Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Freezing Throne (3)
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Na and Se-hwa had already predicted that a large number of rebels had infiltrated Seoul.
And that prediction was proven in a rather disconcerting way.
One day, Jo Dongjeong, the Mid-Army Commander of the Training Command, came to visit.
Lately, since the Crown Prince was expanding the Training Command, I, as the Military Equipment Inspector, had naturally been in frequent contact with them.
But even so, it was hard to say that the second-highest ranking official after the commander—a Junior Grade 2 noble—would come in person. I was Grade 3 myself, so it wasn't that unprecedented.
In any case, I welcomed Jo Dongjeong naturally.
He had just one attendant wearing a small hat and two servants. For an old noble, it was a modest entourage.
"If you'd summoned me, I would have come to you. I'm sorry to make the Mid-Army Commander grace my humble abode with his presence."
"What need is there for such formalities between us? I've come today with a special request for you."
What kind of relationship do we have?
I wanted to retort, but the massive bundles carried by his two servants were too conspicuous. I couldn't risk tarnishing my reputation for integrity, so I quickly and politely ushered the guest inside.
After setting down the luggage and dismissing the servants, Jo Dongjeong introduced his attendant.
"This is my personal physician, Jeong Suheon. He also knows a bit about feng shui."
The feng shui master and physician named Jeong Suheon bowed to me.
Hmm. His face screams lowborn or middle-class. And this old man drags around a fortune-teller? Doesn't it hurt his dignity?
Once the host and guest were seated in the parlor, Jo Dongjeong explained his business.
"Your Chun-sik armor has become all the rage in the capital lately. We've placed some in a few physician clinics around the city, but..."
Don't you know about intellectual property rights? Oh, right, you don't. Hold it in, modern man inside me.
Wait a minute—surely those bundles aren't...?
"Somehow, they've all broken down. Everyone says only Kim Chun-sik can fix them, so I brought them here."
Not a gift, then. I wanted to have Eoji beat them all and kick them out.
To an outsider, it looked like the physician Jeong Suheon was asking a favor of his acquaintance, Mid-Army Commander Jo Dongjeong, to get me to repair them (probably for free).
But I had a different hunch.
If it were just that, he would've sent a letter with one of his men, not come in person as the Mid-Army Commander.
Jeong Suheon spoke up.
"I've studied these devices as best I could, but as expected of military equipment, I couldn't match the Inspector's ingenious wisdom. No need to trouble yourself with the repairs—just explain the principles behind it, and I'll give it a try."
As if tinkering would fix it. Even Hiraga Gennai, the club-carving youth, couldn't repair it.
And I couldn't share the principles—not because I didn't know them, but to protect intellectual property.
I opened a couple and saw that the copper wires—the only parts I recognized—were intact. They're truly busted.
I fiddled with the levers pointlessly, pretended to inspect the internals, and let out a heavy sigh.
"I'm afraid the core mechanism is damaged beyond repair. How on earth did you handle them to end up like this?"
"We only used them a few times and didn't do anything special..."
Right. People who call computer repair services always say they "didn't do anything special." Kicking it, spilling coffee, or installing grid software to download porn doesn't count.
Mid-Army Commander Jo Dongjeong interjected.
"Is there truly no way? We can offer ample compensation."
"How could I talk money in front of the Mid-Army Commander? But it's like trying to revive the dead—impossible. I'll provide you with new ones."
Jo Dongjeong was delighted at my refurbishment offer.
"As expected of Jangdong's brilliant strategist. How could you not reach the premiership someday?"
Jeong Suheon chimed in.
"Just as you say, sir. Even at this young age, he has the demeanor of Fan Zhongyan—the Song Dynasty's philanthropic prime minister."
Did I endure this massive expense just for cheap flattery like that?
Of course not.
Thinking about it, to stably infiltrate rebels into Seoul and incite a rebellion, alliances with high-ranking officials in the capital—especially military ones—were essential.
His final words also fit: "Cooperate with the rebellion, and we'll make you prime minister."
