Chapter 76
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Eastern Turmoil
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The stables were packed full of horses.
The horses sent by Takya and Myagon far exceeded my expectations in both number and quality.
They boasted coats that glistened with luster, rock-hard muscles, and perfectly proportioned builds.
"Kuh... Just look at these beauties. They might not measure up to Red Hare, but no ordinary Central Plains steed could even stand in their presence."
I was so satisfied it felt like my belly was full without eating a bite.
With horses like these, we could easily rake in ten thousand gold. But my joy was short-lived as one worry crept in.
'But what the hell do I do with all of them?'
We already had more than enough for our own cavalry, and selling off the surplus was no easy task without a proper outlet.
Handing them over to the fledgling Zhangli Merchant Guild would mean getting ripped off for pennies on the dollar.
"Can't just let these fine steeds rot away in the stables..."
As I muttered to myself and turned to leave, Jeon Pung approached unnoticed and spoke up.
"My lord, you seem deep in thought while gazing at the horses."
"I'm at a loss on how to handle these prizes. If only we had a solid channel—they'd bring in a fortune..."
"Hmm..."
Jeon Pung pondered for a moment, then asked as if struck by sudden inspiration.
"My lord, do you... have any ties with the noble house of Runan?"
"More Yuan Shu than the whole house... well, Yuan Gonglu and I are somewhat acquainted. Close enough to call it a friendship."
Jeon Pung's eyes lit up at my response.
"That's more than enough. Perfect, in fact!"
He ducked back into the stables and summoned several sturdy men to select the finest two dozen or so horses.
"Teacher Jeon? What are you doing?"
"My lord! Please trust me just this once and leave it to me."
"If I can't trust you, who can I trust? Speak."
Jeon Pung's expression turned grave as he declared,
"Send every last one of them to Runan's Yuan Gonglu. As a gift, with no strings attached."
I couldn't believe my ears.
"What did you say? Give away these treasures for nothing? Teacher Jeon... are you... ahem..."
The word 'senile' nearly slipped out, but I held it back. Jeon Pung, as if anticipating my shock, calmly began to explain.
"My lord, Yuan Gonglu may be infamous in Runan as the 'Roadside Fierce Ghost,' drawing every eye wherever he goes. He hobnobs with all sorts regardless of status, but he's always the one doing the giving. Never has he accepted such precious gifts—especially unconditional ones—like this."
"So what?"
Jeon Pung took a breath before continuing.
"Once Yuan Shu receives these horses, he'll be over the moon and parade them up and down Runan's main streets, showing them off. And that's the best way to spread word of Zhangli's prized steeds across the land—without spending a single coin!"
No sooner had Jeon Pung finished than Ga Hu appeared, chiming in to back him up.
"Ha! Teacher Wonho speaks true! Send them to Yuan Shu, and he'll blab it everywhere, drawing merchants from across the realm to grovel at Your Excellency's feet, noses twitching for profit!"
Their logic rang true. Still, it pained me to look at the magnificent beasts before us.
'Damn... just give them away? These priceless horses...'
But on second thought, my relationship with Yuan Shu was a delicate one.
It had begun with his one-sided favors—from the Yellow Turban Rebellion to my marriage with Chae Yeom.
Until now, I'd only received without reciprocating, which wasn't my way. No matter how reluctant, it was time to settle the score.
"Sigh... Very well. I'll follow your advice. Select the best ones right away and prepare them for Runan."
"Yes, my lord!"
I gave Jeon Pung detailed instructions for the delivery. If we were baiting the hook, it had to look as tempting as possible.
Runan's bustling main avenue was as crowded as ever that day. But then a familiar bellow echoed down the street.
"Make way! Clear the path! A noble lord approaches!"
The grating voice alone was enough to turn stomachs. Irritation flickered across the faces of the crowd.
"Ugh, here we go again. That voice is getting old."
"The Roadside Fierce Ghost graces us once more. Why always pick the busiest times?"
"Shh! Quiet down! Cross his gang and you won't collect your bones!"
Reluctantly, the commoners and merchants shuffled aside.
Normally, he'd come charging in on horseback amid raucous laughter, whipping his mount like the wind. But today was different.
Trailing his noisy retinue came Yuan Shu astride his horse. Strangely, his usual frivolous arrogance was gone.
He rode slowly, lips pressed tight, his face somber and dignified.
