The Evil Martial God Chronicles - Chapter 101

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Legend of the Evil Martial God

Chapter 101

 

 

 

The Minister of Finance who had fainted while foaming at the mouth.

Unlike the Minister of War who had been a martial artist, the Minister of Finance who was a civil official had fainted much faster.

The Minister of War, who had been watching this scene from the corner, couldn’t bear to watch anymore and turned his head away.

Memories of when he had suffered the same fate came flooding back, filling his entire body with terror, and he covered his ears while turning his body toward the wall, trembling violently.

The Sigang Scholar observed this and thought to himself.

The Minister of War would never be able to refuse the Emperor’s orders again.

And he looked at Jeok Wigang.

Though it had been a chance encounter, he thought it wasn’t really by chance.

He believed that Heaven had sent this divine being for His Majesty’s sake and for the peace of this nation.

 

 

 

That evening.

The Minister of Finance was answering the Imperial Secretariat’s questions with a brisk voice and utmost sincerity.

 

“Is the budget really insufficient?”

“No! We can do it! I’ll gather the staff right now and even if we have to work through the night, I’ll have the budget proposal processed by tomorrow!”

“But earlier you said there wasn’t any.”

“I have committed a mortal sin!”

“Why did you say there wasn’t any?”

“Th-that is…”

 

The moment he tried to read the situation.

 

“Oh? Your answer is getting slower? Your Majesty. It seems the education isn’t finished yet. Just give me a little more time…”

 

Before Jeok Wigang could even finish speaking, he desperately began explaining the reason.

 

“I-I was implementing austerity measures to curry favor with the next person in power!”

“To curry favor?”

“Y-yes! Even though the Imperial Palace is in chaos now, eventually someone will seize power, and if I don’t properly serve what they want, wouldn’t my life be over? So I saved and saved again!”

“You did it to survive?”

“Y-yes! Please believe me!”

 

It made sense.

Currying favor with the next person in power would have been more beneficial than pleasing the currently powerless Emperor.

 

“I understand. For now, let’s put out the urgent fire first.”

“Yes! Your Majesty! I’ll prepare the military budget right away and send it to the front lines!”

“Is just sending it enough?”

“Th-that is… N-no! We must also conduct an audit to ensure the budget is being used properly. B-but since you said it’s urgent, we could skip that part…”

“No. Work should be done properly, shouldn’t it? I’ll take care of sending someone for the audit myself.”

“I-if that’s what you wish, I shall prepare the budget.”

 

Ju Seo-gi nodded and said.

 

“You must be busy, so you may withdraw now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

 

Unlike when he had walked in confidently earlier, he now bowed his head and slowly backed out.

Since Jeok Wigang had completely healed his broken leg, he was able to walk out normally.

Just as he came outside and was about to hurry away.

A voice echoed in the Minister of Finance’s head.

 

– Continue acting like you did just now. Otherwise, I’ll make your life into hell.

 

Terror rising from his toes made him barely manage to nod his head.

 

– Good. Go on.

 

Permission was granted and he hurried away running.

And he thought to himself.

The real person in power at the Imperial Palace had been decided.

It was Jeok Wigang.

Just as he had expected, he would now spend the budget according to what the real person in power wanted.

With that thought, he ran with all his might.

The remaining Minister of War expressed his gratitude to Ju Seo-gi.

 

“Thanks to Your Majesty, the military’s morale will rise.”

“That’s fortunate. That the matter was handled smoothly.”

 

Was this handled smoothly?

It seemed more like it was forcibly processed.

 

“But who are you thinking of sending for the audit?”

 

The Minister of War asked cautiously.

Since audits were a sensitive matter, he was planning to ask for a favor if someone was being sent.

 

“I’m thinking of sending Compiler Jeok.”

 

The Minister of War hung his head.

He wasn’t someone who could be persuaded.

 

‘I’m sorry. I hope you only skimmed a little if possible.’

 

The Minister of War sent silent consolation to the generals who would be at the battlefield.

 

 

 

Only after the Minister of War left did Ju Seo-gi tell Jeok Wigang about what had happened during the day.

The Sigang Scholar beside him spoke with a flustered expression.

 

“I-is that really true?”

“That’s right. They came swarming in like that and left.”

“I shall beg forgiveness on behalf of the Hanlin Academy!”

 

As the Sigang Scholar prostrated himself, Ju Seo-gi spoke.

 

“That’s enough. Well, it’s not like this is the first or second time I’ve dealt with this.”

“Your Majesty….”

 

Jeok Wigang spoke.

 

“I will properly educate them later so they never act like that again.”

“Hahaha! Would you do that? Thanks to Compiler Jeok today, I feel like ten years of indigestion has been relieved.”

“Not at all. I’m only sorry for showing Your Majesty such an unseemly sight.”

“No. I know well that Compiler Jeok did that for my sake, so how could I think it unseemly?”

“That you think so is an immense imperial grace.”

“What do you think, Sigang Scholar? What do you think their next move will be?”

 

The Sigang Scholar pondered deeply, then spoke with an unpleasant expression.

 

“They’ll either assign him tasks unbearable for a scholar to make him leave on his own, or give him continuous arduous work to exhaust him into leaving.”

“What kind of tasks would those be?”

“They’d make him clean the Imperial Palace library or have him seal military reports and documents in sealed letters. And there’s one task scholars most detest – being dispatched to the front lines to inspect the military.”

“Military inspection?”

“That’s right. Even for us with much experience, military inspection is no easy task. Non-cooperation is commonplace, and sometimes they don’t hesitate to intimidate us. What would happen if they sent a newcomer who just entered to such a place? The military would think they’re being looked down upon and treat him roughly, or actually send him to the battlefield to make him suffer every hardship possible. In the end, the clueless new scholar would return after suffering to near death.”