After seeing the two off, I sent Jangbok to tail them.
From my previous conversation with Se-hwa about the shaman, I had a hunch.
I'd used that trick behind a ritual myself, so no reason others couldn't.
Though Gangnam University students would make better spies, it looked unnatural for yangban to attend rituals. Jangbok was perfect.
And Jangbok lived up to expectations.
I listened to the vivid testimony playing on Jangbok's audio app.
"They set up near Jaha Gate on the west side of Bukaksan Mountain, but they weren't Training Command soldiers. Their chatter mixed dialects from all eight provinces—I couldn't catch everything, but most were clearly outsiders. They gathered these drifters, passed the Chun-sik armor around, and let them go one by one."
Chun-sik armor was now treated like acupuncture or moxibustion.
"No talk of resenting the nation?"
"W-Well, this fool's too ignorant to understand court politics even if they shouted it in front of me. I don't know state affairs, but their stomachs were growling—they were going on about crab stew this and dried persimmons that."
Spot on. These wretched scum.
Thinking he hadn't gathered useful info, Jangbok hurriedly added,
"That Jeong Suheon—whether physician or performer or shaman—was chanting some weird spell. Something like 'Gung-gung-eul-eul (弓弓乙乙), Hae-do-in-chul (海島人出)'."
'Jeonggamrok!'
My expression must have changed, as Jangbok flinched.
But I had no time to worry about that.
Reading Jeonggamrok in Joseon was like reading the Communist Manifesto in late 20th-century Korea. Undeniable treason.
And handing out electricity generators—known to grant thunderbolt power—to the masses meant physical action was imminent.
I gave Jangbok a few coins and stood up.
I met the Crown Prince under the pretext of a weapons follow-up report. Greatly alarmed, he summoned the Training Command leader, risking others' eyes.
Since the Crown Prince's awakening, discussions had accelerated, and we'd already reached a rough agreement.
Kim Seong-eung, recently offended by King Yeongjo, easily allied with the eternally resentful Crown Prince.
Our set direction was clear.
The rebellion must happen.
And fail in a way that benefits us.
But if Jo Dongjeong, the Training Command's number two, had betrayed us, major revisions were unavoidable.
"He commands many soldiers, so shouldn't we suspend him immediately and rework the plan?"
Kim Seong-eung replied cautiously to the Crown Prince's question.
"Catching and arresting the traitor Jo Dongjeong is easy. But then the rebels will just go into hiding. It's like startling one rat and scattering the rest along the walls—impossible to catch them all."
Our plan to make the Jangyongyeong look incompetent while the Training Command takes credit would falter too.
The worried Crown Prince looked at me expectantly.
"Kim Chun-sik must have a Zhuge Liang-like stratagem."
Hey, you know that in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, many victories credited to Zhuge Liang were actually Liu Bei and his subordinates' work? Shouldn't you think for yourself?
The most frustrating part was that I was the one expected to spout genius ideas.
For Kim Unhaeng and the Crown Prince faction to orchestrate the rebellion, Jo Dongjeong couldn't be officially arrested, as Kim Seong-eung said.
The rebels vanishing was an issue, but formalizing the incident would hand all investigative and military authority to the Grand Council.
Yet for the Training Command to operate smoothly, Jo Dongjeong had to be removed—that was also true.
That's where the Dog-Beating Stick faction, experts in such matters, stepped in.
This was partly due to Kim Unhaeng's push—he was a civil official who struggled to rack up visible military merits.
The letter Shin Chi-un sent before departing Kimhae was already in Seoul, carried by Yun Gwangcheol—Yunji's son and head of the brush-and-ink network.
Jo Dongjeong answered Yun Gwangcheol's question about Dutch involvement.
"It'll definitely distract the Seoul Liberation Squadron. It helps us."
"They want their captured ship and crew back—won't they demand too much later, claiming merits?"
Yun Gwangcheol's question pierced the European essence. Jo Dongjeong dismissed it.
