Old Debts at the City Gate
"With enough money, it isn't difficult. The Amnok River is full of smugglers."
"Smugglers?"
"As you well know, the tribes across the river are always short of daily necessities. The amount released through the government-sanctioned markets is next to nothing. So naturally, some people slip goods across the border to sell in secret."
"Wouldn't they lose their heads if caught?"
"They would. But the profit is well worth the risk, and the authorities can hardly crack down too harshly. If the tribes can't obtain necessities through trade, they'll raid us — and everyone knows it."
"I suppose that's true..."
"Smugglers are creatures who live by their own law anyway. Pay them the right price, and they'll carry us safely across the river."
Hong-wi nodded slowly. This was the true face of the border, something the limited reports he'd received inside the Hanyang palace had never captured.
Ho-in muttered under his breath.
"I only hope they don't charge us an outrageous sum for ferrying three men across in secret."
"Worry about that later. For now, we should be celebrating the fact that we've survived the first leg of our journey."
"That's all well and good... but where do we go, and how exactly do we meet these smugglers?"
At Hong-wi's concern, Cha Gyeong-yeon broke into an easy grin.
"Leave that to me, Your Grace."
"You have connections even among smugglers?"
It was Ho-in who asked.
"There's nowhere I haven't been. Not just in Joseon — I've crossed the Amnok into Jianzhou Guard, gone over the Tumen into Moryeonwi, traveled west into Ming lands, and pushed north past Haeshi Guard into territories of savages whose very names are strangers to me. There was even a time I sailed across the sea to the islands of Japan."
Cha Gyeong-yeon answered as casually as if he were reciting a shopping list.
Ho-in could only stand there, mouth agape, unable to say a word.
Hong-wi suddenly found himself curious about Cha Gyeong-yeon's exact age — and the full story of the life he had lived.
"Now then, let's be on our way. The sun will be setting soon."
They walked toward the gates of the walled town. There, a single military officer who appeared to be the gatekeeper stood watch with a handful of soldiers under his command.
Ho-in whispered anxiously.
"How do we get past that?"
"Just leave it to me."
Cha Gyeong-yeon strolled toward the gatekeeper with perfect nonchalance. Before the officer could open his mouth, Cha Gyeong-yeon struck first.
"Well, if it isn't Yu Hyeong!"
"Who goes there?"
The gatekeeper called Yu squinted at him, uncertain.
"It's me, it's me. Gyeong-yeon! It's been so long you've forgotten my face, have you?"
Hong-wi and Ho-in went numb. So this man was on familiar terms even with border garrison officers?
The gatekeeper said nothing, simply thrusting his face in close. Then, a moment later, his expression brightened.
"Well, I'll be — it's Cha Gyeong-yeon! It really has been a while."
"That it has. I'm Jinman-hyeong's old junior Gyeong-yeon. Been keeping well?"
The soldiers, seeing their superior warmly welcoming the newcomer, gradually drifted away to thaw their hands over the fire pit. Though it was only autumn, the cold had already set in here, where the sun sank early.
"Ah, well enough."
Yu Jinman's face was all smiles.
"I'll be leaving this wretched backwater soon."
"Ah... so your posting is finally up, is it?"
"A posting's meant to be a year, and I've sat here three. That's more than enough, wouldn't you say?"
Officers were ordinarily required to serve at least one year at the frontier, but this Yu Jinman had somehow ended up stuck here for three.
"That's why I always say — don't make yourself noticed in the army. Whether it catches the eye of your superiors for good or ill, either way it's a headache."
"And when have you ever served in the army?"
Cha Gyeong-yeon answered only with a sly smile.
"Coming from so far off, I didn't realize it was you. So — what brings you to Ganggye all of a sudden? And who are those people behind you?"
"Ah, my traveling companions. Might we impose on your goodwill a little, hyeong-nim?"
"Companions?"
Yu Jinman's face turned troubled.
