[The Three Kingdoms] Golden Sun Exhibition

13 – Master Kim Tae Yang (2) The New Guest

“The imperial seal is the emperor’s stamp.”

Looking at the letter, handed by Sun Wook, Sima Hui played nervously with his fan.

“When the emperor issues an edict or appoints a grand preceptor, it proves his name is there. I can’t believe it got in the hands of a mere merchant like Son Ken.”

Sima Hui expressed his anger. This was the first time both I and Sima Yi had seen him so angry.

“This seal validates the royal order. What would happen if Son Ken presents a faked edict appointing himself as the grand preceptor?”

“People would have to follow it, I guess. It would be considered a royal decree.”

“That’s right, Yi. The royal family would send an urgent dispatch once they realize, but by then things would have taken a turn for the worse. Oh, what a crucial thing an imperial stamp is…”

Sima Hui gripped his fan tightly, as though to shatter it.

“He ran away with the seal…?”

“Yes. I don’t know where he will go, but wouldn’t he most likely go to Wonsool? Whether he’s loyal to Wonsool or not, Wonsool is the one most likely to desire the jade bird.”

“Wongoongro. If it is that man… well, I hate to judge a person based on appearances.”

Sama Hui sighed deeply.

“If the jade bird goes to him, he will declare himself the emperor, saying his fortune has arrived.”

“I can’t believe it.”

“It’s true. There is a man who found the jade bird and then ran away with it. We cannot presume that it is unlikely.”

Son Gyun’s theft of the jade bird.

There is something we can know for sure by this.

“Son Gyun was not working for the Han Empire.”

“If he had thought about the Han Empire, he would have given it to Wonsool right there. If he was worried about Wonsool, he would have at least spoken in a place with other kings. But the fact that he ran away alone means that he definitely has a hidden agenda.”

The people of the Hyungju region hold no good opinion of Son Gyun.

Despite his appointment as the new head of Jangsa, it is undeniable that he drove the previous head of the Hyungju region to die before his term.

“Should we go to Jangsa, or should we go to where Wonsool is?”

“If his ambition is great, he would go to Jangsa, but if he prioritizes family, he would go to Wonsool. Well, let me ask you a question.”

Sama straightened his posture.

“Suppose someone in the lower ranks holds your family hostage and threatens you. Would you choose the sky or your family?”

“Are you saying that Son Gyun’s family is being held hostage by Wonsool?”

“…Think of it that way.”

I wanted to slightly hear the thoughts of Sama. But whether she was conscious of Sama Hui, she quickly evaded answering upon understanding the background of my question.

“Smart of you. I cannot consider myself your mentor at this rate.”

“Master, that would be too much praise.”

The actual mentor, Sookyung, might smile approvingly, but would Sama Hui know? The beast inside Sama Ui.

“Smart indeed, Eui.”

“… hehehe.”

But for now, attending to the bloodthirsty tiger threatening the Hyunju region is a much more compelling issue than comforting the clever little beast.

If a war breaks out throughout the Hyungju region, of course, all the disciples of the Sookyung Academy would have to return home.

“The best option for Son Gyun would be to retreat to Jangsa, his home base, and safely airlift his family under Wonsool back to his base.”

“He left the alliance with the jade bird, so he is not a person who would rely on others… In the end, he will try to strengthen his power.”

Sama Hui kept repeating ‘Son Gyun’ with a sigh.

“Ah, Son Gyun… I’m worried about Son Moon Dae. I’m scared what if a blood storm strikes the Hyungju region.”

“A blood storm… in the Hyungju region?”

“Yes. Eui, there was once an accident in the Hyungju region even before you got there. It was when Son Gyun caused the death of the Hyungju Lord. Though it’s more accurate to say he provided the reason rather than being the direct murderer, the fact that blood flowed in peaceful Hyungju is true.”

“I’m wondering if the position of the Jangsa Head wasn’t given to him to calm him down in case he caused trouble. Master Sookyung, this is just my guess.”

I pointed to a part of the Hyungju map on the table with my fan.

“Let’s say Son Gyun abandons his family and enters Jangsa. Son Gyun will come to Hyungju. Let’s say Son Gyun takes care of his family and goes under Wonsool. Son Gyun will come to Hyungju.”

“The conclusion is the same in both cases, Master.”

“Because I can’t erase the idea that Son Gyun will attack Hyungju, no matter where he goes.”

“…Wolyoung, why do you think that way?”

Sama Hui asked with a serious face.

“I am an educator, a scholar, and a teacher, not a military strategist or a politician. I’m definitely not an imitator. What you need now is flexible thinking.”

“I’m just a simple countryman. But if I were to think from the standpoint of one escaping with the jade sparrow…”

I pointed out two spots on the map headed towards Hyungju.

