Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Became the Eldest Son of Sun Ce - Chapter 132



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Episode 132. Yeoganggun (2)

March 207.

Near Hwanseong, Yeogang-gun.

Son So-gun’s military camp.

I gave Nosuk and Yooyeop a letter to send to Payangho, and then sent them back right away.

If I spent a long time reminiscing with these two, it would only increase Sun Ce’s suspicions. All I needed to do was briefly check if they were doing well.

‘You can’t ignore the eyes of the school children who are filled with joy. They might have noticed by now that they’ve disappeared.’

And after a while, the long-awaited guest showed up.

I looked at the guests and teachers and smiled brightly.

“It’s been a while, Your Majesty. How have you been?”

The teacher opened his mouth with a calm expression, wondering if he had wasted his time.

“…Son Shin-an’s appearance is increasingly resembling that of a general. After all, it is a good thing for a son to resemble his father.”

You say I resemble Sun Ce? There has never been a more insulting insult than this.

‘Is this old man already losing his mind?’

I seriously suspected the teacher’s head, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it outright.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Then the teacher opened his mouth with a kind smile.

“What, that’s what it is. And this old man is always doing well.”

No way. The entire pillar of the family was uprooted, so there was no way they would get along well.

In that old head of his, he’s probably only thinking about how to persuade me to reduce consumption of materials.

I glanced down and examined the teacher’s appearance.

‘The clothes are nice, but… the beard and hair, they look a bit shabby.’

What do you do when you dress up well?

Even though the teacher tries to show a calm expression, his unkempt appearance speaks for his frustrated feelings.

I smiled and guided the instructor into the inner barracks.

“Please come inside first. Since Your Majesty has come all the way here, I should at least offer you a cup of tea.”

Then the teacher hesitated for a moment and then started following me.

The teacher can be proud. He can say that today he drank the most expensive tea in the world.

‘I’ll make it happen.’

***

The teacher, who had sat down, began to sip his tea. After some time had passed, he took out a bamboo slip from his bosom and got to the main point.

“What is your intention in sending me this bamboo slip?”

I said, looking at the teacher with pure eyes.

“Isn’t the entire content written on the bamboo strip? If even the text is difficult to read….”

Then the teacher’s face twitched for a moment and he answered in a calm tone.

“…That’s not it. The conscription was so sudden. It’s not that I can’t prepare, but how much time do I need to prepare these supplies…?”

Judging from the way he spoke vaguely, it seemed like his goal was to either soften the conscription or reduce the quantity.

But I asked the teacher again with an innocent expression.

“It shouldn’t be difficult, right? Most of the conscripted materials are military supplies and iron ore, so how could there not be those in the school?”

Local aristocrats control private armies, food, and weapons.

In other words, any large aristocratic family as large as a Kyoga would have plenty of iron ore.

‘That doesn’t mean we can fight and win against the government troops, though.’

Then, the teacher frowned deeply and let out a big sigh.

“Hoo, Son Shin-an. Even if it is a school song, it is difficult to collect that much supplies alone. I will ask you this. Please be lenient this time.”

“If you were to ask for mercy, what kind of mercy would you like?”

“First, reduce the amount of this ration to one-tenth. Likewise, if you reduce the amount of iron ore to one-tenth, I will help you requisition it without complaint.”

The rations I requested from the school were equivalent to one month’s worth of military rations for our troops. If we reduced this by a tenth, it would only be enough for three days.

Of course, three days’ worth was a huge amount, but it was small compared to the wealth accumulated by the powerful families.

‘A few of the school’s pillars might be shaking… but that’s not my concern.’

The corners of the teacher’s mouth twitched as he explained this, so much so that it seemed like even this was too good to be conscripted.

But from my perspective as someone going to war, there was no thief like this. If I was going to conscript a tenth, why would I have bothered to send a letter to the Kyo family to conscript them? I would have just opened the gates of the Kyo family and carried out the forced execution.

‘You can’t do this. You’ve earned it.’

If he were to carry out the extreme measure of forced execution, Sun Ce would be in a state of panic. Not only that, but it was clear that even Zhou Yu of Poyangho, who had Xiao Qiao as his concubine, would be in trouble.

These guys needed to be beaten up with words and excuses so they would understand the situation.

