Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Became the Eldest Son of Sun Ce - Chapter 165



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Episode 165. Aftermath (1)

Sun Ce’s roar filled the huge headquarters of the Great General’s Office.

Then the officials in the office remained silent as if they had made a promise.

Sun Ce, who was so angry that he couldn’t communicate with anyone, couldn’t communicate with anyone. Since he couldn’t communicate with anyone, he had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.

However, even among the dogs who act like dogs, there are a few who are polite. One of them, Zhang Xiao, barely managed to open his mouth.

“My lord, you won without fighting, which is the greatest victory in military strategy. Moreover, didn’t Sun Hyung-ju, following your orders, take over Yangyang Castle without shedding a single drop of blood and successfully avenge Oh Jeong-hu? He deserves to be called the most filial grandson among filial grandsons!”

Sun Ce frowned at the praise for the place that flowed like water.

If it were the usual Sun Ce, he would have celebrated the victory.

But no matter what achievements one makes, there will always be someone who is undesirable, and for Sun Ce, that person was Sun Zhao.

Perhaps that was why Sun Ce resented the place that did not help him.

‘Sonso, I’m struggling so hard to get that guy out of the successor position, so why does the central government keep interfering with every little thing? Does the central government not want to put Ah-ho in the successor position?’

Sun Ce then spoke stubbornly.

“If Baekso had reported the whole story of the incident properly earlier, there wouldn’t have been such misunderstandings!

If he really cared about filial piety, he should have reported it to me long ago and received my approval! But isn’t it because he was blinded by his achievements and fame that he reported it so slowly?”

When Sun Ce made such absurd and unreasonable demands, Zhang Zhao and other officials secretly cursed Sun Ce.

Even if I reported this to Sun Ce, who was obsessed with keeping Sun Zhao in check, what would he say?

Rather, it would have been fortunate if it had not interfered with the conquest of Yangyang Castle. The most unfilial of them all was Sun Ce himself.

Meanwhile, Bo-Jeol, who had grasped the general situation, looked at Sun Ce’s expression and said.

“…My lord, this is not to be blamed on Son Hyung-ju, but on the fault of Kyo Gwang-rok Daebu, who fabricated and reported the evil rumors about Son Hyung-ju as if they were true. Please call in Kyo Gwang-rok Daebu and punish him even now.”

It wasn’t just Bozul. Wooburn also added a word.

“That is true. If a person who went on an envoy neglects his official duties because he is entangled in the affairs of the royal family, then what else could it be if not a crime?”

As the offensive poured in against Jang In and Gyo Gong, Sun Ce was inwardly confused.

The justification for punishing the disciples was already clear. In the end, Sun Ce gritted his teeth and made a decision.

“…Let’s discuss the punishment of Gwangrok Daeboo after he returns. As you said before, shouldn’t we understand all the circumstances of the case?”

However, the officials’ eyes were still fixed on Sun Ce’s hands. Sun Ce noticed this and gritted his teeth and opened his mouth.

“…Originally, it would have been right to kill Yoo Gyeong-seung’s family, but since they surrendered as Baek So advised, I will spare their lives. Yoo Gyeong-seung’s second son will also be appointed as the Minister of the North Sea, so live in gratitude for the kindness of the Son family.

“Hana Hwangjo, that author cannot be spared. Tell Baek So that Hwangjo’s head must be brought back!”

When Sun Ce finally accepted Sun Zhao’s proposal instead of punishing him, the Jianye officials sighed in relief.

In fact, what Sun Ce wanted was for Sun Zhao to be dismissed from office or punished accordingly.

However, Sun Ce, who was afraid that if he tried to punish Sun So until the end, the punishment would only end up on Jiao Gong, had no choice but to wait for a later date.

If Sun Ce could have dismissed Sun Zhao simply by Jiao Gong stepping down, how could he not have forced it? However, he could not dismiss Sun Zhao with such a frivolous letter.

‘… Okay, I’ll do as you wish for the time being… But the moment I take the throne… .’

After my younger sister Son In has been married to a man, I will enjoy the supremacy of all people.

The ball’s title is just around the corner.

If you just get to that place, I will cleanse you of all your sins, both sins and non-sin, and cast them out from your hands.

Sun Ce, deep in thought, had a sinister smile on his lips.

And some officials, no, most officials, looked at Sun Ce indifferently.

***

Hyungju Namgun Yangyangseong.

The tooth of the hand.

After I had grasped the situation of Yangyangseong to some extent, I called Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong over. I looked at the expressionless Zhuge Liang and said:

“Gongmyeong, I kept my promise with you. I promised to return you to Yangyangseong within this year.”

