Teacher Geum Taeyang (4)
It's getting late today, so let's talk tomorrow.
That was the agreement with Xun You—we'd discuss things after she'd had a night's sleep. As I left her room at the end, she was a picture of utter confusion. She fumbled through a half-hearted farewell even as I was heading out, and I slipped away quietly so she could rest easy.
Sorry about that.
She'd come here for some psychological respite, only to take a mental hit instead. She had the desire to bloom her talents in her field of interest, but the form that took—exploiting the fall of the Han court and the chaos of the times—left her conflicted.
Was she the loyal official devoted to the Han court? Or the schemer who could fully unleash her strategic genius and talents?
She'd come to Jingzhou for a break, but no sooner had she arrived than I'd stripped her bare with words, poking at her heart. No wonder her mind was a mess in every way.
Better to get the slap first.
Xun You had walked the path of the loyal civil official. But that outfit didn't suit her.
She's got a wild streak deep down.
In my eyes, she was better suited to living like Taegong Mang or Jiang Ziya than prattling on about Confucian virtues.
She might not be a field commander, but she'd pour her heart into deploying troops, maneuvering forces, and securing victory for her side in factional struggles.
I had no particular talent for that sort of thing. The fields where I thought I shone were just two.
Reading the flow of the times and judging who would rise to power. And seeing people for who they were—their potential.
That was it. Everything else? Just average talent at best. I didn't have the raw power to cleave Hua Xiong in one strike, or the divine stratagems of Zhang Liang.
So there was only one way for me to live comfortably in this land: cozy up to the wealthy and powerful without getting too close, and thrive in peace. That meant scouting out people who could help me down the line, nurturing ties that might aid my survival later.
In Sima Fang's Henei, a connection with Sima Yi. In Yangyang of Jingzhou, bonds with the Cai and Kuai heirs studying at this academy. And in Chenliu, a link with Xun Yu.
The others were investments in the future; Xun Yu was more of an immediate play.
Xun Yu will stick with Cao Mengde.
Just being in Chenliu had already set her course. Once Cao Cao returned there, Xun Yu would become her advisor, working for her.
Why Cao Cao? She's got legitimacy.
She was the only one in the Anti-Dong Alliance who chased down the fleeing Dong forces. While everyone else lingered in Luoyang, content with driving Dong from the Central Plains, she alone scraped together a handful of troops and pursued him.
Cao Cao had suffered a near-total defeat. But more than anyone, she had earned the banner of acting for the Han court.
Even if two thousand soldiers were slaughtered, if it draws twenty thousand talents to admire and follow her later, it's a win.
If it was truly for the Han court, her loyalty would rally people. If she'd calculated it all for ambition and cunning, that would draw them too. Either way, this woman had staked her life for the Han court. So she was trustworthy! People like Xun Yu, thinking that way, would gather around her one by one.
What if Xun You joined that circle too?
Cao Cao's growth potential skyrockets. My land values rise with it.
Cao Cao's rise meant growth for my assets. If I played nice with Xun You now, buttered her up, then when Cao Cao took power, I'd have sweet ties to the Xun clan—feasting and frolicking to my heart's content.
But now another option had opened up... Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Did I really need to steer Xun You toward Cao Cao?
"Yuan Shao."
I unrolled a map of the Central Plains and marked Henei—Sima Yi's hometown.
If Yuan Shao swallows all of Hebei, Henei could be his too.
Yuan Shao had the Yuan clan's power and his own abilities, but nothing else setting him above the other warlords yet. At minimum, to solidify control in Hebei, he'd need to fully seize Ji Province.
Could Xun You help with that?
If she joined Yuan Shao's forces and succeeded, and if Yuan Shao somehow reconquered the Central Plains, I could swagger up to her later: "Didn't I recommend Yuan Shao back then?"
Even kin could serve different lords these days—brothers included.
No law said Xun You couldn't follow Yuan Shao just because Xun Yu chose Cao Cao.
Xun You needed to pick a master and serve. Cao Cao wasn't the only option; she'd thrive under Yuan Shao too. Whoever it was, she had to get out soon.
Why? Or I'll be cooking for her too.
