[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-446":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},1223205,1620,"Chapter 446: Ancient Elixirs Are the Only Cures Sold by This Prescription","overthrowing-han-chapter-446",446,"\u003Cp>\"Are you not the Immortal Physician? Now that you are here, how can my father be beyond saving?\" In the season of May plum rains, within Xiapi City, Tao Shang, Tao Qian's eldest son, seemed utterly unable to accept his father's fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am no Immortal Physician...\" Hua Tuo, a doctor after all, could only force himself to reply. \"Nor did I say your honored father's illness cannot be treated. The superficial symptoms, this old man can treat them all. But your honored father is advanced in years, his body gradually declining; he had old injuries in his early days, and his temper seems none too good either. His whole body is full of leaks. Having reached this state, he is basically truly decrepit now. As the saying goes, when the ailment pervades the whole body, it is decay and weakness. Even if this old man treats the head when the head aches and the foot when the foot hurts, it would merely be a forced delay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Shang was about to grab Hua Tuo's sleeve to ask again, but unexpectedly, a young scholar behind Hua Yuanhua stepped forward directly, hand on his sword, and cut him off: \"Young Master Tao, must you force Lord Yuanhua to speak plainly? If you feel there is still anything unclear in Lord Yuanhua's words, then allow me to say it plainly... Your honored father's allotted lifespan is exhausted; it is no longer within human power to alter. Even if Lord Yuanhua came in person, it would merely be barely prolonging his life!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Correct.\" Behind him, Wu Pu also mustered his courage and responded. \"Rather than clinging to this so stubbornly, it would be better to let Lord Tao spend these few months more comfortably, and prepare some fine life-sustaining ginseng just in case. This is the proper way of a son and a subject!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Shang was momentarily dejected; behind him, his younger brother Tao Ying also lowered his head in silence. And the many important figures of Xu Province gathered in the hall — namely, Chen Gui, Grand Administrator of Donghai; Chen Deng, Colonel of Agricultural Affairs; Mi Zhu, Attendant Officer of the Separate Office; Mi Fang, Chancellor of Pengcheng; Cao Hong, Attendant Officer of the Administrative Office concurrently serving as Prefect of Xiapi; Cao Bao, Commandant of Cavalry; Ze Rong, Chancellor of Xiapi; Xu Dan, Colonel of Infantry; as well as Zhao Yu, Grand Administrator of Guangling; and Zang Ai (Zang Ba's eldest son), Attendant Officer... every last one of them was speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, it was actually Ze Rong who stepped forward and spoke with a solemn expression: \"The General Who Pacifies the East (Tao Qian) presides over a province; this matter concerns the grand situation of the realm. His life and death weigh heavier than Mount Tai. Even if it is beyond human power, you must all do your utmost to care for him here, and ask him to delay his ascent to the Ultimate Bliss a little longer...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that final phrase, \"Ultimate Bliss,\" eighty percent of those in the hall could not help but frown, yet none said anything. Instead, they could only nod in agreement... because no matter what, from a moral standpoint, and in terms of creating a buffer of time, temporarily prolonging Tao Qian's life at this moment was certainly not wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Tuo, being tactless in such matters, was about to refuse upon hearing this, thinking to leave only a disciple here. After all, it was merely sustaining the life of a decrepit old man; it hardly seemed to require him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Xu Yuanzhi saw through the situation clearly. Thus, he directly preempted Hua Tuo and raised his voice to reply on his behalf: \"Since ancient times, when a feudal lord passes away, there is inevitably internal strife and calamity. Lord Yuanhua, with the benevolent heart of a physician, has no objection to staying here. But there are two matters you must agree to here and now in this hall... First, while Lord Yuanhua is here, his disciple Wu Pu must leave Xu Province as quickly as possible and go to Nanyang to inform the Medical Sage, Lord Zhongjing, that his honored teacher is here. Second, for as long as Lord Yuanhua is in this place, I must remain by his side with my sword. Otherwise, even if you kill us today, we absolutely will not allow you flesh-eaters to manipulate us at will... Prefect Zhao, we were forcibly brought here by your armored soldiers. What do you say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people in the hall were momentarily stunned... After all, although Hua Tuo now had a great reputation, before the master of a province or commandery, he was ultimately just an unorthodox, non-mainstream scholar who dabbled in a marginal profession. Everyone outwardly maintained respect for the sake of their own health, but inwardly, most still held him in contempt. In essence, they merely wished to order him about. How could they have anticipated this turn of events?