The False Emperor (5): The Phoenix Chick

Pang Tong had even brought her own self-proclaimed nickname, Fengchu. She wanted to become a disciple at Sukyung Academy.

Why? Out of the blue? I get the name Pang Tong, sure. But who the hell are you?

Sukyung Academy isn't some place you can ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just waltz into on a whim.

Whenever word spread that Sukyung Academy was recruiting students annually, noble ladies from prominent families around Yangyang pitched tents in front of the academy gates.

All because they wanted to get their kids in.

This trend had only accelerated lately.

"I hear so many of the academy's donors hold high office now."

"And that's not all! Even recent graduates have landed solid positions, right? Working in Yangyang or down in Yeonam."

"Even a county magistrate gig counts as making it big these days. For that tuition? It's a steal."

Sukyung Academy's fees weren't exorbitant. Save up a month's worth of lunch money, and you'd cover it—pocket change for the families whose kids attended.

Operating costs came from donations and the academy's own assets anyway, so crowds constantly knocked on its doors.

This year alone, over two hundred hopefuls had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shown up at the gates. I screened them first, Sima Hui ran a second pass, and we admitted only a few dozen.

And now this girl shows up out of nowhere, demanding to join?

Cheeky little shit.

Cheeky, sure—but her talent seemed genuine. Anyone clueless wouldn't have pieced together the Yuan Shu angle just from overhearing my chat with Zhuge Liang.

She grasped the whole situation from a surname and some context alone. No big deal, though. Everyone wanted Yuan Shu dead anyway.

"I've seen enough of your skills. You're on par with Seo Seo—or better."

"Who's Seo Seo?"

"She's around. The kind who'd be a Zhang Liang for some two-bit warlord, but her ambitions keep her shopping for a lord who'll really use her."

I'd just trashed Seo Seo a bit there, but she was plenty capable. For Pang Tong—ten years younger—to match or exceed her?

Why are the academy's top talents all girls?

How was there not a single guy? It was almost like every man born with brains had come back as a woman. The smartest ones were all female, no exceptions.

Fine by me.

Better than kids charging into officialdom from childhood and getting their heads chopped off. I didn't discriminate by gender, but guys were way more likely to bite off more than they could chew and die trying.

Case in point: Sun Jian, thinking he could take Yangyang, ended up dead.

"Teacher Kim, what're you doing zoning out in front of her?"

"...Hm."

Everyone else usually waited patiently when I got lost in thought, but Pang Tong was boldly impatient.

She brimmed with confidence in her abilities. I gave her a quick once-over.

...Freckles aside, she had every reason to be proud. Fix up those sloppy clothes, oil and trim that hair, and she'd pass for a beauty.

She just didn't bother.

"So, you gonna take me as your disciple or not?"

"First, tell me this: Why Sukyung Academy?"

Why did she want in? Standard question for every applicant.

"Seems like the fastest track to success!"

"Hm, can't argue that."

I nodded despite myself. We hadn't advertised aggressively yet, but a star alum like Xun You from Cao Cao's camp spoke volumes.

What, she didn't graduate from here? Details bog things down and give you headaches.

Beyond her, plenty of academy kids held high posts in Yangyang: Cai Mao, Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, Yi De, Mun Bing, Huang Zu.

Befriend their sons or kin while studying, and landing a gig in Liu Biao's army got a whole lot easier.

Nowhere better in Jingzhou for climbing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the ladder.

But.

"We're not recruiting right now."

"Huh? But I walked all the way from Yangyang!"

"Wouldn't matter if you came from north of the Han. It's not recruitment season. Come back in spring."

Couldn't bend the rules. Undergrads tested and interviewed before spring—couldn't just slot in Pang Tong willy-nilly.

"Sorry, but you'll have to—"

"Father said to give you this."

Pang Tong handed over a wrapped bundle. No metallic jingle, so probably a letter.

"Hm..." Just a note? Packages were supposed to be heavy.

I unwrapped it—

"...Uh, hm?"

"Yes, a promissory note. Redeemable at any major exchange in Yangyang."

A draft! And not just any—a fat one, stamped with the seal and personal mark of Yangyang's premier exchanger.

The guy I'd only heard about at Sima Hui's drinking parties.

