Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: To the Lord Who Rode the Shining Merit Stele (2)
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The delegation of esteemed representatives from Mokcheon and Jiksan, driven by an unstoppable storm of reverence for their beloved leader Comrade Kim Unhaeng, set off energetically toward the Gongju provincial office.
They planned to directly petition the provincial governor to erect a merit stele.
Governor Hong Gyehui, displaying the keen insight befitting his office, had mysteriously anticipated the delegation's arrival and completed all preparations to receive their request.
The people of Mokcheon and Jiksan had already guessed that Hong Gyehui would approve. Even before the delegation was formed, stonemasons had arrived and secured fine stone.
As a result, the merit stele project progressed at a speed rivaling the 21st century, unhindered by pre-modern communication limitations.
No need for telephones in Joseon. Telepathy like this works just fine.
Of course, this was all something my subordinates had pushed forward without my knowledge. Do they think I'm Jo Byeonggap or something?
On the contrary, I was deeply saddened by the uproar of the commoners insisting on collecting money from our meager funds to erect a stele when I told them not to.
But suppressing the people's will would not befit a benevolent leader, so I roughly calculated the costs, covered them myself, and ensured no burden fell on them. The banner of "Protect the Leader at All Costs" now flew high over both counties.
Amid all this, an official directive finally arrived from the court.
It evaluated the merits of Mokcheon County Magistrate Kim Unhaeng and appointed him as Staff Officer of the Military Armory Bureau.
Should I really stage a rebellion? Let's see. Who among the royals could I rally behind? Not the Crown Prince Sado.
What do they take a top exam graduate for? Go sell off all the gunpowder from the armory?
No, I didn't even hope for 5th rank, but this isn't a promotion to Junior 6th—it's staying at Junior 6th?
And where did they stash the previous order about assigning me to one of the Three Agencies? Tied up in the rice chest with a fancy knot?
Staff Officer is a post for nepotism hires. It's a grueling job where you have to scrounge supplies from wherever if stocks run low.
Unlike prestigious roles that punch above their rank, high-level promotions are impossible from there.
No joke—if I actually go, I'd be better off resigning and gathering rebels in some frontier to dream of becoming the next Lee Seonggye. My odds of becoming Chief State Councillor would be way higher that way.
Korea is the same, but in Joseon too, one wrong step in your early career derails everything.
Those who became prime ministers followed an extremely standardized path for their first posts.
The Three Agencies (Office of the Inspector General, Office of Special Counsellors, Office of Royal Decrees), Office of Diplomatic Correspondence, Office of Royal Secretariat, Bureau of Royal Lectures, and National Academy.
It's obvious elite track. They frequently overlap or transfer among them.
And in the last half-century, no one who started outside those offices ever made it to the Three Prime Ministerships.
Officially, my first post is Office of Diplomatic Correspondence, but since it's nepotism, it's ambiguous.
Local magistrate isn't great for a first career either. If I don't lock in the Three Agencies now, rebellion is my only path.
They want to crush my human victory of rising above my status through passion and talent?
These soy sauce crab sauce bastards are pushing it to the end.
No choice, then.
I activated Plan B.
Of course, I didn't issue any obvious orders to anyone.
I just grumbled to my wife after work.
And Lady Jeongyeong, who probably dreamed of burning incense for the ancestors, was outraged by this unfair evaluation of her husband.
Her clan—my wife's family, the Namyang Hong clan of the Tohong branch—felt the same.
The new Jiksan magistrate was Choi Boheung, and the new Mokcheon magistrate was Jeong Ok.
By reputation, Choi Boheung was your typical corrupt official, while Jeong Ok was a fairly renowned upright talent.
I couldn't check with my skills. Right after bidding farewell to the king and arriving, people threw stones and chased me out. Pre-modern folks' violence is unstoppable.
I wasn't refusing office like Yi Taejung.
I really want to go to Seoul. But if the people won't let me, what can I do?
The Namyang Hong clan "mom cafe" formed during King Yeongjo's inspection was still operational.
In an instant, a protest crowd formed and surrounded my palanquin. I hadn't brought Eoji to make encircling easier.
As the commoners and local elites wailed, I let out a long sigh and turned the palanquin around.
Hong Gyehui, visiting Mokcheon for the first time since taking office, witnessed the scene and swiftly reported it to the court. A capable bureaucrat indeed.
