Five Stars

"General Who Conquers the North, Yuan Shu, as the legitimate heir of the illustrious Yuan Clan, you have ceaselessly devoted yourself to the nation, striving tirelessly above for the Imperial Family and below for the people. As Changshui Colonel, you punished the wicked and corrupt officials, brought an end to the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and together with General Dong, rescued me and Her Majesty the Emperor. And at last, by recapturing Luoyang and restoring the Imperial Capital to the Son of Heaven, how can one possibly recount all of your achievements?"

Before declaring the official post, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager solemnly recites my entire career history thus far, setting a tone of the highest praise.

Of course, even as I listened, I already knew which post would be bestowed upon me.

What had been settled in advance was...

"Therefore, Her Majesty has decided to appoint you as General-in-Chief. We earnestly hope that you will continue to do your utmost, as you have done until now, for the nation, for the Imperial Family, and for the people."

"Your Majesty's grace is overwhelming beyond measure."

General-in-Chief.

The office that commands all military authority in this nation, the very position once held by the late He Jin.

In modern terms, a marshal.

Five stars.

Granted, in the current political climate, I could seize not just the General-in-Chief's office but even the Chancellorship itself, as Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao, or Zhuge Liang did in the Original Timeline, but I had no desire to reach that far.

Thanks to modern military experience, tactical knowledge from strategy simulation games and future history, my knowledge of the Original Timeline, and the various military manuals I'd studied properly since crossing over—I could manage war well enough...

Yet I was keenly aware that civil administration was absolutely not a field I could meddle in recklessly.

As the saying goes, a lion on the battlefield rarely makes a sage in the political arena.

I might be good at beating down corrupt officials, but governing properly was beyond my ability.

Moreover, having no intention of swimming through a sea of troublesome administrative paperwork,

I had decided to wash my hands of that side cleanly.

And then.

"Furthermore, the two female commanders who have ably assisted General Yuan Shu thus far, Colonel Ji Ling and Colonel Xu Rong, are hereby appointed General of the Vanguard and General of the Right, respectively. Continue as you have, and devote your utmost to supporting General-in-Chief Yuan Shu."

"Your Majesty's grace is overwhelming beyond measure."

Her Majesty the Empress Dowager concluded the Rewards According to Merit by pinning three stars at once onto the two generals who had, until now, worn only the Mugunghwa rank insignia.

And so, after the ceremony that essentially served as official 'certification' of a previously decided outcome ended.

Standing at the fore, Minister of the Masses Wang Yun raised his voice and shouted:

"Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten-thousand-fold ten thousand years to Her Majesty the Emperor!"

"Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten-thousand-fold ten thousand years!"

The ministers, bowing and shouting "ten thousand years" in reply to Wang Yun's call.

Thus, the Rewards According to Merit for the Anti-Dong Zhuo Coalition forces concluded without major incident.

Exactly as I had desired.

*

"Ahahaha! A general! I've finally become a general!"

"I can see you're pleased, but... please maintain some dignity. You're not just any general—you are General of the Vanguard, no less. That is a rank counted among the top six of all generals, is it not?"

"Who cares? On a day like today, I'm allowed to be a little happy, right? You became General of the Right too, and our lord became General-in-Chief, after all."

"Ahem... well... that part... I do certainly agree with."

Even so, Xu Rong tried to keep a straight face but ultimately couldn't suppress the smile that kept creeping onto her lips.

Watching them enjoy the reward for all their hard work, a smile automatically spread across my own face as well.

Right then...

"Um... My Lord?"

"Hm? What is it, Sun Jian?"

Sun Jian, who had been following quietly, cautiously opened her mouth.

Then, after subtly gauging the attention of the passing ministers, she leaned close to my ear and spoke in a quiet voice.

What she said was...

"Hm? Her Majesty the Empress Dowager?"

"Yes, she asked to see you briefly."

A quiet summons from Empress Dowager He, relayed through Sun Jian.

Feeling puzzled, I first turned my steps toward the Imperial Palace before heading off duty.

Ji Ling and Xu Rong automatically moved to follow behind me.

At that, Sun Jian turned to the two of them and said,

"You two generals ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠may go on ahead."

"Do that. Sun Jian is with me, so there's no need for you to follow."

"No, I don't mind."

"Even if our rank has risen, our duty is ultimately to support our lord. We will accompany you."

Ji Ling and Xu Rong made it clear they intended to come along regardless.

At this, Sun Jian wore a slightly troubled expression and said,

"The thing is... Her Majesty the Empress Dowager requested a private, personal audience. It seems it may take some time, so you two generals would likely do better heading on."

"It's fine, so just go on ahead. It's a bit..."

"Come on... we can't do that. The moment we get home, it'll turn into a drinking party—how can the guest of honor be missing? We should all go together and drink together."

"I concur. Even if we do not enter inside, we will escort you there."

The two flatly rejected Sun Jian's suggestion.

Frankly, from my standpoint it didn't matter much,

and I felt no need to go against their wishes.

Besides, while the likelihood was practically zero, I couldn't entirely rule out a one-in-ten-thousand chance either.

So, together with my three direct subordinates who were now generals ranked within the top ten in this nation, I directed my steps straight toward the Empress Dowager's Hall.

*

A private chamber located deep within the Empress Dowager's Hall.

Inside, only two people had entered.

The mistress of this place, Empress Dowager He,

and the man who had come as a guest.

General-in-Chief Yuan Shu.

Fixing her gaze on the figure seated opposite her, Empress Dowager He was leisurely drinking tea.

"How is the flavor? It's made from ginseng brought from the east. A tea I personally enjoy the most."