“Hyungju’s land is fertile compared to its surroundings, so it will be targeted for conquest by either the merchant Taesoo Soneugun or the warrior Buhagun.”

“They intend to confiscate it simply because it’s fertile…”

“Indeed. The mindset of one who runs with a jade sparrow might be hard for you, a good person, to understand.”

“……..”

Sama ui blushed and bowed his head. He had kept his hand on his forehead since he was nervous earlier. I made sure Sama ui could quietly concentrate on the adults’ conversation.

“The soldiers of Hyungju provisionally owning the territory are intact as they did not join the rebel league, but they may be insufficient to go against those who have directly fought on the battlefield.”

“You’re confident about the war.”

“Yes, I am. The fact that Hyungju has been too quiet until now might be the spark.”

Even though the central plains had suffered extensive casualties from a yearlong battle, they were relatively more stable even though they were not as abundant in resources.

“Wolyoung. When you first came here, you said you would stay here for at least 20 years.”

“Yes, that’s what I said.”

“Do you think it’s time for you to leave, or should you stay and handle this?”

“……..”

Soneugun.

A powerful entity.

But the landlord still has strength. Ironically, they have enough strength to deal with Soneugun because they did not participate in the rebel league.

‘I did participate.’

I didn’t get my name recognized by joining at the age of 18, but I did at least show that I was ready to join the league.

It wasn’t because I was just trying to save face, but once I’m in, I’m in.

If it seemed like the landlord would be helpless against Soneugun, I would have left this land mercilessly.

However,

“There are still many things I haven’t been able to teach Sama Ui. If I leave now, Sama Ui and the many disciples of the academy will be disappointed.”

“I understand.”

Sama Hwi rose from his seat.

“I will take a trip to Yangyang. You two stay here and protect the academy.”

“Master?”

“Yukyungseung will also find Soneugun distasteful. Although Soneugun, a merchant Taesoo, did not listen well, and the power of Wonsool would pose a great threat to him as the landlord of Hyungju, they should be able to cut ties.… Fortunately, Yukyungseung is not entirely foolish.”

One of the reasons I decided to stay in this land was mentioned by Sama Hwi.

The ability of the landlord.

He is not incompetent.

“I will gather people and create public opinion. If the nobles tell Yukyungseung about the threat of Soneugun, he is bound to heed their opinion.”

“Because he is interested in connecting with the nobles. Thank you, master.”

“What are you thanking me for?”

Sama Hwi reached out for his cloak.

“Oh right, Wolyoung. The letter from Munyak, it appears it has a second page.”

“What?”

“You probably didn’t read it. Take a look.”

I checked the letter on the desk that Sama Hwi left. As Sama Hwi said, the letter was in two parts.

“…Whew, we almost had a disaster.”

I diligently wrote down the answer to the question in the first chapter and sent it to Pablo. Fortunately, the second chapter was a private note written by Munjak.

“…Teacher, have you seen this?”

“Didn’t you give it to me? hehehe.”

“…Pshh.”

Normally, he would have noticed, but the content of the first chapter was so shocking that he didn’t notice the existence of the next chapter.

Songyeon, this bad guy.

“Welcome the guest who is coming to the Su-gyeong Academy. He is a government official from the court, so I trust that you will treat him well on your own.”

“A guest?”

“Yes, Uiya.”

I already had a headache.

“He’s said to be a relative of Munjak.”

A bureaucrat who worked in the government office in the central government.

Ah, my head was already hurting.

* * *

“Hello…. I’ve heard about Munjak….”

“…By any chance, Sunkongdal?”

“Yes….”

In front of me, a woman who seemed similar to Sunwook but was shorter and had a larger belly came with a bundle of luggage.

“The surname is Sun, the name is Yu, and the courtesy name is Kongdal. Age…”

“… ..”

Suddenly, the women of this country are really mysterious. Especially women who are capable enough to reach an official position.

“…I thought we were the same age, and almost acted rudely. hahahaha.”

“…Yes.”

Although he looks a bit tired, I understand. There was detailed information in Sunwook’s letter about why she had run such a great office in the center and why she came here.

Sunnyu.

She was condemned to death after feigning allegiance to Dongtak.

If it were not for Wangyun’s attempted murder of Dongtak, or if Jojo was just one day late in committing his offence, she would almost die from the dew on the execution site.

After all, she was released when the Allied Forces occupied Nakyang, but in the end, she had nowhere to go.

-Sunnyu needs peace of mind.

“Welcome to Hyungju. Take a rest comfortably here.”

“…I’d appreciate your help. Oh, and this….”

Sunnyu handed me a fairly weighty bundle.

“I’ve heard that you’re doing a great job teaching the kids. Here, this is small, but you can use it as a supplement.”

“Welcome.”

I received a donation-like accommodation fee from Sunnyu.

Sunnyu, her courtesy name is Kongdal.

She is 13 years older than me, 3-