Chapter 21
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Translator: volt
Chapter Title: Pristine Bing Province
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Summers in Bing Province are cool.
That's only natural for a mountainous region, though the winters get quite harsh.
The province's powerful clans tended to stay in Bing Province through the summer before heading to Luoyang around autumn.
Who could complain about people with properties in both the capital and the province traveling back and forth at their own expense? Yet at some point, they started wanting to stay in Bing Province permanently.
I couldn't quite understand it.
Was it because the roads were crawling with Black Mountain Bandits?
Wealthy clans could just hire private guards for the journey.
Those with close ties to Governor Ding Yuan could simply request an escort from the Bing Province Army.
-The old Bing Province never would have drawn them here.
It was around last year, I think.
Once, on Governor Ding Yuan's orders, I'd escorted a clan family from the post station all the way to Jinyang Fortress and asked about it.
-Bing Province has changed. Security is better thanks to you, General Yeo, but more than that, it's a far better place to live than the capital these days. Haha.
Back then, I couldn't grasp what that clan head meant.
Part of it was that I hadn't experienced the capital myself, but above all, wasn't it the capital of the realm?
-Thanks to you, I've ended up like this, so you take responsibility! Haha.
-What kind of joke is that?
He let out a hearty laugh while cracking that awful joke.
-Bing Province is clean. That's what I like about it.
But I soon realized the reason.
-If I had to name the 'cleanest' place to live in all the realm, I'd pick Bing Province without hesitation.
Bing Province.
Ever since I took office, the one area I've poured the most effort into over the past decade or so...
Hygiene. Cleanliness. Water quality.
True cleanliness, viewed through the lens of a modern sensibility.
-For a green and pure Bing Province!!
I didn't have any special knowledge—it was all trial and error—but even that level was at the forefront of hygiene in this era.
Was that my job?
No.
But as someone living in this world, I wanted at least a life that met my own standards of human decency, so I set out to pioneer hygiene and cleanliness.
Clearing corpses from the devastated Mengjin area.
Chopping wood beside our temporary camp to build proper wooden barracks for the Bing Province Army.
Digging wells, lining them with charcoal filters, securing Yellow River water sources for our own use right in the Bing Province Army camp.
There were plenty of miscellaneous tasks, but we had enough leisure time to handle them all.
Summer.
Toward the end, after Governor Ding Yuan's death.
"I can't tell if you're the Colonel-in-Chief or the Mengjin Magistrate anymore. Haha!"
Reason—or rather, the "Teacher"—had come to visit.
[Mengjin, North of Luoyang Fortress - Bing Province Army Camp.]
"Your hair shimmers like silk again today. Do you know the palace maids in the capital swoon over it every time you visit court?"
"Who are you today?"
I welcomed the man who had arrived wearing his usual silk hood pulled low.
"Adjutant Li Ru? Or..."
"Call me Teacher."
Li Ru, the man who had secured the title of Palace Attendant.
That was probably the position he'd claim once Dong Zhuo's son-in-law shook off his illness and returned to court.
People might find his sudden change in behavior odd at first, but the discomfort would fade in time.
This teacher was acting as Li Ru-like as possible.
And that's precisely why...
"Let's have a cup of water."
"You don't think of this place as some retreat for the soul, do you?"
"Oops, you caught me. Haha."
Even with the silk hood on, he'd found a place where he could be himself, so the teacher had made this his sanctuary.
"The facilities keep improving by the day."
"We've got resources to spare, and plenty of manpower from the Bing Province Army."
It had started as a temporary camp like our field training sites, but now it was at least on par with proper barracks.
"So what's brought the Teacher here today? Yesterday it was Adjutant Li Ru."
"Yesterday was business. Today, I'm here for no reason at all."
"..."
"Just kidding. Don't look so serious."
The teacher took the cup of water I offered.
"Oh..."
It was just water with a single bamboo leaf floating in it, but he lifted the cup with the reverence of someone savoring the finest tea.
"Ahh. Clean water you can drink cool without brewing tea."
"They say the pinnacle of modification is returning to stock."
They say China developed a tea culture, but living here, I could see why.
After endless experimentation, I'd mastered securing the cleanest possible water.
"If you offered this to the Emperor, he'd praise you lavishly."
"Then I'd end up as palace water quartermaster instead of Colonel-in-Chief. Too much hassle. Best to just excel at the tasks at hand."
"Heh. But you've already given some to Prince of Chenliu, haven't you?"
"...You have a sharp tongue."
I don't like beating around the bush.
"I just served the Prince some water after he worked up a sweat with archery. Anyone hearing that might think I harbor treasonous ambitions."
"That's... actually why I came today... Ahem. Never mind."
The teacher took another sip and straightened up.
"Big changes are coming to the court."
