The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 327

“Wh-what did you say?”

The Minister of War was aghast at Ning Su-mil’s words.

‘Why is that crazy bastard doing this?’ he wondered.

The Minister of War, who had gone out of his way to defend him, was simply dumbfounded and flabbergasted.

He couldn’t understand why Ning Su-mil was targeting him instead of the Ministry of Revenue.

Yang So, the Minister of Revenue, who had secretly supported the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild, was equally bewildered.

On the other hand, the Emperor was pleased with this.

It became even clearer that Ning Su-mil had no ties to any of the six ministries.

Ignoring the gazes of the various officials, mixed with bewilderment and anger, Ning Su-mil continued to speak.

“What good is it to blame others now? Everything falls under my jurisdiction and stems from my misjudgment, so I will accept any punishment. However…”

“However?”

“Please allow me to offer advice regarding the situation that unfolds afterward.”

The Emperor showed interest at those words.

“Granted.”

Ning Su-mil smiled inwardly.

“The new union of the Daldan tribes can be of great benefit to Your Majesty, depending on how it is utilized.”

“A benefit, not a headache?”

“That is correct.”

Ning Su-mil unleashed the move he had prepared.

“This time, the tribal alliance has grown in power and prospered greatly. The leader is a chieftain named Bayan, who has established such a friendly relationship with our people that he calls them brothers. Therefore, please make use of the ‘using barbarians to control barbarians’ strategy that I mentioned last time.”

“Is that possible?”

The Emperor, who knew well how strong their unity was, even though they had been driven to the north, could not readily be certain.

“Of course, it is.”

Ning Su-mil quickly continued, as if he had been waiting for this.

“You can see this just by the fact that they ignored the envoy sent by the Daekan, their great chieftain, and simply sent him back.”

Surprise flashed in the Emperor’s eyes.

“Is that true?”

“How dare I lie to Your Majesty? At the time, he reportedly expressed resentment towards the Daekan’s envoy, saying, ‘What did the Khan do when we were dying at the hands of the Blood Cloud Squad?’ Moreover, he refused the Daekan’s order to expel our people and escorted them out with utmost courtesy.”

Confirming that the Emperor’s expression was easing, Ning Su-mil presented the box he had brought forward.

“These are the flags of the twenty or so tribal chiefs under Bayan, sent as a symbol of friendship.”

Fearing that other officials might object, Ning Su-mil quickly added.

“There are many people who witnessed the process directly, so confirmation will not be difficult.”

“Using barbarians to control barbarians…”

As the Emperor trailed off and pondered, Ning Su-mil continued to persuade him.

“If they are placed under Your Majesty’s shadow, they will be useful in many ways. In the event of a Daldan invasion or the rise of the Demonic Sect, they will be the first line of defense for Your Majesty, providing ample time to respond. Furthermore, they can check the power of the Daekan, who has a base in the north…”

“Enough. I have heard enough.”

The Emperor raised his hand, cutting off Ning Su-mil’s words.

At this point, the Emperor could not help but acknowledge Ning Su-mil’s opinion.

“Do you have a plan for this?”

Ning Su-mil answered immediately.

“To make them completely Your Majesty’s people, one condition is necessary.”

“Condition?”

“Yes. You must open the way for them to directly participate in trade between the Shin-ma Merchant Guild and the Western Regions. If possible, I would like you to grant them the authority to pass through the gates.”

At those words, the officials immediately protested.

“That’s absurd!”

“What is the reason for creating the gates? It is to prevent the barbarians from ever setting foot in the Central Plains again!”

“What if they suddenly change their minds and take a different stance?”

“Your Majesty! This is unacceptable. This is like opening the door and bowing to welcome thieves!”

The Emperor raised his hand, silencing the officials who were denouncing Ning Su-mil.

Then he asked.

“There must be a reason for doing so, right?”

“Of course, there is.”

“Continue.”

“It is to make Your Majesty’s virtue and the Daekan’s lack of virtue comparable.”

“Comparable?”

“Yes. Those who follow the Daekan still lead difficult lives, hungry and lacking. On the other hand, the tribes that have received Your Majesty’s grace will become more prosperous over time. This will create an irreconcilable difference and cause conflict among the barbarians.”

