The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 279

The Great War (1)

At first, there was no response.

But as 능소밀 [Neung Somil, the protagonist] continued to shout at the top of his lungs, a person entered the prison cell.

“I warned you.”

능소밀 quickly spoke to the 금의위 [Geumuiwi, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, an imperial secret police] guard, who was glaring with chilling eyes and gripping a whip.

“I request an audience with the 지휘사(指揮使) Lord [Jihwisa, Commander].”

“What?”

The guard managing the prison cell looked at him with an absurd expression.

“An ignorant fellow dares to summon 정이품 [Jeongipum, a high-ranking official], a minister of the 금의위, the person in charge.”

“I’ll let you meet someone much higher than him.”

“……?”

It was then that the whip flew over 능소밀’s shoulder as he was wondering.

Clack!

“How is it?”

Clack!

“Slowly.”

Clack!

“Can you see King Yama [the King of Hell in East Asian mythology] before your eyes?”

The guard, who had been mercilessly wielding the whip, suddenly paused.

It was because he felt a chill down his spine as if he had been doused with ice water.

The moment he realized it was due to a pair of eyes staring at him, his heart sank.

At that moment, 능소밀 reached out like lightning and grabbed the guard’s wrist.

Then, he slowly pulled the guard towards him.

“C, can you let go?”

The flustered guard struggled to break free, but all that came back was a terrifying pressure that felt like his wrist would be crushed.

능소밀, having pulled the guard in front of him, smiled quietly.

His mouth was smiling, but his eyes were not, making it an even more eerie smile.

“Hey.”

“……!”

“Do you think I was just staying still because I didn’t have the strength?”

It was only in 신마곡 [Sinmagok, a valley of demons] that he couldn’t spread his wings, but if 능소밀 went out into 강호 [Gangho, the martial arts world], he was skilled enough to hold his head high.

He was no match for 사무심 [Samusim, a character], who had taken 공청석유 [Gongcheongseoyu, a powerful elixir], but thanks to 단악선 [Danakseon, a character], who cherished his people terribly, he had taken all sorts of 영단 [yeongdan, spiritual pills] and 영약 [yeongyak, spiritual medicines].

Moreover, he had mastered 위화신공 [Wihwasingong, a martial arts technique].

It was just that 단악선’s martial arts progress was too fast to be compared, but he had long since risen to the ranks of experts.

The guard’s face turned pale in an instant as he was hit by the 기파 [gipa, energy wave] that 능소밀 was emitting from a close distance.

“I’ll say it only once. So listen carefully.”

“…….”

“Last night, 제기(薺騎) [Jegi, a rank within Dongchang] of 동창 [Dongchang, the Eastern Depot, another imperial secret agency] contacted me.”

The pupils of the guard managing the prison cell shook.

The only force that could keep the organization he belonged to, 금의위, in check was 동창.

능소밀 slightly raised a smile at his wavering appearance.

Of course, it was a lie, but there was no way the guard in front of him would notice.

He wouldn’t be able to come to his senses from the shock right now, let alone later.

That’s how accurately 능소밀 knew the weaknesses of 금의위.

Since its establishment by Emperor 태조 홍무제 [Taejo Hongmuje, the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming Dynasty], 금의위 has reigned as one of the core institutions that serve as the foundation of the emperor’s power.

In the beginning, its main purpose was to protect the emperor’s personal safety and to scout, but gradually its role of monitoring close aides and meritorious subjects became stronger.

Hongwu was suspicious of almost all the officials around him, and if there was someone he didn’t like, he immediately executed or assassinated them.

It was 금의위 that was put into that task.

Later, its duties were expanded to include not only the administration and security of the imperial family and the capital, but also the handling of military secrets, as well as the collection and disruption of information.

Moreover, it was independent of the existing judicial system.

This was because it only moved on the orders of the emperor, not the ministers or 내각대학사 [Naegak Daehaksa, Grand Secretariat].

This was also the reason why they had the authority to arrest, detain, and even torture prisoners independently without the permission of the ministers.

So they could even kill prisoners without trial.

But that absolute power didn’t last long.

