episode_0164

Now, it’s a story from a time when I don’t really remember anything other than dark history, but there was a time when I wondered what would happen if the country collapsed.

Of course, it wasn’t from the thought, ‘Hey, this bastard’s country will be ruined!’ Although there was that feeling, the percentage of truffle additives was lower than that of potato chips advertised as containing truffles.

‘Rather than that, it was closer to pure curiosity.’

When I think back to the times, I was able to wonder about such things even at a young age because Korea at that time was literally in a state of chaos.

The awakening rate, which hit an all-time low, and the immigration of hunters, which suddenly increased in the wake of the failure to change generations, were exquisitely combined, and the joke that ‘Korea… service is over…’ no longer sounded like a joke. It was just that, so it was amazing.

There was a widespread feeling on the Internet that if things continued like this, the country could truly fall into ruin, and children who looked at their smartphone screens more often and for longer than their parents’ faces were exposed to that atmosphere as if they were being exposed to radiation.

The most common conversation among boys at that time was-

‘But what if the country really collapses like this? Are we screwed?’

‘What are you talking about? If it fails, it’s a mess.’

‘···?’

‘If the country fails, you don’t have to go to the military.’

‘Wow… are you a genius?’

It’s so shocking that it was like that.

Anyway, the situation at the time was like that, so I had such curiosity in my young mind… but I couldn’t solve it.

As if to claim that the reason it hit an all-time low was to gain momentum, it was thanks to the awakening rate, which started drawing an upward-sloping graph every day as soon as the next quarter began, like a strategist targeting the wallets of hungry people, and the efforts of the Hunter Association, which had a great awakening through the previous failure. .

So, I thought the curiosity of that day would remain an unsolved mystery forever, but I never thought I would find the answer in another world.

Still, don’t you think that the current Han Dynasty still has some expiration date left?

Some people might think that way and place their hopes on that fact, but my thoughts were a little different.

That’s because I witnessed with my own eyes that what used to be one coin each until yesterday morning turned into five coins in just one day.

If the price suddenly skyrocketed like that was considered a luxury item, I would have done the same.

The problem is that the price of food has increased fivefold overnight.

Why is it that when you read something like a martial arts novel, isn’t there a guy in charge of the dumplings in the ‘somen and dumplings’ menu that the main character orders when he enters the guesthouse? Its price increased fivefold overnight.

Just because the name is Dumpling, we should not think of it as the Wanggyoja that we know is because this was before Mr. Zhuge Gundam showed a performance of throwing dumplings into the river while saying ‘This is a real dumpling!’, so the dumplings of this era are called dumpling fillings. The thing didn’t exist. So, despite the name, in reality it was closer to a lump of cooked flour dough.

In reality, should we say that it is something like instant rice?

However, the price of instant rice went from 1,000 won to 5,000 won each.

Nothing has changed in the money deposited into my account.

If that’s not the country’s ruin, then what is it?

However, in a situation where the economy is collapsing in real time, the only thing the central government is doing in name is ‘Hey guys! All I could do was shout in all directions, ‘We, the Yellow Turban Rebellion, have cleared the chapter!’

Anyone who knows how to think at all is bound to lament the way the country is going.

Of course, the position of the Han imperial family was not incomprehensible.

From their perspective, the first thought that occurred to them was that if things continued like this, the country could actually be turned upside down physically.

That may have been why they hastily announced that the Yellow Turban Rebellion had been suppressed, even though only large chunks had been cleared and the mountains and fields were still overflowing with groups calling themselves Yellow Turban Reds with yellow bandanas on their heads.

In the first place, the reason why feudal lords and nobles from various regions were able to command troops that did not fit their needs was the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

So, the plan would have been to first turn it into nothing and then demand the disbandment of the troops…

The royal envoy from Luoyang’s court visited Cao Cao at a time when the whole world was filled with an uneasy atmosphere.

‘The troops we have privately are the bare minimum for escort…’

Are you really trying to use that as an excuse to find fault?

At first, I thought that was the intention.

It was a well-known fact to anyone serving in Cao Cao’s army that Cao Cao had been ‘stored in my heart…☆’ by the Sipsangshi bastards who were controlling the Luoyang court.

