The Era of Bone-Piercing Poverty (7)
Yi Yeon sat with his eyes wide open, unconcerned.
Big Brother started to say something but turned his head to look at Heo Jun.
Heo Jun wore the exact same dumbfounded expression.
Yet Yi Yeon was beaming with pride.
'This is when being king really pays off.'
Even a high-ranking official would have been labeled insane and buried alive for saying such words, but not as king.
While cicadas sang in the background, the impatient Big Brother finally spoke first.
“Your Majesty, that method is unacceptable.”
“Why is it unacceptable? You’re already using dried pus from smallpox patients to stuff up the nose for prevention or treatment, aren’t you?”
“That is human material. What you just mentioned is animal material, Your Majesty.”
Yi Yeon slowly shook his head left and right.
He could not accept it.
Then, looking at him seriously, he continued.
“Big Brother, I believe human material is more dangerous. Think about it. In the bubonic plague, only cattle die, but in smallpox, only people die. Therefore, human material harms people more, while animal material harms no one.”
“Even so, it is unacceptable.”
“Don’t tell me you think human beings could turn into cattle from cow pus?”
Yi Yeon jumped the gun before such words could even be spoken.
Vaccination would inevitably bring them up.
“That’s not it, but it is still far too dangerous.”
“I know that. That is why I plan to test it on condemned prisoners first. Surely that is acceptable?”
“That is… that is…”
Big Brother could not think of a reply and turned his head, avoiding Yi Yeon’s gaze.
Yi Yeon then looked at Heo Jun instead.
But he could not bring himself to speak.
'What the hell? What’s that look?’
Heo Jun wore the expression of a monk who had just received a great enlightenment.
'I shouldn’t touch him, right?’
Yi Yeon had to persuade Heo Jun, who was carrying the total burden of administering the Jen Du method on his behalf.
But the expression made it seem unnecessary.
Yi Yeon sipped his tea and simply watched Heo Jun.
He even raised a finger to his lips to signal Big Brother to do nothing.
How much time had passed?
Heo Jun suddenly startled and bowed his head.
“I am overwhelmed, Your Majesty.”
“It’s fine. You seem to have had a great realization. Could you tell me?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Heo Jun bowed his head once more and slowly began to speak.
“The words Your Majesty spoke earlier seemed to organize thoughts I had been pondering for a long time. Though my thoughts are humble, may I voice them?”
“You were told to speak, weren’t you?”
“I am overwhelmed, Your Majesty. Then, please hear my humble thoughts. I have long believed that bacteria cause illness in people. I even suspected that diarrhea from dirty water was caused by bacteria in the water. I thought the same about buboes and smallpox. ……”
'He’s really going on.’
Yi Yeon grew irritated as Heo Jun’s rambling lengthened but held it in.
He even resented his teenage hormones.
“…… With that in mind, Your Majesty said that inoculating the pus from buboes could prevent smallpox.”
'Did I say that?'
“I thought that method might work. People receive life from heaven …… The harmonious balance of yin and yang …… If we nurture the primal energy driving life activities ……”
Yi Yeon recalled a Korean professional baseball player he nicknamed “Korean Deluxe” while listening to Heo Jun’s endless talk.
'What would happen if I put those two together?'
His words were too many and too complicated, so Yi Yeon’s mind wandered.
“…… Therefore, I believe there is a possibility that the bubonic bacteria can block the smallpox bacteria. Please entrust this task to your lowly servant. I will do my best, though it may be insufficient.”
The moment Heo Jun finished, Yi Yeon slammed his thigh hard enough to make a 'CLACK!' sound.
'Great!'
He was overjoyed that Heo Jun had offered himself willingly.
Big Brother, who had been dozing, startled and blinked in confusion, but did not even glance over.
“Didn’t I say it? Let’s work together to improve the lives of the people of this country.”
“I am overwhelmed with gratitude, Your Majesty.”
Heo Jun prostrated himself until his nose touched the floor and performed the proper kowtow.
Every physician wants to be a court physician.
But as a bastard, he could never have dreamed of it.
Now he had been given an even greater burden.
A heavy responsibility to prevent smallpox, which tormented and drove people to death.
Tears streaming down his face, Heo Jun asked Yi Yeon, “If you please, Your Majesty, can you obtain cattle afflicted with bubonic plague?”
Heo Jun wiped his tears with his sleeve and answered, “I once saw a few in a coastal village on the western coast when I was young, but I have not seen them since.”
'Damn it, no choice. I’ll have to fetch them from China.'
“Understood. Then, accompany the envoy delegation from Ming this time and bring back cattle afflicted with bubonic plague.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I obey. However, what if the cattle die or are cured while I am there?”
“Don’t worry about that. I have something in mind.”
Yi Yeon was not a biochemist, but he knew the basic method of culturing viruses using eggs.
Still, he did not tell Heo Jun immediately.
He planned to demonstrate it himself later in private.
'This must not be exposed.'
Culturing viruses with eggs was the most basic technology for making vaccines, yet in this era it was cutting-edge.
Therefore, it could earn an immense fortune.
In this age, smallpox was the most terrifying plague, so if prevention was possible, he would pay a fortune for it.
But Yi Yeon was not thinking of hiding the technology for profit.
'This is about treating people. I cannot think that way.'
If misused, a stronger virus might be cultured. He had to be cautious.
Therefore, Yi Yeon decided to keep this technology secret.
* * *
A tall, sturdy man lost his way in the mountains.
“Damn it, I was just following the trail ……”
He trusted his martial prowess and was not afraid of tigers.
He had tried to cross the mountain but ended up lost.
“Oh …!”
