Chapter 10
To Luoyang (1)
The provincial office was still bustling with activity.
Merchants hurried about their business, while the people went back and forth, diligently attending to their own affairs.
Jeong Gyeom had come to the provincial office after being summoned by Provincial Governor Liu Yu. Before entering the main hall, he briefly stopped in his tracks.
Zhao Yun was beside him, following silently a step behind.
‘It was something I had no choice but to do while carrying out his orders. I should hold my head high.’
He had hurried over as soon as he received the summons, but the unease lingering in one corner of his heart refused to disappear.
There was such a thing as a premonition.
It seemed that Liu Yu knew about what had happened in Youbeiping.
‘So many things happened because of that one move. It would actually be strange if he didn’t know.’
A remark Jeon Ju had once made with a smile suddenly came to mind.
“My lord, there is no need to worry in the slightest. The Provincial Governor will surely commend your accomplishments.”
Would his worries really amount to nothing more than needless concern?
Jeong Gyeom clenched his hands tightly.
Only two people were waiting for him in the main hall: Liu Yu and Wei You.
Surprisingly, not even a single ordinary attendant or official was present.
It seemed this gathering had been arranged for Jeong Gyeom alone from the very beginning.
Jeong Gyeom secretly pressed a hand against his pounding chest. The atmosphere was not nearly as bad as he had feared.
Liu Yu smiled warmly and spoke.
“You have arrived.”
There was warmth in his voice.
Wei You also turned toward Jeong Gyeom and greeted him.
“It must have been a long journey. You have worked hard.”
Jeong Gyeom saluted.
“Northern Route Commandant Jung-jeong Jeong Gyeom respectfully greets Your Excellency the Provincial Governor and Chief Clerk.”
Liu Yu smiled gently.
“Were you not tired from coming such a long way?”
“Not in the slightest. When Your Excellency the Provincial Governor calls, even a journey of a thousand li is not far.”
Jeong Gyeom answered with a cupped-hands salute.
Even empty flattery could warm a person’s heart.
And when those words came from someone who already held affection for him, their effect was even greater.
Liu Yu gave a light laugh and nodded.
His expression having softened considerably, he spoke again.
“I heard you went through quite a lot of hardship on the grasslands. Is that truly the case?”
Jeong Gyeom’s eyes wavered slightly.
Was this merely a greeting?
Or was it a reprimand?
“Hardship? That is too much praise. This subordinate merely devoted himself to the great responsibility Your Excellency entrusted to him.”
“So that is how it was. I read the memorial submitted by my Commandant. However, I summoned you because I wished to hear it directly from you.”
“Please command me. I shall report everything without concealing even an inch.”
“How did you drive back Wubura?”
They had reached the main point immediately.
Jeong Gyeom straightened his posture.
“I cut off their supply route and lured their troops toward us, then drove them into a gorge.”
After taking a brief breath, he continued.
“Afterward, we used arrows and boulders to break their formation. Rather than annihilating them completely, we focused on forcing them to retreat of their own accord. Thus…”
Jeong Gyeom adjusted his collar and began reporting the entire course of events without concealing a single thing.
“…as a result, Wuhuan Chieftain Quliju handed his position over to Tadun, and Nuban was placed under this subordinate’s custody for the time being.”
Jeong Gyeom’s answer was long and detailed.
Liu Yu’s gaze deepened.
“I had already guessed that Jung-jeong’s schemes were profound and far-reaching, but this is truly remarkable. Is that not so, Chief Clerk?”
“Not only is he skilled in military strategy, he is also adept at maneuvering troops and horses. Calling him a renowned general of his generation would not be an exaggeration.”
“So there was a reason his name was being spoken throughout the grasslands.”
Liu Yu and Wei You exchanged words as they praised Jeong Gyeom.
Jeong Gyeom lowered his head even further.
That was when it happened.
Liu Yu suddenly shouted sternly.
“But there is one thing—”
The air grew heavy.
“Using Youbeiping to draw in the Yellow Turbans and refugees was an excessively dangerous stratagem.”
Jeong Gyeom’s eyes trembled faintly.
“If things had gone wrong, you could have lost the granary.”
The atmosphere in the main hall became heavy.
“How could you have overlooked that?”
So he really knew what I had done.
If that was the case, there was no point in hiding anything.
Jeong Gyeom did not hesitate in the slightest.
“I sought to stabilize the grasslands in accordance with Your Excellency’s wishes, but I could think of no other way.”
He paused to catch his breath before continuing.
“I believed that Governor Gongsun would certainly withdraw his forces and return.”
