After the Battle of Sanghyeon
The Battle of Sanghyeon was over. Normally, Jojo would have thrown a grand feast to celebrate Yanzhou's liberation. But with ill tidings pouring in from inside and outside the province, that wasn't possible.
"Has Lord Jebuk Merchant sent any word yet?"
"No, sir."
The bad news from inside Yanzhou was Posin's injury. During the Battle of Sanghyeon, Posin—Jebuk Merchant's subordinate—had fallen from his horse and suffered severe wounds. He hadn't even landed properly, breaking several bones. Whether he lived or died, it would be months before anyone knew; it was a critical condition.
Jangmak and Posin were staunch supporters, and it was a shame to lose them like this.
"With the great traitors gone, the jackals are starting to prowl."
The news from outside Yanzhou was the fall of Chang'an. Situ Wang Yun had killed Dong Zhuo and launched a ruthless purge alongside Lu Bu. The problem was that Wang Yun had conducted the purge without first securing military authority. Li Jue and Guo Si, Dong Zhuo's remnants, ignored the court's order to disband their armies. They marched on Chang'an, and with support from insiders like Jangje and Beonjo inside the city, Chang'an fell.
"What happened to the Situ?"
"His entire family in Chang'an was killed."
Wang Yun's clan had been wiped out, save for a few exceptions, and Lu Bu had fled. I knew of the Disturbance of the Three Excellencies from my knowledge, so I felt no particular shock. But the others in the gathering looked stunned by the news.
"W-well, let's at least raise our cups for now."
Because of this, no one could openly show joy at what should have been a victory celebration. Jebuk Merchant lay bedridden, and the court had been devoured by traitorous lackeys. It was hard to laugh amid such grim reports.
The victory banquet dragged on in an awkward atmosphere.
After the Battle of Sanghyeon, Jojo scouted locations to serve as Yanzhou's new administrative center. The old one, Chang'eup, was too close to the enemy Tao Qian and too far from ally Yuan Shao.
If anything, it was practically Xiaopei Castle if it toppled.
No one could use such a place as a command post, so Chang'eup was demoted to Sanyang Commandery's center. After much deliberation, we settled on Geoseong as Yanzhou's new seat. The first reason was its position between Buyang Castle and Neomgu Castle, making communication with both cities easy. The second was its proximity to Ji Province compared to areas near Chenliu or Jeongdo Castles.
"Now, it's time to bestow offices."
With Yanzhou Inspector settled, Jojo appointed positions to his subordinates. It was only natural now that he had the authority to issue personnel orders. These appointments factored in merits from this campaign too, so existing officials had little room to complain.
Xun Yu became Chief Clerk of the Staff (Biega Fromsa), I was named Registrar of the Bureau of Finance (Bu Jo Fromsa), Jin Gung got Army Supervisor (Gunjeong Sima), and Sun Yu was made Commandant (Do'wi).
For the record, Jojo had initially wanted to put me in Chief Clerk, but I flat-out refused, lying down in protest. My not-so-subtle threat that I'd head to the capital if given that light-duty post worked wonders.
Guo Jia kept his position as Army Strategist Aide, reflecting his view that heavy posts weren't for him. We compensated him with wealth instead, so there was no cause for grievance.
"Thank you, my lord."
"Decided to call me 'lord' now, have you?"
"With a whole province under your banner, I figure it's time I stopped mincing words."
He'd called Jojo "Duke Jo" before, but now it was "my lord" for comfort's sake. Jojo still addressed me by my style name, Somyeong.
Naturally, the generals all got promotions too. Hahou Don rose to Valiant Martial General (Fenwu Jiangjun), Xiahou Yuan to Partial General (Pian Jiangjun), and Jao In to Auxiliary General (Pi Jiangjun). There was no rank above Tooth General for escorts anyway, so Jo Hong stayed as Tooth General (A Jang).
"I am truly grateful. Registrar."
"You've been in a post beneath your talents, and it's troubled me. Now, with a role matching your abilities, I believe you'll rise high."
"I'll repay your faith."
And E Xin, who had been in a minor role, became Colonel (Gyowi). It was the result of his merits on the left flank and my strong advocacy.
From outside, Wu Jin—Posin's subordinate—got Sima. Dian Wei, under Jangmak, joined Hahou Don as Sima. Man Chong, personally summoned by Jojo, was named Yuan Fromsa.
The Yellow Turbans are gone from Yanzhou, and the appointments are done.
Now it was time to turn our eyes to Xuzhou. Who knew what tricks Tao Qian might pull?
I met Jojo privately to discuss strategies.
After the Yellow Turban battles ended, the civil officials ran ragged handling the flood of work. For half a month, they ate and slept in the offices, buried in paper and bamboo slips. My old neuralgia, vanished during the chaos, resurfaced and wrecked my sleep.
"How's your health?"
"Not good."
The silver lining was that when I fell ill, others picked up the slack. As Registrar of Finance, I had subordinates now, so I could rest at home for two days. Back as a clerk, I'd dragged my corpse-like body through duties without help.
During that brief recovery, Guo Jia visited with a bottle of liquor.
"A drink's the cure for that."
His arrival only worsened my headache—or so it felt. Pressing my temples, I asked, "So why are you here? Aren't you swamped with the Blue Province Troops?"
Jojo had formed the Blue Province Troops from captured Yellow Turban soldiers in the Sanghyeon battle. He planned to organize about 40,000 under that name for tuntian reclamation duties. Hahou Don and Guo Jia were in charge.