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, that being said, Zhao Yu was a man publicly acknowledged for his integrity and forthrightness. Being suddenly confronted to his face, and also genuinely feeling that the earlier coercion by armored soldiers had been excessive, after a brief hesitation, he agreed outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And once Zhao Yu agreed, Xu Shu bypassed Ze Rong and looked toward the Chen father and son, the Mi brothers, and the Cao uncle and nephew. These three families were all major local clans of Xu Province: one the head of the province's established gentry, one the province's immensely wealthy merchants, and one holding the province's local military power. They were all people who cared about their reputation. And indeed, under his gaze, Chen Gui promptly agreed, while Mi Zhu, Cao Hong, and the others also nodded in succession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having secured these promises, Xu Shu said no more. Only Chen Deng, Chen Yuanlong, the Colonel of Agricultural Affairs, could not help himself for a moment: \"Who are you, sir, to possess such insight and courage? And why do you accompany Lord Hua here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Xu Shu of Yingchuan, courtesy name Yuanzhi, of a solitary family background. I met Lord Yuanhua by chance on the road. Knowing that this journey to Xu Province would be perilous, I accompanied him...\" Xu Shu strode forward several steps, advancing until he stood directly before Chen Deng, and only then did he cup his hands in salute, his hand resting on his sword. \"I suppose a trivial and insignificant person like myself is not worthy of being recorded by Colonel Chen!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Deng, having been slapped in the face so directly, was even more dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be understood that two and a half years ago, at the Nanyang assembly, Chen Yuanlong's declaration — \"He who lashes the realm and reshapes the rivers and mountains, I revere Gongsun Wenqi... As for the rest, trivial and insignificant, how could they be worthy of record?\" — had made him renowned throughout the land as well... It was said that when the General of the Guards heard of it, he even mocked it with a single line: \"That brat certainly knows how to 'borrow a phrase'!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though no one knew exactly what that meant, it was, after all, a response from the General of the Guards!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet today, this Chen Yuanlong, who dared to \"borrow a phrase,\" found his spirit utterly overwhelmed in the presence of a solitary-family son from Yingchuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, what left the assembled power-holders of Xu Province in the hall even more dumbfounded was that Chen Deng, who ordinarily looked down on everyone, disregarding the endless drizzling rain outside the hall and the decrepit, dying Tao Qian within, directly bowed deeply and respectfully returned the salute: \"Chen Deng of Xiapi, today records one more man... A heroic spirit spanning lakes and seas, calm and unflappable — I revere Xu Yuanzhi of Yingchuan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Shu stood tall and unmoved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rain fell unceasingly. Wu Pu galloped away from Xiapi westward — of him, no more need be said. Xu Shu, along with Hua Tuo and the latter's several disciples, formally moved into a residence belonging to the Donghai Mi clan, directly opposite the General Who Pacifies the East's mansion, prepared to calmly provide end-of-life care for Tao Qian, while also permitting him to continue opening his doors to practice medicine and see patients.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon entering the courtyard, before they had even settled in, Hua Tuo summoned Xu Shu and publicly expressed his gratitude: \"For today's events, I must truly thank Yuanzhi. Otherwise, my disciples might well have been in real danger. Who knows what those military ruffians might have done... It is also my fault; because there was an old friend in the hall, I did not think too much of it at the time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Shu was about to modestly deflect the thanks when he suddenly froze: \"There was an old friend of Lord Yuanhua's in the hall? Who?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That Grand Administrator of Donghai, Chen Gui, Chen Hanyu, is precisely my old friend.