[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-519":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},1223278,1620,"Chapter 519: Watching Flowers Bloom in Vain on a Full Terrace Day","overthrowing-han-chapter-519",519,"\u003Cp>The weather was slightly cool; it was just the Double Ninth Festival, with the moon like a hook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year, the Double Ninth Festival on the ninth day of the ninth month of the seventh year of Jian'an passed without much stir. Several days earlier, the Bronze Sparrow Terrace had formally issued a notice: after the Double Ninth Festival, on the first day of mid-September, an extraordinary grand court assembly would be convened. At that time, apart from essential personnel remaining on duty in the various offices, temples, and military camps, all officials in Ye City — whether of rank six hundred dan and above according to the old Han system, or of rank seven and above according to the new grade system — could attend the assembly and openly discuss affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the officials of Ye City, this temporary and rare grand court assembly seemed entirely justified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Yizhou resolved so swiftly and in a manner no one had anticipated, many of Yan's internal and external plans and policies had become outdated. Moreover, pressing major matters demanded attention: the summary of autumn harvest taxes and grain, the upcoming archery examination for policy selection at the Ye City University in mid-September, the sudden standoff between the Censorate and the Jing'an Bureau... and so on. With Yan now effectively controlling ten and a half of the former Great Han's thirteen provinces, all these issues had become exceptionally urgent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To put it bluntly, it was all thanks to that Xu Yuanzhi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One must understand: although everyone had long understood that Lord Yan's private, gradually unconcealed so-called \"overthrowing of Han\" was an established trend, before Yizhou was taken in this manner, it was still something that existed only in conception, requiring a specific time to accomplish...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But who could have imagined that the internal power struggles in Yizhou had sunk to such a low level? Who could have foreseen that a young swordsman, leading twenty men into Shu, flying Lord Yan's banner, could wrap up Yizhou in a chaotic rush?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And once Yizhou fell so easily into their hands, it suddenly dawned on everyone: the day of overthrowing Han was actually right before their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, from Lord Yan himself down to all factions in and out of court, nearly everyone was caught off guard, forced by the situation to reveal their true colors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, with hearts restless and agitated, everyone was trying to seize the final window of opportunity to press their own demands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the present: the Yan state was newly founded, and Gongsun Xun himself was merely Lord Yan, not even a prince. Moreover, being of Liaoxi military stock and never one for ceremony, he had no grand ritual system. Yet when the Three Departments, Four Bureaus, Six Ministries, and Twelve Temples assembled — a dark mass of hundreds of powerful officials gathered in the open space before the main hall of the Bronze Sparrow Terrace — most could not help but grow solemn, instinctively arranging themselves in order out of bureaucratic habit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Say what you will, these several hundred people were in fact maintaining the operation of the realm's central hub. No one could deny the significance of these several hundred people's existence, least of all themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Censorate ranks, which lacked its proper chief official, the Middle Censor Shi Yi wore the standard-issue Liaoning brocade official robe. The cyan robe, embroidered with silver pheasants on the chest and hem — signifying his rank of Principal Grade Five and his civil official status — was paired with a two-ridge Worthy Advancement cap and the black silk cord and bronze seal of a six-hundred-dan stipend. He stood just behind the two Junior Deputy Censors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was not as sternly solemn as the two Junior Deputy Censors before him, nor did he whisper back and forth like the young Grade Seven censors behind him. Instead, he surveyed the entire scene before the hall with a calm, detached gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the open space before the hall, the most conspicuous figures were naturally the three men: Prime Minister Jia Xu, Left Chancellor Shen Pei, and Right Chancellor Lou Gui. Dressed in specially bestowed purple robes bearing the qilin image, they stood at ease at the very front of the officials, chatting and laughing quietly, seemingly unconcerned with the complex situation and political tides before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind these three, to the right, was a group of high-ranking military officers who had just received marquisates and happened to be stationed back in Ye City, or had been directly transferred back. These men also wore qilin embroidery, but on the ordinary red Liaoning brocade robes of high officials. Unrestrained, they laughed and talked among themselves, frequently conversing with the three chancellors before them as usual. Among them were Zhang Liao, whose cumulative merits had earned him an annuity matching