"Just one ship—no need to worry about aftermath yet. Even during the Manchu wars, we had Hongmo reds or black O-gwi-ja soldiers, and wasn't the Dutch ship easily captured, even by a civil official like Kim Chun-sik?"
"Your words illuminate everything, Commander. I'll see you later."
Jo Dongjeong felt good after parting with Yun Gwangcheol.
Until nine shadows blocked his path.
The lantern-bearing servant shouted boldly.
"Who the hell are you?!"
A needless question. Curfew time. Out at this hour? One of two: above the law or beyond it.
And the leader's sarcastic tone suggested the latter.
"We have a special request for the Mid-Army Commander."
Jo Dongjeong drawing his sword and the servant collapsing as the lantern went out happened simultaneously. The darkness-accustomed gang easily subdued his attendants.
But despite his age, Jo Dongjeong swung his blade, felling two men. Pre-modern Joseon demanded physical prowess even from high officers.
As the assailants retreated, Jo Dongjeong caught his breath and regripped his sword.
"How dare you thugs attack a military commander..."
But his words didn't finish.
A monstrous club—or beam?—indistinguishable, flew in with a roar.
Jo Dongjeong hastily raised his sword to block, but even quality steel couldn't easily chop thick wood.
His sword, arm, and ribs shattered together, hurling him six paces back.
"Keurgh!"
In comics, rib fractures are mere scratches; in reality, they're crippling. Splinting is tricky, treatment a headache. In Joseon, it meant death.
Lee Jae-un, watching the writhing Jo Dongjeong, patted the club-wielder's shoulder.
"Well done, Eoji. You've truly mastered the Jangdong Kim clan staff arts."
The rebellion had to erupt before the Police Bureau investigated "Jo Dongjeong critically injured in a street brawl with thugs."
I spoke somewhat urgently.
"Those fiends are like the Yellow Turbans, believing in omens and auspicious qi. I'll fabricate false signs to deceive them, boosting their morale to expose their horns."
Kim Seong-eung asked puzzledly.
"False signs?"
"Sages have long said utmost virtue summons the Four Auspicious Beasts—kirin, phoenix, tortoise, dragon. How could they doubt seeing that?"
The Crown Prince understood first.
His eyes bloodshot from overworking on plans, he smiled.
"As Song Emperor Jingong banished the flickering star—Mars, ill-omened—with three virtuous words, so-called signs are man-made. I already know. This time too, I'll rely on Jangdong Kim clan's secrets."
Denying it now was wasteful. I simply apologized to my father and obeyed the Crown Prince.
As Kim Unhaeng predicted, the rebels couldn't elevate the Crown Prince or Crown Prince Yi Hwon.
Even if Soron and Namin forgave them broadly, it would mean sons striking fathers—a filial impiety even Manchus abhorred. Emperor Qianlong wouldn't allow it.
Considering palace politics, clan laws, and degrees of kinship, the viable candidates were extremely limited.
I Ha-jing, who merely wanted to use Kim Unhaeng, hadn't said that far, but the candidate was obvious to all loyalists, including him.
Yeoseon-gun Yi Hak, brother of Yeocheon-gun Yi Jeong—killed after years of suspicion from anonymous accusations. Released for royal protection after Yi Jeong's death, he was now in Seoul.
When key ally Jo Dongjeong was suddenly beaten to near-death by street thugs, I Ha-jing and Yun Gwangcheol grew anxious. If the court investigated and uncovered it, all was lost.
Subordinates felt the same dread. Betrayal right before uprising—the classic rebel downfall—loomed.
Yet heaven's will against evil seemed unwavering.
As I Ha-jing gnawed his beard in worry, Yun Gwangcheol burst in.
"Elder!"
"What's this commotion? If you're not composed, the grand plan..."
"Th-That's not the issue! A giant divine tortoise entered Yeoseon-gun's residence! The auspicious creature King Seonjo obtained with sacred barley amid chaos, declaring no more need to fear Japanese invaders!"
I Ha-jing stared at Yun Gwangcheol in astonishment.
A divine tortoise—literally sacred.
