[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-444":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},1223203,1620,"Chapter 444: White Snow Falls in the Courtyard (Part 2)","overthrowing-han-chapter-444",444,"\u003Cp>\"In that case, why not lead the multitudes of the Central Plains to surrender at Yecheng?\" Amid the banquet, Liu Bei, seated at the same table, suddenly asked an unexpected question. \"That way, not only could you keep constant company with old friends, but perhaps you might even see peace across the realm all the sooner?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Cao turned and fixed his gaze upon his sworn brother Xuande. Seeing the other's clear eyes and composed expression, he too slowly shook his head. \"Simply unwilling to accept it! Besides, our Cao clan has received the Han's grace for generations. If you tell me to follow Wenqi... then what place will the Han throne have in the future? Didn't Yang Wenxian say it this very morning? The General of the Guard's ambition is known to every passerby! And Xuande, tell me yourself — is not the revival of the Han throne also where the great cause lies? Here we are today, with nothing we cannot say to each other... Tell me, he, Gongsun Wenqi, might perhaps be a wise sovereign for a time, but could his sons and grandsons truly never produce another Emperor Huan or Emperor Ling? I am a Han subject, I keep the Han code — may I not? Could that be wrong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I find myself quite in agreement.\" Liu Bei suddenly looked moved and laughed. \"In truth, I too am unwilling to accept it. I too wish to revive the Han throne!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could have expected that, upon hearing these words, Cao Cao, far from showing solemn respect, would instead slap the table and laugh loudly. \"My revival of the Han throne is a true revival of the Han throne. When you imperial clansmen speak of reviving the Han throne, I fear you mean to revive the Son of Heaven's seat right under your own backsides! Whether it be Liu Yan, or Liu Biao, and now today one more Liu Bei... It is as they say: 'Zixia teaching by the Western River made men mistake him for the Sage himself!'\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside them, Zhang Fei and the others all froze for a moment, then lowered their heads again to drink, merely tilting their ears to listen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is not necessarily so.\" Liu Bei answered slowly. \"Still, the name of an imperial clansman does carry some weight... Does Elder Brother Mengde know? These years I have sat in Huainan, carving up provinces and commanderies, yet in my heart I have often been uneasy. I always felt that anyone in the realm could contend with my elder brother Gongsun Wenqi in the name of the Han, and I alone could not face him in decisive battle — because the so-called great cause of the Han is, for me, in truth a private matter. And if it is judged by private interest, what right do I have to contend with my elder brother for private gain? The first brocade robe I ever owned, the first mount I ever rode — he sent Han Yigong to deliver them to me. By all reason, if he wanted my life, I, as his younger brother, ought to go to my death for him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But still you are unwilling!\" Cao Cao, still sneering, slapped the table in response. \"Am I right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In my youth, I saw a mulberry tree before my family gate spreading like a canopy, and as a Liu clan descendant I was mocked by others, so from early on I bred an ambition to concern myself with the realm's affairs — of course I am unwilling... Yet ever since I bound up my hair, I have also encountered my elder brother Gongsun Wenqi, and been bound by the grace of that man. I have struggled for many years, yet still find it hard to let go...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What exactly does Xuande wish to say? Are you here like a maiden confiding her heart to a close friend in the inner chambers?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I merely wish to ask Elder Brother Mengde — what must I do to righteously and boldly lead a hundred thousand foot and horse to face my elder brother in decisive battle on the field, and settle this unwillingness once and for all?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is no way.\" Cao Cao abruptly shook his head. \"All your life, you can only be the younger brother of the General of the Guard...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well said.\" Liu Bei answered frankly. \"All my life I shall be the younger brother of the General of the Guard. But Elder Brother Mengde, it is precisely because of this that I have gradually come to realize — if I can unfold my elder brother's purpose for him, perhaps I may find some measure of peace...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What purpose? Is his ambition not... known to every passerby?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you think so, then you underestimate him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You mean the New Policies?