Onseong's Great Overhaul

With the massive Onseong reconstruction project wrapping up in just one month, Yi Si-woo immediately turned his attention to inspecting the defense systems. For the newly built walls and cleared roads to function properly, human resources to operate them were essential.

His sharp gaze swept over the garrison troops assembled in the training grounds. As he cross-checked the ledgers against the actual headcount, Yi Si-woo's brow furrowed.

"Park Seong-sul. Is my eyesight failing me, or is your arithmetic lacking?"

"Pardon? M-my lord, what do you mean..."

"The ledgers clearly state that Onseong's forces number a hundred men. Yet I see only sixty before me. Are the rest hiding with some ninja technique, or are they ghost soldiers invisible only to my eyes?"

At Yi Si-woo's question, Park Seong-sul broke out in cold sweat and confessed to the corruption of his predecessors. Yi Si-woo slammed his staff against the training ground floor.

"Discrepancies between plans and reality spell doom. The moment you tolerate errors, these walls become nothing more than piles of stone. Starting today, we'll expand the Onseong garrison from sixty to a hundred men."

"But my lord, forcibly conscripting able-bodied men on short notice will stir the people's resentment to the heavens!"

"This isn't conscription—it's recruitment. I've never ordered anyone dragged here against their will. We'll provide ample mareongseo potatoes and rice, select only volunteers, and train them into elites. I will never allow hunger ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for those who defend my land."

Yi Si-woo didn't stop there. He strode to the edge of the platform overlooking the training grounds. The townsfolk held their breath in unison, waiting for his lips to part.

"People of Onseong, hear me! Higher walls and smoother roads don't guarantee peace. Once prosperity starts flowing through our town, jackals will surely sniff it out and prowl our fences. Will you cower ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠once more in filth-stinking streets, trembling as death approaches?"

"We can't let that happen, my lord!"

"Who dares defile the land you've cleansed, my lord!"

The crowd's response was far hotter than Yi Si-woo had anticipated.

"Therefore, from this day, I declare the formation of a three-hundred-strong autonomous militia, the Bangsu Army, to defend Onseong. This is no forced labor. Volunteers who stand by my side will have their household military taxes and miscellaneous levies fully exempted. Moreover, on training days, you'll receive hearty meals and silver. Those who trust me and stand atop these walls will never know hunger's pain again!"

Tax relief and solid rewards. The training grounds erupted in cheers that shook the earth.

"My lord! I'll volunteer too! You've treated us like humans—how could we fail to defend these walls?"

"I've brought my son! I told him to smash anyone who blocks your path, my lord!"

Before the fervent shouts could fade, Yi Si-woo headed straight for the river outside the walls. There, massive waterwheels spun furiously, devouring the flow. The water pressure rushing along the channels he'd designed drove the gears, and heavy iron hammers crashed down on heated iron plates with ear-shattering booms.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

It was an overwhelming strike powered by nature's force, impossible to replicate by human muscle alone. Hoes, pickaxes, and plowshares—what ten blacksmiths slaving all day could barely produce a few of—now poured out in precise forms in the blink of an eye.

"M-my lord! Is this truly a scene made by human hands?"

Steward Im Chi-gwon muttered dazedly, staring at the flying sparks. He'd crisscrossed Joseon and Qing, seen countless workshops, but nothing this bizarrely perfect.

Especially the razor-sharp gleam of the emerging tools—they were no ordinary goods.

"Not humans—water makes them. Steward Im, what do you see in those?"

Yi Si-woo pointed with his bronze ruler at a freshly forged, hefty pickaxe blade. Im Chi-gwon swallowed dryly.

"Not mere iron, but treasure laying golden eggs, my lord. Tools this tough and sharp could plow the frozen northern wastes in one go. Farmers from all eight provinces will swarm Onseong like clouds to get them!"

"If they swarm like clouds, business suffers. We go to them."

Yi Si-woo tapped the smooth, still-warm plowshare with his ruler's tip.

"These will circulate only under Onseong's name. Only merchant houses I approve may sell them, and three-tenths of profits return straight to Onseong's coffers. Will you blaze the first trail?"

No sooner had the offer landed than abacus beads flew in Im Chi-gwon's mind.

'Heavens, these pouring out at this rate? Pickaxes that strong would slice frozen soil like paper.'

Im Chi-gwon swallowed again, eyeing the iron flood.

'A year? No, too long. Grip this distribution monopoly, and Hamgyong's wealth flows to my palm in half that. I've peddled rarities across Joseon and Qing my whole life, but never treasure like this golden goose. Serve this young magistrate well, and I'll be Hamgyong's richest in six months!'

