Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Secret Royal Inspector Kim Chunsik (2)
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My appointment as a secret royal inspector wasn't some absurd or impossible nonsense.
Secret royal inspectors are typically selected from among the king's young attendants—those who are upright and steadfast.
I didn't love being registered as one of the "king's attendants," but the rest rang true. It was something I had a high chance of happening someday. The only issue was how soon it came.
In some ways, it was almost a perfect fit, and I was even a little grateful for it.
'Alright, that takes care of the core objective... Now, how do I make some money?'
Surprisingly, being a secret royal inspector offered limited opportunities for backroom dealings later on.
How nice it would be to tour the villages, intimidate the magistrates, and collect bribes at leisure. But that wasn't easy.
For starters, a secret royal inspector doesn't wander around like a lone wolf with just a single attendant.
From what I knew, they came with an assistant clerk from the Office of Diplomatic Correspondence and four or five hired porters from outside.
In other words, a secret royal inspector wasn't some shadowy vigilante of justice. They were the official head of an inspection team out in the open. There were too many eyes on them, and most were beyond my influence.
Plus, there were physical limits to how much money you could carry on a trip. Even if you took bribes, it'd only amount to pocket change.
Of course, with real effort, there were ways around it—like asking magistrates to send bribery packages via express courier, Won Gyun style.
But all those were fundamentally unstable because I had no base in those regions.
It was completely different from my time in Mokcheon County, where I'd seized administrative power, transportation, and—most importantly—military authority.
If I tried some hasty shakedown, what would come flying back to Seoul wouldn't be a bribery package; it'd be impeachment papers, with sky-high odds.
As I pondered how to skim without getting caught and keep it sustainable, King Yeongjo's dry voice rang out.
"What are you dawdling for? Withdraw."
Ah, right.
Come to think of it, I needed to prepare a commission for the crab faction boss too—though it didn't have to be money. That bastard surely appointed me with exactly that in mind.
The person who escorted me afterward was a protocol officer from the Office of Diplomatic Correspondence—a sixth-rank official in charge of conveying royal commands.
He wasn't from the crab faction.
The Office of Diplomatic Correspondence was their headquarters, sure, but this was official duty. They handled the initial preparations and escort for departing secret royal inspectors as standard procedure.
And that proved the inspector served the king, not the government.
First, I received five seom of rice and beans from the Ministry of Taxation, along with emergency medicines like blue heart pills and a bolt of prime cotton cloth. For some reason, they also gave me three or four dried fish.
"What's this?"
"Travel expenses for official business, sir."
"This is it?"
"Yes, sir."
No matter how I looked at him, he wasn't joking.
What the hell? Were they turning the inspector into a beggar to ensure perfect anonymity?
Unless I was a Hanyang secret inspector—which I wasn't, though I'd love to try one from Changdeok Palace—I'd need to photosynthesize to complete the mission with this.
Fine, self-reliance it is. I'm used to that.
I'll cover my own travel expenses. I just need to earn that much on the road.
But as I left the palace a short while later, I realized something.
The true reason why only the "capable" ones were chosen as secret royal inspectors.
The most outrageous part wasn't the massive personal burden of travel funds.
By regulation, once appointed, you couldn't even go home. That was the real problem.
I had to head straight out of the capital, open the sealed orders, and go directly to the listed villages. Clerks from the Office of Diplomatic Correspondence had been tailing me since earlier, watching to ensure I didn't slack off and left immediately.
In short: no travel money (or next to none), and I couldn't go home to grab cash.
No shortcuts allowed; figure out a clean way that doesn't violate regs.
I'd thought I was somewhat adapted to Joseon. How arrogant of me.
This was the new dignity of Joseon, where even self-reliance required self-reliance. I nearly blacked out.
But I gritted my teeth and pulled myself together.
Countless secret royal inspectors before me had overcome this hurdle.
It was just like the civil service exam. If you couldn't solve a dilemma like this, you didn't deserve the post.
No choice. Time to deploy forbidden modern tech.
'Bank transfer it is.'
To make the transfer, I first activated Bluetooth pairing.
"Jangbok. Heavy?"
"Ugh. A sudden sack of grain? Of course it's heavy. Not sure if the yoke breaks first or my back does. Should've brought Eoji."
"Then drop that and go get Eoji."
"Pardon? Y-yes, sir."
I flashed the clerks a look that said, "Bringing an extra porter shouldn't be an issue, right?"
To help their judgment, I handed out one dried corvina each from the Ministry of Taxation stash.
Anyway, as long as I don't say "secret royal inspector," it should be fine. They wouldn't ask me to fetch money out of the blue—family might catch on.
I unfurled my fan and told Jangbok.
