The Emperor's Stele
Anchuunbugu lay in a fairly remote place.
It was not quite as deep in the wilderness as Sahalcha had been, but the route to it was even rougher, winding far into the mountains.
Then again, it stood to reason. It would take no ordinary effort for a clan fleeing the fall of a kingdom to evade pursuit by a hostile state and survive.
"Take this man along as your guide. His name is Utai."
The guide had been arranged through Pushan Hadaru.
Utai was a lean, wiry frontiersman with high, jutting cheekbones, thin lips, and a sly look about him somehow.
At first glance, he did not exactly inspire trust.
"How many times have you traveled to Anchuunbugu?"
"Three or four times."
Utai answered, then peered steadily at Hong-wi.
"Anchuunbugu lies deep in the mountains. There is only one road in, approaching from the south. There are other side paths, but save for the people of Anchuunbugu themselves, no one knows of them."
"I see. Then can you tell me about Grand Chieftain Onyan Isiha? Have you ever laid eyes on him yourself?"
Utai shook his head.
"I am nothing but a humble guide, my lord. I've glimpsed him once from a distance, that's all. How could I claim to know the man?"
Utai clearly knew the road to Anchuunbugu well enough, but he seemed to know little of Grand Chieftain Onyan Isiha himself.
Hong-wi was a little disappointed, but nodded readily enough.
"It would be good to learn more about Onyan Isiha."
"You have the token given by Chieftain Chahar of Sahalcha, don't you?"
It was Cha Gyeong-yeon's observation.
But Hong-wi shook his head.
"I'd rather not use that first."
"Did Chieftain Chahar not give it to you precisely so that Onyan Isiha would recognize it when he saw it? Using it would make things far easier."
When Ho-in asked in puzzlement, Hong-wi smiled awkwardly.
"That may be so, but I want to show him my true self and win Onyan Isiha's heart on my own merit."
At Hong-wi's words, Cha Gyeong-yeon only offered a faint smile, while Ho-in still tilted his head in confusion.
"In any case, welcome aboard. Come and meet the rest of our people."
"Right you are."
As it happened, Iharachi was there with his men as well.
"M'lord, I heard the next destination's been settled. Well, now—"
Iharachi's mouth fell open.
Hong-wi looked at him in puzzlement, and Utai too let out a low exclamation.
"Well, if it ain't... Iharachi?"
"Utai!"
Hong-wi's party could only stand there dumbfounded.
Iharachi and Utai stared at each other across the distance, and the next moment—without either needing to be first—they rushed together and clasped each other in a fierce embrace.
"Ya, it's been an age, this has! Utai! How've you been keeping yourself all this while?"
"Ah, I've been gettin' by, same as ever. Iharachi!"
Utai gazed at Iharachi with an expression full of old memories.
"You said you'd set up a trading company in Hwangseongpyeong—how'd that come along?"
"Things don't go the way a man wants, do they? A man needs capital first, don't he? I'll make it happen someday, sure enough."
"Hahaha!"
The two embraced again.
Utai turned to look at the people standing nearby.
"Tucheonggae, my friend, it's been a long while for you too. Say, does Iharachi here treat you right?"
"You know the answer to that already, don't you."
Tucheonggae grinned.
It was then that Hong-wi spoke.
"So the two of you know each other?"
"More than that, m'lord—we're from the same home country. We wandered so long as drifters, we didn't even know if the other was alive or dead."
"Well, he didn't die, and that's why you're meeting again like this. But tell me—how did you come to be in this man's service?"
"Ah, that. There's a bit of a story to it."
Utai nodded.
"I'll tell you sometime. But anyway... m'lord, there's no need to look the caravan over any further. I don't know how you won this man over, but if he's the one commanding the porters, there's nothing more to see. None better."
"That's reassuring to hear!"
Hong-wi smiled brightly as well.
It proved once more that recruiting Iharachi had been the right call.
"Now, back to the matter of Anchuunbugu."
"Anchuunbugu? So we're going to Anchuunbugu!"
"Quiet, you."
Iharachi cried out in surprise, and Utai shushed him.
He turned to Hong-wi and spoke.
"Summer's already closing in, so it might be wise to depart before the worst of the heat arrives."
"That has its logic, but we have preparations to make regardless, so departing quickly will be difficult."
"Fair enough."
Utai nodded.
Hong-wi turned to Ho-in with a small smile.
"Besides, we ought to stay until Old Man Cheon has recovered his health, shouldn't we."
At Hong-wi's words, Ho-in's expression brightened too.
