Chapter 9

◈ Prelude to Discord

Tongjeong and Sangmin followed Jungsun inside.

The spacious military camp hall was cluttered with various weapons and books, reflecting the current situation.

"Jiyu, I heard you were looking for me."

"Ah, Tongjeong, you're here."

Sangmin performed a military salute.

Standing in front of the armor stand, Jungsun, who had just put on his armor, smiled happily at Tongjeong's visit.

The attendant who had been helping him stepped back quickly.

Jungsun, who was loosening his arms and shoulders, spoke.

"And you are?"

"I am Captain Kim Sangmin."

"Ah, right, I remember. I'm sorry."

"It's fine, sir."

He waved his hand as if he had forgotten.

"Bring some tea here!"

Jungsun called out loudly and laughed heartily.

He looked like a typical hero from an old novel.

"These days, I have a lot on my mind."

Sit down, he gestured to a chair.

Tongjeong lightly tapped Sangmin's shoulder, who was staring blankly at the map on the table, and Sangmin composed himself and sat down.

They exchanged a few minutes of casual conversation.

There wasn't much for Sangmin to do while the two uncles reminisced.

He just examined the map with his eyes.

Tongjeong's smile faded as he spoke.

"Are you planning to set out on an expedition immediately?"

Jungsun shook his head.

"We can make a judgment after the reinforced scouts have thoroughly investigated their villages and their size."

"The farming is busy, and there's a lack of labor. Also, we lack food, so it would be better to wait for at least one year's harvest before making a decision."

"Is there anything more foolish than leaving hostile enemies in our rear?"

Sangmin nodded slightly.

When there's a problem whether you act or not, it's easier to just step back.

He didn't want to get involved in any arguments.

Tongjeong didn't seem to strongly oppose it either.

"You recommended him for the position of Colonel."

As the topic changed, Jungsun looked at Sangmin and said.

Sangmin's back straightened as if he were undergoing a promotion review.

"Yes, Jiyu."

"As you know, the positions of General and Colonel, which lead a unit, should properly receive the Emperor's approval. Tongjeong, you know this well."

"…Yes, sir."

An attendant approached and handed them warm tea.

The tea, which emitted a luxurious aroma, was steaming.

Sangmin felt a bit conflicted as he took a sip.

The bitter but refreshing aftertaste lingered in his mouth.

Still, it's impressive that they can manage to have such things during wartime.

"It's just a tedious and meaningless procedure."

Jungsun's words continued.

Tongjeong took the tea, brought it to his lips, but put it down without taking a sip.

"What do you intend to do, Jiyu?"

"Do you remember the oath we made at our first uprising?"

"To never submit to foreign invaders."

"That's part of it."

"…"

Jungsun looked at Sangmin intently.

Sangmin took another sip of tea and, getting up, said to Tongjeong.

"I should go check on the garrison now."

"Go ahead."

Sangmin bowed slightly to Jungsun, who had answered for Tongjeong, and left the tent.

For now, this is all I can do.

—

"Did you mean that the fate of the Sambyeolcho is determined by the Sambyeolcho themselves?"

"Yes."

Tongjeong clasped his hands together.

"You saw it just now. The war is not over yet.

Not the Jurchens, but unheard-of barbarians, impending famine, and foolish people.

A new war awaits us.

Goryeo is at a critical juncture, and to take the next step, we must unite with one purpose to overcome this national crisis."

Jungsun looked at Tongjeong, who was bowing his head.

He spoke to his comrade in a soothing, almost pleading tone.

"Tongjeong, do you not trust me?"

Tongjeong replied with a burning voice.

"Do you really intend to become the new Jingchenggong (景成公, Choe Chung-heon) of Goryeo?"

Jungsun pursed his lips.

"If necessary, anytime."

"Didn't you see clearly what their end was like?"

"I know well the mistakes of the previous special supervisors, so there's no need for the same worries."

Tongjeong clenched his fists and stood up, shouting angrily.

"The foundation of Goryeo is the Emperor alone. While your brother declared his intention to protect the throne for the past hundred years, he secretly coveted the ancestral shrines and the state altars. How did he erode Goryeo by claiming to protect the people and resist the Jurchens?"

Jungsun raised his voice.

"Did the Wangs lead the resistance against the Jurchens all this time? While talking about resistance, they were so scared that they were ready to make peace with the Jurchens, causing chaos within Goryeo!"

