I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 142

< Prostrated People 3 >

“Alright, sit down. Are you going to keep standing?”

Wi Chung-hyun pulled Jo Kwang-yun’s arm and guided him to a chair.

“Now, what I’ve said so far concerns your sister… Ah, right… Forgive my presumption… Does Court Lady Yang feel the same way?”

“If you strip away her status as a court lady, she’s just a naive child. I’ve already spoken to her firmly.”

“How so?”

“I told her to only follow the Empress’s will within the Imperial Palace.”

Wi Chung-hyun was once again surprised by Jo Kwang-yun.

It’s common for politicians to walk the path of ruin.

If they don’t understand the situation, they cling to a rotten rope and fall to their death. If they can’t relinquish their greed, they overreach and end up destroying themselves.

But Jo Kwang-yun accurately assesses the situation and doesn’t become greedy for impossible things. If this guy ever gets into politics, at least he won’t self-destruct.

“You’re astute.”

“Didn’t I tell you? Merchants are quick with their calculations.”

“Then shall we do some calculations now?”

Wi Chung-hyun said with a smile.

“Jo, what do you want from me?”

“I’ve already told you. My sister’s safety and the continued success of my business.”

“The Empress will take responsibility for Court Lady Yang’s safety. And if Jo doesn’t forget his current mindset, the court won’t interfere with your business.”

“My thoughts will not change.”

“Then tell me now. What can you give me?”

“I already have.”

“What?”

He hasn’t received anything yet, but he says he’s already given it? Just as he was wondering if this was the shamelessness of a merchant, Jo Kwang-yun pointed to the wine bottle.

“Didn’t I bring wine?”

“What? You don’t mean to say that with just this fruit wine… Ah! I see. Haha.”

Only then did Wi Chung-hyun realize the meaning behind the fruit wine.

Wine (the pronunciation of which, in this context, sounds like the word for ‘beautiful woman’ in Korean). A beautiful woman.

Yang Ryeo-cheong has essentially given up competing with the Empress and become her ally. It is the greatest gift for Wi Chung-hyun.

“Then there’s nothing more to give and take between you and me?”

To Wi Chung-hyun, who looked disappointed, Jo Kwang-yun smiled and said.

“If the first glass is so sweet, how much sweeter will the second glass be, and how delightful will the third glass be?”

At Jo Kwang-yun’s words that there were still many good deals to be made, Wi Chung-hyun grinned.

* * *

After securing some safety measures, Jo Kwang-yun considered touring the Central Plains to manage his business. It would take at least a year, so he was a little uneasy, but he couldn’t abandon the work he had started.

A quick departure would be ideal, but he was uneasy about leaving the capital in case the Emperor held a banquet and invited him.

“Damn it. Now I have to get the Emperor’s permission even to go anywhere.”

While he was pondering his options, a welcome face came to visit.

It was Jang Cheong-un, who had been appointed as the Vice-Captain of the Imperial Guard.

“Brother. Your inadequate younger brother greets you.”

“Enough with the formalities. What brings you here?”

Jo Kwang-yun smiled brightly and welcomed him.

“So, you received the appointment.”

“Yes. I received the Emperor’s order and will enter the palace tomorrow. I should have greeted you as soon as I arrived in the capital, but I was a little late because I was preparing various things.”

“Did you find a house?”

“Yes. I found one near the Imperial Palace in case of an emergency call.”

After finishing his greetings, Jang Cheong-un’s eyes widened when he saw the official uniform hanging in the room.

“B, Brother. What is that…?”

“What do you mean, what is it? It’s the official uniform that officials wear. I’m also an official. Oh? Looking at it that way, you’re higher up than me. Haha.”

Jo Kwang-yun explained in detail to Jang Cheong-un, who was blinking in surprise, that his stepsister, Yang Ryeo-cheong, had become the Emperor’s concubine, and thanks to that, he had received an official position that was essentially an Imperial Palace pass.

After hearing all the circumstances, Jang Cheong-un was silent for a while.