\" Cao Cao raised his goblet and drank again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ever since I bound up my hair and followed my elder brother, I have been deeply steeped in his influence. I believe he truly wishes to seek a way out for this realm, and I also truly feel that all his words hold reason. The decay of the Han throne lies first in the powerful houses annexing the land and the great clans monopolizing official posts, and only then in the powerful and noble falling into depravity and shamelessness... All these I have seen with my own eyes... I hear that Elder Brother Mengde, in Yanzhou and Yuzhou, in your land surveys and examinations, have met with obstruction from within?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you continue to carry them out?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can!\" Cao Cao spoke with absolute resolve. \"If I cannot, then what talk is there of restoring the Han throne?! Restore it to the Han throne of the former Emperors Huan and Ling?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I thought as much... In truth, if Elder Brother Wenqi, you, and I all carry out the New Policies in parallel, in this time when the realm is in ruin and chaos, who could possibly resist?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So this is your meaning?\" Cao Cao stared at Liu Bei, whose face still betrayed neither joy nor anger, and suddenly understood. \"You feel that if the New Policies can be made to prevail across the realm, then even facing Gongsun Wenqi in decisive battle on the field would not matter? Because regardless of which of you two wins or loses, that man's governance would endure?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elder Brother Mengde has it half right!\" Liu Bei finally laughed aloud. \"Even so, I would still have no face to confront him... But if it were so, perhaps I could support Elder Brother Mengde from the rear as you face my Elder Brother Wenqi in decisive battle on the field. And should we by chance prevail, I would then fight Elder Brother Mengde to the death! Please rest assured, Elder Brother Mengde — though the bond between you and me is not as close as that between me and my Elder Brother Gongsun Wenqi, after all, we have pledged to entrust our wives to one another... When you die, I, Bei, shall care for your wife!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Cao stared blankly for a long moment, then raised his goblet and laughed uproariously together with Liu Bei — laughed until tears burst forth, laughed until the wine in his hand spilled from the goblet and splashed upon the hot pot, sending up green smoke, laughed until the three men beside them stared dumbfounded, yet none uttered a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I cannot tell,\" Cao Cao laughed for a long while before finally catching his breath from the convulsions, then shook his head repeatedly, \"whether my worthy younger brother Xuande holds me in high regard or looks down on me. Have you been lingering here all this time, letting Lu Bu, Liu Biao, Yang Biao, and those others bicker and quarrel, always unwilling to settle the final matters — was it all just to make this resolution?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed. I spent a great deal of time carefully observing the various lords of the Central Plains, yet after all my looking, I found that only Elder Brother Mengde can undertake this task!\" Liu Bei put away his smile and spoke with solemn sincerity. \"And so today I have at last made my resolve!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The lords of the Central Plains are all the finest choices of the age. How is it that you single me, Cao Cao, out alone for such high regard?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because this matter requires a true hero to accomplish it...\" Liu Bei answered frankly. \"Reforming and renewing the governance, uniting and commanding the Central Plains, and finally deciding victory against my Elder Brother Gongsun Wenqi on the field... How could anyone but a true hero shoulder such a charge?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tao of Xuzhou, that cousin-uncle of yours by marriage — is he not a hero?\" Cao Cao also abruptly reined in his laughter, then plucked a pickled plum from his wine goblet and chewed it steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That uncle by marriage of my wife — were he ten years younger, he might indeed be accounted half a hero. But he is old and decrepit, his spirit gradually fading, his heroic mettle shortened. He can no longer be counted a hero!\" Liu Bei's expression was ordinary as he answered slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And what of that whelp Sun Ce?\" Cao Cao continued to ask with a sidelong, disdainful glance. \"Did you not say that he composes songs with his lance laid across the river, quite reminiscent of the style of Elder Brother Wentai?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why does Elder Brother Mengde jest? Never mind that whelp A Ce — even if our Elder Brother Wentai were restored to life, if he only applied military force and knew nothing of governance, he would still be but half a hero.\" Liu Bei answered bluntly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Cao poured more wine and asked again. \"Liu Jingsheng holds six commanderies. Though he has suffered a temporary setback, his strength is still the greatest. He crouches like a tiger in Jingzhou, is renowned as a celebrated scholar of the realm, called one of the Eight Paragons, employing both civil and martial means — does he not count as a hero in your eyes either?