Mythical Three Kingdoms

Gongsun Zan, upon seeing the figure in the black robe, once again slipped into a state of bewilderment; even now he still hadn’t understood what exactly he ought to do. He couldn’t emulate the feudal lords’ capacity for thick-faced scheming, nor did he possess that kind of duplicity. From a certain angle, Gongsun Zan was a purely outward-facing military general.

Standing in front of Gongsun Zan, Shen Pei remained calm as he was disguised as an envoy of Liu Bei to gain entry, and once Tian Kai and the other guards confirmed that Shen Pei had come alone and posed no lethal threat, they allowed him to meet with Gongsun Zan to discuss urgent matters upon hearing that he had significant news to report.

Honestly, Shen Pei had encountered Gongsun Zan numerous times before—whether it was when he had been full of vigorous spirits when trampling over rivers and mountains, or during the frantic downfall at Jieqiao, Shen Pei had witnessed it all. Yet in this moment, the Gongsun Zan before him exuded a sense of struggle.

It was a kind of struggle Shen Pei couldn’t clearly describe or explain; it was completely different from the expected impulsiveness or anger, and it wasn’t the desolation of a hero in his twilight years either. It was merely that struggle and bewilderment of standing at a turning point in life, unsure whether to step forward with the left foot or the right foot.

”I have met General Gongsun,” Shen Pei greeted Gongsun Zan with neither servility nor arrogance.

Although Shen Pei was a subject of Yuan Shao, while the Han Dynasty still existed and the imperial authority had indeed declined, the power of the Liu clan remained formidable. Even if Yuan Shao harbored ulterior motives, in terms of righteousness he was still a Han official. Naturally, Shen Pei wouldn’t be discourteous in this regard. Of course, it couldn’t be denied that Shen Pei admired Gongsun Zan’s actions in terms of integrity.

”Sit down. What does Lord Xuande have you come here for?” Gongsun Zan, jolted awake by Shen Pei’s greeting, observed him for a long time before slowly asking, ”And why are you alone?”

”It’s not on Lord Xuande’s order, but for the general that I have come,” Shen Pei took a deep breath, quickly getting into the right state of mind.

”You are?” Gongsun Zan furrowed his brow, not recalling that any of Liu Bei’s men would speak to him in such a manner.

Slowly, Shen Pei took off his hat, then shed his black cloak, and with a slight bow said to Gongsun Zan, ”Sheni Zhengnan of Jizhou, at your service, General Gongsun.”

”Sheni Zhengnan of Jizhou, hahaha, Yuan Benchu actually dares to send someone to Changli!” Gongsun Zan was startled, then burst into laughter, stood up, and drew the sword from his waist to thrust it directly at Shen Pei.

”What’s there to fear,” Shen Pei said, his expression unchanging as he just looked at Gongsun Zan. Since he had dared to speak out, he was confident he could leave unscathed. And to put it more boldly, even if Gongsun Zan really made a move, at such a close distance Shen Pei was prepared for a desperate counterattack to eliminate this trouble for Yuan Shao.

Gongsun Zan’s initially fierce thrust at Shen Pei, seeing Shen Pei’s indifferent demeanor, ended up stabbing air.

”Hmph.” Gongsun Zan sheathed his sword and looked at Shen Pei with a cold laugh, ”Had you dared to make a move earlier, you would have surely died by my sword.”

”Had I died by the general’s sword, the general would certainly not have emerged unscathed,” Shen Pei countered sharply.

”Bold!” Gongsun Zan glared at Shen Pei and said, ”No wonder Yuan Benchu can hold his ground in Jizhou.”

”Jizhou has more of my kind than you can shake a stick at; otherwise, I wouldn’t have risked coming here to advance my position,” Shen Pei calmly said the frightening words, placing himself above the rank and file, at least in the eyes of Gongsun Zan, to whom Shen Pei was indeed a nobody.

”Get out, and without my orders, do not enter,” Gongsun Zan ”shlick”ed his sword back into its scabbard. The commotion in the main hall had already been noticed by the subordinate generals stationed outside, but as soon as they entered, they were scolded by Gongsun Zan and sent out again.

