Chapter 70: Official Wanderings (5.3k — Two Chapters Combined)

"In the end, you've become an official wanderer after all." Seeing her son about to leave, Lady Gongsun grew sorrowful once more. "I thought this time when you came back, at the very least you could get married, and then leave after being recommended as a Flourishing Talent at year's end — maybe even leave me a grandson or granddaughter. Who would have thought that just a few days after settling down, you'd be summoned to the capital..."

"Mother, it is a good thing after all." Gongsun Xun answered helplessly. "A year earlier passing the recommendation, a year earlier completing the evaluation period in the capital, means a year earlier becoming an appointed official of the court. Then things will settle down."

"Well, it is a good thing after all." Lady Gongsun understood this in her heart. "Go then. If you can settle down in Luoyang, I will find a way to send that Zhao Yun to you, and let you marry in Luoyang..."

"Yes!"

"But no matter what, this time you must listen to your mother's advice. Since you already have so many backers and your future is secure, there is no need to take risks anymore... You must fix this flaw of yours — the moment you see merit or a prospect, you lose control of yourself! If you always walk by the river, one day your shoes will get wet!"

"Mother, set your mind at ease." Gongsun Xun hurriedly bowed in agreement. "You said it yourself — my future is secure now, so why would I take risks again?"

"Well, go then, go!" Lady Gongsun said helplessly. "Just think of it as you coming home from university for winter break..."

The servants around them did not understand, and Gongsun Xun only vaguely grasped it, but he did not wish to say more, lest he stir up his mother's thoughts.

So he bowed deeply, and at last set out on the road.

This time, since Lu Fan remained stationed in Luoyang and he was traveling under official summons, Gongsun Xun naturally traveled light... but traveling light did not mean traveling alone.

Han Dang was certain to accompany him, and the necessary guards and attendants were indispensable. Beyond that, Gongsun Fan was also going to Luoyang this time — clearly his grandfather had seen the power of a good teacher and could not resist letting him try his luck as well... Gongsun Xun naturally had nothing to say about this; it was a trifling effort, and it would not cost him a piece of his own flesh.

Of course, before leaving, it was also unavoidable to maneuver Gongsun Yue into the commandery clerk position that Gongsun Fan had previously obtained... say what you will, Gongsun Xun did not necessarily distrust Gongsun Fan, but in his heart he faintly trusted Gongsun Yue a little more.

As for... Lou Gui?

Gongsun Xun simply handed him over to his mother to keep an eye on!

Whatever happens, happens. In any case, he dared not bring him to Luoyang. The man might seem quite well-behaved now, but who knew if he would turn the world upside down once in Luoyang? If he really dragged people like Cao Cao or Xu You into things, it would be trouble.

And so, Gongsun Xun and his party rode hard, heading straight for Luoyang, and by late in the fourth month they had already reached their destination. Outside Luoyang they boarded the official carriage used for summons, donned the scholar's headdress and robes, and formally proceeded to the Office of Official Summons to report.

Once the formalities were done, the first order of business was naturally to pay respects to his two teachers.

First Lu Zhi, then Liu Kuan — this was because at Liu Kuan's place both public and private matters could be handled, and once they met they would likely discuss the matter of his appointment, so it was best left for last.

However, when he arrived at Lu Zhi's official quarters by the eastern gate of the Southern Palace, he did not find him... It turned out that Teacher Lu was still compiling histories, but having guessed that his student would come here after being summoned to the capital, he had left a servant to pass on a few words, telling him to do as he pleased.

So Gongsun Xun, crisp and efficient, turned around with Gongsun Fan and headed to the Grand Commandant's residence to pay his respects to Liu Kuan!

Liu Kuan's residence was still that place with the main gate wide open, letting anyone come and go, and Liu Kuan himself was still that man who neither washed his hands nor his face, smiling amiably all day long... And when he heard his student had arrived, he directly summoned him into the main hall, paying no mind to the fact that all those seated in attendance were high officials and dignitaries.