And now that it had dawned on them, Yeongjo changed the order again.
Okay. I'll hold off on the rebellion. I'm making a huge concession here.
But what? No need to speak of precedents or rumors?
Got it. This must be that enemy Hong Bonghan and his faction stirring things up again.
Hong Bonghan must have fabricated every rumor, real or not, claiming my governance of Jiksan and Mokcheon was suspicious.
It's true that starting as a local official and entering the Three Agencies is a rare path, so he probably used that to shake things up.
Is this how Baekbi felt slandered by Jinhoe, or Yi Mok by Guo Kai?
Right. You thought after I took both counties, Yeongjo would drop a meteor and wipe us out?
Spot on. It was close.
Especially when Yi Taejung flew in from Jin-do saying the body dies young but the spirit endures—I nearly panicked.
If I hadn't pulled Shin Sukju from the gacha, things wouldn't have gone this smoothly.
The scenario is clear.
The initial draft was probably Junior 6th like Censor of the Office of Special Counsellors, as I expected.
But Yeongjo first appointed me to the Military Armory due to Hong Bonghan's opposition.
Then, waiting for some slip-up, when the Chungcheong Governor's report came in, he overrode Hong Bonghan and bumped me to Junior 5th instead.
Unlike Hong Bonghan, the king had seen it himself, backed by the governor's testimony. Even Hong Bonghan can't argue further without suicide.
Yeongjo always gathers evidence like this when he moves. He twists it to fit his mood, that's the issue.
In the end, Hong Bonghan raised my value.
I'm happy, and Yeongjo—who I pulled into alliance—is happy teaching Hong Bonghan his place for daring to object.
I don't love Yeongjo being happy, but Hong Bonghan's misery makes up for it.
He stayed quiet for a while, took on the equal land tax project, and with the crown princess actually bearing a son, he must have felt invincible.
But his opponent is Yeongjo. Blood ties are just easier tools to him.
Even without knowing the future, considering what he does to his own wife and kids—and possibly his brother—"Yeongjo's confidant" is too dangerous.
I hope Hong Bonghan stays oblivious.
A few days later, I announced the sad news.
"The nation's stern command has come twice now; I can no longer defy it. I will soon depart to fulfill my duties, so cause no disturbance."
The townsfolk let out long sighs at my firm declaration.
Yet they realized blocking my path to such high office was wrong.
The protest dispersed immediately. The merit stele construction advanced rapidly.
It felt awkward watching my own merit stele project.
So I focused on handing over to my successors. Called "haeu," I had to complete this to wrap things up.
The two leaders, who fled and returned, were mentally broken by the warm rural sentiment they first encountered.
Jiksan Magistrate Choi Boheung seemed scared, but Mokcheon Magistrate Jeong Ok raged as his reputation suggested.
"For the customs of Mokcheon and Jiksan to be this violent! How on earth did you govern these people?"
His bravado was high, but my skills showed Jeong Ok's stats were lower than Hong Daeyong's. Choi Boheung was even below our foreigner.
So I treated them kindly.
"Heh heh. They're just ignorant folks; it's like a child throwing a tantrum. Don't judge too harshly. We've already arrested and punished them severely—let's not make extra lawsuits. We learned scholars must view the big picture, not bicker with the lowly like petty officials."
I definitely beat them. Look, it's recorded.
No wounds visible even if pants come down? That's because the water here's good. Didn't study Mokcheon's specialty herbs?
Plus, they know the leader's seven duties include simplifying litigation.
Why call it "reduce lawsuits unconditionally" instead of "handle lawsuits fairly"?
A Bao Qingtian type is second-rate in Joseon eyes.
Lawsuits themselves prove harsh hearts and lack of virtue. The existence of a suit is the problem, win or lose.
Like winning without fighting, the best leader prevents lawsuits altogether.
Of course, Mokcheon and Jiksan had almost none during my term.
Thanks to my modern judicial system.
Calculate caning for each claimed offense, then double it on the loser.
No one risked that deathmatch afterward. Who handles our canings?
Like making the loser pay court costs in Korea. Second modern import after performance bonuses—proud of this literary isekai hero.
So they shut up.
More cases just breed backlash, no merit evaluation boost.
Unless you can offer clerks and people what I did.
