A Pearl in the Satchel (2)
When she first read the contents of the bamboo slips, Cao Cao's initial emotion was anger. How dare one of her advisors conspire with an outsider? This was a matter for military law.
Of course, the contents written on the slips were things anyone could piece together from rumors, by paying attention to eyewitness accounts, or by taking even a passing interest in official affairs. Considering the responses on the slips—and Sun Uk's usual temperament—she surely hadn't divulged any military secrets. As private correspondence, Sun Uk would have taken every precaution against leaks. The content was somewhat sanitized, and the messenger to Jingzhou was reliable. Had she not been inspecting the walls at that moment, or if the bearer had been just a bit more composed, the slips never would have been discovered.
The second emotion was pride. Sun Uk, whom she could publicly acclaim as her Zhuge Liang, was seeking help from this wild sage to aid her in turn. In truth, the stacks of slips in Sun Uk's quarters had proven immensely helpful to Cao Cao's forces. Some pointed in directions that infuriated her, others clashed entirely with her own inclinations, and a few—ones Sun Uk had omitted—were choices Cao Cao herself might have embraced without hesitation. Seeing the traces of such relentless deliberation on her behalf filled Cao Cao with admiration for Sun Uk.
Next came annoyance. Why hadn't she mentioned this person sooner? Even if circumstances prevented employing him now, couldn't she have at least dropped a hint? "He shuns officialdom," Sun Uk had said. No matter how much he loathed service, if he were truly exceptional, Cao Cao would have sought him out three times herself. She felt deep regret that Sun Uk had kept him secret—and irritation that she'd monopolized this intellectual exchange alone.
Then curiosity. Who on earth was this man, to exchange such letters and ideas with Sun Uk? Their correspondence delved into the same depths as—or deeper than—the discussions among Cao Cao's own advisors. What if she could hear from him directly? What insights might he offer on supplies, provisions, and talent, with concrete details? What abilities would he reveal?
And finally, the last emotion.
"......I want him."
I want him. If he was a peer to Sun Uk, he was far too valuable to hand over to others. Though rations for her subordinates were barely scraping by amid fiscal woes, one day, when success came, she would reward him with high office, honors, and riches aplenty. What kind of man was he? What sort of man would recommend her over Yuan Shao?
"......Ah, I see."
Not long ago, she'd heard an assessment of Sun Uk from a family elder: Sun Uk possessed the talent of a kingmaker.
"You are Sun Uk's other kingmaker."
The existence of such a man. The existence of such a person.
I sincerely hope you will bloom with your talents and propel Cao Mengde to Prime Minister of Han—no, even beyond.
Your friend,
Geum Taeyang
Cao Cao reread the closing lines at the bottom of the slip again and again.
"A man like this would naturally support and follow this Cao Cao."
Geum Taeyang. Geum Taeyang.
"So that's the Xuanyuan Scholar you mentioned."
"Y-yes...."
"This man."
Cao Cao was utterly sincere.
"Is he handsome?"
* * *
A day later, Sun Uk entered the government office with the heart of a condemned prisoner marching to execution. Already, numerous generals and strategists lined the left and right, awaiting her.
"Sun Uk."
Cao Cao sat demurely in the central chair, greeting her. Before Sun Uk lay an empty bamboo slip and a single brush.
"I've discussed the letters you exchanged with your wild sage with the assembled officers. Some say you should be expelled for collusion; others insist your sage is trustworthy. Never have opinions clashed so sharply."
Cao Cao continued gravely.
"The meeting's conclusion: We'll make use of you and your sage."
"Make... use?"
"Indeed. To aid this Cao Mengde's hegemony, we'll borrow your sage indirectly. Nothing changes from before. Except...."
Cao Cao tapped the slip with a smile.
"We'll review the contents for military secrets!"
"No, wait...."
"And if good news comes? Heh, serendipity. Who knows? He might suddenly change his mind, join you in service, and enlist with us."
Cao Cao extended her hand to Sun Uk.
"I forgive you. Thanks to your aid, we're overcoming our hardships. So I ask this of you."
