Utilizing the Land (3): Yeonju
Cao Cao picked up a sharply honed blade and ran it over her skin.
"It feels even longer now."
Her hair had grown out. Unlike the time she'd first drawn her sword to avenge her father Jo Sung and hacked off her locks, it now hung well past her shoulders.
"Hair care really isn't a one- or two-day job. What a pain."
Ever since that day—ever since cutting her hair—she'd kept it cropped short to show her unyielding resolve. Her hair grew faster than expected, so she trimmed it regularly to stay the image of "the daughter still burning for her mother's revenge." That was her justification for invading Xuzhou. By maintaining her shorn-headed look, Cao Cao broadcast her fury to the world.
But.
—Even for Brother Hyun-deok's sake, please withdraw your army!
Under Liu Bei's mediation as the paragon of benevolence and righteousness, she'd pulled back her forces. Once withdrawn, pressing for revenge again was impossible.
Why? "You can only milk parents' revenge so many times. Even broth gets tasteless after three boils."
Cao Cao stared long at the soup bowl before her. No need to reboil that once-simmered broth anymore—Yeonju had grown rich again. Lü Bu's rebellion had turned into a blessing in disguise. Countless traitors had emerged, and Cao Cao's army had punished them thoroughly. Their wealth now belonged to her troops.
"Heh heh, heh heh heh..."
Yeonju had prospered. People might pity and cheer a vengeance-seeker if she looked gaunt, but with healthy color and plump cheeks? No sincerity there.
"Maybe the family revenge angle's played out."
Cao Cao shifted to kneel properly. "That should do it, Mother. Rest easy in the afterlife."
Three. Two. One.
"Haa, time to grow my hair out. Heh heh."
Cao Cao stretched with a grin.
"Heh heh, a legal excuse to invade Xuzhou."
She toyed with her lips and smacked them appreciatively.
"Perfect chance for payback against Lü Bu and Liu Bei."
The previous Xuzhou invasion had been a "blood revenge war." But now it wasn't about parental vengeance—just plain revenge. Liu Bei, who devoured Xuzhou without spilling a drop while painting Cao Cao as a butcher. And Lü Bu, who'd chilled her blood with a rear ambush.
"How should I cook them up? How to strike so it'll make waves?"
"My lord, a messenger from Jingzhou."
Jingzhou. Messenger.
Cao Cao shot to her feet.
"Mun-yak! Welcome back from your vacation?"
"Yes."
Sun Uk entered the room and stood primly before Cao Cao.
"Did you try any local delicacies in Jingzhou? Build up your strength? Your skin's glowing after that southern trip—how?"
"Thanks to my lord granting me a chance to survey the realm."
"Enough. No need for that."
Cao Cao leaned back comfortably and asked, "So, have you sorted your thoughts?"
"Yes. May I speak freely?"
"Mm, of course."
Cao Cao pointed to the Yeonju map hanging nearby. "What's the most effective way to run tuntian next year? I want your take."
"Tuntian has many flaws."
Straight out the gate with unwelcome words. Cao Cao felt a twinge of annoyance but waved for Sun Uk to continue.
"Especially if it's civilian tuntian rather than military. The people's grumbling will be intense. To quash that, there must be sufficient compensation."
Sun Uk pressed on in a firm tone.
"I heard on the way back. You exterminated Jang-mak's clan?"
"Yeah. Traitor who sided with Lü Bu. Foolishly holed up in his home village instead of fleeing to Xuzhou with them. So I razed it."
"Whose land is it now?"
"Obviously mine..."
Cao Cao covered her face with one hand. "Mun-yak, why suddenly ask about Jang-mak's land?"
"Because it could offset tuntian's drawbacks perfectly."
"Is that really your answer?"
"Just proposing what I see as the best path."
Cao Cao's voice sharpened, her discomfort plain. She turned away from Sun Uk to face the wall.
"Do you know how vast Jang-mak's lands are?"
"I do."
"And it's not just Jang-mak's. You're saying all traitor lands, right?"
Cao Cao jabbed at the entire Yeonju map. "Turn all the Ho clan traitors' lands into tuntian? I was thinking Heohyeon instead."
