Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Became the Eldest Son of Sun Ce - Chapter 171



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Episode 171. Construction (1)

Yangju Danyang-gun Geonup-hyeon

The headquarters of the General Staff.

Sun Quan, heading into the palace, was inwardly impressed.

Because it had become so much more splendid and beautiful than when he left Jianye. However, apart from the luxurious general’s office, his anger towards Sun Ce was also building up layer by layer.

‘… Since this younger brother has been protecting the Son family so well, the Son family has been able to prosper so much. How can a big brother covet even what belongs to the younger brother!’

It was such a pitiful delusion that if Sun Ce or Sun Zhao had heard his thoughts, they would have doubted whether he was in his right mind.

However, Sun Quan firmly believed that the achievements he had made were great. Finally, he reached his residence and closed his eyes, thinking deeply.

‘To get back Songa’s inheritance… . First, we have to deceive our brother. Then, according to our plan… .’

Sun Quan, who had the plan of heaven in his head, spoke in a warm voice.

“Brother, this is Soje’s mother. May I come in?”

Then a majestic voice was heard from inside the temple.

“You’re here, Zhongmo! Come in!”

Hearing Sun Ce’s voice for the first time in a long time, Sun Quan’s whole body trembled with anger once again.

From Sun Quan’s point of view, even if he had Sun Ce grind his teeth, it would not have been satisfying.

Wasn’t it Sun Ce who drove himself out and monopolized the Sun family’s inheritance just because he used a little of that money? He was a person who was so unkind that he had no sense of brotherhood.

‘This guy doesn’t even have the slightest tolerance for his brothers! While others are rising through the ranks like bamboo shoots, you still have me, a blood relative, thrown into the border region as a governor!’

However, in order to accomplish great things in the future, he had to learn to control his emotions. Sun Quan, who had calmed down his burning anger, spoke in a voice that seemed to be filled with emotion.

“…Yes, brother. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. I’m so happy.”

Inside the palace, Sun Ce, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, was sitting haughtily.

Even as he approached middle age, Sun Ce’s appearance was still handsome.

However, perhaps it was because he had not gone to war for several years and was stuck in Jianye, or perhaps it was his mood, but Sun Ce felt a little duller than before.

Sun Quan, who met Sun Ce’s eyes, bowed his head deeply. Until the most powerful man in Jianye opened his mouth.

Finally he opened his mouth.

“Now that I think about it, it’s been quite some time since you left for Namhoe-gun… Don’t you resent this older brother?”

If you just look at the sentence, it seems like there is no problem.

But there was a confident air in his voice. A tone of pride that said, “How could someone like you be dissatisfied with me?”

Sun Quan, who read the confidence in Sun Ce’s tone, did not even raise his face as if he was invincible and only moved his lips.

“Brother, how could I be resentful when it was the General’s order? I am simply moved that the General did not forget me and called me.”

Then Sun Ce asked in a seemingly harsh tone.

“Oh my! How could you, a guy like that, not send all the money you sent to everyone else to me? Isn’t it because you look down on me more than the others?”

At Sun Ce’s loud reprimand, Sun Quan’s pupils involuntarily flinched and quickly shrank.

‘How on earth did you know that I was spreading bribes? I was secretly spreading the bribes!’

But the confusion was short-lived. Sun Quan opened his mouth, trembling pitifully.

“That is…. a specialty product from Namhoegun where Soje lived. Unfortunately, the quality of the specialty products was of medium quality, so they were given to other officials as gifts.

How could Soje offer a special product of medium quality to my brother who is as great as heaven? I am only looking for special products of goods to offer to my brother. I, Son Jungmo, have never forgotten you!”

Sun Ce stared at Sun Quan, who was lying face down and motionless, for a long time. Then he burst out laughing and shouted in satisfaction.

“Hahahaha! That’s right, my younger brother has come back quite mature after suffering in Namhoegun! As the saying goes, a man must leave his family and experience hardships! You have come back as a man too! Hahaha!”

When Sun Ce’s reaction was not as bad as he had thought, Sun Quan tried his best to smile gently.

At that moment, Sun Ce asked in passing.

“…By the way, is your newborn nephew healthy?”

Sun Quan’s heart sank for a moment at the sight of Sun Ce mentioning his precious treasure, his eldest son. However, he quickly calmed himself down and answered.

“Yes, thanks to your concern, I am growing up healthy.”