the Han standard of a ten-thousand-household marquis; Yang Kai, enfeoffed with only two Battalion Commander but appointed to the critical post of Central Army Protector; the one-eared Tian Yu, with three Battalion Commander; and another weighty minister who had remained silent, merely standing solemnly — Gao Shun, whose annuity reached that of an eight-thousand-household marquis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the left rear of the three chancellors, the situation was somewhat more complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was Wang Xiu, Director of the Finance Bureau, silent and with head bowed; Han Dang, Director of the Privy Council Bureau, who had nearly left his formation to join the military marquis ranks; and Xi Zhong, Director of the Jing'an Bureau, gazing up at the sky in contemplation. These three were also red-robed qilin grandees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the so-called Seven Chancellors, like the super-grade founding military marquises, naturally transcended the civil-military divide and stood above ordinary officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the line from Xi Zhong further left, one came directly upon the Censorate ranks!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, the Censorate was lined up right next to the Jing'an Bureau, the very target of their recent fierce attacks. No wonder the two Junior Deputy Censors were so stern; Xi Zhong was standing not far in front of them, and they lacked sufficient backing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Yi swept his gaze over the few true super-grade civil and military figures and sighed with rare emotion. He understood in his heart: these people, so long as Lord Yan gave the order, regardless of civil or military, reason, ability, or right and wrong, would choose blind obedience without a moment's hesitation. This was precisely why the Censorate had recently gained such immense fame and presence in Ye City — because facing a de facto founding monarch, a figure destined to be ranked alongside Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Gaozu, and Emperor Shizu, very few indeed had the courage to directly speak of his faults.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Tian Yuanhao and the Censorate dared to do just that!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, since returning from labor reform in the north and assuming the post of Middle Censor, Shi Yi had felt profound respect for only two people. One was Tian Yuanhao, Lord Tian, who disregarded Shi Yi's status as a surrendered man and vigorously promoted him to Middle Censor. The other was Lord Yan himself, who had dared to proactively establish the Censorate to supervise his own person before the realm was even settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this thought, Shi Yi turned his head to look behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the ranks of the Three Departments and Four Bureaus were the formations of the Six Ministries. These six departments, directly subordinate to the Three Departments, together with the Four Bureaus formed the core power collective of the central government. The people here, especially the ministry heads — the Ministers and the Left and Right Vice Ministers — such as Wei Ji, Cui Min, Gao Yan, and others, were either calm and composed or eager to make their mark. Clearly, for these people, though they might not be as perfectly at ease as the founding-generation figures in the first three rows, they greatly enjoyed the opportunity to exercise their talents and the respected status afforded by this new system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Yi understood perfectly what this was about. To use a fashionable new term that emerged after the large-scale marquis enfeoffment substituting cash for households: this was the dividend-sharing after Lord Yan proactively delegated power. In the Later Han, the Three Excellencies held extremely high positions and enjoyed the power of personal recruitment, yet could not serve permanently, nor could they directly and practically control the levers of state power. Meanwhile, the Imperial Secretariat held de facto central power, yet its formal rank was extremely low, often requiring additional honorary appointments to gain prestige.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, Lord Yan had not only returned to the early Former Han practice of delegating actual chancellor authority, but had also made the key officials of central institutions like the Ministers and Vice Ministers live up to their titles in both name and substance. A Minister was Principal Grade Two, second only to the Seven Chancellors and Provincial Governors! A Vice Minister was Grade Three, equal in rank to a Commandery Administrator!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were even rumors that in the future, as military rule in the Central Plains ended and the four southern provinces were fully acquired, the court would likely take the opportunity to massively divide the large commanderies, reducing Commandery Administrators to Grade Five, which would make the positions of Minister and Vice Minister even more prestigious. And in Shi Yi's view, such a move would not face much resistance locally, because there would be many more Provincial Governors then. Compared to the one-in-three chance of promotion to Provincial Governor, most of those Grand Commandery Administrators would probably be willing to accept the risk of being reassigned to a smaller commandery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a sense, this was another kind of restructuring dividend where name and substance matched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Provincial Governor had not been a permanent post in the past!