Sejong's Fury and Chaekho's Honors
"This spring, they're sending your saju danja over, are they?"
"I'm in the midst of acting regency, so I had no intention of meddling in court affairs. But isn't this too much?"
"......"
"If you've got mouths, then speak up, you sons of bitches!"
"Your Highness! Please show mercy!"
"Mercy? Mercy? Does this seem like a small matter to you? Prisoners and captives banded together to cause an uprising and raided nearby villages. And the root cause is corruption by Vice Minister Jeong Su-dal of the Board of Works—yet you dare ask for mercy!"
"H-ha, however, Your Highness. Fortunately, the village damage wasn't that—"
"Extensive! Right! Well said! Then tell me why the damage was so light!"
"Th-that village had someone called the Chaekho Dongja, who—"
"That Chaekho Dongja is just barely sixteen years old! Without that kid whose ink on his household registration hasn't even dried, countless people would have died! Aren't you ministers ashamed before that child!"
"Your Highness, such an absurd—"
"Absurd? Then are all the military reports that have come up so far absurd lies? A ten-year-old boy breaking the limbs of five grown men, preemptively detecting a new type of crime, and taking down a great tiger with two arrows?"
"......"
"Ahem! If those military reports were lies, I shall charge Magistrate Yi In-su with the crime of deceiving the military. But if not... you!"
"Execute me, Your Highness!"
"Fine! I won't!"
"Execute—?"
"Mobilize the Royal Secret Inspectors! Have the Royal Secret Inspectors uncover every last bit of Vice Minister Jeong Su-dal's corruption! Drag in anyone involved—whether Prime Minister or Minister—without exception, and bring them before me! Leave the matter of rewarding merits to the Crown Prince!"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Whoa, even King Sejong is scary when he's pissed. No wonder he's the father of King Munjong. I thought I'd shit myself when he showed up in his black dragon robe. But Kim Si-jin... is that guy really a modern guy? How the hell did he fend off a hundred invaders without a single casualty? Did some great hero from our history reincarnate into him? Like Yi Sun-sin or Eulji Mundeok? That'd be awesome. Still, this guy's driving me nuts. What the hell do I do? Kim Jong-seo and Yi Jing-ok heard the rumors and are clamoring to have him transferred. At this rate, even the Ming Dynasty might demand him. But damn it. Fucking bribes. Fucking corruption. I'm so sick of it! So goddamn sick of it! How many times has this happened? How is it that among all these guys preaching clean government, not one refuses a bribe? Doesn't Confucianism teach against that? Does it say in the Confucian classics to take bribes, abuse power, and embezzle public funds?
"Your Highness. Everyone awaits your words."
"Ah, um. Yes. They say he broke the Ramu-nae sickle to fend off the invaders, so how about renaming the village Ramu-nae Village?"
"Please show mercy!"
What? Why? Ramu-nae Village sounds cool.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my room on my sleeping mat. A whole day had passed. My entire body ached so badly that even after regaining my senses, I couldn't move freely. It wasn't until several days later that I could leave the room on my own.
In the meantime, a stream of visitors came and went from our house. Kim Jin-sa, of course, along with the magistrate whose term was almost up, Hyeong-bang and the other clerks, local notables, notables from other regions, and even the leaders of merchant caravans passing through the area.
I couldn't rest easy amid the pain because the guests never stopped coming. But as the weather turned harshly cold belatedly, the visitors finally dried up.
"Haah! Hah! Hah! Hah! Urgh! Tsk!"
"Son, can't you eat a little more properly?"
"Hah, Mom. Sweet potatoes... are meant to be eaten like this... to taste good. Haah! Heh! Heh!"
Winter's delicacy was roasting sweet potatoes and chestnuts over the brazier in the room. Even if they were blander than modern ones, I carefully nibbled at the subtly sweet Joseon sweet potatoes.
"Haah! Heh! Heh! Heh!"
"......"
Mom frowned at the sight of me rolling the hot sweet potato around in my mouth with my tongue. Still, without a word, she poked at the chestnuts and sweet potatoes inside the brazier with a fire starter.
"Son. These must be done now. Eat up."
"Mom. You have some too."
"No. Watching my son eat fills me up."
"Aw, come on. Here."
I carefully peeled a sweet potato, making sure no black charcoal stuck to it, and held it out to Mom. She glanced back and forth between the sweet potato flesh and me, then parted her pale pink lips and took it.
"Haah! Hah! Hah!"
"How is it? Tasty, right?"
"Mahihi goda, tsk, tskheohaha."
More than tasty, it was hot—but I watched Mom with fond eyes. Mom, covering her mouth as she ate the sweet potato, burst into laughter too.
"Puhup, it's delicious. Even tastier because it's from my son."
"That's because you roasted it, Mom. You're even better at roasting sweet potatoes."
"Hehehe. True. Don't I roast chestnuts well too?"
"Exactly. That's why I look forward to winter."
"Hehehehe."
Mom and I chatted while roasting and eating sweet potatoes and chestnuts. When my hands turned pitch black from the charcoal, Mom brought up the topic in her soft voice.
"Son."
"Yes?"
"Do you still want to marry Eori?"
"Yes."
"Hehehe. Isn't that a bit too quick an answer?"
"Because it's obvious."
