A Generous Gift and the Rising Tiger of Changsha
After successfully celebrating the joyous occasion of his wedding at home, Seo Jun left the house to offer his own return gifts. He planned to visit the homes of those who had personally come to congratulate him on his marriage, bearing small tokens of appreciation. Naturally, his first destination was Ha Jin's residence.
“Has Young Master Seo arrived?”
Seo Jun's standing within Ha Jin's household had risen steadily. Many of the servants now treated him almost like a son who had left and returned, showing considerable deference. This was because Ha Jin frequently displayed such profound affection toward him that the household members instinctively bowed their heads in respect.
“Ah, so Jun has come!”
“Yes, General. Thank you for taking the trouble to attend my wedding.”
“Of course I had to go—it was your wedding! Hahaha~ So, how was the first night?”
“Hahaha~ Yes! It went very well.”
Ha Jin now called him by name and often showed a rather familial, friendly demeanor. It created a warm, almost family-like atmosphere.
“Husband, I have brought tea.”
“Come in.”
The door opened, and in walked Ha Jin's second wife, Ju Ran. She possessed a beautiful yet seductive appearance and a voluptuous figure, leading a maid who carried a tray.
“I greet you, Madam Ju.”
“Hoho~ Young Master Seo, allow me to congratulate you on your marriage once again.”
Ju Ran lightly covered her mouth as she looked at Seo Jun, offering a subtle, meaningful smile with her eyes.
She’s like a rose covered in thorns—one wrong touch and you’ll get badly pricked. I can’t afford to ruin my relationship with Ha Jin, so I’ll have to be even more careful from now on.
Seo Jun fully understood the signal Ju Ran was sending. However, for someone like him who still had to rely almost entirely on Ha Jin, her advances were like sweet poison. At the same time, he couldn’t simply pretend not to notice and ignore her, given her position in the household. There was always the risk of pillow talk—if she ever harbored a grudge against him, there was no telling what negative things she might whisper to Ha Jin while lying beside him.
In truth, Ju Ran had possessed a powerful sexual appetite since she was young. But her family needed political power, so she had accepted the role of second wife and married Ha Jin for the sake of her clan. Unfortunately, the passionate Ju Ran found Ha Jin lacking in his ability to satisfy her desires. Recently, the man who had captured her wandering gaze was none other than Seo Jun.
Though the opportunity had not yet arrived, Ju Ran was quietly looking for a chance to meet Seo Jun alone.
How wonderful it would be to be embraced by that body even once?
While Seo Jun was engaged in this invisible battle of nerves with Ju Ran, a voice called from outside.
“Grand General, a guest has arrived.”
“A guest? I don’t recall having any appointments today. Who is it?”
“He introduced himself as Administrator Sun of Changsha.”
“You mean Sun Jian, who was appointed Administrator of Changsha yesterday? What could he want? Bring him in at once.”
After ordering Sun Jian to be escorted to the room, Ha Jin turned to Seo Jun.
“Jun, it seems Administrator Sun has come to pay his respects before heading to his post. He’s someone worth knowing, so stay and meet him with me.”
“Understood, General.”
Sun Jian—the very root of the Sun clan that would one day establish the state of Wu. He was one of the figures Seo Jun both knew well from novels and games and genuinely wanted to meet in this world.
Sun Jian was a loyal general of the Han Dynasty. Having achieved victory in numerous battles, he had built a solid career and risen to his current position through sheer merit. In a way, he was someone who had already walked the path Seo Jun intended to follow.
His appointment as Administrator of Changsha the previous day in the imperial audience hall had come about because a man named Wu Sheng had recently gathered rebels in the Changsha region of Jing Province. Sun Jian had been chosen as the ideal person to suppress the uprising.
The Emperor and the Ten Attendants had no choice but to approve the appointment despite their reluctance. The position of Administrator was one that could yield twenty million coins in profit, but they needed to maintain the appearance of properly suppressing the rebellion. In the end, they had swallowed their tears and eaten the mustard, so to speak.
“Grand General, Administrator Sun of Changsha has arrived.”
“Show him in. Wife, prepare some more tea.”
“Yes, husband.”
The door opened, and a robust, imposing man with a short beard and a bold, heroic face entered. Beside him was a boy who, despite his sturdy build, had a strikingly handsome and youthful appearance.
“Grand General, before departing for my post, I felt it proper to pay my respects once more. I know it is rude to visit without prior appointment, yet here I am.”
“Administrator Sun, I am grateful you came. You are taking on a difficult task, so it is good to see your face again before you leave. Ah—this is Seo Jun, whom I regard as a son. I thought the two of you should know each other, so I had him remain here.”
Sun Jian had been curious about the tall, handsome Seo Jun standing familiarly beside Ha Jin. When Ha Jin introduced him at just the right moment, a spark of interest lit up in Sun Jian's eyes. As a renowned warrior himself, he had heard the rumors about Seo Jun spreading through Luoyang, and he felt both curiosity and a competitive spirit.
“Ah~ I have indeed heard the rumors of the White Dragon. It gladdens my heart to meet such a famed young general before I depart far away.”
“And this must be your son beside you?”
