The Poetry Thief (3)
I had stirred up a bit of trouble this time.
It was the imperial Poetry Contest.
The main goal of this contest was to publicly humiliate Chui Il-gong.
Though our Eunhae Merchant Group was one of the top hundred merchant groups, we couldn't move those arrogant poets with just our name alone.
I recalled my conversation with the Emperor.
"Hmm, a poetry contest... What benefit does that bring me?"
"First off, money flows into Beijing."
"Money flows?"
"You must know I went to Luoyang recently for the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Assembly."
"Indeed. You came back a hero from there."
"...Anyway, that's when I realized it. The Murim Alliance hosts events like the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Assembly to circulate money in Luoyang. As the saying goes, a full purse quiets complaints."
"Is that the only reason?"
"It also gives Your Majesty a chance to discover the talents you're seeking."
"True. Anyone reciting poetry would have studied the Classics thoroughly."
The Emperor nodded, then said,
"But every event requires a budget. To fund it... Ah! We can charge entry fees."
As expected of his sharp mind.
"By the way, what's the real purpose?"
Whew, he wasn't one to fool easily.
"Lately, reading these poetry anthologies, it struck me— are those poems truly the authors' own? I wanted to verify their authenticity."
The Emperor looked intrigued and readily approved.
"I'm curious about that myself. And since it benefits me and the imperial house, go ahead."
And this was the result.
But even I hadn't known the Emperor would pull in the Sebin Merchant Group for this.
Well, as the world's top merchant group supplying stationery to the palace, they were perfect for it.
Thus, the Poetry Contest became an imperial-hosted event sponsored by the Sebin and Eunhae Merchant Groups.
And most crucially, getting Chui Il-gong to participate.
To that end, I'd quietly bribed one of his close friends. He wouldn't enter voluntarily.
He wouldn't want his lack of skill exposed in broad daylight, so he'd avoid it to maintain his lofty scholar image.
So, I had his associates submit the entry form on his behalf.
Submitting an entry and not showing up is deceiving the imperial house.
With severe punishment at stake, Chui Il-gong had no choice but to attend.
Just thinking about it made me grin.
"That excited, young master?"
"Of course!"
"He tried to cause major damage to our group, and here you are helping the poor guy... You're too kind, young master."
"You called me scary before, now I'm kind... Which tune should I dance to?"
Palgap pondered my words before replying,
"Honestly, I'm confused too. Hehe. Just do both—they suit you."
"Yeah?"
Somehow it felt like praise, but not quite... yet praise all the same. What was this feeling?
Kind, huh...
Well? I didn't particularly see myself as a good person.
The biggest reason I'd orchestrated this was revenge for Chief Steward Yu So-ak.
And two of those harmed by Chui Il-gong were connected to our group.
That led to the worry— what if more victims linked to us emerged?
So, I was nipping it in the bud preemptively.
Then Palgap asked,
"Was this for Chief Steward Yu, by any chance?"
"Huh?"
"Didn't she say that when you went out with her? She wanted fame through poetry, but Chui Il-gong, the scholar-admin then, heard her recite and told her she had no talent—it'd just bring shame, so quit."
I was startled.
"You remember that?"
"The scenery was nice; it stuck with me."
Ah... Come to think of it, Palgap had exceptional memory. But I hadn't expected him to recall that far back...
Could this be part of the Slaying King's talents?
Suddenly, a passage from that manual I'd obtained in Luoyang flashed in my mind.
[Even the smallest things, remembering them all and using them aptly is...]
"Anyway, that's why you're a good person."
I smiled at Palgap. Looked like I was born to wear servant's robes.
Speaking of memory, it reminded me of Heo Un from the corner office.
His memory was off the charts now that he was diligently working in intelligence— best set aside.
Just then, Seo-u Warrior's voice came from outside.
"My lord, Branch Chief Eun has arrived."
"Come in."
The door opened, and Branch Chief Eun Cheong-in entered with Seo-u Warrior.
Bodyguards had to stand behind me when meeting someone.
Eun Cheong-in, the branch chief.
A distant relative, he'd managed our Beijing shop and was recently promoted to branch chief.
Late forties.
Older and distantly related, but here he was the subordinate branch chief.
I'd summoned him because, during my recent visit to the new Beijing branch construction site, the guards meant to be there were absent.
He bowed deeply to me.
"Did you look into what I asked?"
I'd given him two days since the incident.
That meant posting notices for the imperial Poetry Contest just two days after meeting Song Lok.
I prided myself on decisiveness, but the Emperor was on another level.
I asked Branch Chief Eun,
"So, what happened?"
"I... I'm sorry. The guards on duty had gone drinking then."
