As Prophet - Chapter 34



Only Krnovel

Episode 34. The Grand Army’s Mediation

“I may be asking for your safety, but I am also interested in Prince Dalcheon.”

Baek Ui-hyeong, who was about to say, “Please look after our spirit and let him confess his sins,” suddenly thought that the opposite could be true as the Grand Prince spoke. He remembered the Crown Prince shouting at Dal-cheon for being arrogant.

Dalcheon, as a mountain man, sees them as equals, as a representative of the mountain man. He had the spirit of a great warrior who did not cooperate with their regime and willingly went into the mountains to their exclusion. What if he thought differently? It would be impossible – but their lives are no different from a light in the wind. Dozens, no, hundreds, are meaningless in front of his inaction.

Nothing happens because they don’t really value worldly values, but if they were to cause trouble to seize power, Hanyangseong would fall very easily.

“Mother! Please stop saying such outrageous things. I think I said something wrong when I was young. Please be generous and forgive me.”

The Grand Prince’s head shook briefly from side to side.

“No, there was nothing wrong with it. There was just a power-hungry heir who couldn’t accept it. I would have rather told His Highness to be careful right then and there. It’s wrong to call him arrogant or stiff when you ask him questions and he doesn’t like the answers.”

“Your Majesty, I would like to confess my sin of not being able to teach you the courtesy and humility you deserve as a subordinate.”

The general closed his eyes.

“How about doing it this way?”

“I will listen.”

“I will finish this matter… … .”

“lowering.”

“Please arrange a relationship between me and Prince Dalcheon. He said he would kill me if I did something like this, but I don’t want to die saying things like this.”

“Do you think he would have said that? I don’t think so.”

“It’s not like it was described in words, it’s just the feeling and atmosphere. I want to try to make him cry, but he firmly tells me not to, and he shakes off the feeling that he’s going to kill me right away. What can people like us do?”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“I want Prince Dalcheon. I wish he were mine. I hope you can help me with that.”

The conversation is going around. If Baek Sa-ban says something like that here, things might go wrong again. Baek Ui-hyeong hits his head on the floor. He hits it so loudly that it makes a thud, and when he raises his head, the Grand Prince’s eyes are smiling.

“Speak.”

“Since the Grand Princess has said so, I cannot say it out loud, but that child is someone who must return to the mountains. He will not be involved in worldly affairs.”

“Unmanned, you say?”

“To be exact, he is a hermit. He practices virtue.”

“What is different?”

“A warrior protects his country with his martial arts, but a wise man aims for the top.”

“Dengseon… … Ahem, you are a Taoist.”

Maybe it makes sense. He’s completely different from the prince. Who would have called this guy a drunkard and a debaucher?

“Yes.”

“So don’t do it? Even though I want it so badly?”

“I don’t know if it would make sense to say that it’s a meat with thorns.”

“Good analogy. Thorn, thorn… … Ahem, good. Even if I have to get stabbed several times, if I want it this much, you guys will help me. After lunch, I’ll go to the palace and persuade my brother. Don’t worry about it.”

“I am so sorry, Mom.”

“Instead, let me release what’s restricted. I told you not to come to persuade him again. If you come, I’ll kill you.”

“Have you met him?”

The general shrugged his shoulders.

“They said that when they tried to do something to it because it was a drone they had never seen before, it stubbornly refused.”

“I am very grateful, Your Majesty. I will do my best.”

“Please.”

As the two bowed and went down the steps, the music grew louder again. Baek Sa-ban sighed in vain. It didn’t seem like it would work out.

Baek Ui-hyeong ran straight to his hometown in Yangju, met Dal-cheon, explained the situation, and asked for his cooperation. However, he did not say that he should not refuse the prince’s request. He said indirectly that he should not refuse his approach at all. Dal-cheon, who acknowledged that the incident started with his own words, agreed.

It was unpleasant, but it was also his own fault for being ignorant of the ways of the world. Dalcheon readily agreed.

The Grand Prince entered the Crown Prince’s Palace and told him that today’s incident was nothing and that it was just a thoughtless remark by a young boy, so he should not worry about it. He tried to talk to the ignorant people of the martial arts world, and he persuaded them that he should understand since he was a hero who suppressed the Japanese invasion.

The great army, having helped and obtained what was needed, headed towards Yanggeun with a triumphant smile.

* * *

Dalcheon, who heard the news of the war, could not help but respond to Baek Ui-hyeong’s request. He heard that Baek Sa-ban was in trouble and that it was because of the meeting with the crown prince. It was because of me…

“What can I do! You tried your best to avoid the Grand Prince, but you asked me not to stop you in exchange for covering things up. I’m sorry.”

Dalcheon smiled brightly.

“Don’t stop what’s coming, and don’t hold back what’s leaving.”

“Do you think that will work?”

“No, that won’t do. I’ve always been uncomfortable with the idea of ​​them arrogantly strutting around claiming to be in power. I’ll see how things go and, if necessary, correct things.”

Baek Ui-hyeong stopped Dal-cheon. He was very worried about how the young man would react.

“Absolutely no harm must be done to the Grand Prince.”

“If you do that, then you should do that. Everyone under the sky is the same. Why do I deserve special treatment? Do you think I would be treated the same way in the royal family? That’s ridiculous. I’m treated like a prince in my own home, but outside of the palace, I’m nothing.”