"Is it? What do you like about Eori?"
This time, it took me a moment to answer. Her looks were glamorous too, of course. Her ample breasts and hips outlined themselves even through her loose hanbok, her brown skin gleamed like chocolate, and her red lips and sharp features exuded sensuality. Her inner qualities were just as irresistible. Her smile was pure despite her mature face, her eyes sparkled whenever she called my name, and her little tantrums were so cute they made me laugh.
"Well, first off—"
"No need. You don't have to say it."
"Huh?"
"Your face says it all. That soot-covered face of yours."
"Mom."
"Hehehe. Let's finish eating and wash up. But son. I know."
"Know what?"
"I already know, don't I? About the marriage with Eori."
"?!"
My heart, which had started pounding the moment Mom said she knew, raced even faster. Mom gazed at my face fondly and continued.
"You'll get permission from His Majesty anyway, right? Rather than His Majesty granting it first, your mother will permit it first."
"Mom, is that okay? Kim Jin-sa will have something to say."
"I'll talk to Lord Kim Jin-sa. Isn't that a mother's role?"
"I'll just go to Hanyang and get permission. Then even Kim Jin-sa can't complain."
"Actually."
Mom, who had brought it up first, unnecessarily poked at the chestnuts and sweet potatoes in the brazier. After a few seconds, she revealed something I hadn't known.
"Lord Kim Jin-sa is sending your saju danja this spring."
"......To Eori?"
"Would he?"
"Well, yeah. That's just how that guy operates."
Kim Jin-sa. This man never failed to live down to my expectations—in the worst way. Still...
"But who’s he sending it to?"
"Oh? Curious?"
"A little?"
"Why? Planning to call off the wedding with Eori if she's pretty?"
"Mom!"
"Oh dear. Can't even tease you about Eori."
Mom laughed like a mischievous girl at my reaction. Then she told me about the girl who would become my bride if I didn't act.
"Son. You know Beom Serang? The one running the biggest merchant caravan in this county."
"Ah, yes. I remember. His son lost a wrestling match to me."
"Yes. That man's—"
"Wait, hold on. Just a sec."
I knew it was rude, but I cut Mom off and recalled the Beom family. Every one of them had protruding bellies like Beom-chang-bok and faces full of malice...!
"Mom. I'm heading over to Kim Jin-sa's house real quick."
"Hehehe. Don't like it?"
"Of course not! I have some pride in my looks! And Beom-chang-bok's little sister? I'd rather become a monk than marry her!"
"Hehehehehe!"
"Don't laugh! This is serious! Would you like a pig as your daughter-in-law?"
"Hehehe, ahahaha!"
Mom seemed to be imagining Beom-chang-bok's little sister as my bride. She couldn't even maintain her usual refined smile and clutched her stomach laughing. Despite it not being funny, my lips kept twitching upward.
"No! Mom!"
"Hey!"
A voice came from beyond the paper door.
"Is the Chaekho Dongja here?"
"What?"
I got up at the call, removed the door paper, and opened the lattice window. Outside in the falling snow stood two thickly dressed constables.
"What's up?"
"Chaekho Dongja-nim! It's a royal decree! You must appear at the county office to receive it!"
"Why! Have them come here!"
"Tell me about it! We didn't want to come out here either!"
"Come on in, then......"
I hesitated to invite them in with Mom there. Even constables, bringing them into the room with Mom felt off.
"You'll receive more royal decrees than the young master in Hanyang."
Mom chuckled incredulously from inside the room. It would be family glory elsewhere, but in our house, used to it, it was just a hassle.
"Yeah."
I replied with a similar expression and told the constables,
"Hey! Officers! While I get ready, go warm up by the kitchen fire! Get out of the wind!"
"Oh! Thank you! Chaekho Gapsa-nim!"
I didn't know about original history, but here, a Gapsa was like a modern non-commissioned officer. Selected from conscripts, limited in promotion but still an official—impersonating one meant severe punishment.
"Not Chaekho Gapsa, Dongja! Chaekho Dongja!"
"Hehehehe!"
Despite my correction, the constables just laughed and headed to the kitchen without reply. Watching them, I said to Mom like I was heading to a convenience store,
"Mom. Gonna go receive the decree and be back."
"Alright. Be careful not to lose your way."
"Got it. Need anything?"
"Hmm. Pick up some buckwheat flour. I'll make noodles."
"Really? That's why winter rocks!"
Excited at the thought of dongchimi buckwheat noodles after the office, I prepared to head out. At that point, I had no idea. Not about going with Eori's father, the village rep, or being appointed Gapsa, or the village being renamed Chaekho Village, or the back-breaking haul of ten gifted matchlocks on the way back.
"Haa! Haa! Haa!"
"Gapsa-nim! What do we do? Shall I help?"
"N-no! Ah! Damn! They told me to come to the office! Usually they come to our house!"
"Hahaha! Gapsa-nim! Let me carry some!"
"No thanks! Ah! So freaking heavy! Why am I sweating in midwinter!"
"Uhahahaha! And! Gapsa-nim!"
"No need! I'm fine!"
"No! Please, send the saju danja in the warm spring!"
"......Pardon?"
"It's cold! Let's hurry!"
"Wait! Hold on! Father-in-law! Wait!"