Chapter 78: Bestowing the Blade (8k)

Dong Zhuo had a powerful, robust build. It was said that back when he was conscripted as a Gentleman of the Feathered Forest, his strength was unmatched — he could wear two quivers and shoot a bow with either hand. But that was over a decade ago. Now, Dong Zhongying was already in his forties. Though he could still ride and shoot, his waistline had inevitably expanded somewhat...

Of course, for a high-ranking frontier official, such a bearing only added a measure of authority.

In fact, inside a certain government office in Jinyang City, he was at this moment seated on a bed-couch, leafing through a document. The men standing in attendance below, starting from his son-in-law Niu Fu on down, every last one of them held their breath, not daring to make the slightest sound.

After a long while, just as Dong Zhuo smiled faintly and put away the letter, a tall, slender young scholar with a fair, clean face suddenly stepped past the rows of armored guards and attendants, coming directly to the front to bow. "Father-in-law, your son-in-law has returned."

"Wenyou is back." Dong Zhuo, on the bed-couch, broke into a slight smile at the sight of the newcomer. "How did it go?"

"How could it go?" Dong Zhuo's second son-in-law, none other than Li Ru, replied with a grin at once. "Father-in-law passed through Shangdang without entering, riding light cavalry straight into Taiyuan. The Grand Administrator of Taiyuan, Wei Jin, was terrified out of his wits, thinking you had come to charge him with some crime. He dared not come see you, yet dared not stay away either. In the end, he had no choice but to first send his Commandery Assistant over to cautiously pay his respects..."

Dong Zhuo burst into hearty laughter at this, and only then did everyone around finally breathe a sigh of relief.

When the laughter subsided, Dong Zhongying spoke again. "Apart from the Taiyuan Commandery Assistant, did anyone else come to the government office to pay a call?"

"Yes." Li Ru hastily replied. "Your son-in-law was just about to report. The Wang clan of Taiyuan sent a son of their lineage to say they wish to invite Father-in-law to a banquet tomorrow. I wonder..."

"Ah..." Dong Zhuo tilted his head back slightly in thought. "I should still go."

"Understood." Li Ru quickly assented.

"You don't understand." Dong Zhuo braced himself on the small table atop the couch, stepped down, and put on his wooden clogs, taking the opportunity to explain. "I come from a frontier commandery, and my family background is extremely low. In the past, I was often looked down upon in Luoyang. Now that I have become Regional Governor of a province, though the Wang clan's gesture is opportunistic, they are still the first great and renowned clan to extend goodwill... Face is something given mutually. Since they can give it to me, should I, Dong Zhuo, not return it?"

"Father-in-law speaks truly." Both Li Ru and Niu Fu, standing to the side, hastened to agree.

"However," Dong Zhuo continued as he walked, stopping before the window of the outer room. Outside, a sparse drizzle fell, clearly the onset of autumn rain. "Since I am Regional Governor of a province, it is not enough merely to bestow grace — one must also establish authority! In fact, establishing authority is the more important of the two!"

"What does Father-in-law mean by that?" Niu Fu could not help but ask, curious.

Dong Zhuo glanced at him lightly and could not suppress a sigh.

It must be understood that the two sons-in-law he kept by his side were one a man of letters and the other a man of war.

Li Ru was naturally the standard scholar — full of ideas, perceptive of human nature, and knowledgeable in military affairs. Yet for some reason, the greatest ambition of this fellow's entire life was actually to one day use his influence to worm his way into the imperial court and become an Erudite of the Five Classics... But wasn't the position of Erudite simply a joke?!

As for Niu Fu, he was born of a great Xiliang magnate family, naturally bringing his own private troops, and could be considered a standard warrior. In truth, being daring and aggressive, with soldiers and horses at his command, was not bad at all. But for some reason, this fellow's mind was simply dull — he had not a shred of political acumen... utterly incapable of being entrusted with any important task!