Those who have enjoyed abundance cannot bring themselves to starve again.

“Over time, more and more people will want to be under Your Majesty’s shadow. Conversely, the Daekan’s power will inevitably weaken. Above all…”

“…?”

“Since there is no need to waste the court’s taxes on tribute trade, you will not be able to enjoy a better win-win effect than this.”

“Indeed…”

The Emperor, who had been nodding in admiration, opened his mouth again after a long time.

“But there is one problem with your proposal.”

Ning Su-mil was inwardly startled by the Emperor’s words.

“Their goodwill and trust are limited to the Shin-ma Merchant Guild. I do not doubt your loyalty, but what about the Shin-ma Merchant Guild? The enemy within is more dangerous than the enemy outside. What if the Shin-ma Merchant Guild has other intentions?”

Perhaps he had an eye for keenly grasping the situation.

Ning Su-mil hurriedly replied to the Emperor’s words, which pointed out the core issue.

“Such a thing can never happen, nor should it! The Shin-ma Merchant Guild will continue to follow Your Majesty with unwavering loyalty.”

“Are you telling me to make such a major decision based solely on your words?”

“There is a good way to resolve Your Majesty’s concerns. However, I have not dared to speak of it because I cannot presume to judge the merits of the matter with my own discretion.”

“What is it? Speak.”

“It is to promote Muwi.”

“Promote?”

“Yes. It is to promote the current county of Muwi to a prefecture, like Yeon-gyeong and Bo-an. And if regular troops are stationed there, it will be both managed and monitored.”

“Are you saying to make Muwi a directly controlled prefecture?”

The areas around Beijing and Nanjing, the capital cities, where the administrative agency of Pojeongsa was not established and were directly subordinate to the capital, were called Jikhye [directly controlled areas].

At this, not only the Ministry of War but also the Ministry of Revenue and other ministers of the Six Ministries, who had been checking Ning Su-mil, could not hide their surprise.

The Emperor asked the officials.

“What do you all think?”

The officials could not easily answer.

The Ministry of Revenue, which had been constantly checking Ning Su-mil, had no reason to stop it.

The very fact that regular troops were stationed there was no different from putting shackles on themselves.

However, they hesitated to answer readily because they had not grasped the intention behind it.

And this was the same for the Ministry of Personnel, which had been on Ning Su-mil’s side, and the Ministry of War, which had recently changed its course.

“Why are you all silent?”

When the Emperor urged them again, the officials reluctantly answered.

“I think it’s a brilliant idea.”

“I think it’s a good opinion.”

None of the officials could object.

Ning Su-mil had already risen to become the best speaker of the time, so much so that he was called ‘Able to Demand, Able to Speak’.

If they rashly opened their mouths, there was a high possibility that they would be counterattacked by the opponent’s seductive logic.

Moreover, now that he had seized the justification, they could not withstand the splendid eloquence he wielded like a treasured sword.

Through the Emperor, who nodded once, the order of approval was issued.

“Ning Gyeong-ryeok’s proposal is truly reasonable. It must be an opinion that is impossible unless it comes from pure loyalty. Therefore, Muwi will be made a directly controlled area without a separate Pojeongsa [administrative agency], just like Suncheon Prefecture. In addition, Ning Ga So-mil will be appointed as the governor of that place, and Governor Ning will fulfill his duties as the head of the prefecture.”

“Thank you for your grace.”

Ning Su-mil, who had achieved a satisfactory result, cheered inwardly.

With this, the safety of Muwi could be completely passed on to the court.

However, on the one hand, he was slightly embarrassed.

‘Me… Governor?’

The rank of governor, which was the fifth rank, was several steps higher than the current position of Gyeong-ryeok, not to mention the seventh rank of Hyeon.

Meanwhile, the Emperor continued to speak.

“In addition, the person in charge of the regular troops stationed in Muwi will be appointed as a general under the Five Military Directorates, not the Ministry of War, and will be granted independent inspection authority.”

Ning Su-mil immediately grasped the Emperor’s intention.

The Ministry of War and the Five Military Directorates were competing for military power.

The intention was to establish a structure of mutual checks and balances to thoroughly monitor Muwi.

But it didn’t matter.

