Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Entrusting Key Tasks
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"You've made a wise choice. This is far too important to entrust to anyone but you."
"Thank you. I'll do my utmost."
Watching Seon Do-hae's excited expression, my mind grew complicated. Geom Mojam and the other close aides were all trustworthy, but I still lacked full confidence in Seon Do-hae.
'Is it because he turns out to be a traitor in the dramas I've seen?'
For now, I decided to judge him as he was. We sipped tea and chatted idly for a bit before I sent him on his way. I planned to task Seon Do-hae with spreading newspapers, Hangul, and Arabic numerals. But without clear certainty about him, and given the situation where I couldn't spread them rashly, I resolved to observe him first. I finished the remaining tea and caught my breath when Geom Mojam opened the door and entered.
"National Academy student Go Yeon-mu has come to see you, Master."
"Already? I haven't even contacted Go Yeon-su yet."
"No idea how he knew, but he's been waiting since earlier."
Are they chatting among themselves or something? I grumbled inwardly. Geom Mojam shrewdly delayed a bit before bringing him into Bin Yeon Pavilion. Go Yeon-mu, dressed in a blue hood and pink vest over his scholar's robes, approached with bright, sparkling eyes and bowed in greeting.
"Bin Yeon Pavilion isn't a place just anyone can enter. It's an honor to be summoned."
"I was planning to call you, but I intended to speak with your elder brother first."
"I heard from Go Jeong-ui. That's why I came ahead."
"That guy?"
"He said we should be friends from now on."
Only then did I recall our previous conversation.
'He wants to keep Go Yeon-mu, whom he saw as a rival, close by his side.'
Truly, smart people were different in every way, I thought. Then Go Yeon-mu asked,
"I heard you have a task for me."
"Of course. But it would be best to discuss it with your family first and get their permission."
"I'm twelve this year. I'll judge my own affairs, so please tell me."
In the modern world where I'd lived, twelve was still very much a child. But in this era, where people married and became fathers before twenty, it was about the age of a teenager.
"You're right. It's your matter, so you should decide for yourself."
"What task do you wish to entrust to me?"
"Record-keeping."
"Recording what?"
"How to handle and maintain new weapons, and how to train in the unarmed martial art called Jujutsu."
"I've never handled weapons or trained in martial arts."
"That's exactly why I'm asking you. It has to be seen and written through the eyes of someone who knows nothing, to match the perspective properly."
"You believe that my ignorance will let me observe more closely?"
"Something like that."
"Are you testing me? To see if I'm usable as a close aide?"
In actual history, Go Yeon-mu's exploits made any test unnecessary. This wasn't really a test; it was more about building a pretext to keep him nearby. Dragging him around as a strategist would surely make Go Jeong-ui furious.
"If I said it was a test, would that upset you?"
"I'd just find it puzzling."
"What about it?"
"You're the eldest son of the Eastern Division Leader, you beheaded the enemy commander at Niha Fortress, and you have brilliant strategists and peerless warriors all around you. Why would you need a kid like me?"
"What does age matter in doing work? Talent is all that counts. Think of it not as a test, but as laying a foundation for you to gradually take on tasks."
"A foundation that lets me approach where?"
Unlike Go Jeong-ui, he was kind and spoke so sweetly—it really won me over.
"I'm seeing if you can demonstrate the ability to become one of my close aides."
"You're gathering people."
"Exactly. Soon, our Goguryeo will face a great crisis. To avert it, many must join forces."
"What crisis? Do you think the Tang are invading?"
"It's not a thought; it's a certainty."
"My eldest brother said something similar once."
"That's why I need your strength. Will you help?"
Go Yeon-mu pondered briefly before replying.
"I'd have to leave the National Academy, and my eldest brother would be very disappointed."
"I'll convince him myself."
"I want to meet and speak with the person I desire. Guarantee that."
"Don't worry. I'll assign Hwagong to you, and include illustrations too. Make it so even the illiterate can understand."
"Understood. And congratulations on becoming Chief Crossbow Officer."
"Thank you. But it's a position gained at the cost of lives, so it weighs heavily on me."
"Just don't forget the dead."
"Don't forget?"
"Yes. Only by feeling why they died and what they sacrificed for can you lead with true responsibility."
I wanted to tell him that was noblesse oblige. Finding another trustworthy person among my aides filled me with pure joy, and I couldn't help but smile.
"I'll remember them. If I ever forget, remind me."
"I believe you'll listen, so I'll speak freely."
I suggested starting tomorrow and sent Go Yeon-mu on his way. Once he left, Geom Mojam entered to relay a message that there would be a meeting at the Central Administration Bureau tomorrow.
"A meeting?"
"Now that you're Chief Crossbow Officer, this is an order to attend the senior officials' conference."
"Ah, right, I got promoted."