Guo Jia should have been run off his feet.
"Can't we just meet as friends? Everyone's too busy these days—no drinking buddies left."
"Yes. State your business and go find new ones."
His every word and gesture grated on my nerves. I wanted to end this and rest, so I cut the chit-chat.
Guo Jia coughed awkwardly at my coldness, then got to the point.
"The struggle in Hebei isn't wrapping up anytime soon."
While we battled the Black Mountain Bandits and Yellow Turbans, Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan traded blows. Yuan Shao had won at Jieqiao early this year, but Gongsun Zan didn't roll over. After Jieqiao, he crushed Yuan Shao's general Choi Geo-eop and brought half of Qing Province under his sway. With stakes so high, one battle wouldn't end the power struggle. And now, with alliances forming, the conflict was poised to escalate.
"So, since Tao Qian allied with Gongsun Zan this summer, he might harm the Grand Commandant. You want to fetch him early?"
"Exactly."
Gongsun Zan had shaken off my interference and allied with Tao Qian. Delaying it this long with a word to Jo Goeng was profit enough.
"It's already approved."
I handed Guo Jia a document from a pile in the corner. It detailed escorting Hahou Sheng to Yanzhou with 200 men under Xiahou Yuan, Hahou Don, and E Xin. As the overseer in half a month, I knew of it.
"We'll act while Duke Jo's prestige from crushing the Yellow Turbans lingers, and before Yanzhou and Xuzhou clash swords."
Tao Qian had watched us break and absorb hundreds of thousands of Yellow Turbans next door. When fists could settle it, offering gifts and talking peace worked best.
"I heard it all from the Inspector. I'm here to suggest more. Even 200 is an army—they'll draw ire from those who dislike it."
Guo Jia pinpointed the flaw in my plan. Troops crossing lines would spark rumors; he was right.
"That's why we're offering a tenth of the Grand Commandant's assets to the Xuzhou Inspector."
We'd feed Tao Qian wealth dozens of times our family's holdings. I didn't trust him, but it beat nothing.
"I mean adding legitimacy. Announce a gentleman's agreement to escort the Grand Commandant—greedy eyes won't dare touch him under the world's gaze."
"Good idea. Suggest it to my lord as is."
With Guo Jia shaking his bottle, my headache wouldn't quit, so I shooed him out. He'd tweak the plan with Jojo now.
The next day, feeling better, I returned to the office. Three days off amid frenzy meant going in sick or not; healthy, no question.
Who's that?
A stranger stood before the office—one I'd never seen. By looks, he seemed past fifty. Yet he was tall—head and shoulders over my seven chi two cun.
Curious why he lingered, I approached.
"Business at the office?"
Grizzled hair turned my way. His scholarly eyes marked him no drifter.
"I'm Jeong Rip. Style name, Jeongdeok."
Neither name rang bells. But my eye for talent, honed on worthies, screamed he was one. No unknown talent should appear now, so I scanned my mental roster.
Surnames don't change: Jeong Bo, Jeong Gyeom, Jeong Hyeon... Jeong Uk!
This was Jeong Uk, one of Jojo's core advisors. With Yanzhou Inspector post secured, Jojo had sent letters far and wide; Jeong Uk had answered.
"Summoned by the Yanzhou Inspector, I came here. Are you a Document Clerk?"
He clearly took me for a lowly clerk. At twenty-three, my baby face didn't scream heavy responsibility.
A prankish impulse struck.
"Yes. But the Inspector isn't in today, so I'll take you to the Registrar of Finance."
Jeong Rip tilted his head. Normally, Chief Clerk or Chief of Staff handled this—administration head or personnel.
"Very well."
But he followed readily, trusting a clerk wouldn't lead astray. He stroked his beard at escorting to finance and logistics, though.
"Almost there."
"Hm, the Registrar's already in—impressive."
I led him to my office. Early morning, no one crossed paths—lucky, or greetings would have blown it.
"Here."
I entered, sat at the head seat without hesitation. Jeong Rip's eyes widened at me there.
His face mixed bafflement and doubt.
"Pleased to meet you, Lord Jeong Rip. Registrar of Finance under Yanzhou Inspector. Style name Somyeong."
Shock at my youth in the post layered atop his features.
"Ah... my apologies. I didn't expect the Registrar to be so young...."
I skipped more teasing, asked for Jojo's letter. He handed it over, dazed. The handwriting was pure Jojo, content fine.
Prank over; time to send him to Jojo.
"Verified. I'll assign a clerk to guide you. The Inspector awaits."
I called a clerk from work and dispatched Jeong Rip. Now, three days' backlog awaited.
Word later: Jojo gave Jeong Uk Sanghyeon Magistrate on first meeting. And my prank hit hard—Jeong Rip honored the escort clerk with respect.
Five-year-old Jang Hyeon raced through the garden. Now adept at play, Hyeon ran from sunrise to sunset without pause. After memorizing and learning etiquette, he spent time moving his body.
Seo Yeon watched her son from a garden corner.
"His personality doesn't match his name."
Her husband roamed afar: Myeong (), bright, yet unknowing. Her son, Hyeon (), preferred action over books.
Seo Yeon reread the letter a servant brought that morning. Ink-scented, it said Jang Myeong was now Registrar of Finance. Soon he'd bring the family and Elder Jo Sung to Yanzhou—wait just a bit. It asked to return it to Father-in-law after reading.
I'll savor it a little longer before handing it over.
Thinking of her arm-proud husband, Seo Yeon's lips curved up.