HLCOB C63

Chapter 63

In war, the most vital resource is money.

Never in history has there been a war where wealth was not decisive. Thus, every warlord who rose to found one of the Three Kingdoms was backed by a mighty patron of wealth. Cao Cao of Wei had the support of his affluent kinsman, Cao Hong; Sun Quan of Wu was sustained by the prosperous nobleman Lu Su; and Liu Bei of Shu was upheld by Mi Zhu.

Indeed, in the records of history, Liu Bei’s good reputation among the people was due in no small part to Mi Zhu.

In times of chaos, soldiers were often rewarded not with pay but with plunder.

But Mi Zhu, one of the richest men of Xu Province, sold his own estates to provide Liu Bei’s armies with funds. With military supplies plentiful, Liu Bei’s forces plundered far less than those of other warlords, and so naturally earned a reputation for righteousness among the common folk.

Of course, there were others like that madman Cao Cao, who despite his riches maintained troops that pillaged and looted all the same.

So Aman was a madman even in the original history.

To have caught his eye—Jaheon pressed his temple with a weary sigh. Seeing this, Mi Zhu hastened to pour wine into Jaheon’s cup.

“Ahaha. First allow me to offer congratulations, my lord. They say you have been raised to Chamberlain for Attendants. I had prepared a gift of congratulations…”

But Jaheon cut him off at once.

“I shall decline the gift.”

“……?”

At this, Mi Zhu faltered. Jaheon had never been one to refuse a free offering. Strict in public matters, he was known to accept generously in private. Waving aside Mi Zhu’s flustered look, Jaheon said:

“I came only to speak of guild matters. When I have said my piece, I shall depart.”

“Guild matters? But did you not entrust those affairs to Lady Choseon?”

“I entrusted her with the sale of goods. There are other matters I did not entrust.”

“Matters… you withheld?”

Mi Zhu asked in puzzled courtesy. It was a fair question — his manner still respectful, though his expression was faintly uneasy.

Hmm.

Jaheon, reading it, asked lightly:

“…My question does not please you?”

“Ahaha! How could that be? Was it not you, my lord, who saved the Mi consortium when Wang Bo cast us aside?”

Decked in gold rings, Mi Zhu waved as if to laugh it off. But Jaheon was swifter.

“From now on, you must tread carefully.”

“……?”

The hand pouring wine froze. Setting the flask down, Mi Zhu stammered:

“…But—you have become Chamberlain! Why must I tread carefully, my lord?”

“Because now that I am Chamberlain, there are countless eyes upon me. From this day, the Guards will keep watch on your consortium—”

Jaheon was calmly beginning his warning when—

“So that is why you came veiled?”

Head bowed, Mi Zhu’s voice trembled.

“……?”

Jaheon looked at him in surprise.

“Was it your intent to lay all your misdeeds upon us? To cast every fault upon my consortium?”

When Mi Zhu raised his face, tears brimmed in his eyes.

“But my lord, are you not Chamberlain now? Can you not resolve these matters? I trusted only in you! How can you betray me so?”

His desperation broke into a shrill cry:

“Even now the Guards watch us — I feel their gaze day by day! And you would abandon me thus?!”

At last, his long-repressed grievances spilled out.

“Was it not you, my lord, who told us to bribe the Gate Commandant if we wished to restore our markets in Luoyang?”

Yes. Mi Zhu had been too honest for a merchant.

Damn it.

Jaheon pressed his brow, recalling what he had forgotten. Their dealings had always been through intermediaries, so the true weight of it had slipped his mind.

Why is it that only fools gather around me?

Mi Zhu, generous by nature, called it principle; in truth it was rigidity. He tried to keep benevolence even in business. A family of merchants for generations, he knew reputation was everything.

And so he had drawn the eunuchs’ ire.

But in a world rotten with sycophants, what use was credit and trust? Jaheon had meant only to give him sound counsel. Yet to this fragile soul, that counsel had become torment.

“Was it not you who said: pay Cao Chong the bribe, then disguise it as theft and steal it back? Thus we would both give and not give, and lose nothing?”

“……”

Jaheon was struck dumb by his outburst.

“And was it not you who said we could mix stones with the rice for the tax levies? That they would look the other way regardless?!”

Mi Zhu burst into tears.

“Do you know how I have suffered?!”

For a long while he raved on, until at last he looked up and saw Jaheon watching him in silence.

“……?”

And then Jaheon smiled.

“Have you said all you wished?”

The beauty of it struck Mi Zhu suddenly sober. But beneath that enchanting smile was a chill that froze his spine. He clutched at his wits.

“I—I lost myself, my lord. I meant no censure of you—”

“Did you truly think I would kill you for such petty corruptions? To silence you?”

“……”

Mi Zhu swallowed.

Why were there only idiots in his orbit? With a sigh, Jaheon said:

“Such trifles mean nothing.”

The late Commandant had been destroyed because he pilfered supplies meant for the Throne. But Mi Zhu’s sins touched not the Emperor’s table.

The true danger was elsewhere.

“To warrant death, it must be said you and I conspired to stir the refugees, to incite unrest in Luoyang. That would brand you a traitor beside me.”

“Ahaha, my lord, surely you jest—”

“……”

Silence.

Then Mi Zhu understood why Jaheon had insisted on meeting him in haste.

“…My lord?”

He had come not to protect but to destroy him. Cold sweat drenched Mi Zhu. Had he not aided the refugees for the sake of virtue? How had it become treason? His mind went blank with terror.

“Surely not? Was it not mercy we showed the people?”

“If others say otherwise, what can I do?”

“My lord!”

Mi Zhu now groveled on the floor.

Though it was their first meeting face to face, pride was nothing to him. Crawling on hands and knees, he clutched Jaheon’s robes.

“You cannot leave me so! Show me a way to live!”

With another sigh, Jaheon tried to soothe him.

“If you sever all ties with me in the matter of relief, you will be safe enough. Burn every letter of mine tonight. And—”

But Mi Zhu, who had poured his fortune into Jaheon’s enterprises, scarcely heard.

“I have wagered all upon your inventions, my lord! Did you not promise me the monopoly on salt? With your white salt, one could buy the whole realm!”

He was frantic.

“I staked my wealth not only to spread your goods, but for the compassion that saved the poor! My lord, my lord—!”

Bang—!

At last Jaheon slammed the table.

“Zizhong.”

The name, cold and sharp, silenced Mi Zhu at once.

“That is why I came — at risk to myself. Without a word, you would have thought me faithless. Even seeing my face, you still doubt. What would it have been had I never come?”

“…You mean—you came for me? Not to ruin me?”

“Must I spell it again?”

Jaheon’s patience wore thin; his voice was rising when—

Bang, bang!

The door shook beneath urgent pounding.

“…Master! Master!”

“……?”

It was one of Mi Zhu’s servants.

“You must come at once!”

Flustered, clutching Jaheon’s hem, Mi Zhu shouted back:

“What is it? Did I not forbid any disturbance?”

“Th-the thing is—!”

Then came the sound of armor outside the door. The servant cried out in terror:

“The Captain of the Guards himself is here, my lord — and he brings the Imperial Guards with him!”

Cao Cao had come, sensing Jaheon’s move.