Return (2)
Sungnyemun Gate loomed before them in the twilight, the sunset's glow not yet fully faded. Ahead of the gate stood Yu Jeon-gan's escort troops, arrayed in perfect formation. Behind them stretched a long line of wagons loaded with silver ingots. As each wagon rumbled past, onlookers murmured in excitement.
"What's all that?"
"They say it's from Tsushima. Silver."
"Heard the Jangyongyeong captured the Lord of Tsushima. Guess it's true."
The rumors had spread through Hanyang even before the fleet arrived, drawing crowds to the gate. Yi Si-woo reined in his horse, turning his back on the commotion. Yu Jeon-gan approached.
"You must be exhausted. Did everything check out in Gyeongju?"
"No discrepancies."
"As expected. Let's head in."
As they neared the gate, Chil-bok sidled up quietly.
"My lord, a stranger asked me to pass this to you."
It was a folded note. Yi Si-woo unfolded it.
The Chief State Councillor is preparing to use overstepping authority and unilateral action as pretexts. Take out the silver ingots first.
There was no seal, no name. Yi Si-woo folded the note and held it to the lantern's flame that Chil-bok carried. He watched it burn for a moment before dismounting.
"Let's go in."
Changdeok Palace, Injeong Hall. Yi Si-woo and Yu Jeon-gan prostrated themselves on the throne room floor. Behind them, Jangyongyeong soldiers filed in carrying crates of silver ingots, each one thudding heavily as it was set down. One, two, three.
It wasn't just silver. Copper ingots, bolts of silk, the Shimazu clan banner, the Lord of Tsushima's seal, and swords taken from captured commanders followed in procession. With each thud, the Noron ministers' expressions subtly hardened.
King Jeongjo watched silently from the throne.
"Your servant Yi Si-woo, Samdo Naval Commander Yu Jeon-gan, report our return to Your Highness."
Yi Si-woo pressed his forehead to the floor and continued.
"Near Gyeongju, we clashed with 150 Japanese pirates plundering villages, slaying 110 and capturing 40 alive. From the prisoners, we learned their base was Busan Port and immediately headed south. We seized Busan Port and encircled the Shimazu clan's 1,000-man detachment that had made it their forward base, annihilating them and burning their supply depot and camp to reclaim Busan."
"Off Gadeokdo, we sank or captured sixteen of twenty enemy ships. We then landed on Tsushima and fought 5,000 enemy troops—3,500 from the So clan and 1,500 from the Shimazu detachment—killing or wounding half, and capturing all commanders of brigade level and above for transport here."
"The remaining forces were disarmed, their weapons and iron completely confiscated and brought back. Captured ships and cannons were sent directly to the Training Command. The Shimazu banner and the Lord of Tsushima's seal are presented to Your Highness."
Yi Si-woo paused to catch his breath.
"We also captured Lord of Tsushima So Yo-shi-to-shi alive. We secured the secret pact between the So and Shimazu clans to invade southern Joseon."
The throne room fell silent. King Jeongjo slowly spoke.
"Present the secret pact."
Yi Si-woo drew an oil-paper-wrapped document from his bosom and offered it with both hands. An attendant took it to the king, who unfolded and read it slowly. His fingers paused over the text, then turned the page. The air grew heavy.
Then Chief State Councillor Sim Hwan-ji stepped forward.
"Your Highness, we rejoice in this victory. However, there are issues with this campaign that must be addressed."
His voice was low and cautious, but edged like a blade.
"Gigi-cheong Director Yi Si-woo landed on Tsushima without Your Highness's permission. This is clear overreach and unilateral action. Victory cannot cover such crimes. Rewarding a violator of military orders—how then will any general obey the court's commands?"
The Noron ministers bowed in unison, murmuring agreement.
"Well said. Clear rewards and punishments are needed for military discipline."
Right State Councillor Chae Je-gong stepped forward.
"Chief State Councillor, you go too far. With the enemy's base confirmed on Tsushima, halting would have been dereliction of duty. Battlefield decisions belong to those on the field."
"Are you saying we should ignore military hierarchy?"
"Who takes responsibility if we follow orders and let the enemy escape? Even after seeing that secret pact, you say this?"
"What proof is there it's genuine? How can we trust a document from enemy hands on the battlefield?"
"Then are those silver ingots fake too? Was reclaiming Busan and capturing the Lord of Tsushima a lie?"
