As Prophet - Chapter 111



Only Krnovel

Episode 111. Now is the time to fight.

As the words “Shingong” and “Yak” came out, the eyes of Mukhyeong and Cheolmuwoong, who had finished eating and were waiting, slowly turned around. What he had not done for me, he did for Bulmokhani, who seemed insignificant. Wonju, who could not stand seeing him treated more harshly than the Grand Prince, came over and sat down across from him. Since Bulmokhani was often scolded, his grandfather flinched.

“Enjoy your meal!”

Dalcheon glared.

“Don’t pretend to be kind only when others are around.”

“Ahem, adventure! When did Soseung… … .”

“… … .”

“What is the new power and what is the medicine?”

It seems better to give to others than to give to me.

“It’s exercise for your health. And it’s medicine for clearing your mind. I hope you come to your senses now.”

“A wounded head never returns. The body made it that way because it was better for the person to forget and live. I guess it’s a kind of happiness.”

“Hmm, happiness. So you’re saying it’s a way to protect yourself.”

“I don’t know if it’s good for me to think about turning back.”

“Is that so? I don’t think so… … .”

Wonju let out a deep breath and stared blankly at the door leading outside. The threshold of the old temple and old restaurant was worn down to the point where it was level with the floor.

“Sometimes I think it would be better if that guy just threw it all away and stupidly forgot about it.”

“I remember you telling me to look right here, right now.”

“That’s what it says in the scriptures.”

“He told me not to be swayed and to let go of my feelings.”

“How wonderful it would be if we could live by the words of the sutras. I just memorize them out of habit. I thought it might be helpful to young jinn. That’s what I said at the time.”

Dalcheon nodded.

“No, are you saying that the monk simply taught me something that was very important to me?”

“No, if I had realized that, would I be acting like a scapegoat?”

“Heh heh, are you getting upset? Anyway, you helped me a lot. I really do.”

“No way.”

Wonju was puzzled by the news that the teachings of Buddhism had helped the Taoist. And when he was told about it, he was very young. Of course, he is still young now, but his reasoning was not yet mature. It is said that he learned the meaning of ‘Eungmu Soju (應無所住) Isaeng Gisim (而生其心)’* and received help at an age when he should have been more faithful to his instincts.

* Let go of your mind without dwelling on anything. A famous passage from the 16th chapter of the Diamond Sutra. It recommends that you let go of your mind without clinging to a section of the ever-changing flow as a fixed entity… … . The gist of the Diamond Sutra is that we should eliminate the image of self and use the wisdom thus created as a raft to quickly cross over to the other shore.

The word paramita means a vehicle. It is merely a tool to cross over to the other side of the peaceful hill, and it should be discarded after crossing over. And since one can cross over by other means, could it be that all good deeds are the same return?

A thick tendon twitched on the forehead of the monk Wonju.

“Just wait a moment. If the medicine works well, Grandpa might get better.”

“I don’t recommend it. It will be a painful experience for you, going back in time. It will be so hard and painful that it will destroy your memory and reason.”

“A lot of time has passed.”

The two people may be talking about themselves. Bulmokhani, who was eating her meal, looked at Wonju with her fresh eyes. Dalcheon lightly tapped Bulmokhani’s arm.

“If you’re done eating, you can leave. Don’t just put the bowl down. Be sure to wash it before putting it down.”

“Hehe. I wash my hair well. It’s just not good.”

“I saw you put it down quietly last time.”

“Once upon a time. When the little Jinn was even younger.”

“Anyway… … . Please go now.”

Looking at the prince, he had finished eating. Dalcheon asked Wonju.

“Please give me a room.”

“It’s a bit shabby, but I cleaned it up.”

“Even the military ones.”

“Of course.”

Wonju stared at Dalcheon.

“What about the true person?”

“I have my own house, so I should go up there.”

Wonju covered his mouth with his hand and spoke quietly.

“I’m a little nervous about serving guests. How about staying here and sleeping today?”

I am concerned about the protocol for the Grand Army.

“You don’t have to worry about it. Just know the location of the restaurant, the restroom, and the gold hall. Hahaha.”

The group got up. The sun set late in the evening. We sat comfortably in the yard as darkness fell. Not a single one of the monks was in sight. After eating, we prepared for our night study by walking or moving around nearby, but today was different. In a quiet evening, the mountain breeze blew and the sound of wind chimes spread out.

“Good. I want to just live in a place like this for a while.”

Dalcheon smiled bashfully at the absurd hope.

“How can that be? Your lust for power is seething.”

“No, I don’t. I feel a sense of mission, just as you said.”

“I guess it has an instrumental meaning.”

“no.”

“Hope is for the future, reality is for the present.”

He says what he has to say and moves on. He could have just said, “I guess so,” and moved on, but he turns it over like a stale ember and says no.

Wonju, who had confirmed that the room had been cleaned, came and explained each room. He also added that he had put in some fire because it was cold at night. Dalcheon saw the group go in and left the temple. I wonder if it was a good thing to have told them to rebel.

* * *

Two days later, rumors came that Baek Sa-ban had been dismissed. Bad news travels faster. Words like “disobedience” and “rebellion” were circulating. Since it was carried by a messenger, the details were unknown, but it was possible to assume that it was a case of disobeying the king’s order to bring Dalcheon.