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Bei accepted the wine and answered. \"I have recently observed him closely in person. Though that man may be called a choice talent of the age, he has only the ability of a Three Excellencies in peaceful times. In chaotic times, he is but a dog — what talk is there of a hero?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speaking of applying military force in chaotic times, there is a man right here in this city who just routed me utterly with five thousand new recruits. Does he not count as a hero?\" Cao Cao casually pointed outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lu Bu is a hero among mere brutes, unworthy even to ascend the hall and enter the chamber. We keep him only to set Liu of Jingzhou's mind at ease — what talk is there of a hero?\" Liu Bei's face openly showed contempt. \"And under the present great circumstances, thinking of nothing else, spending all day together with Yang Wenxian demanding the return of his father-in-law's family — it is truly laughable! If you ask me, just give them to him, and see whether with a territory of three counties he can even afford to support that father-in-law of his!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then as for the likes of Liu Yan, Shi Xie, Zhu Jun, the two Yuans, Yang Biao — there is even less need to speak of them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Naturally so.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That being the case...\" Cao Cao laughed once more, pointing a finger at himself. \"The so-called heroes of the realm...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The so-called heroes of the realm today — first and foremost is that Liaoxi brute, sitting north of the River holding the Hegemon's broken blade, establishing new governance and carrying out policies, employing both civil and martial means, forming his own complete system!\" Liu Bei interrupted him, raising his goblet in his hand and pointing north as he spoke, then smoothly poured the wine onto the snowy ground before the table as a distant tribute. Only then did he fling the goblet aside, turn his head, and point with his hand at Cao Cao before him and himself. \"Beneath that man, there are two brutes, one south and one north in the Central Plains, who overestimate their own strength and wish to use their private ambitions to contend for the realm's affairs — these may barely be called heroes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Cao stared speechless for a long moment, then threw his head back and laughed aloud once more. When the laughter ended, he raised his head proudly and replied. \"To be ranked alongside Xuande beneath that Liaoxi brute — Cao's life has not been lived in vain! Tomorrow I shall convene the lords and ask Xuande to nominate Cao as leader of the alliance. Only, Cao's strength is weak, and I must borrow the strength of you, this brute, before I dare to go and face that Liaoxi brute to the north openly and honorably, and contend with him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these words, the two laughed together, and there was no longer any barrier between them. They immediately settled the matter — returning Jiangxia to Liu Biao; granting Lu Bu a territory of three counties as a buffer; permitting Yuan Shu to be placed under house arrest in Xinye, forbidden to leave the city; having Yang Biao return west to Chang'an to make contact with Liu Yu and others; warning Sun Ce not to seize Zhu Hao's territory in Yuzhang... In just a few brief words, they settled the great situation of the Central Plains that had been unresolved for months, then drank again until evening before returning fully content.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the sky gradually darkened, in the rear courtyard of the General of the Guard's residence in Yecheng, Gongsun Xun, equally content from drinking, was draped in a white sable cloak. With one hand holding each, he led his eldest daughter Gongsun Li and his second daughter Gongsun Zhen as they strolled across the snowy ground. Beside him walked another figure in a black cloak — the Chief Clerk of the General of the Guard's residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang De, leading Jia Kui, Meng Da, Yang Xiu, and the other sworn followers, could only follow at a distance behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ziheng, it seems today you had quite a lot to say, but I suddenly proposed drinking, and so you let it drop?\" Gongsun Xun, carrying a slight tipsiness, asked casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing escapes my lord...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What matter is it?\" Gongsun Xun asked directly. \"Something that could make you avoid discussing the Nanyang alliance — I imagine this matter may be no small thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To say it is no small thing may not be so, but neither can it be called a minor matter... It is a hidden peril, and one that seems unavoidable.\" By now, Lu Fan no longer showed any intention of concealing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speak.