Chapter 8 The Turning Point

  Liu Bei was also confused and quickly squatted down to ask Liu Ze. What's going on with the shaved head? Liu Ze was bewildered, having never heard of such a punishment before. Liu Bei pointed at his hair and asked him what was happening. Only then did Liu Ze suddenly realize. This short length was just cut a few days ago, and it was only a few millimeters from the scalp. In ancient times, people didn't cut their hair, emphasizing the importance of bodily integrity, which was inherited from one's parents, and not daring to harm it, as doing so would be considered unfilial. The punishment of shaving the head and beard was not physically harmful, but spiritually, it was undoubtedly a form of humiliation and degradation for the punished person.

  There is a well-known anecdote about Cao Cao during the Three Kingdoms period. When Cao Cao's horse was startled and trampled on a civilian's wheat field, according to his own laws, he should have been beheaded. However, since Cao Cao couldn't die, he staged a drama of cutting off his hair as a substitute for his head. Later generations used this anecdote to criticize Cao Cao, citing it as evidence that he was a treacherous hero who fooled people with just a lock of hair. Now, looking back, it seems that this interpretation is completely wrong. The importance ancient people attached to their hair was different from later generations. Since Cao Cao couldn't behead himself, he had no choice but to impose the next most severe punishment - tonsure. As a result, "all the troops were shocked", and afterwards, military discipline became strict, with no one daring to commit any offense again.

  But Liu Ze felt a bit awkward, if he told the truth, the consequences would be severe, but if he didn't tell the truth, how could he explain the reason for his short hair? He thought for a moment and came up with an idea.

  "I followed my master and lived in the deep mountains, my master was a devout Buddhist, shaved his head and became a monk, saying that hair is three thousand threads of trouble, to achieve six roots of purity, one must shave their head and take refuge in Buddhism, I didn't understand its meaning but also followed my master's orders and shaved off my hair."

  Gongsun Yang's eyes showed a hint of surprise, and he asked: "Does your master really understand Buddhist teachings?"

  Liu Ze thought to himself, "This Second Master is so enthusiastic about Buddhism, could it be that he also has an interest in Buddhist teachings?"

  "Returning to the Second Master, in the cave of our family's teacher, there were several hundred volumes of scriptures, which our teacher often recited. Our teacher would often chant 'The Bodhi tree is originally without a tree, the bright mirror is not a stand, originally there is no thing, what affair stirs up dust and dirt?' He also often said things like 'color is emptiness, emptiness is color' and so on, but I was too foolish to understand their meaning." Liu Ze didn't really understand Buddhist teachings, but saying a few phrases of commonly used Buddhist language wasn't too difficult.

  Gongsun Yang's face showed surprise and delight, and he asked hastily: "I didn't expect your master to be a high-ranking Buddhist monk who has attained enlightenment. I wonder where your master is now? Can you introduce me to him?"

  Buddhism had been introduced to China during the Eastern Han dynasty under Emperor Ming, but it did not spread widely. Buddhism flourished during the Northern and Southern dynasties, when temples were built everywhere, incense was offered in profusion, and the scene was magnificent. Although Buddhism did not flourish during the Eastern Han period, many devout groups emerged, and some Buddhist scriptures also circulated among the upper-class scholars. Apparently, Gongsun Zan had also read some Buddhist scriptures and knew that Liu Ze's master was an enlightened monk, so he wanted to seek his teachings personally.

  But it was all nonsense made up by Liu Ze himself. He said with a gloomy expression: "My master passed away a month ago and ordered me to burn all the scriptures along with his body, and then I would go down the mountain to find my relatives and return to secular life. So after I finished handling Master's affairs, I went down the mountain and just arrived here." Liu Ze simply created a "destroying the corpse and erasing the traces" for Gong Sun Yang in case he really wanted to search.

  Gongsun Yang sighed with a clenched fist. "What a pity, what a pity! To have missed meeting a high-ranking monk who has attained the Tao, it's truly regrettable."

