Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: 22. A Toast for Us (1)
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Treason? Rebellion?
The entire assembly erupted into murmurs in an instant.
Even after the Yi Injwa Rebellion, there had been incidents of leaflets circulating from the provinces or plots of treason uncovered.
But right in the heart of the capital, and at a moment when the king himself was present?
A sudden assault by heretics in sacred Hanyang—it sounded absurd, but it wasn't entirely implausible.
Yeongjo's long reign made it hard to feel the weight, but he had significant vulnerabilities in his legitimacy.
Setting aside his own karma, his mother was a palace servant to begin with. Honestly, if his brother hadn't been infertile, he never would have ascended the throne.
But the strongest 'plausibility' came from our king's explosive personality.
There were so many suspects that I couldn't even guess who might be behind a revolt.
Just today, when the crown prince came to pay his respects, he washed his ears out with water first, then spat in front of him.
Even a 15-year-old villainous noble lady in a drama wouldn't pull something that childish.
Yet Yeongjo had been doing this for years—about as long as that villainess's entire life.
And it wasn't just the crown prince.
When he couldn't throw her in a wooden chest, he treated Princess Hwaheo the same way. Considering the affection he poured on Princess Hwapyeong, it was hard to believe it was the same man.
Yeongjo was undeniably competent and showed leniency to most people.
But anyone he disliked? He ground his teeth and tormented them until the end. If they didn't kill themselves, he'd do it for them.
It didn't matter if they were family or not.
Yi Taejung, who had to fly from Jindo to Jiksan, was a prime example.
For the record, that guy returned, rose to Deputy Minister, but after getting close to Yeongjo, he snapped and said, "Why did you do that to me in Jiksan?"—only to get bounced back to Jeolla Province as governor. A true genius at exile.
Just counting the people with grudges against Yeongjo could form a massive army.
If success was guaranteed, I'd even take brigade commander. The general would be the crown prince.
'Wait a sec, could it be that bastard Park Jiwon...!'
Is this punk one of the rebel leaders?
That lame excuse about his dad being sick so he bailed—was that to command the rebels?
If I survive this, his head's the first one I chop.
What do I do?
How can at least I make it out alive?
Running away rashly is too risky. Should I surrender first and try the crown prince card?
As I glanced around, one or two guys hesitated, trying to hand me a stick or something.
Hey, beat it. I'm a civil official. Let's stick to our roles here.
But no matter how long I waited, no descendants of Yi Injwa came pouring in like the tide.
The Right Deputy Chief State Councillor Jo Unggyu, who had received the report, addressed the king again.
"A Training Guard archer stationed at Geumhomun—one of the palace side gates mainly used by officials—dared to come this close, shout insolent words, and was dragged away."
Hmm. As expected, in our wise and enlightened king's era of peace, no such insolent rebels exist.
Just one lunatic after all.
Apparently, he bellowed about colluding with the magistrate of Suan County in Hwanghae Province to start a revolt, but also claimed he had a grievance and burst in.
Yeah, got it.
I've seen a guy in Noryangjin wrapping his neck in cooking foil, claiming the National Intelligence Service implanted a chip to control him via radio waves.
Asked him, and he said they did it to rape women.
Superconductors lighting tiny bulbs? If they have mind control tech, why just that? And why implant chips in men's necks?
Most infuriating? That guy passed the exam. Still pisses me off thinking about it.
Seems like that type.
So this is the elite capital defense force—specifically, the guards at the palace gates?
Even among the Training Guard, the guys at Songpa Ferry were the sane ones.
Everyone else seemed to think the same as me.
Historically, Right Deputy Chief State Councillor Jo Unggyu prescribed the mild punishment here.
The king responded with dignity to the suggestion of beating him with a club first, then castrating him top and bottom later.
"That wretch was clearly drunk and causing a scene. Do as reported, but it's unseemly to suddenly tie him to the torture frame mid-ritual, so do it afterward."
Fortunately, nothing else happened after that. I sighed in relief and sorted the records.
The next day, when I met Park Jiwon, I complained vigorously.
"As a subject, I can't fear death in my duty, but nearly having a traitor's blade at my throat out of nowhere terrified me."
"I... I was confused and caused you trouble. For now, take one more of these..."
I was gonna spread rumors about his concubine visit if he acted stiff, but good thing he didn't.
I checked with the shaman safe house planning department on Inwangsan because it was suspicious, and turns out his wife had been there once too.
Concubines aren't a big issue, but prioritizing them over a historian's grave duty to record history? That's trouble.
After Park Jiwon left repeatedly apologizing, I picked up the hen he'd tied up again.
One chicken farm? This one's even plumper than the last.
At home, I need to figure out if there's a skill to breed chickens well.
The guy I thought was a rebel was just a wiretap in my ear, and the one I pegged as the rebel mastermind was just a cheating husband.
Yeah, that's history for you.