"It's different, what you said in Ganghwa is so different! There, Brother Bae clearly said he would restore the ancestral shrines and the state altars and become a loyal subject of Great Goryeo. He also said he would establish a new government, support the Emperor, and expel the traitors and powerful ministers. But look at this now, the lackeys of Im Yu-mu, whose faces are twisted by power and greed, are no different from Yi Eung-nyeol and Song Gunbi!"

Jungsun's face turned red with anger.

"Speak clearly! Wasn't it your Divine Army that killed Im Yu-mu, the successor of Im Yeon, before he could do anything? That's why Wang Jeong (Wang Jeong) ultimately relied on the Mongols to return to the mainland!"

"Was that just our problem? Secretly, all the generals thought further resistance against the Mongols was impossible and were preparing the Sambyeolcho troops to leave the mainland."

"So when we were about to submit, the cunning Wang Jeong stole the list and tried to sell us all to the Jurchens?"

Tongjeong sighed.

"Don't pretend to be naive. Wang Jeong had already been plotting to use the Mongols to eliminate us all. You know this well, don't you?"

Yes.

There was no room for excuses.

A hunting dog is boiled when it becomes useless.

Especially if the dog had bitten its former masters.

And! Jungsun shouted.

"Kim Tongjeong, face reality. Wang On is my creation, not No Yeong-hee, Yi Shin-son, or Yu Jun-hyeok. He is my puppet, created by the power of the Sambyeolcho."

Thud.

Jungsun also stood up, and his heavy fist hit the table, creating a dull sound.

The armed guards outside were startled by the noise and approached, but Jungsun waved them away.

His iron armor creaked.

Despite the commotion, Tongjeong stood firm.

Kim Tongjeong is the best warrior in Goryeo today.

Jungsun had no intention of harming him.

He was a tiger who had cut down countless Mongol generals and soldiers.

At this moment, Jungsun's head could have been taken.

However, this tiger, though fierce, was upright and responsible, and had a weakness that could be easily manipulated.

"Tongjeong, let's be honest. I, your foolish elder brother, know best that you have a deep affection for the Wangs."

Tongjeong looked at Jungsun silently.

"I promise that as long as I live, the Emperor's safety will not be threatened.

I will dedicate my life to Goryeo as a warrior of Goryeo."

"…Then will you remain a warrior of Goryeo until the end?"

Jungsun closed his lips and nodded.

"There's no other way to persuade you."

"…You have certainly made a pact."

"I swear to heaven, earth, and the Buddha that I will keep it."

Second to none, above all others.

Tongjeong, looking at Bae Jungsun, who had risen to the position of Chief Inspector of the Sambyeolcho, closed his eyes.

Then he slowly knelt down.

"I will follow you."

Just as the last obstacle to becoming a special supervisor was removed, a sense of victory lingered on Jungsun's face, but Tongjeong was thinking about the past.

—

The silk he received read:

.

-Under the thick snow of winter, the green barley breathes,

The farmer smiles, knowing the joy of the approaching spring.

Tongjeong, who didn't know much about poetry and metaphors, pondered for a moment and then called Sangmin to discuss it.

He had known Sangmin for a long time but had recently found him to be unexpectedly mysterious and hard to understand. He had thought of him as a colorless and odorless person.

But with the matter of the Emperor, he had no choice but to trust him.

Fortunately, Sangmin was usually self-disciplined and didn't speak rashly.

"Sir, I may be speaking out of turn, but the Emperor's actual power is non-existent."

Sangmin started cautiously, observing Tongjeong's expression.

He was serious but not angry.

"Continue."

"The Emperor's secret letter discusses the principle of hiding one's light and biding one's time (韬光养晦)."

Sangmin hesitated for a moment before speaking.

Is this man really on my side?

If he dies, will I be implicated and die like a dried fish?

But it's too late to switch sides now.

And he has many people he cares about.

Sangmin knew his superior's character.

He was extremely responsible and as upright as bamboo.

If he were to become that strategist.

It wouldn't be bad.

"Hide one's light and bide one's time. Is that your creation?"

"…It's a story from the old Shu Han, about Emperor Zhaolie (昭烈帝, Liu Bei)."

No, I just saw it in the newspaper.

"I see."

Tongjeong nodded.

Then he looked at the site of the palace being built in the distance.

Time. Only time is needed.

But can Goryeo really return to the reigns of King Wonmun (元文大王, Hyeonjong) and King Inhyo (仁孝大王, Munjong) just by time passing?

In the end, I am just a warrior of the Sambyeolcho who has raised the banner against the court.