March to Henei
The Anti-Dong Zhuo coalition wasn't like the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where everyone gathered in one spot. You just had to head to wherever the participants had assembled. Among them, the two places with the largest gatherings were Henei and Sanjo.
My suggestion was to move up from Sanjo to Henei.
"Join up with Brother Benchu? Things are worse there than here, aren't they?"
Jojo looked puzzled upon hearing my proposal. We'd learned from letters that Henei's situation was worse than Sanjo's.
To understand why Henei was in such bad shape, you first had to go back to Dong Zhuo's relocation of the capital to Chang'an. When Dong Zhuo moved the capital, he massacred Yuan Shao's clan in Luoyang as revenge against the coalition leader Yuan Shao.
In response, Yuan Shao rose as a hero against Dong Zhuo—and as the tragic protagonist whose family had been wiped out—his fame soaring to the heavens.
'The funny thing is, another survivor, Yuan Shu, didn't get any of that halo.'
For some reason, Yuan Shu, lacking political savvy, didn't get the spotlight like Yuan Shao.
In any case, Yuan Shao's skyrocketing fame became a major threat to Governor Han Fu of Jizhou. Normally, Yuan Shao was just the Grand Administrator of Bohai under Han Fu, but now the hierarchy had flipped.
So Han Fu, to rein in the increasingly influential Yuan Shao, cut off supplies heading to Henei. As a result, the coalition forces in Henei were on the brink of collapse from supply shortages.
"I know. Even their troops aren't fully intact."
But did that mean our own forces were fully intact? Far from it.
Around the time we marched to Hulao Pass, Grand Administrator Wang Kuang of Henei had been crushed by Dong Zhuo at Hayangjin. We didn't know the exact details, but rumors of a crushing defeat suggested at least half his men were gone.
I didn't know if Yuan Shao had been there, but the mood among the coalition in Henei was obvious.
"If we go to Henei alone, you're right, Lord Jojo. That's why we should go with the others."
The vanguard that went to Hulao Pass had taken heavy losses, but the coalition gathered in Sanjo still had supplies left. Unlike Han Fu, no one here was blocking aid, and Tao Qian had even sent grain.
If we joined them and brought our supplies to Henei, the parched Yuan Shao would welcome us with open arms. And if Jojo formed a subordinate relationship with Yuan Shao, we might even get a share of the tributes offered to the leader.
"I can't tell if you're following me or Brother Benchu."
"It's all about the bigger picture. Bide our time, and an escape will come soon enough."
There was less than a year left until the Anti-Dong Zhuo coalition dissolved. Holding our numbers steady for that long was bearable. No hostages, no humiliations, no loss of legitimacy.
"Do you really think those in Sanjo will head to Henei?"
If no one went to Henei, the whole premise collapsed—that was the key point.
I'd been waiting for him to say just that, so I grinned slyly and replied.
"That's why you'll have to make the effort, Lord Jojo. If you fail, I'll be the madman who uprooted two pillars of my clan."
It was a joke meant to lighten the mood, but laced with plenty of sighs and hard truth.
After four years raising five hundred irregulars to rival regular troops, we'd lost two hundred. If we went home with nothing but losses, I'd deserve an inkstone to the head.
"I only lost one, so I'll just end up a headache. Stuck in my room scribbling away till I grow old."
Jojo fired back with his own joke. The Cao clan, from Jo Deng onward, was among the realm's elite, but raising thousands of irregulars wasn't cheap. It was impressive they could write off that cost as a single pillar.
Of course, ending the conversation here would tank his opinion of me. I laid out candidates and persuasion tactics one by one.
"Chenliu's Grand Administrator is on good terms with you, and the Northern Merchant has been with the vanguard from the start—they'll be easy. Dong Commandery's Grand Administrator and Yanzhou's Inspector feud, so use that. Tell them it's a chance to aid the leader in Henei and brand their rivals as traitors within— they'll move right away."
With candidates named, it was Jojo's turn to shine. I hoped he'd convince at least Zhang Miao and Bao Xin, and ideally Qiao Mao and Yu Dai too.
"You're working your future lord to death."
"How can a man with the talent to end these chaotic times complain of weakness?"
"Pity me, off to persuade those backbiters."
"Only by convincing even them can you unify the realm."
Zhang Miao and Bao Xin had marched together without complaints, but Qiao Mao and Yu Dai had badmouthed Jojo—they'd be reluctant. But to preserve our troops, we needed those two with intact supplies. What choice was there?
"Lord Jojo, someone requests an audience."
Jojo grumbled softly—no clever plan in mind—and rose.
But before he could go meet the others, someone came to see him first.
"No one should be seeking me out. Who is it?"
"A man named Jin Gong."
