[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-81":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},1222840,1620,"Chapter 81: The Arrest","overthrowing-han-chapter-81",81,"\u003Cp>At Wuxian County in Yanmen, on the muddy road after the rain, four riders, looking rather bedraggled, passed through the checkpoint of the ancient Zhao Great Wall and then halted their horses at the crossroads of the official road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young Lord.\" Han Dang finally breathed a sigh of relief. \"The road ahead will be easier from here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed,\" Cheng Lian hastily agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But these several large commanderies in eastern Bingzhou are quite interesting, the flatlands are all in separate patches,\" Wei Yue remarked, his focus somewhat different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun, covered in mud, curled his lip in a smile and said, \"Why only these few commanderies? Actually, geographically speaking, the Hedong region is also part of the same whole, and together they form what was anciently called the land of Jin. This region, with plains within to sustain the people and the natural barriers of mountains and rivers without to repel enemies, allowed the state of Jin to calmly accumulate strength, then strike out in all directions from a commanding height, and finally achieve hegemony over the realm... But enough, this is no time for ancient history, we still need to hurry on our way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Han Dang, Cheng Lian, and Wei Yue almost simultaneously reined in their horses and cautiously headed toward the road on the right—the one leading to Yinguan and Pingcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No need to go as far back as Pingcheng,\" Gongsun Xun said, also reining his horse, but heading toward the road on the left. \"Maiyi will do. We'll go to Maiyi to borrow some men, and then head directly to Yinguan!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Lian and Wei Yue were baffled. Although Han Dang knew what this was about, he was still somewhat nervous: \"Young Lord, the Zhang clan of Maiyi may not be entirely trustworthy...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is precisely because they are not trustworthy that we must use his family members,\" Gongsun Xun said, already spurring his horse without sparing its strength onto the road. \"This is to force him to exert himself! When the time comes, I will be outside and he will be inside, and that Zhang Qi is nothing but a waste. As long as we strike unexpectedly, we can capture him as easily as reaching into a bag. And then, we can take the opportunity to accomplish quite a few things.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the end of his words, his voice had already grown somewhat distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Dang sighed and naturally led the bewildered Cheng Lian and Wei Yue onto the road toward Maiyi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maiyi (later Shuo County) is an ancient city, named because Meng Tian raised horses here when he came to the northern frontier for military colonization, and it became famous throughout the realm because of the Maiyi Plot during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nie Yi, a local powerful merchant, proposed a plan to the Grand Herald Wang Hui: he would go to the Xiongnu Chanyu as a spy and lure the main Xiongnu force to Maiyi, while the Han army could use the excellent terrain and facilities like the ancient Great Wall to lie in ambush and fight an unprecedented large-scale battle of annihilation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In reality, the Han army mobilized three hundred thousand men for that battle, and the Xiongnu Chanyu led one hundred thousand men to the site... but in the end, the enemy discovered clues, captured the Yanmen Commandant Clerk at a border defense outpost, and learned everything from him, reducing the entire scheme to nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subsequent repercussions of this battle were too vast to recount one by one, but the fact that Nie Yi's clansmen merely changed their surname and continued to thrive in this place for three hundred years clearly illustrates, from another angle, the deep roots this clan had in the region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, the smoothness of Gongsun Xun's trip to Maiyi seemed to prove this point as well. Relying solely on his seal and ribbon of office and the name of Zhang Ze, the Yanmen Military Provision Clerk, he easily took away twenty or thirty mounted young men from this clan, including a young man named Zhang Fan... Then, after resting for just one night, this group, full of aggressive momentum, galloped at full speed straight toward Yinguan, the administrative seat of Yanmen Commandery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, as a Thousand-Dan Army Major stationed in Pingcheng, leading a few dozen riders through the city was naturally no problem, but entering the commandery office was somewhat difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Major Gongsun!\" The Commandery Assistant hurriedly walked out from the commandery office. Looking utterly bewildered, he cupped his hands slightly and questioned, \"Why have you brought troops to block the entrance before the government office? This is the residence of the Administrator, the seat of the entire commandery...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I should be asking you, Commandery Assistant,\" Gongsun Xun, seated on horseback in the main street before the government office gate, pointed with his horsewhip and questioned in return. \"As the Assistant of a commandery, why do you allow the commandery guards to defy the law? How dare they block my unit and prevent me from entering to enforce the law?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Commandery Assistant was dumbfounded: \"I did not order the commandery guards to defy the law. I merely heard that you brought men to block the main gate... Wait, since when can an Independent Army Major govern the seat of a commandery?