Promissory Note (1)
The Xiapi Lu Clan had originally been a wealthy and influential family in Xiapi Kingdom of Xu Province, but they migrated to Danyang Prefecture in Yang Province to escape the ravages of the chaotic era.
A sage of Danyang Prefecture.
Lu Su began to earn widespread renown after settling in Danyang Prefecture.
A genius who had flawlessly mastered both scholarly learning and military strategy.
She also displayed unparalleled talent in swordsmanship, archery, and horsemanship.
Moreover, wielding an innate gift for business, she grew into a magnate of immense wealth who owned numerous trading companies.
These were the achievements Lu Su had accumulated since losing her father at an early age and taking charge of the clan and its dependents. She demonstrated filial piety by tenderly caring for her aging grandmother, and she showed generous benevolence by distributing relief grain without recompense to the starving people whenever famine or floods struck.
Hm.
Master of both the pen and the sword.
Unrivaled fortune in wealth.
And a gentle, merciful nature both virtuous and harmless.
Who exactly is the protagonist here?
Listening to her accomplishments up to now, I unconsciously felt a creeping sense of defeat.
"It is an honor to be received by the Crown Prince. Lu Su of the Xiapi Lu Clan presents her greetings."
"A pleasure. Your reputation precedes you."
As expected of Wu's S-rank talent, Lu Su was a beauty who boasted a countenance of peerless loveliness. She possessed the dignified presence and refined grace befitting a commander who would one day succeed Zhou Yu as Grand Commander of the southern region.
Neatly arranged blue-tinged silver hair.
Eyes gently closed.
She was a woman who possessed both the sacred features and the charm of a goddess. The moment I faced Lu Su, I understood why the people of Jiangdong revered her as a sage comparable to a saint.
'It was the same when I first met the Senior Assistant Officer... The great merchant princes of the Three Kingdoms setting were famous for their humility even after amassing mountains of gold and treasure. Of course, after Sima Yan founded the Jin dynasty, those damned merchant princes started flaunting their money in every obnoxious way imaginable.'
She must have earned an astronomical amount of wealth.
If she had spent a fraction of that fortune on buying offices, she would likely have risen to the rank of the Three Dukes or the Nine Ministers.
The very image of humility and modesty.
Despite having earned countless millions, she wore only plain, simple clothing.
Even the teapot and cups used for the tea ceremony were ordinary items readily available anywhere.
"May I inquire as to the reason you have sought me out?"
"I'll be direct. Become the Deputy Commander defending the Jing Province front."
Deputy Commander.
I offered her the position of second-in-command directing the battle line.
Lu Su slowly lifted her teacup and smiled meaningfully.
"Deputy Commander. That office is truly too great for one such as myself. Does Your Highness not have countless famous commanders of the realm in your service? Why would you offer the office of Deputy Commander to a mere member of the local gentry like me?"
"Because you are the right person for it. Do I need to explain it in exhaustive detail?"
"...Your Highness is a resolute person indeed."
"Most people call me a stubborn mule with a foul temper. I overheard the officials gossiping about it the other day."
Hooht—
A soft laugh slipped from between her full lips, which had been pursed around the teacup.
"Permit me to ask one question. For the sake of unifying the realm, are you willing to share power with the cadet imperial clan members of other regions?"
"Out of the question. I will demand nothing but obedience from that lot."
"If you demand only coercive submission, the cadet imperial clan members of other regions will turn against you. Every cadet clan member who has received unlimited authority from the young emperor in Guanzhong will become your enemy."
"In that case, the Central Plains will fall back into the warfare of chaos that preceded Qin Shi Huang's unification of the realm."
It is unlimited authority that makes one the Son of Heaven. If such unlimited authority is bestowed upon power brokers, the Son of Heaven's dignity and prestige will be obliterated like so much foam.
Sharing power is the worst possible policy.
It might lead to a regression back to the Warring States Period, when countless sovereigns arose in lawless profusion.
Benevolence, righteousness, and the rule of law would be trampled into the dirt.
Warfare and stratagem would be treated as the only means.
And the common people of the entire realm would be cruelly sacrificed under tyranny and oppression.
Dividing the realm is out of the question.
I will force every cadet imperial clan member of every region into submission.
I answered Lu Su's question with a voice full of resolve.
"I do not presume to doubt the capabilities of the Crown Prince, who conquered the southern region in a single stroke... but each of the cadet imperial clan members across the land possesses formidable authority and influence in his own right. If they were to unite and oppose Your Highness, the great undertaking of unifying the realm would be delayed by decades. And countless lives would be lost."
