The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 498

The Divine Doctor of Primordial Demon (498)

Neng Somil’s expression changed.

“Where is that place?”

“It’s Wutai Mountain in Shanxi Province!”

“Wutai Mountain?”

“The body of Akho-goon was found in a hideout secretly prepared by the Green Forest [a type of bandit group]. According to the autopsy report of the investigators in charge, it is presumed that he was drained of his vital energy while still alive, leading to his death.”

“Ha!”

Neng Somil let out a short, hollow laugh.

It was no wonder that the search had been difficult so far, as the dragon of the Yangtze River was hiding in the deep mountains.

“In addition, there is another urgent and important intelligence report.”

Neng Somil was surprised by the subordinate’s report that followed.

“One of the key figures in the Eastern Depot has secretly contacted us.”

The subordinate carefully handed over the report.

After grasping the contents, Neng Somil revealed a determined look towards Dan Akseon.

“It seems the time has come.”

Dan Akseon nodded, and Neng Somil instructed his subordinate.

“Summon the Brocade Guards [the Emperor’s secret police] immediately. We will push them all at once and finish this matter.”

* * *

At that moment, Eunuch Jang was presiding over a meeting in a separately prepared hideout.

It was a clandestine meeting with only the minimum number of people who could be called his hands and feet.

There were five people in attendance.

Eunuch Jang looked at each one of them, his eyes heavy, and opened his mouth.

“Many of the merchant groups that have been cooperative with us have withdrawn en masse, severing their ties with us.”

The meaning was clear.

“That’s not all.”

The officials in the court, whom they had thought they held by the leash, were also changing their attitudes and turning to Neng Somil’s side one after another.

The Eastern Depot’s position had narrowed to an unprecedented extent due to the all-out political offensive that was tightening its grip from all directions.

“Now, we must make a decision.”

At Eunuch Jang’s words, his subordinate, who had been holding his breath, carefully opened his mouth.

“Is there a miraculous way to overcome the current situation?”

“First, we buy time and then overturn the game itself.”

Eunuch Jang’s eyes turned cold.

“Fighting in terrain advantageous to the enemy is a foolish act that invites defeat. Therefore, we will lead the situation to a game that is advantageous to us.”

“A game that is advantageous…?”

“For example…”

Eunuch Jang lowered his voice and gave an example.

“Soon, impure groups may infiltrate the imperial palace and attempt to assassinate His Majesty.”

As they had been assisting Eunuch Jang for many years, they immediately understood his intention.

It was a matter of covering a small fire with a big fire.

Compared to the unprecedented situation of an assassination attempt on the Emperor, the Eastern Depot’s small irregularities were nothing.

Above all, the Eastern Depot’s power would be essential in the process of uprooting the masterminds behind it.

A plan to lure the tiger away from the mountain [a strategy to distract the enemy].

Someone unknowingly muttered, understanding Eunuch Jang’s intention to overturn the game.

“It is common for the criminal to die during the interrogation process.”

The Eastern Depot’s interrogation methods were that harsh.

“But in the end, the assassin will point to his backer, right?”

There was no need to mention who the backer would be.

At that moment, someone in the room picked up on the words.

“Ah! So that’s why he’s not here.”

Eunuch Jang frowned, and the head of the Eastern Depot, who had just spoken, hurriedly lowered his head.

However, this was a similar thought for everyone except Eunuch Jang.

They were all wondering why the Chief of Law Enforcement was not present at this meeting, where all his confidants were gathered.

Since the Chief of Punishments, Yoo Shin, had been framed as a traitor and disappeared, if he was Eunuch Jang’s right-hand man, the Chief of Law Enforcement was no different from his left-hand man.

At that moment, someone in the room mentioned one problem.

“By the way, how do we buy the time needed to overturn the game…?”

Only then did the others realize that Eunuch Jang had not yet mentioned how to buy time.

It was then that Eunuch Jang opened his mouth with a cold expression.

“Since the current situation is what it is, we cannot easily get away with it. We have no choice but to reduce the damage through sacrifice.”

