Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 387

387. Good News from the Imperial Palace

Beijing, the Forbidden City.

The two reports that arrived at the Dochalwon [a government investigation agency] were immediately delivered to the Great Hall, where Eunuch Park, Byeongpil Taegam [a high-ranking eunuch title] of the Dongchang [Eastern Depot, an intelligence agency], resided.

The head of the Dongchang was the Jedok Dongchang [Director of the Eastern Depot], but Eunuch Park, who had the Emperor’s trust and favor and oversaw the actual work, was the true power within the Dongchang.

Moreover, Eunuch Park was the chief officer who held all the authority of the Dochalwon, which had once been only a name, appointed by the Emperor’s decree.

Therefore, it was perhaps natural that the report regarding the Special Inspector, in whom Eunuch Park had a great interest, was delivered directly to him without anyone else handling it.

Tak, tak, tak.

The official from the Dochalwon, having arrived in front of the Great Hall, took a breath and straightened his clothes.

After taking a few deep breaths to calm himself, the official bowed respectfully and entered the Great Hall.

Thud.

The eunuch standing near the entrance stared at the official with fierce eyes.

“What is the matter?”

His attitude toward the official was quite overbearing.

The Dochalwon official cautiously replied.

“This is a report from the Dochalwon regarding the Special Inspector.”

The eunuch’s eyes changed.

He immediately moved into the Great Hall.

Scribble, scribble.

Eunuch Park, who was working at his desk in the center of the Great Hall, raised his head.

The eunuch put his hands together in front of him, bent his back, and bowed politely.

“Eunuch, a report regarding the Special Inspector has arrived from the Dochalwon.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Eunuch Park’s face brightened.

“Tell them to come in quickly.”

“Yes, Eunuch.”

The eunuch gestured to the official.

The official stepped forward, bowed to Eunuch Park, and held up two scrolls.

Another eunuch standing next to Eunuch Park came down and received the scrolls.

He carefully handed them to Eunuch Park.

Flip.

Eunuch Park unfolded the scrolls.

His brow furrowed slightly.

“This is not Scholar Yun’s handwriting.”

The official bowed his head and replied respectfully.

“Yes. One was sent by Inspector Jo Gwan from Wuhan, and the other was sent by a person named Jin Ye-rim from Hangzhou.”

He hadn’t seen the contents, but he knew who sent each report and from where.

Eunuch Park nodded at the official’s answer.

“Jin Ye-rim. Surely he was an assistant to Inspector Jo Gwan, wasn’t he?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Eunuch Park quietly read the contents of the scrolls.

After a while…

“Heh heh.”

Eunuch Park chuckled.

“Indeed, it is Scholar Yun’s doing.”

Eunuch Park said to himself with a smile.

The eunuch next to him was surprised at how bright his expression was.

However, Eunuch Park smiled and examined the contents of the two reports in detail once more.

Rustle.

Eunuch Park, having finished reading, organized the scrolls.

“Good. Very good.”

Clack.

Eunuch Park, holding the two scrolls, got up from his seat.

“I must see His Highness the Crown Prince.”

It was very sudden.

But no one questioned the words.

The two eunuchs immediately bowed their heads and said.

“Yes, Eunuch.”

The official from the Dochalwon in front was slightly embarrassed.

He didn’t know if he should answer, or if these words meant he should follow.

Scribble, scribble.

Meanwhile, Eunuch Park passed the official and left the Great Hall.

The two eunuchs and four Geumui [royal guards] immediately followed Eunuch Park, and the Great Hall fell into silence.

The Dochalwon official’s worries were resolved.

But a new problem was plaguing him.

‘……Uh, can I go back now?’

Fearing that ‘what if Eunuch Park comes back and looks for me,’ the Dochalwon official dared not leave his post.

His worries were by no means excessive.

The opponent was Eunuch Park, who, under the absolute trust of the next Emperor, was in control of the imperial family and the court, and whose position as Byeongpil Taegam of the Dongchang was merely one of his many titles.

The Forbidden City, the Crown Prince’s Palace.

“Your Highness.”

“Welcome, Eunuch Park.”

The Crown Prince, who was reading a book, raised his head and spoke with a gentle expression.

