74.Letters from Home

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After chatting with Zhang Zhao late into the night and then failing to get a good night's sleep, Fei Qian had dark circles under his eyes and was yawning incessantly when it was time to set out.

After a groggy breakfast, Fei Qian, with heavy eyelids, planned to catch up on some sleep in the carriage. After all, when you're truly exhausted, even the bumpy ride or thunder wouldn't keep you awake...

However, just as the group was about to depart, the stationmaster approached with an ingratiating smile.

Fei Qian thought for a moment and then said, "Alright, you can keep the remaining change as a tip..."

The stationmaster beamed with gratitude, repeatedly thanking Fei Qian, but he still didn't leave.

Zhang Zhao, standing nearby, glared at him and said, "What else do you want? Trying to swindle us again?"

"Oh, no, no, I wouldn't dare," the stationmaster said cautiously. "I just wanted to ask where you esteemed guests are headed?"

"What's it to you?" Zhang Zhao retorted, clearly not fond of the stationmaster.

The stationmaster rubbed his hands together and said with an awkward smile, "Well... if you're heading to Yingchuan, I was wondering if you could deliver some letters from home... just a few—" He gestured with his thumb and forefinger to indicate a small amount.

In the Han Dynasty, relay stations not only served as rest stops for soldiers, couriers, and officials but also functioned somewhat like post offices. If there were travelers heading in the same direction or if the documents weren't urgent, they would often carry letters along the way.

"Yingchuan?" Fei Qian murmured, then turned to Zhang Zhao and asked, "Are we passing through Yingchuan?"

Zhang Zhao replied, "Yingchuan is to the southeast. It's a bit of a detour. If we go directly to Nanyang, it's closer."

"Yingchuan..."

At that time, Yingchuan was one of the most prosperous commanderies in the empire, second only to the capital, Luoyang. It was densely populated and highly developed in commerce, industry, and agriculture, making it one of the most affluent regions in the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Historically, Yingchuan had produced many famous figures. Yu the Great, who tamed the floods, was said to be from Yingchuan...

During the Warring States period, Lü Buwei, the merchant who controlled a state, was also from Yingchuan...

Zhang Liang, the mastermind behind Liu Bang's founding of the Han Dynasty, was another Yingchuan native...

Yingchuan seemed to produce remarkable individuals generation after generation.

After some thought, Fei Qian said to the stationmaster, "Alright, we'll deliver your letters for you..."

Since Fei Qian had made the decision, Zhang Zhao didn't object. Although it was a detour, it would only add a couple of days to their journey. Moreover, he understood how important letters from home were to families with members away.

However, when the stationmaster had someone bring over the so-called "few" letters, Zhang Zhao couldn't help but flare up. He glared at the stationmaster and said, "Is this what you call a few?!"

It turned out the stationmaster had a servant bring over a large bundle of letters—so big and heavy that it took two people to carry...

"Well... there are quite a few people from Yingchuan..." the stationmaster said with an awkward smile, realizing he had overstepped.

Fei Qian waved his hand, "Never mind, just put it in my carriage. There's still some space."

With Fei Qian's approval, Zhang Zhao didn't argue further. However, after they set out, Zhang Zhao remembered something and excused himself to ride back to the station.

A short while later, Zhang Zhao returned with a small bag, which he placed in Fei Qian's carriage. "That greedy stationmaster almost got away with it. But he's a sly one—he only gave us a pittance for delivering so many letters."

Fei Qian picked up the bag and handed it directly to Zhang Zhao, saying, "Why give the money to me? I'm not the one delivering the letters in Yingchuan—you and your men are. So you should keep the money."

Zhang Zhao scratched his head, feeling that Fei Qian's reasoning made sense but also sensing something was off, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Fei Qian saw his confusion and said, "Alright, alright, let's leave it at that. I didn't sleep well last night, so let me get some rest."

"Oh, of course. Rest well, Master Fei."

With that, Zhang Zhao left and went to inform his soldiers. Soon, there were cheers of joy, followed by a sharp "smack" and a low scolding from Zhang Zhao, likely directed at someone who had made too much noise, as he didn't want to disturb Fei Qian.

Letters from home... they were as precious as gold...

Delivering letters might seem like a menial task, but the families who received them would often give some money as a token of gratitude, which was why the soldiers were so excited.

Fei Qian absentmindedly felt the bundle and noticed that it wasn't just paper inside—there were also bamboo slips and wooden tablets. After a moment's thought, he realized that paper wasn't widely used in this era, and bamboo slips were more common. Some who were less literate might even just draw on wooden boards...

No wonder the bundle was so bulky and heavy...

But Fei Qian wasn't concerned about the letters themselves—he was more interested in Yingchuan as a place.

Yingchuan! The land of talented and extraordinary people!

As Fei Qian found a comfortable spot in the carriage and closed his eyes, he began to recall that many notable figures from the Three Kingdoms period hailed from Yingchuan. For instance, Xu Shu was from Yingchuan, as was Guo Jia. Who else?

Ah, yes, Xun Yu, Xun Wenruo, whom Cao Cao praised as having the talent of Zhang Liang...

And the entire Xun family—they ended up aligning with Cao Cao...

Then there was Chen Qun, the architect of the Nine-Rank System. He was a natural politician, though his policies heavily favored the aristocratic families. It wasn't until the imperial examination system emerged that the commoners finally broke free from the chains he had imposed...

There was also someone with the surname Zhong, a master calligrapher said to be on par with Cai Yong. He later had a son named Zhong Hui, who played a key role in the downfall of Shu...

And wasn't Sima Hui also from Yingchuan?

But wait, the other Sima—Sima Yi and his clan—weren't from Yingchuan, were they? Was there any connection between the two Sima families?

Sima Hui seemed to have a good relationship with Pang Degong, who in turn was associated with Pang Tong, the "Fledgling Phoenix," and Zhuge Liang, the "Sleeping Dragon." But these figures were from Jingxiang...

So how did Sima Hui from Yingchuan end up mingling with the Jingxiang crowd?

And why did so many talented individuals from Yingchuan gravitate toward Cao Cao?

Why didn't they join other warlords?

Did the people of Yingchuan possess such foresight that they could see Cao Cao's rise to greatness so early?

Ah, the relationships among the aristocratic families and scholars during the Three Kingdoms period are so tangled!

Fei Qian clutched his head. After a poor night's sleep, he felt his mind swelling with thoughts. He decided to stop overthinking. Since he had the chance to visit Yingchuan, he might as well see it for himself. As for the rest—

He'd figure it out later.

Fei Qian closed his eyes and, lulled by the rhythmic jolts of the carriage, drifted off to sleep...

*****

A/N: The intricate web of aristocratic families during the Three Kingdoms period... It's strange how some stories claim that the imperial examination system was implemented during this era, completely eradicating the influence of these families. How did they manage that?