Of course, fortunately, he, Dong Zhongying, had no shortage of brothers and sons of his own. In fact, just before this appointment, his son, who had stayed home to fulfill filial duties to his aged mother in his stead, had written to say that his daughter-in-law had borne him a granddaughter and requested a name be bestowed... So, as long as this one scholar and one warrior could be put to use, there was no need to demand too much.

With this thought, Dong Zhuo could not be bothered to instruct him personally. "Wenyou, tell Bozheng how one should establish authority!"

"Fu" means the small wooden block that braces a cart, the thing that supports it so it can stand upright... Giving him this name and this courtesy name clearly showed that his parents and the elder who bestowed the name all hoped this fellow would amount to something.

"Bozheng." Li Ru was direct enough, knowing there was no point reasoning with such a crude man. He cupped his hands slightly and spoke a line of exceptional bluntness. "Since our father-in-law is now Regional Governor, establishing authority is actually simple... Just drive out one official of the two-thousand-dan rank, and see who else in the province dares to be insubordinate!"

Niu Fu suddenly saw the light. "So we are to move against the Grand Administrator of Taiyuan, Wei Jin?"

"No." Li Ru replied helplessly. "Wei Jin has only been in office a year; it's not easy to seize on any misdeeds of his. Besides, this man is so timid and fearful of trouble — keeping him in Jinyang City actually makes it easier for Father-in-law to calmly seize power here! If we truly drove him away and replaced him with someone capable, that would instead make things difficult for Father-in-law!"

"Then who exactly are we going to move against?" Niu Fu grew even more curious. "The Colonel Protector of the Xiongnu, Zang Min... this fellow Zang shares the same name as our uncle... are we going to move against this Zang? But after all, Zang is a protégé of Lord Yuan, so he's on the same side as Father-in-law, isn't he?"

"It's not set in stone that we must move against anyone!" Li Ru grew increasingly exasperated. "Father-in-law rode light cavalry at breakneck speed straight into Jinyang precisely to startle the nine commanderies of Bingzhou and the various generals and majors everywhere... If they are all as timid and fearful of trouble as this Wei Jin, each one hastily sending envoys to pay respects, then it's fine even if we move against no one. But if anyone puts on the airs of a celebrated scholar, either not coming or delaying, then naturally we must dismiss one or two two-thousand-dan officials to make everyone above and below submit in awe!"

"Ah, so that's it." Niu Fu finally understood.

While his two sons-in-law had been talking back and forth, Dong Zhuo had merely stood with his hands on his belt, watching the rain gradually intensify outside the window, utterly indifferent. Only now did he shake his head. "It's not as simple as you two make it out to be. Just as the affairs of the realm cannot be decided by the Son of Heaven alone, so too in Bingzhou, being Regional Governor does not mean one can do whatever one pleases. Of course, Wenyou's reasoning is broadly correct. It's just that you are unaware of certain other stakes involved."

Li Ru and Niu Fu hastily bowed their heads, assuming the posture of receiving instruction.

But for some reason, after speaking this one line, Dong Zhuo fell silent again. The two sons-in-law were deeply embarrassed, yet dared not raise their heads.

Once autumn rain begins, it falls endlessly. Dong Zhuo stood at the window of the government office, simply staring at the rain, lost in thought... It must be understood that although the sky was dark and overcast, it was only just past noon. No one knew how long this Regional Governor of Bingzhou intended to stand there watching.

For a time, the rooms belonging to this government office sank back into that earlier state of held breath and utter silence.

"Reporting to the Regional Governor!" Before long, however, a Xiliang armored guard on duty outside suddenly arrived, bowing directly beneath the curtain of rain before the door. "Outside there is..."

"Come inside to speak!" Dong Zhuo barked before the man could finish. "In such heavy rain, are you to stand out there getting drenched? If you died in battle, that would be one thing, but to fall ill and die far from home — how would I face your parents when I return to our homeland in the future?"

"Understood!" The armored guard's expression flickered with emotion. He immediately stepped inside the room before continuing his report. "Reporting to the Regional Governor, two riders suddenly arrived outside the gate. The one in the lead wears a black cord and bronze seal, calling himself Major of a Separate Division of Pingcheng in Yanmen, Gongsun Xun. He says he has an appointment with the Regional Governor, and has therefore come to request an audience!"

