I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 148

“Long live the Emperor! Long live! Ten thousand years!”

Jo Gwang-yun, entering the Euihwa Hall [main audience chamber], performed the triple prostration [kowtow, a sign of deep respect and submission].

“Oh, State Preceptor Jo. Did you have a good trip?”

“It is with utmost gratitude that I hear Your Majesty inquire about my well-being.”

“Rise.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor’s voice was high-pitched, almost excited.

“I would like to hear in detail about State Preceptor Jo’s journey, but it is a private matter and not suitable for this Euihwa Hall, so I will refrain. Instead, did you faithfully carry out the orders I gave?”

“How dare I take Your Majesty’s orders lightly?”

The officials exchanged glances and began to murmur. Jo Gwang-yun was a merchant, nothing more than a commoner.

For the Emperor to directly discuss state affairs and entrust official duties to such a merchant! The reason for their glances and murmurs was the hope that someone would inform the Emperor of this impropriety.

However, no one dared to step forward.

“Good. Report what you have directly seen and heard.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Jo Gwang-yun moistened his lips and began.

“Starting from Henan, I traveled through Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hubei, and Hunan, reaching as far as Sichuan. Returning through Jiangxi and Anhui, and finally Shandong, I found that Your Majesty’s grace extends everywhere under the heavens.”

“Enough.”

The Emperor raised his hand, stopping Jo Gwang-yun.

“State Preceptor Jo.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What I expected from you was not to hear flattering words like other officials. I wanted to hear the unvarnished truth about the people’s lives, but why are you speaking like an ordinary courtier?”

*That was it.*

With the Emperor speaking like this, the stage was set to reveal everything.

“I am deeply sorry. Then, I shall truthfully report the miserable scenes I witnessed with my own eyes.”

At the word ‘miserable,’ the Emperor jumped up from his throne.

“What? Miserable? Report everything exactly as it is, without adding or subtracting anything.”

Jo Gwang-yun began to speak, not of what he had actually seen, but as if describing the scenes he needed to portray.

“Shandong Province is rich in resources and generally prosperous. However, the situation is completely different in areas such as Gyonam, Haeyang, and Yantai on the eastern coast, far from Jinan, the provincial capital.”

As the names of the coastal counties were listed, the Emperor frowned. He likely already guessed what was coming.

“Is the exploitation by the *Wokou* [Japanese pirates] so severe that it is miserable?”

“Your Majesty, it is beyond exploitation. In Your Majesty’s sacred realm, there are areas occupied by the *Wokou*, and those villains even treat Your Majesty’s people like slaves.”

“What? Occupied?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It seems they have been occupying these areas for a long time, and even children of the *Wokou* are occasionally seen. Unless those villains are completely eradicated, there is no way for Your Majesty’s people to escape their servitude. Please, have mercy and consider this.”

Turning a blind eye to the people’s poverty and misery was something he could sufficiently ignore. However, having his possessions taken away was something the possessor could not tolerate.

The land and the people belonged to the Emperor.

For the vulgar *Wokou* to seize and occupy them, the Emperor’s rage seemed to reach the heavens.

“These… these despicable bastards!”

Finally, the Emperor’s anger erupted, and the ministers prostrated themselves on the floor.

“What on earth are the Shandong Province’s supreme commanders doing, and what are the magistrates of each county doing? Are you saying they just stood by and watched until this miserable situation unfolded!”

As the stern rebuke landed, the faces of the ministers completely contorted.

Their expressions all conveyed the same sentiment:

*That fool has stirred up trouble again by bringing up unnecessary matters.*

The *Wokou* on the eastern coast were impossible to eradicate or annihilate; they brought up an unavoidable problem, only to provoke the Emperor’s displeasure. The ministers were in despair.

At that moment, Yun Ju-seong stood up abruptly.

“Your Majesty, allow me to speak.”

“Speak.”

“The supreme commanders of Shandong Province and the magistrates of each county are well aware of this problem.”

