The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 469

The Emperor was still deep in thought when Eunuch Sa persuaded him once more.

“As they say, ‘Seize the opportunity.’ If we miss this chance, such a favorable time may never come again. Moreover, if things go well, it could become a strong shackle to bind that Naeng So-mil to Your Majesty’s side.”

At these unexpected words, the Emperor showed interest and urged Eunuch Sa to elaborate.

“Because he is the one who wielded the sword and stained his hands with blood, he will feel the weight of that responsibility more than anyone. At least for the next few years, he will do his utmost to restore the stability of the court, which has been shaken by this aftermath. And above all…”

The smile on Eunuch Sa’s face deepened.

“The greater the power, the greater the honor that comes with it, making it difficult for him to let go easily.”

Having realized the greatness of power and already walked that path, Eunuch Sa was certain.

Humans are inherently beings who move according to their desires.

And what they encounter at the end of those desires is the lust for power.

“But there are no more positions to promote him to now.”

Eunuch Sa shook his head at the Emperor’s words.

“Grant him power, not just a title. Give him greater authority and responsibility so that he wouldn’t dare to step down.”

“……!”

The Emperor’s eyes flashed coldly.

* * *

The next day, in the morning.

The royal council held in Yangsim Hall was unusually peaceful, unlike usual.

This was because the person who had been leading the meetings with a fierce atmosphere, charging headfirst without considering the consequences, kept his mouth shut and only guarded his seat.

Just as the unusually quiet meeting was nearing its end,

The Emperor subtly nodded towards someone.

As Eunuch Sa quietly smiled and was about to step forward,

Suddenly, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue opened his mouth to petition.

“Your Majesty, I am Yang So-i, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Please allow me to speak.”

Since the one who spoke was the head of the Ministry of Revenue, responsible for the finances and local administration of the court, the Emperor reluctantly nodded.

“Speak.”

As the Emperor’s permission was granted, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue cleared his throat with a light cough.

“I would like to propose a special reward for Naeng Jwa Do-eosa, the head of the Office of the Inspector General.”

“A special reward?”

A look of bewilderment settled in the Emperor’s eyes.

This was because he and Naeng So-mil, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, were always at each other’s throats.

Naeng So-mil, who was fidgeting with the letter of resignation he had been holding, felt the same way.

It was truly like a bolt from the blue for him.

He had been quietly waiting for the meeting to end, judging that this was the perfect time to submit his resignation, but…

Out of nowhere, that insensitive Minister of the Ministry of Revenue dropped a bomb right in front of him.

The Emperor looked at Eunuch Sa without a word.

In response, Eunuch Sa subtly shook his head.

It meant that it was not in accordance with his intentions.

It wasn’t just the Ministry of Revenue; Naeng So-mil had long since turned the entire Six Ministries into enemies.

The Emperor, realizing something, chuckled.

‘He must have been caught with some weakness.’

It was inevitable given the nature of the Office of the Inspector General, but to have even won over that sly old fox of a Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

“I will listen. Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, continue.”

The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue’s voice echoed in the hall.

“Naeng Jwa Do-eosa is known for his honesty and integrity. Since he was in a low position, he has not hesitated to speak frankly to influential figures and has not accepted flattery or subservience. Due to his reputation, the common people now praise him as ‘Do Cheong-cheon’ [a title for an incorruptible official, like the famous Judge Bao of the Song Dynasty]. This is compared to the famous judge Po Cheong-cheon of the Song Dynasty…”

Naeng So-mil couldn’t hide his embarrassment at the lengthy and cringeworthy praise that followed.

The Emperor, on the other hand, became increasingly uncomfortable.

“Isn’t integrity a basic virtue for officials? The Jwa Do-eosa has only fulfilled his duty as the head of the Office of the Inspector General, yet you speak of rewards… Does this mean that the court is so corrupt?”

The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue flinched at the Emperor’s sharp gaze.

However, he was also a veteran who had experienced all sorts of hardships in this world.

He quickly took out the memorial he had not yet submitted from his bosom and unfolded it.

“Recently, as a result of the Ministry of Revenue’s investigation into the purchase of goods for the Imperial Household, a cost reduction of 24% has been achieved. Furthermore, the quality has actually improved, and above all, the trust of merchants in the Imperial Palace has greatly increased, leading them to actively participate in national projects. This is largely due to the Jwa Do-eosa, who led the inspection of the Office of the Inspector General, corrected the problems in the procurement system, and established the discipline of the officials.”

“Twenty-four percent?”

Even the Emperor, who had been lukewarm, couldn’t help but ask again at the surprisingly improved financial figures.

The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue quickly continued.

“The Jwa Do-eosa’s contribution is not limited to this. The Imperial Household’s finances have improved, allowing us to fully allocate funds to aid the poor, which we were unable to do before. As a result, the number of people praising Your Majesty’s grace has greatly increased.”

“Hmm. If the results are that noticeable, it’s understandable that the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue would mention a reward.”

Naeng So-mil, feeling a sense of urgency at the Emperor’s seemingly approving attitude, quickly stepped forward.

“I have only done what I was paid to do with my salary.”

“It seems you’ve done much more than what you’re paid for.”

“That’s…”

The Emperor raised his hand to stop Naeng So-mil from speaking.

The opponent was one of the most eloquent speakers in the court.

The more he spoke, the more likely it was that things would flow according to his intentions.

“I ask you, my officials, what kind of reward do you think is appropriate for the Jwa Do-eosa, who has made great contributions?”

The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue immediately replied.

