Good for the Emperor, Good for Me (2)
I quickly responded to the Emperor's words.
"But once I realized Your Majesty would resolve this matter, my appetite returned in an instant."
"You rascal, you sure know how to talk."
Yes, I do have a way with words.
"So, what's this about? Why such a long preamble?"
"Does Your Majesty know that most of the funds you dispatched for rebuilding after the typhoon in Haenamdo ended up in the pockets of the wrong people?"
"What?"
The Emperor's eyes widened, as if he'd grasped my meaning right away.
"You're saying someone embezzled the relief funds?"
"Yes."
"How do you know this?"
"The sect leader of the Haenam Sect and his disciple participated in this friendly martial exchange, and I happened to overhear their conversation."
I continued.
"Curious about why they'd join for the prize of ten thousand silver nyang, I asked about their circumstances. That's when I learned the money was needed to help the residents devastated by the typhoon."
"……."
The Emperor listened silently to my words.
A sign to keep going, no doubt.
"So I asked the Haenam Sect leader directly. With damage on that scale, the palace must have sent funds for reconstruction—enough to make recovery straightforward. So why come all the way here to do this?"
The sect leader's response at the time had been this:
"The entire empire is struggling with poor harvests everywhere. It's hard to expect major aid. And even when funds are sent, they often vanish midway."
But I relayed it with a bit of tactful editing.
"They say the funds do come down from above, but corrupt officials swallow them up, leaving the residents without proper aid."
"Who dares to swallow them?"
"The officials."
"Hmmm……."
The Emperor let out a low hum and summoned the eunuch.
"Eunuch."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Fetch the thirty-second document from section three, drawer six."
At the command, the eunuch hurried into the adjacent room.
Moments later, he returned with a ledger in hand.
"Read it."
He was speaking to me.
I took the ledger from the eunuch. Where the title should have been, there was only a number.
Three-Six-Thirty-Two.
What could this be?
I had no idea, but the Emperor wouldn't have me read something trivial.
I calmly opened the ledger.
[… The ship bound for Haenamdo capsized, resulting in the total loss of all rice being transported.]
[… The ship to Haenamdo vanished in a sudden typhoon; the rice and cloth cargo could not be recovered.]
[A tax ship sank en route to the palace, causing a deficit in revenues.]
Eh? Could this be…?
I looked up in surprise, and the Emperor nodded gravely.
"Indeed, I was already aware of these matters and keeping a close eye. I was just pondering whom to send to resolve them."
"……."
"And here comes a loyal subject so devoted he forgets to eat and sleep over it!"
That was it.
The Emperor already knew.
He knew it was extremely suspicious!
So while he was mulling over what to do, I brought it up.
At the most inopportune—er, perfect—moment. Damn.
But my surprise was fleeting. I quickly turned my mind to the task and spoke.
If I just accepted the Emperor's order and headed to Haenamdo, all my hard work would be for naught.
Sure, he'd reward me separately, but what I wanted now was something else entirely!
"Your Majesty, entrust this matter to me."
"Hm? For you to volunteer so readily—what's on your mind?"
As expected of the Emperor.
He saw right through me.
But I couldn't play humble or brush it off here.
Otherwise, he'd say, "Very well, then see to it properly," and dismiss me.
Then I'd get nothing I wanted.
And I'd already mapped out the picture before even broaching the topic.
"Your Majesty, before discussing this matter, we must identify its root cause."
"What do you think that is?"
"I hesitate to say this, but Haenamdo is far from the capital and an island, making control inherently weak. That's likely why this happened—though Your Majesty knows this better than anyone."
"Hm, true enough."
"Thus, even if I resolve this, I can't guarantee it won't recur. Not in a place with such geography."
"I hate to admit it, but you're right."
"That's why I propose a permanent solution."
"And what is that?"
"Haenamdo lies at the empire's southernmost tip—meaning it can freely access the east, south, and west seas."
"Correct."
"The empire today is peaceful and mighty, thanks to Your Majesty's grace."
"Enough flattery. Get to the point."
"Yet some coastal areas and islands still lack Your Majesty's benevolence—because of the wako raiders and pirates."
"……."
The Emperor said nothing.
He knew the problem well.
"They ravage coastal folk because the navy is too distant."
I pressed on.
"The navy is stationed only around Beijing and Shanghai, leaving places like Haenamdo vulnerable."
Now, time to dot the dragon's eye.
"Therefore, Your Majesty—establish a naval base in Haenamdo."
The Emperor's eyes flashed.
He'd bitten the bait.
"A naval base?"
"Yes. It would protect Haenamdo and nearby coasts, while curbing official corruption."
"Ho… Not a bad idea. But."
What?
"The problem is that you're the one making the proposal."
The Emperor grinned.
"So, what do you want?"
He'd laid the table; it would be rude to refuse.
"The Eunhae Merchant Group plans to build a ship dock in Haenamdo. Wouldn't it be ideal to construct the naval base alongside it?"
"So that's your aim."
The Emperor chuckled.
I'd slipped our dock into the naval base talk, but he spotted the intent immediately.
Why would I propose a naval base in Haenamdo?
Simple: Once established, our ships would be under their protection.
Would pirates or wako dare raid a naval base?
Plus, palace-funded groundwork would slash our construction costs—far below estimates.
Building foundations from scratch is pricey and inconspicuous but essential; skip it, and problems arise.