From the beginning, Ning Su-mil’s goal was the safety of Muwi.

“That is a wise decision.”

All the officials except the Ministry of War agreed with the Emperor’s decision.

The Emperor, who had solved the biggest problem of the imperial court meeting, looked at Ning Su-mil with a much lighter expression.

Then he cautiously opened his mouth.

“The judgment of merit and demerit has been completed, and Ning Ji-ju, who has made a contribution, has been rewarded by raising his rank, so there should be no complaints. However, the Shin-ma Merchant Guild, which led and succeeded in this matter, must also be rewarded. What do you think is appropriate?”

Ning Su-mil answered humbly.

“Your Majesty has already granted them the authority to trade with the Western Regions. What greater reward could there be for a merchant guild than that?”

“Even so, it is not enough compared to the merits they have made. If we do not properly commend them, it will be an insult to my dignity. Ning Ji-ju, devise a reasonable reward plan and advise me.”

After pondering for a moment, Ning Su-mil came up with a good idea.

“Then, how about giving them a chance to be loyal to Your Majesty?”

“A chance to be loyal?”

Ning Su-mil, with a satisfied smile, turned his gaze to the eunuch who was guarding the Emperor.

“Among the items that I will present to Your Majesty, there is a red box. If you allow it to be brought in, I would like to show it to you directly and explain it.”

“Do so.”

As soon as the Emperor’s words fell, the eunuchs brought the box that Ning Su-mil had brought and placed it on the floor.

Inside was silk.

“…?”

Suspicion flashed in the Emperor’s eyes.

This was not much different for the eunuchs and officials.

That was because the silk in the box was neither brocade, which was thickly woven with dyed colored threads and patterns, nor damask, which showed a unique texture by mixing various types of patterns.

Not even satin, which was considered lower than brocade.

Among the various types, it was silk, which was of little value.

It was a very ordinary silk that was sparse and thin because it was woven only with silk threads, and had no special pattern.

However, when Ning Su-mil took it out and unfolded it, exclamations burst out from all over the place.

Inside, a dragon was drawn that seemed as if it would come to life and fly into the sky at any moment.

Damask was mainly used for calligraphy and painting in the imperial court, but ordinary silk like this was used as painting silk in the private sector.

However, apart from the quality of the silk, the painting drawn inside was truly extraordinary.

Even the Emperor was wiggling his butt from the throne.

The quick-witted eunuchs quickly brought the painting to the Emperor.

“Oh!”

The Emperor, who was carefully looking at the painting of a dragon soaring through the clouds, admired it anew and could not take his eyes off it.

At that sight, Ning Su-mil smiled with satisfaction.

‘As expected of Elder Yeom Daeya!’

The person who drew the painting was Yeom Sa-in, a friend of Cho Ak-ryang.

“If you give the Shin-ma Merchant Guild a chance to present silk, they will be very happy as well.”

“Will that alone be a reward?”

Ning Su-mil immediately replied to the Emperor’s question.

“Of course, it is. Because it is the ultimate honor for them. However, such precious items cannot be mass-produced, so they can only be presented to Your Majesty.”

The Emperor, who had been captivated by the painting at once, readily accepted it.

“Good. I allow it.”

He immediately asked the eunuch who was bowing his head.

“Which merchant guild supplies silk to the imperial family?”

“The Golden Dragon Merchant Guild has been in charge of it for over forty years.”

“From now on, let the Shin-ma Merchant Guild take care of it.”

“I will take care of it.”

From the Emperor’s point of view, silk alone was not a big burden.

However, the face of Revenue Minister Yang So turned pale.

Yang So hurriedly opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty. Silk has been supplied by the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild for a long time. There is no major problem, but if you suddenly change this, there will surely be talk…”

Ning Su-mil quickly intervened and cut off his words.

“Your Majesty must use the best in the world. If there is something better, it is natural to use it, isn’t it?”

“Hey, Governor Ning!”

“What’s the problem? If you don’t like the current situation, the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild can offer something better, can’t they? Based on the principles of fairness and fair competition, as you mentioned before.”

“…!”

Yang So was speechless.

The logic he had argued for allowing the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild to cross Anmun Pass.

It came back to strangle him, so there was no room for rebuttal.