Spring at the Academy (4): Turning Xinya into a Metropolis
Simply living in Xinya County and developing it are two entirely different things. The former is the life of the common folk, while the latter is unmistakably the duty of an official.
'Develop Xinya for free? In your dreams.'
I'm not even on the government's payroll, so why would I bother developing not just my own land but all of Xinya? If they paid me a salary, maybe, but I'm not working for nothing!
"Did they agree to the salary?"
"Yes. We'll just put the name out there to create a fake official, and in reality, we'll pocket it ourselves."
Sima Yi's proposal was working like a charm, and I let out a cheer of delight.
"Well done, Yi'ya. Heh heh heh."
"Mind giving me a pat?"
"How about a hug while I'm at it?"
"Perfect."
I lavished praise on Sima Yi, who had successfully secured our salary, stroking her enthusiastically. This had been her idea; all I'd done was arrange for her to meet Mun Bing and send word to Lady Cai in Yangyang.
—Let's create a ghost. Someone who does no work but sits back and collects a salary.
Sima Yi's plan was straightforward. Instead of us stepping up directly to take official positions and develop the area—which felt a bit off—we'd invent a fictional person who didn't exist publicly and pay them a salary. We'd do all the actual work. They'd just lend their name and collect their pay for it.
If we just went ahead and did the work ourselves, we'd avoid all the annoying procedures, but we had one major flaw that could cause huge problems if word spread.
—Xinya County is run by women!
—Haha, did all the men around there die? Not a single one in sight!
'Idiots who look down on us just for being women.'
They were foolish beyond belief, but the world was full of people who dismissed women. Not that they dismissed women in general—they just couldn't comprehend the greatness of Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi, Seo Seo, Pang Tong, and Zhen Jun.
'They think being men makes them superior. Pathetic nobodies.'
Man is heaven, woman is earth. I didn't deny that. I wasn't rejecting the natural order of heaven, earth, and man—but there were men who were mere wisps of cloud in the heavens, and women whose domain might dwarf the Central Plains.
'These clowns get shut down at the Zhen Jun level and still strut around.'
No matter how lofty the heavens, humans live on the earth. If the most exceptional people on that earth were dismissed just for being women, it gave me a headache.
—Master, some guy from the Gu family grumbled that the county's in this state because kids like us are meddling in state affairs?
'The girls get upset and come crying to me every night—it's a hassle.'
Drinking with the teary-eyed kids while cursing out those arrogant fools who lorded their maleness over them despite being inferior—that was fine once or twice. But if it kept happening, I'd end up with a drinking problem for sure. It'd wear me down day and night until I collapsed.
So, to survive, I put up a proxy. Not a real person, but a ghost.
"What name did you give it?"
"Something fitting. Daljung, courtesy name Yugeo."
"Hm..."
It was a bit more effort than "Dark Dragon" or "Staff Employee," but Daljung was just "jungdal" backwards, wasn't it?
"And why'd you change Liang's on your own?"
"She was being cheeky."
Zhuge Liang, courtesy name Gongming. She'd named her alias Inbu, courtesy name Siljeong.
"Now Zhuge Liang is Insilchuk."
"From Insiljeong to Insilchuk. Scary if she complains later."
"It's fine. I just need to beat her at something I'm better at."
"You're better than Zhuge Liang?"
"At comforting Master."
"Hm!"
Spot on.
"And soothing an angry Master."
"Me, angry? I rarely lose my temper."
"You've been getting mad a lot lately because of Teacher Jin."
"Ah, well..."
Zhen Jun. We'd already figured out who she was. Through her, we'd come up with the "ghost salary" plan, and now she was circling back to teach at Suyeon Academy. Some people just couldn't do anything but desk work.
"Maybe I should've gone with something casual like Zhen Jun's. You know, 'Gwawol, courtesy name Seonbae' or 'Jeonhwi, courtesy name Namchin.'"
"Over-Moon Senior and Ex-Boyfriend? Perfect aliases."
"Right? They get the salary, but the money really comes to us. Heh heh."
"Hee hee. Anyway, the key is we can act like their aides using those names. Pretend to be their deputies."
"Yeah. The people in Xinya won't mind, so we can relax."
If folks in Yangyang found out, the lazy types who'd sit around demanding tribute without lifting a finger would get annoying—but eventually, this not-so-secret secret would leak. For now, though, we could focus on developing Xinya.
One important thing.
