1592 The Empire We All Dreamed of - Chapter 342



Only Krnovel

1592 The Empire Everyone Dreamed of (342)

stumbling block (1)

Steel Bank has no headquarters.

There are only branches in Solbin, Seogyeong (Beijing), Hanyang, and Taiwan.

The Solbin upper branch does some banking work, but it is mostly a temporary measure. If we were to make a distinction, the Taiwanese branch, where the bank president resides, could be said to be the de facto head office.

While Solbin Sangdan traded with neighboring countries of Goryeo by land, Yan Sangdan led overseas trade, and Park Mu-ryang’s Steel Bank managed the capital.

This huge logistics and information were controlled by Jiwoo.

“You guys, wait in the waiting room.”

“I will obey your orders.”

Jiwoo entered the door while guards surrounded the bank fence. The bank employee he encountered inside bowed his head.

“His Majesty the King.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

The bank exchanges currency for rice. The outer building was divided into a warehouse and the inner building into an office.

“I present my respects to Your Majesty.”

“Okay, don’t worry about it, just keep doing your thing.”

Jiwoo nodded and passed through the outer building and entered the inner gate.

The courtyard in March (April in the solar calendar) was in full spring. Bank employees and customers who had been enjoying the sunshine while consulting stood up and bowed their heads.

Leaving the house was a hassle as the king’s procession was inevitable. It was not a matter of adapting to it or not, so the only solution was to quickly disappear from their sight.

Jiwoo smiled and hurriedly walked away.

As I entered the office, someone greeted me, and then all the employees stood up and bowed at the same time.

“I present His Majesty the King.”

“Ah! Your Majesty the King… … .”

“Okay, everyone take your seats. Where is my seat?”

“I’ll take it. This way.”

After a while, refreshments were placed in front of Jiwoo in the conference room. Only then was Jiwoo freed from the gaze of the people and enjoyed the tea and snacks.

The bitter tea and yakgwa went well together.

The branch manager blinked as he was about to hand over the report.

“I’ll bring more.”

“Okay. It’s almost dinner time, so you should eat moderately.”

Jiwoo, who was chewing on the medicine, waved his hand.

“Let’s get started. You should be getting ready to leave work soon too.”

“Yes. Please turn to the first page first.”

Jiwoo glanced over the report he had put so much effort into and put it down.

“Let me just summarize the main points.”

“Ah, the circulation of currency in Joseon is smooth. 16,000,000 nyang was released through the upper chamber in the first quarter of this year.”

“It’s faster than I thought.”

“Yes. Combined with the amount distributed along with the flood relief last year, the total is 28,000,000 nyang.”

There was concern about whether the introduction of a currency that came out of nowhere would work in Joseon, where barter had been practiced, but it was a needless worry.

Behind this, the salaries of the managers were paid in cash, and the Solbin Group guaranteed exchange for rice. The popular saying that “good things are done by those in high positions” took hold.

“I can reach 100,000,000 nyang, or 10,000,000 won, within this year.”

“If things continue this way, I don’t think it would be unreasonable to integrate the economy within two or three years… … .”

The branch manager hesitated and couldn’t make up his mind.

“I heard there was a problem. Tell me.”

“Joseon merchants are protesting. Among them, the protests of Gyeonggang merchants are particularly blatant.”

“A gentleman?”

It would have been understandable if he had been a merchant from Hanyang or a merchant from Gaeseong.

According to the investigation conducted while building the Bobusang, the names of the Mansang of Uiju and the Naesang of Busanpo were known, but there was no concrete reality yet.

“Was there a superior power in Joseon that could keep us in check?”

“It is usually called Gyeongsang (京商). After the year of Imjin, it grew rapidly as it took charge of transporting grain.”

“If it’s Segok, then I can understand if it’s connected to the managers.”

It was obvious that bribery and vested interests would be intertwined through the connections made while carrying Segok. So it would not be strange if he received government protection.

“What about the damage?”

“There is a situation that is too ambiguous to be called a clear damage.”

Jiwoo laughed.

“For example, something that doesn’t seem right to be a coincidence?”

“Yes.”

“If things continue this way, unification might be delayed, right?”

“If that is the biggest damage, then it is definitely a damage.”

“ha.”

A sigh escaped me.

In a way, this was also a war. It was a war that would last a long time, going back and forth between legality and illegality, justice and injustice.

‘We shouldn’t let this get out in the open. If it escalates into a diplomatic issue, Gwanghae’s position will become difficult.’

