pappabearbooks Chapter 24 Becoming Uncle
Chapter 24 Becoming Uncle
After several rounds of drinks, the charcoal fire in the bronze stove burned brightly, warming the private room. The cold wind outside still howled, rattling against the windowpanes, but it did nothing to disturb the harmonious atmosphere inside. Gao Zidan put down her wine glass, her face slightly flushed from the alcohol. The confusion that had been weighing on her mind for days had largely dissipated after Liu Daogui's guidance.
Seeing his relaxed brows, Liu Daogui smiled slightly, picked up the wine pot and refilled their cups. He then changed the subject, getting to the most important topic: "Zidan, I've told you about the overall situation of the world and the internal affairs of Bingzhou. Your first task now is to go to Xihe County to appoint Liu Yao as the Prefect of Xihe. Do you have any thoughts on this matter? Or is there any knot in your heart that you can't untie? Just tell me."
Mentioning Liu Yao, Gao Zidan's smile vanished instantly, a complex and unfathomable emotion flashing across his eyes—guilt, confusion, and a hint of indescribable bitterness. He picked up his glass but didn't drink; instead, his fingertips traced the cold rim of the glass. After a long silence, he slowly spoke, his voice heavy with suppressed emotion:
"Uncle, to be honest, this matter has been very troubling to me."
He raised his head, looking at Liu Daogui with utter sincerity, pouring out all the turmoil in his heart: "Back in the Yongming tribe, Liu Yao saved my life. Remembering this kindness, I sincerely promised him that I would ask General Zhou for a place to settle down, so that the people of the Yongming tribe could have a place to stay. I thought he only wanted to find a way to survive in this chaotic world, but I never expected..."
At this point, his voice paused slightly, and a hint of pain flashed in his eyes: "I never imagined that he had been using me from the very beginning. He sent me to Jiehekou not because he genuinely wanted Bingzhou's protection, but simply to use my identity to lull General Zhou into a false sense of security and make the entire Bingzhou lower its guard against the Yongming tribe. During the night raid on New Year's Eve, he impersonated the Yuanhai tribe and launched a surprise attack on the Jiehekou camp. More than three thousand brothers died tragically under his iron cavalry, General Zhou was seriously wounded, and I myself almost died in the chaos of battle."
"These days, I dream of my fallen brothers every night, of the flames and blood filling the sky at the border estuary. I always feel that I am the one who caused their deaths. If I hadn't relayed Liu Yao's message, if I hadn't made General Zhou lower his guard, this tragedy might not have happened. This guilt weighs on my heart like a stone, making it hard to breathe."
He picked up his wine glass and downed the strong liquor in one gulp. The fiery liquid burned his throat, but it couldn't suppress the bitterness in his heart: "On the other hand, I really don't have any grounds to resent him. He was, after all, my savior. If it weren't for him, I would have died at the hands of Xiang Yu's pursuers in Youzhou long ago. In this chaotic world, the strong prey on the weak. It seems understandable that he would stop at nothing to protect his tribe and a foothold."
"Later, I advised Lord Ji to appoint Liu Yao as the Prefect of Xihe, which was indeed for the sake of the overall situation in Bingzhou. Now that the world is in chaos and war is raging, rather than fighting Liu Yao to the death and letting others reap the benefits, it would be better to turn enemies into friends and let him guard the northern border for us. But I understand the reasoning, but when it comes to actually meeting him, I don't know what identity or stance I should take. Should I hate him for using me, or should I thank him for saving me? Am I an official of Bingzhou, or an old friend he once entrusted with something? I really can't figure it out."
After speaking, Gao Zidan slumped back in his chair, his eyes filled with exhaustion and confusion. These past few days, he had been torn apart by these conflicting emotions, with no one to confide in, no one to understand, and he could only keep them bottled up inside. Now, facing Liu Daogui, who was both a mentor and a friend, he could finally speak without reservation.
Liu Daogui listened quietly without interrupting him. After he finished speaking, he nodded slowly, his tone calm and gentle, carrying the tolerance and understanding unique to elders: "Zidan, the fact that you can tell me these things shows that you trust me. Actually, I understand all the struggles in your heart. Anyone in your position would be confused."
He picked up the wine pot, poured Gao Zidan another cup, and said earnestly, "First of all, you must remember that Liu Yao's deception and exploitation of you are his own business. But he saved your life, and that kindness is real. In chaotic times, human life is worthless. He could have ignored you and let you die in the chaos of Youzhou. But he didn't. He led his personal guards through Xiang Yu's blockade and rescued you. You must acknowledge this kindness."