As the concentration of power in 금의위 became so severe that its evils became serious, Hongwu eventually greatly reduced the power of 금의위.

‘But the situation changed when 영락제 [Yeongnakje, the Yongle Emperor] ascended the throne.’

The third emperor, 영락제, once again granted 금의위 enormous authority.

Having killed his nephew 건문제 [Geonmunje, the Jianwen Emperor] and seized the throne, he was always worried about rebellions that might occur anytime, anywhere.

The problem was that 금의위 was not the only organization to which 영락제 granted such authority.

Immediately after ascending the throne, the first thing he did was to reorganize the existing inspection organization and establish a separate organization from 금의위.

That was 동창.

It was called 동창 because it was based near 동안문 [Dong’an Gate], and the head of the organization, 대영반(大營班) [Daeyeongban, Grand Supervisor], was uniquely held by a eunuch, not a military officer.

Originally, even in the early days of the founding of the country, eunuchs were not treated very well.

This was due to the evils of the late Yuan Dynasty, when eunuch politics reached its peak.

So Hongwu completely excluded eunuchs from politics and even prevented them from learning to write.

This was to block any possibility of them getting involved in politics.

However, on the contrary, 영락제 decided to treat eunuchs well.

This was because the eunuchs were the ones who provided the decisive victory in the 정난지변(靖難之變) [Jeongnan Jibyeon, the Jingnan Campaign], in which he seized the throne from his nephew.

Their power was also needed to resolve the chaos within the imperial family.

Because they showed outstanding ability in handling information, he simply entrusted the organization in charge of information and inspection to the eunuchs separately.

동창, like 금의위, was able to arrest, detain, and torture on its own.

The only difference was that the head of 금의위 was a military officer from outside, and the head of 동창 was the eunuch 장인태감 [Jang Intaegam, Eunuch Director].

‘If I had to add more, it would be the uniform?’

The 제기 of 동창, who were the guards of 금의위, wore 검붉은 [geom bulgeun, dark crimson] silk uniforms and even black leather shoes.

That’s why they are called the grim reapers of 북평부 [Bukpyeongbu, Beiping Prefecture].

The guard who was managing the prison cell opened his mouth with an unbelievable expression.

“That can’t be! How could 제기 of 동창 enter this place…….”

“Shh. Your voice is too loud.”

“…….”

능소밀, who had completely taken the lead, opened his mouth leisurely.

“Are you sure there are no spies from 동창 inside 금의위?”

능소밀, facing the guard’s shaking eyes, wore a meaningful smile.

“The only information they asked me for was one thing.”

“Information?”

“The 금의위 of the world must know that I am now the 단주 [Danju, leader] of 신마상단 [Sinmasangdan, a merchant group], but in the past, I led an information organization called 신소방 [Sinsobang, a past organization], right?”

In fact, not all of the 금의위 guards would know this.

But it didn’t matter.

“So? What information did you give them?”

Sure enough.

The guard lowered his voice and asked urgently.

“I didn’t give it to them.”

“……?”

“I just said I would think about their offer, and he said he would come back tonight to hear the answer.”

“Then?”

능소밀 released the wrist he was holding and took a step back.

“Bring the person in charge. I will tell him the information that 동창 requested.”

“Just tell me…….”

능소밀 smiled and cut off the other person’s words.

“What do I trust you for? How do I know you’re not someone who’s been recruited by 동창?”

The guard’s face contorted at those words.

Regardless.

능소밀 nodded with a relaxed attitude.

“Seeing you hesitate like this even though it’s information that benefits 금의위, you must be a spy for 동창.”

The guard, who was biting his lip, glared at 능소밀 and left the prison cell.

About half an hour passed.

“I am 양승경 [Yang Seunggyeong, a character]. I heard you wanted to see me?”

능소밀 raised his eyes and looked up at the person who spoke.

A minister in his sixties who had rushed over in his uniform, probably because he was so urgent.

He had the unique atmosphere of a veteran military officer who had experienced all kinds of hardships.

‘He’s the minister who was guarding the emperor’s side.’

능소밀, recalling the other person’s face in comparison to his memory, politely paid his respects.

