As Prophet - Chapter 169



Only Noblemtl

Episode 169. Excessive Proposal

Yoo Seok-do and the commander-in-chief were so surprised that their eyes grew as big as lanterns. A groan escaped from their mouths that were open without them realizing it.

“You’re saying we’re giving up Hanyangseong and moving the capital to Ganghwado? Just like in the Goryeo Dynasty?”

“Yes. No matter how much I think about it, nothing else comes to mind. Evacuating to Naju is also a possibility… … .”

“oh my god.”

The two people were speechless at Dalcheon’s excessive proposal. During the short silence, a rooster’s crow could be heard from afar.

“The great army is coming down, but there is no news. It means that the armies and towns along the way have been captured. They have been preparing for a long time to make a surprise attack. It is also necessary to assume that the border troops have colluded.”

“Even the border troops?”

“What can’t the army that opened the border do? Did you think they couldn’t act as guides? Did you think the Joseon army was that loyal? The Joseon army is willing to do anything if it can serve for another year.”

“You are too condescending. That can’t be true.”

“They gather here and there and form a gang. They want to go further and advance. What kind of power and loyalty can such an army demonstrate? Of course, not all soldiers are viewed that way. Those with jobs are like that. If they are told that they will be given another chance when the country changes and that a great fortune awaits them, they can easily be swayed. And in the north, Joseon and Jurchen are no different. There is a strong perception that they are the same group, the same people, and the same kind with a similar history. They are neighbors.”

The governor-general did not hide his discomfort and criticized him.

“Why do you discuss the way of heaven without even fighting?”

“Because you can’t win.”

“Even if we all die fighting, we will never empty Hanyangseong.”

Dalcheon nodded to the commander’s words. That’s normal.

“I’m not asking you to do as I say. There will be some discussion. I hope you will put it on the agenda and create public opinion.”

Yoo Seok-do asked seriously.

“Isn’t this process intended to foster loyalty and unity among your subjects?”

“That kind of thing can happen. But I don’t want that. I realized too late that it’s important to go through public discussion and the process. What is achieved through force is temporary. And that’s politics. Politics is called justice. You shouldn’t look for it far away, but in this process. Please put it up for public discussion today.”

“Many people will oppose this. It is a strategy that is absolutely unacceptable.”

“Even if we die, even if we all perish, we must confirm that it was our decision. Certainly.”

Yuseokdo hit the floor and got angry.

“What on earth does the Master want?”

He is not the old Bulmokhani. He is the general of a country. He got angry at the request that he absolutely could not accept. That may be the limit of fate. If there is a line that cannot be crossed while understanding, tolerating, and sharing everything, then that is the limit.

Dalcheon appeased the two people.

“Nothing else, just bring it out into the public sphere. I’m not asking you to do that. I think other plans will be possible only after going through that process.”

“Heavenly travel is impossible. It would mean handing this country over to a group of people of the same caliber.”

“It is not for the General to decide. I am asking the General to bring up the motion so that such a discussion can begin.”

Yuseokdo shook his head. He shook his large head from side to side. Dalcheon looked deeply at the two people and asked.

“You’re not even going to put it on the agenda?”

“It is shameful for a general to even talk about going to heaven.”

“If you say that this shameful thing is my request, you can avoid the arrows of criticism.”

“Really, why are you doing that? You can keep it without doing that.”

Dalcheon shook his head.

“I can’t protect you. When everyone dies and perishes and you have no choice but to run away, I want you to admit that it was your own decision. I will never again manipulate state affairs with thoughtless remarks.

It is because of the long peace. I do not want to blame anyone. I have been indifferent to the world situation and have no idea what is going on outside the country now. The great powers are in retreat, and it is difficult to even protect Liaoyang. I do not know how powerful they have become. It is really difficult to say that what I am saying is right when I do not know.”

Yoo Seok-do said something he really shouldn’t have said.

“Is it possible that you, Jin-in, are in league with the northern army, called the Jurchen? Do you not think that they are the successors to the old Joseon lineage?”

Dalcheon stepped back. He had merely moved to the side while leaning against the wall, but the slight change in posture was enough to show the embarrassment he felt. It was more a disappointment in his relationship with Yoo Seok-do, who had even said such things, than the matter itself.

“I think I’ve talked about this before. Among the ten countries under the ancient Joseon Dynasty… … No. What’s the point of talking about this? I’m asking you to submit it to the Supreme Council. If you’re going to reject it, do it here, or go and report it to them and tell them it was my proposal.”

The two men were stubborn, so Dalcheon got up. The thought suddenly occurred to him that he was angry because of something he had done. To Dalcheon, it made no difference whether the capital was in Hanyang or Ganghwado, but they thought the capital was the entire country. It is the difference between someone who truly thinks that the people are the country and someone who thinks of the people as an obligation and forces himself to do so. If the people are fine, what does it matter where the city is? Is Joseon Joseon only if the city is in Hanyang?

Stubborn means difficult to change. Dalcheon left the place after telling them to definitely send a message. Two people followed him, but he disappeared without looking back. The two people who remained looked at each other and just sighed with dumbfounded expressions.

* * *

“Heaven!”

