As Prophet - Chapter 31



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Episode 31. The March of Meaningless Greed

The Grand Prince asked a little coldly.

“Are you saying that since you don’t owe anything to the country, you will refuse the order to work for the country?”

“I don’t think that working in government is for the good of the country. I know that many government officials work to maintain their positions and get promoted. What can Sosaeng do in an organization composed of people who will do anything to keep their positions?”

The crowd was in an uproar at the excessive language. Words like, “How can there be such an arrogant person?”, “This is too much”, and “To criticize everyone is making a mockery of us” were mixed in the uproar. The general struck the table in front of him with his palm, putting an end to the uproar.

“You are underestimating them. The loyal and honest officials are working hard for the people, but you are exaggerating.”

“It may be that So-saeng’s eyes are dark and he cannot see properly, and it may be a fact limited to work, but few people would dare to say no.

Why do we have factions? Is it to make the people comfortable? I know that they are a group that wants to realize our political will, but isn’t it more so that I can maintain my position in the process? If I can break the party in the process, I can take their position and have a chance to get promoted?”

The faces of those who were thought to be young and inexperienced and thus clumsy in their thinking turned ashen. Although they were young and inexperienced, their thoughts were clear, and in a way, they were accurately pointing out the underside of Hanyang’s bureaucracy. There were even people who said that a young guy with such absurd thoughts should be punished.

What was most absurd was that now was not the time to say that. With words that came out of nowhere, the things that had been explained so well up until now were turned into crap.

The general asked again.

“You have the ball, but no reward. What do you think?”

“When discussing merits and demerits, I declined all the comments, saying that I am too young to accept them yet. Therefore, I ask that you also bury my wrongdoings in this place where your majesty is present.”

“Are you considering the riches of the world to be vain?”

“Yes. I think it is a march of meaningless greed. I don’t know if my thoughts are right or wrong, but I am only answering your question, so I hope you won’t be too hostile.”

Only then did the crowd take a step back as they felt that the guy was sulking. Only then did Dalcheon, who looked around, belatedly discover that Baek Sa-ban was trembling. What is normal for me may not be normal for others. Feeling sorry and ashamed for no reason, he bowed deeply to Baek Sa-ban in front of everyone.

“I dare not interrupt, but since the questions seem to be almost over, I have one last thing to say. So-saeng worked as a secret agent for Baek Hyeon-ryeong Na-ri in Gyeongsan-hyeon, but what I have just said is So-saeng’s thoughts and has nothing to do with Hyeon-ryeong Na-ri’s will. Please do not think of it as a connection.

Also, I realized too late that there are serious differences of opinion with you all here. If we cannot work together, then I will just leave. I will leave Hanyang at the same time as I leave this place, so that I will not stand in an uncomfortable position before you all.”

Dalcheon stood up and bowed deeply toward the front. No one answered. He said he was finished and was leaving.

The general asked sideways.

“Your Majesty! What do you think?”

The prince, who had not said a word, clicked his tongue.

“He is a great talent and a driving force for the country, but it is truly regrettable that he is thinking like that.”

“My younger brother met him a while ago and wanted to make him his man, but he refused even if I offered him ten million gold.”

Dalcheon blinked. This is the guy. This is the guy who acted as Mukhyeong’s teacher. This is the guy who said something about the Four Princes and the Grand Prince. This guy was behind him.

“Did something like that happen?”

“If it were the most powerful force on earth, anyone would want to get their hands on it.”

Dalcheon thought. The part about Soje in the Grand Prince’s words bothered him. He is the Crown Prince’s younger brother. But he dreams of becoming a king and recruits a warrior… … He acts like a good brother in front of his older brother, but then turns around and recruits a warrior?

While Dalcheon was thinking to himself, the prince ended up speaking to the crown prince.

“I say this with the hope that I will not belong to anyone. I think it would be acceptable for you to let me return home as the merchant wishes.”

Dalcheon still hadn’t raised his head. The prince opened his mouth toward Dalcheon.

“I sincerely appreciate your achievements. However, I cannot hide my embarrassment because I think we have very different opinions. I do not mean to nitpick, but if the saying that we have never received sunlight on a cloudy day is the thought of all mountain people like you, then I am truly embarrassed. Mountain people have fought in wars and defended their country since ancient times. Of course, I understand that they could not come out into the world in a country where Confucian scholars who studied Neo-Confucianism were in power, but as someone who has set foot on the same land as you, I think this is something to think about again. Of course, I do not mean that you should accept the position of a military officer and work while bowing to their arrogant tyranny.”

Perhaps the Crown Prince’s words were excessive. He could sense the silent commotion among the high-ranking officials. The Crown Prince looked around for a moment and continued speaking.

“I heard that a society that excludes some is not good. We should embrace them all, but it has become difficult in the name of officialdom. However, we should be grateful to you who fought for the country. We should acknowledge that thoughts may differ. There is clearly a history of forcing my thoughts and suppressing them with force and authority. As the crown prince of Joseon, I would like to reflect on the history of discriminating against you and express my sincere regret.

The saying that even the sun has never been seen on a cloudy day really hit home. Politics is really difficult, even if you try to do it well. Thanks to the efforts of our great ancestors, we have achieved a hundred years of peace. I absolutely do not think this will last forever.