"A draft..."

I straightened up fast.

"What's your father's name?"

"Easier to tell Teacher Sukyung: 'Pang De's daughter is here.' He'll know."

"Ah!"

She hid nothing. Hell, she was passing the buck straight to the academy head, Sima Hui.

Lucky break.

Pang De. Pang of Pang De Gong fame—the one I once thought was a surname till folks clarified.

Fishing buddy of Sima Hui, and I knew of him. Her straightforward reveal actually made things easier.

"General Shang's daughter?"

"He's my uncle."

Shang Chang—aka Pang De—a pillar of Jingzhou's literati alongside Sima Hui. Way above my league in fame; the Pang clan had real pull in Yangyang.

"Why come to Sukyung Academy, niece of Pang De Gong?"

"What I want is here."

In other words, she could've studied anywhere. A famous family's kid gracing us was ideal—especially with a hefty draft in tow. Proper etiquette.

"Fine. What do you want to learn here?"

"Anything."

"Anything?"

"Yeah. Honestly? I just need the diploma."

"Hah."

What a brazen kid! I wanted to applaud, but held back.

"Sukyung Academy on your resume opens doors?"

"Duh. Look at your donors."

"Hm."

Who topped the success list?

"Sun Uk, Xun You. Those two alone hold top court posts."

"Highest ranks from academy grads in the last five years. Indeed."

Sun Uk had studied remotely via letters. Xun You bunked here full-time.

What, technicalities? Marketing new students takes effort. For a girl bringing a full year's tuition in drafts for three kids? They'd understand.

"Just for the diploma, eh? Haha, I like it."

"Yes! Proof I studied here. And..."

Pang Tong grinned slyly, a bit sheepish.

"If you could hook me up with Cao Cao's camp—"

"How mercenary."

A cold voice rang out behind me.

"All that brains, and you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wanna borrow the academy's name to snag an office? Isn't that a bit lowbrow?"

"...Who the hell are you?"

"Zhuge Liang."

"What? Zhuge...? Hah, big mouth on you."

Pang Tong jabbed a finger at her, eyes blazing.

"Wanna throw down with words, you and me?"

"Hm."

I pointed to the inner room.

"How about a mock battle?"

"Mock battle?"

"Yeah. Nothing like tabletop talk—grand illusions, perfect for arguing. Topic... here we go."

Perfect subject for hashing out with them.

"The Great Battle of Shouchun."

Each plays advisor to a different army, duke it out on the map.

"Fengchu, you're with Yuan Shu."

* * *

The court of the Zhong dynasty. Too shabby for a palace yet, but Yuan Shu's old digs were lavish enough to pass.

BAM! In what passed for an audience hall, Emperor Yuan Shu of Zhong exploded in rage.

"That brat—not even fifteen—dares insult an imperial envoy?!"

He ranted over General Zhang Xun's humiliation.

"Fine! War it is! I'll slaughter every last one who didn't show a minister his due!"

Yuan Shu drew his sword. His generals admired the fury even as they tensed.

"Your Majesty, Advisor Ji Ling begs to report."

"Speak!"

"Movements in Xuzhou are suspicious. Looks like Lü Bu's turning coat..."

"What?!"

Ji Ling bowed deeper at Yuan Shu's outburst.

"Lü Bu allying with Cao Cao? Ridiculous! Those two want each other dead! Besides, Lü Bu's on our side!"

"B-but it's Lü Bu."

Exactly. Lü Bu could betray anyone.

"Damn... Fine! His army's under thirty thousand anyway! Guarding Xiapi ties him down—no way he brings everything. Right—one Lü Bu's no—"

"My lord!! Disaster!!"

A general burst in, dropping to his knees. So panicked he called the emperor "my lord" like old times.

"You fool, still not over your bad habits—"

"Sun Bo's rebelled!"

"What?"

"Sun Bo—he's committed treason! Claims his father Sun Jian served the old Han...!"

Crash! Yuan Shu hurled his cup. Porcelain shattered; honey wine spilled everywhere.

"Fuck... These bastards dare...?"

"My lord!"

"Your Majesty!"

"Highness!!"

Generals flooded in, titles a mess, faces etched with panic.

"Don't blurt it separately—sum it up at once! Why?!"