Of course, the old man had, after all, risen from the Nine Ministers to the Three Excellencies, from two thousand bushels to ten thousand bushels, from a blue ribbon and silver seal to a purple ribbon and gold seal, and his spirits were considerably improved — he was even in the mood to joke:

"When others are summoned, they always make excuses and decline. Why has Wenqi come so swiftly?"

"Teacher, your words are mistaken." Gongsun Xun stood tall and solemn, his voice full of vigor. "The so-called 'Courageous and Knowledgeable in Military Strategy' special category was established by the court precisely to meet crises. We who bear the responsibility of setting the situation in order — how can we make excuses and decline for the sake of a little empty reputation? In my opinion, Teacher should draw up a list of those false scholars who have refused this summons, circulate it throughout the realm, and let all under heaven know exactly who disregards the state's peril to inflate their own worth..."

At these words, Liu Kuan had been nodding continuously at first, but the more he listened, the more something seemed amiss. Yet before he could interject with a laugh to cut off this speech, someone in the gathering suddenly slammed the table and rose:

"What Lord Wenrao's brilliant student says is absolutely right! Those people fish for fame and reputation — why stop at merely circulating a notice to expose their faces? In my view, they should all be seized and brought to the government offices, tied to the pillars in front, with a placard stuck on them reading 'Fishing for Fame and Reputation' in four large characters, so that every villager passing by can scorn them!"

At these words, not to mention everyone else present, even Gongsun Xun was greatly startled... To be honest, he had merely felt that today he was about to become an official, and with joy lifting his spirits, he had gotten a bit carried away. Relying on Liu Kuan's indulgence, he had stiffened his neck and spouted some nonsense — who could have imagined there was someone in the gathering even more ferocious than himself?

Of course, after the shock, Gongsun Xun immediately grew interested in this man. Such a figure — who knew, perhaps he was yet another 'Hero of the Three Kingdoms'!

At this thought, he did not even have time to introduce Gongsun Fan to Liu Kuan before stepping forward and bowing: "Gongsun Xun of Liaoxi, may I ask..."

"This is the Chancellor of Pingyuan, Yang Qiu of Yuyang, courtesy name Fangzheng." Liu Kuan, likely fearing the two of them would spout more earth-shattering words, hurriedly stepped forward to separate them. "He has entered the capital this time... ahem, on official business. Fangzheng, this is my student, Gongsun Xun of Liaoxi, courtesy name Wenqi — he is the one who recently rescued the Grand Administrator's mother on the battlefield in the Liaoxi campaign. Though you two are not from the same commandery, your hometowns are barely a hundred li apart, so you can be considered fellow countrymen."

At these words, both men's eyes lit up.

"I have long admired Lord Yang's great name!" Gongsun Xun hurriedly bowed again in greeting. "Since childhood, Xun has heard of Lord Yang's filial renown and has often been moved by it. I never thought I would have the honor of meeting you today."

To be clear, Gongsun Xun was not merely being polite, for although this Yang Qiu was not some 'Hero of the Three Kingdoms,' he was a rare notable from the desolate region around Liaoxi. In his youth, because a clerk had insulted his mother, he gathered a crowd and killed the man. Thereafter, he was recommended as Filial and Incorrupt and entered official service, rising all the way to his current post as a two-thousand-bushel grand official... He had always been a figure admired by the sons of Youzhou. Who would have thought that today, they would meet here!

"Wenqi, please rise!" Yang Qiu was also quite excited. "Do you know, these days I have been cooped up in the capital, stifled at every turn, my mood constantly depressed — it was only upon hearing of your heroic deeds that I was roused! A few days ago, when I went out to a banquet, someone even asked me, since I am from Youzhou, whether I knew Gongsun Xun of Liaoxi? It left me thoroughly embarrassed... But from now on, when I go, I can hold my head high and look around with pride!"

