Chapter 456

The unrest that erupted within Chang'an City in late July of the fifth year of Jian'an was ultimately classified as a military coup. The chief conspirators were the three maternal relatives closest to the young Son of Heaven, and the target of their plot was the Guard General Gongsun Xun, who held absolute governing authority. The outcome, naturally, ended in the complete defeat of the maternal relatives after someone reported the scheme.

The broad outline of the affair was recorded in official documents and distributed to the nine provinces of Hebei at a clearance level accessible to officials of the seventh rank and above. At the same time, notices to reassure the public were posted within Chang'an City to offer some mollification... The content of the announcements was reasonable and beyond dispute.

After all, the entire realm knew these three men had ample motive, and the commotion that wretch Dong Cheng stirred up that day was simply too great. The bloodstains on Beique Avenue could not be washed clean even after four or five days of scrubbing, and only a rainstorm finally restored its former appearance by sheer force. Was there a single scholar or commoner in Chang'an City who did not know of it?

Moreover, with paper now widespread, more and more literate officials keep diaries and exchange letters with increasing frequency. As the greatest sudden bloodshed in Chang'an City in five or six years, many officials in the capital mentioned this incident in their diaries or in letters to close friends and family... Setting aside matters inevitably disputed due to personal stances—such as questions about the informant, the choice between Wang Yun and Wang Bin, and the standoff and compromise between the high ministers and the Guard General—the overwhelming majority placed the blame squarely on Dong Cheng.

There was no helping it. Who asked this wretch to be nothing more than a Xiliang soldier-boss? And one who lost, at that.

However, the matter was destined not to end there. The inevitable repercussions would not be few.

From late July to early August, a flurry of personnel appointments and adjustments was issued continuously within Chang'an City:

Clearly driven by the need to "Punish Shu," Palace Attendant Zhao Qian, a native of Chengdu County in Yizhou, ascended to one of the Three Excellencies, filling the post of Minister over the Masses left vacant after Huangfu Song's departure. He was put in charge of official efforts to persuade Shu region officials to surrender... Many were envious of this, for since the campaign against Dong Zhuo, the political situation in Chang'an had been exceptionally stable. The Three Excellencies were no longer figurehead officials who had to resign at every earthquake, yet there were many aristocratic ministers in Chang'an eager to use this path to enter the ducal ranks.

After all, at this point, the Han Court seemed to amount to little more than this.

Beyond this, Palace Attendant Liu Dan, and Gentlemen of the Yellow Gate Gai Shun and Fu Gan, clearly due to their backgrounds, were conscripted into the army one after another to participate in planning the "Punish Shu" strategy. Many vacancies suddenly appeared among the twelve close attendants the Son of Heaven had originally personally selected.

That was not all. Guard General Gongsun Xun, citing that the Son of Heaven, having tied up his hair and begun his studies, could not lack close attendants, designated Liu Yu, Yang Biao, and Shi Sunrui as the three Imperial Tutors. At the same time, he forcibly replenished four Palace Attendants and Gentlemen for the Son of Heaven—all of Hebei origin, with two simply being converted from Retainers... As for the other two, one was named Guan Jing and the other Wang Men.

Concurrently, Guard Commander Gongsun Zan, for his outstanding performance during Dong Cheng's rebellion, was promoted to Rear General, assuming overall command of Chang'an garrison duties, public security, and court discipline. Considering that after the earlier province-splitting policy, the formerly special post of Colonel-Director of Retainers had vanished, and Zhong Yao had become Palace Assistant Secretary, Gongsun Bogui's current responsibilities were clear without asking!

Finally, Gongsun Xun even had the three Imperial Tutors, including Liu Yu, issue a handbook of "study discipline" to the Son of Heaven, demanding that the Son of Heaven not receive outside ministers without authorization, not request documents other than the classics without authorization, and not dispatch eunuchs or attendants in and out of Weiyang Palace without authorization. Even summoning close attendants such as Palace Attendants and Gentlemen had to be supervised by General of the Gentlemen of the Tiger Guard Jing Ze and recorded in a register.

How to put it?

These personnel arrangements and that little study discipline handbook—those who did not understand naturally did not understand, and those who did not know naturally did not know. But in the eyes of true power-holders, the Guard General's posture of purging Chang'an, or rather purging the rising power around the Son of Heaven, was far too direct.

Of course, the Dong Cheng affair allowed the Guard General to seize a handle, and at this point, it was hard to say much about it... In fact, other rumors were circulating among the high ministers of Chang'an at this time, saying that since ancient times, powerful ministers carrying out depositions and enthronements often used young imperial clansmen. This was not actually because a young Son of Heaven was easy to control, but rather because a young Son of Heaven, being immature and impatient, was prone to reveal weaknesses and then be countered.