"Even if he later took advantage of you, even if he almost killed you, this life-saving grace cannot be erased. A true man stands in this world, clearly distinguishing between gratitude and resentment. If he has been kind to you, remember it in your heart; if he has wronged you, remember it in your heart as well. As for when to repay the kindness and when to settle the score, it depends on the timing and the bigger picture. You cannot ruin important matters because of momentary anger, nor can you lose your fundamental principles of being a human being for the sake of the so-called bigger picture."
Gao Zidan listened intently, a sudden realization dawning on her. Yes, grudges aren't always black and white; why force herself to make an either-or choice?
Seeing his enlightened expression, Liu Daogui continued, "As for the matter of bestowing titles upon Liu Yao, you did nothing wrong. Your proposal of three harms and three benefits was incisive and hit the nail on the head, even earning praise from Lord Ji. You proposed this plan from the perspective of the millions of people in Bingzhou, to avoid more war and to reduce the deaths of innocent people. You have not wronged anyone, and you have no need to feel guilty about it."
"From a personal perspective, you promised Liu Yao that you would find a place for the Yongming tribe to settle down. Now, although he conquered Xihe County with his own cavalry, he has ultimately received the imperial decree and rightfully takes control of Xihe. The Yongming tribe has finally found a stable place to settle down. In the end, you have fulfilled your promise to him and can return in the manner of reporting back. He cannot deny your contribution."
His words, like a gentle spring breeze, instantly untied all the knots in Gao Zidan's heart. He let out a long sigh of relief; the huge weight that had been pressing on his heart for days had finally been lifted. He raised his wine cup and bowed deeply to Liu Daogui: "Uncle's words were like a sudden awakening! Zidan has been enlightened; thank you, Uncle!"
"It's good that you understand." Liu Daogui waved his hand with a smile, then his expression turned serious, and his tone became solemn. "Zidan, do you think that sending you on this mission to Xihe was merely to deliver an imperial edict of investiture to Liu Yao?"
Gao Zidan was taken aback, a hint of doubt on his face. "Isn't that right? I proposed the conferment of titles, and Lord Ji adopted it, sending me to Xihe to deliver the decree and facilitate this. Could there be another purpose?" He frowned, thinking carefully for a moment. "What I was thinking before was simply to demonstrate the court's benevolence and power, to make Liu Yao grateful for the lord's kindness, so that he would wholeheartedly guard the northern border, discipline his subordinates, and treat the people well in the future. Could there be any other deeper meaning?"
Liu Daogui shook his head, a sharp glint in his eyes. He lowered his voice and said, word by word, "Zidan, you are still too young. The affairs of officialdom are never as simple as they seem. This mission, seemingly for investiture, is actually for peace negotiations. But you must remember, we are initiating these negotiations, not being forced into them. When you go to Xihe, you must first make the situation clear to Liu Yao, letting him understand that it's not that Lord Ji is afraid of him that he has no choice but to appoint him as the governor of Xihe."
"It is because Lord Ji is considering the overall situation and does not want to see war break out again in Bingzhou, nor does he want to see the people suffer from war again, that he is willing to turn hostility into friendship. Unity benefits both sides, while division harms both. If Liu Yao is pragmatic and settles down to guard Xihe, working together with Bingzhou, then we can all live in peace and enjoy tranquility. If he is ungrateful and thinks that he can run rampant with his three thousand cavalry, daring to act recklessly, then the iron cavalry of Bingzhou is not to be trifled with. You must make this clear to him, and not let him think we are easy to bully. Otherwise, where did your Uncle Zhou go while I was here teaching you today?"
Gao Zidan suddenly understood and quickly nodded, "Uncle is right, Zidan will remember it. When I go there, I will certainly be neither humble nor arrogant, and I will make the advantages and disadvantages clear to him. I will never let him look down on Bingzhou. Who is that Uncle Zhou?"
"Of course, it's better to be prepared. He's skilled at leading troops, so he won't suffer a major loss again." Liu Daogui smiled slyly.
"That's only one point," Liu Daogui continued, holding up a second finger. "Secondly, Lord Ji's intention is to use this investiture to turn Liu Yao's Yongming troops into a mercenary army under the control of Bingzhou. Letting him be a local tyrant, living a life of idleness in Xihe County, is not in Bingzhou's interest. Our ultimate goal is to gradually assimilate the three thousand cavalrymen of the Yongming troops into Bingzhou's military system and make them work for us."
