HLCOB C33

Chapter 33

Among those who could currently be called Jaheon’s allies, the only one with martial talent was Gao Shun. Yet Gao Shun was young, and it was impossible to know where he was roaming now.

Therefore Ma Teng was needed.

He was older than Jaheon and, even in the original history, so gifted in war that he became an officer upon entering service. Moreover, if taken on, he could be put to use at once.

If there was a flaw, it was that he felt like a madman.

Frankly, Ma Teng’s course in the record of events was not ordinary.

He set out to suppress the rebellion in Liangzhou, was captured, and then, though a prisoner, was chosen by the rebels and became their leader. Having become the rebel leader and being captured, he still survived and became a warlord of Liangzhou.

It was a course close to madness.

But if only he could be made into a proper close retainer…

Jaheon lowered his gaze and looked at the eight‑chi Ma Teng prostrated on the floor.

…then Liangzhou would fall into his hands as it was.

Liangzhou.

Situated at the nape of Luoyang’s neck, a region with many plateaus and thus, like Bingzhou, rich in cavalry; also a region with many Qiang, where rebellions were frequent. But if Ma Teng were made a confidant, the story changed. Ma Teng was a man who could subdue Liangzhou, a wild horse that bucked and ran.

In short, at a decisive moment, Jaheon could use Liangzhou’s cavalry to strike Luoyang.

“You may rise.”

Yet Jaheon still did not know Ma Teng.

He had no sense of how even to handle him. In the memories of the twenty‑first century, there was not much about Ma Teng. At most, a record of his deeds.

Damn it. Because his importance was small…

He could not know what his temperament was, or how to approach him. All that could be known now was only that he was pressed for money…

…?

Jaheon looked at Ma Teng, who did not rise even at his words, head still bowed. When Jaheon glanced at O Juk‑yeop, the latter hurried over to Ma Teng and whispered something; Ma Teng whispered back. Wearing an awkward expression, O Juk‑yeop came up to Jaheon and said,

“It’s that Suseong threw out his back when startled by my lord’s appearance.”

…?

“So he says he cannot stand…”

…

At the unexpected words, Jaheon was at a loss.

“O Juk‑yeop.”

“Yes.”

“…And why must that be said like this?”

Coming to his senses, he asked O Juk‑yeop, who had whispered it in his ear. Casting a sidelong glance at Ma Teng still prostrate, O Juk‑yeop said,

“He says it’s shameful. He begged that it be whispered…”

Jaheon felt momentarily faint.

Was this truly that Ma Teng? The Ma Teng who had troubled not only Dong Zhuo but even Cao Cao? It felt like a fool was before him. Pressing his brow, Jaheon gestured.

“Help him up.”

With the servants’ help, Ma Teng rose. His body was still askew.

“I‑I, Ma Suseong, p‑pay my respects to my lord!”

Bowed and bent, the eight‑chi tall man bowed to Jaheon. Though his face was fairly decent, he looked drastically foolish.

“I did not hear details, but! I was told that! M‑my lord saw my talent…!”

As he watched the half‑folded Ma Teng, Jaheon realized.

Ah. They were all the idiots.

Perhaps the fool was himself, for thinking to win Ma Teng over. That Ma Teng had plagued Dong Zhuo and Cao Cao in the record of events? Perhaps Dong Zhuo and Cao Cao chose for themselves the painful road. What use in attaching meaning and analysis to the actions of one without wits?

“Suseong.”

Realizing this, Jaheon lost even the will to honor him with polite speech.

Ha.

He swiftly reached a conclusion.

Just go like a shaman.

Ma Teng was an ancient person. An ancient among ancients. If one went to the trouble of persuading such a mindless fellow with difficult words, he would surely forget it all.

That will be faster.

Brainwashing would be better, surely. Brainwashing at least leaves a memory.

“Your son’s name is Ma Chao, is it?”

“Eh? Yes! H‑how did you know that?!”

“And the boy turned three this year?”

“R‑right. I mean, yes, my lord!”

“Your father’s name is Ma Jaseok?”

“How in heaven’s name do you know that? It is so!”

Truly surprised, Ma Teng snapped his back straight. At that sight, Jaheon said,

“Now you can straighten your back.”

“Oh—yes! How did my back…?!”

Whether he knew that Jaheon was a good seven years younger than himself or not, Ma Teng grew exceedingly deferential before this uncanny man.

“You need money, and go between Luoyang and nearby towns selling wood and game, do you not?”

“Yes! That is so…! I must earn, for I have a wife and a son to support…”

“And yet your livelihood is unstable?”

“It is! My wife scolds so much…! She says there are limits to living on a pretty face…”

He even sniffled.

“Then I will provide a house—move to Luoyang.”

Seeing Ma Teng’s state, Jaheon sighed deeply. For now, the only general worth picking up near Luoyang was Ma Teng; he had to pick up even such a one and use him.