Objectively speaking, this argument was actually very reasonable, but bringing it up now inevitably carried a sense of shirking responsibility, especially since the Son of Heaven's days had already become difficult to the extreme.

Think about it: setting aside any study discipline, from a purely human relationships perspective, this young Son of Heaven lost his mother at birth. In his childhood, he rapidly lost his father, grandmother, legal mother, and elder brother, leaving only one maternal uncle and two older male cousins as his closest kin. And now, having finally grown to fifteen or sixteen, married, and gained two more relatives by marriage, in the blink of an eye his uncle and the entire families of his two newly recognized fathers-in-law died together. Even his two remaining cousins insisted on leaving, unwilling to stay in Chang'an no matter what.

His father's clan, mother's clan, and wife's clan were all lost. His only two remaining kin abandoned him. The palace was like a prison. The phrase "a solitary man, a lone wretch" was by no means empty words.

Such a situation, if it befell an ordinary youth, would likely have led to collapse long ago. Yet this young Son of Heaven could promptly dispatch eunuchs to issue palace decrees for rescue on the day of the incident (though it failed), endure the pain of sending his two cousins away afterward, and then maintain a certain silence throughout the subsequent purge. One could only say, as everyone remarked, that he was indeed intelligent, wise, and truly extraordinary.

In fact, in the days following the incident, faced with Gongsun Xun's repeated orders issued from a distance, the high ministers, for the sake of legitimacy and even more to stabilize hearts, repeatedly demanded that the Guard General enter Weiyang Palace to see the Son of Heaven once, inspect the Imperial Secretariat once, and ideally preside over a formal grand court assembly, thereby making a political gesture of reconciliation. But all these requests were rejected by Gongsun Xun on the grounds that "matters having reached this point, I cannot bear to see the Son of Heaven"... This excuse, in a certain sense, was actually not a lie.

Because from Gongsun Xun's non-political-animal perspective, this young Son of Heaven, aside from being the Han Son of Heaven and the son of Emperor Ling, was really just a pitiable person. He truly could not bear to see him!

Only, there were too many pitiable people in the realm—one more did not matter—but there was only one Han Son of Heaven. It was not that Gongsun Xun would therefore be unable to bring himself to act.

One could only say, born into this declining imperial house, what else could he expect?

But regardless, after the busy autumn harvest, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, having purged the Chang'an court and installed Gongsun Zan to command the city's defenses, Gongsun Xun finally continued his "Grand Plan to Punish Shu." That day, he politely declined the imperial staff of authority and the farewell of the high ministers, and set out leading only the ten thousand-plus Ye City elites headed by the White Horse Retainers, together with Xu Rong's division. They departed Chang'an directly westward, preparing to relocate their headquarters to Chencang and quietly await Liu Yan to lay down his arms, disarm, and surrender.

By the twenty-third day of the eighth month, definite news reached Chang'an City: the Guard General himself, leading the White Horse Retainers, Zhao Yun's division, and Xu Rong's division—about ten thousand-plus elite troops—along with military advisors Jia Xu and Xi Zhong, had formally garrisoned Chencang, the westernmost strategic town in the Guanzhong region. Wang Xiu, Wang Shuzhi, overseeing logistics, had also established a main logistics base at the old site of Mei Fort, with Retainer Civil Protector Zhang Ji as his deputy. Beyond this, the Guard General's subordinate, Lieutenant General Zhang Liao, with about three thousand cavalry, had directly entered Jicheng, the administrative seat of Hanyang Commandery in Liangzhou.

And even before this, Retainer Military Protector Pang De, Zhang Liao's deputy Yang Qiu, and Ma Teng's eldest son Ma Chao had already entered Hanyang one after another, conducting negotiations on behalf of Gongsun Xun with Han Sui, Ma Teng, and the various Liangzhou power brokers.

It was also on this day that the Imperial Secretariat received some other intelligence from Yongzhou Governor Zhong Yao. For instance, General Who Guards the West and concurrent Bingzhou Governor Gongsun Yue, leading ten thousand Bingzhou troops, had advanced from east to west, while General Who Pacifies the North Zhang Cheng, leading ten thousand Shuofang troops, had advanced from north to south. Both had crossed the Yellow River and reached Shang Commandery in Shanzhou, north of the Three Adjuncts and east of Liangzhou, where they joined forces... And Shanzhou Governor Guo Yun had requested the wealthy Three Adjuncts and Hedong regions to supply grain to assist with logistics.

How to put it?

By this day, everyone had finally confirmed two things: First, whether or not the Guard General wanted Ba-Shu in this western expedition, his intent to annex Xiliang was very firm, and he had even fully prepared for all-out war. Second, the Guard General was already a full three hundred li from Chang'an City, and it was conceivable that he would not return for quite some time!

In other words, certain people could finally breathe a long sigh and relax a little.