I looked straight into the teacher’s aged eyes. There was a clear sense of cunning in the wrinkled corners of his eyes.

Finally I spoke in a calm voice.

“Does that mean that you’re going to reduce the amount of requisitioned materials by a tenth? Can we assume that Kyo-ga is not interested in revenge on Son-ga?”

Then the teacher opened his mouth, one eye twitching.

“…What are you talking about? Kyo-ga and Son-ga are no different from blood relatives! Even though Son Shin-an is the successor to Son-ga, please refrain from making such ugly remarks!”

“If you are blood relatives, how can you not provide the necessary supplies to our allies?

Now, do you think the allies are going out to play? The ones shedding blood are also allies, and the ones dying are also allies.

Moreover, this war is a war of revenge for the Son family and a war to eliminate the traitors. So how can the Kyo family, which claims to be the Son family’s blood relatives, not provide even a single proper supply?”

The teacher had nothing to say, so he kept his mouth shut and just glared at me. When I looked straight at him without avoiding eye contact, he finally opened his mouth with a small sigh.

“…I’m sorry about this. I guess I’m getting old and my mind is getting old. Now that I think about it, I think we have enough supplies. Could you wait for exactly three days?”

I answered with a satisfied smile.

“Aha, as expected. Thank you for your support of the school song, teacher.”

As the instructor was about to leave the barracks after saying those words, he suddenly stopped in his tracks and spoke in a cold tone.

“By the way, I heard some interesting news when I came to Son Shinan’s camp. Where do you think No Yeo-gang and Yoo Jong-ja are now?”

The teacher’s gaze as he spoke was fixed on me like an awl.

Since Hwansung is the stronghold of the school song, it seems that the teacher’s eyes were not completely deceived.

But I decided to respond in ignorance.

Since I have already been sent to Jingzhou, I am an arrow that has been shot. As long as Sun Ce does not fall, I will have no reason to go to Jianye.

Why should the arrow that has been shot fear the person who shot it? I am already flying.

‘If it’s dangerous, just tell them to abandon Yeogang and come over to Hyungnam.’

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“How would I know? Maybe he went to scout the area. More importantly, I will not forget the supplies I have seized this time and will use them well.”

When I answered calmly, the teacher’s face distorted like an evil spirit for a moment. If I hadn’t been watching the teacher’s expression change closely, I wouldn’t have noticed it.

The teacher quickly straightened his expression and answered in a gentle voice.

“…I’m going to go now.”

I felt a small sense of accomplishment as I watched the moving away teacher.

‘It has been said since ancient times that a gentleman should follow his ways, so how can people be so petty?’

It was my victory because I fought with integrity, unlike the teachers who used threats and such.

Shortly thereafter, the friendly forces, receiving material support from Kyo-ga, continued to advance south.

By advancing south like that, our forces were able to see the Yangtze River.

To be exact, hundreds of warships floating on the Yangtze River. The sight of so many warships deployed on the Yangtze River is enough to make one exclaim in admiration.

And among the hundreds of warships, there was one majestic ship.

The ship’s flag was waving the Zhou family name.

The gas station was waiting for me.

***

As I boarded the ship, Zhou Yu greeted me warmly.

“As soon as I saw you, I was reminded of your father when he was little. You’ve grown up so fast!”

How can even Joo-yu say something like that to me!

I opened my mouth, demonstrating the patience I had developed over time.

“How have you been, Grand Admiral?”

Zhou Yu, who had risen to the position of Grand Admiral after fighting numerous wars, was still in his prime.

“Hahaha, it’s nice to see you after so long. Come in first. I have something to share with you.”

As we entered the ship, Juyu got to the point with a sharp gaze.

“Are you a Kang Ha-gun or a Ye Jang-gun?”

Zhou Yu’s question was short, but its meaning was clear.

I responded normally, impressed by Nam-il Joo-yu’s extraordinary cleverness.

“I’m heading to the reserve force.”

Then, as if he had expected it, Joo-yu spoke in a tone of voice.

“I was wondering why you asked to be allowed to cross the Yangtze River…. As expected, it was Seongdong-gyeokseo.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Even if you head to the precincts, Hyung-ju’s attention will be focused on Jiang-ha. What do you plan to do with Jiang-ha?”

