Namgoong the Sword Ghost - Chapter 215

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 215. The Sword Demon Casts for the Sinking Fish
“A major iron mine discovered in Zhejiang? You’re telling me that’s true?”
“Without doubt. Word is the Zhejiang Provincial Governor is rushing to the palace as we speak.”
“From what I’ve heard, it was found on Huiji Mountain south of Shaoxing…….”
“Shaoxing? You mean that place famous for its Shaoxing Governor?”
The imperial audience in Beijing had commenced in a fevered atmosphere.
It was immediately after news arrived that a massive iron mine with unprecedented deposits had been discovered in the Shaoxing region of Zhejiang Province.
‘Only the Zhejiang Provincial Governor got lucky!’
‘Tsk, isn’t the Zhejiang Provincial Governor one of the Eight Talents of Qinghua?’
‘Pah, if it were in the Sukun Faction’s territory, that would’ve been even better.’
‘Still, this is a golden opportunity! Enormous spoils will come cascading down!’
The officials harbored different thoughts, yet their desires were identical.
Each hoped to plant their chopsticks into the iron mine discovered in Zhejiang.
“Your Majesty, the Zhejiang Provincial Governor, Bae Sa Uk, has arrived.”
“Ah, bring him in at once!”
At the words of General Hwang Gyun, the Taicheng Emperor Eun Mu Gun brightened visibly and issued his command.
Hwang Gyun then signaled, and as the Golden Guard attendants opened the doors, a procession approached the imperial dais with bowed waists.
At the head of the group stood a middle-aged man with the bearing of a scholar-official, who made a deep bow to Eun Mu Gun and spoke.
“Your Sacred Majesty, whose radiance illuminates all under heaven and whose benevolence governs the people—Bae Sa Uk humbly presents his respects!”
He was Bae Sa Uk, the Zhejiang Provincial Governor.
A man of great renown, counted among the Eight Talents of Qinghua—one of those esteemed scholars whose wisdom earned the reverence of the learned world.
“This humble servant merely governs Zhejiang Province under your majesty’s grace, administering the people as a small provincial governor, yet such is your benevolence that I have gathered courage to stand before your noble presence.”
“Ahem, raise your head.”
Eun Mu Gun commanded with evident satisfaction, and Bae Sa Uk lifted his gaze.
“I have heard that you bring glad tidings.”
“Indeed, Your Sacred Majesty. I bring joyful news—I pray you receive it lightly.”
Though he asked them to hear it lightly, every eye in the hall had fixed upon Bae Sa Uk’s lips.
Bae Sa Uk smiled and spoke.
“A massive iron mine has been discovered on Huiji Mountain in Shaoxing. I venture to predict that its deposits will approach tens of billions to hundreds of billions of coins in total value.”
“Tens of billions!”
“Isn’t that more than the Jeongdae Iron Mine in Liaoning Province!”
“Good heavens…… so the rumors were true.”
At Bae Sa Uk’s confirmation that the rumor was fact, the air in the hall grew heated.
Immediately, debate erupted among the assembled officials.
“Surely this is a blessing upon our Eun dynasty and good fortune for the Six Ministries!”
“What? Why would this be fortune for the Six Ministries?”
“An iron mine falls under the Ministry of Works, does it not? Naturally, the Minister of Works should oversee it.”
“Nonsense—are you saying central authority should dictate to provincial officials?”
“And what’s wrong with that? The Minister is rank two, and a provincial administrator is rank two as well!”
“Dare you place a provincial governor on equal footing with a provincial administrator? All governors are tacitly treated as rank one!”
“Tacitly or not, a governor remains an administrator still.”
“How dare you!”
As the hall grew raucous, a man in his mid-to-late thirties raised his voice in a shout.
“Silence, all of you! This bounty belongs to none but the Eun imperial house! Speak no more of it!”
The stout man who bellowed thus bore an expression of naked avarice upon his broad face.
His small eyes glinted with greed, and his mouth curved upward with sinister intent.
This was Eun Cho Gwang, the First Prince.
The man closest to the imperial succession, backed by the support of the Sukun Faction.
‘Tsk, that gambling fool who never deigned to grace the imperial audience before…….’
‘The greedy pig—he came scrambling the moment he heard of an iron mine.’
‘If he’s not careful, he might end up boiling rice only to feed it to the dogs.’
