[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-520":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},1223279,1620,"Chapter 520: Watching Flowers Bloom in Vain Upon the Terrace, Filling the Day (Continued)","overthrowing-han-chapter-520",520,"\u003Cp>\"Here is how things stand…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just when Kong Wenju had completely lost his footing, Dong Zhao, Shepherd of Jizhou — the only man in the hall who enjoyed the same seating treatment as the Seven Chancellors — smoothly took control of the situation. When the assembled civil and military officials saw this man rise, they all immediately fell solemn and listened quietly to his account; even Kong Rong dared not easily interrupt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the eight seats, the seven Chancellor positions held six men, with the Censorate’s principal seat left vacant — that needs no elaboration — yet Dong Gongren sat openly and unapologetically among them, and nearly everyone considered it perfectly proper. This was no special favor invented by the Yan state system, but a political tradition invented by Emperor Guangwu, Liu Xiu, and carried down from the Later Han, accepted by all as a matter of habit. Many tacitly regarded Dong Zhao as the Colonel-Director of Retainers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed — the very Colonel-Director of Retainers post once held by Yang Qiu and Yuan Shao: the Inspector overseeing the capital region, with an added rank and a special title, enjoying unique ceremonial privileges at grand court assemblies, seated separately alongside the Palace Aide to the Censor-in-Chief and the Prefect of the Masters of Writing. This had been the established rule in the Later Han for how many years?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan was newly founded, and in theory its enfeoffed territory was limited to the commanderies of Liaoxi — but in reality? In reality, Yan controlled the vast majority of the realm’s territory, and the Shepherd of Jizhou, as the highest regional administrative officer of the de facto capital region of the Yan political entity, roughly mirrored the former Colonel-Director of Retainers. This was something everyone could accept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Dong Zhao’s seniority, merit, rank, and treatment were all in a class of his own — clearly beneath the Seven Chancellors, yet just as clearly above everyone else beyond the Seven Chancellors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, although the man was ultimately not a Chancellor, and although the Grand Commandant’s chair beneath him was not as solid as the stool beneath Xi Zhong’s rear, it was still enough to overawe the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as this Dong of Jizhou spoke with eloquence and assurance, the assembled civil and military officials all successively “had a sudden realization.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out, according to Dong Zhao, that with the recovery of the Central Plains, a reactionary scholar clique of vile character had recently appeared in Yecheng!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people were mainly Central Plains men who had surrendered and lost their offices, along with some scions of Hebei powerful families. They were generally young, yet every one of them was unlearned, incompetent, and morally depraved. At first, the Central Plains surrender men merely sought to swindle and bluff their way into official posts, while those Hebei magnate scions were of low caliber, had never possessed any virtue, and only cared for socializing. Thus, the two sides found each other’s stench agreeable and became bosom friends, quickly forming connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, that in itself was nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But later, as these people gradually realized that Yecheng’s system was strict and that their talent and virtue could never gain them entry into office through the University or the imperial examinations, they actually developed rebellious intent! Now, these people gather regularly. On the surface they discuss Confucianism and scholarship, appraise personalities, and debate court politics; in reality, they seek to manipulate public opinion, attempting to influence the court, alter its major policies, and even harbor disloyal designs… And, believe it or not, aside from some low-quality Yecheng students, there truly are high Yan officials who have been deceived and have believed their nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chamberlain for Ceremonials, Kong Rong, is one of them!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dong of Jizhou is surely exaggerating to alarm!” Kong Wenju, hearing this, had by now recovered his wits somewhat, yet still steeled himself to speak in rebuttal — after all, though he did not wish to be “bad,” neither did he wish to be “stupid.” “I do indeed know those people, and my proposal today is indeed vaguely connected to these Central Plains scholars, but my original intent was to consider Lord Yan’s interests, to help Lord Yan win men’s hearts…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is precisely why I say the Chamberlain for Ceremonials has been deceived!” Dong Zhao grew ever more rueful. “These people are all rebels harboring disloyal intent! What use is there in winning the hearts of such rebels?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Dong Zhao so unyielding, Kong Rong grew increasingly flustered, yet still struggled to explain: “These people are all proper scholars who also wish to devote their strength to Lord Yan. It is merely that what they have studied differs from what is taught in Yecheng, and they truly have no door through which to offer their service, which is why they gathered together and openly and honorably asked me to convey their sentiments… If the court finds it inappropriate, then simply reject it. Why must we label them as rebels?