As Prophet - Chapter 32



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Episode 32. The Crown Prince and the Grand Prince

After a while, the general asked.

“I’m waiting for your thoughts on the matter. Could you answer honestly?”

“There must be a reason why a system is not working well, so the most urgent task is to correct the wrongdoings. First, the military must be secured, and once the military is secured, they must be trained. They must be armed and raised on horseback, and appropriate tactics must also be developed.

You ask such an obvious question, so I don’t know how to answer. I heard that in Hanyang, they are training in formation at a nearby ranch. Wouldn’t that be possible? If you make people from anywhere in the eight provinces of Korea serve in the military and train them, they won’t be in danger under any circumstances.”

“That’s right.”

When he said something obvious, he was met with a resounding acclamation, but that became a problem. Dalcheon thought he could continue speaking in response to the general’s resentment, so he continued to recite it.

“They do not respond to the summons because they have submitted their application for the Confucian Academy. They do not respond because they are students of the Hyanggyo. They do not respond because they are noblemen. They do not respond because they are slaves. So, are their lives worth dying for in war? I believe that everyone, without exception, should participate and give their all. This is because it is a matter of protecting the country.

Peace is not something that can be maintained through love. It can only be maintained if everyone exerts their utmost effort and does their best.”

“Oh my.”

Dalcheon doesn’t know that the obvious is causing trouble for the person in charge. He tells him to ask and answer, but when he answers, he looks troubled.

“I heard that the military power was strong during the Jeonjo period. Even if I died fighting the enemy, I didn’t have to worry about feeding my family. This was because my family was able to live off what they earned from military battles. I heard that their loyalty was strong in battle. I will leave aside the absurd incidents of a military officer turning the country upside down.

What about the families of those who died during the Imjin War? They will have to worry about their livelihood every day. If I die, my family will face great difficulties, so who would want to fight and risk their lives?

“We rewarded those who had meritorious deeds by rewarding them. Please take another look at what we did to the dead. Please examine whether we showed them that this is the extent to which they would be treated if they died fighting for their country. If they feel that their country will take care of them even if they die fighting, and that their families do not have to worry, then they will fight with their lives, right?”

“Adventure, adventure.”

Dalcheon’s words were excessive, so the two princes were speechless and could only cough dryly. Although he was a country bumpkin, he had some sense. Dalcheon realized belatedly that he was telling him to moderate his actions and stop, and he stepped back.

“So-saeng has seen and heard a lot, so he has been rambling without thinking. If he is reasonable, then employ him, but if not, punish him. He has little education and experience, so he does not know what he can say and what he cannot say.

Just for the example of the nobles, I heard that they were beheaded on the streets of Hanyang. I think differently. There should be no privileges. Unless they are truly founding fathers of the country, there should be no other privileges. There should be no exceptions. But you know that there are more exceptions.”

Dalcheon babbled again without thinking. He didn’t realize that he had touched the most sensitive part. He had a white face and he blurted out words that must have been serious. He asked and answered. Was it the fault of the person who asked or the person who answered? He was planning to leave Hanyang sometime today or tomorrow anyway, so he had nothing to be afraid of. He even thought that he was a prince, but he wasn’t a king.

The situation went as expected. The two people’s expressions quickly became distorted as they said whatever they wanted to say. The higher-ups secretly expect to hear what they want to hear. This is because their feelings come before their work.

Even though it was an answer that I could immediately recognize that many parts were wrong, these were things that I couldn’t change. These were issues that were a headache because I knew very well why it had to be that way. Maybe it’s easy to say because I don’t know the context. I was speechless at the quick-witted and chaotic* answer that clearly divided right from wrong.

* Kwaido Nanma (快刀亂麻): This expression means cutting through a tangled mess of hemp with one stroke of the sword, and refers to the act of quickly and clearly dealing with a tangled and complicated problem.

Of course, politics cannot be handled in that way. Social consensus is necessary, and it must be supported by public opinion. Of course, public opinion is not a process of agreement of the entire society, but rather a process centered around the yangban, especially those in government positions, but it is clearly a necessary process.

It was also because of this public opinion that the affairs of the country presided over by the king were not carried out by the arbitrary decision of one person, but were led through the agreement of the ministers. There was a history of severe distortions and divisions into factions and factions, but it was still minimal.

“It won’t work anyway… … Are you trying to say something?”

This time, it was not the Grand Prince but the Crown Prince. The expression on his face was not very good because it made us uncomfortable to hear it.

“I answered because you asked. It’s just the thoughts of a soldier who served in the army.”

“You asked and I answered… … How arrogant.”

A rattling sound was mixed in with the voice.

“If you want a humble answer, I will give you that.”

“How bold of you. Do you have a humble answer?”

“If you say so, I will refrain from answering from now on.”

Is it because the throne is now his? Let’s look at the case further. It is different from a great prince who has little to protect and preserve. It is true that circumstances make a person.

The prince looked around and spoke with a dumbfounded expression.

“Ugh! This feels like I’ve been hit hard.”

Was this something he said to Dalcheon? No. The answer was given by the Grand Prince.

“The conversation was a bit like that. When I tell him to speak, he speaks, and when I tell him to be polite, he says he will. He doesn’t have the experience to know how to behave on his own.”

The prince frowned, seeming offended by the argument.

“Are you taking my side just because I know you?”

“No. It is something that must be endured in order to obtain what is necessary. To be honest, I am a mountain man. I am neither a commoner nor an official under your command. I am a man who has never been exposed to the sun even on a cloudy day.”

“Oh my, in this land, whose bracken fern does it belong to!”

“Your Majesty! Calm down. You are a man of the world.”

