The Culprit Is in Beijing
It was a report detailing how the constables of the Patrol Bureau under the Five Cities Commandery, acting on the orders of Minister of Justice Cheon Myeong-seung, were turning Beijing upside down in search of assassin organizations.
Their investigative direction, however, was unmistakably a targeted probe aimed squarely at the Military Pi Clan.
Hui-yeom let out a short snort of laughter.
“Looks like the Eight Great Families don’t get along quite as well as I thought.”
From a third party’s perspective, one might wonder whether the Pi Clan truly failed to foresee how events would unfold if an assassination attempt were made on Hui-yeom—making the very idea that a Pi had planned the hit seem strange. Yet there was a reason for it.
Of course, fabricating an assassination that never happened and shaking the board first had been Hui-yeom’s own stratagem. What amplified that stratagem to its fullest, however, was the Emperor’s furious reaction and the pressure he brought to bear on the Cheon Clan.
In truth, even the Pi Clan had never imagined the Emperor would go this far.
Pi Jae-hyeon had been able to casually order Pi Se-ha to assassinate Hui-yeom because he was confident that a clean success would keep the matter from growing this large.
Even if an assassination carried out on the Pi Clan’s orders had actually taken place, Pi Jae-hyeon believed he could still smooth things over with the Minister of Justice by making a suitable show of “sincerity.”
After all, this would hardly have been the first time loyal ministers who had been tormenting the Eight Great Families on the Emperor’s behalf had been quietly assassinated—and never once before had the Emperor flown into a rage like this.
On those earlier occasions the Emperor had merely scolded the Ministry of Justice with a few sharp words; he had never openly displayed such fury.
Yet this time the Emperor had raged as if he were a different man entirely.
Most likely the Emperor had been waiting for the perfect moment, unwilling to waste a “Ministry of Justice pressure card” he could play at any time for so little effect.
And this was precisely that moment.
Dang Hui-yeom was the “hero who had saved three provinces,” a man the Emperor held dear.
For such a man to suffer an assassination attempt in Beijing itself—the Emperor’s own city—was more than enough to become an explosive incident.
From the viewpoint of Beijing’s officials, it was as if a landmine had suddenly detonated on a road they had walked without incident for more than a decade.
“From the Pi Clan’s perspective this must be complicated. They’re indignant because they didn’t actually do it, yet at the same time they feel relief because they almost did and then didn’t.”
“Either way, they’re in a tight spot. That much doesn’t change.”
Hui-yeom smiled as he set the report aside.
“I feel a little sorry for the Cheon Clan, who got hit by a bolt from the blue while minding their own business—but there must be no culprit for this affair. So the Pi Clan needn’t worry. I’m only sorry I can’t tell them.”
If a culprit—real or fabricated—were caught, the Cheon Clan would complete their mission one way or another, and the Emperor would no longer be able to milk the incident for further advantage.
Therefore the culprit must never be caught.
And for that very reason, a grand intelligence war was about to begin: the Cheon Clan, desperate to invent a nonexistent culprit and close the case, versus the Dongchang, acting on the Emperor’s secret orders to sabotage any such fabrication and prevent a culprit from ever being produced. Both sides’ chests swelled with the magnitude of the contest.
The Ministry of Justice was seething with venom.
Every day the Emperor laid eyes on Minister of Justice Cheon Myeong-seung’s face, he would click his tongue with an expression of pure distaste and mutter to himself, “It is truly lamentable how many incompetent officials waste their salaries in this realm.”
The bureaucracy, ever faithful to the beautiful tradition of cascading abuse, trembled under the earthquake of the Minister’s wrath.
Officials of the Ministry of Justice worked themselves into a frenzy, hunting the culprit as if a full-blown treason plot had erupted.
And the Dongchang did everything in their power to stop them from finding one.
It went something like this.
“Han O-yeong, steward of the Pi Clan, has no alibi for the period from the Hour of the Ox to the Hour of the Tiger these past fifteen days. Did he not meet with a killer and place a commission during that window?”
“That is the dead of night, my lord! This humble one was simply asleep!”
“Enough! We already know everything. Confess promptly and your life will be spared—but if you keep denying it, not a single limb will remain intact!”
While the Ministry of War’s interrogation room was grilling one of the Pi Clan’s stewards as a suspect, a Dongchang inspector walked in.