"That's difficult. Anyone else, and if it were you asking alone, fine — but we've had orders from above recently: no strangers admitted without an identity tablet to verify who they are."
"From above" could only mean the Governor of Ganggye Prefecture.
Cha Gyeong-yeon scrunched his face in annoyance. It was nothing new for border garrisons to refuse passage to suspicious characters, granted. But for Hong-wi's party, it was an unbearable obstacle.
So Cha Gyeong-yeon decided to wheedle instead.
"Oh, come now, Yu-hyeong. You can't trust your own sworn junior?"
"That's beside the point. Even a falling leaf deserves caution in times like these. I've only a little while left in this cursed northern posting — I've no intention of gambling it away now."
"Aiyo, that's a cold thing to do to this poor junior of yours..."
"I'm sorry, truly, after so long apart. But I've a wife and children to think of."
Yu Jinman would not bend.
Realizing persuasion was getting him nowhere, Cha Gyeong-yeon played his final card.
"Well then, I suppose I'll just have to report a case of misconduct to your superiors, won't I?"
"Misconduct? What misconduct—"
Despite his words, anxiety crept across Yu Jinman's face.
"My, has it already been three years? My memory's gone a little foggy, but... let's see. There was a certain officer who came to Ganggye for his first winter posting. Cold up here, I imagine. Well, after all, the cold here doesn't just nip — it kills, compared to anything down south. So naturally, he couldn't bear it without a bowl or two of rice wine. And being drowsy from the drink, his weapons — a soldier's very life, mind you — somehow went missing..."
"Stop it, stop it! Enough already!"
Yu Jinman hissed urgently, glancing around. Fortunately, the soldiers seemed too preoccupied warming themselves by the fire to have heard.
Confirming that no one was paying attention, Yu Jinman glared at him.
"Honestly, Gyeong-yeon. After everything, this is how you treat an old friend? All that is ancient history!"
"You think I wanted to bring it up, hyeong-nim? Look at it fairly — it all ended well in the end, didn't it? You tracked down the lost weapon, the matter closed without any court-martial. A happy ending all around."
Yu Jinman only clicked his tongue.
Cha Gyeong-yeon smiled crookedly.
"Hyeong-nim... isn't it best for everyone when things end nicely? You'll soon be off to a fine new posting somewhere, and my companions and I have business here. Everyone wins — isn't that right?"
"Agh, damn it all... You won't stir up any trouble, will you?"
Cha Gyeong-yeon drew himself up proudly.
"Hyeong-nim, has this Cha Gyeong-yeon ever once caused you grief?"
"That's true enough."
Yu Jinman moved to step aside, then hesitated.
"You coming here means you intend to cross the river."
"Aiyo, hyeong-nim. I'm a man who lives quite well without the law — when have I ever broken it?"
"Spare me the nonsense."
Yu Jinman's face was resolute.
"Whether you cross or not is no concern of mine — that's outside my jurisdiction. But I'm telling you this out of regard for an old friend's face."
"Oh? What trouble has come up now?"
Yu Jinman nodded.
"If you're thinking of crossing through Manpoguja, don't even dream that the same tricks will work there."
"Why not? Yongsun-hyeong is stationed at Manpoguja, isn't he?"
"Figures you wouldn't know. A new officer was posted to Manpoguja this year."
Yu Jinman glanced around, then lowered his voice.
"A man called Song Yu-bin. Utterly unbending in his principles, that one. They say he served under old Yi Jing-ok himself. His wife fell ill and he submitted his resignation — then the rebellion broke out. He escaped being branded a traitor, but in exchange he was exiled to this posting at Manpoguja."
"Is that so..."
"He's been there nigh on a year now, and the Manpo smugglers can't so much as stretch their legs."
"He's that bad?"
Yu Jinman nodded.
"Every last one of the men you used to know has probably had his palms read by now."
"That's a serious problem..."
Cha Gyeong-yeon glanced around as well, then asked in a low voice.
"And old Jang Hui-sun — is he safe?"
