Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Pied Piper (2)
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Three days after Kim Unhaeng departed from Hamheung, Chae Je-gong stopped by with Hong Daeyong.
He went to pay his respects to Provincial Inspector Hwang Jeong, just like Kim Unhaeng had.
Of course, Chae Je-gong had other motives as well.
"If I've been dispatched on this presumptuous secret royal inspector mission, shouldn't I keep it under wraps even if I drop dead by the roadside? But since I haven't completed my orders yet, I must shamelessly ask for the Provincial Inspector's assistance."
As could be seen from comparisons to Park Mun-su, Hwang Jeong wasn't just some grumpy old scholar. He was an expert who had successfully straightened out the collapsed tax administration in Hwanghae Province early in his career.
Now, unusually, he held the posts of Hamgyeong Province's Provincial Inspector, along with Commander of the Provincial Army and Naval Commander, granting him full authority to revive the province.
In other words, he was one of the two thoroughbred stallions pulling King Yeongjo's cart of self-reliance and renewal.
To such a man, Kim Unhaeng's resourcefulness—never once asking for money—naturally appealed more.
Hwang Jeong felt he understood why the Crown Prince had chosen Kim Unhaeng.
But Hwang Jeong was a fair provincial inspector. He reacted to Chae Je-gong exactly as he had to Kim Unhaeng.
In other words, with a ruthlessly cold demeanor that gave no thought to maintaining relations.
"You're truly shameless, just as you say. If Hamgyeong Province were that prosperous, why would His Majesty bother sending inspectors? You must already know this, but the other inspector, Kim Unhaeng, never once mentioned money or grain in front of me."
Thinking about it, even the Joseon court could only provide Kim Unhaeng with travel funds he could complain about. It would be strange if ruined Hamgyeong could offer more.
In the end, all Chae Je-gong got was truly meager travel funds (they did give some). If anything, he gained the unpleasant info that 'Kim Unhaeng had come to Hamheung first' and a demerit from Provincial Inspector Hwang Jeong.
On top of that, Hong Daeyong's vicious interference continued.
Of course, Hong Daeyong wasn't going to club Chae Je-gong over the head in some secluded mountain pass or steal his horse token and flee.
Having leaked so much personal information, Chae Je-gong had likely pieced together the connection between him and Kim Unhaeng.
Thus, Hong Daeyong needed a cover: 'I did my absolute best to help, but your skills and luck fell short.'
This emerged when Chae Je-gong (who could no longer hide it after visiting the governor's office) revealed his identity to Hong Daeyong.
"Oh my! So you're a secret royal inspector! Though I'm lacking, I'm soon to be an official of the court, and my brother-in-law Kim Chunsik is already serving in one of the three ministries. How could I not help? In fact, I could join my brother-in-law on this northern excursion only because he helped with my travel funds. Just say the word."
Though his pride had taken a slight hit lately, Chae Je-gong was still a talent of his generation. He instantly gleaned three pieces of info from those seemingly pointless words.
First, Kim Unhaeng hadn't revealed his identity to Hong Daeyong yet. That was obvious.
Second, Kim Unhaeng didn't openly antagonize him or outsiders. Otherwise, Hong Daeyong would have left or interfered blatantly.
And third, he was using Kim Unhaeng's money.
These three planted in Chae Je-gong the illusion that he held the upper hand over Kim Unhaeng.
Chae Je-gong struggled not to show his glee as he thanked Hong Daeyong.
And Hong Daeyong helped Chae Je-gong to the best of his ability.
The current Chae Je-gong lacked not just the tools for his secret inspector duties, but even basics for daily life.
Like a phone. Hong Daeyong made sure to supply that adequately.
He actively utilized his servant Changdae.
Sending Changdae ahead to check local administration and gather rumors.
But in the process, word spread first that a secret inspector was coming.
Thanks to Kim Unhaeng's scheme, magistrates who got word from Gwon the county magistrate, and even those who didn't, all learned of it.
(With rumors everywhere,) when petitioners appeared claiming wrongful convictions, Chae Je-gong used his sharp mind to piece together the truth and narrow down suspects and witnesses.
Then Hong Daeyong sent Changdae to fetch them.
But Changdae wasn't exactly Jang Bongik, so he often let criminals escape or tipped them off prematurely.
Chae Je-gong wanted to tell Hong Daeyong to stop showboating and stay put.