He thrust a bundle of papers at the already irritated investigator.
“What is this?”
“Suspect Han O-yeong spent that entire period at Sunghwa Pavilion in Beijing, sleeping with the courtesan Ae-wol.
Here are Sunghwa Pavilion’s sales slips and Ae-wol’s testimony.
Stop dragging an innocent man into guilt and do your job properly, tch!”
The investigator and Steward Han both went blank at the sight of the Dongchang casually slamming down proof of innocence.
Even Steward Han himself began to dig through his memory, wondering, Wait… did I actually go to a brothel that day?
The investigator exploded.
“What? The man himself said he was asleep that night!”
“Come now. Obviously he was trying to hide the fact that a man of his age went to a pleasure house and shared a bed with a courtesan—he was embarrassed. Why does a fellow who still has his manhood understand male psychology even less than a eunuch like me?”
“What on earth are you—”
“Or could it be… that some ulterior motive is hidden in the direction of this investigation?”
When the Dongchang inspector narrowed his eyes, the investigator—who had in fact been conducting a targeted probe—hastily changed the subject.
“Ah, no, of course not. This official was merely clarifying a matter under suspicion…”
“It seems clarified enough. Kindly release this man.”
“…Very well. You there, ahem! You may go.”
Steward Han, who had entered the room steeled to refuse false testimony even if it cost him his manhood, wore a dazed expression as though unsure whether he was dreaming. Then a look of realization crossed his face.
The moment he stepped out of the room he bowed deeply toward the inspector.
“His Majesty’s grace extends even to our house—how could our loyalty ever know an end?”
The steward believed the Emperor was protecting the Pi Clan.
The eunuch offered only a subtle smile, nodded, and walked away without another word.
With the situation unfolding like this, the Pi Clan was left thoroughly bewildered, while the Cheon Clan grew even more furious.
From the Cheon Clan’s perspective, it was obvious the Emperor had struck some deal with the Pi Clan and was now maneuvering to crush the Cheons.
For the Pi Clan—already in the Emperor’s crosshairs—it was an unjust accusation, yet the circumstances themselves made it look that way.
Of course, the seasoned politicians of both the Pi and Cheon Clans could see that this entire board had been set by Emperor Sungui. But that was a truth no one could utter aloud.
The moment the words left one’s mouth, it would be the same as picking a fight with the Emperor by calling him a fraud.
With hard evidence one could still do so—and even force concessions from the throne. But the blow had been so unexpected that they possessed only suspicion, no proof.
Once Steward Han and the Dongchang inspector had left, the investigator heaved a sigh and flung aside the brush with which he had been recording the interrogation.
“I can’t do this job anymore, damn it! Since when did those Dongchang bastards work so hard to clear the grievances of ordinary people…? More like a cat fretting over a mouse.”
He knew perfectly well that the Dongchang was fabricating evidence to obstruct the Cheon Clan’s investigation.
But he was a public servant, and when those above ordered him to dig, he dug.
Cursing the face of Hui-yeom he had never even seen, he began leafing through the next candidate’s personnel dossier to manufacture a culprit.
“Hui-yeom or Wi-yeom or whatever—they said he’s hovering between life and death, right? Just die already!”
The entire staff of the Ministry of Justice prayed with one heart and one mind, yet the universe declined to intervene.
Hui-yeom officially ended his week-long convalescence and, looking haggard, presented himself before the Emperor.
Seeing Hui-yeom’s carefully made-up pallid complexion, Emperor Sungui asked with genuine concern,
“Are you truly all right?”
“This foolish and unworthy servant brought such misfortune upon himself, yet by Your Majesty’s gracious concern I have been able to rise once more. How could this not be the Emperor’s boundless grace? Your servant is overwhelmed by imperial favor—overwhelmed again and again.”
“Ah, no. I am simply overjoyed that you are safe.”
After the light exchange of greetings, the two of them promptly began to set the stage.
“Your Majesty, though it is presumptuous of this servant to speak, I have one request.”
“A request? Now that you mention it, I have yet to properly reward your merits. Speak freely—what do you desire?”
“That such a thing happened to this humble one is because I am lacking in virtue and have incurred much resentment. All of it stems from the fact that my conduct has not been that of a true gentleman, and that there are those who find my existence inconvenient.