"The spring breeze blows. On your way, tell Madam Haengnangchae—not to neglect overseeing the barley fields."
"Barley fields? Got it."
Then he dashed west energetically. I smiled inwardly.
That guy's sharp.
Eoji was a huge asset in danger, but for overall utility, no one beat Jangbok.
Not even questioning if we had barley fields—didn't bat an eye.
He's probably the smartest slave in the kingdom.
Among slaves, that is. Se-hwa, who'd receive the message, was far sharper.
Spring among seasons and barley among grains both symbolized wood in the five elements, representing the east. That's why the Crown Prince's tutorial office was called the Chunbang.
Se-hwa would instantly get my meaning: "Head to the Wangsimni Chun-sik Ranch east like the wind and handle the bank transfer."
While waiting for Eoji, I got bored and looked around. Another three or four young officials entered Changdeok Palace.
I didn't need to see their faces; their hurried, tense steps gave them away. Rookies, not regulars who met the king daily.
Another low-rank audience besides mine?
I turned to a clerk and asked innocently.
"Who was that who just passed?"
The clerk looked puzzled for a second, then thought better and answered readily.
"Likely Chae Jegong, former Royal Academy censor, back from exile in Gangwon Province by royal order."
"No kidding? Him?"
I didn't know Chae Jegong personally.
Unlike Sim Hwanji, whom I'd enrolled in the Great Academy, Chae—who'd become Jeongjo's chief retainer—had already been an official then, so I couldn't.
Hard to recruit from court too. As I'd just heard, he'd been exiled to Gangwon since last year.
The story? Hmm. For someone of his future fame, you'd expect some grand political saga or steadfast scholar's integrity. Truth was, it was petty.
As a Royal Academy censor—a "historian" no less—he'd tried seizing a lowborn's ancestral grave by force and got a textbook beatdown.
Still salty, he abused power to crush the guy with a ninth-rank post and got impeached.
This idiot becomes Jeongjo's chief retainer?
Master Jeong Yak-yong, you were really tight with this guy?
I seriously doubted Jeongjo's judgment then.
Not because of corruption. Crab faction boss's grandson as second boss? Predictable. His sidekick being a thug? Not surprising.
What shocked me was his epic stupidity: not even bringing muscle for the grave grab.
At least clean up after.
Even at 1 HP, a yangban's a yangban—or so he thought he could squash a lowborn. Fat chance; he knew zilch.
No backup for that lowborn? Would he have dared hit you? And Noron censors would've let slide a chance to nail a rebel remnant like you?
That incident last year—even small—helped alter history via Janggak's talisman.
Know a man by his friends, a king by his ministers.
Not for personal gain, but for Joseon's future, Jeongjo couldn't keep clowns like this close. Better groom Grand Heir Lee Jeong as king material.
Well, positively, he's young. Even Yi Sun-sin was a punk in youth.
People are multifaceted. Only our king's "punishment chest" defines him fully.
Given Chae's future fame, he might have hidden depths.
So despite core goals, I skipped joining his impeachment.
Thus, I could observe him objectively as he passed.
I spoke casually, like an afterthought.
"Looks like he got a pardon like me."
But the clerk didn't bite easily this time.
"Unrelated to official duties. How dare we probe His Majesty's thoughts? Ah, looks like your estate's servant arrived. Quite the merchant vibe, as rumored. Let's go now."
"Got it. Man, you're all so rigid."
I clasped hands behind my back and strolled after them slowly.
Idiot. Jumping like a spooked boar just advertises Chae's heading into something big.
No way they'd appoint a corrupt toad like him inspector. So what was the big deal?
Once out of the capital, the Office clerks left, and only Hwang Do-myeong—the Saheonbu clerk assigned to me—remained.
He was one of my team, a Saheonbu veteran of over ten years, so we knew each other—no awkwardness.
I entered the designated spot, Namdaemun's South Gate Royal Shrine alone, opened the sealed orders, and checked the badge.
Next instant, I quietly spat a curse.
Let's call it Naju gutter-level profanity to spare my dignity.
I refolded the envelope neatly and stepped out.
I eyed the three men.
"My retainers live nearby, so let's eat and head out. Jangbok, to the ranch."
"Ah, there? Understood."
Namgwan Royal Shrine was around Dongjak-gu by my senses.
We walked nearly all day to reach Wangsimni Chun-sik Ranch. Could've used the badge for speed, but no rush now.
And there—a cart from home awaited.
Hwang's jaw dropped.
"I've served inspectors three or four times, but never one like this. No begging for meals en route."
Small cart to avoid notice. But rice-equivalent value? Would need way more carts.
