Soyoung's Apocalypse Tycoon - 2
Cheong Kyungwoo explained kindly to Yun Ga.
He was pointing out how to act in Soyang territory.
"For now, I can't do much for you. But I'll tell you this: to become a second-class citizen, you need to donate to Soyang, participate in government projects, or have exceptional skills. You... hand over that bamboo slip."
"I heard I should cherish this bamboo slip more than my life."
"Then take that bamboo slip and go to the government office. I was just going to give you a bit of advice, but ahem..."
Yun Ga bowed and joined the line to the government office.
He saw them strictly controlling people who tried to cut in line, so Yun Ga had to wait quite a long time.
The sun was high in the sky when he lined up, but he could only enter the office when torches were lit.
Upon entering the office, a man who introduced himself as the examiner looked over the bamboo slip and asked,
"It seems you have no choice but government projects, so I'll ask: Do you intend to receive the second-class citizen title and participate in a government project? If not, please leave Soyang now."
Yun Ga had come to Soyang with that intention from the start.
He knew well how grueling government projects from the state could be, but that wasn't the important part.
"If I really work here, will I not starve?"
"As a second-class citizen, you won't starve. The benevolent magistrate rules this place, always keeping the granaries open to ensure no one goes hungry. Moreover, the renowned richest man in the realm, Mi Chuk, watches over this land closely, so you needn't worry about going hungry."
"Mi... Mi Chuk, you say?"
The merchant known as Mi Chuk, wasn't it?
Rumors said he owned 50,000 seok of grain alone.
And that was just the beginning—his grand mansion, thousands of warhorses, immense quantities of silk and salt.
Such a Mi Chuk was closely watching this land?
"So, will you do it or not? People behind are waiting, so decide quickly."
"I... I'll do it! But really..."
The examiner snatched the bamboo slip.
"Have you lived your whole life being fooled? The government office has these slips too—we're just giving you an identical one. Manage it as carefully as your life." Realizing his slip, the examiner looked at the bamboo slip and said,
"What's your name?"
"Yun Ga."
The examiner swiftly wrote on the bamboo slip with a brush.
"This is your name now. Do well, Yun Ga. Go out and receive guidance from a first-class citizen. Next!!!"
"Pardon? What does that mean?"
Yun Ga was dragged out of the office before he could fully ask his question.
It was midnight, the place was bustling with people, and he was being urged to leave quickly.
'Receive guidance from a first-class citizen?'
He worried about his wife and children.
He'd told them to wait just a moment, but the sun had set and darkness fallen.
How anxiously must his family be waiting?
'What scheme is that guy up to with my family?'
When he reached the spot where his family waited, some man was entangled with them.
"You! What are you doing there?"
"Are you the father of this family?"
Being questioned back like this felt awkward to Yun Ga.
"Yes, but... who are you?"
"I'm Ki Hyang, a first-class citizen. The kids were crying without their father, so I was comforting them."
Ki Hyang looked like a refined scholar, and Yun Ga felt like he'd met a benefactor, bowing deeply.
"I apologize for my rudeness without realizing."
"No need. I heard you went to the office at high noon, so I've been waiting. Follow me."
Under the guidance of the first-class citizen Ki Hyang, Yun Ga followed him, his eyes widening at the sight of the massive river.
"Let me ask: Can you swim? If you want to survive work, tie that rope tight. Above all, safety is paramount by the magistrate's order—if someone dies, us first-class citizens bear the responsibility."
...What on earth did that mean?
"What are you talking about?"
"From today, I'm your manager. It means I'll bring in you second-class citizens and manage them."
Automatic city management.
Chen Soyoung's pyramid empire, built on a multi-level marketing model.
2 2 2
3 3 3 3 3
4 4 4 4 4 4 4
This is selling offices. The number of positions snowballing like a snowball!
As I lounged on the cushion running the national auto-mode and slacking off, Ma Su glared at me.
"Sister, this isn't the time to be so carefree. Everyone's working without a moment's rest, and if you're just lying there on the cushion, the young master will surely reprimand you!"
I picked at my ear and said,
"Don't doubt this sister."
"I don't understand your intentions, but... I never imagined things would turn out like this. Did you plan this from the beginning?"
Ma Su paused, then asked again.
"Could it be... that time in Xinyang, the reason you stayed was for this? Was there a reason you rushed into the war?"
???
"What?"
"Ah, no. Even if you're lounging like a wastrel, I won't interfere."
Ma Su was great at petty nagging without malice.
"But sister? Spending money like this will exhaust the treasury. If you don't collect taxes, even Lord Liu Bei won't support Soyang anymore."
"When did I say I wouldn't collect taxes?"
"...Pardon? You're lying to the people!"
"That's not it. First-class citizens will pay me one-tenth of their earnings. Second-class citizens pay one-tenth to first-class citizens. And it keeps stacking... layer by layer."
Tax exemption. I'll grant tax exemptions.
But I need to charge for the offices. Exactly one-tenth as office rental.
In fact, even after five years, since you all do such a great job, I'll boast that no taxes are needed.
Then public sentiment will skyrocket, and people will like me even more. Heh heh heh.
"I have my plans, so don't worry."
"As expected of you, sister!"
This multi-level structure has flaws, but for now, it's the best. I think it's sustainable for the time being.
First advantage: Addresses Shu's personnel shortage.
First-class citizens handle the work for us.
Second: In modern society, taxes match income.
To avoid tax groans, we need to balance income disparities.
That's why I introduced it.
Multi-level!
With this, everyone pays exactly one-tenth of their earnings to me in a virtuous cycle.
No need for me to check everyone's income and spending daily.
I only need to monitor six hundred first-class citizens.