"How could there possibly be an appointment?" Li Ru was responsible for receiving and seeing off guests — this fell under his duties, so he naturally spoke up without hesitation. "The Regional Governor only arrived here last night. With whom in Bingzhou could he have an appointment?"

"This man is certainly boasting shamelessly!" Niu Fu also spoke up mockingly. "Though I am not familiar with Bingzhou, I at least know where Pingcheng is. Father-in-law only arrived here yesterday, and he comes to pay respects today... How did he get here — did he fly?"

"Perhaps he happened to be going to Xihe to see Colonel Protector Zang..." Li Ru, having calmed down, could not help but frown and speculate. "Returning by this road, he chanced upon Father-in-law's arrival and came to curry favor. That could indeed be considered having a sharp eye and quick wits. Father-in-law, since he comes to show goodwill, should we see such a person?"

"A mere Major of a Separate Division..." Niu Fu remained dismissive. "Bingzhou has nine commanderies, full of soldiers. Everything is in short supply except majors! In my opinion, just drive him away!"

"You two brats!" Dong Zhuo sighed. "You truly underestimate the heroes of the realm... This man does indeed have an appointment with me."

Niu Fu was utterly bewildered. Li Ru was both startled and doubtful, his face turning pale.

"Wenyou, quickly and politely invite the man in," Dong Zhuo ignored their reactions and gave direct orders. "Bozheng, mess up the bed-couch a bit. I will have a good chat with him right here in this inner room."

With that, this frontier warrior turned Provincial Governor, born in Yingchuan, placed his hands on his belt and sat back down on the couch.

The autumn rain poured down like a cascade. Gongsun Xun, leading Han Dang, stepped into the room, both of them soaked through. The moment he entered, this thousand-dan Major took the initiative to bow to the Provincial Governor — who, by unwritten rule, was a two-thousand-dan grand official — addressing him as "Regional Governor."

"Ah, Wenqi, how magnificently built you are." Dong Zhuo hastily rose from the bed-couch and personally helped up the drenched Gongsun Xun. "When I came, Lord Yuan and Lord Liu both gave instructions..."

Mid-sentence, the two men looked at each other and both froze.

Gongsun Xun's shock was naturally understandable. His impression of Dong Zhongying came from his own mother's accounts, the most vivid detail being that image of a candle burning in the navel... So, meeting him in person now naturally caused some astonishment.

Of course, he immediately realized that Dong Zhuo was already showing signs of putting on weight. But was just beginning to gain weight the same thing as having been fat for over a decade? He was simply being overly surprised by something perfectly ordinary, letting preconceptions get the better of him.

"I know of Wenqi's reputation, and have also heard Lord Yuan speak of you." Dong Zhuo, for his part, was also holding Gongsun Xun by the arms, sighing repeatedly. "I also knew you were young, but I never imagined you would be this young! May I ask, how old is Wenqi this year?"

"I won't hide it from the Regional Governor." Gongsun Xun, having recovered his wits, seized the chance to stare back at him intently. "It has been less than a year since I underwent the capping ceremony!"

"Ah!" Dong Zhuo was full of praise. "This is not merely a young talent — this is truly a heroic youth! To have achieved such merit in Liaoxi at this age, and with Lord Liu as your backing in the court... Your future prospects are far broader than mine!"

"How dare I compare myself to the Regional Governor?"

Though Gongsun Xun declined politely, hearing these involuntary words stirred something in his heart. It restored a sliver of clear-eyed understanding about Dong Zhongying — whether robust or fat, frontier warlord or high-ranking provincial official, at his core this man was ultimately driven mostly by self-interest, his mind likely filled with thoughts of personal achievements and glory.

With this thought, he felt his confidence in this visit increase by a few more degrees.

"Come, come." The Regional Governor of Bingzhou personally pulled Gongsun Xun, insisting he sit beside him on the couch. "Since Wenqi has come, I must naturally sweep the couch clean to welcome you!"

