Where the Pact Broke - 3
Thankfully, we didn't have a tenth meeting with the group of patriots who loved Guyongguan too much. If it had gone beyond what I could count on two hands, I was prepared to ship them off to Jiayu Pass, but it seemed there weren't that many overflowing with patriotism for Jiayu Pass yet.
"Welcome, Deputy Censorate Inspector. You must have had a hard journey."
As we entered Tianzhou under the escort of soldiers, the Provincial Commander of Fujian greeted us.
We're screwed.
The Provincial Commander himself coming out to meet a Deputy Censorate Inspector outside the capital? No matter how you looked at it, this wasn't normal. I shed invisible tears inside.
How furious must Dong-gu Wang have been for the military commander to rush all the way to Tianzhou, where the water bandits were rampaging? He must have lifted his heavy rear out of fear that any delay might bring Dong-gu Wang's punishment down on him too.
"I don't know where to put myself with such a warm welcome from you, sir."
I gave him a sympathetic look before cupping my hands in respect. This guy was a proper second-rank official who wouldn't bow to anyone anywhere, and stationed in distant Fujian, he didn't seem overly ambitious. But he'd gotten tangled up with these crazy idiots who didn't know their place and was about to get marked by the king.
Even for someone with little ambition, dishonorable retirement was terrifying. No, if it ended with just retirement after being marked by the king, that might be lucky.
"Nonsense. I've long heard of the Deputy Censorate Inspector's tireless efforts for the realm and wanted to host you properly someday, but instead, I've dragged you to a place like this. I can't even lift my head before you."
The Provincial Commander shook his head bitterly, clearly imagining his dark future. It was heartbreaking. A man old enough to be my father suffering like this because of some punk water bandit scum.
Thinking of my own father back in the capital, I couldn't just let this slide.
"This unfortunate incident must be heaven's will to bring us together. Now that it's fulfilled, we just need to set right what's gone wrong."
"D-Deputy Censorate Inspector..."
His expression brightened a little at my words. I could fully understand the Provincial Commander's feelings. A problem erupting in his jurisdiction was maddening enough, but knowing he was the top responsible party must have been even more agonizing. The helplessness of having no one to complain to and no one able to help—that was the deepest despair a bureaucrat could feel.
And here I was, lower in rank but with far greater authority, boldly declaring it would all be fine. It must have felt like a ray of light in a pitch-black tunnel.
"So once this is over, sir, throw a feast for us. I'm the type who wanders around a lot, so my stomach's a bit on the big side..."
"Don't worry! I'll prepare enough to fill even the Deputy Censorate Inspector's belly!"
It was a blatant demand for a bribe, but he reacted with delight. He was probably thinking, If even this bribe-demanding bastard fails, what kind of person would that make me?
Whatever he thought, as long as the boss relaxed, that was a win.
"Then let's start by checking the details of what happened."
That way, I could actually do my job. The one thing I'd been most curious about on the way here from Jwa Do-eosa's orders was this:
How the hell did they get robbed?
If it had been some ordinary merchant ship's vessel from a local guild, I could've brushed it off as "average for the era." If a local rich guy's ship got hit, "tough luck." But Dong-gu Wang's ship getting robbed by water bandits? That was incomprehensible—and shouldn't be comprehended.
This was like Mansur's oil tanker getting jacked by Somali pirates.
And the revealed truth was disappointingly brutal.
"Fuck."
The curse slipped out as I read the report. According to the investigations by Fujian's Censorate Inspector, swinging his executioner's axe at those involved in this incident, the unprecedented robbery of Dong-gu Wang's ship wasn't due to the Pirate King appearing or deep-sea monsters attacking.
The water bandit group known as Cheonhaepa, led by Gu-eul-ryeong, had a reputation for frivolous and brutal behavior, often mingling with like-minded parakho vagabonds.
Boldly eyeing His Highness Dong-gu Wang's ship with forbidden greed, Cheonhaepa shared their wicked scheme with their usual parakho associates, who in turn extracted details from corrupt soldiers they knew—such as which port the ship would dock at and its level of escort.