First-class citizens will diligently collect from second-class to get their share, and second-class will do the same to third-class.
Once second-class starts collecting from third-class, first-class will have to manage and supervise second-class.
I distributed fiefs to first-class citizens.
That formed six hundred small administrative agencies as the baseline.
A system where fewer than ten thousand people can be cared for meticulously, one by one.
And the population keeps growing, so... this is the cleanest way.
A voluntary, corruption-free clean system.
'The people at the very bottom of the pyramid... I'll think about them later.'
The taxes thus collected go into Liu Bei's pocket. Maybe snack money into mine.
"I don't get it, sister."
I replied indifferently to Ma Su's baffled question.
"Yeah. Don't try to understand. Do you think even I fully get this situation? We're riding a wartime boom right now. If we don't roll with it well, growth stops dead."
"...Wartime boom?"
The war ended, and manpower flooded in like a mountain.
In this era, people are the greatest asset.
The Yellow Turban Rebellion slashed China's population.
Rice comes from people, soldiers from people.
Securing lots of people means the nation grows stronger.
Soyang is now at the starting point of infinite potential.
"I have the next plan too? Just resting before preparing."
"As expected! You're amazing, sister!"
In a certain cave, two men were conversing.
Soyang's natural cave was the bandits' hideout, and its leader, Zhang Lian, was courteously welcoming someone.
"Have you been well, brother?"
Zhang Lian bowed deeply.
His counterpart was Cheonma.
"You must've suffered without me, eh?"
Zhang Lian knew. Behind Chen Soyoung was this man.
Cheonma cherished Chen Soyoung more than his own life.
To Cheonma, Chen Soyoung was like an inhibitor, so Zhang Lian had to bow even deeper to her.
Having known Cheonma for a long time, Zhang Lian instantly grasped how to handle him.
So he replied haphazardly to Cheonma's words,
"The young lady is so wise, we served her devotedly. Knowing she's Cheonma's daughter, how could we overlook her?"
Cheonma laughed heartily, pleased.
"As expected, Zhang Lian, you've become a real man! Diving into war without fearing for your life for a big score? Eh? I'm dying of envy."
Bam! Bam!
Cheonma patted Zhang Lian's back encouragingly, thunder rumbling.
"Gasp... Thank you! I'll work even harder!"
"Now I'll leave you in charge and head to Yangyang. Gotta butter up that Zhang Fei bastard. Good guy, but such a temper—I've been suffering lately."
Zhang Lian sighed in relief.
Finally, this giant was leaving Soyang.
Of course, from the Yellow Turban days, the life debt Zhang Lian owed Cheonma had long been repaid, but Cheonma going berserk without Chen Soyoung was terrifying, so he wanted him gone ASAP.
"Take care! We'll guard Soyoung-nangja with our lives!"
"Yeah. You'll do well. If anything... you know?"
Cheonma grinned.
"Safe travels!"
Suddenly, dozens of hidden escorts had to trail him without Chen Soyoung knowing.
In the Zhuge family residence in Hanzhong, the house buzzed with talk of Chen Soyoung.
Well, almost. Huang Yueying was in a good mood.
"I'm worried about our daughter, dear. But to think things went so well. As expected of my husband!"
Huang Yueying clung tightly to Zhuge Liang, flaunting her affection.
She'd been deeply anxious inside.
Zhuge Liang had resolved it neatly, like pulling out a thorn.
The Jingzhou issue was cleanly settled.
"May I ask how you persuaded Father?"
"The answer was already set, my lady."
The context of Zhuge Liang's seizure of Yangyang was this.
News arrived that Xiahou Dun had been routed by Chen Soyoung. Sun Qian and Jian Yong, belatedly summoned by express messenger, learned of it. Jiangxia's forces had risen long ago and reached Yangyang, besieging Macity, so Zhuge Liang heard the news.
Park Mangpa's intelligence spread quickly. Zhuge Liang thus loosened the siege on Macity, and Cai Fu and Cai Mo, hearing from spies, tucked tail. The Liu army, which should have retreated, safely fell back to Macity and fortified against the enemy— but then they won. Zhuge Liang immediately marched to Xinyang.
With Chen Soyoung's ghostly maneuvers routing Cao Cao's army, Yangyang's fate was sealed.
Huang Yueying thought Zhuge Liang had persuaded her father-in-law to secure Yangyang.
In truth, if she learned her daughter shone on a dangerous battlefield, she'd rage enormously, so Zhuge Liang had to hide it.
"My lady, I need to discuss something serious, so could you step back?"
"Of course, dear."
Zhuge Liang met Huang Yueying's eyes as she stepped back, twitching his eyebrows vigorously in a lie.
"Father-in-law is such an excellent man that even Governor Liu Biao readily allowed inheriting Yu's eldest son. And Yu Zong is deeply filial, so he had no choice but to follow."
Huang Yueying's intuition caught the subtle eyebrow twitch.
"But why is our daughter still stuck managing the waterways? I'm worried; I'll check on her tomorrow."
Zhuge Liang felt his lifespan shorten but summoned his wits.
"Ah, she's gone back to her hometown now. Her longing for her father was too great, so I permitted it. She's spending time with her birth father, so I didn't want to interfere. If you're that worried, shall we go together?"
Huang Yueying's face lit up in shock.
"Of course we must see her! I can't just sit here! I'll prepare to leave."
Zhuge Liang summoned his wits again.
"Prepare? No need, my lady."
"Ahem, why not, dear?"
"Because tonight, I want to spend intimate time with you." Hearts appeared in Huang Yueying's eyes.
"De... Dear, finally!!!"
Something enormous was happening in Soyang, and he didn't want to leave his daughter hanging.
Sigh. It's going to be a long night.