I handled meals at Sukyung Academy. We weren't rich enough to hire help. The tuition from disciples barely covered ink and paper for teaching—what Sima Hui paid was peanuts.
Looking back, maybe she'd taken me in as instructor and steward. No staff for cooking, and she and Sima Yi couldn't do it. No budget for a cook either, so here I was, feeding the Sima women day in, day out.
Sure, Xun You had donated a fortune to become a guest diner. But if she parked her butt here for years? Or flat-out crashed indefinitely?
How many places would take in a jobless thirty-something sunk in depression and apathy?
What I wanted from her was simple: Land a high post, don't forget this favor, and pay it back.
Get healthy, rally your spirits, serve someone, build a base—and become fertilizer for my economic gains.
I'd suggested the path of the strategist to Xun You.
Wherever she served, she needed work in the field she loved most, where she could pour her passion—that's where she'd find emotional stability.
So I just hoped she'd pull herself together, body and soul, and head to a good spot soon. Ideally before her donations ate up all the room and board.
But.
Why was the morning sun so blindingly bright today? Over a meal and tea with a remarkably perky Xun You, I heard her decision after a night of pondering.
"I've made up my mind. I want to work at Sukyung Academy for a while."
"What... did you say?"
No—you're a court official. From Luoyang, no less. And you want to work at this little academy?
"......Do you know how to cook?"
"No? Can't we just hire someone?"
Ah. Why.
* * *
Lunchtime. To celebrate Xun You joining Sukyung Academy, Sima Yi and I took her out. Xinye might be small compared to a metropolis like Yangyang, but straddling Jingzhou and the Central Plains, it had decent population. Enough for eateries where we could dine out.
Not Luoyang's delicacies, but Jingzhou had its own unique flavors.
"I'll step out for a bit. You two finish talking."
I gave Xun You and Sima Yi time alone, then left the restaurant. The owner followed, patting my back.
"Hey, Teacher Geum. Wife and daughter?"
"Come on, boss. You know better."
"Haha, just saying—you bring beauties like that."
My regular spot's owner nodded slyly toward Xun You.
"Snag that girl. Aren't you marriage age?"
"Marriage? Not thinking about it."
"Man, I had two kids by your age."
"No plans here."
Marriage just meant headaches. I'd end up nagging her to get a job—what's the point? Better to sip honey water alone, boss servants around, live quiet.
"Good eating. I'll settle up later."
"Heh, go on. Know how many customers you've brought already? That Cai kid from last time came with some huge general—big guy."
"That's your cooking, boss. I just introduced."
"Even that helps us plenty. Haha, 'Yangyang's general dined here!' Thanks to you, we're booming."
"Glad to hear. ...Huh? Over there...?"
Dust rose in the distance. Riders approaching—I spotted a familiar face among them.
"...Teacher Sukyung?"
Sima Hui raced toward me, some mystery man in tow. She'd seen me exit and veered this way.
"Teacher, back already? Who are these folks...?"
"You're Geum Taeyang?"
The man, who beat Sima Hui to me, was a handsome middle-aged type with a fine beard.
"Pleased to meet you. I am..."
Mindful of the onlookers, he whispered.
"One of Jiangxia's Eight Junzi. Here on his orders."
"......Ah."
I quickly wrote characters on my palm. He grinned in satisfaction and dismounted.
"Pleased. Your name's already known to me—from the academy disciples, my son, and Teacher Sukyung."
"......The pleasure's mine. And you are...?"
"Call me Huang Mo."
Sima Hui, off to warn Liu Biao about Sun Jian, had returned with a man calling himself "Huang Mo."
"What brings you...?"
"Seeking wisdom."
He scowled, pointing east.
"Got to catch that Jiangdong jackal rampaging. Thought a sage like Teacher Geum Taeyang might have answers. My nephew praised you so."
"...Shall we head to the academy first?"
Later.
I heard utterly dreadful news from this Huang Mo.
Yuan Shu threatens Governor Sun Jian of Changsha, seizes the Imperial Seal.
Yuan Shu orders Sun Jian, who sends troops against Liu Biao.
Liu Biao appoints subordinate general Huang Zu as Governor of Jiangxia to block Sun Jian.
War clouds gathered over Jingzhou.