Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 696

Episode 696: 60th birthday (3)

Two days later, Hyang called Wan.

“Did you call me?”

“okay. “I have a command to give you.”

“Please give me your name.”

“We will be entrusted with proxy cleaning starting in March, so prepare.”

At Hyang’s command, Wan immediately bowed down on the floor and raised his voice.

“Your Majesty is still strong, so how could a minor act on his behalf? “Please take away my order!”

“I don’t want to be late anymore, so I’m entrusting you to clean the place for me. “Now is the time for you to learn how the empire works.”

“So, you still have little learning and experience!”

“I have already learned enough and it is an experience… Unless I am reborn, how can I do well from the beginning? Experience is built through mistakes. So now is the best opportunity to build experience. Even if you make a mistake, Jim can correct it.”

“Haona…”

When Wan was about to retort, Hyang cut him off.

“The position of emperor is not an easy position. Every decision made by the emperor affects all the people of the empire. “It seems like the biggest sin to take over a position without any experience. What do you think?”

At Hyang’s words, Wan had no choice but to wave the white flag.

“I follow your Majesty’s orders.”

“Good decision.”

“Who would you like to entrust with the operation of the research institute and Area 51?”

“The research institute will be run by Captain Hakyeokjae (the pen name of Jeong In-ji), and you will also be responsible for running Area 51.”

“…I will do so.”

In this way, Wan’s proxy administration was immediately decided.

There were no ministers who opposed this decision.

First, most ministers had already guessed the situation.

Second, it was because the logic of the scent was perfect.

The position of emperor was a position of great responsibility. The reason why China’s past emperors ate so much delicacies from the mountains and the sea and took all kinds of elixirs was not just for energy. This was because it was a position where there was a lot of psychological pressure, so the body was easily damaged.

Emperors who did not know this and only enjoyed pleasure were recorded as beings who brought ruin to their countries.

For the same reason, there was no problem like having someone who knew nothing about state affairs become the next emperor. As Hyang said, one decision of the emperor affected the entire people of the empire.

That night, Wan secretly visited Hyang’s sleeping quarters.

“What’s going on?”

“Can we keep Captain Jeong In-ji in that position?”

Hyang’s face hardened at Wan’s question. Even if others did not, Hyang knew the history of Gyeyujeongnan.

‘no way! ‘Do you mean it’s someone other than Jinpyeong?’

“why? “Do you think Jeong In-ji had any lingering feelings?”

“ah! That’s not it!”

Wan hastily denied Yang’s question and shared his concerns.

“Captain Jeong In-ji is a man of outstanding ability. “I am worried that continuing to keep such a person confined to the research center may create problems.”

“You have a point…”

Nodding her head at Wan’s words, Hyang began to question Jeong In-ji.

‘He actively supported Su Yang, who caused the Gyeyujeong Rebellion, and rose to the rank of Yeonguijeong. He is a man with a strong desire for power. On the other hand, he was also a bosinist to the extent of supporting King Seongjong’s enthronement during the struggle for the throne during the reign of King Seongjong. Then…’

After analyzing Jeong In-ji’s tendencies, Hyang smiled and looked at Wan.

“In fact, the position may be better for him.”

“yes?”

Hyang explained the reason to Wan.

-Jung In-ji may have political greed as much as his outstanding abilities.

-In a situation where there is political greed, the position of deputy director of a research institute may be the best position. On the surface, it may seem like one of the few positions, but in a way, it is possible to maintain a good relationship in the position closest to those in power.

-Because all the crown princes pass through that place. Nevertheless, politically, it is the position with the least burden.

Wan nodded and admired Hyang’s explanation.

“It is indeed so! Director Jeong In-ji is one of those who has been in charge of the research institute since its founding. Soja is also cautious towards Captain Jeong In-ji. “It is a position where you are respected by the Crown Prince but do not have to be politically checked, so what your Majesty said is correct.”

Hyang smiled at Wan’s words and added.

“This time, since we are reviewing the awards of the Chief Inspector Jeoljae, let’s include the Inspector General Hakyeokjae as well. “He was actually responsible for the operation of the research institute for that long period of time.”

Wan responded to Hyang’s words by bowing his head.

“I cannot help but be amazed by your majesty’s insight.”

“Stop using gold lacquer. “Now that you’re done with your business, go back and rest.”

At Hyang’s words, Wan hesitated for a moment and presented another agenda.

“Your Majesty, wouldn’t it be okay if you postponed your minor’s purge period by just one year?”

“why?”

“The research on Nalteul and Bhikkhu is not yet complete….”

“You will be handling that part concurrently, so there won’t be a big problem, right?”

“Well, Soja thinks, when you return in two years, Your Majesty will honor me and go to Shinji. If that happens, won’t the situation be looking after me anyway? I don’t think there is a need to conduct proxy cleaning for two years. And to be honest, Your Majesty, the period of proxy purification wasn’t that long, was it?”

Hyang immediately accepted Wan’s words.

“It was longer than you. And you bastard! Even though it was unofficial, I have been acting as a proxy since the ‘Montumu Rebellion’ broke out! “Where are you complaining?”

“But…”

“Get out, you bastard!”

I took a moment to calculate the amount of incense that had been chased away.

