[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-465":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},1223224,1620,"Chapter 465: I Shall Seek High and Low","overthrowing-han-chapter-465",465,"\u003Cp>The heavy snow delayed the transmission of information, causing a backlog of messages around Sanguan, and as it happened, each piece of news was more explosive than the last. This was why Gongsun Xun, far away in the winter camp at Wudu, lost his composure for a moment after hearing the envoy’s detailed report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Objectively speaking, although the events at Chang’an–Wuguan were indeed the result of this General of the Guard’s long-planned schemes, he truly had not expected so many accidents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, the variable he had originally worried about most was Gongsun Zan, who was meant to intimidate and threaten Chang’an, so before departing he had even given Jing Ze specific instructions. Yet who could have foreseen that when the moment came, Gongsun Bogui would be drawn away by Wang Yun, and instead it would be that kid Han Rui who suddenly sprang out and nearly cornered the Son of Heaven?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another example: Yang Qi was definitely not one of Gongsun Xun’s men. Who could have imagined he would loose that arrow? And considering that the man later committed suicide by the Danshui River to atone for his crime, one can basically conclude it was an accident — that arrow at the critical moment was indeed a stress reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then there was Jing Ze. As the only person assigned an espionage mission, his original responsibility was merely to ensure the Son of Heaven could leave Sanfu safely and reach Nanyang. Yet he was muddle-headedly forced onto the boat and even followed all the way to Nanyang, becoming one of the few people the young Son of Heaven can now rely on at his side. It’s practically a joke!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, what truly made Gongsun Xun sigh with sorrow throughout this entire affair was the death of Liu Yu. Liu Boan’s death was, admittedly, the direct result of Yang Qi’s arrow, but from another angle, if not for the coughing symptoms brought on by burning coal in winter, the man might not have been so gravely wounded and hard to treat. From that perspective, Liu Yu’s death was indeed an accident. But conversely, if he had not been in such an awkward position, if he had not spent so many years in constant trepidation, treading on thin ice, how could this Han clan auxiliary minister have contracted that chronic cough, and how could he have ended up before Yang Qi’s arrow? Why wasn’t it Zhao Ping who died?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So whether his death was fate or accident is probably impossible to say clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And among all this, there was one more matter — or rather, one more person — that stirred Gongsun Xun: that Lady Mei. Liu Yu probably never knew until his death that the Lady Mei he took as a concubine in Youzhou was fundamentally a Sanhan slave by origin, deliberately sent over by Lady Gongsun through Xianyu Fu’s hands!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, this matter has lost all meaning. Lady Mei has already proven her innocence with her life. What more is there to say or think about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Gongsun Xun could only murmur to himself that one must never underestimate the human heart, then sigh briefly and stop there. Because stopping there was best for everyone — the living and the dead alike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The winter snow lay thick on the Long uplands. After hearing the detailed report, General of the Guard Gongsun Xun first sat alone in his tent in silent contemplation for a long time, until even the venison soup had frozen over, and only then summoned Jia Xu and Xi Zhong for a brief discussion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia and Xi had long since learned the full story from the messengers Gongsun Xun had dispatched earlier, and were well prepared. So as soon as lord and ministers met, they entered directly into the main topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Chang’an affair is settled,” Gongsun Xun, seated on the couch in the tent, stated plainly as the duty attendants removed the soup bowls. “We should withdraw the army immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed,” Xi Zhong nodded at once and responded, a touch urgent. “My lord, for this return to Chang’an you must be accompanied by a great army. So no matter how urgent or how difficult the roads, you must lead the troops back, and do so with great fanfare. In my view, we might as well take advantage of the winter farming lull to summon the masses of Yong and Liang along the way, especially the newly submitted people of Liangzhou, and bring them all into Chang’an. Then, on one hand, we can use the great victory in Liangzhou and the military might of Yong and Liang to overawe the Chang’an ministers; on the other, we can in turn use the authority of Chang’an to intimidate the people of Liangzhou. It would be killing two birds with one stone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Feasible!” Gongsun Xun agreed crisply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since we are to lead a great army back to Chang’an, it will likely take considerable time. Could we make some adjustments in Chang’an in advance to settle people’s hearts?” Jia Xu suddenly raised a question from another angle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Naturally,” Gongsun Xun replied without any ambiguity. “You should also know the details of those days by now. I intend to make Chang’an Prefect Han Rui the Grand Administrator of Wudu, make Jingzhaoyin Han Xuan the Grand Administrator of Beidi, make Feng Fang the Jingzhaoyin, and make Zhao Ping the Commandant of the Guards, temporarily commanding the Tiger Guard Army. At the same time, I will publicly strip Rear General Gongsun Zan of his Chang’an security authority on grounds of dereliction of duty, remove him from the post of Commandant of the Guards, and ‘suggest’ that Household Counsellor Huang Wan temporarily take charge of the Masters of Writing and concurrently preside over Liu Boan’s funeral.