It means I lack the capacity to repay Your Majesty’s grace. Therefore, if Your Majesty would permit it, I would know my place, withdraw, and emulate the ancient examples of Bo Yi and Shu Qi.”
The officials who had been listening while privately cursing whatever outrageous reward Hui-yeom might demand now gaped in shock.
How dare that bastard!
To the officials of this era, Hui-yeom’s words sounded exactly like: “I’m sick of this shit and can’t live here anymore. I’m out—don’t look for me. Peace.”
It was an insolent speech, yet the Emperor went even further.
“What! What ominous words are these? Bo Yi and Shu Qi could not serve two kings and so entered the mountains, where they ate ferns until they starved to death.
But the Emperor you serve is only one—Myself—and I will never stand by and watch a talent like you turn your back on the world and starve! I will not permit you to retire to the countryside!”
Emperor Sungui heaved a great sigh, then glared around at the assembled ministers with an angry face and declared,
“It is because I am lacking in virtue that such things occur. Here and now I make a promise to you all.
I shall root out every band of assassins from Beijing so that never again shall such a heinous deed take place in this city, and I shall examine every record of the past and punish the masterminds behind every incident in which assassination is suspected!”
In that instant a red warning light flared inside the minds of every person connected to the Eight Great Families.
We’re screwed!
No one had made more enthusiastic use of assassination than they themselves.
If Emperor Sungui now hunted down the assassins and began digging through their old ledgers, the outcome was all too clear.
Even without ledgers it would not matter—the Dongchang would create them.
One could safely wager one’s office, entire fortune, and even one’s parents that the names of the Eight Great Families’ leaders would fill the “premium clients” column of those ledgers.
Drained of color, the Eight Great Families threw themselves forward as one, crying out for the Emperor’s merciful reconsideration and desperately trying to stop him.
“Your Majesty! Though Your Majesty’s words are entirely just, even now a considerable portion of the Ministry of Justice’s capacity is poured into pursuing the assassination’s backers, to the point that other duties are paralyzed. If we ignore this and attempt to uproot them in a short time, the public order and judicial system of Beijing will collapse into chaos. This is to grasp at small gains and lose the great—I beg Your Majesty to reconsider!”
“Your Majesty, many previous emperors have made similar attempts, yet never once have they completely eradicated the bands of villains.
Those creatures grow of their own accord like mold; complete extermination is impossible. We must instead educate the people through virtue so that they examine themselves and such things never arise. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider!”
““““““We beg Your Majesty to reconsider!””””””
At the perfectly coordinated roar of the Eight Great Families and their collaborators, Emperor Sungui shuddered as though revolted.
“How stifling this is! In my own city my own subject has been attacked, yet we are told we must cover it up and move on! The capacity of the Ministry of Justice is truly wanting! Let the Minister of Justice take responsibility for that insufficiency and resign his post!”
“I am… I am overwhelmed with awe.”
Though his teeth ground together, Cheon Myeong-seung had no choice but to take the beating. He glared at Pi Jae-hyeon as though he meant to set the man on fire with his eyes alone.
The Emperor sighed heavily and continued,
“As the Ministry of Justice bears primary responsibility for this matter, considerable internal reform will be required. Yet in consideration of the Minister’s long labors, his responsibility shall end with dismissal from office. Let the Grand Councilor select a suitable replacement and report to me.”
“…Your Majesty’s grace is boundless.”
In the end the unfortunate Minister of Justice Cheon Myeong-seung was stripped of his post and forced to accept the “lenient” outcome of merely being dismissed—enough to make him want to vomit blood—yet he had no other choice.
You bastard Pi Jae-hyeon!!!!
Unable to take revenge on the Emperor, Cheon Myeong-seung ground his teeth at Pi Jae-hyeon, the one who had caused this disaster.
Listening with quiet satisfaction to the sound of the cracks widening among the Eight Great Families, Hui-yeom bowed his head as though the Emperor’s repeated commands had finally changed his mind.
“…That Your Majesty should cherish this unworthy and deficient servant so deeply—even were I to die thrice and rot away, the grace would never be exhausted.
Therefore this servant shall devote every ability I possess and diligently advance the joint-stock company policy.”
“Do so.”
As the conversation slid smoothly toward the promotion of the joint-stock company policy, Minister of Revenue Bang Un-taek’s face twisted in alarm.
Bang Un-taek himself had privately favored the joint-stock company policy.