Then, Zhuge Liang silently lowered his head, and Pang Tong, who had been glancing at him, quickly opened his mouth.

“Congratulations, my lord. How could you have surrendered Yangyang, which was said to be impregnable, so quickly?”

“It’s not that I hate flattery, but…. Let’s hear that next time. More importantly, have you distributed the soldiers within Yangyangseong well?”

“Yes, my lord. I have mixed and rearranged them, so don’t worry. More importantly, you did a great job in recommending Yu Hyung-ju, or rather Yu Beok-hae, to the position of Bukhae Sang.”

It is a natural law of nature that when a new owner comes in, the previous owner disappears.

I must have mixed up the troops from Yangyangseong as well, and I sent the surrendered Yujong far away to Cheongju.

It was thanks to the news that Taesaja had succeeded in occupying Cheongju that I heard. If not for that, I would have had quite a headache dealing with the aftermath of the incident.

Of course, Yujong, who was suddenly kicked out of his hometown, Yangyang, looked resentful.

– Yes? No, why? I am here in Yangyang, guarding my father’s grave… .

―Oh, what are you talking about? I will send you to the North Sea, so you can rule over him well. You should make a name for yourself in the Central Plains like your dead father.

In fact, the fact that Yujong was staying in Yangyang was unpleasant to me.

Because if anything happened, he might have joined hands with the officials of Hyungju and become the spark of rebellion.

I looked down at Sun Ce’s letter with unexpected eyes.

‘I never thought Sun Ce would accept my offer…. I guess he must have some kind of hidden agenda?’

Well, it didn’t matter if I had it. I wasn’t going to just sit there and wait.

Then I spoke to Zhuge Liang, who remained silent.

“There are no particular problems in the Gangneung area because Shim Chi-jung is putting in effort. However, there are many problems in the Hyeongbuk area, especially in the Yangyang area.

“Taxes are already low, and too much is being wasted. I will delegate full authority to you, so will you properly manage the internal affairs of Hyungbuk?”

It would have been better to leave the internal affairs of Yangyang to Zhuge Liang, a scholar from Heungbuk.

Meanwhile, Zhuge Liang, who had been silent, opened his mouth with a worried expression.

“…Can you trust the authorities?”

“At least you can make this mess of internal affairs more solid. Isn’t that why you’re asking the question, since you’re interested?”

“…Even if you delegate all authority to the officials, the Yangyang officials have too many private soldiers. They will cause trouble if necessary…. How are you going to govern them?”

I smiled and said what I had been thinking.

“I heard that the Hwangjo sphere of influence, including Anryukseong, has not surrendered yet. They want to use that guy.”

Meanwhile, the Emperor was still fighting desperately at Anlu Castle even though Yujong had offered up Yangyang Castle.

Liu Biao, who was involved in the assassination of Sun Jian, was left as a corpse, and the only mastermind was Huang Zu.

Unless the Emperor is a fool, he must have guessed what my end would be. He must have thought that he would not die sitting down.

They are using that kind of imperial system as an excuse.

Zhuge Liang’s eyes widened at my answer.

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“Surely you are thinking of having the private soldiers of Yangyang fight against the Emperor? But how could they move so easily? Unless there is a vested interest at stake, they will surely retreat.”

“…The waterways of Hyungju and Yangju, which had been separated for so long, have now become one. What do you think will happen now?”

“There will be numerous benefits, but the main thing is that as waterways become more active, there will be those who will be able to make a profit from trade. The powerful families of Yangyang will also want to advance further through trade.”

I nodded at Zhuge Liang’s concise explanation.

“That’s it. It’s a privilege given to those who participate in wars and achieve merit.”

No matter how famous the local aristocrats are in Yangyang, they cannot exert influence over the entire territory of Hyeongyang, Hyeongju, and Yangju.

Inevitably, there will be conflicts, big or small. But what if I can put an end to those useless conflicts in my name?

Could the profit-seeking aristocrats of Yangyang really ignore this privilege?

Zhuge Liang, who was listening to my explanation, nodded with a small sigh.

“…Who doesn’t know the value of the privilege you mentioned? If you are a nobleman from Yangyang, you will definitely participate in the war.”

“If we send Yangyang’s private soldiers to Anryukseong, there won’t be any problems in organizing vested interests, right?”

Yangyang’s army is already in our hands.

If half of the private soldiers of the local aristocrats were to go out to occupy Anlu Castle, who would disobey Zhuge Liang’s orders?

Zhuge Liang also seemed to have thought this through as he spoke in a clear voice.

“…Yes, my lord. Just leave it to me.”

***

The next day, I called in the local chieftains of Yangyang and discussed the suppression of the Emperor.

Then, all the local aristocrats of Yangyang expressed their displeasure.

