A Son is Born
As Tao Qian's banquet drew to a close, I hurried back home. The servant who'd been relaying messages between the estate and the family said the birth had gone smoothly without a hitch, but I couldn't shake my worry until I saw it with my own eyes.
"Oh, brother. You've been through so much these past months...."
I gave a cursory greeting to my eldest brother, Jang Chong, who had come out to meet me, and rushed straight to my room. Catching my breath just in case, I carefully slid the door open. There was my wife, cradling the swaddled bundle.
"You're back?"
She whispered softly, then gently turned the bundle to show me the baby. The child, just two months old, slept with its tiny mouth working faintly.
"It's a boy. Have you decided on a name?"
"I was thinking of Hyeon (). What do you think?"
It was a name I'd agonized over through countless sleepless nights for two full months. Father was named Myeong (), meaning brightness, but he'd been unable to pursue scholarship because of our family's merchant roots. I chose Hyeon hoping my son would master the classics.
"Sounds wonderful."
My wife carefully passed the baby to me. It was still hard to grasp that this fragile life, unable to hold its own head steady, was truly mine. As I peered down at him, he let out a tiny yawn and opened his eyes. Deep, dark irises like his mother's gazed up at me.
"His eyes take after you," she said.
When I tentatively extended a finger, my son grabbed it with his wriggling little hand. So small, yet with an irresistible grip. A warmth beyond words welled up in me, and I couldn't help but chuckle softly. Then my gaze fell on my own hand touching his soft skin—one callused from drawing bowstrings, faintly scarred from a graze in the recent battle.
Don't grow up like this.
I silently vowed never to pass such hands down to my child.
Nothing major happened over the next seven months, through the end of spring in the fifth year of Zhongping (188 AD). The biggest news was the strengthening of the Inspector's authority. They were replacing the largely ceremonial post of Inspector with the real-power governorship—a push clearly from Yuan Wei. With the decision already made, Tao Qian, the former Xu Province Inspector, would soon become Xu Province Governor.
I'd already curried favor with him in advance, so no need to worry. In the meantime, I spent my days with family. My youngest brother stayed out of trouble, and my son was soon holding his head up and kicking his legs with vigor. Holding the babbling infant close made the chaos of the turbulent world fade, if only for a moment.
But reports from our trading caravans painted a grimmer picture: the realm's unrest was deepening.
As summer began to peek through, a letter arrived from Jojo. Stripping away the flowery language, the message was simple: Let's meet face to face.
I set off for Chohyeon Castle in Pagu County at once. The Jo household, after days of hard riding, was as imposing as ever. Though it was my second visit, the grandeur never failed to overwhelm.
Thud thud.
I knocked on the massive gate with the ring. The servant who answered took one look at the letter and led me to a guest room—different from the one I'd used two years prior. Even having multiple guest rooms drove home the clan's prestige.
Tea that's good anytime.
As I savored the refreshments, Jojo entered with two companions, mid-conversation. I couldn't catch their words, but the easy familiarity suggested deep ties to him. I rose to greet Jojo, who returned the courtesy and took his seat.
"Long time no see, Jang Myeong."
"I hope you've been well, Lord Jojo."
"I've mostly stayed home. Took a quick trip to Luoyang, but nothing major."
"Glad to hear it. And these gentlemen?"
They had the sturdy builds of seasoned warriors—more brawn than book learning. With Jojo, the possibilities narrowed to three. Traveling as a pair? Only one option fit.
"I've wanted to introduce them for ages, but our paths never crossed till now."
Reading my appraising glance, Jojo made the introductions.
"This is Hahou Don, courtesy name Wenyuan. We've been thick as thieves since childhood—fiercely loyal and brave."
"I've heard plenty from brother here. Especially your exploits at Yingchuan—too many to count on two hands."
Hahou Don eyed me with a grin, his tone laced with mock exasperation. I could only imagine how much Jojo had blabbed.
"Truth be told, we nearly crossed paths fighting the Yellow Turbans at Yingchuan. Wenyuan was away on supply duty when you arrived, so we missed each other."
"What a twist of fate."
Had I met him then, we'd have bonded sooner. Knowing what I know now, I should've crashed at the camp an extra night before heading to Chenliu.
"And over there is Hahou Yeon, courtesy name Miaocai. Kin to Don. Not quite your level—you who felled Peng Qiao with a single shot—but a fine archer."
"If I'd been there, I'd have gone for the eyes."
