Ch.324Exam (1)

The Emperor stared at me with piercing eyes.

His expression seemed to ask why I had done such a thing.

“I understand leading government troops to suppress gangsters.”

The Emperor paused briefly.

Then, staring into my eyes, he scolded me.

“But do you know what it means that you’re rescuing craftsmen and researching firearms?”

I nodded immediately at his words.

“I know what Your Majesty is concerned about.”

“You knew and still did it?”

Two veins popped on the Emperor’s forehead.

If I stopped now, he looked ready to behead me on the spot.

So I continued speaking without pause.

“You must be thinking I might be dreaming of rebellion.”

“Wrong.”

The Emperor said this while staring at me.

After meeting his gaze for a moment, I realized why he was acting this way.

“Now you’ve figured it out.”

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

“It’s too late. Word has already spread throughout Hanyang that you and Prince Anchang are working together.”

Prince Anchang was aiming for the throne.

If I frequently visited his home, such rumors were inevitable.

“Did you intend to make him Emperor?”

“Yes.”

“Hmph.”

Saying such things to the Emperor’s face was extremely dangerous.

Though it was my original family, interfering with another family’s—especially another imperial family’s—succession rights was unacceptable.

In a way, it could be considered meddling in internal affairs.

“Get out now. And I’m revoking all the promises I made to you.”

The Emperor issued an order of expulsion.

Naturally, Im Kkeokjeong approached from behind me.

As he approached, I realized this was my last chance and immediately shouted:

“Don’t you know it’s more dangerous to pass the throne to your grandson, Your Majesty?”

Blood vessels appeared in the Emperor’s eyes.

Then, with unexpected strength, he grabbed my collar and lifted me up.

Though I was 12 years old, I was quite heavy to lift with one hand.

I couldn’t help but be surprised at how easily he lifted me.

“If you wag that open mouth carelessly, your neck will snap and you’ll die.”

“If my head falls, what do you think will happen back in my country?”

“Ha! Now you’re threatening me with your own life.”

I must have touched a nerve, as the Emperor’s grip tightened.

My throat constricted and breathing became difficult.

Knowing I might lose consciousness if I delayed any longer, I had no choice but to shout:

“If the Crown Prince inherits the throne, corrupt officials will gain power, and Prince Anchang will have no choice but to act against them. This will only lead to the tragedy of family members killing each other!”

When I shouted about the tragedy of family killing family, the Emperor’s face turned bright red.

He exhaled deeply as if about to twist my neck right then.

Just as I thought I was going to die, the Emperor threw me to the floor.

“Kugh… ugh…”

“Haa… haa… Family killing family? Are you threatening me that my bloodlines will point swords at each other?”

“Yes.”

“Such an arrogant, insolent mouth…!”

As the Emperor was about to rage, I stretched out my hand pointing westward.

I wasn’t sure if it was actually west, but anywhere outside would do.

“Have you forgotten that my father fled from our country, practically exiled, to Goryeo?”

“…”

“That’s what power is, Your Majesty.”

“The Mongols broke the principle of primogeniture succession, which is why that happened. Therefore, I will follow my ancestors’ will and adhere to primogeniture.”

The Emperor breathed heavily as he berated me.

At this, I shook my head and spoke.

“It wasn’t because of primogeniture. My grandfather, Tayan Khan, favored his second son, my uncle, but only in words, not actions.”

“What do you mean?”

“If he truly wanted to yield the position of Ulus Khagan to his second son, he should have dealt with the other heirs.”

Harsh but realistic.

Having many heirs meant having many competitors.

With over 40 successors participating in the Prince’s Rebellion, it was obvious how virile my grandfather Tayan Khan had been.

In that situation, Tayan Khan chose his second son as successor. And then did nothing.

Hoping his sons would get along well.

“He should have handled his sons—confine them, imprison them, or kill them. That would have prevented the Prince’s Rebellion.”

“Are you criticizing me now!”

The Emperor glared at me, grinding his teeth.

I nodded.

“Your Majesty has grown old.”

When I directly stated he was old, the Emperor looked dumbfounded.

He was indeed old and had reached an age where death could come at any time.

So it was difficult for him to deny my words.

“Who will protect your grandson when you’re gone?”

“Prince Anchang… Hyeon-i is someone I can trust.”

So Prince Anchang’s real name was Hyeon-i.