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And while the six-hundred-dan Inspector, though de facto wielding the great power of a province and honored as a Regional Governor, who wouldn't prefer to serve a few more years and be promoted to a First-Rank Provincial Governor, if given the chance?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this far, Shi Yi followed the line of familiar faces further back in the Six Ministries' ranks — Xin Ping, Xun Chen, Peng Mou — and then looked even further behind, only to sigh involuntarily. Taking advantage of the elevated view afforded by the Censorate's front-row position on the steps, with just one glance further back, he spotted his patron: Kong Rong, Kong Wenju, Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was not because Kong Rong's Court of Imperial Sacrifices held any special status among the Twelve Temples. If any temple held special status, it was clearly the Yellow Pavilion Temple, responsible for the overall management of documents and archives. This was because its minister, Wang Xiang, had been the Yellow Pavilion Registrar in Lord Yan's General of the Guard office in the early days, specializing in recording confidential texts, and still served Lord Yan directly within the inner cabinet. Because of Wang Xiang, this institution had always been the one temple among the Twelve closest to core power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Kong Rong, he stood out because, positioned at the front of the Twelve Temples' ranks, he simply could not keep still. He repeatedly paced left and right, shifted up and down, one moment staring entranced at the vermilion and purple qilin ranks ahead, the next turning to chatter incessantly with the other temple ministers, and then nearly shuffling into the Six Ministries' ranks ahead. When he looked up from afar and spotted Shi Yi, he even directly nodded in acknowledgment from a distance, as if signaling something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Shi Yi felt even more helpless but could only pretend not to notice. He swept his gaze past those around Kong Rong — Gongsun Yu, Minister of the Court of the Imperial Clan; Zhao Ping, Minister of the Court of the Palace Garrison; Wang Yi, Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud; Feng Fang, Minister of the Court of the Grand Minister of Agriculture — and finally, inexplicably, locked eyes with Guo Tu, the Junior Minister of the Printing Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be said, that fellow Guo Tu truly had some ability. Originally ostracized due to his character issues by nearly all the surrendered men and Lord Yan's key ministers, including Lord Yan himself, he had, upon returning from labor reform, first regained a foothold by publishing his annotated legal commentary. He then smoothly entered official service during the collective amnesty and appointment before Lord Yan's campaign in the Central Plains. Not only that, starting this year, he had submitted multiple memorials discussing and participating in the revision of Yan's legal codes. Ultimately, his outstanding legal knowledge won the favor of Left Chancellor Shen Pei, and he formally joined the revision of Yan's various statutes. With this great merit, he transformed himself into the highest-ranking official among his cohort of surrendered men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the two locked eyes for a moment, Shi Yi felt a strange emotion akin to tacit understanding inexplicably well up in his heart. This was truly odd, for Shi Ziyu's character was universally acknowledged as upright and pure, just as Guo Gongze's character was universally acknowledged as shameless. How could the two possibly share a meeting of minds?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, after this inexplicable exchange of glances, Guo Tu suddenly pursed his lips toward a corner beside him. Shi Yi followed his gaze and saw a grandee who was likely among the absolute top seven, or even top five in real political influence, at this court assembly: Dong Zhao, the Governor of Jizhou, in his red qilin robe!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, that famously swarthy, portly man was standing with the Administrator of Wei Commandery and others in the farthest corner, smiling broadly as he observed everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And behind the swarthy, portly Dong Gongren stood a group of White Horse Volunteers, standing ramrod straight, their presence nearly blotting out the distant Zhang River entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Yi was puzzled, clearly not grasping Guo Tu's hint at that moment. But he had long had his own thoughts and paid no mind to these things, so he turned back and waited in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Shi Yi waited a short while longer, when suddenly he saw a figure emerge from the hall — it was none other than Ma Dai, the Protector of the Volunteers. He stood before the hall, and only when complete silence fell did he raise his voice to announce:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By His Highness's command: today's specially convened court assembly shall follow simplified procedures. Grand rites are not required, nor is excessive strictness on decorum. All present shall enter the hall in order, take their seats, and discuss affairs!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire assembly was silent. After this command was proclaimed three times, the hall doors behind Ma Dai were thrown fully open by a group of saber-wielding Volunteers. When Ma Dai himself turned, hand on saber, and entered, taking his place at the foot of the steps inside the hall, Jia Xu at the lead, the civil and military officials grew thoroughly solemn and filed in one after another!