The new king suddenly rose from his throne. Yuseokdo, who had spoken, banged his head on the floor with a guilty expression.

“It is difficult to stop the enemy, so how about we retreat for a while?”

“Who is that! The king said that?”

“I asked them to make it public.”

“What kind of news is that, to flee without even fighting? Does that make sense?”

The king asked the commander-in-chief, who was bowing his head like a criminal next to Yuseokdo.

“Your Majesty! We have been reluctant to bring up such presumptuous words. This matter is entirely up to the King’s discretion, and we have been told to simply bring it up as an agenda item for the High Council.”

The saying that the axe you trust will cut off your foot is true.

“The king said so?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Isn’t it because you guys think similarly that I told you that?”

“No. I told you that it was absolutely unacceptable, and that you could not do that. You said that we cannot defeat the Northern Army, and that we should take refuge for a while.”

“Northern Army, Northern Army! Where on earth are they? Aren’t they non-existent?”

“You said that by the time you confirmed the truth, it would already be too late.”

This is the first position I have taken after ascending to the throne. The palace was in shambles due to the battle last night, but I cannot neglect state affairs. This position was prepared with difficulty because the people were having a hard time.

“Why are you transferring the throne? You abdicated yesterday.”

“That’s right.”

The deputy minister, who was taking the place of the senior minister, stepped forward half a step. He was supposed to be the chief minister, but he stepped forward first, perhaps due to his personality.

“This is absolutely unjust. Where can I go, leaving behind the ancestral shrine and the country? If I die, I must die here, and if I live, I must live here in Hanyang.”

Starting with the words of the Second Vice Minister, the officials all repeated the same words.

“Absolutely not! If we gather an army and strengthen the defenses of the city walls, we can stop anyone who comes. We still have soldiers. If we bring in local troops, how can we possibly lose to the barbarians?”

“There is no certain information that they are coming. We don’t even know how many troops are there and where, so how can we talk about moving the capital? It is absolutely impossible. Even if that were to happen, the border troops would have already blocked it.”

“If you are worried, it is a good idea to send a quick soldier to check the situation first. If you run along the post station, you will be able to check it quickly. That is the order.”

“There is no sign of it, and you are saying we should move the capital? It is out of the question. The incident a few days ago was a civil war. It was a rebellion by discontented forces within the country, and it has already been suppressed. The people are unsettled. If we move the capital, the people’s confusion will reach its peak.”

“The role of a great king should be understood as a kind of role that satisfies His Majesty’s cultural and religious aspects. An outstanding person cannot know the laws of the military and politics. Being good at one thing does not mean that one is good at everything else. They are the same person. He is the perfect person to make a proposal. He should not get involved in political affairs. That would be a departure from civil affairs.”

Originally, that was the case. Those who were silent and only watched the situation will start to speak up when someone speaks first. This is because even if they make a mistake, the damage is not limited to them. There must have been an awareness that if many people are against it, they cannot eliminate everyone. They put their spoons in the places where there is less damage. They brag about how great they are. There is not a single thing in our words, and we only emphasize certain principles.

The king waved his hand and put an end to the public debate.

“Is there such a thing as the Northern Army?”

“I don’t know.”

He was one of those who were arguing. The king pointed to someone else.

“If anyone knows anything about their military power, please tell me. Are they that strong?”

“I know that you are fast because you ride a horse in the rough wilderness, but your weapons are poor and your armor is nothing special. If you focus your fire, won’t you easily fall off your horse?”

“Are you guessing?”

“That’s right.”

“Are you guessing about politics?”

When the king asked him questions one by one, the person who was answering lowered his head. It was as if he could not say that what he said was wrong, but that he had no choice but to bow because you were shouting from the king’s seat. It did not seem like he was truly bowing. The king asked someone else. It was a person from the Ministry of War.

“Have you reported that they crossed the border? Have they come up to the general report?”

“There is a record in the report from a few days ago that a small number of Jurchen people crossed the border.”

“Please check immediately.”

“Respect your name!”

The king turned to the commander-in-chief.

“Can you tell me what you know about the situation in the North?”

It was unusual for the king to ask questions to the commander-in-chief. In a time when civil affairs were at their peak, military officers were only allowed to attend the Sangchang but had no opportunity to speak. Such matters were not discussed, and even if they were discussed, they were asked to civil officers who held military posts.

“What good would it do for me to speak like this, but since Your Majesty has given the order, I will tell you everything I know. Since the founding of the country, due to the isolationist policy and the abandonment of the north, there has been no information about Liaodong for a long time.

All we have is information coming in through merchants traveling between the shamans and the messengers, and contact reports from the border guards.

Since my position is in the defense field and I am a soldier, I would like to speak out about something that you say is absurd.

First, the Jurchen army. They are not barbarians. They are the aristocrats of their society. They have many slaves, own land, and lead large families. You may say that they are barbarians, but they have established a country before. It is not just a country, but a country that commands the world and overthrew the Song Dynasty. They are military aristocrats. When called up, they arm themselves and bring many horses and servants to help them in battle. They protect themselves with thick armor and also put armor on their war horses. They gather with many bows, hundreds of arrows, wild tools, and enough food to survive for two weeks. They are not the peasant army that we think of.”