Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Clash with Yeon Jeong-du
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"That's just an excuse. Aren't you saying what the Great King himself can't?"
"What?"
Yeon Jeong-du's eyes widened, and a vein twitched on his temple. Seeing it didn't turn red, I realized anew just how impressive his self-control was.
"Are you saying that because you're a war hero, you know war better than anyone? Or that even if war breaks out, you can stop it, so there's no need to worry?"
"That's disloyal."
"You asked first. Let me ask again. If we say we won't fight, will the enemy not invade?"
"It's not something you can declare so easily."
"But it's not something you can conclude unilaterally either. We offered up Bongyeok Island and even demolished the beacon towers. Yet it doesn't seem like the Tang Dynasty welcomed us with open arms."
"Matters between nations involve complex and difficult negotiations."
"So, since we've even torn down the beacon towers in the east, can we expect the Tang to extend a hand of reconciliation?"
Yeon Jeong-du couldn't answer my sarcastic question right away.
This was the biggest weakness in King Yeongnyu's peace policy at the time.
The Tang Dynasty was steadily preparing to invade Goguryeo. Despite Goguryeo's humiliating posture, the invasion proceeded anyway.
I knew that fact all too well.
I noticed Yeon Jeong-du's hand trembling slightly as he lifted his teacup. When we first met, I'd thought he was an insurmountable wall, but now I felt confident I could toy with him.
No matter how clever he was, he was a man from a class-based society. It wasn't easy for him to overpower me—someone who'd rolled around in 21st-century South Korea—with mere words.
He forced down a sip of tea and looked at me.
"What exactly happened to you?"
"After getting struck by lightning, you mean?"
He didn't respond directly, but it seemed like that was it.
I couldn't tell him the truth, so I answered circuitously.
"Truth be told, I went right up to the gates of the afterlife."
His unexpected answer left Yeon Jeong-du staring at me with blank eyes.
I decided to pile on the lies while I was at it.
"And there, I saw Goguryeo's future. What would happen, and who would cause it."
"Don't talk nonsense."
I smirked at his slightly trembling response.
"Then why don't you try hanging yourself or diving into deep water? You'll feel exactly what I went through."
It was a baited hook, but I half-hoped it might work.
In a way, Yeon Jeong-du was an even bigger obstacle than the Great King himself—the very Iri Geoseosa mentioned in the Japanese chronicles.
But as if reading my intent, he just gave a wry smile.
"Your silver tongue has gotten slick, nephew. It used to be as light as a feather."
"When you die and come back, you naturally get more cautious. And I learned the path Goguryeo must take. How could I speak carelessly or lightly?"
"So you're wandering the world, gathering people? Are you saying you're going to become the Great King yourself?"
I was inwardly pleased to see Yeon Jeong-du getting angry. He must have summoned me to crush my momentum before I met the Great King.
But he didn't know that inside Yeon Namsaeng's body was me, hardened by the 21st century.
"Do I have to be the Great King to wander the world and gather people? I hear even you, Chief of Central Administration, recently toured Liaodong just like me."
"I moved on the Great King's orders."
"Then without the Great King's orders, you can't go anywhere or meet anyone? Does that order apply only to our Eastern Division? Or to all divisions?"
Yeon Jeong-du's face turned pale.
What the Great King and he feared most was the division leaders banding together.
It wasn't as strong as before, but the leaders' power was still not to be ignored.
I picked up my teacup and sneered again.
"If it's the Great King's will, then issue notices to all divisions. But if it's just your own idea, Chief, I'll ignore it."
"Ignore it?"
I set down my teacup, stood, and looked around.
"This garden is truly beautiful. Where does the power to create and maintain it come from?"
"From the Central Administration Bureau, naturally."
"Oh, no. It's the Great King's trust. In exchange for saying harsh words in his stead, getting your hands dirty with blood, and brawling with the division leaders."
Seeing he couldn't retort, I turned and added,
"Isn't it?"
"The Central Administration Bureau conveys the Great King's will and ensures it's carried out."
"Exactly. Whether it's the Central Administration, External Affairs, or Internal Affairs, the name doesn't matter. What matters is being loyal limbs that follow the Great King's will well. So don't believe your power is eternal or everlasting."
"You dare lecture me?"
"If you open your heart, it'll be advice; otherwise, it'll be criticism. Whether my words become advice or criticism depends on you, Chief of Central Administration."
"You dare try to drive a wedge between me and His Majesty the Great King? You've learned only the worst from your father!"
Finally, harsh words spilled from Yeon Jeong-du's mouth. His eyes even reddened slightly.