He lowered his gaze for a moment, then raised it again.
“Even if he did not, I firmly believed that Your Excellency would never stand by while the granary was threatened. Nevertheless, I cannot deny that it was a reckless stratagem. Therefore, I acknowledge my offense and humbly ask for punishment.”
Liu Yu and Wei You both nodded inwardly at Jeong Gyeom’s forthright admission.
They had intended to reprimand him severely if he tried to make excuses.
Wei You let out a quiet exclamation.
“As expected… Jung-jeong’s schemes are truly remarkable.”
Liu Yu also changed his expression and nodded.
“You are asking for punishment yourself. What more can I say?”
Jeong Gyeom secretly breathed a sigh of relief at Liu Yu’s words.
Judging from his tone, it seemed there would be no further reprimand.
After staring at Jeong Gyeom for a moment, Liu Yu smiled faintly.
“But—”
His voice softened.
“Such dangerous stratagems also carry dangers that must be borne by the one who devises them. If you intend to employ such a stratagem again, you must inform me first, obtain my permission, and only then put it into action.”
Jeong Gyeom bowed deeply, his voice filled with emotion.
“I, Northern Route Commandant Jung-jeong Jeong Gyeom, shall engrave Your Excellency’s grace upon my heart and never forget it.”
Liu Yu burst into hearty laughter and nodded.
His face was clearly filled with satisfaction.
“Jung-jeong, raise your head.”
Jeong Gyeom slowly raised his head.
Liu Yu’s gaze settled directly upon him.
“Though you were somewhat reckless—my intention was to stabilize the grasslands, and you followed that intention. That accomplishment is more than enough to cover your fault.”
When he finished speaking, the air fell silent for a moment.
“Therefore—”
Liu Yu’s voice rang out clearly.
“I appoint Jung-jeong as Northern Route Zhonglangjiang.”
It was a short declaration.
But its weight was by no means light.
“Strengthen the frontier and maintain order upon the grasslands.”
Something quietly surged deep within Jeong Gyeom’s chest.
“I shall obey your command.”
They say good fortune is often accompanied by misfortune.
It had not even been a full month since Jeong Gyeom became Northern Route Zhonglangjiang when a messenger arrived from the provincial office.
He was ordered to travel to the Imperial Capital as an envoy.
At this point in history—
Something major was about to erupt in Luoyang.
Jeong Gyeom had already dispatched spies to observe the situation, so he had a general understanding of how things were unfolding.
And yet he was being ordered to go to such a place.
Jeong Gyeom pressed a hand against his throbbing head.
Considering the grace he had received from the Provincial Governor,
he could neither refuse nor should he refuse such an order.
He had intended to go someday.
But—
‘…Even if I went, I wanted to make preparations beforehand.’
He had never expected to be forced to leave so suddenly.
Luoyang—
It was a den of dragons and tigers.
A sigh escaped him naturally, but there was no point in agonizing over it any longer.
Jeong Gyeom stopped hesitating.
The following day, he summoned those who were his right-hand men and divided up their responsibilities.
He entrusted Seokmun to Gongsun Ji and Yeongji to Jeon Ye.
He promised both of them the position of Commandant.
Their official appointments would come after he visited the provincial office and obtained approval.
He also sent a separate messenger to the grasslands.
The message contained instructions to ensure that trade continued without disruption during his absence.
Preparations did not take long.
The following day, Jeong Gyeom set out with Jeon Ju and Zhao Yun at his left and right, accompanied by only a small number of his personal guards.
They rode straight toward the provincial office.
He first had to meet Provincial Governor Liu Yu and receive instructions concerning his mission to the Imperial Capital, then take custody of the tribute Wei You would provide.
Everything had already been decided.
All that remained—
was the journey to Luoyang.
Jeong Gyeom immediately entered the main hall.
Liu Yu was already seated, while Wei You and several other officials sat below him, discussing state affairs.
As soon as Jeong Gyeom entered, everyone’s eyes turned toward him.
They were the gazes of people trying to assess the appearance and character of the general who had recently earned the Provincial Governor’s favor.
Several generals were quietly impressed by Jeong Gyeom’s bearing, and some even compared him to Gongsun Zan in low voices.
Jeong Gyeom stepped forward, bowed deeply, and spoke in a clear voice.
“I, Northern Route Zhonglangjiang Jung-jeong Jeong Gyeom,
respectfully carry out Your Excellency’s command and shall depart for the Imperial Capital. Before doing so, I have come to pay my respects.”
Liu Yu nodded with a pleased expression.
“You have worked hard coming such a long way.”
With a smile on his lips, Liu Yu continued.