Seeing the two of them faintly sharing a kindred spirit, Liu Kuan immediately felt a headache coming on and hurriedly interrupted again: "Wenqi, hold a moment — I have yet to introduce you to the other gentlemen here... And also, who is this person behind you?"

At these words, Gongsun Xun came back to his senses and hurriedly paid his respects to the other dignitaries in the gathering one by one. After that, he naturally hastened to introduce the somewhat overwhelmed Liaoxi country bumpkin Gongsun Fan to Liu Kuan.

And it must be said, this was precisely what people liked most about Liu Kuan — even though he had become Grand Commandant, he still had that good temper. As soon as he heard that Gongsun Fan came from an unblemished family background and was a brother to Gongsun Xun beyond those three sworn brothers, he accepted him as a student without a second word.

Of course, after this incident, constrained by the difference in status, Gongsun Xun could not very well converse further with Yang Qiu. In fact, for the remainder of the time, Gongsun Xun merely stood in attendance behind Liu Kuan, listening to these men talk. And when evening came and everyone took their leave, he had not even had time to ask Yang Qiu for a calling card before Liu Kuan summoned him alone to the rear courtyard.

"Wenqi, sit." In the rear courtyard pavilion, Liu Kuan had someone set out a low table and rush mats, and brought wine and dishes, then bade his prized student sit opposite him.

"Yes." Gongsun Xun was somewhat stirred; he knew full well that they were about to discuss serious matters.

"Let us pause a moment." Just as he picked up his wine cup, Liu Kuan suddenly set it down again. "Before we discuss the main matter, let me tell you something else."

"Teacher, please speak..." Gongsun Xun, who had picked up the wine flagon and was about to pour for him, was rather puzzled, but still set the wine back down as instructed.

"Do you know why Yang Qiu has entered the capital this time, leaving his post as Chancellor of Pingyuan?"

Gongsun Xun was taken aback, then immediately shook his head... It was indeed strange. By all reason, a two-thousand-bushel state chancellor, equivalent to a Grand Administrator, had a duty to guard his territory — how could he simply enter the capital? And he did not seem to be wearing his official seal and ribbon either.

"He was impeached. He entered the capital as a man under accusation to defend himself." Liu Kuan stopped at that and said no more... Given his character, he would never say something like 'do not associate with this man.' To go this far was already an exceptional show of care for his student.

"So that is how it is." Gongsun Xun frowned slightly. "I understand."

"Good that you understand." Liu Kuan tapped his empty wine cup and asked with a smile, "What thoughts do you have on coming to the capital this time?"

As Gongsun Xun poured wine for him, he asked back, rather puzzled: "My honored teacher issued the official summons for me to enter Luoyang — surely you have some use in mind. Why ask me? Could it be that I can choose my own future path?"

"There is a matter of urgency." After a cup of sweet wine, Liu Kuan visibly relaxed considerably. "Let me speak plainly. At present, there are two paths before you. One is to remain in Luoyang as usual, serving as a court gentleman, or to come to my Grand Commandant's office as a subordinate clerk. After a year or half a year, you could then, like other young talents, be appointed to the central administration or sent out to the provinces as an appointed official of the court..."

Gongsun Xun nodded repeatedly. This was precisely the system of the Great Han dynasty, the most basic career path — exactly what he had envisioned when he came.

"And the other path is the special case of the 'Courageous and Knowledgeable in Military Strategy' category. Did you not say so yourself just now? This category is a measure to meet the times, specially opened to quell border troubles. Therefore, it is not impossible to directly appoint you as an official of the court, but it would require you to proceed immediately to a military post..."

Gongsun Xun listened quietly. In his heart, amid his confusion, he was actually somewhat tempted — but suddenly, he recalled something, and in an instant he was so alarmed that he nearly overturned the entire table of wine and dishes:

"Teacher, do not jest! I am a man of Liaoxi — how could I possibly go to Yizhou Commandery?"

Gongsun Xun was truly panicked now!