At Eunuch Jang’s words that followed, the faces of the subordinates attending the meeting darkened.

“The lizard cuts off its tail to survive and run away, and the rooster plucks its tail feathers to avoid becoming a sacrificial offering.”

The moment he mentioned 断尾求生 [duàn wěi qiú shēng – sacrifice a part to save the whole], they sensed their fate.

“Only when I keep this position intact can you also find a way to live. If anyone wants to become the tail feather of a rooster with its head cut off, speak up now.”

It was not difficult to understand the meaning of those words.

It was not for nothing that they were called the Eastern Depot.

Most of the reports going up to Neng Somil through the eyes and ears planted throughout the political world had already been grasped in advance.

It was now clear who Neng Somil was aiming for with his sharpened knife.

It was Eunuch Jang.

So, he was trying to delay his downfall by distributing the charges concentrated on him to everyone in this room.

A moment later.

His subordinates, who had been looking at each other, opened their mouths with determined wills.

“We subordinates will only follow the public order.”

“Please remember our loyalty.”

He was pleased with the subordinates’ oaths of allegiance, but only for a moment.

Bang.

Eunuch Jang’s face contorted at the sight of the subordinate who entered through the suddenly opened meeting room door.

“What’s going on?”

“The Director of the Censorate is leading a large number of Brocade Guard troops and is heading straight here.”

“What? How did they know the location of this hideout?”

“This subordinate does not know well…”

Eunuch Jang’s vision went dark.

Unfortunately, time was not on their side.

More than anything, the fact that the hideout and his movements, which were treated as heavy secrets even within the Eastern Depot, had been revealed felt even more bleak.

The meaning was clear.

It was betrayal from within.

‘How dare you!’

Eunuch Jang gritted his teeth, recalling one person who suddenly flashed through his mind.

Before they could even prepare, a strict military force surrounded the hideout.

And soon, Neng Somil burst into the meeting room.

“Imperial Envoy… Ah! Not anymore.”

Neng Somil curled up a sneer as he met the eyes of the flustered Eunuch Jang.

“From this moment on, I dismiss Eunuch Lee Gwal from his position as an official of the Eastern Depot. Furthermore, I dismiss him from his position as a Byungpil Taegam [a high-ranking eunuch position].”

“How dare you!”

Eunuch Jang, consumed by anger, burst out, and a formidable killing intent poured out from his entire body.

But he froze in place at Neng Somil’s words that followed.

“Arrest these traitors immediately! The charges are attempted assassination of His Majesty and conspiracy to riot!”

“……!”

Eunuch Jang sensed at this moment that everything had gone wrong.

On the other hand, his subordinates, who had turned pale, simultaneously emitted killing intent and drew up their inner strength towards the Brocade Guard soldiers who were approaching to arrest them.

They were all masters of martial arts at the top level even within the Eastern Depot.

The Brocade Guards, pushed back by their momentum, hesitated, and their gazes all focused on one person.

It was Neng Somil.

At that moment.

Crack.

A figure fell, smashing through the ceiling of the meeting room.

Bumgyewi, who had landed calmly next to Neng Somil, swept his gaze around with blazing eyes.

“You know what happens if you resist, right?”

This is where Bumgyewi’s presence showed its true value.

Despite having the advantage in numbers, it was meaningless in the face of Bumgyewi’s overwhelming presence.

The moment they met his bottomless, abyss-like eyes, their souls froze, and they couldn’t even open their mouths.

Neng Somil smiled as he confirmed the scene.

“From now on, anyone who resists can be executed on the spot.”

The first to react to those words was Bumgyewi.

“Huh? Can I really kill them?”

“They are the ones who plotted the assassination of His Majesty and the chaos of the court. Since the charges have been completely proven through securing witnesses, it is only natural to treat them as traitors.”

“Really?”

Bumgyewi, who had changed his expression, took a step forward.

“Resist! Do something right now!”

However, they were only more intimidated by the momentum.

