Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 486

486. Heaven’s Sight [天視 – Tian Shi: literally, Heaven’s Sight, referring to the idea that Heaven sees and hears through the people]

Left Vice Minister Yu Hogi gritted his teeth.

Yunhyun’s rebuke, asking if that was all he had to say as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, stirred anger rather than shame.

“Yes! I am the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War!”

Yu Hogi said, his lips trembling.

“It is my authority to oversee military affairs, and it was my decision to mobilize the troops! I am exercising the power I possess as I see fit, so who are you to dare tell me what to do!”

Flap.

Yu Hogi reached out forcefully towards Yunhyun.

“Get out of here!”

He even seemed quite confident.

However, Yunhyun’s expression remained cold.

“Are you saying that even after confirming the identity of a demon right before your eyes?”

“Hmph!”

Yu Hogi scoffed.

“A demon? Where is this demon you speak of?”

The stench of the demon, who was once his beloved concubine, still lingered, but Yu Hogi was shameless.

“I don’t know! So bring this demon you speak of. Only then can I show evidence to the ministers of the court, can’t I?”

Yu Hogi looked at Yunhyun with a sneer.

Yunhyun quietly met his gaze.

“Are you saying that knowing countless soldiers and the people of Nanju will die because of your selfish greed and arrogance?”

“Ha!”

Yu Hogi let out a hollow laugh.

“Soldiers are meant to sacrifice their lives. How can they die on the battlefield if they are bound by dangers? I gave them a chance to gain merit, so they should be grateful! And what about the people?”

Yu Hogi said with a sneering expression.

“A five-legged pig is rare, but people with two legs are countless in the world. Ignorant people are no better than pigs, are they? Even if the entire Gansu dies, the safety of the world will not be shaken!”

Yu Hogi didn’t even blink an eye.

The voice that flowed out without hesitation clearly showed that it was Yu Hogi’s usual thought.

“How foolish.”

Yunhyun said quietly.

“Nothing is yours.”

Step.

Yunhyun said, stepping forward.

“The authority of the Left Vice Minister that you speak of is not yours but delegated by the Emperor. And the reason why the Emperor is called the Son of Heaven (天子 – Tianzi) is because that authority is also given by Heaven.”

Step.

Yunhyun walked towards Yu Hogi.

Yu Hogi flinched.

But Yunhyun didn’t stop.

“It is said that Heaven sees only what the people see, and hears only what the people hear [天視自我民視, 天聽自我民聽 – Tian shi zi wo min shi, tian ting zi wo min ting: a classical saying emphasizing the importance of the people’s voice].”

Thud.

Yunhyun stopped right in front of Yu Hogi.

And said with a firm expression.

“Those people whom you think are worse than pigs, those who you say can die as much as they want, are the true Heaven.”

“Nonsense!”

Yu Hogi screamed.

“The heaven of the people is just food! They are just things that wallow in the mud, grunting when given food!”

Flash.

A fire ignited in Yunhyun’s eyes.

The saying ‘The people regard food as their heaven [而民以食爲天 – Er min yi shi wei tian]’ was a famous anecdote (故事 – gushi: historical story or saying).

However, it was something that should never be taken in that sense.

“To dare to interpret the advice of the sages, which teaches what the ruler should pay attention to and how desperate the people are, in such a way…….”

At that moment, Yu Hogi felt as if Yunhyun’s eyes were piercing through him.

“Are you saying that seriously?”

‘Heok.’

Yu Hogi trembled.

He wanted to confidently face Yunhyun’s gaze, but only in his mind; Yu Hogi’s whole body was convulsing.

“Wh, what are you going to do to me?”

“Since you said you have power and wielded it as you pleased.”

Yunhyun said, looking straight at Yu Hogi.

“I will also use my power as I please.”

Thud.

Yu Hogi unknowingly collapsed to the floor.

Yunhyun is a master of the Jianghu [江湖 – jianghu: the martial arts world] martial arts.

Moreover, with only people lying around as if dead, no one could stop Yunhyun if he intended to kill Yu Hogi.

“Yo, you dare…….”

Yu Hogi, who was sitting down, tried to back away to create distance.

However, his trembling limbs could not follow his will.

Swish.