"A return to an era of total warfare would lead to an even more appalling catastrophe. We cannot invite an age of endless war simply out of fear of the immediate sacrifices."
If I were afraid of sacrifice and infamy, I would have become a hermit.
At that answer, Lu Su allowed a faint smile to cross her lips.
"You embrace a precarious enterprise."
"It's not that precarious. You'll naturally come to see that if you join the undertaking."
"Fufu, very well then. I accept Your Highness's offer."
"...Hm?"
She had done nothing but give rude answers that directly challenged my inquiries.
Dividing the realm is out of the question.
I will topple every last one of the cadet imperial clan members.
I had spouted nothing but self-righteous recklessness and brutality.
And yet, the beauty who had been listening attentively to the exchange accepted the appointment with a smile spreading across her face. It was such an abrupt change that I, who had requested she enter service, was left full of doubt.
"The fall of the emperor and the lawless rise of rival sovereigns would bring only chaos and discord. As Your Highness has said, the cadet imperial clan members who have stolen the emperor's power may very well cause a return to the age of endless war that preceded the emergence of the unified empire. Were that to happen, the people of the entire realm would experience a hell in which human life and righteousness are despised beyond measure."
"..."
The fragmentation of the Central Plains must be prevented at all costs.
If these sovereigns ended up establishing their own rival states, the age of warfare would surely be revived.
Lu Su was on guard against the ambitions of the cadet imperial clan members who sought to return the world to an era of endless war. If Dong Zhuo's army, which was using the young emperor as a puppet, were to appoint the various cadet imperial clan members as kings and permit their independence, the Han dynasty would splinter into numerous separate states.
"The Governor of Yi Province, Liu Yan, and the Governor of Jing Province, Liu Biao, are already showing signs of moving toward independence from the Han."
"Liu Yan chose Yi Province, surrounded by its steep natural fortifications, from the start with the intention of falsely proclaiming himself a sovereign."
"Indeed. The Han dynasty as it stands is a lawless zone with no emperor."
"Hmm."
Liu Xie's legitimacy as emperor was not recognized because she had been enthroned by an unprecedented traitor. Since she had been installed precisely for use as a puppet, it was natural that the warlords and feudal lords of the realm did not acknowledge her legitimacy.
"I fear that my own dull and unenlightened views may have misled Your Highness."
"You truly are the sage of Jiangdong whom the people revere. Your insight into the world and your penetrating wisdom are remarkable. I could almost ask you for instruction. Would it be acceptable if I called you teacher from now on?"
"Your words are far too gracious. How could one such as I possibly become teacher to the Crown Prince?"
"It is because I have a favor to ask of you, Teacher Zijing, that I must brazenly impose upon you."
Could you lend me some money?
I repeated the same words I had spoken to Mi Zhu, the great merchant prince of Xu Province.
It was a shameless request to borrow a sum of money amounting to countless millions on the spot.
"Is the reason you wish to call me teacher, perhaps..."
"It's not simply about the money, but I can't say it's entirely unrelated, either."
The beauty, who had kept her eyelids gently closed until now, slowly opened her eyes.
Deep violet.
They held a brilliant radiance like high-purity amethyst.
"May I ask for what purpose you will use the funds?"
"We must construct shipyards on a massive scale in Yuzhang Prefecture and recruit craftsmen. Then we'll need enormous sums to train naval troops... and our current situation makes it difficult to extract funds from the local gentry of Jiangdong."
The ships used in the conquest of Jiangdong were nothing more than merchant vessels.
To prepare for naval warfare against Liu Biao's army, we needed hundreds of warships.
Unlike land battles, which are decided by fighting spirit and morale, a battle fought on the water would be decided by the quality of the warships one possessed.
I want to build up a fleet.
At those words, Lu Su nodded.
"I understand. I shall provide half of my family's wealth."
"Half...?"
"Your Highness has chosen a path of dangerous thorns. It is only right that I, too, demonstrate a commensurate resolve. Besides, one who hesitates when investing can scarcely be called a merchant, can they?"
"I heard the exact same thing in Xu Province."
Make your investment decision boldly, and collect your returns at several times the value.
That is the way of merchants.
I shrugged my shoulders at the sight of Lu Su, brimming with confidence and self-assurance.
"You need not worry, Your Highness. In my own fashion, I will collect expenses several times over."
"Shall I write you a promissory note?"
I had written a promissory note when I borrowed money from Mi Zhu as well.
Just as I had done then, I decided to write a promissory note as I borrowed money from Lu Su.