"We'll reclaim the land using the people's taxes. We're commoners too, so developing our land a bit is fine. Heh heh."
Our land just happened to be included in the official business. If there was any wrongdoing, it was on Gwawol Seonbae and Jeonhwi Namchin who took the salary. I, Kim Taeyang, was innocent.
And the one who made this scam—I mean, proxy administration—possible was Xinya County's very own prefect.
"What did Prefect Mun say?"
Mun Bing had welcomed our initial proposal with open arms.
—A proxy? Ah... Of course, Teacher! I'll do my utmost to keep troublesome matters away from the academy folks!
He was already swamped managing security and defenses, so he was genuinely thrilled we'd help—our abilities proven.
"After Seo Seo and Pang Tong assessed the funds, I was ready to hand over full authority."
"Whoa, aren't you expecting a bit much?"
Mun Bing was more serious about developing Xinya than I'd thought. And more sincere in trusting us.
"It's awkward if you treat us like real officials. Our goal is just to develop Xinya—we're not after promotions or fame."
"At least until we quit, we'll keep helping, right? Unless the prefect suddenly changes."
"True. If we develop Xinya so much they send a Grand Administrator instead of a prefect, who knows where Mun Bing ends up."
Refugee population hitting tens of thousands, then rumors of how livable it was pushing it over a hundred thousand. Commerce booming until tax revenue surpassed Yangyang. Tech advancing to weapons letting one match thousands. Walls expanding left and right, turning the key outpost "Xinya Fortress" into a proper city.
If we maximized the gold, Xinya could become a city like Chenliu or Puyang in at least five years.
"As Xinya grows, land prices around it will rise naturally."
"Including the land Master's holding."
"Yeah. I raise the value of my own land. Heh heh."
For my land.
...Of course, when newly cultivating land, I wouldn't make it benefit only my plots. As long as we're eating from the nation's rice bowl, I'd ensure everyone in Xinya ate their fill.
"We should build granaries for famine relief."
"That's good, but how about embankments along the river? It rains more than you'd think here, causing frequent floods. Toward the Yangtze."
"Right. Building dikes to keep the water out."
My years in Xinya proved invaluable for urban planning. Zhuge Liang seemed to have some innovative idea, but I'd have to wait for her return to ask.
"When's she coming back?"
Once Zhuge Liang arrived, we could discuss that "farm machinery" too.
But...
"Another guest?"
Clop clop, clop clop. A horse approached from afar.
Recognizing the familiar face, I waved her in.
"Bonghyo, long time no see."
"Yeah. ...Seriously, using a premium talent like me as a mere courier."
"Huh?"
Bonghyo's saddlebag was bulkier than expected.
"Wait, why's someone from Cao Cao's army—"
"Hey! You're the one who's gonna marry Kim Taeyang, right? Heard about you."
"No escort? Please, come this way. I'll guide you."
Sima Yi immediately treated Guo Jia courteously, helping with her side. I was stunned by the two women, but it beat them snarling and fighting.
"What's the occasion today?"
"Told you. Courier. You're not the only one seeking my wisdom."
Guo Jia pointed to the bamboo slips piled in her bag.
"This is an official letter from Sister Sun Uk, this from Sister Xun You, and these are personal letters from each."
"...Did you switch to messenger full-time?"
"Kinda. And this one's a bit more 'real'..."
Guo Jia grimaced, holding a far more luxurious bamboo slip.
"Official from Lady Cao Cao, personal from her, and a personal from Cao Ang."
"...Why would Cao Cao send me a personal letter?"
"Oh, not for you."
Guo Jia handed Cao Cao's personal letter not to me, but to Sima Yi.
"Keep it private, read it alone. Got it?"
"......Master?"
Sima Yi sought my permission before taking the letter. I nodded, and only then did she accept it.
"I'll check it later. First, let's handle the official... letters from them and discuss."
"Yeah. Looks like we'll need all of Suyeon Academy's knowledge."
Probably each with different motives.
"Still, getting letters every time asking for help like this—it's a bit uncomfortable. We're not even in Cao Cao's army."
"A chest of gold per consultation?"
"Everyone, assemble—!!"
How could I refuse when those serving the Emperor offered gold for advice?
"Remember! This isn't for Cao Cao—it's for the Emperor she serves!"
"Yes, yes. This is a gift from the Emperor, right?"
"Your servant Kim Taeyang is overwhelmed by the Emperor's boundless grace and knows not where to stand!"
This was national business.