Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Crab Sauce Game: Reforged (1)
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Inside the hall, a fishy stench hung in the air like killing intent.
I immediately deactivated my skill. Then I tested Yi Ha-jing.
"That soy jar isn't exactly light, yet you've gone out of your way to bring it here for a nobody like me. I'm truly humbled."
The soy jar filled with soy sauce and seafood was heavy enough to make you curse under your breath, but the weight I was referring to was a bit more metaphysical.
Yi Ha-jing smiled only with his lips and stroked his beard.
"It's something people I knew from my days as magistrate of Naju send me every year. No need to make a fuss. It might even be meager fare for Kim Chunsik, the famed Eastern Commander."
"What are you saying? A scholar's meal is fragrant even with just rice gruel and boiled greens."
On the surface, it was just a mundane exchange of gratitude and humility.
But in reality, it was like swords clashing invisibly in a fencing match.
Yi Ha-jing had deliberately mentioned his time as magistrate of Naju, hinting at Yunji, the traitor's seed exiled there, without saying anything incriminating so far.
Of course, King Yeongjo ascending the throne didn't ban gejang and raw crab in Joseon.
Did Sejo ban ironclad armor production in Joseon? Did Injo abolish prostration from court etiquette? No need to dig up dark history when everyone knows to keep quiet about it.
So if I reported Yi Ha-jing, here's how it would play out.
"Former Naju magistrate Yi Ha-jing brought gejang and incited rebellion, insulting His Majesty!"
"Yi Ha-jing, why did you bring gejang?"
"Just because our local gejang is delicious. What does gejang have to do with treason?"
"Fine, you're dismissed. Now, Kim Chunsik. Why do you think gejang insults the king?"
"Uh, well, I..."
It was obvious this ridiculous mess would unfold.
This guy's no ordinary fellow.
Ya-dong, the Vice Minister of the Military, finally succeeded in replicating a Dutch ship miniature three days ago and invited me for drinks—that's one reason I couldn't stick to Sin Sugju's principles.
I couldn't respond rashly. But being too tense would only reveal my hand.
Luckily, insinuation has a weakness: if the other side pretends not to get it, you're stuck.
I completely ignored the gejang ploy.
And moved on to the next topic. He said he came seeking the Way, right?
"This is precious, but as it says, 'Hear the Way in the morning and you may die content that evening,' so nothing is more valuable than wisdom and virtue. What guidance might an elder sage offer this foolish youth?"
Yi Ha-jing kept up his feigned ignorance, playing the leisurely old man.
"I've grown useless in my old age, without even duties, so I just eat and stare at the sky, fiddling with astronomy. Do you know about the Cheongoseong meteor that fell recently?"
Of course I do. What nonsense. Meteors fall to Earth by the hundreds daily, so that whatever-star probably fell yesterday, the day before, and before that.
Good thing I steered Hong Daeyong away from astronomy. Messing with that stuff leads to this. My Joseon will stick to flat Earth.
I waited carefully for Yi Ha-jing's next words.
Joseon-style rebel rhetoric is even more cushioned than "Our scholars, heavy with benevolence, have resolved for the nation's salvation."
They never say anything like "I'll do this." Records show most, like Yi Ha-jing now, go with "Trouble seems imminent. Oh dear, how scary."
Of course, Joseon folks are so used to this talk that it's treated as good as a rebellion declaration.
So this guy is one sheet of paper away from confirmed rebel.
But disappointingly—or as expected—Yi Ha-jing didn't bite easily.
"That Cheongoseong fell during the Manchu invasion too. But now His Majesty's virtue and majesty echo everywhere, and with loyal subjects like you who've pacified the Japanese and Red-hair barbarians to secure the frontier seas, what worry is there? Still, heavenly warnings have reasons, so I only hope you strive harder to ease the nation's cares."
This was masterful too. Pulling back just shy of treason's claw-tip while leaving the impression, "We're watching your indirect naval power."
Now it was my turn to respond.
Even today, cyber warriors prowling the transbrain net, pondering how to crush foes with the shortest words, have a role model to emulate.
The man who left Joseon's most impactful line: the immortal copywriter, Shin Chi-un.
"This minister has not eaten gejang since Gapjin!"
One line sums up the tangled politics from King Gyeongjong to Yeongjo.
Aggro maxed out. Records say the king wailed, and officials wanted to tear his flesh with bare hands.
Yeongjo's fury at Shin Chi-un had other reasons too.
The exam paper alteration incident happened "in the civil service exams," making it seem like a bold cry from a hermit scholar, but Shin Chi-un was a veteran official with over 30 years' experience.
Amid the gejang backlash sweeping away the Soron, Yeongjo spared no effort to protect him.
