1592 The Empire We All Dreamed of - Chapter 336



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1592 The Empire Everyone Dreamed of (336)

Cute

It had been a long time since the office of the Inspector General had been filled to capacity.

“The criminal Jeon In-hwan was the leader of the criminal world and had been operating in the Gurigae (Euljiro) area as his lair. While he was doing so, he received a secret order from former Hongmungwan Gyo-ri Park Sang-hyeok and planned to take over the palace.”

Kim In-mun, a former officer in the Office of the Inspector General, bent down and brought his face closer.

“Do you admit this?”

“That’s not right. Why would I seek to kill myself?”

To be honest, it was absurd. No matter how good the money was, taking control of the palace was crazy.

But, funnily enough, the damned Lim Hae-gun has done it before.

“It’s not completely absurd, since there is a precedent.”

“It is a thousand and one. After that day, the seeds of the sword world dried up for a while. How can you say you are eating rice with a sword without remembering that?”

“hmm.”

Kim In-moon, who had a long career in the Office of the Inspector General, was indifferent.

“Eww.”

“Kuaaaak.”

Next to him, a group of people who had been arrested at the same time were being tortured.

“The sins that already exist won’t go away anyway. Look over there.”

He pointed to the prison cell. Prisoners leaning against the wall with blank expressions came in. Their status was obvious at first glance, as they were dressed in fine silk.

Kim In-moon pointed to those being questioned next to him again.

“Oh, I am innocent.”

“Oh my, I never received any money, I never heard anything.”

Gulp.

Jeon In-hwan licked his dry lips.

“It’ll be easier if you admit it. Otherwise, you’ll be tortured until you admit it and become a cripple.”

“Are you telling me to go in peace since I’m going to die anyway?”

“ah!”

Kim In-moon added as if he had forgotten.

“You guys won’t die. Didn’t you know? You’ll all be exiled to the north.”

“Don’t lie.”

“Do you know what happened to the Imhaegun clan in the past? Have you heard any news about them being wiped out or beheaded?”

Jeon In-hwan, the leader of the sword world, shook his head.

“Whoaaaa.”

“Kkwaaa.”

At that moment, a scream came from the side along with a terrible smell.

“What should I do? It’s almost time for the shift change. The friend who’s coming up behind me is nicknamed Black Bear, and unlike me, he takes things easy.”

“Can I just tell you the truth?”

A smile appeared on the lips of Kim In-moon, the most senior member of the Office of the Inspector General.

“Stop it, stop the arrogance.”

“Ugh.”

The screams that had been blaring from all sides stopped.

“Bring in the members.”

“Bring me some liquor from the warehouse.”

Only then did the medical office become quiet. Occasionally, groans could be heard from those receiving treatment.

The next day, the court made a decision.

“Former Left State Councillor Yun Geun-su, former Hojo Jeong-eop, former Hongmungwan Gyo-ri Yu Mong-ryeong, former Yejo Jwarang Lim Won-yeong, and 14 others are exiled. The leader of the Geomgye clan Jeon In-hwan and 172 others are also subject to the same punishment.”

Thus ended the incident that had caused a stir in the city for several days.

Considering the charge of treason, it was an extremely lenient punishment, and it was the result of the king’s will to not shed blood and the agreement reached by the ministers who weighed their own interests.

On the other hand, there were concerns that the lenient decision would undermine national discipline.

Carts lined up in front of the Office of the Inspector General.

“The noblemen and criminals are put on carts.”

“You stand in two rows.”

“Move quickly. If you’re lazy, you’ll only be giving them more time to sleep.”

Rattle, creak.

First, a cart pulled by a donkey moved, followed by 173 prisoners.

“What is that? Why are there so many sinners?”

“Was it by any chance the authors’ fault that the four gates were locked a while ago?”

It was only natural that dozens of carts and hundreds of prisoners would attract attention. People would follow them one by one and then leave repeatedly.

The crowd reached its peak when we passed through Mia-ri.

The drunk people were swearing.

“What kind of life can you live while committing a sin? Tsk tsk tsk.”

“Kaaa, yah. Those guys should all be beheaded.”

“Anyway, those noblemen.”

The officer escorting the prisoner frowned.

The autumn sky is high, so farmers who have finished harvesting are busy collecting the grains, and it is time for scholars to devote themselves to their studies.

‘All the helpless rascals have come out.’

Who is cursing whom? He also found corrupt nobles disgusting, but where is the one who pretends to cut flesh like this?

Suddenly, a stone was thrown at the procession of prisoners.

puck.

“Ahh.”

“Who are you?”

