HLCOB C56

Chapter 56

“How is it?”

Growing close with Ma Teng, O Juk-yeop puffed out his chest as though he had done it himself, asking Jaheon for praise.

“…It seems, Su-seong, that you have an eye for talent.”

After all, was not Xu Huang among them? Yes, he did have an eye. In truth, in the original history Ma Teng too had possessed a keen sense for men. Was it not Ma Teng who had discovered Jia Xu, the very model of a strategist who lived long and carefully, and thanks to him, attached himself to Cao Cao and thrived until his old age?

Never had Ma Teng failed in finding talent.

He had only failed in raising his own sons.

‘Well, that is a matter far in the future….’

That was for another time. For now, what mattered most was that Ma Teng had brought Xu Huang.

“He will become a finer general than Su-seong.”

“That boy?”

O Juk-yeop blinked in surprise, then seemed to realize something and asked,

“But my lord, did you not say those children were to be trained as the lady’s guards?”

“That is correct.”

“Yet you say he is material for a general?”

“…? Which is precisely why he should be placed by Choseon’s side.”

Jaheon answered as though it were obvious. Naturally, the one to guard Choseon must be a nameworthy warrior.

‘Especially when the man destined to cling to her is none other than Lü Bu….’

At the thought of Lü Bu, Jaheon ground his teeth again. O Juk-yeop, who knew nothing of this, was left speechless. It was the first time the beautiful face of his master ever seemed truly foolish.

In the end, O Juk-yeop gave up.

“…Yes, yes. Do as you wish.”

Anything that touched Choseon was hopeless to argue. His resigned tone only sharpened Jaheon’s gaze. Growing more immune to that glare, O Juk-yeop stammered and, for the first time, raised a small rebellion.

“In the end! No matter what I say, my lord does as you please anyway!”

“…? Now you say it outright?”

But his boldness did not last.

“Haha. It is only because my lord is so magnanimous that I dare to speak back at all.”

Grinning foolishly, O Juk-yeop deflected. Clicking his tongue, Jaheon asked,

“…And the relief efforts for the poor? Are they proceeding well?”

It was a layered question. But O Juk-yeop understood it at once.

“Of course. I never knew beggars heard so many stories.”

He drew from his bosom a strip of ragged cloth and handed it to Jaheon. Written upon it were notes—cross-checked accounts of what the poor had whispered.

Jaheon pointed to one that drew his interest.

“This—are you certain it is fact?”

“Yes. They say men come and go regularly. That through taverns, salt is being smuggled and sold. Even after Wang Bo’s death, the trade has continued. Many find it strange.”

The fall of the eunuchs had not ended the people’s suffering. Jaheon’s own rise had not filled their bellies. The Emperor remained, and countless officials mimicked the eunuchs’ corrupt ways. With the upheaval in court, the watch over Luoyang had slackened.

“It seems they are using the very methods Wang Bo once used.”

To steal out salt and other rare provisions from the palace meant vast profit. Greedy officials were now copying what the eunuchs had done.

‘To do this, they must have the cooperation of the Palace Guard….’

Which meant that Cao Cao was involved.

‘So was that why Aman seized the Palace Guard so quickly…?’

Jaheon tucked the ragged cloth into his robes, lost in thought, when—

‘…?’

He caught sight of a carriage stopped before the laborers’ quarter. Tilting his head, he thought,

‘…A guest?’

But he had told Choseon not to receive visitors unless it was important. Yet here was a guest. And the face of the servant seated on the carriage looked familiar.

‘I’ve seen that face somewhere….’

Struck by a sense of déjà vu, Jaheon stepped inside the mansion—only to find himself face to face with a stranger.

“…?”

It was a man he had never seen before, strikingly handsome.

“….”

But his features bore an expression of profound weariness with the world, dulling the brilliance of his looks. Only his size drew attention. Since arriving in Luoyang, Jaheon had grown taller, yet even he had to look up at this man.

‘…Eight chi, perhaps?’

Jaheon stared at him openly.

“Forgive me for arriving without word.”