“So? Are you saying it’s alright that they knew but did nothing until it reached this point?”

“No, Your Majesty. I am saying that they know, but they cannot do anything about it.”

“What nonsense is that? Why can’t they do anything?”

“There are not enough troops to wipe out the *Wokou* in one fell swoop. The soldiers under the supreme commander must guard the castle, and the constables of each county are barely able to maintain the peace in their respective areas.”

“What?”

“The Vice Minister of the Ministry of War is saying that now? That this country lacks troops?”

“The military must firmly defend the borders. The *Wokou* are merely pirates who engage in looting, but if the borders collapse, the existence of this country will be threatened. Please understand that most of the troops must inevitably be deployed to the borders.”

At the mention of defending the borders, the Emperor stopped his outburst.

He couldn’t leave the borders unguarded to catch pirates, could he?

“Are you saying we must remain still even after hearing such miserable stories?”

The Emperor’s tone changed. It was not an outburst of anger, but filled with a sense of futility.

“This humble servant, Yun Ju-seong, dares to speak.”

“Speak.”

“It is only a temporary measure, but I have a plan to drive out the *Wokou* of Shandong Province.”

The Emperor did not even register the words ‘temporary measure.’ He only clearly heard that they could drive out the *Wokou*.

At Yun Ju-seong’s words, some ministers’ faces hardened, while others’ lips curled up.

*Old problems should be kept quiet.*

*If you say nothing, there is no responsibility. But once words are spoken, they cannot be taken back or erased. You must take responsibility for the results.*

The minister who expressed concern was Yun Ju-seong’s colleague, while the minister whose lips curled up was Yun Ju-seong’s political rival.

Regardless of friend or foe, everyone thought it was a difficult problem.

The Emperor shouted.

“Quickly, tell me the plan.”

“I have been closely observing a vice-captain of the Imperial Guard, and his martial prowess is extraordinary. He is training as many as two hundred guards, controlling them with ease.”

“Surely you are not suggesting sending the Imperial Guard to Shandong Province?”

“Of course not, Your Majesty. How could we remove the troops guarding Your Majesty’s sacred safety? I am merely reporting that the vice-captain learned martial arts from the *Jianghu* [martial arts world] before becoming a military officer.”

Suddenly, the Emperor recalled a memorial.

“Could it be that the vice-captain is the one who once suppressed the *Wokou* and achieved remarkable feats?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor clapped his knees with a bright expression.

“I hadn’t thought of that. So, Minister Yun is suggesting dispatching him to Shandong Province to create a *Wokou* subjugation force?”

“That would not do, Your Majesty. The vice-captain’s excellent and formidable martial arts should be used to protect Your Majesty’s safety.”

“Then why are you mentioning him?”

“There must also be figures from the *Jianghu* in Shandong Province. We should summon them and entrust them with the subjugation. They are all warriors capable of taking on a hundred men, so there should be no problem even if we form a small elite force.”

“Oh! That’s brilliant.”

After exclaiming, the Emperor suddenly asked a question as if he had just thought of it.

“I have heard that there are as many martial arts masters in the *Jianghu* as grains of sand, but what about their military service?”

It seemed he had the idea of seizing all the martial arts masters and making them military officers while he was at it.

“Most of them wander the *Jianghu* without a fixed residence, making it difficult to ascertain their existence. Also, those in the so-called Nine Sects are monks or Taoists. They are exempt from military service.”

Yun Ju-seong cautiously began to explain.

“At best, there are those in the martial world called martial families. These families give up official careers and devote themselves to martial arts, but most of them are descendants of prestigious families, so they are also exempt.”

The Emperor wore a troubled expression.

“Then, wouldn’t forcibly conscripting them violate the national law?”

“I did not say conscription. I am merely encouraging them to serve Your Majesty and this country. How about they suppress the *Wokou* for at least three years, and during that time, their families’ taxes will be reduced?”

Yun Ju-seong quickly added, observing the Emperor’s expression. The Emperor frowned, seemingly not satisfied with the method.

