The Advisor
“The governors will have no choice but to answer the summons?”
Moyong Ho spoke in open dismay.
“The governors are surely under enormous pressure from the central court in the Imperial Capital.”
Yeon So-hyeon pointed beyond the tent.
“Not even far away—right here in Shenyang, this chaos erupted, and still the government troops hesitated even to send support, didn’t they?”
“That’s true.”
The Eldest Young Master, Yeon So-hyeon, nodded readily.
“Without question, the heads of the Sixteen Imperial Families sent them warnings from the very beginning.”
“Th-the Sixteen Imperial Families….”
“Yes.”
When Moyong Ho stammered, Yeon So-hyeon gave a quiet smile.
“I mean the Sixteen Imperial Families of the capital.”
“…….”
Cold sweat ran down Moyong Ho’s face in rivulets.
Born into the Moyong Clan and steeped in power from childhood, Moyong Ho knew full well how heavy that name was.
“If there is anyone currently applying pressure from the capital….”
As if Moyong Ho’s tension meant nothing to him, Yeon So-hyeon gazed toward the Imperial Capital and continued.
“Nine times out of ten, it will be the head of the Gongson Clan—the Chief Eunuch, Gongson Tae-rang.”
“The Director of Palace Eunuchs….”
Moyong Ho stared at Yeon So-hyeon with stunned eyes.
I knew the Eldest Young Master’s enemies were powerful, but…
Hearing the name spoken aloud made the weight of it hit him all over again.
And this boy who is not yet even twenty…
His tense, trembling gaze carefully studied Yeon So-hyeon.
A face still so slender it hardly seemed a man’s. Not a single scar. Not the faintest trace of sunburn. Skin so fair it looked as though he had never known hardship in his life.
And yet.
Moyong Ho knew this youth had faced the great Wudang Sect’s Hyeonhyeon-ja, Baek Cho Jin-in, and the Steel Dragon Fang, Baek Cheong, at the same time—and had even slain Hyeonhyeon-ja while driving the Steel Dragon Fang into retreat.
Moreover, he was gradually coming to understand that this same youth was locked in an invisible struggle for power against the most notorious monsters of Zhongyuan.
There was no need even to mention how, overnight, he had shattered the once-unyielding Moyong Clan.
Moyong Ho’s throat bobbed as he swallowed dryly.
“Ah, and one more thing.”
As if it had only just occurred to him, the Eldest Young Master added in a calm voice.
“The Sixteen Imperial Families will not be the only obstacle.”
“What do you mean…?”
The Eldest Young Master turned to Moyong Ho with a smile.
“If I were Sama Dae-gunsa, now that the Terror King’s personal army has been mustered, the very first thing I would do is invite the governors.”
“…What?!”
The military camp of the Terror King, Yayul Nuju-cha.
“Now that His Highness the Terror King’s personal army has launched its assault on the Northern Army’s front lines,”
said the elderly man who stood with the bearing of an immortal sage,
“the three northern provinces of Zhongyuan—”
The most renowned military strategist in the entire kingdom.
“Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang.”
There was power in Sama Dae-gunsa’s voice, enough to draw the ears even of those not fluent in the tongue of Zhongyuan.
Yet most of the generals still paid him little heed.
“(…It is more important to cut off this side of the river first.)”
“(…And we need ground with enough grass to feed the horses…)”
“Each of the governors will by now have realized that the fire they were merely watching has fallen upon their own feet.”
One of the Terror King’s generals—one of the few who had listened to the interpreter’s full translation—spoke up.
“(So what?)”
The moment he opened his mouth, the other generals who had been busy with their own concerns turned to listen.
The interpreter promptly rendered the general’s words into the language of Zhongyuan.
“I know the governors are different in nature from the other magistrates of Zhongyuan. Still, they remain officials of Zhongyuan.”
From the edge of the desert to the farthest reaches of the steppe, the general’s face was blackened by countless battles, yet his eyes alone glittered coldly.
“They are the enemy.”
He trusted only what he had seen, heard, and experienced with his own senses. The general waved a dismissive hand.
“We do not speak with enemies.”
The other generals, too, spat short phrases in the Northern tongue and nodded in agreement.
Stubborn resistance. Even a seasoned strategist might have been momentarily flustered.
“Heh heh heh.”
Sama Dae-gunsa merely laughed softly and let their fierce gazes wash over him.
“(According to a Northern proverb, ‘A false friend is more dangerous than an enemy.’ Certainly an enemy is better than a clumsy friend.)”
“……!”
The Northern tongue that suddenly spilled from the old man’s lips left no room for fault-finding. He even wielded the proverbs of the Northern tribes with effortless skill.
