As Prophet - Chapter 54



Only Krnovel

Episode 54. Dojeong Lee Ki-moon

The distant scenery is far from reality. Even if it breaks and collapses, it is someone else’s problem. It looks peaceful because it does not interfere with my daily life. Even big movements look small, and the gathering and dispersing of people is unrealistic, like looking at ants underfoot.

But at some point, a guy got on his horse and shot an arrow while running. He shot while running fast and hit every shot. He shot six or seven times and the way he put the arrows on the string was as accurate as some kind of machine. When all six shots hit the target, he put the bow away and took out his spear. Looking far ahead, the wide area in front of him reflected the afternoon sunlight and looked like a moon or a pole.

“ha.”

A clear, clear voice was heard, and the changgeuk turned like a windmill. The changgeuk, which turned faster than a running horse, swung around, and in an instant, the heads of about ten straw dolls flew away. They were not torn down or crushed, but the severed heads rose into the sky as if they were flying away.

It was amazing martial arts. Training center Dojeong Lee Ki-moon suddenly stood up. Not even realizing that the chair he was sitting on was falling backwards, he stuttered and walked forward. With his face forward and his two hands hanging down, he looked like a monkey, and in that vain manner, he crossed the main hall and went all the way to the end of the floor.

As he turned his horse’s head and came out, he struck the head of the fallen straw doll as if he was hitting it, and ran towards the group.

“ha.”

Again, a clear and clean shout was heard, and then the guy grabbed the horse’s head and jumped down. It was a ghostly horsemanship. The quick and concise movements were visible even from a distance. He smiled brightly, revealing his white teeth.

Training center leader Lee Gi-moon gave orders to the five men guarding one side of the main hall.

“Who are those guys!”

“I don’t know.”

“Bring me here! No, I will go. Follow me!”

“Loyalty.”

Lee Ki-moon crossed the training ground in front of the training center. He quickly passed Yeonjaru (燕子樓)* on the east side of Daecheong and headed to the shooting range**.

* Yeonjaru (燕子樓): An auxiliary pavilion to the east of Daecheong.

**Archery: A place for archery practice and testing.

“Who are they?”

He hesitated while asking questions while walking. It is difficult when a superior asks something you do not know well. Saying you do not know is not an answer. You can go and ask, but you cannot wait until then and harass your subordinate. You have to answer something. Even if you do not know the person’s name, hometown, age, or place of work, you can look around.

“I came in just now. I don’t know who they are, but they seem to be doing something in the training ground. The guards were guiding me, so I didn’t pay attention.”

“I see. You’re the water gate captain.”

“When I use the training ground, I don’t necessarily report it.”

“Do they… … look like soldiers?”

Oh Jang swallowed hard. They were not soldiers. They were in civilian clothes and there were even women.

As Dojeong approached, the water gate guard became tense. He was someone I had never seen before. There was no overlap in work and there was nothing to report.

“What’s going on?”

When Dojeong asked, the water gate guard bowed politely.

“Loyalty! Your Majesty! I was guiding you through the training facility at the request of the Baek Sa-ban of the Ministry of War.”

“You said that Baek Yeong-gang requested it?”

The water gate guard respectfully raised the letter he was holding with both hands. Before Dojeong received the document and read it, he looked over the group. Looking closely, no one seemed ordinary. Only one person wearing a robe felt like water like us.

“Who are you?”

I was wearing a long coat so he asked me first.

“Loyalty! This is Yang Joo-hyun’s secret weapon, Jin Dong-hee.”

“What is this place?”

Jin Dong-hee looked at Dal-cheon’s expression. It seemed like he shouldn’t say that he came to check the examination room in advance. Dal-cheon nodded. It would be impolite for me to answer when he asks me a question. I was the leader of this group, but I knew that and still asked Jin Dong-hee.

Baek Ui-hyeong was extremely nervous from the moment he found out that he was a training center student. If he had been criticized for trying to sneak a peek into the past examination room, it could have been a problem. It may not have been a big deal to stop by, but there are a lot of petty people in the world. Taking care of things that don’t need to be done is not about doing a good job, but about avoiding the blind anger of petty people.

“I go to the military academy in Yangju.”

“military officer?”

“Yes. Just as in literature, there are seodang and hagdang, in martial arts, there are gwanmu. Young students and those preparing for the military service examination were studying, and the governor said that he wanted to go to the training center, so I went with him.”

When he pointed to Dalcheon with his hand while saying the word “Gwanju,” Dojeong turned around. It was a politely written request from Baek Sa-ban. It was not an order. To be exact, it should be seen as a personal request.

“They say that Yangju Military Academy is training talents who will become the driving force of this country?”

Dalcheon smiled brightly as he repeated the contents of the letter.

“I hope so. This is the Lord of the Unified Korea, Dalcheon.”

“What is your last name?”

“I don’t have a surname because my village collapsed when I was young and my family all died.”

“Oh, has anything like that happened recently? There haven’t been any disasters recently.”

“It was an unknown disaster. I went there as I got older, but I couldn’t find any trace of it.”

“Ahem. What is your relationship with Baek Sa-ban?”

Dalcheon felt awkward introducing himself, but explained it as it was.

“I served as a secret officer when the king was serving as the magistrate of Gyeongsan.”

Dalcheon pointed to Baek Ui-hyeong and introduced the group one by one.