The soldiers turned their spears into the crowd.

“Step back! Private sanctions will be severely punished.”

“There’s no need to keep those guys alive. Kill them all, ugh.”

As the soldiers rushed in, one of the gangsters was captured in an instant.

“Ugh, all I did was throw a stone at the prisoners.”

“Oooh, release the innocent man.”

“Shut up.”

The escort officer let out a cold shout.

“You have already been punished for your crimes and are on your way to exile. Are you taking the place of the Office of the Inspector General? Do you dare to go against His Majesty’s will?”

For a moment the crowd became quiet.

“Let’s start again. I’ll hand over the interest to the authorities.”

“Yes. Let’s go.”

Rattle, creak.

So dozens of carts moved again.

After moving for half a day, we arrived late in the afternoon at the Yangju-mok government office.

There was Jeong Hyeon-ryong who had come ahead.

“I’m sorry I should have brought you here myself. Did you have any inconveniences during your trip?”

“A mere criminal, you are the one who is punishing me? How embarrassing.”

Yun Geun-su got off the cart and patted my waist.

Along with that, groans were heard here and there.

“Okay.”

“Oh my.”

“I’ve been sitting in the cart all day, so my back hurts.”

Yoon Geun-soo frowned.

“Shut up and go to the guest house. If you act rashly, I will tell my escort officer to send a chidodo.”

“Oh my, this is surprising.”

Those who had been joking protested.

“I have a month to go, so please be lenient.”

“No matter what, it’s too much for someone in the same situation.”

“Even if we are sinners, it doesn’t change the fact that we are nobles. We must maintain dignity as we are treated.”

“… … .”

The backyard of the Yangju government office became quiet. Even though he was a criminal, the fact that he was the leader of the Westerners seemed unchanged.

As the sun was setting, Jeong Hyeon-ryong and Yoon Geun-su had a private conversation.

Slurp.

Jeong Hyeon-ryong filled the glass.

It was a simple table with mixed vegetables and herbs.

“Since His Majesty has met privately with the officer, there will be no record of treason in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty.”

“Instead, I guess I’ll be remembered as a snitch.”

As Yoon Geun-soo, who was feeling down, poured himself a drink, Jeong Hyeon-ryong picked up the bottle.

Slurp.

“As always, the mean will find fault, but the upright will face the facts.”

“As always, nothing will change if we kick out one faction.”

“Then why did you hand over the petition?”

After a long silence, Yoon Geun-soo poured himself a drink.

“It was boring.”

“Were you bored?”

A person who has held many important positions since becoming a meritorious subject for resolving the Jonggye Byeonmu (宗系辨誣). He is the one who, along with his older brother Yun Du-su, raised his family to the ranks of prestigious families. People say that such people are boring.

“Zongjie Byeonmu? Kneeling at the feet of a mere subject of a great country? Devoting yourself to the court? How many enemies have I and my brother blown away? Is this really the teachings of Confucius and Mencius?”

He confessed to a crime that he had not even confessed to in the court.

“If you are honest and upright, then I have nothing to say. How much money have you received so far?”

Because he was harsh on himself, the treason did not come true and his family was not destroyed. Perhaps his self-reflection prevented a greater tragedy.

“I guess I should say it’s fortunate that I realized this as my day of death draws near.”

“phew.”

If it’s corruption, even Jeong Hyeon-ryong himself cannot be free. He may say it’s for survival, but how much wealth did he send to Hanyang during his time as a northern military commander?

“I really don’t know who is punishing whom.”

“This is the best way. The lesser evil avoids the worst by punishing the more evil.”

As Yoon Geun-soo said, there is currently no alternative to the aristocracy. The only way to reform is to whip ourselves.

“If we had a chance to start over again.”

“I gave you that chance. So start now.”

Jeong Hyeon-ryong laughed bitterly.

“I’m over 60 too. Are you kidding me?”

“Then come with me.”

Jung Hyun-ryong’s eyes lit up at Yoon Geun-soo’s teasing.

“Actually, I would like to go instead.”

“Ahem. That sounds like a horse.”

Jeong Hyeon-ryong’s eyes became hazy as he looked into the glass in his hand.

“When the frozen harbor thaws, women set sail on their boats. Men take up arms and old men farm. The great wind-sails move hammers and strike iron, and the school is filled with the sound of children reading.”

“… … ?!”

“The harbor must be full of three-curve ships by now. Ships from Hokkaido and Honshu, and merchant ships traveling to the south.”

“You’ve been there.”

Jeong Hyeon-ryong took a sip and put down his empty glass.

“Tell me, you must have been there.”

