[The Three Kingdoms] Golden Sun Exhibition

16 – Answering the Call for Help (1)

Hwang Jo.

He is Yoo Pyo’s subordinate general.

So who is this person named Yoo Pyo?

‘A person who was horribly unlucky to have been dispatched to Hyungjoo which doesn’t have any connections.’

He became the head of Hyung Joo last year, but there is a part about this man that cannot be ignored.

Yoo Pyo has no support base in Hyung Joo.

His predecessor had formed some relationships with the HoJok(s) of Hyung Joo and got along well, but Yoo Pyo literally came down to Hyung Joo all by himself.

I focused completely on his actions.

The Chief State Officer has to get along well with the Taesus in each city!

What move will Yoo Pyo make?

So I made every effort to capture the children of the Goe and Chae families, which Yoo Pyo was trying to get close to, to the floating spiritual academy.

Most of the HoJok(s) want to send their children as disciples to the floating scripture academy. However, this decision is entirely up to Sama Hwi.

– If Yoo Pyo establishes a good relationship with the Goe and Chae families, it will undoubtedly help us.

Even when Sama Hwi said ‘They are a bit’, I ardently persuaded her. Hidden my true feelings, I ardently persuaded her that how can you block someone who came here to learn?

Apiate led to an increase in the books I had to make and the number of people I did not want to admit grew, but what else could happen?

Will he find a pearl in the mud?

That’s how I tried to befriend Yoo Pyo through intermediaries. Since the probability of being involved in city affairs is high when directly confronting Yoo Pyo, I just suggested the direction and planned to lay back and drink honey water.

And finally, I realized that it was time to reap a bit from the seeds I had sown.

“My name is Hwang Jo. I was appointed as the Taesu of Gangha from Yoo Pyo. I have to defeat the cunning Son Gyun.”

Hwang Jo didn’t seem to want to speak in detail.

But my feelings speak.

Right now, this man, he has a slight grievance with Yuhpyo.

He’s sort of a subordinate to Yuhpyo, yet he doesn’t quite come across as one.

Hwangjo.

A general under Yuhpyo’s command.

I am somewhat aware of the background of his appointment as a city governor.

Yuhpyo once attacked Songyeon.

When Songyeon fled to Wonsoo with a jade bird, Yuhpyo and Wonso worried about the increasing power of Wonsoo and decided to align themselves by sending letters.

Concerned about the increasing power of Wonsoo next to him, Yuhpyo blocked the paths Songyeon was to pass.

– Release the jade bird! You thieves!

– Jade bird? Nothing here! Move aside!

If there were no jade birds, it’s a problem for Yuhpyo; and if there were, it’s a problem for Songyeon.

Thankfully(?), as a Hyungju citizen, the jade bird was with Songyeon.

Thus, the justification is with Hyungju.

However, in a time of turmoil, there are those who ignore such justifications and act recklessly.

“Do you know why Wonsoo is trying to attack our Hyungju by sending Songyeon this time, sir?”

“It’s a complex issue. Would it be okay if I give a short answer as it gets more complicated when delving into each one?”

“Please tell me.”

I cleared my throat with a fake cough.

“One, Songyeon’s personal vendetta for being ambushed on the way.

Two, Wonsoo’s ambition to expand his power by swallowing Hyungju.

Three, Wonsoo’s fury over forming a coalition with Wonso.”

“… Correct.”

Yuhpyo had formed an alliance with Wonso.

And in this counter-revolution coalition, Wonso did not have much fun.

Except for Wonso, the coalition’s leader, and Cao Cao, who drove the army to the end, everyone else simply remained at the level of ‘Ah, that person also participated!’

Wonsoo?

– That guy, he didn’t send the grain because he was jealous of his subordinates!

– I heard that he’s very generous, was that wrong?

– They say that those who have more are more stingy.

Wonsoo’s reputation was in real-time decline. As the anecdote with Songyeon widely spread, Wonsoo was becoming selfish and mean.

‘It’s probably Wonso’s work.’

It’s highly likely to be a negative campaign by Wonso.

The royal house of Gizhou was caught up in a power struggle over the two heirs, Wonso and Wonsoo, which was influencing the state of the central continent.

Eventually, the effect reached Hyungju.

Wonsoo decided to attack Yuhpyo, who had formed an alliance with Wonso, and rob the land of Hyungju. For this, he utilized Songyeon, who held petty grudges against Yuhpyo’s army.

And then….

“The closest place to Wonsoo’s territory is Ganghan. General Hwang, you’ve been ordered to be the pioneer against Songyeon.”