After political matters, I began practical handover.
I had no predecessor, so managed with county armory and later docs from the Ministry of Revenue and War. But haeu docs are notoriously long, complex, precise.
Key is verifying armory and grain.
Leaders check personally; double- and triple-checked by War and Revenue Ministries. No faking ledgers vs. reality.
So I matched them.
For Mokcheon gunpowder, no 200 geun missing—pure slander. Count the sacks yourself.
They might not ignite. Joseon powder's like that.
Literary type, can't improve processes or manage efficiently. Unused anyway—safer's better.
For Jiksan, replaced all but outer layer with Kim Unhaeng special safe powder. No more explosions.
I kindly drafted their haeu confirmation reports for the governor.
As officials, they instantly saw copying (not exact—handwriting) would save hassle.
I whispered devilishly with my eyes.
Yes. Ends the annoying paperwork instantly.
You're not some exam stud soul-trapped into Chief State Councillor.
Take clerk bribes, loaf around, retire leisurely ordering family slaves. Like 99% of scholars.
The two leaders deeply agreed.
Easy living is close.
Before heading to Seoul, I visited my wife's family with Seohwa.
Can't skip faces after all their help. Time for a results report.
There, I tasted the famed mother-in-law's braised chicken.
No, not her twisting necks—great at coding. My mother-in-law's a beast too.
"Even Choi Chi-won had youthful highs, but Junior 5th in the Three Agencies? Unprecedented! Your father-in-law—of course—and even Lord Chungheon will boast of his son-in-law."
Hong Daeyong, joining for the chicken stew, lavished praise.
Fine, boost your clan status for bringing me here. Unemployed, dodging house glares?
"Perhaps like Prince Guiseong, who became Chief State Councillor at 27 as a royal kin—you'll achieve untouchable fame! And with your looks like his..."
Wanna jinx it? Don't want Chief Councillor then exile-death at 37.
Seohwa, eating with female relatives, glares at her brother. Good. Throw a bowl.
Prince Guiseong Yi Jun's young Chief Councillor rise or affair with Sejo's consort show Joseon still echoed Goryeo's romance fantasy vibes then.
Now the system's tighter—no royals in high posts.
Beyond that, constant treason shadow nightmare.
And we scholars made it so.
Joseon isn't the king's private toy. It's the people's public asset.
Its representatives? The great men—scholars.
Don't ask representativeness. Do Korean MPs represent average folk?
Scholars' unity—the steel phalanx—sustains it.
To counter strong kings, scholars wove tight networks. My marriage exemplifies.
Joseon scholars, unite! Lose much, gain all Joseon.
Early dynasty had demon kings; beatings, blades, poison—harsh times. Stability and milder kings improved it.
So I must look after Hong Daeyong. Uncle-in-law doesn't hush table-talking nephew—expects it.
I proposed.
"How could it be my merit alone? Without brother-in-law and wife's family, impossible. So, shall I take Father-in-law and you to Seoul together?"
Hong Daeyong flinched.
"W-why?"
"Why? You're talented for early success. Father-in-law's long scholarship needs no praise. I'll support your studies fully. Saved some salary."
Father-in-law Hong Eok and brother-in-law eyed each other.
Since when did Joseon pay salaries like Manchu rice dumps?
I gazed heavenward, shameless.
Glanced stats pre-drinks—uncle's decent.
Potential exists. I urged Seoul trip.
Didn't say outright, but hinted family support helps post-baby. They nodded.
Hong Daeyong dawdled on exams till uncle's scolding.
I cheered uncle. Obey elders.
True, who needs heliocentrism for life?
Practical scholar—focus utility. Astronomy for farming calendars suffices.
Flat earth fine. Greek chariot sun-god myths didn't stop olive farming. Seriously, Neo-Confucianism 3x more practical.
Orbits? Math? Let stuffed Brits handle. Humanity's one—discovery anywhere counts.
Do civil service with me. Join the rank-climber dream.
Wife's family eats well in Chungcheong, not nationally.
I'll make it so.
I gritted teeth. First Seoul venture (non-duty business) set.
Then, the Status Window popped up suddenly.
Merit stele review due, but... can't pick timing, huh.
Train mind to avoid glitches before the king.
The Status Window steadfastly twinkled, ignoring my thoughts.
Wonder what it'll give this time?