He had to understand — he had just remembered that his teacher had become Grand Commandant precisely because of the campaigns in Liaoxi and Yizhou Commandery, and the reason he himself had been summoned was that the court, troubled by border crises, had opened this 'special category'! But now that the Liaoxi campaign had concluded, could it be that they wanted him to go to Yizhou Commandery to suppress the rebellion?!

You must understand, this was Yizhou Commandery, not Yizhou Province! The two were not the same thing!

Yizhou was one of the thirteen provinces of the Great Han, a land of heavenly abundance! But Yizhou Commandery was merely a commandery of the same name under Yizhou Province, located at the southernmost tip of Yizhou... From what Lady Gongsun had told him, that place would later become prosperous and even had another name — the South of Colored Clouds!

But in this era, it was a wretched place where Grand Administrators were kidnapped at the drop of a hat — was it really fit for human habitation?

And besides, this place and the Liaoxi where Gongsun Xun had grown up — one was the far northeast of the Great Han, the other the far southwest. If he were really forced to go there to suppress a rebellion, and then, unable to adapt to the climate, he simply collapsed and died upon arrival, the only thing left would be to wrap his body in horsehide and bring it home!

Pitifully, he had just gotten engaged, yet had only managed to touch her hand and waist in the chaos of battle — he had not even had a chance to try anything else. Could it be that he was about to die far from home?

It had to be said, Gongsun Xun was truly terrified now — never mind skipping the probationary period for a direct appointment, even if they offered him a full two-thousand-dan post, he probably wouldn't dare take it!

"What are you thinking, Wenqi?" Liu Kuan paused, then burst out laughing. "The court may be muddled, but not so muddled as to send a man from Liaoxi to suppress a rebellion in Yizhou Commandery... The Yizhou matter was already dealt with by the court while you were on the road here. First they transferred a neighboring commandery governor with an outstanding record to that post, then they levied the local barbarian tribes loyal to the Great Han. Good news should be arriving any day now."

Gongsun Xun finally breathed a sigh of relief, but then grew puzzled again: "But if that is so, where has the smoke of war risen? This border trouble..."

"Since it is a border trouble," Liu Kuan said with a wry smile, shaking his head as he picked up some food with his chopsticks, "for this dynasty, nine times out of ten it is the Xianbei causing chaos!"

Gongsun Xun's heart stirred slightly at these words: "Teacher, do you mean the court has finally decided to take the initiative and strike against the Xianbei?"

"Correct." Liu Kuan first gave a slight nod, then shook his head slightly. "In truth, I do not agree with this, but the eunuchs, to amuse His Majesty, have been trumpeting that the Xianbei cannot withstand a single blow. With this great victory in Liaoxi, His Majesty's confidence has only redoubled. You must understand, since the second Proscription, the eunuchs have ultimately held the upper hand in this court..."

Gongsun Xun frowned slightly, neither refuting nor agreeing.

In truth, as a man of Liaoxi who often had to deal with the Xianbei, he had once discussed the Xianbei question quite seriously with his mother... and the conclusion they reached was that tactically, one must take the Xianbei seriously — after all, if one of their arrows hit you, you really could drop dead on the spot. However, from a broader strategic perspective, there was no need to take them too seriously!

Because according to Lady Gongsun, when the Xianbei gathered enough strength to disrupt the Central Plains, although she could not recall the exact time, it was in any case something that would happen a hundred or two hundred years later. In other words, for at least the next hundred-plus years, the Xianbei themselves were not enough to cause any real trouble.

That being the case, did this campaign not mean there might be a good outcome? And besides, hadn't his clansman Gongsun Zan also gone to Shanggu, trying to take part in this very campaign? He was a man of great fortune — did that not, from another angle, hint at something?

This campaign might well offer military merits to be reaped!

Of course, having thought of his mother, Gongsun Xun could not help but forcibly rein in his ambition. After all, when he left, his mother had exhorted him a thousand, ten thousand times not to take risks.