The boy before him wasn't just a numbers genius—he was a deity handing over an entire golden-egg factory.

"This lowly one will stake his life to spread these across the eight provinces, my lord! At your command, I'll drive Onseong iron into Qing's barren wastes!"

Meanwhile, the report from Onseong threw the Hanyang court into uproar. King Jeongjo's eyes gleamed with curious interest as he pored over each page Yi Si-woo had submitted. It detailed Ho clan traitor Choi Du-sik's decade of hidden corruption, alongside Yi Si-woo's meticulous budget recovery in fostering Onseong's prosperity.

Choi Du-sik's scheme of skimming tiny grain transport losses for slush funds, and Yi Si-woo's forensic backtracking to recover every last nyang—it was chillingly precise.

"Your Highness! Onseong Magistrate Yi Si-woo's actions are utterly outrageous!"

Capital Governor Kim Gwi-ju led the charge, voice flushed, with a memorial.

"Launching massive public works without court approval! He must have diverted seized assets from Choi Du-sik at whim. This is grave embezzlement of state funds to buy local favor!"

Kim Gwi-ju glanced at Third-Rank Senior Official Hong In-han beside him.

"We must dispatch someone of stature to strictly investigate. Your Highness, send Third-Rank Hong to unearth every corruption on-site. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠If Yi Si-woo has misappropriated funds, dismiss and arrest him immediately!"

Kim Gwi-ju's ploy was blatant: crush Yi Si-woo with a Noron heavyweight. But Right State Councillor Chae Je-gong chuckled, pointing to the grain ledger.

"My lords, accusations need consistency. This magistrate recovered only Choi Du-sik's off-books slush funds for the town. Official corrupt assets remain untouched, sealed awaiting Your Highness's judgment!"

"How can we trust that? The ledgers might be faked to fool His Highness!"

Chae Je-gong laughed heartily, as if waiting.

"Your Highness, if you seek only the truth on the ground, there's a perfect man: Seventh-Rank Propaganda Officer Gang Seok-hu. He's famed for chasing facts, ignoring sides—ideal to check for ledger tampering Hong fears."

Southerners chimed in unison.

"Wise counsel! Gang Seok-hu bows to no private ties; he'll report Yi Si-woo's merits and faults plainly. No need for senior official pomp—just send clear-eyed truth!"

Kim Gwi-ju and Hong In-han's faces hardened. Gang Seok-hu was the court's prickliest stone—immune to Noron bribes or pressure.

Noron hardliners, led by Kim Gwi-ju, rose in protest.

"Your Highness! Gang Seok-hu is mere Seventh-Rank junior. How can you sideline Third-Rank Senior Hong? This insults court hierarchy!"

Hong In-han desperately blocked, but Jeongjo gripped his throne arm.

"Higher rank doesn't mean sharper eyes. Why fixate on protocol, Ministers Kim and Hong? Fear Gang's incorruptibility, or Onseong's truths he'll uncover?"

The throne room fell silent as if doused in ice water at Jeongjo's piercing query. Kim Gwi-ju's lips quivered, speechless.

Jeongjo swept the hall with flashing eyes, driving the nail.

"No more objections! Propaganda Officer Gang Seok-hu, hear this. Hasten to Onseong, escort criminal Choi Du-sik. Deliver Our commendation and gifts to Magistrate Yi Si-woo. Any who hinder you en route shall be deemed to mock Us—punish severely!"

Noron hardliners could only prostrate, mouths shut, as Jeongjo's edict echoed. Before Yi Si-woo's flawless rationale and the king's iron resolve, their venom dissipated.

Time passed. Propaganda Officer Gang Seok-hu strode into the county office courtyard, bellowing.

"Onseong Magistrate Yi Si-woo, receive His Majesty's edict!"

Yi Si-woo, donning his official robes from his office, descended to kneel in the yard. All clerks and Bangsu troops prostrated in unison.

In the brief silence, Gang Seok-hu solemnly unrolled and read the decree.

Yi Si-woo bowed deeply.

"Your servant Yi Si-woo is infinitely grateful for His Majesty's boundless grace!"

Gang Seok-hu placed the edict reverently on Yi Si-woo's outstretched hands. Rising, Yi Si-woo prompted Gang to relax and survey the scene.

Paths cleaner than a provincial governor's residence, walls spotless with Bangsu troops moving in perfect sync—like a vast, well-oiled machine.

"Magistrate... Truth be told, I harbored doubts departing on His Majesty's orders. But seeing it myself, I now understand why he trusts you so."

Yi Si-woo answered with a quiet smile.