When he opened his mouth again, his voice seemed a little angry.

“In the end, the reason you recommended this younger brother to the Imperial Guard was for your sister, Court Lady Yang?”

“No. It’s for me.”

“Yes? For you…?”

“I’d be grateful if you took care of the inner court’s affairs. But what can the Imperial Guard do for a concubine?”

Jang Cheong-un was speechless.

The Imperial Guard protects the concubine, who is a member of the Imperial family, but that only protects against physical threats.

The threats in the inner court are not physical but stem from the whispers and schemes of women. As a martial artist, he has no means or methods to deal with that.

“Then what should I do for you?”

Jo Kwang-yun shook his head.

“I don’t know yet either. I’ll know when the time comes. What I need, what you can do.”

Jang Cheong-un only let out a long sigh.

He had forgotten for a moment that he couldn’t fathom what Jo Kwang-yun was thinking, what plans he was making, and that he was not someone he could easily understand.

“As I said before, I will do anything as long as it is not disloyal to His Majesty the Emperor.”

“That answer is enough.”

Jo Kwang-yun got up from his seat.

“Since you’ve been promoted to Vice-Captain of the Imperial Guard, this older brother should give you a gift, right?”

“No, Brother. The position itself is the gift.”

“No. It’s not that expensive, so don’t worry about it.”

Jo Kwang-yun removed the folding screen that covered one wall. Behind it, a long spear was displayed.

“I was going to prepare a sword, but I chose this because you excel at spear techniques. And a military officer should wield a spear to look impressive.”

Jang Cheong-un was a natural martial artist. He would have refused money, but he couldn’t hide his joy at seeing the weapon.

“Brother. This is…”

“I acquired it a while ago. I was wondering when to give it to you, but now is the perfect time. How is it? Do you like it?”

“It’s a masterpiece at first glance. I was going to refuse any gift, but it’s hard to refuse this one. I will gratefully accept it.”

Jo Kwang-yun said with a smile.

“Show me your spear techniques as a thank you. I need to gauge whether you can entrust you with a difficult request later.”

He was eager to test the masterpiece in his hand, and Jo Kwang-yun even provided a space for him, so he didn’t hesitate at all.

Jang Cheong-un took the spear and ran outside.

When he planted the spear shaft on the ground, its presence was imposing.

The sound of it cutting through the wind was clear with every swing.

Perhaps because of his father’s influence, his fluid movements, rather than a disciplined posture, made it seem like he was handling a sword rather than a spear.

After swinging the spear for a while, Jang Cheong-un bowed his head to Jo Kwang-yun, who had been watching him closely.

“I am ashamed to show you my humble skills.”

“No. Excellent. It seems difficult to find someone with your level of martial arts in the entire imperial army.”

Jang Cheong-un smiled slightly at Jo Kwang-yun’s praise.

“I know that your martial arts are also unusual, Brother. How about it? Would you like to give this younger brother some pointers?”

As expected, he is a martial artist. As soon as he held the spear, his competitive spirit emerged.

Jo Kwang-yun smiled slightly and loosened his collar.

“Okay. Shall we see?”

Jang Cheong-un, who expected Jo Kwang-yun to wave his hand and refuse, seemed surprised when Jo Kwang-yun stepped forward without hesitation.

“But I value safety above all else, so I have no intention of facing that huge spear with a sword. I’m just going to make you a little dizzy, so please understand.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

Jo Kwang-yun, who took off his coat, pointed to the leather belt around his waist.

“It means this.”

As soon as he finished speaking, eight daggers escaped from the leather belt and floated in the air.

“Huh… !”

Jang Cheong-un’s exclamation didn’t end there.

His hair stood on end as the eight daggers soon multiplied into thirty-two.

“I’ll show you what I learned from your father, Master. You’ll have to be on your guard.”

Jang Cheong-un tightened his grip on the long spear.

“Come.”

