Dragon Dreams and the New Capital (1)
I had a bizarre dream. I was strolling through the clouds as dragons soared in the sky, tearing into each other over me, until one coiled protectively around the ground and whisked me skyward like a yeouiju orb.
And I thought: Whoever possesses me is the true Son of Heaven. Am I the Black Dragon Emperor?
What a lunatic.
Me, the Black Dragon Emperor? That's bullshit even for a dream.
Was it because I've been feeling off lately? Or maybe too long away from the comfy lands of Jingzhou? Either way, the dream was downright weird.
Have I been thinking about the Son of Heaven too much?
The sheer oddity of it sent chills down my spine.
But they say the interpretation matters more than the dream itself. I didn't die in it, so spin it positive and call it a day. Look at it right, and it's pure joy. 'My land's about to skyrocket!'
My land value soaring like that dragon carrying me to the heavens! Let the others claw and envy and tear each other apart—they can crash and burn for all I care. My land won't tumble. It's only got one way to go now: up!
"Heh, heh heh." Felt damn good. The morning was crisp and invigorating, warm sunlight wrapping around me as I rose from bed, brimming with energy.
"Fine day, mighty fine."
Was Sima Hui's phrasing rubbing off on me? The thought of rising land values kept a grin plastered on my face. So what next if values climb? Buy low, sell high—that's merchant logic. Land's different.
Sometimes holding tight even if it dips is the play. Other times, cut losses before it tanks further.
Real estate's a mystery no one can predict. For land that looks primed to rise, my call boils down to the dream.
'Hold on tight and never let go.'
Just like that dragon gripping me without release, cling until it lifts me to the clouds. Don't sell to anyone—manage it myself.
Turn the land I've bought into a nation's capital.
'Time to call Heohyeon not a county, but the capital city.'
Who could've guessed? Folks in Heohyeon, no different from Xinya, suddenly lords of Cao Cao's vastest power base. Overflowing fortune doesn't even cover it—their luck's bursting at the seams.
One nagging worry, though.
'Can Cao Cao really defend Heohyeon?'
In these chaotic times, land value ties to power's proximity—and stability jacks it higher.
Luoyang commanded top prices across the Central Plains before it burned. Being near the capital's always the ultimate booster.
But in chaos, Heohyeon has one glaring weakness.
'Defense.'
Is Heohyeon safe from invaders or rebels?
'Hell no.'
It's wide open, flat in all directions. Cross any mountain from east, west, south, or north, and you're there. Without massive, towering walls, it's a deathtrap.
Long-term stability sways value too. With Heohyeon as capital, all that's left is desperate prayer.
'Please let my estate fall inside the walls!'
Heohyeon has zero walls now. Building from scratch demands hordes of laborers.
Mobilize them locally? Impossible. But drag in Qingzhou's hundreds of thousands of refugees or folks from elsewhere, and even barren fields could birth a new Luoyang in months.
Yeah, manpower's the key.
'That's why they're pushing civilian tuntian farms nearby.'
Hand farmers land to till, but double as laborers. Farming's tough but women can handle it—let them work the fields while able-bodied men haul dirt and stack walls.
Rewards? Heaps of gold and land deeds. Not all Heohyeon land's Cao Cao's, but unclaimed wastes? Hers to divvy by imperial edict.
'With the Son of Heaven on her back.'
Who stops an edict granting ownerless wastes? Build that mega-city, and Heohyeon becomes a true capital—a second Luoyang. The catch?
'Inside the walls means higher value.'
I don't know Heohyeon's exact development zones.
I couldn't just demand my land go inside—wrong position for that. 'Gotta pray.' Even with Cao Cao allies, begging favors risks their clean rep. My ask could stain their career. Best to quietly let it go. Or... one thing I can do.
"......If you put my estate inside, I'll bow toward Heohyeon every morning."
Please, walls around my estate. I could only hope and pray.
"Hm..."
Guo Jia, Heohyeon's prefect and project head, spread a map while issuing orders.
"......"
Opportunity lingered. Her choice would reshape ties with him.
"What're you pondering so deeply?"
"Wall boundaries."
She flicked the map at her adjutant's question.
"Once I decide, construction kicks off tomorrow."
"Yes. Any issues?"
"Here." She pointed to a plot. "Tell me: Jia owns one chunk, Yi the other. Jia was original owner; Yi bought in on Jia's rec."
"Whoa, trouble."
The adjutant shook his head.
"Splits Jia and Yi's land."
"Yep. Wall path decides whose goes inside."
"Your call, Prefect."
"Right." Guo Jia toyed with her empty wineskin at her waist. Throat burned, but it was drained. "Tch. What to do?"
"You know both well?"
"Yeah. Yi's close kin, even. Guo Feng—you call me Lady Jia."
"Oh boy." The adjutant eyed the map worriedly. "Sorry to kin, but including Yi's risks backlash later?"
"Backlash?"
"Lord might see graft during rewards post-Son of Heaven rites. No high post."
"......Office or land—pick one?"
Guo Jia smacked her lips at the map.
"You?"
"Not prefect, but I'd choose no regrets forever."
"Heh, how d'you know?"
"Pardon? No guilty conscience. Clean as public servant."
"Impartial judgment? Ha, tough."
She folded the map, gazing skyward.
"Does he repay favors?"
Unknown. From what she knew, in this spot he'd prioritize gain ruthlessly...?
"Nah, not him."
If swapped, he'd act as she figured—barring huge loss, pick people over wealth.
"......Sigh."
She scratched her head.
"Hate blushing fights over this."
She refolded the map.
"Thanks for the advice—nearly botched it."
"So...?"
"Land triples or quintuples—same diff. Better plant a favor for intel than gripe over others' gains."
"More land shopping?"
"Mm." She turned north. "Always wanted roots beyond the Yellow River."
"Pardon? Gong Sun Zan's turf now."
"Exactly. Soon Yuan Shao's. But."
She snickered, arms sweeping Heohyeon.
"Expand from here as capital—unify the realm someday, no?"
"...Then settle Hebei later?"
"Yup. Gotta ask where's cozy up there someday."
She tapped the empty flask, chuckling dryly.
"Can't lose a drinking buddy over gold chests... Ha, damn."
She sighed heavily.
"Me, argh, tch...."
A day later, Cao Cao's soldiers drove stakes around a vast estate—skirting it wide.
Its owner? Shockingly, not Guo Jia.