HLCOB C40

Chapter 40

The Han was a state founded upon Confucianism.

No matter that adoptive ties were used politically, to betray or kill one’s adopted father was deemed a monstrous breach of kinship. Was it not for this that Lü Bu of the Records of the Three Kingdoms was so reviled—because he made three fathers and slew two of them.

As expected, so he comes thus.

In short, taking Jaheon as an adopted son was an excellent way to bind him beneath Wang Yun by social norm. Of course, for that very reason, the end of nearly all who became adopted sons in the Three Kingdoms was poor.

Thus it, too, was a move Jaheon had foreseen.

Among the moves on which Wang Yun and he could compromise, it was the one most advantageous to Wang Yun. If Jaheon were to strike Wang Yun from behind, he would become the worst of unfilial wretches under Heaven and lose all justification.

“…It is not so bad for you either, is it.”

Nor was it a move that only blemished Jaheon.

Jaheon’s birth was base. There were no few gentry who criticized him by the number of characters in the name “Jaheon.” If he became Wang Yun’s adopted son, that reproach would abate.

…

What was more, Choseon was at stake.

In practical terms, there was no choice for Jaheon but to accept. Moreover, to stir division in this Luoyang, the station of Wang Yun’s adopted son might not be ill.

Yet Jaheon was displeased.

Not because of Wang Yun. Nor because he could not refuse becoming Wang Yun’s adopted son.

“…May one ask only a single thing first?”

“Ask.”

Jaheon asked Wang Yun,

“Who is it.”

Wang Yun was emotional.

So had he been just now: the moment Jaheon seized the upper hand in talk, he did not refrain from showing anger. On the day he accused Jaheon of selling off girls to He Jin, Wang Yun likewise could not hold back his feeling. Clearly Wang Yun could not wield such a subtle scheme. Had he, he would never have sent Jaheon down to Luoyang in the first place.

Moreover, that ill rumor concerning him among the Luoyang gentry was not something Wang Yun alone, in Bing, could do. No matter that Wang Yun had retainers.

Therefore, it was not someone of Luoyang who aided Wang Yun.

“Whose stratagem was this?”

Rather the opposite.

It meant there was one in Luoyang who had provoked Wang Yun.

It was the first time.

So openly to be caught in someone’s snare.

Was this why Zhang Rang could not find the hand behind it.

Looking at the letter of appointment in hand, Jaheon laughed. That there were no traces meant, in other words, that movements had been made repeatedly from long ago such that no trace could be found. And the house that had moved this time was one long in ties with the eunuchs. So it was natural Zhang Rang did not perceive it.

What happens daily is no special event.

“Whose appointment is it today, that they prepare so?”

“Shh—quiet. The son of the Grand Minister of Agriculture.”

“The Grand Minister of Agriculture?”

“The grandson of Chief Attendant Cao…!”

And that house had not only joined hands with the eunuchs, but with the Qingliu, to swell its power. Thus it was natural Jaheon did not anticipate it; they had nothing to gain by meddling in this affair.

“Was it not said he had fled without performing his capping ceremony?”

“A short while ago he performed the ceremony and was appointed a Gentleman of the Household.”

“What is his style name?”

Then why had they moved?

“Mentoku. Cao Mentoku, they say.”

As the young eunuchs spoke, Jaheon clenched the appointment in hand.

Step—

From afar, a youth in black court robes was seen walking to the appointment.

Through the roughly worn cap, dark blue‑black hair slipped down. The languid‑faced youth, facing Jaheon standing on the dais, drawled with a sly tone,

“I asked to receive my appointment from you; His Majesty has thus obliged.”

It was Cao Cao.

In a chilled voice, Jaheon asked,

“So you did it—for that? Because you wished to receive appointment from me?”

At that, understanding dawned on Cao Cao and he smiled.

“Is it not pleasant to receive appointment from a beauty. I played a small prank, that is all.”

At his ready admission that he had worked behind the scenes, Jaheon gave a hollow laugh.

“…If you wished me dead, you should have said so.”

And added softly,

“I would have drunk that potion before your eyes.”