By now, news must have reached Jingzhou. The news that Sun Ce had sent troops to occupy Jingzhou.

Hyung-ju, who had a bad experience once in the past, will move his army in a hurry.

‘Yu Biao, who was short on supplies, would naturally think that we would attack the strong army first. But we surprised him.’

Instead of focusing on the Gangha Army, I plan to attack Jangsa Army first through the Yejang Army’s path.

In the past, Liu Biao’s nephew, Liu Ban, went through the same route where he attacked General Ye’s army and advanced to Jangsa Commandery.

The Jangsa Army must have thought that their turn was far away. They were waiting for the moment when they would let their guard down to attack by surprise, and there was no enemy like this one.

‘I’ve sent letters to the generals of Gangha, so I’m sure the veterans will pay attention to them.’

I smiled brightly and said to Joo-yu.

“That’s why we desperately need your help, Grand Admiral. Please take this opportunity to help Kang Ha-gun.”

When I asked for help openly, Zhou Yu seemed taken aback and answered with a hollow laugh.

“Ha, you just had to let me cross the Yangtze River, now you want to use the Grand Admiral?”

I said, brazenly putting a sheet of iron on my face.

“Aren’t you curious to know who will be faster, the Allied navy and the Hyungju navy that have been trained for years?”

“Huh, I checked that with my uncle several times during the last war.”

But even though he said that, Joo-yu had a look in his eyes that was quite appealing.

At that moment, Joo-yu’s eyes changed strangely and a heavy voice flowed out.

“Baekso, more than that. I heard that you conscripted a lot of students from the school. What will you do if your uncle finds out?”

It seemed that Zhou Yu was worried that the relationship between me and Sun Ce would deteriorate to the worst.

But that’s a needless worry. The relationship between Sun Ce and me is that I’m impatient because Sun Ce can’t kill me unilaterally, even though I don’t draw my sword.

I answered with a soft smile.

“Kyo-ga is my maternal family’s family in private, and I am your Majesty’s subject in public. Kyo-ga is about loyalty and righteousness, so I am sure the General will be satisfied.

“More than anything, the school has made a lot of profits in the name of Songa, so isn’t it time to repay it this time?”

To be honest, how much profit has the school gained by putting the names of the schools and stocks on the map?

Even if I had taken away some of the focus this time, it would have been more than enough to recover in a few years.

Then Joo-yu shook his head.

“Anyway, that guy’s mouth never gets tired…. It seems like he’s gotten more flexible than when he was young.”

Finally, Zhou Yu sighed and said.

“The school will definitely pressure you under different pretexts. Are you okay with that?”

I said with a faint smile.

“…Don’t worry too much. I have a way.”

At the word ‘Bangdo’, Joo-yu narrowed his eyebrows and looked at me. Then, as if he had noticed something, he frowned.

“Even if you happen to occupy Hyeongju, I believe you won’t want to become independent from your uncle.

“Even though your uncle treated you badly, he is still your father. If you try to do whatever you want, no matter how much I love you….”

The tone of voice that Joo-yu spoke ended with a sigh of despair.

And I didn’t miss Joo-yu’s sigh.

‘Seeing him sigh like that… It seems that Zhou Yu is also greatly disappointed in Sun Ce. Well, how could he not be disappointed? Even I would be disheartened.’

There, it seemed that Zhou Yu did not want the independence of Xingzhou and Yangzhou.

If you think about it, it makes sense. Zhou Yu wants to gather the strength of the South to fight against the Central Plains, but how absurd would it be if a fight between two rich men suddenly broke out and the strength of the South was split in two?

‘I don’t want that either.’

“How could I think of independence? Even though the General dislikes me, I am a descendant of the Son family and a man of Jiangdong.

“My dream is to gather the strength of the South and project it into the Central Plains like the last war, and let the greatness of the South be known throughout the Central Plains. How could I choose independence? Your Majesty, don’t worry about independence.”

Joo-yu smiled faintly at my half-assed explanation and said:

“Then I can also feel relieved.”

I thought as I looked at Joo-yu’s smile.

‘What kind of independence is this? Who would benefit from independence? If only Sun Ce died in the future, it would all end cleanly.’

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