9 – Becoming a Teacher (4)
After leading Soonwook to the guest room.
I combined all the information that Soonwook brought with the information I already had.
Everything that happened so far.
The Ten Times Chaos.
The reign of Dong-Tak.
The Federation of States.
As a result of integrating all these things, I came to one conclusion.
“It’s over.”
I’m not a supporter of Hwang-Geon-Jeok. I’m not trying to protect Hwang-Geon-Jeok.
However, the slogan raised by Hwang-Geon-Jeok is fitting like a prophecy.
This country is screwed.
“The Han Dynasty’s lifeline is exhausted.”
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No matter how I look at it, Han doesn’t have the national power to continue.
Who would ever dare to rectify the imperial power while one person is dominating the emperor of the Han country?
A hero in possession of power in the provinces?
Rather, it would be a relief if someone didn’t announce the start of a new country saying ‘The fate of the Han country is over, now I will become the emperor!’
The Emperor is now nothing more than a gauge for checking where the axis of power is shifting.
In other words, a living ornament.
After all, the one who counterfeits even destiny and creates it at will is already firmly seated in the place of ascendancy, the Emperor of a country is no longer an emperor.
So, as for me, there is only one action to take from now on.
“I’ll have to buy land near the hometown of the one who strengthens the imperial power first.”
“Why?”
Samae was organizing and summarizing my words with a pen.
“You mean you have to buy land in the hometown of someone like Dongtak?”
“Dongtak will fail. And Yangju land is too far.”
“Dongtak will also fail? So we are all going to fail together?”
“That’s not the case. When someone falls, those who will seize the momentum by utilizing it will inevitably arise.”
I collected the names of those who decided to participate in the anti-Dongtak alliance that Wonsoo proposed, one by one.
Some of them were familiar, others were first-time hearers.
But most of them were individuals appointed by Dongtak as governors or chief officers in various provinces.
“Yes. They are all beasts. Thieves. Hyenas gathered to tear apart the giant wolf named Dongtak.”
“Thieves…. small thieves gathered to catch a big thief.”
“Yes. Look at the announcement of Wonboncho. ‘Righteous men, gather!’. Even Wonboncho himself is not gathering people with righteousness and loyalty, how many true righteous men could there be?”
Those who fear Dongtak.
Those who deem Dongtak a danger.
Those who decide to eliminate Dongtak at this chance.
Those who intend to kill Dongtak to earn the favor of the imperial family and rise to power themselves.
“This is a gathering where all kinds of desire converge. But I can’t deny or despise it.”
“Why?”
“Otherwise, the entire central region will be burnt by Dongtak.”
I pointed to Nakyang Castle, which was drawn like a map on the desk.
“If Dongtak takes control, neither Hyungju nor Hanae, not even the entire central region will be safe. Those who bribed their way to look good to Dongtak will become governors and loot people like us. They might even do more than before. …It’s not an exaggeration to say that the Taepyeong incident will happen again.”
“So Dongtak must fail, without exception?”
“Yes. No matter what people’s intentions might be, a cause has been established.”
Burn, Dongtak.
It may not represent the public sentiment of the entire central region, but the public is critical of the act of controlling the Emperor like a puppet.
“For the imperial family. …Righteous men like that are almost nonexistent now. People like us merely pray not to be robbed of my crops.”
“But he said he wanted to act for the imperial family.”
“Right.”
Soonwook.
She truly is a rare righteous man(義臣).
A loyal subject who wants to utilize her knowledge and strategy for the imperial family.
But being so, she doesn’t know.
Or rather, she intentionally avoids the knowledge.
That the imperial family is a sinking ship.
Trying to scoop out water from a ship with a hole, but the water overflowing due to tides cannot be stopped, and there are no tools or people to patch up the hole.
Instead, it’s already a situation where they have switched to different vessels, so those who remain must also make a choice.
To die with the Han royal family.
Or to switch to a new vessel.
“Even just 5 years ago, talking about this would put one in danger of being beaten to death. But it’s different now. Like I’m talking to you, we’ve come to a situation where we can subtly hint at such things publicly.”
“It’s the atmosphere of the times?”
“Yes. Everyone feels it, even if they don’t say it. The downfall of Han.”
“So, what will you say? Will you assert that the Han royal family will fall to someone who is trying to work for them?”
“Yeah. I don’t beat around the bush. I just tell it as it is. However, I do feel sorry, so I’ll provide a solution.”
