Chapter 189: Some Pasts Cannot Be Changed [2]
Chapter 189: Some Pasts Cannot Be Changed [2]
A successor.
Kang Hyeok had to restrain the intense urge to speak.
If he blurted out that the future king would be Gwanghae-gun, there was no telling where or how things might go wrong.
While he forced his mouth shut, Ryu Seong-ryong and Yi Hangbok began speaking busily instead.
Like Kang Hyeok, Hwang Yungil and Kim Seongil, who had also just returned from Japan, remained silent.
After all, they too knew nothing of what had happened at court in the meantime.
“Daegam Jeong Cheol has been pressing a rather forceful argument...”
Ryu Seong-ryong began while shaking his head.
Yi Hangbok picked up where he left off.
“It is, in truth, a dangerous argument.”
“Is there no way you can talk him out of it?”
“You know what Daegam Jeong Cheol’s temper is like.”
“Yes, yes, that’s true.”
Ryu Seong-ryong recalled Jeong Cheol, whose face flushed red at the slightest thing.
There was no question that he was a fine scholar, poet, and loyal subject.
But his quick, fiery temper was a flaw.
We suffered bitterly because of the Gichuk Purge.
Because of that alone, how much damage had the Easterners, to which Ryu Seong-ryong belonged, been forced to endure?
As things stood, even Chief State Councillor Yi San-hae was the sort who would grind his teeth and wake in fury at the mere mention of Jeong Cheol.
Daegam Yi San-hae may be thinking of using this opportunity to drive Daegam Jeong Cheol out...
Thinking about it, that was only natural.
Because of that cursed Gichuk Purge, countless brilliant figures of the Easterners had died.
Yi Bal, Yi Gil, Baek Yu-yang, Yu Mongjeong, Choe Yeogyeong, and many others who were far too precious to have died like that.
But even so, Ryu Seong-ryong had no intention of pursuing revenge recklessly.
In peaceful times, perhaps it would be different, but was this not the very moment when national calamity was all but certain to come?
“Even so, we must stop it. Thanks to Cheomjeong Baek, we have learned Japan’s true intentions, have we not? We cannot keep stirring up internal strife while facing an enemy preparing for war.”
At Ryu Seong-ryong’s words, Yi Hangbok looked genuinely moved.
How could he not know it?
He knew full well that the Easterners’ anger toward the Westerners had reached its peak.
And yet Ryu Seong-ryong had set aside such personal resentment and was worrying only for the state.
“Yes, Daegam. I will try to persuade him.”
“Mm, I leave it to you. Yungil, if the chance arises, you should also go and see him separately.”
“I understand. Since I’ve returned from Japan anyway, I had already intended to pay him a visit.”
“Thank you. This is too great a burden to place on someone who has come back from such a long journey. I’m not even giving you time to visit your hometown...”
“It is all right. Affairs of state are urgent.”
When Ryu Seong-ryong mentioned hometown, Kang Hyeok finally thought of Seungmun.
It would have been nice if he could have seen him on the way up from Busan.
He regretted that the timing had not allowed it.
Now that I’ve suddenly been handed the post of Cheomjeong, it’ll be hard for the moment. Once things settle down a bit, I should go.
While Kang Hyeok briefly indulged in such dutiful filial thoughts, Ryu Seong-ryong turned his head toward him.
“Ah, Cheomjeong Baek. Gu-o told me that you treated the lord of Tsushima. Is that true?”
“Ah, yes. I treated him when we stopped at Tsushima.”
“And is it also true that the man had gone deaf in one ear and suffered from severe bouts of dizziness?”
“Mm. That is correct.”
As Kang Hyeok answered, he found himself wondering when Ryu Seong-ryong had become interested in medicine.
The moment Kang Hyeok replied, Ryu Seong-ryong’s face brightened.
With a look full of expectation, he asked again, “I see, I see. Then if there were someone with similar symptoms, would you be able to cure that person as well?”
Looking at Ryu Seong-ryong’s shining eyes, Kang Hyeok shook his head.
Unfortunately, there were more conditions than one might think that caused one-sided hearing loss and dizziness.
Among them were illnesses that could be treated, but many that could not.
“Mm... I cannot say for certain. I would have to examine the patient in person.”
“Is that so? Even if the symptoms are the same?”