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because they are rebels to begin with!” Dong Gongren’s dark face suddenly turned stern, and his tone became exceptionally sharp. “According to our Jizhou provincial investigation, the earlier Jing’an Terrace incident, the Liaoxi earthquake incident, and the Jiangxia incident of the Son of Heaven having an heir were originally unrelated. It was precisely these people who recklessly debated the Mandate of Heaven, twisted these several matters together, and openly proclaimed that Lord Yan lacks virtue and is unworthy to be the lord of all under Heaven… If this does not count as rebellion, then what does?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The civil and military officials in the hall, hearing this, were thoroughly relieved. So that was it… Of course — Lord Yan was accomplished in letters and mighty in arms, divinely martial and brilliantly wise; how could there be any talk of not receiving the Mandate of Heaven? So it was all rumors spread by a bunch of reactionary elements!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant — return to Liaoxi for what? Wouldn’t returning to Liaoxi be falling right into these people’s treacherous scheme?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your servant, Guo Tu, Deputy Minister of the Printing Office, presumes to offer a word!” At that moment, before Kong Rong could open his mouth to admit he had been duped, Guo Tu, amid a swell of noise, once more raised his voice boldly from the distance and, under the complex gazes of the assembled officials, joined the fray. “Your servant believes that the Chamberlain for Ceremonials Kong is a renowned scholar of the realm, famed throughout the age as brilliant — a man of supreme intelligence. Such a man could never possibly be deluded by rebels of that ilk! It may well be that he himself is the mastermind behind those rebels!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The noise in the hall grew louder, and several military officers even began sizing up the back of Chamberlain Kong’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Kong Rong, he could neither advance nor retreat, his mind a complete chaos. Almost instinctively, he looked toward Gongsun Xun, seated upright upon the tiger skin, his gaze clearly carrying a hint of entreaty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Lord Yan’s face was expressionless; he turned a deaf ear, which instantly made Kong Wenju feel ice-cold all over. Under the spur of indignation and panic, this man of inherently extreme temperament nearly wanted to smash the pot because it was cracked — to simply give vent to wanton mockery of this Liaoxi martial man and the two shameless villains before and behind him, whom he fundamentally looked down upon… But for some reason, meeting the gaze of the man upon the dais, he simply dared not open his mouth. He could only stand rigid in the hall, dazed, letting the discussion around him continue unabated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be said, in that other timeline, there were multiple reasons why Kong Wenju dared to stand in complete opposition to Cao Cao, and his current dilemma here was equally inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, in that timeline, Kong Rong’s attempt to align himself with and serve Cao Cao had failed, but he himself had always maintained the posture of a Han minister, with the great cause of the Han throne behind him, making him politically entirely beyond reproach… Correspondingly, in this world, faced with Kong Rong’s tentative approach, Gongsun Xun, in order to stabilize the rear before his campaign against the Central Plains, had proactively accepted him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, Kong Wenju at this moment was a Yan minister through and through!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only that, but at this moment the entire hall was filled with Yan ministers, not Han ministers!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the Han throne, it had long since been sent off to Jiangxia by Gongsun Xun; north of the Yellow River, virtually no remnant Han forces existed. Thus, facing Gongsun Xun, this descendant of Confucius had almost no moral or righteous cause left to rely upon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even his present leap into prominence was, in essence, largely because the Chamberlain for Ceremonials’ authority and responsibilities were too light, and when facing the Ministry of Rites, which held similar powers, he himself simply could not compete with the far more capable Minister of Rites, Wei Ji. Hence he harbored intentions of switching posts, seizing power, and secretly planting his own faction, which in turn made him the target of all arrows today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, in that timeline, because Cai Yong had died early, Kong Rong naturally and indisputably became the literary arbiter of the realm, giving his position immense weight in the eyes of traditional scholars, so he naturally won the hearts of the literati. But now? Not only was Cai Bojie alive and well, but Zheng Xuan in classical studies, Liu Hong in mathematics, and Zhang Jian in scholar pure-criticism were all mingling at the Yecheng University — and moreover, through the University, that natural vessel of intellectual circles, they steadily maintained their own standing. When would it ever be Kong Wenju’s turn to rise?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention that the existence of the Printing Office had caused literature to develop extremely rapidly in recent years; Wang Xiang in his prime and the young Wang Can both faintly commanded even greater vogue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In sum, even driven to a dead end, Kong Wenju truly dared not tear his face off completely!