Chapter 29: Gongsun Zan, Commander of a Separate Division

Walking his horse to the riverbank, Liu Bei began stripping off his clothes, preparing to enter the water.

Horses could swim as well, and Liu Bei had still brought Cao Cao’s black horse with him. That horse always seemed capable of snatching life from the jaws of death, so he had to keep it close.

But just as Liu Bei stuffed his clothes into the saddlebag and was about to plunge headfirst into the river, a timid voice came from behind him.

“My lord… I can swim, and I can ride.”

It was one of the musicians. She had gathered up her skirt and tied it around her waist. “Last night, my lord drove back the enemy alone on horseback, risking your life in battle. Such valor is unmatched beneath Heaven. I would gladly play for you once more.”

Whether intentionally or not, with her sleeves rolled up and her skirt tied high, the musician had acquired an appearance that was impossible to forget at first sight.

Her face could not exactly be called stunning, but her figure…

It was positively breathtaking.

“You’re not going back?”

Liu Bei turned and shook his head gently. “Following me will be dangerous. You may lose your life.”

“I was conscripted by the Magistrate of Zhuo as a tribute musician. If I fail to go to Luoyang and deliver myself there, I will be branded a draft evader…”

The musician lowered her head slightly. Her voice was soft, but her resolve was firm. “I know that my lord was deceived by the Magistrate of Zhuo. We musicians are likely nothing more than bait he can cast aside whenever he pleases. The magistrate surely has no intention of going to Luoyang. Whether I return to Zhuo Commandery or go in search of him, I will ultimately be condemned as a draft evader. I would rather follow my lord to Luoyang.”

“That is indeed true… What is your name?”

Liu Bei nodded, developing a measure of respect for the musician.

There were not many clear-headed people in this age. Though this musician was only sixteen or seventeen, she had not only understood Liu Bei’s predicament, but her own as well.

Gongsun Zan certainly could not go to Luoyang. At this moment, he was probably searching the camp for Liu Bei’s corpse…

“My family name is Zuo. I have no given name. I am from Guzang in Wuwei. If my lord is willing to let me attend you, please grant me a name.”

The musician lowered her head slightly, yet she did not appear timid. Her words, too, had been carefully chosen.

Most female musicians in this era truly had no formal given names, but they always possessed stage names—or, more precisely, registered names under which they were entered into the musicians’ registers. Such names had nothing to do with their family names.

This musician, however, had not given her registered name. Instead, she had offered her birth family name and asked Liu Bei to grant her a personal name. It was a declaration that she wished to submit herself to him and follow him.

If Liu Bei gave her a name bearing her original family name, it would mean that he was willing to redeem her and restore her status as a freeborn woman.

“Since you asked for a name here by the water, from this day forward you shall be called Zuo Yuan… Go lead a horse over and follow me.”

Liu Bei glanced at the clear river water and nodded to her. “You played the drums very well last night.”

…

Walking to the riverside with his horse, Liu Bei began taking off his clothes in preparation for entering the water.

Horses could swim, and Liu Bei had still brought Cao Cao’s black horse. That horse had repeatedly enabled him to survive situations that should have meant certain death. He could not leave it behind.

Yet just as he had stuffed his clothes into the saddlebag and was preparing to dive into the river, a timid voice came from behind him.

“My lord… I can swim, and I can ride.”

It was one of the musicians, her skirt gathered up and tied around her waist. “Last night, my lord alone on horseback drove off the enemy in a desperate battle. Such heroism is unparalleled. I would gladly beat the drums for you again.”

Whether by accident or design, once she had rolled up her sleeves and tied up her skirt, the musician had become a woman whose appearance was unforgettable.

Her features were not dazzling, but her figure…

It was truly astonishing.

“You’re not going back?”

Liu Bei turned and shook his head. “Following me is dangerous. You may die.”