“I had something urgent to say, so I had no choice but to ask to see the 지휘사 Lord.”

“Come out for a moment.”

Surrounded by 금의위 guards, 능소밀 left the prison cell.

“I heard it’s something related to 동창?”

능소밀 smiled slightly at the other person’s appearance, who immediately got to the point as soon as he came out.

It was effective to stab 금의위 in the back.

Since there were two organizations with similar roles and authority, 동창’s existence was naturally unwelcome to 금의위.

The leakage of power.

Or they feared the situation in which the balance would tilt towards them the most.

“I apologize for that part. I had no choice but to lie to see the Lord.”

“What?”

양승경’s face, who couldn’t hide his embarrassment, gradually began to turn red with anger.

The eyes of the guards surrounding 능소밀 also became fierce.

They held sharp daggers in their hands so that they could stab 능소밀 at any time.

Moreover, those daggers were all touching 능소밀’s vital points, unlike the guards who managed the prison cell, they were among the best in 금의위.

The moment 양승경 nodded, there was no way 능소밀 could survive, no matter how 능소밀 was.

Nevertheless, 능소밀 opened his mouth calmly.

“However, if it’s information that I have, I will be able to keep 동창 in check.”

양승경 paused and stopped the guards.

“I’ll listen.”

“It seems that 마교 [Magyo, the Demonic Cult] is extending its reach to the imperial family.”

“……!”

능소밀 asked the other person, who was shocked and unable to speak.

“Before I explain in detail, let me ask you one thing.”

능소밀 raised his hand and pointed to the prison cell.

“What crime was the person imprisoned in the prison cell across from me charged with?”

“He tried to invade when 정금군주(淨錦君主) [Jeonggeum Gunju, Princess Jeonggeum] was walking in 어화원(御花園) [Eohwa-won, the Imperial Garden].”

능소밀 was inwardly dumbfounded.

‘Is he crazy?’

The imperial family, the blood relatives of the emperor.

The title given to them was 친왕(親王) [Chinwang, Prince of the Blood].

친왕 refers to the emperor’s son, that is, the emperor’s illegitimate son or the emperor’s brother who was appointed as a king but did not receive a fief.

군왕(郡王) [Gunwang, Prince of the Realm] is the title next to 친왕, and is usually given to the sons of the crown prince.

In other words, it was a title given to the sons of the crown prince, excluding the crown prince’s grandson.

However, in the case of a woman, she receives the title of 군주(郡主) [Gunju, Princess of the Realm].

In short, he was caught approaching the emperor’s niece, who was walking in the imperial garden.

However, 능소밀 nodded calmly.

“As expected……. Just as I expected.”

“……?”

“That guy deliberately got caught by the 금의위 in charge of guarding the imperial family in order to be imprisoned here.”

“How did you find that out?”

“That guy is 서세창 [Seo Sechang, a character], a notorious 사파 [Sapa, unorthodox sect] seducer called 탐화진군 [Tamhwajingun, the Amorous Monarch] in 강호. He is also someone who entrusted himself to 마교 to avoid the 무림맹 [Murimmaeng, the Martial Arts Alliance]’s extermination of the hundred great villains.”

능소밀 openly framed 서세창 as a member of 마교.

It wasn’t certain, but it didn’t matter.

That’s how much of a guy he was who deserved to die right away.

“He was constantly 운기요상 [Ungiyosang, circulating internal energy] inside the prison cell, waiting for the right time.”

“Do you know his purpose too?”

“It could be to break someone out of prison, or it could be to assassinate someone. But in fact, his purpose is not important.”

“What does that……?”

“What’s important is that a master of 마교 infiltrated the 금의위’s prison cell, and it’s important that 금의위 found out and solved it. It is also important that 금의위 recognized the information related to this before 동창.”

“……!”

Only then did 양승경 realize what the man in front of him was trying to say.

“If you use your excellent political sense a little, it won’t be too difficult to make His Majesty’s trust lean towards 금의위 rather than 동창.”

‘What kind of guy is this?’

양승경, who was staring at 능소밀 with surprised eyes, clicked his tongue inwardly.