[The Three Kingdoms] Golden Sun Exhibition

22 – Dreaming of Leisure and Pleasure (1)

After Hwangjo’s victory.

– Hwangjo! Hwangjo! Hwangjo!

“Hwangjo, is he Hwangbosung?”

A festival was being held in Yangyang.

There was no reason not to, as they had achieved the joyous triumph of killing the enemy chief, Son Kyeon, the vanguard of the Mongolian army that had attacked Hyeongju.

Of course, some renowned generals under Son Kyeon had survived.

Figures like Hwanggae, Jebo, and Handang survived and gathered the soldiers to return to Namyang where Wonsool was.

“I knew we shouldn’t have left the academy.”

They did not expect to win like this.

Son Kyeon could have won against Hwayoong if he had proper supplies from Wonsool, and they thought that they would never be able to win against Hwangjo, which had the same strategic ability as Son Kyeon.

But they were wrong.

The academy, abandoned for an emergency shelter, went quiet and peaceful enough to feel the hustle and bustle of evacuating.

“It looks like we are the only ones who evacuated, teacher.”

“Hoho, you’re right, Wol-yeong, hehehe, hehehehe.”

Sama Hwi just laughed when he saw me.

“Teacher! It’s a life-threatening situation. How can you be so calm not knowing what could happen?”

“No, this…”

Sama Hwi mockingly repeated the words I had said when I tried to persuade her.

“It’s all about the results! It’s great that General Hwangjo won, if not, running away would have been the answer!”

“Sure, sure. I’m getting a new look at you this time. Hoho, can I make a prediction?”

Sama Hwi laughed, patting my shoulder.

“You should marry a decisive, capable woman. Yes, if I had to compare…someone like the ‘husband of Jangryang’ that appears in legends.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you were born a woman, you might have become a master of housekeeping. Hoho, great, good.”

“Have you already planned my marriage?”

“I said ‘the husband of Jangryang’. Do you think there are a lot of Jangryangs in the world? Hoho, of course…”

Sama Hwi gave a sidelong glance, smiling, at where Sunwoo and Sama are holding hands comfortably in bed.

“It’s okay to become the husband of someone who isn’t Jangryang. If you take good care of home, you’ll make your wife greater than Jangryang.”

“A man doing housekeeping?”

“Yes. Wol-yeong, isn’t that your dream?”

With a greasy smile, Sama Hwi tapped my palm.

“A supportive husband.”

“…….”

Can I deny it…?

* * *

Three days have passed since the battle.

The night was still quiet, and I briefly went into the village to buy grain with money during the harvest season.

It’s peaceful.

As if news of the battle had not been delivered, it was peaceful. The news of Kangha’s fall in Shincheon and the blockade in Yangyang had already reached when Son Kyeon had died and the Mongol army had retreated.

People were shocked for a day, but soon returned to their original lives. They go about their farming, sell goods, and the laughter of children does not stop.

In such a peaceful world….

“‘someone’s husband'”

“Maybe it won’t be bad having a family of my own, too.”

Seeing as I’ve never experienced what it’s like to have a family, I do not quite grasp what it means to build one.

“A husband, you say?”

The maiden who had accompanied me asked. With an unreadable expression, she hit me with her words while studying me closely.

“Are you planning to marry?”

“No. I had a conversation with Master Suh Kyung. About the woman who would become my wife.”

“Who is he?”

“Well.”

A wife.

“I have never thought about spending my life with a woman, so I’m not entirely certain.”

“Then…what kind of woman do you prefer?”

“A woman who has enough ability to support me?”

A pillar.

I understood why Mistress Sama is called Master Suh Kyung. Her words pierced through my mind, and she created a dream for me.

“I’m saying…liberty. I….”

“Mr. Kim Seon ————!”

Such a powerful voice that it seemed to shake the heavens and earth.

I was startled and almost dropped the memento I bought for recording this battle.

“General Hwang…?”

Far away, a great commander dismounted his horse and charged towards me. It seemed like he was overjoyed about something, but couldn’t he have brought the horse to me instead?

He’s more than twice my size.

With opened arms, the commander.

“Ha ha ha!”

He’s charging towards me!

“Uh uh, teach, teach!”

Hwang held me in a hug. I understand his happiness, but I vehemently decline being embraced by a man like this!

‘Damn it, he’s so strong for a commander!’

I tried with all my might to get out but it was no help. Hwang was overjoyed as if he saw a lifesaver, which made me understand why he was greeting me in such a friendly manner.

Why not simply bow down once and greet me formally?

“Let him go, please.”

Sama grabbed Hwang’s wrist. Surprised, Hwang stepped back, and thanks to her, I could survive from Hwang.

“Haa, haa. General. I thought I was going to die.”

“Ahem, sorry. I was so glad that I lost myself. But who is that girl…?”

“This is Sama, the eldest daughter of the Sama family. She’s studying under Suh Kyung Master.”

“Oh, really. The Sama family… I see.”