“Yes, Grand General. This child is my eldest, Ce. Though still young, he already carries his own weight. Since he will be accompanying me to Changsha, I brought him along to pay his respects.”
“Sun Ce greets the Grand General, pillar of the Han! I also greet the White Dragon Duke, whom I have long admired!”
Sun Jian's son, Sun Ce, bowed with a maturity beyond his years. He clasped his hands together and performed a deep, respectful salute to both Ha Jin and Seo Jun.
“Administrator Sun’s eldest son is quite composed. A promising future indeed. Learn much from your father and assist him well.”
“Yes! I will, Grand General!”
After the greetings, they engaged in casual conversation. The topic soon turned to the army heading to Changsha.
“The troops I am taking to suppress the rebellion include some who already follow me, and I can recruit more along the way. However, I am greatly concerned about the lack of funds to purchase military provisions. The military funds provided by the court will only cover half of what is needed.”
In truth, while Sun Jian had come to bid farewell, his hidden main purpose was to appeal for military funding.
The Emperor and the Ten Attendants had reluctantly appointed him Administrator to suppress the rebellion, but they had never intended to provide adequate supplies or funds. To them, all that mattered was maintaining the outward appearance that they had made an effort to quell the revolt. Whether the campaign succeeded or failed was of little concern.
“Haa~ That is indeed a difficult problem. I could perhaps help secure some additional troops, but I have no means to provide military funds myself.”
Though Ha Jin was not poor, he did not possess the kind of wealth that could easily fund an entire punitive expedition. The current Grand Commandant, Jo Sung, who oversaw military affairs at court, had been appointed recently and was maintaining a neutral stance. If Ha Jin tried hard to persuade him, it might be possible. However, most of the lower officials handling practical affairs—the Commandant’s Chief Clerk and Consultants—were aligned with the corrupt faction. It was unrealistic to expect them to defy the Ten Attendants and provide funds to Sun Jian.
“General.”
Seo Jun took out a small pouch from his robe and gently pushed it toward Ha Jin.
“What is this?”
“It may not be enough, but please offer this sum to Administrator Sun in your name, General. Additionally, if you spread word in the markets of Luoyang that you have supported him, perhaps other righteous individuals will contribute a little more.”
What Seo Jun had taken out was the prize money he had won in the recent competition. To him, it was neither a large nor an indispensable amount. Yet in the current situation, it was a useful sum that would allow him to earn significant favor with both Ha Jin and Sun Jian.
“Is this perhaps the prize money from the contest?”
“Yes, it is.”
“My word! Administrator Sun, please accept this. Although it comes from me, this is actually the prize our White Dragon received for winning the martial contest at Kang Seong’s sixtieth birthday celebration. Do not forget this and use it well for the suppression campaign.”
Ha Jin slid the pouch toward Sun Jian while giving Seo Jun a deeply satisfied smile. The young man had once again helped preserve his dignity in multiple ways.
“White Dragon Duke, is it truly acceptable for you to give me such a large sum?”
Sun Jian slightly loosened the string of the pouch, peeked inside, and asked with a surprised expression. One hundred gold taels was certainly not enough to fully fund his army, but it was still a considerable amount for an individual to provide.
“It is money I never expected to obtain in the first place. Fortunately, my family has enough assets that we will not starve. If Administrator Sun uses it meaningfully for the sake of the nation, I consider it a worthwhile cause.”
“Hahaha~ Truly! To think with such noble intentions—White Dragon Duke, you are a true loyal subject of the realm. I am deeply grateful for the great kindness shown by both the Grand General and the White Dragon Duke.”
Sun Jian felt a strong sense of goodwill toward Seo Jun, who had generously donated a large sum without any personal greed.
“Ce! Engrave the hearts of the Grand General and the White Dragon Duke deeply in your mind. Never forget this grace, and always strive for the sake of our country.”
“Yes, Father.”
With the atmosphere having improved considerably, the group moved outside to see off Sun Jian, who now had to depart.
“Administrator Sun, may you successfully pacify the rebellion and bring back news of victory.”
“Yes, Grand General! I shall certainly do so.”
Just as Sun Jian was about to leave after his final farewell, Sun Ce stepped forward in front of Seo Jun.
“White Dragon Duke! Please do not lose to anyone until I come to defeat you myself! Wait for me!”
“My word, White Dragon Duke, my son is full of youthful vigor and has been rude. Please forgive him.”
“Haha, it is quite all right, Administrator Sun. Ce, learn much from your father while you are away. When you return alive, I will face you once.”
Seo Jun actually felt pleased by Sun Ce's fiery competitive spirit and bold demeanor, which reminded him of the character from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It felt strangely enjoyable to realize that he was no longer an outsider in this world, but someone who inspired rivalry and admiration among its people.
P.S.
Thank you to everyone who offered their opinions. Starting next week, I plan to move the novel’s classification over to the alternate history section. The flow of the story and the level of erotic description will not change at all—this is simply a move from the high-intensity adult category to the alternate history category on Novelpia.
At first, my goal was to write a very erotic novel that felt plausible for that era. But as I wrote a story that felt genuinely historical, I began to feel that classifying it purely as a high-intensity adult novel was somewhat awkward. ^^
Thank you once again for leaving so many opinions.