessing their own merits; the heroes of the realm, seemingly a mixed host of dragons and serpents. But under the current circumstances, in this world, those who dare to rise up and stand before me are only Cao and Liu! How could these two men contend over something like alliance leader? In their eyes, there is only me. And though the southern lords are many, in my eyes, there are also only these two men!"

The hall fell silent once more.

"Shall we drink?" Gongsun Xun suddenly turned his head and asked. "Back in the fifth month, Xuande sent many salted plums from Huainan to Chang'an for my mother. As my mother happened to be relocating, in order to store them, she specially preserved them in wine and brought them to Yecheng. Today, with the snow falling, why don't we set aside official duties for a while, warm wine with salted plums, and amuse ourselves enjoying the snow?"

The crowd looked at each other, increasingly bewildered.

The snow fell in flurries, yet it could not conceal the fervent hearts of men.

In Xinye, Nanyang, because the covenant agreement had not yet been formally concluded, the various lords still had not dispersed. Only because this place was not under their jurisdiction, the various parties simply each occupied sectors, pavilions, and lodges within the city for extended stays. And since all the major lords of the Central Plains were gathered here, it was inevitable that high officials and nobles, famous scholars and Confucians, gallant heroes and brave warriors came and went through the city seeking to offer their services, not to mention the accompanying literati and heroes the lords themselves had brought.

For a time, various factions intersected, coming and going, social engagements continuous, goblets and cups intermingling. People either discussed the grand trends of the realm, or talked of future prospects, or debated the true meaning of the classics, or simply clasped their swords by the doorways, singing with heroic fervor... In any case, no one cared whether the weather was cold or not.

On this day, in the afternoon, as the deep winter snow of the eleventh month fell once more, Cao Cao was reading in the pavilion where he resided when he suddenly heard Xu Chu report that Liu Bei had come to visit, bringing only Zhang Fei, and was already inside the gate. Cao Mengde hurriedly rose from his couch beside the brazier and went out wearing wooden clogs to welcome him.

"Elder brother, you live quite comfortably here!" Liu Bei strode boldly and alone into the rear quarters. Seeing from afar the books still on the couch beside the other man, he could not help but be moved to laughter.

Cao Cao immediately burst into hearty laughter, hastily pushed Xu Chu aside, stepped forward to grasp the other's hands, and arm in arm they went inside.

Once the two were seated, Cao Cao naturally opened his mouth to inquire: "To what do I owe this, my younger brother?"

Liu Bei sat cross-legged and sideways on the couch, speaking slowly and calmly: "Back in the fifth month of this year, when your foolish younger brother was touring the counties of Jianghuai, it happened to be the plum rain season, and I saw the plums gradually turning yellow. It also happened that a caravan from the Anli Trading Company heading south to buy tea was passing through. I thought that the Elder Lady Gongsun in Chang'an was originally from Jianghuai and might perhaps think fondly of this thing. So I specially picked many, salted and pickled them, and entrusted them to be sent to Chang'an as a small token of filial regard... After the Elder Lady Gongsun received the plums, she was just about to relocate to Yecheng, so she wrote back to instruct me, telling me that with plums, when they are greenish-yellow and ripe, if you put them in wine, they can be preserved for a long time and also make the wine's flavor fresh and fragrant!"

Hearing of plums, tea, and wine, Cao Cao's mouth had long been watering. Now, hearing the end, how could he bear it?

But just as he was about to rise and inquire, it suddenly struck him: by the time the letter had returned to Huainan, the plum season was long past. Where could there still be plum wine to drink? He was momentarily overcome with disappointment.

However, seeing this, Liu Bei suddenly laughed again: "Your foolish younger brother was also regretful at the time that the season had passed. Yet I never imagined that the Elder Lady Gongsun had long been prepared. She actually had the returning caravan bring along a jar of fine wine with salted plums... She said I should wait until deep winter, when the snow falls in flurries, find one or two bosom friends, warm the wine, enjoy the snow, and freely discuss the past and future. Would that not be wonderful?!"

Cao Cao laughed heartily, almost laughing his saliva out. Then, merely wiping his mouth, he rose and walked out: "I just knew that Zhang Yide had not come in all this time — he must be outside with Zixiao, preparing some fine thing! Come, come! Though I have nothing of particular value here, I do have mutton hotpot noodles and a courtyard full of flying snow to accompany the wine. With such a life, what more could one ask for?"

Liu Bei likewise threw his head back and laughed, then followed Cao Cao together toward the front courtyard.

Sure enough, upon reaching the front courtyard, Zhang Fei had long since arranged a low table and hotpot with Cao Ren under the corridor in the courtyard. A large jar of wine bearing the Anli Trading Company's mark had also already been opened. Although the weather was cold and the wine had not yet been truly warmed, the fragrance of the wine could actually be smelled through the drifting snow, making one's mouth water all the more.

And so it was that the five of them shared the same table — Xu Chu, Zhang Fei, and Cao Ren keeping them company — appreciating the snow, warming wine, eating noodles, and holding plums in their mouths, all without hindering the occasion; it was a rare moment of true contentment.

