Chapter 52: Striking the Water in Midstream

Tossing the angelica root — which looked rather like ginseng — to the kitten at his feet, Gongsun Xun immediately opened his mother’s letter. The letter was written entirely on paper; clearly, the papermaking craftsmen he had sent back had indeed been very effective.

In fact, in the letter Lady Gongsun also instructed her son to use the blank “paper books” she had sent to copy out some classics, and then distribute them as gifts to renowned scholars and gentlemen in various regions, to publicize and promote them… As for why “various regions” and not Luoyang, the end of the letter made the reason exceptionally clear: Gongsun Xun and Gongsun Zan had truly “returned home”!

“A-Xun, why did you call me back?” Gongsun Zan was baffled. “Wait — when did you undergo the capping ceremony?”

“That can wait until later,” Gongsun Xun said, raising the letter in his hand. “Elder brother, my mother has written asking us to return home as quickly as possible…”

“Why?” Gongsun Zan asked, utterly perplexed.

“Elder brother’s ‘honorable father-in-law,’ our Prefect Hou, has just recently received orders from above. He is to prepare for a handover; as soon as the new Grand Administrator arrives, he is to proceed to Shanggu Commandery…”

“Why Shanggu Commandery?” Gongsun Zan turned pale with shock, words tumbling from his mouth. “We serve as clerks in the commandery, and from the city and household registers we both know that our Liaoxi has the second-lowest number of households among the commanderies and princedoms in Youzhou, and Shanggu has the very lowest… And Liaoxi at least has a larger territory, abundant resources, and a critical location — it can truly be called a hub of trade and travel. What does Shanggu have? After serving for several years, can he not get a slightly better prospect? Could it be he offended some high official in the court?”

“Elder brother, don’t be anxious.” Gongsun Xun hastened to reassure him. “This transfer for your father-in-law is probably a good thing… Think about it — what do both Shanggu and Liaoxi have?”

“Both have… both have the Wuhuan?” Gongsun Zan’s mind was by no means slow; the moment he thought it over, he could not help but draw a sharp breath. “I understand now. Could it be that after the great victory at Lulong Fortress last time, the court has concluded that my father-in-law is skilled in military command? Are they going to launch a campaign over in Shanggu?”

“Mother’s letter says that everyone in Liaoxi thinks so.” Gongsun Xun nodded. “And now in Luoyang there are also vague rumors that a grand army is to be sent against the Xianbei… Elder brother, think about it — if they really do use troops against the Xianbei, they will certainly advance along the line from Dai Commandery to Yunzhong. When that time comes, they will inevitably need to use the Shanggu Wuhuan in the west, not the Liaoxi Wuhuan in the east.”

“So you’re saying my father-in-law will be put to great use?”

“Not necessarily.” Gongsun Xun mused thoughtfully. “The Shanggu Wuhuan number over nine thousand tents. By convention, once they are mobilized, the court will naturally appoint a Wuhuan Commandant of the two-thousand-bushel rank to take overall command. However, the intention to use our Prefect Hou’s ‘knowledge of military affairs’ to secure the rear lines is probably also there…”

“Then I am at ease.” Gongsun Zan let out a long breath. “All in all, it’s a good thing. But why, then, the urgency for us to return? Even if a grand army is to be mobilized, it will probably take at least a year or half a year to accomplish, no? If they want us to accumulate some military merit, waiting another half year wouldn’t be too late.”

“Elder brother, you’re confused.” Gongsun Xun could not help but laugh. “A-Yue is one thing, but the two of us are still clerks of Liaoxi Commandery — how could we participate in a great war like that? We are going back to resume our posts!”

At this, Gongsun Zan finally understood completely: “Does Aunt mean that we should hurry back before my father-in-law leaves office, so that he can arrange a fine post for us?”