Yet, as the saying goes, some rejoice while others grieve. The Guard General, like a star of calamity, moved from Chang'an to Chencang—the aristocratic ministers of Chang'an and the Son of Heaven were probably invigorated by his departure, but the two men Han Sui and Ma Teng in Liangzhou became terrified and uneasy because this Guard General had suddenly abandoned his previous friendly words and directly thrust himself at their doorstep.

Misfortunes never come singly. Before Ma Teng and Han Sui could make up their minds, and even before they could ascertain the intentions of the minor local military bosses in Liangzhou, trouble seemed to have broken out first within Liangzhou itself!

The trouble did not arise in the traditionally conceived eastern commanderies of Xiliang, but in the four western commanderies of Liangzhou: Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Zhangye, and the Juyan Dependent State!

Officials from these four commanderies and dependent states jointly dispatched envoys who, somehow, suddenly appeared in Chencang. There, they publicly requested an audience with Guard General Gongsun Xun and, in broad daylight, reported to him in detail the chaos in western Liangzhou. They explained the reality that the Western Regions kingdoms had effectively slipped from Han control after Dong Zhuo's rebellion, and the military harassment of the four western commanderies by the Western Xianbei. They pointedly noted that the current Liangzhou Inspectorate seat was located in Ji County, Hanyang Commandery, close to the Three Adjuncts, rendering it virtually useless for the four western commanderies.

Therefore, they requested that the Guard General, in accordance with the province-splitting policy from years past, divide Liangzhou into two, combining the four western commanderies with the eastern Tianshan region of the Western Regions Protectorate still under Han control to form a single new province.

At the same time, they also requested that the Guard General dispatch capable troops to sweep through the areas west of Tianshan in the Western Regions Protectorate that had rebelled from Han rule after Dong Zhuo's chaos, repel the Western Xianbei harassment, restore the authority to oversee the Western Regions kingdoms, and fully reopen the Silk Road trade route.

How to put it? As the man in power, the Guard General greatly recognized and appreciated the political awareness of the officials from the four western commanderies.

Consequently, he immediately issued orders to establish Cheshi Commandery in the Tianshan region. He also elevated the rank of the Wuji Colonel, originally established within Cheshi territory, to General Who Pacifies the West, specifically tasked with overseeing the Western Regions kingdoms and maintaining local order. Cheshi Commandery, together with the four western commanderies of Liangzhou and the elite western portion of Wuwei Commandery, would be merged into a new province, to be named Zangzhou!

Moreover, the Guard General was by no means a man of empty words. To truly bring stability to Zangzhou and the Western Regions, he also declared on the spot that he would promote the former General of the Tiger Teeth and concurrent Jincheng Governor Han Sui to General Who Pacifies the West and concurrent Governor of Zangzhou, additionally appointing him Grand Protector of the Western Regions, with orders to immediately relocate his headquarters to Tianshan and dispatch troops to pacify the west!

Somehow, although he received the envoys from the four western commanderies in Chencang, and although he had specifically declined the imperial staff of authority for this expedition, the Guard General still produced, that very afternoon, a fully legal imperial edict bearing the Son of Heaven's seal, the Guard General's seal, and the Imperial Secretariat's format, along with a complete set of seals and ribbons for General Who Pacifies the West, Governor of Zangzhou, and Protector of the Western Regions.

Three great seals, each one, when turned over, clearly revealed the meticulously carved intaglio character "Han."

Three days later, just as Cavalry Commandant Zhao Yun led three thousand cavalry across San Pass into Wudu Commandery, Han Sui's son-in-law, Pang De, Pang Lingming, personally set out from Ji County, carrying the seals and ribbons with a hundred-odd men, heading to Jincheng to see his father-in-law!

When the news arrived, Han Sui was dumbfounded. He wanted to rebel but dared not; wanted to refuse but dared not; wanted to comply but was ultimately unwilling. Yet Gongsun Xun was already pressing for his life... After pondering for half a day, he could only think of one method: to summon the heroes of the six commanderies to a meeting at Yuzhong to discuss the overall situation, while also having his son-in-law Pang De wait for him at Yuzhong.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Guard General Gongsun Xun actually sent a public congratulatory letter from Chencang expressing his approval.

However, in the letter, he also clearly pointed out that Han Sui had made a technical error. The "Sons of Good Families of the Six Commanderies of Han," who established themselves through martial prowess, did not refer to the six eastern commanderies of Liangzhou currently held by Han Sui and Ma Teng. Rather, they referred to Shang Commandery and Xihe, which now belonged to Shanzhou, plus Longxi, Anding, and Beidi in Liangzhou, along with Hanyang (formerly Tianshui Commandery), which was in the court's hands.