As Eun Cho Gwang raised his voice, a trace of unease crossed the faces of the Qinghua Faction officials.
Conversely, the Sukun Faction ministers grew animated, rallying to support the First Prince.
“A most wise observation, Your Highness.”
“Indeed, all that emerges from Eun soil naturally belongs to the Eun imperial house!”
“Why not have His Highness the Prince oversee and manage it?”
“Splendid idea! With his capable talents, there could be no error—his judgment would be faultless!”
“Heh-heh-heh.”
At the flattery, Eun Cho Gwang nodded with evident satisfaction.
Yet even as he did, he harbored not the slightest intention of being exiled to some remote corner of Zhejiang for the sake of a single iron mine.
‘I hear the daughter of the Governor of Zhejiang Province is quite a beauty? If I took her as a concubine, I’d gain both a stunning woman and an iron mine—two birds with one stone, wouldn’t I? Heh, I’m truly brilliant.’
While Eun Cho Gwang marveled at his own cleverness, Eun Mu Gun’s voice continued.
“Ahem, ahem! Well done. How did you come to discover this?”
“On that subject, wouldn’t it be best to hear from the man himself?”
“The man himself?”
“Ho the craftsman. Step forward and explain.”
At Bae Sa Uk’s command, a sturdily built man emerged from the shadows, trembling visibly.
‘Where am I? Who am I?’
Wearing fine silk robes for the first time in his life, and with a leather belt cinching his waist, the world before him seemed to gleam yellow.
Ah, all that yellow—it was gold.
Could this be a dream?
Yes, it had to be a dream.
There was no way this could be real.
“Ahem, Ho the craftsman.”
The man, still denying reality, jolted awake at the sound of Bae Sa Uk’s throat-clearing and rushed back to his senses.
‘Right, right. I’m Ho Il Chi. This is the palace. Get your head straight!’
Ho Il Chi barely managed to rein in his soaring spirit and threw himself into a deep bow.
“Long live Your Majesty! I am Ho Il Chi, a blacksmith who operates a modest forge called the Tiannan Iron Workshop in Hefei, Anhui Province!”
“Ahem! Rise. Was it you who discovered the iron mine?”
“No, Your Majesty.”
“What?”
Gulp.
Ho Il Chi swallowed hard at the sound of the Emperor’s voice, which he’d only heard in stories, and spoke to himself.
‘Il Chi, do exactly as the young master told you. If you don’t, you might end up a fool instead of Il Chi.’
Ho Il Chi tensed his lower abdomen firmly and opened his mouth, resolved not to become a fool.
“The man who discovered the iron mine is a young nobleman of the Namgung Clan named Namgung Ho Yeon.”
“Namgung Ho Yeon?”
At the twitch of Eun Mu Gun’s brow, Eun Cho Ae, the Crown Princess, who had been listening nearby, added softly.
“Your Majesty, that is the name of the Secret Messenger of Silver Taicheng, rank seventh. He is the very man who prevented the destruction of the Samhyeop Dam in Uichang, Hubei beforehand.”
“Oh! That martial master of whom they speak?”
At the mention of the Samhyeop Dam, Eun Mu Gun’s eyes widened with keen interest.
He recalled bestowing a great reward upon the martial master who had preserved the honor of the Silver throne.
“But how did a martial master come to discover an iron mine?”
As Eun Mu Gun asked with evident curiosity, Ho Il Chi replied.
“The matter dates back several months. There was a time when the supply of iron entering Anhui suddenly ceased entirely.”
“Hmm?”
“Iron is a gift of the earth. Without it, farmers could not make their tools, carpenters could not forge nails and hammers, and physicians could not craft needles—the people of Anhui suffered greatly.”
“Indeed? Such hardship befell them?”
“Fortunately, through the efforts of the young nobleman, iron once again flowed freely, and it was from this lesson that Namgung Ho Yeon came to understand the true importance of iron.”
“Oh? Do continue.”
Eun Mu Gun leaned forward with interest, as if listening to a tale of wonder, and Ho Il Chi, emboldened by this attention, spoke more swiftly.
“After that, the young nobleman labored without rest to secure a stable supply of iron for the people of Anhui.”
“Most commendable.”
“But he did not stop at mere thought—he took action, assembling a survey team that included miners with excavation experience.”
“Oh?”
