The Beggars' Sect and the Reporter
Just as she was about to ask something, the door opened and Hui-yeom stepped inside.
"I seem to be a little late. My apologies, Elder."
"Oh, not at all! You're the busiest man in the entire family—of course I should be the one waiting. Yes, hahaha!!"
After the brief exchange of courtesies, the two men sat down across from each other with steaming cups of Caffa and began to talk.
"So. I wasn't deliberately eavesdropping, but I happened to overhear something outside the door. You intend to use Beggars' Sect beggars as informants?"
"That is correct."
In truth, Hui-yeom had planned to entrust the role of information-gathering reporters in Beijing to the Sima Family. Their established intelligence network was more than capable of handling the task, and above all they were a trustworthy ally.
Yet an unexpected answer had just been thrown at him.
Intrigued, Hui-yeom pressed further.
"Is there any room to negotiate with the Beggars' Sect?"
The Beggars' Sect was one of the Nine Sects and One Gang—the "One Gang" that never changed its place even as the Nine Sects rose and fell with the ages. It boasted a long and storied history.
Was it strong, then? Well, the legendary martial exploits of its chiefs and elders had been passed down for generations. Its Dog-Beating Staff Technique was said to be every bit as profound as Shaolin staff methods, and its Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms were famed as the fiercest palm art under heaven.
Yet the true power of the Beggars' Sect did not come from its martial arts. It came from sheer numbers.
There was nowhere under heaven without beggars—except Sichuan.
Through the eyes and ears of beggars spread across the land, the sect gathered information and delivered it to the Martial Alliance, serving as its intelligence arm.
And now they want to mobilize that Beggars' Sect for our family's private gain… If the other party had a businessman's mindset, negotiation would be possible. But will that work on beggars?
Hui-yeom was concerned.
Yi Gyu-chan, however, had a story that erased those concerns.
His eyes lit up as he spoke.
"Actually, while running the Sichuan Daily I had several chances to make contact with the Beggars' Sect side. As you know, thanks to our family's efforts Sichuan has become a wealthy region with no one left who needs to beg.
"But forcing beggars into place would be far too conspicuous and hinder intelligence work. Since Sichuan's martial world is a pillar of the orthodox factions, they asked us to cooperate so their beggars could operate freely."
"A strange demand. So were we supposed to deliberately create beggars or something?"
"Not that. They wanted us to permit Clean Clothes Faction disciples of the Beggars' Sect to enter and conduct intelligence activities. Even if they slipped people in without asking, the Minjeongwon's eyes and ears would flag every outsider anyway, so they wanted permission first.
"I believe we can use those same Clean Clothes Faction people in Beijing."
"What exactly is the Clean Clothes Faction?"
At Hui-yeom's question, Yi Gyu-chan momentarily wore an expression that said, How can a martial artist not know such basic common knowledge? Then he nodded.
"Well, for someone who draws up grand designs that move the entire world and drives business forward, this must be a trivial matter. My thinking was shortsighted."
"…"
Hui-yeom, who simply lacked common knowledge about the martial world, felt awkward but showed none of it on his face.
Yi Gyu-chan continued.
"The old and established sects of the martial world have always had internal factional struggles. Famous examples include our own Dang Family's rivalry between the Hidden Weapons School and the Poison School, Mount Hua's conflict between the Sword Faction and the Qi Faction, and the Beggars' Sect's strife between the Dirty Clothes Faction and the Clean Clothes Faction."
"Meaning the faction that wears filthy clothes versus the one that wears clean clothes?"
"Yes. The Dirty Clothes Faction insists on maintaining the original beggar lifestyle that is the foundation of the Beggars' Sect. They live by begging, wear rags, and eat spoiled leftovers. Yet when something arises in the martial world, they throw their lives away according to the sect rule 'Revere righteousness.'"
"Oh…"
"The Clean Clothes Faction, on the other hand, asks why anyone with money needs to live like a beggar. They say that a person of means hoarding wealth while wearing filthy clothes and begging is itself an artificial deception.
"They aim for a Beggars' Sect that forms an organization like any ordinary martial sect, earns money by fulfilling roles throughout society, runs the organization with that income, and still acts for justice according to the sect rules."
"Both sides' arguments seem to have a certain logic."