\" Hua Tuo clasped his hands and spoke. \"In my youth, I was mainly in Xu Province. In my middle years, I traveled around the Wan and Luo region. I knew him from that time; it is a friendship of many years. Not only that, before the chaos of Dong Zhuo, while he was serving as Chancellor of Pei, he even wished to nominate me as Filial and Incorrupt, and he persuaded Huang Ziyan, who transferred from Governor of Yu Province to Grand Commandant, to summon me under the authority of the Three Excellencies, intending to raise my reputation and make it easier for me to enter office. But I impatiently refused... And earlier, back in Runan, when I said I was preparing to come north from Guangling to this place, it was actually because of their Chen clan. I could have a foothold in both Xiapi and Donghai... But regardless, I am still grateful to you today. I truly did not consider so much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Shu was momentarily embarrassed, unsure of what to say... He had long since perceived that the Chen father and son were first-rate power players in Xu Province. Had he known they were old acquaintances of Hua Tuo, why would he have made such an unnecessary move?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially Chen Deng's subsequent demeanor — he did not know whether Chen Deng genuinely admired him or thought he was merely gilding the lily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, judging by the days that followed, Chen Deng did indeed greatly admire Xu Shu. From that day on, he frequently visited Hua Tuo's separate courtyard. His purpose was simple and clear: he merely wished to befriend Xu Shu... Given the lofty status of the Xiapi Chen clan and Chen Yuanlong's own substantive office with a two-thousand-dan salary (in these times, no matter where one was, overseeing agricultural colonies was a post of paramount importance), his actions could be called treating the worthy with the utmost courtesy. Yet for some unknown reason, Xu Shu, born of a mere solitary family, was always unwilling to open his heart in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The May plum rains continued unbroken; the whole of Xu Province seemed steeped in dampness... It could not be called heavy rain, but the key was its unceasing nature — clear for three days, overcast for five, and drizzling intermittently the rest of the time. And in this vexing season, as the health of the General Who Pacifies the East and Governor of Xu Province, Tao Qian, within Xiapi City deteriorated day by day, and with him showing absolutely no intention of letting either of his two sons succeed him, the atmosphere both within and outside Xu Province grew increasingly tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, by late May, matters became utterly impossible to suppress:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, Zang Ba, the de facto controller of Langya Commandery and the key general on Xu Province's northern front, sent word back that the General Who Guards the East and Governor of Qing Province, Guan Yu, was mobilizing troops on a large scale southward to the Qing-Xu border. The troop strength even exceeded that of the military confrontation last year at Lu State, where Guan Yunchang had simultaneously faced off against Xu and Yan Provinces. The Langya region had already completely fallen into a state of war readiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately after, word also came from Pengcheng that General of Ferocious Valor Cao Cao had personally led ten thousand troops to garrison at Xiao County in northern Pei, and had sent his subordinate Attendant Officer Lu Qian as an envoy to first inquire after Tao Qian's health.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even before this, Liu Bei, returning in triumph, had directly halted at Gaixia in southern Pei... Like Cao Cao, he was no more than three days' swift ride from Xiapi. As for his envoy of inquiry, it was even more direct: his two wives and two daughters had all returned to their maiden home together, and Lady Gan had gone directly to her uncle's mansion to help prepare medicine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with such a situation, though the masses were tense, for those truly in the know, it was entirely within expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, in a sense, Xiapi Chancellor Ze Rong was absolutely correct. Tao Qian, as General Who Pacifies the East, as a major feudal lord of the Central Plains, as a pillar of the Central Plains alliance — for him to collapse at this moment was truly the worst possible timing, and truly fatal, for the grand situation of the realm, which, due to the Son of Heaven coming of age, had long been struggling to maintain balance!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun could not possibly pass up such a perfect opportunity. But conversely, Cao Cao and Liu Bei would absolutely never permit Xu Province to break away from their axis alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Son of Heaven had come of age in the fourth month, binding his hair. Over in Chang'an, they were still bickering; perhaps they could wrangle for a few more months. After all, the Son of Heaven was only sixteen; there was always time to drag things out. But no one expected that a colossal crisis would first erupt by the shores of the Eastern Sea, and that old wreck Tao Qian could not possibly wait for anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In my humble opinion, the affairs of Xu Province should be handled by the people of Xu. Our Xu Province is a land of outstanding people and natural treasures — five commanderies, over seventy cities. How can we not manage our own affairs...