“Mainly for you — how would it be my turn?” Gongsun Xun continued, smiling. “I didn’t marry the daughter of the Liaoxi Grand Administrator… The letter says the new Grand Administrator is surnamed Zhao, and no one knows when he will arrive. Elder brother, you had best set out for Liaoxi at once. When the time comes, whether you follow your father-in-law to Shanggu or secure a key post here, either is fine. A-Yue and I will finish packing up here, and then follow at a leisurely pace.”

“Very well!” Gongsun Zan was a decisive man. “I will go back first and do my utmost to seek a good position. If I have the ability, I will try to seek one for you as well… I just wonder what sort of person this newly arrived Grand Administrator Zhao will be, and whether he will be easy to get along with. As clerks, we are ultimately subject to the authority of others.”

Gongsun Xun smiled but did not answer.

And so, Gongsun Zan, traveling light with a modest retinue, went first to Luoyang to take his leave, and then set out directly on the road. Meanwhile, Gongsun Xun began making arrangements here in Goushi.

There was no need to do anything about the house; in the coming years, the Gongsun brothers would probably have to return to Luoyang to serve as court gentlemen and undergo training at the central government… And nine times out of ten, their times in the capital would be staggered.

Besides, this courtyard in Goushi was, after all, at the foot of Mount Goushi. If it really came down to it, leaving it for Lu Zhi would be fine too.

The real problem lay with that charitable hostel.

“The charitable hostel must certainly continue to operate.” In a side room of the hostel’s main hall, Gongsun Xun and Han Dang sat facing each other. “The question is, who should be entrusted with its operation? Brother Yigong, won’t you be returning to Liaoxi with me?”

“That goes without saying.” Han Dang nodded with a sigh. “Returning home is inevitable. But my time here has truly been a rare pleasure, and over this past half year and more, quite a few men of righteous spirit have gathered here. I wonder…”

Gongsun Xun naturally understood whom the other was asking about to take over: “Brother Ziheng came to me earlier and said he wished to go to Liaoxi with me…”

Han Dang started violently, nearly overturning the stool beneath him: “Why is that?”

“Oh,” Gongsun Xun said casually, “actually, as early as Xiyang, Brother Ziheng had already acknowledged me as his lord. It’s just that we feared Teacher Lu would have thoughts about it if he knew, so we never told outsiders… Don’t you tell anyone either.”

“Yes.” Han Dang sat back down, feeling a sense of loss, but could not help speaking again. “Young Lord…”

“Brother Yigong, didn’t I say? Now that I’ve undergone the capping ceremony, just call me by my courtesy name.” Seeing the other’s reaction, Gongsun Xun could not help but laugh. “And I know what you’re thinking. Forgive my bluntness, but you’re overthinking this. You and I came through life and death together outside Lulong Fortress, and we’ve followed each other for a thousand li — why care about this bit of formal status? If one day I rise to the two-thousand-bushel rank and you don’t call me ‘My Lord,’ I won’t let you off. But right now I’m merely a commoner with no office; fussing over these things only invites ridicule.”

“I was overthinking it.” Han Dang gave an embarrassed laugh, also feeling somewhat awkward. “But after all, I was selling horses at the Anli Firm since I was young, and I had the honor of meeting your esteemed mother… I’d better keep calling you Young Lord. Calling you by your courtesy name just doesn’t feel natural.”

“As you like.” Gongsun Xun shook his head, too lazy to argue over it. “Let’s continue what we were saying. Although Brother Ziheng wants to accompany me to Liaoxi, I feel that with him being newly married, traveling several thousand li with me would inevitably be unreasonable. And this place cannot do without someone of standing to take charge. So, after thinking it over for two days, I’ve decided to have him stay, guarding this place in his capacity as Teacher Lu’s student. In a couple of years, after I’ve been recommended as Filial and Incorrupt and obtained a court gentleman post, I will still return to Luoyang…”

“That makes sense.” Han Dang, having collected himself, nodded. “Though Lu Ziheng is a scholar, he is fairly straightforward in dealing with people, so there should be no problem… The key issue is that you, Young Lord, still have too few men at your disposal. Otherwise, why would a place like this need a scholar to manage it?”