Whenever he had spare time these days, Ho-in visited the Cheon household and tended the old man's illness with the utmost devotion.
It was as if he was trying to ease, in another's place, the knot in his heart left from being unable to save his own father—and Hong-wi understood exactly what moved him.
Yeon-bi, too, was deeply grateful for the kindness of Hong-wi's party.
"Thank you for caring for my father. But... I fear we may be imposing on you, my lord."
Hong-wi shook his head at her worry.
"Not at all. We must have our preparations firmly in place before taking to the road anyway, so think nothing of it."
Even acquiring tribute gifts for Anchuunbugu had taken time.
When the recipient was a man of ancient imperial blood, the gifts had to be prepared with matching distinction.
Hwang Ga had procured them specially, calling in every connection he had.
"With this much, there won't be a chieftain alive whose eyes won't gleam."
Jang Hui-sun declared it with total confidence.
Hong-wi inspected the goods.
There were rare silks, fine imported wines, precious ornaments, and more.
Every item was something the frontier tribes could scarcely obtain or make for themselves.
Hong-wi nodded.
"Excellent."
And yet his reaction seemed somehow strained.
Hong-wi wore the expression of a man deep in thought about something.
Jang Hui-sun answered, seeming a little taken aback.
"Goods like these are hard to come by anywhere. They'd lose nothing even offered up to the royal house itself, m'lord."
"Mm, it's not the quality I'm questioning."
Hong-wi replied.
That much was beyond doubt.
In truth, no one among them was better placed than Hong-wi to judge that fact.
"But still... it feels lacking, somehow. If Onyan Isiha is truly the man the rumors make him out to be."
"Yes, my lord..."
"There are more things I'll need you to procure for me."
Hong-wi listed them for Jang Hui-sun.
When he had heard them all, Jang Hui-sun tilted his head.
"Will those do the trick?"
"Perhaps... but get them for me anyway. They must be of the finest grade. Can it be done quickly?"
"That... may not be so quick as you'd hope, strangely enough. But—yes, I'll look into it."
One way or another, assembling all the provisions took nearly a full month, and by the time mid-July had slipped past, the summer heat was at its height.
Utai only shrugged his shoulders.
"Works out better for us, if you ask me. In heat like this, even the bandits lose their stomach for it. Rest through the burning midday, move in the cool of night—that's the way of it."
"In my humble opinion, that's right too."
Iharachi agreed with Utai.
"But we must keep ourselves well armed all the same. Things around Anchuunbugu have been suspicious of late. Even the merchants are giving that road a wide berth, looks like."
"Is that so."
Hong-wi took Iharachi's words to heart.
Utai made his own confident pledge.
"Fret not, m'lord. I've made the trip several times myself... and before we set out, I'll scout the road ahead first."
"Thank you."
Utai grinned.
One way or another, the final departure date was set for the end of July.
Utai returned as promised.
"It's true there are bandits about these days, but I've scouted out a safe route. I've sent word to Anchuunbugu as well. They'll be sending riders out to meet us partway."
"Well done. I appreciate it. Take this."
"Much obliged."
Hong-wi handed Utai his payment.
Utai accepted it with a wide grin.
And so all the preparations were complete.
Astonishingly, Pushan Hadaru came out in person to see them off.
"Take care on the road."
Pushan Hadaru paused a moment, then continued.
"Kunaha Lee Go-nap-hap still bears a grudge over what happened before, you see."
"...I will keep that in mind."
Hong-wi was a little surprised.
That Pushan Hadaru of all people would show such concern for him.
Meanwhile, the old man Cheon-noin and his daughter also came out to bid them farewell.
The old man, who had by now recovered a good deal of his health, could walk about on his own well enough with Yeon-bi supporting his arm.
Ho-in looked at him with worry.
"Your body has not yet healed. You shouldn't push yourself."
"With my benefactor departing, how could I lie abed claiming to be unwell?"
Cheon-noin tried to manage a bright smile, but his smile broke off into a rattling cough.
"Elder, are you all right?"
"I'm ashamed of myself."
The old man managed to smile again at last.
But that smile looked frail indeed.
"Still, thanks to my benefactor going so far as to summon a physician, I have mended a great deal."
"It was nothing at all. I'm glad to hear you're better."
Hong-wi smiled faintly.
Because they had specially sent word all the way to Ganggye through Jang Hui-sun to bring back a physician, Cheon-noin's lung illness had improved considerably.
But the sickness had taken such deep root over the years that the old man must never overexert himself again, not ever.