Hahou Yeon shot Jojo a petulant glare. Don's glowing intro irked him, implying inferiority. Jojo meant it as banter, but for me building ties, it was a snag.
"Both of you are true heroes. Any trials ahead will be child's play."
"Kind words—much appreciated."
"Sharp eye you've got."
Botching first impressions with Jojo's inner circle would've been a headache, so I flattered them. It was plain truth, no exaggeration.
"Now, regale us. What feats did you rack up in Xu Province?"
Jojo delivered the prompt with feigned praise, but his hurt undertone was clear. I guessed why.
Why the sulk? Did I do something to disappoint him... Ah, right.
My achievements in Xu were under Tao Qian, the Inspector. Jojo suspected I'd jumped ship.
From the outside, it looks like I took an office from Tao Qian.
I'd sent a letter upon joining the punitive force, pleading no hard feelings. But Jojo wasn't one to trust a mere note. My mistake—prioritizing family time over showing my face post-campaign.
Explains why he wanted a face-to-face, not just a letter.
He aimed to gauge my loyalty here and now. Bringing the Hahou brothers? Backup to pressure me. Good thing I came straight away, or he'd have written me off as a lost cause.
"Worried I'll serve another, Lord Jojo?"
"If someone vows loyalty then suddenly fights under another banner? Naturally."
"A letter wasn't enough to prove my faith, then."
"Sorry, but no."
I had no retort, so I fell silent.
"If you were a pebble, fine. But jade like you? I won't hand it over."
Calling me jade meant he wasn't ready to cut ties.
"No cause for concern there."
"I hope so."
I was confident: zero chance I'd follow Tao Qian. A mere provincial warlord couldn't compare to Jojo, who nearly unified the land. With the dragon before me, why pick the worm?
"If you truly think yourself inferior to Tao Qian, I'll follow him. But that doddering old greed-monger pales next to the dragon before me."
"Tao Qian's not that bad."
"Maybe yesterday. Not now. He thinks he's carved out his own world in Xu—hoarding sycophants, shunning straight talk."
Rejecting Xun Yu, elevating Qiao Hong? Case closed. No wonder Xu Shao bailed in disappointment.
"Like ink staining those near the brush, Tao Qian's losing his edge to flatterers."
"Fair enough. No sense doubting when you put it like that."
Trashing Tao Qian eased Jojo's suspicions, if not entirely. Enough trust for now.
"Enough chit-chat. We've much to discuss."
He clunked his teacup down, refocusing us. His knack for reining in a drifting mood was always impressive.
"You'll hear this for the first time, but I'm gathering righteous volunteers with like-minded souls. Planned it ages ago, but my Luoyang trip—seeing the outer relatives and eunuchs at each other's throats—made delay impossible."
My foreknowledge kept me unfazed; he'd hinted at it last time.
"Seeking your counsel. With your experience, you'll spot the gaps."
"Bit sudden, no? Hard to advise without knowing your preparations."
"Practical details I'll gather on the road."
So, big-picture advice here. I bit back Just do what you want. Too flippant; it'd tank my stock.
"First, a pretext. Rebels cite Yellow Turbans everywhere for their militias; the court turns a blind eye. Lean on that."
"Hm. No cause, and it looks like private soldiers."
Pretexts were fig leaves, but necessary. Say it once, and later gripes fall flat. Everyone here knew that, so it was mostly review.
"Don't muster everyone in one spot—too conspicuous, supply nightmare. Split training sites if possible."
"We think alike. Thousand per site feels right."
In history, he'd sent kin like these Hahou brothers, plus Wu Jin, E Xin, and others home to recruit discreetly. Borrowing his playbook, no wonder we synced.
"Agreed. And also..."
I laid out every fitting suggestion. Jojo nodded, then turned to the Hahous.
"Jang Myeong's telling you to become generals and rally men."
"Perfect! A real man shirks command?"
"Same here."
Luckily, they took it well. Despite Jojo's sly intro, no pettiness—relief.
"That covers the guest room talk. Rest outside."
Jojo rose, leading us out. His pre-muster groundwork dwarfed mine, explaining his historical 5,000-strong force. Grain silos brimmed to feed thousands; weapons linked via merchant networks for quick assembly. Meeting traders bigger than our clan left me quietly awed. The drill ground nearby could hold hundreds with room to spare.
"Oh, more folks to introduce."
He headed to a platform in the corner. And there, all too familiar, stood three men.
Why are they here?