Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 181 Behold the Flames of War in Jingzhou!
Nanyang.

The afternoon sunlight in Wolonggang was cut into dappled patterns by the colorful forests, and the snow in front of the thatched cottage had not been swept away and had long been neglected.

A young man in a straw raincoat came through the snow.

I lightly knocked on the wooden door, but no one answered after three knocks.

A wry, indulgent smile appeared on his lips. He changed his knocking to patting, and only when the snow on the eaves began to fall did a boy come to greet him and bow respectfully.

Who is it, doing this in the middle of the day?

The boy gently rubbed his sleepy eyes, and quietly opened the bamboo door, accustomed to his young master's profound knowledge and disdain for kings and nobles.

He didn't care who the high-ranking officials and dignitaries were outside his door, not even General Zhang, who had recently allied with Liu Jingzhou and occupied most of Nanyang.

He should rebuke anyone who dares to be so rude.

However, as soon as the bamboo door opened, the boy saw the familiar face under the bamboo hat. His words caught in his throat, and he remained speechless.

"Young Master? What brings you here?"

"Has Kongming still not risen?"

A hint of embarrassment appeared on the boy's face as he offered a forced explanation.

"The young master was reading very late last night, so he didn't notice."

The young man nodded slightly, but the slight smile on his lips clearly showed that he did not believe it, and he simply gave the order.

"After my father and uncle died, I was busy running around trying to revitalize the family and had no time to take care of him, which made him feel unrestrained."

Well, he's been intelligent since childhood, I can't argue with him, and I can't control him.

Go and summon him. I am going on a long journey, and I don't know when we will meet again. I must come and see him.

The boy dared not accept such a reply, and bowed and scraped, saying, "Yes, sir!"

In the main hall of the thatched cottage, the young man, without any formality, fetched tea and drank it by himself. Then, from a side room, a young man was heard reciting loudly:

"Who awakens first from the great dream? I know myself best."

I slept soundly in my thatched cottage today, and the sun lingers long outside my window.

Before he arrived, his voice preceded his arrival. Amidst the resounding verses, a young man in white, with a face as warm as jade and eyes as bright as stars, slowly approached.

When he reached the young man, he smiled and took the half-finished cup of tea, then refilled it himself.

"Brother, why didn't you send a letter in advance before you arrived? I apologize for your long wait and offer this tea as compensation for my neglect."

As he spoke, he respectfully offered a cup of tea, behaving as a younger brother would serve an older brother.

"Brother, it's been a long time."

"It's been so many days, Liang, I've missed you terribly."

"I think you'd love for me to come less often, so you can be free and unrestrained in these mountains."

The young man smiled, his words carrying a hint of admonition, but his eyes were full of doting affection.

"I won't disturb your peace and quiet this time."

I recently heard that Lord Yuan of Huainan will hold a civil service examination in Shouchun to select the best candidates, categorize them into three classes, and those who pass the examination will be chosen for official positions.

This is an opportunity that has not been seen in four hundred years of the Han Dynasty. I, your brother, will embark on this journey.

If, with the blessings of our ancestors, we achieve a high rank and gain the favor of Lord Yuan, becoming a local governor, then the thousand-year-old legacy of the Zhuge family can be revived.

Zhuge Liang was taken aback upon hearing this. He knew his elder brother's talent well. If he could use the so-called imperial examination to make a name for himself and show his abilities, he would surely be given an important position. Now that they were separated, he was afraid he did not know when they would meet again.

He remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Lord Yuan of Huainan, whose family has produced three dukes for four generations, has dominated the southeast. Since last year, he has worked diligently to govern the country, defeating several feudal lords in succession. His army of 100,000 men marched north, and his power shook the land."

If my elder brother chooses a wise ruler, he will be far superior to Liu Biao of Jingzhou.

However, Liang observed that he was ambitious and unlike a proper subject. Although he was powerful for a time, once he failed, history would record him as a traitor.

Although the Han dynasty is declining, there are no signs of its impending demise. Although Yuan Shao is powerful, he lacks the righteousness of King Wu. He holds a twenty-rank title and, with his military strength, fights against all the feudal lords in the world. This is why, although the Qin dynasty destroyed the six states, the dynasty was doomed after only two generations.