  Liu Zexin's mind moved, it seems that this Gongsun Jue is also infatuated with Buddhism. However, during the Eastern Han dynasty, Buddhism had just been introduced and Buddhist scriptures were still in a primitive state. The era of complete and authentic Buddhist scriptures didn't arrive until the Tang Dynasty when Xuanzang went to India to retrieve scriptures. Although he himself didn't understand much about Buddhist scriptures, that notebook of his did contain some Buddhist scriptures. In the future, it wouldn't be difficult to present him with something like the "Diamond Sutra" or the "Avatamsaka Sutra". By currying favor with the head of the Gongsun household, he could ensure his own safety.

  "Returning to Young Master, although our family's teacher has passed away, the scriptures he hid are still with me. Although I couldn't memorize all of them, I can still barely recite a few volumes. If you're interested, Young Master, I'll have the chance to quietly transcribe them for you."

  Gongsun Yang was overjoyed. "Good, good, good, then I'll have to trouble my little brother with it. However, since my little brother is currently injured, let's wait until he recovers before taking up the brush."

  Liu Ze repeatedly responded, and he couldn't help but feel a few points of pride in his heart. He didn't expect that a few irrelevant words would become the lifesaving straw. After recovering from his injuries, he could write again, which meant that both his head and hands were preserved - without hands, how could he write?

  Gongsun Fan was stunned, earlier when Gongsun Qiong came in, he had agreed to cut off the little thief's head to avenge him, but in just a short while, things had turned into this situation. From Gongsun Qiong's words, it seemed that there were still matters to ask the little thief, and he didn't mention avenging himself again. He became anxious and stepped forward, saying: "Brother, hasn't my severed finger been avenged yet?"

  Gongsun Yang glanced at him, smiled and said lightly: "Third brother, it seems that this is just a misunderstanding. Since these two Liu brothers are big brother's friends, they are also our Gongsun family's friends. Is cutting off the head or arm of a friend the hospitality of the Gongsun family? In my opinion, third brother, you have also injured him severely. This matter has been settled, let's just consider it as such, how about that?"

  "Brother Ah, my fingers... they'll be like this for the rest of my life, I... I..." Gong Sun Fan was so anxious that he almost cried out loud. Things had turned out like this, which was beyond his expectations.

  Gongsun Yang burst out laughing and said: "A brave warrior can even cut off his wrist, let alone a small finger. What's there to fear? Third brother, aren't you fond of my white dragon horse? Today I'll give it to you as a little compensation."

  Gongsun Fan reluctantly nodded and turned his head to glance at Liu Ze, his eyes filled with resentment and unwillingness.

  Liu Ze was very relaxed, and Gong Sunfan couldn't help but feel a little resentful. However, with Gong Sunzan and Gong Sunrong by his side, what could he do to a spoiled young master like Liu Ze?

  "Gongsun Yang said to Gongsun Zan: 'The sky is already late, and Liu brother has injuries on his body. Why don't we ask big brother to take him down to rest? Find a doctor to treat his wounds, and I'll set up another banquet to apologize in the future. For these few days, it's all up to big brother to take care of him.'"

  Gongsun Zan nodded in response, and was just about to go over and help Liu Ze up when suddenly a horn sounded from outside the city. The sound echoed through the dark night sky. Gongsun Zan's face changed drastically, he hastily gave a few orders, then left with his soldiers.

  Gongsun Zan's face was also solemn, and after instructing Gongsun Fan a few words, he left. Only Gongsun Fan was left standing there with a resentful expression on his face, which was even more unbearable than swallowing a fly.

  Gongsun Zan also ignored him, and together with Liu Bei, they helped Liu Ze up and placed him in a room. Liu Ze's Apple laptop and solar-powered backpack were picked up by Liu Bei, the multi-functional utility knife had been handed over to Gongsun Fan earlier, the photos had been torn, and other items were lost who-knows-where, now it seemed like nothing important was left.

