Teacher Golden Sun (1)
"Dong Zhuo has moved the capital to Chang'an. This signals the dissolution of the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition. Tell me why."
I asked Sima Yi. She sipped her tea, lost in thought, while I scanned her up and down. She's grown a lot. It had been two years since she'd come here, and she seemed to be in the middle of a growth spurt—taller now, and with just a bit more polish and some baby fat shed, she could pass for an adult. Lately, it looked like Sima Hui was giving her special private lessons, probably easing her into the adult world.
"I'll answer."
She now saw me as a proper teacher and observed all the courtesies. Partly because of the other disciples, but also out of vanity—she wanted to flaunt her cleverness with a touch of arrogance.
"It's provisions. The anti-Dong Zhuo coalition, with all those armies gathered, needed to keep supplies at maximum levels. But with Luoyang burned to the ground, there's no way to resupply."
"Teacher, I have a question about what Sima Yi said."
Another boy, from the Guo family, spoke up.
"What's the connection between Luoyang burning and provisioning supplies?"
"Good question. Guo boy, where do you think a victorious army gets its provisions?"
"From the rear supply lines, or, uh, from nearby farmlands, or..."
"Plunder."
Another disciple chimed in. He was from the Cai family, and I nodded at his words.
"Spoken like a true Cai boy. Well answered. Yes, plunder. We call it provisioning, but in the end, armies just extract supplies from conquered territory."
"But with Luoyang burned, there's no way to get provisions anymore!"
"Exactly."
"But I don't get it. Why would that lead to the coalition dissolving? If supplies are short, just bring more from the rear."
The Cai boy spoke matter-of-factly. I'd give that answer a sixty out of a hundred—perfectly reasonable and common sense.
"Because the warlords only care about their own gains."
Sima Yi answered for him.
"Not everyone's rich enough to share their provisions and feed everyone else. And if someone does start sharing, the others will just keep demanding more. In the end, it'll fall apart over supplies."
"Right. War runs on a full belly. That's why they say 'Agriculture is the foundation of the nation.' What soldier fights on an empty stomach?"
The disciples nodded. Just last year, the whole of Jingzhou had suffered through famine and shortages, so they knew better than anyone the value of rice.
"Supplies are scarce, mouths to feed are many, and no one wants to share their own rice. They succeeded in a quick campaign to drive Dong Zhuo out, but the problem is this coalition's already dragged on for a year."
They had achieved results. But Dong Zhuo's move from Luoyang to Chang'an just made the road ahead longer.
"Fortunately, they still have a justification to hold the coalition together. Dong Zhuo deposed the Emperor. Sure, it's just 'deposed' on paper, but really, he murdered him."
The disciples all gritted their teeth. Mostly sons of scholarly families or officials from Jingzhou, they bristled at any insult to the Han imperial house.
"That bastard. He'll get his from heaven someday."
The disciples nodded gravely at my words. Only Sima Yi gave a faint smile.
—As if you mean that.
Her expression seemed to say, but I kept my face straight and lifted my chin higher.
I'm above reproach.
After all, I was in the middle of selling education here. As a lecturer at Suyeon Academy, it was only right to feign outrage.
"Even looking at past histories, the importance of provisions is clear. But... you all know the old tales, right? So let's discuss something happening right now."
Current events. Real-world politics. For these aspiring officials just starting to eye official posts, nothing was more thrilling.
"We said the coalition will dissolve over provisions. Do you know the story of Sun Jian and Yuan Shu? Sun Jian, the Administrator of Changsha and Yuan Shu's subordinate, reportedly cursed Yuan Shu right to his face and they fought."
"What? How is that even possible?"
Even Sima Yi was surprised. I'd only heard it myself recently in a letter, so my ears had perked up too—something even my parents hadn't mentioned.
"Everyone knows the story of Sun Jian defeating Hua Xiong. Well, he beat Hua Xiong's army, but apparently someone else took down Hua Xiong himself."
I unfolded my fan and stood. The disciples leaned in, hanging on my every word.
"Listen up! Has the messenger to Lord Yuan Shu not returned yet? We're starving—we can't fight anymore!"
"General! Yuan Shu still hasn't sent provisions! He's clearly jealous of us!"
"Tch, cutting off supplies from your own allies on purpose. How could he? Sun Jian sighed. Morale plummeted, and that's when Dong Zhuo's general Hua Xiong saw it and shouted."
"Hahaha! Coalition dogs, just a rabble that can't even unite properly. Xiliang cavalry, hear me! Now's the time to crush Sun Jian! Full charge!!"
I unrolled the large map I'd prepared. Sima Yi sighed softly at the sight.
"Who studies military tactics using the current war...?"