Hwang seemed to pay attention to the name ‘Sama’ as much as he was aware of Sama. Awkwardly smiling, he made a bow towards me.

“Master. I was so excited with pleasure, I apologize.”

“It’s okay. I sincerely congratulate you on your victory, General Hwang.”

“Well, how can you say that? I merely moved as it was suggested by you and the other teachers. My victory wasn’t entirely my doing. I feel undeserving of the credit as it was just like copying answers with a model answer sheet.”

“This man, he’s excellent at deceiving people.

Is he better at moving his tongue than using a sword?

“So, if you, my lord, wish to reign in Ganghwa…”

“General.”

Reign? Nonsense.

“I am not suitable to serve in an official position. If you want to use me in Ganghwa, General, I will inevitably become a thorn in your side. I just want to teach children at the academy here in peace.”

“Is that so? Tch… that’s a shame.”

Fortunately, the Emperor accepted my refusal at once. I feared he might request that I act as his strategist, but thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

Indeed, the Emperor achieved everything he wanted.

Although he did abandon Ganghwa once, he established a rationale under the pretext of a tactical retreat, and managed to lure Son Gyeon, causing minimal damage to the people of Ganghwa.

Surely in the future he will have to endure the stares from the people of Ganghwa asking ‘Are you going to abandon the fort and run away again?’ But, that was because he had neither soldiers nor strategists.

“Doesn’t the General now have people to assist him? Please rely on those who have officially obtained their positions. They will become your people.”

The Emperor returns to Ganghwa as its governor.

And Yu Pyo has decided not to spare any support to ensure that incidents like the Yangyang siege do not happen again to Emperor Hwang.

Supplies, equipment, talent.

We are still outnumbered in armed forces, but people who use their brains well have joined under Emperor Hwang. Most of them are the children of renowned high-ranking clans from Hyeongju.

“These guys are all dreaming of a career. If General Hwang uses those kids well, there will always be a way to survive, no matter who attacks.”

“I heard. The bureaucrats who are coming to Ganghwa with you this time, they were taught by you, right? It’s fascinating, forming a relationship like this. hahahahaha!”

“….Huhu.”

That’s right.

The bureaucrats under Emperor Hwang are young men in their early twenties who have just started their careers and obtained their positions.

And these guys are the ones who learned about life from me for a short time at the Sookyeong Academy.

It’s a bit unclear to call them disciples because the teaching period was short, but they will also use my name to build a close relationship with Emperor Hwang.

-Emperor Hwang who killed Son Gyeon, whom Dongtak said was better than himself!

The value of Emperor Hwang skyrocketed for killing Son Gyeon. Young hot-blooded men have started to look favorably at Emperor Hwang, who won the battle, and they will use their brains for Emperor Hwang.

‘They probably don’t know they’re hostages.’

These guys are the influential clan members from Hyeongju and Yangyang.

And their official positions were given by Yu Pyo.

In other words, Yu Pyo used a strategy to give Emperor Hwang help in leading the administration of Ganghwa while weakening the power of Yangyang’s clans.

‘Even if Ganghwa is attacked later, the clans won’t ignore it as they did this time. They wouldn’t provide troops if their family in Ganghwa is determined to die?’

Yu Pyo is really crafty. Emperor Hwang is trying to use it aggressively, and the clans are also involved with Emperor Hwang along with Yu Pyo.

‘People are really interesting.’

Yu Pyo prepares a barrier called Emperor Hwang in anticipation of a possible counter-attack by Wonsool, the clans provide Emperor Hwang with power to check on Yu Pyo, and Emperor Hwang strengthens his foothold as the governor of Ganghwa through this.

Here, all I have to do is sit quietly at the Soo Gyeong Academy and suck on honey water.

The people who work for someone will send their disciples, and all I have to do is sit quietly and chant the sky and the land.

“I may become a warlord of Ganghwa and its surroundings.”

“Ha ha, a warlord. What are you…”

He chuckled, but Emperor Hwang didn’t deny it.

Obviously intoxicated by a single victory, he didn’t show the ambition he held.

“Teacher, I look forward to your continued guidance.”

“Of course.”

This was more than enough.

When else would I have the chance to form such a healthy and strong relationship with a nobleman?

“Ah, before we head to Kangha, I want to give you a small gift, teacher.”

“A gift?”

“Yes. You said your surname ‘Geum’ is an alias, right?”

“Yes. I don’t know my real name. It’s because I’m an orphan.”

“…Hmm. So, I’ve given it a thought. There’s someone I know well.”

Hwangjo asked me with a serious expression.

“Do you, by any chance, want to become an adopted child?”

“……?”

What does it mean to be an adopted child, especially a surface-level one?

“A young lady from the Chaesi family married an adult I know, well… This gentleman is rather unique… Anyway, you can hear the details directly from them.”

“Who is this person?”

“Hwang Seungyeon.”

Hwangjo scratched his head.

“He is a gentleman who calls himself a hermit.”