"For this purpose, Lord Ji has agreed to allocate 100,000 strings of cash to Liu Yao annually for military pay, enough for him to support his 3,000 cavalry. This money is not given away for nothing. Once he receives the military pay from Bingzhou, he must obey Bingzhou's orders. If there is war on the border or changes in the Central Plains in the future, he must send troops to help. After you go there, you must reach an agreement with Liu Yao on this matter without any ambiguity. As for how to negotiate, that is your business. However, the Xiongnu are fickle, and written agreements are not reliable. You must have something that can truly control them."
Gao Zidan was shocked, finally understanding Ji Guang's profound scheme. The investiture was merely the first step; the real purpose was to gradually assimilate the Yongming tribe's fighting strength. The 100,000 strings of cash in military pay, seemingly a huge sum, was actually a way to bind Liu Yao. Once he took Bingzhou's money, he could no longer remain unaffected and would be tied to Bingzhou's war machine.
"I see." Gao Zidan took a deep breath, pondered for a moment, then cupped her hands to Liu Daogui and said, "If it weren't for Uncle's reminder, I would have almost ruined everything. Thank you for the reminder, Uncle!"
"You don't need to thank me." Liu Daogui waved his hand, a gentle smile on his face. "These words were originally the intention of Lord Ji and General Zhou. They know you are new to officialdom and don't understand these deep-seated power struggles, so they specifically asked me to explain them to you. After all, this mission is of great importance and cannot afford the slightest mistake."
He paused, then added, "There's one last thing, and it's the most important thing. Besides completing the investiture and negotiating the military pay, you also need to take this opportunity to find out the actual strength of the Yongming tribe and the local situation in Xihe County."
"How many capable soldiers does Liu Yao have? What is his food and fodder reserve like? Are his weapons and armor sufficient? What are the population, land, and taxes in Xihe Commandery? How are the local powerful clans distributed? What is the people's attitude towards Liu Yao? This information is crucial for the future development of Bingzhou. You spent some time in Yongming's army and are familiar with their situation. This trip will be a good opportunity to find out more about them."
Gao Zidan nodded hurriedly, his expression extremely solemn: "Uncle, rest assured, Zidan understands. This time when I go to Xihe, I will definitely live up to my mission, do everything that needs to be done, and find out everything that needs to be found out. I will never let you down, my lord and uncle."
He looked at Liu Daogui with gratitude in his heart. Liu Daogui not only patiently enlightened him and untangled his knots, but also told him all the details and deeper purpose of the mission without reservation. He even conveyed the intentions of Ji Guang and Zhou Bo on their behalf. This care was far beyond the ordinary friendship between generations.
Thinking of this, Gao Zidan stood up, straightened her clothes, and bowed deeply to Liu Daogui. Her tone was extremely sincere, with a slight sob in her voice: "Uncle, my parents are dead, my whole family was killed, and now I am all alone, drifting in this chaotic world with no one to rely on. Today, I am grateful that you did not abandon me, patiently guiding me on the principles of life and teaching me the ways of officialdom. You have also always thought of me. I will never forget this kindness."
"My father and you were sworn brothers, sharing a bond that transcended life and death. Now that my father is gone, you are like my own uncle. I humbly request to acknowledge you as my uncle and to treat you as my father from now on. I hope you will not despise my foolishness and will accept me as your nephew!"
After saying that, he was about to kneel down.
Seeing this, Liu Daogui quickly reached out to support him, his eyes filled with relief and emotion. Looking at the tall, determined young man before him, he thought of his own deceased friend, his heart overflowing with mixed feelings. He patted Gao Zidan's shoulder firmly, his voice trembling slightly, "Good! Good! Zidan, I've long considered you my own nephew! I'm overjoyed that you have this heart, how could I possibly dislike you!"
"From this day forward, you are my nephew, Liu Daogui's own nephew. As long as your uncle is alive, I will never let you suffer the slightest grievance. If you encounter any difficulties in officialdom, just tell me; if you have any troubles in life, just tell me as well. Your uncle will do everything in his power to protect you, teach you skills, and enable you to gain a foothold in this chaotic world and realize your ambitions!"
Upon hearing this, Gao Zidan's eyes reddened, and he bowed again, saying, "Nephew greets Uncle!"
"Good! Good! Get up quickly!" Liu Daogui smiled and helped him up, his eyes full of affection. "Today is a good day; we, uncle and nephew, should have a big drink together!"
After saying that, he picked up his wine glass, and Gao Zidan quickly picked up hers as well. The two smiled at each other and drank the wine in their glasses in one gulp.