I scratched my head as I spoke, and Geom Mojam grinned before leaving. Alone now, I slowly circled Bin Yeon Pavilion. The body that once wore jeans and a T-shirt was now clad in loose robes and pants.
'At first, I thought I'd go mad without a belt.'
But humans adapt, and in time, I grew accustomed. It still felt odd without smartphones or instant ramen, though. I let out a long yawn, and the meeting suddenly crossed my mind. I was about to call Geom Mojam when the door burst open.
"Hey, make some noise when you approach."
But it wasn't Geom Mojam—it was Go Jeong-ui.
"You show up a lot."
"I heard there's a meeting tomorrow. The senior officials' one."
"I just heard too."
"Usually, notices come days in advance. This time, it's only the day before."
One person immediately came to mind.
"Is the Chief of Central Administration trying to mess with me?"
"Seems like it. They might hit you with tricky questions tomorrow to embarrass you."
I recalled winning our verbal spar the last time we met.
"I thought I'd crushed him good, but apparently not."
"This time, with many attendees, he'll borrow their power to pressure you."
"Petty."
As I muttered, Go Jeong-ui clicked his tongue.
"Getting annoyed won't solve anything."
He stated it flatly, sighed, and unrolled a wooden tablet he'd brought.
"These are the agenda items expected for tomorrow's meeting."
"Which of these could put me in a tough spot?"
Go Jeong-ui thought long at my question before pulling out one tablet.
"The Tang issue's already been raised, so they won't bring it up again."
"I could dismantle that anytime."
I knew the outcome, so no way I'd lose in a battle of words. On the tablet Go Jeong-ui held out, I saw the characters for "Thousand-Li Great Wall."
"Thousand-Li Great Wall? The one they're building up north?"
"Yes. It requires massive manpower and resources, so complaints are rife."
"Makes sense. Especially since it's useless anyway."
There were records of it being built, but none of it stopping or fighting the Tang army. Some argued it wasn't real or just referred to fortresses around the Liao River. But having seen it, they were indeed building it—towers on mountaintops connected by wooden stockades, I'd heard. Fixed defensive lines were always vulnerable to flanking or breakthroughs at key points.
'Even the Maginot Line was useless, and with more bypass routes, the Thousand-Li Wall is even worse.'
Go Jeong-ui glanced at me and added,
"The problem is that the Great King and the Chief of Central Administration will use it as leverage."
"Leverage for what?"
"To silence opposition to themselves. Oppose peace with Tang, and they dump the wall project on you."
"Shutting mouths."
"Exactly. The Eastern Division Leader hasn't commented much, but rumors are circulating in the Central Administration Bureau."
"What rumors?"
"That the Great King will entrust the Thousand-Li Wall to the Leader on the condition of recognizing you as heir."
"What? Can our family even handle that financially?"
"It's doable, but all the complaints will pour onto us. Supplies and manpower are already short, stalling construction."
"A few hundred, maybe, but against hundreds of thousands? Blocking with the wall is absurd."
"I agree, but the top doesn't see it that way."
"Shouldn't we unite when the nation's in crisis, fight when needed, bite when we must?"
As I showed slight irritation, Go Jeong-ui annoyingly smirked as if to say "not bad."
"Of course. But those who say 'unite around the nation' are glaring at each other."
"Solution?"
"Endure it. If the Eastern Division Leader discusses it with the Great King, you won't need to step in."
"They might be aiming for discord between me and Father. Perfect for disgracing the family."
"Plausible. But as long as it's in the Great King's hands, the Chief won't play this card."
"He's a confidant, though."
"What use is a confidant when power doesn't spare kin? If the Eastern Division falls, the Chief gets purged too."
"Cold guy. If I succeed, I might purge you."
"Seeing how you can't forget the soldiers who died at Niha, I doubt it."
His ready reply was spot on. Their deaths still lingered in my heart. In novels, killing countless foes was fine, but actually killing living people left a thorn in my chest. Seeing me sigh in thought, Go Jeong-ui offered comfort.
"Still, you achieved your goal, so their sacrifice wasn't in vain."
"Might have to kill even more ahead."
"If necessary, no choice. Hesitate, and they grab your weakness."
"Who?"
"Those indifferent to others' deaths. So push through the hardship."
"I will."
I thought the talk was over, but Go Jeong-ui held out another tablet. As I leaned to read it, Geom Mojam's fake cough came from outside Bin Yeon Pavilion.
"What is it?"
"Sun's about to set, so we're lighting the lamps."
Now that he mentioned it, the surroundings had dimmed. Without electric lights or many windows, it darkened quickly. An attendant entered, lit the oil lamps on the table and walls, and left. The faint glow pushed back the gloom slightly. By lamplight, I could read the text on the tablet Go Jeong-ui offered.