No use hiding it. I'd drawn this battlefield map yesterday just to tell this story. It was practically military intelligence, but so what? It was just hearsay I'd sketched from rumors.
"Hua Xiong's forces charged straight at Sun Jian's army. Sun Jian had four elite warriors worth a hundred men each, and they led the defense against Hua Xiong. But generals can hold a line—cavalry? No chance! Sun Jian's infantry fought valiantly on empty stomachs, but the tide turned. Then, one man charged in on a swift horse."
"What? Alone?"
"Who was it? Yuan Shao's twin heroes?"
Sima Yi sighed again, as if thinking Men... Though she'd flinched herself the moment cavalry came up. The coalition had gained the upper hand with cavalry, but if it were just us, she'd be cheering Cavalry's the best!
But this story? No one could hear it without shock. Even I was stunned when I first heard.
"He rode straight up and faced Hua Xiong."
"Hua Xiong was shocked. This giant of a man, face red as a furnace and beard down to his thighs, challenged him to single combat. Hua Xiong had just beaten Sun Jian's four aces with his officers—now some no-name soldier dares him? Ridiculous! So, do you know what happened?"
"He..."
The Cai boy raised his hand. He looked hesitant, like he had just the right spicy comment for my tale.
"Speak."
"He... Hua Xiong died, right? Don't tell me...?"
"Yes! Hua Xiong died. His head flew from the no-name warrior's weapon. A strange one—heavy shaft with a crescent blade. A glaive. Dead in one strike. Just one."
The disciples fell silent. Hard to believe, but true.
"Is... is that possible? Hua Xiong was second only to Lü Bu in Dong Zhuo's army!"
"Yeah. I didn't believe it at first either. But then I thought: if Lü Bu's on Dong Zhuo's side, why wouldn't the coalition have its own superhuman warrior? Not Lü Bu level, but stronger than Hua Xiong."
That long-bearded giant.
"For you studying strategy, there's one phrase you'll never fully grasp: one against a thousand! Can one general really take on a thousand troops? I don't know. But someday—for your kids, or colleagues you'll work with—it might happen. Remember this: all the strategy we know is worthless against those lunatics."
Dong, dong, dong.
The bell rang. I folded the map with a regretful look.
"Class dismissed. Remember today's story well. Homework? None."
"Yesss!!"
The disciples cheered. I nodded, packed my things, and headed to my room.
"Cai bro! Did you know how Hua Xiong died?"
"Nah... I didn't know that far. Teacher Golden Sun really is something."
"Ugh, gotta tell my dad! A warrior like that in the world."
"If only he'd serve Jingzhou."
"Let's go—gotta tell our folks what we learned."
A few from prominent families exchanged glances and scattered quickly. Watching from afar, I couldn't help but grin.
Yeah. Go tell your parents.
Suyeon Academy knew the Central Plains situation better than anywhere in Jingzhou.
Thinking of pulling your kid? No way. Take this—fresh battlefield intel.
Just having a child at Suyeon Academy meant detailed Central Plains updates. Naturally, Jingzhou's elites would pay more attention to the academy, boosting Headmaster Sima Hui's and Teacher Golden Sun's reputations.
Long-term students got deeper lessons and more stories; big donors got premium intel. Maybe even recommend me to my source, Sun Uk...?
"Teacher."
"Yes, Yi?"
Sima Yi finished packing and came over.
"A question."
"...To my room."
"Yes!"
She smiled and sidled up beside me.
"There were other answers besides provisions, but I held back."
"Summarize."
"Warlords anxious about leaving their bases empty too long. Mutual distrust. Fear of not gaining fame. Selfishness— all credit goes to coalition head Yuan Shao. The burden of distant Chang'an. And... the collapse of imperial authority."
Sima Yi rattled off what she hadn't said in front of the others.
"Dong Zhuo killed and replaced the Emperor on his own, so why not just install a legitimate Han blood relative as the new one?"
"You'd be struck dead saying that back there."
"Only because it's you, Teacher."
"True. Lucky for them, there's a Liu in You Province—as Administrator."
"Liu Yu. A Han imperial clansman, right?"
"Yes. If I were Yuan Shao, I'd make him Emperor."
Too hard to march to Chang'an, smash Dong Zhuo, and enthrone a new one.
"That might be the coalition's best shot... Huh?"
"Milord, a letter."
"You're from Lady Sun Uk...? Good timing. How's she?"
"Well, but apologies—she wants an immediate read and reply."
"...?"
Sun Uk wasn't the type. I felt the urgency even from the envelope.
"What in the world... happened."
"Teacher, what's wrong?"
"Yi. We were all wrong. I thought too politically."
I'd called this an age of absurdity—why hadn't I thought absurdly?
"Sun Jian ran off with the Imperial Seal."
"......Didn't see that coming."
Truly, a chaotic age.