Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Arquebuses and the Northern Expedition (9)
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Injustices actually have the characteristic of being eliminable to a certain extent if the higher-ups take an interest and respond properly.
That infamous Nazi German army under Hitler reportedly placed enormous emphasis on this from the top, stressing that such misconduct was unbecoming of superior Germans and hammering it home relentlessly.
As a result, the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany became an army with remarkably few barracks injustices.
If even those bald octopus Nazis could pull it off, there's no reason Joseon men couldn't.
'Can't wipe it out entirely, but I have to minimize it as much as possible.'
"What do you think drives people in the military to commit injustices and torment their subordinates? It's just boredom because the higher-ups turn a blind eye."
Joseon culture differs greatly from 21st-century Korea, where human rights ideals have taken root.
Here, if someone's clearly in the wrong, getting thrashed with a switch is seen as perfectly normal.
One local magistrate, fed up with scholars brawling in factions, grabbed a switch himself, beat them senseless, and called it solved... and that tale survives as a heartwarming anecdote.
Thus, a culture prevailed where even minor offenses were handled with harsh measures.
"When I served as a military officer in the Loyal Left Guard Captaincy, the Guard Captain—commander of roughly two-company-sized forces—would beat officers for no reason, berate them, and openly demand bribes. So the officers under him had no choice but to offer bribes just to keep their positions without getting chewed out by superiors."
"The military's always been like that, even in my day..."
"My lord."
Yi Sun-mong shook his head firmly when I called his name.
"What I meant was that those evil practices existed back then too, and I accepted them as normal. But things are different now. How can a military officer senselessly beat soldiers, clerks, and his own subordinates, and demand bribes? It's utterly unacceptable."
That's what makes evil customs so terrifying.
When you're a raw recruit taking that abuse, it feels so unfair and infuriating, but humans adapt. Over time, you get dyed in it.
By the time you become a senior private, you're the one leading the charge, apeing exactly what your seniors did to you.
School bullying victims often become bullies at high rates; domestic violence victims frequently turn into perpetrators. It's scary how it seeps into your body, making the unnatural feel normal without you realizing.
"And truth be told, I was a victim too. When I first entered service as a lowly military officer, my seniors demanded bribes so shamelessly that I seriously agonized over whether to embezzle military supplies like weapons or gunpowder—embarrassing as that is to admit."
"Even you, my lord, with a Founding Merit father, suffered so? How horrific!"
"Many who got caught dipping into rations and ended up executed started out just trying to meet those bribe demands."
Records on face-saving rituals usually go like this.
One such ritual wipes out a family's fortune, pushing them into corruption to recover.
Yi Sun-mong started his confession before I even said, "Spill every past misdeed."
No need for me to keep listening.
"So, if Your Lordship, while deeply inspecting your command, uncovers this and takes proper action... won't His Highnesses be delighted to hear?"
In our military, when injustices or accidents happen, they strip the top brass first—a rotten habit.
It looks good superficially, but it encourages cover-ups for all sorts of incidents.
Truth be told, a commander has no personal grudge against Sergeant Kim or Lieutenant Lee under him.
But suppose they get beaten to death by seniors or lie dying from training injuries.
Even if reported accurately and handled right, I'm dismissed. Try covering it up? Still dismissed.
Most would think covering it up is the way.
Lieutenants below colonel rank get scant pensions if they retire without promotion, leaving them unable to support families post-service.
Thus, they might bury it "for family."
Reports delay, salvageable lives are lost.
Soldiers dead from abuse get "processed" as on leave the day before—dying AWOL.
Those cover-up artists aren't heroes; they're scum. But the system driving them there is seriously flawed too.
"I'll handle the Loyal Left Guard Captaincy officers who caused this myself."
"I'm thinking of extending my sick leave by three days, as I'm still unwell."
Yi Sun-mong nodded at my words.
"Three days? I can root out all injustices with my own hands. Sit and wait here. I'll have good herbs brought for your injuries."
"Yes, thank you. One more request: Could you take Private Kim Mak-gae under your direct service as an orderly?"
"That's no trouble. Ah, I'll fetch those herbs—wait in the office."
Soon, Yi Sun-mong handed me a large box stuffed with herbs.
"Get well quick. And tell the two Highnesses that from now on, Yi Sun-mong will be a new man."
"Aren't you already Joseon's finest general? Become even greater, and you'll be a catastrophe for the Jurchens."
That's why Yi Sun-mong survived causing all sorts of trouble.
A Jurchen-killing weapon of slaughter, that's him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
As soon as Kim Dae-bung left, Yi Sun-mong mounted up and raced to the Loyal Left Guard Captaincy.
To personally deal with its Guard Captain and officers.
By Kim Dae-bung's standards, the Captaincy held lieutenant colonels to colonels, while Commander-in-Chief Yi Sun-mong was a four-star VIP...
The Captaincy buzzed with chaos and terror at the Commander's sudden arrival.
"You crazy bastards! Know how close you came to getting me killed too? Huh?!"
Yi Sun-mong usually spoke genteelly as befitted a Second Rank Commander-in-Chief, striving for dignity...
But not now.
Kim Dae-bung of the Branch Appeal had inspected for military injustices on royal orders, then told him, "Shall I file a Branch Appeal?"
That meant if Yi's handling didn't satisfy, an appeal would fly up immediately—a terrifying warning.
'You die, or I die.'
99.99% chance Yi's head rolls.
Even if he survived, it'd be disgrace, exile to Sam-su Gap-san for years.
"They say there's an officer Kim Sa-jeong here—where's that bastard now?"
At his razor-sharp words, Kim Sa-jeong crawled out trembling.
Yi Sun-mong flew a kick straight to his gut.
The Guard Captain gaped at a high-ranking officer—nay, Second Rank noble—beating like a thug.
"What the hell are you?"
"Sa-jeong Kim Mal-seong! Forgive me!"
"Sorry end it all? You idiot, know who visited your unit? Branch Appeal Kim Dae-bung. The lunatic who appealed with an axe to halt currency issuance. You fucked him over royally."
Kim Dae-bung never intended it, but "Branch Appeal Kim Dae-bung" had become his moniker.
Even Prime Minister Hwang Hui, Maeng Sa-seong, Jo Mal-saeng called him "that Branch Appeal guy," not "Guard Captain Kim."
Commoners said "Branch Kim Dae-bung."
Of course, Central Army officer Kim Mal-seong knew the name.
The freak who spurned Chief State Councillor Hwang Hui's pleas for promotion to full minister, sticking at Fourth Rank.
A administrative genius who could take any ministry post with acclaim...
"......"
"His Highness long decreed no private beatings or abuse among soldiers and officers. Yet you did it to him personally...? And your Guard Captain Jang was a sight too."
Yi Sun-mong had no intention of letting them off.
"Kim Mal-seong gets 50 lashes per military law. Guard Captain Jang Ji-seong, 40. Company Leader Lee Jong-gae, 40..."
Over 20 men were sentenced to flogging.
And a very special event unfolded.
"I'll personally administer Kim Mal-seong and Jang Ji-seong's floggings. Normally, yangban avoid caning, but today I'll make exceptions—no class distinctions, by the book."
Yangban heading to exile could commute the standard 100 cane lashes with fines.
Same for other crimes.
Conversely, taking the cane meant a grave crime beyond exile—a branded stigma.
"Die!"
That night, the Loyal Left Guard Captaincy echoed with groans from abuse ringleaders caned raw.
Yi Sun-mong, who'd wielded the cane himself, drafted reforms overnight and reported next day.
For handling the issue well, Yi Sun-mong received commendations.