83 – Chaekbong
Pyeongwongun is dead, but his name still roams the hearts of scholars all over the world.
With trembling hands, the platoon carefully picked up the seal of Pyeongwongun that I had put down on the floor.
The platoon, which brought it close to the face and carefully observed it, revealed a wave of emotion that was different from what they had shown before.
“Really, I see. Really… Young master…”
The shock he was feeling was so great that even the title the platoon called me changed from Changseong-gun to Gongja.
“I heard that Pyeongwon-gun’s seal was buried with his children along with his remains…”
The platoon, muttering dejectedly at the reality that was different from what was announced externally, asked me questioningly.
“Again, didn’t Young master cut himself off from Pingyuan’s army?”
Certainly, on the surface, the relationship between me and Pyeongwon-gun was severed due to the conflict over the treatment of justice. But when was the only thing the world revealed on the outside?
I reminded myself that the reality in front of me is the real truth.
“The stone beak protruding from the ground is just a part of the stone.”
“But this time the stone beak wasn’t even a stone, it was a pile of dirt.”
The platoon held out his hand to return the seal of Pyeongwongun to me. Respectfully accepting Pyeongwon-gun’s seal, I put it in my bosom as usual and took good care of it.
The platoon gently closed his eyes as if deep in thought.
The platoon, who had drool and brushed his beard, had to wait a long time before he opened his eyes.
“Young master, do you really want peace with the country of Zhao?”
“Of course. Prince So must have been silent when he saw that his father was going ahead with the war against the country of Zhao despite the objections of the Sangbang and the Changguk Army, and judged that there was no hope.”
“Yes, I believed then that the Yeonjo Alliance had lost all hope.”
But fortunately, Yan and Zhao ended the war without suffering any significant damage to each other.
Although the Yan Dynasty signed a humiliating agreement and allowed the Xiongnu to invade, it was a war that only cracked their pride, but there was still room for improvement in relations with the Zhao Dynasty.
That’s why the platoon broke its long confinement and came out again. Supporting Prince Anchagun, who is related by blood to the royal family of Zhao, as the next heir to the throne.
The reason why the platoon supported Ancha was that I would be hostile to Jo as I had spent a harsh time as her hostage, and that Ancha would be friendly to Jo since he had a blood relationship.
But who really wants peace with Cho Na-ra?
Is it Ancha-kun who was holding his breath even though King Yeon said he would attack the country of Jo, or else.
“Who do you think made that war happen?”
Am I the one who ended the war early?
“Ah… Certainly, I thought it was strange. The Yeompa I knew wasn’t the only one who would come out on the defensive against someone like Yulbok.”
The platoon understood with a face that there was nothing to be surprised about anymore, then let out a deep sigh.
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“If it was something like that, it would have been better if it had been revealed earlier. I have already dragged His Majesty into it.”
A platoon full of self-deprecation as if they had made an irreversible mistake.
However, he could not have expected that much and watched the situation like this.
The first time I came back from living as a hostage, from that point on when I was confined to Changseong-gun rather than the crown prince, I have assumed Yeonwang, not Ancha-gun, as my competitor.
“It doesn’t matter.”
King Yeon disapproves of me? I understand. It is said that power is not shared even with children, but there is nothing more likely to feel threatened by power than if one’s own status is lowered and a successor is selected forcibly.
So King Yeon should also understand. I also do things he hates.
“Because I’ve already made the prince’s seat mine.”
No matter how much Yeonwang is, once the entire army supports me, it’s as if there is no other option.
Jingae, Geukshin, Akgan, State Affairs… Here’s to the last platoon.
No matter how much King Yan is a king, it is impossible to suppress this combination with the current authority alone.
“Huh…If there were any number left besides Akgan, then it must be a super god. Well, you are Young master who embraced Yeompa as well. At one time, I also persuaded the superiors of the Qin Dynasty to overthrow the white flag, but it seems that I have turned my back on the world for too long. No see.”
Rather than saying that the platoon is rusty, the platoon thinks it made the best decision under the conditions given to it.
As Kukmu played an active part in the war and his position grew, naturally the Young master faction also grew. At first, the royal faction was inferior. However, as the platoon took the mound, the equilibrium was achieved in an instant, and until I brought in Akgan, the Wangje faction had the upper hand.
In many ways, despite the favorable conditions for the government, seeing that the platoon achieved a turnaround, his ability should still be considered.
It’s just that he didn’t touch the military to avoid the active intervention of King Yeon, who was hostile to the Zhao Dynasty. Unlike him who took a safe and sure path, I tried to gain influence beyond Yeonwang from the beginning.
I think today’s result came about because the two people’s goals were different.
“Young master already had all the conditions to achieve his goal, so why did you seek me? I would.”
“That’s not true. I still need Gong So’s help. Maybe I just need it. I’m even desperate.”
“Would this old man be of any use to you?”
“Of course.”
