As Prophet - Chapter 75



Only Krnovel

Episode 75. The Equation of Desire and Its Satisfaction

“It’s a minor matter, but there is an entrance exam.”

“Is there a test?”

“There are a few things I want to see, and if it’s not too much trouble, I’ll teach your son.”

At the word test, Yudamnyeon made a difficult expression.

“It’s very lacking… … .”

In every house, there are bound to be some who are lacking. The difference in degree is considered to be a big difference because they can’t live the same way as their other siblings. Sometimes it’s because of excessive love, sometimes it’s because they have too much money and their children are doing bad things. Sometimes it’s because of discrimination against illegitimate children, and sometimes it’s because they’re not good enough. Dalcheon laughed as he thought about the various cases that came to mind.

“I’ll take a look first. Could you send it to me tomorrow?”

“Thank you! Please, if possible. Even if I don’t pass the military service examination, I would really appreciate it if you could keep me here.”

As soon as Yu Dam-nyeon’s request ended, Yu Sun-jeong, who was his general, made a similar request. It seemed that he would not be able to pass the civil service examination, so his father wanted to have him change to the military service examination so that he could live the life of a government official.

Suddenly Dalcheon’s expression darkened. Why would he want to turn those worthless people into military officers? No, he even knows the answer. In this land, the military officers and the military officers are looked down upon. They say that protecting the country is the most important, but they look down on the military officers. It’s because of the long peace. The Japanese pirates’ activities were limited to certain areas, but now Liaodong is like a boiling furnace. It’s an unstable peace that could explode at any moment. While the Ming army took control of Liaodong by force and was wary of the distant steppes, the locals were growing in power by taking advantage of the Joseon and Ming countries.

‘It won’t last long… … . It can’t go on like this.’

Culture and customs are not the problem of one person. First, there may be bias in the government, but ultimately, there is a problem with the knowledge that leads it. They discriminate between civil and military, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. They have forgotten the history of their ancestors who said that they were all important pillars that formed the nation.

The philosophy created by the Confucian scholars of the weak Song Dynasty, which was defeated by the Liao Dynasty and then destroyed by the Jin Dynasty, was used as is, but since the countries and conditions are different, it cannot fit well. Those who are good at seeing only the shortcomings of others have denied, attacked, and discriminated against cultures, beliefs, and belief systems that are different from ours. A belief system that can only stand through such discrimination is not justified and cannot be self-contained. If there is someone who has to curse someone to live, what is shameful about that?

Coexistence is possible and becomes strength when we first acknowledge and try to understand the differences, but we have created our own kingdom by hitting and eliminating others. It is a pity.

It is difficult to persuade them, since they are frogs in a well. They believe that what is happening in Liaodong now has nothing to do with them and turn a blind eye. The Jurchen chieftains whom they have pursued countless times since the beginning of the country hardly come, but they think nothing is wrong. They have received the Ming title and are taking necessary goods through border trade to grow their clan and increase their power, but they are sitting there pretending that it has nothing to do with them, that it is the work of barbarians.

These are not the people who would get along if I said something like that. Dalcheon leaned on the floor with one fingertip and bowed lightly.

“If you leave it to me, I will do my best.”

The two people laughed heartily and praised Dalcheon’s decision. Yu Sun-jeong slapped her knee in delight.

“That’s right! Thank you. Who protects the country? As you said, we need capable military officers and generals. I realized this during the recent Japanese invasion. I’ve already had three people pass the military service examination, so I wonder how many more will pass in the next exam.”

“Please send them both tomorrow. I will evaluate them according to the procedure and let you know whether or not they are acceptable.”

“Well, evaluation… … what should I watch out for?”

“The most important thing is character, and the next is character. If a person who is not a good person has great power, it can flow into evil. And it starts with strength and develops into skill. You have to look at strength and constitution.”

“Yes. Of course, it’s unmanned… … .”

Dalcheon looked away as if he was looking at the feast in the yard below and continued speaking.

“There are three processes.”

Yoo Dam-nyeon expressed interest.