“The seven years that I served as a northern soldier were also a time of watching the north. The peace in the north during that time was entirely due to the will of the King of Goryeo.”

“Do you know the King of Goryeo? Really?”

Yoon Geun-soo was shocked, and Jeong Hyeon-ryong was calm as if he knew everything.

“Here is my letter of introduction.”

“Letter of introduction?”

“If you meet the King of Goryeo, hand it over to him.”

Yoon Geun-soo received a document in the form of a letter.

“I just wrote down the lord’s history, but I hope it will be helpful.”

“I don’t know what the situation is right now. Please explain further.”

As expected, Yoon Geun-soo immediately grasped what was important, as if his experience had not gone anywhere.

“Let me give you a piece of advice. The 18 prisoners will be divided into the city, the vicinity of the city, and the rough terrain.”

“Dispatch? Are you saying you’re going to use us as managers?”

Gwiyang usually did not leave his remote residence. He would occasionally meet with a local official he knew and go out to farm to pass the time.

“I’ll use it somehow. So your safety is guaranteed.”

“That’s fortunate.”

It was not an age where I was afraid of death, but it is an eternal truth that life is precious. As a scholar, I was also curious about the new world.

“Anyway, try your best.”

“… … ?”

Yoon Geun-soo smiled broadly.

“Now that there are no more people to find fault with, I’m telling you to do whatever you want.”

“The Nam-in split from the Dong-in, and the Buk-in split into the Daebuk and Sobuk. Even if the Seo-in fell… … .”

Jeong Hyeon-ryong shook his head.

“We will divide again and make enemies.”

“Isn’t it the proper function of a political party to check each other? Don’t be afraid even if someone acts like a mob.”

“Isn’t now the time when the Way of the Doctrine of the Mean is most urgent?”

The two talked like friends who would never see each other again.

They talked about everything from the court affairs to the approaching winter and food measures for the spring famine, the quiet state of Honshu and Nanman, and the attitude that a high-ranking court official should pursue.

But no one knew a clear answer.

* * *

The National Navy arrived at Solbin Port with a fleet of 120 ships.

The ships that filled the sea in front of the harbor were a familiar sight.

“Panokseon?”

“The Southern Sea Governor gave it to me.”

As Jiwoo frowned, Gukmin Seo quickly added.

“Taiwan secured Fort Zeelandia and the Thieves captured 90 galleons.”

“Is that what you received in return?”

The citizen nodded.

“If there is something coming, there must be something going, so he ordered over 60 panokseon. The speed was slow because there were not enough oarsmen, but the load capacity was incomparable to that of sekibune.”

“Because the original was a three-curved ship. Besides, if it weren’t for battle, there was no need to row.”

Jiwoo took a look at the scaffolding where the unloading work was taking place.

“I guess I’ll have to go back and forth a few more times.”

“We are currently requisitioning ships from Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, etc. We should have no problem completing the transport before winter.”

“Shall we take a walk?”

“I will do it.”

As soon as Jiwoo left, the unloading work picked up speed.

“More, more, stop. Puller.”

Knock knock, knock knock.

The pulleys were constantly carrying rice and the workers were running around.

“A large number of Han Chinese people flowed into Mukden (Shenyang) where Nurhachi had left.”

“I guess we need to organize things.”

“Hoo hoo hoo.”

The people immediately understood the point.

“Are you sending a certain number of people to Honshu and sending the same number of people to Mukden?”

“We are planning on around 100,000 people. There is no deadline.”

“I will give instructions to the lords as soon as I return.”

“Go to the official residence. Your wife will be happy to see you.”

“I wanted to see the prince anyway. Is that okay?”

“Of course. But they don’t let you touch it. They said you have to wait 100 days. And you have to wash your hands before touching it.”

“You didn’t know that? It’s common knowledge that everyone in Solbin knows.”

“… … .”

“sorry.”

“The next three songs will be placed in Gangneung. The next one will be in Pohang. After that, you can just respond to the requests from above.”

“It looks like there’s a famine in Joseon.”

“They say there was flood damage.”

As I climbed the hill, I could see the harbor at a glance. There was something there that particularly caught my eye.

“It’s the industrial complex’s orbit. Did you complete the steam engine?”

“Ah. You’re coming. Come see for yourself.”

White smoke was visible outside the port square. What followed was a peculiar noise.

Beep, beep. Chirp, chirp, chirp.

“Wow, it’s actually more amazing than I imagined.”

“yes?”

A train loaded with rice and currency raced toward Chahohan. There, horses and carts waiting to take them to Joseon were waiting.

It was a time when the wind was gradually getting colder.