Coaxing the Son of Heaven (6)
Sima Yi said she'd take a moment to sip tea and catch up with Sima Rang after their long separation. In the meantime, I wandered through various parts of Chenliu, gauging the vibe on the streets.
"Nice place."
It wasn't bad at all. Perfectly livable, and as Cao Cao's stronghold, the roads were clean and security rock-solid. It was bound to see serious development with time. But...
The city has clear growth limits.
It had slim chances of becoming a massive metropolis like Ye, Luoyang, or Chang'an. No matter its central location in the Central Plains, the surrounding terrain imposed unbreakable limits. At best, it could grow into a mid-tier provincial city. Chenliu replacing Luoyang as the capital? Next to impossible.
So what if they brought the emperor here? Tough sell.
Chenliu lacked the space, facilities, or infrastructure for an imperial palace. It wasn't even fit for a provincial governor's seat—woefully inadequate in every setup. Even Dong Zhuo had moved the capital to Chang'an, not his own base, because it suited a palace. Hadn't countless megacities been hailed as "the heart of the realm" since ancient times? Liu Bang leaving Ba-Shu to establish his capital in Luoyang. The First Emperor rooting in Chang'an. The Spring and Autumn-Warring States era's states had all vetted their capitals for growth potential. Chenliu? No such luck.
If it had that potential, someone would've built an empire around it by now.
Ye would be perfect, though.
Ye Castle in the north fit the bill ideally. Huge city, vast surrounding plains, not too far from Luoyang, and room to grow. Sure, projecting power south to Jingzhou or Dongwu would be a hassle, but if the north's master wielded overwhelming might to command the realm, loyalty demanded obedience. The more I thought about it, the more it stung.
"Coaxing the Son of Heaven."
The best spot to host the emperor was obviously a metropolis, but Cao Cao's forces had none. She wouldn't hand him to Yuan Shao, would she?
Cao Cao was ambitious. Scrutinize her every move, and you could feel her urge to break free from Yuan Shao someday. Yuan Shao hadn't done it, but Cao Cao had? This could be the spark splitting them. So where would she house the emperor?
Not Luoyang. Among her holdings, the only candidate might be...
"...Nah, no way."
Life never flowed that smoothly my way. If it did, I'd coast forever without lifting a finger—easy street, my crumpled existence ironed straight in one go.
Stop daydreaming solo and smacking your lips. Happy future fantasies fueled the present grind, sure, but overdo it and disappointment hit harder later.
"Contentment's my path."
I wasn't hurting for anything, no grounds to gripe about my lot. In this chaos, who lived as comfy and fun as me?
Whiiiish.
A cold wind blew. Time to head back to Sima Rang's from my stroll.
"Spring coming?"
The weather was warming for midwinter.
As the saying goes, people bond over meals. Men? Over drinks.
"—Since you're just a year older, brother, let me call you that. Speak freely."
"—No, how could I? I'm your guest today. Can't be rude to the host."
"—Host or not, we're men of this land, bound by loyalty and righteousness. Drinks are a must."
"—Loyalty and righteousness?"
"—Righteousness and chivalry. Righteousness in not coveting others' goods; chivalry in aiding them without discontent in your own life. How's that not righteous chivalry? You holding out on your little brother?"
"...Ugh, when a guy's this persistent, it's tricky. Fine, dropping formalities."
Sima Rang was actually a year younger than me. Surprising—his beard made him look way older—but he was polite to a fault.
"A drink?"
"...Just a little?"
And then.
"Hah, hearing about Xuzhou broke my heart. Bedridden in Henei, I nearly leaped out when I heard!"
"Same here! Jingzhou man or not, I'd have stopped Lord Cao out of basic humanity!"
One drink down.
"Yi was sharp from childhood. Still does that wide-eyed grin in tough spots?"
"Eh? Spot on!"
"Hahaha, that's her being shy."
"Knew it! Big bro knows best!"
Three drinks down.
"One thing I know: survival. Got future worries? Hit me up. I'll wrack my brain for you!"
"Honor, brother."
One bottle gone.
"Haha, Yi said that? Surprising."
"Yup. I talked big, but repelling Zhang Ji's army? Yi's doing."
"Kuh, sharp kid showing her stuff. Good she's outshining me."
"Surprising. No sibling rivalry?"
"Jealous once. Not anymore."
Sima Rang smiled serenely.
"How could a white deer chase a soaring phoenix?"
"Whoa, high praise?"
"Her smarts were legend young. Then that rabid dog... ahem."
Sima Rang bristled angrily.
"...Dong Zhuo's lackey showed up; Yi had to flee Henei fast. Lucky she met you."
"Fate put me at Suyeon Academy. Heh."
Staying there let me meet Sima Yi.
"Yi's the disciple who made me think deep."
"Just a disciple?"
"......"
The booze? Tough question. But my mouth itched to blab.
Don't screw up. She's his sister.
Calm down. No loose lips with a disciple's family. But the blood boiled; had to vent somehow.
"...Told your father already, but."
I raised my cup.
"Might meet again in a few years."
"Ah...!"
"Depends on Yi, of course! Hahaha!"
Petty bourgeois trait: pass the buck. Ball's in Yi's court now.
"Just hope she's huge by then. Hahaha."
"Right! Kuh, I wanna rise too. If my land answer gets picked..."
"Land?"
Ears perked. Then gut dropped.
Insider trading?
Chatting assets with officials? Tread carefully—could leak strategies.
"You, hold—"
"Lord gave a test on managing vast lands. No worries; exam's done."
"Ah, a test."
Land management test? Intriguing.
"What was it?"
"How to maximize yields assigning land to masses. Thirty myriad farmers. Land enough for all."
"Broad. More like consulting strategists?"
"Gave it to generals too. Gold chest to the best answer."
"Hm..."
Cao Cao gifting a chest of gold. Sudden stomachache.
Guo Jia'd split it with me.
Xun Yu or Xun You'd solve solo, but Guo Jia'd drag me in, wounds be damned. No recent letters, though—no clue about this "test."
"Odd, though."
"What's odd, brother?"
"Cao Cao suddenly hosting a gold-chest contest."
Meant it was huge.
"When was the test?"
"Recent."
"......"
Puyang? No. Qingzhou was progressing fine.
"This..."
My eyes hit the Xu Province map on the wall.
Coaxing the Son of Heaven. Capital. Vast territory. Massive farmland push.
"......That crazy bitch."
My land. Turning into the emperor's capital...?
I shot up.
"Wh-what, why stand...?"
I'd stood without thinking.