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this day, the weather had finally cleared. The rain that had drizzled on and off for the better part of a month gradually ceased. In the side courtyard of the residence where Hua Tuo lived, a group of Xiapi scholars who had just finished practicing the authentic Five Animal Frolics could not restrain themselves. They spread mats in the courtyard, drank tea, debated politics, and pointed out the lay of the land, thoroughly enjoying themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, the highest in status was naturally Colonel of Agricultural Affairs Chen Deng. Perhaps because he had not yet taken up his post in Guangling, he had not yet filled his belly with parasites, but he still came here daily to idle away his time... and this, in turn, attracted a large number of young scholars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, that remark had been made precisely for Chen Deng's ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Which man of Xu Province is capable of it?\" Chen Yuanlong, however, was not a man of good temper. His face immediately fell. \"In the five commanderies of Xu Province, is there truly someone who can match the General of the Guards, Liu of Yu Province, or Cao of Ferocious Valor... How is it that I am unaware of such a figure? And who are you, sir, that you can decide such a momentous matter with a single word?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The topic had barely begun before there was no longer any point in continuing... The young scholar who had been rebuked flushed crimson, yet dared not truly argue with this foremost young master of Xu Province, who was also the youngest substantive two-thousand-dan official in the province.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, out of shame and indignation, the man could only flick his sleeves and leave, hoping to preserve a shred of dignity. As for the others, seeing Chen Deng's attitude, they knew their trip today had been in vain and also sought excuses to depart one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the Immortal Physician's separate residence, originally harmonious and lively, became cold and deserted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Yuanlong, really.\" Xu Shu was utterly speechless. \"Even if you knew he was spouting nonsense, why humiliate him in public? As the saying goes, the wrath of a common man can still spill blood within five paces. And you, of all people, are a pampered, ornamental dandy who couldn't withstand a single saber stroke. Aren't you afraid of the unexpected...? Haven't such incidents been common since ancient times?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The wrath of a common man is not the same as the wrath of a common man.\" Sitting cross-legged on the mat in the courtyard side by side with Xu Shu, Chen Deng lifted the teapot before him. Without using a cup, he drank two mouthfuls of the hot tea, which was mixed with ginger slices and a precious specialty of the Southern Seas — pepper powder, reputed to be a sovereign remedy for dispelling cold. Only then did he calmly reply. \"A common man like you, sir — I would not dare provoke in the slightest, because if a common man like you is angered, blood truly will spill within five paces, and someone like me would die on the spot. But those people just now — when they, as common men, are angered, it amounts to nothing more than flicking their sleeves and leaving. Perhaps when they get home, they'll even bang their heads against the wall to show their indignation... Why should I need to care about them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuanzhi merely gave a derisive laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yuanzhi, do not disbelieve me.\" Seeing this, Chen Yuanlong set down the teapot and shook his head. \"What do these people truly come here for? Is it really just to seek medical treatment and learn the Five Animal Frolics? They merely wish to glean some information about the General Who Pacifies the East's condition from you, and to learn some high-level political developments from me, so they can speculate like those merchants... Among such people, how could there possibly be a true man of valor hidden?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Attendant Officer Mi is indeed of merchant origin. Yet even I, a man of Yingchuan, know he is a universally acknowledged capable official, a pillar of Xu Province. His younger brother was able to become Chancellor of Pengcheng — was that not because Cao of Ferocious Valor petitioned for the appointment on his account? Why must Brother Yuanlong make veiled accusations? And besides, the General of the Guards was able to achieve his great cause — he himself said that half of it relied on his mother's commercial acumen. Though those were the words of a son, one cannot say the Elder Lady Gongsun was a mere speculator, can one? Oh, and there is also Governor Zhu of Jiao Province; his mother also supported her children through trade...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was not speaking of the Mi brothers or the Elder Lady Zhu, and certainly not of the Elder Lady Gongsun...