As he spoke, Dong Zhuo, despite his esteemed position as Regional Governor of Bingzhou, actually personally tidied up the somewhat disheveled bed-couch.

Gongsun Xun immediately laughed and once again cupped his hands in salute. "The Regional Governor shows me such courtesy, but I dare not take the seat of honor!"

"What harm is there in it?" Dong Zhuo dismissed the concern. "We both come from frontier commanderies — no need to bother with conventional etiquette. Look at you, soaked through. Sit down, and I'll have the clerks in the government office bring a brazier so you can warm up."

"That is not the reason." Gongsun Xun raised his head and replied. "It is rather that, reflecting on the difficulties of the Regional Governor's current tour of the commanderies, I cannot help but have a heartfelt thought to share. If I cannot first speak it to the Regional Governor, then even if I sit on this couch, I will not be able to feel its warmth."

"Is that so?" Dong Zhuo was briefly taken aback, then immediately straightened his expression. "Could there truly be some difficulty in my coming here? If that is indeed the case, Wenqi, speak freely. I, Dong Zhongying, am also one who is good at heeding counsel."

Gongsun Xun smiled. "It is a difficulty of a personal nature for you, Fangbo. I wonder if these attendants here..."

"No matter. The one who led you in is my son-in-law Li Ru, and the one standing over there is also my son-in-law, called Niu Fu. The rest are all sons and younger kinsmen from my home county, who have followed me through every posting and can be trusted with life and death."

Gongsun Xun glanced at that Li Ru, whom the rain had earlier kept him from seeing clearly, committed the man's face to memory, then once more bowed his head to Dong Zhuo in salute: "In that case, Fangbo, I will speak bluntly... Your origins are very humble, and you have mostly held military posts. Coming to Bingzhou as Fangbo as a military man from Xiliang — although everyone outwardly shows deference out of fear, they are merely looking at the face of your patron Lord Yuan. In their hearts, I fear most of them look down on you!"

"You—" Niu Fu immediately flushed with anger.

"Shut your mouth!" Dong Zhuo, seated on the couch, first silenced his son-in-law, then turned solemnly to Gongsun Xun on the floor and asked, "What else?"

"Also, Lord Dong, the timing of your arrival is poor." Gongsun Xun paid no heed whatsoever to Niu Fu's anger and continued calmly. "Lord Dong, like me, comes from a frontier commandery. It goes without saying that in the next year or two, a great war will break out in Bingzhou — that will be the moment for a true man to win merit. However, a cishi tours the various commanderies and must return to Luoyang within a year to report. At that time, if Lord Dong has made no remarkable move, given your origins, I fear you will simply be packed off to some impoverished, remote place as a taishou! But if Lord Dong can achieve extraordinary merit right from the start, making the court recognize your ability and allowing you to continue inspecting Bingzhou for another year, then when your next posting is discussed, even top-tier commanderies like Hedong or Henei might be within reach!"

It must be said, Gongsun Xun's words here did contain a measure of public spirit. In his view, no matter how selfish and self-serving Dong Zhuo might be, the man's personal military ability was beyond question. If he could coordinate affairs in Bingzhou, the odds of winning that coming battle would clearly be greater!

Meanwhile, upon hearing mention of places like Hedong and Henei, Dong Zhuo tried to conceal his reaction but utterly failed. So he simply jumped down from the bed again, grasped the other man's rain-soaked hands, and asked, "Wenqi, your words have struck straight into my heart. Once one has served as cishi, the next step is inevitably a transfer to taishou... yet with my origins, no matter what, I could never hope for a fine, prosperous commandery! And Wenqi, you have only spoken of the principle — why not teach me exactly how I should proceed?"

Hearing this, Li Ru and Niu Fu could not help lowering their heads and exchanging a smile.

Yet before the two could finish smiling, they suddenly heard Gongsun Xun loudly declare: "This matter is simple! If Lord Dong can remove one two-thousand-dan official in an instant, then all of Bingzhou, high and low, will naturally submit, and the various lords at court will naturally look on with new respect!"

