Beijing Branch (5)
Yeo Eung-am Warrior grinned at my words.
"As the saying goes, a stick is the medicine for those who won't listen to reason."
Lee Pil Warrior nodded.
"I agree."
"Then, may this senior in life go administer some lessons?"
"By all means."
At that moment, a good idea struck me.
"Lessons are fine, but giving them every time is a waste. So let's make this one lesson stick for good."
"……?"
Instead of clearing up their confusion, I turned to Palgap.
"Can you get us some ghost masks? The scarier, the better."
A bonfire crackled, with chunks of meat roasting over it.
The men swigging straight from liquor bottles watched it hungrily.
They were infamous ruffians in Beijing.
Some were sons of fallen corrupt officials from the previous regime, others heirs of major merchant houses squandering their fortunes, and a few who had simply drifted in and fallen in with the crowd.
What they shared was their utter depravity. Harassing passersby while drunk was child's play; they'd barge into small shops or inns and raise hell.
And if they spotted a pretty woman, they'd drag her off for unspeakable acts.
Why? Because it was fun.
Occasionally, victims reported them to the authorities, but nothing changed.
Their families silenced complaints with money and influence. Especially since one of their fathers held a high post—small-time officials couldn't touch them.
They'd found the perfect playground: the long-neglected site slated for a annex palace.
No one else dared venture near, lest they be hauled off to the palace.
Ideal for them.
They'd been cautious at first, but soon realized it was unmanaged and made it their haunt.
"Ugh, why's the meat taking forever? Booze tastes like crap without snacks."
"Wait a sec, you impatient prick."
"Hey, you see that girl at the new pottery shop?"
"Heh heh, yeah."
"She's a looker."
"Drag her here tonight?"
"Might as well. Meat's nowhere near done... Eek!"
One ruffian suddenly toppled backward.
"W-what the hell is that?"
"What's up?"
"G-gh... ghost..."
"Ghost? Where's a gh— Gahk!"
Those who turned at his cry recoiled in horror and fell back too.
"How dare you defile the lord's land with your filthy deeds! Divine punishment!"
Clubs flew toward the ruffians from the ghosts' hands.
Crack!
Thwack!
"Argh!"
The bonfire snuffed out, plunging everything into pitch darkness.
The ghosts in masks moved with uncanny grace.
No matter how they fled, the ghosts clung relentlessly.
"Spare us! We'll never do it again!"
"We won't come back here!"
They begged the club-wielding specters.
Crack!
"Gurk!"
But the beatings were merciless, targeting sore spots. They thought they'd die.
Eventually, they passed out from the pain.
The next day, they came to one by one.
"Ugh!"
Their bodies throbbed, and memories of the night flooded back.
"Ghosts last night... a dream?"
"No dream. I remember too."
"We got beat bad. So why no bruises?"
"...Huh?"
Indeed.
They'd blacked out from the thrashing, yet their bodies were unmarked.
"Eeeeek!"
They bolted up.
"Real ghosts!"
The ruffians fled in terror. But onlookers stared oddly.
"Egma!"
"Tsk tsk, they've lost it. Clean lost their minds."
"Father, why are those men naked? Can't they afford clothes?"
"Hush! Don't make eye contact."
Only then did they realize they were stark naked.
"……."
I struggled to stifle my laughter.
"Pft! Puhahaha."
"Even so, stripping them bare was a bit much, young master."
I shook my head at Palgap's words.
"You say that 'cause you weren't there. Hearing those bastards talk got my blood boiling."
The guards nodded in agreement.
"They seem properly ashamed, at least."
Yeo Eung-am Warrior grumbled, still unsatisfied.
"Shame? If they knew shame, they wouldn't have done it."
"I agree."
"Think this'll reform them?"
"No."
I shook my head at Lee Pil Warrior's words.
"They might behave now, but they'll slip back eventually. Old habits die hard."
Investigating the ruffians, I'd learned one father was buying silence with cash and connections.
But he couldn't buy mine.
Time to wield the inspector's post from His Majesty again.
"Palgap, send a letter to Jin Yeong Daehyeop."
"Yes, sir."
I briefly wondered if the Eastern Depot and Gold Guard knew nothing of this, then nodded to myself.
Their role was to be His Majesty's eyes, ears, hands, and feet against treason.
