Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: Purging Corruption
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I had deliberately avoided even memorizing or remembering people's names before returning to Earth.
It's the same now. I have to spend ten full years here, with so much to do that I can't even skip ahead through time.
In other words, I have to live out every bit of those ten years right here. I need to keep emotional distance as much as possible.
This place is just a stage set for me, and I'm nothing more than an actor in a movie with a ten-year runtime.
"You've all worked hard. Knowing that you protect Seonheon fills Us with such reassurance."
Even smiling and raising my glass is an act. The trusting gaze I send to the people is an act.
And in this movie, I can't do method acting. I'm not even sure if calling method acting 'acting' is appropriate.
Method acting is when the actor fully immerses themselves in the role, becoming the character entirely.
Is that really acting? It feels like calling imitation crab made from crab meat 'crab-flavored crab'.
No matter the quality of the imitation crab, if it's made from real crab meat, it's just crab meat. Why call it imitation?
"Your Majesty honors us beyond measure. For you to grace this remote frontier in person and acknowledge the efforts of lowly ones like us—we scarcely know where to place ourselves."
Some of the knights even shed tears as I personally offer my thanks. Their eyes brim with genuine loyalty.
"On the contrary, it is We who should express gratitude to you all."
And I continue the performance toward their sincerity. I pick up the wine bottle and fill his glass to the brim with fragrant miju.
"Drink up. We know full well that Our decree banning alcohol has made things difficult for you. Today is a celebration of your hard work, so eat and drink your fill."
I didn't issue the alcohol ban for no reason. Making alcohol requires massive amounts of grain. The ban secures a short-term surplus of grain—that was the point.
The knight receives the glass with both hands, bows deeply in thanks, and drains it in one go.
"But do not overindulge. Who will protect Seonheon if those who wield swords, spears, and bows become dead drunk?"
"Of course not, Your Majesty."
While the gathered knights and soldiers enjoy the prepared food and drink, I wet my lips with wine and survey the surroundings before rising from my seat to summon a few knights.
"I'm sorry to give orders while you're all enjoying yourselves. But for the next few hours, you are to protect Us."
The knights, their faces slightly flushed, immediately straighten up and salute.
"We obey!"
This is the king's bodyguard duty. A jug of wine right in front of them is irrelevant. Even a casual assignment to guard the king is still guard duty. Its impact on their future careers is obvious.
"To the warehouse."
I plan to check the state of the military rations and the equipment in storage. At my words, one knight hesitates for a moment.
"If you have something to say, speak."
"No, Your Majesty."
I turn toward him. He immediately bows.
"When We say 'speak if you have something to say,' it means if you know anything about the place We're heading to, report it in full detail."
At my words, the knight who had flinched opens his mouth cautiously.
"But the Knight Commander..."
"Are you a knight loyal to Us, or to this region's Knight Commander?"
This is the final warning. Better spill everything you know, or you might lose your head.
The reason I came here isn't just to commend those toiling away—there's a whiff of foul play in the air too.
"I understand the warehouse supplies... differ from what's reported in the ledgers."
"We suspected as much."
Congratulations on surviving. I pat his shoulder and nod. The ones I've selected now have only recently become full knights.
Even if the knights stationed here are up to something, these newcomers are unlikely to be involved.
"Lead the way."
With their guidance, I head to the warehouse. The first stop is where the rations are stacked.
"It's locked."
"Break it."
At my command, a knight draws his sword. I enter leisurely after the door is smashed and inspect the interior casually. At a glance, the stacked rations match the ledger reports.
"This can't be..."
The knight who reported the discrepancy looks baffled. Without a word, I tap one of the large grain sacks.
"Stab it."
One knight obliges, thrusting his sword into the sack. It bursts, spilling its contents.
"Sand."
They've disguised it to look normal from the outside. I stab a few more. About 30% contain sand instead of grain.
It's like a sample survey. Out of roughly fifty sacks stabbed, 30% were filled with sand.
Not an exact match, but it means about 30% of the grain sacks in this warehouse—supposedly rations—are actually sand.
"This isn't some amount pocketed to feed your family hot meals at home."
I gaze at the hole-riddled sack before speaking.
"Bring the Knight Commander overseeing this area before Us. In chains."
The knights swallow hard at my words.
"This is a royal decree."
In this kingdom, a royal decree is an invincible card. Defying it brands you the empire's greatest villain.
It doesn't take long to bind the man controlling this region with rope and force him to kneel before me.