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And seeing that Kong Rong had even lost the ability to defend himself, not far away, the Palace Aide to the Censor-in-Chief, Shi Yi — who was none other than Kong Rong’s former private aide, Shi Ziyu — had long anticipated this moment. He sighed inwardly, then suddenly rose amid the clamor and raised his voice toward Lord Yan upon the tiger skin:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your servant, Palace Aide to the Censor-in-Chief Shi Yi, has a matter on which I wish to question Dong of Jizhou face to face, and requests Your Highness’s permission.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Granted.” Gongsun Xun was quite straightforward. “Today’s court session is an open discussion of affairs; anyone may speak. And you, sir, as Palace Aide to the Censor-in-Chief, are all the more qualified to directly interrogate cases, memorials, and related military and administrative matters — no special request is needed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hall immediately fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thank Your Highness.” Shi Ziyu inclined his head slightly, then stepped out of line and came to the center of the hall, where he directly cupped his hands and slowly inquired of Dong Zhao: “Lord Dong…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Palace Aide Shi.” Dong Zhao had returned to his usual self, his face wreathed in smiles, perfectly courteous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have been presumptuous. Regarding those reckless and treasonous men Lord Dong just spoke of, I have in fact long heard rumors; I imagine anyone in Yecheng with ears knows of this clique and this affair. As for their criticizing court policies and stirring public opinion, I fear that is also true — for instance, our Censorate’s joint memorial today urging the impeachment of the Pacification Commissioner, Lord Xi, for violating regulations was clearly influenced by them as well…” Shi Yi spoke unhurriedly, under the expectant gaze of Kong Rong beside him. “And Lord Dong and the Jizhou provincial authorities are labeling this very clique as rebels — is that correct?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan had not yet become so refined as to have everyone holding ceremonial tablets, so Dong Zhao simply clasped his hands behind his back and nodded repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That being so, I have these several questions…” Shi Yi suddenly grew stern. “First, since Lord Dong has already clearly deemed those men rebels, may I ask what witness testimony and material evidence the province possesses to prove that they are indeed of the rebel category? Second, if there is witness testimony and material evidence, then they must be convicted and sentenced — and since this case was initiated by the Jizhou provincial authorities, may I ask under what charge the Jizhou provincial authorities intend to settle this case from start to finish? Third, those men often gather at the wineshops and teahouses between Bronze Bird Terrace and Yecheng; the participants have always been numerous, and onlookers are not few. Even many court officials frequent such places. Moreover, they gather one day and disperse the next; there must be some innocent people, like the Chamberlain for Ceremonials Kong, who were deceived. May I ask how the Jizhou provincial authorities intend to distinguish and identify the criminals? If someone was merely watching the excitement and listening to stories, must they too be condemned as rebels?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Palace Aide Shi is indeed as upright and meticulous as his reputation suggests — he has truly hit the key points!” Dong Zhao gave a scoffing laugh, still wearing that simple, honest face of his from ordinary days. “Evidence, of course, we have. But it is precisely because our provincial authorities cannot decide on the subsequent matters of conviction and sentencing that we prepared to openly request Your Highness, the various Chancellors, and all the civil and military officials of our Yan to jointly assess and judge at this court session.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I request that the evidence be presented.” Shi Ziyu was silent for a moment, then pressed on relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Zhao laughed lightly and actually produced several letters from his bosom, handing them over to the other man right there in the hall before everyone: “These letters are the most exquisite parts of the material evidence…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Yi took the letters and was just about to examine them when Dong Zhao casually snatched one back from his hand, raised it high, displayed it to the hall, and directly began to explain:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gentlemen, please look. This letter was written by Mi Heng of Pingyuan Commandery in Yingzhou. Last year, this man was expelled from the University for roaring abuse in the examination hall and tearing up his examination paper, and was barred from enrollment for one year… I imagine many of you have perhaps heard of this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quite a few Yan ministers nodded in succession; even Gongsun Xun on the dais above grew interested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And in this letter, this man openly states that the imperial examinations are a disorderly policy, that Lord Yan’s implementation of this measure is courting his own destruction, and he calls the Prime Chancellor, Lord Jia, a man who sells out his kin for advancement; the Left Chancellor, Lord Shen, a