  Liu Ze was flogged on the back more than a dozen times and then dragged by a horse for an unknown distance, with his whole body covered in wounds and blood. Gongsun Zan ordered someone to find a doctor to treat Liu Ze's injuries. Liu Bei looked at his brother's injuries and couldn't help but shed tears again. Fortunately, they were all superficial wounds and didn't hurt the tendons or bones, which was already a blessing. The doctor applied medicine to Liu Ze's wounds and carefully bandaged them, wrapping him up like a rice dumpling. Hearing that the doctor said the wound wouldn't be a problem and would heal in about ten days, Liu Bei also burst into tears of joy at seeing Liu Ze's current appearance.

  "Thank you, Brother Gongsun, for lending a helping hand. Otherwise, Ze would have been beheaded long ago. Ze is injured and cannot pay his respects in full, please forgive him." The doctor had just left when Liu Ze spoke up to thank him. To be honest, Liu Ze was truly grateful to Gongsun Zan, without him standing out, he would have been chopped into pieces by others.

  Gongsun Zan smiled and said, "Brother Liu is too polite, it's our Gongsun family that should apologize. Without asking for the reason, we injured your younger brother to this extent, it's truly shameful."

  "Zhe also has its own shortcomings, it's not right for Qian to bite San Gongzi's fingers."

  "That's his own doing, can't blame my second brother. This third brother of mine has always been arrogant and lawless, only the second brother can control him. If it wasn't for the second brother coming today, I wouldn't know how to save Second Brother's arm."

  Mentioning Gong Sun Qian, Liu Ze suddenly thought of the strange horn sound and Gong Sun Qian's sudden change in expression. He had been puzzled about what happened but didn't have a chance to ask earlier. "Just now, I heard a horn sound, and Second Master hurriedly left, but what was it for?"

  "That horn is used by the Xianbei to convey messages. The sound of the horn outside the city means that the Xianbei are nearby. My second brother serves as the Garrison Commander, and it's his duty to defend against the Hu people's raids."

  Liu Ze had just crossed over and was truly unclear about the situation here. He urgently wanted to know what time it was now, what year of the Gregorian calendar - oh, there's no Gregorian calendar now, it should be a certain emperor's reign title instead.

  "What year is it now?"

  Liu Bei couldn't help but softly rebuke: "Younger brother, how can you be so muddled and not even know what year it is?"

  Gongsun Zan smiled and said: "My younger brother has been in the mountains for a long time, and naturally doesn't know what year it is now. This year is Xi Ping's sixth year."

  Xiping? Isn't that the reign title of Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong? The sixth year of Xiping is 177 AD. Liu Ze thought for a moment before blurting out, "So the current emperor should be Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong?"

  As soon as he finished speaking, Gong Sun and Liu Bei's expressions changed abruptly. Liu Bei immediately rebuked: "Brother, don't speak nonsense! The emperor's name is not something we can utter carelessly! Even here, if outsiders were to find out, it would be a grave offense punishable by death! And who did you mean by 'Han Lingdi' just now?"

  Liu Ze suddenly realized his mistake and silently cursed himself for being foolish. In ancient times, it was considered taboo to mention the emperor's name, let alone use it. Even when writing articles or naming things, one had to avoid using the emperor's name. Moreover, Han Lingdi was a temple name given to Liu Hong after his death, so how could he have known about it while he was still alive? As someone who was well-versed in history, Liu Ze should have known this, but since people in later generations were used to calling him Emperor Ling and Emperor Xian, he had carelessly mentioned it. Not realizing the gravity of his mistake, he hastily said, "Luckily, brother taught me a lesson, I will remember it forever and dare not forget again."

  Gongsun Zan smiled and said, "Liu Ze has been living in the mountains since childhood, so it's normal that he doesn't know much about the world. It's getting late, I'll have someone send over some food soon, you brothers can make do with it and get some rest early." After finishing speaking, Gongsun Zan took his leave and left.