Chapter 69: The Grand Feast (Part 2)

"...At that moment the situation was so perilous that words cannot fully describe it... Cheng Pu, a Clerk of the Right Beiping Military Office, carried the Lady of the Commandery on his back to escape danger, then turned back to block the pursuing troops. Before the massed army, barehanded, he struck down three riders in succession, shocking and cowing the enemy soldiers, and only then did the situation stabilize... His courage and stratagem are astonishing, truly the manner of a tiger-like minister of old. I beseech Your Excellency the Governor to discern this clearly and grant him due promotion."

"My household retainer, the former Lu Long Fortress Lingzhi Fort Barrier Commandant Han Dang, shot and killed the enemy chieftain Ke Zuitan in the heat of battle. His merit should be ranked first. I humbly implore Your Excellency to commend his valor and righteousness!"

"My younger brother Gongsun Fan, of a family that has served at the two-thousand-bushel rank for generations, did not flinch from blades and arrows. Leading three hundred Hu cavalry, he counterattacked the Xianbei central army in the midst of battle, blocking their path and allowing our main force to close in at leisure. His merit is high and his toil bitter. I hope Your Excellency will examine this and appoint him accordingly."

"Lou Gui of Nanyang, from a renowned clan, excels at devising unexpected stratagems. This infiltration relied heavily on his plans. Moreover, in battle he slew one Xianbei soldier and carried the Governor's daughter to safety on his back—deeds worthy of great merit. I beg the Governor to discern this clearly."

"There is also the Mohu tribe of the Liaoxi Xianbei, who have long dwelt within Han territory and greatly admire Han culture. In this battle, their timely defection was largely thanks to their efforts. I hope Your Excellency will treat them generously."

After finishing these words, Gongsun Xun stood tall and erect upon the platform, yet inclined his head slightly, maintaining a posture of salute as he quietly awaited the response of the three true wielders of authority on the platform.

"What Wenqi has said, I have taken full note of," replied Gongsun Xun's father-in-law, the current Administrator of Liaoxi, Zhao Bao, in a tone that was slightly perfunctory. "I will naturally make arrangements for the merits of these several men. You may withdraw now."

"Ai!" At that moment, Governor Wang of Right Beiping Commandery suddenly interjected from the side. "How can Lord Zhao treat meritorious officers so harshly? When I led my troops to Lu Long Fortress and heard that Gongsun Wenqi—who once broke a camp with only thirty riders—had this time taken only four men to slip beyond the frontier, I knew he would achieve extraordinary merit just as he did last time! After the battle, I inquired and indeed it was so... A mere five men, infiltrating an army of ten thousand: one carried Lord Zhao's revered mother to safety; one carried Lord Zhao's wife to safety; one carried Lord Zhao's beloved daughter to safety; one shot and killed the enemy chieftain in battle; one threw the enemy's central army into chaos in the midst of the fray... In my view, the merits of these five men are likely the top five merits of this entire campaign!"

Governor Wang's sudden interjection seemed to catch Zhao Bao somewhat off guard, leaving him momentarily at a loss for how to respond, and he could only stand there stunned.

But this was not the end. This Governor of Right Beiping Commandery—whom everyone assumed had come merely to coast along and share in the glory because his territory was geographically so close—actually rose to his feet as he spoke, and carrying his own wine cup, strode directly before Gongsun Xun:

"And besides, Wenqi, you have so highly praised the deeds of others on this mission, yet why do you not utter a single word about your own actions? Were you not the leader of this infiltration? How can a flock of heroes be without a head? Should not a third of their merit be credited to you? As a commandery clerk, upon hearing that your lord had fallen into a dilemma between loyalty and filial piety, you risked your life to infiltrate the enemy camp. In the end, not only did you rescue your lord's family, but before the battle you disrupted the enemy's deployment and slew their leader... Gentlemen, what do you call such conduct? In my view, this is the act of a true man who embodies loyalty, righteousness, wisdom, and valor in equal measure! Come, Wenqi, drain this cup!"

For Governor Wang, who held the two-thousand-bushel rank, to so lavishly praise a young man from another commandery and even personally present him with wine—this was truly a supreme honor.

Who could have expected that Gongsun Xun, having received the cup with both hands, would not drink it in haste, but instead raise his head and reply with a solemn expression: "Your Excellency Governor Wang, as the lord of another domain, feasts a minister of a different state—such generous affection indeed. Yet I have heard that a noble man feasts not only with ceremony but also with virtue... I beseech Your Excellency to grant this in full!"

Upon hearing this, Governor Wang could not help but stroke his beard and laugh heartily: "I understand... Cheng Pu."

Cheng Pu, hearing his name, hurried forward to salute.