"Jang Hui-sun? He's an exception, no. But he's likely had to shelve almost his entire trade."
"Even Hui-sun-hyeong? The man who knows every current of the Amnok like the lines on his own palm?"
Cha Gyeong-yeon clicked his tongue.
"Well, regardless — Manpo won't be anything like you remember it."
"Is there no one you could introduce me to, hyeong-nim? A man of your standing must know someone who'd talk."
"And why would I? So you can squeeze one more officer on your way out?"
Cha Gyeong-yeon flashed a grin.
"Ah, don't be like that. Just think of it as saving the life of one dear junior."
Yu Jinman considered for a moment, then smiled wryly.
"Then shall we agree the debt between us is finally cleared? Never again will that little mistake of the past be mentioned..."
"Aigoo, three years rolling around Manpo and one honest officer has turned into a shrewd old merchant through and through."
"I've only a few months left myself. Let me leave with an easy heart."
Cha Gyeong-yeon raised both hands in surrender and shrugged.
"Fine, fine, have it your way! You'll be gone soon enough — why would I trip a man who's served his three years? That's more than enough of this place to rot in."
"Good. Let's part on good terms, then. Tell me — have you heard of Hwang Ga of Ganggye?"
"Hwang Ga...? You don't mean the man who worked as an interpreter for the Ganggye Prefecture office? The one whose father was a soldier at Manpoguja and whose mother was a tribal woman from across the river?"
"The very same."
"What about him...? Don't tell me he's gone into smuggling?"
"He's been at it nearly two years — no wonder you haven't heard."
"How did that happen...? Last I heard, he'd made a tidy fortune just from interpreting work."
"How should I know? The man clearly has a gift for this business, whatever it is. In a single year he's swallowed up a good share of the Manpo river routes. Though I suppose a man who ate government rice for so long would have greased plenty of palms along the way."
"Heh heh... And have you had a taste yourself, hyeong-nim? You do seem to know an awful lot — it makes me suspicious."
"Well... everyone's more or less the same in that respect. Anyone attached to the office has had a taste, I'd wager. Everyone except that Song Yu-bin."
Yu Jinman deflected awkwardly.
"Aiyo, when everyone's taking a bite, refusing one is no easy thing. Ganggye must be destined for great things — it's even produced a true Cheongbaengli."
"Anyway, that Song Yu-bin is liable to give Hwang Ga quite the headache."
"So we're to seek out Hwang Ga, then. We've never met, but... does he live inside the town walls?"
"For now, yes — though word is he moves next spring. He's building a house outside the walls, toward Manpoguja. They say it's practically a fortress."
"I suppose running a business from inside a garrison town would draw too many eyes. Will he be home if we call on him now?"
"Hard to say... He's most likely gone to supervise the house he's building toward Manpoguja. Who knows when he'll be back? He left a few days ago."
Cha Gyeong-yeon clicked his tongue.
"Then I suppose we'd best try the tavern first. Is it still as it used to be?"
"With Song Yu-bin squeezing the trade dry, business isn't what it was. Ah — that reminds me, the tavern's fallen into Hwang Ga's hands now too."
"That Hwang Ga fellow has quite the reach."
"Give it time. The day's coming when the Governor rules Ganggye by day and Hwang Ga rules it by night."
Yu Jinman yawned and went on.
"Though by then I'll be long gone."
"Thank you, hyeong-nim. It isn't much, but put it toward the household, will you?"
"Oh my... now what's this?"
Yu Jinman made a show of looking away, fidgeting for the sake of appearances.
"Your wife must have suffered through all those years you stood watch on the northern frontier. Think of it as a small gift for her — or as a gift from an old friend, whichever you prefer."
"Then I'll accept it gratefully..."
The token Cha Gyeong-yeon discreetly pressed on him had vanished into Yu Jinman's breast before anyone could see.
"Truly, my thanks."
"We mucked through the frontier's filth together — and may we never cross paths again!"