“Prince Anchang wouldn’t kill his relatives for the throne. However.”

In truth, Prince Anchang seemed like someone who would kill even his nephew for power.

With his sly eyes, sometimes scholarly, sometimes roguish.

People with such duality often had unpleasant personalities.

The kind who would keep fighting until they won, gritting their teeth.

“Will those around him really remain idle?”

“…”

“When a child who cannot make decisions sits on the throne, anyone would covet that position.”

“Arrogant, disrespectful, and brazen.”

The Emperor criticized me with these words.

But unlike before, his face showed no anger.

Rather, it reflected a calmness like a clear mirror.

“Your Majesty must decide.”

“Decide?”

“Yes. Whether to kill all your ministers so Prince Anchang cannot harbor vain dreams.”

Many claimed they rebelled only because ministers incited them.

I subtly suggested Prince Anchang could change like that too.

“Or kill Prince Anchang to eliminate future troubles.”

Kill your son with your own hands.

This was impossible.

“Both are impossible.”

This was within my prediction range.

So I offered the Emperor another suggestion.

“If both are difficult, then pass the throne to Prince Anchang but have your grandson succeed him.”

“Have my grandson succeed him?”

“Yes. Prince Anchang is married but has no children yet. He might have children later, but by the time that child grows up, the Crown Prince will already be an adult.”

“I wonder if Prince Anchang would willingly pass the throne.”

“Don’t worry. By then, Prince Anchang will be like the setting sun.”

Prince Anchang was 30 years old.

Even if he had a child now, by the time that child turned 16, Prince Anchang would be 46.

At 46, he would still be vigorous, but not as much as the Crown Prince in his twenties.

Moreover, legitimacy would lie with the Crown Prince, so Prince Anchang would have no choice but to yield the throne.

“The setting sun… Still, it’s hard to believe your words.”

“Then I will become the Crown Prince’s guardian.”

“You?”

“I am the Crown Prince of my country. Therefore, I believe I am qualified.”

The age difference between me and the Crown Prince was about 6 years.

So it might seem absurd for a child to become another child’s guardian.

“What nonsense. Do you know what absurdity you’re speaking?”

“Of course. This is the only way to avoid family killing family.”

The Emperor tried to retort.

I cut him off before he could speak.

“It’s the way to maintain Goryeo’s autonomy that Your Majesty desires, and the way to prevent Prince Anchang from killing his nephew.”

“Hmph.”

The Emperor clicked his tongue.

Then he approached me.

I got up from the floor where I had been sprawled.

I casually dusted myself off and bowed.

“And it’s the way for me to survive.”

Hearing my words, the Emperor stopped in his tracks.

Then he let out a long sigh.

“If you hadn’t said that, I might have twisted your neck right away.”

At his chilling words, I nodded repeatedly.

Seemingly pleased with my reaction, the Emperor stepped back again.

“But this doesn’t excuse your actions.”

“What do you mean?”

“Firearms.”

At the Emperor’s words, I closed my mouth.

As he said, what I had explained was just a side issue, not an answer about why I was looking for firearms craftsmen.

“Why are you looking for firearms craftsmen? And what do you intend to do with them?”

“To fight Mongol cavalry.”

“Fight Mongol cavalry? With firearms?”

“Yes.”

The Emperor burst into laughter.

“Infantry against cavalry? You must say this because you’re young and don’t understand battle!”

“Shut up, descendant.”

The words “I lived with Yesugei, eating, sleeping, and fighting wars every day, so I’ve done more than you” rose to my throat.

“Ten swift cavalrymen can devastate 500 infantry. This is written in the military tactics recorded by the Mongol founder.”

I wrote military tactics?

I never wrote such things… it seemed some false documents were circulating.

Anyway, the Emperor’s words weren’t completely wrong.

The famous incident of Jin heavy cavalry devastating 500 Song infantry was too well-known.

“Yet you say infantry can face cavalry.”

“It’s possible.”

I showed strong conviction that might seem like childish stubbornness.

The Emperor seemed intrigued by my demeanor and changed his expression.

“Very well. Let’s make a wager.”

“A wager, Your Majesty?”

“Yes. I’ll test you when you come of age. If you fail this test, you must forfeit your life.”

“And if I win, what happens?”

The Emperor looked at me as if I were audacious.

Then, with a smile at the corner of his mouth, he continued.

“If you win, I’ll consider your proposal.”