He gazed at the tiled-roof house peeking through the leaves and sighed in admiration.
In deep mountains, even a thatched hut should not exist here, yet he did not question it and grinned.
“Perfect. I’ll stay here tonight.”
The closer he got, the larger the tiled-roof house appeared.
He paused and surveyed it, muttering, “I don’t know who it is, but they must be a high-born gentleman building a home here to enjoy his twilight years.”
In an era filled with legends and tales, ordinary people would have been terrified, but he was not.
“Come out!”
He shouted several times, but the firmly closed gate remained shut.
“Is it empty?”
He said it, but the walls looked unbroken and tidy, so someone had clearly vacated the house temporarily.
He hesitated, then pushed the gate.
“What’s the harm? I’m not stealing. I’ll just sleep under the dew for one night and leave.”
—SQUEAK!
Fortunately the door was unlocked.
It was not particularly large, but he crossed the neatly paved courtyard and sat on the main veranda, wiping sweat.
“Ugh, it’s hot.”
He did not notice the heat while climbing; now that he sat still, it pressed in.
He turned his head to look behind the veranda.
“Why is it so hot back here?”
He removed his shoes and stepped onto the floor, heading toward the door at the back.
Joseon houses were different; most had wide courtyards.
The sun-baked courtyard drew cool breezes from the shaded area behind the veranda, cooling the interior.
When he opened the back door, he was startled.
With the cool breeze came the sound of someone sobbing gently.
'The owner must be here.'
He cleared his throat and gave a fake cough.
“Hah! This passing wanderer begs your pardon for entering without permission.”
But there was no reply. Only the soft, delicate voice of a woman grew louder.
Unable to contain his curiosity, he put on his shoes and went behind the veranda.
There sat a stunningly beautiful young woman crouched on the floor, weeping.
“I do not know the full story, but may I hear it?”
Only then did the woman lift her head and look at him.
He drank the cold water she offered and nodded repeatedly.
“So, originally this house was where a family and dozens of servants lived, but a servant killed them all and left only you, my lady?”
“Yes, my lord. Please spare me. He said he would kill me if I do not accept his proposal for marriage tonight.”
“What a monster. Do not worry. When he comes, I will kill him for you.”
“Thank you, my lord. I will trust only you.”
That evening, he hid behind the screen and, when the servant came to deliver the final warning, cut his throat in one swift stroke.
The next morning, as he prepared to leave, the woman said, “My lord, I am truly grateful for avenging my family.”
She offered to repay the debt through marriage.
But he already had a wife and could not accept.
He could not coldly refuse either.
Seeing her serious expression, he said softly, “My lady, I am sorry. I am only passing through. I will definitely return on the way back.”
But he never came back to the house, and later heard she had committed suicide.
Years later, she appeared in his dreams.
'My lord, if you camp at the Jeongeumdae, you will win a great victory.'
Following her words in the dream, he camped there and won, but after defeat he committed suicide.
Yi Yeon, watching Shin Rip stand at attention with a salute, recalled the gossip he had learned while researching King Seonjo’s records.
'There was even mention that his servant was a huge snake. It sounds fabricated, but it perfectly captures Shin Rip’s personality.'
Therefore, Yi Yeon summoned Shin Rip, who had passed the military exam this time.
He did not want to ruin such a brave and simple man.
Shin Rip, who would one day become Joseon’s greatest general, had passed the military exam with a rank that placed him far below the top three for the first class and the five for the second class.
He had passed with fourteenth place in the third class that selected twenty.
Naturally, he had no choice but to be sent to the border.
'No, that won’t do.'
Yi Yeon decided against sending him to the border.
Watching him dominate and soar there would also be fine, but he was a warrior, not a courtier.
His future worried him.
“Raise your head.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Yi Yeon looked at Shin Rip’s face and was pleased.
Over six feet tall, broad shoulders, straight nose, firm lips.
Trustworthy.
'If he had been born in the twenty-first century, he would have devoured MMA champions.'
Even an MMA champion would have been sent to the ground or his neck snapped in one move.
That was why he wondered, 'Who scored higher than Shin Rip?'
Yi Yeon regretted not observing the military exam.
'I could have seen something wonderful.'
Unlike Yi Yeon’s expectation, the Joseon military exam was not simple.
It was divided into martial skills and written tests.
For martial skills, one had to pass six tests: wooden arrows, iron arrows, bamboo arrows, horseback archery, flag spears, and polo.
For the written tests, one had to master military books for strategy, classics for righteousness, and King’s Book of the Realm to judge a governor’s ability.
Therefore, Shin Rip’s rapid passing despite weak strategy indicated extraordinary martial prowess.
“Shin Rip, was it?”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“Can you protect my life with your own?”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
'His answers are short.'
Yi Yeon could not help smiling.
He had been too compared to Heo Jun.
“Good. From now on, protect me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Ministers murmured among themselves, but Yi Yeon paid no mind.
'If you’re annoyed, become king yourselves.'
Yi Yeon found the attendants who followed him like ducklings burdensome.
Yet he could not dismiss them.
When he suggested leaving, the chief consort would protest loudly about safety.
Frustrating.
In the meantime, he spotted Shin Rip on the list of military exam passers and summoned him separately.
With his supernatural archery and swordsmanship, he would be more than a match for any group, so it would be safe to bring him along.
'Time to build the organization properly.'
Yi Yeon decided to create a new organization because he could not trust anyone.
“Stand up. Let’s go.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Yi Yeon walked lightly toward the next destination.
On his right, Kim Yang-bo.
On his left, Shin Rip.
Behind them, the chief consort followed with attendants.
Leaving behind the ministers grumbling about his unconventional appointments, * * *