Dalcheon despaired when he heard the news. He had found out about this person through Baek Ui-hyung, and Baek Ui-hyung had been mediating everything, but he was still a superior who had been working for a while. He told him not to criticize him if he made a mistake, but to understand, and that if he overreacted to something trivial, it was because he didn’t know how the world worked. He took care of his food and sleep every day because he was young. When he couldn’t take care of it himself, he would ask someone to check on him, like asking him what he ate for dinner that night.

He is a small but kind and honest man. He is someone who would never disobey a king’s order. I thought I knew the reason for the work. It must have been an order to bring Sanin Dalcheon. It is highly likely that he said that he would do it and that he could do it even if he pretended to do it, but he could not persuade Sanin and that it would not work. Even if his contribution to suppressing the Japanese invasion was high, was it useless? A merit is merit, and a fruit is a fruit?

It is very cowardly to involve someone who has nothing to do with our work. The methods used to exploit the weak points of the opponent are usually poor and narrow-minded. It is not that you will starve to death if you step down from your official position, but it must be a great shock to the Baek clan, which has not been able to produce an official for a long time.

Why did he disobey? What did he say to stop? No, how would he convey this to Baek Ui-hyeong? It is not easy to continue a relationship. It is the house that he depended on while studying the world. When Dal-cheon heard the news, a faint anger rose in his eyes.

It was rather strange that the news came so quickly. Did he deliberately hurry to spread the rumor? I felt half sorry and half angry. I wanted to run and check the situation. I don’t know how others would describe him, but he is a respectable scholar, a warm-hearted local official, and an honest official.

“Are you feeling complicated?”

Mukhyeong asked Dalcheon, who was wandering around the temple yard. He knew that he was being considerate, but it was no help. He didn’t answer and just sat there, so he gave a long explanation.

“For an official, resignation is not the end of the world. It is only temporary. You can return to office. Of course, it won’t be easy, but it doesn’t mean you have lost the qualifications to become an official. I will call you again.

The military system that he tried to reform is a difficult problem, but it is also an urgent matter. There was opposition from many people, but it is a problem that cannot be ignored. If a war breaks out, there will be no army to mobilize. If only soldiers receiving salaries can be mobilized, it will be only a few thousand. It will not exceed 5,000. What can we do? Military service has been changed to paying military taxes, and these military taxes are being used to make up for the lack of tax revenue. This is because the economic conditions that are maintaining the political system in Hanyang are very poor.

There are those who oppose, asking why such a thing should be done in a peaceful country. They may have made things difficult for him. It is only a guess, but without him, reforms will stop. This is an alternative thought up by someone who experienced the Japanese invasion. He will be reinstated in the near future. As you expected, you should not fall for the method of trying to harass the true person.”

“Oh! There are many people who can do it. I think we can just ask this person or that person.”

“Of course, but what Baek Sa-ban did in a short period of time was very special. He tried to persuade the bureaucracy, no, the entire yangban society. He brought up the most important issue of the yangban’s military service.”

This was the longest conversation we’ve had together so far. Dalcheon nodded.

“You’re right. I know that. But I’m still angry.”

“Does Jin-in get angry too?”

“They are the same people. In particular, their emotions are not different at all. In fact, they are more fiery in some ways. If you are the one being attacked, your heart will not be the same.”

“… … .”

“If it was aimed at me… … Well, if the things Your Majesty ordered were aimed at me, then I should do them accordingly.”

“What are you going to do?”

“He’s a guy with nothing but strength. What can I do?”

“Are you trying to sweep it away?”

“If necessary… … .”

Dalcheon headed toward Daeungjeon. The prince was not working and was enjoying praying. Since he was at the temple, and because Dalcheon told him to, he started praying in the main hall for two days.

He entered the temple and sat down quietly next to Dalcheon. The guards flinched, but did not stop him.

“Aren’t you going?”

A large creature sat cross-legged like a bear and then turned its head.

“He told me to pray.”

Dalcheon recalled his memories. He told me to go around the temples and pray so that I wouldn’t be fooled. I was easily fooled by the words that it was a miracle.

“If you did, then just pray until you become king?”

“Ahaha, I see.”

“Go. Go and tell me that you have received my promise to go, and gather strength. Gather the men who will protect Mama, and raise an army to fight the enemy. Do you see hundreds rushing at you? Are you going to dodge and hide, and continue to do so? Are you going to beg for my life, using women as shields? If there are even a few, organize them.”

“Are you telling me to train private soldiers?”

“Yes. I must fight the Crown Prince.”

“ah.”

“Hundreds of people attacked the Grand Army Mama, but there was no follow-up action. Are you asking me to just die? Or are you handing me over to the winner? I have no choice. At that time, I saw the two of you having a long conversation about the affair, so I thought it could be resolved through conversation. However, it seems not. Why does Your Majesty seek me out? Isn’t it because you already know that the winner will threaten Your Majesty?”

Hearing Dalcheon’s explanation, the prince felt as if his vision had brightened.

“I see. That’s how I should have understood it.”

“The response will vary depending on the definition of the matter. Now is the time to fight. They are not just assassinating. They are trying their best to kill the Grand Prince. You have to assume that they are mobilizing all their assets.”

“I understand.”

“After a little while, the attitude of pretending nothing happened will disappear.”

“You need help.”

Dalcheon smiled brightly.

“I won’t pretend not to know. And… … .”

Dalcheon stopped talking. Bulmokhani was standing in front of the main door through which monks came and went. Dalcheon turned around.

“mama!”

Outside the threshold, Bulmokhani bowed down. The prince turned around, and Dalcheon smiled sadly.