"The Head of the Military Office in my commandery has recently been feigning illness. I have already, in accordance with popular sentiment, relieved him of his duties and sent him home to recuperate. With such extraordinary merit as yours, you are perfectly suited to fill this post!"

Cheng Pu's expression shifted slightly at these words, but in the end, joy predominated. He immediately prostrated himself to thank his lord for the promotion, then turned and prostrated himself again to thank Gongsun Xun for the recommendation.

It must be said, in recent days more than one person had probed Cheng Pu's thoughts on Gongsun Xun's behalf, and Cheng Pu himself had been somewhat swayed... He truly felt that this Gongsun Zhuji was someone who dared to act and could get things done, and his background was not bad either. However, no matter how one looked at it, the world was still in order. As a young commandery clerk with family responsibilities and a seemingly bright future, he could not, merely on the basis of kindred spirit, follow the example of someone like Han Dang—who had no ties or attachments—and do as he pleased... To put it bluntly, Gongsun Xun's future prospects were close at hand, but for now, he was still just a minor official of the two-hundred-bushel rank.

Of course, this arrangement was sufficient. Because after Gongsun Xun's recommendation, everyone would know that Cheng Pu—who had previously been a subordinate of Gongsun Xun's clan uncle Gongsun Zhao—would likely bear the mark of the Gongsun clan for the rest of his life.

And when you thought about it, having received the recommendation of both uncle and nephew in succession, what more could one expect?

Henceforth, if the realm remained at peace, should some member of the Gongsun clan pass away, Cheng Pu would be expected to resign his post to mourn. And if an era of upheaval ever truly arrived, then when disciples and former subordinates came with their entire households to pledge allegiance, for the Gongsun clan, Cheng Pu was precisely the kind of person they spoke of.

Seeing that Cheng Pu's matter had been settled, Gongsun Xun hastily helped him to his feet, then raised his cup and drained it. Instantly, a chorus of cheers erupted from the high platform.

On the other side, Liu Yu, the Inspector of You Province, listened to the resounding cheers on the high platform and observed the posturing of Governor Wang and Governor Zhao. Finally, he sighed inwardly, then abruptly rose to his feet.

It must be said... one should not treat everyone under heaven as fools.

Whether it was Gongsun Xun's infiltration of the enemy camp or the Old Madam Zhao's street-side betrothal, both were on everyone's lips and known throughout the city, and before long, they might well be known throughout the realm... So, did Governor Wang not know this man's background, or did Liu Yu, the Inspector of You Province, not know his true circumstances? In truth, all this posturing was nothing more than a father-in-law needing to avoid suspicion, unable to personally step forward to promote his own son-in-law, while Governor Wang, having come to share in the glory and needing something in return, tacitly stepped up to play the shill.

And as for whom this performance was staged for? Who else could it be but Liu Yu, the Inspector of You Province?

One must understand that in the Great Han, the system of recommendation and appointment was the orthodox path to officialdom. Others might be overlooked, but Gongsun Xun was clearly destined for the broad highway. However, Liaoxi produced only one Filial and Incorrupt candidate per year, and Governor Zhao, having just assumed office, also needed to avoid suspicion... For Gongsun Fan and Gongsun Yue, he could wield his brush and grant them Filial and Incorrupt status with a flourish. But what of Gongsun Xun, his own son-in-law? If he were to recommend him as Filial and Incorrupt, he might well become a laughingstock.

So what was to be done? Was there some broad highway that could allow our Gongsun Zhuji to quickly become a proper high official?

The answer was to seek out the Provincial Inspector! Recommending talent to the court was a fundamental duty of the Provincial Inspector. Apart from the commandery's Filial and Incorrupt, the province also had to recommend one Abundant Talent each year! And because it was a provincial recommendation, and those recommended were mostly officials already in service, compared to Filial and Incorrupt, the number of Abundant Talents was fewer, their importance greater, and their future prospects brighter!

So, returning to the scene before him, after all this singing, acting, and posturing, how could Liu Yu Liu Boan, the Inspector of You Province seated in the place of honor—whose grandfather had served as Superintendent of the Imperial Household, whose father had served as Administrator of Danyang, and who himself had risen step by step from commandery clerk to Filial and Incorrupt—not understand the little schemes of these two governors?

Of course, understanding was one thing; whether to grant the request or not—Inspector Liu still had to give an answer, did he not?

Thus, having seen through it all, Liu Yu was quite decisive. He rose directly and walked over to stand before Gongsun Xun.

"Governor!" Gongsun Xun, knowing the real crux of the matter had arrived, immediately bowed in salute.

"No need for excessive ceremony." Liu Yu looked him over from head to toe. "I heard of you and your brother Gongsun in the capital, knew that you were the beloved disciples of both Lord Wenrao and Lord Zigan, and even that a matter as important as supervising the 'Mao Poems' and 'Han Poems' sections of the Stone Classics was entrusted to you brothers... It is a pity that, due to a twist of fate, we never had the chance to meet."

