The Evil Martial God Chronicles - Chapter 128
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Legend of the Evil Martial God
Chapter 128
The Hanlin Academy Scholars stood there in a daze, their minds blank from the situation that had unfolded in an instant.
Clap clap clap-.
The scholars came to their senses at the sound of Jeok Wigang’s clapping.
The bodies of Noble Consort Man and Son Gang had already been cleared away.
“Now, now, everyone pull yourselves together and decide what you’re going to do.”
“What do you mean, what we’re going to do?”
“Whether you’ll continue to oppose His Majesty, or whether you’ll help His Majesty.”
“Are you saying you’ll employ us again?”
“It’s not impossible. But it will be different from before.”
“Different from before?”
“You won’t be treated well just because you have high learning. Departments will be assigned according to each person’s individual talents. And naturally, you’ll have to start from the very bottom of those departments.”
“What nonsense! I was someone who rose to Grand Scholar!”
“I was a Sucan Scholar!”
“I was a Jik Scholar!”
The scholars rebelled.
“That’s how things were in the old days, but the world has changed now. You need to adapt accordingly, don’t you?”
“I refuse!”
“Then you can just leave as you are.”
“Grr!”
“Ah! And from now on, the imperial examinations will disappear. The era of recruiting talent through imperial examinations is over.”
“Wh-what are you saying!”
“Abolishing the imperial examinations! Are you saying you’ll destroy the foundation of the nation?”
“The foundation of the nation is the people. What’s wrong with saying we’ll make good use of those people’s talents?”
“Absolutely unacceptable!”
Jeok Wigang chuckled at the scholars’ words that it was unacceptable.
“Nothing will change just because you people here find it unacceptable. From now on, all people except His Majesty the Emperor will have the same status, so keep that in mind as well.”
“Are you saying you’ll treat the scholar-officials and the four classes of people the same?”
“No.”
“Right? I knew it wouldn’t be so.”
“Including commoners and slaves as well.”
“Wh-what do you mean!”
“There are passages about the Great Unity Society in the Liyun chapter of the Book of Rites, and Mencius contains the idea that the people are more precious than the ruler. How is it that those who memorize the classics better than anyone and follow them don’t practice this?”
“The Great Unity is merely an ideal from the era of Yao and Shun, it cannot be applied in these chaotic times! Right now, maintaining the stability of the nation means everyone living according to their proper station.”
“Exactly. If social status suddenly became equal, how chaotic would society become! There are reasons why social distinctions were established!”
“Furthermore, when Mencius spoke of the people being more precious than the ruler, he meant that rulers should not treat the people carelessly, not that everyone should be equal!”
“The reason our nation is maintained now is entirely because we scholar-officials lead those below us through propriety. But if this breaks down, what would happen? The nation would collapse.”
Though the scholars pressed Jeok Wigang hard, Jeok Wigang dealt with them as if it were nothing serious.
“An ideal… If there had been no ideals when Emperor Yao and Emperor Shun led the nation, could they have received the title of sage kings? It was because they pursued ideals that the nation was peaceful and the people could live in tranquility. Moreover, Mencius said what use is a ruler if there are no people. Doesn’t this mean the people are that important? What’s wrong with cherishing those important people and wanting to use their abilities?”
The scholars frowned at Jeok Wigang’s words.
“The sages created the classics so that future generations could enjoy their Way together with all the people, but you shouldn’t focus only on fulfilling personal greed with those teachings.”
“When did we ever focus only on fulfilling personal greed?”
“Then what? Do you think the current situation in the Imperial Palace is normal? What about the suffering the people endure because of this? You don’t think about it, do you? You only looked after yourselves. Look at now too. You came to Noble Consort Man to save yourselves. You should be ashamed. If it were me, I’d be too ashamed to even show my face.”
The scholars couldn’t say anything to Jeok Wigang’s sharp criticism.
“Everyone disperse for today and go home to think carefully. If you think you can’t participate in the flow of the times, then just stay home permanently.”
The scholars could only watch fearfully as Jeok Wigang’s retreating figure after leaving those words.
***
“Get up.”
When Jeok Wigang nudged the fallen Son Gang with his foot, he sprang up immediately.
“What? Why did you suddenly do such a thing without warning?”
