# Chapter 162: Purge (2)
The battle between Seo-seon's private soldier remnants and the Sword Guild was fierce.
The private soldier remnants fought desperately to escape, while the Sword Guild attacked with lethal intent to avenge the damage they had suffered.
"Why are you blocking us?"
"Like I said before, debts must be paid!"
Clang! Clang! Crash!
"Chase them!"
"Capture them!"
In the back alleys of Unjong-ga, an even more brutal battle unfolded than the one at Gyeongbok Palace.
True to being men gathered by Yangnyeong while traveling across the country, the private soldiers' martial skills were exceptional.
However, the Sword Guild's skills were not to be underestimated either.
The Sword Guild members were either former private soldiers of powerful noble families or men who had learned martial arts but failed to pass the military examination.
Added to that, the Sword Guild not only had numerical superiority but also knew how to fight dirty.
Squelch!
"Gack!"
"We've already killed three of them, yet these stubborn bastards...."
Goinam, who had slashed deeply across the chest of a guild member attacking him, scanned his surroundings to find an escape route.
Suddenly, sharp flying daggers flew from behind and embedded themselves in his arm and leg.
"Kuk!"
The moment the dagger pierced his leg, Ginam staggered with a short scream.
In that instant, not missing the opening, a Sword Guild member drove his blade into Ginam's chest.
Clatter!
The moment the sword pierced his chest, Ginam's blade fell from his hand.
The guild member who had stabbed Ginam in the chest kicked him away with his foot.
As the sword was pulled out, Ginam reached his hand forward. He tried to say something, his mouth moving, but breath was escaping through his pierced chest.
Eventually, Ginam collapsed to the ground with a look of futile despair.
The battle that had thus begun finally ended after one shichen had passed.
"We've killed them all."
"Good work. What are our losses?"
"Eight from Dadong, six from Bukchon, and eight from us."
"This is... Tsk!"
The Unjong-ga Sword Guild master who received the report clicked his tongue.
The damage was more severe than expected. If he combined the losses from fighting those damned rebels all this time, they had lost about half of their total members.
"What should we do with the bodies?"
"Gather all the weapons and dump them in front of the Magistrate's Office."
"Yes, understood."
Having given orders to his members, the Unjong-ga Guild master walked toward the other guild masters.
"The losses are great."
"Indeed."
The Dadong Guild master gave a short reply, but the Bukchon Guild master's complexion was not good.
"Though His Majesty will take care of compensation for the dead, the problem is filling our ranks."
At the Bukchon Guild master's words, the other two guild masters nodded with serious faces.
The Dadong Guild master, pondering the recruitment problem, turned to look at the other guild masters.
"I think targeting military examination failures would be best."
As King Sejong's government reforms progressed, the distinction between civil and military officials became definite. Positions that were merely military in name but actually handled civil duties had disappeared.
As a result, the number of people challenging the military examination increased greatly.
Moreover, with the rumor that a military academy would be established soon officially confirmed, the competition rate had become even higher.
However, the widened gate for the military examination due to the increased competition rate hadn't shown much improvement.
Therefore, the Dadong Guild master proposed targeting these examination failures.
At the Dadong Guild master's words, the Bukchon Guild master pointed out a problem.
"That would be best, but the problem is how to handle the stubborn pride of those who took the examination, even if they failed. In their eyes, aren't we an unjust Sword Guild?"
At the Bukchon Guild master's words, the two guild masters spoke simultaneously.
"Until recently, we were unjust fellows."
"My point exactly...."
"Really, you people!"
After some verbal sparring, the guild masters reached a conclusion to 'recruit military examination failures' and moved on.
"What do you think will happen next?"
"What do you mean?"
"The palace invasion has been suppressed, but isn't the south still in chaos?"
At the Dadong Guild master's words, the Unjong-ga and Bukchon guild masters fell into thought. After a long silence, the oldest, the Bukchon Guild master, spoke.
"We must keep our heads down for a while. We absolutely must not take initiative except to carry out His Majesty's commands."
At the Bukchon Guild master's words, the Dadong and Unjong-ga guild masters nodded.
"That would be best. Laying low for now would be wise. A cold storm is about to hit Gyeongbok Palace."
"There's also the saying about discarding the hunting dog once the hare is caught."
In the guild masters' view, while their existence might be a useful tool for King Sejong, politically they could become a hindrance.
'At times like this, keeping your head down and watching carefully is the best approach!'
* * *
As the guild masters predicted, a cold storm was sweeping inside Geunjeong Hall.
Sejong, still wearing his armor and seated on the throne, looked down at his ministers with a fierce expression.
At Sejong's expression, the ministers were on edge, merely swallowing their saliva.
'What on earth should I say...'
'I finally got to leave work on time after so long!'
'I knew these past few days were too comfortable!'
The ministers, department heads, and high officials filling Geunjeong Hall were screaming internally.
Since the uprising occurred in the south, Sejong's attention was focused solely on the Ministry of War.
Of course, he hadn't completely lost interest in other matters, but given the situation, all government affairs were centered around the Ministry of War.
Additionally, due to the uprising, various petitions and administrative reports from the regions had been completely cut off.
Thanks to this, departments other than the Ministry of War unexpectedly found some leisure.
As a result, officials of the Six Ministries were enjoying the joy of leaving work on time for the first time in a while.
However, as if displeased by seeing them so at ease, an unimaginable event—the palace invasion—had occurred.
As they quietly watched Sejong's mood, Chief State Councillor I Jik cautiously spoke.
"Despite such an unjust situation occurring, the fact that Your Majesty's royal person remains unharmed is truly heaven's protection."