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a Middle Censor, Shi Yi was among the first batch to enter the hall. The moment he stepped inside, he immediately noticed two particularly conspicuous things:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was, naturally, Lord Yan's seat — upon which had been placed an enormous, incongruous white tiger skin! The massive tiger head jutted out from beneath the low table, nearly frightening one to death!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those in the know understood that Lord Yan, hailing from a frontier commandery military background, simply liked these incongruous things. Those not in the know might think they had arrived at the stronghold of that former Purple Mountain bandit, Zhang Yan!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other thing was also seating — specifically, the chairs arranged in two rows, left and right, in the middle of the hall. Most people, of course, had only rush cushions, but the first three rows of civil and military officials all had stools. In particular, the first row had eight Grand Commandant chairs, four on each side, which were exceptionally eye-catching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Yi felt indescribable emotion in his heart, but quickly lowered his head. Following the Volunteers' guidance, he arrived behind a small low table marked with his name and sat upright, motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shortly after, as the hundreds of people filed in orderly fashion, without any ceremony, Lord Yan Gongsun Xun, dressed in black and carrying that broken blade at his bosom, emerged from behind the hall. Before Ma Dai, standing below the steps, could even speak, Prime Minister Jia Xu at the lead, the Seven Chancellors and Governor Dong Zhao of Jizhou rose hastily and led the civil and military officials in bowing to Lord Yan in the standard courtesy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Be seated!\" Gongsun Xun, settling directly onto the tiger skin, waved his hands repeatedly, clearly dismissive. \"There will be time for your formalities. Today's business is many; let us not delay. Where is the Prime Minister?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Xu, who had just sat down, immediately rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have the rewards for Yizhou all been settled?\" Perhaps because he had just distributed sundry goods vouchers to all Ye City officials for yesterday's Double Ninth Festival, Lord Yan even skipped the pleasantries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In reply to Your Highness, the broad outlines have all been settled.\" Jia Xu rose and answered calmly, though his eyes could not help being drawn to the tiger head before him, lingering on it for a few extra glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The plan to re-divide the provinces — the Central Plains, the Two Huai regions, Yizhou, and even Jiaozhou, Yangzhou, Jingzhou — and the matter of removing kingdoms and dividing commanderies across the entire realm cannot be delayed either. These are major affairs; draft them early, do not miss the opportune moment. Moreover, this matter involves too many things; you must devote extra care to it, coordinating with the various ministries and temples to work diligently. A broad outline must be produced before winter. There should also be some rough preparations for personnel contingency plans, so that we, lord and ministers, can discuss them in detail when the time comes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Acknowledged!\" Jia Wenhe dared not be negligent and immediately bowed his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Be seated.\" Gongsun Xun continued calling names. \"Shuzhi... report on the autumn harvest. No need to cite figures; just state where the problems lie.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In reply to Your Highness.\" Wang Xiu, recently married, also rose crisply. \"Last year, Qing and Xu provinces suffered floods, compounded by military calamities, which slightly affected this year. Broadly speaking, the Central Plains and Xuzhou yielded only eighty percent of a normal harvest year. Qingzhou and the rest of the Two Huai regions yielded about ninety percent of a normal year. Beyond that, the Shu region, Sanfu, and Liangzhou were in the midst of military operations this year, which also greatly disrupted production; their harvests were only seventy to eighty percent of normal. Only Liaodong had a bumper harvest, and the military colonies in Shanzhou had a great ripening.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Which is to say, an overall shortfall?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are the granaries sufficient for the people's livelihood?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That, at least, is enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough to send troops south and pacify Jing and Yang?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we can ensure no major disasters next year, it might sustain the effort. But if anything goes wrong, chaos could ensue... Moreover, if we take Jing and Yang, those regions will need relief and resettlement after the fighting, requiring incalculable grain and supplies — just like the expenditure in the Central Plains this past year.\" Wang Shuzhi answered with great fluency, but also with great bluntness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Minister of War Attendant Shi Wu! Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial Shi Kuang!\" Gongsun Xun suddenly called out two inexplicable names.