"Of course," Liu Kuan continued, "since it is the court's will, I have nothing more to say. And besides, this dynasty has seen much warfare, and has always had elite troops and many generals, with the Xiongnu, Wuhuan, and other barbarian cavalry to bolster the ranks — no matter how one looks at it, they should be able to return with the army intact, should they not? And your Gongsun clan is a border commandery house to begin with; you, Wenqi, have shown the makings of a famed general from an early age. That being so, I thought, since the court is in need of talent, why not let you go there to temper yourself? It would be greatly beneficial in terms of military affairs, and for your own future prospects, the path ahead would broaden somewhat."

Gongsun Xun continued to frown: "Then when exactly does the court plan to dispatch the troops, and how exactly has Teacher arranged things?"

"The dispatch is still far off," Liu Kuan replied easily. "A major military undertaking like this requires stockpiling provisions, drilling newly conscripted soldiers, and placating the Wuhuan and Xiongnu in advance so they will be willing to exert themselves when the time comes. I estimate... at the very least a year or two before it can proceed, perhaps even two or three."

Hearing this, Gongsun Xun's confidence in this campaign grew all the more. Of course, it was merely confidence — he himself still meant to respect his mother's wishes and remain in Luoyang as a court gentleman and a bridegroom.

"As for your posting, no matter how this campaign is fought, it will likely proceed along the line of Yunzhong, Yanmen, and Dai Commandery. So I intend to recommend you as Adjutant Colonel, to go to Yanmen and assist the Colonel Protector of the Xianbei, Zang Min..."

Gongsun Xun's expression instantly became unsettled: "Teacher, a Colonel, whether Adjutant or Independent, is a thousand-dan court-appointed officer!"

"After all, it is a hardship post in a border commandery, not a thousand-dan county magistrate in some fertile inland region!" Liu Kuan said dismissively. "With the world-startling merit you have just achieved, and as my student, even the eunuchs will have to show some face... What of a thousand dan? Well, will you go? Train troops there for two years, and when the time comes, perhaps you will go to war, perhaps the situation will shift and the war will not happen. But no matter what, when you return, you should be able to smoothly transfer to a proper thousand-dan county magistracy! Of course, if you do not wish to go, that is also fine — tomorrow I will appoint you to one of the Three Bureaus as a court gentleman!"

Gongsun Xun pressed his lips together and remained silent for a long while.

Yet, as he watched the Grand Commandant of the Great Han dynasty sitting across from him, pouring and drinking alone, on the verge of finishing half a flask of wine in no time, Gongsun Xun finally could not hold back and spoke in a lowered voice: "Since it is a thousand-dan post either way, and a Colonelcy either way, could I ask Teacher to help change it to an Independent Colonel commanding my own detachment? My clansman Gongsun Zan has some past grievance with Zang Min's son — under his command, I fear there would be some unease!"

Liu Kuan set down his cup and clapped his hands with a great laugh.

"Xun, specially recommended for valor and knowledge of military arts, entered Luoyang by public carriage. He paused not a moment, passed his own gate without entering, transferred at the public carriage office, and went straight into the Grand Commandant's residence. His old townsman Yang Qiu was present and jested: 'Why such haste, sir? Do you fear being given a poor post?' Xun pressed his hand to his saber and declared with fervor: 'The state is in turmoil, the realm is not at peace — this is precisely the time for men like us to offer our lives. What I fear is not obtaining the right post — how could fame or profit trouble me? I earnestly seek a border commandery military post, to serve the state!' All present, from Yang Qiu down, straightened their countenances and shrank back. Grand Commandant Liu also deemed his words heroic, and so recommended him as Independent Colonel, to be stationed at Yanmen." — Records of the Heroes of the Late Han, by Wang Can

PS: Thanks to book friend 'The Fish Neither Near Nor Far' for the red-tipped reward. Also, new book group 684558115 — those interested may join.

(End of Chapter)