The ability of the platoon was also one of the best in the world, but the more important thing to me was the actions he had lived so far.
“What I want is not just peace with Cho Na-ra, but a union that goes beyond that.”
The pupils of the platoon were completely tinged with amazement.
§
An inquiry was opened.
It was a moment like a turning point in history that would determine the successor to the throne.
Young master and the King.
With the two candidates standing side by side in the middle of the battle, the two forces supporting the two mysteriously had faces full of joy, as if they all foreboded their victory.
I didn’t feel the impression that he was bluffing simply to avoid being pushed back in a battle of nerves. All of them are sincerely convinced that they have the upper hand in this political conflict.
For a while, they were puzzled by the other party’s self-confidence, but when Yeonwang came in and the inquiry began in earnest, they lowered their heads and erased unnecessary doubts from their minds.
“Changseong-gun and Ancha-gun. The two of you, raise your heads.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Despite the relationship between the two being uncle and nephew, the age difference was not that great. Ahn Cha-gun is in his early 20s, and Hee-dan is 15 this year, so it was no wonder that they were his younger brothers.
So Ancha-kun must have been considered as a candidate for succession to the throne.
“Six years have passed since Guwain ascended the throne, but there are still many servants who express concern about not having a successor. How can they not say that they are proud of their national fortune?”
King Yeon spoke as if he would designate a successor right away and seal it to the crown prince or the emperor, but what he said saying that you have to listen to it to the end to understand it was the complete opposite.
“However, since the ruler is still able to take care of state affairs and is still young enough to take care of himself, it would not be good to appoint a successor in a hurry.”
Joy and sorrow slowly began to cross the faces of the officials gathered for the inquiry.
Those who supported Young master Huidan began to feel uneasiness as they sensed something strange going on, and on the contrary, those who supported Wangje Anchagun shouted joy in their hearts that things were going according to their plan.
“Thus, as the issue regarding the succession is a matter to be considered with more time, it will be decided after close discussions and public sentiment across the country, so be aware.”
Since the situation is inferior anyway, it is a delaying plan to attract the king and overturn the game and look for future opportunities.
It’s not enough to be the second best, and it’s not a bad situation to be the least evil, so for those who were at the worst, it could be considered a victory.
However, both forces were not sure of either victory or defeat. Hee-dan’s face, who must be feeling the most dismay, was still bright.
Heedan, who meekly withdrew, was calm as if it had been expected. The serenity made the Young master faction feel the anticipation that there might be another secret trick they didn’t know about this time, and the Wang Qi faction felt uneasy for no reason.
Under these circumstances, appeals from each province to King Yeon were resounding in the court one by one.
And as the complaints became less and less, the expressions on both sides reversed once again.
“…I earnestly request that the country be stabilized by setting Changseong-gun as the national capital. Jang Sang-gun, Jin-gae.”
“Is it true that Jin-gae sent it?”
“Yes, yes, Your Majesty.”
After decades of silence, Jin-gae expressed his opinion to the central court, and the audience murmured. The king of Yan nervously slammed his throne and shouted.
“Stop! Sirs, take care of yourself! What kind of a fuss is this in front of Gwa-in!
Sangbang Zhang Ge calmly listened to the next appeal and unfolded it.
However, his voice as he read aloud gradually faltered as he went backwards.
“…I would like to advise you, please seal Changseong-gun as the Crown Prince to calm the public anxiety and strengthen the country’s roots. General, Extreme God.”
Sanggun, who is in the highest position of the military.
And a general who is almost the same level as him.
Both of them supported one person.
This was not something to be taken lightly. Furthermore, King Yeon was originally deaf and put his own protection above all else.
Believing only the words of Yul-bok and starting a war, and when the Xiongnu appeared in the world, he was scared and made an agreement with the Zhao Dynasty, and that was the result of such a character.
For King Yeon, the fact that all the key figures in the military, such as Jingae, Geuksin, and Akgan, supported one person, came as a great threat.
In particular, he, who knew the secret history of the military unit where his younger brother killed his older brother and took over the throne, was intimidated by the fact that his son, Heidan, had taken over the military.
Other appeals have also added opinions from various places regarding the succession discussion. Occasionally, appeals supporting Ancha came out, but most of them said to make Heidan the crown prince.
Jiji of Geuksin, who wiped out the Xiongnu, and Jiji of Jingai, who occupied and pioneered the eastern part of the Yan Dynasty, including Liaodong.
Added to this was the positive propaganda spread by the movie industry, and the public sentiment in the provinces was overwhelmingly inclined toward Heidan.
King Yeon realized.
Unbeknownst to him, he knew that his son had already surpassed him.
“…I will answer the appeal.”
The voice of King Yeon, filled with futility and exhaustion, resonated quietly throughout Daejeon.
“……I will seal Young master Heidan to the crown prince.”
That was the King Yeon’s de facto declaration of surrender to Heidan.