“Then one day, while searching through the family archives, the young nobleman happened upon an old diary whose author was unknown.”
“A diary?”
“The diary of Gou Jian, a man of the State of Yue.”
“Hmm?”
“Your Majesty, Gou Jian was the sixth king of Yue, the one who defeated King Fu Cha of Wu and led Yue into its golden age.”
“A king who led his nation into its golden age, you say…….”
As Eun Cho Ae supplied these details at precisely the right moment, the Emperor’s eyes began to shine brightly.
“From Gou Jian’s diary, the young nobleman learned of an iron mine on Huiji Mountain. Acting on this possibility, he dispatched a survey team—of which I was a member.”
“And so it came to pass.”
“While ordinary iron ore contains roughly thirty percent iron, the Shenyu Iron Mine boasts an iron content approaching sixty percent, proving to be of exceptional quality.”
“The Shenyu Iron Mine?”
“Ah, it is a term we miners use among ourselves. Shaoxing is the hometown of Xi Shi, the famed beauty of Yue, is it not?”
“Oh? That is rather clever.”
Eun Mu Gun nodded with appreciation.
It is said that when Xi Shi beheld her reflection in the river, the fish, so entranced by her beauty that they forgot to swim, sank beneath the surface—thus, “Sinking Fish.”
Why has the iron mine of the Moon Kingdom been submerged for centuries, only to surface now?
Eun Cho Ae whispered.
“Your Majesty, the Shenyu Iron Mine must surely be the decisive reason the Moon Kingdom defeated the Wu Kingdom.”
“Indeed. Iron of such purity would have given them an advantage in weaponry. It must have been a secret mine.”
“That a mine which led a nation to its golden age has been discovered—this is certainly a most auspicious sign. It is Heaven’s will that light shall shine upon the Silver Kingdom under Your Majesty’s leadership.”
“Is that so?”
At Eun Cho Ae’s words, a smile bloomed across Eun Mu Gun’s face.
For the first time in ages, his heart quickened, and memories of his vigorous youth before illness consumed him came rushing back.
‘What is she up to?’
Sensing the shift in atmosphere, the First Prince Eun Cho Gwang quickly spoke.
“That is correct, Father! Grant me full authority, I beseech you! As your son, I shall proclaim the glory of the Silver Kingdom far and wide!”
“Hmm…….”
“Iron mines are strategic assets. The Silver Imperial Household must manage them directly! Is that not so, Governor of Zhejiang Province?”
As Eun Cho Gwang glared with his narrow eyes, Bae Sa Uk nodded as if it were obvious.
“Of course.”
“Hahaha! Your words make sense!”
As Eun Cho Gwang laughed with satisfaction, Bae Sa Uk spoke with a meaningful smile.
“It is merely stating the obvious. Young Master Namgung must also know this, which is why he sent such a letter.”
“Cough, a letter, you say?”
As Eun Mu Gun asked, Bae Sa Uk reached into his robe and withdrew a letter, beginning to read.
“Allow me to read it. Ahem, when the Qi of Heaven and Earth flows abundantly throughout the realm, and when Your Most Sage Majesty’s gracious virtue illuminates all under Heaven, I, a mere commoner of the Martial World, dare to report this momentous discovery.”
The letter was from Namgung Ho Yeon, sent to the authorities immediately after the iron mine’s discovery.
‘In truth, the young master did not write this himself—ahem. I had some help from a skilled writer.’
No matter how much he admired the young master, he could never claim with a straight face that the boy possessed any talent for composition.
But here, only Ho Il Chi knew the truth.
From Bae Sa Uk’s lips poured forth words adorned with all manner of eloquent flourishes, as though they were Namgung Ho Yeon’s own.
“……Yet despite being entrusted with the weighty responsibility of Secret Messenger of Silver Taicheng, I have been unable to render any service, for which I am endlessly ashamed.”
“Ah…….”
Eun Mu Gun marveled.
The office bestowed upon the martial artist who had prevented the Samhyeop Dam’s destruction was merely honorary, granting no extraordinary privilege.
And yet this Namgung Ho Yeon lamented that he had not fulfilled his duties.
“Remarkable.”
“A loyal subject indeed.”
“Namgung Ho Yeon—is he not the prodigy recently called the Thunderous Youth?”
“A hero of our age.”
