The Handshake Trial
Keshine let out a small sigh. It hadn't been unexpected, but it was a rite of passage they would have to pass through all the same.
For the Jurchens, the measure of a man rested first on whether he shared their blood, and second on whether he belonged to their tribe. Hong-wi was neither — and on top of that, he was a Joseon man. Plenty of them harbored resentment toward Joseon.
"Look here," Keshine began. "Was anyone ever born having chosen beforehand which mukun they'd be born into?"
"No, sir."
"And what about deciding which hala to carry before drawing breath?"
"No one, sir."
The Kakduri brothers dropped their eyes. They knew exactly what was coming.
"Then is there a single soul who could choose to be born a Joseon man or a Jurchen man?"
"Seongnime," Kakduri said quietly. "That's hardly the same thing."
"And how is it different? You made a fine point earlier. Sonata is of Khitan stock, and Tashari and Tasbuka are of Mongol blood. Well? Weren't those brothers foreigners too? And what of them now? They are our dearest brothers and members of the Eight Stalwarts."
The Kakduri brothers and Maruchi still looked disgruntled, but they offered no further argument against Keshine.
Just then, Tanduri spoke up. "Might we have a word among ourselves for a moment?"
"Of course. Go ahead."
The three of them drifted off to one corner, and Keshine sighed again.
"Hm. We've shown you an ugly sight, my lord."
"It's quite all right. It seems those fellows carry some old grievance against Joseon."
"They can hardly help it. The Kakduri brothers and Maruchi aren't from these parts. Kakduri's clan originally lived south of the Tumen River, until Joseon built fortresses there decades ago and claimed the land, driving them out. That's why the resentment toward Joseon still smolders in them."
"I see. That's understandable enough. And the boy, Maruchi?"
"He has his own story too. Maruchi isn't from here either — he's from Moryeonwi. His parents were killed by the Joseon army. When a punitive force raided his village, they were caught up in it and slain. Maruchi drifted here with his little sister Arachi, and Tung Jugang took them in."
"...Good heavens."
Hong-wi's heart grew heavy. The order of the Joseon frontier survived only through a vicious cycle of blood washing out blood. The tidy reports he had read in Hanyang — so many dead today, so many taken captive — could never capture that chain of hatred.
To Joseon, the tribesmen who raided the border at every opportunity were nothing but incorrigible bandits. To the Jurchens, the Joseon officials who lived in comfort yet rigidly strangled trade and squeezed usurious profits besides were nothing but low, scheming swindlers.
"...I confess I don't know how the others will come to see me."
"I won't claim it will be easy, but I can tell you this much. When we first took in foreigners ourselves, we went through much the same measles. But living alongside them, we found our hearts aligned, and they became our dearest friends. If that's so for us, why should it be impossible for Lord Temusi-i?"
"Hearing that puts my mind at ease."
Hong-wi smiled at him. Their eyes turned to the three men, huddled at a distance and murmuring among themselves. What were they saying? Hong-wi wondered inwardly.
"I don't care for it, taking in that Joseon man."
"Neither do I. But look here..."
At Tanduri's words, Kakduri paused a moment before speaking. "Big Brother and even Brother Keshine are willing to accept him. There must be something to him after all."
"What — that's absurd. On what grounds?"
"How would I know?"
When Tanduri glared at him, Kakduri said irritably, "If both of them have said it, then that fellow has no choice but to be let into our band."
"Why... whyever not?"
"Think, man. Knowing Sonata's temperament, he won't care about any of this. If the man has skill, he'll say take him. Tasbuka and Tashari will likely be no different. Ah — well, they're Mongols, after all."
"That's true enough."
"Does the fellow actually have any skill?"
"Going by rumor, he's not lacking."
"Hey, Maruchi. Got nothing to say?"
"...What would a squirt like me know?"
"Don't be a fool. We honestly don't know what that Joseon fellow is thinking, coming here. Who's to say he isn't a spy?"
"Are you saying you don't trust Big Brother Tung Jugang or Brother Keshine?"
"That's not it, but... anyway, I'm against it. Against, I say."
"Then here's what we'll do. Give him a proper taste of trouble. Let's show him a good dose of bitter and salty."
"If he gets spooked and runs off, splendid. If he clings on anyway, we'll think again then."
"Agreed."
Having settled the matter, the three returned to Keshine, Hong-wi, and Ho-in.
"Well then. What did you decide?"
"Well... truth be told, I can't say I like you. But if Big Brother receives you as a guest, then it seems we ought to give you the courtesy due one."
"...Well reasoned."
Keshine narrowed his eyes. He had not expected these hotheads to fold this readily, and it showed on his face.
Kakduri turned to Hong-wi with a crooked grin. "Welcome, then, as our guest."
He held out his hand first. His manner was a peculiar thing — neither deferential nor respectful, neither hostile nor quite friendly.
Hong-wi, betraying nothing, took his hand. "Much obliged."
Kakduri smiled — but did not let go. On the contrary, he began slowly tightening his grip.
Hong-wi saw through him at once. So he means to test me.