man who betrays kindness and turns his back on righteousness; and the Right Chancellor, Lord Lou, a mere dog or pig at his gate!” Dong Zhao opened the envelope and read with mockery. “I entered Luoyang as a court gentleman at the age of twenty, and I can claim to have seen and heard a great deal, but this private letter, which had not yet been sent, truly opened my eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, apart from the several Chancellors who sat unmoving, the entire hall was nearly in an uproar. Even Shi Ziyu was stunned and lost his composure, for he was too close and could very easily see to whom that letter was addressed… As for Kong Rong beside him, he nearly fainted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not yet over. After calmly opening the envelope, Dong Gongren selected another passage and read it aloud in the hall:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thus it can be known: Lord Yan’s employment of men is truly intolerable! The figures of this court, I know them all: Lü Fan is pale-faced — fit only to offer condolences and visit the sick; Dong Zhao is black-faced — fit only to shut doors and close gates; Xun You is bright-eyed — fit only to watch graves and guard latrines; Cheng Yu is sharp-eared — fit only to beat gongs and sound the watches; Han Dang is incompetent — fit only to lead horses before the gate; Wang Xiu is lecherous — fit only to be steward of the forbidden quarters; Xi Zhong delights in gambling — fit only to set up a stall by the roadside; Guo Jia is a drunkard — fit only to sing ditties in a wineshop; Zhang Liao is crude and violent — fit only to beat drums and sound gongs; Gao Shun is mute — fit only to fetch documents and read confessions… As for the rest, that rabble of trivial men: Ju Zong can be used to deliver letters and proclamations; Pang De can be used to raise horses and feed donkeys; Zhang Ji can be used to drink wine and eat dregs; Du Ji can be used to haul grain and transport goods. Then there is Gongsun Yue, who can carry earth and pound walls; Gongsun Fan, who can slaughter pigs and kill dogs; Tian Yu may be acclaimed a ‘whole-body general’; Yang Kai may be called a ‘house-slave guard commander’… All the remainder are mere clothes-racks, rice-sacks, wine-jars, and meat-bags! If such petty fellows as these were swept clean, you, sir, could be Prime Chancellor, and I too would serve as Left Chancellor — then all under Heaven could be pacified!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire hall was silent. Even Guo Tu and Shi Yi were stunned speechless. Kong Rong nearly collapsed to the floor — but unexpectedly, Lord Yan on the dais suddenly laughed: “It still lacks one line! Had this man been in the hall today and seen the earlier scene, he might well have continued to write: ‘Gongsun Xun may also return to Liaoxi, and follow his mother through the streets and alleys, peddling cloth and selling silk!’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hall remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, just after Dong Zhao finished reading, many military officers — Zhang Liao, Tian Yu, and others — had recovered their wits and were so furious they could barely contain themselves, nearly roaring in the hall, yet they were brought to silence precisely by that burst of laughter from atop the white tiger skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after Gongsun Xun finished laughing, Dong Zhao calmly took another letter from Shi Yi’s hand and displayed it to left and right: “Not only that — gentlemen, please look. Here is also a reply letter from a certain high court official to Kuai Liang, Registrar to Liu Biao, which we intercepted midway at Baima Ford. According to the letter, Kuai Zirou had previously inquired of this man about the situation in Yecheng, asking whether Lord Yan’s southward advance could be slightly obstructed. And this man replied, saying that now the clouds and waves in Yecheng are treacherous and strange, and perhaps it could be done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ordinarily arrogant, full of bookish bravado, blinded by profit.” Gongsun Xun sighed faintly, yet this instead made Kong Wenju suddenly exhale in relief and steady himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, the Jizhou provincial authorities also have witness testimony.” Dong Gongren set down the letter and turned back again. “Is it necessary to continue presenting evidence?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who is it?” In the hall, where only the sound of breathing could be heard, Gongsun Xun seemed utterly bored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sima Yi, Major-Adjutant of the Baima Volunteers.” Dong Zhao bowed his head in reply. “His younger brother, Sima Fu, is of poor scholarship and has always been fond of associating with these people. Major-Adjutant Sima became aware of it, but despite repeatedly admonishing his younger brother, could not make him change, and could only deliver his brother in bonds to the provincial authorities. It was because of this that the provincial authorities initiated this case… The man is now outside the hall, awaiting his offense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So that's how it is.\" Gongsun Xun glanced at the ranks of his Volunteer Retainers before him, his expression still betraying neither joy nor anger. \"No wonder he took leave for several days. Have him brought in... Gongren, are you asking for instructions on how to handle this matter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\" As Ma Dai hurriedly walked out of the hall, Dong Zhao hastily responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Many are implicated?