As the smile disappeared from Jo Kwang-yun’s face, numerous daggers flew towards Jang Cheong-un’s vital points.

* * *

A guard unit consisting of two hundred people. Ten of these guard units take turns four times a day, guarding the Imperial Palace day and night. It seems easy because they only work for half a day, but they have to spend the rest of their time in intense training.

Since the Imperial Palace has never been invaded by an enemy since its founding, the repeated training was extremely boring. The energetic men who spend their days in boredom are bound to look around for something fun to do.

In this situation, a young man is appointed as the Vice-Captain, so they are interested and curious.

Of course, there were also many dissatisfied individuals.

The former Vice-Captain had no backing and no influence, so he did all kinds of dirty work and suffered a lot. But the new Vice-Captain is even worse.

He is not the son of a prestigious family; he was a nobody who wandered around the provinces, and he is even young.

They wondered if he had any hidden history, so they investigated, but the results were the same.

Everyone was discouraged and only complained about their fate.

Their dissatisfaction was immediately revealed at the inauguration of the new Vice-Captain.

The two hundred men waited for the new Vice-Captain in a dispirited manner.

“Why is our fate like this?”

“I know, right? How great would it be if someone from a proper martial arts family came?”

“But I heard he’s an amazing martial artist.”

“Damn it, how great can a martial artist be? It’s all the same.”

Clatter, clatter, clatter.

The sound of hooves broke through the men’s chatter, and everyone closed their mouths.

The eyes of these people were focused on a general who was entering, covered in armor from head to toe. The only visible part of him was his eyes.

A guy in the middle of the group muttered.

“Shit. A guy with nothing has a lot of pretense. That’s our fate without good fortune.”

The surrounding guys chuckled.

They didn’t see the spear leave Jang Cheong-un’s hand.

The spear, which soared high into the sky, fell down, cutting through the wind.

The spear was accurately planted in front of the feet of the guy who muttered the curse, and the man was startled and fell backward.

“The crime of mocking a superior appointed by imperial order is the same as insulting the imperial family. Death penalty!”

A loud voice that echoed in his head filled the training ground.

“The discipline of the guard unit, which must protect the Emperor and the imperial family, is disrupted, which is the same as taking the safety of the imperial family lightly. This is also the death penalty.”

Another roar was heard by the men who were embarrassed by this sudden situation.

“Do you all want to die? Can’t you line up?”

The giant general, who was a head taller than ordinary people, finally came into view as they hurriedly lined up and straightened their posture.

“Bring the spear.”

The fallen man jumped up and tried to pull out the spear stuck in the ground, but it didn’t budge.

Jang Cheong-un clicked his tongue at the struggling figure.

“Protecting the imperial family without being able to handle a single weapon? Even a passing dog would laugh.”

Jang Cheong-un raised his hand and pointed at the man.

“The guy who babbled and the six guys who chuckled. Bring the spear and come forward!”

He knew that the rumor that the new Vice-Captain was an amazing master was true because he accurately identified the number of people who chuckled among the two hundred people.

The seven men barely pulled out the spear and quickly ran forward.

“I don’t want to see blood on my first day, so I have spared your death penalty.”

“T, Thank you.”

Everyone prostrated themselves.

“The guy who babbled gets fifty strokes with a club. The guys who chuckled get twenty strokes with a club. That’s all!”

“Thank you for saving us. Sir!”

The seven men slammed their heads on the floor until they bled.

Jang Cheong-un shouted at the two hundred guards.

“Anyone who looks inadequate in the eyes of this Vice-Captain will be transferred to the Waegu [Japanese pirates] extermination unit in the South Sea.”

Waegu extermination unit. The moment they receive the transfer order, they are as good as dead.

Everyone straightened their bodies and corrected their posture.

Jang Cheong-un raised his spear high.

“Also, anyone who cannot handle this spear in a month will also be transferred.”

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Jang Cheong-un’s spear, and their thoughts were focused on one thing.

How many pounds does it weigh?

< Prostrated People 3 > End