Gongsun Xun did not take this seriously, but he also could not be bothered to discuss it. He simply continued asking: “You just said that quite a few men of righteous spirit have gathered here. Among them, are there any usable men?”

“There are a few whose martial skills are not bad.” Han Dang could not help but sigh at this. “But they may not be willing to follow us to Liaoxi.”

“That’s only human nature.” Gongsun Xun remained unconcerned. He had been in Goushi for over three months and naturally knew these people, so he saw nothing to regret. “Go and ask them — those willing may come, those unwilling may stay. Even if some have difficulties and wish to return home or even go serve someone else, let them do as they please… However, are there any newly arrived figures among them whose names I don’t yet know?”

“None.”

“It seems worthy talents are hard to come by!” Gongsun Xun stood up and shook his head. “In that case, make your preparations here. I’ll go speak with Brother Ziheng…”

“By the way, Young Lord.” Han Dang seemed to suddenly remember something, and hurriedly stood up to stop him. “Since we’re leaving, what should be done about that person who’s still locked up?”

“What locked-up person?” Gongsun Xun looked utterly bewildered. “Who have we locked up?”

In the afternoon, inside the largest courtyard at the foot of Mount Goushi, by the bed in a narrow side room… Gongsun Xun, Gongsun Yue, Lu Fan, and Han Dang — four men, some sitting, some standing, all expressionless — watched as the “master” who had lived here for the better part of a year stood on the floor in a plain blue tunic and small cap, his hands tucked into his sleeves, giving a dry, nervous laugh.

“Brother Ziheng, what is to be done?” Gongsun Xun, at his wit’s end, could only turn to the sole “scholar” present, Lu Fan, for help.

“Let’s set everything else aside for now.” Lu Ziheng swallowed. “Brother Yigong is often at the charitable hostel — has he paid attention to the court’s official dispatches over the past half year? Has there been a general amnesty?”

“No need to check the dispatches to know.” Han Dang said helplessly. “There was another general amnesty two months ago. Several people hiding here went straight back to their hometowns…”

“Did it extend to those under sentence of death?”

“In this day and age, if an amnesty doesn’t cover death-sentence prisoners, isn’t it a wasted amnesty?”

“In other words,” Lu Fan pointed at the man before them, “we have privately detained an innocent scholar here for two months? If this gets out and is spread around, will you, Wenqi, have even a shred of reputation left between Wan and Luoyang?”

“It’s no problem at all!” The man on the floor, dressed like a servant, hastily waved his hands. “I have spent this half year here most joyfully. This place is truly worthy of being Lord Lu’s long-time residence — whenever I wanted to read, books were sent to me; food and drink were at my pleasure… I was clearly a guest — how can you speak of detention?”

“The key point is that his family is a renowned clan of Nanyang, and they keep sworn retainers.” Gongsun Yue spoke through gritted teeth, with no intention of addressing the man on the floor directly. “In ordinary times, it would be one thing — we have Teacher Liu and Teacher Lu as our backers, and we’re not short of manpower. A Nanyang renowned clan is just a renowned clan, and sworn retainers are just sworn retainers. But this time we’re all leaving, and only Brother Ziheng will be here alone, while Teacher Lu is compiling histories at the Eastern Pavilion… If we let him go back and he harbors resentment, then deliberately seeks revenge — sets fire to the charitable hostel and slits Brother Lu’s throat — what then? Can we fly back from Liaoxi to save him?”

“I will absolutely not harbor resentment!” The man, heedless of the cold, actually dropped to his knees with a thud. “You must believe me — I, Lou Zibo, am willing to swear an oath by Heaven and Earth that I will never, in this life, oppose any of you!”

Gongsun Xun furrowed his brow slightly.

“Elder brother, you must not be soft-hearted like a woman!” Gongsun Yue, seeing this, could not help but warn him.

“Wenqi, better to avoid trouble than to court it.” Lu Fan also warned through clenched teeth. “The human heart is unfathomable!”