Hefty cash pouches, rations, even pricey herbs convertible to cash—neatly packed for easy carry. Leagues beyond the Ministry.
Expected so far.
But the greeter wasn't.
"Where's Steward Song? Why are you here, brother-in-law?"
Hong Daeyong, still jobless in Seoul, grinned broadly.
"Song's out on other business. I was around, so I came."
Hong, "passing by" today (skip the job-hunting?), was chatting with my sister-in-law when panting Jangbok arrived.
Hong puzzled over "barley fields in spring breeze," but Se-hwa got it all. Under her lead, packing flew.
No Song or Jangbok, so Hong stepped up.
Dad couldn't run kid errands. Other slaves unreliable for valuables.
"Imposed on you. How to thank you? I'll visit properly on return."
I bid farewell and thanks to Hong.
Why wasn't he leaving? That dopey grin? Office clerks might check.
"Secret inspectors traditionally rough it, begging funds from roadside magistrates as custom. Even dim me gets why you went extra."
What? Beg magistrates? That a thing?
Makes sense if not inspection targets.
But doesn't that blow cover?
Ah, got it.
Magistrates play dumb, act "poor traveler" and "generous lord" for the exchange.
Dolt me. Why didn't I know? Should've bought drinks for past inspectors for tips.
Thought of meeting Park Mun-su post-Mokcheon, but he's elder statesman, Sora faction—tough.
Turns out he never did inspector duty. Similar posts like special envoy, but not.
But what "extra" intent did Hong emphasize?
I'd just racked my brain out of ignorance.
Before I asked, Hong shoved me into the fully restored Chun-sik Ranch main hall (my term; just an office-cum-hall).
"Come, come. Sun's setting—rest here. You lot, good work hauling. Head out. Eoji, Jangbok—follow me. You... Saheonbu Hwang clerk? Ah! Heard tons about you from brother-in-law. Join me for dinner."
I swear I'd never mentioned Hwang to Hong. His long-dormant people skills swept them away, leaving me alone.
Head tilted, I entered—and faced a Joseon impossibility.
Se-hwa sat primly there.
I nearly felt fear.
But she smiled brightly at me.
"Came as summoned."
I didn't summon her.
So, Hong and Se-hwa had creatively interpreted.
Kim Unhaeng, who squeezed cash even from Yama King (Hong's slander), wouldn't fuss with codes over pocket change—must be something else. Pure speculation.
Se-hwa murmured from my embrace, vibrations tickling my neck.
"Wanted to carry the load myself, but brother objected. 'A woman wandering outside the walls?' Then I spotted another hidden meaning. How sweet for spring miss and mister to tryst secretly in the barley fields?"
Didn't hide that.
"Thanks to you, I got this outing. Brother escorting, so parents approved."
Even left Yi-hwan. Can't deny now.
"You read my intent perfectly. If not for duty, I'd have seen you before leaving."
"Knew you would. You're so bold, my face burned—I was lost."
Parents don't think that too, right?
She tugged my jacket string gently. It slipped off.
"Going far?"
I revealed the destination—first time voicing it post-seal.
"Appointed to Hamgyong Province. Hamhung, Hoe Ryeong—facing Tumen River and sea. Will take long."
Se-hwa stiffened in my arms.
She named the land dread lord seized from demon realm as gift—that ancient fear etched in Joseon DNA.
"...The Six Garrisons?"
"Twelve counties including there."
Rare for one inspector over whole province—logistics nightmare. Usually subsets.
But that neighborhood? Subset still hell-level. Winter? I'd fake sick.
Se-hwa worried. She gazed up, eyes misty.
"For me and Yi-hwan, return safe."
"I will. I'm a coward at heart. Trouble? Bolt right back."
She giggled childlike, poked my nose.
"Hmm. Says the hero chasing tigers. Scares me. To keep your heart home, maybe need that daughter you mentioned."
No need to answer—and couldn't.
Her finger slid from nose to press my lips.
She uttered cryptic words.
"Still, prefer this over pictures."
"Pictures?"
No answer. Instead, she undid her hair.
"Might be too tired to leave tomorrow."
1. Famous source for this era's secret inspectors: Park Man-jeong's Sea Circuit Secret Diary from Sukjong reign. In-story items and procedures based on such private diaries.
Office of Diplomatic Correspondence handling, paltry supplies, fundraising limits due to surveillance, usual magistrate begging— all from those.
2. Chae Jegong really exiled to Samcheok around this time for that offense. Historically, not due back yet.
3. Hwang Do-myeong: Real Saheonbu clerk from records ~10 years prior. Such posts often lifelong; set to appear here too.
4. Barley grows tall. Fields not as damp as reeds, stems milder than miscanthus.
Perfect for hiding inside.