“If you were to bestow upon him an amount of land equivalent to a portion of the finances secured by the Jwa Do-eosa’s efforts…”

However, he couldn’t finish his sentence.

Someone interrupted him in the middle.

It was Eunuch Sa.

“He was once the head of the Shinma Merchant Group, handling enormous sums of money. As such, he may not be satisfied with monetary rewards alone. Above all, loyalty is a value that cannot be measured in money. It may even be felt as an insult to the honest and upright Jwa Do-eosa.”

The Emperor naturally nodded and asked.

“Then, how should the reward be given?”

“Rather than wealth or honor, how about giving him practical authority to do his job better?”

“Practical authority?”

“Grant him the authority to inspect all court officials and institutions, except for Your Majesty, for a limited period. This would allow him to handle the roles that the Office of the Inspector General has been doing more easily.”

Naeng So-mil looked at Eunuch Sa in surprise.

Even for someone as quick-witted as him, he was at a loss as to what was going on.

The problem was the Emperor.

The Emperor’s nodding, as if he found it quite interesting, felt ominous for some reason.

It was then that the Emperor asked.

“But isn’t that already an authority he has?”

“In reality, that authority does not extend to some institutions and individuals.”

“Are you talking about the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard [secret intelligence agencies]?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Since there is virtually no force to check them, strengthening the authority of the Office of the Inspector General to promote balance would further strengthen the foundation of this country’s ancestral shrines.”

“Hmm…”

“If you empower the Jwa Do-eosa through an imperial decree…”

It was then.

“That cannot be, Your Majesty.”

One of the civil and military officials stepped forward, looking pale.

It was the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, the head of the Ministry of Personnel.

“The reason for abolishing the Central Secretariat and maintaining the current system of the Six Ministries is to avoid repeating the Ho Yu-yong incident [a historical event where a powerful minister attempted to usurp the throne]. Limiting the head of the Office of the Inspector General to the Senior Second Rank is also to check the concentration of excessive power. Given the nature of the Office of the Inspector General, whose main task is inspection, granting absolute power would be no different from the abolished Prime Minister system of the past. As there is already a precedent of Mang, Tak, Jo, and Ui [historical figures known for treachery and usurpation], do not forget that excessive power given to influential subjects is a decision that hastens the downfall of the country.”

Naeng So-mil’s eyes twitched at the words of the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

Since the Ministry of Personnel is in charge of the appointment of officials, it is particularly sensitive to the concentration of power in specific individuals or institutions.

But even so,

Comparing himself to Mang, Tak, Jo, and Ui was far beyond the line.

Wang Mang, Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao, and Sima Yi.

All of them were those who destroyed the country in which he was born, raised, served in the court, and received a salary. Wang Mang was the only one who succeeded in seizing the throne and becoming emperor.

Dong Zhuo aimed for the throne but was caught in the bait of Emperor Xian’s abdication and met his death. Cao Cao and Sima Yi did not become emperors during their lifetimes, but their descendants became emperors and were posthumously honored as emperors.

Therefore, Mang, Tak, Jo, and Ui are the standard and synonym for traitors.

For officials, it is the greatest insult, along with Samin Nanjeok (a rebel who disrupts the teachings of the sages).

‘What kind of traitor carries a letter of resignation?’

He wanted to shout that out right away, but Naeng So-mil forced a smile and nodded.

“Although I have been at odds with him, I agree with the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel on this matter. As the saying goes, ‘Why use an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken?’ [don’t use excessive force for a small task] I believe that each person can fulfill their role when they have the authority commensurate with their given capabilities.”

However, Eunuch Sa did not let Naeng So-mil go so easily.

“We have set a time limit because there is a possibility of abuse of absolute power. Above all, if there is a condition that the authority can be revoked at any time through an imperial decree, then Naeng Jwa Do-eosa will also use the given authority carefully.”

The officials swallowed hard, secretly feeling the Emperor’s meaningful smile.

If the Emperor’s approval were to be given in this state, the power dynamics themselves would become meaningless in front of Naeng So-mil.

How much time had passed?

The Emperor, who had been silently tapping the armrest of the throne, finally opened his mouth.

“Eunuch Sa’s proposal is truly impressive. But if the Office of the Inspector General is strengthened with the imperial decree behind it, you will not be free either, will you?”

To the outside world, Eunuch Sa and Naeng So-mil were known to be notorious enemies.

This was because they had already clashed several times in the past.

“This humble servant has nothing to be ashamed of, so there is no reason to refuse the inspection of the Office of the Inspector General.”

Eunuch Sa, feeling a stinging gaze on his face, turned his head towards Naeng So-mil.

‘What are you trying to do?’

Eunuch Sa smirked at Naeng So-mil, who was asking with his eyes.

Naeng So-mil felt a chill run down his spine at the sight.

‘A trap?’

He finally began to suspect Eunuch Sa’s intentions.

Although they had been on good terms recently, he was fundamentally a monster who endlessly pursued power.

Also, he was the owner of a ruthless mind that could mercilessly eliminate anyone who threatened his position.

Otherwise, he would not have been able to reign at the pinnacle of power for so long.

At this time, the Emperor asked Naeng So-mil.

“Authority naturally comes with responsibility. Especially if it is an imperial decree. Do you know what happens if private greed intervenes in the use of authority?”

“Of course, I will take responsibility with my life…”

Naeng So-mil, who had answered carelessly, realized his mistake.

As expected.

The Emperor smiled and nodded.

“That’s right. My trust is that heavy.”