\" Gongsun Xun was equally direct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By this time, the two had already reached the gate of the rear courtyard. Seeing her father speaking with Lu Fan, Gongsun Li rushed ahead a step to open the rear gate for them. Yet after opening the gate, seeing that in the evening hour the accumulated snow outside was a pure, unbroken white, gleaming and luminous, she disregarded that she had only come to see her father off, turned directly around, seized her younger sister, and together they leaped out the rear gate to trample and play in the snow... Behind them, several sworn followers immediately surged out the gate and, together with the sworn followers on duty in the small fortification atop the wall outside, fanned out at a distance to encircle these two young ladies who were, in the truest sense, the foremost two daughters in all the realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Lu Fan felt a stir in his heart and continued to pace forward, speaking as he walked. \"To be honest with my lord, this matter was in fact first detected by Prefect Zao of Guangyang, and then reported up through Youzhou... It concerns the matter of corvée labor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun's expression remained ordinary as he followed the man and slowly walked out of the rear courtyard, then naturally headed in the direction of Lu Fan's home. Seeing this, the two sisters, Gongsun Li and Gongsun Zhen, also turned and followed back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the two sisters, one twelve and the other ten, could not help but be full of childish whimsy, repeatedly wandering left and right across the snow. It could only be said that they were, after all, accompanying the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is like this.\" Lu Fan continued to explain. \"Previously, when the military agricultural colonies and civilian agricultural colonies had not yet been disbanded, the freedom of the colonists was restricted, and so naturally there was no need to give corvée labor any thought — whatever task arose, the colonists were simply summoned to do it. But now that the agricultural colonies in Youzhou have been disbanded and the land equalized to each household, and our New Policies contain no changes regarding corvée, then relying on the statutes of the Qin and Han, corvée labor naturally returns... That in itself is no problem. But since we have the policy of apportioning the poll tax to the land in order to prevent powerful houses from evading it through land annexation, then what of this corvée labor, which is likewise based on population?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun's expression remained as ordinary as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord already knew of this matter?\" Lu Fan gave a rueful smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Naturally. Zao Zhi is a talent I hold in extremely high regard, yet he is diligent and earnest and does not know how to curry favor, so I must protect him. I specially permitted him, like the two-ranked Provincial Governors and Generals, to submit memorials in duplicate — one copy sent through official channels to you, Shen Zhengnan, Lou Zibo, and the others, and one copy delivered directly into my hands.\" Gongsun Xun spoke frankly. \"And as for this matter, not only have I long since known of it, I have also discussed it in detail with my mother... Ziheng, this is precisely where the difficulty of reform lies. You think you have reformed, established New Policies, but as you go forward, the New Policies will always encounter new problems. At such times, there is no choice but to press forward and continue reforming, reform thoroughly — or else abandon the New Policies and retreat! What else? Can one simply muddle through?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fan also stroked his beard and shook his head. \"In other words, my lord has already made his resolve to likewise apportion corvée labor to the land?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Correct!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But there is still a hidden worry in this, as my lord surely also knows.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Naturally.\" Gongsun Xun sighed. \"The poll tax has always been in copper coin — a dozen or so coins per person per year. When calculated into the farmland, it is merely a conversion between the two basic common goods of coin and grain, so it is not felt at all. But corvée labor is far more complex... hulling grain, building walls, herding, plowing and weaving — to apportion it to the land, there is in fact a process of converting miscellaneous tasks and miscellaneous goods into coin. And the common people only produce grain and are already short of coin. Once the coin they must pay increases, then who will be responsible for this conversion between grain, miscellaneous goods, and currency becomes an enormous problem... If left to the private sector, in the end it will likely become a means for powerful houses to control the common people through usury. If entrusted to low-level officials, it gives them somewhat excessive power. If separate clerks are appointed, it will also increase the burden on the common people! That Zao Zhi could discover this matter — my mother praised him as a true, practical, capable official, and I quite agree!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But it must be done... this matter cannot be avoided,\" Lu Fan interjected. \"Have you and the Old Madam discussed any conclusions?