A strange silence fell, and I stood with my head bowed, tense.
How much time passed?
"The issue is the budget."
"Just squeeze it out of what the corrupt officials have pocketed so far."
It had to be more than enough for one base.
"Very well. I accept your request. But on conditions."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Speak."
"First, expose every detail of the corruption in that ledger! Second, strip them of every ill-gotten gain! Third, use that money to build the Haenamdo naval base. Can you do it?"
"Of course."
Especially the second—that's my specialty.
"When do you depart?"
"I have a bit left to handle in Beijing; once done, I can leave. Ten days suffice."
"Understood. Proceed."
I bowed, returned the ledger, and withdrew.
Phew, safely done for today.
Facing the Emperor drains the mind, but the gains match.
That's why I endure the lifespan-shrinking tension.
Whew, the lengths I go to make Eunhae the world's top merchant group.
The Emperor gazed at the spot where Eun Seo-ho had left and chuckled.
"What an entertaining fellow."
"Does he please you so?"
"How could he not, when he always says exactly what I want to hear?"
The eunuch spoke worriedly.
"I'm concerned if he'll resolve this safely. Seven have already vanished."
This was hardly the first time the Emperor had suspected Haenamdo officials and dispatched the Gold Guards or Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Yet each time, contact cut off swiftly.
An infuriating, nagging mess.
So as he pondered solutions, Eun Seo-ho volunteered.
That made him commendable, so the Emperor granted his request.
"This time will be different. The boy's skills are exceptional."
"True, but… Your Majesty."
The eunuch continued cautiously.
"Even if he's capable, using the imperial navy as payment crosses a line, doesn't it?"
"That's fine."
"Pardon?"
"Do we gain nothing from that base? We benefit too."
Mutual aid, plain and simple.
That's why he'd accepted so readily.
The Emperor smirked and took up his brush.
I headed to the Ministry of War Vice Minister's residence for Master Yeongujin's wedding.
His bride was the Vice Minister's daughter.
Members of his Yeong Clan from Seonju and the Vice Minister's household greeted guests.
Truth be told, the bride-to-be had suffered mania.
Self-harm during rainstorms.
But after drinking Master Yeongujin's White Dew Liquor, her symptoms vanished.
Grateful, the Vice Minister formally requested marriage for his daughter, leading to this union.
Master Yeongujin looked splendid in his groom's robes.
"Why the smug face?"
Maeng-hyeon bowed quickly at my question.
"Young branch leader, you've arrived?"
Maeng-hyeon was the grandson of the elder who taught Master Yeongujin the liquor recipe.
And his business partner.
"'Cause he looks dashing."
I ruffled his hair.
"Ah! Isn't that the young branch leader?"
The friendly voice belonged to Dong Hyeok-su Daehyeop, Master Yeongujin's close friend.
"Greetings, Dong Daehyeop."
"No need for such formality."
"How could I not, when you're a ninth-grade Protector of the Capital?"
I held an inspector's post, but lower-ranked and not for public display.
Privately, he was Seo-hyang Sojeo's brother.
"When did you arrive?"
"Just now."
His gaze shifted to Seo-hyang Sojeo behind me.
She'd already altered her aura with transformation arts—face-changing was too late.
But it changed her impression dramatically.
"……."
He bit his lip at her icy glare.
Perhaps thinking the real Seo-hyang wouldn't look at him that way.
Sorry, but that's music to my ears…
Then—
Whoosh—!
Wind blew, sending something flying.
"Ah! The veil!"
The bride's red veil flew off as she emerged from her room!
Before entering the bridal chamber, the bride mustn't remove her veil—showing her face invites ill fortune.
She darted back inside, but the veil danced in the air.
No ordinary grab would catch it.
Plenty here could, but the rule: Only the groom touches the bride's veil first.
No other man may.
I glanced at Dong Daehyeop and Seo-hyang.
Still clinging despite the chill? Time to dispel suspicions for good.
I sent her a sound transmission.
—Show Dong Daehyeop you catching that veil. It'll change his mind.
She nodded faintly and leaped lightly.
Thud—!
She snatched the veil mid-air and landed gracefully.
Even nimbler than expected.
Her martial talent astonished me.
Exceptional aptitude, plus Ice Crystal Eyes, synergized perfectly with yin arts—unthinkable progress in two years.
She handed it to the bride's attendant.
"Here."
"Thank you! Truly, thank you."
Approaching me, she said,
"Sorry for acting without a word."
"You did well."
Though at my direction, she phrased it to hide the transmission.
Dong Daehyeop gaped at her skill, then composed himself.
No lingering affection in his eyes now.
The Seo-hyang he knew couldn't fight.
Finally admitting his mistake.
Relief, yet pity.
Sorry.
This is all to save Seo-hyang Sojeo—no, Dongja-ryeong Sojeo.
Master Yeongujin's wedding concluded smoothly, and I prepared to depart.
Time to head to Haenamdo.
The evening the ten-day grace period ended.
"Jin Yeong Daehyeop has arrived."
At Palgap's words, I went to the reception room and greeted him.
"Welcome."
"Heard you're off to Haenamdo."
I nodded readily at Jin Yeong Daehyeop's words.
No reason to hide it.
"Yes."
"Be careful."
His expression grew grave.
"Seven have gone missing there already."
Pardon?
I hadn't heard that.