“Even if Son Hyung-ju and Hwang Jo rebel against you, Son Hyung-ju’s powerful army will be able to easily subdue them.”

“That’s right, if it’s Son Hyung-ju’s army, we don’t have to move….”

As expected, obvious answers come out.

But I opened my mouth with a faint smile.

“As you know, the two states of Xingzhou and Yangzhou have become one under the name of Hanshi. Excluding Yizhou, the waterways of the vast Jiangsu (an old word for the Yangtze River) have been unified.”

Then the nobles nodded their heads with faces that still did not quite understand.

“Well, that’s true, but….”

“We don’t really care how you make a profit from this integrated river, as long as you pay your taxes. But… As you know, the Yellow Emperor is blocking the waterway right in the middle, so how can trade with Heungyang be easy?

Besides, the General wants the Emperor’s head. Whoever offers the head to the General… what do you think that person will receive?”

As if they were gradually getting a feel for what I was talking about, the nobles sat up straight. Then, they began to look at each other with their mouths watering.

Oh Jeong-hu, the head of the emperor who killed Sun Jian.

Even in their eyes, the value of the emperor’s head would have been indescribable.

“Is that all? I will give the privilege of transporting this river to those who contributed to the capture of Anryukseong. What do you think? Are you still not satisfied?”

Most of the nobles, whose eyes lit up with excitement as my persuasion seemed plausible, vowed to go to war.

Of course, Chae-mo and Goe-wol looked at me with suspicious eyes, but what could I do?

The other clans have already announced that they will go to war. If the clans of Yangyang leave like that, it will be difficult for Chaega and Goega’s private soldiers to handle our forces.

‘Have a safe trip. Anyway, when you guys get back, Yangyangseong’s interests will be neatly sorted out, so don’t worry.’

It was a more benevolent plan than Liu Biao, who had killed dozens of nobles at a banquet.

***

Ikju Chokgun Seongdo-hyeon.

After struggling, Liu Bei’s army arrived in Chengdu.

They reached the city of Seongdo by breaking through the vast mountain range surrounding Ikju, but… .

Well, General Yoo’s treatment was not as good as I had expected.

Meanwhile, Seoseo, who intuitively realized that something was wrong, quickly mobilized his resources to find out the details.

As a result, I was able to come across some shocking content.

He stood there and asked the informant with a bewildered look on his face.

“Really, are you saying that rumors are spreading so widely? And all over Ikju?”

“…Yes, that’s what they say.”

“Ignoring the village and moving forward in an attempt to get there as quickly as possible turned out to be a poison…. I even missed the rumors that were spreading through the streets….”

Standing still, he quickly set out to find his lord, Liu Bei.

“This is a serious matter, my lord. Have you heard the rumor?”

“Rumors? What rumors are you talking about?”

Seoseo quickly explained the rumor that was spreading throughout Ikju.

There was a rumor that all the forces that Liu Bei had been a part of had been reduced to ashes, and now it was General Liu of Yizhou’s turn.

Then, Yu-bi sighed with a face full of anger.

“How did such a rumor spread? Who on earth would spread such evil talk….”

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who were standing nearby and listening to his words, also grumbled.

“…I don’t know who he is, but he is truly evil. To trample on my brother’s cause like this! He is truly the worst of the worst!”

“Based on these dirty rumors, it’s definitely Cao Cao or the Son family! In other words, who else would hate their big brother besides those two?”

Then Yu-bi swallowed his sigh and said.

“That’s not the important thing. The rumor has already spread out of control. Besides, Yu Ik-ju already believes the rumor half-heartedly. Otherwise, how could he treat me so coldly?

“I think… rather than staying in the city forever, it would be wiser for me to go out to the outskirts on my own.”

Seo Seo nodded at Yu-bi’s suggestion.

“That’s right. If you’re going to stay in the castle anyway, it’s right to first prove your worth as a lord.

“If you achieve great success and bring peace to Yizhou, the people of Yizhou will naturally follow you.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

However, it was difficult to express in words how Liu Bei felt when his plans were disrupted from the very beginning.

I came to Ikju to escape my life as a guest, but I ended up becoming a guest again.

It was truly a strange situation.

But Yu-bi still hasn’t given up on his dream.

‘I heard that Jang Gong-gi of Hanjung, the name of the elder, was a headache for Yizhou…’

Hanjung, the land where Gaozu, the founder of the Han dynasty, raised the flag of Han.

Liu Bei was overcome with a strange emotion as he had a premonition that they would soon be fighting over the elder’s Hanzhong.

‘Yes, it’s better this way. I will take over Han and Jung and recreate the glory of Gojo from four hundred years ago with my own hands.’

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