Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 267 Lord Dong is still an honest and kind man!
Just as the wave of condemnation against Zhang Yan for losing his army and disgracing the country surged in Luoyang, Dong Zhuo, another protagonist in this incident, remained secluded in his mansion.

No one doubted Dong Zhuo's ability to deal with the Black Mountain bandits. In fact, many people thought that sending a famous general like Dong Zhuo to deal with a group of bandits was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Only those who knew military affairs understood just how difficult this matter was.

"This 'Hanxing Sword' of the nation is not easy to wield..."

Dong Zhuo leaned over and stared at the huge map that covered the floor. It was a carefully pieced-together map of Ji Province, Bing Province, and the Three Rivers region. It not only outlined the mountains and rivers but also marked the garrison forces of each county in detail.

Dong Zhuo's calloused fingers rubbed his stubble-covered chin, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. The heaviness in his heart grew stronger as his gaze swept over the complex terrain of the Taihang Mountains, and he gradually realized just how difficult it was to quell the Black Mountain bandits.

Li Ru, the chief secretary of the Left General's office, who was standing to the side, also stared intently at the map without looking away for a moment. After a long while, he sighed and said in a low voice, "That's right. The 'Hanxing Sword' is a national treasure. How can it be given lightly? When the emperor used this sword to encourage the general, the general should have thought about the weight of this responsibility and prepared himself mentally."

Just as the two were silently pondering the map, Dong Zhuo's younger brother, Dong Min, the Right Sima of the Left General's Office, strode in and said in a loud voice, "Brother, they're here!"

Dong Zhuo was taken aback, then realized who "they" referred to. He quickly got up, not even bothering to put on his shoes, and hurriedly walked out barefoot. He was about to go to the gate of the mansion to personally greet them.

As a general of great rank, Dong Zhuo naturally had the right to establish his own government and command a thousand soldiers under his command.

However, Dong Zhuo acted with extreme caution. Since becoming Right General, he only appointed his long-time strategist Li Ru as Chief Clerk and his younger brother Dong Min as Right Sima. He also recruited several fellow villagers from Liangzhou to serve as clerks and do some clerical work. Other important positions, such as Acting Sima and Attendant Gentleman, remained undecided.

Firstly, Dong Zhuo did not want to be too ostentatious. He had a weak foundation in the court and was looked down upon by the gentry of the Central Plains because of his Liangzhou origin.

If one or two courtiers slander the emperor, even if he believes the emperor will not be misled by slander, what if he does?
His current prominent position is entirely due to the emperor's favor.

If he were still the retired emperor, with many incompetent officials and few knowledgeable in military affairs, he might have developed some ambition.

However, with so many capable and valiant generals under the emperor's command, it is not necessary for him to be Dong Zhuo. He is absolutely unwilling to do anything that might shake the emperor's trust.

Of course, deliberately behaving vulgarly, greedily, and lustfully to appease the emperor is another matter entirely.

As for the two... it's also a major drawback that they are from Liangzhou, making it really difficult to attract suitable literary talents.

Liangzhou has produced many famous generals, but few talented prime ministers.

The few outstanding scholars who existed had already found their masters, such as Jia Xu and Zuo Ling.

Those of similar rank were also unwilling to serve in his Left General's office.

Fortunately, the emperor still loved him and granted his request, sending him considerable assistance.

Dong Min watched his brother run out barefoot, then noticed the shoes on the ground. He quickly bent down to pick them up and chased after him, calling out, "Brother! Shoes! Put your shoes on!"

But Dong Zhuo, who was barefoot, ran very fast, while Dong Min, who was wearing shoes, couldn't catch up with him for a while.

Li Ru watched the brothers' performance and a strange smile crept across his face.

In the blink of an eye, Dong Zhuo had reached the gate of the mansion and saw the help sent by the emperor.

However, when he saw the faces of the group of people outside the mansion gate, he was stunned. A look of astonishment appeared on his rugged face, because they were all familiar strangers!

Qin Jie, who succeeded Zhang Yan as the new governor of Ji Province, was able to protect Nanyang County from the Yellow Turban Rebellion. He was both a capable administrator and a good general.

Zhao Rong also knew that they were from a prominent family in Hanyang County, Liangzhou.

Although the four prominent families of Hanyang—Jiang, Yan, Ren, and Zhao—were from Liangzhou, they were highly valued by the court. The current governor of Yizhou, Zhao Ang, was also from the Zhao clan of Hanyang, and both he and Zhao Rong belonged to the direct line of the Xixian Zhao clan. While Zhao Rong lacked Zhao Ang's talent in governing a province, he was appointed Colonel of the Archers by the former Emperor Emeritus before the Crown Prince assumed regency; such a person should be able to obey his orders.