The name of Jojo's first strategist in history—and one who ended in bitter enmity.
As Jang Myeong rose, offering to step aside, Jojo wanted to borrow the sharp eyes that had predicted the future so accurately last year. But he couldn't detain someone with urgent latrine needs.
"I've come to see Lord Jojo."
The man who entered as Jang Myeong left looked about Jojo's age. Sharp, deep eyes gleamed beneath thick brows. Firmly set lips completed his resolute impression. His build leaned toward scholar over warrior, and his neat clothes suggested he hadn't rushed from afar.
"Jin Gong, was it?"
At Jojo's low murmur, the man bowed deeply.
"Yes. I am known as Gongda. I come to offer my talents and realize my ambitions under you."
Jojo stroked his chin beard, scrutinizing Jin Gong. Just as cautiously as six years ago when Jang Myeong had appeared out of nowhere.
"What talents? Your build doesn't scream martial prowess."
"I excel in military strategy, logistics, and practical military affairs."
Jojo quizzed him on strategy on the spot—possible only because he was versed enough in Sun Tzu to annotate it. Jin Gong answered flawlessly.
Confirming he wasn't just a glib scholar, Jojo moved on.
"Your bearing is extraordinary, but I'm more curious why you sought me. Plenty of notables here in Sanjo—why choose me over them?"
Jojo pressed with authority; Jin Gong met his gaze steadily.
"One reason, my lord. In this coalition, the lords chased personal gain, spouting empty theories without action. They cried for the realm's greater good yet none risked their lives."
Jin Gong emphasized his words. He'd chosen his tree carefully—no room for rejection.
"Yet you, despite few troops, persuaded other lords to advance. Though unsuccessful, I saw in your courage and resolve the justice to right these chaotic times."
Much like Jang Myeong's answer. Different examples, but both drawn by unyielding courage against evil.
Yet the same words from a 15-year-old prodigy (ref: Ge Hak) and a 30-year-old veteran (ref: Yi Rip) weren't equal. Double the life experience demanded one more satisfying answer.
"Achieving greater good sometimes requires bloodshed, cruel choices, countless sacrifices. Would you still serve if your talents served that?"
"If sacrifices stem not from selfishness or emotion, but true pursuit of justice, I will follow gladly, no matter what."
Jin Gong's reply satisfied. Jojo smiled, relaxing. No more tests needed.
"Gongda, I'll take your talents."
Jojo rose, extending a hand. Jin Gong clasped it, bowing deeply.
I needed time to mull over this Jin Gong. That's why I skipped their meeting—hard to think while masking my expression.
'Yanzhou's Hao clan. Supporter. Lu Bu and Zhang Miao. And...'
I first dredged up every hazy scrap on him. Prominent in the Three Kingdoms, plenty came to mind.
First, after the coalition ended, Jin Gong persuaded the Hao clan to make Jojo Inspector of Yanzhou—a vital base for his rise, far beyond mere land.
'But then they split.'
For unknown reasons, Jin Gong later allied with Zhang Miao to bring in Lu Bu, betraying Jojo. Jojo spent nearly a year homeless like a stray dog. Compared to blanket general Liu Bei, it was minor—but without Yanzhou's locusts, Lu Bu's self-sabotage, or Yuan Shao's aid, Jojo would've been done.
'Either choice complicates things.'
Reject him, and gaining Yanzhou becomes impossible. Embrace him, and betrayal looms unknown. Tough dilemma.
No half-measures either. Use him for Yanzhou then discard? The whole province revolts.
'But can Jojo rise without Yanzhou?'
The scales tipped toward acceptance. Yanzhou's fruit was too great to risk on uncertain futures.
I concluded: accept Jin Gong.
Half a shichen since he entered— their talk should be done. En route to the tent, an unexpected figure stopped me.
"Well now, Young Master Jang. Where to with such a grave face?"
"Just lost in trivial thought, Lord Gan."
One of Shu Han's founding merits, Gan Yong—better known as Gan Songmi. I'd chatted much with Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, but Gan Yong? No real connection. Seen from afar, but first real talk.
"Mind sharing those thoughts?"
"Wondering what meat fried in oil would taste like."
No reason to bare my soul to Gan Yong, of course. We traded idle chit-chat and parted.
Back at the tent, Jojo awaited. Before I spoke, he did.
"I've accepted Gongda. Sharp on military admin, and he reminds me of you."
I flinched inwardly at "reminds me of you." High praise from a talent-spotter like Jojo.
But akin to a double-betrayer? Joy or dismay? Hard to say.
"So, have you convinced our Henei travel companions?"
"Patience. I just finished with Gongda—how could I have?"
"Hurry. Delay, and supplies for Henei vanish; they'll scatter to home bases."
I practically shoved him out the door.