The current prosperity of Huainan is all thanks to Yuan Gong, who is like a jade pillar supporting the North Sea and a purple beam supporting the blue sky.

If the chaos cannot be quelled quickly, and the tyrant dies and the land of Huainan is divided, then when the sons fight for the throne, what will become of them?
A wise minister chooses his lord; there's no rush. Brother, have you considered this carefully?

"Looking at the world today, all the powerful families in the world regard the two Yuans as the head, and the princes of the nine provinces also regard the two Yuans as the most prominent."

Of the thirteen provinces of the Han Dynasty, the two Yuan brothers divided half of them. In the chaotic world, the struggle for supremacy was like rowing against the current; if you didn't advance, you would fall behind.

In my opinion, the future of the world will be nothing more than a struggle between the two Yuans. Why not choose one to follow?
Although the Han dynasty may not be completely destroyed, the emperor is entirely in Cao Cao's hands, and all the officials in the court are merely mouthpieces for Cao Cao.

Supporting the Han is tantamount to aiding Cao Cao; Kongming, never forget the grudge of Xuzhou!

"Supporting the Han dynasty may not necessarily help Cao Cao, and the two Yuan brothers may not last long either. The world is in turmoil, like the Yangtze River flowing eastward, the waves washing away the heroes who are like carp crossing the river."

Ten years from now, who can predict what will happen in the future?
Since you have made your decision, then go ahead. I hope you will soon achieve great success and restore our family's glory.

My younger brother will spend his remaining years in these mountains and fields, fishing, woodcutting, farming, and reading—how leisurely and carefree that would be!

Seeing that he intended to retire from public life, the young man felt sorry for him. He hesitated for a moment before finally offering his advice.

"Kongming, your talent surpasses mine tenfold. If we can go to Shouchun together and pass the imperial examination with flying colors, then all the other young men from noble families across the land who are taking the exam will look to me like the fading light of fireflies. How can they compare to the ever-shining bright moon in the night?"

Upon hearing this, the young man laughed, "Brother's talent is enough to revitalize the Zhuge family, why should I, a lazy person, have to do it?"

In Zhuge Liang's view, the Zhuge family had enough support from his elder brother.

He is still young and has plenty of time to observe the world situation. Why should he make a hasty decision when he is not absolutely certain?

Moreover, a figure vaguely appeared in his mind: when Cao Cao attacked Xuzhou, he massacred the city and destroyed the family, and the once magnificent Zhuge family, with its thousand-year-old reputation, collapsed in an instant.

His uncle, Zhuge Xuan, led the young boy on a desperate escape, having heard of his plight from afar.

There was a man who had nothing of value, but for the sake of righteousness, he borrowed three thousand soldiers to block Cao Cao's tens of thousands of troops.

That figure was etched in his heart from that moment on. It was just a pity that the journey was too difficult and dangerous. If he were to choose him as his master, he would probably have to worry and toil for the rest of his life. Lazy as he was, a wise man would not choose him.

"It would be better to cultivate the land in Nanyang and live a carefree life like a hermit."

Who knows the big dream first, I know it all my life.

Go take a break! Go take a break, it's time to go back to sleep!

Watching his elder brother's departing figure, the young man finished his tea and recited aloud.

"How can I sleep soundly in my thatched cottage, while the moon outside my window is still not bright!"

Hearing the loud chanting behind him, the young man shook his head and smiled. Dressed in a straw raincoat, he came through the snow and went through the snow, gradually moving further and further away in the direction of Shouchun.

His surname was Zhuge, his given name was Jin, and his courtesy name was Ziyu.

He was born in Yangdu, Langya, where the Zhuge clan was a prominent and renowned family that produced many talented individuals throughout the generations. His great-grandfather, Zhuge Feng, entered officialdom through the Mingjing examination and rose to the rank of Guanglu Dafu. He was upright and incorruptible, and dared to impeach powerful officials, making him famous throughout the court and the country.

The person who influenced him the most was his uncle, Zhuge Xuan.

