I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 202

Instead of appearing at the Grand Hall, the Grand Empress Dowager only sent a royal edict [an official order or proclamation issued by a ruler or authority].

She wanted to avoid the spectacle of the Empress Dowager remaining in the hall while she retreated.

As the chief eunuch read the edict, all the officials breathed a collective sigh of relief. With the tension of the fierce war between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law resolved, the pending state affairs poured out like a burst dam.

The Empress Dowager faithfully followed Jo Gwangyun’s advice.

When the officials presented conflicting opinions and demanded a final decision, she would frown deeply and say:

“Since your opinions are so divided, how can I make a decision lightly? Please, consolidate your opinions into a unified stance first.”

When they all presented a unified opinion, she would smile brightly and say:

“It is truly wonderful to see your united front after so long. I approve, so proceed immediately.”

The Empress Dowager avoided any blame by delegating all decisions to the court, and the officials had to argue day and night to reach a consensus.

It was the officials, not the Empress Dowager, who suffered from overwork.

About a month after the Empress Dowager began her regency in earnest, the Grand Empress Dowager sensed that something was amiss.

There was no news that the Empress Dowager’s health had deteriorated due to overwork, nor was there any talk of her ruining important state affairs. There were even rumors that if things continued this way, the Empress Dowager’s position would only become more secure.

In particular, the Empress Dowager did not favor any of her relatives, which earned her high praise from the officials.

When she could no longer calm her uneasy mind, her younger brother’s complaint shocked her.

“Your Majesty, have you perhaps fallen out with that Jo Gwangyun?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“The cart that used to come every month without fail has not arrived.”

“The cart? Ah… !”

She realized he was referring to the cart filled with all sorts of necessities to ensure her family’s comfort.

“It may be delayed by a day or two. Wait a little longer.”

“Your Majesty, it has already been ten days. I came here because the rice in the storeroom is running out.”

Surely not…!

The Grand Empress Dowager immediately summoned Jo Gwangyun. But when she tried to confront him, she couldn’t bring herself to speak. How pathetic would that be?

“I heard that the Empress Dowager is handling state affairs well. Is that true?”

“She follows the opinions of the officials in most matters, so she has not made any major mistakes yet.”

“So, you mean I should just keep waiting like this?”

“Your Majesty, remember the story of Taigong Wang of the Qi Dynasty [a famous strategist who waited a long time for recognition]. Some people wait their whole lives to achieve great things. Compared to that, this is but a fleeting moment.”

The Grand Empress Dowager deeply felt that being impatient would ruin things. She took a deep breath and nodded.

“That’s right. Perhaps it is because I am a woman that I keep feeling impatient. By the way, Minister Jo.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It is truly pathetic to bring this up, but… it seems you have forgotten to take care of my family…”

The Grand Empress Dowager trailed off, watching Jo Gwangyun’s reaction.

Jo Gwangyun tilted his head and said.

“I do not understand what you mean.”

The frustrated Grand Empress Dowager spoke bluntly.

“Didn’t you used to send rice and firewood to my family every month? I heard that has stopped.”

Jo Gwangyun was startled and prostrated himself on the floor.

“Absolutely not! I have never done such a thing.”

“What… what?”

“How dare a humble person like me, who was once a mere merchant, do such presumptuous things? Your Majesty must be confusing me with someone else.”

The Grand Empress Dowager felt as if she had been struck by a hammer.

After a long daze, the Grand Empress Dowager pressed down on her trembling heart and said.

“Are… are you… daring to turn your back on me?”

Daring…

Jo Gwangyun slowly and quietly said to her, feeling sorry for her.

“Your Majesty. Have you forgotten who used the treason of Wi Chung-hyeon and his sister to bring Your Majesty, who was languishing in a remote part of the palace, to the front of the throne?”

“That… that’s…”

“I am not asking you to remember my contribution in bringing you there, but rather to understand that my role ends there. No one can help you anymore. The position you desire is a position gained through struggles among the imperial family. Wait for the opportunity and fight to take it when it comes.”

Jo Gwangyun pointed to the door.

“The two maids serving you are women I sent. If you do not trust me, dismiss them first.”

Jo Gwangyun rose from his prostration.

“I hope you find the righteous person who helped your family. When the cold wind blows, you will desperately need that person’s help.”

Jo Gwangyun turned and left.

She would have to experience cold and hunger again to know gratitude and appreciate kindness.

At that time, wouldn’t the Grand Empress Dowager naturally ask for rice and firewood instead of power?

* * *

The officials gathered at the club began to watch Jo Gwangyun’s reaction as they sipped their drinks.

His face, which was always smiling, now showed nothing but a deeply furrowed brow.

“Lord Jo, is something wrong? You don’t look well,” one of the officials cautiously asked. Jo Gwangyun replied in a slightly hoarse voice.

“I provide your meals and drinks, but no one takes care of my meals, so I am hungry. Don’t worry about it.”

As soon as Jo Gwangyun finished speaking, all the officials quietly put down their cups and spoons.

“My nephew is on the throne, and the Empress Dowager, who is no more than a puppet, has been looking to you for the past three months. But how can not a single one of you speak up for me? Am I going to starve to death like this?”

“What are you saying? Lord Jo. How could we neglect you?”

“That’s right. We were just waiting for the right time.”

Everyone nodded and looked at each other, and Jo Gwangyun unfolded his furrowed face and said.

“Shall I tell you when that time is?”

Everyone swallowed hard.

“It’s tomorrow.”