Ho-in turned to Yeon-bi with his instructions.
"The medicine has been collected in advance, and the rice and provisions have been arranged through Master Hui-sun. See that your father takes them faithfully. And—you must not go wandering about. If you need anything, send someone."
Ho-in urged her again and again.
And with good reason—there was no telling whether Lee Go-nap-hap and his band might attempt some foul reprisal.
"When I return, I will come see you again."
"Thank you."
Yeon-bi bowed her head and answered in a small voice.
Her cheeks were flushed a faint pink, somehow.
Ho-in, for no particular reason, cleared his throat and turned away.
He had just turned back toward Hong-wi when Yeon-bi called out.
"Wait a moment..."
"What's this?"
Ho-in caught it awkwardly in his hands.
It was a delicately stitched fragrance pouch.
Yeon-bi spoke in a voice just barely above a whisper.
"It's nothing much, but... it will carry good fortune with you on your journey."
"...Thank you."
At her thoughtfulness, the bridge of Ho-in's nose tingled without reason.
He tucked the pouch away with the utmost care.
"I will carry it with me always."
"Go safely."
Ho-in nodded, then turned his back.
He hesitated a moment, then looked back at Yeon-bi once more.
"Well then, until we meet again..."
Ho-in could not bring himself to finish, and instead hurried back to Hong-wi's party.
Head bowed low, he said:
"All preparations are complete, my lord. We should go."
"...Indeed."
Hong-wi replied.
A faint smile was etched at the corners of his mouth.
Even Cha Gyeong-yeon, ever the prankster, for once said nothing, wearing only a knowing smile.
Utai, their appointed guide, shouted the call.
"Let's be off, then!"
And they took to the road.
Compared to their first expedition, Hong-wi's caravan was larger in scale this time, and a fair number of onlookers had turned out as well.
Ho-in thought to himself.
Hmph. From the looks of it, half these gawkers are plants sent by the other trading companies in Hwangseongpyeong.
Just as he suspected, most of the onlookers were men dispatched by the other frontier trading companies in Hwangseongpyeong.
Ever since their resounding success at Sahalcha, Hong-wi's caravan had quietly become a subject of watchful interest.
Ho-in began to wonder how many among them were hoping to see them fail—then gave up counting.
What did it matter?
"Make way there!"
Iharachi, iron flail strapped at his waist, began carving a path through the crowd along with his men.
That iron flail was a weapon Hong-wi had specially gifted him for this journey, and it seemed to suit Iharachi's temperament perfectly.
Cowed by Iharachi's menace, the onlookers shuffled backward and gave ground.
Under Utai's guidance, Hong-wi's party set out from the western outskirts of Hwangseongpyeong.
They had traveled for some time when a stone stele came into view on the far horizon.
Hong-wi halted his horse and called Utai over.
As Utai turned, Hong-wi raised his riding whip and pointed at the stele.
"What is that?"
"That, m'lord?"
Utai narrowed his eyes and gazed at the monument.
"That is the Emperor's stele."
"The Emperor's stele?"
"That's right. A stele said to have been raised by an old emperor of the Jin dynasty."
At those words, Cha Gyeong-yeon, riding alongside Ho-in behind Hong-wi, felt his expression shift almost imperceptibly.
Utai went on.
"Among our people, it is revered as a kind of sacred ground. The elders say the stele records the achievements of Lord Taeso Wanyan Aguda, but not a soul knows what the words on it actually mean."
"I see."
Hong-wi nodded as he gazed at the dark stele in the distance.
Even from afar, he felt he could sense the spirit of a great hero radiating from it, and the sight struck him powerfully.
"I should like to go and read that stele someday. To touch it with my own hands and feel the soul lodged within it."
"You'd best not."
Utai smiled wryly.
"As I said, it's holy ground to them... so folk don't much care for strangers coming and going. No one will stop you from entering, mind you. But some say that if you pass this place with your head held too high, you'll incur the emperors' wrath and come to ruin. True or not, the people who travel this road pay their respects once from a distance and hurry on past."
"Hah, is that so."
"It's wisest for us to hurry on as well. We've a long road yet, haven't we?"
Utai's reasoning was sound enough that Hong-wi nodded and turned his gaze away.
Ho-in, meanwhile, had noticed that something about Cha Gyeong-yeon's face was shadowed.
"Brother Cha, what's the matter?"
"Hm? Nothing at all."
Despite his answer, Cha Gyeong-yeon's face had fallen utterly grave.