Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: 12. Return in Glory (1)
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Our workshop's Unit 2... no, Military Barracks' Kim Hyeongju, I asked him.
"What was the military commander's full name?"
"The military commander's courtesy name is Won Gunpil (元君弼; Gunpil is Won Pilgyu's style name), sir."
Gunpil, my ass. I'm a yangban, so I'm Mipil. My family has been Mipil for generations, and we'll stay that way. What the hell is this guy? Trying to live up to his name?
Calm down. What I was interested in wasn't the name, but the surname.
There are plenty of Won clans in Joseon. But for a Won who's climbed to such a high position, there's no need to investigate.
It's the prestigious Won clan of Wonju, one of the most noble houses. Their history traces back to the Three Kingdoms era (or so they say).
The Wonju Won clan has produced countless generals and ministers like stars in the sky, but who's the most famous among them?
Won Gyun, of course.
After the Imjin War, King Seonjo divided the meritorious retainers into three grades in a massive awards ceremony, showcasing his well-known talent for spotting people—though it was mostly about speed.
Just being fast would make him a character defined by nothing but extra status for minor roles. A true sovereign needs multifaceted abilities.
Among them, the pinnacle was the first-grade title: Filial, Loyal, Righteous, Resolute, Cooperative, Proclaiming Martial Merits (孝忠仗義迪毅協力宣武功臣).
Could they hand out first-grade honors to just anyone? Only three survivors of a brutal selection process claimed that glory.
Under King Seonjo's strict scrutiny, holding a first-grade spot meant you were part of Joseon's 'top forces'—the three great generals of the Imjin War.
Like their counterparts on the other side, they can be classified by attributes.
First is the indisputable 'Yi Sun-sin of the seas.' Water attribute, naturally.
Second is 'Kwon Yul of the land,' invincible in mountains like Ichon, Hangju Fortress, and more. Earth attribute, of course.
Third is 'Hypnotist Won Gyun.' His is, uh... mental attribute.
Won Gyun's ability was a form of absolute brainwashing—the very power I wanted at the start.
King Seonjo promoted him regardless of wins, losses, or inaction. He believed everything Won Gyun said. Even when Won Gyun beheaded Joseon civilians and reported them as Japanese pirates.
Won Gyun even used his mouth alone to sideline Yi Sun-sin and seize overall command.
Considering how Seonjo had defied his ministers to grant Yi Sun-sin near-illegal favors before that, it was like his childhood sweetheart girlfriend getting handed to another man.
Won Gyun failed to kill Yi Sun-sin, but if he had succeeded, it would've gone down in history. Japanese naval history, that is.
Even after nearly wiping out Joseon's navy, he avoided clan enslavement and got first-grade Proclaiming Martial Merits.
If the opponent was a total pushover like King Gojong, it might make sense.
But conquering Seonjo with just his tongue?
Even today, people argue Won Gyun was a genius general—lingering echoes of that powerful total hypnosis.
Seonjo's speed defies time distortion otherwise (no cars in the 16th century, so obviously a superpower), and this is the same—unexplainable without mental superpowers.
Gimme one too. Honestly, Han Seokbong's calligraphy feels obsolete now.
I'll complete the side objective for coins, and if a shop opens later, buy a skill like this.
Of course, I know same surname doesn't mean this military commander Won Gunpil is Won Gyun or even direct kin.
But listening to him, it seems Won Gyun's DNA is showing a bit. The clerks have long known the greedy reputation of this long-time military commander.
Honestly, my 'Won Gyun' approach isn't some genius solution.
How did Won Gyun rise? Bribes. That's my wheelhouse too.
But greatness isn't just novelty.
Won Gyun took a common method everyone used and honed it to superpower levels.
Like a sword master whose blade work looks like magic at its peak.
Strong roots make sturdy stems. This ability started with Won Gyun's father, Won Junryang.
He pinpointed top powerbroker Yun Wonhyeong and showered him with bribes. At that level, Yun didn't accept gifts from just anyone.
Won Gyun himself upgraded it—records say 'bribe wagons stretched from his post to Seoul.'
The key difference from me, who used bribes sparingly for cover or performance fixes: Won Gyun wielded them openly, as official promotion tools. Seonjo probably took them too.
And it worked. That's the point.
This means Won Gyun's way wasn't a huge deviation from Joseon's standards.
Otherwise, even under hypnosis, ministers wouldn't tolerate it.
The 'regulation' for departing officials to greet high officials after the king shows greetings aren't just for the sovereign.
Did he hypnotize all ministers too?
Then later kings and officials would've erased him from the merit records. Amendments weren't unprecedented.
Worth a shot.