"That's why I suggest the traitors' lands. Send Qingzhou's 300,000 refugees there to clear and farm. It should accommodate them all."
"No—think the opposite. That land... haa. Give it to the people? All that land?"
Cao Cao smacked her lips in regret. "What's in it for me?"
"Qingzhou's people will become loyal soldiers for you, my lord."
Cao Cao kept her hand over her face for a long while. Regret and pity shone through her fingers.
Ownerless land. Land without owners. Vast, fertile fields once held by local magnates.
And give it away...?
"Not outright. Let them settle and farm for fifteen years. Then divide it. Until then, lease it."
"Lease the land?"
Cao Cao's ears perked up.
"Yes. It's still your land, my lord. Who'd deny that? But leaving it fallow is a shame, so run civilian tuntian there. Perfect—you have idle land and hungry mouths like baby birds. Have them till the fields themselves."
"Taxes? What rate?"
"A friend of mine once said..."
Sun Uk smiled wryly.
"'Take one in ten, and they mock you. Take five, and they lose all drive, owner or not.' So take three in ten."
"Three in ten! Not too high, not too low—perfect."
Cao Cao stroked her chin, hand finally off her face, deep in thought.
"One-third of those taxes stockpiled for relief grain. Another third sold at market for army funds."
"......"
Sun Uk didn't pry where the missing third went. Anyone but Cao Cao might pocket it all, but she wouldn't—not after seeing what happened to those who did, slain by their own adopted sons.
"As expected of Mun-yak! Right up my alley. My perfect advisor."
"You're too kind. I could mull it over deeply thanks to your leave."
"Yeah, yeah. Good. I worried when you headed to Jingzhou, but all's well."
Sun Uk flinched. Jingzhou mention hardened her face. Cao Cao knew she'd gone with someone else on "vacation," but the tone felt off.
"So, how was your long-lost husband?"
"H-Husband? No such thing."
"Then hubby?"
"My lord."
Sun Uk replied gravely.
"I can't take jokes like that."
"Fine, got it. Geez, making me feel awkward. Alright, serious question then."
Cao Cao straightened up.
"Any marriage plans?"
"......"
"You want to marry, so why not?"
"He said only to a high official."
"What? Ahaha!"
Cao Cao slapped her chair, laughing.
"What rank? Prime Minister at least?"
"At minimum, Grand Minister of Works."
"Kuh, for you to reach that, how high must I climb? Heh heh, imagining it drives me mad. Sure, fine! I promise to rise high—for my advisor and the imperial house."
"Tha—"
Sun Uk couldn't finish.
"Marriage. Ha ha, nice. I mean it, Mun-yak—I want you married soon."
"......"
Cao Cao patted her shoulder with a pure smile. "Dead serious."
* * *
"Wol-yeong, no marriage plans for you?"
"...Pardon?"
Cai Xuan's words nearly made my tea go down the wrong pipe.
"What brings that up?"
"What? You're of age now. Time to think marriage."
"No plans. I'll stay here in Jingzhou awhile."
Sudden marriage talk flustered me. She'd brought it up before; I'd just tuned it out.
"At your age, folks already had two or three kids."
"And you, Mother?"
"Well, that bastard Hwang Seung-eon..."
Cai Xuan coughed, trailing off. "Forget it."
"What was that?"
"Good. Keep that attitude. That's it. ...So, marriage thoughts?"
"...Mother."
I sensed no escape from her persistence.
"Not yet."
"So someday?"
"Of course. Least I must pass my assets, my lands, to someone."
My lands to a stranger? Better to kin. No kin yet, so make some.
"But not now."
"When then?"
"Well... say..."
Marriage talk. I knew why, so I gave her a pleasing answer.
"Five years sounds good."
"...Heh heh, yes. Fine answer. Five years."
Cai Xuan tapped her fan to her neck.
"In five years, that Zhuge girl at your academy—her kid'll be marriageable, right?"
"......Pardon?"
"Just asking."
"Sh-She is of age."
Cai Xuan eyed me slyly, scheming.
"Heh heh, yes. Well then, son—long time no Go. You pick first."
"Me?"
"Yes. Our skills match, so no matter. Come, Wol-yeong."
Cai Xuan handed me both black and white stones.
"Black or white?"