But after several rounds of wine, as the snow before them fell ever heavier, Cao Cao suddenly set down his cup and let out a sigh.

Liu Bei’s expression remained as usual as he calmly inquired, “In such fine moments, why does my elder brother Meng De act so? Is it worry for the House of Han, thoughts of old friends, or sighs over the affairs of the times?”

“All of them! All of them!” Cao Cao sat cross-legged and at ease behind the table, raised his cup and drained it in one draught, then carefully chewed and swallowed the pickled plum from the cup before speaking with deep feeling. “Worry for the House of Han, thoughts of old friends, sighs over the times and this life, and eyes set on the future… Xuande, tell me, why is it that in this world, things seldom go as one wishes?”

“Born between the reigns of Huan and Ling, who does not find that things seldom go as one wishes?” Liu Bei still showed neither joy nor anger. “We were born and grew up just as the realm crumbled day by day and the greater situation worsened day by day. In such circumstances, could we simply sit back and enjoy peace? And what we must do, is it not to ensure that our descendants may be born into a world where things go as they wish a little more often?”

“Well said.” Cao Cao gave a bitter smile. “That we, as true men, were born into this age of chaos is not our fault. But whether we can ensure our descendants are not raised in an age of chaos — that is our ambition.”

“And as for the old friends you are thinking of, could it be the very one I am thinking of as well?”

“Naturally. I recall the last time we were this carefree was likely when we pacified the Yellow Turbans at Yingchuan, and after our great victory at Changshe, we held a grand feast by the banks of the Qi River. I remember it was you, Xuande, who struck it lucky that day?”

“Indeed, it was my good fortune to capture Bo Cai.”

“And that night, the two of us, along with Brother Wentai… we even sang songs and danced together, did we not?”

“The lyrics were composed by my brother Gongsun Wenqi… ‘A true man in this world achieves merit and fame; achieving merit and fame consoles this life…’ Does my elder brother Meng De know?”

“Know what?”

“That lad A Ce, all along the way he remained resentful. When he reached Liyang, on the verge of crossing the river with no hope of return, he stood on the river, held his spear crosswise, and sang this very song. Only after three full renditions did he depart in sorrow… Were it not for that, I would have almost thought him nothing but a brash boy clinging to power and territory. I never expected he still possessed something of Brother Wentai’s heroic bearing!”

“If only we could return to those times!” Remembering those bygone scenes, Cao Cao was also overcome with grief and shed tears.

“What good would returning to those times do?” Liu Bei slowly shook his head and personally refilled the other man’s cup. “If we returned to those times, could we have stopped Emperor Ling from raising taxes? Lord Wenrao, my teacher whose taboo name was Zigong, Brother Wenqi, Lord Sima Shuyi — none of these men could stop it; could we have stopped it? If we could not stop Emperor Ling from raising taxes, nor stop all of Liangzhou from rebelling, would we not simply have to go through it all over again? Surely my elder brother Meng De does not think that merely by killing Dong Zhuo and saving He Jin, this realm would not have fallen apart?”

Cao Cao grew even more despondent: “How could I not know that the realm is already sick to the marrow? When I spoke of returning to those times, I was merely longing for the joy of gathering with old friends.”

“In that case, why not lead the masses of the Central Plains to surrender at Yecheng?” Liu Bei suddenly asked, out of the blue. “That way, not only could you gather often with old friends, but perhaps you might even see peace across the realm sooner?”

——————I am the better-off-surrendering dividing line——————

“After the Grand Ancestor had destroyed Yuan Shao and pacified Hebei, he shifted his headquarters to Yecheng, divided the provinces and appointed governors, all subordinate to the General of the Guards’ office, and the realm trembled in awe… It happened that Sun Jian, General Who Defeats the Caitiffs, died… Liu Bei, Inspector of Yuzhou, led a light force into Jiangxia, captured Yuan Shu, and then issued an open letter to the realm, summoning the lords of the Central Plains to assemble at Xinye in Nanyang. The letter was sent in the ninth month, and by the end of the tenth month all the lords had arrived. However, some said that Cao Cao and Liu Bei contended for precedence; some said that Lu Bu sought to protect Yuan Shu; some said that Tao Qian was growing old and frail and had no interest in great affairs; some said that Liu Biao coveted Nanyang; some said that Zhu Hao wished to request troops to pacify Sun Ce. Thus it dragged on until the eleventh month with no resolution. One day during a heavy snow, the lords convened again. Before much could be said, disputes broke out anew. The Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Yang Biao, overcome with indignation, hurled the imperial staff he bore into the snow and pointed with his finger, saying: ‘Now the heart of the General of the Guards is known to every passerby. The Son of Heaven’s staff is no different from grass and wood. I have received the grace of Han, yet am powerless while holding this staff — may it not just as well be discarded?’ The lords heard this and blushed with shame, yet all matters remained as difficult to resolve as before.” — New Book of Yan, Scroll 62, Biographies 12

(End of Chapter)