Fuck.
Re-reading the report made my vision blur. There was more lengthy text after, but it boiled down to this: The bandit scum tasked shady parakho—who evaded official scrutiny—with gathering intel. Those informants used their connections and a bit of bribery to snag key secrets.
In other words, Dong-gu Wang's ship got robbed because of trash connections and cash from societal dregs.
"Haha, heh, uhahahaha!"
The shocking truth had the Provincial Commander laughing like a madman. Rumor had it the Censorate Inspector had already fainted. Honestly, I wanted to pass out too.
I couldn't accept that something this pathetic had enraged the king. I'd rather it was a Mongol raid from the sea.
This disgusting medieval era.
It made my teeth chatter. Even in modern times with advanced transport and comms, absurd corruption gets exposed now and then. In the even more backward Middle Ages—especially in a dirt-vast land like China—worse corruption running rampant was just the era's average.
Yeah, that damn "era average." It had struck again.
"Provincial Commander, sir."
"Pfhuh... Speak, Deputy Censorate Inspector."
"How the hell do we report this?"
He closed his eyes like a man facing execution. Telling the king, Your soldiers took bribes and leaked secrets! Chest just tightens imagining it.
Cheonhaepa—whatever the fuck they were—got smashed in an instant. The Censorate Inspector's axe frenzy had already mapped out all their info, and realizing his own soldiers were accomplices woke the Provincial Commander up. He personally razed their hideout to the ground.
Not figuratively—literally bulldozed it. Any tough survivors amid the rubble would be leaders or officers, and he was dead set on interrogating them.
"Walk straight, you bastards!"
"What? Can't walk? Want me to make you crawl!?"
"You just need to open your mouths anyway! Better walk before we chop off limbs and carry you!"
With the Provincial Commander fuming at the helm, his soldiers below were even worse. The troops securing the miraculously surviving Cheonhaepa dragged them like grudges who'd skipped out after asking parents for bail. Human rights for Cheonhaepa? Vanished with Dong-gu Wang's property long ago.
What now?
Watching Cheonhaepa suffer not prostrations but beatings, I pondered. We'd caught the damn pirate scum, but that was no consolation. Catching the culprits after the king's property got stolen was a given; recovering the loot was non-negotiable.
The real issue: how to soothe the king's bruised pride.
After agonizing, I reached a conclusion.
No answer.
I'd bluffed confidently in front of the Provincial Commander like it was all solvable, but truth was, zilch. If he stayed mopey, even nabbing the pirates properly might fail. Just some bravado to get the pirates caught first—so we'd have something to say to Dong-gu Wang.
Should I grovel on a hot grill?
No joke—might be the only way to calm Dong-gu Wang. Soothing people works best at their level; you give gifts and such. But what do you give a king who lacks for nothing?
Wealth? Nothing richer than Dong-gu Wang in all Daesong except the imperial house.
Honor? As a founding merit subject outshining the Iseongwangs, that'd last till Song falls.
Power? Higher than a king's is the emperor's, you traitor scum.
"Wi-cheo."
"Yes, sir."
After another long silence, I spoke to Jo Wi-cheo beside me.
"Prepare to head to Zhejiang. Better take the first beating."
"...Are you sure that's wise?"
Even Jo Wi-cheo, who always followed orders, questioned it. That's how dire things were.
Still, it touched me a bit. This machine of a man worrying about me.
"If you screw up, I'll starve too."
Almost stung for a second, but I reframed positively. We're in it together, so he'll serve even better. Actually good.
"I write in every new will that they shouldn't punish you, so don't worry."
"An honor."
His face subtly brightened. Kid was really worried I'd croak and cut his rice bowl.
I won't die.
Dong-gu Wang wouldn't kill me. That much I was sure. But the mental pressure would make me wish for death. That too, certain.
Cranky old bastard.
Once age makes you grumpy, just ascend to serve your ancestors. But no, top-tier expert means disgustingly long life.