[The Three Kingdoms] Golden Sun Exhibition

15 – Teacher Geum Taeyang (4)

– As it’s getting late today, let’s continue the conversation tomorrow.

I decided to have a conversation with Sunyoo after a night’s sleep.

As I left her room for the last time, she was a picture of confusion. Even as I was leaving, she was hurriedly saying goodbye, and I quietly slipped out so she could rest comfortably.

‘I do feel sorry.’

I got a psychological blow in the place I came to for a psychological rest.

There is a desire to flourish in her area of interest, but it’s confusing as it involves exploiting the downfall of the imperial family and periods of chaos.

Am I a loyal official for the Imperial Han?

Or, am I as a strategist, displaying my full talents?

I came to Hyungju to rest, but as soon as I arrived, I rattled her emotions by starkly revealing myself. It’s awkward in many ways.

‘After all, it’s better to get hit first.’

Sunyoo has been walking the path of a loyal official.

But, it is not the right path for her.

‘She subtly has a wild side.’

In my eyes, she lives a life like taegongma, a remote star, and is more likely to live for herself than talking about the principles of the imperial alliance.

Even if she’s not the commander of the army, she’s the person who gangs the most heated passion bringing the victory of the allies with the mobilization of troops, in the power struggle among different factions.

I don’t have any special talent in this field.

There are only two domains where I believe my strengths lie.

The ability to read the currents and judge who will rise to power.

The ability to assess a person and the potential they possess.

Only these two.

Apart from this, I just have an average level of talent, and I lack the strength or strategy of a war lord who can beat a monster with a single blow.

Therefore, there’s only one way for me to live comfortably in this land.

Form a suitable relationship with the wealthy ones and live peacefully.

So, I seek those who can be helpful to me, hoping they might assist me somewhat in the future.

Within the subordinates of Sayejoo, I have ties with Samai.

In Yangyang of Hyungju, I have connections with the students of this academy, the Jachae and Goae families.

And in Jinryu, I have a connection with Soonwook.

If the others are seen as future investments, Soonwook is more of an investment for the present.

‘Soonwook will attach himself to Jomangdeok.’

Just by being in Jinryu, she has already decided her path.

After Jomangdeok returns to Jinryu, Soonwook will become her strategist and work for her.

Why Jomangdeok?

‘She got her justification.’

She was the only one who chased the Dongtak army escaping from the union of counter-Dongtak forces. While everyone else was satisfied with driving Dongtak out from Zhongyuan and staying at Langyang, only she gathered a handful of soldiers and chased Dongtak.

Jomangdeok suffered a defeat close to collapse.

But she gained a justification that she moved for the Imperial Han more than anyone else.

‘Although 2,000 soldiers were massacred, if eventually 20,000 talented people admire and follow Jomangdeok because of this incident, it’s a profit.’

Whether she actually moved for the Han Imperial or all her movements were calculated, her loyalty attracts people, and if it’s the latter, her ambition and calculation draw people.

Either way, this woman is someone who staked her life for the Imperial Han. Therefore, I can trust this woman!

People like Soon-wook probably started gathering around Jojo.

What if Soon-yoo also joined them?

‘The potential growth of Jojo would increase even more. The value of my land would also rise.’

Jojo’s growth is also my asset’s growth.

If I present it well to Soon-yoo, and she likes it, later when Jojo comes into power, I could have a good relationship with the Soon family and be freely enjoyed.

However, now another option has also arisen….

‘Eggs break when they are all put in one basket.’

Should Soon-yoo be particularly recommended to Jojo?

“Yuan Shao.”

I unfolded the map of Central Plains.

Then, I pointed on HanRae, the hometown of Simayi.

‘If Yuan Shao conquers the entire HaBuk, there is a possibility that he could conquer HanRae too.’

So far, Yuan Shao does not have anything more than Yuan’s power and his ability than the other warlords. At a minimum, he would need to fully conquer GiJu to take control of HaBuk.

Can Soon-yoo help anything about it?

If Soon-yoo successfully joins Yuan Shao’s army, and supposing Yuan Shao eventually conquers the Central Plains, could I go to Soon-yoo later and boast saying ‘Wasn’t it a good idea that I recommended Yuan Shao?’

Even if they are relatives, sibling in this era also have different sponsors, they can worship different orders.

Just because Soon-wook decided to follow Jojo doesn’t mean that Soon-yoo can’t follow Yuan Shao.

Soon-yoo is the kind of person who must choose a place to settle and work for the person.

Even if he doesn’t go to Jojo, Soon-yoo is the person who can live well under Yuan Shao’s wing.

Even if it isn’t Yuan Shao, she must leave within the near future.

The reason?

‘Otherwise, I have to feed Soon-yoo myself.’

I’m the one who provides meals for the students at the Sukyeong Academy.

This academy does not have enough people to hire for its chores, it is not that affluent.

The tuition fee the Sukyeong teacher receives from the disciples is very small, and the expenses that go out for teaching, food and paper are larger.