What truly astonished Dong Zhuo was the group of people behind these two men, who turned out to be officials from the former residence of General He Jin!

Wang Qian, Chief Clerk of the General of Chariots and Cavalry; Fan Zeng, Left Sima; Xu Liang, Right Sima; Zheng Da, Attendant Gentleman; Kuai Yue, Eastern Clerk; Wu Fu, Eastern Clerk; Wang Kuang, Clerk; Zou Jing, Clerk; Han Zhuo, Clerk; Qi Wumeng, Clerk; and Wu Dang, Acting Military Commander!
Good heavens, the Emperor has sent this group of people here?
After He Jin was dismissed and Yuan Shao was executed, all the officials in the General's Mansion seemed to have vanished into thin air.

Apart from Wu Kuang and other officers who participated in the rebellion being executed, the rest of the people were spared but were all placed under house arrest and hidden away, and were almost forgotten by the court and the public.

Dong Zhuo never expected that the emperor would assign this group of people to him.

However, this group of people clearly did not have a good impression of Dong Zhuo either.

It wasn't due to any old grudges, but simply the natural disdain that the Central Plains gentry had for the warriors of Liangzhou.

Even though Dong Zhuo is now a general with a high rank, according to etiquette, these subordinates should take the initiative to greet Dong Zhuo, the Left General, and bow to show their respect.

However, the arrogance inherent in these scholars, who had once enjoyed a reputation for virtue in the region, had not been diminished by more than a year of being sidelined. Naturally, they did not have much awe in the face of Dong Zhuo, a suddenly powerful and wealthy man. They simply stood silently, no one spoke up to register, and no one bowed. The atmosphere became somewhat stagnant for a moment.

"Brother! You haven't even put on your shoes yet. What if you hurt your feet or catch a chill?" Dong Min caught up breathlessly, carrying Dong Zhuo's shoes, and complained loudly without any politeness.

Dong Zhuo glared fiercely at Dong Min, then put on an embarrassed smile and bowed to the group of scholars, explaining, "Please don't be offended, everyone. I am a rough and uncouth man who is used to going barefoot at home. I was in such a hurry when I went out that I forgot to put on my shoes. I had no intention of looking down on you!"

Looking at the barefoot General Zuo and then at the shoes in Dong Min's hand, the crowd's previously distant and scrutinizing gazes softened considerably.

Even the crudeness in Dong Zhuo's demeanor now seemed to them like a kind of honesty and sincerity.

He was, after all, the Left General of the Han Dynasty, a famous general second only to Grand Tutor Lu Zhi and Rear General Huangfu Song, a great figure with a illustrious reputation in the Han Dynasty!

For such a high-ranking general, who had established his own government, to be so humble and treat them, a group of long-neglected former officials of the General of Chariots and Cavalry, with such respect, was enough to move them, regardless of whether it was a show or not.

Wang Qian, the former chief secretary of the General of Chariots and Cavalry, as the leader of this group of scholars, looked at Dong Zhuo's sullen smile and recalled how He Jin had treated them in the past, and felt a mix of emotions.

Wang Qian's grandfather was the late Grand Commandant Wang Gong, and his father was the Minister of Works Wang Chang. They were from a family that had held high office for two generations. If he hadn't been implicated in the Party Prohibitions, how could he have become a member of He Jin's General of Chariots and Cavalry?

If he hadn't suffered the calamity of the partisan purge first, and then been implicated by He Jin, he would at least be a court official with a salary of two thousand piculs of grain by now!

The respect received during times of hardship is what truly resonates with people.

Mr. Dong is still an honest and kind man!
Wang Qian straightened his expression, solemnly adjusted his clothes, bowed deeply to Dong Zhuo in return, and said loudly, "In ancient times, there was the Duke of Zhou who would wash his hair three times and spit out his food three times to welcome the scholars of the world! Now, seeing Lord Dong, you also have the sincerity to greet me with your shoes turned back! (Note 1)"

"Qian greets General Zuo!"

(2504 words)
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Note 1: The first instance in history of welcoming someone with shoes on backwards was the story of Cai Yong and Wang Can (son of Wang Qian). Cao Cao and Xu You's story involved welcoming someone barefoot, which conveyed the same meaning, but occurred later than Cai Yong's story.

From the Biography of Wang Can in the Book of Wei in the Records of the Three Kingdoms: Wang Yong was exceptionally talented and respected by the court. His carriages and horses filled the streets, and his seats were always packed with guests. When he heard that Wang Can was at the door, he rushed to greet him.

From the Biography of Cao Man: When the Duke heard that You was coming, he went out barefoot to greet him.

(End of this chapter)