“And I will support your living expenses. Let it be in the form of working in my household and receiving a wage.”

Since the imperial favor began to fall upon him, money was one of the things Jaheon had in surplus. Moreover, he would soon begin distributing soap through a merchant consortium. So there was money enough to support Ma Teng.

“Y‑you mean you will employ me?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“B‑but, my lord, I am told often that I am dull. That I cannot do work…”

Said Ma Teng, in a depressed voice unbefitting his size.

It would be strange not to hear that…

Swallowing the words that rose to his throat, Jaheon smiled.

“Do not worry. I intend to support you until you become a general.”

“A— a general?!”

Ma Teng’s mouth fell open.

“H‑how could I become a general…”

“You can.”

He had become a general in the record of events; why not now? And with fortune, not just a general—Grand Commandant might be possible.

“If you outsource only the thinking, you could easily be Grand Commandant.”

“G‑Grand Commandant…! Uh, but—what is ‘outsourcing’?”

Of course, conditions would have to be attached.

“It means I trust in your talent.”

To the moved Ma Teng, Jaheon spoke a calm falsehood.

After speaking more, he could be certain.

This Ma Teng would pledge loyalty to my lord…!

Ma Teng surely lacked intellect.

At one word of encouragement he burst into tears; he suddenly proclaimed his loyalty. It was fortunate he was found early; had he been found after another’s hand had been on him, it would have been troublesome.

Well now, looks fine but…

Waving to Ma Teng, who departed cheerful‑faced saying he would bring his family, O Juk‑yeop watched; at that sight, Jaheon asked,

“Have you become quite close with Suseong?”

“Ah, well—putting him to work all day yesterday, it turned out so, my lord. He behaves like that, but his strength is very solid.”

It seemed that Ma Teng, lacking in intellect, was instead extraordinarily sociable. In that short time, he had become friends with all the house servants. Likely, in the original history, Ma Teng had seized armies with that absurd sociability—and, just as people say, was easily swayed, leading to all that happened. It is a thing common with those of great brawn and little brain.

That can be solved later by attaching a strategist from Liangzhou…

Even if he could not be given an important post at once, he meant to set Ma Teng in a suitable vacancy so that he could be promoted at any time.

In troubled times, the martial are bound to become paramount…

And was Ma Teng’s sociability ordinary? He could surely command at least a unit. If so, useful men might well be discovered.

Ha.

Yet Jaheon felt a strange self‑reproach.

That Ma Teng felt more reliable than any he had met so far. That Ma Teng’s lack of intellect, oddly, put him at ease. Of course, Gao Shun and O Juk‑yeop were also reliable—but there was little they could do right now.

“…Why look at me so?”

At Jaheon’s gaze, O Juk‑yeop cocked his head. Jaheon sighed and answered,

“It is nothing.”

“…Did you perhaps just insult me?”

“How could that be.”

“Or—my lord, did you think I was like Suseong just now…?!”

“…Do you know that is an insult?”

Giving O Juk‑yeop a half‑lidded look, Jaheon handed over a bamboo slip from his robe.

“For today, first pass the word to the houses listed there. As for the Sunbu, I will go myself tomorrow, so there is no need to go.”

Opening the slip, O Juk‑yeop started in surprise.

“To all these houses?”

“Yes.”

“What should I say?”

“Say they will receive recommendations, so they should choose offices.”

“…Eh? Y‑you mean to sell offices now, my lord?”

Selling offices.

Taking money and selling posts. And there was nothing that touched the gentry’s taboo as much as this. Was this not what the eunuchs did? If he sold offices, the reputation Jaheon had worked to build would surely plummet into the abyss in an instant.

“Then your reputation…”

“It does not matter.”

But Jaheon did not intend to sell offices.

“The price is alliance.”

In any case, all decisions regarding office were made by the Emperor. And at present, the only one who could exert influence upon the Emperor’s appointment power was Jaheon, the most favored.

“Therefore, there is no material evidence. So they too will not dare say it aloud.”

Even if they did, it did not matter.

For the one who spread the rumor would be the enemy who meant to attack Jaheon.

“Do you mean to confirm them, then.”

“…Something like that.”

He could not yet specify the enemy. Nor was it exactly clear whether the enemy truly targeted Jaheon.

“Unfortunately, there is no other way.”

Yet he could not simply wait for Wang Yun’s aid. Moreover, there was no assurance that Wang Yun would shore up Jaheon’s lacking justification as before.

Therefore there was only one best course.

Touch the gentry’s desire to swell his body so the enemy could not attack rashly. Enlarge the board so the enemy could not place a move.

That alone was the sole best course.

Footnotes:

• “Eight chi” again underlines imposing stature; early Han sources often use chi to signal physical suitability for military service or labor.