\" Chen Deng was immediately exasperated. \"Why must Yuanzhi keep people at arm's length like this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Shu smiled as he replied: \"You, sir, are the foremost scion of a great clan in Xu Province; I am merely a son of a solitary family from Yingchuan... It is rather I who have always wished to ask you, sir: why must you keep pestering me? Pepper tea is so precious; the Southern Seas have only just been found, and the plants were transplanted merely a year or two ago. It is what they call priceless and unavailable on the market. Wouldn't it be more peaceful to drink it at home?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yuanzhi jests!\" Chen Deng was momentarily at a loss, but could only respond in a roundabout way. \"May I ask Brother Yuanzhi, wherein lies the joy of human life?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I shall listen to Brother Yuanlong's lofty insights!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In my humble view, the joys of human life are nothing more than two aspects: the external and the internal... Externally, it is external things entering the self — fine wine, fine food, beautiful maids, beautiful clothes, grand carriages, swift horses, and this pepper tea... even heroes and wise men, all obtained for oneself. Internally, it is inner thoughts manifested outwardly — displaying wisdom and stratagem in the current situation, revealing spirit and bearing in extraordinary moments, extending benevolent governance to one's homeland, and establishing meritorious deeds across the realm!\" Chen Deng spoke with fervent passion and eloquence. \"And among these, befriending heroes, valiant men, wise scholars, and talents is the most important. For heroes and wise men are not only the most precious of external things, but also the primary reliance for manifesting inner thoughts outwardly. But the most crucial point is this: whether enjoying external things or establishing merit and deeds, if one has no like-minded companions to share the hardships and share the enjoyment, then what meaning is there in any of it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Shu's smile grew even broader: \"So Brother Yuanlong repeatedly comes here seeking me out merely because he feels I am someone who can listen to his discussions of current politics. What does that count for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We are all scholars who wear swords and read books. If scholars do not discuss current politics, should they go weave cloth instead?\" Chen Deng was even more exasperated. \"Appraising figures and debating the current situation is, in itself, one of life's rare joys!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is no shame in weaving cloth!\" Xu Shu replied with a solemn expression. \"And as for appraising figures... the General of the Guards, Cao of Ferocious Valor, and Liu of Yu Province — the three men who are now the cornerstones of the realm — none of them like it! Even if you hail from the Chen clan of Xiapi, if you continue with this sort of attitude in the future, be careful you don't get sent off to be a village head... This Xu Province is destined for a change of masters!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Deng was momentarily helpless: \"I am not engaging in empty talk, nor do I look down on farming and weaving... As Colonel of Agricultural Affairs, I oversee all agricultural colony matters in Xu Province. I personally inspect the land and water, and arrange the planting. It is just that we happen to be in this eventful summer, so I came to consult Yuanzhi on the current situation in Xu Province.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Shu smiled but said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Deng, helpless, sighed slightly, but then began to probe from another angle: \"Then may I ask Yuanzhi, what do you consider the joy of human life?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The joy of life lies in this: in childhood, not having to watch one's mother struggle in widowhood without money to support the family; in youth, not straying onto a crooked path, brawling in the marketplaces, relying on a sword to act fierce and reckless; in coming of age, often reflecting on the past without feeling hollow regret for having idled away one's days; and finally, after achieving some learning, raising one's eyes to the world without having to hesitate about the road ahead...\" Xu Yuanzhi sat upright and proper, a faint, ambiguous smile on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Deng was momentarily stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Yuanlong, you say I have the heroic spirit of lakes and seas, and I also think you have the heroic spirit of lakes and seas — but are your spirit and mine truly the same thing?