"Already?"
It had been months since the Ten Attendants debacle.
"Autumn's almost here—what kind of upheaval now?"
"Drought."
"..."
"You're aware of the drought not just in Luoyang but across the Four Passes region... no, the whole Central Plains."
"I am."
Summer, scorching sun.
We weren't leaving Mengjin just to avoid the capital; it was also because proximity to the Yellow River let us secure large quantities of water.
"And that's why this frequent visitor of yours... Ha, damn it."
"Speak freely."
"...One of the reasons."
"Hahaha!"
The teacher slapped his thigh, laughing uproariously.
"Fine. After we're done talking, let me wash up here too. Wash my hair, douse myself in cold water."
"Isn't that the real reason? The talk is just an excuse."
"Don't worry, the water's on me. Have I ever led you wrong?"
"...No, you haven't."
This man.
He's been helping me.
Last summer in the capital, I'd stayed out of political trouble and kept a low profile entirely thanks to him.
"Currently, General Dong Zhuo, who's risen to Minister of Works, is plotting to depose the current Emperor. The public justification is this:"
The teacher cleared his throat.
"Drought ravages the realm, rain falls short, and the autumn harvest will fail. This stems from the Emperor's lack of virtue."
"And the real reason?"
"He's He Empress Dowager's son."
The teacher mimed slicing his own throat with the side of his hand.
"General Dong Zhuo's been hounded mercilessly by He Empress Dowager. He's at his wits' end."
"How bad?"
"Half his salary gets extorted by her. He's furious."
"..."
He'd seemed greedy from the first impression, but no one could stay calm losing half their pay.
"And it's going to luxuries, they say."
"I get the resentment toward the He clan, but is that enough to change emperors?"
"It ties back to the late He Jin, and the court wants to excise everything connected to him."
"They want to oust He Empress Dowager, so they're lumping it all together."
"Exactly. And..."
The teacher tapped his teacup thoughtfully.
"...Think of this as idle grumbling from an anonymous guest enjoying your clean water."
"Mm."
"The current Emperor takes after the late Emperor more than expected. And he's got He Empress Dowager's blood too."
"Frankly, incompetent?"
"...Good grief."
The teacher raised both hands.
"Yes. He's young, but the ministers are worried. What if he turns out like the late Emperor?"
"Eunuchs regaining power."
"Probably. Just my opinion."
The teacher stared straight at me.
"General Dong Zhuo plans to enthrone Prince of Chenliu as Emperor."
"..."
"Publicly, he'll push you forward to ease the political pressure. Even if he pushes for the Prince, people will say, 'But Lü Bu is at the Emperor's side.' Something like that."
"Creating a check on each other?"
I pointed to the cup he'd been drinking from.
"Even with all these furnishings and utensils as gifts from Dong Zhuo?"
"No eternal enemies in politics. Today's foe can become tomorrow's blood ally with the right methods."
The teacher wagged his pinky.
"Marriage."
"Didn't someone bring a marriage proposal the other day? Dong Empress Dowager even sent palace maids from her quarters to screen them."
"..."
"Those women—you've noticed, but they're all daughters of clans tied to Dong Empress Dowager."
Currently.
The Mengjin camp isn't just men anymore.
"Some are real palace maids, but those angling to serve at your side are daughters of powerful clans disguised as such."
The numbers aren't huge, but plenty of women have entered for various reasons.
"He Empress Dowager's getting desperate and reaching out to you too. Probably..."
"A few days ago."
I opened a locked chest in the corner of the tent and pulled out a pale pink silk pouch.
"A messenger came from the He Empress Dowager's quarters, claiming a secret decree. I assumed it was Dong Empress Dowager and accepted. But... he deliberately said 'He quarters,' tossed this, and fled on horseback before I could react."
"That's...!"
"I haven't told anyone. Wasn't the type to report anyway."
Inside the pouch was a single sheet of paper.
Written in somewhat crude script, no sender named—a secret letter.
"He Empress Dowager sent me this."
"......"
"See it as from Dong Zhuo's man Li Ru, or from the Teacher who's never harmed me?"
"Shall I take it off to find out?"
The teacher pretended to slip a hand under his silk hood.
"No need for that."
I stopped him from actually doing it.
"If you want to see it, you must swear eternal silence."
"I won't tell a soul. I swear on my parents."
"..."
I handed over the letter.
It didn't have to stay secret.
'In fact, it'd be fine if the Teacher sees it and hints to Dong Zhuo.'
That would escalate things further, but at least it'd resolve my current dilemma.
A truly serious one.
"...This is insane."
The teacher chuckled dryly at the letter, but his hand trembled as he held it.
"Haha. Interesting, very interesting. What should I make of this?"
His gaze on the letter mixed glee, contempt, and a flicker of rage.