At the words, whose sincerity could be felt, Cao Cao roared with laughter.

“Ha ha! Are you one to be caught by such shoddy ploys? Seeing you will not die easily, one prodded.”

Cao Cao’s eyes bent toward Jaheon.

“Did you not come back alive even from before the Throne.”

“It would have been better had you at least lacked for words.”

“Because I am not lacking for words, I make you such diverting company, do I not?”

With a helpless smile, Jaheon fixed his gaze on Cao Cao’s blue‑black eyes and asked,

“What was the reason?”

“What was?”

“Why you helped the Censor‑in‑Chief Wang to press me.”

In the present situation, there was no profit to be had by pressing Jaheon. As things stood, the Cao house could sit still and glean gains from the fight between Qingliu and Zhuoliu gentry. It was because of the prestige of Cao Cao’s grandfather, Cao Teng—eunuch that he was—who had ties with both.

Thus it was to Cao Cao’s benefit to leave Jaheon be, that he might wear down the Qingliu’s power.

It was a choice that did not convince.

“…There would be nothing to gain.”

To Jaheon’s words, Cao Cao answered,

“Why would there be nothing.”

…?

Facing the puzzled Jaheon, Cao Cao asked,

“Why do you think I chose the office of Gentleman of the Household?”

Gentleman of the Household.

A post that managed soldiers within the palace, yet without real power; for it was a post that took orders from the General of the Household, of higher rank. In effect, the military command lay with the General of the Household.

But there was a method.

“No one will be able to rise to General of the Household.”

…

General of the Household was a seat one could attain only by promotion; having only just reached his majority, Cao Cao could not take it now. Then it sufficed to make it that no one could take it until he rose.

“Censor‑in‑Chief Wang has promised me as much.”

Moreover, among the Gentlemen of the Household, there would be none from a house surpassing Cao’s. Unlike the record of events, the Cao house had not been entangled in the Empress‑treason affair—their prestige remained.

It was obvious that Cao Cao would act as deputy to the General of the Household.

In short, it meant Cao Cao would seize the palace’s military command.

“I said it would be convenient not to give the military command to either Qingliu or Zhuoliu—and he said he would do so.”

It was like the Cao Cao of the record, who held his breath and waited for the time; did he not overturn the board with a single battle and rise as the hegemon of the Central Plains.

Avoiding eyes, he had grasped the military command.

With mere words.

A chill mood flowed between Jaheon and Cao Cao.

…

Looking at Cao Cao in silence, Jaheon murmured,

“I had not thought you were greedy for advancement.”

In the record, though it is said Cao Cao sought to unify the realm, that was a matter of much later; only after the Yellow Turban Rebellion rose, and he sensed the Han’s collapse, did Cao Cao covet power.

The present Cao Cao was not such a man.

Surely he had no aim.

Thus, Jaheon had not reckoned with Cao Cao; for until an aim arose, Cao Cao had behaved as though he would not move.

And that judgment was not wrong.

“True.”

To Jaheon’s words, which read him exactly, Cao Cao replied with a smile in his voice,

“In truth, I have little interest in office.”

But there was one thing Jaheon had not judged.

“That the military command was only a justification to persuade my father.”

That Cao Cao might have acquired a purpose.

Unlike Jaheon, who wore his court robes perfectly and neatly, Cao Cao, loosely attired, approached him.

Step—

Having come so close as Jaheon’s very nose, Cao Cao opened his mouth,

“I merely needed power to corner a beauty.”

And he whispered at Jaheon’s ear.

…?

“…Corner a beauty, and I thought that beauty would drop into my hand.”

At that, Jaheon turned his head and fixed eyes upon Cao Cao.

Jaheon realized—

What purpose moved Cao Cao. It was not the empty justification of restoring the Han. Nor was it the desire to seize All‑under‑Heaven.

“To have you save your sister from the Censor‑in‑Chief Wang.”

It was himself.

“And yet, to become an adopted son as you did.”

Cao Cao, like a guileless boy, added with a laugh,

“Truly, it was unexpected.”