“The Grand Prince is an ambitious man. He hides his claws. You must be careful.”

“How bad must one be to do that? If the opportunity arises, wouldn’t one want to deal with the rivals and become king?”

Words still leak out easily. Even if others think so, they are careful not to say anything, but Dalcheon has no problem with it. It doesn’t seem to be just a childish slap in the face. He kept repeating his request.

“I know you make fun of the powers that be, but this is a different matter. I think I touched their sore spot. That’s why you said it was a special privilege?”

“I insisted that there were no exceptions.”

“Yeah, that might have been the problem.”

“I cannot accept it if you and I are not on the same level. It is pathetic to think that the power of a small country that was not even a hundred years old can do such a thing.”

“It may be temporary to you, but it is eternal to us who live beneath it.”

“Yodong and Yoseo, the forests to the north, are not in their minds. We are descendants of our ancestors. We have no intention of following the petty games of those who occupy less than half of our land and call themselves Daehan (大韓). If you don’t like it, then I can just leave.”

“Priest!”

“Fortunately, the bastard accepted the request of the old man Baek Sa-ban and suppressed the prince’s wrath, so I will only express my gratitude to that extent. I will take care of the rest.”

I had to be satisfied with the half-assed consent I heard from Dalcheon. He was very stubborn.

The next day, the prince came to visit Dalcheon at his home in Yangju. It was around the afternoon when Dalcheon had returned from studying in the mountains. The gatekeeper told him that the prince’s mother’s party was waiting for him.

“Where are you?”

“Because there was no suitable place to hold the ceremony, we guided him to the pavilion of the sponsor.”

“Well done.”

Dalcheon sighed and headed to the backyard. It was where Baek Yi-jeong had previously lived. He felt bad about entering a place without permission, but he bowed politely.

“I didn’t know you were coming, so I kept you waiting.”

“Oh, oh, we didn’t keep you waiting long. We didn’t have a prior engagement, so don’t be sorry. It was our fault for coming without prior notice.”

His attitude was completely different from when I saw him in Hanyang a few days ago. Every word he spoke was polite, and he didn’t try to bow, so he was full of dignity. I doubted if he was really the person the author called a troublemaker.

When I went up to the small pavilion where I had already been seated, there was a tea set on a small tray. It was obvious that the old man at the gate had put a lot of effort into it. Dalcheon explained it so that I wouldn’t be called shabby.

“Since the main house was moved to Hanyang, there would have been nothing suitable to serve guests.”

I feel sorry for saying this even though he didn’t ask, and the prince laughs angrily.

“I did not come here expecting hospitality. I was anxious to see Confucius, and I am very fortunate that he has granted me permission to meet him.”

“What’s the matter? Why did you come looking for revival?”

“It’s nothing else. I intend to visit the thatched cottage three times. Although I am lacking in many ways and am in a poor state in many ways, I have not given up on my intentions. I am truly amazed by the suggestions for military service that Confucius speaks of. I intend to save people widely whenever I have the chance, and dream of the next world.”

“I have already told you about revival.”

“I saw you speak to His Majesty the Crown Prince the other day. I knew that you were not an ordinary person as we think. I thought you were just a guest of a low-ranking official.

I regretted hearing that you are a good person in this land. It is not the kind of thing to ask for something like this. For now, I just hope to spend time with you and learn from you, and if the opportunity arises, I hope we can work together to achieve our goals.”

It’s a euphemism, but I understand what you mean. Do you really want to be close to me? No. It must be that my power is needed. If a politician needs power, you can tell what it is for without even looking. It’s a rebellion and a coup. All the words of those who have talked about the country and the people since ancient times are like that. If you replace the words country and the people with the words my power, it fits perfectly.

Dalcheon looked around the garden full of flowers with a lonely gaze. Flowers bloom even without people, and they grow lushly even without care. That is the human heart. Everyone is treated with such needs. I am no different. I foolishly live in the world thinking that I am the only one who can be different.

“Would you be satisfied if I went and cut down all of them?”

It’s a crazy statement. The object is omitted, but we know that it refers to the Grand Duke’s enemies, rivals, and perhaps even his own lord. It’s a case where what is left unsaid speaks louder than what is said.

“No. How can I ascend to the throne by force? I want to learn the wisdom of the wise, but I have only been drinking alcohol. And above all, I have never seen a warrior like Confucius. I think just being close to him would be of great help.

“Please let me see your face sometimes, and if you feel like I’m doing well while we’re together, I’ll ask you for your kind help when things get tough.”

He wasn’t the drunken rascal I’d heard rumors about. Dalcheon sighed and agreed.

“It has already been said that we should do so. I just hope that you do not wish to see any of the previous generations perform extraordinary feats, such as jumping up trees, catching birds, and dropping them.”

“Of course. How could I make such a request? Absolutely not.”

The conversation was somewhat finished. Dalcheon fanned himself with a fan to heat the charcoal fire, then set the kettle on. When the sound of boiling water was pleasantly heard in the quiet garden without people, he set it down next to him. After waiting for the water to cool down, he warmed the teapot and brewed tea separately. The prince took a deep breath at the lonely movement. Tea is the aesthetic of waiting. It is not something that is boiled vigorously and then brewed until it is completely dry.