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is precisely the difficulty. If it were merely one or two shameless individuals, it would hardly warrant a court confrontation. But the crux of the matter is that many of distinguished birth, like the younger members of the Sima clan, are also deeply entangled.\" Dong Zhao continued to bow his head in reply, stirring alarm and suspicion throughout the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forget it!\" Gongsun Xun sighed and suddenly declared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Highness!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing these two words, Dong Zhao, who had always been obedient to Gongsun Xun, lost his composure on the spot and openly contradicted his lord. \"How can such a matter be forgotten? We have seen the chaos of the age seething, the times disordered and men wicked, and only then followed Your Highness through hardship to this point, to have achieved some semblance of order. How can we let these people take advantage of it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am not saying to let them off, but that there is no need for such roundabout methods.\" Gongsun Xun replied calmly. \"A pack of clownish buffoons—truly laughable. We have no need to handle this in such a convoluted way! If Tian Yuanhao were here, he would surely mock us, ruler and ministers, for imitating the mystifications of Emperor Ling and Yuan Feng... Do you still remember the case of the Xuanling Filial Son?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Zhao was instantly enlightened, and Jia Xu, who had been silent all along, could not help but let out a soft sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact was, not only Gongsun Xun, but virtually everyone present had already realized something: it was not just Kong Rong and those so-called opposition figures who were so laughable, as laughable as paper tigers unworthy of even a sneer. More importantly, this was the grand court assembly of the Yan State's inner circle, not some Han imperial court!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, the people here constituted a political collective that had already universally made its political choice—one that appeared very open but was in reality extremely narrow and stable in its political stance!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone here was Gongsun Xun's private minister! Everyone was accountable to Gongsun Xun... In such a context, certain things that should not normally be spoken aloud no longer needed to be concealed in this public forum!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gentlemen.\" Gongsun Xun leaned back in his seat, hand on his sword, still showing no emotion. \"This matter is actually very simple... Some people think that since I have reached this point, only half a step from becoming the master of all under heaven, they have grown impatient. So they seize the chance to use talk of the Mandate of Heaven and public opinion to trip me up, hoping I will give them official posts, or perhaps slightly relax the New Policies, in exchange for them beating the drums and shouting slogans for me, in exchange for so-called satisfaction all around. This so-called Jing'an Tower affair, the Liaoxi earthquake affair, the matter of the Han Emperor having an heir, and the clamor to open an imperial examination to win hearts—they are all cut from the same cloth! If I agreed, they would next surely petition to slow down the land surveys, and petition to have the Volunteer Retainers recruit talent broadly based on family status and moral virtue! However, these things touch upon the very foundation, and I will not retreat a single step on them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sima Yi, who had just entered the hall and was kneeling to beg forgiveness, could not help stealing a glance at Dong Gongren beside him upon hearing these words, only to be glared back into submission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for the Mandate of Heaven...\" Gongsun Xun paid little mind to Sima Yi's entrance. He rose directly from the tiger skin, hand on his sword, and walked around to the front of the desk before him—that is, beside the tiger's head, behind Ma Dai who had just come to a halt—and raised his voice to address the civil and military officials in the hall. \"Today I wish to ask you all, what is the Mandate of Heaven? Wenhe, you are the Prime Minister. Tell me, what is the Mandate of Heaven?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This minister believes the Mandate of Heaven is the hearts of the people!\" Jia Xu rose to reply. \"Your Highness has long since reached this conclusion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well said.\" After a brief pause, Gongsun Xun nodded repeatedly. \"The Mandate of Heaven is the hearts of the people, and the hearts of the people are the Mandate of Heaven. Only, the hearts of the people are diverse and never unified; no matter what you do, there will always be those who refuse to submit. Therefore, since ancient times, he who would receive the Mandate of Heaven must seek out the largest, greatest, and most weighty portion of the people's hearts. And which portion of the people's hearts is the largest and most weighty? On the surface, it is naturally the powerful nobles, the literati, the great magnates. Follow their wishes, and matters are always simple and easy. But that is only the surface. This portion of hearts can only bear the Mandate of a single family or clan, the Mandate of dynastic change. With the slightest reversal, they can turn around and sell that Mandate all over again! In my view, the true Mandate of Heaven and the true hearts of the people reside at the very bottom!