This was outside their purview.
Hence, inspectors.
.
.
.
Days passed.
At last, construction began on the Eunhae Merchant Group's Beijing branch.
We hired laborers en masse to clear weeds, but spared the trees—they served as landscaping.
"Young master, hear the news?"
Palgap approached as I reviewed blueprints.
"News? What?"
"The left deputy inspector general slipped up."
The post belonged to one ruffian's father—the one I'd targeted.
"Slipped? How?"
"Reassigned to a provincial censorate."
"What? Possible?"
Left deputy inspector general was a senior fourth-rank post. Provincial censorate clerk? Lowest eighth-rank.
A sheer plummet.
"Word is, His Majesty rebuked him: 'How can a man who can't manage his own son oversee evaluations of officials?'"
"Really?"
Wow, our Emperor doesn't mess around.
A fourth-rank official slumming at the bottom? Pride-killer.
And even there, folks would tread carefully—but it's the censorate, handling petitions and edicts to His Majesty.
Under constant watch. Torture.
Should've raised his son right or punished him early.
"What about the son and his crew?"
"In jail. Long rap sheet: trespassing palace land, assaulting women..."
"We'll file too. Private property invasion."
"Got it."
Suddenly, Palgap seemed amazing, knowing all this.
"Palgap, where'd you hear this?"
"Got chummy with servants from palace-trading firms."
"……."
His people skills are unreal.
"By the way, heard the weird rumor in Beijing?"
"Weird rumor?"
"About you, young master."
"Me?"
A rumor about me, out of nowhere?
I tilted my head. Palgap chuckled.
"Seonhyeopmirang summons ghosts."
"Huh? What? Me summoning... Oh."
I knew the source.
Yeo Eung-am had distorted his voice: "How dare you defile the lord's land! Divine punishment!"
Someone overheard and spread it.
Who knew he had that talent.
Anyway, those ruffians faced heavy punishment. Officials who ignored reports wouldn't escape either.
Though lightly, perhaps—His Majesty understood their bind with the evaluator glaring.
Branch construction progressed steadily, my tasks too...
Ah... no end in sight.
I clenched my fist, steeling myself.
The harder I worked, the fewer sacrifices others made. No slacking.
Thus diligent days passed when Jin Yeong Daehyeop visited.
He's coming often lately.
Gonna miss him at this rate.
"What brings you to this humble site?"
He smiled at my greeting.
"Humble? Fine talker."
"Hahaha."
I laughed awkwardly.
"Tea?"
"Graciously."
We chatted over tea.
"His Majesty was pleased. Said you handle things better than expected."
"Fearlessness helps."
"Hm? Didn't you say you're faint-hearted?"
"Yes. I am."
"Fearless and faint-hearted contradict..."
I changed tack.
"Here to relay His Majesty's words?"
"That, and... thought you might have ideas."
"Problem?"
He nodded.
"The former left deputy got vertically demoted."
"Oh?"
I feigned ignorance.
Admitting knowledge could spell trouble.
Even with his goodwill, palace matters demand caution.
"Yes."
His account matched Palgap's, plus details.
Makes sense—Palgap couldn't know it all.
His Majesty warned ministers on child-rearing too.
Jailbirds got mine labor—the harshest corvée.
They'd suffer for their easy lives.
Victims got fitting compensation; families sold assets to pay.
"Now ministers are clamping down to avoid that fate, but how long?"
"True."
"Even my acquaintance."
"……."
Child-rearing plagues all.
"Truth is, his delinquency's complicated. Lost his mother young, father spoiled him with cash amid work."
I pondered, then spoke.
"Frankly..."
He nodded.
"Sorry. No solution from you either. Too much to ask an unmarried man."
"No. There is one."
"What? There is?"
"Yes. Rough and tough, but effective."
His eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"I personally support an academy."
"Your endorsement sells it. Where?"
"In Shanxi. Called a reform specialist."
Hubei had one too: Wi Seung-jeo of the Wi Martial Hall.
The governor sent him there on my suggestion.
Three-four years ago.
Governor's health improved rapidly; now hale and hearty.
Wi Seung-jeo the Young Hero? Reformed man, now instructor there.
Perfect outcome.
Hearing of their funding woes, I support them privately.
Worked for him; it'll work for others.
"How to enroll?"