Therefore, this meeting must include the participation of heroes from the three commanderies of Hanyang, Shang, and Xihe. Furthermore, after this meeting, the Sons of Good Families of the Six Commanderies should follow the old court system and send those skilled in archery and horsemanship to serve as Gentlemen of the Feathered Forest... However, they must first travel to Chencang and follow him to "Punish Shu"!

Arriving together with this message were envoys from Xihe and Shang Commanderies, as well as news that the twenty-thousand-strong army of Gongsun Yue and Zhang Cheng had entered Beidi Commandery in Liangzhou and forced back Ma Teng's forces.

At this stage, Han Sui and Ma Teng had truly reached a dead end. Yet, with their typical warlord mentality, they were unwilling to surrender easily. Apart from steeling themselves to hold a meeting and discern the true disposition of Liangzhou's factions, they truly seemed to have no other path left!

And so, the Han and Qiang heroes of the six commanderies, after leaving reliable men to lead troops in defense of their home bases, flocked to Yuzhong one after another.

On the eighth day of the ninth month, Zhao Yun led his troops to Hechi in Wudu. The Qiang chieftain under Han Sui stationed at Hechi, knowing he was no match, withdrew without a fight. The County Magistrate of Hechi came out several li from the city to welcome him... After taking control of the city, Zhao Zilong immediately followed the original plan. While sending a fast horse to his rear, ordering the San Pass garrison commander Cheng Yin's division to serve as the rear guard, he did not hesitate for a moment and led his troops directly westward, attempting to seize Qishan, the strategic point on the Western Han River along the Wudu road, to link up with Hanyang.

And it was on this very day that Han Sui welcomed the heroes of the six commanderies at Yuzhong... and his own seal as General Who Pacifies the West.

"When I came, my general had a reminder," Pang De said, after handing the three sets of seals and ribbons to his father-in-law, speaking earnestly. "If, upon arrival, Father-in-law insists on receiving these seals from me in private, then I must convey two private messages from my general to you, Father-in-law..."

"What words?" Han Sui forced himself to rally and asked.

"My general said," Pang Lingming could not help but sigh, "if Father-in-law finds the post too lowly and is unwilling to serve as General Who Pacifies the West, then next time he will have the Imperial Secretariat issue an open decree and enfeoff you as King Who Pacifies the West. And if Father-in-law cherishes his homeland and does not wish to go to Tianshan alive, then please, sir, go ahead and die, so that your humble son-in-law may conveniently take your corpse away and personally bury it on Tianshan before returning..."

Han Wenyue, holding the three sets of seals and ribbons, tried to speak but stopped.

"My general also said," Pang De quickly continued, preempting the other, "Anyway, after all the struggle, it comes down to a single blade. The Yellow River's nine bends and ten thousand li of sand—with Father-in-law's heroic and ambitious stature, what is there to fear? Whether to fight or make peace, to die or to live, please do as you wish. Only, his time is tight, and he can only give you three days. By the eleventh of the ninth month, regardless of the outcome, he will personally lead troops into Liangzhou to see you!"

To be honest, Jia Xu's strategies—such as "when they are urgent, be patient; when they are patient, be urgent"—were excellent... but now they seemed to hold little significance, at least for Han Wenyue. Because although this General of the Tiger Teeth truly could not bear to leave his homeland, truly could not bear to abandon his life as a local emperor ruling a slice of territory, he had also truly been beaten into terror by a certain someone during the Battle of the Wei River back then!

For him, some things were truly not just a matter of a single blade!

Faced with the aggressive pressure of this former friend and rival, this man known as a figure of the Yellow River's nine bends, a veteran warlord who had carved up three commanderies of Liangzhou for nearly ten years, torn between impossible choices, finally held the three sets of seals and ribbons and burst into tears, unable to control his emotions.

————I am the tearful dividing line————

“In the autumn of the fifth year of Jian’an, Xun marched west to attack Shu. Reaching Chencang, he sent Liu Fan, eldest son of Liu Yan, Governor of Yizhou, as an envoy to persuade his father to surrender. He appointed Zhao Qian of Chengdu as Minister over the Masses to pacify and recruit the senior officials of Yizhou’s various commanderies. He sent Cavalry Commandant Zhao Yun as the vanguard to march out from San Pass and block the Wudu road. He appointed Gongsun Yue, General Who Guards the West, to command the rear army… Before long, before the envoy had returned, before the rear army had arrived, before the provisions were fully assembled, Pang Yu of Wuwei, a subordinate official of the four western commanderies of Liangzhou, arrived and spoke at length of the chaos and scattering in the Western Regions, the harassment by the western Xianbei tribes, and the misery and suffering of the scholars and commoners in the four commanderies. His words were earnest and sincere, as if struck in the heart and weeping blood. Many among those seated shed tears. Xun, moved by his loyalty and sighing at his sincerity, thereupon hacked at the table and swore an oath, turning his army westward.” — Records of Late Han Heroes, by Wang Can

(End of Chapter)