An Age of Absurdity (1)
Even the quietest patch of land, as part of the Han realm, always had its share of rumors drifting in. Especially for me, with the Cai family feeding me all sorts of gossip, my lectures on Discussions on the Affairs of the World at Suyeon Academy were grounded in real events, debating how people ought to navigate them practically.
Call it Discussions on the Affairs of the World if you like—it was just survival savvy in chaotic times. But hey, that savvy had landed Huang Zu a top spot in Liu Biao's forces. Even without it, I had knowledge enough to teach anyone. Sure, there were kids a bit older than me who were smarter, more talented... but still.
"Teacher, great lecture today too, yeah?"
"Of course, Master. I'll be the one begging you. Hehe."
"What? Lately, I've been thinking it'd be nice if you handled the lectures instead."
"Anything but Discussions on the Affairs of the World. That one's gotta be you, Teacher."
"So you're admitting I could handle everything else myself, huh? You little rascal."
"Hehehe... Blue outshines blue, right? Praise me."
"Yeah. Good job."
Pat pat. I stroked Sima Yi's hair, steadying my uneasy heart.
She's a genius.
Just accept it, and life got easier. Sima Yi outshone me. So, should I envy her? Nah.
Honestly, feeling jealous is only human.
Everyone gets a pang when someone outdoes them. If they've got more than you, it stings; if they're younger, it twists the knife. Sima Yi was richer and younger. Of course I was jealous.
But if I think of her as the one who'll feed me later?
Suddenly, it flipped. She was exceptional, loaded, and wouldn't betray the man who'd taught her out of ingratitude. Climb high enough, and silk and grain would roll in monthly. Why envy her?
She's a cute little treasure chest.
So I acknowledged Sima Yi outright and prepared diligently to rely on her someday.
"But Teacher."
"Yeah?"
"You've been petting me nonstop since earlier."
"...Oh, r-right."
"You can keep going, you know."
Sima Yi's smile slowly stiffened.
"Someone's glaring daggers from behind."
"........."
"Ah, Liang. When'd you get here?"
"Just now, Master."
Behind me stood Zhuge Liang, clutching a book like a treasure.
How the hell...?
I'd thought it was just me and Sima Yi, but somehow she'd snuck up.
"......Huh?"
I yanked my hand off Sima Yi's head without thinking. Sima Yi scowled like she'd seen it coming, shooting Zhuge Liang a side-eye, but Zhuge Liang ignored her completely, gazing up at me.
"Master, here's the Yi Province map you asked for."
"Good. Thanks. We're studying Yi Province today..."
Twitch. Zhuge Liang stared up at me, ears perked like a puppy. I glanced at Sima Yi instinctively, then placed my hand on Zhuge Liang's head.
"...Yeah, good girl. Guess I can start leaving class prep to you soon, Liang."
"Hmph."
"........."
Normally, Sima Yi handled gathering props for class. But she'd advanced to planning lessons themselves, and it felt wrong assigning her menial copying tasks. So I'd started delegating to Zhuge Liang... but.
Whoosh.
"Whew, spring breeze still bites. Let's head inside."
I led Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi into the lecture hall. Winter lingered, so the disciples sat by the indoor heater, waiting.
"Teacher Geum, you're here."
"Yeah. How was Lady Sima Hui's morning lecture?"
"Of course. We won't tarnish Suyeon Academy's name—we'll review and etch it in our hearts."
Cai family kid. Next to him, a Cai clan boy; behind, Huang Zu's nephew. Plus kids like Zhuge Liang, sent from influential Xuzhou families seeking refuge in Jingzhou via the academy. Future officials, all—send silk to their teacher someday.
Gotta impress 'em.
What I'd teach: survival in chaos. Know how the world's powers think and move, and it'd pay off big when they took office.
"Liang, hang the Yi Province map."
"Yes, Master... Ngh, hup."
Zhuge Liang, the baby of the group, helped with the map. But she was short, so I assisted from the side. Sima Yi just smirked at her.
Clunk.
"Good job, Yuan Zhi."
"No trouble."
Seo Seo—not quite prime disciple but student-cum-maidservant—helped Zhuge Liang finish hanging it. Zhuge Liang nodded politely to her, glared at Sima Yi, who breezily ignored it and claimed her spot: closest to me, her de facto reserved seat. No one dared take it.
"Alright, let's begin. Topic's obvious from the map: Yi Province. The Ba-Shu region."
"Talking about Emperor Gaozu's campaigns?"
