As Prophet - Chapter 22



Only Krnovel

Episode 22. The Great Prince

As expected, there was not a single person riding a horse in the neighborhood. Horses were rare, and most were managed by the state, so it was rare for individuals to ride horses. Donkeys were sometimes ridden, but horses were rarely ridden.

Dalcheon let out a sigh, and two more machines came running and stopped in front of Dalcheon. Dalcheon looked up and saw a man with a pale face, wearing expensive cloth and a hero’s hat tied tightly around his forehead.

“Who?”

Then Cheolmuwoong came close and shouted.

“Do you know who this person is and are you talking nonsense?”

“You must be saying that because you don’t know who it is. You didn’t reveal it yourself, and no one told you, so how could I know who it is?”

When Dalcheon speaks clearly and defiantly, the man on the horse snickers.

“Have you come to Geumwon by any chance?”

“I don’t even know where the money is.”

“Do you know why the country banned it?”

“I come from the countryside and don’t know the reason. I heard that there are places with expensive pine trees for building palaces, places where horses are raised, and hunting grounds for the palace, but I don’t know where they are.”

“Then, I don’t know if it went into the money or not.”

There was a hint of anger in his voice. When the guy got off his horse, Cheolmuung whispered to Dalcheon about the investigation. Although he spoke softly, Dalcheon heard it all. The guy’s forehead furrowed and he smiled slightly. Then he approached Dalcheon again.

“Did you by any chance achieve merit in this Imjin War?”

“It’s true that I participated in the war, but I didn’t make any significant contributions.”

“Is this the secret weapon of Baek Sa-ban’s army, Dalcheon?”

“exactly.”

Dalcheon’s answer was so harsh that Cheolmuwoong glared at him, but the young man waved his hand to stop him. And then the young man’s attitude changed.

“Oh ho ho! I’m so lucky to see the general who put down the Imjin War here.”

“… … .”

“A young general who mobilized 500 soldiers from a small county, crossed the southern wall, opened the southern gate, and led the battle to victory.”

“You flatter me.”

I didn’t know what to do with the uncomfortable face that was blushing, but the guy made a suggestion.

“I heard that it is lunchtime and I have to go to the restaurant where the diner is staying.”

“I’m hungry.”

“How about this? I would like to treat the hero of the suppression of the Imjin War to lunch. Would you like to come with me?”

Although the favor was clear, Dalcheon did not respond.

“I heard that Hanyang is a place where you can open your eyes and cut off your nose. And you must continue to search for the evildoers who invaded the Jinwon.”

“I think I found it, so that’s why.”

The guy was sure it was Dalcheon. Dalcheon made a secret bet to find out the guy’s background. There was nothing special about it. He wasn’t a deceased person who could sense his presence through his senses.

“I don’t want to accept the kindness of someone I don’t know without thinking.”

“I will forgive you for trespassing on the treasure, so let’s have lunch together. There is a guest house nearby that serves delicious noodles.”

“That makes it sound like you believe I’m intruding.”

“The Master said that he went this way. And there is no one else on horseback from this side besides you. I think that if it is the spirit of a warrior who suppressed the Japanese invasion, it is possible.”

Since Dalcheon did not respond, Cheolmuwoong became impatient.

“The crime of trespassing on the royal treasury is punishable by one hundred lashes. Please respond quickly.”

Dalcheon shook his head and asked.

“But who on earth is this person?”

“You are the great general, you rascal.”

Dalcheon realized only then that something was wrong. There was nothing he could do. He knelt on the ground and bowed his head.

“A lowly commoner has upset the great prince’s mind.”

“So you’re saying you’ll join us?”

“How could I refuse the request of the Grand Princess?”

The general looked back at Cheolmuwoong.

“Ahahaha, you should have done that a long time ago. Now, now, tell Prince Dalcheon what to say.”

“Loyalty.”

The Grand Prince rode his horse first, followed by Dalcheon. Those who appeared to be caretakers were actually palace guards. Their attire was somehow splendid…

As they were riding their horses, the prince stood head-on with Dalcheon.

“Isn’t that what came into Geumwon earlier?”

It was difficult. I couldn’t say yes or no even though he kept asking.

“If I say that I don’t know where the gold is, I don’t know whether I broke in or not, would that be an answer?”

“Oh, oh, that’s right.”

The problem seemed to be resolved since the Grand Prince laughed it off, but on the other hand, he was curious. The identity of the breath that had found him was neither the Grand Prince nor Cheolmu Woong. Then who could it be?

“Was there a deceased person there?”

“He said he had already noticed. That’s why he chased me.”

“Oh! May I ask who that deceased person is?”

“This is the master of this army.”

“Oh, yes.”

The things that were answered but not answered made it difficult to continue the conversation. It seemed like he didn’t want to tell me. He would just eat a meal and run away. No, but that’s also strange. What kind of a great general is this in a place where there’s no one?

“What happened to Geumwon?”

“Abba Mama sometimes goes hunting secretly.”

“Ah! Then what about that teacher?”

“I accompanied you today, but I had to return because something urgent came up.”

“Oh, yes.”

* * *

The prince was a lively person. When we sat down at the inn, he ordered drinks first and told me everything I was curious about without me even asking.

“It was the Master who found you. He said that there was a deceased person who was invisible but had an unusual presence. So he sent his men, but they couldn’t find him and returned. Then he said that he got on a horse and disappeared.”

“Oh, yes.”