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The uncle and nephew, Shi Wu and Shi Kuang, felt their hearts lurch. They immediately hurried out from their respective ranks and prostrated themselves in the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I already said, no need to bow today.\" Gongsun Xun, seated in the main seat of the hall, stroked the tiger pelt beside his hip — a gift offered by Yang Xiu when he passed through here on his way to assume office. \"Ask Brother Weiyan for me: when I campaign against Jing and Yang, can he ship grain from Jiaozhou? If he can, I can dispatch the troops after next spring. If he cannot, I will have to wait until after next autumn to attempt to unify the realm — half a year later to bring peace to the world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Wu and Shi Kuang, uncle and nephew, felt their scalps go numb. They hurriedly assented, not only claiming they would write to Shi Xie, but nearly swearing oaths and making vows that Shi Xie would certainly comply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire court of civil and military officials regarded this uncle and nephew with strange looks... Truly, never mind how wretched this pair appeared at this moment — if Shi Xie truly surrendered his entire province, this family's official fortunes might well flourish for several generations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Wang Xiu took his seat and the Shi uncle and nephew withdrew, Gongsun Xun looked around and continued to address several more matters, mostly with crisp decisiveness. As time passed, he suddenly called out yet another name: \"Where is the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, Kong Wenju?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Rong immediately rallied himself, stepped forward, and performed a salute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Minister Kong...\" Gongsun Xun still wore that expression that revealed neither pleasure nor anger. \"In a few days, it will be the date for the archery examination and policy selection at the Ye Capital Grand Academy. Master Zheng is advanced in years; you must devote extra care and be sure to help him handle the miscellaneous affairs, so that this examination proceeds smoothly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Rong bowed his head again. \"I was just about to memorialize on this matter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speak plainly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reporting to Your Highness.\" Kong Rong raised his head and spoke with eloquence. \"The archery examination and policy selection is the primary path by which our Yan State selects officials. Yet for a long time, it has been confined solely within the Ye Capital Grand Academy. With Master Zheng, the Confucian paragon of the age, presiding over the academy, there is inherently no issue. However, he is, after all, a subject of the Han, the Han Imperial Court's Minister of Ceremonies. Under his stewardship, is the selection being made for Yan, or for Han? I have always felt a slight unease.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Kong Wenju spoke these words, the already silent hall grew quiet to an even deeper degree... Many felt their hearts leap simultaneously — someone had finally spoken the words aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Therefore, I humbly and presumptuously request to resign my post as Yan State's Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, and request that Master Zheng be formally appointed Yan State's Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial!\" Amid the hall's utter silence, Kong Wenju continued to raise his voice with proud resonance, his words reverberating for a moment. \"Once accomplished, the Ye Capital Grand Academy, inside and out, should be placed under the direct jurisdiction of the Yan State Court of State Ceremonial. Only thus will the name match the reality!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that all?\" Gongsun Xun fell silent for a moment, then, with a serious expression, pressed the question while gripping his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not only that.\" Kong Rong, seeming to draw some encouragement from Gongsun Xun seated upon the tiger pelt, spoke with increasing freedom. \"As Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, I dare not be remiss in my daily duties and often ponder the path of selecting officials for the state... For instance, the Ye Capital Grand Academy system, in the past, judged by Hebei alone, might have barely sufficed. But now, with Your Highness's divine martial prowess, having suddenly regained the Central Plains, the Huai River region, Ba-Shu, and Nanyang, holding eight or nine-tenths of the realm, a single Ye Capital Grand Academy is no longer adequate to encompass the whole. I humbly and presumptuously request a special provision be established, permitting scholars from newly submitted regions — the Central Plains, the Huai River region, Nanyang, Ba-Shu, and so forth — to bypass the Ye Capital Grand Academy and proceed directly to the Court of State Ceremonial to participate in the selection...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This proposal is improper!\" At that moment, Left Chancellor Shen Pei suddenly rose to refute it. \"Would this not, in turn, be unfair to the scholars of Hebei, Guanxi, and other regions who have toiled in study at the Ye Capital Grand Academy?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps so.\" Kong Wenju, as if having anticipated this, was neither servile nor overbearing, responding with composure. \"But has Chancellor Shen considered that at this very moment, Duke Yan ought to be winning the hearts of the realm? People like us from Qingzhou and Jizhou have long received Duke Yan's grace; at a time like this, we should be somewhat magnanimous...