Their voices filled Injeong Hall. Noron and Namin tangled in uproar, some ministers looking ready to grab each other by the collar. King Jeongjo lightly tapped the armrest with a finger. Silence fell instantly.
Yi Si-woo, still prostrated, spoke.
"Your Highness, may I ask one thing?"
"Speak."
"May we bring in captured Lord of Tsushima So Yo-shi-to-shi?"
The room hushed again. Noron ministers exchanged glances. King Jeongjo gazed at Yi Si-woo a moment, then said,
"Bring him."
The doors opened, letting in cold outer air. Two Jangyongyeong soldiers dragged in a bound man—once lord of all Tsushima, So Yo-shi-to-shi. His steps faltered as he was hauled to the center and forced to kneel. He couldn't lift his head. Sweat beaded on his trembling shoulders; he muttered something into the floor, unintelligible to all.
Injeong Hall froze. Never since Joseon's founding had a Japanese lord knelt on a Joseon king's throne room floor. Even in 1419, when King Taejong ordered Yi Jong-mu's Tsushima expedition, they hadn't captured the lord.
Led by Sim Hwan-ji, the Noron ministers' faces hardened one by one. Yi Si-woo pressed his forehead to the floor again.
"We have secured evidence and confession that this man colluded with the Shimazu clan to invade southern Joseon. Whether my judgment was right or wrong, I leave to Your Highness."
King Jeongjo looked down at So Yo-shi-to-shi, staring long at the trembling captive before slowly turning to Sim Hwan-ji.
"Chief State Councillor."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"The Lord of Tsushima kneels in Joseon's throne room."
His voice was low.
"What even Great King Taejong couldn't achieve, my subject has done today. If this is the fruit of overreach and unilateral action, then I gladly permit such overreach and action henceforth. Speak of this no more."
Sim Hwan-ji opened his mouth, then closed it. The Noron ministers behind him bowed their heads one by one.
"We beg Your understanding."
King Jeongjo looked down at them, then turned to Yi Si-woo.
"Yi Si-woo."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Well done."
Yi Si-woo silently pressed his forehead to the floor. As the audience ended and they exited Injeong Hall, Chae Je-gong approached Yi Si-woo. Confirming the attendants had withdrawn, he spoke lowly.
"Did you get the note?"
"Burned it well."
Chae Je-gong chuckled softly.
"Bringing out the silver first was key. Ranting about overreach before that pile would've been spitting in their own faces in front of the people."
"Made things smoother, thanks to you."
"Smoother, he says."
Chae Je-gong eyed Yi Si-woo.
"Even I didn't expect you'd drag the Lord of Tsushima into the throne room. That was beyond my calculations."
Yi Si-woo stared ahead silently.
"Sim Hwan-ji won't let today's humiliation slide just because he backed down. He's not one to swallow it quietly."
"I know."
Chae Je-gong said curtly,
"Still, well done today. Get some rest."
Chae Je-gong walked off first. Yi Si-woo watched his back a moment, then turned. Beyond Injeong Hall, evening sky darkened.
The same time, alley outside Changdeok Palace rear garden wall. Sim Hwan-ji halted in a deserted lane. Aide Yoon Tae-myeong caught up. In the pitch dark without lanterns, Sim Hwan-ji spoke lowly.
"I didn't expect that bastard to drag in the Lord of Tsushima today."
"Nor I, my lord. If we'd known..."
Sim Hwan-ji cut him coldly.
"Even knowing, we couldn't have stopped it. That's not the issue. The secret pact, the lord, that silver pile—all ended up in His Highness's hands. And Yi Si-woo drove a wedge deeper into His Highness's trust with this expedition. If he returns to Gigi-cheong and prepares his next move, we won't have time to react."
"What shall we do?"
Sim Hwan-ji paused. Wind passed from the alley's end. His eyes narrowed.
"Yi Si-woo's Tsushima landing isn't the end. He'll use it as a springboard for the next step—Gigi-cheong, gunpowder, those tech manuals."
"..."
"We move first, before he does."
"What plan? Today in the throne room, His Highness himself..."
Sim Hwan-ji eyed Yoon Tae-myeong.
"Think His Highness will shield Yi Si-woo forever? Before he makes his next play, we shake the board. Scrutinize Gigi-cheong's budget again."
Yoon Tae-myeong bowed.
"Understood."
Sim Hwan-ji strode out of the alley.