Now that I think about it, I wonder if Sima Hui was the one who accepted me to serve as both instructor and manager.

As there is no one to hire for cooking, I do the cooking. Sima Hui can’t cook, and Sima Ui is still young.

So, without the extra personnel to hire for cooking, I am the one who cooks every day to feed the Sima family members.

Of course, Soon-yoo has become a regular patron of the Sukyeong academy with a huge donation.

But what if she just idles around for many years at the Academy? What if she just lays around?

Will there be a place to accept an unemployed woman in her 30s, depressed and lethargic?

So, what I expect from Soon-yoo is one thing.

‘Please find a high-ranking position elsewhere and then return me the favor without forgetting your current kindness.’

Getting energized and taking care of health and go serve someone, and create a foundation there that would be beneficial to my financial interests.

I suggested to Soon-yoo the path of a military officer.

Whether she becomes a military officer somewhere, she should take on the work of the field where she has the most interest and the most fervor to get emotionally stable.

So, I want her to take care of her body and mind as soon as possible and find a good job. Rather, before consuming all the donated money on food and lodging.

But.

Why is the morning sun so bright today?

I had a meal with the brightly lit Soon-yoo and drank tea, got to hear the decision she had thought about all night long.

“I’ve made up my mind. I want to work at Sugyeong Academy for a while.”

“What…did you say?”

But you’re a high-ranking official.

Even worked in Nagyang.

But you’re going to work at this tiny academy?

“Do you…know how to cook?”

“No? Can’t we just hire someone?”

Ah.

Why.

* * *

Lunchtime.

Just as a start, Samawi and I decided to dine out to celebrate Suyu’s arrival at Sugyeong Academy.

While Shin’s city is undoubtedly smaller in comparison with a metropolis like Yangyang, it’s not completely deserted, given its location between Hyungju and Jungwon.

Of course, we have restaurants decent enough for dining out. While they can’t compete with the delicacies of Nagyang, there are still modestly unique dishes from the Hyungju region.

“I will be away for a while. Continue your conversation without me.”

I exited the restaurant, leaving Suyu and Samawi time to chat. Behind me, the owner lightly patted his waist.

“Ay, Professor Kim. Is that your wife and daughter?”

“You know very well owner, why ask?”

“hehehe, just because you brought two beautiful ladies.”

The owner of my go-to restaurant subtly pointed at Suyu with a sly grin.

“That young lady, good catch. Isn’t it time for you to marry?”

“Marry? I’m not thinking about that yet.”

“Dude, at your age, I already had two kids.”

“I don’t see that for me.”

I would rather not marry and spoil my peace.

Even if I did, my wife would probably nag me to go to work. Why would I marry? I’d rather suck honey alone, commanding my maids around.

“We ate well. I will pay later.”

“hehehe, just leave. Do you know how many people you, Master, introduced to our restaurant? That young gentleman you brought last time, well, he came back with a high-ranking official.”

“That’s because of your exceptional cooking skills, owner. I just made the introductions.”

“You realize how much help that alone is right? Ha-ha, a restaurant visited by Yangyang’s general! Thanks to you, Master, business is thriving.”

“Good to know. …Hm? Over there…?”

A dust cloud was rising in the distance.

A few people riding on horseback were coming towards us. Among them, I recognized a familiar face.

“…Principal Sugyeong?”

Holding an unidentified man, Samawi was galloping towards me. It seemed she headed this way after she spotted me leaving the restaurant.

“Welcome back, Master. But who are these people…?”

“You are Kim Taeyang, aren’t you?”

A middle-aged man with an impressive beard, who overtook Samawi, addressed me first.

“Pleasure to meet you. I am….”

The man whispered, aware of the attention from the others.

“I am a member of the Ganghapa Jun, and I have been given a mission.”

“……Ah.”

I quickly wrote letters with my palm. He then smiled, apparently satisfied, and dismounted from the horse.

“Pleased to meet you. I have already heard your name from the disciples of the academy, my son, and the master of the Floating Scripture.”

“……I am more pleased to meet you. But, who is the master…?”

“Please call me ‘Hwangmo’.”

Sama Hwi, who left to warn Son Gyun to Yoo Pyo, came back with a man who called himself ‘Hwang Mo.’

“Um, why are you here…?”

“I came in search of wisdom.”

He grimaced and pointed east.

“It seems like we have to catch the wildcats running wild in the East. I thought that if you were a master of ‘Golden Sun’ with wisdom, you might know something. My nephew praised you.”

“… Shall we go to the academy first?”

Later.

I would get some terrifying news from a man named ‘Hwang Mo.’

Won Sul, businessman Taesu Son Gyun threatened to get the Oksae.

Won Sul, when the businessman Taesu Son Gyun was ordered, he sent a soldier to attack Yoo Pyo.

Yoo Pyo, appointed the general ‘Hwang Jo’ under him as Taesu of Gangha, to block Son Gyun.

War began in Hyung Joo.