"It seems there was such a matter," Gongsun Xun instantly feigned vagueness, for at a time like this, the fewer complications the better. "My younger brother Gongsun Yue, or perhaps my elder brother Gongsun Zan... I cannot recall clearly. It seems one of them once attempted to pay respects to the Governor, but it happened that the Governor was not at his residence. Truly a pity!"

"So that is how it was." Liu Yu's expression relaxed slightly, and he smiled with relief. "Let us set that aside for now. You come from a renowned clan of Liaoxi, your family loyal and virtuous for generations; you studied under Lord Wenrao and Lord Zigan, and are thoroughly versed in the classics; now, upon returning to your homeland, hearing that your commandery governor's family had fallen into distress, you risked life and limb to rescue them—this can truly be called loyalty and courage; not to mention, as Governor Wang said earlier, the numerous merits you have achieved... I, appointed by the court to inspect the eleven commanderies and princedoms of You Province, inherently bear the duty of recommending talent. When I return to the court to report this summer, if I fail to submit a memorial recommending a capable talent such as yourself to the central government, would that not be holding office to no purpose?!"

At these words, Governor Wang, standing nearby, clapped his hands and laughed heartily, praising the decision repeatedly. The officers and clerks of Liaoxi Commandery on the high platform were all delighted as well... They were genuinely happy. This governor's son-in-law was taking the provincial route, not competing for their merits and positions—how could they not be happy?

Gongsun Xun, however, maintained his usual composure, merely bowing in thanks according to protocol, presenting the very image of moral exemplarity!

Of course, inwardly, he could not help but let out a long breath... Years of bitter toil, a period of risking life and limb, had finally culminated in this day, with two two-thousand-bushel officials joining forces to stage a performance for his sake. But no matter what, he, Gongsun Xun, was finally about to rise to prominence!

When it comes to being an official, having backers behind you makes it easy to stand out! There's no arguing with that!

The grand feast continued. Lou Gui and Han Dang declined rewards, Gongsun Fan was appointed as a commandery clerk, Tadun, nephew of the Wuhuan Chanyu Qiuliju, was refused when he sought a seal on behalf of his uncle, and the Mohu tribe was granted a large quantity of goods and wealth... But for Gongsun Xun, these were either matters long since decided or trivial affairs that had nothing to do with him.

And so, two days later, the great army disbanded, each unit returning to its garrison. Governor Wang, thoroughly satisfied, returned to Tuyin, the administrative seat of Right Beiping Commandery, taking Cheng Pu with him. Liu Yu then proceeded to Liaodong to conduct his inspection tour. Gongsun Xun, Gongsun Fan, and the others followed Zhao Bao directly to the long-departed city of Yangle!

However, just at this moment, the long-anticipated imperial envoys finally arrived, tardy but in continuous waves, coming and going without cease!

The first wave was for condolence.

As mentioned before, the capture of a two-thousand-bushel commandery governor's mother within his own territory by an enemy state was a heinous incident unheard of since the founding of the Great Han. The affair was bound to shake the entire realm.

Thus, when news reached the capital, the court, unaware of the subsequent developments, dispatched envoys almost instantly. They rode at full speed to offer condolences and comfort to Zhao Bao, and urgently issued sternly worded decrees to Liu Yu and the surrounding commanderies of Liaoxi, ordering them to swiftly assemble forces, rescue the hostages, and defeat the invading enemy.

Of course, by the time this wave of envoys, riding at breakneck speed, reached the borders of You Province, new reports had already emerged. It was merely out of institutional inertia that they had no choice but to hold their noses and proceed to Liaoxi to 'offer condolences.'

And after an interval of only a few days, as the latest news was relayed back to the court, the second wave of envoys soon arrived, their theme being rewards and commendations.

There was no helping it... The battlefield dialogue between Old Madam Zhao and her son Zhao Bao was simply too perfectly aligned with the Great Han's core values and mainstream ideology, and too profoundly stirring! Moreover, the final happy reunion and the resounding military victory had invigorated the entire court, from top to bottom.

Consequently, the reigning Son of Heaven and the Three Excellencies dispatched envoys in unison, and commendations of every sort were showered down without restraint!

Among these, Zhao Bao, for his loyalty, courage, filial piety, and righteousness, coupled with such great merit, was indeed directly enfeoffed as Marquis, with the title Marquis of Shu. Shu was an ancient place name in Qinghe Commandery, his current place of household registration. It had later been changed to a township, becoming a township marquisate, and later still had been abolished. Now, granting it to Zhao Bao was considered perfectly fitting.

