“There is no need for further discussion, Attendant Minister Duan. This old man will immediately send someone to summon Gongsun Zan here!”
Without giving Duan Xun any chance to refuse, Liu Yu promptly dispatched a messenger out of the city to invite Gongsun Zan.
“Th-this…”
Duan Xun’s face turned bitter.
Looking at Liu Yu, he found himself at a loss for words.
In the end, he could only grit his teeth and bow with clasped hands.
“Then this humble official shall do as Lord Bo’an wishes.”
At that moment, Duan Xun was cursing the imperial court nonstop in his heart.
Sending him to You Province had truly put him in an impossible position.
There was no need to elaborate on Liu Yu’s prestige and status.
As for Gongsun Zan, in the eyes of the imperial court, he was also a fierce general who dared to fight and kill.
He had campaigned against the northern tribes, earning tremendous fame.
He had joined the coalition against Dong Zhuo, and had even crushed hundreds of thousands of Qingzhou Yellow Turbans.
All of these were meritorious achievements.
The deeds of a loyal servant of the Han.
As for Gongsun Zan allowing his troops to behave like bandits and plunder the common people, in the eyes of the scholar-officials at court, it was hardly worth mentioning.
Even if someone disapproved of Gongsun Zan, at most they would give him a token reprimand or two, telling him to refrain from doing such things in the future, and that would be the end of it.
It was precisely because of all these reasons that Duan Xun found himself in such a difficult position.
Judging from Liu Yu’s attitude, he was absolutely determined to bring Gongsun Zan to justice.
…………..
By the banks of the Ju River, inside a small city.
“An imperial envoy from Chang’an has arrived?”
Upon hearing that an imperial envoy had come from Chang’an and that Liu Yu had invited him to Jicheng, Gongsun Zan pondered for a moment before saying to Gongsun Fan, “Tell them to return and inform Liu Yu that Gongsun Zan is not here.”
For him to enter Jicheng?
Knowing full well it was a banquet with hidden daggers, how could Gongsun Zan possibly go?
What if Liu Yu abandoned all scruples and simply had him killed?
Even if he wasn’t executed, being summoned only to receive a severe scolding would still be humiliating.
Most importantly, Gongsun Zan knew he was in the wrong.
“Wouldn’t that be rather inappropriate?”
Gongsun Fan hesitated.
“After all, the visitor is an imperial envoy from the court. If Elder Brother refuses to appear, Liu Yu may seize upon this as a pretext, which could prove disadvantageous for us.”
“He wouldn’t dare!”
A mocking smile appeared on Gongsun Zan’s face.
“I know what Liu Yu has been doing behind the scenes, but I know Liu Yu’s character even better. He’s nothing more than a pedantic Confucian scholar. He wouldn’t dare make any major move.”
“Even so, Elder Brother should still be cautious.”
Gongsun Fan trusted Gongsun Zan’s judgment to some extent.
The Governor of You Province, Liu Yu, was indeed exactly the sort of man his brother described.
Still, there was no harm in being careful.
“Don’t worry.”
Gongsun Zan waved dismissively.
“Oh, right. Where have Guan Jing and Wenze reached by now?”
“According to the latest reports,”
Gongsun Fan replied after a moment’s thought, “Wenze has successfully recruited six thousand troops and is already on his way back.
Guan Jing is still traveling through various regions recruiting soldiers.”
“Good. Go then.”
Gongsun Zan nodded slowly before waving him away.
“Tell Guan Jing to speed up the recruitment. As for that old fool Liu Yu, pay him no mind.
If he dares overstep his bounds, I’ll take his head.”
“This subordinate takes his leave.”
Gongsun Fan also agreed with his brother’s assessment.
He respectfully cupped his fists and departed.
………………
At dusk, Jicheng.
After sitting stiffly in the main hall for several hours until their backsides had gone numb, Duan Xun and the others finally received word from Gongsun Zan.
“Gongsun Zan has gone too far!”
After hearing his subordinate’s report, Liu Yu immediately rose to his feet in fury.
“Does he have no respect for the imperial court at all? Do you think I don’t know whether he’s inside that little city or not? He even dares slight an imperial envoy! Such treasonous intent deserves death!”
“Please calm your anger, Lord Bo’an!”
Duan Xun hurriedly stood up to placate him.
“Perhaps General Fenwu is occupied with pressing military affairs and truly isn’t in camp. How about we try again another day—”
“Attendant Minister Duan.”