No easy feat. Shin Chi-un, as a young Soron elite, had sent many Noron to the grave, earning deep grudge.
Five years ago, Minister of Personnel Yun Geup ignored royal orders outright to block Shin Chi-un's promotion recommendation.
Yeongjo went so far as to dismiss the minister to make him Vice Minister.
Yun Geup flouting royal command meant solid backing, and overriding it cost Yeongjo blood. Last year, he demoted Shin Chi-un from Vice Minister but kept him as Naju magistrate to show he hadn't forgotten.
For such a favored man to betray so ungratefully, Yeongjo must have felt dizzying betrayal.
Of course, Shin Chi-un felt no gratitude for the king's grace.
Meeting Yi Ha-jing, he bellowed.
"Of course! With all us clear-streamers gone, it'd be the Noron world pure and simple. Turn our ancestors into traitors, spare our lives on death row, then expect us to grovel like whipped dogs in loyalty? No way!"
Silent Yi Ha-jing decided to change the subject.
"When did you come to Seoul? Can the Naju magistrate just abandon his post?"
Rebels are busy.
Handling Seoul business when Shin Chi-un showed up, Yi Ha-jing was surprised.
Shin Chi-un replied in a tone like perfect nose-picking nonchalance, though he didn't actually do it.
"Post? Exile. Couldn't beat the Noron ministers, got demoted from Vice Minister and dumped at the world's end. Even Emperor Xian of Han or Emperor Gong of Later Zhou weren't toyed with by ministers like this!"
Shin Chi-un equating Yeongjo's royal authority to Emperor Xian's was intriguingly apt.
Hard to call utter nonsense.
The wailing, cursing, mass dismissals made for showy impressions, but Yeongjo couldn't do as he pleased either.
Cases of Yeongjo imposing executions, long exiles, or permanent bans without Noron consensus were rare—basically just killing his own son.
Policy-wise too. As king, he pushed equal land tax with will, and ministers yielded, but never implemented household cloth or field pailuo that directly hit power elites' privileges.
The reason, at least to Yi Ha-jing and Shin Chi-un, was simple.
The king now lacks legitimacy.
"Big trouble's brewing soon, so I came up under family pretext to gauge the situation. Heard you were here too, so rushed over. What's up? Any changes?"
Yi Ha-jing detailed Naju discussions.
Shin Chi-un pondered.
"When I was in Kimhae, that Kim Chunsik came to Dongnae as deputy commissioner of Japanese affairs, stirring trouble. I steer clear of filth, so don't know details... but heard the Japanese bureau's been powerless since."
"Makes sense. Eagle-dog talents aplenty; could be huge help depending on use."
"But Kim Chunsik's descendant of Noron fiend Kim Changjip, no? Too risky."
No angle makes Kim Unhaeng side with Soron for rebellion.
Even if their guess he's Crown Prince's man holds.
Yi Geum's abuse of his son fits Joseon's social, legal norms.
So Crown Prince's limit is what Yi Ha-jing accepted in Naju: using Kim Chunsik to build guards "for self-protection."
Like Yeongjo as Yeoningun.
Hard to see basis for active treason.
Sons can't rebel even if fathers abuse, torment, beat, or kill for fun. Such unfiliality gets no yangban support.
If Soron radicals really launch Yi In-jwa Rebellion 2, Crown Prince might turn sword on them alongside father.
Enemy, not ally.
"Thought so too. Planned to just test character, bide time. But..."
Shin Chi-un reacted with shock satisfying Yi Ha-jing.
Kim Unhaeng rated Yi Ha-jing highly.
Meeting dozens daily, yet carving out evening for non-high official Yi: undeniable.
Yi noticed "that side dish" missing from table, probed gently.
"The delicacy I brought isn't on the table. Not to your taste?"
Kim Unhaeng smiled as if expecting it.
"I have a chronic ailment preventing gejang."
Yi nearly blurted, "Chronic? Since when? Gapjin?"
Even ignoring danger, mismatched question. Kim Unhaeng wasn't born in Gapjin.
Yi forgot his spoon in short, fierce dilemma.
Soon, he showed wit befitting Kim's evaluation.
"My apologies. Better take it back then."
"How could I bear that guilt? Luckily, my aged father can nourish on it; I'll gratefully accept. By our ancestor's filial teachings handed down generations, I'm moved by your gesture."
Yi Ha-jing trembled.
Joseon folks are too habituated to guilt-by-association.
As modern man, I enlightened: "Father eats gejang, I can't"—family will ≠ mine.
Yi Ha-jing's reaction suggests he got Crown Prince thinks same. Everyone knows Taejong jailed his unbeaten father militarily.
