Chapter 149: That Autumn. (4)
"I have returned."
Upon returning to the Pioneer Group headquarters, Kim Jong-seo went straight to Hwang Hui's office and announced his return.
Hwang Hui, who had been wrestling with documents piled like a mountain, raised his head to look at Kim Jong-seo and spoke.
"Well done~. Good job. I dragged you here to do brushwork, yet you went out and did swordwork instead?"
"My apologies."
"Enough. You're not injured anywhere, are you?"
"No, sir."
"Then wash up, change your clothes, and get straight to work."
"Um... couldn't I rest just for today?"
When Kim Jong-seo requested a break in response to Hwang Hui's command, Hwang Hui leaned back against his chair and glared at him.
"Did I order you to go running around doing swordwork?"
"No, sir. But..."
"You kept singing about returning to Hanseong within five years, didn't you?"
"...I'll get straight to work."
Kim Jong-seo immediately backed down at Hwang Hui's words.
"Ah, those who went to 'Musan'..."
"They already returned the day before yesterday, and both the household register and land register have been verified and approved."
"Yes..."
Kim Jong-seo, who had tried to use 'Musan' as an excuse to slip away more easily, couldn't hide his disappointment, and Hwang Hui added briefly to such a Kim Jong-seo.
"I've put the things that need immediate processing on your desk, so handle them right away."
"...Yes."
"Within five years..."
"I'm going, I'm going!"
* * *
When Hwang Hui organized the Pioneer Group, Kim Jong-seo naturally became the second-in-command.
From the beginning, Kim Jong-seo hadn't secured his position as second-in-command. When Hwang Hui first made his selections, there were several others with similar experience and rank to Kim Jong-seo.
Among these people, what made Kim Jong-seo stand out was that he was the first to give a good answer to the problem Hwang Hui had posed.
Thanks to this, by the time the Pioneer Group that arrived in the Northeast region began full-scale work, Kim Jong-seo had firmly established himself as the indisputable second-in-command.
As the Northeast Pioneer Group began moving in earnest, those whom Hwang Hui initially selected and worked with organized a basic administrative organization. When administrative districts were completed, they either had Hanseong send local officials or appointed tribal leaders of surrendered Jurchen tribes as native officials to stabilize the administrative organization.
Thus, while advancing the Northeast development, Kim Jong-seo drove the Pioneer Group's officials hard.
"From what I see, the complete annexation of the Tumen River region, our first goal, will be finished in five years. In five years, I'll leave this wretched place and return to Hanseong!
If we're even a single day late beyond those five years? Both I and all of you will die! So, you all better stay on your toes!
Did you do research wrong and have to start over from the beginning? You die.
Did you write documents incorrectly and miss the approval time? You're dead.
Did you lose or damage documents you worked hard on and have to rewrite them? I'll end you! Understood!"
"Yes!"
The officials immediately responded to Kim Jong-seo's threats, which revealed his extreme 'love for Hanseong.'
For the officials as well, returning to Hanseong early was something they desired. They were all people summoned from the court in Hanseong. Their families and acquaintances were all in Hanseong.
* * *
As things progressed this way, the positions of Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo became established as 'mother-in-law and sister-in-law' to the Pioneer Group's officials.
Thanks to this, the officials would feel relieved and satisfied whenever Kim Jong-seo got scolded by Hwang Hui.
"My Lord! Why do you only scold me?"
As the days of being scolded continued, Kim Jong-seo confronted Hwang Hui. To Kim Jong-seo's question, Hwang Hui answered simply.
"Because you're the administrative deputy."
"Pardon?"
"When there's a problem with documents coming up from below, should I chase after them and scold them one by one? Your job is to first check whether there are problems or not and reduce my work. Conversely, it's also your job to find the right person for the work I assign and pass it on."
At Hwang Hui's pointing out, Kim Jong-seo fell silent, because it was correct.
"Then why do you nag me?"