“Of course, even if Your Majesty issues a conscription order, who would dare to refuse, citing national law? Your Majesty’s will is the law, so please issue an edict without hesitation.”

“No. National law is sacred, and we cannot force them. I will replace it with a personal letter, and Minister Yun will handle the implementation.”

“I shall obey Your Majesty’s command.”

Jo Gwang-yun, who had been listening intently to the two men’s conversation, had to hide his laughter.

The Emperor’s request was the same as an order.

Even if it was not an edict but a personal letter, its power was the same. Who would dare to refuse the Emperor’s personal letter?

The moment they refused, they would be a rebellious group. The Emperor would surely find some pretext to brand them as rebels, and the ones who were best at doing such things were gathered here in the Grand Hall.

The moment they read the Emperor’s mind, they would not care whether they were prestigious families or martial families; they would make them a group of traitors and exterminate their nine generations.

“So, who are the martial families rooted in Shandong Province?”

“The Hwangbo family and the Ak family.”

“How many would it take to eradicate the *Wokou*?”

Yun Ju-seong bowed his head again.

“I will investigate the warriors of those families and select them appropriately.”

“Good. Do so. I will end today’s assembly here.”

As soon as the Emperor’s words fell, the chief eunuch shouted.

“All, withdraw from the court.”

The cheers of ‘Long live the Emperor’ echoed in the Grand Hall, and the ministers retreated with hurried steps.

Jo Gwang-yun also withdrew from the Grand Hall, but one of the eunuchs who followed soon grabbed him.

“State Preceptor Jo. His Majesty is looking for you. Please proceed to the Uirip Hall [private audience chamber].”

“Yes. I will do so.”

Jo Gwang-yun’s steps headed towards the Uirip Hall.

* * *

“Your Majesty. State Preceptor Jo Gwang-yun has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

As soon as the Emperor’s command fell, Jo Gwang-yun entered.

“Did you summon me, Your Majesty?”

As Jo Gwang-yun prostrated himself on the floor, the Emperor said to the chief eunuch.

“Bring out a cushion.”

Although he could not offer a chair, it meant to sit comfortably on the cushion.

As Jo Gwang-yun knelt on the cushion, the Emperor said with a gentle expression.

“It’s been a while since you’ve come to the palace, so I called you to see Consort Yang.”

“No, Your Majesty. I have heard that Your Majesty cherishes her greatly. Your Majesty’s favor is enough, so I will return now.”

The Emperor smiled approvingly.

“Then, since you’ve come all the way here, let me ask you something. What do you think of Minister Yun’s brilliant plan today? I know that State Preceptor Jo has connections with the *Jianghu*, so I’m asking.”

The answer was already there.

That brilliant plan was what he had told Yun Ju-seong last night.

“I think it’s a pretty good method.”

“Is that so?”

“The Hwangbo family and the Ak family are well-known in Shandong Province. Their martial arts are also worthy of their names. If they are composed of young sons who have mastered the family’s secret techniques and warriors who have been taught martial arts by the family, the *Wokou* will be no match for them.”

“If the bloodline of that family were to die, my heart would be heavy…”

It meant that he could not allow the family line to be cut off.

“Please do not worry. They are promising talents who have mastered the family’s peerless divine skills. The *Wokou*’s swords will not even graze their sleeves.”

“Oh, is that so? I have heard that their martial arts are earth-shattering, but I thought it was just the exaggeration of those who like to embellish stories.”

“The people of the world like exaggerated stories, so it is certainly exaggerated, but suppressing the *Wokou* will not be that difficult.”

The Emperor paused for a moment, thinking silently, and then lightly tapped the table.

“State Preceptor Jo.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Use the information about the martial families that you know to help Minister Yun immediately so that he can form the optimal subjugation force.”

“I shall obey Your Majesty’s command.”

He was going to do it anyway, but it became more justifiable because it was the Emperor’s order. And imagining the expressions on those guys’ faces when they received their conscription notices made him feel strangely happy.

End