Her Majesty’s Secret Service

074. Sanggyeong

Departing from Nagasaki, we finally reached Joseon. When the Joseon people I rescued saw a familiar landscape in the distance, they cheered, saying they had finally returned home.

“Thank you. Thank you so much, Nari.”

“I will live with my grace engraved in my bones.”

“Even if it is impossible to reach the eight provinces of Joseon, I will make sure to let the village where I live know what a great person I am!”

Seeing these people cheering and not forgetting their gratitude to me makes me smile with satisfaction. Seeing this enthusiastic response, it seemed like things were going to work out well.

As their cheers grew louder, the ‘Mary’ got closer and closer to Busanpo. When the building in Busanpo, which had been the size of an eyebrow, appeared to be the size of a human head, three or four ships blocked our path.

“Stop the boat! “Who are you, where do you come from, and what is your purpose for coming here!!”

The first thing that greeted us was the Panokseon that we only see in dramas.

The general on the Panokseon looked slightly frightened and shouted at us in a trembling voice, asking us what business we had come to Joseon for.

After hearing the Japanese language spoken by what appeared to be an interpreter, it seemed like they thought we were from Japan.

I immediately ordered the rescued Koreans to be sent on a small boat. Soon, the Koreans on the boat met the general on the panokseon and told him everything that had happened.

“what? The captain of that ship saved you? Wait a minute, the captain of that ship… Are you from Joseon? Deoksu Lee family? No, what on earth is this… ?”

Those who received my help relayed what they heard from me to the Joseon Dynasty, and the story soon reached the Dongrae governor.

After listening to the rescued Korean people, the governor gave us permission to stay in Busanpo for a while.

When I landed in Busanpo and met the governor for the first time, he looked me up and down and gave me a suspicious look.

“Indeed… singularity… It’s a nice looking outfit. So, are you the one who claims to be a descendant of the ‘Deoksu Lee family’?”

“Yes, it’s called ‘reason.’ “I am truly moved to step foot on my parents’ hometown.”

“exactly? Huh… . But how can I believe whether it is true or not?”

I handed the sugar in a small pouch to the sergeant who glanced at me in an ambiguous tone. The deputy slowly opened the bag, checked the inside, took a quick taste of the contents, and soon realized that the contents inside the bag were sugar.

“I heard about the circumstances of those you saved. You said that even though you settled in a country across the sea, you followed your parents’ will and traveled over 90,000 miles of sea to find your roots and arrived in Joseon, right? You truly have utmost filial piety. It’s amazing. “It’s amazing.”

The sergeant who took the sugar from me stopped looking at me with suspicion and treated our group very kindly. Wherever I went, it seemed like it was essential to oil the officials.

So I explained to the sergeant the purpose of my visit.

When I heard that I had come to seek trade between Joseon and the country I currently live in in order to trace my parents’ roots, the governor looked perplexed and said that he would send someone to the government to ask how to handle the matter.

“Hey, I’ve written down your touching story and the items you handle, so I’m sure you’ll get a good answer. As you heard from your father, buffalo horn is a very valuable item in Joseon.”

Twenty days have passed since the Dongrae governor sent someone. The small silver bars and handfuls of sugar that we had given to the governor were a very generous treat for us.

Just like that, I was lying down in my room today, covered in a warm cotton blanket.

“This ball! “Are you inside?”

The voice of the Dongrae magistrate was heard from outside. When I went outside, I saw the Dongrae magistrate who had brought the government’s answer standing there with a sad expression on his face.

“Dude, you should prepare to go to Hanyang. The government has decided to treat you as an envoy from a foreign country. And it seems like they are wondering if you are really a descendant of the Lee family. From what I’ve heard, it seems like the conversation about ‘trade’ isn’t over yet. I hope things go well.”

“Thank you, Gong Kim. “I think it’s all thanks to Kim.”

It was decided that he would be promoted to the royal court, and before ascending to the royal government, he asked Dongrae Busa a passing question about who was in power in the current Joseon Dynasty.

“The power of the government? That’s right, it’s my idol, Captain Wonhyeong Yoon. But, why are you asking that?”

“Don’t you know, Lord Kim? “The more people there are to help you run the business, the better.”

When I heard that ‘Yoon Won-hyeong’ reigned as the ruling power of the royal court, I was able to realize that the current king of Joseon was ‘Myeongjong’.