"What's with that smug bastard today...?"
"Huh, something's off. Sun rise in the west tomorrow?"
As the murmurs rose and eyes turned puzzled toward Yuan Shu, their gazes naturally drifted behind him.
And they were left speechless by the breathtaking sight.
—Hiiiing!
—Hihihihit!
Following Yuan Shu was a herd of several dozen horses. No ordinary beasts, either.
They were exceptional at a glance—coats gleaming under the sun, muscular frames in perfect balance.
Above all, amid the teeming crowds and clamor, they strode proudly without a hint of unease, snorting defiant puffs of breath that awed onlookers.
"Heavens..."
"Th-those horses&mdash!"
"How much must they all be worth?!"
Merchants and warriors who knew their steeds gaped in astonishment. Someone blurted out,
"Th-that's gotta be the Great Wuan and Hanblood horses you only see up north!"
"So many divine steeds...!"
"Only the imperial stables or elite cavalry get sights like that!"
Gasps and admiration poured from every side.
Yuan Shu soaked it all in, reveling in the stares on himself and his mounts. His haughty grin spread wide, the solemnity forgotten.
He reined in his horse, surveyed the crowd, and finally burst into booming laughter.
"Kyahahaha! Did you all see that? Behold the might of the great Yuan house, rival to the Four Marquises and Three Dukes!"
"....."
Yuan Shu basked in his grandeur for a good while, while the commoners enjoyed the rare spectacle of such splendid horses.
Long after the procession passed, the people stood dazed—but the merchants' eyes gleamed with greed.
They sensed these weren't mere showpieces; they were tickets to vast wealth.
"Hey! Find out where that Roadside Fierce Ghost got those horses—and fast! You can't buy that with just money and power!"
"Must be some massive northern deal!"
"Track down the source, whatever it takes! If we can get our hands on those..."
The merchants dispersed swiftly, whispering orders to servants and informants. Luoyang's merchant circles, quiet until now, erupted into a frenzy over the steeds Yuan Shu had brought.
Summer of 187.
The commandery administrator's office in Zhangli was like a steam bath. But the sweltering heat wasn't what had me pacing anxiously.
'Why no word yet... any news at all!'
Documents blurred before my eyes. My gaze kept flicking toward the inner chambers.
The midwife said it could be today or tomorrow... How could I focus on work?
Facing tens of thousands on the battlefield was a hundred times less nerve-wracking.
"Hahaha! My lord, you faced armies of tens of thousands without batting an eye. You'll make a fine father."
"Ahem! Teacher Jeon, what nonsense! Back to work!"
I cleared my throat needlessly and forced myself to sit, feigning calm. Then Ga Hu, sipping tea beside me, tossed in a sigh-laced jest.
"Only cute when they're young."
Ga Hu stared into the distance as he muttered,
"Once they grow a bit, children come to despise their fathers. Especially... daughters."
"Ahem..."
I caught the shadow crossing his face. Jeon Pung and I exchanged glances and coughed awkwardly.
Ga Hu always turned melancholic at talk of family.
I was dying to know what baggage he carried, but prying risked him bolting, so I zipped it.
To break the awkwardness, I shuffled through the papers and changed the subject.
"Ahem! Anyway, it's been months since we sent those horses to Yuan Shu, and still no word. At this rate, should we just return what we got?"
"Yuan Shu must've flaunted them all over Runan. No way the merchants are this slow."
Jeon Pung tilted his head too. But Ga Hu flashed his usual sly grin.
"No need to fret, Your Excellency. Bigger fish take longer to bite. By now&mdash"
He glanced out the window.
—"they should be circling, right on time."
His words barely landed when the office door flew open. A clerk burst in, panting.
"Your Excellency! Men from Xu Province's Mi family have arrived!"
"Mi family?"
The name rang no bells. But Jeon Pung and Ga Hu's expressions shifted subtly.
"The Mi house of Xu? Titans of trade!"
"Haha, the biggest fish has finally bitten."
I'd never heard of them, but their reactions screamed heavyweight.
"Who came?"
"Mi Fang, brother of family head Mi Zuk, in person!"
"Ho! The head's own brother, all this way?"
Sending a sibling to remote Zhangli spoke volumes of their intent.
"Lead the way."
"Pardon?"
"I'll greet him myself."
"B-but Your Excellency!"