"Yes, which is why the confrontation has dragged on so long. The Dirty Clothes Faction curses the Clean Clothes Faction as turncoats blinded by worldly wealth and honor.
"The Clean Clothes Faction dismisses the Dirty Clothes Faction as shabby, lazy fools who cannot see the flow of the times."
"Hardline fundamentalists and radical reformists… But what does that have to do with the current situation… Ah."
Mid-sentence, Hui-yeom's expression cleared in realization and he nodded.
"Come to think of it, there were no beggars in Beijing. The Dirty Clothes Faction was driven out?"
"Yes. Amid the outcry from officials that Beijing, which ought to be the finest city under the Emperor's rule, could not possibly have beggars, every last one of them was expelled."
"Why so suddenly…?"
Beggars had lived in Beijing for far longer than a day or two—why drive them out all of a sudden? Hui-yeom turned the problem over in his mind, then gave a bitter smile.
"…The rumor that Sichuan is a city without beggars must have pricked the bureaucrats' pride."
"Exactly."
Hui-yeom paused for a moment of silent prayer for the beggars who had been living just fine in Beijing only to be suddenly cast out, then spoke again.
"Hmm, very well. So? I understand that the Clean Clothes Faction now controls Beijing, but you've left out the important explanation. Why would they cooperate with us?"
"Simple. The Clean Clothes Faction is currently on the verge of collapse because their means of making money have been cut off."
O Dae-pyeong was a Clean Clothes Faction disciple of the Beggars' Sect and the Branch Master of the Beggars' Sect's Beijing Headquarters.
The Clean Clothes Faction interpreted the essence of the Beggars' Sect not as the beggar lifestyle itself, but as adherence to the teaching "Revere righteousness."
Thus he dressed neatly and cleanly; had it not been for the six knots tied to his belt, no one would have taken him for a Branch Master of the Beggars' Sect.
Outwardly he looked like a capable, successful martial artist just entering late middle age. At the moment, however, he was tearing at his hair over an unsolvable problem.
There's not a single hole left for money to come out of, damn it!
Yes. He was responsible for the Beijing Headquarters, yet he was struggling because the operating funds simply were not coming in.
Originally the Beijing Headquarters had never relied on begging income; its funds came from gathering, processing, and selling information.
The Dirty Clothes Faction had handled the gathering, while the Clean Clothes Faction handled the processing and sales—a clear division of labor.
Then, overnight, every last member of the Dirty Clothes Faction had been banished from Beijing!
O Dae-pyeong had done his best.
First he tried to infiltrate Clean Clothes Faction people here and there as informants so that intelligence work could continue even without the Dirty Clothes Faction.
That was where it stalled.
The Dirty Clothes Faction were pure, traditional beggars; they could sprawl anywhere without drawing suspicion.
But the Clean Clothes Faction were ordinary people in clean clothes.
If people like that started poking around everywhere, they inevitably attracted suspicious looks.
The best way to avoid that suspicion was the Haomun method—working as shop clerks, coachmen, touts, or peddlers while gathering information.
Yet "holding a job and receiving wages from another" was forbidden by Beggars' Sect law.
A Beggars' Sect disciple must not engage in labor other than intelligence activities that aid the realization of justice in the martial world…!
"Then at least give us the headquarters operating funds, or even just the kids' meal money, before you start talking!"
The Beggars' Sect maintained one headquarters in every provincial capital and branch offices in county-level cities; the supreme headquarters was located not in the capital Beijing but in Kaifeng.
O Dae-pyeong had even sent an official request for funds all the way to the supreme headquarters in Kaifeng, only to receive sneering replies from the Dirty Clothes Faction elders:
If you're going to starve, why not just beg?
The Dirty Clothes Faction is gone so you can't get information, and now you want permission for the Clean Clothes Faction to work jobs while gathering intel? Ha! Is the Beggars' Sect the Haomun now?
Whether they truly failed to grasp how dire the situation on the ground was, or simply remained mired in factional logic even while knowing, the result for O Dae-pyeong was the same: an unsolvable problem.
If this continues, the Beggars' Sect will truly have to withdraw from Beijing.