“Oh! Aren’t you going to gather them all together and do the same thing?”

“We repeat doing it together and dividing it. One is for those preparing for the military service examination. The second is for children. It is good to learn martial arts when you are young.”

“What’s the third?”

“They are people who learn martial arts purely. They use martial arts as a means of seeking enlightenment.”

“Oh! There are people like that?”

“You didn’t see me earlier. The Great King, the fallen warrior named Mukhyeong, and Baek Sa-ban’s young lady, Baek I-jeong. These three people are currently studying pure martial arts.”

The room was abuzz. Grand Marquis… … It seemed as if Baek Sa-ban had not said anything.

“Your Majesty the Grand Duke?”

“Yes. He came out from the very beginning. He will come back in a little while.”

“Oh, dear. I guess I should take this opportunity to say hello.”

There was no way the three of them were unaware of the assassination of the Crown Prince’s confidants. If the Crown Prince’s position had been weakened, the Grand Prince’s relative chances would have increased.

“You may be a little late.”

Yu Sun-jeong sat up straight as if she had made up her mind. It was as if she was showing that she would wait for him in this posture.

“Wait a minute. Who is the mountaineer who gave up and came down halfway?”

“There’s meat being grilled over there. He’s wearing a black uniform that looks a little rough. He seems to have experienced some sort of failure while studying in the mountains and came down. He wants to study again.”

“Oh! Then your martial arts skills must be high as well.”

“After all, those who practice pure martial arts are strong.”

Yoo Dam-nyeon looked back at Baek Sa-ban, who was just smiling silently.

“Your daughter is studying?”

Baek Sa-ban bowed politely.

“Yes, she is a mature daughter. She is of marriageable age, but she learned swordsmanship while doing household chores. How much can a woman do? … … She was strong enough that she didn’t have to worry about her family even if she stayed in a distant land for a long time. I heard that she was the first to run there when she heard that Prince Dalcheon was holding a military service. It’s a worry for the family. Ahaha.”

“Whew. I’d be worried if my daughter did that.”

“I don’t know who you resemble.”

Baek Sa-ban smiled shyly and asked Dal-cheon.

“What do you think? In your opinion?”

“You are doing well. However, I lack physical strength, so I am mainly studying Ki and internal energy.”

“Internal energy?”

“Yes. It is an old traditional breathing practice.”

Yudamnyeon’s eyes sparkled.

“Then, are you also a master of mine?”

Dalcheon laughed brightly.

“I’m not an expert. It’s true that I studied a lot.”

“Oh my! If someone like you isn’t a master, then who is?”

“There are so many eccentric people in the world. You never know when one will come into the world.”

Was it because of his humility? The high-ranking officials of Hanyang did not know that Dalcheon was a master.

He came to congratulate her, but it seems that the bigger reason was the request for her son’s education. It is a little difficult to expect pure kindness in this world. It does not mean that there is no kindness, but there are other reasons mixed in. If you look at the basic structure of human existence, which is desire and its resolution, it is not something to criticize. It is very natural to approach her gently in the name of congratulations and entrust her child to a school specializing in education. Dalcheon, who had hoped for pure congratulations, was satisfied.

The great subject of explaining the reason for human desire was a kind of assignment given to Dalcheon. The master said to Dalcheon as he was descending.

“Don’t tell me why, tell me with your desire.”

It was a simple statement, but at first I didn’t understand what it meant. It wasn’t until I came down that I realized that the world is not made up of great meanings, but rather an equation of desire and its fulfillment. While we belittle and criticize the profit consciousness of merchants, our pursuit of desires never stops. Dalcheon thought it was no different. I’ve seen too many things that can be explained in the same way when you put desire next to money. There’s nothing to hate, and nothing to be hurt about. I can listen to requests, get the money I need, and run the school with it.

“If you send it to me tomorrow, I will teach you with all my heart so that you can pass the next military service examination.”

When they said what they wanted and bowed their heads, he put down the package he had prepared in advance.

“What is it?”

The explanation was given by Baek Sa-ban.