\" Though it was clearly morning, the sky overhead was gradually darkening, as if the plum rains had returned, yet Xu Shu paid it no mind. \"You are the leading figure of the foremost clan in Xuzhou. In your family's old residence in Xiapi, there are currently four men who have held posts at the two-thousand-bushel rank. Moreover, you yourself have been exceptionally gifted since childhood, with deep family learning — what they call a natural-born talent, fit to look down upon the world. Thus you act without restraint, your speech brims with heroic spirit, and you discuss the realm as if it were nothing. But I am merely the son of a solitary household in Yingchuan — born without a clan, and later losing my father early. Had my widowed mother not been a rare woman of letters, I would not have even had the chance to begin my education. So this so-called spirit of lakes and seas that I carry comes from the bitter street fights of a poor childhood, from running with thieves in the markets when no one guided my youth, from a sudden awakening after coming of age and studying with desperate diligence, and from finally, at twenty-six, taking up a sword and riding out into the world... Brother Yuanlong, your heroic spirit, when examined closely, is nothing more than the word 'indifference'; my heroic spirit, when carefully reckoned, lies in having 'nothing left to lose'... They seem alike, but in truth they are diametrically opposed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Shu's words were crisp and he spoke with eloquence, yet from start to finish, he sat rigidly upright on the mat in the courtyard. Though his face bore a smile, he looked neither at the dark clouds overhead nor at Chen Deng beside him, as if speaking to the very air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But make no mistake — Chen Yuanlong was exactly the sort who fell for this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The foremost young master of Xuzhou stood stunned for a long moment, then rose to his feet again. Disregarding the disparity in their status, he bowed his head and offered a reverent salute to the man beside him: \"That you, sir, have reached such heights through having nothing left to lose far surpasses my own having reached this point through mere indifference!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Having spoken to this point, Brother Yuanlong, are you still unwilling to give up?\" It was Xu Shu's turn to shake his head helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The joy of life lies precisely in this! If you asked me to give up befriending heroes and gallant men, to give up joining in discussions of current affairs because of this or that — I would rather be dead!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very well. You said you wished to discuss the situation in Xuzhou with me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is there to discuss?\" Xu Shu said dismissively. \"As things stand now, even if you locals of Xuzhou are unwilling to accept it, can you truly continue to stand on your own? It is nothing more than choosing one among the three: General of the Guards, Cao Fenwu, or Liu of Yuzhou!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But whom should we choose?\" Raindrops began to fall. Chen Deng shielded the teapot and hurriedly sat back down on the mat in the courtyard. \"All three are heroes, and their governance is actually quite similar...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tao Gong has long been ill, and for years his two sons have not been given official posts — clearly, moved by the fate of Sun Polu, he wishes to trade Xuzhou for his family's safety. And precisely because this hero's spirit has faltered, Xuzhou has long since been carved up completely by your several factions... just like the ministers of the Spring and Autumn period.\" Xu Shu could not help but sneer. \"Among them, your Chen clan is the crown of the established houses, with fame and prestige, holding a commandery and a key agricultural post; the Mi clan has wealth from trade, fish, and salt, and holds the state of Pengcheng; the Cao clan seems the weakest, but of the Cao uncle and nephew, one, Cao Hong, is deeply trusted by Tao of Xuzhou within the administration, to the point of actually controlling security inside Xiapi city, while the other, Cao Bao, commands half the troops outside the city — they cannot be underestimated either. Then there are the Danyang compatriots Tao Gong brought with him: Ze Rong controls the military and civil administration of the Xiapi state and oversees Buddhist affairs for the province; Xu Dan serves as General of the Household of the Danyang troops, sharing direct military authority over Xuzhou with Cao Bao. Add to that Zhao Yu of Guangling, who has always kept to himself, and Zang Ba of Langye, who has always remained aloof — count them up, is it not just these men? And I refuse to believe that over all these years, you have not privately calculated for the situation today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\" Chen Deng gave a dry laugh, then replied awkwardly. \"The Cao clan has marriage ties to the Cao clan of Pei, and the Mi clan is even the family of Liu of Yuzhou's wife. The only ones truly worth worrying about are actually General Zang Ba, who commands the strongest forces, and Tao Gong's two Danyang compatriots... Yuanzhi, you may not know this, but by all reason, Ze Rong and Xu Dan are both men of Danyang, and Danyang is now entirely under Liu of Yuzhou's governance — they ought to seize the moment to attach themselves to Liu of Yuzhou. But in truth, these two are truly worthless. Ze Rong is a sycophantic Buddhist and greedy, often telling people that Liu of Yuzhou's new policies in his homeland go too far; Xu Dan is a witless lecher — he once sought Lady Gan's hand, and probably fears Liu of Yuzhou for that very reason.