And one crawling into a home, in midwinter no less? Utterly supernatural.
As Yun Gwangcheol said, the tortoise was King Seonjo's legacy with the sacred barley. Tracing Yeoseon-gun's lineage led straight to the founder.
Overwhelmed by surging emotion, I Ha-jing looked to the heavens.
"Heaven's will is this clear—the tyrant will face divine punishment. Begin at once!"
"Yes!"
History loves repetition, they say.
Years ago, as county magistrate Mokcheon, Kim Unhaeng discovered sacred barley and discarded it; that man, Yi Il-je, was Soron.
Now, the tortoise would launch the Soron remnants—in every sense.
No need to state its discoverer.
The Naju prophecy incident wasn't mere suicidal madness.
In original history, similarly, they planned a grand three-pronged advance: one via Jinju to Ganghwa, inner response in Seoul, and local forces from Honam.
But it failed before starting—due to that prophecy.
Jeolla Governor Jo Ungyu swiftly seized evidence from the posters and arrested dozens at once.
Now, no need to risk preemptive posters denouncing the king—that could come post-uprising.
Naju's brush-and-ink network, inside the capital, had successfully gathered threatening numbers of able-bodied men. The Dutch ship was a bonus.
The key driver was Kim Unhaeng.
First, his destruction of local forces created security vacuums; second, he subtly cooperated—like silencing Jusuyeong; above all, Chun-sik armor—his invention—gathered people without prophecies.
Even the Dutch ship came because of him, arguably.
From rebels' view, a community forum tall-tale plan meshed like clockwork—morale soared.
Jo Dongjeong's exit was no issue; it wasn't exposure to loyalists.
Crucially, the irrefutable sacred beast swelled their ranks 1.5 times overnight.
As Yeongjo 30's twelfth lunar month began, unidentified shouts and rumors echoed in the capital.
"The Japanese are invading!"
"No, Red-Haired Barbarians!"
"They came on big ships to Ganghwa!"
"Like Jeongchuk Year—all men killed, women dragged away!"
Lee Geum, lately sipping omija tea for stress, snapped alert.
Soron work, of course—but chance to annihilate Soron remnants and Noron together.
Despite recent humiliations, he was future Yeongjo.
Born to lowly mother, under reasonable suspicion of fratricide, yet survived to claim the throne—and led Joseon's revival. No pushover king.
Even erupting in Seoul, not Naju as expected, didn't faze him.
Let them come.
Tangpyeong hungers.
Lee Geum issued calm orders.
"All officers and soldiers at military headquarters shall strictly hold positions without moving. Decapitate immediately any spreading false rumors or occult nonsense. Summon the Jangyongyeong Commander and Five Armies Commanders for audience!"
'Yunji's Rebellion,' advanced a season from history, set cold Hanyang ablaze.
Author's Note
1. Training Command Mid-Army Commander Jo Dongjeong really planned to aid the Naju prophecy rebels but was caught and executed. Among armed participants, he was near the top. Jeong Suheon, recorded as a sorcerer in the annals, was also a real figure tied to the rebellion (not a physician).
2. Hae-do-in-chul is originally 'Hae-do-jeong-chul'—a true man of the Jeong clan emerges from sea islands. The Naju incident featured a prophetic secret record, likely Jeonggamrok. But here, for elevating Yeoseon-gun, it's tweaked to Hae-do-in-chul. Jeonggamrok was variably adapted as needed.
3. Fan Zhongyan, Song prime minister, told his son to fetch 500 seok of barley from hometown (like withdrawing savings). Seeing a friend's financial woe, the son gave away barley and boat, returning empty-handed. Fan praised him—origin of the 'barley boat' anecdote.
4. When astrologer warned Song Emperor Jingong of Mars' ill omen, he refused to transfer it to the prime minister, then people, then the harvest year—lest it harm the realm. The astrologer reported the three virtuous words had already banished it, and the star indeed moved. Often cited in Joseon against omen obsession. Kim Unhaeng's sacred barley incident is in the 'Sniper Elite' arc.