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Pei fell silent for a moment, but still shook his head. \"That is not how it should be argued... The Ye Capital Grand Academy is not merely a matter of regional concern. More importantly, its system of divided subjects and policy examinations differs entirely from what is studied in the Central Plains and elsewhere. For example, those wishing to enter the Ministry of Revenue or the Court of the National Granaries must excel in daily mathematics examinations and then specifically select mathematics-type examination papers as one of the main papers for the imperial examination. As for the mathematics textbooks upon which the examinations are based, they are fundamentally new books jointly compiled by Liu Yuanzhuo of Taishan — the renowned mathematician of the late Han — and the Empress Dowager at the Ye Capital Grand Academy... Under such circumstances, if you want the Court of State Ceremonial to open a special examination track for the newly submitted southern regions, how exactly should it be examined?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since it is a special track established to bestow grace, why not temporarily forgo testing these subjects and only assess classical scholarship, supplementing it with evaluations of character and family background as a provisional measure?\" Kong Rong remained composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is even more unfair!\" Shen Zhengnan frowned more deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Left Chancellor, we have come full circle in our words.\" Kong Wenju suddenly laughed. \"Is that not precisely how things stand? This matter is inherently an exceptional case, inherently intended to allow Duke Yan to spread his benevolence and virtue across the realm. If the scholars of the realm pledge their hearts to him, why worry that the great enterprise will not succeed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Pei hesitated inwardly. Meanwhile, Dong Zhao, seated nearby, could not help but glance at Duke Yan himself, who was beginning to look intrigued in his seat... To be honest, Dong Gongren had originally been waiting for those brash fellows from the Censorate to come forward and lay the matter bare. Who could have imagined that Kong Wenju would be so impatient? So direct and blunt?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed he was utterly mad with desire to wear the qilin robe!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there was nothing wrong with wanting to wear the qilin robe — everyone wanted to wear it. However, this descendant of the Sage Kong was, alas, far too shallow in his vision, and far too self-righteous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I request Your Highness's clear judgment.\" Seeing Shen Pei remain silent for a long while and Prime Minister Jia Xu sit with eyes closed and wordless, Kong Rong finally could not restrain himself and directly petitioned Gongsun Xun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I probably understand Minister Kong's line of thought, but there is one thing I am slightly unclear on.\" Gongsun Xun, with a hint of amusement, asked Kong Rong below the dais with curiosity. \"That is, why must I bestow grace upon the scholars of the realm? What benefit is there in doing so?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Rong could not help but laugh as well. He cupped his hands and replied with composure: \"Duke Yan, as the master of the realm, one cannot ask the realm's people for benefits. To be the master of the realm, one should bestow grace to win the hearts of the realm. This is a matter of course...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is doing merely this sufficient to win the hearts of the realm?\" Gongsun Xun, as if tacitly acknowledging something, pressed the question relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps it is still insufficient. However, as Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, I can only speak of these matters within my purview...\" Kong Rong could not help but give a dry laugh. \"For other deficiencies, Your Highness should ask the Censors.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do the Censors have any special memorials today?\" Gongsun Xun inquired with curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reporting to Your Highness.\" Left Deputy Censor Zhang Cheng stepped out of the ranks, bowed his head, and replied. \"There are no special memorials. However, there is a recent matter on which we have submitted memorials one after another, yet without result. Today, we wish to jointly memorialize again...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If it is a matter previously memorialized, Prime Minister Jia and I will naturally have a strategy to respond. Why be so impatient?\" Gongsun Xun clearly guessed what the other party was referring to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because people's hearts are anxious and unsettled, to the point that both high and low are ill at ease. We, the Censors, entrusted with this duty, dare not be anything but urgent!\" Zhang Cheng bowed his head in reply. Behind him, the Censors also rose one after another and bowed their heads from their seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is it the matter of the Director of the Jing'an Bureau, Xi Zhong, violating regulations by privately giving twenty warriors to the Governor of Hanzhong, Guo Jia?\" Gongsun Xun, finding no way to evade it, laid the matter out plainly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is!