Liu Bang Rising (End) — I'm Not a Villainess!
The next day, after about the time it takes to eat a meal, the inner office of Jeonunchang was packed with every key member of the Liu Bang family. Xiao He, Cao Shen, Fan Kuai, Xiahou Ying, Zhou Bo, and Shen Yiqi. As I calmly scanned each of their faces, my gaze finally settled on the new face who had slipped in so naturally.
“I didn’t expect Lord Wang to come as well.”
It was Wang Ling. Although he was one of the biggest players in Peixian, we hadn’t crossed paths much since the tense negotiation over the Jeonunchang site with his father, Wang Shou. At my summons, he opened his mouth with a rather shameless expression.
“I was simply curious what the tenants were plotting as the landowner. Don’t mind me—just talk among yourselves.”
“I was under the impression that the true landowner is your esteemed father, not you.”
“A father’s possessions are his son’s, aren’t they? Besides, I’m an only child.”
Wang Ling shrugged with a sly grin. Xiao He cleared his throat lightly and stepped in.
“Ahem. I invited him.”
“You did, Lord Xiao?”
“Yes. In any endeavor, the more hands the better.”
“This isn’t just any endeavor—it’s a very special one.”
“Lord Wang Ling is also a very special person. He possesses the kind of righteous spirit that our lord truly trusts and follows, doesn’t he?”
As Xiao He said, Wang Ling was undoubtedly one of Liu Bang’s closest confidants. Unlike Lu Guan, he wouldn’t betray us, and unlike Zhou Bo, he wouldn’t attack the Lü clan. He was someone who could reliably stand on our side.
…Well, there’s no real need to send him away.
I nodded as if I had no choice. After all, I had already revealed my thoughts on the fall of Qin and Liu Bang’s rise in front of him that day. Taking a deep breath, I finally spoke.
“This morning, urgent news arrived from Qi County.”
Gulp. Someone swallowed dryly.
“A large-scale uprising has broken out in Daze Township. The garrison commanders Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, who were escorting over nine hundred impoverished men to a labor camp, killed the Qin officers who were supervising them, beheaded them, and declared a rebellion.”
“A r-rebellion?!”
Fan Kuai jumped up, raising his voice in shock. Xiahou Ying and Zhou Bo flinched and exchanged glances, while Cao Shen, Xiao He, and Shen Yiqi simply nodded calmly.
“……”
In contrast, Wang Ling sat with his arms crossed, watching me without the slightest movement. After a moment, Xiao He spoke cautiously.
“For the report to be this detailed… it seems something truly has happened in Daze Township.”
In truth, the details had come entirely from my own knowledge. The actual urgent message from there had only mentioned something about carp and that the atmosphere felt ominous. But the future I hadn’t intervened in would unfold exactly as history dictated. Chen Sheng and Wu Guang would surely behead the supervising Qin officials and declare themselves generals.
If it was going to happen anyway, it wouldn’t hurt to bring it up a little early and shock them.
“Therefore, the time has come to put our plan into action.”
The room fell silent once more. But this shock didn’t last long. The men all nodded as if they had already anticipated this. Then Wang Ling, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke.
“Can you tell me about this plan of yours?”
“…Yes, of course.”
There was no point in hiding it now. When I nodded at Shen Yiqi, he began explaining in a calm voice. About five minutes passed like that.
“…Hmm.”
After hearing the entire plan from Shen Yiqi, Wang Ling frowned slightly and shifted in his seat. Without waiting for his response, I continued.
“The uprising of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang will change everything. Qin’s absolute authority will be trampled into the mud, and the people will no longer fear the law. Those who once knelt before the sword will raise their heads the moment that sword breaks.”
“…Indeed.”
Cao Shen nodded. Xiao He added, “Over the past few days, as I met with men from various places, I felt it too… the atmosphere has definitely changed. Even in front of me, an official, they no longer held back their curses against Qin.”
“Yes, I felt the same while making deliveries!” Xiahou Ying chimed in with a nod. “People who used to throw themselves to the ground whenever government troops passed by now spit behind their backs without hesitation.”
“Exactly. The fear is lifting,” I continued. “Qin’s laws were maintained through terror. But now, a mere garrison commander wearing straw sandals is raising troops and claiming the title of king. Through their success, the people will learn a very dangerous truth.”
I recited the famous, blood-stirring phrase.
“Wanghou jiangxiang, ning you zhong hu—How can there be no nobility among the common people?”
How can kings, nobles, generals, and ministers be born of special seed?
“…!”
“‘How can the seed of kings, nobles, generals, and ministers be of a different kind?’ What a truly profound statement.”
Xiao He nodded in admiration. Of course, I didn’t come up with it. I barely held back a smile and continued.
“Therefore, now is the time to move the people. We can ignite the rage they feel toward the county magistrate and toward this country itself.”
I paused for a moment and looked around at everyone. Including Wang Ling, they all nodded silently.
Good. The die has been cast.
Taking another deep breath, I spoke again.
“Then, starting tomorrow, we will begin the welcoming ceremony for my husband. I ask that everyone here do their utmost according to the roles assigned to them.”
“All right! Leave it to me!”
Fan Kuai answered first in a booming voice. “Understood,” the other men replied, their expressions solemn as they mentally reviewed their duties. Then Wang Ling, who had remained silent until now, spoke quietly.
“And what about me?”
“Hmm…”
After a brief moment of thought, something easy came to mind. I looked at him and smiled brightly.