“I think it should be added to the tuition. I don’t know how much it will be, so I asked you to prepare a donation.”

“thank you.”

Dalcheon took the money without receiving it and gave it to Baek I-jeong, who was in charge of the school’s household.

When I went out during the banquet, there was a line of parents waiting to leave their children. I brought them in one by one, and had them go through the admission process with their children. There used to be about ten children, but now there were probably about thirty. I didn’t need to ask why. Since three of them passed the military service examination, they wanted to have their own son do the same.

He called Baek I-jeong and wrote down her name, where she lived, her fortune, and her age. To prevent people from rushing in, he asked her to send the children after five days.

The effect of focusing on educating three people was shown by the increase in the number of students. Starting the day after the banquet, the gangsters of Hanyang came one by one, focusing on those who had quick information. Those preparing for the military service examination were allowed to come the next day, unless they had serious reasons for disqualification.

The study of walking and swordsmanship, reading and horsemanship continued in one-hour increments. On one side, construction continued, and as money came in, the supply of lumber was accelerated and the construction progressed quickly. The building and the corridors in the shape of the letter ‘ㅂ’ were completed before midsummer.

In the lecture hall, they read, and in the practice hall, they practiced swordsmanship. On the long flat ground below, they practiced spears and knights. Those who became martial artists were appointed as instructors, and various studies were conducted simultaneously in various places. Because there were not enough books, they wrote all night long to make books that were missing, and they cut down trees and carved weapons themselves to make them. Although the high-ranking officials of Hanyang gave them a lot of money, after paying for the construction costs, there was nothing left.

* * *

After a month, Baek Ui-hyeong’s official position was handed down. A fairly high-ranking person from the Ministry of War came and delivered the royal decree granting the official position. He told him to stop by the palace and see His Majesty before taking office and then leave. When the royal decree was delivered at the school, they laid out a mat and received the decree in front of it. As soon as they left, Dal-cheon asked.

“Where are you going?”

“It’s called Hoeryeong.”

“Oh my! It’s far.”

“Do you know?”

“Yes, I know a little bit.”

“Ahem. I’m a little nervous.”

“I will go to the front lines and build my career.”

“Can’t I ask you to go with me?”

Dalcheon pointed to the yard.

“Where can I go with all these things?”

“Right… … . I’m a little worried because it’s the front line.”

“You studied hard. You won’t have any difficulties.”

Baek Ui-hyeong sat on the floor and looked down at the Han River for a long time before getting up. He also received word that the other two had received official posts. Jin Dong-hee was assigned to the Gyeonggi Provincial Office, and Cheol Mu-woong was assigned to the Crown Prince’s Guard.

Prince Lee Young couldn’t hide his discomfort. His former bodyguard was given an official position, so he was going somewhere else. It was natural, and he had already prepared himself, but his face turned pale when he heard the words “Sejaikwisa.”

“They cook porridge and give it to the dog.”

Dalcheon smiled faintly.

“When your subordinates do well, you should congratulate them.”

“That’s how it should be, Prince Sejaikwisa. It’s like it was deliberately set up to cause trouble.”

“You said it was there originally.”

“Yes, I asked for that man. He is a good, loyal, and tight-lipped friend.”

“It’s a great return to the original state.”

“You said you went back to where you came from, but as the person being targeted, I am worried that information will leak out.”

“Information?”

Dalcheon’s eyes sparkled. Other people see things that I don’t. It’s because they see things from different places.

“No matter how careful you are in defense, there will always be a gap somewhere. If you exploit a weak point that you don’t know about, it can be dangerous.”

“No way. Would someone you were with do that?”

“So, doesn’t it seem like you’re taking him with you? The Crown Prince’s Wife… … .”

Dalcheon comforted the prince.

“What if you think about it the other way around?”

“the opposite?”

“Well, that’s what I mean… … I infiltrated our troops into enemy territory. They brought us here to gather information, but wouldn’t it be more beneficial if we reversed our roles?”

“Double-cross. Wow, that’s amazing! Come over sometime and I’ll do that.”

The Grand Prince’s face brightened at the new perspective.