HLCOB C38

Chapter 38

“Was the conversation concluded well?”

At O Juk‑yeop’s words, Jaheon smiled, recalling Xun Yu’s boundless embarrassment.

“Yes. It seems to have ended well.”

There was much gained.

Though it was a pity not to have met Xun You, Xun Shang had intimated his intent to follow, and even the seemingly guileless Xun Yu had been lured—more than merely a good outcome.

Also, it was learned that that accursed Wang Yun had even sent to Xun Shang a bamboo slip detailing Jaheon’s past.

…So if anything were done amiss, he would spread word of origin.

In this antiquity, a base birth was a label that followed for life. Just as Yuan Shao, of base birth, could not shake the reputation even after becoming a lord; just as Cao Cao, grandson of a eunuch, carried the judgment of a crafty hero. Wang Yun, for Wang Yun, was thorough.

Seems he has even found himself a strategist.

The scheme was to deny Jaheon even a kernel of justification for taking the Han’s power. Wang Yun, born a man of arms, was not of the disposition to think so deeply.

“O Juk‑yeop. Did Lord Wang say he arrives in Luoyang tomorrow?”

“Yes. Ah, and the household and retainers are expected in three days.”

Wang Yun would arrive two days before Choseon.

Heh.

What that meant was plain: he would decide Choseon’s treatment by watching Jaheon’s attitude.

Barely suppressing the rising anger, Jaheon asked O Juk‑yeop,

“O Juk‑yeop. Is there a copy left of the bamboo slip given to Lord Xun?”

“…? The slip listing the names of those who sent gifts to receive my lord’s recommendation?”

“Yes.”

“There is—but why do you ask?”

They were, in effect, those who had intimated a desire to stand on Jaheon’s side.

“I mean to give it to Lord Wang.”

…?

Startled, O Juk‑yeop cried out,

“But without their help, there will be no force to aid you, my lord!”

“Even if hands were clasped, it would disappear just the same.”

What Wang Yun now desired of Jaheon was a position that could screen the Emperor’s eyes—the place of a male favorite, no more. By the look of it, Wang Yun did not want Jaheon to presumptuously raise a faction and bend the court.

“Whether hands are clasped or not, Lord Wang will purge them all.”

They would be useless anyway.

At present there was no way for Jaheon to stop Wang Yun. Unless he ran to the Emperor and begged and pleaded, there was no one to stop Wang Yun’s power of investigation.

“But, my lord—would it not be well to prepare a way? Lord Wang is a suspicious man. Someday…!”

O Juk‑yeop spoke in a worried voice. At that, Jaheon added evenly,

“If anything befalls me, Juk‑yeop, go back to Lord Wang. And look after Choseon.”

…!

At Jaheon’s words, O Juk‑yeop’s face crumpled at once, as on the day the talk of Jaheon’s poisoning was heard.

“My lord.”

…?

Then, in the carriage, he prostrated himself toward Jaheon.

“In truth, four months ago, when Lord Wang sent me, there was an order: to watch your every move, my lord, and send reports to Bing.”

O Juk‑yeop’s voice shook.

…

Jaheon looked at him in silence.

“But, living with you, my lord, this humble one could not obey.”

Jaheon had treated O Juk‑yeop, other servants, everyone, without prejudice. The first person with such thoughts was Jaheon.

“This humble one wishes you to climb higher, my lord.”

So O Juk‑yeop liked Jaheon. No—he quietly thought that if Jaheon rose higher, the country would change.

“It is not only this humble one. The other servants of the residence—no, the people of Luoyang—will think the same!”

It was, in a way, inevitable that the servants would follow Jaheon instead of Wang Yun.

“No one wishes to see you used by Lord Wang! If it is because of Miss Im— no, the young lady—this humble one will, somehow…”

As O Juk‑yeop spoke with a choked voice—

“…So that is why you have been sending false secret letters to Lord Wang for the last month?”

Thinking he spoke of something else, Jaheon clicked his tongue and asked.

“That is so. This humble one was so guilty toward you, my lord…!?”

Answering, O Juk‑yeop dumbly raised his head to look at Jaheon—who looked at him evenly.

…?

O Juk‑yeop opened his mouth in dismay.

“Y‑you knew?”

With a look that asked if the obvious need be asked, Jaheon spoke.

“One who keeps far from books usually, if he seeks bamboo slips regularly, it is plain.”

“Th‑then why did you not speak to me…”

“I believed you.”