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words were brief but carried enormous weight. Jia Wenhe and Xi Zhicai exchanged a glance, then first nodded in agreement at once, but neither spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be said, Gongsun Xun’s personnel adjustments for Chang’an were quite distinct, and their purpose was very clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, Han Rui’s leapfrog promotion was obviously a reward for merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, schemes aside and purposes aside, this old classmate who once studied under Lu Zhi together with him, as an unknowing participant, had ultimately displayed exceptionally outstanding loyalty and resolve during the ‘coup,’ so recognition had to be given.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Correspondingly, the transfer of Jingzhaoyin Han Xuan was a punishment for fault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reasoning was the same as the former, except that this former subordinate who had entered his service back in Henei, a kinsman of Central Protector of the Army Han Hao, had shown himself far too weak during the Chang’an upheaval, and as Jingzhaoyin bore responsibility for the incident, so punishment was also necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And between this one promotion and one demotion, Gongsun Xun’s basic attitude toward the Son of Heaven’s flight from Chang’an was made abundantly clear: the Son of Heaven’s journey was wrong. Otherwise, how could Han Rui, who had striven so hard to stop him that day, receive a leapfrog promotion? And how could Han Xuan, who had failed to stop him, be directly demoted to Grand Administrator of a poor commandery?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, everyone should feel free to criticize the Son of Heaven!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond that, ‘suggesting’ Huang Wan replace Liu Yu and preside over the funeral, as well as dismissing Gongsun Zan, was without doubt meant to soothe people’s hearts and also to tell everyone that he would not tear off all pretense and make things difficult for them — that unless absolutely necessary, there would be no bloodshed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for finally having Feng Fang and Zhao Ping, two men of special status, take over the military and political command of Chang’an, combined with the earlier reward and punishment for the two Hans, it should also suffice to prevent a few utter fools from making further misjudgments, while also giving some people the chance to make preparations during this window before Gongsun Xun leads his army back to Chang’an.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s right. Gongsun Xun was making it nakedly clear that he could not possibly relinquish power. When the Son of Heaven was present, he did not yield power; now that the Son of Heaven has left, he will yield it even less!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as for Feng Fang and Zhao Ping, Gongsun Xun’s nominal brother-in-law and nominal father-in-law, their holding of Chang’an’s military and civil authority at this moment carried far more symbolic than practical significance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why Jia Xu and Xi Zhong did not speak, it was actually out of concern regarding Gongsun Zan, Feng Fang, and Zhao Ping. Of the two, one was deeply calculating and unwilling to comment; the other was utterly loyal and thought nothing of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since we are withdrawing the troops,” Gongsun Xun, seeing that both military advisors had no objections, proceeded directly, though he frowned in difficulty for a moment, “Hanzhong will have to be set aside. Who will garrison Wudu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Xu and Xi Zhong also frowned at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no helping it — Gongsun Xun was far too short on infantry commanders!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was an old and oft-repeated problem, and also an inevitable one. Having risen from Liaoxi, with Hebei as the center of gravity and Guanzhong also in hand, it was only natural that his generals were mostly skilled in cavalry. Yet here at Wudu, facing Hanzhong and Bashu, where was the use for cavalry? In fact, this was precisely why Gongsun Xun was unwilling to undertake military adventures in Hanzhong — cavalry combat power would be greatly reduced, and one misstep could mean capsizing below the Long mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the few rare infantry commanders under Gongsun Xun — Gao Shun, Zhang He, Xu Huang — they were all needed in preparation for major affairs in the Central Plains, and he was even more reluctant to waste them here. Yet he could hardly leave no great general to garrison the place!