Nothing could be read from the oily glimmer in Kakduri's eyes. Hong-wi, calm and unblinking, held his gaze without wavering and squeezed back.
The standoff held. Their clasped hands gradually began to redden.
By now even Ho-in sensed what was happening. He stepped forward, but Hong-wi shot him a quick look, and Ho-in withdrew with visible unease. Keshine, for his part, made no move to intervene, watching the contest in silence. It was a duel that had to happen once, sooner or later — and it could well happen more than once.
Time passed, and Kakduri's eyes began to waver ever so slightly. This fellow... he's stronger than he looks.
Kakduri glared at Hong-wi. Hong-wi said nothing at all.
Then Hong-wi allowed the faintest smile. It was so slight that the others standing nearby never noticed — only Kakduri, right in front of him, could just barely catch it.
The bastard is toying with me...
Before he knew it, Kakduri's shirt was going damp with sweat. The man didn't look nearly that strong. What in the world was going on? He licked his lips.
Just then, Keshine broke the deadlock. "I'd say the courtesies have been well and properly exchanged, no? It's about time we were heading to the stockade."
"...Yes, Big Brother."
Kakduri managed the reply as he slackened his grip a fraction. Perhaps from straining too hard, his voice came out cracked and unsteady.
Hong-wi eased his own grip as well — but did not let go entirely. Neither man surrendered the contest of wills, even as both slowly let the force drain away.
"Shall we release, then?"
"Let's."
When their clasped hands finally came apart, both were red and swollen. Neither showed it in the least.
"You've got a fair grip yourself," Kakduri said grudgingly.
"As do you," Hong-wi answered shortly.
A strange look crossed Kakduri's face. "I'd like us to get along well from here on. Care if I show you around?" He flashed his grin again.
Hong-wi studied him carefully for a moment, then smiled at last. "If you're willing to go to the trouble, I'd be grateful."
"Then that settles it. Brother Keshine — Tung Jugang won't arrive until this evening at the earliest, won't he? I was thinking I'd escort this gentleman around for a look..."
Keshine was no fool. He glanced at Hong-wi and asked, "What say you, my lord? Will you be all right?"
"Of course." Hong-wi nodded.
"Hm. If Lord Temusi-i says so... Listen, Kakduri, Tanduri."
"Yes, Big Brother."
The two answered in unison. Keshine fixed Kakduri with a long, hard stare.
"You know well enough that Lord Temusi-i is the guest of Jugang and myself. See that he is treated accordingly."
Under that stern gaze, Kakduri flinched. It was as if the man had seen straight through to his hidden designs.
"Of course, of course."
Kakduri flexed his throbbing hand open and shut, then turned away with his brother. Tanduri sidled up and asked quietly, "What in the world was that, Brother? Why'd you drag it out so long?"
"Drag it out, nothing. The fellow's no pushover, I'll tell you."
He scowled and waved his hand about. "Ah, damn it all! The grip just wouldn't give. He's got more strength than he shows."
"So what now? After Brother Keshine called you out like that, how do you mean to put one over on him?"
"I've got it all planned. Hey — Maruchi!"
"Whaddya want?"
Maruchi answered sullenly.
"Go on ahead. Go find Judongi."
"Judongi?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down!"
Tanduri and Maruchi yelped at once. Kakduri frowned and shot a glance at Keshine, who happened to be talking with Hong-wi's party.
"...Judongi could land a proper blow on that Joseon fellow. Go tell him a Joseon lad's come in with strength like nobody's business. Tell him you've had a look and Judongi's no easy mark himself either — say just that much, and the job's half done."
"Sure, sure, I'll say that much... but where am I supposed to find him?"
"How would I know? Aren't you the one who runs around with him all the time?" Tanduri cut in. "You two hang about together, don't you?"
"Aigoo, the hard jobs all land on me. Fine, fine, I'll go."
Maruchi stuck out his tongue. "I'm off then. Where'll we meet?"
"The log bridge at the stockade entrance. He's bound to pass through there."
"Got it."
At Tanduri's words, Maruchi gave a bob of a bow and darted off, his figure blurring and fading from view in moments.
As Hong-wi walked over at an even pace, Kakduri greeted him with a smooth smile. "Then let's be off."
"After you."
The Kakduri brothers took the lead, with Hong-wi and Ho-in following behind.
Ho-in lowered his voice. "Will you truly be all right, my lord? Those fellows are clearly up to something — I don't like the look of them one bit."
"I'd imagine so. No — they certainly are."
The answer came, surprisingly, without a trace of concern. Ho-in's eyes went round as a rabbit's.
"My lord?"
"They were bristling at me a moment ago, then they huddle up, mutter among themselves, and turn friendly as you please — who wouldn't see through that? They mean to give me a hard time, no doubt."
"But... then why, knowing that..."
Ho-in glanced around nervously. "What if these men should do Your Majesty harm in a place like this?"
"They still have their elder brothers to answer to, so they won't dare go too far. And besides—"
Hong-wi smiled.
"If they cannot bring themselves to accept me, then I must make them. If they mean to put me through the wringer, let them try their best. And what have I to fear, with you at my side?"
"...I understand, my lord. But do be careful."