The situation in the North is very chaotic right now. Many races that have risen and disappeared are moving very dynamically. We must prepare for the era that will come. I would like to have the opportunity to hear about how we should change. I would like to thank you again and conclude this meeting.”

Good words. The prince might be a good person. Dalcheon raised his head and stepped back to escape. Even though the prince had finished, the officials’ uncomfortable stares flew in like arrows and stuck in his face.

What sin did I commit that I have to bow down and step back like this? Because this is their world. I conform to their manners. I conform to the manners of the power they have seized.

I came out to the door and turned around to leave. My face felt hot as I turned around, thinking that I had been talking nonsense. It seems that I have not studied the world well.

* * *

Dalcheon, who had just left the main office, was crossing the wide yard when people dressed like shamans in splendid attire blocked his path.

“This is Choi In-cheol of the Crown Prince’s Guard.”

“Why? It’s over.”

“I was deeply impressed.”

“why?”

“Your Highness, I would like to meet you briefly.”

“Oh. I saw you earlier, why?”

“I will guide you.”

Cheollik’s pleated skirt flutters in the wind. The brilliant five colors engraved on the hem are truly beautiful. I expected that she would not stay still since she had shown her ability. And then she called her aside. Is this their way?

“This way.”

The group surrounding Dalcheon led them to the back garden of the Samgunbu. They went to a small pavilion, and after a while, the crown prince and his party came out. The grand prince also accompanied them.

The two princes sat down first, and then Dalcheon sat down, so the prince, who seemed like a nice person, offered them a seat.

“You too, sir, please sit down.”

“thank you.”

When the prince turned his head, a eunuch carrying a thin sword bowed down.

“Please offer some refreshments and tea.”

“yes.”

Not only the eunuchs, but also the court ladies who were wearing the palace guards were standing behind. Dalcheon looked down at the table below where the two people were sitting without saying a word. They were sitting still as if they were practicing breathing, without moving at all. The people sitting in front of them seemed to be completely oblivious to him, and the prince coughed in vain, perhaps because he was uncomfortable with only looking at the table.

“I am one of the five commanders of the Five Commanderies. I did not break my promise not to interfere.”

When the Grand Prince spoke as if he had known, the Crown Prince turned around and asked.

“Wasn’t this our first meeting?”

“We met once before, Your Majesty.”

“Oh, how?”

“Because I was concerned about Your Majesty’s mood, I couldn’t go to the nearby hunting grounds, so I went to the Geumwon in Yanggeun, far away. I saw you briefly then.”

“Oh, I see.”

Have you seen it? I wasn’t really interested in whether they were true or not. I was just curious about the intentions of those who twisted the facts.

The prince, curious about what the two did when they met before, asked again.

“Yeah, we wouldn’t have met and hunted… … How?”

The question was casual, but the content was sharp. The prince answered without hesitation.

“I thought you were an outstanding warrior, so I asked you to become my man, but you refused.”

At the word “rejection,” the prince sighed and smiled faintly.

“Then would it be the same if I asked?”

“It won’t be any different, Your Majesty.”

Dalcheon turned his head and looked the other way as he was talking to the person in front of him as if they were his brother and sister. He thought that if Baek Elder or Sa-hyeong were there, they would be helpful in this situation. In reality, even if they were there, they would be useless. In their world, they are just low-ranking officials. They are not even qualified to say a word.

“What are you looking at? You’re not waiting for tea and refreshments to arrive, are you?”

“I looked around to see if there were any elders.”

“why?”

“I am very embarrassed because I don’t know what to do in a place where high-ranking officials are present. I wish one of you could be of help. I am not used to the ways of the world.”

The two of them burst into laughter as they spoke while saying that it was difficult.

“It’s going to be difficult.”

“I’m worried that I might be rude because I don’t know the etiquette.”

Perhaps he thought he had finally gotten the right answer. The prince smiled brightly. His straight forehead was white.

“Even if we don’t know much, would we ask the etiquette of this world for a person who has left the world?”

“I’m sorry.”

The general shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, well, what Your Majesty wants to hear is about our military. I have learned a lot from this incident.

There are more than one or two places where the military government has collapsed, and they need to recover somehow, but everyone is only paying their military service and not responding to the draft. That is why the mobilization of 500 people from Gyeongsan County is a very important part.

Since they have paid their military service and fulfilled their duty, they do not have to be drafted. The government, which does not even have enough tax grain to pay their salaries, can be said to have been able to breathe a sigh of relief by giving them salaries. In the end, even if war breaks out, there will be almost no soldiers to mobilize. What should we do?”

Dalcheon also knows the reason. If he only receives 10% of the people’s taxes, it is bound to be insufficient. The lack of taxes to maintain the bureaucracy was also the founding ideology of the country, which was to reduce the burden on the people. This is something that has never happened before.

This is in contrast to the nobles of the previous dynasty who were busy filling their own stomachs and did not care about the lives of the people who were practically slaves. That is why it is a good country where no one starves anywhere in the eight provinces. If even one person starved to death, the local magistrate was cut off, and most of the ten things the king commanded the magistrate who was going to be a local government official were to try to help the people’s lives.

A country like that… … . Even though it’s a little lacking, isn’t it so good?

Dalcheon bowed his head silently.

“What should I do?”

Since Dalcheon was asking questions, the two princes looked at each other and were speechless.