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one in the hall dared make a sound, and Gongsun Xun's voice grew louder and louder:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yu the Great tamed the floods, truly and genuinely saving the myriad people of the world from fire and water, and thus the Xia secured possession of all under heaven. Tang of Shang overthrew Jie of Xia—let us set that aside—but afterward, he pacified the four barbarian tribes and settled the Shang at the center of the realm, and only then did he secure possession of all under heaven. King Wu overthrew Zhou—let us also set that aside—but in my view, it was the Duke of Zhou later establishing the rites, and the eight hundred vassal lords managing the realm together to build the Huaxia, that was the true foundation of the Zhou's eight-hundred-year Mandate of Heaven.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And now, coming to myself, though my strength may fall short, I too wish to accomplish an enterprise that transcends a single family or clan. This enterprise I proclaimed to the world long ago before the Weiyang Palace: to abolish the world of great clans and magnates, and build a world of humble households! And to act in this way is not to target any of you in particular, but because the great clans and magnates are truly the root cause of the Han's collapse! Truly the source of the world's injustice! For me to pursue this cause, in the past, it meant punishing Dong, attacking Yuan, and destroying Cao. Now, before my eyes, it means persisting in the various New Policies and continuing to sweep through the south!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some generals were about to rise from their seats to acknowledge the command, and the uncle and nephew Shi Wu and Shi Kuang also wanted to speak, but Gongsun Xun raised a hand to stop them:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Today, you will all sit still and listen... I am of course aware that there is no perfect governance in this world. Today's New Policies will sooner or later decay. Today's hall full of new nobles may one day become men who bring ruin to the state. But so what? I do not care!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you think my earlier words about being a mere commoner from Liaoxi were spoken in anger? Not at all! Today I tell you plainly, and you may spread this far and wide: so long as I live a single day, I will not permit the New Policies to decay for a single day, and for a single day I can hold the blade to cut the rotting flesh from this hall! As for talk of the Mandate of Heaven changing and the cycle of the Five Virtues, I care even less!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, this is not because I am unwilling to be the Son of Heaven, or do not wish to replace the Han with Yan. Rather, it is to say: if I declared myself Son of Heaven today, who could do anything about it?! Are the two words 'Mandate of Heaven' to be decided by a mere pack of arrogant and reckless Confucian scholars?! Let them open their eyes and see whose world today's world truly is!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The New Policies—I will carry them out myself! Only forward, never retreat! The world—I shall also take it for myself! My world—no one can take it away!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your minister Sima Yi begs Your Majesty to assume the throne!\" Amid the utter silence of the hall, one man suddenly prostrated himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut your mouth!\" Gongsun Xun flew into a towering rage, roaring out his rebuke just before Guo Tu and others could kneel. \"Captain of the Guard, receive your orders!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your minister is here!\" Zhao Ping, who had just sat back down, jolted upright and stood again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kong Rong colluded with an enemy state—the evidence of his crimes is conclusive. Strip him of all offices and duties, and send him immediately to Yinshan for penal labor... He is to leave now, no delay permitted!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aye!\" Zhao Ping hastily acknowledged, then, in his capacity as the nominal head of the Guard Captain's Office controlling the palace guard, openly signaled to several Volunteer Retainers at the front of the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latter quickly entered the hall and dragged out Kong Rong, who had completely collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Shi Ziyu, whose mind had been shaken beyond all measure, nonetheless breathed a rare sigh of relief... To be fair, the Duke of Yan had truly shown the utmost benevolence and fulfilled all duty!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And Gongren.\" Gongsun Xun then pointed directly at Dong Zhao. \"All the literati and students implicated in this affair—regardless of whether they are from Hebei or the Central Plains, whether they are sons of court officials or some surrendered notable—all those aged fifteen and above are to be consigned to the front lines in Huainan and Nanyang as military attendants! If the Prime Minister's eldest son can die at the front, and my own eldest son can serve in the ranks, what sort of creatures are they, that they should sit back and enjoy peace in the rear?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aye!\" Dong Zhao bowed and acknowledged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Highness is merciful!\" Sima Yi also felt his whole body relax in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old demons and petty clowns—not worth a single retort!\" Having fixed the charges and declared his ambition, Gongsun Xun was too lazy to say more and directly shook his sleeves, preparing to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Highness!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Prime Minister Jia Xu, who had not returned to his seat all this while, suddenly called out to stop him. \"This minister still has a series of questions!