Then, Old Madam Zhao was also publicly commended by the court. Not only were documents circulated to all provinces and commanderies praising her loyal and steadfast integrity, but she was also granted a large quantity of grain and silk. At the same time, in her home of Qinghe, local officials presided over the construction of a special commemorative gate and pillar structure... This was, more or less, the origin of the later chastity archway.

However, while these commendations were deeply heartening, they were all entirely expected, even long anticipated. What Gongsun Xun had never imagined was that he himself would also receive a commendation and recommendation directly from the court.

"Specially recommended as Courageous and Knowledgeable in Military Strategy?" In the rear courtyard of the Anli Trading Company branch in Yangle City, Gongsun Xun was dumbfounded. "And my teacher has become Grand Commandant?"

"Indeed!" Since this was a summons from the Grand Commandant's office, the messenger delivering the letter was no eunuch but a proper court official. The one before him was a direct subordinate of the Grand Commandant's office, so he naturally spoke frankly. "Worthy Brother Gongsun, not being in Luoyang, you naturally would not know what has transpired..."

"I must ask my worthy elder brother to enlighten me," Gongsun Xun hastily inquired.

"Just last month, the barbarian tribes of Yizhou Commandery rose in collective rebellion and seized the Administrator. Then, such shocking news arrived from Liaoxi! With these two events combined, the former Grand Commandant, Lord Chen Dan, was dismissed by His Majesty. Then our Lord Liu officially advanced to the position of one of the Three Excellencies, becoming the current Grand Commandant!" At this point, the messenger could not help but smile slightly. "And just as Lord Liu received his official seal on this side, news of the great deeds you, worthy brother, had accomplished on that side reached the capital. Lord Liu struck the table and rose, saying he had long known you, worthy brother, were destined for great things! By the next day, when the court was deliberating on quelling border troubles on all fronts, Lord Liu, in his capacity as Grand Commandant, petitioned to reopen the 'Courageous and Knowledgeable in Military Strategy' special recommendation category, and on the spot, citing the principle of not shunning one's kin when recommending talent, presented your, worthy brother's, deeds to the throne... When the Son of Heaven heard that you, worthy brother, were a disciple of our Lord Liu, he was immediately overjoyed. And thus, you, worthy brother, have become the very first person recommended in this specially opened Courageous and Knowledgeable in Military Strategy category!"

Gongsun Xun's expression was complex; for a moment, he did not know what to say.

It was not that Liu Kuan remembering him was a bad thing, nor that this 'Specially Recommended as Courageous and Knowledgeable in Military Strategy' from the Three Excellencies' summons was some crooked path—this was one of the standard, orthodox routes of the Han Dynasty's recommendation system. Rather, it was that, in this way, all that preparation and effort he had exerted on the high platform earlier had been utterly wasted, like a joke.

Earlier, he had lamented that to be an official in this Great Han dynasty, one needed backers to rise to prominence! Yet now, it seemed, another line had to be added—the bigger the backer, the better!

"Worthy younger brother!" The clerk from the Grand Commandant's office, seeing the other man dazed, couldn't help but laugh and urge him on. "Don't delay — the official summons carriage is right outside. Please, come with me at once and set off back to the capital! After you report to the Office of Official Summons, with your achievements renowned across the realm, won't you be soaring straight up to the blue clouds?!"

Gongsun Xun opened his mouth to speak, but found himself with no words to reply.

"In former times, when the Grand Ancestor had already established extraordinary merit as a youth, the Grand Administrator of Liaoxi gave him his daughter in marriage. Someone remarked: 'My lord, you became renowned at a young age, and your future is smooth and broad. Yet by this marriage to the Grand Administrator, it is a pity that, to avoid suspicion, you will lose the path to becoming Filial and Incorrupt in the commandery!' The Grand Ancestor was displeased: 'When we choose a spouse, we judge only by virtue and conduct — how can we calculate the gains and losses of one's future prospects?' Not many days later, Liu Yu, the Inspector of You Province, passed through Liaoxi. He met the Grand Ancestor and, overjoyed, said: 'Meeting you is like encountering a fine jade — how could one abandon it in the wilds?' Throughout the commandery, discussions all said that the Grand Ancestor would be nominated as Provincial Talent, and people came one after another to offer congratulations and praise. The Grand Ancestor remained calm and composed, taking no joy from it. Yet not long after, a messenger suddenly arrived from Luoyang — the Three Excellencies had jointly recommended him, citing the realm's turmoil, and specially under the category of 'Brave, Fierce, and Knowledgeable in Military Methods,' a public carriage was sent directly into Luoyang. The people of his homeland were shaken, and then praised him again, saying: 'When an awl is placed in a pouch, its point will emerge of its own accord. The Gongsun of Liaoxi — why should he worry about his future prospects?'" — Old Book of Yan, Volume 1, Annals of the Grand Ancestor, the Martial Emperor

PS: Also, new book group 684558115 — feel free to join if interested.

(End of Chapter)