Chunggyeong Castle's Sword Arsenal (5)
Kwon Jik Daeju continued speaking.
"As you said, when we head back, we'll make sure to add a bit more weight to the carts they're pulling."
At those words, I smirked inwardly.
They must have gotten somewhat used to it by now—what a shame. The return trip would be hell.
The banquet didn't drag on too late.
Everyone wanted to turn in early since they had to depart in the morning.
Jang-gal and Song-cheong opened their eyes at the sound of someone waking them.
"It's time to get up."
"Just a bit... just a little longer..."
"Please..."
But the voice they heard was as cold as frost.
"Can't you get up right now? You're supposed to be Gold Guard elites, and you're slacking off like this? Do you need a full assembly to snap out of it?"
"Gasp!"
"N-no, sir!"
They bolted upright at their senior Gold Guard's command.
He then spoke in a gentler tone.
"Didn't this all start because you wanted to show your loyalty? But if you show this kind of lax attitude, it's better not to do it at all."
"......"
"It'll be tough, but once you push through, you'll feel a swell of pride in yourself."
"Yes, sir..."
As they replied, Jang-gal and Song-cheong screamed inwardly.
'This wasn't our choice!'
'We didn't ask for this!'
They recalled the moment that had led to this ordeal.
They knew full well that Eun Seo-ho had accomplished great feats and was highly skilled.
The Emperor himself, along with the Gold Guard commander, adored him.
But they just couldn't stand the sight of it.
'A lowly merchant meddling in state affairs? Know your place!'
It was that resentment that had ignited the spark.
The Emperor had granted Eun Seo-ho limited immunity.
The Gold Guard had the authority to arrest and interrogate anyone suspected of treason at any time.
They had been waiting for a chance to nab him, but that had gone up in smoke.
They were barely suppressing their irritation when they ended up assigned to work with him.
On the morning of departure,
Kwon Jik was meeting with the Emperor, and the others were busy with personal preparations, paying no attention elsewhere.
Seizing the moment, they sneaked up to Eun Seo-ho.
They weren't even in charge of inspecting supplies, but they used it as an excuse to pick a fight in a voice low enough not to reach the others.
Limited immunity or not,
if he laid a hand on Gold Guard members, he couldn't escape responsibility.
His immunity could be revoked, or the Emperor might punish him.
So they insulted him and even leered at his fiancée.
'Hit me! Swing at me already!'
'Isn't it time to draw your sword yet?'
'You wanna beat us up, right? Come on.'
'Not enough? Should I provoke you more?'
But when they came to their senses...
They were pulling carts instead of horses.
While Eun Seo-ho rode comfortably in his carriage.
The problem was that Eun Seo-ho's silver tongue had somehow turned them into "devoted Gold Guard members."
Now they couldn't back out.
To explain it wasn't their choice, they'd have to confess what they'd done.
That would make them traitors defying the Emperor's orders—the worst possible outcome.
For the first two days, they denied the reality of pulling carts.
But by the third day, it sank in: they really had to drag these things all the way to Chunggyeong Castle.
Naturally, their rage turned toward Eun Seo-ho, the one who'd orchestrated it all.
'Eun Seo-ho! You bastard!'
'I'll get you for this!'
But they had no way to vent it.
Eun Seo-ho was always with Kwon Jik, and they collapsed from exhaustion whenever they rested.
After days of this, they clung to a new hope.
Maybe someone would say they'd suffered enough and call it quits.
But no one did.
Despair began to set in.
'This isn't why I joined the Gold Guard!'
'I miss Mother.'
'Life's just a game, huh. Eheh.'
As they trudged on, pulling carts mile after mile, they even started empathizing with horses—feeling utterly pathetic—when they finally arrived at the Eunhae Merchant Group's Hubei headquarters.
They dragged their heavy bodies to prepare for departure.
First, everyone gathered for a briefing on the route ahead, which sparked a glimmer of hope in them.
"After traveling for two si-jin, we'll board ships to Yun-nam..."
Boarding ships.
That meant no more grueling cart-pulling.
With time on a boat, they'd have a chance to get revenge on Eun Seo-ho.
'Just you wait!'
'I'll make you pay!'
They still hadn't realized this was karmic retribution for their own folly.
And two si-jin later.
"Hmm, the river's flow is less than expected. Boats won't work."
"Yes. Fine for thirty men, but our scouting party's size needs larger vessels. And those wouldn't navigate well."
"Change of plans, then. We go overland."
Which meant Jang-gal and Song-cheong had to keep pulling carts.
Thud.
Their legs gave out, and they collapsed.
I chuckled softly.
Jang-gal Daehyeop and Song-cheong Daehyeop's faces, as they suddenly slumped, looked like they'd lost everything in the world.
They must have been counting on the boat.
Unfortunately for them, there'd been almost no rain since the harvest, so the river levels were low.
No boats possible.
I'd known this but hadn't mentioned it earlier, in case circumstances changed.
"Oh dear! Are you alright?"
"Waaah!"
"Hic... sob!"
Suddenly wailing pitifully.
I sidled up and addressed the gathering crowd.
"I was worried you wouldn't get to show your loyalty to His Majesty if we took boats and skipped pulling carts, but it seems you're thrilled to continue this path of devotion."
"Ah... I see."
"If that's the case, sure."
The crowd nodded and dispersed. I turned to the sobbing pair.