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun halted abruptly and turned back, only to meet Jia Wenhe's eyes, which appeared exceptionally calm. Ruler and minister stared at each other for a moment. Unexpectedly, Gongsun Xun, who had been almost in a state of rampage, instantly cooled down. After a moment, the Duke of Yan turned back and sat down steadily in his seat:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Prime Minister, please speak.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reporting to Your Highness, this minister is of shallow talent and virtue. Since assuming the post of Prime Minister, I have often been uneasy.\" Jia Xu stood in the center of the great hall, neither servile nor overbearing, speaking slowly. \"But so long as I am Prime Minister for a day, I must think of the realm's safety for a day and assist Your Highness for the long term... Before the world is settled, while military affairs are not yet concluded and institutions are incomplete, this minister believes Your Highness may naturally say 'this shall not be taken as a precedent' and may naturally act with today's unrestrained manner. But as Your Highness has said, sooner or later the world will be entirely taken by Your Highness. That being the case, this minister dares to ask Your Highness: if the world is settled, if Yan replaces Han, can Your Highness's unrestrained manner of today be repeated?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun was silent for a long time before finally meeting the other's gaze and nodding: \"It cannot!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This minister has noted it. But forgive my presumption—since receiving Your Majesty's grace and favor to this extent, these days this minister has been constantly pondering the affairs of the future and discussing them with the other chancellors. I venture to take the settlement of the world and Yan replacing Han as the premise, and ask Your Highness a few more matters... May I?\" As Jia Xu spoke, he actually drew a thin sheet of paper from his bosom, its strokes clear—evidently prepared well in advance. The other five Chancellors, from Shen Pei down to Xi Zhong, who had been temporarily demoted, all rose in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Dong Zhao, he was already standing in the hall, saving him the trouble of rising again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Today, everyone in this hall is a minister of Yan, and I too have spoken straight from the heart. What objection could there be for the Chancellors?\" Gongsun Xun drew a deep breath and faced them solemnly from his seat. \"Prime Minister, please proceed with your questions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First: the former Han Emperors Huan and Ling were absurd and perverse, imposing harsh penalties and severe laws, wantonly implicating others without restraint. I venture to ask Your Highness: if the world is settled and Yan replaces Han, can leniency, magnanimity, and benevolence be made the priority, with the rule of law fully implemented?\" As Jia Xu asked this question, because it touched upon the scale of punishments, the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicature, and some local officials from Jizhou all rose, clearly endorsing Jia Xu's question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I believe... leniency should apply to those below, and strictness to those above! Benevolence in policy, but restraint on the individual!\" Gongsun Xun pondered briefly and answered solemnly. \"As for the matter of implicating others, it should naturally be restricted as much as possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This minister understands.\" Jia Wenhe nodded slowly, noncommittal, and simply continued his questioning without pause. \"Second: in the Han dynasty, Emperors Huan and Ling trusted eunuchs without measure, so that all mouthpiece duties came from eunuchs, to the point where eunuch overseers handled ministerial affairs and controlled the governance of the entire realm. I am presumptuous, but I venture to ask Your Highness: if the world is settled and Yan replaces Han, and the palace institutions are established, regardless of whether eunuchs are employed again, can Your Highness restrain the eunuchs and prevent them from meddling in political affairs?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Naturally so!\" Gongsun Xun answered this time with particular alacrity. By now, beyond the six Chancellors and one Shepherd, the subordinate officials of the four Ministries and the six Departments were gradually awakening to the situation and rising one after another. Even among the military ranks, those who had read more, like Tian Yu, were alert and rising, startling Zhang Liao and others into hastily following suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Third: the Han allowed external relatives to seize power, even to the point of poisoning and murdering a Han Emperor. If the world is settled and Yan replaces Han, can Your Highness restrain imperial relatives and prevent them from suddenly being employed through marriage connections, thereby disrupting the order of ranks?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Zhao Ping, Feng Fang, Gongsun Yu, and others each shivered and immediately rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Gongsun Xun remained just as direct: \"I have long pondered this matter. Not only external relatives, but even the imperial clan should be assigned offices based on merit. In the future, they should enter service through the imperial examinations and rotate through posts on their own. They must not leap over ranks to prominent positions simply because they are imperial kin!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This minister understands.