“Well, yes. Strangely enough, there are many children who fall ill in Yangju, so you should also be careful. That child is also a blood relative of Songa. If he does well, he could become a good friend to the second son.”

“…Yes, brother.”

If the atmosphere had been tense just a moment ago, it had now become quite cheerful.

As they were having a friendly conversation, Sun Quan asked in passing.

“By the way, how is Baekso doing? My younger brother, he has less work to do compared to Baekso, so he got here so quickly….”

Then Sun Ce said with his eyes hardened.

“Huh, even if my son is busy, I’m the only one who can rule the country. If you make a fuss like this while ruling just one state, how are you going to rule the country in the future? If you realize your shortcomings, you should step down or something… Tsk tsk.”

Sun Quan secretly agreed with Sun Ce’s words.

‘… That’s right. In my view, neither you nor Baekso are worthy of that position, so how about you step down?’

But it’s a knife hidden behind a smile.

Just as he had a knife in his mouth, Sun Quan, who had been wandering around outside, was quite good at hiding his true feelings.

Sun Quan laughed and roughly responded. He thought that it would be better to crawl under Sun Ce than to incur his anger by covering up Sun So clumsily.

“If you see it that way, then it is true that Baek So is lacking. Hehe.”

With those words, Sun Ce threw away most of the doubts he had held about Sun Quan.

“Ahem, is that so?”

In fact, there were quite a few clues that made Sun Ce suspicious of Sun Quan.

Although Sun Ce lost the hearts of the people, he was still the most powerful person in Jianye.

Most of the reports from Jianye come to Sun Ce.

For example, a suspicious group of peddlers who appeared shortly before Sun Quan’s advance north. Or, among those who received bribes from Sun Quan, there were strangely some Danyang aristocrats or the emperor’s subjects mixed in.

So Sun Ce tried to find Sun Quan, but…

There’s nothing more comforting than having someone curse at the person you hate the most.

In the past, whenever Sun Ce tried to criticize Sun Zhao, he was instead rebuked by numerous officials.

Of course, even if I called it a bludgeon, it was closer to just closing my eyes and ignoring it. In any case, it was closer to a lonely monologue where there was only someone listening and no one responding.

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But this time, didn’t I have someone to curse with me? My own younger brother.

Sun Ce, who thought he had been fighting a lonely battle, grabbed Sun Quan and excitedly hurled insults at Sun Zhao that he had not been able to utter until now.

“As expected, it’s my younger brother! While others are busy evaluating Baekso’s talents and teaching me this way and that! This time, I have truly realized what Son Ga’s spirit is!”

For a moment, Sun Quan’s expression was blank. Sun Quan realized that he had found a weak point that could penetrate Sun Ce’s heart.

‘… As expected, the relationship between the rich and the poor has gotten worse! If that’s true, then there’s still room for me to sneak in!’

It was obvious what would come out of Sun Quan’s mouth when he noticed this.

“How can it be that there are only those who do not know the great general’s stern and lofty intentions? They are all full of traitors!”

Sun Ce smiled brightly for the first time in a while, and Sun Quan began to comfort him, like throwing food to a dog.

And so the night of construction deepened.

***

December 209.

Hyungju Namgun Yangyangseong.

Numerous valuables from Yangyang were piled onto the warships one by one.

Besides, the Yangyang warship was not an ordinary warship. It was a Mongchung that could easily accommodate a hundred people. That is why it was a spectacular sight to see the valuables piled up on the Mongchung.

At that moment, Zhuge Liang, who was counting the number of valuables nearby, approached and said.

“…All the prepared sheep have been loaded. This amount will be enough to fill the General’s castle….”

However, Zhuge Liang’s words were slightly wavering. As expected, he also seemed to have guessed that this Jianye trip would definitely not be easy.

I opened my mouth with a smile, trying to loosen up Zhuge Liang, who was frozen in tension.

“Hey, do you have anything you want to give me?”

Then, Zhuge Liang furrowed his brows subtly and tilted his head.

“…Huh? What do you mean?”

I felt my stomach turn in a weird way when I saw Zhuge Liang’s reckless actions.

‘… In the past, when Liu Bei went to Jianye, he sent him all sorts of things, but this time he sent me nothing?’

Of course, it doesn’t matter whether this is something that Zhuge Liang did in the original history or something that was adapted from Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Those little memories gradually faded away.