"Loyalty matters, but you must take care of your health."
"......"
"Why not rest and ride instead?"
They glared at me.
"No! We'll go all the way!"
Seeing them reject my offer with eyes full of fury confirmed they hadn't learned their lesson yet.
Fine, then. More suffering it is.
No reason to help if they refuse.
"Understood. I'll count on you to keep it up."
"......"
They'd regret turning down my hand now.
The further south we went, the real hardship began.
As I returned to the carriage, I asked Palgap.
"Palgap. Am I going too far?"
"They started it by messing with you first, young master. And this is their chance to learn: touch our young master, and even people turn into cart-pulling horses."
The surrounding escort warriors nodded in agreement.
When those two had picked fights with me, I'd seen through their scheme.
They wanted me to strike first, catching me red-handed.
Trying to trap me? They'd need a thousand more years.
Why else would His Majesty send me to aid the Gold Guard?
Because I have what they lack.
Most Gold Guard knew it, so they treated me well.
They might need my help someday.
Those who disliked me either didn't know or refused to admit it.
And this incident was a warning to them.
Hate me all you want, but mess with me, and you'll suffer like them.
We pressed southward.
Through Honam Province, past Guizhou, to Yun-nam.
Northern Honam was relatively flat, but Guizhou was full of highlands.
Meaning uphill and downhill cart-pulling galore.
"Guizhou now."
I nodded at Seo-hyang Sojeo's words.
"Yes."
I read the longing in her eyes.
For home and family.
I wanted to let her see her parents, but we were on duty.
She read my expression and shook her head slightly.
"I'm fine. I don't want you neglecting the mission for me."
"We'll have some leeway on the way back to Beijing."
"Yes. But don't push yourself. I'm content just being alive like this."
Her words left me speechless.
Before long, we arrived at Chunggyeong Castle in Yun-nam Province.
"Welcome! We've been waiting."
The castle lord greeted us personally.
His one sleeve fluttered in the breeze.
A remnant of that past incident.
"Thank you for the warm welcome."
The castle lord bowed at Kwon Jik Daeju's words.
"I'm grateful to heaven and earth for letting me greet you all again."
"I'm thankful too, for returning here."
Then a man stepped forward from behind.
"Yeon Yu-mun, the eldest son, greets the daehyeops. Please follow me to your lodgings."
The others followed him, and I approached the castle lord.
"Castle Lord, good to see you again."
"Indeed. Have you been well?"
"Yes."
"Didn't expect you'd come with the Gold Guard. What's this about?"
I gave the surface reason.
"As a minor branch leader of the merchant group, I'm handling logistics for this scouting party."
"I see. A sword arsenal, though! No idea what's going on."
"Haha, tell me about it."
As I spoke, I glanced at the onlookers watching us.
The mission was somewhat secretive, but not entirely hushed.
It was bait to find the original owner of the scroll I'd discovered in Luoyang's haunted manor.
A fishing expedition.
And the crowd suggested it was working.
.
.
.
At my assigned lodgings, I washed up and changed clothes.
As I strolled, admiring the scenery, I spotted Kwon Daeju and Seo-im Daehyeop heading to the castle lord's office.
"You're here."
Yeon Yu-mun's voice came from behind.
I turned and greeted him.
"You look well."
"Yes. It's been nearly a year. So, a sword arsenal in our Chunggyeong Castle—is that true?"
"So they say."
"Could those past incidents have been preliminaries targeting our castle's sword arsenal?"
Not a short thinker, deducing that far.
"Not certain, but that's my guess too."
"Sigh..."
He let out a breath.
"Even now, thinking back makes me dizzy. But thanks to you, the castle was safe."
I smiled silently.
"Anyway, how have Chunggyeong Castle and Yun-nam been?"
He nodded at my question.
"Yes. No issues yet. But no guarantee it won't happen again..."
True, only a year had passed.
I sensed his frustration and worry for the castle's future in his words.
Then.
"Young master! Young master!"
A servant, likely the castle lord's, called for Yeon Yu-mun.
"What is it?"
"The castle lord summons you."
He followed the servant to the office, and I returned to my quarters.
The next day,
we rose early.
Today marked the start of full-scale scouting.
After morning meditation and breakfast, I opened the door.
I sensed the energy of someone waiting outside.
"My lord."
The escort warrior guarding the door clasped his fists in salute.
"Young Master Yeon is waiting."
"Got it."
I turned and approached Yeon Yu-mun.
His face wore a troubled frown.
"You were waiting for me."
"Yes. I came early to discuss something."
Dark circles under his eyes—up all night worrying.
"Speak freely."
"Not here. Somewhere else."
He'd come personally, so it must be highly confidential.
"Lead the way."
He took me to a clearing in the woods behind the castle.
"This is where I practice swordsmanship. No one else comes."
"I see. What urgent matter required all this secrecy?"
"My marriage."
"Pardon?"
"His Majesty issued an edict. I must wed one of the princesses."
Ah...
Now it made sense why Seo-im Daehyeop was traveling in disguise.
A princess's marriage involved tangled politics, so they'd sent her discreetly.
Announce it to the ministers afterward, done.
Classic Emperor move.
No envoy would dare harass or extort a place where a princess had married.
"Isn't that good news? What's the problem?"
"Tell me straight. Is this marriage... a trap?"
"......Yes?"