\" Zhang Cheng responded on behalf of the many Censors behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Xi Zhong had long since risen and stood in the center of the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zhicai, do you have anything to say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have nothing to say. This action indeed violated regulations.\" Xi Zhong lowered his head and admitted his fault. \"I am willing to accept punishment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fined three months' salary, demoted to Deputy Director of the Jing'an Bureau, exercising the authority of the Director... Change his stool.\" Gongsun Xun evidently imposed a severe punishment. And just as Ma Dai personally brought over an ordinary stool, Duke Yan turned back to Zhang Cheng. \"The Censorate impeached Xi Zhong for violating regulations. Xi Zhong admitted guilt. I impose this punishment. Does the Censorate have any further comment?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Cheng pondered briefly, bowed his head in response, and was about to withdraw to his seat. The remaining Censors looked at one another, speechless. It was not that no one hesitated, but in the end, they all sat back down in their seats one after another. Shi Yi, neither hurried nor slow, composedly sat back down as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But on the other side, seeing Shi Yi sit back down without uttering a single word, Kong Rong grew greatly anxious and could not help but speak up himself: \"Your Highness, this matter has stirred discussion throughout the realm. It is not merely a matter of Xi Zhong's personal dereliction of duty. The truth is that the Jing'an Bureau privately maintains sworn assassins, which can hardly be called open and aboveboard... To calm people's hearts, to bestow grace upon the realm, the first priority should be to strip the Jing'an Bureau of its great authority!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Yi sighed inwardly. In the distance, Guo Tu could not suppress a cold sneer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Duke Yan, Gongsun Xun, was puzzled once more: \"Wenju, why is it again about bestowing grace upon the realm? Bestow grace upon the realm, the realm's hearts submit — and then what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Highness...\" Kong Rong clearly sensed something amiss in Gongsun Xun's attitude, and moreover, because the support he had originally counted on had largely failed to materialize, he could not help but grow somewhat flustered. \"This realm — I spoke very clearly earlier! In the past, the First Emperor of Qin destroyed the six states but treated their nobles harshly, and thus the dynasty fell in the second generation. When Emperor Guangwu, the Founder of the Han, surveyed the realm's fields and encountered rebellion, he also temporarily relented, precisely for fear of losing the people's hearts... Now, with the earthquake in Liaoxi, the Han Emperor having a legitimate eldest son, and incidents like this occurring, I fear people will discuss it and say that Your Highness has lost virtue and is insufficient to receive the Han mandate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand. After all that, is Minister Kong trying to say that one must win the people's hearts in order to replace Han with Yan?\" Gongsun Xun suddenly laughed. \"Win the people's hearts, and only then can I ascend the throne as Emperor, be called the master of the realm — is that the meaning?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Rong was instantly overcome with shame and found no words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is there to conceal and evade?\" Gongsun Xun looked around and laughed. \"Over on the Han Emperor's side, the Empress has set herself up as a separatist rebel, Dong Zhuo even poisoned the Empress Dowager and the Young Emperor, and Yuan Shao refuses to recognize the current Son of Heaven. What dignity is left in that realm? And you? You are all subjects of the Yan State, my private ministers... What is there to taboo? Besides, times are different now. Every household has paper and brush, and everyone is a clever person. When they go home and write a few rumors in their diaries, they will always be passed down to posterity. To conceal and evade some things only brings greater disgrace!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Rong sighed, preparing to set aside his burdens and speak again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Gongsun Xun, seated on the tiger pelt, suddenly leaned back against his seat and laughed coldly in response: \"Yet, when did I ever say I must become this Son of Heaven? I am but a common fellow from Liaoxi, always lacking in proper form, talent, or virtue. It was only seeing Emperor Ling bring calamity upon the state, witnessing Dong Zhuo's tyranny, because the realm was thrown into chaos and the land seared with boundless suffering, that I drew my blade and rose, leading the heroes to cleanse the realm, commanding the valiant to scourge the land... Only after several years did this situation come to be! As for the throne of the Son of Heaven — given my posture today, if I said I had never thought of it, I fear the realm would mock me for hypocrisy! Truly, it is not that I have never thought of it. But I read in the *Mencius*: 'If one accepts a vast salary without distinguishing propriety and righteousness, what does that vast salary add to me?' And today, I also wish to ask Minister Kong: since I am now insufficient to receive the Han mandate and inherit the realm, if I were to purchase the realm with official salaries and leniency, then what would the realm add to me? As I see it, this throne of the Son of Heaven — if it is mine, then it is mine. But if I truly lack this Heavenly Mandate, to be able to pacify the realm in this life would be enough to console my entire existence. When the time comes, why not return governance to the Son of Heaven and lead all you private ministers in this hall back to my Liaoxi fief, to sit and watch the realm in peace?