Uncle Hong Gyehui, who helped me a ton when I was a local official, had returned by then and been promoted to Minister of Military Affairs.
Damn, his backing's a heavyweight now.
When that heavyweight summons me, I have to go. And for someone like an uncle, I can't show up without a gift set.
Many cultures ban beef, pork, offal, scaleless fish, or blood foods.
But nowhere bans chicken. It's the symbol of human unity and world peace.
So the chicken I got from Park Jiwon was happily accepted by Hong Gyehui too.
"Even considering past favors, I should have visited more often, but duty kept me busy—my regrets."
"Public before private, right? I owe my nephew a huge debt too. If not for your wisdom shown in Jiksan during the royal procession last time, I wouldn't be sitting here now."
Hong Gyehui chuckled, his performance review boosted by my merit across all of Chungcheong Province, landing him the minister seat. I humbly replied,
"It was merely following your guidance to this junior— what wisdom could I have?"
From this, Hong Gyehui seemed to judge I was still his comrade. He lowered his voice.
"Truth be told, I called you because among those present, you're the only one I can trust."
The wiretap incident in my ear, huh?
Makes sense. For the Minister of Military Affairs, it's no small matter.
Geumhomun is a 10-minute walk from Chundangdae.
Not a long straight distance—the palace is just a maze.
Naturally, it's crawling with soldiers, eunuchs, and court ladies in between.
That madman didn't sneak in stealthily; he charged in screaming his lunacy.
Yet no one stopped him until he was close enough for the king to hear (which means arrow range too).
This is the Training Guard's mobility on full display.
They've exposed the level of Joseon palace defense to the world with their breakthrough prowess.
The minister or commander must want to chew them out.
"Archer Kim Jeonggu got off with just 30 lashes thanks to palace grace. But such a light punishment implies... you can guess."
"Higher-ups in military affairs will face the heat."
"Likely so."
I pondered. If Hong Gyehui gets axed, I'm in trouble too.
Then I recalled Yeongjo's final words at Chundangdae.
'That wretch was clearly drunk and causing a scene.'
Once the thread unraveled, my thoughts raced like our pony at full gallop.
The gears of the plan clicked perfectly in my head.
If it works, shielding Hong Gyehui is a cinch.
I could even snag the 'big score' I'd eyed since reforming Songpa Ferry.
"I have a plan."
Hong Gyehui's face lit up.
Archer Kim Jeonggu was interrogated at the Bureau of Royal Guards.
Seemed overkill, but the king personally oversaw it.
Maybe thinking they overreacted to one nutjob, or perhaps they were the crazy ones—high officials from the Three Offices like Chief Censor Seo Myeonggu, Auditor Hong Junghyo, and Remonstrator Yi Yusu ignored the summons.
Hong Gyehui, concurrent Bureau Director, seized the chance.
Couldn't have no one from the Three Offices, so he 'urgently' summoned Hongmungwan Scholar Kim Unhaeng.
As someone right there, everyone had to praise Hong Gyehui's quick thinking.
Board was set. Now sync perfectly without slips.
Kim Jeonggu, with Jedi knights dancing in his head like a lightsaber-wielding Joseon soldier, kept rambling nonsense.
Originally, he insisted only the king could hear secrets from a distant galaxy long ago.
They brought the king, but he just spouted drivel, raising everyone's blood pressure bit by bit.
I'd have used Attorney Jang, but the Bureau level was different.
They called in an overseas Jury priest for a fiery exorcism.
"Gaaahhh!"
The holy crossed sticks chased out the evil demon, and Kim Jeonggu finally regained his senses.
"I have a grudge against someone from Suan County, so I shouted that."
Those suspecting a second Yi Injwa rising on gold and copper mines in Suan deflated.
Yeah, too unrealistic. Mines don't spawn gold with a mouse click.
Truth court adjourned. The Bureau guards' technique was top Joseon, even if strength lagged Eoji.
Now round two. I straightened my robes a bit.
Hong Gyehui glanced at Kim Unhaeng. Belt slightly hiked—signal to start.
As Bureau Director, Hong Gyehui addressed the king.
"By Your Majesty's mercy, we merely punish his form, but such insolence demands harsher. Execute Kim Jeonggu."
King Yi Geum was frustrated no minister grasped his hint from Chundangdae.
Even the Chief Censor seemed unaware of the interrogation today. How to rule with these idiots?
His reply carried annoyance.
"Absurd, but wasn't it just drunken rioting?"
In real history, Hong Gyehui doesn't get it.
The day's Veritable Records of the Royal Secretariat shows Yeongjo harping on booze, ministers tilting heads like, "Booze is booze, crime is crime"—total mismatch.
Kim Unhaeng doesn't know this history either. Who memorizes that?
But with greed—no, ambition for premiership—he pierced prophecy with intuition.
Thus advising Hong Gyehui perfectly, who swiftly agreed with the king.
"Indeed. Such madness impossible without liquor."
So not the minister's fault. Booze's fault.