I'd hesitated to bribe unfamiliar Won Gunpil due to rapport-building rules, but now I realize: go for it. There'll be a way out.
This is Joseon, where Won Gyun got first-grade merits.
Of course, that doesn't mean shoving bribes like vending machine coins. As I thought during Yi Ilje's time, no.
Won Gyun didn't just demand merits for cash. He gathered civilians, beheaded them, and reported as pirates.
I'm not slaughtering anyone gruesomely, but even if everyone sees through the play, packaging matters.
Being a pacifist uninterested in military, I didn't know, but checking old records (Euptonggi) and clerks' insights showed options.
Military Barracks' Kim Hyeongju cleared my doubts first.
"Local emergency troops usually start with ten in the morning and end with three by evening. With no solutions, during inspections, they'd buy substitutes to fill quotas."
Yes, that's it.
Excited, I looked around.
With such capable aides, I don't envy King Mu's ten ministers. Theirs was just bravado by numbers.
Ten-man groups hanging signs are never legit. Look at the Ten Eunuchs.
Our Mokcheon county's Four Heavenly Kings are far more reliable.
So I asked again.
"Who mainly fills these rotations? Poor folk again?"
Then Yi Bang's Jo Myeongjin (趙命秦), Shin Manheung's successor, stepped up.
Jo Manguk's granduncle—the first to surrender to me—he'd been a clerk under Yi Bang (not that meaning).
Grasping my people-first intent, he's never been hit by Eoji. That proves his skill and loyalty.
He's the core of the Mokcheon Kim Unhaeng faction.
He gave priceless advice.
"Emergency troops mix yangcheon, so shame-conscious folk avoid mingling with cheon-in despite poverty. Lately, they buy private slaves (sacheon: private slaves, including butchers). It's an old custom, over 20 years."
"As expected, Yi Bang knows national and local affairs. I'll follow your words."
Look at this Intelligence 99 quality. Exactly what I needed.
Buy slaves and send them.
No cheonmin in our youth squad, so no local economy hit. Am I Joseonizing? Keep forgetting slaves.
I immediately budgeted 'training participation funds.'
Harvests done anyway. Wealthy responded to 'lend slaves for cash.'
What do slaves get?
Dunno. Owners handle it.
Feudalism: as long as no crossing lines like killing or torture, I can't meddle.
Time short, work rushed.
Days later, Mokcheon's ~50 emergency troop legion complete.
100% pure gongsacheonmin volunteers, proud and sturdy.
Of course, not on official rosters. Spent nights forging new ones.
Did it solo, unknown to clerks. 'Military' means double punishment baseline in Korea too—be careful.
These paranoid bastards list everything: scars, moles, height, specialties. Forging headaches.
Like army days, whole platoon crafting fake signatures for audit ledgers.
But solo this time. Joseon's bureaucracy exhausts.
What? Compare to commander's rosters?
No way. Everyone does it. Want empty training grounds? Be grateful they show.
Didn't stay up for nothing.
Can't just show raw substitutes brazenly.
Too shameless. Like dumping problems on Gunpil. Even bribes won't fix that.
Even black-dragon-spouting 'hypocrisy worse than evil' guys arm up with false courtesy before superiors.
Social life teaches hypocrisy's value.
Show this effort, Gunpil saves face. Hence slave legion.
Sharing burdens is 'work cooperation' basics. Good workers get it.
Now, one task: ensure Gunpil never wants to cross-check rosters.
After that, my domain.
Expect great things, my people.
I bring not swords, but peace.
Even to slaves. I'll shield them from that war-mad commander's frenzy.
Emergency troops muster nationwide in crises—when kings lag like Seonjo or lack Injo's flexibility—via total mobilization.
Full war. Who matches those two?
All-in like all-in. Includes yangban (poor ones) to cheonmin.
From my short post-regression life, no way such an army functions.
Yangban aside, which mad yangin fights shoulder-to-shoulder with cheonmin as comrades?
Not mere displeasure—associating with cheonmin nears social crime. Honor plummets. Commoners have honor too.
Emergency troops start flawed as army.
Previously, they'd sort by class on-site, or force choose between dishonor and beatings. No big wars post-Imjin.
But our Yi Bang said ~20 years ago, buying slaves started.
Remember that event?
Yi Injwa Rebellion.
Mostly political, but militarily nearly toppled Joseon.
Luckily, our king seized court with tyrant vibes—but military lagged.
Military history fuzzy, but months administering clarifies context.
Go Bonghwan mentioned it—many unrewarded.
Even Gwido-seo hit quartermaster (higher than current me!); lowly soldiers suffered more.
Not just Yeongjo's character.
Heard initial local musters got crushed—those were emergency troops. Elite Ogunyeong broke rebels.
