Fading Coalition and Yuan Shao's Probe
By the Lesser Heat of Xiaoping 1st year (190 AD), all the supplies the Jojo army had brought when they first raised their banners were exhausted. Even though their initial grain stores were meager, they had lasted longer than most other forces because they had fewer mouths to feed. Jang Mok distributed what provisions they had, and Jo Hong bought more grain with his personal funds to fill the gaps. It was a stroke of luck that Hanoi was close to Ji Province, keeping grain prices reasonable.
"I'll play white on this board where you've already placed two black stones first. If I lose, I'll give you five seok of millet; if I win, just two."
While Jo Hong was dipping into his own pockets, I earned military grain through betting games of Go. A few who fancied themselves skilled players showed up, treating the millet as mere entry fees. By mixing in some deliberate losses over a fortnight of challenges, I raked in 40 seok of millet. Jojo wrote letters back to his clan, and others pitched in as best they could. Though short on supplies, we managed to keep our troops fed and intact.
On a sweltering day under the scorching Great Heat sun, Liu Bei stood before Jojo and me with his two sworn brothers. Dozens of soldiers behind him stood ready to depart, their gear packed.
"We're leaving now."
Liu Bei spoke first, his face etched with regret and firm resolve.
"We've been in your debt. If fate allows, we'll meet again."
Jojo nodded gravely.
"If that's your will, how could I stop you? Blame my own failings for lacking the grain to retain a hero like you. You three brothers are men of great talent—we'll surely cross paths again at higher stations."
Listening to the two heroes' exchange, a bitter taste filled my mouth. Sending away one of the realm's top talents for want of food—it was a truly wretched moment.
"Farewell, Xuande."
What a pity, such a waste.
I stood watching until Liu Bei vanished into the dust. Only when he was completely out of sight did I let out a soft sigh and turn away.
The coalition visibly faltered. "Owl's head, dove's breast" fit better now than "alliance."
Around Start of Autumn, supply shortages forced some armies to the brink. Starving soldiers began plundering the surroundings after skipping entire days of meals. Even their own officers, hungry themselves, turned a blind eye out of fear of mutiny. Armies with provisions guarded their camps to fend off the desperate raiders.
At least Hanoi’s people won’t suffer too much.
The coalition lingering in Yingchuan dispersed around harvest time as their grain ran dry. Rumors swirled that Governor Gong Ju of Yuzhou was on his deathbed, though no one knew why. With no clashes against Dong Zhuo's forces in Yingchuan, it was probably illness or assassination.
"Wang Hong will take command as Chief Commandant of the East."
These are the men who preached grand justice?
The feud between Yu Dai and Jiao Mo ended with Jiao Mo's death. Yuan Shao spared Yu Dai after he offered compensation, and Wang Hong filled the vacant East Commandant post. When I first heard, I thought it was Hanoi’s Governor Wang Guang doubling up.
"Jang Myeong, things are unfolding just as you predicted."
"As long as it doesn't ruffle the Lord's feathers."
Meanwhile, Han Bong and Yuan Shao openly pushed to enthrone Liu Yu. Jojo staunchly opposed installing a new emperor. With Jang Mok vehemently against the move, Jojo avoided Yuan Shao's ire.
Hmm, the tiger of Jiangdong is about to roar.
Word had come that Sun Jian, Inspector of Changsha, was marching north from Jing Province and allying with Yuan Shu. Thinking of the Imperial Seal in his hands, Sun Jian would one day reclaim the ashes of Luoyang. That was enough on southern affairs—I paid no more mind.
During our time in Hanoi, I worked on the stratagems treatise in my spare moments.
"So, in your homeland, they only build dikes one ri from the riverbank?"
"Yes. Even if the river floods, it doesn't hit the dikes directly, so damage is minimized."
"But doesn't that shrink arable land by a full ri?"
"That's why they plant taro outside the dikes for cultivation."
Build dikes close to the river, space them apart, and use the buffer zone for taro.
Previously, I'd jot ideas haphazardly in the treatise, inking over them when better ones came. Now:
"Does it work like this?"
"Yes. Just reinforce the wobbling axle, and it'll be fine."
I often consulted armorers repairing weapons, commissioning prototypes. The screw pump, even as a rough model, proved highly practical. Reservoirs filled with silt, so we'd dredge the mud from the lower sluices with it for fields. The treatise grew a mess of ink smudges and half-erased script, jumbled and hard to read.
To organize, I split it into three volumes: technical manual, blueprints, and stratagems. I crammed related sections together, boiling useless pages for fresh paper. Rifling through notes, rewriting—it took ages for even one volume.
Half a year in Hanoi brought full winter. With the new year, Xiaoping 2nd year (191 AD) January brought news that Liu Yu had rejected the coalition's endorsement. Guo Duo, first to relay it, practically danced with joy before me.
"Haha, Jang Somyeong! Thanks to your advice, the Governor dodged disaster."
For half a year, I'd counseled Guo Duo to stress Han Bong's lead over Yuan Shao's in the endorsement push. If it failed, Han Bong bore the infamy; if it succeeded, he'd stop hounding Yuan Shao. Guo Duo reported it straight to Yuan Shao upon parting, who adopted it as plausible. Yuan Shao fronted Han Bong to claim credit, dodging treason accusations. Han Bong, already tarnished by his coalition foot-dragging, took the extra hit.