“Let’s see… Hwang Sun is six years old now, right? When I go to Shinji, even if it is confirmed that I am the Crown Prince’s grandson, he will be eight years old. Let’s see…”

Hyang, who had been calculating for a while longer, smiled and looked toward the East Palace.

“Maybe that bastard’s reign will be one of the longest in the history of the empire.”

As an aside, one of the things Hyang said was, ‘How can you do well from the beginning unless you are reborn?’ was circulated among low-level officials, and a strange conspiracy theory began to circulate.

“Hey, isn’t this a little weird?”

“what?”

“Your Majesty said, ‘Unless you are born again, how can you do well from the beginning?’”

“It did.”

“But if you think about it, Your Majesty, wasn’t she normal from a young age?”

“Because you’re a genius.”

“No, academics are like that. But think about the political opinion announcement you made at that young age. That’s impossible no matter how prodigy you are. “What about the lab and Area 51?”

“Stop talking nonsense that even the neighborhood mutts won’t believe and get to work.”

“no. Are you saying it’s strange? if?”

“I told you to stop talking nonsense!”

Soon, this rumor reached Hyang’s ears, and he smiled and said to the ministers:

“I guess a lot of officials are free these days?”

At Hyang’s words, the ministers became thoughtful and bowed their heads.

“Please do not be bothered by groundless rumors!”

“This is just nonsense from people who like to talk. “Most officials are still working hard and doing their best in their jobs.”

“I guess so?”

He ended the conversation with an expression that said it was no big deal, but inside, it was a slightly unpleasant scent.

‘That’s right! Surprisingly, there are people with good instincts!’

* * *

As time passed and spring came, the empire stretched again.

As the sea became calm, many trading ships hurriedly raised anchor and set sail for countries as close as Ming and Japanese, and as far away as Suez.

“Hurry! “I have to go at least once more before the summer typhoons come!”

“yes!”

In the main and northern regions of the empire, rice paddies and fields began to be dug up again ahead of sowing, and customers began to flock to monopoly stores and market shops.

The same was true for Gyeongbokgung Palace.

As Wan’s proxy administration officially began, officials had to prepare more detailed materials and draft plans more thoroughly.

“Hmm… I’m not sure about this, but why does it have to be like this?”

Wan pouted and said, ‘I’m a beginner so I don’t know much.’ Seeing that, the ministers looked at the scent with earnest expressions. But Hyang smiled and spoke to them.

“Jim, it’s okay because I have accumulated experience, but I’m not the crown prince, right? Please explain well. “The crown prince will do better as he gains experience.”

“Yes…”

Wan was so stubborn with the mindset of ‘I can’t die alone!’ that the ministers had to scold their subordinates.

“Get the materials right!”

“Documentation carefully!”

“If you’re going to say bullshit like ‘following precedent,’ get out of there right away!”

* * *

Meanwhile, ships carrying materials for the railway construction to be carried out in Suez also began to raise anchor, carrying cargo and technicians.

And the navies tasked with escorting them and building a military port in Suez also formed a fleet and began to move.

This was on a larger scale than expected. And the Ming navy that discovered this was immediately put on alert, and an urgent report was sent to Nanjing.

“This is good for coming to Nanjing. “You can get news faster than in Beijing.”

Emperor Gyeongtae, who received the urgent report sent by the Ming navy, spoke to the ministers with a mixture of joking and sincerity.

At Emperor Gyeongtae’s words, all the ministers bowed down and shouted in sorrowful voices.

“your majesty! Please forgive the incompetence of the minor gods!”

“It is because of your incompetence that you have brought such shame to Your Majesty! Please forgive the incompetence of the small gods!”

“It’s okay. “Stand up.”

“Hwang Eun is devastated. “Long live, long live, long live!”

After the ministers’ three cheers for national independence ended, Emperor Gyeongtae gave an order with a serious expression.

“We will refrain from chanting three cheers until we punish Joseon, who claims to be an empire.”

“Ha haona.”

“The idea is to show our passion for self-reliance through action, not just words. I will refrain from chanting three cheers until I get revenge. “If you violate this, you will not be able to avoid punishment.”

All the ministers had no choice but to bow their heads at Emperor Gyeongtae’s firm decision.

“I follow your orders!”

Gyeongtaeje, who had strengthened his will to revenge, asked about this incident.

“What do you think?”

“According to the rumor, they are said to have been in charge of the construction of a railroad to Suez in the western region. It appears to be a fleet that probably escorts ships carrying those materials.”

“The size of the fleet is quite large considering that?”

“As expected, according to the rumor, a naval port for the Joseon navy is being built in Suez. It appears that the front lines stationed there are also included.”

“Hmm…”

Gyeongtaeje, who was stroking his beard and thinking about various things as he read the reports from the ministers, shared his thoughts with the ministers.

“If the size of the Joseon navy that sailed this time was that large, a vacuum would have been created in the Joseon navy as well. How about giving it a try?”

When Emperor Gyeong mentioned ‘provocation’, the ministers’ faces turned white. At that time, the left governor responded to Emperor Gyeongtae.

“I am asking you, Your Majesty. The Black Flame Dragon is protecting its place. As long as there is a black flame dragon, provocation is impossible.”

Emperor Gyeongtae inevitably gritted his teeth at the left governor’s answer.

“Damn Black Flame Dragon!”