Wouldn't acknowledge a lord?
Jia Chong's final words plunged the reception hall into a long silence.
Under the dual-sovereign conception of the late Han and even the Wei and Jin periods, those recruited into office generally regarded the person who recruited them as their lord. Within commanderies and kingdoms, there were even cases of people acknowledging their lord but not the emperor.
That was where the term "my lord" came from.
Thus the common saying, "Their disciples and former subordinates filled the realm with their fame." Those who held high office for years, or even generations, would promote and support many people over their long political careers.
As the water rose, so did the boats. Their prestige would only grow, until a single rallying cry from them could bring scholars from across the country flocking to their banner.
Well...
The brothers Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu had been just like that. After Dong Zhuo's upheaval, the early struggle had essentially been between the two Yuans.
Before the Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao had always depended on Yuan Shao, serving as his junior partner. Sun Ce had not even counted as an independent regional lord, merely a general under Yuan Shu in those early days.
Had the two Yuans not each harbored their own schemes, the realm would long since have borne the Yuan name.
At that thought, Xiahou Xian looked up and studied the young man before him.
So Jia Chong was holding out for a better price?
Perhaps, in Jia Chong's mind, a mere commandery was not enough room for him to display his talents.
Xiahou Xian thought it over and found he did not particularly mind.
For now, I'll just consider it some sort of partnership.
With that thought, Xiahou Xian set his deliberations aside and looked casually at Jia Chong.
"I grant your request," Xiahou Xian said. "Master Jia, you truly are an open and upright gentleman. Since you have told me honestly, I know where things stand."
Jia Chong nodded.
After a little more idle conversation, Xiahou Xian left the Jia residence with Wen Qin.
Back at his residence, Xiahou Xian told Wen Qin to take charge of military affairs in the two camps as soon as possible, while also tightening inspections at the city gates.
Once those instructions had been given, Wen Qin left.
At around the si hour that afternoon, Wen Qin returned to the commandery governor's residence.
"Governor! Governor!"
Seeing Wen Qin in such a hurry, Xiahou Xian wondered whether he had already found something.
He strode over to meet him. "Zhongruo, has there been any progress?"
"Progress?" Wen Qin froze for a moment. "Oh, we haven't found anyone suspicious today. There haven't even been any merchants or travelers from the south, only some Wei State caravans traveling between our Qing Province and Xu Province."
"Oh." Xiahou Xian was a little disappointed. "Then why are you in such a hurry, Zhongruo?"
Wen Qin collected himself, only then remembering why he had come.
Catching his breath, he said, "I came today to ask a favor."
"Go ahead."
"Governor, do you have any household guards?" Wen Qin looked rather nervous. Xiahou Xian had no idea why he had suddenly asked this.
"I did bring some household servants from Luoyang, but no dedicated household guards. Still, my mother selected every one of those servants, and they can all handle themselves well. I shouldn't need any more, should I?"
Wen Qin looked somewhat crestfallen, but he rallied and said, "Governor, you do need them! Huainan is not like Luoyang. Bandits run rampant here. As the head of a commandery, you must have a truly dependable guard at your side."
Xiahou Xian was baffled. "Zhongruo, whatever you want to say, just say it."
Wen Qin scratched his head, looking troubled. His voice suddenly grew very quiet, nothing like his usual loud tones.
"To tell you the truth, I have a younger sister, but, well, she isn't like other young women. She has practiced martial arts since childhood and is exceptionally skilled. She has always aspired to join the army."
"And?" Xiahou Xian nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.
Wen Qin said, "When my late father was alive, he doted on my little sister. After he passed away, I took care of her as her eldest brother. So, as her brother, I cannot simply ignore her wishes."
"So she wants to enlist?" Xiahou Xian ventured.
Wen Qin nodded, then shook his head. "I'll tell you the truth. She's already in my army, serving as an ordinary soldier."
You... is this Great Wei's version of Hua Mulan?
Xiahou Xian had not expected Wen Qin to have a secret like this.
Wen Qin continued, "Before, I only commanded a few hundred men in the Huainan Guard. I recruited many of the soldiers myself, so they kept one eye open and the other shut, and didn't dare meddle."
"But that won't do now. Thanks to your favor, Governor, I command the troops of an entire commandery. If people find out that a woman has slipped into the army, I'm afraid you will be the one they criticize."
"Oh, so you want to coax your sister into coming here to serve as my household guard?" Xiahou Xian finally understood Wen Qin's intent.
Wen Qin said, "If it puts you in a difficult position, Governor, I will handle it myself."
"Let me think." Xiahou Xian stroked his short beard as he paced back and forth.
He could do him this favor. Though she was a woman, if she truly had some martial skill, as Wen Qin said, she would be of some use.
After all, as commandant, Wen Qin normally had to oversee the commandery troops' training, city patrols, and other duties. He could not handle more miscellaneous tasks for him.
I'll take a look at her first.
Having thought it through, Xiahou Xian finally spoke:
"Let me make this clear first. If your sister comes to my residence, she won't simply be serving as a household guard. In the future, there may be tasks I'll need her to do that soldiers cannot conveniently handle."
Wen Qin agreed at once. "Of course, of course! I'll bring my sister tomorrow, to serve at your command."
Early the next morning, Xiahou Xian was practicing archery on the training ground within his residence.
Come to think of it, he had not touched a bow since accompanying the emperor on that outing into the countryside. He really was rather rusty.
Two figures appeared nearby. They seemed to be the Wen siblings, shoving and jostling as they approached.
When they reached him, Wen Qin pushed the young woman forward. "Hurry up and pay your respects to the governor."
Xiahou Xian looked straight ahead at her. She was tall, her long black hair coiled up like a man's. Perhaps because she spent so much time in camp, her complexion was considerably darker than that of women from scholar-gentry families.
Looking slightly lower, he saw that she wore a dark red leather breastplate. It was thick, but even so, it could not contain what threatened to burst out at her chest.
Hmm... Xiahou Xian had a rough idea.
At least a D cup.
The young woman seemed very reluctant and awkwardly bowed to Xiahou Xian. "My respects, Governor."
Xiahou Xian did not mind and casually asked her name.
Wen Qin rushed to answer. "Qiluo. My sister's name is Wen Qiluo."
What?
What kind of island-country actress was this...?
"From today on, you are a household guard at the governor's residence. You must follow his orders from now on, understand?" Wen Qin gave Wen Qiluo a round of instructions.
When Wen Qiluo remained silent, Wen Qin tried to find something to talk about. Turning his head, he looked at the bow in Xiahou Xian's hand and praised it. "Governor, one look at that bow tells me it has quite a history!"
Xiahou Xian smiled. "You certainly know quality when you see it, Zhongruo. This is the Precious Carved Bow bestowed upon me by His Majesty."
Then he looked at the young woman. "Your brother tells me you're skilled in martial arts. Can you use a bow?"
"I can," Wen Qiluo replied meekly.
Xiahou Xian explained, "This bow may look so extravagant that anyone would think it all show and no substance, but it can actually withstand a draw weight of two shi."
At the mention of bows and arrows, Wen Qiluo immediately grew interested. Her earlier caution gave way to an excitement that made her forget herself, and she blurted out:
"Governor Xiahou, you can draw a two-shi bow?"
Xiahou Xian chuckled. "Why couldn't I?"
"Then can you shoot for me?" Wen Qiluo's admiration for strength was at work.
Xiahou Xian ignored her discourtesy and asked with a frown, "Shoot now?"
"Go ahead," Wen Qiluo said with a nod.
"Where should I shoot?"
Xiahou Xian asked again.