Meanwhile, the Brocade Guard soldiers, who had carried out Neng Somil’s orders, roughly bound Lee Gwal, who had been dragged down from Eunuch Jang, with red ropes.

Neng Somil approached him and gave him a chilling smile.

“How did you become such a monster?”

Neng Somil turned away coldly, meeting the gaze of the old eunuch who was glaring at him, grinding his teeth.

“Send all the criminals to the Brocade Guard prison!”

He stared coldly at the high-ranking officials of the Eastern Depot being dragged out like dogs for a moment.

Neng Somil, who had finished dealing with the situation, headed straight to the Emperor’s residence.

The Royal Guards, who had already received orders in advance, did not stop Neng Somil and readily cleared the way.

A moment later.

Neng Somil, who faced the Emperor, gave a bitter smile to the Royal Secretary, who had arrived before him.

Then, he immediately reported the results of the inspection to the Emperor.

“As a result of the inspection of thirty-seven key members of the Eastern Depot, including the Director of the Eastern Depot, we have proven numerous charges and have completed their dismissal and imprisonment. In addition, regarding the forty-eight people involved, as per the report previously submitted…”

It was then that the Emperor let out a soft sigh.

“That means that the core personnel supporting the Eastern Depot have all been replaced.”

This meant that the function of the Eastern Depot had been virtually paralyzed.

The repercussions of their absence would be considerable.

However, Neng Somil answered calmly.

“That’s how rotten it was.”

“What should I do?”

“I will only follow Your Majesty’s will.”

“Hmm…”

Neng Somil offered advice to the Emperor, who was lost in thought.

“I think now is the perfect time to completely reorganize the Changwei organization [referring to the Eastern Depot and Brocade Guards].”

Chang refers to the Eastern Depot, and Wei refers to the Brocade Guards.

The Emperor suddenly became curious about Neng Somil’s intentions.

“I will listen. If you have any opinions, speak freely.”

Neng Somil glanced at the Royal Secretary once and explained in detail the organizational restructuring plan he had in mind.

“I believe it is advisable to check the Eastern Depot through a separate eunuch organization.”

Neng Somil’s plan was surprisingly simple.

The Brocade Guards were originally the Imperial Guards of the Inner Court.

Therefore, the task of monitoring officials is entrusted to them, and the role of monitoring the officials and the Brocade Guards is entrusted to the Eastern Depot as before.

In addition, a separate monitoring system consisting of eunuchs not belonging to the Eastern Depot is established to professionally inspect the Brocade Guards and the Eastern Depot.

“Do you really think that will be an alternative?”

Originally, the arm bends inward [people tend to favor their own].

The Emperor knew the eunuchs’ principle of being one body.

He questioned whether there would be any meaning if they eventually colluded and conspired with each other, even if a separate organization was established.

In response, Neng Somil curled up a meaningful smile.

“The commonality of eunuchs is that they will do anything to gain Your Majesty’s trust. If a system is established in which they compete with each other and check each other, that alone will be enough to prevent the monopoly of one force. Isn’t that so?”

The Royal Secretary shook his head, seeing Neng Somil subtly asking about his intentions.

The plan to ignite the greed for power and split the eunuch forces into two was bold and effective.

The Royal Secretary let out a soft sigh and opened his mouth after a while.

“Looking back on the history of ruined countries, most of the problems originated from the tyranny of eunuchs.”

Wang Jin was close, and Zhao Gao was far away [historical examples of powerful, corrupt eunuchs].

However, unlike those who manipulated the imperial power like them, there were many eunuchs who, like him, truly devoted themselves to the Emperor and the country.

“The same goes for the Chief of Law Enforcement of the Eastern Depot, Poong Bo. He is also a person who is only loyal to Your Majesty as much as I am.”

“Are you talking about the one who reported those who plotted to assassinate me this time?”

“If he is appointed as the head of the Western Depot, which will check the Eastern Depot in the future, along with the position of Byungpil Taegam, I believe that the evils of the present can be prevented in advance.”

The Emperor smiled and looked at Neng Somil.

“This must be part of your plan too, right?”