Li and Niu exchanged glances again, but this time both turned pale.

"Moreover," Gongsun Xun continued boldly, "Bingzhou is bitterly cold. Places like the four commanderies of Hetao, Xihe, Shangjun, and the rest are all impoverished and broken, and their junshou have neither power nor responsibility — removing one would only invite ridicule. In truth, I will not hide it from Lord Dong: in all of Bingzhou, only the junshou of the three commanderies of Shangdang, Taiyuan, and Yanmen, along with the Colonel Who Manages the Southern Xiongnu, Lord Zang, can be counted as major officials. If Lord Dong wishes to establish his authority, he must choose one from among these four to strike at — only then will the realm be shaken!"

"Ah, Lord Zang's talent and virtue need no mention, and the other three are also pillars of the court. Without proof or grounds, how can one simply remove a two-thousand-dan official for no reason?" Dong Zhuo could not help tightening his grip slightly.

Gongsun Xun could not suppress a laugh, but then suddenly straightened his face: "I will not hide it from Fangbo — Xun has come precisely to report a certain matter!"

A moment later, having heard the report, Dong Zhuo stroked his beard and sighed: "This Zhang Qi is also a noted scholar of Qinghe — I never imagined he would stoop to such shameless deeds, and even cause Wenqi to ride here at speed to report it. As cishi of this province, it is precisely my duty to go to Yanmen to investigate thoroughly, then memorialize the court — either to clear his name or to expose his crimes!"

"Why should Lord Dong go in person?" Gongsun Xun replied sternly. "If Lord Dong will only grant me one item... I will naturally settle this matter thoroughly on your behalf!"

Dong Zhuo paused, then suddenly clutched his beard and burst out laughing: "Wenqi, do you wish to emulate Lord Qiao?"

"Why not?" Gongsun Xun's face was utterly forthright.

Now, the Lord Qiao the two spoke of was the renowned minister of the age, Qiao Xuan. He too came from a two-thousand-dan family background and had long since risen to the Three Excellencies, the highest rank a subject could hold. It was precisely because of his particular esteem that men like Cai Yong, Cai Bojie, and Cao Cao, Cao Mengde, had been able to rapidly advance.

Of course, the matter Dong Zhuo and Gongsun Xun were discussing was not those later deeds of his, but an incident from his youth by which he had made his name known throughout the realm.

At that time, Qiao Xuan was serving as a county clerk in Suiyang in his home territory of Liang State. When the cishi of Yuzhou came to inspect the commanderies, just as Dong Zhuo was doing now, Qiao Xuan went to him and lodged an accusation. Against whom, you ask? Against the Chancellor of the neighboring Chen State in Yuzhou — a two-thousand-dan grand official. In truth, the relationship between Qiao Xuan and this man was exactly like that between Gongsun Xun and Zhang Qi: the hierarchy of superior and inferior was perfectly clear, yet they were not in the same chain of command. But Qiao Xuan insisted on bringing the accusation anyway.

And after he had finished enumerating the man's crimes, Qiao Xuan even volunteered to go investigate the matter himself. That cishi of Yuzhou immediately felt that this young man before him had real ability, so he promptly brought out his official seal and appointed him to a temporary post to investigate the case.

What followed was even more interesting... The Chancellor of Chen State was utterly outmatched by Qiao Xuan and hastily sought help from Luoyang. The Grand General Liang Ji, who was presiding over the court in Luoyang — that famously "overbearing general" — had old ties with this Chancellor of Chen State, so he immediately issued a stern rebuke to the cishi of Yuzhou. That cishi was terrified and hastily sent out another official dispatch revoking Qiao Xuan's status as investigator.

But this is precisely why a renowned minister is called a renowned minister: Qiao Xuan, who had previously relied on the authority of the Yuzhou cishi to deal with a two-thousand-dan grand official, now simply ignored the cishi's dispatch. He actually sent the dispatch back, forcibly brought the Chancellor of Chen State's case to a conclusion, and even had the man stuffed into a prisoner's cage cart and sent away before he considered the matter settled.

