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In a room within the Xun family compound, an elderly man sat with his back to the door. On the wall in front of him hung a portrait of a figure wearing a tall crown and a long robe. The person in the painting had a serene and profound expression, with eyes that seemed to pierce through time and space.
In the corner of the room, high-quality sandalwood incense burned, its calming aroma filling the air. However, the elderly man's mind was far from peaceful, as his long eyebrows twitched restlessly.
Light footsteps approached from outside, and a young scholar knelt and bowed, greeting the elderly man respectfully. Without turning around, the old man calmly instructed the young scholar to enter.
A long silence followed, with neither the old nor the young man speaking. After what felt like an eternity, the elderly man finally turned around and broke the silence, saying, "Wenruo, your cultivation of inner peace is commendable, so why have you acted so rashly this time?"
Xun Yu, also known as Xun Wenruo, knelt on the ground, offering no defense. The elderly man sighed and tossed an imperial summons toward Xun Yu, saying, "Take a look at this."
Xun Yu picked it up and opened it, only to find that it was an imperial summons for Xun Shuang, the elderly man before him. In the Han Dynasty, such a summons was no ordinary matter. Known as "zhengzhao" or "recruitment by imperial decree," it was a method by which the emperor personally invited renowned figures of society to serve in the imperial court.
Those summoned were either famous recluses living in seclusion or former officials who had retired to their hometowns. In any case, they were typically highly respected individuals. When summoned, the court would send an official carriage to fetch them, and for the elderly, a specially designed "comfortable carriage" with padded wheels was used to ensure a smooth journey. Gifts such as silk and other valuables were also sent as part of the recruitment.
Along the way, local officials were required to prepare the roads and accommodations, personally welcoming and hosting the summoned individual. Thus, the summons was a gesture of great respect from the emperor to local luminaries. In return, those summoned were generally expected to comply, even if they had no desire to serve. They would at least travel to the capital to meet the emperor before requesting to retire.
However, given the current age of the Han emperor—a mere child of six or seven—it was clear that this summons could not have been his own decision. The only explanation was that it had been issued by Dong Zhuo.
"This... I have brought shame upon my uncle," Xun Yu said, placing the summons on the ground and kowtowing to Xun Shuang in apology. He had resigned from his official post and returned home, never expecting that his actions would lead to Dong Zhuo targeting his uncle.
"What do you think of Dong Zhuo?" Xun Shuang asked, wanting to hear Xun Yu's opinion of the man, having met him in person.
"A crude and violent warlord, excessively tyrannical, destined to end in chaos, beyond salvation," Xun Yu replied, offering a scathing assessment of Dong Zhuo. He was convinced that Dong Zhuo would meet a grim end, and no one could save him.
This was precisely why Xun Yu had resigned and fled when Dong Zhuo offered him a promotion. He saw no future in aligning himself with Dong Zhuo and wanted no part of his schemes or favors.
"...Your actions... have placed me in mortal danger..." Xun Shuang sighed deeply.
Indeed, Dong Zhuo's move was ruthless—or rather, it was Li Ru's cunning plan. The initial arrest of rumor-mongers had been the first step, and now the second step had been taken against Xun Shuang.
If the Wang and Yuan families were the leading factions of the ruling elite, then the Xun family was the most prominent opposition group near Luoyang. Dong Zhuo, or rather Li Ru, aimed to balance the power within the court by breaking the alliance between the Wang and Yuan families.
Whether Xun Shuang accepted the summons and remained in the court or not, Li Ru, acting on Dong Zhuo's behalf, had sent a powerful message: from now on, key positions in the imperial court would no longer be monopolized by the Wang and Yuan families but would be open to opposition figures willing to join Dong Zhuo's cause. High positions and generous rewards would be theirs for the taking.
Moreover, Xun Shuang had previously declined a recommendation from Yuan Feng of the Yuan family, making it clear to the world that the Xun family would not align with the Yuan family. If Xun Shuang accepted the summons, those who had been suppressed by the Yuan family would naturally gravitate toward him, forcing him to confront the Yuan family directly.
If he declined, he would have to travel to the capital to thank the emperor and request to retire. According to the rules of the Han Dynasty, the emperor could issue a second or even a third summons, continuing until the person accepted the position.
At Xun Shuang's advanced age, could he endure the repeated journeys to and from the capital? Such an ordeal would likely exhaust him to death, all while Dong Zhuo would gain a reputation for being eager to recruit talent.
Xun Shuang, recognizing the ruthlessness of Li Ru's scheme, lamented that Xun Yu's actions had placed him in a deadly predicament.
But what could he do? This was an open and unavoidable trap, with no way to escape.
Xun Yu pressed his forehead to the ground, too ashamed to raise his head. He had never anticipated such an outcome.
"Rise. Seeking safety in the face of danger is only natural," Xun Shuang said. "A nobleman must face his fate with dignity. There is no other way."
Since there was no escape, he might as well meet the situation head-on.
Xun Shuang glanced at the portrait of Xunzi behind him, reflecting on how the Xun family had remained in the shadows for too long. While the Yuan and Wang families had risen to prominence, people had forgotten that the Xun family descended from Xunzi, a figure of great renown since the Spring and Autumn period. Perhaps this situation was an opportunity for the Xun family to reassert itself.
Turning back to Xun Yu, the most outstanding young member of the Xun family, Xun Shuang fell silent for a moment before suddenly saying, "Tomorrow's lecture—would you be willing to deliver the opening address?"
What? Xun Yu was taken aback. He had expected Xun Shuang to reprimand him severely, but instead, he was being offered the chance to deliver the opening lecture at the family's public event. This honor was typically reserved for senior elders of the family. Why was it being given to him?
Seeing Xun Yu's confusion, Xun Shuang explained, "My sons, Xun Biao and Xun Fei, are not capable of bearing great responsibilities. But you, who understand the ways of the world, know when to advance and when to retreat, possess clarity and elegance, and have foresight—you may lead the Xun family forward." These words were almost a passing of the torch, suggesting that Xun Yu might one day inherit the position of family head and guide the Xun family into the future.
Coming from the current family head, Xun Shuang, these words carried immense weight. By allowing Xun Yu to deliver the opening lecture, Xun Shuang was giving him an opportunity to build his reputation and pave the way for his eventual succession.
Understanding Xun Shuang's intentions, Xun Yu rose and bowed deeply, saying, "I will obey the family's command!" This was a formal acknowledgment of the responsibility being passed to him, using the term "family command" rather than a personal request from his uncle.
Satisfied that Xun Yu understood, Xun Shuang prepared to dismiss him so he could make the necessary preparations. But before Xun Yu left, Xun Shuang suddenly remembered something and asked, "Are the Yuan family members still in Yangcheng?"
Xun Yu replied, "They are still spreading rumors."
Xun Shuang shook his head and said, "How can rumors replace state affairs? Inform the Xun family members in Yangcheng to return to Yangcui. As for the Yuan family..." He trailed off, shaking his head again, leaving it unclear whether he disapproved of the Yuan family's actions or simply found them difficult to deal with.
*****
A/N: The Xun family, after all, were direct descendants of Xunzi from the Spring and Autumn period... It's a pity that Xun Yu ultimately chose to serve Cao Cao...