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It comes down to two paths,\" Gongsun Xun said with a frown. \"One is to reform the currency system, using the grain vouchers and cloth vouchers that the Anli Trading House once issued in the army as a model and extending them to the civilian population... But on this matter, even my mother is somewhat apprehensive, afraid it won't be handled well. And even if it is handled well, the Anli Trading House itself faces a dilemma. On one hand, if it were taken under direct control like the Privy Treasurer, there would inevitably be direct interference in the future, with vouchers and currency issued recklessly on a whim, throwing monetary policy into chaos. On the other hand, if it is not brought under direct control, there is the worry that it will grow too powerful to be reined in, using this enterprise to stand on its own, so that in the future we would be hesitant to act against it for fear of collateral damage, and it would instead spiral out of control!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And what is the other method?\" Lu Fan pondered for a long while, but found it awkward to comment on the Anli Trading House, a matter touching upon the relationship between Gongsun Xun and his mother, so he could only avoid the topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The other method is one that is hard to say whether it is a stalling tactic or a true root-and-branch solution,\" Gongsun Xun said, spreading his hands. \"In principle, as long as gold, silver, and copper are abundant throughout the realm, and wuzhu coins and gold and silver circulate widely as goods, then there would be no need to overthink exchanging sundry goods, miscellaneous items, and grain for money—just exchange them freely...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But can gold, silver, and copper be perpetually abundant?\" Lu Fan asked, bewildered. \"Once peace comes, won't they be buried with the dead and cast into vessels?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is why my mother says we must seek out mines. Barely four hundred li east across the sea from the Three Han territories lie four great islands... It is said these islands have gold, silver, and copper that are easy to mine. One of the silver mountains is called 'Iwami'—silver ore is visible to the naked eye in the rock. And on one of the islands, there is some kind of volcano in the middle, with sulfur that can never be fully transported away piled up beside it...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fan seemed about to speak, then stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know, I know,\" Gongsun Xun nodded repeatedly. \"Once this matter was laid out, I too felt apprehensive, and my mother felt the same... Yet on the other hand, after this chaos of war, while the population has greatly decreased, the tombs of high officials and nobles have been robbed, and the hoards of powerful families and wealthy households have been plundered, so for now there will be no coin shortage. And this matter is something destined to become a great problem, but perhaps you and I will both be dead before it ever manifests, so there is an unavoidable urge to evade it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having spoken thus far, Gongsun Xun stopped and stood upon the snowy ground, sighing with emotion for a moment: \"In the end, no one truly knows what future generations will be like. If not for worrying that there will be no one to carry on after us, and fearing that our policies will die with us, why would you and I trouble ourselves with such thoughts? On a great winter's day, holding our children and drinking wine, while casually writing letters to old friends and kin about today's auspicious snow—wouldn't that be a fine pleasure?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fan too was lost in emotion for a moment, and was about to speak: \"Speaking of children...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speaking of children... where are A-Li and A-Zhen?\" Gongsun Xun suddenly sobered up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reporting to my lord!\" Jia Kui hurried forward. \"The two young ladies just passed by the rear gate of the Grand Academy, saw the vast expanse of white snow filling the courtyard inside, and could not resist running in to play.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun had sited the Grand Academy behind his own residence, the former mansion of Zhao Zhong; the rear gates of the two faced each other diagonally across a street, no more than a few hundred paces apart... They had already walked past it by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Gongsun Xun had no choice but to turn back quickly. Lu Fan's residence happened to be directly across the street from the Grand Academy's main gate, so he could also cut through the Academy to return home, and thus no one thought anything of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two men entered through the Academy's broad rear gate and soon found the two girls, who had long since been playing wildly. They hastily summoned them to their sides, then prepared to cross through the Academy and head toward the front gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the sun had already set, the