My uncle, Zhuge Xuan, was a man of broad-mindedness and a heart set on saving the world. He traveled through the chaotic world and made many friends among the heroes.

After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, signs of the impending demise of the Han Dynasty appeared. Dong Zhuo wreaked havoc on the court and the country, and the various warlords harbored their own ambitions.

During those turbulent years, he served by his uncle's side, learning military strategy and governance. He also benefited greatly from discussing world affairs with guests at his home.

But what impressed Zhuge Jin the most was his uncle's figure wandering under the moon.

The cold moonlight illuminated the thin bodies of the uncle and nephew, and the uncle's slightly hunched but still resolute back seemed to hold endless worries.

In the end, all the words he wanted to say came down to a sigh: "The current situation is turbulent, and it is not something that an ordinary person can maintain."

"Jin! You are the eldest son of the Zhuge family; you must never disgrace our family's thousand-year-old reputation."

His uncle gave him these instructions, and Zhuge Jin followed them. He studied poetry and books diligently, and was meticulous in every aspect, from the inside out. He was a model of a distinguished scholar from a prominent family.

In the near future, he will also do a filial deed, and then the political influence of the Zhuge family will praise and promote him.

He will be recommended for the civil service examination and enter the court as an official, just like his great-grandfather, upright and incorruptible, impeaching powerful officials and bringing glory to the Zhuge family to the world!

It wasn't until many years later that he, a typical member of a prominent family, learned what it meant to be in turbulent times and to be in power with treacherous officials!

So-called ideals will only be crushed by reality time and time again. Where can there be peace and tranquility in a chaotic world?

Because Cao Cao is here!

Cao Cao, Cao Mengde!

That name that kept him awake at night, tossing and turning, a nightmare that kept him awake.

This nightmare not only tormented him, but also his younger brother Zhuge Liang, causing such a bright and extraordinary young man, only a teenager, to have the idea of ​​retiring into seclusion.

In the fourth year of the Chuping era, Cao Cao's father, Cao Song, was murdered by Tao Qian, the governor of Xu Province. Enraged, Cao Cao raised an army and annexed Xu Province.

Wherever he went, he slaughtered entire cities and families to appease his deceased father; almost no one could stop him.

Cao Cao's iron hooves shattered the splendor of Langya. Before the butcher's knife, what difference was there between a thousand-year-old noble family and an ordinary commoner? The family's reputation, which my uncle had protected all his life, was also trampled underfoot by Cao Cao's soldiers.

As Zhuge Jin looked around, everything he had once insisted on and loved had turned into a sea of ​​fire in the smoke of battle, and the people of the city were crying out in despair.

Under the massacre, heads rolled everywhere. That night, Zhuge Jin realized for the first time that the so-called "rivers of blood" was never an exaggerated metaphor.

That night, the uncle lingered under the moonlight for a moment, then with reddened eyes, he abandoned the Zhuge family, which he had devoted his life to building, and with the help of his friends, fled with him and Liang.

Hungry and destitute, all that could be seen was the desolation of prosperity.

They fled in haste to Jingzhou, and had barely settled down when their uncle fell ill.

When his uncle held his hand tightly, his eyes still open in death, Zhuge Jin knew that the burden of this thousand-year-old family had fallen on his shoulders.

However, with the family so destitute, how easy is it to make a comeback?

The Zhuge family's influence was mostly in Langya. The fact that the local aristocratic families in Jingzhou did not exclude him was already a kindness, so why would they help him?

The family's businesses, wealth, books, and the accumulated heritage passed down through generations were all destroyed in the fire that burned the city.

All Zhuge Jin possessed was a wealth of talent and a burning ambition.

However, in this world, you can never simply rely on your abilities and ambitions to achieve your goals.

Without someone praising and promoting you, who would know that you have great talent and strategy? Without someone promoting and recruiting you, where would you get an official position?
Over the years, he traveled far and wide, eager for fame and fortune, not without the help of influential figures from prominent families in Jingzhou who gave him opportunities.

But he always remembered his uncle's earnest admonition: Do not bring shame to our family's thousand-year-old tradition!
I, Zhuge Jin, am the patriarch of the Zhuge family. How could I possibly be a disciple or former official of you, a member of a prominent family in Jingzhou?

