Hyeonjilmusin - Chapter 70



Only Krnovel

70. Aftercare (1)

Now that Jinmubyeok had been taken to the palace, there was nothing left that could stop Hwiyeongsangdan.

The Whiyoung Group decided to reorganize from the inside. Since the Nokrim Ship-2-Sik had already been sold, there was nothing left to sell. So they fired the people they had hired as temporary workers at Dongho Sanghoe. Of course, they had no complaints since they had been given a generous severance pay.

Next, preparations began to be made to remodel the upper part according to Jo Chung-heon’s plan. Before hiring more personnel, the first thing to be sorted out was the issue of space. Although the empty room of the Donghosanghoe was used as an office, it was not something that could be done forever.

I decided to gradually look into the new building above. Since I had nothing to sell and no one to work there right away, I could take my time looking around.

More important than that was the farewell ceremony for Wang Song that was to take place today. When the Inspector General escorted Jinwu Byeok, he would return to Beijing together with him.

I went into the police station. I saw a policeman who was acting friendly with me last time, so I raised my hand and greeted him.

“It’s been a while.”

“Ah, ah. Yes. Nice to meet you.”

“You used to speak informally to me.”

“Ha, haha, hahaha. I guess I was a little crazy back then. If you go straight from here, you can get to where the boarding pass officer is.”

The constable seemed to want to send me away quickly. He still seemed to firmly believe that I was a goblin who could handle supernatural powers.

I said a quick hello and headed to the boarding party office. This year-end party was arranged by Kang Se-min. I fully understood that the boarding party office’s position would be determined by what Wang Song said when he went to Beijing.

I heard that originally Kang Se-min and Wang Song were going to do it together, but Wang Song got Hyeong-sang and me involved. I wondered if it was really necessary. It was a burden for no reason. However, there was no reason to refuse.

The boarding party was actually very extravagantly decorated. Kang Se-min said that he decorated it simply so that Wang Song wouldn’t feel burdened, but it seems that was just a lie. An ordinary person would have gaped in amazement, but I’ve attended many banquets of this kind, so I wasn’t particularly impressed.

“Oh. You’re here.”

The first person to welcome me was Wang Song. I immediately gave Wang Song the gift I had prepared in advance. It was a small piece of pottery produced in Gyeongdeokjin.

“What is this?”

“It’s a farewell gift.”

“Haha. Even something like this.”

“I owe you a lot.”

“What’s your situation? The Minister of Taxation is currently serving as the Minister of Taxation on a temporary basis, so he’s busy. I guess the Inspector General has turned things upside down, so there’s a lot to sort out. That’s why he’ll be a little late.”

“Is that so?”

“I told you to have a drink among yourselves. That will do.”

Wang Song seemed to have been waiting for me to arrive. I also exchanged greetings with Kang Se-min, who was behind me.

“Hello, Boarding Passenger Service Officer.”

“Oh, oh. Okay. You’re here.”

Just like the policeman, Kang Se-min also seemed uncomfortable with me. The policeman was just uncomfortable because he believed a rumor, but Kang Se-min was uncomfortable because he knew the truth, so it was a bit different.

Since I came, the banquet had already begun. The banquet hall was large, but without servants, it seemed empty. They had all removed the servants because they thought sensitive words could be exchanged.

So the food and drinks were already prepared, and there were only musicians playing music behind the eight-panel folding screen and us. It is said that the musicians had their ears plugged with cotton so that they could not overhear us and played their instruments.

“Good. This is actually neater than having a lot of servants or courtesans.”

“I see.”

Kang Se-min seemed to have simply followed Wang Song’s suggestion, and he seemed extremely uncomfortable without the servants.

“Let’s each have a drink first.”

Kang Se-min was the first to pick up the bottle and pour it for Wang Song. Wang Song filled Kang Se-min’s glass.

“Okay. Thank you all for your hard work.”

We drank our drinks as Kang Se-min spoke. At first, we naturally exchanged ceremonial words. Things like, “Be careful on your way to Beijing,” “I’ll come back to Wuhan,” and “I wish you continued success in the future.”

As expected, Kang Se-min and Wang Song were high-ranking officials, so they were strong drinkers. I wasn’t the type to hold my liquor lightly either.

“Ah. But even if your martial arts skills are strong, you can’t use your internal energy to get rid of the intoxication.”

Wang Song, whose face was slightly red, spoke in a louder voice.

“Is this what you mean? Then why do you drink alcohol?”

“Haha. I really like you because you’re so hearty.”

Wang Song patted my shoulder. From Wang Song’s perspective, it must have felt good to have finished the job so cleanly. He caught the corruption, so his performance improved, and he effectively stopped his classmate from expanding his power.

The Dongchang Hubei branch said that they are currently unable to carry out any activities because they lost their leader, Admiral Dongchang. They cannot even replace Admiral Dongchang right away because he is still missing and has not been confirmed dead. He is just a vegetable now.

“I don’t think my classmates will do anything to me later, right?”

Kang Se-min asked Wang Song in a casual manner. It was from now on. The true value of a drinking party called Dwipuli.

“I reported it to my superiors. The Minister of Taxation and the Seungseonpojeongsa reported the corruption, and I heard there was a lot of help from within.”

“Thank you. But I wonder if I’m just taking credit for the work of the Hojo Cham.”

“Rather, you should be thankful. If you say that you alone blew up the titles of Hojo Chamui and Admiral Dongchang, many people will look at you with disapproval. That is, when you enter the central government later.”

Kang Se-min waved his hand in disgust at Wang Song’s empty laughter.

“I have no intention of going to the central government. I have no intention of getting promoted. I should quit my official position now.”