white snow reflected a bright glow at this moment. The Grand Academy was also one of the rare open spaces within Ye City, and the two girls were just at a mischievous age—when had they ever seen such a sight? As they followed beside their father, they were utterly exhilarated, chattering and clamoring without cease... However, when the two followed their father around a corner and arrived before a certain place, they could not help but fall silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out that this place was the Academy's Library Pavilion. By years-long rule, one must keep silent and speak in low voices beside the Library Pavilion, and guard against fire day and night. The two girls had long since learned this rule back in Changping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group trod upon the snow, the sound rustling and crunching, and were about to quickly pass the towering library building. But just as they were about to walk past, Lu Fan suddenly let out a startled, questioning sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun looked in the direction of the sound and was also stunned. It turned out that there was still a person inside the great hall on the ground floor of the library! Looking more carefully, he saw that this person was actually holding a book, sitting sideways on the door threshold, his back facing outward. It was clearly forbidden to have lamps or fire inside the hall, yet he was reluctant to leave, so he simply used the snow outside the hall to reflect light and read by it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only, the weather was too cold, and he could not help but shrink back from it, which was why he leaned inside the doorway in such a posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun and Lu Fan looked at each other in bewilderment... Both knew that they had stumbled upon this scene by chance, so this person was absolutely not putting on an act, and they could not resist slowly stepping forward together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet when they drew near, the two could not help but break into laughter. For although from a distance this person looked like a youth with bound hair reading, upon closer observation they realized his frame had not yet fully matured; he was merely naturally tall for his age... Judging by his age, he should only be thirteen or fourteen, and the hair bound atop his head looked very forced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he was ultimately a lover of learning, and this was absolutely a tale worthy of praise. Since they had encountered him, they ought to offer some reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Greetings to General of the Guard!\" Just as they were about to speak, the youth had already sensed the arrivals. He immediately stood, put away the woodblock-printed copy of the *Guanzi* in his hand, bowed with clasped hands, and spoke with a mouthful of a Qingzhou-Xuzhou accent. For a youth of his age, he was quite composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young sir, you recognize me?\" Gongsun Xun was momentarily taken aback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have never before seen the true countenance of the General of the Guard,\" the youth replied promptly. \"Only, the broken blade at the General of the Guard's bosom is far too conspicuous. Coupled with the sworn retinue around you, who else could it be at this time and place?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun laughed in spite of himself and used both hands to push back the two girls who were curiously poking their heads out from behind him. He then continued his inquiry: \"How is it that you are reading here? I recall that all Grand Academy students who pass the examination receive a grain stipend, have dormitories outside the city, and can also borrow books to take away from the Library Pavilion, can they not?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reporting to the General of the Guard, this young one arrived late with his elder brother and missed the autumn recruitment,\" the youth raised his head and answered frankly, without haste. \"It is only that the old teacher who manages the local Library Pavilion has always been kind to us book-sponging youths, deliberately coming here only after dinner each evening to tidy up. That is why I could not resist staying here a while longer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So that is how it is... No wonder your clothing is not shabby, yet you are here reading by the snow's reflection.\" Lu Fan was also greatly intrigued. \"So it was for fear of delaying the library manager, Elder Wei, and not daring to leave... Where is your elder brother?