Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Yang Province Governor Yang Yong
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Jincheng front lines.
The rebel army's Grand General Li Wenhou was reviewing the state of the battle inside his tent.
His force of 100,000 remained intact.
They had even repelled Dong Zhuo's army once before, when his troops had charged in disorderly fashion, blinded by lust for loot. But that was as far as it went.
The Han main force under Lu Zhi and Zhu Jun held firm in a standoff, launching attacks whenever the slightest opening appeared.
They had managed to hold on somehow until now, but the situation was gradually turning against them.
In the midst of this, anxiety was mounting with no word from Wang and Beigong Boyu, who had departed for the rear to deal with Zhang Liao's forces.
"Grand General! Generals Han and Bian seek an audience."
"Let them in."
Li Wenhou greeted the two with a weary face and opened his mouth.
"What brings you here? Speak if you have something to say."
Bian Zhang hesitated, glancing around awkwardly, but Han Su cut straight to the point without mincing words.
"Grand General, the battle isn't going well. If the court had withdrawn their army as Your Highness predicted, that would be one thing. But now they've linked up with reinforcements, and their momentum is piercing the heavens. The tribal chiefs and Hu clans who followed us are wavering."
"...I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
Li Wenhou replied coldly.
"Once His Highness sorts out the rear and returns, everything will be resolved."
"Grand General... no, Li Wenhou. Enough already—let's surrender. If we lead this army of 100,000 to defect even now, the court won't punish everyone. Pin the blame on Beigong Boyu as the ringleader, and a path to survival opens for us all."
At Han Su's blatant call to surrender, Li Wenhou finally erupted in fury.
"You betrayed the Han, and now you mean to betray His Highness too? You treacherous cur!"
The moment Li Wenhou's hand went to his sword, Han Su clucked his tongue as if the man were pathetic.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. So oblivious."
"—Gah!"
No sooner had Han Su finished speaking than a short scream rang out from outside the tent, followed by the clamor of clashing metal.
Li Wenhou cried out in shock.
"You bastards... no way?!"
"Don't worry. Could we have pulled this off with just us?"
As Han Su spoke, several Qiang tribal chiefs strode into the tent, swords dripping blood.
Li Wenhou's personal guard outside the tent lay dead.
As the chiefs entered with blades drawn, Li Wenhou let out a hollow sigh.
"...Hah, you lot might be forgiven, but not me."
"That's why we're taking your head!"
With that, Han Su swiftly drew his sword and severed Li Wenhou's neck.
—Slash!
Li Wenhou's head rolled limply across the floor. Bian Zhang muttered, something feeling off.
"Ahem... even so, this is too—"
"You want us all dead? Huh? Show some restraint! We've already earned the suppression army's hatred from that last blunder. If we don't bring this back, you think we'll survive?"
Han Su grabbed Li Wenhou's hair, splattering Bian Zhang with blood as he shouted. Then he turned to the Qiang chiefs, face smeared with gore.
"Some tribes still follow Beigong Boyu. We need to wipe them out root and branch."
"Don't worry. If you hand over troops, we'll bring their heads by tonight."
The chiefs nodded in satisfaction at Han Su's words.
Once Beigong Boyu's rebellion was fully quelled, an official meeting convened at the Yang Province Governor's office.
Seated at the head were Yang Province Governor Yang Yong, Left General Lu Zhi, and Right General Zhu Jun.
I stepped forward and reported the results of this "blitzkrieg."
"Leading a detachment of 10,000, I disrupted the enemy rear, attacked over 20 tribes, seized 20,000 head of cattle and sheep, and slew uncountable foes. I also took the head of the rebel leader Beigong Boyu and executed some 50 of his key officers. Of the 50,000 he commanded, I defeated 20,000, but the rest scattered into the steppes and fled."
Everyone murmured at my staggering report of achievements. Lu Zhi nodded in satisfaction.
"...Well done. Cavalry Commander."
"Hah, to think the Han has such a young hero! What a blessing for the realm!"
Zhu Jun laughed heartily, praising me.
Yang Yong stared piercingly at me without a word, while Dong Zhuo—still smarting from his defeat in the last battle—turned his head away, avoiding my eyes.
'Sigh, after I smashed them open so thoroughly... and he still got pushed back.'
As my report ended and a warm atmosphere began to flow, commotion erupted outside. Han Su and Bian Zhang entered the hall, carrying a lacquered box with Li Wenhou's head.
The two advanced before Lu Zhi and Zhu Jun, slamming their foreheads to the ground until blood flowed.
"Traitorous officer Han Su begs forgiveness for his crimes!"
"Traitorous commandant Bian Zhang begs forgiveness for his crimes!"
Lu Zhi watched coldly and spoke.
"You promised to defect from within, yet you led troops against us. What amusing fellows."
I didn't miss Yu Bi's shoulder trembling at Lu Zhi's icy words.
'What's this? First time I've seen him shake like that.'
Lu Zhi rose, approached the pair, and struck their heads hard with the scabbard of his sword.
—Thwack!
But the two didn't flinch.
"I'd love to behead you on the spot, but that's for His Majesty to decide. I won't judge your crimes."
With that, Lu Zhi left as if he couldn't stand the sight of them.
Silence fell at the sudden turn. Zhu Jun cleared his throat and addressed Yang Yong.
"Heh heh, Governor Yang. Apologies. General Lu is such a stickler for principle—he can't hold back his anger around scum like that."