From king's view: invest in Ogunyeong or emergency troops?
Soldiers too: post-'real muster,' panic. Real fight? Like ROK reserves in war.
Monarch and subjects aligned beautifully—post-rebellion, emergency troops just nominal.
As sa daebu in middle, I align too.
Observer's office now in Gongju, but Cheongju was old Chungcheong hub.
Commanders shuttle for practicality; Yi Ilje's Cheongju time too.
Traces remain.
Chungcheong's five emergency camps (front/rear/left/right/center)—main camp still Cheongju.
I led troops there. Mokcheon's under center camp.
Hong Daeyong wanted painter for 'sister sees county mag commanding troops heroically'—declined.
Crazy? No cameras/recorders makes work easy. Don't leave slave legion evidence. Sister excuse; stabbing my back?
Surprisingly few deserters.
Slaves: where run? Stick to master for food.
Picked non-runners from start.
Not criminals/traitor spawn grinding teeth—Jangbok types, slaves since ancient emperors.
Small-town mag perks: local gossip gives big data for custom service.
Other mags, civil servants lacking admin savvy.
Neighbor Jiksan mag Song Jinhyeom (same center camp) spotted me, rushed over.
Forgot yangban dignity, stomped feet.
"Troops desert daily; half left. What to do?"
Sir, positive spin on life.
Not 'half gone,' 'half remain.' Decent for no-prep summons.
Weren't you mag last year? First time?
Ah, got it.
He got my (threat) letter, halted Mokcheon canal. Meanwhile, Ijaeun caravan minted gold.
Jiksan garrison slacked, clerks' shares shrank. They skipped prepping for him.
Good. Song Jinhyeom—help him.
Neighborly, and Noron prestige houses help each other.
Not worried new mag blocks gold—never.
"Luckily, Mokcheon lost few. Order officers to align remnants beside us. You and I greet commander first."
He got it. Elders wise.
We 'greeted' Chungcheong Military Commander Won Pilgyu—high martial official trusted by king over Hoseo troops—with fitting etiquette.
Won Gyun toured kin backers post-Yi Sun-sin oust, got 'Jo Gwal' rep.
My take validated.
Won Gyun wasn't uniquely corrupt among generals (mental spec meant uniquely bad at fighting).
Not clan issue.
Both Joseon men.
Chungcheong Military Commander Won Pilgyu (style Gunpil) showed name-worthy military prowess.
Like a regressor, innovated tactics for training.
Speed is ancient general gospel.
But oversized armies can't be swift.
Splitting like sa robeungjin seems dumb, often was—but premodern logistics forced it.
Won Gunpil surveyed forces closely. Most emergency troops civilians, couldn't match elites.
Forcing mix turtles pace, nationwide drag.
Bold call: confirm muster, rough lineup, dismiss.
Breaks rules minimally. Scientific sovereign's modernization.
Not all at once—stagger by county.
Order: polite counties first. Eastern Land of Propriety.
Precise admin state: propriety quantified.
Late Joseon cash economy—propriety = shiny things countable.
Ranking easy.
Jiksan troops with Mokcheon ranked first, home in three days.
Song grabbed my hand, fervent thanks.
"I'll aid you with all I have."
Hm. Probably nada... but longevity lets gold skim, and your court friends? Heard Year of the Sheep Noron crew. Plug me.
Joseon-style:
"Stepped up to spare elder mag subordinates' faults; how seek reward? More guidance blesses this junior."
Got it? 'Subordinates' fault.' Beat clerks. Smooth my work.
Back in Jiksan, Song paid 'training costs' generously.
No more cash worries like old days.
Private and public coffers full. Proud of top Agriculture-Commerce in Seven Duties.
Public: less blocking waste than earning.
Crushed sly clerks (奸猾息), direct deals; cut overpriced supplies via Ijaeun.
Boost treasury? Only good farming. Rest my pocket.
Not Won Gyun habit. Greed? I spend too.
First, compensate Kim Unhaeng clerks shorted by direct deals. Or they flip.
Half non-Eoji-hit perks, half private bonuses.
Why private not public? Builds 'my' loyalty. Public records snag.
Post-me? Whatever. Erect stele.
Plus, Jangbok's spy net 'Slave Intel (tentative)' from Hong probe eats cash. Necessary.
Gazing chilly outside, back to duties.
Seven Duties: what next?
Ah.
Household Increase (戶口增).
Like sa daebu want slave kids multiplying, our fans crave subject boom.
Population = money.
First two duties economic—Joseon pragmatic.
So, how make people?
Duh. Say it?
I started prep.
Misunderstanding? Not doing it myself.
Never crossed mind.