But how could he say that to a northerner who funded his trip, encouraged him tirelessly, and threw himself into it like it was his own job? He could only suffer in silence.
After leaving Hamheung, I headed straight to my target without peeking elsewhere. Then I met Deputy Magistrate Lee Jaehwa of Jongseong.
Lee Jaehwa was a civil official, oddly unsuited for governing this northernmost outpost. He was also my senior from the Office of the Inspector General.
So I played the "we're not strangers" card. Lee Jaehwa seemed deeply grateful that I'd come undercover as an inspector without bringing any escorts.
I immediately drafted a report praising the accuracy of his famine relief ledgers and how well he governed the county. Then, alone in his room with him, I got down to talk.
"You must know the gangs that make a habit of illegal border crossings, Deputy Magistrate."
His startled expression said it all.
At this time, border-crossing criminals abounded on both Joseon and Qing sides.
Lately, droves ignored the emperor's closure edict, seeking empty frontier lands and forcing their way over Shanhai Pass with pioneer spirit.
But only a fraction of these cases reached the courts of either nation.
It had to be that way. I might not know Qing's reasons, but Joseon's were clear.
They didn't reward catching border-crossers; they punished the magistrate and military head if even one appeared.
It seemed unfair, but context made it reasonable.
The king's mood soured.
They'd love to cross undetected, but their goal—crime for profit—often got them caught by Qing authorities.
Then Qing's Board of Rites sent a diplomatic note to the Joseon king.
"Can't you control your people?"
Joseon had to grovel, dispatch officials, and drag them back.
The boss of the world's crab-paste faction getting kicked in the shins in front of his kids—pure humiliation.
Obviously, Joseon couldn't complain when people crossed their way. They'd be fuming, sleepless with rage.
Thus, "border-crosser appears = dismissal" translated, with Joseon user manual knowledge, to "border-crosser discovered = dismissal."
Even if they knew, magistrates covered up everything except cases already exposed to Qing.
Conversely, the odds of Deputy Magistrate Jongseong having an unofficial list of habitual crossers were high. You had to know to hide them.
After hesitating, Deputy Magistrate Lee Jaehwa confessed.
"I don't know if they've crossed the border, but as deputy magistrate, I keep watch on suspicious groups. But why...?"
Frustrated, I cut him off swiftly.
"Forgive my bluntness; time is short. Please put out warrants for a few of those groups I mention. As you say, 'we're not sure they've crossed yet,' so I won't note it in the official report."
"Didn't you say you came for famine relief and rat problems?"
I was too lazy to explain fully.
So I made the face Zhuge Liang might've worn asking for straw-boats from Zhou Yu.
In other words, I bluffed.
"Beasts tunneling walls at night to steal grain, and villains crossing rivers by night to break laws—they're both like rat pups. Rats know rats. I plan to grasp that truth and wipe them out at once."
First, I asked the deputy magistrate to issue orders introducing all warehouses along the Tumen River. Lee Jaehwa cooperated, uneasy about my bold empty-fort stratagem talk.
It wasn't an excessive demand. With famine, plague, and rats, warehouses held little movable grain.
The few remaining locals packed up south without protest when told of relief grain from the office. It was more evacuation than relocation.
Those still at the border lived off 'other things,' not grain. I picked one and took my party members there.
One illegal entry broker den masqueraded as a rundown inn.
Idiots? Inns belong in travel 'midpoints'; who needs one at land's end? Even without the list from Lee Jaehwa, it'd scream suspicious.
Anyway, I played along.
"Come out here!"
A villain who could've bankrupted a real inn with his sour mug staggered out and snapped gruffly.
"No business here. What brings you gentlemen to this end of the earth?"
I responded oh-so-nobly.
"Who says no business?"
Striding in boldly, he hissed and blocked me.
"Hey now. Don't know where you're from, but outsiders causing a ruckus won't end well."
Well, well. This peasant daring to grab a noble's sleeve? Northern barbarism was deplorable. A local clan was running the kingdom now, huh.
"Eoji, what are you waiting for? Teach this insolent dog a lesson."
Every time I saw Eoji hit someone, I marveled: how did a human fist against human flesh make a sound like a bursting iron drum?
The guy flew back, crashing through the paper door into the room. Like a cartoon. But this was reality—probably dead.
Then seven or eight guys counting rice sacks inside jumped up.
"What the hell!"
"Gil-sang's crew?"