Yunhyun drew his sword.

“Sto, stop! I am Yu Hogi, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War! Do you, do you think you’ll be safe after doing this!”

“That’s not your concern.”

Yunhyun said in a calm voice.

There was no emotion in his eyes as he looked down at Yu Hogi.

“And you won’t be the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War in a moment. Because a dead corpse cannot hold office.”

Yunhyun slowly raised his sword.

Swoosh.

The sharp blade gleamed as it caught the light.

“Ugh!”

Yu Hogi groaned.

Yu Hogi trembled as he looked at the eerie blade that would take his life.

He couldn’t avoid it, nor could he turn away.

“U, ugh.”

Yu Hogi opened his mouth, making sounds that could not be properly understood.

His eyes were filled with fear, and his thoughts were cut off in the face of an unbelievable reality.

But the sharp blade fell mercilessly towards Yu Hogi.

Whoosh.

“Aaaaaaah!”

A scream erupted.

Thud.

Yu Hogi’s body collapsed helplessly to the side.

Amidst the silence, Guest Ong clicked his tongue quietly.

“Tsk.”

Guest Ong said, looking at the fallen Yu Hogi.

“Wouldn’t it have been better to just kill him?”

“I can’t do that.”

Yunhyun gave a bitter smile.

“Doing so would make him a loyalist.”

If Yu Hogi, who had been at the forefront of driving out Park Gonggong [朴公公 – Park Gonggong: likely a name, Gonggong refers to an eunuch], suffered a sudden accident, the political situation that would unfold afterward was obvious.

The criticism towards Park Gonggong, the eunuch of the Eastern Depot [東廠 – Dongchang: a Ming dynasty secret police organization], would become even more severe, and Left Vice Minister Yu Hogi would be portrayed as a loyalist who suffered an unjust death.

Originally, the Eastern Depot was an organization skilled at creating sudden deaths or unexplained disappearances.

Swish.

Minmyeong disappeared into its sheath.

A moment ago, Minmyeong’s blade did not cut even a single hair of Yu Hogi.

Yu Hogi couldn’t bear the fear of death falling before his eyes and had lost his mind.

Just in case, Yunhyun had already given Guest Ong a look.

“So, is this the end?”

Guest Ong’s expression was full of displeasure as he looked down at Yu Hogi.

He was even frowning as if looking at something filthy.

“No.”

Yunhyun shook his head.

“What punishment would it be if he just collapsed in surprise by himself? It is said that the literati are governed by virtue (德 – de), and the unruly are governed by law (法 – fa), so we must do so.”

“Virtue? Do you mean you’re going to let him off?”

Yunhyun smiled at Guest Ong’s words.

“Governing by virtue does not mean there is no punishment. Those who break the law, regardless of their status, are punished according to their crimes, and this is called the rule of law. On the other hand, governing by virtue…….”

“So what are you going to do?”

Guest Ong interrupted Yunhyun.

Yunhyun looked down at the fallen Yu Hogi.

Saliva was flowing from his mouth as he lost consciousness, and his splendid silk clothes were soiled and messy.

“We must make him realize his shame. That is the traditional way of punishing the literati.”

Guest Ong frowned.

He couldn’t understand how he would make him realize his shame.

Yunhyun smiled slyly as he looked down at Yu Hogi.

Guest Ong thought that the smile looked somehow sinister.

***

The open market on the outskirts of Beijing was mainly used by the poor and lower classes.

The reason it was called the ‘open market’ was not because it sold many dogs [a possible cultural reference or pun that might not translate directly], but because it was dirty, messy, and even dangerous.

That morning, something strange was placed in the middle of that open market, which even people in the surrounding area avoided.

“What is this?”

A middle-aged man with a sparse beard said, frowning.

He had leisurely opened his shop when the sun was high in the sky, and he discovered ‘it’ in the middle of the open market.

“Did the Jang next door buy a new dog cage?”

What was loosely woven out of wood was none other than a large cage.

It was made to confine animals such as dogs or pigs, but what was inside now was neither a dog nor a pig.

“But what is this guy?”

The middle-aged man frowned.

It was because a person was lying unconscious in the middle of the cage.

His hair was disheveled, and his hands and feet were tied.