Eunuch Park bowed respectfully.

“The League of Heroes has collapsed.”

“Oh, really?”

The Crown Prince was pleased, but also looked puzzled.

“So soon? Besides, I know that the imperial army hasn’t moved at all?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

Eunuch Park said with a smile.

“But it is clear that the League of Heroes has collapsed. The League of Heroes’ headquarters in Hangzhou burned down, and the madmen and bandits who were their core forces in Wuhan were all wiped out.”

“Heo.”

The Crown Prince could not hide his surprised expression.

“That’s good! That’s very good!”

“Congratulations, Your Highness.”

Eunuch Park bowed deeply.

“Now that the League of Heroes has collapsed, the rebels have been defeated, and the worries that plagued the Yangtze River have been completely resolved.”

The League of Heroes was one of the forces that instigated the Hangzhou Bloodshed.

Although those who deceived the court were purged by Eunuch Park, the League of Heroes was also a target that had to be eliminated.

Not only that.

The Yangtze River is an important waterway, like the continent’s blood vessels.

Numerous goods travel along the Yangtze River, and the abundant products of the Jiangnan region [region south of the Yangtze River] came up to the Forbidden City through the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal.

Therefore, the court paid close attention to the League of Heroes, which was disrupting traffic on the Yangtze River.

The Special Inspector had destroyed that very League of Heroes.

Without even the imperial army moving.

“All of this is thanks to Your Highness’s grace, and now the whole world will recognize Your Highness’s wisdom.”

Eunuch Park’s words were not mere flattery.

The bandit gangs that had settled in the Yangtze River were a headache for successive dynasties.

Although not all the bandits had disappeared, the League of Heroes’ headquarters, which was the center of them, had burned down.

That alone was no small feat, and it was also a symbolic event that showed the majesty of the imperial family was still alive and well to the world.

And all this credit will go to the Crown Prince, who advised the Emperor to appoint Yun Hyun as a Special Inspector.

“Hahahaha.”

The Crown Prince laughed loudly.

“How could that be something I did? It’s all thanks to you and Scholar Yun.”

He called Yun Hyun “Scholar Yun.”

Like Eunuch Park, the Crown Prince already considered Yun Hyun as one of his own.

“No, how can I dare to speak of merit in this matter?”

Eunuch Park said with a smile.

“Now that Your Highness’s great will and wisdom have been made known to the world, those who harbor disloyal intentions will not be able to move rashly.”

Although the Crown Prince and Eunuch Park, who followed him, held the real power, there were still many who were dissatisfied.

However, through this incident, no one could deny that the Crown Prince was taking care of the imperial family and the people.

He had gained clear justification and proven his capabilities.

“What does it matter what happens to those people? I am only happy that this will alleviate His Majesty’s concerns.”

What was more important than anything else was the fact that the Emperor’s trust in the Crown Prince would become even stronger.

It was only natural that the Crown Prince had a smile on his face.

“Then shouldn’t we have Scholar Yun enter the court?”

Those words meant that he would be formally given an official position.

“What should I give him to make him happy? What about Naegak Daehaksa [Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat] or Jeongak Daehaksa [Grand Secretary of the Righteous Pavilion]? I can’t give him the Subo [Junior Preceptor] right away, so let’s start with Chabo [Assistant Preceptor] for now…….”

Naegak Daehaksa and Jeonkak Daehaksa are positions that advise the emperor on what is right and wrong.

They do not directly oversee the affairs of the country, but the emperor asks for their opinions on everything, and even drafts the emperor’s official responses, so these few Daehaksas wielded significant power among the officials.

Even if it was not the head position, Subo, but the Chabo below him, it was still a great honor.

“Your grace is truly boundless, Your Highness.”

Eunuch Park bowed his head and said.

“However, the Il Dae Sangin [One Great Merchant] remains, and Scholar Yun’s official report has not yet been submitted. It will not be too late to reward him after that.”

“Hmm, that’s right.”

The Crown Prince nodded with a satisfied expression.

“However, I cannot but respond to the good news. First, you should take care of Scholar Yun’s hard work.”

Weimu (慰撫) means to comfort and soothe difficulties.