“We worked together as a secret agent, and as a result of the great man’s descent, he is a meritorious subject during the Imjin War. This is the great man’s daughter. We are practicing martial arts together. Jin Dong-hee from the Yangju government office is preparing for this special examination. Cheol Mu-woong held a high position in the royal army, and we are studying together now. And privately, Mukhyeong, an acquaintance of the Grand Prince, is studying with us and teaching young children. I am related to the relatives of the two people who are directly related, and I worked under them, and the three are students of our school.”

Lee Gi-moon nodded. He paused at the part about him being a meritorious subject during the Imjin War.

“Yeah, you came to inspect the testing room before the last test.”

“Hmm. I wanted to improve the facilities of the school. I want to make the distance between the four schools, the location of the pursuit, etc. into a training center that serves as the best unmanned educational institution.”

“Oh! Don’t you think it’s unfair? Other people take the test in a place they’ve never seen before, and you come here once and make the same thing and take the test.”

“We are trying to train unmanned soldiers to protect this country.”

“You?”

Lee Ki-moon pointed out that Dal-cheon was young.

“If you are talking about the qualifications for revival, then of course it is lacking, but as far as past examinations are concerned, I think it is not lacking.”

“I don’t think you’ve answered the question of unfairness.”

“It is unfair to leak the test papers, but I don’t think it is unfair to allow people to skillfully handle swords, spears, and bows.”

“I was thinking of protesting to my old man, Baek Sa-ban.”

“I don’t think it’s right to protest to someone who has shown consideration for So-saeng by saying that it’s okay to talk to him. I think it’s okay to ask for an introduction and convenience. If there was something wrong with our tour of the training center, I hope you punish So-saeng.”

Lee Gi-moon’s eyes scanned the group. Not only this guy named Gwan-ju, but the others were also unusual. Where did they gather these people? What he felt from them was a strong fighting spirit.

The silent form that made it seem like it would be cut if done wrong was like that, and the calm but aura of the official that seemed like it could come out like a storm at any time was like that. The hero of the Imjin War seemed like a seasoned warrior with years of experience, and the woman was slender and nimble, but she had the air of being ready to draw her sword at any moment.

“Ahahaha! Now that the Lord has said so, I will stop. This kind of thing doesn’t happen often. Well, ordinary people rarely come here. And since it is a request from the Lord Baek Sa-ban, how could I refuse? If I were to show the wrong impression to the high-ranking official in the Ministry of War, my ordinary official life could become difficult. Ahahaha! I was worried that you might be a scoundrel with sinister intentions, but how could I say anything else to such bright and upright people? Since you are the guest of the Lord Baek Sa-ban, I will treat you with courtesy. Now, shall we go over there for a moment? I am old and it is difficult for me to even walk all the way here. I would like to sit down and chat some more, but… … .”

Dalcheon looked back at Baek Ui-hyeong. Although I am the head of the government, it is right to ask for advice from Baek Ui-hyeong, who has been with me for a long time.

“How could I refuse when His Majesty the King speaks so kindly? I hope this will not be a bother or annoyance to someone who is busy with official duties.”

If Dalcheon’s words have a sharp dividing line, Baek Ui-hyeong’s words have a softness that considers each other’s circumstances. Isn’t it saying that you should keep it short because you must be busy too?

“Ahahaha! I am so happy to meet you, my young heroes. I will guide you over there. Will you follow me?”

Lee Ki-moon headed to the annex building, Bokya-cheong. He slowed down and followed Dal-cheon. It was hard to believe that the young boy was a Kwan-ju, but the light and simple way he swung his spear was not ordinary.

“Your Majesty, are you a master of martial arts?”

“I am studying hard.”

“Then, Your Majesty, will you also apply for the military service examination?”

Dalcheon shook his head.

“No. I am not interested in worldly status and fame.”

“Oh ho ho. To think that you would say no so easily to something that everyone in the world wishes for… … .”

“Wouldn’t it be a better society if there were people like this?”

“Oh my, you are really very eloquent. I can’t say a single word rashly.”

“I’m sorry. I’m still nervous.”

“I have no other intentions. I just want to chat with the guests who come to the training center and show my respect. I have no other intentions.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

The group went up to Bokya Hall. The government servant brought tea, as if he had been waiting in advance. The atmosphere relaxed as he put the kettle on the charcoal fire and started boiling it. However, Baek Ui-hyeong still did not let his guard down. He knows very well that there are quite a few people in the relationship who suddenly change their minds. There are people who make a big deal out of nothing and make a fuss by bringing up various laws. If even the smallest thing goes wrong, they act like kings. They think that is okay and that is what governing is. They do that because they do not know that the moment a government official thinks of the word governing, it goes wrong.

When Dojeong sat down at the head seat and six others took their seats, Dojeong sent out the water gate guard.

“Well, well, we have unusual people visiting us. I, Do-jeong, who is in charge of the training center, am worried about how to turn things around for the better today.”

“I will listen.”

“You are the governor, and you are dedicated to training the military personnel of this country.”

“It’s not enough, but I teach with that kind of hope.”

“But think about it carefully. That’s what training camps are supposed to do.”

What are you trying to say? Dalcheon nodded.

“Yes.”

“Don’t you think it’s a waste to do the same thing separately?”

“Well, it’s the same thing, but the target seems a little different.”

“What’s the difference? It’s about nurturing military leaders for this country.”

“Well, the training center is not open to the general public. We, who came in with a letter, have to be careful. The training center’s target audience is government officials, soldiers, and officers. On the other hand, those who study at our Yangju Academy are general public who want to become government officials and soldiers.”

The corners of the old man’s eyes curved gently.

“I see. It’s so different.”