Isn’t Taejeong posture literary world Yesung’s year-round famous line? These are phrases that stay in my mind even after several years.

Anyway, when I found out that the current king of Joseon was King Myeongjong and that this was the period when Yun Won-hyeong was active, I thought that things might turn out surprisingly easily.

* * *

1560. It has been 169 years since Taejo Lee Seong-gye of Joseon overthrew the old country, Goryeo, and established a new country called Joseon.

The large house called Joseon began to deteriorate little by little in less than 500 years.

The source of corruption is the mother of the current King Lee Hwan of Joseon and the king’s maternal concubine, Yun Won-hyeong, who was supported by Queen Munjeong, the eldest member of the royal family. Now, 15 years after he took control of the government, no one can stop Yun Won-hyeong’s dominance. It has reached a point where there is nothing.

“Ego! Stand in line, stand in line! So, what did you bring?”

“Let’s bring twenty jars from Tamhai and twenty rolls of silk from the Ming Dynasty.”

“Greed? Beef salted fish? Ha, it’s so late to hear about this guy… . Let me give you my advice. Next time, use the money you paid to buy salted fish to exchange it for something in kind, such as silver, silk, or leather. There’s a lot of salted seafood piled up in the store that will last for the next ten years. “So what kind of government position do you want?”

“Thank you for the advice. I will definitely refer to it next time. I wish I could get a chaplaincy position in my ministry… .”

“Payment for ministry staff? Now, tell me here what your name is and where you live, and come back in three days.”

“You mean in three days? “I understand.”

“Then why don’t you take a look? Now next person! So, what have you brought and what position do you want?”

“Oh, I didn’t come to receive a government position… My son caused an accident and wanted to get his crime reduced… .”

Yun Won-hyeong, who took control of the government, was literally shaking Joseon in his hands.

All officials in Joseon were appointed through the hands of Won-hyeong Yun, and no matter what crime a person committed, if he or she touched the hands of Won-hyeong Yoon, that person’s crime was deemed as non-existent.

Woouijeong Yoon Won-hyeong’s power increased day by day. In front of Yun Won-hyeong’s house, there was a constant stream of people who liked him and wanted to get even a small local job, and people who wanted to be absolved of their sins.

“Ah, dirty things.”

“Huh, what will become of the country…?” . “It’s a joke, it’s a joke.”

“Younger, you will be punished someday. cancer. “Of course.”

Whenever passing scholars saw these people, they clicked their tongues and lamented that Yun Won-hyeong was ruining the country, but that was all.

No matter what the scholars say, Yun Won-hyeong has been reigning as the undisputed powerhouse of Joseon, holding the country of Joseon in one hand and controlling it for 15 years already.

* * *

March 1560. Even though spring had come, even today, when General Dong was jealous of the flowers blooming and blew out the cold wind, those who brought bribes were gathered like a cloud in front of Wonhyeong Yoon’s house.

Today there were twice as many people as usual, which made it difficult for people to walk down the street properly.

“Huh, the land here in Hanyang is still the same, it’s still the same. Look, Woogye, shouldn’t you have told me in advance that the number of small people has increased!”

“Uh-huh! Yulgok, this guy. “Be careful what you say, what if they hear?”

“If you want to hear it, listen to it. If you want to get a government position, you just have to look at your past… . “If I were to read the text while standing there so pathetically, I would read more than two books.”

“no… This person is so… .”

At the harsh tone of the scholar called ‘Yulgok’, who was dressed as if he had just arrived in Seoul, wearing a white robe and carrying a baggage, the scholar called ‘Woogye’ was at a loss and looked at the people around him. Then, fearing that Yulgok might say something harsher, she quickly changed her stance and dragged Yulgok by the arm.

“Let’s not fight for no reason and just go. When the commander heard that you were coming, he came running from Simhak Mountain and is waiting for you. Why, let’s talk about the phrase ‘Paju Hyangyakseo’… .”

“Oh, fortune teller? I should have said this a long time ago. “Let’s go quickly.”

As if Woo-gye’s efforts were in vain, Yulgok soon caught the attention of the crowd and hurried his steps.

While the two were walking, Yulgok suggested stopping at Unjongga for a while, saying, ‘I forgot to buy food,’ and Ugye nodded that he understood and started walking straight away.

