Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1065

Hiding a dagger behind a smile.

That was the phrase that best described the negotiations between the Empire, Ming, and Japan. In a fierce battlefield where smiles replaced bullets, the three nations reached an agreement, sharing moderate losses and moderate gains. With this alliance, the three countries began to move towards Persia. While Hyeon and his ministers were doing their best to respond to the challenges coming from outside the Empire, things were also happening inside the Empire.

* * *

The Secret Guard headquarters, located somewhere in Seoul.

“Chief.”

“What is it?”

The Secret Guard chief, who was reviewing a report with a tired face, raised his head at the sound of his subordinate’s voice. At the chief’s question, the subordinate cautiously replied.

“This is a report from the Internal Affairs Department 2.”

“Internal Affairs Department 2?”

The chief’s expression hardened at the answer. It was the duty of the Internal Affairs Department to monitor the events happening within the Empire. The duties of the Internal Affairs Department were diverse, including not only politically subversive movements but also matters that harmed the Empire’s economy—various frauds, cartels, wage exploitation, etc.

Under the Internal Affairs Department, there were a total of five divisions: Division 1 was in charge of Shinji, Division 2 was in charge of Bonji, Division 3 was in charge of Bukji, and Divisions 4 and 5 were in charge of internal affairs in other regions. What was interesting here was that Division 1 was in charge of Shinji, and Division 2 was in charge of Bonji. This was a different arrangement from the Empire’s administrative organization, which placed Bonji at the top, followed by Bukji or Shinji. However, considering the size and potential of Shinji, it was unavoidable. Since Bonji was where the heart of the Empire, starting with the Emperor, was located, it had the nickname ‘Division 2 is like Division 1.’

“If it’s coming directly without going through the normal channels, it must be a big deal… Give it to me.”

The chief, who received the report, frowned as he looked at the title.

‘The Rise of Pseudo-Religions…’

“The title itself is… pseudo-religions?”

The atrocities of Buddhism that occurred at the end of the Goryeo Dynasty were still being talked about among the people.

“Pseudo-religions in a time of peace… tsk tsk tsk…”

Tsking at the absurd reality, the chief opened the report. As he read through the report, the chief’s expression became more serious than ever.

“Hoo~.”

Letting out a long sigh, the chief closed the report and rested his forehead on his clasped hands, lost in thought. After a long period of contemplation, the chief finally straightened his posture and ordered his subordinate.

“Relay this to Internal Affairs Department 2. ‘Mobilize all available personnel to investigate the problematic groups. If you need more manpower, request support. The headquarters will provide full support.’ Prepare the order immediately and tell them to move out at once. I’d like to report it to the Police Bureau or the Board of Audit right away, but there’s not enough evidence.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll move out immediately.”

As the subordinate who received the order stepped back, the chief began to write a report to submit to Hyeon. After unfolding a blank sheet of paper and picking up a gold pen, the chief glanced at the problematic report and cursed.

“Those bastards who deserve to be torn limb from limb… Couldn’t they find anyone else to mess with but the Supreme Emperor?”

Two months later, the Imperial Court was turned upside down by a secret report that came into the Police Bureau.

No, the entire Empire was turned upside down. A storm began to brew as the secret report came into the Police Bureau. The department in charge of handling secret reports that came in secretly was the starting point.

* * *

The department that received such secret reports first analyzed whether the report was a genuine one or a false accusation. This was because there were many false accusations made out of personal grudges. To prevent the abuse of such false accusations, false accusations were classified as serious crimes and were subject to severe punishment. Nevertheless, the rate of decrease in false accusation cases was hitting rock bottom, which was a headache for the Emperor and his ministers.

* * *

Somewhere in the three southern provinces of Bonji.

A middle-aged man visited a small rural police station.

“I… I have something to report.”

The middle-aged man, who came in looking around with an uneasy expression, bowed and stated his business.

“Come and sit here.”

The police officer, who was guarding the police station with a bored expression, welcomed the middle-aged man with a smile, and his colleagues and superiors who were nearby also quietly gathered around.

“Well then… show me your identification tag.”

The police officer, who was checking the identification tag that the middle-aged man had handed over, tilted his head.

“You live a hundred *li* [approximately 50 kilometers] away from here. Why here?”

At the police officer’s question, the middle-aged man replied with an still uneasy expression.

“There are so many eyes watching in the village where I live, so I had no choice.”

The eyes of the police officers and detectives began to shine at the middle-aged man’s answer.

‘This is either a big win or a big loss!’

“Hmm… then tell me what’s going on.”

“Yes…”

As the middle-aged man’s words grew longer, the face of the police officer who was recording them gradually turned pale, and the hand holding the gold pen began to tremble. He wasn’t the only one. The police officers and detectives around him also had the same expression and froze. They were all thinking the same thing in their minds.

‘Damn it! Our good days are over!’

And this situation and reaction were the same even when it went up to the higher authorities. The chief of the Police Bureau, whose face had turned white after reading the report, asked his subordinate.

“The person in charge of confirming whether it’s a false accusation hasn’t been sent yet, right?”

“Yes, the police chief in that area judged that it was not a matter to move carelessly and said he was waiting.”

“That’s a relief.”

The chief, who heard the answer, looked relieved.

“This is not something that can be done by just sending one or two people to see if it’s a false accusation. If we make a mistake, most of the police soldiers in the three southern provinces, as well as those in Bonji, may be mobilized. I’ll go to the Prime Minister right now.”

“Yes.”

* * *

Bang!

“How can such a terrible thing happen!”