"Explain why you embezzled it."
The man on his knees replies.
"Your Majesty, it wasn't me. Something's gone wrong here."
Yeah, right. And what could possibly be 'wrong'?
"If it wasn't you, do you think that'll change anything?"
This region's Knight Commander is the man kneeling before me now. If the manager failed to manage, he pays the price.
"We'll investigate the full circumstances and punish accordingly."
"No need."
The embezzled rations are enormous. Considering the stacks, no single person could consume this much.
So where did the diverted grain go?
"Where did you send the embezzled rations?"
He falls silent at my question. Refusing to talk? Fine by me. Before I can even speak, tools for torture are already being prepared.
His eyes harden further. I chuckle softly.
"Unnecessary. Dispatch troops to Miryang County. Search Second Prince Serang's residence."
The man, head bowed and bracing for torture, snaps his head up to stare at me.
"You must think Us a fool."
If a vassal is dissatisfied with the king, there are two options. One: cling to his robes and beg him to come to his senses.
Two: replace the king. This isn't rebellion. Rebellion is shouting, 'I'll be king!' No sane person does that.
Since the current king seems hopeless, let's crown a new one from the royal bloodline of the previous king! That's this era's most extreme remedy.
In a democratic nation, it's impeachment.
And in this region sits the residence of my younger brother, Second Prince Serang.
"Vice Knight Commander, as of now, you are Acting Knight Commander. Search that man's residence and investigate Second Prince Serang's as well."
As I rise from my seat, I add one more thing.
"Most soldiers and knights are resting, so take only the essential personnel for the investigation."
I might worry that much of the local forces are in on it, but from observing during the banquet, no such signs.
One or two can be perfectly disguised, but with numbers, limits appear.
"Embezzling military rations warrants a thousand lashes, but we prepared it as relief grain for the people, just in case..."
"We recall no such decree."
If you're going to judge and act on your own, you should've just stabbed me with a sword and taken the throne. And relief grain? Please.
"It's been three months since We ordered all grain from the relief warehouses transferred to military storage."
And yet? You embezzled rations to prepare relief grain? The follow-up is predictable.
With relief grain depleted, the state has nothing to give starving citizens.
Enter Second Prince Serang, distributing the stockpiled rations. Naturally, he wins the people's hearts.
Building favor, expanding influence and voice, then challenging me—that was the plan.
This wasn't some drunken spur-of-the-moment 'Screw it! The king pisses me off!' rebellion.
It's a scheme brewed over at least two or three years of watching and waiting.
"Combining all you embezzled could carry this region's people through the spring famine even if the autumn harvest fails."
"Exactly that, Your Majesty. Everything for Seonheon's sake."
I raise a hand slightly to cut him off.
"Serving Us is serving Seonheon. Besides, the people's hunger can be alleviated through the grain lending system."
Grain lending: lend rice to the people in spring, collect repayment in autumn. A fine system, but my intent isn't charity.
Military rations rot if hoarded blindly. So in spring, distribute the old grain to the people, then reap their fresh autumn harvest.
Since welfare isn't the goal, grain lending here is mandatory, not optional. They must accept a quota, repaid strictly in new harvest grain.
My reformed system in one sentence: 'Give you an old house, give me a new one.'
"No more to say. Imprison him and search his residence and workplace thoroughly."
Sadly, they got caught by me before pushing things further.
Traces will emerge. If not, we'll make them.
Those entangled are surely in the capital, rain or snow, screaming themselves hoarse for me to wise up.
Exploit this handle well, and I can unleash a bloodbath in the capital, silencing many.
"We obey the decree!"
Some troops and knights depart the banquet hall to carry out my orders. I sip tea instead of wine, mind racing.
I'll milk this to gut the dysfunctional administration entirely.
Watching that, I can warn the new power holders, like the Capital Knight Commander: a solid lesson.
While I'm watching, be content with being second to one, above all others.
The moment you crave more, I'll notice—and you won't die peacefully in bed.
This instilled fear will shield me from challenges, even through my harsh future policies.
"Almost done."
Obstacles are being steadily removed. Not much left.
Once I handle the merchant class grown under Han Sang-ah's economic policies, and the expert class naturally formed under Choi Yeoreum and Lee Se-eun's lead...
The threats I need to watch for in this king game will all but vanish. Dealing with them is child's play. The military is loyal to me, after all.
Dictators inevitably fixate on the army. Before a sword obeying its wielder, money, honor, knowledge, and wisdom lose meaning.