[The Three Kingdoms] Golden Sun Exhibition

3 – Finding My Land (2) Soonwook, Mun Yak

Buy land in the hometown of someone who will become a high-ranking official someday.

This is an investment.

Invest all your money in real estate, forming relationships with the hometown people of someone set to hold high office.

Although not expecting to be favored by the subject, just being regarded as an important figure living nearby would be as good as succeeding.

However, in speaking to Sunwook here, there may be a tendency to exaggerate a bit.

“I understand what you are saying, Prince Hwang. But I think we should have a clear discussion about what you said.”

Sunwook pointed a brush in her hand at me with a serious face. The sharpened end seemed like a spearhead.

“Rebellion.”

“I thought as much.”

“Charging you with treason isn’t surprising. You’re different from the other people, from the seething rage of the common masses being deceived and shouted by Hwang Geonjeok. You understand the meaning of the words you said.”

“Yes. I knew exactly what I was saying.”

I pushed away the brush with my hand.

“You will fail. As Eun did, as Ju did, as Jin did.”

“Watch what you say!”

“Lower your voice. What will we do if someone hears us? Do you think I’ll be the only one who gets arrested? Sunwoon Yak, you could be arrested just for this conversation alone. It may interrupt your official career.”

“Ha. Just for having this conversation? What do you want me to do if you push me out like this?”

“Push you out? I won’t.”

I stood up and approached Sunwook. She paused where she stood, completely tensed, and I bent slightly forward next to her.

“Sister, am I reporting this?”

“….It’s cowardly to call me thus at such times.”

“You know already that I’m a coward.”

I half-nodded, resting my hand on Sunwook’s looming shoulder. Her previous shouting at me had vanished, and she now simply kept examining my hand.

“I believed in you, and that’s why I confessed my true feelings. You shouldn’t speak in that way.”

“I… I didn’t mean to.”

“Then? Why did you say you would report?”

“Don’t talk about it anywhere else…”

I pulled on Sunwook’s chin sharply.

Her face came closer, close enough to feel her breath. Sunwook didn’t know what to do and clenched her hands anxiously on her thighs.

“Do you think I’d talk like this to anyone but you? You’re special to me.”

“Euh, uh…”

Sunwook blushed. I slowly approached her, brushing my head against hers, while she tightened her eyes shut.

“Huh.”

Later, I placed my hand over her mouth, bringing my lips to the back of my hand.

“Why are you so nervous, sister? What makes you think I’d ruin someone’s marriage?”

“Uh, uh…!”

“You are just like that. How can someone who wants to be an official mingle with a man who wanders around like Bu-pyeong cho?”

“…You can help me, can’t you?”

Sunwook murmured, looking down on the ground.

“I won’t ask you to work for the Han royal family. Can’t you just… stay by my side?”

“No, I can’t.”

I patted her shoulder.

“I’m bound to die if I live for the Han royal family. That’s my fate. I’m the type who can’t live at Han.”

“Where do you come up with such things…”

“It’s destiny. Like fate given to me by the heavens.”

I gently stroke Soonwook’s head and took her hand.

“I’m sorry, older sister. I’m such a coward for not being able to act for the greater good. I’m just a wimp, too afraid to die to even make my own decisions. Did I tell you that my parents abandoned me?”

“Yes. You’ve said that they abandoned you along with your original name.”

“That’s right. So I can’t live for the parents who gave birth to me. That’s just how it is.”

“What are you talking about? You’re just saying things.”

Soonwook sighs deeply.

“I get it. There is no choice but to bear such cowards like you. If the imperial court rectifies itself, like when the ancestor, Cho Yu-bang founded the nation, what would you do? If a hero drives out all the corrupt and restores the dignity of the royal court.”

“At first, you would probably be in an extremely high official position, elder sister. Could you ascend leisurely to the throne?”

“Perhaps you could reach the position of a

“Exactly. Selling silk in the Gangha market will yield us a substantial profit. There’ve been rumors of bandits near Gangha, but isn’t this business after all?”

“Is that so…”

Should I tell him or not?

Just someone with whom to converse, no need to necessarily share details….

“If by chance, bandits attempt to kill you, just enough to save your life, say this. Look here, if you kill me now, you can indeed take all the money on me. But think about this. If you only ask for a toll from me, when I reach my destination, I would say; oh, damned! The Gangha bandits took a toll! How fortunate I am to be alive.”

“Is that truly effective? Wouldn’t it be better to not give them anything and try to escape till the end?”

“Then won’t there be a risk of losing your life? Hear me out. The bandits would think; isn’t it more profitable long-term to collect tolls from every passersby, rather than seizing this petty cash now? If they killed everyone, at some point the authorities would come after them, but for just collecting tolls, they would likely go after bigger offenders first. This would ensure a continued income, wouldn’t they think that?”

“You, have you ever been a bandit?”

“I’m just using my wits to survive. Well, I’m not the fighting type to wield spears or anything and join the troops.”

I rolled up my sleeve.

Working on a farm had given me some muscles, but I was nowhere near strong enough to fight with a spear.

I was just a mere peasant, only a West-lifer.

“So what do you plan to do in Gangha? Become a boatman?”

“I’m going there for a good deed.”

I take out a single book that I’ve been carrying.

“I’m going to make a living in Hyungju with this.”

“With a book? Are you aiming for a government position?”

“Not really. I plan to be a teacher for those who are aiming for it.”

Why would I work in a government job, always saying ‘yes sir’, ‘yes, sir’ to upper-class men.

“If you become the master of the crown prince, you could get quite a reputation, huh? hahahahaha.”

“You’re really weak.”

“I guess.”

I spread my arms out towards the distant Gangha land.

“I’m a long-term planner. When the central plains become tumultuous, people would escape and come to where? To Hyungju, right? Then I would become the teacher of those who show good potential among them. You never know. Maybe I’ll build good connections with someone who would later become a minister, or become brothers with someone ascending the throne. hahahahaha!”

“Guess you’re thinking a bit far.”

The man laughed and shook his head at me.

“Go drink some young wine with the ladies and experience- huh?!”

“Hey.”