”In consideration of you being a man, I’ll spare your life. Leave now, and you might still be able to save yourself,” Gongsun Zan said with a cold laugh after sending the guards away.

”If my mission remains uncompleted and I return thus, having risked my life to come here would become a joke. It would have been better not to come at all, rather than becoming a laughingstock,” Sheni Pei strived to play the part of an ordinary member among Yuan Shao’s immense ranks, showing a commoner’s yearning for advancement.

Gongsun Zan looked at Sheni Pei without a word, and suddenly he realized the gap between himself and Yuan Shao; even a nameless soldier among Yuan Shao’s men was willing to risk his life for Yuan Shao’s cause, whereas his own men...

”Speak then, although whatever you say is of no use,” Gongsun Zan didn’t wish to quibble with a minor character. Being on the same level as Yuan Shao, he wouldn’t stoop so low as to strike at such a trivial person.

”May I dare to ask about your lordship’s ambitions?” Sheni Pei, utterly undaunted by Gongsun Zan’s words, formally began his persuasion.

”Naturally, it is to defeat the Xianbei, eradicate the Wuhuan, restore peace to our Northern Frontier, and raise the might of the Great Han, deterring the Hu people from looking south ever again! To end the traditional plundering of the Central Plains by the barbarians that has persisted since the times of Shang and Zhou,” said Gongsun Zan, his voice strong and forceful, as his conviction had never changed from beginning to end.

”Would that be, more or less, similar to the Champion Marquis’ feats at Establish Remarkable Feats, and Marquis Zhuang’s (Chen Tang) ’displaying the severed heads and bodies along the streets among the barbarian mansions, as a warning to all within thousands of lis, that any who dare violate the strong Han, even from afar, shall be punished’?” Sheni Pei, thoroughly relieved upon hearing Gongsun Zan’s unhesitating answer, organized his language and spoke.

”Yes, exactly that,” Gongsun Zan always felt his own description of his ambitions somewhat lackluster, but after Sheni Pei spoke up, he instantly felt that this was how his ambitions should be articulated, befitting their grandeur.

”Marquis Zhuang spoke well, we should do exactly that. Those who dare to strike against the Great Han deserve to be killed and have their heads taken and shown to the Hu people in every region,” Gongsun Zan generously expressed his admiration.

In truth, Gongsun Zan hadn’t had much of an impression of Chen Tang before, but after Sheni Pei’s mention, he suddenly realized that Chen Tang’s words resonated with him deeply. That was exactly how things should be managed—benevolence, righteousness and morality were only deceits for outsiders; martial force was the true foundation of righteousness, and weakness was forever a sin!

”Since General Gongsun’s ambition is such, may I dare to ask if the general has ever wavered? In this bitter and cold Northern Frontier, have you ever doubted?” Sheni Pei did not attempt to persuade Gongsun Zan, but instead continued discussing his ambitions with him, as if it were a language common to them both.

Gongsun Zan fell silent. Had he wavered? After a long pause, the confusion in his eyes totally dissipated as he declared firmly, ”From the start to this day, my conviction has never changed. What I called wavering was merely my own delusion.”

Sheni Pei, seeing Gongsun Zan’s firm resolve, was completely reassured. This man was undeniably a hard-core nationalist of a great nation, and terrifyingly so, with unshakably solid convictions.

”Then, may I dare to ask one more question—if it were for raising the grandeur of the Great Han, what would General Gongsun be willing to sacrifice?” Sheni Pei looked earnestly at Gongsun Zan, the main course was now being served, with everything before mere side dishes.

”To raise the grandeur of the Great Han...” Gongsun Zan murmured to himself. After a long silence, he looked up at Sheni Pei and said, ”Tell me, what is your demand? Speak, for if it will raise the grandeur of the Great Han, here is my head upon my shoulders, which I offer to you as a credential for your promotion under Yuan Benchu!” (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on . Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)