“That works out well. I needed to go there anyway.”

“Huh. The West Bureau hasn’t even properly established itself yet…. We don’t know when the East Bureau might move…. Your Majesty, must you really send Compiler Jeok?”

 

At the Sigang Scholar’s words, Ju Seo-gi also showed an anxious expression.

 

“I suppose I spoke hastily without thinking it through.”

“You need not worry. The Imperial Guard Commander will protect His Majesty.”

“Without you, even the Imperial Guard might turn.”

“That will absolutely never happen. If you’re truly that anxious, I’ll assign two guards to you and take the Imperial Guard Commander along for the inspection.”

 

Since the Commander was the most fearsome and he would be taking him along, Ju Seo-gi showed a relieved expression and asked.

 

“Are they trustworthy people?”

“Yes! They’re like family to me, and above all, they’re strong.”

“I understand. Still, return quickly. I can’t even imagine the Imperial Palace without Compiler Jeok anymore.”

“Understood. I’ll return as quickly as possible.”

“I trust Compiler Jeok.”

 

Ju Seo-gi was prepared to believe it even if Jeok Wigang said black was white.

The Sigang Scholar bowed his head and spoke.

 

“Then I shall go spread word among the Hanlin Academy Scholars.”

“Do so.”

 

 

 

When the Sigang Scholar went to the Hanlin Academy, the scholars were gathered in serious discussion.

Listening quietly to what they were discussing, it was about Jeok Wigang.

They were seriously discussing how they could drive him out.

It was absurd.

When there wasn’t enough time to discuss state affairs and how to assist His Majesty, here they were until this late hour trying to drive out a newcomer who didn’t please them.

With the Hanlin Academy, the foundation of the nation, in such a state, there was no way things could function properly.

He sighed, but since he had a duty to fulfill, he entered with an indifferent expression.

 

“What are you discussing so seriously at this late hour?”

“We were discussing how to correct the manners of the newly entered Compiler Jeok.”

“Huh. I heard about it too. They say he’s quite ill-mannered.”

“That’s right. Since His Majesty protects and covers for him, he doesn’t know his place and acts up.”

“We need to firmly correct his manners this time so things will be easier going forward.”

“It would be even better if he gets exhausted and leaves on his own.”

“Please share any good ideas you might have, Sigang Scholar.”

“What ideas have come up?”

 

As he listened, it was as expected – library cleaning and simple tasks.

 

“Instead of that, how about sending him on a military inspection? Preferably to the front lines to let him taste real hardship.”

 

At the Sigang Scholar’s words, the other scholars showed shocked expressions.

 

“How about the very front lines among the forward positions? If we say he’s going to inspect that place, the generals will go crazy. They’ll probably try to devour that Jeok Wigang.”

 

At the Sigang Scholar’s words, everyone spoke with admiration.

 

“Oh! Indeed! Your thinking is different from ours.”

“We never thought of anything so terrible.”

“With this, he’d run away immediately without question, wouldn’t he?”

“Someone who only read books would be terrified and flee if sent to the battlefield.”

“What generals hate most is being found fault with by bookworms like us, isn’t it? To avoid being criticized, they’ll send him to dangerous places by any means.”

 

Then one person raised a worried opinion.

 

“But His Majesty is protecting him. Sending him to the very front lines might be difficult. That’s not just the forward positions but where actual combat is taking place.”

 

To this, the Sigang Scholar stepped forward with an expression showing he had thought of everything.

 

“Don’t worry about that. I can persuade the Sacred Sovereign.”

“How do you plan to persuade him?”

“I’ll say that to be of help, one needs backbone, and to develop such backbone, there’s no place like the battlefield. And if I say it’s work that anyone entering the Hanlin Academy must go through, the Sacred Sovereign doesn’t know the palace affairs in detail, so he’ll have no choice but to agree. Also, if I say it’s just sending an inspector, so it’s not particularly dangerous, he’ll be reassured.”

“Ooh! As expected!”

“Magnificent!”

“Let’s get that guy out and discuss the Crown Prince investiture again.”

“The Crown Prince should be invested soon so you’ll have work too, Sigang Scholar. Hahaha.”

 

The Sigang Scholar was an official in charge of royal education.

He mainly handled the education of young crown princes, and this wasn’t simply an educational role but carried meaning beyond that, and as a teacher of the Emperor or Crown Prince, he wielded considerable political influence.

At the talk of Crown Prince investiture, the Sigang Scholar hardened his expression and spoke.

 

“The Sacred Sovereign is still in good health and the Empress is also in good health. Let’s wait a bit longer before discussing that matter.”

“Hmph!”

 

The scholars supporting Noble Consort Man showed their discomfort, while the scholars supporting the Empress looked as if they had gained reliable reinforcements.

 

“Now, now, let’s save the headache-inducing talk for later and deal with this fellow called Jeok Wigang first.”

“Let’s do that.”

 

 

 

The next day, Jeok Wigang packed his luggage and departed straight for the front lines.

Taecheon and Chu Sohwan had always been with him, but since they weren’t there this time, he felt somewhat empty.

Still, it wasn’t a journey he was taking alone, as three people including Jeok Wigang were traveling together.

Jeok Wigang was the inspector, accompanied by two Imperial Guards and a secretary.

The secretary and one of the Imperial Guards kept constantly watching someone’s mood, because one of the Imperial Guards accompanying them was none other than their superior, the Commander. Moreover, it was Ye Yahyeon, who was said to be the strongest and most fearsome among all Imperial Guard Commanders in history.

With him walking beside them with a displeased expression, the two couldn’t help but watch his mood.

That’s when it happened.

 

Smack-.

 

“Owww!”

 

Someone struck the back of Ye Yahyeon’s head.

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