“I was conscripted by the Magistrate of Zhuo as a tribute musician. If I fail to go to Luoyang and report for transfer, I will be guilty of evading conscription…”

She lowered her head slightly, speaking softly but firmly. “I know that my lord was deceived by the Magistrate of Zhuo. We musicians are likely no more than expendable bait to him. The magistrate will certainly not be going to Luoyang. Whether I return to Zhuo Commandery or seek him out, I will ultimately be punished as a draft evader. I would rather follow my lord to Luoyang.”

“Quite so… What is your name?”

Liu Bei nodded, feeling some admiration for her.

People with clear minds were rare in these times. Though she was only sixteen or seventeen, the musician had seen through not only Liu Bei’s situation, but her own.

Gongsun Zan could not possibly go to Luoyang. He was probably searching the camp for Liu Bei’s body even now…

“My family name is Zuo. I have no given name. I am from Guzang in Wuwei. If my lord is willing to have me serve at your side, please grant me a name.”

She lowered her head slightly, but there was no trace of cowardice in her. Her choice of words was also remarkably astute.

Most female musicians in this era did indeed lack formal given names, but they always had stage names—or, more accurately, registered names under which they were listed in the musicians’ rolls. These registered names were unrelated to their family names.

This musician had deliberately withheld her registered name and instead revealed her original family name, asking Liu Bei to grant her a personal name. It was a way of declaring her intention to devote herself to him and follow him.

If Liu Bei granted her a name preserving her original family name, it would signify his willingness to redeem her and restore her to the status of a freeborn woman.

“Since you asked for a name beside this river, I shall call you Zuo Yuan from now on… Go bring over a horse and follow me.”

Liu Bei looked at the clear water and nodded. “You played the drums well last night.”

…

Zhuo Commandery.

The Governor’s Residence.

“…I was traveling to Luoyang to deliver tribute. When I passed through Zhongshan, I was ambushed and attacked by commandery troops at the Zishui Ferry! All the tribute was seized, and countless servants were killed or wounded… Fortunately, my volunteer cavalry arrived to reinforce me. I captured prisoners as evidence, and every one of those commandery soldiers belonged to Zhang Chun’s personal forces!”

Gongsun Zan was gnashing his teeth. “Zhang Chun has grown so brazen that he is openly committing high treason! I ask Your Excellency to raise troops and destroy him!”

“How could Zhang Boren have done such a thing…”

Governor Liu Wei paced anxiously back and forth across the hall. “How could this happen? How could this happen…”

“Liu Xuande was traveling with Bo Gui. Where is he now?”

Zou Jing was seated in the hall as well. He was not pacing, mainly because his injuries had not yet healed and he was unable to stand.

But Zou Jing was even more anxious than Liu Wei.

Clearly, he had thought of the earlier ambush against himself.

“Xuande has vanished. I found the bodies of two of his attendants in the camp… Only their torsos remained. Their heads had been severed.”

Gongsun Zan’s expression was filled with righteous fury. “Moreover, the ten villages near Zishui Ferry have been reduced to wasteland, with neither man nor beast left alive! That too was the work of Zhang Chun’s men! Your Excellency, Commander Zou, I ask permission to attack Zhang Chun and execute this traitor!”

“Xuande has disappeared?!”

Zou Jing trembled as he tried to rise. Perhaps he pulled at one of his wounds, for he clutched his waist and sank back down. His hand tightened into a fist, his knuckles cracking sharply.

“This matter must be reported to Luoyang. We cannot simply mobilize troops at will…”

Governor Liu Wei stopped walking. His hesitant words sounded almost as though he were speaking to himself.

“But Your Excellency! Zhang Chun has already cut off the road to Luoyang! Every boat at Zishui Ferry has been scuttled, and there is no one left anywhere nearby. I set up camp at the ferry and began building boats, only to be attacked that very night… Zhang Boren likely intends to let no one cross the Zishui at all! This traitor has severed all communications. I fear there is no one left who can report the matter to Luoyang!”