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, whom has your family chosen?\" Xu Shu could not be bothered with matters he had long since seen through at the General Who Pacifies the East's headquarters, and merely pressed coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The General of the Guards!\" Chen Deng answered honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The General of the Guards?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yuanzhi, there are things you do not know.\" The rain was now falling lightly. Chen Deng brushed raindrops from the lid of the earthenware teapot and replied earnestly. \"My granduncle once joined forces with the late Colonel-Director of Retainers Yang Qiu, the General of the Guards — who was then a clerk in the Imperial Secretariat — and others in an attempt to execute the eunuchs. The plot failed and he died for it; Emperor Ling even sought to hold our entire clan accountable. At that time, the General of the Guards had already fled the city, but upon hearing the news, he turned back and rescued my clansmen, including my father. He then entered the Imperial Secretariat alone and stood his ground against the powerful eunuch Cao Jie, forcing the other to pardon our clan from the crime of implication... In other words, the General of the Guards has shown our Chen clan an immense kindness. In fact, back when Yuan Shu was stirring in the south and Liu of Yuzhou went south to Huainan, our Chen clan, having received a letter from the General of the Guards, on one hand urged Tao Gong to continue supporting the General of the Guards and Liu of Yuzhou rather than leaning toward the Yuan clan, and on the other hand simply had our clan uncle, who was then Inspector of Yang Province, abandon Huainan and transfer to be Grand Administrator of Wu Commandery... And now, the envoys sent by the General of the Guards — Wang Lang, Wang Jingxing, and Guo Jia, Guo Fengxiao — along with the imperial staff of authority, are all currently in my home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the mention of those last two names, Xu Shu felt a slight stir in his heart, but his expression remained unchanged. He merely turned his head to size up the other man before suddenly breaking into a laugh: \"Has your esteemed clan ever made contact with Zang Xuangao?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not the sort of talk about betraying one's lord, but ordinary social dealings...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not those either!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then is your esteemed clan not on the verge of great calamity?\" The rain was falling harder now, yet Xu Shu's seated posture remained straight and tall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean by that?\" Chen Deng could not help but narrow his eyes slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In your presence, I will not speak overly harsh words... I will only say this: your esteemed clan has received such great kindness from the General of the Guards. In this matter, you should either strictly uphold the duty of subjects and refuse to receive the General of the Guards' envoys in Tao of Xuzhou's name, or you should wholeheartedly work on behalf of the General of the Guards to repay that kindness. Vacillating like this — do you truly think the General of the Guards cannot see it at a glance from his commanding height? Or do you think that Guo Fengxiao is an incompetent man who cannot see through your intentions?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Deng opened his mouth to speak, then stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand...\" Xu Shu looked at him and suddenly laughed again. \"You are not stupid, nor are you self-assured. Rather, a single leaf blocks your view of Mount Tai. You think that Wang Jingxing — a Recommended Talent of Xuzhou, beloved disciple of the late Grand Commandant Yang, and scion of a great Xuzhou clan — is the chief envoy and can naturally cover everything cleanly for you, so you have overlooked the man beside him who spends his days carousing and drinking, utterly unrestrained, am I right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Deng did not know how to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you recognize this sword?\" Amid the pattering rain, Xu Shu suddenly drew the long blade that had been resting at his side. \"This sword was personally bestowed by the General of the Guards. Guo Fengxiao has one as well, and his talent and intellect surpass mine tenfold! That I could be a thief in my youth and then turn to bitter study upon coming of age — four or five parts of that were spurred by him. With him here, your actions in this affair will likely not escape the General of the Guards' eyes and ears!