After this incident, the whole realm looked on with new respect. Qiao Xuan's name stirred the world, and before long he was recommended as Filial and Incorrupt and went to Luoyang to take up office.

Returning to the present, this matter was far too similar to what Gongsun Xun intended to do!

In short, in such an affair, if you failed, you deserved to be done to death. But if you succeeded, your name would naturally stir the realm, and the world would respect and submit to you!

In all of this, where was there any talk of benevolence, righteousness, or morality? Where was there any notion of harmony between superior and inferior? And where exactly was the hierarchy of high and low? What the devil was procedural justice?

Did they think this was the officialdom of some later age like the Ming or Qing?!

To put it plainly, the Great Han dynasty had its own national character and its own values! On one hand, there was the widespread degeneracy of the scholar-official class; on the other, there were individual heroes and bold spirits who saw through the incompetence and corruption of everyone else and acted with reckless abandon!

This era was simply like that. Without killing and arson, what qualification did one have to be recommended as Filial and Incorrupt? Without arrogance and overbearing conduct, what qualification did one have to establish merit? Without the inferior defying the superior, what qualification did one have to be a renowned minister of the Great Han?!

And it was precisely because of this that Gongsun Xun could, with utter forthrightness, ask in return: "Why not?"

Hearing this, Dong Zhuo laughed even louder. But when his laughter ceased, he shook his head repeatedly: "Wenqi, you have such heroic spirit, yet I am somewhat timid. How could I dare to casually sign a dispatch appointing you to investigate a case?"

At this, Gongsun Xun also laughed: "If Lord Dong is timid, then what qualification do I have to claim heroic spirit?"

One must understand, these words of his were utterly sincere. Dong Zhuo, timid? Was there anyone under heaven more audacious than him?

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Dong Zhongying immediately turned solemn: "Then let us jest no more. Wenqi has such heroic spirit — how could I, Dong Zhuo, a mere cishi, be miserly? Li Ru, draw up the dispatch. I will naturally affix my seal and appoint Wenqi to have sole charge of this case!"

Everyone in the room changed color... This Gongsun Xun had been in the room for less than a moment, had spoken only a few words, and now he was truly going to be sent, in emulation of Qiao Xuan, to prosecute a two-thousand-dan grand official!

Yet the matter was not yet concluded. While his son-in-law was writing the dispatch, Dong Zhuo, before the stunned eyes of his trusted aides around him, suddenly drew a short blade from within his robes.

The blade was about two chi long, of strange and unusual shape, as though it had been broken off from a longer bladed weapon.

"Wenqi," Dong Zhuo said, pointing to the blade, "this knife was turned up from the earth when I was young, plowing the fields in my home village. Reckoning my age at the time, it was exactly like you now — I had just undergone the capping ceremony."

For a moment, Gongsun Xun was also somewhat baffled.

"Wenqi, look." As he spoke, Dong Zhuo suddenly drew the blade. The surface of the blade was clear and lustrous like water. Although the light in the room was dim, a ball of radiance visibly drifted across the blade's surface.

Gongsun Xun was inwardly startled, but he forced himself to remain composed and steeled himself to look.

"As for this blade," Dong Zhuo explained, pointing at its surface, "the inscription on it has been worn away until it is illegible; only some cloud patterns are faintly visible. But no matter what, it can sever a hair blown against it and cut through iron as if through mud — it can be considered a supremely fine treasure blade. When I was in Luoyang, I once asked Cai Bojie to examine it for me, and he said it is the broken blade of Xiang Yu!"

Gongsun Xun was full of admiration: "That makes it all the more precious!"

"It is very precious." Dong Zhuo laughed as he sheathed the blade back into what was clearly a custom-made scabbard, but then, scabbard and all, he thrust the knife directly into the other man's arms. "But today, Wenqi, having met you and felt like old friends at first sight, I shall give it to you! You must not refuse... Hear me out. This knife has a use. What you and I do today is modeled on the old story of Lord Qiao. Yet while you, Gongsun Wenqi, are indeed a young hero, I, Dong Zhongying, also possess a half-measure of twilight heroism that does not lose to any man's... When the time comes, if I, like that cishi of Yuzhou in Lord Qiao's story, should waver and actually send someone to revoke your exclusive appointment, you need not emulate Qiao Xuan and send the dispatch back — simply take this knife and kill the messenger on the spot!"