That explained why I hadn't seen them.
His head drooped lower.
He didn't stand guard himself, but oversight was his responsibility.
"Truly sorry. But nothing happened, so it's a relief. Haha."
"Nothing happened?"
My sharp tone made him flinch.
"Pardon?"
"I wasn't going to mention it, but since you don't grasp the severity— when I inspected the site, someone was there trying to hang himself."
I didn't name Song Lok. Anonymity was key in such matters.
He jumped in shock.
"I-Is that true?"
"If I hadn't gone, his attempt would've succeeded. What then?"
He looked dumbfounded.
As a veteran merchant manager, he knew the disaster that would've been.
"Frankly, I'm questioning if I should keep you as branch chief."
He prostrated himself flat.
"Forgive me! I'm so sorry!"
"Why apologize to me? Even if the Beijing branch fails, my family and I live well. But those depending on it lose their livelihoods in an instant. Shouldn't you apologize to them?"
"......"
"If it escalated, you'd and your family be among them."
"...I'm sorry."
That should snap him to attention. Harsh whip done— time for the sweet carrot.
"Stand up."
"......"
"Come on, the floor's cold."
I stood, approached, pulled him up by the hand, then gripped both his hands warmly.
"I know how hard you've worked to reach this position. And I know your capabilities. You've suffered greatly."
I smiled.
"I think you got complacent after the promotion excitement."
"Ugh! I have no face left."
"I know your skills and efforts, so I'll trust you once more. Please don't disappoint me."
Dumping him for one mistake was too ruthless.
His loyalty and ability were unquestionable.
"I'll shatter my bones to ensure no disappointment."
"Winter halts construction, but it'll resume in spring. No incidents in the meantime that could cost you this position. Stay vigilant."
"Understood."
"Oh, and send those troublesome warriors to me."
"Pardon?"
Branch Chief Eun flinched at my order.
What?
"Problem?"
"N-No! I'll send them right away."
After he left, Seo-u Warrior behind me asked,
"What will you do with those warriors?"
"Ask their reasons first. If valid, leniency. If flimsy..."
I grinned.
"They need some mental re-education."
I asked Palgap,
"Palgap, ready with what I mentioned?"
"Of course!"
Seo-u Warrior, knowing what it was, chuckled dryly.
Moments later.
The warriors entered my office. Five in total.
Seeing them spiked my blood pressure.
Not one or two, but five assigned— and none in sight!
Aware of their fault, they slunk in heads bowed.
"You were drinking that day?"
Our branch and main warriors belonged to the Silver Wind Corps.
They rotated duties; these had been in Beijing one to three years.
Three years meant rotation back soon.
I asked them,
"Why?"
"Well..."
"There must be a reason. Not just 'craved booze'?"
One ventured cautiously,
"We thought it'd be fine. With the rumors..."
"Rumors?"
"That... the young chief uses ghosts to guard the land."
"So, no troublemakers come because of the rumors... No one showed at night before..."
Thus, they figured skipping guard duty was okay.
I sighed deeply.
"Truth is, that night— if I hadn't gone, you'd have found a corpse come morning."
"Pardon?"
"Someone tried hanging himself there."
Their faces paled.
They grasped the gravity now.
"If that happened, you'd be expelled from the Silver Wind Corps. Frankly, this alone warrants it."
"......"
I saw the root: lax discipline.
Branch Chief Eun got scolded and encouraged— fine. But these warriors?
No need to agonize.
I'd planned already.
"First, recall to headquarters. Excluded from duties till new rotations arrive. Reflect in the meantime."
"Understood."
Relief tinged their voices.
Expecting harsh punishment, but just reflection and recall.
Reflection meant idling till then— hence relief.
Too soon.
"But skip martial training a day, and skills regress, right? Isn't that so, Seo-u Warrior?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
"Big mistake already— how to handle it? Then skills decline too? What would Chief Steward Outer think?"
"......"
Their faces darkened sharply.
They knew her emphasis on martial basics.
"So, no regression before returning."
Sensing doom, they cried desperately,
"W-We’ll train ourselves!"
"We can do it!"
"Why trust you? Can't even patrol properly."
"......"
Another blurted,
"B-But personal training is..."
"Who said guide martial arts?"
"Huh?"
"Basic physical training."
I smirked.
"Palgap! Bring it."
"Yes!"
The door opened; Lee Pil Warrior and Yeo Eung-am Warrior grunted, hauling a box and setting it down.
Thud!
The sound hinted at its weight.
Palgap opened it— filled with iron ingots.
"Strap these on and do the three basics."
Seeing my grin, they looked like they'd seen a demon.