“Yellow Sky”: Crisis for the Han Dynasty sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne

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At his greatest heights, he had served in some of the highest positions in the land for Emperor Huan, including a commanding role in defending the northeast border from Korean invaders from the Goguryeo kingdom; he had returned to the court when Dou Wu and Chen Fan were reorganising it, and quickly rose up the ranks to become Excellency of Works and then, most recently, the Excellency over the Masses. Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were keen to receive appraisals from a powerful man whose name was synonymous with sound judgement.
     “A visitor calls, Excellency,” a servant of Qiao Xuan’s household said humbly as he entered his master’s living quarters.
“Oh…?” Qiao Xuan said as he turned from his reading and had his first encounter with Cao Cao. He looked his young visitor up and down, studied his face with great care, and started to laugh boisterously.
“…I amuse you, Excellency,” Cao Cao supposed dolefully.
“You…!” Qiao Xuan said as he pointed at Cao Cao excitedly. “You… I’ve met so many famous men in my life… but never somebody like you!”
Cao Cao was suddenly very excited and afraid.
“You… you will be a great man!” Qiao Xuan continued. “But you must work hard; yes, you must work hard, for these are troubled times, when a man of great stock can be lost amidst a sea of worthless chaff! Work hard, and you will rise!”
“…Thank you, Excellency,” Cao Cao murmured.
“Oh, how it is a shame that I am too old to see you destroy the villains and restore order!” Qiao Xuan cackled. “Oh, to be old… a weak old man, I am! But I can entrust my family to you, I can see that. You’ll end the chaos, one way or another.”
“You overpraise me,” Cao Cao suggested.
“Not so!” Qiao Xuan said with amusement. “Speak with others… speak with Xu Shao of Runan, and he will say the same!”
Xu Shao…?” Cao Cao said with trepidation.
Xu Shao was another famous character appraiser; he was only in his late twenties, but he was already a man that other men feared, for a bad word from him was enough to tarnish their reputation for life.

His honesty extended to refusing to speak to relatives that had acquired status by flattering the eunuchs.
“Speak to Xu Shao! Speak to Xu Shao! He will reassure you that I speak truthfully!” Qiao Xuan insisted.
“…Then I shall speak to Xu Shao, Excellency,” Cao Cao said nervously.
“Stay first!” Qiao Xuan insisted. “We shall converse some more!”
Qiao Xuan had Cao Cao remain at his home for a while, and within a few hours, the two had exchanged poems and witticisms, and an intellectual friendship had formed between the two men with over half a century in years dividing them.

Xu Shao, however, initially rejected Cao Cao’s overly humble attempts to receive an appraisal, and that angered the young man to the point where his temper gave way. One evening, he forced his way into the residence of Xu Shao and confronted him with obvious anger.
“You come here again,” Xu Shao said dismissively. “What do you hope to achieve?”
“What have I done to you that you refuse my tributes?” Cao Cao barked. “What have I done to deserve such contempt from you, Mister Xu? His Excellency Qiao Gongzu sent me to you, and I travelled all the way here from the capital, and brought gifts, I sought nothing but the truth! What is so wrong with telling me what you honestly think of me???”

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