Smiling, Cao Cao lifted a stack of slips from beside her armrest—presumed to be from Sun Uk's quarters.
"From now on, we'll deliberate collectively and dictate to this slip. You just transcribe what we say."
"...Pardon?"
"What? I'm no fool. Why force a wisdom pouch that spits stratagems from mere letters? We'll use your sage thus."
Cao Cao clapped. A general stepped to Sun Uk's side, unfurling a large map.
"Map of the Black Mountain. We'll attach it and ask how best to crush these bandits. Who knows? He might offer a brilliant stratagem we overlooked."
"Just... write that?"
Sun Uk couldn't bear the leering grins turned her way—especially the Xiahou brothers, on the verge of bursting into laughter. Though she couldn't voice it, irritation surged.
"Yes. But it's a love letter, no? No military secrets—just affectionate check-ins for your beloved. Sure, it covers personnel evaluations, nearby warlords' movements, future diplomacy... but isn't that just clever lovers exchanging views?"
"Th-that...!!"
"Just as you've advised us, we'll help your romance. Women know women's hearts; men know men's."
Clap.
"Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan—what say you? Viable?"
"Absolutely, Mengde. Teacher Wenya's just frustrated. They've said nothing, but it's done."
"The man's just as hopeless. Ugh, if it were me, I'd have shown up with wine ages ago... ahem."
At the officers' words, Sun Uk flushed to her ears. Even fellow women Jeong Uk and Guo Jia just shrugged and joined the laughter.
"Th-this...."
"Sorry. No intent to shame you publicly. We all just want to help. You should marry, right?"
"...Does my lord not marry?"
"Me? Haha, fool. I...."
Cao Cao spread her arms and rose.
"...am wed to this realm. But you're not in my position, are you?"
"......Please don't force the matter of my bond with him. I beg you."
Sun Uk's earnest plea silenced the officers. Though fewer than ten.
"...My lord. Wenya takes this seriously. Enough jesting."
"Wenya must reflect on this incident. Good intentions or not, it leaked secrets. Normally, flogging—but she's suffered dozens of mental lashes already. I'd have died of shame."
"You say no teasing, yet you tease more, general."
Cao Cao gathered the slips and approached Sun Uk. Kneeling on one knee, she raised her, embracing warmly.
"Wenya, you are my Zhang Zifang. How could I discard you over this?"
"My lord...."
"But now that I know, I can't ignore it. So I give you a choice: sever ties completely, or continue them openly from now on?"
All pondered. This was Cao Cao's final mercy to Sun Uk.
"...Let me keep our current relationship."
Sun Uk murmured, bowing her head.
"My judgment was poor, my lord."
"It's fine. All for my success, right? Just no repeats. Agreed?"
Cao Cao patted Sun Uk's back, helping her stand.
"Reading it all, it was too frustrating. Huh? Is this diplomacy or romance?"
"...You read it all?"
"Yes. You avoided secrets well, but I knew everything. A man not even in Chenliu."
"Ah, shows how much interest he has in Teacher Wenya."
"A recluse working for my lord—through his woman. Poetic."
"Ah, not yet...."
Overwhelmed, Sun Uk blurted her heart.
"Not... yet...."
"......."
Silence fell. Cao Cao hugged the teary-eyed Sun Uk, soothing her again.
"Alright, I understand. We'll help—for you lovebirds, and our army's future through his wisdom."
Cao Cao gestured to the empty slip.
"First, ask his stratagem for the Black Mountain bandits."
"My lord! Starting so stiffly will make him uncomfortable!"
"Right. Begin with pleasantries. 'Clear skies here. Glancing up, I thought of you....' Nice!"
"Heavens, mad? Write that?"
"Men love it! Grabbing a sleeve makes them think she likes him—that's men!"
"Hey, Honga. They've seen everything already, no? Go stickier."
"Nonsense. It's drier than death. No romance there—the emperor's edict's warmer."
"......."
Unintended though it was, leaking secrets to a recluse was the crime. Thus, Sun Uk had to write her (love) letters publicly.