If Gwanghae, who was in the middle of purging the aristocrats, lost power, it would be bad for neither one nor the other.

“Then it’s a battle of endurance. It won’t be easy.”

Jiwoo frowned and looked lost in thought.

The afternoon sun shone through the window.

The next morning the wind was unusually cold, as if it was jealous of spring.

The son-in-law opened the official residence door in the dark and Jiwoo came out. He was dressed in comfortable clothes that looked a little cold.

Adjutant Kim Myeong-seop, who had been leaning against the wall, came up next to him.

“Aham, Your Majesty.”

“You’ve been giving me a hard time since morning.”

White breath filled my field of vision. Even though it was dawn, the breath in April (May in the solar calendar) was truly worthy of being called the Maritime Province.

“What a surprise. It’s nice to start work with morning exercise.”

“What a good thing. I have nothing to say about such an unpredictable lord.”

“Hoo hoo hoo.”

The escorts were just finishing their early morning shift and changing shifts.

As Jiwoo approached, the soldiers who were checking their weapons took a still stance.

“Shh, I’ll wake the residents.”

There was a small laugh here and there. Jiwoo, who saw that the guards’ tension had eased, pointed to the official residence.

“Go put down the heavy stuff and come back with something lighter.”

“it’s okay.”

Jiwoo shook his head.

“I’m not okay. Solbin, all the residents are like my soldiers. So come lightly, this is an order.”

“I will obey your orders.”

After a while, the guards who had laid down their weapons at the official residence lined up.

“let’s go.”

An untimely rescue operation has begun.

It was a quiet run without the usual slogans or military songs. Those who climbed Solbin Hill in one stride followed the ridge toward the eastern mountain range.

“Whew, whoosh. Keep running.”

“I’ll lead the way. Group 1, forward, the rest to the rear.”

The moonlight illuminated the dark mountain path.

Even though it was full-blown spring, winter had not completely retreated. At least not here in the north. However, the men’s hot breath had quelled the chill.

‘You have to be patient. Nothing changes overnight.’

His breath hitched and his vision became blurry due to the rising heat. Jiwoo shook his head vigorously.

‘There’s no guarantee that the world will go my way just because I wait. In that case, it’s better to keep the momentum going.’

“Whew, whoosh.”

‘There is no justice in history. I am not a philanthropist.’

As I slowed down, my heavy breathing subsided. My breathing stabilized and my vision returned.

‘So I’d rather be greedy.’

The world seen from the top was full of mist, mountains, and the sea, and then more mountains. Beyond that, dawn was breaking in the sky.

As that light began to fill the world, Jiwoo also descended.

That night, a drizzle fell.

“I said I could just leave work.”

“I’m on duty today anyway, so I’ll be taking care of you all night.”

Adjutant Kim Myeong-seop held out his hand to gauge the falling rain. What was reflected in the pine needle fire was a hazy, settling mist.

“It’s spring rain. I wonder if I should call this romantic.”

Then he lifted the tarp to check for firewood and grabbed his fishing rod. Then he bent down and pointed both hands at the front door, which was a funny sight.

“I will serve you.”

“Kikki kikki.”

Habur, who came out to see me off, covered his mouth and laughed.

“Don’t you mind if your husband goes out at night?”

“Yes? Why?”

He scratched his cheek as he watched his wife blink innocently.

“No. Then I’ll go.”

“Please catch a lot.”

“Huh, I’ll eat it all on the spot as soon as I catch it.”

“Hahaha, I’m sorry. When Gunmu grows up a bit, I’ll go with you then.”

“Okay, sleep first.”

As we left the official residence, Kim Myeong-seop followed us, pulling a horse.

It was midnight (11 p.m. to 1 a.m.), so the road leading to the beach was deserted. As we got closer to the port, we could hear the occasional shouts of drunken people, but it soon died down.

“The escorts are being useless. Let them have some drinks.”

“If you get drunk and lie down anywhere, you can get sick.”

“Oh, I see.”

It’s good to end a hard day with alcohol, but anything in excess is not good.

Rainwater dripped down the waterproof sheet wrapped around his body.

The place we arrived at after walking for 30 minutes was the place where Jiwoo had enjoyed night fishing several times.

“Please wait a moment.”

“Let’s do it together.”

Soon a decent canopy was put up.

“Thank you for your hard work. I’ll start the fire first.”

“Please. Smile.”

Jiwoo cast his fishing rod first. After a while, a bonfire was lit and Kim Myeongseop came and sat down next to him.