The clerk tried to protest, but Ga Hu and Jeon Pung rose with me.
"Escort us. A guest of such caliber deserves the administrator's welcome, no?"
At Jeon Pung's words, the clerk nodded and took the lead.
I went all the way to the government office gates to meet him. Spotting me, a man approaching under escort quickened his pace.
His silk robes screamed wealth, but his sturdy build belied a mere merchant.
Likely Mi Fang himself.
He rushed up, bowed hastily, and exclaimed,
"To think Your Excellency comes out personally to greet the likes of me! I hardly know where to put myself."
"How'd you know it was me on first sight?"
"Haha, your legendary presence precedes you. Who else in Zhangli could it be but the administrator?"
'Merchant, my ass... smooth tongue on this one.'
I ushered Mi Fang to the reception hall and cut straight to it once seated.
"I don't care for beating around the bush. Here for the horses?"
"Hahaha! Straight to the point, Your Excellency. Yes! We've come for steeds—especially those Yuan Gonglu paraded through Runan. We want them badly."
Mi Fang pressed to buy every available mount on the spot. Suspicion stirred.
'A merchant angling for long-term deals... why so desperate?'
I caught Jeon Pung and Ga Hu exchanging subtle glances from their seats.
"A titan like the Mi house could've sent underlings. Why venture to this frontier yourself, brother of the head?"
"Haha, Your Excellency, to a merchant, time is money. And goods shine brightest when the price peaks."
My eyes narrowed at his glib reply.
"Horses fetch top dollar only during war. Surely not in the Central Plains...?"
Mi Fang's face stayed composed, but his brow twitched ever so slightly. Jeon Pung and Ga Hu pounced.
"Ahem, Lord Mi. No response to His Excellency? Horses are a state matter. If turmoil brews in the Plains and merchants hoard intel for profit... well, that's no mere business savvy."
"Teacher Wonho, too stiff. Lord Mi just knows when prices peak, that's all."
Ga Hu paused, then fixed Mi Fang with a stare.
"...So where's this 'pricey war' drawing you all the way to remote Zhangli?"
Mi Fang threw up his hands with feigned defeat and a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha! Brother sent me to haggle hard, but I'll catch hell when I get home!"
At last, he spilled the bombshell: a northern rebel styling himself 'Son of Heaven' had allied with 150,000 barbarians.
"The court's mobilizing again. Perfect chance to supply mounts or sell high before rivals swarm. You'd best decide quick, Your Excellency."
Mi Fang demanded every horse available now, promising fair pay.
Jeon Pung bristled.
"How dare you dictate terms unilaterally!"
Mi Fang eyed me squarely.
"Aren't you their master, Your Excellency?"
"Ha! Master?"
I burst out laughing despite myself.
"These are my cherished advisors, filling all my gaps. How could it be mere lord-vassal?"
"A splendid bond. Very well."
Mi Fang pondered briefly, then made a bold offer.
"We can't lavish much, but we'll gift Your Excellency some fine aids."
He even knew of my merchant guild.
"Separate from horse price: manpower for your operations, and our Mi know-how."
A proposal worth more than gold. Jeon Pung and Ga Hu's eyes widened. Mi Fang landed the knockout.
"Match the price fairly, and when the Silk Road reopens, no reason our caravans can't hub through Zhangli."
No need to hesitate.
"I accept your terms!"
Deal sealed, Mi Fang grinned and pulled out a wine jar.
"Hahaha! A crisp, fiery bargain like this—it's been ages! To our deal, a toast!"
As Mi Fang uncorked the jar—
—Bang!
The reception hall doors shattered open. Wei Sok rushed in, drenched in sweat.
"Brother! Brother! Sister-in-law! She's in labor... right now!!"
"...What?!"
My mind went blank. No time for Mi Fang's pardon or farewells.
"Darling!!"
I bolted past Mi Fang toward the inner chambers like a madman.
"Uh... huh?"
Mi Fang stared blankly at the door, jar in hand. Jeon Pung and Ga Hu apologized profusely amid the chaos.
"Heh... Lord Mi, quite the shock."
"Soon to be a father... please forgive his haste."
Mi Fang caught on and roared with laughter.
"Hahaha! No offense! What perfect timing for double blessings! I'll wait!"
With Lu Bu gone, the three men discussed wrapping up the details in his absence.