Apricot Blossom Academy (6)
The Emperor's words left me momentarily speechless.
I hadn't expected him to mention the Murim Alliance.
If he was bringing it up so specifically, that meant he had solid evidence.
There was no point in hiding it and risking his displeasure.
"In truth, that is the case, Your Majesty."
The Emperor glanced at me for a moment before speaking.
"I see. I'll grant what you desire."
"Pardon?"
Honestly, I'd thought he'd press me on why I was wary of the Murim Alliance and such.
But he didn't ask a thing about that—instead, he simply agreed to do as I wished. I was utterly baffled.
"So, which scholars shall I summon for you?"
Composing myself, I quickly pulled out the documents I'd prepared in advance and offered them.
"Here they are."
"Thoroughly prepared, as always."
The eunuch took the papers from my hand and passed them to the Emperor.
The Emperor skimmed through them and nodded.
"Very well. I'll have every last one of these moldy fellows rounded up."
"They are scholars, Your Majesty. Calling them mold is..."
"They're letting their knowledge and experience rot away in the countryside instead of serving the realm—what else would you call them but mold?"
"......"
I had nothing to say to that.
"In times like these, you just say, 'Your benevolence overwhelms me, Your Majesty.'"
"Your benevolence overwhelms me, Your Majesty."
I bowed deeply in gratitude, then continued.
"I have one more request."
"What is it?"
"Please provide funding from the palace for our Apricot Blossom Academy, even if it's just a portion."
"What's your reasoning?"
I pressed on with my explanation.
"There are two reasons. First, it gives legitimacy to issuing an imperial edict summoning the scholars."
"Indeed. With palace funding, the academy belongs to the realm. Unless they fancy themselves above the emperor's grace, they can't refuse to cultivate talent for the empire."
"Second, it prevents any concerns for Your Majesty."
"That's vague."
I hurriedly elaborated.
"Knowing Your Majesty's worry that the academy's saplings might grow too partial to the Eunhae Merchant Group, this is my proposal."
"So, the palace should chip in to play the role of supporting branch?"
"Yes. And providing funds also grants oversight authority."
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.
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On the way back from the palace to the Yeonjun Merchant Group quarters where I was staying, the Emperor's mention of the Murim Alliance nagged at me.
Perhaps my comments during the civil service exam had prompted him to grow wary of them as well.
With the Emperor's intelligence network, he'd surely uncovered their involvement behind the scenes.
Could it be... borrowing a knife to kill a man?
Was he planning to use my academy to check the Murim Alliance?
No matter the case, if it meant I could bring in the scholars I wanted, I didn't mind.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend, after all.
The Emperor agreed to cover twenty percent of the academy's operating funds.
I'd proposed ten, so his eagerness suggested he approved of my idea.
This gave the palace oversight rights over the academy's operations.
But that was fine.
Transparent financial management had been the Eunhae Merchant Group's longstanding principle.
Moreover, word of palace backing and scrutiny would cement the academy's image as an upright, corruption-free institution.
The key was how to bestow the favor.
It deviated slightly from my original plan, but it was even more satisfying.
Sending academy graduates to the palace wasn't for personal gain anyway—it was to counter the Murim Alliance.
Of course, it would benefit our merchant group too.
In the end, this palace visit let me catch two rabbits—no, far more than that.
The Emperor strolled through his private garden, lost in thought.
He had a longtime friend.
His friend's name was Hwangbo Hwi.
From a family that had served as the imperial Hwangbo clan's martial instructors for generations, he was also the Emperor's playmate from childhood.
They'd grown up together, and even when the Emperor had held a princely title and resided in the prince's estate before ascending the throne, Hwangbo Hwi had been by his side.
Even on the journey to Beijing, aided by Jin U-rim of the Jin U-rim Merchant Group, he was the one person with whom the Emperor could share his innermost thoughts.
But when the Emperor took the throne, Hwangbo Hwi declared he wished to serve the common folk on the front lines.
That was when it began.
The legend of the Ghost-Faced Tiger.
Time passed, and he retired.
The Emperor praised his service and, understanding his heart, did not stand in his way.
Then one day, a letter arrived from him.
"After fulfilling my final wish, I had planned to leave this place where I reside. However, it seems I must stay a while longer. I've discovered a most intriguing young man from the Eunhae Merchant Group named Eun Seo-ho."
— Hwangbo Hwi —
At the time, the Emperor was puzzled that his cantankerous friend had taken an interest in someone, but state affairs soon pushed it from his mind.
Yet the Emperor met him too.
Because he'd saved the life of Jin U-rim, the merchant group leader who was his benefactor.
"Thanks to a young merchant, this old man's life was spared."
"Fortunate indeed. Who is he?"
"Yes. A young merchant from the Eunhae Merchant Group named Eun Seo-ho."
The name from Jin U-rim's lips.
Hearing and seeing it twice now piqued the Emperor's curiosity.
Under the pretext of thanks, he met Eun Seo-ho and conversed. The talent-hungry Emperor coveted him.
But at just fifteen, it was too soon to recruit him.
Separately, he owed a debt for entertaining his friend and saving Jin U-rim's life.
So he asked his friend for a priceless treasure pouch as a gift.