Every man in the room felt a chill of terror.

And Gongsun Xun could not help once more carefully scrutinizing the stout, middle-aged fat man before him... He had to admit, he was now certain that the situation this man would later achieve could by no means be explained merely by the words "fate and circumstance." This man, as yet another "hero of the Three Kingdoms" he had encountered, truly possessed a heroic spirit all his own.

With this thought, he no longer declined. He accepted the blade, stepped back several paces, and bowed once more in salute, thus expressing his gratitude for the gift of the knife.

A short while later, Li Ru finished writing the dispatch, and Dong Zhuo personally affixed his seal to the clay sealing. Only then did Gongsun Xun receive it, wrap it in oilcloth, and tuck it into his robes. Then, gripping that short blade, he saluted once more — and was actually about to take his leave immediately!

"It is pouring rain outside." Dong Zhuo stepped forward and grasped the other man's arm to dissuade him. "I have felt like old friends with Wenqi at first sight. Can you not stay one night and share a bed with me, sleeping foot to foot?"

"Since I have received Fangbo's commission, I must naturally devote myself to it with all my heart and strength!" Gongsun Xun said solemnly. "I wish I could fly back to Yanmen this very day and rid Fangbo of this two-thousand-dan official!"

"In that case, I will not detain you further. Come, I will see you out." Dong Zhuo sighed.

And then, this dignified cishi of Bingzhou, a provincial governor, without letting anyone hold an umbrella for him, simply took Gongsun Xun by the hand and walked out the gate. He watched as the other man donned his rain cape, mounted his horse, and rode away, and only then did he return through the rain into the government office.

"Father-in-law!" The moment he stepped back into the covered walkway of the government office, Niu Fu could not help exclaiming in admiration, "I never imagined you had arranged everything in advance!"

"Arranged what?" Dong Zhuo was quite speechless. "Do you think this Gongsun Xun came because he received some hint from this old man?"

"He... he didn't?" Niu Fu said blankly. "If not, why would he say he had an appointment with you, Father-in-law, and even take the initiative to 'remove a two-thousand-dan official' on your behalf?"

"Fool!" Dong Zhuo was finally angered by this idiot. "I, a man from Liang, come to Jin to serve as cishi and need to establish my authority. He, a man from Yan, comes to Jin to serve as Major of a Separate Division — does he not also need to establish his authority? He is certainly helping me remove a two-thousand-dan official, but am I not also helping him remove a two-thousand-dan official? This is called heroes thinking alike!"

Li Ru's face showed sudden understanding, while Niu Fu remained as blankly confused as ever.

"How did I have such poor judgment as to marry my daughter to you?" Dong Zhuo sighed at the sight. "If I could arrange a marriage with a talent like Gongsun Xun, now that would be fitting! What a pity — I have no more daughters to spare, and he long ago settled his betrothal to Zhao Zhong's niece... To think that an old lady could see who the true hero was, while my own son-in-law knows nothing at all."

Niu Fu could not help protesting, "In terms of valor and strength, your son-in-law does possess some measure."

Yet these words, better left unsaid, only provoked his father-in-law to even greater fury once spoken.

Dong Zhuo, one hand steadying his belt, pointed with the other into the curtain of rain outside and said, "The soldiers beyond the gate have toiled hard enough — let them come in and take shelter from the rain. You, with all your valor and strength, go stand guard over there in my place! You are not to return indoors before midnight!"

With that, Dong Zhongying swayed and swaggered, and simply walked straight into the house, still holding his belt.

Li Ru, standing to the side, was mortified beyond words. He could only turn back repeatedly, cupping his hands toward Niu Fu, and then flee as if on wings.

