A special thank you to all my patrons.
The List of My "Wandering Reader":
-[ ]
-Lord_Clamiral
-Cain
-Goha21
-Jacob Mooe
-Nathan king
-Varun Madhu
-Paul Panzer
-Austin Levy
-Aziz Makda
You can read 50 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - [email protected]/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Liu Biao sat alone in the hall, holding the latest intelligence report in his hand. He sucked in a cold breath, his expression a complex mix—somewhere between laughter, anger, and sorrow.
They've truly raised an army!
This time, it seemed the gentry clans east of Hangu Pass had joined forces for something massive. The scale of it was like pouring cold water into boiling oil—an explosive, chaotic reaction that left one dumbfounded. Even after receiving Liu Dai's letter earlier, he never imagined events would escalate so quickly!
It was still the first month of the Chuping era (190 AD), the New Year's atmosphere not yet fully faded. Yet the eastern gentry had secretly coordinated to prepare a particularly "substantial" New Year's "gift" for Dong Zhuo, who held the imperial court in his grip...
Looking at this long list of rebels, every name carried significant weight—regional heavyweights one and all:
- Governor of Bohai, Yuan Shao
- General of the Rear, Yuan Shu
- Governor of Ji Province, Han Fu
- Inspector of Yu Province, Kong Zhou
- Inspector of Yan Province, Liu Dai
- Governor of Henei, Wang Kuang
- Governor of Chenliu, Zhang Miao
- Governor of Guangling, Zhang Chao
- Governor of Dong Commandery, Qiao Mao
- Governor of Shanyang, Yuan Yi
- Chancellor of Jibei, Bao Xin
From Ji Province to Yan, Yu, Qing... even remote Guangling in Xu Province had raised the anti-Dong banner. Practically the entire region east of the pass, north to south, was in revolt.
This was an all-or-nothing gamble.
If opposing Dong Zhuo succeeded, all would rejoice—each family rewarded handsomely, historians recording their deeds in lavish ink, their names immortalized as heroes...
But if they failed?
Complete extermination of their clans!
The eastern gentry would need at least twenty years—a full generation, perhaps two—to recover from such devastation.
Was the gamble truly worth such stakes?
To be frank, Liu Biao detested Dong Zhuo.
But not for the reasons listed in Liu Dai's lengthy missive—being a western gentry clansman, monopolizing governance, nepotism, violent temperament, or wanton debauchery. Privately, Liu Biao considered these non-issues.
Monopolizing power? Nepotism? What newly ascended ruler didn't do this? Should one deliberately avoid using trusted subordinates just to avoid accusations of "nepotism"? Even Liu Biao himself, upon assuming his southern post, had brought two or three loyal retainers despite having few connections locally. Would he discard these men who'd abandoned homes and families to follow him, simply to avoid whispers of favoritism?
Preposterous!
As for "violent temperament and debauchery"—what joke! He was a military man—how refined did they expect his manners to be? Did they imagine a warrior entering Luoyang would suddenly become cultured, eloquent, and treat every beauty with chaste propriety?
Absurd!
Besides, how many singing girls and dancers did the Yuan, Wang, and other "virtuous" gentry households keep—dozens in some cases? Were these maintained solely for aesthetic appreciation without the slightest physical contact?
Hardly likely!
When Dong Zhuo first entered the capital, Liu Biao had viewed him as merely a jumped-up warlord—uncultured, unremarkable, his family's prominence unlikely to last beyond his generation.
But then Dong Zhuo committed the act that truly enraged Liu Biao—deposing the emperor.
This empire belonged to the Liu family!
However incompetent, the emperor bore the Liu surname!
Since when did some Dong clansman presume to decide imperial succession?!
When news of the deposition reached him, Liu Biao secluded himself, sitting motionless through the night...
Once again, Liu imperial dignity had been defiled by crude hands! Liu Biao raged at Dong Zhuo's audacity, at Emperor Bian's weakness, but most of all at those officials who drew Liu family salaries yet treated the imperial succession as a bargaining chip in their petty factional intrigues...
"The wild goose soars high, a single leap spanning a thousand miles.
With wings now full, it traverses the four seas.
Having traversed the four seas, what can restrain it?
Though arrows may await, where can they strike?"
In that dark hour, Liu Biao deeply understood the meaning of Emperor Gao's "Song of the Wild Goose." As a descendant of Prince Gong of Lu, what could he do? Though learned, where could he apply his knowledge?
Fortunately, opportunity came—appointment as Governor of Jing Province. Though aware of the challenges, he came determined to prove that not all Liu clansmen were as weak as Bian—that men like himself possessed true talent!
Thus when Liu Dai's letter arrived proposing alliance, Liu Biao was sorely tempted—to abandon everything, lead troops north, and as a Liu clansman, purge the wicked to restore the realm.
But then Kuai Liang poured cold water on his fervor.
Upon reflection, Liu Biao recognized Kuai Liang's wisdom. Even had he insisted on going north, how many troops could he realistically bring from Xiangyang? And he'd have to cross Yuan Shu's territory...
Would Yuan Shu blithely allow an armed Liu Biao passage?
Ridiculous! Even if Yuan Shu permitted it, Liu Biao wouldn't dare proceed!
Supposing he passed through safely—what about returning?
Were Yuan Shu to block the route or create obstacles, Liu Biao would be stranded, his troops inevitably deserting.
Thus not only would he fail to save the Han, but lose his life in the bargain...
Consequently, Liu Biao also despised Yuan Shu. Were it not for that obstructionist, the journey from Jing Province to Luoyang wouldn't be so fraught!
Truthfully, Liu Biao held both Yuan sons in low regard—his dislike for the Yuan family stemming from their shared blame for the current crisis. With their twin power bases north and south, would either Yuan brother truly disband their armies and relinquish power afterward?
Of two evils, Liu Biao would choose Yuan Shao—at least marginally more palatable.
One puzzle remained: why had Qiao Mao issued the anti-Dong proclamation instead of Liu Dai?
As a kinsman of famed scholar Qiao Xuan, Qiao Mao had reputation—but he'd previously served as Yan Province Inspector before being replaced by Liu Dai...
Logically, Liu Dai wouldn't cede this prestige-garnering opportunity. Moreover, his earlier letter suggested alignment with Yuan Shao...
Ah.
Liu Biao smirked in contempt. Even at this critical juncture, the Yuan brothers schemed against each other—what splendid family values...
A pity his own forces were insufficient. What a waste! With a quiet sigh, Liu Biao murmured, "...Now we see how the Dong clansman responds..."