"Hearing you praise my humble counsel so highly confirms the respect I've held for you."
"Don't call it humble. I'll repay this favor one day."
Guo Duo gripped my hands, repeating his vow. With Yuan Shao praising him nonstop, my scheme had clearly profited him.
I had no wants now, so he insisted I call anytime and left. In the quiet tent, I rubbed my temples, pondering.
A favor. An unexpected windfall.
I mulled when to cash in the debt Guo Duo owed, settling on using it for seizing Yanzhou. If Yuan Shao sent Jojo to Ji Province instead, this favor would sway Guo Duo to push for Yanzhou.
Come to think of it, when does Yuan Shao conspire with Gongsun Zan to take Ji Province? The coalition ties lack pretext now... but cutting supplies has painted him villainous—maybe the perfect moment?
As I pondered twisting the flow to my ends, a guard at the tent flap announced a visitor. I assumed it was some Go challenger or Xu You after my coin—until the guard uttered the absurd name.
"Advisor, the Lord has come."
"The Lord? Bring him in at once."
I lifted the flap myself—Yuan Shao stood there. Time better spent plotting Han Bong's downfall, yet here he was, busy as he was, visiting me. I couldn't fathom why.
"Do you see the stars clearly these days?"
Yuan Shao plunged in with a vexing question as he entered.
"I've been playing Go nightly—no time for stargazing."
"Fair enough. I heard how you procured grain."
I averted my gaze. I'd earned a whopping 150 seok through betting Go.
"Selling a stratagem or two per game, they say."
As betting fever waned, I'd charged tuition instead. One key move I'd reviewed became a dagger in their next match. Word spread, drawing pupils until 150 seok piled up.
"Just a desperate measure to eat."
"Not here to scold. As I said, it's the stars I came about."
Stargazing irked me, but I couldn't shoo Yuan Shao away.
"Couldn't you see them when you first arrived in Hanoi?"
I dodged, saying I hadn't looked then either, but he pressed if I had at all. I blocked with talk of stars vanishing post-abdication.
"Is that why you came? If so, I'll report what I see."
A rat in a trap—that's how trapped I felt. Whatever he was digging at boded ill.
"No, that's not my curiosity."
I tried wrapping up, but Yuan Shao waved it off.
"You? The one who fed that scheme to Guo the Advisor."
"What are you talking about?"
Yuan Shao's suspicions of Jang Myeong weren't new. From the moment Guo Duo presented the scheme, he'd pegged Jang Myeong as the puppeteer.
"Somyeong, you know? I appointed Guo as advisor, but without great expectations."
Yuan Shao had seen Guo as a steady administrator, a bridge to recruit real talent—like Guo Wai buying a thousand-league horse for its bones in the Warring States.
"But half a year ago, he brought a scheme that stunned me."
Yuan Shao probed gently, expecting Jang Myeong to squirm. But the reaction dashed hopes.
"True. When Guo pulled out that scheme to discuss, even I marveled at the ingenuity."
"?"
Jang Myeong chimed in agreement. Yuan Shao, braced for silence or excuses, faltered.
"Hmm, impressive enough to surprise even you."
"That's when I realized how limited my own experience was."
Jang Myeong offered a duck's foot with a straight face—hard to tell if hiding a chicken's or post-duck dinner. But one exchange couldn't erase half a year's suspicions. Sensing the first bait miss, Yuan Shao cast the second.
"Yet in the half-year since, Guo's shown only that one scheme before reverting to mediocrity."
"The best stratagems are rare by nature. I haven't produced any worth note since Luoyang."
"And the most advisor-like man I know grew chummy with Guo then."
"Too generous for a fool who couldn't even block Dong Zhuo's entry."
The response stayed lukewarm—no shake of Jang Myeong's core. The hidden unicorn slumbered on.
"So you never discussed schemes with Guo at all?"
"We did. He fretted over pulling Jizhou in; I said invoke merits."
Yuan Shao's reason screamed Jang Myeong innocent, instinct guilty. Torn, his probe softened.
"Dodging won't help."
"Dodging? Did Guo say otherwise?"
Even a bluff failed—Jang Myeong seemed genuinely clueless.
Once Yuan Shao left, I cautiously unclenched my fist under the table. Tense sweat slicked my palm.
A future conqueror of Hebei was no mere official's match.
That was close.
Good thing I'd sussed his reason just before he asked outright if I'd fed him the scheme. Panic or babble under pressure would've ended me. Even Xu You fleecing my scant coin hadn't rattled me so.
First things first.
Urgent: explain to Guo Duo, align stories. I'd claimed solo invention, but told Yuan Shao it was collaboration. Mismatch if questioned. I penned details on paper with a fine brush, sending it via courier. "Burn after reading"—no loose ends.
Hold off on more schemes? One test, and tail-tucking might heighten suspicion?
After agonized thought, I decided to keep feeding Guo Duo schemes, big and small. Quitting now risked fraying ties. Bury doubts before Yuan Shao latched on.