The prince was about to say a scoundrel, but changed it to a person from the world of martial arts. The atmosphere is not good. I came out because I heard there was a place like this, and the crown prince showed interest and accompanied me. What did the crown prince want to gain? He might have wanted to gain one more official who would bow down.

Only the person who had prepared the place felt embarrassed by Kanggol’s bold answer. On the other hand, the prince was secretly delighted when he realized that the crown prince did not know the value of Dalcheon. However, he thought that it would not be good for the matter to escalate, so he quickly finished his speech.

“Your Majesty, I met with the main character of the last Japanese Invasion and heard good stories. It may be very natural, but I also realized that there is nothing we can do right now. Let’s end our meeting here and meet again at another time. It’s almost lunchtime. The troublemaker Soje of Hanyang knows a good place.”

“Oh, you know a lot. But there’s something about you that makes me feel uneasy.”

“I have heard the natural conclusion. Now that Your Majesty has ascended to the throne, you will be able to clearly determine the order of precedence and set things right.”

“I wonder… … .”

The two of them were doing nothing but nothing, but Dalcheon silently bowed his head, then stood up, stepped back, and bowed with the utmost courtesy. The prince added his congratulatory remarks.

“Thank you for your hard work today. As one of the royal relatives, I thank you for protecting Joseon.”

When the prince said that he had worked hard, Dalcheon stepped back and turned around. Before another word could be said, he escaped like the wind.

Since the crown prince was there, several officials did not return and waited, then asked Dalcheon.

“Are you done?”

“yes?”

That’s the sound, and you ask again.

“Have you found a seat?”

“Yes. He will be out soon. That’s all for me.”

From afar, Baek Sa-ban could be seen gathered with the crowd at the entrance of the General Affairs Office, but Dal-cheon quickly left the Samgunbu. After leaving the main gate of the Samgunbu, he took a deep breath and ran away as if he was running towards the bell tower.

* * *

I was worried that someone might follow me, so I went towards Pimatgil. There was no sign of someone following me, but I felt like I was being pulled behind by a rope. I didn’t like the sticky eyes that were demanding something from me while I was bragging about how much I was worth. I looked back a couple of times and then went into the alley before finally taking a deep breath.

‘What a bunch of insignificant people trying to show off! They think that being a prince makes them more valuable.’

I erased the pressure I felt from their clumsy attitude by using the logic used to devalue people who don’t study. I felt bad. The word “unapproachable” came to mind.

I was trying to hurry back home, but I got lost. It was because I took a side road. I entered Jonggak and turned right toward Unjongga, but I didn’t get to the main road. I got lost. Why were there so many people? The alley was a sea of ​​white clothes.

I asked around and came back to Unjongga, but I couldn’t tell how far I was from Jonggak. That house was the same house, and this place was the same, but with thousands of white people crowding around, I couldn’t tell east, west, south, or north. I tried to walk without bumping into people, but I didn’t know the way, and when I tried to find the way, I bumped into people. It was harder than the time I spent waking up and answering difficult questions.

“Oh, no, that won’t do. Let’s just go to Yangju.”

Dalcheon followed Unjongga and passed Dongdaemun. The gatekeeper of Heunginjimun playfully stopped him because he looked so clumsy.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to Yangju.”

“Let me see the badge.”

“I haven’t received my badge yet.”

“What is that black thing, little boy?”

“It is a weapon necessary for self-defense.”

Dalcheon is giving a rough answer, but I don’t think he’ll let me go easily. He doesn’t have a badge and he’s carrying a sword, so I think he can be a problem. If he can be a problem, it’s a common characteristic of those who carry out public duties to become stronger without reason.

“I am the guest of the old man Baek Sa-ban of the Ministry of War.”

“Whose guest are we sending? We don’t know him.”

“I have come to report the results of the last Imjin War. I will stop by the Samgunbu to report the progress to the higher-ups and then return.”

“What can’t be done with words?”

Talking about Baek Sa-ban was useless. In Hanyang, where there were countless officials, a single person in the Ministry of War was truly worthless. The three or four colleagues standing behind him were giggling. There was no tension, and they seemed to be enjoying the sight of them playing.

“Are you really holding me back because there’s a problem? Others just pass by.”

“Others have badges and don’t even carry swords.”

“This is a public demonstration. He is armed with a sword and is young, so he does not have a badge.”

Dalcheon resisted strongly and overwhelmed the water gate guard with his energy. As he released the energy he had been holding back, a cutting aura leaked out. The startled guard retreated in a flash. It was like sitting next to a wild tiger roaring.

“Sorry, please pass through quickly.”

As the water gate guard, who had been speaking informally and sarcastically, quickly gave way, Dalcheon quickly escaped under the Hongye in Dongdaemun. After a while, the water gate guard, who had been scolded by Dalcheon, sat down, and his pants were wet.

Anything that gets in the way is unpleasant. If you are the next king, you are not a good person. So I said whatever I wanted to say. In the end, it meant that if you do things right, there will be no danger. Anyone can say that, but it is a problem that the people in that group can never solve.

It’s because no one understood what I said properly, but if you take issue with the things I said in a way that belittles them, it could come back to haunt you personally and cause you great difficulties.

They can be a problem because they are narrow-minded. I have heard about the narrow-mindedness of Confucian scholars more than once or twice. Since they are small-minded people, they think that the world they live in is the world they eat and live in, and they very exclusively push away anything else. They are the kind of people who would cut their necks if the answer they get is different from what they want. If we want to hear the answer we want, why don’t we just answer it ourselves? The conversation I had with these people, who are like their leaders, was quite unpleasant.

He had to go back quickly. There was no need to hang around in a place like this. Although it took some time because he was silent, Dalcheon hurried his steps to Yangju’s house.