“There’s only the sound of rain and waves. It’s abrupt, but peaceful.”

“I see. Peace is someone’s sacrifice.”

How many people were sent on missions here, and how many of them returned alive? The rain that fell steadily in the darkness depressed my heart.

Time passed like that.

Thud thud.

When a noise was heard on one side of the white sand beach, the guards who had been hiding emerged from the darkness. However, upon seeing a familiar face, they returned to their positions.

A man appeared in the rain and approached Jiwoo.

“Does it hold up well?”

“If you let go of the leftovers, you’ll only get one or two.”

Scout Squad 2 Captain Park Myeong-guk sat next to Ji-woo.

“If I may give you some advice, the leftovers are actually the tastiest.”

“Was it like that?”

This kind of comfortable, informal conversation that seemed meaningless at first glance was a privilege that only Jiwoo’s long-time comrades could enjoy in private.

“Now that I think about it, I guess I’ve become accustomed to the familiar taste.”

“Well, there are a lot of things for the big guys to eat.”

As Kim Myeong-seop stepped back and added firewood, the fire grew bigger.

“What about Usuri?”

“Now that the water monster has been eliminated, the rest is up to the security forces.”

“Thank you for your hard work. But who are they?”

“They looked like they came from Mongolia.”

“Tsk.”

The last war left a vacuum in public security that lasted nearly a year. Fortunately, the efforts of the existing Cheonho were able to maintain stability, but they were unable to prevent the emergence of the underworld.

Ussuri and Puhai, where northern wealth gathered, were good prey.

“Didn’t you say that they even reached out to Puhai?”

“With the boss gone, all expansion and all that stuff is for naught. Now the ball is in the court. The security forces have to get to work.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

The conversation seemed to end with a brief greeting.

Kim Myeong-seop lifted a small pot and began to clean the fish, but until then, Ji-woo still did not take her eyes off the water.

Thud thud.

Someone appeared with another sound of footsteps.

“Does it hold up well?”

“You all say the same thing. Do you not trust my skills?”

“What do you mean? Your Majesty is the person I trust most in the world.”

Contrary to what he said, Gukmin Seo’s gaze was turned towards Kim Myeong-seop and he handed him the basket he had brought.

“I brought some octopus and conch. Is the seasoning enough?”

“Of course, senior.”

“Okay.”

The rain that had been falling like fog gradually subsided.

The bonfire was roaring, the spicy stew was bubbling, and the waves came and went like music.

The flavor of warm soup on a chilly evening was just right.

“My back is warm and my stomach is full, so I naturally think of drinking.”

“Tch, no alcohol. Everyone will be busy starting tomorrow.”

Jiwoo filled Kookminseo’s empty glass.

Slurp.

“It feels a little better now that the car is in.”

“Someone once said that alcohol heats up the inside and tea cools it down.”

“What made your highness so hot?”

“Yeah, it was hot for a while.”

It seemed that the command had been informed of the fact that he had climbed the mountain since dawn. Jiwoo readily admitted it.

“Unifying the economy through currency is the cornerstone for unification. I also had communication with the King of Joseon. It’s not always smooth sailing, but I think it’s something that time will solve.”

“But why?”

“Why should we wait?”

“… … !”

“Despite the conquest of Seoto, the Mobile Brigade has preserved its strength. With the conscript population overflowing, the number of troops is increasing, and the stock of gunpowder is also increasing. Solbin is stronger than ever.”

The bonfire, with added firewood, burned brightly, sending up sparks.

“Isn’t it foolish to neglect this power?”

“Are you attacking Joseon?”

The sound of someone swallowing saliva was particularly loud.

“There is no change in our intention to annex Joseon peacefully. However, we will actively deal with any forces that interfere.”

“Are you talking about the mobile brigade?”

“You’re excited.”

“ah.”

“The mobile brigade will head to Iwami Silver Mine. We will occupy the mine by force and make it our direct territory. After that, we will secure a large amount of silver to support the monetary economy.”

It was an invasion that needed no explanation, but there was no question from the people.

“I will prepare mercenaries in Kyushu, where I belong.”

Jiwoo’s gaze turned to the side.

“Park Myeong-guk.”

“Command whatever you wish.”

“You should go to Joseon.”

“I will obey your orders.”

Park Myeong-guk saluted as if he had been waiting for it.

The one who broke the peace that everyone wanted was the one who wanted peace more than anyone else. Solbin’s night deepened.