As the two people were looking for food at Unjongga, they could see people gathering in the distance on Namdaemun-ro.

Yulgok, who was about to leave Unjongga to buy food, was interested in the sudden commotion and walked toward Namdaemun-ro. Woo-gye also saw the sudden crowd of people and followed Lee, wondering what was going on.

“Hey, look at that. “Her face is so pale and distant, like some kind of daytime goblin.”

“Look at your nose, why is it so big? And what does that mean about your clothes?”

“The guy standing among those daytime goblins looks like he’s from Joseon, but what kind of ridiculous clothes is he wearing? Look at those pants, that bulge… .”

“But what are these people following behind me? “They look like they’re from Joseon?”

“Oh, haven’t you heard the rumor? Isn’t it said that they are the Koreans who were saved from Japan this time? During the uproar five years ago… .”

“Ah, it’s the same as what I heard before. I heard that the descendants of the Deoksu Lee family saved the people of Joseon from the Japanese? “But the people who saved it are the authors.”

Yulgok, who watched the procession passing through Namdaemun-ro and heard people whispering, could not hide his puzzled expression.

Why is the story of his family, the ‘Deoksu Lee family’, suddenly coming out? Yulgok opened his mouth with an incomprehensible expression, looking at Woogye, a Hanyang native and close friend who still lives in Hanyang.

“Look here, Woogye. What are the authors talking about now? “A member of our family saved Koreans from their land?”

“Oh, that? I was planning to talk about it as an accompaniment this evening, but I never thought I would see that procession here… .”

“Well, what do you mean?”

Yulgok urged Woogye, who seemed to know something, to tell him what he knew. Woogye opened his mouth with a proud expression on his face at Yulgok’s urging.

“You too, listen to the news about what is going on in the world. Was it about fifteen days ago? It’s a rumor floating around in Hanyang… .”

Woogye began to tell Yulgok what he knew, who was looking at him with a curious expression.

When Ugye’s story was finished, Yulgok had an ambiguous expression on his face. He looked like he was wondering whether to believe this story or not.

“Aside from the saying that a ship the size of a small castle is floating in the sea… The captain of such a large ship is from our family? And what do you offer? For one grain of sugar, dozens of buffalo horns? “I’ve never heard of any of our relatives being that rich.”

“There are a lot of rumors, aren’t there? In addition, it seems that His Majesty the Lord summoned the person from the ‘Deoksu Lee family’ to personally praise him for rescuing those who were captured during the Eulmyo Rebellion.”

“Huh… The fact that the government did what it should have done on behalf of the government is truly worthy of praise… Why on earth are you impersonating my family’s name? Well, should I be angry or happy about this… “It feels really strange.”

“If you’re talking about impersonation, doesn’t that mean you might have relatives you don’t know about?”

“There are more than one Deoksu family in these eight provinces of Joseon… .”

Yulgok trailed off, thinking that it might be so. In response to Yulgok’s reaction, Woogye let out a playful voice.

“If it bothers you that much, why don’t you go see it in person? “I heard that the government decided to give Dongpyeong Pavilion to them.”

“No, give them Dongpyeong Hall? “Are you saying they are envoys from Japan?”

“Well, I don’t know either. “Well, let’s stop chatting and move slowly. I don’t think the fortuneteller might have lost his head waiting for us.”

Woogye was still leading the way, speaking in a playful voice.

Yulgok pursed his lips as he looked at Woogye and the procession passing through Namdaemun-ro.

“Dongpyeong Hall… It’s Dongpyeong Hall… .”

It was Yulgok that I thought I should visit Dongpyeong Hall in person.

I wanted to know whether the person was misrepresenting the family name, and if so, why he was misrepresenting the family name.

There were many people who committed evil deeds and passed the blame on to others, but it was rare for others to take credit for doing good deeds.

“Hey Yulgok! “What are you doing standing there?”

“Oh, he’s leaving now!”

Yulgok, who was lost in thought for a moment, stopped his thoughts when he heard Woo-gye’s shout and followed behind him.

He wanted to ask Woo-gye for forgiveness and run to Dongpyeong-gwan to ask him why he had used the false name of the Deoksu family, but he couldn’t because he had a friend who came all the way from Mt. Simhak to Hanyang to see him.

First of all, it was a meeting with friends. After meeting with his friends, Yulgok thought he should stop by Dongpyeonggwan before returning to Paju.