But the real reason was to saddle him with obligation.
Someone like Eun Seo-ho would make good use of that pouch.
And the debt would grow accordingly.
He also assigned him responsibility for selling the wind-powered devices, ensuring regular palace visits.
To keep him from running off.
Time passed.
Recently, he'd received a letter from his friend.
It was a full report on the Eunhae Merchant Group's establishment of the Apricot Blossom Academy in Beijing.
He grasped its significance immediately.
[Your Majesty likely already understands the purpose, but recently, a troublesome matter arose. Foolish scholars...]
As expected, Eun Seo-ho wouldn't miss this chance.
Infiltrating the palace, eh...
Honestly, from the Emperor's view, it wasn't pleasant for his officials to serve the Eunhae Merchant Group over the throne.
But with Eun Seo-ho there, it meant he'd cherry-pick the best talents for the palace.
If they truly shattered their bones for the realm, a little deviation could be overlooked.
But that boy wouldn't act solely for that purpose.
The Emperor recalled the civil service exam incident.
It had allowed him to weed out those attempting fraud.
He punished the cheaters and learned the Murim Alliance lurked behind them.
No hard proof, of course.
But enough to warrant vigilance.
Here, the Emperor wondered how Eun Seo-ho had learned of it.
He said he noticed it while drinking with his cousin at a brothel, spotting him meet a suspicious figure...
How did he know the figure was suspicious?
The answer: the suspicious ones were Murim Alliance affiliates, and Eun Seo-ho was already wary of them.
Why the wariness?
His reaction to the Emperor's question—"Is it the Murim Alliance?"—explained it.
It vanished quickly, but a flash of clear emotion: vengeance.
What grudge fuels such venomous revenge?
No matter his efforts, the Emperor couldn't fully block Murim Alliance infiltrators.
Eun Seo-ho knew that too.
Hence the academy—to send graduates to the palace as a counter.
Not a bad thing for the Emperor.
He too despised the Murim Alliance for trying to corrupt his palace with foul means.
With state affairs already burdensome, must he worry about that too?
He examined the list in his hand.
Prepared in advance, betting on success.
Once more, Eun Seo-ho's boldness and talent tempted him.
"Hahahaha!"
Coincidentally, these on the list were officials who'd anticipated the Emperor's harsh demands, resigned swiftly, and were idling in the sticks—despite their brilliance.
Imagining their faces upon receiving the edict, he couldn't hold back the laughter.
He handed the list to the eunuch.
"Issue edicts to these men. Command them to serve at the Apricot Blossom Academy, nurturing the next generation with their talents."
"As you command."
"Ah, and if they refuse, threaten to spread rumors they're disloyal to the emperor's grace."
"It shall be done."
The Emperor couldn't stop laughing.
Eun Seo-ho's funding suggestion provided perfect pretext for the edicts.
And oversight rights silenced noisy courtiers griping about palace investment.
He had no intention of covering the full twenty percent from palace coffers.
Half from the budget, half from imperial private funds.
That boy proposed it knowing he'd gain more than I...
The Eun Seo-ho he knew never took a loss.
Thus, the future held promise.
Grow quickly. Only then can I drag you here and put you to work.
Construction of the Apricot Blossom Academy proceeded smoothly.
With palace funds flowing in, carpenters and laborers toiled harder, fearing for their necks.
I encouraged them with ample meals.
And then,
The scholars receiving the Emperor's edicts arrived in Beijing. Their faces resembled cattle led to slaughter.
Palgap voiced concern at the sight.
"Young master, even the finest teachers need motivation to teach well, don't they?"
I chuckled and replied.
"Don't worry. Even forced teachers impart lessons worth learning. Besides, scholars live for this—one of the three joys of a gentleman is nurturing the realm's prodigies."
"Pardon?"
As I spoke, I reviewed the documents in hand.
These were the admission requirements for the Apricot Blossom Academy, undergoing my final check.
"This looks good to post as is."
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Two weeks later.
"Branch Lord! Big trouble! Over a thousand people are swarming the academy!"
The academy's chief steward rushed to me, shouting.
"What? A thousand? Our capacity is only a hundred!"
"We need to take measures."
I hurried to the front gate and saw crowds lining up.
"Whoa! W-what in the world?!"
Palgap freaked out.
I was just as stunned.
"I didn't expect this many."
The steward gave me a look of disbelief.
"Honestly, with five esteemed scholars as instructors—not one, but five—top facilities, dorms for all boarders, full supplies provided, and tuition waived for good students... wasn't this predictable?"
"......"
Now that he mentioned it, yeah.
I must've been too earnest in my preparations.
"Anyway, we need to act fast."
I gathered with the chief steward and teachers for discussion.
We decided on qualification exams.
Over a hundred was impossible.
After five days of testing and grading, one hundred admits were selected.
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.
April arrived, with warm breezes.
Apricot Blossom Academy, abloom with flowers, began operations.
Classrooms echoed with students reciting texts.
Spotting a familiar face, I smiled.
The brother of the boy saved from the river by Bo-uk the scribe was studying inside.
He was also the first recipient of the Eunhae Merchant Group's scholarship.
Apricot petals danced on the wind.
A favorable breeze.