Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: Knight Selections and Tyrannical Preparations
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Lost in old memories for a moment, I soon came to a conclusion.
Among the people recommended by the Knight Commander, two seemed like real finds. The rest... well, they were kind and diligent.
That was roughly how I summed them up.
I hadn't spotted any sparkling brilliance in the others. Someone else might rate them differently, but I was the judge here.
"Alright, now let's hear the Knight Commander's opinion."
I knew he was an ambitious one. But climbing to a high position takes more than just ambition.
Let's see if he has the skills to match.
"We should abandon this entire region outright. Focusing on retreat could save over 70% of our forces."
His words made my eyes light up. A commander's strategy inevitably reflects their personality. In other words, what he said next was basically a self-confession of his true character.
"What about the reinforcements?"
"They could suffer heavy losses here too. It's far more strategic to let go boldly when needed and wait for the next opportunity."
Stability first. The type who avoids massive risks and gambling plays, preferring steady gains over huge losses.
Learning the Knight Commander's tendencies was incredibly useful.
Once he realizes I'm no ordinary king, he'll obey my orders for now.
Why risk a fight with me when it's safer to bide his time, seize power after the next king takes the throne?
Of course, that won't happen. In Seonheon, there is no king after me. Once my reign ends, so does Seonheon.
"Good."
I gave his opinion a brief evaluation. Did choosing stability mean he lacked creativity? Not at all.
While his recommendations were stuck on stubbornly holding the region, the Knight Commander had broken free of that mindset.
After hearing his answer, I spoke up.
"We'll keep just the two I mentioned. The rest should head back for now."
The Knight Commander pondered briefly before replying.
"But they are all exceptional talents. Please consider them carefully..."
"I agree—they're all valuable. But since there are some I want to use in even more critical roles, that's why I'm ordering this. Don't worry, Knight Commander."
He'd dragged them before the king, only for them to leave jobless again—they'd feel cheated, and it'd bruise the Knight Commander's pride too.
This much consideration wasn't too much. Besides, his recent remark was practically a petition. He was already watching his step.
"Your words leave this humble servant at a loss for gratitude."
With my firm approval, the Knight Commander carried out the orders, looking satisfied.
Pine needle sweets and green tea were prepared on the table.
"I'm planning to appoint one of you as head of the Knight Order Training Academy."
Their expressions went blank at my words. They looked on the verge of spilling the tea they'd just sipped. Even the Knight Commander beside them looked shocked.
This wasn't just a promotion. It was a jaw-dropping leap. They had some age and experience, sure—but it was like enlisting for the first time and starting as commandant of a basic training camp back in Korea.
"I know both of you graduated from the Knight Order Training Academy."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Of course, it was ages ago.
"Having experienced it firsthand, you've probably noticed its flaws. Share your thoughts and suggest improvements."
The better answer here would get the head position. The one who'd said they could hold out for three days was Ham Su-young, and the guy who'd suggested turning that narrow alley into a prison like the one for Crown Prince Sado was Cham On-ha.
Cham On-ha spoke first.
"We need to abolish the... meaningless traditions of the training academy."
He'd almost said "useless" there. Sounded like he had some grudges built up.
"I get differentiating by year to some extent, but it goes too far."
They couldn't even borrow books freely, and lower-year students got no practice slots.
"When I first entered the academy, I wasted my first three months doing seniors' laundry and fetching water during polo games on holidays."
From the stories, the academy's hazing culture sounded brutally severe.
Hazing itself didn't faze me much. It wasn't happening to me. What mattered was whether it actually hindered producing quality graduates.
Beatings and abuse? Better without, sure. But it wasn't my top priority in Seonheon.
As Cham On-ha detailed the issues and fixes, Ham Su-young chimed in.
"They lack real combat experience. Even after graduating and joining a knight order, it takes forever to adjust."
"What exactly does that adjustment entail?"
Ham Su-young answered.
"Facing corpses and blood, people's screams, the terror of death—for the first time."
Cham On-ha nodded immediately.
"Ham Su-young is right. After graduating, some regret their choice upon seeing a knight's true life."
