Chapter 70
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: A Star Sets Over Ojangwon (2)
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Kim Yul offered a polite bow with an awkward smile reminiscent of Kim Dae-bung and Hwang Hee, who had been denied permission to resign.
He half-worried they might be here to pressure him into volunteering for military service.
If so, he'd hurl a fist-sized potato and dive into Roselin's arms to declare free agency to the Holy Kingdom right then and there.
Kim Yul reined in those grim thoughts.
Fortunately, today's Eisen hadn't shown up roaring in on a jeep with a squad in tow.
"I've got a favor to ask you. I hope my visit isn't putting you on edge?"
"I must humbly confess, Your Highness, that this situation weighs heavily on me."
"Quite the proper manners. Where'd you pick up such archaic speech? Anyway, it's not a tough request."
Kim Yul suddenly flashed back to the past.
- If you don't develop massive cannons right now, I'll ship you off to the military brig! No, the stockade!
A severely distorted case of PTSD pinged through Kim Yul's brain for a moment.
"In two weeks, the troupe leader's heading to the port city of Alveris for a morale-boosting performance."
"A blessing for the nation, Your Highness."
Eisen tilted his head at Kim Yul's soulless response.
But he cheerfully launched into what he wanted to say.
"Why go to a port city, you ask? I asked the Arts Division to perform Song of the Hero and the Sea. Can't have the original author missing from such a glorious event, right?"
"I think it could manage without me..."
He'd wondered why Saintess of Orléans only ran for two weeks, but who'd have thought this tragic behind-the-scenes story was lurking.
Kim Yul felt his resolve crumbling.
The new play needed to be a hit for the buzz to spread, book sales to soar, and his chances of snagging better skills to improve even slightly...
Of course, he couldn't voice such occult ramblings, so Kim Yul just pursed his lips and listened.
"And another thing."
Eisen leaned in close, bringing his mouth to Kim Yul's ear.
Caught off guard by the sudden move from the handsome young princeling,
Kim Yul nearly swung a fist at that smug face but barely held back.
Whether he sensed it or not,
"Alveris has our empire's navy stationed there. But among those folks, there's talk—hm, even if it's just a play or novel, isn't it all ridiculous exaggeration?"
"......Understood."
"I've read your novels, though, and it's clear you've got real expertise in naval forces and sea battles. So while you're there, humble those stiff-necked sailors a bit."
"......"
'Why me?' rose all the way to the back of Kim Yul's throat.
But the other guy was the empire's second prince, the client of the Supreme Commander, and potentially a solid patron down the line in this long game.
Kim Yul nodded quietly in acceptance.
Sure, he was a total novice who couldn't grasp naval tactics, let alone the science of how ships stay afloat.
'Guess I'll just show Historie the ocean.'
With his all-knowing pouch who hadn't even been to school or seen the sea yet, it should be fine.
"Haha, knew you'd agree! You're sharp as ever. What if you became my strategist—"
"I'd have to decline that, absolutely."
"So firm!"
Kim Yul neatly deflected the sneaky enlistment pitch too.
Eisen's gaze, satisfied yet wistful with the results, shifted to the manuscript bundle in Kim Yul's hands.
"That the latest Two Heroes draft?"
"Yes."
"Hmm..."
Eisen pondered briefly.
He'd been faithfully following Two Heroes, so curiosity about the draft was inevitable.
But asking to see it—wouldn't that seem like too much?
Abuse of power?
A belated twinge of conscience leaked out, even after he'd wielded authority freely.
"If you're curious, feel free to look. The boss sees it every day anyway."
"Oh! Then, excuse me for a peek!"
Eisen didn't hesitate and dove into the manuscript Kim Yul offered.
Your loyal subject Zhuge Liang dares to speak.
The late Emperor passed away midway without fulfilling the founding vision, and now the realm stands divided into three, leaving Yizhou in dire ruin. Truly, this is a crisis for the nation's survival.
Yet the high and low ministers serving Your Majesty remain diligent within, and the loyal warriors spare no lives without—all because they cherish the late Emperor's special graces and seek solely to repay Your Majesty.
Your Majesty should open wide your ears to their loyal counsel, shine forth the late Emperor's virtues, and broadly encourage the resolve of these righteous men. Do not, deeming yourself lacking in virtue and talent, unjustly block the paths of those who serve with loyalty.
