Finding My Land (4): The First Disciple
If there's one thing that sets this country, Han, apart from previous eras, it's undoubtedly the participation of women.
Women can rise to office too! It sounds insane, but it's true. Women, once represented by the term "inner quarters ladies," now ascend to high positions and officialdom. Unlike the old days when their role was limited to raising children and managing the household, in modern Han, any woman with talent can enter government service.
This is thanks to precedents everyone acknowledges.
"Thank you. Thanks to you all, I triumphed over that mad butcher and founded Han."
This was from long ago, when Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, rewarded his merits after defeating King Xiang Yu of Chu.
"Then, allow me to share something shocking right here."
"What is it? Tell us anything! Something that'll make our jaws drop!"
"There's a woman among you."
"......Pardon?"
"It's not a palace maid's tale. I'm saying there's a woman among the meritorious officials. No, that's imprecise—women."
The history of women entering officialdom began with the founding of Han.
"If there's one regret in my life, it's not taking Zhang Liang as my wife."
"If there's one regret in my life, it's not discarding Han Xin sooner."
Many contributed immensely to Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang's survival against Xiang Yu, but the names most on people's lips were Zhang Liang and Han Xin.
And they were women.
Liu Bang faced mockery for deploying women as generals, but their brilliant strategies and ingenious schemes led Han to victory over Chu, shifting opinions.
If women like Zhang Liang and Han Xin could do it, what reason is there they couldn't rise in office?
From then on, women gradually took official posts in later generations. Of course, most high positions still went to men. Most appointments come via recommendation.
Without someone's endorsement, even the talented end up mediating village farmers' squabbles.
Even those a bit lacking in ability can rise if recommended by a high official.
Or become imperial in-laws, or for men, castrate themselves to become eunuchs.
Men fought viciously among themselves for high posts, so women in office were rarely recognized for merit alone. Most gained via family recommendations from high officials. This was especially true in central government, where only exceptional backing let a woman reach notable heights.
"Cao Mengde. Cao Cao is special in that sense."
Sima Hui wrote the surname Cao boldly on the paper.
"Daughter of a eunuch, but her talents were so outstanding no one dared complain about her posting. Know how she's described?"
"She should have been born a man; her birth as a woman is Han's great loss."
"Exactly. Cao Mengde's reputation isn't stellar. During her time as Northern Commander of Luoyang, she earned prestige among the pure-stream faction for strictly punishing eunuchs on principle. Now leading imperial troops to victory after victory, she'll snag a high post come the merit rewards."
"I agree. However."
I pointed at myself and asked Sima Hui.
"That doesn't mean I support Cao Mengde."
"Right. Because she's a woman."
"No, Master Sukyeong. Come on."
I thumped my chest in frustration.
"Do you think I'd turn into some simpering fangirl just because I'm a woman?"
"If forced to pick one of the four, you'd choose Cao Mengde for that reason."
"Sheesh."
I felt awkwardly embarrassed.
"Not because she's a woman, but if I had to pick one, yeah, it'd be Cao Mengde."
"Why?"
"I've already bought some land near her hometown."
Sima Hui's mouth fell open at my words.
"You don't mean you've bet on Cao Mengde...?"
"To clear up any misunderstanding: the causality is backward. I want Cao Mengde to succeed because I own farmland near her home. Absolutely not..."
I made it crystal clear to avoid Sima Hui's misconceptions.
"I'm not supporting her because she's a woman. What kind of guy chases a woman's backside just because?"
"Fair. You don't strike me as the type to pledge loyalty to Cao Mengde after falling for her."
Sima Hui shrugged.
"I thought you'd pre-picked her because she's the only one who'd take you in."
"Cao Mengde taking me?"
"She's a woman. Eunuch-born. She stands with one foot in the elite but lacks in many ways. To succeed, she'll need all the talent she can get. Even... a golden-headed one."
"Anyone overhearing would think I'm a Yellow Turban."
"Joking. Hehe, you're fun. Very fun. Yes, keeping you around would at least make time fly."
"Pardon?"
Somehow positive, yet off...?
"You asked to work here, right?"
"Yes. Even menial tasks are fine. Please let me work here."
"Good. Then you..."
Sima Hui stood, lightly tapping her fan on my head.
"Will serve as instructor at this Suyeon Academy, substituting for me in a few classes."
"Pardon?"
"What are you waiting for? Get up and follow. Starting now..."
Sima Hui covered her mouth with her fan.
"We need to prepare teaching materials on Mencius. Hurry."
Her eyes above the fan curved like half-moons.
"...No way."
This woman planned to accept me from the start...?
"Two heads are faster than one. Hehehe."
"......"
Elders are truly terrifying.
The leader of the Taiping Dao, Zhang Jiao, was dead. The instigator who rallied the masses against the Han dynasty had perished. His brothers, his supposed successors, died with him. Zhang Jiao's corpse was exhumed for public desecration, and Luoyang loudly proclaimed the end of the Yellow Turban Rebellion to all under heaven.
"The death rattle is always the loudest."
Zhang Jiao was dead. The Yellow Turban Rebellion was over. Yet remnants still plundered the people in various regions. Some wore yellow headbands to prey on others; others donned them after being preyed upon by the highborn.
One certainty: the center couldn't extend its gaze to every corner. And while it granted marquisates to those who quelled the rebels, assigning them local rule, they truly didn't know.
"Who'd think 'Blue Heaven is dead' meant suicide."
A nation dies. Boasting long history, it ended not from foreign invasion but internal rot. Warlords carved up the land everywhere. Those famed in the rebellion were appointed as governors and prefects for merit rewards—and sparked chaos worse than the Yellow Turbans.
"Who knew Jingzhou would turn into such a shitshow."
Sun Jian, that bastard. I'd thought well of him, but he wrecked my Jingzhou home.
Years had passed since I arrived in Jingzhou. I'd become an instructor at Suyeon Academy, befriended the students, and earned decent coin. Meanwhile, Jingzhou's governor—appointed by Sun Jian—died. Sure, former governor Wang Rui brought it on himself, but Sun Jian lit the fuse.
Tracing further back led to the Yuan clan's honeyed schemes, but I didn't care.
What mattered: Jingzhou's mess slashed my income streams.
"Damn, who thought the great clans would hunker down defending their homes."
Suyeon Academy's students all returned home. With the governor dead and a new one incoming, Jingzhou's great clans banded by blood in the chaos.
"Kids at Suyeon could be hostages. I'll take mine."
In this extreme fray where allies turned foes and anything went, the academy's children—especially from famed houses—were called home under guard. Only kids learning Thousand Character Classic remained.
"No gigs starting tomorrow. Can't even afford lipstick."
This derailed my future plans. I'd wanted quiet life in Jingzhou, but chaos hit. I hoped the new governor would clamp down, but rumors said otherwise.
"Yang, you there?"
A familiar voice called from afar. Only one here called me "Yang" (Sun).
"What is it, Master...?"
Master Sukyeong, Sima Hui, returned holding a young child's hand. The sharp-eyed kid scanned me up and down.
"...Master's secret daughter?"
"Joking. Distant relative's girl. Greet him."
"......Hello."
The girl, about ten, spoke flatly.
"I'm Sima Yi."
"......."
This black-haired girl with piercing eyes was...
"Mister, who're you?"
Rude as hell.