"We need combat experience. Before it's too late, they should judge if they can live as knights."
More than the internal hazing, I decided this needed fixing.
The pain aspiring knights endured? If the academy kept churning out top talent, it was fine. No threat to its core function.
"Any solutions?"
They offered various ideas. As I listened, I spoke up.
"Knight Commander, how about creating another knight order?"
He looked at me.
"Another knight order, Your Majesty?"
"More precisely, a reserve knight order."
If they lacked combat experience, give it to them. Simple in words, but a massive undertaking.
Forming a new knight order was complex enough—let alone a special one.
"We already have internships..."
I shook my head at the Knight Commander's words.
"Not internships. Reserves don't die or get injured in those."
All three stared at me. Internships were obvious: learning knight order structure, daily routines. Nothing real.
I wanted young knights in actual war.
"But Your Majesty, even for a unit you need, real combat requires battles—and battles require enemies."
"No need to worry about that."
Enemies existed—or soon would.
I'd already decided. I was the tyrant slicing open the golden goose the other nine hunters had raised.
Wielding the knife to butcher Seonheon. Blood was inevitable in slaughter.
Stockpiling war supplies meant higher taxes and exploitation. Some dispossessed would turn bandits, and someone had to suppress them.
"Your Majesty... are you planning war?"
I answered simply.
"That's not for you to know."
Much would break. Ministers would oppose endlessly. Even loyal followers wouldn't grasp my choices.
Fine. I wasn't really the king.
Just playing the final act of this role-play.
Poor Seonheon peasants exploited, ministers weeping loyal tears for the future... Sure, pitiful.
So, should I possess a sage king out of pity, manage well instead of prepping for Gonsalok, only to get wiped out in ten years anyway?
No time to fret over the stage props in this play—like pitying broken set pieces in a theater.
"We'll end here for today. I'll deliberate on tasks for your recommended talents."
With that, I parted from the Knight Commander.
Mountains of tasks awaited for the total war ahead.
Next, I visited the military arsenal producing supplies.
The needs were endless: iron, bamboo, pheasant feathers. Hay for horses, rations for soldiers.
"Anyway."
This wasn't the modern world. Seonheon was an absolute monarchy. Kings could tyrannize with few checks.
Plus, 900 years of indoctrination demanding loyalty from birth. Intellectuals clung hardest.
They’d desperately try to dissuade me, but never dream of deposing me.
Even modern dictators lasted a decade unless blatantly insane—some far longer.
In an absolute monarchy like Seonheon? I could chop all ministers' heads tomorrow, hang them in the market, and last ten years easy.
"Your Majesty, please show mercy!"
Three months passed like that.
I scrapped Lee Se-eun's welfare systems entirely, forcing corvée and military service with no cash buyouts—only bodies.
Taxes jumped from 40% to 70%.
"Arrow production is still insufficient. Warehouses for proper storage are lacking too. Solve this quickly."
I prepared for war relentlessly, without rest. Ministers couldn't fathom my madness.
They never would. Daily, hundreds—including ministers—knelt before the palace, begging an end to the tyranny.
Irrelevant. Knight orders were already supplanting other agencies.
Ministers' roles could go to knights. They'd been prepping to replace them—this was their chance.
"We obey."
And Seonheon's army—including knights—had little complaint. In soldier-first politics, they stayed content.
Even lowliest standing troops got five measures of rice, half a catty of meat daily, plus sundries.
Annual harvest pay rose over 40%.
"Public order is deteriorating. Knight Commander, select unstable areas, assign knight detachments with authority and duties, and submit reports."
I kept granting powers—though all needed my approval.
But I rubber-stamped most of his proposals.
"As for Naham, Chilgak, and Hwaryang renovations—issues in your report, so review again."
No tolerance for overhauls. My tyranny wouldn't let the Knight Commander stray easily.
"We are deeply grateful. We'll review."
Meanwhile, I slashed my meals, kept a pale complexion, coughed often.
Making the Central Knight Commander think me frail, soon to die—hoping his era next.