Refusing to submit to others, he naturally encountered obstacles everywhere. The Kuai family, the Cai family, and the Huang family demonstrated their strength, making it impossible for him to even see Liu Biao.

They seemed to think that as long as they polished him further and made this proud young man see the cruelty of the world, they could make him submit and join them.

However, what they didn't know was...

The cruelty of the world? He saw it all clearly on the night of the fire in Langya City, and he saw it much more clearly than you Jingzhou noble families who are living in peace and complacency, unaware that your death is imminent!

The footprints underfoot deepened with each step, yet the young man's stride grew ever more steady.

The scientific expedition to Shouchun was an opportunity he had never imagined!
Choosing Yuan Shao as his lord was not based on the grand principles he had told Kongming, such as the future struggle between the two Yuans for supremacy.

To my shame, his elder brother's talent was not even half that of Kongming, and his vision was not even ten or twenty years ahead!
He can only see what's in front of him, only the present moment.

He only knew that Yuan Shao was able to defeat Cao Cao and make him flee in panic, and that he caused great unrest in Jingzhou.

The Huainan civil service examinations selected the best candidates.

I wonder if a paper submitted by the nine prefectures of Jingzhou and Xiangyang could earn me the title of top scholar?

No one knew the nine prefectures of Jingzhou better than him, who had traveled to various counties in Jingzhou.

No one knew the true colors of these powerful families in Jingzhou better than him, someone who had sought official positions for years without success.

He was well aware of the conscription order that Liu Biao had recently issued in response to Yuan Shao;

Having frequently visited and sought official positions, and thus becoming familiar with the prefects of various counties, he was more aware than anyone else of the monstrous disaster hidden within these decrees.

The powerful families of Jingzhou!
Aren't you xenophobic? Aren't you trying to toughen me up? Aren't you trying to make this young man see the harsh reality?
On his way to Huainan, he will personally ignite a raging inferno that will burn down the nine prefectures of Jingzhou!

"Hahaha"

On the snow-covered ground, the young man, walking further and further away, laughed loudly!

I hope that when peace is shattered and prosperity fades, when you witness the truth and cruelty of this chaotic world amidst the raging fire that burns the city, you will not wail and beg for mercy at my feet!
"Yuan Gongge reformed the way of selecting officials and gave Jin the opportunity to revive the family's reputation. Now I should send him the nine prefectures of Jingzhou and Xiangyang to repay his kindness."

After dealing with these scheming and corrupt Jingzhou families, it will be time to deal with the real culprit, Cao Cao.

Lord Yuan, I eagerly await the day we meet again, when our relationship as ruler and subject will be one of great significance.
A match made in heaven!

"On this journey to Shouchun, I will surely restore the honor of the Zhuge family to the whole land!"

As Zhuge Jin, dressed in a straw raincoat, entered Shouchun alone, a wealthy merchant caravan bearing the banner of Lu (鲁) slowly drove through the city gates of Shouchun, accompanied by the rumble of carriages and the clatter of horses.

His surname was Lu, his given name was Su, and his courtesy name was Zijing. Although his family was wealthy merchants, he had no worries about food and clothing.

However, in the world of the Han Dynasty, one could not become an official or rise through the ranks of a prominent family without taking office.

No matter how much money one accumulates, it is only the wealth of a few generations, and in the end, it will only be the target of conquest and swallowing by powerful families.

But how easy is it to become an official?
Even though the late emperor sold official positions, becoming an official was never simply a matter of having money.

Without the help of powerful families, you wouldn't even have a way to buy an official position. Without a powerful family to guarantee your success, you would have to pay a lot of money for nothing, and if the other party defaults on the debt, there would be nothing you could do.

The Lu family's century-long savings were used to support Lu Su's studies. Now, he is proficient in all aspects of governance, history, and military strategy. Thanks to the grace of Lord Yuan, the imperial examinations were held. Lu Zijing, let's see who among the heroes of the world can rival him!

Today, having come to Shouchun, I must bring glory to the Lu family!

(End of this chapter)