“Young Lord.” Han Dang, standing by the bed with his hand on his sword, offered his advice. “If you ask me, this matter is extremely simple. Tie him up right here, then put him in a chest, and add one thrust of the blade — that way there’ll be no bloodstains. And though the thaw has begun, the weather can still be called cold, so there’ll be no smell either. When we cross the Yellow River on our return journey, just throw the chest straight into the river. Who cares if he’s some renowned clan scion or some Nanyang hero? Heaven won’t know, Earth won’t know, no man will discover it, no ghost will sense it… Won’t that settle it?”

“Brother Yigong’s method is excellent!”

“Elder brother, let’s do it this way!”

Lou Gui wanted to weep but had no tears; he could only keep kowtowing… One must understand — why had he been so bold before, daring to escape from death row? Because he knew that government runners, after all, were reasonable; if they caught him, a prisoner from a Nanyang renowned clan, they wouldn’t do much — at most, they’d throw him back on death row. And why, during his more than half a year here, had he not dared to escape? Because he also knew that these frontier barbarians here would dare to kill him casually. If he really tried to escape and was discovered, then when his family went to sweep his grave at Qingming, they probably wouldn’t even be able to find his corpse to weep over!

Gongsun Xun ran his hand over the bamboo slips of the Book of Han on the bed, thought it over repeatedly, and finally nodded slowly: “Very well, we’ll do as you say. Go find a chest… a larger one — we mustn’t mistreat this Nanyang hero. And don’t forget to gag him!”

At these words, Lou Gui could bear it no longer and burst into loud wailing on the spot: “In vain have I, Lou Zibo, harbored extraordinary ambitions since childhood — am I now, with my great aspirations unfulfilled, to die namelessly inside a wooden chest?”

Han Dang sneered and stepped forward to seize him… Who would have thought that Lou Gui would suddenly stop crying, and then hurl himself headfirst at Han Dang’s chest, sending the latter staggering backward, before turning to flee.

None of the four men in the room moved. Within mere breaths, Lou Gui was once again marched back in, his arms twisted behind him by two stout men from Liaoxi.

Gongsun Xun couldn't help shaking his head: "He does seem to have some courage. Keep a good watch on him, give him a couple of good meals — there's no rush to tie him up and pack him into a crate until just before we set out!"

With that, he rose, stepped past the stupefied Lou Gui, and simply walked away.

In the days that followed, Gongsun Xun settled matters everywhere, entered Luoyang to bid earnest farewell to Lu Zhi, Liu Kuan, and others, distributed some paper books to Fu Xie and the rest, then returned to the foot of Mount Goushi to host a banquet for that free-range flock of "Mount Goushi University" classmates... Finally, he solemnly entrusted this place and the charity hostel entirely to Lu Fan. Only then did he set out together with Zhen Yi, who had likewise decided to return home, journeying all the way north of the Yellow River.

They had come by the Wushe Ford, and they left by the Wushe Ford as well. When the boat convoy reached the very middle of the Yellow River, seeing that Zhen Yi — Zhen Dayin's — boat had pulled ahead, Han Dang personally dragged a large crate out from the cabin.

The crate was opened, the silk cloth was removed from his mouth, and Lou Gui, tossed bodily onto the prow, sighed faintly: "Does the Nether Capital have a sun too?"

"The Nether Capital even has the Yellow River!" Gongsun Xun, seated at the prow, snorted with laughter, though his head was bent over a handwritten paper copy of the *Spring and Autumn Gongyang Commentary*. "Lou Zibo, the Yellow River is right beneath your feet — do you want to live or die?"

Han Dang, holding the still-bound man by the scruff, brought him to the prow, clearly waiting for a single command from Gongsun Xun.