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as these words were spoken, a clamor erupted throughout the hall. Some, like the Minister of the Guards, Zhao Ping, even laughed outright. Kong Rong's face flushed crimson, and he was nearly speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at that very moment, someone suddenly spoke out indignantly from far in the back: \"Kong Wenju curries favor and peddles grace! In name, it is for Duke Yan, but in truth, it is for his own selfish ends! Outwardly professing to uphold the Heavenly Mandate, inwardly harboring chaos and calamity! I, Guo Tu, Vice Minister of the Court of Printing, humbly and presumptuously request that Kong Rong be executed to set the people's hearts aright!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Wenju, furious and flustered, was about to turn his head when, unexpectedly, Dong Zhao beside him, seeing that if he delayed any longer he would have no part to play at all, finally could not restrain himself. He rose proudly and spoke out in righteous indignation: \"Vice Minister Guo misunderstands! Minister Kong is not wicked, but rather somewhat foolish. To my knowledge, he has fallen for the schemes of certain treacherous individuals! I ask everyone to be patient and hear me explain in detail! Regarding these recent seditious rumors in Ye Capital, we in Jizhou have long since investigated and determined their source!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun kicked the tiger's ear beneath his foot, then continued to sit there as calmly as a mountain bandit chieftain, quietly observing the developments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Yi, watching this scene from afar, could not help but close his eyes... This was precisely the problem!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact was, Shi Ziyu had felt uneasy about Kong Rong's collusion from the start. It was only because the man was his benefactor that he reluctantly agreed. But when he attended court today and saw the hundred officials assembled, he understood with perfect clarity from the composition and experiences of these officials, and thus became thoroughly disillusioned... Kong Wenju's line of thought indeed had some logic to it. But the problem was that this fellow had vastly overestimated the power of the so-called scholars and the Hebei great clans dissatisfied with the new policies, and had grossly underestimated Duke Yan's own prestige, capability, and character!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, from my perspective, as a subject of this Duke of Yan — or rather, as anyone living in this era — so long as one dares to oppose the Duke of Yan, even partially or in an unconventional way, it is an utterly despairing affair!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In war, you certainly cannot defeat him; the grass on Yuan Shao's and Cao Cao's graves has already been cut! Yizhou fell in three months!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you want to plot rebellion or form conspiracies, you simply cannot rally anyone! And you probably cannot even keep it hidden from him! I fear that this time, Kong Wenju and the few of us were long ago marked by the men of the Jing'an Office! As for the previous escape of the Son of Heaven eastward, I, Shi Yi, am also fully convinced that it was the Duke of Yan who deliberately let him go!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that is not all. The most crucial and terrifying thing is that if you truly push this man too far, he really dares to not care about his reputation! He is no modest gentleman; in essence, he is just a warrior from Liaoxi!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man of several decades, already the Duke of Yan, and yet he says things like \"you are all my private ministers, let us all return to Liaoxi together\"... Does he have the nerve to say such things? Hundreds of high officials holding central authority, nearly ten thousand local officials, several hundred thousand troops — return to Liaoxi to drink the northwest wind?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But once it is said, and said so loftily, whether the realm adds anything to him, the Duke of Yan, is uncertain, but for everyone here, it will certainly add something!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why make trouble for yourself by opposing such a man?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to put it? In an instant, I, Shi Ziyu, truly felt that my patron here ought to go herd sheep in Shanzhou for three years... After he returns, whether he becomes foolish or wicked, it would cure all ills!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—————I am the dividing line that cures all ills—————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant Songzhi notes: Guo Tu and Xin Ping — their treachery was enough to overthrow Yuan, yet their wisdom instead aided Yan. Why? It is simply that treacherous men often possess talent, and success or failure depends on the times. Like demon birds and wild foxes, they lie low and docile by day, only finding their auspicious omen when night comes.\" — From the *Dianlüe*, Yan section, annotated by Pei Songzhi\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",6709,"2026-06-04T19:42:52.587Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","75058aa761c8171a2a6acab3b5f13aef6a7a075fd0c3b93858272e7bfb10e26b","overthrowing-han-chapter-520","overthrowing-han-chapter-518",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]