Having been driven out of Beijing themselves, the Dirty Clothes Faction were unhappy that only the Clean Clothes Faction remained, and they seemed quietly eager for the Clean Clothes Faction to leave as well.
Abandon Beijing over something so petty?
It was a perfect example of how any organization, once it descends into political and factional squabbles, starts making idiotic decisions.
What do I do… What can I do…
While he was fretting, a subordinate beggar came scurrying in.
"Branch Master, a guest has arrived."
"A guest? Who?"
He had no appointment scheduled… he muttered, and the subordinate answered with an expression full of anticipation.
"It is Young Hero Dang Hui-yeom, the Crouching Dragon of Sichuan!"
"What?"
A celebrity no one could claim not to know. Most of the recent uproar stirring the Central Plains originated with him.
Though a martial artist, his actions resembled those of a high official or a great merchant far more than a martial artist; from the Beggars' Sect's perspective he was a thoroughly alien figure.
And that man has specifically come looking for me?
He must have brought something that would make money!
His instincts flaring, O Dae-pyeong hurried to the reception room where the guest waited.
There he found a picture-perfect handsome young man seated by the window, bathed in sunlight, enjoying a cup of tea.
Whoa…
He had heard the rumors of good looks, but this was something else.
While he stood momentarily frozen by the thought, Hui-yeom noticed him, smiled gently, and offered a cupped-fist salute.
"A pleasure to meet you, Branch Master. Dang Hui-yeom, Attendant Scholar of the Hanlin Academy. Greetings."
Startled, O Dae-pyeong hastily returned the salute.
"Six-knot disciple of the Beggars' Sect, Beijing Branch Master O Dae-pyeong, greets the Attendant Scholar."
At the same time O Dae-pyeong attached meaning to the fact that Hui-yeom had introduced himself not as "Sichuan's Crouching Dragon" or "Young Master of the Dang Family," but as "Attendant Scholar."
As I thought—he's here on official business, not personal or family matters. What could he want…
Depending on that purpose, the beautiful youth before him could become either a bodhisattva or a demon of calamity.
As O Dae-pyeong tensed, Hui-yeom's voice reached his ears.
"I've come because I have a matter for which I wish to request the Beggars' Sect's cooperation."
"From the standpoint of an official, not the Sichuan Dang Family?"
"Correct. Because what I am about to say also contains, to a certain degree, the intent of His Majesty Emperor Sungui."
"…Let's hear it, then."
When O Dae-pyeong straightened his posture, Hui-yeom likewise spoke with gravity.
"I intend to found a newspaper company called the Hwi-eon Newspaper. Preparations are already complete.
"It will have the character of an official medium: a bulletin that prints information such as policies the state is promoting, the words of His Majesty the Emperor, the status of public works in various regions, and the general state of the nation, and then publishes it for the common people."
"…Oh… I-is that so?"
Seeing O Dae-pyeong's expression that clearly said, But why are you telling me this?, Hui-yeom continued.
"Yes. There is a problem, however. Namely, securing the information to fill that newspaper.
"Our Hwi-eon Newspaper intends to outsource the 'reporter' positions that collect information to the Beggars' Sect."
"Pardon?"
O Dae-pyeong blinked.
"I-I'm not sure I understand. What is a 'reporter'?"
"A reporter is…"
Hui-yeom explained the profession of reporter to O Dae-pyeong.
As he listened, O Dae-pyeong's expression grew increasingly strange.
"…For now, I understand what you mean. And I also understand why you have requested that our Beggars' Sect dispatch these 'reporters.'"
"Not a dispatch—an outsourcing contract."
"Whatever. But that will be difficult for us to accept."
"Why is that?"
"The truth is…"
O Dae-pyeong sighed and explained the situation.
"A Beggars' Sect disciple must not engage in labor.
"To be precise, 'holding a job and receiving wages from another' is forbidden by Beggars' Sect law."
"About that part—strictly speaking, isn't it 'A Beggars' Sect disciple must not engage in labor other than intelligence activities that aid the realization of justice in the martial world'?"
"Th-that's correct, but how…"
O Dae-pyeong was a little flustered; he had never imagined the Young Master of the Dang Family would have memorized the Beggars' Sect rules. Hui-yeom grinned.
"I came to negotiate, so of course I looked into at least this much. And if that is the entire reason, then it seems there will be no problem."
