Chapter Twenty-Six: The Traitor Gongsun

"Eh? Zhou Han, why is it you? Where's the messenger?" Upon seeing the figure's face, Huang Zhong called out immediately.

"Hansheng, do you know this man?" Liu Yao asked Huang Zhong, puzzled.

"Reporting to my lord, this man is a deputy commander in my cavalry battalion. He's always been quick-witted, which is why I remember him," Huang Zhong replied, cupping his hands in salute. Then, turning to Zhou Han, he scolded, "Zhou Han, this is no place for you. Withdraw at once!" In truth, Huang Zhong was quite fond of this talented subordinate, which was why he had promoted him from an ordinary soldier to deputy commander. He did not wish to see him punished.

But Zhou Han paid no heed to Huang Zhong's intention. Instead, he suddenly fell to his knees, kowtowed to Huang Zhong, tears in his eyes, and said, "General Huang, I thank you for your nurturing. This time, I have come with the resolve to die; even if I die, I hope my lord will uphold justice for me."

"You..." Huang Zhong was so furious he didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Enough, Hansheng, there's no need for this," Liu Yao said calmly, then turned to Zhou Han. "Speak. What is it you want me to do for you? If you have no proper cause, you'd best watch your head." Liu Yao was not one for mercy; if Zhou Han had no good reason, he would have him killed for breaking the rules.

"Thank you, my lord." Zhou Han kowtowed to Liu Yao, then began, "Reporting to my lord, I led my company to Youbeiping to gather intelligence. The Wuhuan army there has already been repelled by that traitor Gongsun Zan." Zhou Han kept his composure, delivering his report. But when he mentioned the traitor Gongsun Zan, the hatred in his eyes could not be concealed.

"Oh? The Wuhuan at Youbeiping have also been defeated?" Liu Yao was pleased; this meant the Wuhuan invasion had ended in utter failure. He glanced at Zhou Han, who seemed to have more to say. "Zhou Han, it seems you still have something left unsaid. Speak freely."

"Yes, my lord. After gathering the intelligence, I was returning to Ji County when I passed through a small village," Zhou Han's voice choked with emotion. "My lord, I was born in that very village, but now... now... the entire village has been slaughtered by that traitor Gongsun Zan—not even sparing my parents, my wife, or my three-year-old son." By the end, Zhou Han was sobbing uncontrollably.

"Bastard!" Zhang Fei roared in fury, smashing the table before him with a single blow. "Who did this?"

Zhang Fei might not have understood, but Liu Yao did. "The traitor you refer to—Gongsun Zan?"

"Exactly," Zhou Han replied through gritted teeth.

"Zhou Han, don't speak nonsense. You said there were no survivors; how do you know this?" Huang Zhong demanded.

"My lord, I speak the truth. A friend of mine from the same village survived by hiding in a cellar. He told me everything," Zhou Han hurried to explain.

Liu Yao frowned. "Where is this friend? Bring him to me."

"Reporting to my lord, he waits outside the governor’s mansion. I’ll fetch him right away." With that, he dashed out.

A heavy silence settled in the hall. Though Liu Yao was not a virtuous man, he would never commit such atrocities against his own people. According to Zhou Han, Gongsun Zan was wantonly slaughtering Han subjects—a crime Liu Yao would never tolerate. His hatred for Gongsun Zan deepened further.

Soon, Zhou Han returned with a man dressed as a peasant, who glanced around nervously.

"My lord, I have brought him. Zhou Sheng, greet the governor!" Zhou Han gave Zhou Sheng a shove, forcing him to his knees.

"Ah." Zhou Sheng finally came to his senses. "Your humble servant Zhou Sheng pays his respects to the governor."

"Zhou Sheng, tell me your story. I will see justice done," Liu Yao said casually.

"Governor, I live in Zhou Family Village. That traitor Gongsun Zan has often sent his men to our village to seize grain, but we've dared not protest. This time his men came again, but we had no grain left. They accused us of collaborating with the Wuhuan and, without any justification, massacred the whole village. I survived only by luck. Please, governor, uphold justice for us!" Zhou Sheng cried, sobbing and sniffling.

"Gongsun Zan, you’re courting death," Liu Yao said coldly. Any doubts he’d harbored were gone now—there was a living witness. He was now eager to kill Gongsun Zan himself.

"My lord, give me ten thousand men and I’ll lead them to kill that traitor Gongsun Zan at once!" Zhang Fei roared.

"My lord, you must not," said Ju Shou, who was seated beside Liu Yao, quietly advising him.

Liu Yao frowned, puzzled, but turned to Zhou Han and Zhou Sheng. "Zhou Han, Zhou Sheng, rest assured. I vow that one day I will kill Gongsun Zan and avenge you both."

"Thank you, my lord..." The two men bowed repeatedly in gratitude.

"However, Zhou Han, you did violate orders. I sentence you to be stripped of your position as deputy commander and demoted to ordinary soldier. Do you accept?"

"Thank you, my lord, for sparing my life," Zhou Han replied, deeply moved. He had come prepared to die, so to remain in the army was more than he could have hoped for.

"Very well. You two may go."

"Yes, my lord." The two departed the governor’s mansion.

"Thank you, my lord, for your mercy," Huang Zhong also expressed his gratitude on Zhou Han’s behalf.

"It’s nothing. Zhou Han is loyal and righteous—if you, Hansheng, think highly of him, he must have other merits as well. He’s just too impulsive. Temper him well, and he’ll become a great talent," Liu Yao said with a smile.

"Thank you, my lord."

Liu Yao had no more to say on the matter. He turned to Ju Shou with some displeasure. "Gongyu, what did you mean just now? Why shouldn’t we?"

"My lord, we have no evidence to kill Gongsun Zan," Ju Shou replied.

"Gongyu, what are you talking about? We have witnesses, don’t we? How can you say there’s no evidence?" Zhang Fei protested.

"First, Zhou Sheng is but a commoner. His words carry no weight against Gongsun Zan. Second, Gongsun Zan would have sent subordinates to seize grain. If you seek to punish him, he can simply scapegoat one of his men, claiming they acted on their own. Then you’ll have no grounds against him," Ju Shou explained slowly.

"Hmph! Do I, as I am now, need evidence to kill Gongsun Zan?" Liu Yao said with disdain.

"That makes it even less feasible," Tian Feng interjected, rising to his feet. "My lord, Gongsun Zan has rendered meritorious service. If you kill him without cause, it will chill the hearts of all under heaven. Who then would ever come to serve you?"

"Damn it! This isn’t allowed, that isn’t allowed! Are we just to let him go?" Liu Yao slumped into his seat, frustrated. Gongsun Zan seemed like a hedgehog—impossible to get at.

"Heh," Tian Feng chuckled at Liu Yao’s distress. "My lord, you are simply too angry to think clearly. No matter what, Gongsun Zan is within You Province, and with our strength, killing him isn’t difficult. It’s just not the right time yet."

"Indeed," Liu Yao replied, suddenly clear-headed thanks to Tian Feng’s words. He said coldly, "Gongsun Zan, I’ll let you live a few years more."

With this matter disrupting their gathering, the mood for celebrating victory was gone, and the assembly dispersed hastily.