“I would like to ask Lord Wang to take charge of the public denunciation.”
“Public denunciation?” Wang Ling raised one eyebrow.
“Yes. It means becoming the flint that ignites the anger the people have been suppressing.”
I stared straight into his wavering eyes.
“Your esteemed father, the former official Lord Zhang, and the merchant Lord Li all harbor deep grudges against the county magistrate, do they not?”
“…That’s true.”
“Therefore, you will publicly protest against the magistrate. In front of the people, you will expose his corruption.”
“A public accusation… So you’re telling me to be the lightning rod?”
Wang Ling’s face hardened. No matter how bold he was, he clearly had no interest in dying a dog’s death. I immediately shook my head.
“With Qin’s authority crumbling as it is, even if you accuse the magistrate, there will be no retaliation from Xianyang. The central government is too busy trying to survive; they won’t have the energy to concern themselves with trivial matters in a remote countryside like this.”
“But what about the county garrison? Or the governor above them?”
“Your accusation will provide the perfect justification to draw out the fury of every resident in the county. In that case, could the garrison soldiers—who are sons, brothers, and fathers to those very people—truly turn their spears against them?”
I declared with absolute certainty.
“The same goes for the governor. Unlike the magistrate, he is sharp and quick with calculations. He must have already sensed that the situation is turning ominous. In a time when the world itself is being overturned, he won’t make the foolish move of recklessly suppressing the people and fanning the flames of rebellion.”
“In other words, you’re saying the magistrate is isolated right now.”
“Yes. He himself must feel it in his bones. That if he mishandles things here, his own life will be in danger. That’s why, instead of arguing back or using force, he will choose to lock his doors and remain silent.”
“…Hmm.”
Wang Ling stroked his beard, hand on his chin.
“So even if we strike at the magistrate, there’s no fear of being reported to Xianyang, and instead we can gain the people’s support and prestige.”
“Exactly. You will become the standard-bearer leading the people. And quite safely at that. It is an opportunity for Lord Wang’s name to rise high.”
“…Ha, the way you talk.”
Wang Ling let out a small chuckle. Curiosity and ambition flickered across his face at the same time. Xiao He, who had been watching our tightrope walk with an anxious expression, finally let out a sigh of relief. Persuasion successful. With this, we had secured both justification and an agitator.
I cleared my throat once more and moved on to the next stage.
“And I have one more secret plan in mind.”
“A secret plan?”
“Yes. I haven’t mentioned it until now.”
In truth, it was a modern military doctrine that had suddenly occurred to me last night. A way to make our great undertaking even more efficient. I paused for a moment before continuing.
“It is for me to mobilize the merchants, close the markets, and cut off the supply of goods.”
“…Pardon?”
Xiao He asked blankly. The other men began murmuring among themselves. I smiled sweetly and continued.
“In simple terms, an economic blockade. We block the rice and salt entering the city and shut down the marketplace. The residents will immediately go hungry with nothing to eat, and prices will skyrocket like mad.”
“……”
“When people are hungry, they become ferocious. And all that resentment and rage will be directed at the true culprit behind all of this—the county magistrate. Without us having to stain our hands with blood, the starving people will climb over the walls of the government office themselves.”
It was a method that would be used more frequently and more effectively the further into the future one went. The Siege of Leningrad during World War II, or the Siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War, for example. I looked around at everyone with an expression that asked, What do you think?
“…Huh?”
But the reaction was icy. More precisely, it felt like a silence mixed with rejection. After a moment, Xiahou Ying spoke cautiously.
“Um… Sister-in-law.”
“Go ahead.”
“…Isn’t there some kind of misunderstanding?”
Xiahou Ying’s eyes had never looked more serious. His gaze seemed to say, It can’t be. When I looked around, both Xiao He and Cao Shen were staring at me with similarly stiff expressions. And that was when a deep realization hit me.
…Ah.
Oh my god, this is absolutely not something Liu Bang would do!
The Liu Bang family, who prided themselves on being gallant heroes, were going to take their own hometown people hostage and starve them to death?
Choi Dae-ri, have you lost your mind? You’re not some villainess…
A chill ran down my spine. I closed my eyes for a moment, then slowly opened them again. And just like that, I completely changed my expression. Now it was filled only with concern—a benevolent, compassionate face.
“I’m sorry. What I truly wanted to say was that we should prepare in advance in case the cornered magistrate attempts something so horrific.”
Then, with shameless composure, I continued.
“Lord Xiahou, just in case, please secure even more ox carts for the association. Even if the government office closes its gates, our Abundant Society must open our storehouses and feed the people.”
I clenched my fist and spoke with solemn determination.
“No matter what happens, the people of Peixian must not be allowed to starve. This is also my husband’s wish.”
“Ah, yes! I’ll prepare it right away!”
Xiahou Ying smiled brightly at once. The other men finally relaxed their previously stiff shoulders and sent me looks of relief.
Get a grip. You are Liu Bang’s wife. Even if Choi Dae-ri’s true nature is like this, you cannot act that way.
I steadied my heart once more. Then, in the charismatic voice I had been preparing for this very moment over the past several days, I declared,
“All right, this concludes today’s meeting. For my husband, and for our suffering neighbors, let us take control of Peixian.”
“Yes!”
Fortunately, it seemed my earlier slip of the tongue had been accepted as nothing more than a simple verbal mistake.