I pointed to the map of Habuk.
“Just let somebody who can maintain the lineage of the Han royal family seize power.”
“So, you’re going to introduce someone who could at least continue the Han royal bloodline?”
“Yes. You’re quite clever.”
If there was one thing I realized while teaching Samaui, it’s that she matched better with me than I thought.
“Assuming one becomes an exiled by the emperor for forcibly marrying one’s daughter to him, or forms a marital relationship by marrying the emperor’s daughter and one’s son, whoever it is will not act like a collaborator. In reality, they will aim for even more power.”
“Who is that?”
I unfolded two fingers towards Samaui.
“There are two people that Dong Tak is most annoyed with. Who do you think they are?”
“Yuan Han, who went on the secrecy?”
“Yes. Yuan Han and I have been hostile since we were in Nakyang. Yuan Han has no chance against Dong Tak in Nakyang, so he went back to his hometown and build a base. Dong Tak tried to win over Yuan Han, but failed, so they must kill each other now.”
“If they don’t kill, they’ll be killed.”
Not a 10-year-old’s thought. A 10-year-old child precisely grasps a somewhat brutal and cold political battle.
I praised her while patting Samaui’s head.
“You’re smart. Knowing that you understand so well, I feel like I’m teaching something.”
“…Just go on. Charming.”
Still rather picky, but it’s only cute when such respectful words come out sometimes.
So, I hope when she gets a high-ranking job later, she’ll send silk as an act of gratitude to the teacher.
Not something like a soldier carrying a sledgehammer.
“One is Yuan Han of the alliance army. Who do you think the other one is?”
“…Either Won Sul or Jojo.”
Samaui was still unsure.
She could not decide on one answer between Won Sul and Jojo, trying to judge only by what I was saying.
“Isn’t Jojo just an assassin, and Won Sul is more dangerous? Won Sul’s forces are comparable to Yuan Han’s. Not to mention that Jojo is….”
Samaui mumbled and sighed deeply, then picked up her words.
“A woman.”
“Yes. A woman.”
All the princes who are gathering one by one in the anti-Dong-Tak alliance are men.
If there is a unique one, it is Jo Myeongdeok. Because she’s a woman.
“A woman… will she do it?”
“I wonder. Considering Han Sin’s attempt to become a queen, who knows. There’s no rule that being a woman can’t make it happen.”
“But they say that if a hen crows, the house will be ruined.”
“Who said that?”
“Our father did.”
“If a household goes under just because a hen crows, that household was doomed to begin with.”
“……”
Samaui said nothing, her eyes wide open.
I patted her on the shoulder and pointed to her room.
“Go and sleep. It’s late.”
“…What about you, teacher?”
Oh!
“Are you fine with a woman being above you?”
“Sure.”
I don’t care about gender.
“As long as war is prevented and no one goes hungry, what does it matter whether they’re male or female, old or young?”
* * *
“……”
Samaui silently lay down in her room.
-Hyungju is said to be a quieter and better place than here. You will be able to live peacefully there.
-Once things here calm down, we will call you. Until then, learn and study the Yeolnyeojeon.
-I mentioned this to Master Sukyeong but, you are strictly forbidden from learning certain things….
“Heh.”
Samaui scoffed at her father.
Hoping to send her far away to Hyungju, he didn’t even assign anyone to keep watch over her.
Master Sukyeong, Sama Hwi refused.
Only Samaui will go with him, he strongly asserted that nobody else would accompany.
Sama Hwi stated that he would be in charge of Samaui’s education but….
“Geom Taeyang.”
Sama Hwi entrusted Samaui’s education to Geom Taeyang.
Only a few days after meeting, he revealed to Samaui the harsh reality of Hyungju, farm work, and the flow of the era.
“…Sigh.”
This is it.
Exactly what Samaui has been yearning for.
For her, who had to live as a woman in the shadow of her family, he became a ray of sunshine, allowing her to exist as ‘Samaui’.
Recognition.
Samaui needed someone’s recognition.
Even if it was derived from the frustration that she was no less capable than her male peers, Samaui found this shabby academy more comfortable than her hometown.
Maybe I’ll start calling him teacher from tomorrow.
As she was deep in thought.
“…Huh?”
There was a small light flickering in Geom Taeyang’s room.
“……”
Samaui cautiously stepped out the door. And it’s … too … deep …!! Samaui’s sleep was completely shattered.