"Related, yeah. But you all know that already, right? Most of you play Go here. Heh."
I tapped the map lightly with my fan.
"What I mean is current Yi Province. Yi, who governs it now?"
"Liu Yan. One you mentioned entering Yi during the warlord era."
"Right. Yi Province had its chaos. After Liu Yan took over, he ruled decently. Enough to call himself king of Yi."
King. Embarrassing for a governor, but anyone knowing Ba-Shu's value swallowed hard at the word.
"But Liu Yan died."
"...Pardon?"
Everyone froze. Except Sima Yi—we'd rehearsed this—who smirked slyly.
You were shocked too when I told you.
Sima Yi eyed Zhuge Liang, mouth agape in shock. Zhuge Liang caught her glance, snapped to, and trembled with fists clenched.
"...Ahem. Liang, when a father dies, who inherits the family business?"
"The eldest son, by common sense."
"Good answer. That's normal. But Liu Yan passed the governorship to his fourth son, Liu Zhang. Don't know why. Maybe he's the best of the bunch."
I didn't care much about Liu Yan or Liu Zhang. Just that the situation was teachable fodder.
Of course, I knew the real reason: first through third sons died suddenly, shocking Liu Yan to death too. No need to tell Zhuge Liang that.
"Teacher, even as governor, even if he ruled Yi well—how can a son inherit an official post?"
"Exactly. And the court even sent down a new governor, but..."
"How do you know all this, Teacher?"
"Just rumors. Haha."
Why I knew? One reason.
"...Right. The court faction pushing their man fled to Governor Liu. Probably ousted by Liu Zhang."
The court sent some guy named Homo as governor; he clashed with Liu Zhang over the seat, got booted, and fled to Jingzhou. Liu Biao sheltered them; Cai Xuan passed the news to me.
Folks just knew Liu Yan died, Liu Zhang succeeded. But even "quiet" Yi Province brewed trouble.
Jingzhou profits off the sidelines again.
Bottom line: Not the court's pick from Li Jue and Guo Si, but Liu Yan's son Liu Zhang took Yi governorship.
"Like hereditary kingship, eh? Haha. Man sent to pacify Yi hands it to his son. Basically declaring himself Ba-Shu King."
"No way..."
"Expect more like him. Might even be better. Li Jue and Guo Si sending talent to the boonies? Nah, more Dong Zhuo cronies. Better a proven heir inherits. Right, Governor Liu... whoops, slipped. Ahem."
My specialty: say it all, then cut off to make 'em think. Everyone here would guess my point.
Someday, it could hit Liu Biao too. Liu Yan's a traitorous usurper passing to his son. But if it happens here in Jingzhou? Perspective shifts.
Theirs is treason; ours is patriotic resolve for Han loyalists and locals.
That's chaos for you.
Yi Province's mess would spread, eroding Han prestige further.
"Teacher, a question. What happened to Yi governorship?"
"Governor Liu scattered talent everywhere, they say."
Really, splitting their power to keep 'em weak.
"...Heard someone went to Jiangxia too."
Who? Gan something.
* * *
Meanwhile, in Jiangxia.
"...Should I consult Teacher Geum?"
Huang Zu was floored by his new subordinate. Martial prowess: way stronger than him. Unrivaled in Jingzhou, it seemed. Intellect: sharp enough. No Teacher Geum, but smarter than Huang Zu. Command: whipped Jiangxia troops into line like his own right away.
Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling.
"........."
The distant bell made Huang Zu's mind go blank. Now he had to manage a general superior in every way.
"...Hoo."
Huang Zu steadied himself with a deep breath, waiting for the door.
"...Come in, General Gan."
"Pfft, general? Drop the stiff talk."
Stern-looking but flippant man.
"Sailed down the Yangtze from Yi all this way—let's sample some Jiangxia brew! Hahaha!"
"........."
Liu Biao dumped shit on me.
"Hey, old man, how's Jingzhou pussy? Heard the pros are killer."
"Hey now...!"
"Don't like 'em? Fine, more for me. Grahaha!"
Huang Zu sighed at the cheeky bastard slinging an arm around him.
"Gan Ning!"
"Whoa, memorized my name already? Hahaha, we're buddies now! Drink up! Huang... Hansheng? Huang Gongfu? Never heard it, so Huang Zu it is, sir! Hahaha!"
Thwack. Thwack thwack.
"Don't worry. Long as this Gan Ning's here."
His subordinate's back-slaps hurt like hell, even laughing.
"No one'll dare cross the Yangtze into Jiangxia."