But strangely enough, only his clothes, although soiled with livestock waste and mud, were expensive silk clothes.

“Surely not a slave…….”

No matter how low this place is, they don’t buy or sell slaves.

The middle-aged man frowned and looked at the man lying in the cage.

Then he suddenly noticed a large notice (榜文 – bangwen: a public notice or proclamation) attached to the front of the cage.

It was written like a notice posted in front of the government office, and there was even a red seal stamped below.

But the middle-aged man, who couldn’t read, only frowned and tilted his head.

It was then.

The man who had been lying down suddenly opened his eyes.

“Oh my. You scared me.”

The middle-aged man was startled.

But the man who opened his eyes was even more surprised.

“Heok!”

The man was startled and tried to get up.

But because his hands and feet were tied behind his back, he had no choice but to fall back down.

Thud.

The man buried his face in the mud mixed with livestock waste.

The place where the cage was placed was originally a place where livestock were sold, so the floor was full of mud and waste.

The man, covered in filth, struggled and twisted his body.

Barely raising his upper body, he spat out the waste that had entered his mouth.

“Keek! Ptoo, ptoo.”

He was none other than Yu Hogi, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.

Yu Hogi, who was twisting his body, realized that his hands and feet were tied and became angry.

“How dare you do this!”

Yu Hogi couldn’t contain his anger.

Then Yu Hogi recognized the middle-aged man who was looking at him.

“What are you doing! Untie me at once!”

The middle-aged man felt offended by the sudden commanding tone.

But he didn’t show it and asked.

“Who are you to be in there? That place is where dogs and pigs are put.”

Indeed, Yu Hogi’s situation was the same as a dog or pig put out for sale.

Yu Hogi’s face contorted.

“I’ll get that bastard…….”

Yu Hogi gritted his teeth.

And shouted again at the middle-aged man.

“You bastard! Didn’t I tell you to untie me quickly! Untie this rope right now!”

The middle-aged man’s eyebrows twitched.

But instead of getting angry, he said nonchalantly.

“No, shouldn’t I know who you are before I untie you? You’ve been just shouting since earlier……. Geez. It’s filthy.”

The middle-aged man scratched his ear and acted leisurely.

Yu Hogi’s anger soared to the top of his head.

“Filthy? How dare you……. I am the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War of this country!”

Yu Hogi shouted in a thunderous voice.

Yu Hogi thought that the middle-aged man would immediately bow his head.

But the middle-aged man chuckled.

“Now that I see it, he was a crazy bastard. Ptoo!”

Tak.

‘Ugh!’

Yu Hogi immediately turned his head, but he could clearly feel the sticky feeling sticking to his cheek.

“Geez, I’m having bad luck seeing a crazy bastard from the morning. Hey!”

The middle-aged man made a kaak sound again as if he was going to spit again.

“Ugh!”

Yu Hogi reflexively turned his head.

But the spit didn’t fly.

The back of the middle-aged man walking away came into Yu Hogi’s view as he slightly opened his eyes.

“You, you bastard! Where are you going! Didn’t I tell you to untie this rope!”

But the man didn’t even pretend to hear.

He strode away through the alleys of the open market.

Not like he was opening a shop, but like he was just passing by.

“You son of a bitch! Can’t you untie the rope!”

Yu Hogi shouted as loud as he could.

But no one was listening to his words.

“Is there anyone there! Untie this rope right now!”

Yu Hogi shouted at the top of his lungs.

But no one was paying attention to his words.

That afternoon, the people of the open market learned that a new attraction had appeared here.

After learning that the notice attached to the cage read ‘This person calls the people pigs and claims that they can die as much as they want,’ passersby spat and cursed.

There were also those who deliberately poured dirty water from behind or threw stones.

Yu Hogi trembled with shame, but there was nothing he could do.

The constables who received the report late found Yu Hogi, but the seal of the Censorate [都察院 – Duchayuan: an imperial monitoring agency] on the notice frightened the constables.

In the end, the constables returned to the government office and brought officials, and it took more than a full day for the officials to confirm the seal of the Censorate and Yu Hogi’s identity with the higher-ups.

In the meantime, Yu Hogi had to grind his teeth on the floor of the open market.