"Pardon? Didn't you just say it yourself? We cannot work jobs and earn wages."
"It says one must not engage in labor other than intelligence activities that aid the realization of justice in the martial world, does it not? What I am commissioning is precisely intelligence-gathering activity. Since it is for the peace of the Central Plains, in the broad sense it is also for the peace of the martial world. Is it not?"
"Uh…"
O Dae-pyeong wore an expression that said, Does the conversation actually work that way? He pondered for a moment, then spoke.
"It… makes sense."
"Of course it makes sense."
"B-but there is another problem."
"What is it?"
"The intelligence-gathering activity itself is blocked."
O Dae-pyeong said,
"In our Beggars' Sect we scatter beggars across the land, gather what they see and hear, and process it into information.
"But our Clean Clothes Faction has no informants who used to do that kind of espionage work.
"And the moment we imitate the Haomun and infiltrate while posing as people with specific occupations, we would be engaging in 'labor other than intelligence gathering' and would be expelled."
"So why is that a problem? A reporter is someone who, without holding any separate occupation, simply collects information and edits it into articles."
"Ah."
At Hui-yeom's words O Dae-pyeong gave a wry smile.
"Come to think of it, you did say earlier that the reporter profession was something like that. But what person in the world is going to spill information freely just because some stranger walks up and asks?"
"…"
"You don't seem to know much about intelligence work. If information could be gathered so easily that way, the countless intelligence organizations of the Central Plains would never have struggled so hard to secretly train informants, weed out spies, and build their networks."
O Dae-pyeong thought it was simply the mistake of a capable but still worldly-inexperienced young master and let out a small sigh.
Yet Hui-yeom was still smiling with a faintly puzzled expression.
"Branch Master, do you enjoy wagers?"
"Wagers?"
"Yes. You seem rather skeptical that the profession of reporter can even function as a profession."
"Ha, isn't that only natural?"
"I do not think it is natural at all. So let us make a bet."
"What kind of bet?"
"One month."
Hui-yeom raised a single finger.
"For the next month, lend us disciples of your faction as our reporters.
"Within that month I will show you people voluntarily pouring out information in front of those reporters.
"If I am wrong, as a token of apology I will cover your operating expenses for the next half year."
"H-half a year?!"
O Dae-pyeong swallowed dryly.
Even excluding the Dirty Clothes Faction, the operating expenses for every Clean Clothes Faction disciple in Beijing would easily surpass those of a mid-sized martial sect.
And he was offering half a year's worth of that?
Was the man insane?
Unable to hide his confusion, O Dae-pyeong stared at Hui-yeom.
"In return, if I win…"
"I-if you win?"
"The Beggars' Sect will enter into an exclusive contract with the newspaper company owned by the Sichuan Dang Family. On the honor of the Beggars' Sect."
"An exclusive contract for… what…"
"Isn't it obvious? Reporters. Even if other newspaper companies or intelligence groups spring up like bamboo shoots after rain and want Beggars' Sect disciples, you will contract only with our Dang Family."
"…?"
O Dae-pyeong could not fathom Hui-yeom's true intentions. At this point he was starting to wonder whether the man was even in his right mind.
It was already questionable whether the reporter profession could function at all, yet if Hui-yeom lost he would pay six months of operating expenses, and if he won he would settle for nothing more than an exclusive reporter contract?
Was this not simply the best gamble imaginable—all reward and no risk?
The founders of the Beggars' Sect are watching over our house. Thank you, Master!
Thinking Hui-yeom a complete sucker, O Dae-pyeong barely managed to keep his expression under control and said,
"Hmm, very well. Let us do that."
"Yes. Ah, I assume it will be fine to draw up a contract?"
"Of course."
O Dae-pyeong had wanted to be the one to suggest a contract first for fear Hui-yeom might later change his tune, yet he had hesitated lest he seem too eager. Now he beamed and stamped the seal of the Beijing Branch Master of the Beggars' Sect onto the contract Hui-yeom had prepared with a solid thunk.
…He stamped it.
And thus was born the incident that, in later days, would become the origin of the phrase "like a beggar"—the day O Dae-pyeong became both hero and traitor to the hundred thousand disciples of the Beggars' Sect.