Bonds Forged in the Langguan Academy
Seo Jun thought he had arrived late and hurried his steps toward the courtyard of the Su'an Hall. Yet contrary to his expectations, he seemed to have come early; not a single person was present in the courtyard.
Standing awkwardly in the middle would only draw strange looks from those arriving behind him, so he reluctantly took up a position near the edge of the courtyard and waited for the others. The wait stretched longer than anticipated. Roughly fifteen minutes had passed when the sound of murmuring voices approached, and a group of several men filed into the Su'an Hall courtyard one after another.
Those who continued to arrive afterward appeared to come from rather wealthy families. Though they wore the standard low-ranking official robes of langguan, the garments were crafted from fine silk, giving them an unusually refined air. The colors were exceptionally vibrant, and the soft weave of the fabric caught the light with a constant shimmer. It was easy to imagine how exorbitant the price must have been.
Seo Jun had dressed with considerable care today at his wives' insistence, yet compared to these men his attire looked positively frugal. Pearls around a pig's neck. The clothes were of the highest quality, but the wearers had clearly spent their lives eating and sitting idle. Even in their youth, their bodies were soft and rounded, their faces plump and glossy; the splendid robes could not overcome their owners' lack of presence.
Nevertheless, they strode into the courtyard with expressions of boundless self-satisfaction, constantly scanning the other groups in search of anyone who might prove useful.
“Haha, well, my father spoke with the Minister of Personnel this time and secured the county magistrate position in Yan Province for me without question. And you? Where have you been assigned?”
“Would you believe my father couldn’t prepare the proper sum to send the Minister of Works? He says I must go to Yi Province. Can you imagine? Sending the eldest son of the family off to a dead end!”
Before long thirty or so men had gathered. More than nine-tenths of them clustered in the center of the courtyard, forming tight knots with those they already knew and chatting busily. The subjects of their conversation never varied: which eunuch they were close to, which post had already been promised them, which region offered the best opportunities for profit, and how quickly they could recoup the money spent to obtain their new positions.
Not a trace of aspiration for their new roles as officials, nor the slightest concern for the country or its people, could be found among them.
The country truly has reached its end. When even newly appointed officials speak only of such things…
Because Seo Jun kept apart from such circles, he was naturally pushed farther outward until he stood at the courtyard’s outermost edge. Beside him was a calm-looking man who appeared to be around thirty years old.
“Sigh. Even a short distance beyond Luoyang the roads are lined with starving people dying of hunger, yet the very men who should be taking office to save them behave like this. It worries me deeply.”
“Indeed. The world grows harsher by the day for those without power or means. That is the real problem.”
“It seems we share similar views. I am Jun of the Im family from Zhongmu County in Henan. My courtesy name is Baekdal. I am a scholar who has studied both Confucianism and agriculture. Through a fortunate connection with Governor Zhang of Jinliu I received a recommendation and have come to Luoyang.”
Im Jun had decided from Seo Jun’s bearing that he would be worth talking to, and thus introduced himself politely. Seo Jun in turn gave his own name. Im Jun reacted exactly as most people did upon meeting Seo Jun for the first time these days—visibly surprised and delighted.
“I have long wished to meet you. I never imagined I would encounter the White Dragon Duke in a place like this.”
“I am more interested in the fact that Baekdal is knowledgeable about agriculture. In truth, I have recently acquired some farmland and have been pondering how best to make use of it.”
At Seo Jun’s display of interest in farming, Im Jun’s face lit up. He began explaining everything he knew, eager to share even the smallest detail.
The two men, finding their minds in harmony, were deep in animated conversation when another voice cut in.
“Are they not truly remarkable? What is there to boast about in buying office with money that they chatter so loudly?”
Another man, deciding he differed from the noisy crowd in the center, approached Seo Jun and Im Jun. He offered a light bow and spoke.
He appeared slightly older than Seo Jun, with a rather stylish appearance and keen, intelligent eyes. Yet to Seo Jun, who had lived through many years, and to Im Jun, who had met countless people, the man’s unconscious desire to stand out and show off was plainly evident.