Gongsun Zan clasped his hands before him, growing more agitated with every word.

“What are we to do, then?”

Liu Wei began scratching his head until he tore off the cap atop it. “Go around… go around… We could take the eastern route through Ji Province. In any case, the court must receive the news first, otherwise…”

“Your Excellency! Zhang Chun would not have severed communications without long preparation! Our commandery borders Zhongshan to the north, and the southern road through Zhongshan has already been cut off. Zhang Chun is plainly plotting against this commandery! Our lives now hang in the balance. If we continue delaying, by the time an order returns from Luoyang, we may already be dead and buried!”

Gongsun Zan bent deeply in a formal bow. “I ask Your Excellency to order the commandery troops assembled and prepare for war! Even if we do not attack the traitor, we should at least make preparations and meet the enemy outside our borders!”

“This… The commandery’s stores of grain and money are not abundant… Commander Zou, what do you think?”

Liu Wei slumped to the floor, clutching his thinning hair as he turned hesitantly to seek Zou Jing’s advice.

Without an order from the imperial court, if the governor gathered commandery troops from every district and formed a large army, he could easily be reported to the Imperial Commandant’s Office. Besides, Liu Wei did not know how to wage war.

The most important issue was this…

Calling up commandery troops from every corner and forming a large army would consume vast quantities of money and grain.

Normally, the individual counties and villages shouldered the burden separately. Once the troops were assembled, however, the Governor’s Residence would have to supply everything. Worse still, the provisions wasted while the troops traveled to the assembly point would exceed what they actually consumed.

“If the stores are insufficient, draw upon the tax revenues. Zhang Chun’s intention to rebel is now clear. Since our lives are at stake, we must make preparations at once.”

Zou Jing nodded in agreement. His eyes shifted uncertainly between Gongsun Zan and Liu Wei, but he ultimately said nothing about the circumstances of his own ambush.

“Yet the commandery troops are weak and slippery; I fear they cannot be relied upon… Commander Zou, could you bring Wuhuan mounted troops into the commandery to assist us?”

With their lives hanging in the balance, Liu Wei no longer hesitated. He merely asked Zou Jing to summon the Wuhuan.

“I am wounded and unable to travel. Besides, the Wuhuan are difficult to keep under discipline and accustomed to plundering. If they enter our counties, they may cause even greater disorder than the rebels.”

Zou Jing shook his head. “But if the rebels advance with a large army, I shall certainly bring the Wuhuan to our aid.”

He was not making excuses. It was simply the truth. Though the Wuhuan had submitted to the empire, they were still barbarians and could not possibly be expected to obey the law.

Allowing Wuhuan cavalry into the commandery might lead to consequences more severe than a rebel invasion.

Unless it was certain that the rebels were already advancing in force, it was better not to employ the barbarians.

“Your Excellency, Gongsun Bo Gui is a renowned warrior from Liaodong, famed throughout the realm, and skilled in training troops. If the commandery soldiers cannot be relied upon, why not have Bo Gui recruit a new army?”

Zou Jing knew all too well what the commandery troops in the interior were like. Most resembled bandits more than soldiers, which was why he proposed forming an entirely separate force.

He also understood that Liu Wei wanted him to suggest recruiting new troops—because the number of commandery soldiers was certainly insufficient.

Drawing salaries for nonexistent soldiers was an essential skill of every governor and military commandant.

If the commandery troops were assembled for battle, the discrepancy between the actual numbers and the official establishment would be too great to explain.

Thus, a new army had to be recruited—not merely recruited, but recruited in excess.

“Very well. I appoint Bo Gui Acting Commandant of a Separate Corps and authorize him to recruit a new army!”

Liu Wei looked at Gongsun Zan and nodded as he issued the order.

“Your Excellency may set your mind at ease. I shall keep the enemy beyond the borders of our commandery!”

Gongsun Zan clasped his hands in salute, a sharp glint shining in his eyes.