......
......
The Former Han flourished by drawing near wise ministers and keeping corrupt officials and petty men at bay; the Later Han crumbled by doing the opposite. The late Emperor often lamented this in conversations with his subjects, grieving the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling.
The Gentlemen of the Palace, Ministers, Generals, and Advisors are all upright and pure souls who would die upholding their allegiance to the state. I beseech Your Majesty to keep them close and trust them. Thus shall the Han rise anew before long.
......
......
I am overcome with gratitude for the grace bestowed upon me! From this distant parting, as I present this memorial, tears blur my vision—what more can I say?
......
......
"Whoa..."
He'd opened it lightly, casually.
But an overwhelming wave of loyalty crashed into Eisen's chest. He closed his eyes briefly, imagining Zhuge Liang's heart.
The lord he'd sworn lifelong fealty to had met a tragic end.
Just the lord?
The talents, soldiers—everything Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang had poured their souls into—had burned in the flames of Yiling.
Thankfully, trusty generals like Zhao Yun remained, but the scars of that crushing defeat ran deep in Shu.
Yet.
Zhuge Liang did not give up.
To fulfill Liu Bei's dying wish—the man who'd trusted him, sought him out three times to persuade him.
To crush the false emperor Cao Pi's ambitions.
To etch the true Han name back into history.
Mobilizing every ounce of his administrative prowess and all the military genius he'd shown thus far, he declared the Northern Expeditions in this masterpiece of a memorial.
Its name: the Outcry Memorial.
Eisen looked up at the author who'd penned it, Kim Yul.
The dark circles under his eyes from overwork hadn't faded.
But a man who could write such words.
A man whose words could stir the soul.
How could he not be a true loyalist?
Eisen vowed to himself.
This man—he'd bring him under his wing, no matter what.
Tension began rippling through the once-relaxed salon.
It wasn't because a cute but slightly unhinged kid in Zhuge Liang cosplay was roaming the capital.
"Otherworldly cuteness, right..."
Nor the vicious rumor that she'd smashed some guy who approached her into a wall with one fan swing.
After the Battle of Yiling,
Two Heroes had been stuck with "lackluster" reviews for a while.
Understandably so.
After all that nation-scale brawling—even the founding ruler dying in a blaze of glory—the follow-up felt downright bland.
Peace with Wu.
Just posturing with Wei.
It echoed the early days of the Cao Cao arc in Two Heroes Part 1—pure politicking.
Lonely Prime Minister Zhuge Liang felt like a rehash.
And beating up goblin-inspired barbarians? Obvious padding.
Even the Seven Captures and Seven Releases.
Just convert him once—why drag it out with full verses from one to seven?
A natural murmur escaped.
- This can't be... on indefinite hiatus?
And on top of that,
he'd penned the script for the masterpiece play Saintess of Orléans, and that novel's quality was stellar too.
If anything, it fueled the salon's readers' anxiety.
When do authors set down their pens?
When they're financially secure.
Even now, a famous author who'd quit a hit serial after his orchard boomed still caught flak.
What if Ulysses followed suit...?
As those doubts swelled,
"Finally, finally!"
"Zhuge Liang's declaring all-out war...!"
"War! War's back for real!"
"Sob sob, that was delicious—lunch hit the spot today."
The Outcry Memorial struck the readers' patching psyches, cracking open fresh fissures.
"Why Wei, not Wu though?"
"Attacking the strongest foe first with alliances is the essence of the Three Kingdoms divide. Makes sense. Who knows? Maybe he's got a plan to hit Wu from behind too!"
"Dropping Three Visits again here..."
"This twist is straight-up foul."
"Shu's different this time!"
"Does this lift the Wu deck ban?"
"Innkeeper! Got a Wu whore over here!"
Readers clustered in twos and threes, devouring installments, plunged into frenzy.
And amid them,
stood the republic's top demon-tongue scholar, the authority on demon linguistics,
Sordinang.
Having sent a letter before but gotten no reply—likely lost in transit—he'd based himself in the capital, sightseeing while banking on any literati inevitably visiting the salon to flaunt their ego.
"Out...cry Memorial...?"
Closer to the truths of demon-derived vocabulary than most,
Sordinang could only wear the face of a 1920s soldier hearing "World War I."