The man clasped his hands in salute.

“I am Sun Gongdal.”

Sun Yu. Courtesy name Gongdal.

Another scion of the Yingchuan Sun clan, destined in history to become a strategist of Cao Cao.

Jaheon thought to himself,

‘Unusual.’

The shabby, handsome man before him—Sun Yu—was indeed peculiar. For in his hazy eyes, Jaheon sensed a madness akin to that of Cai Yong.

“Forgive me, my sudden visit….”

There was nothing improper in his manners.

“In two days, my grandfather and uncle depart for Yingchuan. As you know, my grandfather has been appointed Governor of Yingchuan….”

Though from a cadet branch, he was still a scion of a great house. His manners were perfect. Yet it felt not like natural courtesy, but like a machine reciting programmed lines.

“And the reason my uncle came with me was that before leaving Luoyang, he insisted upon meeting you….”

Just so.

“Gongdal…?”

At this sudden revelation, Sun Yu’s uncle, Sun Yu, started in shock. He had been sitting quietly, saying nothing. His flustered reaction made Sun Yu slowly arch a brow.

“…? Was that something I ought not say?”

At this, Sun Yu’s composed face flushed crimson. Unable to speak, he lowered his head deeply.

“…To say it so makes me seem a child.”

“You are not yet of age, so uncle, you are still rather young….”

“Gongdal…!”

Finally, Sun Yu shouted at him.

“Kh-hmph.”

At the sight, Choseon, who had been handing Jaheon tea, broke into laughter.

“And this beside you…?”

At her laughter, Sun Yu turned.

“My sister. You may call her Choseon.”

“An honor to meet you, Lady Im.”

“And to meet you as well, Young Master Sun.”

Choseon bowed lightly, and Sun Yu returned it. Strangely, like Xu Huang, he showed no reaction at the siblings’ beauty.

“You are beautiful.”

He said it without feeling, as though a machine were making the statement.

Jaheon, however, was satisfied.

Had any of those who pledged themselves to him been truly normal? Not even Ma Teng. So the fact that Sun Yu showed little reaction to Choseon was enough.

So Jaheon asked bluntly,

“What brings you here?”

“….”

At that, Sun Yu glanced between Sun Yu and Choseon. They were young, uninvolved in politics. So he requested,

“Would uncle and the lady kindly excuse us for a time….”

Choseon nodded and gently led Sun Yu from the room under the pretense of showing him around. Watching their departing figures, Jaheon thought absently,

‘If it were Sun Yu, perhaps….’

After meeting the disaster that was Lü Bu, even stubborn Sun Yu seemed preferable. Though his obstinacy was displeasing, it was still better than Lü Bu.

‘…No, never.’

But the thought did not last.

He would never allow his beloved sister to wed any man of this wretched age.

‘Better she remain single forever.’

With irritation pricking his brow, Jaheon’s expression darkened.

“Was it you who urged my grandfather to accept the post of Governor of Yingchuan?”

“…?”

Sun Yu asked plainly.

Jaheon thought for a moment, then smiled faintly.

“…Indeed. It was I, Young Master Sun.”

He understood now why Sun Yu had come without notice.

“Why?”

“Is there reason to preserve a house already rotten?”

“….”

“A fallen house may be rebuilt. A rotten one cannot. Better to seek new ground on which to build.”

Jaheon answered calmly.

At this, Sun Yu fell silent. After long thought, he asked,

“Do you truly believe it will come to that?”

“…You know the truth.”

Even a step outside Luoyang made it clear. Why had Ma Teng come and gone for profit? Why was Xu Huang found among the slums? Because survival was hard, and only in Luoyang could one scrape a living. Beyond the city, people starved to death still.

“…My grandfather said as much. He told me to trust you, to follow you. He left word that I remain in Luoyang to aid you.”

So Sun Yu too knew.

“But, my lord.”

Yet he could not be sure. Could Jaheon truly be trusted?

“…I still cannot believe in you.”

The hazy eyes of Sun Yu now gleamed with sudden sharpness.