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reporting to this honored sir,\" the youth remained unhurried as before. \"My family is from Langya. Four years ago, my late father passed away from illness in Taishan while serving as Commandery Assistant. It happened to coincide with the Qingzhou-Xuzhou Yellow Turban uprising, which cut off the roads, so we could only bury him and observe mourning rites there in Taishan Commandery, and have remained in Taishan ever since... It was not until the General of the Guard took Qingzhou, and the General Who Guards the East cleared out the Taishan bandits after autumn, that we were able to come here. However, upon arriving and missing the recruitment, we unexpectedly encountered several people from Huainan and heard news of my clan uncle. It was said that my clan uncle, having failed to secure the post of Grand Administrator of Yuzhang, had taken leave from Governor Liu of Jingzhou to return to Langya. Apparently, after Hebei and the Central Plains were pacified, he had heard news of my late father and had come specifically to seek out the five of us siblings... My elder brother dared not delay, so he hastily settled us in the residence of a friend in the city and went south alone to meet our clan uncle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To think you are so articulate and methodical,\" Lu Fan praised him all the more, then turned his head to look at Gongsun Xun. \"My lord, it seems that perhaps we need not worry too much about the affairs of the future...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun laughed upon hearing this, and simply unfastened the white sable cloak he was wearing and draped it directly over this youth with the lanky frame: \"In that case, let this be an advance gift, as a pre-order for 'the future,' so to speak... I have yet to hear the name of this young gentleman who reads by the snow's reflection!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zhuge Liang of Langya, and my elder brother Zhuge Jin!\" The youth held his book in one hand and hastily pressed down the cloak that was about to slip off with the other, yet hurriedly bowed to announce his name. His flustered appearance drew stifled giggles from the two girls behind Gongsun Xun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So it is.\" Gongsun Xun could not help but clap his hands and laugh again. \"A fine name! Study hard, and as Ziheng said, with young gentlemen like you, the affairs of the future and the people of the future may not be beyond hope!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————I am the \"may not be beyond hope\" dividing line————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At the end of Han, after Shu was captured by Liu Bei, he wished to kill him, box his head, and send it to Chang'an. Only because of the Central Plains alliance, his son-in-law Lu Bu and his brother-in-law Yang Biao both pleaded most earnestly, so he was bound over to Lu Bu's place and kept under house arrest. Bu, being Yuan Shu's son-in-law, treated him with all due kindness. However, Bu's territory was narrow, consisting only of the three counties of Xinye, Chaoyang, and Deng, and he was constrained by Cao Cao and Liu Biao, unable to manage civil affairs, so there was nothing to spare in the city. When Shu returned to Xinye, he asked the kitchen for venison, but there was only pig offal. It was deep winter, and hearing that Cao and Liu were drinking green plum wine, he desired green plum wine as well, but there was none. Shu sat on his couch, sighed for a long time, then wailed loudly: 'Has Yuan Shu come to this!' He nearly wished for death, but was stopped by his daughter. Several days later, he ultimately ate the pig offal as usual.\" — *A New Account of the Tales of the World*, Chapter on Wrath and Stubbornness\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A poem says:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In life he once faced the Han feudal lords, victory and defeat, strength and weakness, not his own to command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The land split, war drums and army horns urgent; flames of war link the sky, battle clouds in autumn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless times they hacked hair and tempered swords; blood-oaths of alliance could not reach their end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who now will serve a wise sovereign for this age? The lord governor holds his office in Youzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Setting sun on green hills, old debts of grace remain; the great river pours east, never to flow back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If only the height of summer could long endure, at times climbing high towers to gaze at old halls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the battle, three million jade dragons; meeting once, all grudges are forgotten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when old does one know that books bring mischief; ancient trees and new vines now share one mound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The great river flows east, a thousand drifts of snow; sitting firm south of the Huai, the war does not cease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who under heaven can match these heroes? Cao and Liu!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lifetime speaks of future affairs; why ask about legacy when one has such sons?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>End of this volume\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: ok, nothing more tonight. Allow me this indulgence—I'm off to restore the Han dynasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of this chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",5769,"2026-06-04T19:42:52.587Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","a52433fad23ac7d328b8feee129558b1d434594ed80514be2d6c0cc3393a71e7","overthrowing-han-chapter-445","overthrowing-han-chapter-443",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]