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun immediately shouted sternly, \"An Independent Army Major may not govern it, but can the Inspector of Bingzhou also not govern the Yanmen Commandery office?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Commandery Assistant's heart jolted with alarm, and when he looked at the other party again, he was already somewhat uneasy... The officials in the commanderies feared the Inspector most, just as county-level officials feared the Inspector's Investigator most—who under heaven did not understand this principle?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, when the Commandery Assistant questioned him again, he could not help but be a bit more cautious, even bending his waist a few more degrees when cupping his hands in salute: \"May I ask Major Gongsun, although the commandery received the official notice a few days ago that the new Governor would be touring the commanderies, that was merely a notice. Presumably, the Governor should still be in Shangdang at this time... And as a military officer, Major, stationed over in Pingcheng, how could you have any connection with the Governor?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your information is outdated, Commandery Assistant!\" Gongsun Xun glanced back at the growing crowd on the main street and the already somewhat nervous members of the Zhang clan, yet remained motionless on his horse. \"The new Governor, Lord Dong, comes from a military background. Upon receiving the order, he traveled light with a simple retinue and took up his post directly. Passing through Shangdang without entering, he had already galloped to Taiyuan four days ago!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Commandery Assistant's expression changed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for me?\" Gongsun Xun sneered and suddenly rebuked loudly, \"Although I have only been stationed in Pingcheng for a few months, I have already heard that the Administrator of this commandery, Zhang Qi, is corrupt in virtue, greedy, and perverts the law, even going so far as to traffic in human beings as a commandery governor—a crime of the utmost evil! And I, Gongsun Xun, come from a renowned family, having studied under the celebrated Confucian scholar of the realm and Administrator of Lujiang, Lord Lu, and the revered elder of the realm and current Grand Commandant, Lord Liu... With such teachings by word and example, how could I tolerate such wicked deeds? Therefore, emulating the precedent of Lord Qiao bringing charges against the Chancellor of Chen, I rode swiftly to pay respects to the Governor and obtained a special commission for this case!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Commandery Assistant's face turned sallow. He was not one of those city commoners who only knew to watch the excitement—how could he not understand the gravity of this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Commandery Assistant!\" Gongsun Xun, still on horseback, already appeared somewhat impatient. \"I will not hide it from you—the special commission document is in my bosom, and the crimes of that Administrator Zhang have long been confessed by others... If you don't believe me, look at which clan's sons are following me? As a subject, you should now quickly go and urge your master to come out and bow in welcome, lest I grow impatient and simply ride straight in! When that time comes, either your master will have an additional charge of resisting law enforcement, or there will be matters too dreadful to speak of!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Commandery Assistant dry-swallowed a mouthful of saliva, dared not reply, and stumbled back into the government office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consider Zhang Qi: he was originally a celebrated scholar from Qinghe. Although not so indolent as to spend all day merely sitting and whistling, he had over the years grown accustomed to a life of comfort and privilege... Thus, when the Commandery Assistant ran back and explained the situation, he was immediately at a complete loss!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Emulating Lord Qiao's precedent, and obtained a special commission document?\" After finally regaining his senses, Zhang Qi still had a somewhat bewildered air. \"What was the fate of that Chancellor of Chen again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Carted off to Luoyang in a cage!\" the Commandery Assistant said, even as he knelt to beg forgiveness. \"My lord, I accepted your lordship's summons to office, yet cannot share your lordship's burdens—my crime truly warrants ten thousand deaths.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You too are helpless?\" Zhang Qi asked, horrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is truly no way,\" the Commandery Assistant said weakly. \"This Gongsun Xun not only emulated Lord Qiao's precedent but went a step further—he found the commandery's Military Provision Clerk Zhang Ze in advance and has already investigated the matter thoroughly. I will not hide it from you, my lord: the men he brought this time are all sons of the Zhang clan of Maiyi...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zhang Ze has betrayed me!\" Zhang Qi said angrily. \"And this Gongsun Xun has also betrayed me! The former, though recommended by the previous Administrator, is still my subordinate official, is he not? And the latter—his father-in-law and I are from the same hometown, are we not? Why do these two treat me so?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord!\" The Commandery Assistant, helpless, once again knelt and kowtowed, tears streaming down. \"Your servant deserves ten thousand deaths... But the man is right outside the office on horseback, saying that if my lord delays and does not come out to welcome him, he will ride straight in! When that time comes, I fear my lord will not only face an additional charge of resisting inspection, but also...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Also what?\" Zhang Qi asked in terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That Gongsun Xun said... that then there would be matters too dreadful to speak of!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is to be done?