A man’s heart is not something to be won by threats or coaxing—though men like Ma Teng were exceptions.

“I thought you would tell me yourself one day.”

So Jaheon waited—until O Juk‑yeop spoke it himself.

…!

At that, tears gathered in the eyes of O Juk‑yeop, near forty; and he wept, shamefully.

“M‑my lord…!”

…?

“I will give this body to protect you!”

But a forty‑year‑old uncle weeping was not a pleasant sight. So Jaheon refused him.

…? “There is no need.”

“But, my lord…! Lord Wang is not one easy to face!”

Sighing, Jaheon soothed the overly worried O Juk‑yeop.

“There is thought in handing over the list—do not worry.”

“Thought…?”

Having ceased to weep, O Juk‑yeop asked blankly.

“Yes.”

Surely, history had changed due to Jaheon’s intervention.

But even amid many changes, there were things that would not change.

“O Juk‑yeop.”

The Emperor’s death, the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and…

“If the day comes when this Luoyang burns entirely, could you believe it?”

They were Qingliu blinded by power. Heroes who would, casting off loyalty to Han, end by splitting and coveting All‑under‑Heaven. Therefore, if the Emperor, Wang Yun—everyone—would not allow Jaheon to grasp the Han’s power, there was only one method.

“If the day comes when all of the Han house is made meaningless, could you understand my choice?”

To bring it down.

As in the record of events—split them, and bring down this Han house.

“…Do you truly intend to join with Yirang Im?”

Reading Xun Yu’s written reflection, Xun Shang answered Xun You’s question,

“Even if we chose others, nothing would change.”

The upper water must be clear for the lower to be clear. Unless the Emperor changed, flatterers would be made unendingly in this Han court; even the Qingliu would become like flatterers. After meeting Jaheon, Xun Shang admitted the truth he had strove to deny.

“But, grandfather.”

Xun You called, voice laced with doubt,

“There is no guarantee Yirang Im will not change.”

At that, Xun Shang smiled and shook his head.

“…So long as he has something to protect, he will not.”

In life Xun Shang had seen many. He had seen with his own eyes that anyone could crumble before power. Yet there were those rare who did not change even before power. The reasons they did not change were often small: as with Cai Yong, mad for literature, being the most unchanged man in this court.

“But that is not protecting.”

“One will, one day, lose.”

Jaheon was the same.

“Therefore, by any means and methods, I came up to Luoyang.”

It was for the mere reason “to protect.”

At those words, Xun Shang understood the life of Jaheon written on the bamboo slip Wang Yun had sent; understood, too, what Jaheon struggled for so desperately.

“For he does not move by justification.”

Jaheon moved for reasons that to some were exceedingly small and paltry. But precisely for that, Xun Shang thought Jaheon could be a guiding mark in this chaotic world. Because moving not by justification, Jaheon had given him an answer.

“If it cannot be mended, it must be brought down.”

An answer that could change this rotten Han house.

“Go down to Yingchuan and gather troops.”

“I will remain in Luoyang and bring about internal strife.”

Internal strife among one’s own.

Jaheon meant that the Qingliu who had come up to Luoyang, blinded by power, would fight among themselves.

“On that day, if all that is rotten is cut away, the Han house can be set aright.”

In truth, it was irreverent speech.

To “set the Han house aright”—words that should not leave the mouth of a mere minister. Perhaps Jaheon harbored treason. Yet even knowing so, Xun Shang could not refuse Jaheon’s proposal.

For a very small reason.

Xun Shang had directly suffered the Disasters of the Partisan Prohibitions. He had seen countless torn limb from limb and hung on city gates. He had seen with his own eyes the people, because of the Han house, starve to a horrific death. Thus he did not wish to pass that world to Xun You before him, or to his cherished nephew Xun Yu.

“…Gongdal.”

Hesitating, Xun Shang finally spoke.

“Yes, grandfather.”

“You will remain in Luoyang and aid Yirang Im.”

It would be a long, long fight.

To pull up rot from the roots was no ordinary task. Perhaps that road would be too hard for Jaheon alone.

“There will be times when Yirang Im’s path is not understood.”

Holding Xun You’s hand in his wrinkled one, Xun Shang added,

“But follow and trust him.”

Xun Shang knew—

“Because at the end of that road, All‑under‑Heaven will be at peace.”

He who strives to protect the weakest will, in the end, become a gentleman.