The two men roared with laughter.
Hong-wi and Ho-in followed Cha Gyeong-yeon in silence through the gate and into the town.
"Please don't judge that officer too harshly," Cha Gyeong-yeon said. "He's just an ordinary man, nothing more. And even so, he's a man who never forgets his duty."
Hong-wi nodded.
"After three years in a place like this, that's hardly a surprise."
"Indeed. The truth is, when he first arrived he was hopelessly rigid. He refused even the customary offers of drink. Only after I got food into him and lifted his missing blade off his hands did he start to listen to sense."
"So you were the culprit all along."
Hong-wi shook his head, half amused, half rueful.
Cha Gyeong-yeon grinned, but his expression soon darkened.
"That said... our task has grown rather complicated. It seems the whole trade has been turned on its head while we were away. In this business, connections matter more than coin."
"What will you do?"
"First... I'll try the old boatman I once knew. If that fails, we'll have to go to Hwang Ga."
"You mean that man Jang Hui-sun they mentioned?"
"The very same. Hwang Ga and I were never especially close."
Cha Gyeong-yeon continued, his face clouded in thought.
"But if that man truly has seized control of the Manpo waterways, we'll have to make his acquaintance sooner or later regardless."
"Why? Once we cross the river, we'll have nothing more to do with him, won't we?"
Ho-in tilted his head.
"It isn't quite so simple. Tell me — if you're going to live among the tribes, how exactly do you plan to survive?"
At Cha Gyeong-yeon's question, Ho-in found himself at a loss for words. Come to think of it, he had never given the matter any real thought. Until now, he had thought only of reaching the northern frontier safely — of stepping onto tribal lands — with no leisure to consider what came after.
After a moment, he admitted it honestly. Ho-in was far too honest a man to lie.
"I... I'm ashamed to say I hadn't thought that far. I suppose I'd build a little hut somewhere remote and isolated, and..."
"Just as I thought."
Cha Gyeong-yeon sighed.
"The tribes' lands may be vast, but the land worth living on is scarce. They're short of food even now — haven't they been begging Joseon for grain? So do you imagine they'd welcome strangers crowding in, Joseon men no less, asking to settle among them? By their own 'laws of hospitality' they'll gladly give a traveler a roof for a night, but the moment you ask to stay, the story changes entirely."
The two men listened to Cha Gyeong-yeon in silence.
"Even supposing you somehow find a place to live — what about clothes for your back, food for your belly? And how will you fend off the raiders who come plundering? No. That won't do. Whatever else may be said, the reason we've brought His Highness to this land is not merely to linger here a short while. It is to lay the foundation for the day His Highness returns to the soil of Joseon itself!"
Hong-wi flinched. Somewhere along the way, he had let that thought slip from his mind — and now Cha Gyeong-yeon had laid it bare before him for the first time.
The next moment, Hong-wi let out a long, slow sigh. The other two turned to look at him.
"Forgive me. I confess I hadn't thought that far either... There's no room for such ambitions at present, and beyond that, I'm not even certain I am a man fit to be king — a man properly prepared. I was merely born into the royal house by chance, that's all."
"In time, Your Grace will come to know it yourself. A pearl buried in the dirt loses none of its luster."
Hong-wi smiled quietly.
"Perhaps so. Go on, then. Tell me how I am to live in tribal lands, starting now."
"Yes, Your Grace. In the end, we must set our feet upon tribal soil and win their hearts. We must do it before we gather our strength — otherwise we cannot survive among tribes who turn away all strangers. And we must not settle in any one place — nor can we afford to."
"Then what are we to do?"
"You will travel as an itinerant peddler, Your Grace. As you know, the tribes are forever short of grain and daily goods. They can't even make the one thing they need most — iron. Would you believe they lack even a plowshare for their fields? They lash a dulled blade onto a wooden stick and call it a plow."
"I've heard as much myself."
However primitive they might be, to be unable even to forge iron...