“Haha, well met! I am Do of the Gwak family from Yingchuan. My courtesy name is Gongchik. I imagine many of you have heard of the Gwak clan of Yangzhai County in Yingchuan. Have you two perhaps not? Haha! I was serving as an administrative aide in the governor’s office when Governor Yin of Yingchuan recognized my talent. Despite my repeated refusals, he insisted on recommending me, and so here I am.”
While introducing himself, Gwak Do believed he was being modest, yet he spent every sentence highlighting his own merits in the most roundabout way possible. To his listeners, however, it came across as blatant boasting.
Im Jun, with his neatly trimmed beard and calm, generous demeanor, gave a favorable impression. Gwak Do, though a boastful chatterbox, seemed reasonably bright and capable. Both had been recommended by men famous within the Qingliu faction: Governor Yin of Yingchuan, who had already sent many talents such as Jong Yo, Sun Yu, and Jang Rye to the capital, and Governor Zhang of Jinliu, known for his close ties to Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and Yuan Shu as well as his strong sense of justice and willingness to help those in need.
Gwak Do… if my memory serves, he was affiliated with Yuan Shao’s side. I’m less certain about Im Jun, but from what I see now, Im Jun appears far more capable.
Thanks to his raised intelligence stat, once-vague memories surfaced more readily. The recollection of Gwak Do came immediately. Still, Seo Jun found himself more drawn to Im Jun—who studied agriculture and shared his temperament—than to Gwak Do, whose name was only moderately known in the historical records.
“I am Jun of the Seo family. My courtesy name is Baekryong.”
“I am Jun of the Im family. My courtesy name is Baekdal.”
Gwak Do, who had been waiting for their introductions, widened his eyes at Seo Jun’s words.
“Truly? You are the Black Wind Heavenly General, the White Dragon Duke whose name is on everyone’s lips these days? Haha! And how curious—both of you share the given name Jun and similar courtesy names! I never dreamed I would meet the White Dragon Duke here.”
Despite the brevity of their introductions, Gwak Do’s mouth ran on without pause. He possessed the flaws of youthful arrogance and excessive talkativeness, yet he did not seem like a bad sort.
With Gwak Do now part of their group, the three passed the waiting time in various conversations. As time went on, however, Seo Jun’s interest remained fixed on the subject of agriculture that Im Jun studied. Gwak Do, utterly ignorant of farming, gradually found himself edged out of the discussion.
To Gwak Do, who had always drawn every eye and held the center of attention wherever he went, the experience felt distinctly unfamiliar. Determined to recapture Seo Jun’s interest—the man who was currently the talk of the realm—he spoke up again.
“There was a friend who ended up competing with me for this recommendation. He worked alongside me as an assistant in the governor’s office. I handled taxes because I’m good with numbers, while he managed documents because of his meticulous nature. Governor Yin decided I was the better choice this time and recommended me instead. Haha, I felt so sorry for him that I was scolded soundly. Still, he comes from the renowned Sun family of Yingchuan and possesses real ability. I expect he will receive a recommendation and come to Luoyang next year.”
“The Sun family? Who exactly is this friend of yours from the Sun clan?”
Seo Jun had met Sun Yu at Jeong Hyeon’s sixtieth birthday banquet and was acquainted with him, but the Sun family of Yingchuan was known to contain many capable individuals. His curiosity was piqued.
“You know the Sun family?”
“I know that the Gwak family of Yangzhai County and the Sun family of Yingyin County are both prominent in Yingchuan.”
When Seo Jun mentioned his own family first, Gwak Do’s briefly dampened mood lifted again.
“His name is Sun Uk. He is certainly intelligent, but rather inflexible. Dealing with him can be quite frustrating.”
Sun Uk? Is it the Sun Uk I know?
Having gauged Gwak Do’s personality, Seo Jun asked in a deliberately casual tone, “What is this Sun Uk’s courtesy name?”
“His courtesy name is Munyak. Are you interested in him by any chance?”
Seeing that Seo Jun, who had seemed only mildly attentive to him, now showed clear interest in Sun Uk, Gwak Do frowned slightly, his eyes clouding with displeasure.