Han Chi-hyeong, who received the chief’s report, was furious and shouted, slamming the table with his hand.

“So, have you caught those who committed this unspeakable crime?”

“Not yet. The police chief in charge of the area is only adding personnel for surveillance and is only watching.”

Han Chi-hyeong immediately got up from his seat at the chief’s answer.

“Let’s inform His Majesty immediately.”

“Let’s do that.”

Leaving the office with the chief, Han Chi-hyeong ordered his secretary.

“Tell the Vice Prime Ministers and other ministers to come to *Geunjeongjeon* [the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace] immediately.”

“Yes, sir.”

* * *

The Vice Prime Ministers and ministers who heard Han Chi-hyeong’s order hurriedly entered Geunjeongjeon. Han Chi-hyeong, after confirming that everyone who was supposed to come had arrived, bowed his head to Hyeon and began his report.

“Your Majesty, a truly terrible thing has happened that is hard to even speak of.”

“A terrible thing? What is it?”

“A pseudo-religion is spreading in the three southern provinces.”

“Pseudo-religion? There have always been those who deceive and confuse the people. What does the leader of this one call himself? Maitreya? Avalokiteśvara? Or the Jade Emperor?”

“He calls himself the incarnation of the Supreme Emperor…”

“Have I ever seen such a crazy bastard!”

* * *

Following Han Chi-hyeong, the chief of the Police Bureau stepped forward and began to speak in more detail.

-The leader of the pseudo-religion is said to be a man who is just over forty years old.

-He claims that he is the Supreme Emperor, or rather, a vessel to contain the Supreme Emperor’s soul.

“A vessel?”

“That’s right. That person says…”

-The Supreme Emperor is a divine being.

-The Supreme Emperor’s age and achievements to date are proof of this. How can such a person experience the same birth, aging, sickness, and death as ordinary people?

-If you look at the Catholic scriptures of Europe, their founder is said to be a god incarnated in a human vessel.

-The Supreme Emperor is the same. *Hwanung* [a deity in Korean mythology] is incarnated in the Supreme Emperor’s vessel!

-Now, the vessel containing the Supreme Emperor is too old, so a new vessel will soon be needed, and that vessel is me!

-When the Supreme Emperor is contained in my body, I will become the Emperor of the Empire, and those of you who follow me will rise to positions above all others!

After listening to the explanation, he asked the chief of the Police Bureau.

“No, the Supreme Emperor is still healthy, so how… Ah, that’s not the problem. Do those who follow that leader believe only those words and follow him?”

“The leader is said to have actually created steam engines and various other devices.”

‘His craftsmanship must be better than Grandfather’s.’

Hyeon, who forcibly suppressed the thought that came up for a moment, came to a conclusion.

“Hmm… a steam engine is not a device that can be easily made, but it is not a device that only the Supreme Emperor can make… Hoo~.”

Hyeon, who let out a long sigh, gave an order.

“The chief of the Police Bureau and the Minister of National Defense must immediately mobilize soldiers to suppress all the pseudo-religious leader and those who follow him.”

“We accept the order!”

“Order a thorough eradication and complete removal. This is not simply about those who deceive and confuse the people and those who believe in him, but about treason!”

“We will engrave it in our hearts!”

The chief of the Police Bureau and the Minister of National Defense, who received the order, hurriedly left Geunjeongjeon. None of the ministers raised objections to Hyeon’s decision. This was because it was not just a simple pseudo-religion, but treason.

‘If you’re going to be crazy, be crazy in a good way! Couldn’t they find anyone else to mess with but the Supreme Emperor!’

* * *

Hyeon, who finished the meeting, immediately went to find Hyang.

“I’ve already heard the story through the Secret Guard, but it’s truly infuriating.”

Hyang smiled slightly and patted his grandson at the sight of Hyeon grinding his teeth.

“Calm down. It’s not good for your health. I, the person involved, am not feeling impatient!”

“But… Keueung…”

Hyeon made a groaning sound and closed his mouth at Hyang’s relaxed appearance. Hyang, who lightly moistened his throat with the black bean tea in front of him, continued to speak with a still relaxed expression.

“It is true that I have been living long enough to be recorded in history, isn’t it? According to the Secret Guard’s investigation, it’s not just that pseudo-religious leader who thinks that way.”

“Ah! I need to order the Police Bureau about that part as well.”

The Secret Guard, which had been turned upside down once by the problematic pseudo-religion, soon searched every corner of the Empire. There were more than a few shamans and sorcerers throughout the Empire who worshiped Hyang as a god. The reason why such shamans and sorcerers arose was similar to the problematic pseudo-religion.

-A tremendous amount of achievements that could not be believed to have been done by one person.

-Longevity that is difficult to find in historical records.

There were not no people who lived past 90, but King Jangsu was almost the only example of a king who lived this long.

“Deceiving and confusing the people and plotting treason are great crimes, but keep in mind that you cannot punish them as you please. You must abide by the law. You must not create bad precedents.”

Hyang patted Hyeon and sent him back, then lightly smacked his lips.

“Tsk tsk… Thinking about it again, it’s a bit of a shame.”

When he first saw the related records, Hyang was more curious than angry.

‘Could it be a regressor like me?’

However, Hyang could not hide his disappointment when he saw the report that the Secret Guard sent next.

-The leader of the problem used to work in Area 51.

-He was a fairly skilled craftsman, but he often caused discord with those around him.

-After that, he became psychotic and returned to his hometown.

It wasn’t the regressor Hyang had been thinking of.