Peace is the Problem - 2
Gongdongpa's sect leader and elders welcomed us with polite, peaceful hospitality. As Inspector Baek Joo-il had reported, there were no particular incidents at Gongdongpa—
"Oh ho. So this little one's that baby mak, huh."
"What a cute little thing. No wonder its sire caused such a ruckus if it has offspring like this."
Buooong!
"Haha, looks like it understands when it's being praised."
Perhaps because the mak incident that had threatened Gongdongpa's honor had been resolved in a Confucian manner, they just chuckled good-naturedly even upon seeing the baby mak. No one freaked out, foamed at the mouth, or anything like that. It was truly a rare taste of peace.
At Hengshanpa, there was the Kki-ing incident; at Hangshanpa, the gunpowder smuggling scandal; Zhongnanpa and Huashanpa had the Baek Gi tomb exploration and martial tournament; Cheongseongpa and Amipa had the poison theft. Every single one of the founding merit sects we'd visited so far had some kind of trouble.
Thinking about it, it's downright terrifying. How does every sect we go to have an incident?
'This is normal.'
So, watching the sect leader smile warmly as he offered me tea, and the elders fawning over the baby mak, I subtly lifted the corner of my mouth. Yeah, this is normal.
If incidents erupted everywhere we went, it wouldn't be a regional problem anymore. It'd mean I was the plague-bringer, the root cause.
But in Gansu, the mak rampage had been quickly contained. We'd visited the founding merit sect Gongdongpa, and there was zero commotion. Up till now, we'd just been cursed with the worst luck imaginable. This was just us burning off some bad karma extra hard for peaceful days ahead.
"I have urgent words for the Left Vice Inspector General alone."
That was what I'd thought. "This is something not even known within Gongdongpa beyond myself and a few elders, so I had no choice but to request this private audience."
Until the hospitality ended and the sect leader requested a private meeting with a grave expression.
"Is that so?"
I nearly burst into tears right then. We'd all been laughing haha hoho together just moments ago, but the moment the elders withdrew, an ominous air filled the room. I wanted to leave with the elders. Could I slip out now and pretend this meeting never happened...?
'Plague-bringer.'
I gulped down the now-cold tea and sighed inwardly. Guess I really am a plague-bringer and root cause.
Lying on the bed, I stared blankly at the ceiling.
"Things near Jiayu Pass seem off. Even the Jiayu Commandant mentioned something strange happening up north."
The sect leader who'd requested the private audience had dropped something far more horrifying than I'd imagined.
Jiayu Pass was the key stronghold defending against invasions from the northern and western barbarians. The west was quiet, shielded by natural barriers of desert and mountains, but the north was held by the Central Plains' age-old nemesis.
The Mongols. Our foe for a hundred, a thousand years.
'Of all things, the Mongols.'
What a headache. If it were an internal Gongdongpa issue or something within Gansu, I could twist myself into knots to fix it. No matter how thorny, throw manpower and resources at it, and it'd sort itself out somehow.
But a problem beyond the border? No dice. A mere Left Vice Inspector General like me couldn't cross the border or make unauthorized contact with foreign powers.
Foreign affairs were for on-site commanders or the Ministry of Rites, not inspection bureaucrats. Just like that Goryeo gunpowder smuggling case.
'Can't just ignore it, though.'
My nationwide tour was to secure cooperative murim forces for the bureaucracy, sure—but more fundamentally, to handle problems too tough for local officials alone. The Mongol stir at Jiayu Pass was exactly that.
So I couldn't just shrug it off with 'not my jurisdiction.' At minimum, I had to see it with my own eyes, hear a full report from the on-site commander, the Jiayu Commandant. Only then could I inform the capital of Jiayu Pass's situation and my efforts.
Even if I couldn't solve it myself, I had to try. The difference between trying and failing versus giving up without trying? The center weighed that heavily.
'The Jiayu Commandant was a pretty capable guy.'
I sat up in bed, organizing my thoughts. Naturally—and fortunately—the man in charge at Jiayu Pass was a competent general. More than capable of managing the stronghold and guarding the border.
'Nam Ok.'
Nam Ok. A talent who'd made his name through military exploits even in real history. A famous general who'd conquered countless Ming-adjacent border regions. Though his pride in his own abilities made him arrogant and presumptuous, leading him down the purge path common to most Ming founding merits.
'Perfect, personality aside.'
And in this world, he hadn't racked up enough achievements yet to awaken that oversized ego, so his sole flaw wasn't an issue.