In fact, after worrying about how to survive for over ten years, my memories have become blurry and only those that have nothing to do with the war have become memories.

‘Well, it seemed like that was also an attempt to trick Liu Bei into using Guan Yu’s equipment… . I don’t really… .’

I just knew that Zhuge Liang had prepared a silk bag for Liu Bei, and I also wanted to receive it.

But judging by the way he was walking back, it seemed like Zhuge Liang had no intention of giving me the silk pouch.

I had no choice but to sigh and speak bluntly.

“Well, a silk pouch or something. Isn’t there anything like that?”

Then Zhuge Liang asked back with an even more puzzled expression.

“…What do you mean? A silk pouch?”

“Aren’t you asking if there is any plan to offer it to your lord who is about to go on a hard journey? If there is such a thing, I would ask you to wrap it up neatly in a well-made silk pouch.”

Zhuge Liang, who had been frowning deeply, listened to my story and responded with a face of incredulity.

“…Ha, who would need such a plan, my lord? I am a little embarrassed to hear such a thing from my lord, who has plundered all the noble families of Yangyang.”

When Zhuge Liang declared the truth, I coughed helplessly and avoided eye contact.

However, Zhuge Liang continued his sharp offensive like a warrior who found a golden opportunity.

“And why would you, my lord, need such a scheme when you are not even a child? And a silk bag? That is even more ridiculous.

“Instead of presenting a silk bag, it would be better to present a plan in cloth, which would be as profitable as the price of the silk bag. Besides, such an act was only done when sending children on errands in the marketplace. What on earth were you thinking, my lord?”

Criticism poured out without any hesitation. A smirk escaped my lips without me realizing it.

‘If it was a child’s errand, then did Zhuge Liang at the time consider Liu Bei’s actions while heading to Jianye to be on the same level as a child’s errand?’

“…Hmm, if that’s what you think. I see.”

Zhuge Liang blinked, as if he had no idea why I was in such a good mood. Then he glanced at the officials behind me and answered.

“And since Shim Chi-jung and Ga Jong-sa are together, you won’t suffer much damage. However, try to listen to Shim Chi-jung’s schemes as much as possible and stay away from Ga Jong-sa’s stories as much as possible.

“It is not that I envy the talents of the two officials, but… Most of the plans of the two officials are only for short-term efficiency, and in the long run, they are likely to be detrimental. Therefore, Your Majesty, please take good care of the two officials’ strengths and secure the profits of the construction business.”

I nodded my head at Zhuge Liang’s worried words. No matter what, it seemed that Zhuge Liang was also worried about me. After all, where on earth would you find someone who would make such a young scholar so successful?

“Okay, I’ll be back soon.”

“But, you really aren’t taking the temple with you? The temple might be disappointed. As far as I know, that friend was looking forward to this construction project quite a bit….”

Bangtong. I can never take that guy who is like a pufferfish. Where is Geonup now? Was it a peaceful Geonup?

There is a high possibility that war will break out at any moment and the area will become a dangerous place where arrows will fly around randomly and life could be at stake.

But to take Bangtong to a place like that? That would be tantamount to instigating Bangtong’s assassination.

‘What kind of a feat is a guy who died without being able to avoid a single arrow flying in a melee?’

Of course, I can’t keep him locked up in Hyungju for his entire life, but I plan to avoid sending him to dangerous places as much as possible.

‘I barely finished the Waryongbongchu, but what if it dies? If one of you breaks, the others will die from overwork.’

I shook my head and smiled brightly at Zhuge Liang.

“If the priest is upset, you should comfort him. Just like in the past, when the priest was taken to Gangneung and you were upset, you comforted him.”

Then, Zhuge Liang suddenly had a blank expression on his face, as if he had been hit with a hammer.

“Ah, no… that’s.”

“Have a nice trip.”

With those words, I boarded the Mongchong, which was ready to board.

Perhaps it was because I lightened the mood by joking around with Zhuge Liang, but I wasn’t overly nervous.

And I sighed and let go of the worries that had been buried deep in my heart.

I looked up and saw the giant Yangyangseong star disappearing into the distance. Yangyangseong, which had boasted the grandeur of a small mountain just a moment ago, was quickly shrinking.

“It’s construction…. There will be a lot of faces I haven’t seen in a long time….”

Most of them would probably die, bleeding profusely, but it was a well-known fact that two of my blood relatives would be among them.

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