And what was interesting was this: as Niu Fu watched Li Ru scurry away, he dared not resent his own father-in-law, nor did he resent Gongsun Xun, who had caused him to be drenched in the rain. Instead, he directed all his hatred toward his fellow son-in-law Li Ru, who had run off to escape the downpour... But that, of course, is another story.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the rain was pouring too heavily. Gongsun Xun, who had been saying over and over that he wished he could fly back this very day, did not rush off with Han Dang after all. Instead, they headed straight for the city's flag pavilion, where they ordered some dishes and hot soup, eating and drinking while waiting for the rain to ease.

A brief digression: the flag pavilion was the place in a city specifically for selling meals, located within the marketplace... In the Han dynasty, there was no such thing as a wine house, but since the demand existed, something to meet it naturally emerged. The flag pavilion was originally an official pavilion for managing the market, famous for its tall tower with a flag planted atop it. Now, since it was a pavilion, people were naturally permitted to stop there and cook meals, and because it was adjacent to the market, ingredients were easy to obtain — thus this function evolved quite naturally.

In fact, this may very well be the origin of the later wine house, for by the time of the Southern and Northern Dynasties, wine houses flying flags had formally appeared. Of course, if one insists on pointing to the charity lodge designed by Lady Gongsun... well, that is not entirely out of the question either!

"Young master." There was no one else on the upper floor of the flag pavilion. Han Dang, having downed a mouthful of hot chicken soup, could finally hold back no longer. "There is one matter I do not understand."

"Speak," Gongsun Xun said, unconcerned.

"This was clearly a benevolent and righteous undertaking, pleading on behalf of the people. Why did you tell Dong Zhuo that you were going to establish his authority over those two thousand dan officials?"

"Merely catering to his preferences." Gongsun Xun set down his chopsticks and laughed in spite of himself. "Do not be fooled by how Dong Zhuo clasped my hand in cheerful conversation, how he presented a treasured blade to a hero, how he even wanted to sleep foot-to-foot with me... The truth is, the moment this man opens his mouth, he gives himself away. In his heart there is only personal gain and advantage, not the slightest regard for law, benevolence, or virtue. So if I had not spoken in that manner, never mind the gift of the blade — I fear he might not even have been willing to give me the official documents."

Han Dang sighed at once, "The people of this world are all far too formidable!"

Gongsun Xun pressed the documents against his chest and smiled without a word.

Yet in the very next second, both he and Han Dang changed countenance at the same time. The latter immediately gripped his saber, while the former also suddenly clutched that "Blade of Xiang Yu"!

"Xun, on official business, called upon Bingzhou's Inspector Dong Zhuo at the government temple in Jinyang. All official documents were concluded, and they conversed with great delight. At the time, Zhuo's two sons-in-law, Li Ru and Niu Fu, were in attendance. Ru, of a sinister and fierce nature, gradually perceived Xun's heroic spirit and feared he would become an obstacle. Seeing the torrential rain and that Xun was there with but a single mount, he resolved to eliminate him. He signaled Niu Fu with his eyes; Fu, crude by nature, let his hostility show plainly. Xun, alarmed in heart but unmoved in countenance, feigned a wish to see the treasured blade in Zhuo's bosom. Having obtained the blade in his hand, he then grasped Zhuo's hand to take his leave. Zhuo, both startled and suspicious, dared not make a rash move. Outside the government temple, Xun leaped onto his horse and fled, vanishing into the torrential rain beyond sight. Ru then told Zhuo the truth; Zhuo, furious and as if bereft, bellowed an order for Fu to stand in the rain until nightfall. It is said: from this, Ru and Fu became estranged." — Records of Heroes at the End of Han, by Wang Can

PS: Thanks to Tangyouguozidouhuafan for the red-carpet tip... another old reader.

The next chapter will be VIP. I hereby request first subscriptions.

Also, the detail of Li Ru being Dong Zhuo's son-in-law actually comes from the Romance; official history does not mention it, but I find this detail quite interesting.

New book group: 684558115. Those interested are welcome to join.

(End of Chapter)