'If left alone, he'd at least maintain the status quo...'
I absently stroked Samshik, dozing peacefully on the desk. Considering the Jiayu Commandant's skills, he wouldn't get one-sidedly toyed with by Mongol unrest. With his unawakened personality, he'd act cautiously and meticulously. He might not resolve it perfectly, but he could prevent it from worsening.
But what if—what if—the Jiayu Commandant managed to handle this Mongol stir single-handedly and caught the capital's eye?
'Even a fine man could get twisted.'
One misstep, and that dormant oversized ego could awaken. A talent meant to lead Great Song in the future might warp into something twisted.
So what choice did I have? Annoying as it was, I'd move for the future's sake. I was heading to Jiayu Pass anyway.
"Damn northern barbarians."
I muttered my true feelings without thinking.
Per the original plan, I'd just exchange greetings with the Jiayu Commandant and pass through. Now Jiayu Pass would have me racking my brains to contain the Mongol unrest, drafting tearful reports to draw central attention and support.
The mere thought made my head spin.
Two days later, I hurriedly packed and prepared to depart for Jiayu Pass. Truth be told, I'd wanted to leave yesterday, but sending off honored guests from afar after just one day went against Central Plains sensibilities. How poor and rude would you have to be to just ship off precious visitors like that? For face-obsessed Central Plains folk, that gaze was social death.
Even leaving now was possible only because the sect leader knew Jiayu Pass's state was amiss. Any other sect, and it'd be five days before we could budge.
"We pray the Left Vice Inspector General's path ahead is smooth."
"Thank you, Sect Leader. I too pray for you and Gongdongpa's safety."
After the ritual farewell, I scooped up the baby mak and set off. The road ahead was urgent, so I couldn't let the mak roam free. Too far to let it sniff around at every step.
Buooong!
"Be patient for now. You can roam free once we arrive."
Buoo...
At those words, the baby mak drooped but obediently snuggled into my arms—
Shiiik! Shiik!
Buoo?
—only to have an awkward encounter with Samshik, already nestled in my bosom. An exceedingly awkward meeting, but thankfully, Samshik didn't end up as mak chow. A bit of drool was all—just call it endearing.
Sandstorm stinging my eyes and roughening my mouth. Unable to bear it, I spat subtly, sand grains mixing with saliva and hitting the ground.
'Damn it.'
The sight soured my mood. Sand was commonplace near Jiayu Pass, so this was daily life—but for the Mongols to stir trouble right when even the wind turned against us? Utterly infuriating.
But what could be done? A mere human couldn't defy nature.
"Commandant, sir!"
As I brushed sand from my clothes with a mix of bitterness and irritation, my deputy commandant came running.
"What? The Mongols again?"
I sighed at his urgent look. These accursed Mongols. No direct clashes yet, but them loitering right up to the naked eye was grating. I wanted to chase them down and thrash them.
But I held back. Unless they struck first or approached Jiayu Pass excessively, us attacking first—
"The Left Vice Inspector General has arrived!"
"What?"
I furrowed my brow at those words. The Left Vice Inspector General—a high Dochalwon official. Though two ranks above me, a central bureaucrat with inspection authority who could ignore that gap easily.
No, as crown prince scion, he'd merit a bow even without the title.
'Coming all the way here?'
Even more shocking: such a bigwig visiting this remote frontier of frontiers. I'd figured even if he came to Gansu, it'd be just Nanju or Qongqushan.
'Did the sect leader mention it?'
Indeed, I'd told Gongdongpa's sect leader the Mongols' movements seemed suspicious. Gongdongpa was the shield cooperating with the bureaucracy in crises to protect the realm. The sect leader needed prior knowledge.
Thanks to that, word reached the Left Vice Inspector General via the sect leader. A central official arriving at Jiayu Pass before my own report even went up.
'Impressive...'
Complicated feelings. Before I could complain of woes or show incompetence, the center had come first. No excessive need to grovel since I hadn't begged for aid.
But the center grasping the situation and arriving before my border report meant their eyes and ears blanketed the realm.
I harbored no disloyal thoughts toward His Majesty or Great Song—but realizing my every move was known even from afar sent chills down my spine.
"...Let's go. Can't keep a guest from afar waiting."
"Yes, sir!"
Of course, no intention of showing those feelings. As long as I didn't oppose the center, that immense central might would embrace even frontier generals like me in benevolence.