“The Master emphasized that this person should never be missed, that he is a very important person. Since this place is forbidden, he ordered soldiers to be stationed at every road nearby and to investigate all those riding horses. In fact, how many people would ride horses in a rural area like this? Almost none.

Our Cheolmuung-gong discovered it and contacted us, and there was talk of the Imjin War and Gyeongsan-hyeon. I had read the detailed report that had been submitted not long ago, so I remembered it right away. The magistrate was a civil official, but he had achieved great things, and behind it were the hard work of his secret officers. And there was another story that had spread from the battlefield, the story of the young general. It was a story that sounded like a legend, so it was worthy of public attention. They said the young general was in Gyeongsan-hyeon!”

“Oh, yes.”

“I knew it the moment I saw you. You made excuses that you were not a sinner who had violated the ban. In fact, there are quite a few people who violate the ban.”

“Huh? Who is trespassing the ban?”

“The poor people are trying to make a living by slashing their farms. What can we do? Arrest them for trespassing and beat them with a hundred lashes! Why do we have a royal family? Isn’t it to make the people live well? That’s why the ban is only in name. There are people who have to eat and live even if they get beaten to death. What can we do? Is beating them with a hundred lashes really that much of a deal? Your case is special, but… .”

As the prince delayed speaking, Dalcheon asked out of curiosity.

“I don’t know if I went in without knowing.”

“The Master said so. It seems like you have found a good land.”

“Ah! In fact, it was a place where I could study well. The atmosphere was warm, the view was broad, and the Ansan landscape was cozy.”

“Ohhh, now I have a proper answer.”

It was after he had already had a few glasses of alcohol in his mouth. The side dish came out before the rice, and the pork was lightly boiled and soft. The prince, who had already drank the alcohol before the side dish came out, offered the side dish.

“Here, have a drink.”

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but I don’t drink alcohol. I’m still young and studying.”

“Ah! You’re not going to drink this good liquor? Oh my god!”

“I’m sorry. I don’t have the ability to drink to you, and I don’t deserve to.”

“What qualifications do you have to drink alcohol in this world? You just can’t drink it because you don’t have it. Hahaha.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Then, please eat something. Since you’re studying, you don’t eat meat, right?”

“That’s not true, but I am holding back.”

“Is that because of studying too?”

“yes.”

“How hard are you trying to study?”

“I intend to see what I start through to the end.”

“Oh my.”

A blue light flashed deep in the eyes of the prince who seemed to be drunk.

“Ugh, then what can I do? I have to wait for the noodles to come out.”

Was it a habit that they always had? The alcohol would come out first, then the side dishes, and then the food. You can just scoop up the alcohol from the liquor jug, and the side dishes are laid out in front of the kitchen like a display, so you can just bring them in a flat bowl.

He poured meat soup into a pot with rice and placed thinly sliced ​​meat on top a few times. The woman who brought three pots laughed heartily. It seemed like she had struck it rich today in this inn where not many people came and went.

“Nari, what should we do with the men outside?”

“Well, I’m working, so no alcohol, but please bring me some noodles with lots of boiled pork on them.”

“Yes, yes, I understand.”

That must be why. If there are about a dozen people eating noodles outside, the morning business will be quite good.

Dalcheon looked blankly down at the bowl of noodles in front of him.

“Come on, eat. I thought you said you had to hurry up because you were hungry… … .”

“It was an excuse to avoid the situation.”

“But it’s meal time.”

“I will eat after seeing what the Grand Princess eats.”

“me?”

The general pointed at himself with his fingertips as if he was drunk.

“I won’t eat! I don’t even have enough stomach to drink, so how can I put food in there? So don’t wait and eat.”

Dalcheon bowed his head. I don’t know who the Grand Prince is, but he is the king’s son. I don’t know if he is the crown prince or not, but he is the son with the right to the throne. I must be careful. After refusing several times, I looked to the side while picking up my spoon at the Grand Prince’s urging. Only then did Cheolmuwoong place his spoon on the earthenware bowl.

“But I’m curious. How come that meat is okay but this meat isn’t? Since they were caught in the same house, they must be from the same generation.”

Dalcheon’s face was strangely distorted. It makes sense.

“Oh, I just wanted to reduce the amount. It has no other meaning. I eat the soup with rice to eat the rice.”

“The monks say the opposite.”

“I have heard that the four judges have no choice but to take it in order to work in the world. Do not find fault with the inevitable flaws in other people’s beliefs.”

“Oh my! It seems like I have a connection to the Buddha. I feel like I’m being wrapped up in something.”

“If you live in the mountains, you can’t really say no. I think of them as neighbors.”

I had no idea where the food went, but it was going down slowly. The prince only drank alcohol and took a few bites of the boiled pork that was served as a side dish, but he didn’t even touch the soup. I thought it was because he lived in the palace and ate well.

“How is it? I played hide and seek all morning and found it with great difficulty. Do you want to come with me?”

It wasn’t a request to go somewhere. It was a request to help me with my work. What would a grand prince of the royal family do? A politician who needs no one is not a good person. Isn’t he trying to do something that can’t be done by force?

“You’re popular. I already have a commitment, so that’s difficult.”

“Oh, you have a prior engagement? Then, since you said you were Baek Sa-ban’s guest, you’ll help him.”

“Yes, and there is not much time left to stay in the summer.”

“Hagye (下界)… … That’s how you put it. It seems to mean that you stay in the upper world, up high, and we live with our feet firmly planted on this wretched land.”

“No, it’s not. It’s just that it’s not a high mountain.”