The king nodded in sync, and Hong Gyehui marveled at Kim Unhaeng's 'plan.'
'Should've forced him as nephew-in-law back then.'
As Hong Gyehui regretted too late, Yi Geum found another punching bag besides military.
"Not one from the Three Offices on national discipline? What's this?"
Hong Gyehui swallowed. Critical moment.
Yi Geum's 'not one' meant no senior officials at minimum.
Like a division commander asking "Where's 3rd Company?"—not hunting Private Kim.
But Private Kim stepped up.
"The Chief Censor was appointed just two days ago, so confusion in receiving orders. With no other high officials, I dare take the blame."
High officials like Bureau Director Hong Gyehui and Lead Counsellor of the Royal Secretariat Kim Jaero gaped at Kim Unhaeng. Even King Yi Geum was mildly surprised.
Yi Geum recalled Kim Unhaeng's face from Jiksan.
Not spotlighted, but a staunch Noron dipping toes in crown prince's camp piqued his interest.
Bad spin: gray wolf.
Yi Geum loved those.
Even named it 'Tangpyeong'.
Just opportunist or future Tangpyeong pillar? TBD.
As hands-off king, no time fixating on a lowly junior, so Yi Geum tested him lightly.
"Hongmungwan Scholar and Seja Sigangwon Lecturer Kim Unhaeng, rank 5. Good. By your insight teaching the crown prince diligently, how should this soldier's negligence be handled?"
Kim Unhaeng, once blinded by gambling greed, answered calmly.
"Liquor is the evil, not the man. But intruding near the royal curtain can't go unpunished, so if mercy shown, reducing to fixed exile follows precedent."
Lead Counsellor Kim Jaero, seeing Kim Unhaeng for first time, was impressed.
'At that young age, remonstrating without irking the king or seeming servile?'
Upholds crime is crime firmly, yet aligns with royal will.
Recommended Kim Wonhaeng for scholar fame, but Kim Unhaeng no slouch.
And more.
Senior statesmen like Kim Jaero or Right Senior Statesman Jeong Uryang grasped the king's intent when Kim Unhaeng mentioned booze.
Jeong Uryang narrowed his eyes.
'Even I didn't know beforehand... If crown prince were that sharp, royal house more at peace.'
Yi Geum seemed to think similarly.
"Approve Scholar Kim Unhaeng's words. Exile criminal Kim Jeonggu to a remote island, and likewise impose exile penalties on Chief Censor Seo Myeonggu, Auditor Hong Junghyo, and Remonstrator Yi Yusu who ignored today's order."
Right then, the status window popped up before my eyes.
I smirked inwardly.
Got it.
As long as I advocate it, exile counts somehow.
Doesn't need formal impeachment docs. Guards count as civil servants despite no rank.
Including Chief Censor et al. would tick senior official, but since I didn't push it, no.
Remonstration subgoal doesn't overlap with exile either.
Obviously. Otherwise separate goals meaningless.
Good. Experiment success. Learned what I needed.
Next order of business.
I said booze is root of all evil, right? You can counter this easy peasy.
Sure enough, Yeongjo didn't disappoint.
Wrapping interrogation, he declared,
"You ministers now see how liquor harms ethics. Even young censors know; how can wise elders not?
Moreover, famine strikes Haseo (Hwanghae) and Gwanseo (Pyeongan), birthing such wretches. To correct morals and save grain, I ban all liquor nationwide henceforth. Discuss at Privy Council and Office of Special Counsel."
This time, I couldn't hold back the laugh and hurriedly bowed my head.
The 'big score' I'd aimed for with modern foresight.
Yeongjo's unprecedented ultra-long, ultra-strict Prohibition Decree in Joseon history.
1. The Kim Jeonggu incident in March of Yeongjo's 27th year matches the story closely. Per the Veritable Records, Yeongjo directly ordered his neck twisted (severe beating).
2. Not shown in-story, but leadership suspicions were roughly: " 'Raising arms in Hwanghae'—calling in Qing troops?" and "Who's framing Hwanghae folk by puppeteering this guy?"
3. Yeongjo repeatedly telling ministers "Kim Jeonggu was drunk" is true.
But it didn't lead straight to Prohibition. His famous long-term ban was in year 31. The famines in Gwanseo and Haseo were real though.
4. Skipped for plot irrelevance, but Kim Jeonggu case had funny bits.
Night-long interrogation meant late-sleeping officials got "I'm up, you're not? Insane?" from Yeongjo. Crown prince caught flak too, inexplicably.
Chief Censor Seo Myeonggu, appointed two days prior, skipped, then innocently came post-interrogation for courtesy bows—after exile order. Yeongjo raged "Rebelling?" His exile got canceled later.
5. Yi Taejung did submit a long remonstration saying "Why'd you do that in Jiksan?"—to the crown prince... No clue what he expected. Whether it reached king's ears and he got re-exiled as governor: true.