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let it be Zilong,” Gongsun Xun, after pondering half the day, could only make this arrangement. “He has just achieved great merit, so an appointment is fitting; moreover, he bears hardship without complaint and will not grow resentful over a temporary idle posting. Let him garrison Wudu under the title of Champion General, concurrently in command of the key routes across the Long uplands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking to this point, Gongsun Xun could not help but feel regret: “In truth, if Hanzhong could be taken, then establishing a general in the Longnan-Wudu and Hanzhong region — who could overawe Liangzhou to the north, press down on Bashu to the south, and when necessary advance eastward along the Mianshui into Nanyang and Xiangyang — would be what they call advancing and retreating with ease, and could serve as a surprise force when needed. Yet now this endeavor must be abandoned halfway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was always a feint; my lord need not mind it,” Xi Zhong stepped forward to console him. “Chang’an was the primary objective of our western expedition all along. When we discussed it then, we said that if necessary even the Western Liang matter could be slightly set aside, let alone Hanzhong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The human heart is never satisfied,” Gongsun Xun nodded, smiled, and agreed. “Today I understand Guangwu’s state of mind back then. Although the gains from this western expedition have already far exceeded expectations, I still cannot help wanting to take a little more, occupy a little more. All of this is the fruit of your painstaking planning!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xi Zhicai also smiled along. Ultimately, although the process of this western expedition had repeatedly defied expectations, in terms of results, it marked the resounding success of the matter they had planned for many years. And once Gongsun Xun returned to Chang’an and completed the final step, what awaited this General of the Guard was a qualitative leap for both himself and the entire Hebei military-political group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was no wonder that Xi Zhong, who had grown increasingly steady over the years, could not help but show his delight once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, thinking to this point, Xi Zhong could not help but slightly compose his expression and sigh with emotion: “My lord overpraises me. In truth, had my lord not steadied the greater situation, sitting calmly in Hebei for three years and governing the nine provinces, how could things have fallen into place so naturally today, with the water in the channel even repeatedly overflowing? Looking back now, what do court changes, unexpected human hearts, resistance unto death, or stubborn refusal to yield amount to in the face of three years of great governance across the nine provinces of Hebei? So-called ingenious schemes and strange events, though they often exceeded expectations and stirred up waves, could never withstand the sweep of the greater trend and ultimately had to merge into the mainstream. And my past repeated urgings for my lord to take risky measures now seem, in hindsight, somewhat inferior. In sum, that we have today’s situation is, I believe, still the achievement of countless subordinates in Hebei.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Each thing in its own place,” Gongsun Xun quickly waved his hand. “Your design in this instance still had great effect. This split of the Han house — on one hand, leaving the Son of Heaven to depart nearly alone, without sufficient strength to turn and suppress us; on the other, leaving the court ministers without anchor, forced to rely on me for survival. Such an ingenious stratagem — had I been left to myself, I might well have charged down a dead end. If not for you, Yuanchang, and Wenhe… Wenhe, why are you silent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In reply to my lord,” Jia Xu suddenly reacted and answered at once, “I was pondering what Military Advisor Xi just said.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And what of it?” Gongsun Xun grew curious, and Xi Zhong also turned to him with a serious expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was excellently said,” Jia Wenhe also answered gravely, stroking his beard. “The greater situation being what it is, my lord’s momentum is already formed. Apart from the major warlords of the Central Plains, where we must still openly array our forces and fight a few decisive battles, elsewhere, whatever accidents and ingenious schemes and human hearts are merely things floating on the surface! Therefore, why does my lord not, before departing, make one more probe toward Zhang Lu — whether by threat or by sincerity, in short, do what you can before leaving. Do not seek his immediate surrender, but leave room for future military action or offers of amnesty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fair enough,” Gongsun Xun immediately agreed. “Then does Wenhe think we should threaten or be sincere?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It matters not; my lord may follow your heart,” Jia Xu released his beard-stroking hand and spread his hands. “From a subject’s perspective, it is merely a reminder: since my lord is about to manage the realm’s affairs in the Son of Heaven’s stead, you must possess the bearing of the foremost man under heaven.