“That’s right. I would welcome the governorship of a city in any form, but I didn’t wish to receive an appointment to wage a war like this. I hoped that Lord Yuhpyo would do well in Hyungju, and while I appreciate the government post he granted me!”

Hwangjo downed his cup of tea in one gulp.

“I never wished to risk me and my battle-hardened soldiers in the crossfire of a war!”

“Do you have a way to win?”

“It’s kind of embarrassing, but no.”

The once-assertive Hwangjo bowed his head.

“I understand Son Kyeon’s power. If I fight him one on one, I would be killed within seconds. Even if I challenged the four warriors he commands, I would not survive. But the funny thing is, do you know how many weapons might be stronger than me in Hyeongju? Probably, I’d say, two.”

“….”

I would never have guessed that Hwangjo would give such a cold evaluation of himself.

And that the situation in Yuhogun was not so favorable.

All around, there are an abundance of one-against-a-hundred warriors while in Yuhogun, there’s an overwhelmly low number of armed forces.

“Although Yoo Kyung Seung trusts me and assigns me to Kangha, I still can’t seem to find a way to beat that mad dog. Isn’t he the one who managed to survive against Hwawoong and even emerged victorious? To defeat a beast, you need wisdom.”

Hwangjo assumed a submissive posture as he bowed his head.

“I’ve heard you are very wise. Even teacher Soo Kyung, after hearing my story, said you might have an answer.”

Listening quietly, Samahwi gave me a small smile above her fan.

Although I wasn’t particularly pleased with her help, I changed my mind thinking it might be a good opportunity.

I’d help him.

If I’m helping, I might as well help him thoroughly.

‘I should ask for a ferry near the Janggang river.’

If I help him this time, win the favor of Taesoo Kangha, and receive a ferry in return, I can hire people and start a business. And some of the profits would be sent to me. A perfect plan.

“Hmm…”

But still, I make a worried face.

I ponder and mull over my thoughts, even furrowing my eyebrows on purpose.

‘What should I have for dinner tonight.’

Considering the matter already decided, I pretend to be troubled over a much more difficult decision.

“Will you help me?”

“Help … Will I be of any help?”

“Yes. Isn’t it Teacher Soo Kyung’s recommendation?”

Taesoo Kangha, the commander of the Da Son Kyeon frontline, a nobleman at that, personally came to ask for my help.

Although I wasn’t a person who could help him… I didn’t want to be the one to take the initiative either.

“General Hwang, I’m not an official. My capabilities are lacking and I do not possess the ability or even the ambition to control the army from the front. I am merely a private scholar from the countryside who enjoys reading.”

“Really? Hmm….”

Hwangjo expressed his disappointment.

“But!”

I took control of the situation.

“Even though I came here to avoid the chaos in my hometown, I consider this province my second hometown. I can’t ignore the danger that threatens my hometown. As a citizen of Hyeongju, you, Taesoo, stood up to the battlefield risking your life. How could I stay idle here?”

“Teacher…!”

It’s common for joy to seem bigger when it comes after an initial sense of despair.

Hwangjo’s expression brightened incredibly.

“But as I said earlier, I’m a novice when it comes to military tactics. I only know them through books, and if I had to command the troops in reality, I might just drive them to death. As a general, can you possibly entrust your soldiers to such an inexperienced person like me?”

“Er….it’s certainly a…”

“But! I am confident I can back up General Hwang with a superior strategist by my side. She is a master of military tactics and has served as an official in Nakyang.”

“Oh, really?! A woman who has served an official post in Nakyang, that’s an exceptional talent!”

Color started returning to Hwangjo’s face. I stole a fleeting glance at him, somewhat anxious.

“Do you object to a woman commanding the soldiers?”

“Does it matter if it’s a woman?! Right now, it seems my head might fly off to Sonkyun…cough.”

Hwangjo swallowed the rest of his sentence with a forced cough.

“…If I accept her help, can I survive?”

“If you survive. If you defend Gangha, as a true prince of Gangha, even Lord Yoo won’t be able to treat you lightly. This is Gangha we’re talking about. It’s not just any borderland, but a city on par with Gangneung in this district, right? That you were appointed its prince means they value you highly.”

“Isn’t that a story for if I survive?”

“General, please think comfortably. I assure you, in our strategies, there’s no such plan that includes the general’s death. Sonkyun’s troops may be numerous and brutal, but if you utilize the geography of this district well, you surely have a chance.”

As I spoke, I put force into my voice.

“General, you will be hailed as Hwangjo, who beat Sonkyun, who beat Hwawoong.”

I extended a hand to Hwangjo.

“I promise to lead you to victory with tactics that would be considered divine.”

To continued.