The ministers of the Qinghua Faction offered their praise as freely as Eun Mu Gun.
Bae Sa Uk continued.
“Therefore, I am grateful to Heaven and Earth for this opportunity to present all credit to Your Most Sage Majesty. Toward the eternal glory of Your Majesty, I, Namgung Ho Yeon, a humble commoner of the Martial World, respectfully bow my head in reverence.”
The letter ended.
Silence fell over the court.
Eun Cho Ae spoke.
“The Secret Messenger has offered the Shenyu Iron Mine entirely to Your Majesty. Now it seems Your Majesty need only make a decision.”
“Hmm… very good.”
Eun Mu Gun nodded and continued.
“I shall grant the Secret Messenger authority over the development and distribution of the Shenyu Iron Mine.”
“Father!”
“Your Majesty, that cannot be!”
“Iron mines are strategic assets! To entrust them to a private individual—!”
“I beg you to reconsider!”
Fierce objections erupted at Eun Mu Gun’s words.
But contrary to his usual manner, Eun Mu Gun shouted with firm resolve.
“Silence! The Shenyu Iron Mine could be discovered only because of the benevolent heart of the Secret Messenger, who thinks of the people of Anhui! To disregard that would bring Heaven’s punishment upon me!”
“But… Your Majesty……!”
“That the iron mine which brought the Moon Kingdom wealth and strength has been found in my reign speaks to the great merit of the Secret Messenger. Great merit must be rewarded accordingly.”
“Ah, Father! I have heard that all martial artists are rogues and vagrants! How could you abandon your own flesh and blood for such a trivial martial world fellow……!”
Eun Cho Gwang cried out like a child robbed of candy, and Eun Mu Gun’s anger flared.
“You insolent fool! How dare you speak so freely with such narrow-minded, petty thoughts! Martial artists are also subjects of the Silver Kingdom! Not only have you refused to embrace them—you would cast them out!”
“But Your Majesty, there is merit to what the Prince says!”
“That is true! What if the Secret Messenger harbors ill intent?”
“If iron flows to remnants of his native land, it could spell disaster!”
Though Eun Mu Gun’s position remained firm, the ministers facing the loss of vast interests rallied behind the First Prince regardless of factional lines.
It was then that Eun Cho Ae spoke.
“The Secret Messenger of Silver Taicheng is no mere martial artist. He belongs directly to the imperial house itself. Moreover, his maternal grandfather is none other than Peng Hwan, whom the martial world calls the Sage.”
“Peng Hwan? That man surely…….”
Eun Mu Gun turned to look at General Hwang Gyun.
Hwang Gyun nodded and opened his mouth.
“That is indeed the man—an old friend of mine whom we once invited to serve as Chief Instructor of the Golden Guard.”
“Ah, so he was Instructor Peng’s grandson? Haha! Then I have no concerns whatsoever.”
Eun Mu Gun recalled the great bear of a man who had once witnessed his martial prowess, and he laughed.
If he were that man’s grandson, there was every reason to trust him.
“The development and distribution of the Shenyu Iron Mine shall be entrusted to the Secret Messenger of Silver Taicheng. However, oversight and supervisory authority shall fall to the Governor of Zhejiang Province, so that both may cooperate and check one another to achieve results.”
“I am overwhelmed by Your Majesty’s grace.”
Bae Sa Uk bowed deeply.
‘Remarkable indeed. He truly achieved exactly what he intended.’
As Bae Sa Uk lifted his head, he cast a sidelong glance at Eun Cho Ae.
She gazed at the crimson ornamental pendant resting in her delicate hands, a faint smile playing at her lips.
‘Heh, Namgung Ho Yeon. Sending a bribe—how endearingly naive. Our aims would have aligned regardless.’
Eun Cho Ae slipped the warm pendant—still radiating its gentle heat—into her bosom.
Turning to meet the cold gaze of Eun Cho Gwang, she offered him a subtle nod and smiled inwardly.
‘Heh, brother dear. Do not feel so aggrieved. The difference between you and me is simply whether one has cultivated capable friends.’
A tempest bearing the name Namgung Ho Yeon swept through Beijing’s ever-turbulent political landscape.
* * *
Several days later.
[Changgung Pavilion].
“……Ho Yeon.”
“Oh, I forgot to prepare for the academy. Father, I should get going…….”
“Sit.”
“Yes, Father.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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