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun fell into thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The depths of winter and the twelfth month were approaching, the chill of winter deep. Because of the great upheaval in Chang’an, General of the Guard Gongsun Xun was about to lead his army back to court. And at this time, because Liu Yan, relying on his geographical advantage, had been unwilling to release Zhang Lu’s biological mother, and Jiang Gan had long been gone without returning, the Hanzhong affair had to be abandoned midway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before departing, the General of the Guard wrote a private letter to Zhang Lu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The letter’s content was very simple, addressing only three matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, it frankly introduced the great events that had occurred in Chang’an, informing the other party of the reality that he had no choice but to abandon Hanzhong and Bashu and withdraw his army eastward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, it exhorted Zhang Gongqi: although he governed Hanzhong by Daoist law, which was a typical heresy, under his rule the situation was after all stable and the people’s hearts were settled, so he himself still very much recognized the other’s level of governance. He thus required the other to continue maintaining effective rule over Hanzhong and avoid unrest that would affect the people’s livelihood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, in the letter, Gongsun Xun frankly confessed another small matter to the Celestial Master Zhang: that the *Investiture of the Gods*, about which the other had always been curious and had repeatedly written to inquire, was in fact no Daoist canon at all. Its settings and language were entirely fabricated by his mother, and he, Gongsun Xun, far from being the reincarnation of King Wu or Erlang Shen, actually held the book in some contempt, because its posture of everything being predestined by fate was, after all, somewhat inferior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, even Lady Gongsun, the ‘author,’ looking back at this book now, found it somewhat hollow. Only because it involved King Wu’s campaign against Zhou and many matters of gods and spirits, and had considerable influence, was it inconvenient to alter. The root of Daoism, however, must still return to Laozi’s governance by non-action; all the rest is merely forced analogy and far-fetched interpretation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Going even a step further, Gongsun Xun stated even more plainly in the letter that even though he personally respected Daoist thought of governance by non-action and respected Zhang Lu’s contribution in stabilizing Hanzhong through Daoist law, in terms of governance philosophy, he, this General of the Guard, ran counter to Daoism and was closer to the paths of Confucianism and Legalism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This point he was unwilling to conceal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Delivered to Nanzheng along with the letter was also Gongsun Xun’s official document, as governing general, appointing Zhang Lu as Grand Administrator of Hanzhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after the document and letter were delivered, there was not the slightest response from Nanzheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gongsun Xun had merely left a hidden contingency, with no real expectations beyond that, so he paid it no further mind. He only left Zhao Yun to lead the newly promoted Captain Cheng Yin with five thousand infantry and cavalry to garrison Wudu, then without the slightest reluctance personally led the main army back into Guanzhong through Sanguan. At Chencang, where the snow had already melted, he joined forces with seven thousand Liangzhou cavalry, then turned eastward, gathering the elite cavalry and crack troops of the Three Adjuncts along the way, preparing to enter Chang'an to settle the overall situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, deep in winter's chill, as the roughly twenty-thousand-strong army slowly advanced to Mei Dock, the great logistics base, they encountered an unexpected figure — Zhang Lu, Zhang Gongqi, Governor of Hanzhong, who had come through the Xie Trail to this point, surrendering almost entirely alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————I am a dividing line that knows not what it is————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The discourse on Heaven's Mandate is fundamentally man-made. Why invert root and branch, using Heaven to determine man? You style yourself Celestial Master, manipulating ghosts and gods, yet in bringing order to Hanzhong, how does it surpass the virtue of the Five Pecks of Rice? Therefore it is said: when man strives to strengthen himself, then he is certain to overcome Heaven. I hope you will reflect on this.\" — \"Letter to Celestial Master Zhang on the Eve of Returning to Sanguan.\" Yan. Gongsun Xun\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Sorry, I was just too exhausted yesterday, and also felt a bit of air-conditioning sickness. Anyway, last night was terrible. I got up at six in the morning to make it up, and now it's checked and corrected and posted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Continuing to offer book recommendations — \"The World Stumbles, Yet I Roam Free\" by Mi Chushi; \"The European Emperor's Strategy\" by Bajiu Luomeng\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3271,"2026-06-04T19:42:52.587Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","3fb58fbcbbc417fe820ab17dcff93fc740d3b8a38208cd87536c02f745519f83","overthrowing-han-chapter-466","overthrowing-han-chapter-464",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]