Spring of the Academy (3)
After Lü Bu's death, Cao Cao's army enjoyed an unprecedented peace. And why not? Lü Bu, who had been more irritating than a thorn in their side, was gone. Moreover, most of his forces—save for Lü Bu himself and a few generals—had all been absorbed into Cao Cao's ranks. What greater joy could there be?
"The surrendered generals are still generals of a kingdom. You must establish military merits and prove yourselves true servants of Han."
"Urk...! This lowly one shall stake his life on it!"
The surrendered generals each took on roles suited to their talents, vowing to give their all from their new positions. Some led armies to wipe out the bandit remnants lingering in the east, while others served as vice commanders blocking the stragglers from Li Jue and Guo Si's forces flowing in from the west.
"This one loves horses more than anything. Entrust him with cavalry training, and he'll raise them to the level of the Western Liang cavalry."
"I'll do my utmost! Haah, haah... So many horses...!"
Those with a knack for training soldiers also found their niches. The generals, each matched to abilities, became Han officials, saving their lives and receiving vast riches to live out their days in comfort.
Of course, some who surrendered still met death or teetered on its edge.
"You're no general—you're a bandit, aren't you? For plundering and tormenting my people, you are sentenced to execution."
"No! This is unjust! You—you deceived me, Cao Cao!!"
A former bandit outed by his origins would be beheaded. Or...
"It's been a while. I remember your name well. Ah, yes—it was ten years ago that you intimidated me in Luoyang."
"Th-that can't be! How could I dare such insolence against Your Imperial Majesty?!"
"I remember. Shall I kill you myself? Drag him away and behead him at once!"
"Argh! This is so unjust and humiliating!"
After this so-called "culling," Lü Bu's army was fully integrated into Cao Cao's. Everyone finally realized it: Lü Bu was truly finished.
As Lü Bu's forces were gradually absorbed into the court one by one, some grew uneasy. But as they were assigned to fitting positions, the officials began to relax. And slowly, they started gauging Cao Cao's moods.
An empty seat tempts everyone. Though Cao Cao had reclaimed Xuzhou, she couldn't set foot there. The resentment toward her lingered. No—in fact, it would scar Xuzhou forever, even for generations to come.
Thus, someone other than Cao Cao had to go to Xuzhou. Xuzhou needed an Xuzhou Inspector to oversee the whole region—one dispatched from the capital, no less.
The court would appoint someone directly as Xuzhou Inspector, granting high offices to local magnates like Chen Deng and Chen Gui—who had aided Cao Cao's army—to manage the province. The new inspector need only build close ties with the locals, and with no wars on the horizon, he'd effectively become Xuzhou's master.
What of the officials already in Cao Cao's camp? It was a position rivaling the prestige of any great lord. Especially since it came with an imperial edict straight from the Emperor himself—who wouldn't covet it?
Xuzhou! The land where, legend said, Xiang Yu the Hegemon of Chu once crushed Liu Bang's five hundred thousand with a mere tens of thousands. Setting aside all those reasons, the fact that no one currently held this prize Cao Cao so desperately wanted spoke volumes.
Who should rule it? That was the supreme dilemma facing Cao Cao—and all her sharp minds.
Xuzhou Inspector. Among the candidates, the one with the strongest support was none other than—
* * *
"Liu Bei is out."
Cao Cao declared it flatly before her advisors.
"Sending Liu Bei back to Xuzhou would negate any reason for killing Lü Bu. I'd sooner resurrect the dead Lü Bu and ship him there. Liu Bei is absolutely out."
"Of course. The people's sentiment in Xuzhou toward him pierces the heavens."
"...Why is that? Liu Bei joined our army and led the charge against Lü Bu."
Cao Cao's forces had assumed that if Liu Bei allied with them to defeat Lü Bu, the people of Xuzhou would lose faith in him. They were wrong. His popularity still soared, and Xuzhou's magnates and elders submitted a petition on behalf of its five hundred thousand souls: Return Liu Hyun-deok, Liu Bei, as Xuzhou Inspector.
Cao Cao was dumbfounded at the idea of giving the post to the man who caused the massacre to the one who stopped him. But she couldn't slaughter the remaining five hundred thousand either, so she accepted the petition—for now.
"Hah, this is maddening. Are there truly no talents left?"
"Shall we send someone from the court?"
"Too risky if it's not our man. What if someone like Kong Rong seizes Xuzhou? He'd send no reinforcements in our fights and get devoured by other lords."
"That descendant of Confucius? No, no. Reciting humaneness won't save his skin."
