Winter in Chenliu: Land Fever and Reunions
That winter in Jinryu, I traveled back with Xun You, but I sent her off to Sun Uk and decided to crash at my estate for a few days.
The first day, I met Guo Jia. Though she eyed the land I'd claimed with clear envy, she quickly realized we shared the same opportunistic streak—with just a hint of difference—and we hit it off pretty well.
"You like land, huh?"
"Can't buy enough of it."
We'd gotten friendly over drinks yesterday, but today she didn't touch a drop. She just sipped her tea, saying she only wanted to chat with me.
"Huh? Don't you know all land belongs to His Majesty the Emperor?"
"If His Majesty had a problem with me using this land, he'd have sent someone with an imperial edict to confiscate it by now."
"Right? Heh heh heh."
Guo Jia and I saw eye to eye on land. The imperial house lacked the power to directly manage territory across the Central Plains, so in the end, land fell to local clans or wealthy landowners with vast estates. But even the mightiest clans trembled before enraged peasant uprisings without any real legitimacy.
"How'd you snag this place?"
"When the Yellow Turbans really started rampaging from Pingyuan, they spread everywhere. Ye Province suffered back then too. The original owner was desperate to flee and put the estate up for a fair price. I threw in a premium and snapped it up quick."
I'd bought it from them exploiting the chaos of the Yellow Turban Rebellion. And now, land prices had nearly tripled from what I'd paid, hitting record highs at times.
"Look, this estate used to cost hundreds of gold pieces back in the day. You think two chests'll cover it? Even when I bought it, I paid half a chest more than what you brought."
"That's still way above market average. A chest and a half would be me giving you a premium."
Guo Jia slapped the chests with a laugh.
"You know land prices in Ye Province have tanked by nearly four-tenths?"
"Yeah, I heard Ye's prices are way down. Because of the Black Mountain Bandits?"
"Yep. While everyone's shaking in fear..."
"...it's the perfect time to buy low."
She had plenty of cash. Me? Not so much. Buy low, sell high—that's commerce 101. But if you can't afford to buy when prices bottom out, it's meaningless.
"Ugh, what a shame. This is exactly when I should be snapping up more."
"Tell me about it. Heh heh, that's why I'm looking to buy more. Got any good spots in mind?"
But I had an eye for land.
"Someone sharp enough to grab this place must have some prime targets lined up. Spill. It'll stay between us."
"You know info like that loses value the more it spreads, right?"
"Duh. But in exchange, I'm paying for your eye with land. A full tenth, straight to you."
"Fine, fine. That's why I'm buddies with you now."
In exchange for tipping her off on land, I'd get a tenth of whatever she bought.
"You know there's a five-year price floor guarantee, right? If it doesn't rise at least two-tenths from purchase, you're toast with me."
"Don't worry. Leave it five years, and it'll climb on its own."
Of course, only if she committed to buying—and after five years, if it yielded at least a two-tenths profit on her buy-in—would I claim my tenth.
"Write up the contract. If you're so sure."
"Of course I'm sure. I never take a loss."
It wasn't land I could buy right now anyway, so no reason to get greedy. In five years, I'd pocket a tenth of her purchase—solid deal either way.
"If I dump all this into land, I could snag a whole city."
"Right? Ye Province prices are in the gutter now."
Cao Cao's downfall. The Black Mountain Bandits' emergence. The deaths of key figures like Liu Fu and Bao Xin, who held Ye Province.
"Everyone got scared and bolted."
Ye's people lived in terror, and even prominent locals sold off and fled—one to Jingzhou, another to Xuzhou. They sought peace far from the war's shadow, and Guo Jia was buying them out.
"I don't know you that well, but Lady Cao Cao doesn't want those fleeing clans slinking back to throw their weight around."
"Lady Cao Cao...?"
"Yeah. Cao Cao, now Governor of Ye Province. If she holds this place long-term, those clans'll get cocky again. Ahem, I've been tight with Lady Cao Cao since we were kids... Ahem, back in our youth..."
"Yeah, I get it."
Sharing a village with a big name—or their family—boosts land values.