“That is so. Even if the symptoms are the same, it does not necessarily follow that the cause is the same.”
“Mm. Medicine truly does have a profound side to it. Hm.”
Ryu Seong-ryong nodded as if he had realized some astonishing truth.
Looking at him, Kang Hyeok was reminded anew that this was Joseon.
Then again... in the old days, people tended to regard the symptom itself as the disease.
How else could there be so many disease names that simply described symptoms themselves?
Stomach pain, ague, violent vomiting and diarrhea, and countless others.
It was only much later that such names came to be replaced by descriptions of causes or mechanisms, like enteritis, malaria, or infectious intestinal disease.
That aside... is someone he knows sick?
It felt a little strange.
Given the relationship between Ryu Seong-ryong and Kang Hyeok, there was no need for this much preamble.
He could simply have said that someone he knew was ill and asked Kang Hyeok to take a look.
What is this?
Kang Hyeok had never been good at enduring curiosity.
Without much hesitation, he spoke.
“But who is this patient that you’re bringing it up so carefully? You could just send him here, and I could examine him.”
This offer from Kang Hyeok was truly generous.
Was his reputation in Hanyang before he left for Japan not already tremendous?
And now, rather than fading, that reputation had only risen higher.
The reason was that Gu-o, who had returned earlier, had spread the tale every time he met with his acquaintances.
I’m giving Daegam Ryu Seong-ryong a special service, a special service.
As a result, there were now a great many people who wanted to consult Kang Hyeok.
If one tried to book properly through the normal process, the wait would easily be a full year.
And yet Kang Hyeok was offering to see the patient first. It was only right that the offer be seized at once.
But Ryu Seong-ryong quietly shook his head.
“No, no. It is not someone very close to me. Do not trouble yourself.”
“Mm... understood.”
Still unable to resolve his doubt, Kang Hyeok nodded.
If this was how it was going to end, then why bring it up in the first place?
It was impossible to know.
Fortunately, his puzzlement did not last long.
That was because Ryu Seong-ryong took out a fine bottle of liquor from his robes.
“Look at me, losing my head. Today was meant to be a gathering to congratulate you all on your hard work, and yet I came here and did nothing but talk of troubling matters. Come now, let each of us have a drink.”
“Mm. The aroma is excellent.”
Even Kim Seongil, who had remained silent until now, nodded with a pleased expression.
At that, Ryu Seong-ryong slapped his forehead and poured him a drink.
“My mind is in such a state today. Seongil, congratulations.”
“Thank you. I worry greatly that someone as lacking as I am has been raised to an office beyond my station.”
“Do not say such things. Though you are not of military-examination background, in uprightness you yield to no one.”
“Even so, the post of Commander of the Gyeongsang Right Provincial Army is in truth excessive.”
“Oh.”
This was the first Kang Hyeok had heard of it, so he could not help being surprised.
Kim Seongil, Commander of the Army?
He did not know exactly what kind of office it was, but it sounded very much like a fighting post.
He certainly is upright in character...
Even now, Kang Hyeok could vividly remember the sight of Kim Seongil putting Yoshitoshi in his place.
But that had been the spirit of a scholar, not the strength of a warrior.
He found himself doubtful as to whether Kim Seongil could really command soldiers well.
No, that can’t be it. Judging by the way Ryu Seong-ryong is congratulating him...
It seemed likely that they had chosen properly on their own.
At the same time, he could not help feeling a little regret.
If only I knew this part of history better, I’d know who was truly suited for which post.
Since he knew so little, there was nothing he could really meddle with.
All he could do was rejoice that Yi Sun-sin was becoming Naval Commander a little earlier.
While Kang Hyeok clicked his tongue with those complicated feelings in mind, another round of drinks went around.
“Now then, Cheomjeong Baek, you too should take a cup.”
“Ah, yes, yes.”
“Your father must be very pleased.”
“Thank you.”
“It is not something to thank me for. You earned great merit, so this is only the reward you ought to receive. In truth, I wanted to recommend you for an even higher post, but there were too many eyes displeased by the idea, so I restrained myself. Give it some time, and moving up one more step should not be difficult.”
“It is an honor. Ha ha.”
At the mention of rising in office, the small trace of worry mixed into him vanished like smoke.