Yet he had believed that if the existing framework were simply reused, it would be difficult for him to monopolize the real profits; he had intended to seize control of Hui-yeom with his own power and mold the project to his taste. Now the entire affair threatened to slip out of his hands.
At the same time, if he himself stepped forward to oppose it, switching later to support would become politically awkward.
In a panic Bang Un-taek cast about for allies and shot meaningful glances at ministers who could provide covering fire.
At once the officials of his faction began offering their opinions to Emperor Sungui.
“Your Majesty, though it is presumptuous of this servant to speak, when this servant examines the so-called joint-stock company, it seems to possess a sinister aspect that encourages money-gaming among the people who ought properly to devote themselves to farming and weaving. Therefore this servant considers its implementation improper.”
“If the joint-stock company law is revised, the money houses that have long upheld local communities by opening their granaries and releasing rice and silver will suffer grave losses. We cannot ignore their long loyalty and devotion.”
Emperor Sungui’s expression grew steadily darker.
He had expected some opposition, but to see it surface this boldly even in the present atmosphere?
Just as the Emperor was frowning and preparing to pressure the ministers again—thinking, Very well, let us scrap this useless joint-stock company policy and pour every resource into investigating assassin organizations and securing their ledgers—unexpected covering fire arrived.
“Your Majesty, in the humble view of these servants, the opinions of those who oppose the joint-stock company policy are the words of men who know only one thing and not two.”
Emperor Sungui turned his head. The speaker was Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy Pyeon Do-seok.
“Oh? So the Grand Academician holds a different view.”
Pyeon Do-seok smiled thinly under the gazes that flew toward him like arrows.
“Certainly, the Confucian governing ideal holds that the realm must be ruled according to the principle that ‘agriculture is the great foundation of the world’ and the hierarchy of scholar-farmer-artisan-merchant, so that the nation may be rich and at peace.
The officials who worry that the joint-stock company policy will cause the people to abandon farming and weaving and sink into money-gaming are all expressing their concern from precisely that standpoint.”
“And yet?”
“Yet the most fundamental governing ideal of Confucianism is neither ‘agriculture is the great foundation of the world’ nor the hierarchy of scholar-farmer-artisan-merchant. It is the practice of kingly rule itself.
The core of kingly rule is that the Emperor embraces and civilizes the myriad people through virtue, while his ministers teach and guide the foolish populace so that a society of plenty is realized.
When we consider the introduction of joint-stock company law, we need only examine two points: whether it runs counter to ‘kingly rule,’ and whether it enriches the lives of the people.”
“The Grand Academician’s words are truly reasonable!”
Tongjeongsa Yu Jang-hwan of the Office of Transmission chimed in.
“We encourage the people to devise farming methods and weaving techniques for themselves—yet why must we block them from devising methods to enrich themselves?
The Central Plains is the center of the world; therefore the flow of all goods ought likewise to have the Central Plains as its center.
From a Confucian perspective, from a Chinese perspective, this servant cannot comprehend the logic of those who oppose the joint-stock company policy.”
“Exactly!”
Vice Minister of Rites Ok Chang-jun added his voice as well.
“If one searches the old records, commerce was considered base because people merely moved goods from here to there while inflating prices and reaping unjust gains.
Yet the joint-stock company policy does not engage in the chicanery of such middlemen.
Moreover, to block it out of fear for the losses of money houses is tantamount to granting a special privilege to those who run them. This servant fails to see why the state should step forward to guarantee the profits of the money-lending business alone among the many enterprises.”
When the centrist officials among whom Hui-yeom had diligently campaigned each added a word of their own, the atmosphere reversed completely.
In the end, once the mood had swung and the joint-stock company policy was being accepted, Emperor Sungui spoke with a pleased smile.
“I have seen well how many thoughts you all hold. Yet this policy, too, is ultimately meant to enrich the lives of the people. Therefore do not oppose it blindly; rather, exercise your wisdom and help the policy take firm root.”
“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless.”
Once matters were more or less settled, Emperor Sungui asked Hui-yeom,
“Well then, how do you intend to handle the trading of these so-called stocks? Have you drafted the skeletal legal framework?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Though it is presumptuous of this servant to speak…”
At Hui-yeom’s sudden explanation, the officials could only stare at the slumped shoulders of the freshly dismissed Cheon Myeong-seung and hide bitter smiles within their hearts.