Cao Cao recoiled, tossing aside the names on the bamboo slips one by one.
"Dong Cheng will naturally want to plant his ass in Heodo. Exclude all our people. That leaves court officials not aligned with us..."
"What about Sima Lang?"
"Sima Lang?"
Cao Cao stroked her chin and nodded.
"He could handle it. But is it wise? Whoever takes Xuzhou must weather the people's love for Liu Bei. Can he manage that?"
"No. Even if he does, the people will still pine for Liu Bei."
"Then what?"
"...We need a native Xuzhou man for the post."
Sun Uk's words silenced the room.
"Where would we find one? There were some, but..."
"They all defected to Lü Bu when he took Puyang."
Faced with Cao Cao's massacres against their homeland, Xuzhou natives in her army had flipped to Lü Bu's side. And with Lü Bu's death, they'd either taken their own lives or been killed. Even Chen Gong—Cao Cao's dear friend whom she valued above all—had been executed. What chance did the others have? Especially after their kin were slaughtered; even survivors wouldn't serve Cao Cao.
"The Xuzhou Inspector must work for us. Who would?"
"The Chen family fathers and sons have potential."
"Chen Gui and Chen Deng? True, but..."
They fit the criteria. Yet Cao Cao hesitated.
"Appointing them would look too obvious. The Xuzhou folk won't take kindly—'Betraying your homeland for office?'"
"Then why not front Liu Bei as Inspector? We handle real governance, keep him in Heodo."
"Tempting. But we can't confine an office-holder forever."
Cao Cao sighed deeply.
"Even now, we barely chain him here with his imperial relative claim. Recognize him as Emperor's Uncle, and he'll bolt at the first excuse. He could up and 'recapture ancient Luoyang' one day!"
"...A horrifying thought."
Even the sharpest minds in Cao Cao's camp struggled to name anyone. Not even Sun Uk—the pinnacle of connections and insight—could recommend easily. Their frustration was beyond words.
"Everyone."
Cao Cao picked up an empty bamboo slip and turned to Sun Uk.
"Shall I write?"
"......Milady."
Sun Uk grimaced, glaring at the advisors—especially Xun You.
"Always dumping this on me? It's getting uncomfortable."
"Why? Last time in Heodo, others drank in groups of three, but you drank alone."
"You did too, Milady."
"Not yet. I haven't."
Clap clap. Cao Cao rubbed her palms. Sun Uk clenched her fists, trembling, before speaking.
"Just grant a court office and nominate formally?"
"If that worked, I would. You'll write the letter anyway, right?"
"How? To a man whose marriage talks are underway, from an outsider woman."
"Oh."
Cao Cao stood.
"Marriage talks? With whom? Your irritation screams it's one of these stray cats here! Haha, Guo Jia? Or Xun You? You finally did it! Or maybe Jeong Uk from somewhere I don't know?!"
"What are you saying?"
Jeong Uk startled, shaking his head.
"I've met no one. And not anyone here."
"Then who?"
"Heard it's formal talks with a daughter from a clan that fled Xuzhou to Jingzhou. From Nanyang County in Xuzhou."
"Oh, really? Ah, that girl?"
The advisors exchanged glances. Their eyes settled on Xun You.
"The one using that absurd alias Sima Seo. Right? I checked with Sima Lang—no such person."
"...Probably her. If the surname matches what I heard, her talent's guaranteed."
"Haha, sneaky. Everyone investigating behind my back. Eh? Your dear husband marrying some young thing I don't know—must be why you've all been heartsick lately."
As Cao Cao's voice grew merry, the advisors' faces darkened. It hit too close.
"Fine. What's the girl's name?"
"Zhuge Liang."
"Zhuge! Zhuge... I heard that name in Ye Province once."
"Someone from the Zhuge clan served as aide to a prefect."
"Right! If he's alive... or from that house, maybe it'll work?"
Cao Cao twirled her hand.
"Convince Kim Taeyang, have him convince the Zhuges, use him as bridge to install one as Xuzhou Inspector?"
"Just convince Kim Taeyang. Speaking of..."
Xun You finally spoke.
"Didn't Lady Jo Aman propose to Kim Taeyang too?"
"...What?"
"Oops, my slip. You casually floated a marriage match to him. Why not have Lady Jo Aman write a letter?"
"Wh-what...?"
Cao Cao trembled in shock.
"You want me to write a love letter...?"
"You've already written one."
Sun Uk stared blankly.
"Using my name."
"........."
Cao Cao grimaced and picked up the brush.