"It's excellent. A taste that feels as if it's restoring one's health."

Yuan Shu answered in a respectful tone.

At this, Empress Dowager He smiled deeply and slowly set down her teacup.

"First, I wanted to offer my congratulations. For now, the military authority of all under Heaven has been placed into your hands."

"I am deeply honored, Your Majesty."

Since things had essentially proceeded as Yuan Shu had requested by letter, it was a rather absurd situation even to be saying this.

But in any case, as the office had been received, she conveyed her congratulations with a smile.

Meanwhile, Empress Dowager He carefully voiced her true thoughts.

"To be honest, in my heart I had been considering the position of Grand Marshal—no... even Chancellor—but I halted it for now at your request."

"I thank you once again for that consideration."

"Hmm..."

She had half-suspected it, but Yuan Shu was expressing genuine, sincere gratitude.

Seeing that sight, the Empress Dowager could not help but feel considerable astonishment.

As a rule, once a person grasps something, they desire an even greater thing.

Empress Dowager He, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ha Eun, had started as a lowly butcher's daughter, become a noble consort, yet remained unsatisfied and ran all the way to the positions of Empress and Empress Dowager.

But unlike Ha Eun, who had rushed forward as if possessed by something, Yuan Shu's conduct—showing only restraint rather than any greed for power, giving instead of taking—felt like a profoundly refreshing shock.

"... Do you not feel regret? A Chancellor is the position of one above all, below only one. Is it not a seat where everything aside from the command of Her Majesty the Emperor is decided by your single word? That seat, coveted by all, was within your grasp if you but stretched out your hand..."

Empress Dowager He subtly probed Yuan Shu.

To this, Yuan Shu replied with a light smile.

"Do ability and responsibility not naturally accompany a position? I am a general. I could manage leading soldiers and commanders to guard the nation, but administering it is beyond my capability. Such a seat should go to someone more competent than myself."

Yuan Shu stated that he lacked the ability to lead the nation.

However, Empress Dowager He could tell this was simply a display of humility.

Yuan Shu already held a firm grip over the entire Ji Province region,

and enjoyed considerable support not only from the Imperial Family but also from the common people.

How could such a man be incapable of statecraft?

This was surely just a gesture to humble himself, as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the one grasping political power, in order to help sustain the heavily damaged authority of the Emperor... and of herself.

'Indeed, a loyal subject... one who can discard even his own desires for the nation's sake... a true loyal subject...'

A man so utterly different from herself, who had harmed the nation for the sake of her desires.

And precisely for that reason, a man she could trust more deeply...

and simultaneously, a man to whom she felt more drawn.

'As I thought... my eye was correct. For Her Majesty and for the nation... and for my own sake, I must somehow make this man...'

Ha Eun stamped another seal of conviction upon a thought she had held for a long time.

At that moment, gazing at her, Yuan Shu set down the teacup he had been holding and asked in a serious voice.

"Your Majesty, would you now be so kind as to tell me why you summoned me here?"

"! Ah... hmm. R... right, understood. It wouldn't do to detain the busy General-in-Chief forever, now would it."

Empress Dowager He replied in a slightly stammering tone.

Then, after calming her heart that had begun to beat a little faster,

amidst a tension that would not fade, she looked at Yuan Shu before her and spoke.

"General Yuan, might you have... no thoughts of marriage?"

"P... pardon?"

Yuan Shu displayed a fluster uncharacteristic of him at those words.

Seeing this, Empress Dowager He repressed her heart, which had begun to beat faster and faster, and spoke in a voice feigning the utmost calm.

"I... I mean, are you not a pillar of this nation and the heir who will succeed the Yuan Clan? What's more, you are of an age when it would be in no way strange to have long since married and had children. I was simply wondering why you've remained without a match thus far."

"Ah... Yes. Well... I admit I am indeed rather late on that front."

Ha Eun herself was the same age as Yuan Shu, yet her daughter, the Emperor, was already nine years old.

Looking at it that way, Yuan Shu, who still lacked even a wife, was certainly late—very much so.

Seeing Ha Eun voice her curiosity, Yuan Shu gave a wry smile and said,

"There is someone I have in mind... it's just that, until now, there have simply been too many matters to resolve within the nation, so I have temporarily put it off."

"If it is someone you have in mind... you mean General Dong, as expected?"

"Cough!"

Yuan Shu let out a slight forced cough.

Seeing this, Ha Eun spoke in a voice tinged with mild amusement.

"No need to be so surprised. Those who know, already know. That the two of you have been more than ordinary companions since long ago."

"Hmm... Y... yes. That is correct."

Since it was already an open secret, Yuan Shu admitted it readily enough.

Feeling a small pang of regret at having a suspicion confirmed so plainly, Ha Eun spoke in a measured voice.

"I had been thinking the two of you would suit each other well. Are you not both heroes of the nation and benefactors of the Imperial Family?"

Right after saying that,

Ha Eun looked at Yuan Shu's face, and with a more serious expression, said,

"However, General Yuan... I believe you need to view this matter more broadly."

"What do you mean?"

Yuan Shu voiced his question without particular suspicion.

At this, Empress Dowager He slowly

launched the 'offensive' she had been considering.

"In these unstable times, for the sake of the nation and the Imperial Family, it is something you must do. Will you do it?"

"And what might... that be?"

Yuan Shu asked, his eyes revealing what was, in other words, a look of pure loyalty.

To this, Ha Eun, in a voice carrying a quiet thrill, brought out the central point she had kept ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hidden.

"Are you aware, General Yuan? According to national law, scholar-officials, true to the name, are permitted up to four principal wives (四大婦)."

"... Pardon?"