“(And furthermore.)”
Sama Dae-gunsa continued toward the startled generals.
“(It is also said, ‘You cannot know a horse until you ride it, nor a man until you befriend him.’)”
This time he spoke in the language of Zhongyuan.
“How close a friendship we might forge with the governors is something we can only learn by trying, is it not?”
Even though he had spoken in the tongue of Zhongyuan, not a single general in the gathering failed to hang on the interpreter’s every word.
“(…Old man.)”
One of the Terror King’s generals—a man of particularly massive build—growled.
“(What exactly are you trying to say?)”
Sama Dae-gunsa smiled.
“If this old man summons them, they will not come. However….”
Drawing out the words, his gaze turned toward the highest seat in the council chamber—the great figure seated upon the jade throne with the sun at his back.
“If His Highness the Terror King himself invites them, the story changes.”
The generals burst into incredulous laughter.
“(What difference does it make? They and His Highness are enemies—)”
“They are not enemies.”
Sama Dae-gunsa cut the general off.
“Is that not so, Your Highness?”
Every eye gathered upon the massive figure on the throne—Yayul Nuju-cha, the Terror King.
His expression was unreadable in the reverse light, yet he leaned forward, showing interest in Sama Dae-gunsa’s words.
“(You.)”
The Terror King’s low voice rolled through the chamber.
“(It seems you have heard of my secret alliance.)”
“(I have not merely heard of it, Your Highness.)”
Sama Dae-gunsa answered with proper courtesy.
“(Not long ago I even met one of them in person.)”
He was referring to his meeting with the Chief Eunuch, Gongson Tae-rang.
The Terror King asked at once.
“(Where was the mole on his face?)”
Sama Dae-gunsa shook his head.
“(No one can know where a mole might be on that gentleman’s face—or whether he has one at all.)”
Gongson Tae-rang always went about heavily powdered.
“(Indeed.)”
The Terror King nodded, satisfied with the answer.
“(In order to prove the alliance to Your Highness, that gentleman would have handed over some token that symbolizes him—or a personal seal.)”
Sama Dae-gunsa carefully looked up at the Terror King and continued.
“(If that seal is affixed together with Your Highness’s royal seal and letters are sent to the three governors,)”
Certainty filled the old man’s voice.
“(they will have no choice but to answer Your Highness’s summons. Of course,)”
A confident smile settled upon his wrinkled face.
“(this old man will need to add a little persuasive power to make it perfect.)”
“Sama Dae-gunsa is a born counselor.”
The Eldest Young Master said.
“Even the Terror King, once he begins listening to that man’s advice, will find himself unable to refuse it.”
“What…?!”
Hearing the Eldest Young Master’s prediction, Moyong Ho nearly leapt to his feet.
“Then isn’t that even worse?!”
No matter that the Eldest Young Master had won the first battle in Shenyang, the present situation remained thoroughly unfavorable for a man on expedition.
If the governors turned against them as well, the Northern Army would have to face the Terror King alone.
“It is fine.”
The Eldest Young Master smiled.
“Did I not already tell you?”
He declared with certainty.
“They will have no choice but to answer my summons.”
“That’s what I’m saying!”
Moyong Ho clutched at his hair.
“Why would they answer the summons?!”
Yeon So-hyeon smiled and raised his first finger.
“First.”
“The first is the Governor of Liaoning Province.”
Sama Dae-gunsa held up one finger toward the Terror King as he spoke.
“He is the governor of Liaoning, which includes Shenyang, the seat of the Moyong Clan’s main house. If we can bring him over—”
One of the Terror King’s generals cut in, finishing the thought.
“(If we can bring him over, it will be the same as gaining an ally while striking at the enemy’s heart at the same time.)”
If the Governor of Liaoning joined hands with the Terror King, the very forces of the Moyong Clan that the Eldest Young Master and Moyong Un-jeong had just recovered would be forced to deal with him and never even reach the front.
“(Exactly so.)”
The Terror King’s general asked,
“(You said your persuasion would make it perfect. What method will you use on the Governor of Liaoning?)”
At the question the other generals nodded, curiosity plain on their faces.
Sama Dae-gunsa answered at once.
“(Every ruler keeps at his side a true counselor who exists for him alone.)”
“(A counselor…?)”
Seeing the Terror King’s generals now fully intent upon his words, Sama Dae-gunsa smiled.
“(The Governor of Liaoning has a younger brother whom he cherishes above all others.)”
Liaoning Province, the Governor’s Residence.
“Elder Brother.”
A grave voice.