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Yuanlong was dumbstruck, so much so that the teapot in his hand slipped onto the mat without his noticing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, seeing Xu Shu sheathe his sword, he finally tossed the teapot aside, rose, clasped his hands, and took his leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet after walking several steps through the rain, the thoroughly bedraggled Chen Deng could not help but turn back. He clasped his hands and bowed once more: \"I know how Yuanzhi sees me, and I know why Yuanzhi has always kept a slight distance from me... It has been six full years since the General of the Guards, before the Weiyang Palace, laid the blame for the realm's ills upon the fatuous ruler, the established clans, and the powerful magnates. As they say, hearts gradually change. In the first few years, the General of the Guards' arguments seemed difficult to accept, at least here in the Central Plains. But now, with the General of the Guards firmly established in Hebei, and with both Cao and Liu emulating his new policies, more and more talents like yourself have gradually shifted their views and come to disdain the ways of us established clans, believing that we bear only the guilt of bringing calamity to the realm, without the resolve or action to save it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Shu's face was expressionless, as if asking: \"Is that not so?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But Yuanzhi, this time it is truly not that our Chen clan vacillates and fails to make a decision. The real reason our clan is in such a sorry state is that when facing the General of the Guards, there is a knot in our hearts that we cannot untie...\" Chen Yuanlong seemed not to notice the mocking intent in the other's expression, and instead continued his earnest explanation. \"In terms of personal kindness, in terms of the interests of the clan's survival, siding with the General of the Guards seems only natural. But our Xiapi Chen clan — though we indeed suffered the grievance of Emperor Ling's wrath that nearly destroyed our family, and though we have the General of the Guards' kindness that saved us for a generation — before all this, our Chen clan had already received the grace of the Han for several generations. From a commoner to holding two-thousand-bushel posts for generations, and then to becoming a ducal house, illustrious for a hundred years — what kind of kindness is that? So I dare ask, when the house of Han eventually falls, under the General of the Guards, what exactly should we do? The kindness of one generation, the kindness of several generations — which weighs heavier? The reason I am rambling so today is not to make excuses, but because I do not wish for Yuanzhi to misunderstand my meaning even as he laughs at me... Farewell.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these words, he bowed and retreated, then turned and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, however, it was Xu Shu who could not help but speak out through the rain: \"If you claim great righteousness, does that mean you are not vacillating? Ordinary people judge by deeds, not by hearts. Who cares what you think in your hearts? At the very least, you must take action and let the world know your innocence, no?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does Yuanzhi mean?\" Chen Deng immediately turned back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing special. I am actually in the same predicament as your esteemed clan — caught between two sides, with more than a hint of vacillation myself, except that I merely struggle within my own heart.\" Xu Shu rose and spoke with equal earnestness. \"Since we share the same affliction, why not join forces to address it together? I have a plan now that can allow your esteemed clan to prove its innocence, and also allow me to be at peace with my conscience...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What plan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good plans have always been simple and easy to carry out.\" Xu Shu stood, gathered the mat from the ground, and answered slowly. \"Since ancient times, they have been nothing more than the same few things. Since it is raining, Brother Yuanlong, why not come inside and talk?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————I am the dividing line after the rain————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the late Han, Chen Yuanlong of Xiapi was renowned for his forthrightness, and also said to be reserved. One day, a guest arrived — a friend of his father's. The guest visited but was not received, and so privately asked his father, Chen Hanyu, about it. Hanyu sighed deeply and replied: 'What reservedness? The boy is arrogant and overbearing. Regardless of age or rank, to all those he disdains, he disdains even to speak — people, not knowing this, call it reservedness. To any hero who catches his eye, he attends with the courtesy of a lowly servant — that is what they call forthrightness.' The guest suddenly understood: 'What a pity! Just now, when you accompanied me to see your son, he lay unmoving on his bed, reserved as ever — was his arrogance directed at me, or at you?' Hanyu covered his face and fled.\" — A New Account of the Tales of the World, Chapter on Indulgence\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",6552,"2026-06-04T19:42:52.587Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","266daef764b625ae3037fe872146169704a388e3a12fd17b59c915d817ecae3b","overthrowing-han-chapter-447","overthrowing-han-chapter-445",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]