"General."
The teacher dropped his smile and looked at me.
"I don't know why you avoid taking a wife, but the entire court—the whole realm—is eyeing the spot at your side."
"I'm listening, Teacher."
"Dong Empress Dowager sends her maids and clan daughters. Powerful court clans push their marriageable girls. Dong Zhuo himself... is even trying to link his own granddaughter to you."
"..."
"But this? This takes the cake."
The teacher smirked bitterly and held out the letter.
"Is it political maneuvering as the Emperor's protector? Or a woman's desire to soothe lonely nights since the late Emperor's death?"
"Teacher."
"He Empress Dowager's in her prime as a woman. I don't know exactly... mid-thirties?"
The teacher shook his head.
"One of three options. Become He Empress Dowager's lover and back the current Emperor politically. Or a political marriage to fill the vacancy."
"..."
"Or the last one?"
The teacher drained his cup and pointed at my chest.
"Follow your heart."
"..."
"Unless your tastes are twisted or perverse, you could marry anyone here on the spot. Pick a proper young lady from a good family—ten years younger than He Empress Dowager—and declare her your wife."
The teacher stood.
"Time to go. Thanks for the drink—one last time."
"Last?"
"The real Li Ru's coming soon."
The teacher scratched his neck with a wry smile.
"He's still recovering but forcing his way into court. Probably wants to make his mark before Dong Zhuo hits Minister of Works. Be careful. That man's... Hm."
"What is it?"
"Nothing. You don't judge people hastily. I shouldn't plant biases."
"...Your reaction tells me he's someone to keep at arm's length."
Heh.
"You're fun, General."
The teacher grinned.
"Ah, don't take it wrong. In this cesspool of a Luoyang, you're the only pure spot—like this clean water. Talking to you... stirs something inside me."
The silk hood lifted slightly, but he clasped his hands and bowed regardless.
"When we meet again, I'll greet you in my true form. Take care, General Lü."
"Then."
I returned the bow with full courtesy.
"Name or style—I'll still call you Teacher."
Thud, thud.
Leaving the Bing Province Army camp, riding along the road.
"Hey, Big Tiger."
"Ho!"
The man glanced back at the hulking figure following on horseback but got only a grunt in reply.
"..."
The man pulled a silver ingot from his bosom.
Big Tiger's eyes gleamed. The man handed it over.
"Just us two—speak. Who do you think General Lü will side with?"
"Anyone aiming for glory..."
A deep voice rumbled from Big Tiger, but his words were crisp and precise.
"...would do best as the Emperor's archery master."
"Does he strike you as that kind of man?"
"A hero who might choose the path to fame for his dreams."
"Dreams?"
"I hear he often says the realm has too many bandits, and his dream is a world without them."
"Haha..."
The man chuckled dryly.
"Idealistic. Haha..."
"Elder."
Big Tiger nudged his horse forward and returned the ingot.
"Will it really play out as you predict? That Lü Bu will go along with deposing the Emperor?"
"If he has peculiar tastes, he'll protect the Emperor. Otherwise, he won't care."
"Peculiar tastes...?"
"Yeah. Can't say more."
Big Tiger reached for the money pouch at his waist, but...
"No. It's a secret."
"What? Honoring loyalty?"
"Swore on my parents. Selling it for coin would betray loyalty and make me unfilial."
"You too, Elder...?"
"Teacher."
"Pardon?"
"From now on, call me Teacher."
"...Elder."
Big Tiger asked earnestly.
"Hazard pay for the title change?"
"We'll need a new contract."
"Renegotiation for nomenclature..."
Thud, thud.
A carriage approached from the opposite direction; the man and Big Tiger fell silent.
Clatter.
After it passed.
"Big Tiger."
"Ho!"
"..."
The man irritably handed over another ingot.
"Guess it's time to ditch this thing."
"What should I call you then?"
"Obviously..."
The man yanked off the silk hood with a grin.
"...call me Cultural Teacher."
"...Can you just take that off like that, Teacher Jia Xu?"
"This guy."
The man.
"No reason to wear it anymore."
Jia Xu chuckled lowly and pointed ahead.
"Let's hurry. Last respects to General Dong Zhuo, then leave Luoyang for a while."
"Where to after Luoyang? Chang'an?"
"Chang'an first, then..."
Jia Xu pointed north.
"Best to bring the family and head to Bing Province. If you're going to live somewhere, why not a clean, safe place? Close to the capital too."
"Teacher."
Big Tiger rubbed his fingers solemnly.
"Extra pay for long-distance travel and hazardous escort duty."
"..."
Three days later.
"We will depose the Emperor."
In the hall where high ministers had gathered.
"And enthrone Prince of Chenliu as the new Emperor."
Dong Zhuo declared.