\" Jia Xu continued to ask. \"Fourth: the Former Han deployed troops against Xiliang without restraint, repeatedly draining the state treasury, so that the Liangzhou rebellion lasted for decades and did not cease for a hundred years. By the time the Yellow Turbans rose, the realm had already suffered thirteen or fourteen years of military calamity, with hardly a place free from war or chaos. If the world is settled and Yan replaces Han, can Your Highness refrain from taking pride in border campaigns, and instead nurture the people to rest and recover?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To cease war, halt arms, and allow the people to recuperate—this is the foremost priority in governing chaos.\" Seeing more and more people rising, Gongsun Xun spoke with increasing caution. \"But the matter of border campaigns must be carefully weighed. If calculated in terms of benefit and harm, and it benefits the state, I will not abandon expansion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This minister understands.\" Jia Xu remained noncommittal, simply continuing his relentless questioning. By now, virtually everyone in the hall, civil and military alike, had risen to their feet. Even Sima Yi dared not remain kneeling. \"Fifth: the decline of the Han was in no small part due to the emperor, empress, and nobles' blind faith in sorcery, Daoism, and prophetic texts. If the world is settled and Yan replaces Han, and Your Highness becomes the supreme sovereign, can you prohibit the official construction of Buddhist and Daoist temples and curtail inquiries into spirits and gods?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sixth: the Mandate of Heaven shifts, and the affairs of the world are hard to predict. If the world is settled and Yan replaces Han, and Your Highness becomes the supreme sovereign, can you repay the Liu clan's past grace in employing you, and ensure that the Han ancestral sacrifices are not cut off?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am willing to do my utmost.\" Gongsun Xun replied with increasing earnestness. \"But some things are not for me alone to decide... If the Liu clan acts violently and is unwilling to find peace on their own, what can I do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then that would no longer be Your Highness's concern. So long as Your Highness holds this intention and abides by these words, the people of the world will naturally have their fair judgment.\" Jia Xu put away the paper in his hand and spoke slowly. \"And all of these, together with the question and answer that first asked Your Highness to stay, make seven questions and seven answers in total... This minister believes that if Your Highness can abide by all seven answers given today, then not only will there be fair judgment, but the hearts of the people of the world will naturally turn to Your Highness, and the Mandate of Heaven will naturally pass from Han to Yan!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having said this, Jia Xu solemnly bowed and performed the grand rite of audience: \"This minister has nothing more to say. I, as a minister of Yan, merely wish that Your Highness may soon unify the realm and receive this Mandate of Heaven!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he finished speaking, from Shen Pei and Lou Gui on down, the civil and military officials, along with the Loyal Followers in the hall, all prostrated themselves together and repeated these words in unison: \"May Your Highness soon unify all under Heaven and receive this Mandate of Heaven!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun opened his mouth to speak, but then found no words. Only after a long while did he withdraw his gaze from every corner of the hall, finally fixing his eyes on the backs of Jia Xu and the others with a long sigh: \"Gentlemen, you have not failed me, and I shall not fail you! May we together usher in an era of peace!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————I am the dividing line of ushering in peace together————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even with the Martial Ancestor's might and Chancellor Jia's chaotic martial prowess, there was still the Bronze Sparrow Q&A, which shows that in times of turmoil and chaos, the hearts of men are hard to settle and morality runs dry. Heroes rise bearing blades, and only then does their willfulness become manifest. Yet once the realm is about to be settled, they immediately think of the state's stability — are they not sage rulers and renowned ministers? Had they met a wise sovereign in a prosperous age, would they not have been pillars of civil and military governance in the same hall? In the past, the Martial Ancestor called Cao Cao 'a capable minister in times of peace, a villainous hero in times of chaos' — did he point to this one man? Therefore it is said: Han lost its deer, and heroes chased it together, each seizing the Mandate of Heaven for themselves. That the Martial Ancestor would grasp the realm within a few years was by no means accidental!\" — New Book of Yan, Volume 2, Annals of the Martial Emperor, Grand Ancestor\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Book recommendation — Dreaming of Spending Life in Konoha... by author Jing Xiaoyuan. A rare reality-and-Naruto crossover, where one seems to enter the Naruto world only after falling asleep. Truly interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, updated thirty-five thousand characters in seven days... inexplicably proud of myself, but the lack of chapter comments really hurts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",6962,"2026-06-04T19:42:52.587Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","db52d8bf5b4ae74b8dfafc06a7db02c1478a628348a3498aad449aaef5d99d13","overthrowing-han-chapter-521","overthrowing-han-chapter-519",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]