"Because you work well."
"That doesn't sound like a compliment."
"You're right. But it will all be a good experience for you. Who knows? Maybe after I die, you might take my position?"
At Hwang Hui's words, Kim Jong-seo revealed his inner thoughts without realizing it.
"I think I'll die first before that happens?"
"Shut up! Get out and work!"
Kim Jong-seo, driven out by Hwang Hui, kept grumbling.
"How does an old man come here and get even healthier?"
As Kim Jong-seo complained, Hwang Hui's face began to show color as he escaped Hanseong.
Kim Jong-seo, returning to his room, saw Hwang Hui's servant brewing medicine and grumbled again.
"Damn tonic medicine."
* * *
From some time ago, the Chief State Councillors and Ministers in Hanseong had been steadily sending tonic medicine to Hwang Hui.
"The friendship among the Lords is truly beautiful to see."
Looking at the tonic medicines wrapped in silk cloth, Kim Jong-seo expressed his envy, and Hwang Hui grumbled.
"Friendship my foot... They're telling me to take medicine and hold on to work healthily until I die. That's not a gift, it's poison, poison!"
"Then let me take that poison in your stead..."
"Scram! Go work!"
Whenever the tonic medicine of unknown whether it was an expression of friendship or malice arrived, Hwang Hui diligently took it.
Perhaps the medicine worked well, as Hwang Hui flew around with a healthy complexion.
He flew around so well that rumors spread among the government courtesans of various government offices in Hamgil Province, including Gilju.
'Lord Hwang is aging backwards!'
* * *
Having washed away the dust and fatigue accumulated on his body, and changed into official robes, Kim Jong-seo returned to his office.
"Hoo~."
Seeing the pile of documents on his desk, Kim Jong-seo sighed. Sitting in the chair and staring blankly at the document pile, Kim Jong-seo muttered quietly.
"Lord's position..."
It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted by Hwang Hui's words. Since entering government service and rising in official position, rising to Chief State Councillor or Minister and being called 'Lord' was the dream of all officials.
"Is that why you dragged them around like that?"
Working in the Northeast development area meant enormous labor intensity and stress. Therefore, Hwang Hui set up rotations for officials working in the Pioneer Group and sent ten-day vacations whenever they sent monthly regular reports.
Considering the time to travel between the development area and Hanseong, even with a ten-day vacation, the maximum time actually spent at home was two or three days. Therefore, officials who received vacations rode horses and ran for their lives. Sometimes, the cavalry carrying reports fell behind the officials.
The advantage for Pioneer Group officials over those working in Hanseong was that they could purchase high-quality horses at cheap prices.
True to the Northeast region, where the saying 'What's overflowing are guys good at fighting and horses, what's lacking is everything else' fit, powerful and fast-running horses raised by Jurchens were common. Thanks to this, officials could return to Hanseong in quick time without relying on relay stations.
* * *
Of course, Kim Jong-seo couldn't receive such vacations.
"My Lord! Why can't I!"
"You brat! I told you, even if you die, you go with me!"
Kim Jong-seo would only go to Hanseong following Hwang Hui during quarterly reports when Hwang Hui personally reported to King Sejong.
Even when returning to Hanseong, Kim Jong-seo couldn't enjoy 'Hanseong life.' He had to stand before King Sejong with Hwang Hui and conduct reports, and when leaving the office, he had to head to the gisaeng house with Hwang Hui, not his home.
At the gisaeng house, other Chief State Councillors and Ministers gathered, along with those of similar rank to Kim Jong-seo.
Thus gathered in one room, the Chief State Councillors and Ministers gathered among themselves to share drinks and conversation, while Kim Jong-seo sat with those who seemed to be in similar situations to himself.
"What is this even supposed to be..."
At Kim Jong-seo's complaint, the person sitting across from him spoke with a similar expression.
"Was Administrative Deputy Kim Jong-seo dragged here too?"