“I must send tribute to the Imperial Capital, but with the realm in turmoil and bandits running rampant everywhere, there is no suitable general to whom I can entrust this task.”
His gaze settled upon Jeong Gyeom.
“I am ashamed to summon you when you should be guarding against foreign enemies, but there is no one other than you to whom I can entrust this mission.”
Jeong Gyeom saluted again.
“Your Excellency places such trust in this subordinate. How could I dare refuse your command? I shall naturally devote my life to carrying it out.”
“As expected of Jung-jeong.”
Afterward, Liu Yu gave him several additional instructions, and official appointments were also granted to Jeon Ye and Gongsun Ji.
Thus, the matters in the main hall came to an end.
After leaving the main hall, Jeong Gyeom followed Wei You to the warehouse where the tribute had been gathered.
Inside were silk, gold and silver, and various goods collected from different regions, all neatly stacked.
Wei You spoke quietly.
“Luoyang is a place where the tongue is more frightening than the sword.”
After briefly hardening his gaze, he added,
“Watch what you say, and do not carelessly associate with groups of people. The Imperial Capital is in turmoil at present. They say that if you conduct yourself improperly, you may lose your life.”
Jeong Gyeom listened without a word.
He already knew this.
Jeong Gyeom bowed deeply.
“I shall bear it in mind.”
The following dawn.
Jeong Gyeom set out quietly from the provincial office with two thousand horses borrowed from the local military, escorting hundreds of carts.
The sound of hooves continued at a low rhythm.
As they passed Bohai, the rumors they heard grew increasingly ominous.
There was talk that the atmosphere in Luoyang was highly unusual.
Rumors said that the conflict between the eunuchs and Grand General He Jin had gone beyond all bounds.
There were even rumors that troops had already begun to move—
Not one of these matters could be dismissed lightly.
Jeong Gyeom had been checking the situation in various regions through his spies, but the rumors were far more ominous than he had expected.
At a crossroads leading toward Gaotang, Jeong Gyeom briefly tightened his grip on the reins.
The area around Qingzhou was in too much turmoil because of the remnants of the Yellow Turbans.
Although he had two thousand soldiers and horses, there was no reason to take an unnecessary risk.
Jeon Ju had also advised choosing a safer route rather than a faster one, so Jeong Gyeom turned his horse around.
Several days later.
The troops led by Jeong Gyeom arrived at Pingyuan Ford.
It was a strategic point connecting Pingyuan and Luoyang, so people were constantly coming and going.
Countless people had gathered before the broad waterway.
People carrying luggage, merchants, and soldiers were all mixed together.
Perhaps because the times were so chaotic.
The atmosphere was heavy, and although the voices were low, they never ceased.
As soon as Jeong Gyeom reached the vicinity of Pingyuan Ford, he immediately ordered Jeon Ju to establish a camp and station the troops there.
Entering Pingyuan Ford with several hundred soldiers would only attract unnecessary attention, so it was an unavoidable measure.
Jeon Ju skillfully established and organized the camp.
The formation was orderly, and the soldiers moved as one.
Jeong Gyeom watched for a moment before nodding.
What a versatile man.
Not only was Jeon Ju well versed in political strategy, he was also skilled at handling troops.
Obtaining Jeon Ju had truly been a great stroke of fortune.
Just as the camp had been more or less organized, Jeong Gyeom looked outside and tilted his head.
‘It should be about time for the messenger to return.’
Since the goods were tribute bound for the Imperial Capital, Jeong Gyeom had ordered Jeon Ju to request assistance from the navy in advance and secure several warships.
Furthermore, he had already sent a messenger to inform them that they would arrive today.
But what was this?
The person responsible had yet to show even the slightest sign of appearing.
‘Should I go in personally and check?’
If they did not load the tribute and set out as soon as dawn broke tomorrow, their schedule would be disrupted.
Just as Jeong Gyeom was looking toward the setting sun and pondering what to do—
A man named Jang Pyeong, Commander of the Naval Forces, appeared with several soldiers.
But the way he spoke and moved was strangely arrogant.
The position of Commandant was by no means a low one, but he had no standing equal to Jeong Gyeom, a Zhonglangjiang.
And yet he was acting this stiffly.
Even his manner of speaking was absurd.
Hrmph—
“Where is the tribute bound for the Imperial Capital? I cannot provide even a single warship until I have inspected it with my own eyes. If even one improper item has been mixed in, how am I supposed to bear the responsibility? So unload the cargo and show it to me at once.”
Jeong Gyeom’s eyes gradually widened in disbelief.