"No matter, General. I've long heard of General Lu's reputation, so I understand. However... Officer Han, Commandant Bian. Hm... what exquisite timing for your surrender. His Majesty will surely forgive you."
Blood dripping from his forehead, Han Su raised his head at Yang Yong's words.
"...How dare a great traitor hope for pardon? I only seek a chance to atone for my crimes against the state."
The other officers glared coldly at Han Su's shameless reply. Especially Jia Xun—who had once deemed them 'loyal'—his eyes brimmed with killing intent.
I watched the scene in silence.
'Will Han Yang's Strong Man kill those two tonight without a trace?'
The victory banquet at the Yang Province Governor's office was utter pandemonium.
The generals and soldiers, finally relaxing after so long, guzzled wine and shouted without restraint.
"Brother! Check this out!"
Wei Sok downed mare's milk wine from a massive horn cup in one go, a mad feat. Seeing it, Huohuan Colonel Zong Yuan's eyes lit up as he bellowed.
"Ooooh! That's a real man's drink! I won't lose!"
Zong Yuan fetched an even larger horn and followed suit.
"You'll die that way. Die, I say..."
I clucked my tongue. But ignoring my concern, Zhang Fei jumped into the madness.
"Kahaha! Sounds fun! Let me join!"
In one corner of the banquet hall, the three were chugging like it was a contest to see who dropped first.
Meanwhile, Guan Yu, Zhang Liao, and Gongsun Zan escaped the racket, quietly sipping among themselves.
Seeing everyone toasting with their like-minded comrades in raucous cheer brought a smile to my face.
As I sat apart from the din, nursing my drink alone, Right General Zhu Jun approached with a cup.
"Heh heh, Cavalry Commander! The hero of this war, lurking in the corner? From the Yellow Turban Rebellion to this uprising, you took the ringleader's head both times. Impressive."
I rose and bowed.
"I'm at a loss for words with such praise from you, Right General. It's merely a trifle."
"Humble too? All the more remarkable. As expected of Master Bai Gai's disciple?"
"Haha, I've received much guidance from my teacher."
Clinking cups, Zhu Jun said quietly.
"I've known Old Lu for over ten years, but it's the first time that stubborn fellow's praised anyone like this. I expect great things ahead."
"I'll give my all to meet those expectations."
Zhu Jun patted my shoulder and departed.
Afterward, various suppression army generals came by to toast, and I had no choice but to drain every cup offered.
As time passed, the banquet fervor cooled, and drunks began collapsing everywhere.
Yang Province Governor Yang Yong, silent until then, approached me.
"Cavalry Commander. Care for a word?"
"Governor. Why honor a mere officer with such respect? Please, speak freely."
I waved off the burdensome formality. Yang Yong chuckled.
"Haha, you're the hero who saved Yang Province—how could I be casual? But if it bothers you, I shall."
Yang Yong switched seamlessly.
"Right, Cavalry Commander. Spare a moment?"
I was briefly startled by the smooth shift but nodded.
'I knew he wasn't just a merchant... but his way with people is no joke.'
I had no clue why he was summoning me.
I followed Yang Yong to his office.
Unlike the noisy banquet hall, it was a serene, orderly space.
Maps of vast trade routes stretching to the Western Regions, local specialties, and stacks of ledgers filled the room.
It felt less like a governor's office and more like the head of a massive merchant house.
"Cavalry Commander, I've invested 60 million cash in this post. Recovering that and turning a profit requires more than just stabilizing Yang Province. We must expand trade routes with the Western Regions."
"Why tell me this?"
"The army can't sweep every bandit from the roads. So, how about leading my private troops—not the court's—to secure these routes?"
I let out a hollow laugh, half-joking.
"Haha, sounds like you're buying my services with wealth. How much?"
"Ten thousand gold. Or name your desire—wealth, women, anything."
Reading my face, Yang Yong hesitated, then added.
"...Hm, if that's not enough, I'll give you five-tenths of the profits from these routes. Think it over. Five-tenths from Western trade is no small sum."
I stood.
"Apologies, but I'm not interested."
As I turned to leave, Yang Yong called calmly.
"Heh heh! Too hasty. Another proposal, then."
Yang Yong pointed to a wall map.
"Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Xihai, Zhangye, Xiaping, Jincheng."
"...What do you mean?"
"Tell me, Cavalry Commander. Which of these six commanderies appeals? I'll buy you the administrator post."
I whirled, stunned.
"Administrator... you mean Commandery Administrator?"
"I'm a merchant. I get information faster than most. Know this? The Grand General He Jin and the Ten Attendants are gnashing their teeth at your name. But if you take a headache post like Yang Province Administrator, they'd welcome it."
I pondered. Then Yang Yong struck decisively.
"His Majesty wants talented officers close by. You've proven yours with merits—he'll likely make you a Consultant Gentleman to keep you near."
"No... Consultant Gentleman? That's advising the Emperor directly. Why would he—"
Flustered, I asked. Yang Yong roared with laughter.
"Hahaha! Consultant Gentleman is low rank but high honor, advising His Majesty. Yet you must rush when called, and the stipend's meager... From his view, it's a cheap sword to wield at will!"
His words conjured the Emperor's face.
'No, damn it... What if this merchant's right? Stash me as Consultant to save on pay, then when war breaks out, slap a general title on and ship me out...'
Shivering, Yang Yong's final words reached my ears.
"The capital's full of wolves itching to bite you. Better shelter in the borderlands for now, no?"
I decided without further thought.
"...I'll accept your offer, Governor."