Before Duan Xun could finish speaking, Liu Yu interrupted him and looked directly at him.
“Could it be… that you do not trust this old man?”
Liu Yu had long harbored resentment toward Gongsun Zan.
Now, Gongsun Zan’s blatant contempt for the authority of the imperial court had become completely intolerable to him.
As a member of the imperial Liu clan, the instinct to uphold imperial authority was engraved into his very bones.
“……”
Faced with such a deadly question, Duan Xun’s expression stiffened.
“Lord Bo’an, this humble official absolutely means no such thing!”
Liu Yu took a deep breath before declaring, “Then let Attendant Minister Duan dispatch an imperial herald to accompany my own men and summon Gongsun Zan once more.
If he still refuses to come, then within days I shall personally lead an army and flatten that lawless little city of his!”
“……”
Duan Xun wanted to speak again and suggest that perhaps Gongsun Zan truly wasn’t in the city.
But when he met Liu Yu’s gaze, he could only swallow his words.
At the same time, he silently prayed, hoping that Gongsun Zan really was away on official business.
Meanwhile, among Liu Yu’s subordinates, those who favored peace noticed that Liu Yu seemed prepared to take real action.
One official immediately found an excuse to leave the hall.
……………
That night, by the banks of the Ju River.
Gongsun Zan received a visitor.
The guest was none other than his close friend, Gongsun Ji, a Administrative Aide serving under the Provincial Governor’s Office.
After arriving, Gongsun Ji recounted everything that had happened in the governor’s audience hall, including Liu Yu’s attitude and intentions.
“Impossible!!!”
After listening, Gongsun Zan still wore a smile on his face as he declared with absolute certainty, “Impossible. Absolutely impossible!”
“That old man Liu Yu is nothing but a pedantic Confucian scholar!”
“What ability does he have to dare march an army against me?”
“My worthy brother, your concern truly moves me. Tonight, we shall drink until we’re both thoroughly intoxicated before we part!”
Gongsun Zan paid no heed whatsoever to Gongsun Ji’s warning.
Because he believed he had already seen through Liu Yu completely.
As for the accusation that building his own fortified city constituted an act of overstepping his authority?
He was, after all, the imperial court’s officially enfeoffed Marquis of Ji.
In his view, the entirety of Ji County belonged to him.
If the Provincial Governor’s Office had not also been located in Jicheng, and if he and Liu Yu were not at odds, why would he have gone through the trouble of building an entirely new city?
“Elder Brother, this is entirely possible!”
Gongsun Fan said gravely.
“Liu Yu is a member of the imperial Liu clan and once served as Minister of the Imperial Clan.
By refusing to receive the imperial envoy, you are effectively showing contempt for imperial authority.”
“If that old man acts on impulse, the consequences could be disastrous.”
“At present, nearly all of our officers are stationed elsewhere guarding various locations, or are away recruiting troops.”
“There are only a few hundred soldiers left inside the city.”
“If Liu Yu attacks, I’m afraid we won’t be able to hold him off.”
Unlike Gongsun Zan, Gongsun Fan possessed no such confidence.
With matters like this, one could never be too careful.
Their garrison here was simply too weak.
If something really happened, they would be in serious trouble.
“Report!”
Just as Gongsun Zan was about to respond, a young officer hurried over, cupped his fists respectfully, and reported, “Reporting to the General!”
“An envoy from the Provincial Governor’s Office and an imperial herald from the court have arrived together outside the city. They have come to invite the General to the Provincial Governor’s Office for discussions.”
“Brother Bogui!”
Gongsun Ji said solemnly, “In my opinion, Governor Liu has no intention of harming you. You should go to the Governor’s Office and speak openly with him. If the two of you can bury the hatchet and reconcile, it would be a blessing for the people of You Province.”
As for whether Liu Yu would actually dare kill Gongsun Zan, Gongsun Ji believed the possibility did exist.
However, if Gongsun Zan was willing to lower his pride a little, and if both sides gave each other an honorable way out, then Liu Yu would certainly refrain from taking action against him.
After all, Gongsun Zan’s military achievements spoke for themselves.
Everyone could simply admit some fault, let bygones be bygones, and move on.
“Elder Brother!”
Gongsun Fan also looked toward Gongsun Zan.
He likewise felt that Gongsun Ji’s advice made sense.
Now that even an imperial herald had personally come, if they still refused to show even basic courtesy, Liu Yu would very likely fly into a rage, and at that point, not even the imperial envoy would be able to mediate the situation.
— The end of the Chapter–
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