As the Crown Prince was very pleased with Yun Hyun’s achievements, this was a natural response.

“Yes. I will follow Your Highness’s will and ensure nothing is lacking.”

“Hahaha. Yes. Do so.”

The Crown Prince could not hide his laughter.

“I am truly happy. With you by my side and Scholar Yun, what more could I want in the world? Hahahaha.”

If Eunuch Park was at the top of the eunuch organization, and Yun Hyun was at the top of the bureaucracy, there was nothing more to wish for.

The Crown Prince was truly satisfied.

“Your Highness’s grace is like the sea.”

Eunuch Park bowed his head as if it would touch the ground.

He also had a smile on his face.

The laughter of the two men, filling the Great Hall, did not stop for a while.

***

The news that the League of Heroes had collapsed swept through the Kangho Murim [martial arts world] like a storm.

Mengju [leader of the League] and Cheolgyeolsawang Yeom Jung-bu, one of the Hwanwooocheonjon [Four Heavenly Kings of Hwanwoo], had disappeared, and the League of Heroes headquarters, which stood tall in Hangzhou, burned down, leaving only hideous remains.

Moreover, the news that more than 700 bandits and more than 50 madmen who had attacked Wuhan had been killed or captured was enough to shock people.

Even among the madmen, there were more than ten who were called former Geomara [Demon Slayers].

It was unbelievable news.

But soon, rumors began to circulate in Hangzhou and Wuhan to support this.

All the residents of Hangzhou clearly saw the League of Heroes headquarters burning, and Cheolgyeoldae [Iron Blood Corps] and its Daeju [Captain], who were directly under the Mengju, were caught and handed over to the government office.

Not only that.

The League of Heroes branches located throughout the major cities of the Yangtze River were emptied in an instant.

The remaining bandits grabbed what they could and ran away.

The Yangtze River area, once teeming with bandits and madmen, became almost devoid of them in an instant.

It was an unbelievable and amazing achievement that was achieved only a few months after the Changryongmaeng [Azure Dragon Alliance] raised the banner of anti-League of Heroes.

Now, the people of Kangho Murim clearly knew.

That the Changryongmaeng would become the new center of Kangho Murim, following in the footsteps of the Murimmaeng [Martial Arts Alliance].

Hangzhou, the ruins of the League of Heroes.

“Heo, it’s all burned down completely.”

Yeongho-jun said with a frown.

“Why burn it all down? If you just left it alone, they could have used it well on their own. What were you thinking, burning down all these expensive buildings?”

Yeongho-jun, who was in Wuhan, brought all the personnel from the temporary headquarters down to Hangzhou.

Hyecheon of Sorim [Shaolin], as well as Inspector Jo Gwan and Hang Jang-ik, were also with him.

“I don’t know. Why did he do that?”

Yun Hyun wore a bitter smile.

Why did Yeom Jung-bu bother to burn down these buildings when he was already retreating?

“Oh, was it because the road was dark?”

Yeongho-jun frowned at Dam So-ha’s words, but Jin Ye-rim muttered quietly next to him.

“Maybe it was because he didn’t like it.”

Jin Ye-rim stared blankly at the ruins and continued.

“It must have felt like he was being robbed of his place.”

That was quite persuasive.

Considering Yeom Jung-bu’s eccentric personality.

“Well, there was also the intention to draw the attention of the people of Hangzhou…….”

Yeongho-jun, who was muttering, clicked his tongue.

“Anyway, it will take some time to clean this up and rebuild it.”

The ruins of the League of Heroes spread out before his eyes were enormous.

Just cleaning this up would be a big task.

“I feel strangely like we’re starting anew.”

Jin Ye-rim said quietly.

“Because they’re building the Changryongmaeng headquarters here.”

The official Changryongmaeng headquarters was to be built here in Hangzhou.

It was the place where the Murimmaeng was originally located, so it had symbolic meaning, and it was also the best location in terms of practicality because it was close to the Grand Canal in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

“So, the question is how big should we build it…….”

Yeongho-jun looked at Yun Hyun and smiled.

“What should we do? Mengju [Alliance Leader].”

Yeongho-jun’s eyes were shining with anticipation and curiosity as he spoke.