"Young Lord Gongsun, why keep toying with me?" Lou Gui, held from behind, gazed at the Yellow River below and could not help letting out a long breath. "My heart holds grand ambitions; even at the final moment I would not lightly throw my life away. And you, who value my talent, did not kill me before — why would you kill me here? Besides, isn't it simply that only by following you to Liaoxi can you set your mind at ease? Su Wu could shepherd sheep in Mobei for nineteen years without his resolve faltering — can I, Lou Gui, not wait seven or eight years in Liaoxi? Please, have this Han Yigong set me down. My life, Lou Zibo's life, though not worth much, is still meant to accomplish something great, so I would absolutely never gamble with it by trying to flee!"

"Grand words aside, why seven or eight years?" Gongsun Xun put away his book and couldn't resist asking with a smile.

"The realm is falling into chaos. Even someone like me knows to gather desperate men in hope of the future — how much more so the Young Lord Gongsun?" Lou Gui answered frankly. "And with your ability, in a mere seven or eight years, you will likely have accomplished a great enterprise. By then, either you will no longer need to worry about me at all, or you will value my talent and take me into your service... Either way, I probably won't have to be a prisoner anymore, will I?!"

Gongsun Xun immediately laughed in spite of himself: "Once we reach Liaoxi, you won't have to be a prisoner either. You can go be an accountant... Very well, Brother Yigong, untie his ropes and just keep a strict watch on him along the way."

Han Dang did as he was told. The moment Lou Gui was freed, he offered no more grand speeches, but instead rushed to the side of the boat, lifted his robes, and relieved himself... which was only human nature. However, the wind was high and the waves fierce on the Yellow River, and after this operation, he ended up with filth all over his own hands.

"Young Lord, do you have anything on the boat to wipe one's hands?" Lou Gui was thoroughly embarrassed. "The water is too far from the hull to reach and wash..."

"What's the harm in washing your hands once we reach the opposite bank?" Han Dang couldn't help rebuking him.

"No matter. After all, he is a scholar of a renowned clan and cares about his dignity." Gongsun Xun, struggling to suppress his amusement, actually handed over the book he was holding.

"This is..." Lou Gui took one look at the object and shook his head repeatedly, then in the end simply wiped his hands on his own clothes. "Such a splendid paper book — I have never seen its like before, and what is copied inside is a classic at that. How could it be used to wipe filth? I, Lou Zibo, would rather use my own garments to wipe than defile this book..."

"A classic?" Gongsun Xun, hearing this, suddenly gave a cold laugh. "If you won't use it, then just throw it away!"

As he spoke, Gongsun Xun raised his hand and tossed it to one side of the ferry. The pure white paper book caught the wind and rose, spun a few times, and finally fell straight down onto the surface of the Yellow River. A wave surged up, and it sank cleanly to the riverbed.

Lou Gui was too late to snatch it back and stood there, utterly despondent: "Was there any need to go that far?"

"Let me tell you something!" Gongsun Xun laughed heartily into the wind. "I came to Luoyang to study for over a year, and I understood only one truth — that is, studying the classics cannot save the Great Han dynasty!"

At this point, Gongsun Xun turned and called to Han Dang: "Brother Yigong, lend a hand — go into the cabin and tell Aunt Jin to fetch me a set of narrow-sleeved robes suited for riding, and also a *he* cap that a military man would wear... Before, in Henan, it was only natural to dress as a Confucian scholar, hold a scroll in hand, and tread carefully; but now, returning north of the Yellow River, I, Gongsun Wenqi, will strap on a blade and mount a horse, and never again live at another man's mercy!"

Han Dang assented with fervor, but Lou Zibo, clutching the boat's railing, gazed back with a lost expression, craning his neck — whether watching the gradually receding whirlpool where the book had sunk on the river, or watching the gradually receding homeland of Henan, he seemed... deaf to all else.

A poem says: Fine wine of Xinfeng costs ten thousand a dou; how many young wandering swordsmen in Xianyang? Meeting in high spirits, they drink for one another, tethering their horses by the tall pavilion beneath the weeping willows.

End of Volume Two

PS: The author often makes random edits after uploading... I've heard this blocks many readers' chapter comments... Just learned about this setting... Awkward... I'll try my best going forward... Also, there's a new book group; interested readers can join: 684558115.

(End of Chapter)