"This is about weakening the clans. Keeping those who abandoned Ye in its darkest hour from waltzing back in."
Guo Jia explained her land grab.
"I'm buying for the greater good. Not personal gain or anything. Got it?"
"Sure, sure. When someone's buying drinks and land, who am I to argue?"
"Right? Knew you'd see sense. So why'd you buy here? Because it's Cao Cao's family hometown?"
"It was the cheapest option at the time."
I'd bought this land that had her drooling simply because it fit my budget. Among listings, it matched my funds perfectly, and the owner dumped it cheap, fearing Ye's dangers.
"Only learned later it was Cao Cao's folks' hometown. Into feng shui? Mountain at your back, river below, house facing slightly southeast off true south..."
"Forget that—I'm curious about your original target."
Gulp.
"Heard you scoped other places first. True?"
"...My real goal was Chohyeon in Pegu."
"Pegu's Chohyeon? Why there?"
"Best land around."
Clans had roots sunk deep there—no buying it. But the prime real estate was Chohyeon.
"That's Cao Cao's actual hometown."
"Tch. Figures. Back when I lived here, I wondered why so many Cao clansmen. Part of their clan village, huh."
"Not part—practically the heart of it. Heh heh heh."
I regretted it sincerely. If I could turn back time, I'd have bought more of Cao Cao's hometown land by force.
I should've grabbed more, come hell or high water.
A eunuch's daughter crushes Yellow Turbans leading imperial troops, fails to assassinate Dong Zhuo, becomes Anti-Dong Alliance strategist, and now Governor of Ye—who could've guessed?
"...How're prices there?"
"Sore spot? Regretting you missed out?"
"Obviously. If I'd known Cao Cao would rise this far, I wouldn't have bought here."
"Heh heh heh. Prices dipped hard, but no one's selling. Cao and Xiahou clans have it locked down. But I snagged some nearby villages. Ha ha ha!"
"What tipped you off?"
"Cao Cao."
Unlike me, buying for terrain, Guo Jia bought betting on people.
I hoped locals near my land prospered after purchase. She picked people first, then their land.
"Truth is, I'm with Cao Cao's faction."
Yeah. Guo Jia worked for Cao Cao.
"That's why I came today. Figured we could build a good relationship going forward."
"If it's about recommending me for office..."
"Nah, can't force an office-hater into service. Then you wouldn't share intel with me."
Guo Jia stood.
"Tip me off on any land that looks ready to boom. I'll buy it all. As long as profit's secured, you get your tenth."
"One question. What makes you trust me so much?"
"...Saw it myself, but I'd heard plenty about you too."
She clapped my shoulder.
"Tomorrow, we're all heading out to crush the Black Mountain Bandits?"
"The bandits?"
"Yeah. They're tanking land prices."
Her face turned dead serious.
"I'll protect my land prices myself."
Snuff. The lamp went out.
Sun Uk had been poring over Xun You's stratagems until bedtime, ready to sleep. But a knock from outside startled her upright.
No one outside the door. Tense, she covered the bamboo slips.
"Long time no see, sis."
"...Ah!"
The voice came from the window.
"Leaving the window this sloppy? What if a thief sneaks in?"
"...Thieves gonna thief."
The black-haired youth perched on the sill, yanking his head. Swish. Moonlight gleamed gold on his locks.
One leg inside, he grinned at Sun Uk, flicking the wine flask at his waist.
"Just came to see your face."
"Why?"
"Missed you."
"......Can't argue with that."
Sun Uk retied her nightrobe sash. Instead, she approached slowly, hand on his leg.
"Heard you're leaving, sis."
"...Yeah."
"A drink before you go?"
"A drink..."
Sun Uk reached for his face on the sill.
"Just one?"
"Why? Aren't you heading out to crush bandits tomorrow?"
"That's why—exactly why."
She buried her face in his chest.
"Thanks. For coming."
"What're you on about? Weather's cold—close the window. Staying here's freezing my ass off."
"Then come here."
Sun Uk pulled him in, latching the window.
"I'll warm you up first."
The next day. Governor of Ye Province Cao Cao led her full army toward Black Mountain to subjugate the bandits.