“Haha. You’ve been promoted to the 2nd rank, so how can you not be promoted to the 1st rank?”

“No, no. I don’t want to go through that fight again at this age.”

Kang Se-min was not being humble, but was genuinely hating central politics. Wang Song also nodded as if he noticed.

“My dream is to just quietly step down from this position without any trouble. I have no regrets about holding an official position.”

“I completely understand.”

“Yes. Since you are in a high position, you can look to higher places.”

“Haha. If you’re lucky, you’ll go up, but if not, you’ll drift away.”

Certainly, the Hobuk Pojeongsa Seungseonpojeongsa is a second-rank official, and the Dochalwon Ubudo Eosa is a third-rank official, so there is a difference of one rank. However, the person who has the potential to become a prime minister is probably Wang Song. What is more important than rank is where you were and what you did. In the end, to rise up, you had to catch the emperor’s eye, and that meant being in the central political world.

“So, even if you go up, don’t let me get promoted any further. Tell me to highlight the position of Minister of Taxation.”

“Okay, don’t worry too much.”

“The Minister of Taxation will go to the central government, right? After all, since he reported internally, wouldn’t it be a bit much to leave him working in the same place?”

“That would be up to the Minister of Justice to decide.”

Wang Song took a step back like that. I felt like I had caught a glimpse of how Hyung Seong became a prime minister.

It may have been a bit delayed because of me, but in any case, Hyung-tae Seong would have exposed the corruption of the management, and that upright spirit would have caught the attention of the central government. Perhaps, as Kang Se-min said, Hyung-tae Seong will go to the central government.

“The Minister of Taxation has arrived.”

They say that even a tiger will come when called, and a sound was heard from outside. Soon, a tiger, sweating profusely, approached with quick steps.

“I’m sorry I’m late. I’ve just been so busy.”

“No. Official business comes first. Isn’t this just a personal drinking party?”

“I appreciate your understanding.”

“I was talking about you, no?”

As soon as Wang Song spoke, Hyeong Seong flinched as he received the glass.

“What did you talk about?”

“Are you interested in central politics?”

At Wang Song’s question, Hyeong Seong looked serious. Before Hyeong Seong could speak, Wang Song added.

“You have a spirit of righteousness and cannot tolerate injustice. You also know well that the affairs of the state should be done for the people. The central government wants such a person.”

“… … That’s true, but.”

“Of course, this is a theoretical statement. Your concern for your people may sometimes be a stumbling block in central politics. Still, those who rise to the top are those who walk the path of righteousness.”

I deeply sympathized with Wang Song’s words. There are merchants who make money through numerous bribery and fraud, but they ultimately fail to become big businessmen.

A merchant is someone who values ​​the principle of buying things through his own sweat, conducting market research through his own efforts, and then selling them at a reasonable price.

“The central political world is more complicated, dirty, and full of ugly people than you think. You might easily get sick of politics and return to the countryside. No, it would be fortunate if you did return to the countryside. You could be labeled for no reason and have your property confiscated and be exiled even though you did nothing wrong. The probability of that happening is especially high for someone with an upright personality like you.”

“Actually, I’m worried about that too.”

“But if you really want to change this country, you should never remain as a local government official. You only live once. You have to run with all your might and hit the wall in front of you to break it down.”

“If I can’t break the wall, I’ll die.”

“You’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you?”

Wang Song raised the corners of his mouth as he looked at Hyeongtae Seong. Hyeongtae Seong, who had been answering nervously, also smiled.

“You are a person who imagines what is behind the wall. You are a person who knows how to despair in front of the wall. There are many people who do not wonder about what is behind the wall and think of the wall as a fence that protects them. Those who can imagine what is behind the wall will inevitably run into the wall.”

“If given the chance, I would like to move up to the center.”

“I’m not a Yibu person, but I’ll tell you. It would be nice to see you in Beijing.”

“thank you.”

The fate of the form was thus determined.

Now Wang Song looked at me. But I cannot decide Wang Song’s future. Because I am not a person who has entered the official ranks. Also, the Dochalwon is not a place that would be of help to a merchant.

In that respect, I thought I would just say a vague goodbye.

“You?”

“yes?”

“Don’t you want to change this country?”

What is this? There was a strange heat in Wang Song’s eyes.

“You are an outstanding person. I believe that the empire will be better if people like you are involved in politics. You are too valuable to be a merchant.”

“haha.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Politics. Honestly, I thought for a moment that it might fit. But I shook my head.

“No, I am satisfied with the merchant.”

“I hate to say this in front of the upper class, but merchants are treated the lowest of the low. Do you think it’s okay for someone as outstanding as you to be treated that way?”

“Isn’t the reason the lotus flower is symbolic because it blooms in the mud without losing its nobility?”

Wang Song was licking his lips. It seemed like he really wanted to drag me into politics.

“What a pity. You seem like someone who would cause a storm in central politics.”

“When a storm comes, don’t the watchmen get tired?”

“But the sky after the storm is incredibly clear.”

Wang Song laughed and took out a box from his bosom. He then handed it to me. It was a wooden box, nothing special.

“What is this?”

“It’s a farewell gift. Didn’t you give it to me earlier?”

“You don’t have to give it to me, but I would be grateful.”

“You can open it right away.”

Wang Song smiled strangely. I opened the wooden box, feeling somewhat uneasy. There was a plaque made of agate in the wooden box.

It was surprising that such a precious agate was contained in such a shabby wooden box, but what was even more surprising was the writing on the tablet.

The title ‘Inspector General’ was written on the badge.

… … What does it mean? I stared at the Eosa-pae with blank eyes, then looked at Wang Song. Wang Song’s lips were split as if he found my embarrassment hilarious.