It felt good to see this paragon of restraint crumbling.
"It's more like the family lineage, isn't it? Wouldn't you say, Uncle?"
"I've never had a nephew like you."
"Oh my, even in anger, denying our blood ties? No one will say you're not of the Yeon clan just because of that."
"Your tongue has sharpened quite a bit."
"I told you, dying and coming back makes the world look different."
Yeon Jeong-du, the Chief of Central Administration, stood and came to my side.
"The Yeon clan has always been a thorn in the Great King's side. While other divisions have deep-rooted families, the Yeons were local豪族 near Pyongyang who suddenly rose high."
"Are you saying we're rebellious because we lack that pedigree?"
"It means your overconfidence is the problem. Other leaders boast lineages from King Chumo's time. But the Yeons say their ancestors were born in a pond."
"Our ambition got us this far, and thanks to that, you rose to Chief of Central Administration too. We can't exist without each other."
"I know that well. I'm in this position to check the Yeon clan."
"If the Yeon clan falls, you'd have no reason to be there."
"I know that too. But I'll destroy the Yeon clan no matter what."
"The Great King would have to believe that too."
Yeon Jeong-du snorted at my wedge-driving.
"The bond between His Majesty and me won't be broken by the likes of your schemes."
"Of course I don't want that. By the way, in a few days, Father and I will meet the Great King. Will you be there?"
Yeon Jeong-du's eye twitched again.
It was a guess, but he probably wasn't invited.
"No need for me there."
"You weren't summoned. Even though it's about very important matters."
"You think you'll easily become the heir?"
"I know it's hard. Truth be told, I don't even want it."
"What?"
People live trapped in their own worlds.
I was trapped in 21st-century South Korea's democracy and capitalism. Yeon Jeong-du and the 7th-century Goguryeans live in the world of the Great King and division leaders.
This framework wasn't easily broken. It was all they'd seen and heard their whole lives, with no standard to judge good or bad.
"Even if the Great King doesn't approve, does that mean I'm not the Eastern Division Leader's heir?"
"It's been custom for decades that without the Great King's permission, you can't inherit the title."
"What if I ignore that custom? Who would say I'm not the Eastern Division Leader's heir?"
"If you ignore it, no one will see you as heir."
"Not seeing it and not acknowledging it are different. Would the Great King or you, Chief, then designate one of my brothers as heir?"
"If necessary, yes."
"If I sense that, I'll kill my brothers myself. And if it looks like you're pushing Uncle Yeon Jeong-to, I'll eliminate him too."
"What?"
Yeon Jeong-du looked at me incredulously, then averted his eyes.
He seemed to sense I meant it.
"Then I'll appeal to the other division leaders and their sons. 'Today it's the Eastern Division Leader; tomorrow it could be you.'"
I felt Yeon Jeong-du's eyes widen.
"Your wedge-driving might not work between the Chief and the Great King, but will it fail with the other leaders?"
"They won't band together."
"They haven't because there was no reason. If there is, they'll gladly unite."
"Don't be so sure."
"Are you telling yourself that? If you're predicting they won't unite just because they haven't before, you should stay home."
"The leaders will never join hands."
"That's because no one's touched them until now. Touch something sensitive like succession, and things change. Do you think your position as Chief is held by such flimsy certainty?"
Yeon Jeong-du sighed deeply and returned to his seat.
I stayed, admiring the beautiful scenery.
After sipping his tea, Yeon Jeong-du spoke.
"The Yeon clan is Goguryeo's burden. They sprang up suddenly and have monopolized positions for generations, threatening royal authority."
"Precisely, they're the Great King's burden. Goguryeo's true burdens aren't our family—they're those ruining the country. Those not preparing for the obvious coming war!"
My voice rose, and I saw the guards by the bridge shift slightly.
"Those who believe groveling submission solves everything are Goguryeo's burdens. The people were wounded by the beacon towers' fall. If someone schemes because of that, aren't they Goguryeo's burden—no, the enemy?"
I shouted loudly for the bridge guards to hear, then returned to my seat and downed the remaining tea in one gulp.
"You still haven't answered my first question. Even if we beg for peace and do as ordered, will the Tang not invade?"
"So you're saying we should go to war?"
"When did I say attack first? I asked what we can use to stop them if they've decided to attack us. Chief of Central Administration!"
"Insolent!"
"Oh, does it sting because I hit a sore spot?"
"Do you think the Great King isn't preparing for war because he's seeking peace with the Tang? The Thousand-li Wall is being built right now, and that's why I went to Liaodong."
Finishing his words, Yeon Jeong-du gave what he thought was a triumphant smile.