"That is right! This is truly heaven's protection!"
At I Jik's words, the ministers chanted 'heaven's protection' in unison.
At the ministers' words, Sejong answered briefly with a calm expression.
"I think so as well. However, the contributions of the Royal Guard and Palace Guard who did their utmost to suppress the rebels, including the Crown Prince, are very great."
At those words, the Chief Inspector immediately raised an objection.
"As Your Majesty says, their contributions are great, but the crime of allowing the palace invasion is also great. We must weigh these matters."
"That was by my command."
"Pardon?"
Momentarily bewildered by Sejong's answer, the Chief Inspector raised his voice even more.
"Then we must punish them even more severely! Even if there was Your Majesty's command, drawing rebels all the way to Geunjeong Hall is something that should never happen! If something had happened to Your Majesty's royal person, it would have been an earth-shattering event that would immediately shake the kingdom!"
"From the beginning, the Royal Guard Commander and Training Commander advocated for my evacuation. This was my unilateral decision, so they cannot be punished."
Sejong, referring to himself as 'Gwa-in' to humble himself, protected the Training Commander and Royal Guard Commander.
"However!"
When the Chief Inspector continued to object, Sejong's voice became sharp.
"Chief Inspector! Then what should have been the right course of action! Should we have fought street battles outside Gyeongbok Palace to block the rebels' invasion? Do you think it would have been right to make all those countless alleys of Hanyang into battlefields and use innocent people as shields while firing cannons? If that had happened, would we have been able to suppress them in such a short time?"
At Sejong's rebuke, the Chief Inspector fell silent.
Sejong's point was valid. If they had fought outside Gyeongbok Palace to block the invasion, fierce street battles would have ensued. In that case, civilian casualties would certainly have been enormous.
There was already such a precedent.
The street battle in Gaegyeong between the army commanded by Yi Seong-gye, who had turned back from Wihwa Island, and the army commanded by Choe Yeong was that precedent.
Ultimately, the Chief Inspector had to bow his head and admit his mistake.
"Please forgive my short-sightedness."
"I understand you said that out of concern for me, but I also made this decision after much deliberation, so speak no more of it."
"I will engrave this in my bones."
After Sejong silenced the Chief Inspector, Meng Sa-seong, who had been quietly listening to Sejong's words, spoke.
"Your Majesty, did you perhaps anticipate that this great treason would occur?"
At Meng Sa-seong's question, Sejong answered briefly.
"There was intelligence."
"Then wouldn't it have been better to capture the rebels beforehand?"
"Are you saying I should have arrested my own brother without solid evidence?"
At Sejong's question, Meng Sa-seong also had to bow his head.
"Please forgive my short-sightedness! I was only worried about Your Majesty's safety!"
"Since I understand why you said that, I will not reproach you. Just know that I also had many concerns."
"Your grace is boundless."
After the conversation with Meng Sa-seong ended, the Minister of Justice stepped forward.
"How should we handle the punishment of the criminals?"
"The suppression of the uprising in the south has not yet ended. After that matter is concluded, we will handle them all together."
"I obey your command."
Not long after Sejong's words ended, the Chief Eunuch entered and announced.
"The Training Commander requests an audience."
"Let him enter."
Shortly after, the Training Commander who entered Geunjeong Hall offered a military salute to Sejong and spoke.
"We have imprisoned the ringleaders of the rebels."
"You have worked hard."
"Also, a message came from the Magistrate's Office that a group of bodies has been dumped in front of the office. Judging by their attire, they appear to be rebels who participated in this palace invasion."
"Is that so?"
'The Sword Guild has finished the cleanup.'
Sejong, who had a rough idea of who had done such a thing, immediately gave an order.
"Tell them to investigate who performed such a meritorious deed."
"Yes. Also, a report has come from the soldiers sent to Bukchon. They say they have secured a list of people who conspired with the rebel ringleaders."
"Those who conspired may flee, so order them to be captured and imprisoned immediately."
"I obey your command!"
"And how was the handling of the ringleaders' family homes?"
"According to the report brought by the messenger, they have finished suppression."
"As soon as it dawns, send a messenger to bring them all into custody."
"Yes!"
"And provide sufficient rest for the soldiers. They may need to head south immediately if necessary."
"Yes!"
Having received Sejong's orders, the Training Commander offered a military salute and immediately went outside.
'Where is this smell of blood coming from...'
'I feel like I'm going to vomit...'
The ministers listening to the conversation between Sejong and the Training Commander felt a thick scent of blood wafting from somewhere and nausea rising.
It was the scent of blood and nausea etched in their minds from experiencing those brutal purges during King Taejong's reign.
* * *
As soon as dawn broke the next day, a messenger galloped toward the Gyeonggi Provincial Military Camp.
Sejong continued to attend to government affairs while still wearing his armor.
"Your Majesty, isn't it time to remove the armor now?"
I Jik suggested removing the armor, but Sejong refused flatly.
"I will not remove it until the rebellion in the south comes to an end."
At Sejong's firm answer, the ministers had to fall silent.
The report on the battle between the local aristocrats who had risen up in the south and the Joseon army came in on the sixth day after the uprising began.
"Your Majesty! A report from Chungcheong Provincial Military Camp! It is a great victory!"
Jo Mal-saeng, who ran into Geunjeong Hall, announced the Joseon army's great victory and handed the report to the Chief Eunuch.
Having received the report from the Chief Eunuch, Sejong read through it quickly.
Having finished reading what was written in the report, Sejong looked at his ministers.
"Truly good news. The soldiers of Chungcheong Provincial Military Camp have annihilated the rebels in Cheonan."
It was the first victory report the court had been waiting for.