The face of the Governor of Liaoning, who had been pacing restlessly about the room, brightened at once.
“Younger Brother! At last you have come!”
He pulled his brother into an embrace before the younger man could even clasp his hands in formal greeting.
“Younger Brother! What need for ceremony between us?!”
“Elder Brother…!”
The Governor of Liaoning seized his brother’s hands and drew him inside.
“You have come well. You have come well indeed. But….”
The gladness left his voice as he lowered it.
“…You have heard as well, I take it?”
“Of course, Elder Brother.”
When the younger brother nodded, the governor asked,
“As you know, the situation has grown extremely awkward. War has finally broken out, and I am caught between the Terror King and His Majesty the Emperor, able to move neither this way nor that.”
The Governor of Liaoning sighed.
“What in the world am I to do?”
“In my opinion….”
The younger brother of grave expression carefully began.
The Governor of Liaoning straightened his posture and gave his full attention.
“It seems best that you join hands with the Terror King, Elder Brother.”
“(What is the relationship between that younger brother and you, Sama Dae-gunsa?)”
To the Terror King’s general’s question, Sama Dae-gunsa answered flatly.
“There is no particular relationship.”
“(What…?!)”
The generals, momentarily speechless, wore expressions of pure disbelief.
“(However.)”
Having completely seized the flow of the conversation, Sama Dae-gunsa smiled faintly and continued.
“(I know all too well that the man hides the ambition to become the new Governor of Liaoning in his brother’s place.)”
“……!”
“(If, after Your Highness has achieved your great enterprise, you promise him the post of Governor of Liaoning,)”
Sama Dae-gunsa spoke with confidence to the murmuring assembly.
“(he will without fail take Your Highness’s hand.)”
“Younger Brother! Thank you…!”
The Governor of Liaoning clasped the hands of his departing brother and shook them again and again.
“I shall never forget your loyal counsel, as always…!”
“Not at all. A man like me may be forgotten without a second thought, Elder Brother.”
The younger brother spoke with a smile that looked soft enough to melt the world.
“But.”
He laid his free hand over the governor’s and said,
“It is the Terror King, Elder Brother. The Terror King. That alone you must never forget.”
“I understand. I shall keep it firmly in mind.”
The Governor of Liaoning nodded again and again, as if making a vow.
“Most likely….”
the Eldest Young Master said,
“Sama Dae-gunsa will target the younger brother of the Governor of Liaoning. The governor trusts him deeply.”
“Th-then!”
Moyong Ho cried.
“Should we not make contact with him as well?! Persuade him and—”
“That is impossible.”
The Eldest Young Master shook his head.
“What?!”
“Sama Dae-gunsa will surely promise him the governorship of Liaoning. We cannot do the same.”
“…….”
It was true.
Unless one intended, like the Terror King, to devour the entire North and establish a new order, the Eldest Young Master—who belonged to the existing order—could not simply replace a sitting governor who had given no cause for dismissal.
And even if there were cause….
“It is not a decision for me to make, but one for His Majesty the Emperor. We would face enormous resistance from the capital.”
“…Th-then what are we to do?”
The Eldest Young Master smiled as if it were nothing of consequence.
“The Governor of Liaoning has a favorite concubine.”
The fact was no great secret, so Moyong Ho could recall it as well.
“I have heard of her, but….”
A crease formed on Moyong Ho’s brow.
“She is famous for never whispering pillow-talk politics. She accepts no one’s petitions, so now no one even bothers to ask her for favors.”
“No. She is not that sort of person.”
“What…?”
The smile on the Eldest Young Master’s lips deepened.
Previously, through her, he had already resolved the matter of Elder Yeom.
And only a short while ago she had given no small help with the grain problem involving the Gwak Clan.
“She is clever enough to hide herself completely, and thorough enough never to display her influence.”
“Is that so…?!”
The Eldest Young Master said,
“A woman like that is precisely the one with whom the Governor of Liaoning shares a single destiny.”
His finger tapped the desk.
“The Governor of Liaoning’s true counselor is her.”
“…Bring ‘her’ here so that no one sees.”
At the Governor of Liaoning’s order, the maidservant bowed deeply and withdrew.
“…….”
The Governor of Liaoning sank deep into his chair and thought of his favorite concubine.
Suk-hyang….
His concubine, Suk-hyang, possessed no external influence of any kind.
Because she herself held no power, if he died, she would die. If he lived, she would live. If he enjoyed wealth and glory, she would share in that fortune.
That, precisely, was a shared destiny—one lotus bearing two lives.
His concubine, Suk-hyang, was his true counselor.