In addition, from the perspective of officials who wanted to suppress the power of noble families and feudal lords who had grown stronger through the Yellow Turban Rebellion, they made a name for themselves through the uproar caused by the Yellow Hoods like us rather than attacking a difficult opponent from the beginning. However, it may have felt like a much safer and more efficient way to set a precedent by first suppressing those with moderate power.

With that confidence, he followed Cao Cao and moved forward to the royal envoy.

“ㅡIn recognition of his merits, I gave Cao Cao of Jinan Shang the position of governor of the Eastern Army. Let him spread his beautiful abilities widely in the Eastern County as well.”

‘···?????’

Contrary to expectations that the eunuch, who was a royal envoy to the royal court, would find fault with something that was obviously not worth it, what came out of the mouth of the eunuch who came to visit was not a fault, but news of Cao Cao’s promotion.

Of course, strictly speaking, it was difficult to see it as a proper promotion since the awards, governorship, and rank itself were all there. If you just look at the rank, it’s true, but if you take into account the areas they are in charge of, the story is different.

If Jinam, where we are now, is an area that is treated as a bit of a change, the Donggun that just came out of the royal envoy’s mouth is an area that is directly adjacent to the case of Gyeonggi-do, which can be said to be a version of the Han Dynasty of Gyeonggi-do.

That’s not all.

It was also an area with extremely active water transport as it was located along the famous Yellow River.

‘Of course, given the times, the volume itself will not be that large…’

The important thing is that it is a good location to expand anywhere. If I were to compare it to a checkerboard, would I say it is a dot-like area in the very center?

If you go to the north, you will find Yeocheng, which later became the home of Yuan Shao; if you go to the south, you will find Hechang, which later became the capital of Wei; if you go to the west, you will find Luoyang and Chang’an; and to the east, you will find Xuzhou, the land of Great Filial Piety.

But handing over the position of governor of such a place to Cao Cao?

After sitting on the ground in Luoyang and eating only fatty and spicy food, did they all become senile as a group?

I don’t know the exact reason or intention, but I had to get this.

Perhaps it was because the mat was the national rule in this situation, and that was why, as usual today, I sent a signal with my eyes to Jojo, who was quietly kneeling on the mat…

“Your Majesty’s grace is truly like a blessing… Unfortunately, I recently fell from a horse and my physical condition is so bad that it will be difficult for me to carry out my official duties.”

‘···??????’

Once again words that confused me flowed into my ears.

Unlike before, the source of what I heard this time was none other than Jojo’s mouth.

No, even when the doctor said that it would be okay to just take off the bandage, I wondered why he was so stubborn about it, but he really wanted to use it like this…?

‘···wait for a sec.’

Is it possible that you suddenly stayed up all night yesterday saying you had to take care of some backlogged work…?

For a moment, I blinked in embarrassment, then opened my eyes as wide as possible and carefully examined Jojo’s appearance from top to bottom.

And as soon as I did that, what caught my eye was my pale complexion and puffy eyelids, the result of a sudden all-nighter.

In addition, the appearance of the slightly faded bandage tied around his right arm… Anyone could see that he was a patient who was suffering from a serious illness and was in poor health.

In fact, even I, who knew that it was all made up, felt that way for a moment, but what must it have been like in the eyes of a royal envoy who had lived only in the imperial palace and had just arrived in Jinan?

Sure enough, a look of pity appeared on the face of the royal envoy, who, unlike the eunuch who had visited us the other day, kept a business-like expression, as if he had been fooled by Cao Cao’s disguise.

“Do you mean…to ask for my resignation?”

“Yes, I guess I will have to recuperate in my hometown for a few years.”

“Oh my…”

The eunuch, who was shaking his head with a feeling of ‘Tsk, tsk, how could someone so young…’ soon opened his mouth with a sigh.

“Phew, I understand. I will convey this to the royal court in Luoyang.”

“Thank you.”

“Well then, I’ll be heading back to Luoyang, so take care of yourself.”

I realized this while watching Jojo perform pressure relief as naturally as breathing.

‘This was the purpose from the beginning…?’

What is it like to be unemployed?