"Indeed I was. Your name is..."
When Kim Jong-seo cautiously opened his mouth, the man sitting across laughed and continued.
"How rude of me! My apologies! I am Hwangbo In! Right now I'm being dragged around under the Minister of Justice over there."
At Hwangbo In's words, Kim Jong-seo also laughed and continued.
"As you know, I am Kim Jong-seo. Right now I'm being dragged around by the leash around my neck by Lord Hwang Hui there."
Starting with the conversation between Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In, they began introducing themselves.
Their ages ranged from twenties to forties, but their ranks were all similar.
However, there was one biggest commonality. All those dragged here were being tormented by those old men laughing and chatting over there.
At some point, those gathered like this bonded and began laughing and chatting. Though courtesans were beside them, perhaps due to the sense of solidarity from suffering in similar positions, they quickly became close, calling each other brother and sharing friendship.
"It is truly a beautiful sight."
"Indeed it is."
The Chief State Councillors and Ministers sharing stories at the head table smiled at the sight. Taking the wine cup filled by the courtesan beside him to his lips, Kim Jeom spoke.
"Short as ten years, long as twenty years. By then, they will fill the royal council and receive His Majesty's torment."
"That would be so."
At Kim Jeom's words, other ministers also nodded and emptied their cups. Their faces as they emptied their cups were filled with many emotions.
"We have truly grown old as well."
"We have aged."
"Truly a life full of ups and downs."
As Maeng Sa-seong said, their lives were truly turbulent.
They were people who had emerged from all sorts of crises with their whole bodies at the center of every major and minor event, such as the dynasty change between Goryeo and Joseon, and the Princes' Strife.
"We still bear traces of Goryeo, but they won't have those traces."
"Starting with them, they will become proper subjects of Joseon."
While sharing stories with expressions of having attained enlightenment in life, Heo Jo made a joke to Hwang Hui.
"Of course, Lord Hwang is suffering together with them."
At Heo Jo's words, the other ministers burst into laughter simultaneously.
"Suffer well, Lord Hwang."
"I'll make sure to send your tonic medicine diligently."
At the ministers' jokes, Hwang Hui snorted and returned the joke.
"Do you know what's abundant in the Northeast region? Seal genitals, deer antlers, and musk coming from east of the Tumen River. I'll send them according to your head count. Since we're aging together anyway, isn't it good to go together when the time comes?"
With a single strike, Hwang Hui sank the ministers.
* * *
"Hmm... Lord's position..."
Kim Jong-seo, who kept muttering the word 'Lord,' recalled the shining faces of Hwang Hui and the ministers and shook his head.
"They're all aging backwards... I wonder what medicine they take... Later, won't the royal council be crawling with old monsters..."
Recalling the vigorous appearance of the ministers 'rejuvenating amid the tonic medicines going back and forth,' Kim Jong-seo thought of his acquaintance he met at the drinking gathering.
"I wonder how my friend Hwangbo In is doing?"
"Sir! His Lordship says to quickly process the documents and send them!"
"Understood!"
Coming to his senses at the servant's urging from outside the door, Kim Jong-seo hurriedly spread out the documents.
* * *
The report regarding 'the ministers and the poor souls dragged around by them' went up to King Sejong immediately through the secret report system.
"Oh~. Look at this."
After sending away even the historians on the excuse of resting, Sejong, who received the report, sparkled his eyes.
'The discernment of Chief State Councillors and Ministers is more exacting than anyone. Yet they drag them to gisaeng houses even though they're not blood relatives? Oh my...'
"Shall I call them?"
Sejong, who muttered to himself, soon shook his head.
"No, no. If done wrong, the secret report system could be exposed."
Making the judgment that the loss could be greater than the gain, Sejong soon gave up the thought.
Sejong, who put the report in a secret space, took out phonology books from beside it.
"Now let's see... What I've contemplated so far..."