\" Zhang Qi froze for two breaths, then suddenly raised his sleeve and began to weep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just as these two, lord and subject, gazed at each other in tears, a commandery clerk burst into the main hall regardless of decorum, his expression frantic: \"My lord, Commandery Assistant, you two must quickly think of something! That Gongsun Xun is already clamoring to force his way in, and everyone in the commandery, from top to bottom, knows he is the Governor's special commissioner—no one knows whether they should stop him or not... We only await your two decisions!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the words had faded, another commandery clerk, lifting his robes, rushed in swiftly: \"My lord, the Military Provision Clerk Zhang Ze, upon hearing the news, has acted strangely! On one hand, he ordered the commandery guards at the gate to clear the entrance, yet on the other, he is weeping and wants to come alone to beg forgiveness!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He is not begging forgiveness—he is clearly forcing our hand!\" The Commandery Assistant pounded the ground in fury. \"Is this something a subject should do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough, enough!\" Zhang Qi suddenly wiped his tears and said, \"In the end, I underestimated that young Major barely past his coming-of-age, and I was too insatiably greedy... Beat the drum to assemble the clerks, and follow me out to welcome the special commissioner! I hope that, for the sake of Zhao Bao, he will leave me some face.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, outside the main gate of the government office, probably everyone in Yinguan knew the Commandery Administrator was about to be arrested, so from the great households of the commandery down to the tenant servants, nearly everyone came to watch, and the area before the office gate was packed so tightly that not a drop of water could trickle through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under such circumstances, the Administrator Zhang Qi finally led the assembled clerks of Yanmen Commandery out to welcome the Inspector's special commissioner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The guilty official greets the special commissioner,\" Zhang Qi said, bowing and lowering his head the moment he emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very well!\" Seeing the other party so cooperative, Gongsun Xun also breathed a sigh of relief. \"Cheng Lian, Wei Yue, you two take Administrator Zhang into custody. No need for ropes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Cheng Lian appeared rather flustered, clearly intimidated by the authority of a Two-Thousand-Dan official. Wei Yue, on the other hand, was of a restless disposition; ever since arriving before this office gate and witnessing all these events, he had grown more and more excited... Hearing this order now, he was the first to dismount and rush over to arrest this Administrator of Yanmen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hold!\" Suddenly, a commandery clerk, gritting his teeth, blocked Wei Yue's path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I understand that you clerks are all subjects of the Administrator,\" Gongsun Xun frowned and immediately shouted sternly, \"But under these circumstances, do you intend to defy the law?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I dare not defy the law,\" this clerk said, raising his head indignantly. \"But we must request that the special commissioner follow proper procedure in bringing charges, so that we may be sincerely convinced!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the other commandery clerks all nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gongsun Xun could not help but nod as well. He understood, of course, that the other party was using the demand for official documents as a way to seek some dignity for their patron. Since that was the case, he would grant their wish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In that case, I shall make you sincerely convinced,\" Gongsun Xun said, dismounting as he reached into his bosom for the document. However, the moment his hand entered his robe, he suddenly realized that the document in his bosom seemed somewhat damp, as if the oilcloth had already torn... And when he secretly felt further down, he broke out in a cold sweat from shock!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out that whether the document itself was damaged was still unknown, but the sealing clay bearing the great seal of Inspector Dong Zhuo had clearly become soft and mushy from being carried on his person all along, then soaked by rain and dampness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he were to take this out, who would acknowledge it? He feared that he, this 'false special commissioner,' would be seized by the commandery guards filling the city and hung from the city walls!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The air after the rain is indeed rather fresh,\" Gongsun Xun remarked, one hand still in his bosom, as he could not help but look up and sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anyone who forges official documents of an Inspector or a Two-Thousand-Dan official, or steals official seals, shall be executed by public beheading! No amnesty!\" — Han Code, Commentary, Lu Zhi\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thanks to Uncle Hulu for yet another Alliance Master reward, and thanks to Tangyouguozidouhuafan, Huang Laojiu, sukailong, and Shan Zhegu for the red banner rewards... All are long-time readers!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, thank you all for your generous support. With nearly twenty thousand collections and currently almost one thousand five hundred initial subscriptions, it's already quite good... The first chapter currently has 1560 subscriptions, with an average of 1517... Thank you, everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2630,"2026-06-04T19:42:03.441Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","705f6b2109ce36ec1c52d3572167ca6761897645b0b2d37471611be66cc990f3","overthrowing-han-chapter-82","overthrowing-han-chapter-80",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]