No one could object to Jo Gwangyun’s firm attitude. It was a bit early, but objecting in this place would mean falling out of favor with someone close to the pinnacle of power.

“Then, can you tell us what position Lord Jo desires?”

Jo Gwangyun looked around at the nervous officials and took a breath.

“The position of the deceased Wi Chung-hyeon is still vacant, isn’t it?”

He was not talking about the empty title of Vice Premier, but the actual position of Prime Minister, the Chief State Councillor.

This time, the officials’ faces hardened sharply.

Their instincts, honed over long years of official service, were sending danger signals.

The Chief State Councillor was second to none. Moreover, Jo Gwangyun was the uncle of the young emperor, which meant he would seize absolute power.

No official would welcome the emergence of a young absolute ruler.

Jo Gwangyun said to them, who were hesitating, one fact they were forgetting.

“Unlike Wi Chung-hyeon, I have no family. In other words, you will all share the other positions except for the Chief State Councillor.”

With this one word, everyone’s mind started working busily again.

“The reason why the Wi family gained power and shook the court was because the Wi family dominated the court. If one of you takes the position of Chief State Councillor, another Wi Chung-hyeon will be born. If not me, who would you recommend as Chief State Councillor?”

The officials only looked at each other and did not open their mouths.

It was a choice between giving up one position close to absolute power and sharing all the remaining positions, or competing fiercely to become a powerful family like Wi Chung-hyeon.

Jo Gwangyun left them watching each other and stood up.

“I hope you will fill my hungry stomach tomorrow. I will leave first, so enjoy yourselves.”

* * *

Because the Empress Dowager, who had to make the decision, declared that the officials’ agreement came first, the Grand Hall was noisy again today with arguments over each issue.

In the end, the audience ended with the Empress Dowager’s consistent words.

“Create a unified opinion of the court as soon as possible. I will end today’s audience here.”

But today was different from usual.

“Minister of Personnel, I have something to earnestly report to Your Majesty.”

The Empress Dowager’s eyes were also slightly different as she looked at the Minister of Personnel who suddenly stepped forward.

“Speak.”

“How can we handle state affairs when the court is so noisy? The state affairs delayed in the court directly lead to the suffering of the people.”

“Are you saying this? So, I always say to reconcile opinions quickly, don’t I?”

As the Empress Dowager agreed, the Minister of Personnel opened his mouth more comfortably.

“The reason why it is so difficult to reconcile the differences in the court is because of the absence of a Prime Minister.”

“Prime Minister?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. A pillar of the court that cuts off the branches and adds what is needed to reach an agreement. I believe it is something that can no longer be postponed.”

The Empress Dowager straightened her posture and said to the officials.

“I have not thought about the vacant position of Prime Minister because I am not well-versed in court affairs. Minister of Personnel, please continue.”

“The current Prime Minister position in the court is the Chief State Councillor. When the treacherous Wi Chung-hyeon was in the position of Chief State Councillor, he tried to dominate the court by employing many people from his family and created factions to suppress senior and junior officials.”

Everyone held their breath and listened to the Minister of Personnel’s words.

“Shamefully, I was also a member of that faction.”

If you start with self-reflection, the credibility of the following words increases.

“Therefore, the Prime Minister who will lead the court in the future must not bring family members into the court, must not have the color of a faction swayed by interests, and finally… I believe that a person who has endless loyalty to the young Emperor and the Imperial family is suitable.”

Because it was such a fundamental statement, no one came out against the Minister of Personnel’s opinion.

“That is a truly excellent opinion. So, who do you have in mind, Minister of Personnel?”

The Minister of Personnel looked at the officials once and then carefully opened his mouth.

“The only person who best fits the premise I mentioned is Jo Gwangyun, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.”

The moment Jo Gwangyun’s name came out, the Council Hall seemed to freeze.

“Impossible!”

A loud voice, like breaking ice, echoed through the hall.

Everyone’s eyes turned to the source of the sound, and it was none other than Jo Gwangyun.

“I lack the experience, wisdom, and knowledge to take on such an important role. Your Majesty, please do not pay attention to the Minister of Personnel’s advice.”

Since the person involved shouted impossible, the officials who wanted to oppose Jo Gwangyun lost their chance.

The Empress Dowager glanced at Jo Gwangyun, who was prostrating, and then stood up.

“Think deeply about who is suitable for the Prime Minister position, and we will continue the discussion later.”

The audience ended with only the biggest topic of the court thrown out.

As Jo Gwangyun hurriedly left the Council Hall, someone grabbed his arm.

“Come see me for a moment. I have something important to say.”

It was Yun Juseong.

Jo Gwangyun smiled and took Yun Juseong’s hand off his arm and said.

“Chief Secretary, do you still see me as a lowly merchant?”

Jo Gwangyun had never lost his polite attitude. His changed appearance was so unfamiliar that Yun Juseong’s body stiffened.

“You don’t have to say that important thing. I’ll give you the answer first.”

Jo Gwangyun’s eyes were eerie, but there was still a smile on his lips.

“Your guess is correct. The Minister of Personnel was just saying what I told him to say, and I was just being unnecessarily humble. Why? Is there any problem with me becoming the Prime Minister of this country?”

“You… you…!”

Yun Juseong could not continue his words at Jo Gwangyun’s uninhibited appearance.

“Listen carefully. I will definitely become the Prime Minister of this country, and I plan to use you as my right-hand man. How about it? Think carefully and give me an answer. Ah… You only have one chance. I refuse unnecessary humility.”

Jo Gwangyun tapped Yun Juseong on the shoulder once and turned around with a smile.

End