Crown Prince needn't risk patricide. Tweak annals right, Yeongjo "peacefully retires as Supreme King." That's "ancestral filial teaching."
I had Samhwangtang tail Yi, confirming Shin Chi-un meet.
Heard Shin's name even in 21st century. Now I know their type crystal clear.
Will they really rebel?
Maybe. Crave revenge on Yeongjo if chance arises, but military rebellion? Separate issue.
One certainty: they're not that "chance."
I know all you've done. Recent engineering cases dinged my face a bit, but this is my specialty.
Post slander fails at inns, so exam hall fine-print king-bashing gets mass executions.
Go big like Yi In-jwa or die; what's that pathetic act?
Think you'd leave clean name? Regret: failed. I saw.
If 20 years back at Yi In-jwa's revolt in my position, might've joined.
Learned post-arrival: they nearly toppled Joseon. Partner ability issue.
But this Naju prophecy, exam paper crowd? Mere remnants.
No riding with you.
But as you tried using me, I can use you.
One thing we agree: Joseon's king is position we yangban appoint. Yangban society's winner picks king.
In this gejang game sequel, I'd win, forging anvil to reforge next king my way.
I consulted Se-hwa. If gunpowder leaked from Mokcheon, her influential Mokcheon-area clan might know.
My oldest partner Se-hwa unfazed by revolt signs.
Via Chunsik Express, quick letter exchange with parents; she told me.
"No big gunpowder buys elsewhere but Mokcheon. Mokcheon magistrate Yi Man-yong's got rep for sleaze nearby—how dodge detection stealing that much at once? Few such magistrates."
Theft needs coordination. Was Yeongjo originally good, twisted running country with idiots?
Smarter Se-hwa continued.
"Rebels came to Chungcheong for reason. Gunpowder, troops near rebel hub Naju too obvious; Gyeongsang blocked by Jirisan."
"Sounds right. Time to tweak Jiksan."
Se-hwa didn't query Mokcheon-to-Jiksan slip. She smiled.
"Planning to be double agent for country."
"Only you grasp my loyal heart."
Sincere.
Kim Unhaeng's safety measures scaled bigger at Jiksan than Mokcheon.
Thus, safe gunpowder stored massively there.
He planned to give rebels craving power exactly that.
Of course, right before or after Soron military action. Too early risks leak in prep.
So Kim Unhaeng prepared leisurely.
"Investigating Mokcheon as Military Armory Bureau; checked Jiksan powder depot—much rotten to dust."
Jiksan magistrate Yi Bang-hyeop's face turned gunpowder hue on letter.
He paid Kim Unhaeng hefty consulting, got fresh powder shipped by Jeolla Left Naval Command Liberation Squadron.
Not just him. Even non-Kim safe powder scarce in local offices. Kim mobilized in-laws Namyang Hong et al., safeguarding their evals.
This gathered fakes while effecting more.
Made Chungcheong magistrates obsess over hitherto ignored powder stores.
Naju rebels' extra buys now very hard.
If Samhwangtang, Chungcheong-extended, secretly sells "smuggled powder," they'd choose it.
Measures concealed via layered nets: Liberation Squadron under Kim, Samhwangtang, Chungcheong clerks etc.
Even blocking appeals, couldn't hide Mokcheon's mass loss.
This sparked Yi Geum's specialty: suspicion.
Yi Geum guesses second-hater Yunji in Naju (first closer).
Despite distortions, suspicion accurate.
Kim Unhaeng's flows, especially Liberation Squadron, weakened local arms/funds control vs original history. Without Park Jae-ha in Chundang, Yunji gang would've amassed bigger force fast.
But Yi Geum didn't probe Naju rashly.
Touch wrong, ignites revolt.
With folks sneaking to Crown Prince now, extra caution on Soron.
So Yi Geum crafted deception to his taste.
His position: magnanimous king sheltering Soron despite enemy. He thought so.
Exploit well: lull Soron, smash roots, oust cocky Crown Prince too.
Yi Geum differed from Kim Unhaeng et al at foundation.
Not just king.
Gejang game round 2 player, above all, previous champ.
Author's Note
1. Naju prophecy flow: 1755, mainly Noron-targeted state slander posters in Naju (Jan), then post-suppression, Shin Chi-un et al protest via exam paper incident (May).
Exam paper more suicide protest, but prophecy hints some military stir.
2. Cheongoseong real from Yunji rebel chats. "Meteor with sound only, no light, unlike thunder"—how know meteor sans light? Sound from meteor dubious. Maybe fictional for rebel propaganda or omen warning.
3. Military Armory Bureau had no local powder oversight authority.