No, Chunsik's crew. Didn't know Gil-sang, but we'd nab him too.
In Seoul, it'd be bootleg booze; here, rice fit. Prohibition hadn't fully hit, and famine-struck Six Garrisons needed grain first—prime contraband.
As they drew blades, I gave Hwang Do-myeong a 'do I have to say it?' look.
Hwang Do-myeong stepped up grinning.
"These scum know no hierarchy! Can't you see this horse token? Kneel before the secret inspector!"
"A-An inspector in this backwater...?"
The brokers must've felt wronged. Secret inspectors succeeded by staying unrecognized, yet here one was. I struck a haughty pose: if life's unfair, be born noble.
A few more dead-enders went for mutual destruction, but Eoji halved them. The rest dropped weapons meekly and surrendered.
I had reason not to arrest via officials.
These brokers surely greased the deputy magistrate and clerks regularly.
If Jongseong officials nabbed them now, administrative trust would shatter.
Betraying bribes meant cutting ties with underworld forces. After I left, control would vanish.
So I played the unlucky inspector who stumbled upon them.
Secret inspectors kept confidentiality, so all my actions were unofficial. An impromptu execution ground rose in the inn's back yard.
Grilling them on border realities, they got clever fast—pretending Jurchens, jabbering in Manchu, claiming they were law-abiding Qing folk.
Who said Joseon was isolationist? Even street punks went global.
Still, upper kingdom citizens? Untouchable.
"If you're Qing subjects, you follow the emperor's rules, yet you topknot like Joseon folk—odd. Eoji, shave their heads bare to Jurchen custom."
Eyeing Eoji's brutal hands that'd scalp with hair, they instantly mastered Korean.
"We'll obey only the inspector! Shall we offer the rice inside?"
"Hm. Knowing head-shaving's shame proves you're Eastern Rite Kingdom folk. I have questions. Answer honestly, why confiscate rice? Unless it's smuggled border-crossing grain."
Promising leniency on rice smuggling for info, they grew obsequious.
"With heads on the line, why risk it? Ask away."
I interrogated brokers because rats almost certainly trailed them.
What, rats reading notices to swarm Joseon?
Current Joseon-Qing border brokers' top item: grain.
Qing lands over Tumen were more ravaged than Joseon.
Yet famine or not, rice existed. Yeongjo-era famines saw desperate liquor-brewing.
Across the river: Hunchun, key Manchu Eight Banners garrison.
I'd never seen Qing troops, but comparing to Joseon's Drill Academy gave ideas.
Their officers exploited illegal mid-plains farmers, smuggling rice to Joseon.
Hence tales of Qing peasants suffering more.
Smuggling grain meant some used en route: cooked, paid out, spilled.
Rats followed. Group migrations blindly trailed leaders south.
Using broker info, I reconstructed Tumen grain smuggling routes. Hit Gil-sang's too for cross-verification.
Essential work.
To use Druid King's power, I needed rat contact—under my control.
Not instant retreat, but I had plans.
That evening, Tumen entry brokers knelt prisoner-like in the inn yard.
I sat high on the porch like a magistrate.
I dashed off documents. Handing one to Hwang Do-myeong,
"Run this to the deputy magistrate. Reverse escorts Jo Gap-dol and Gang Ui-jin take my writ to the nearest granary by river for countermeasures. Eoji, Jangbok—follow me. Straight to Onseong County, then Aoji Fortress."
As things wrapped, top dog Gil-sang-ish lisped through swollen lips,
"S-So, we're done...?"
I eyed them.
"You have jobs too. Follow unless you fancy crucifixion at the army gate. Plenty in it for you."
Drawn more by power's perks than death's fear,
Hoping a secret inspector backer for this racket, they saluted in unison.
Five days later, Jongseong, Onseong County, and Aoji Fortress were set.
I, Tumen's Pied Piper, was ready too.
Author's Notes
1. Hunchun was indeed one of the Manchu Eight Banners' key garrisons. Also a defensive military zone against Joseon.
2. At this time, Manchuria was nominally closed (excuse: ancestral lands of the founder, but really to protect Jurchen privileges), but emperors' bans on exiting Shanhai Pass were barely followed. Qing records show yearly increases in crossers.
Thus, registered Manchuria population stayed under 2 million into the early 19th century, but true numbers are unknown. As illegal residents, they got no legal protection—prime exploitation targets.