Then, once he drank the fine wine Ryu Seong-ryong had prepared with such care, he felt as though he were flying, as if he had never had worries at all.
“That’s right. Because of that, I was able to see countless commanders in Kyoto as well. Those commanders... they may feel comfortable and pleased for the time being, but as time passes, they’re going to suffer a bit.”
So Kang Hyeok ended up laying out every one of his hidden achievements that others had not yet realized.
The heated mood lasted quite a long time, only coming to an end near dawn the next morning.
The problem was that while these patriots briefly let their guard down, incidents were still occurring.
And one of them was unfolding in a tiled-roof house not far from Kang Hyeok’s clinic.
Though the night was already deep, the lights had not yet gone out.
“Sir, the turmoil within and without the realm is such that I cannot bear to leave the matter of future instability unattended.”
“Future instability? What in the world do you mean by that?”
“What I mean is this. His Majesty has many children, but all of them are born of concubines, are they not? This will surely become a misfortune for the state later.”
“A misfortune for the state...”
The man seated with measured composure, trailing off at the end of his words, was none other than Chief State Councillor Yi San-hae.
The one sitting before him in a stiff, unyielding posture, veins standing out in his neck, was Left State Councillor Jeong Cheol.
The two men, who could each be called the leaders of East and West, had met purely because Jeong Cheol requested it.
“Then which prince is it that you wish to establish as Crown Prince?”
“That is for His Majesty to decide, not his subjects.”
“Then there must be some reason you are suddenly raising the matter of establishing the heir.”
Yi San-hae looked at Jeong Cheol with an inscrutable expression.
Jeong Cheol, straight of character, failed to see through Yi San-hae’s intentions and instead exposed only his own.
“Though Imhae-gun is older, he lacks virtue, and so I do intend to speak of the common opinion that Gwanghae-gun would be preferable.”
“Mm. Gwanghae-gun. He is certainly intelligent.”
“Ah, so that is your view as well?”
“Understood. I too shall submit a memorial regarding the matter of establishing the heir.”
“Thank you. I do hope that through this matter our Westerners and Easterners may grow a little closer.”
Having finished his business, Jeong Cheol hurried out of Yi San-hae’s house.
But Yi San-hae did not remain idle either and left his own house as well.
He did so even though it had already long passed curfew.
The place the Chief State Councillor went, in open violation of the law, was the house of Kim Gong-ryang, the elder brother of Royal Noble Consort In Kim.
“Daegam, what brings you here at so late an hour?”
“It is grave. Something terrible has happened.”
“Hm? What—”
“Let us go inside first.”
Making a great fuss, Yi San-hae swept into Kim Gong-ryang’s room.
Since it was none other than the Chief State Councillor, second only to one man and above all others, behaving this way, Kim Gong-ryang could only feel alarmed.
“What in the world could have happened...”
“Left State Councillor Jeong Cheol seeks to kill Royal Noble Consort In Kim and her son, Sinseong-gun.”
“W-what?”
“Is it not already public knowledge that he has lately been urging the establishment of an heir?”
“T-that is true.”
Kim Gong-ryang, who had already lost his judgment, nodded with a frantic face.
Yi San-hae gave him no time at all to regain his senses and pressed on relentlessly.
“As it turns out, his hidden intention is to raise Gwanghae-gun as Crown Prince. If that happens, he will surely seek to kill Sinseong-gun and Royal Noble Consort In Kim, whom His Majesty favors.”
“Good heavens... this is a disaster.”
The practice of brothers killing brothers was, at least within royal households, exceedingly common.
And Joseon had not so long ago endured wave upon wave of bloody purges.
So it was no wonder Kim Gong-ryang fell completely into panic.
“T-then what should we do...”
“Fortunately, is not His Majesty still alive and well?”
Though lately he had indeed been complaining of dizziness more often.
Even so, Kim Gong-ryang nodded.
“And does he not also greatly favor Royal Noble Consort In Kim and Sinseong-gun?”
“That he does.”
It was famous that Seonjo had once even carried Sinseong-gun on his shoulders.
Seeing that Kim Gong-ryang had now been completely taken in, Yi San-hae drove in the final nail.
“Go to Royal Noble Consort In Kim and tell her this: she is to inform His Majesty that Jeong Cheol is invoking the matter of establishing the heir in order to kill her and Sinseong-gun. Leave the rest to me.”