“Noble Consort Man would never leave while she’s alive anyway. And since this is something that can only end with my death, I thought this was the easiest and fastest way.”
Come to think of it, following proper procedures would have been complicated.
No matter how simplified the procedures had become, this was about dismissing none other than the Emperor’s concubine.
“Well done. Since you’re officially dead, change to a different appearance.”
“Understood.”
Crack- Pop-.
Son Gang instantly became a different person.
“From today, you are my new bodyguard.”
“Yes.”
The Noble Consort Man problem was completely resolved as well.
The real combat talents in the Imperial Palace were rapidly processing the accumulated affairs, and as a result, the people’s lives became peaceful.
Moreover, the Emperor’s authority was established, and above all, with the Empress’s pregnancy, there was no need to worry about succession.
The Guyang Family wouldn’t dare act rashly as long as Jeok Wigang existed, so there was no need to worry about that either.
Now the affairs in the Imperial Palace seemed to be well concluded.
However, trouble broke out immediately.
***
“Older Brother! Something terrible has happened!”
Jeok Wigang frowned at Ye Yahyeon’s commotion and asked.
“What’s the matter?”
“Forces dissatisfied with the abolition of the class system have raised an army!”
A rebellion had broken out.
Jeok Wigang held his forehead.
He was just about to finish and go home.
“Who is it?”
“The Left Army Governor’s Residence!”
“The Left Army Governor’s Residence started a rebellion?”
“That’s right!”
He held his forehead.
After stabilizing the Rear Army Governor’s Residence, another place was in chaos.
There’s no end to this work.
“Wait… that’s the Honam region.”
“That’s correct.”
These bastards?
Honam is where his family is.
That place must not become chaotic.
He needed to go there immediately and sort things out.
Actually, this worked out well.
Since he was planning to go home anyway, he could use this as an excuse to leave the Imperial Palace.
“Is only the Left Army moving?”
“The movements of the Main Army and Right Army are also unusual. What should we do? Should we mobilize the Rear Army and Central Army to strike these bastards immediately?”
“No, if we pacify the Left Army, the rest of those bastards will probably act up again, so let’s do it all at once.”
“All at once?”
“Right. Spread false information so those bastards can unite at once. That the Rear Army and Central Army are also full of complaints. That if they unite, the Rear Army and Central Army can join them too.”
“Then the rest of those bastards will be excited and form an alliance.”
“Yeah. We need to gather them all at once and deal with them. It’s annoying.”
“How do you plan to deal with them?”
Jeok Wigang held out his fist.
Ye Yahyeon understood immediately.
Whether a hundred thousand or a million, all people become equal before that fist.
If they witness Jeok Wigang’s Divine Power, they will never dream of rebellion again.
“What are you doing? Move quickly. I’m going to meet His Majesty.”
“Yes!”
Jeok Wigang went straight to meet Ju Seo-gi.
Sure enough, he was waiting tensely for Jeok Wigang to arrive.
“Have you heard the story?”
“Yes. I heard the story and came running immediately, Your Majesty.”
“What should we do?”
“I will go and handle it personally.”
“I keep troubling only you every time.”
“Not at all. As it happens, that place is also my hometown, so after finishing this matter, I plan to stay in my hometown for a while.”
Ju Seo-gi jumped at the mention of staying in his hometown.
“Wh-what do you mean by that! I have never once imagined the Imperial Palace without the Cabinet Grand Scholar.”
“There is no one left in the Imperial Palace who would threaten Your Majesty. So you need not worry.”
“No one to threaten? Isn’t that all because the Cabinet Grand Scholar is here?”
“If there is anyone bold enough to intimidate Your Majesty, please tell me anytime. I will come running immediately and deal with them. No matter where I am in the Central Plains, I will always come running, so please do not worry too much.”
“Must you really go?”
“I have things to do at home.”
“Hmm.”
Since he said he had things to do, he couldn’t bring himself to stop him.
“I understand. Then stay just one more day before you go.”
“I understand.”
“Let’s have dinner together tonight.”
“We are deeply grateful, Your Majesty.”
“You there. Are there crabs?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Tonight’s royal meal will be shared with the Grand Scholar of the Cabinet, so tell them to prepare all the mountain and sea delicacies.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
***
The next day.
As Jeok Wigang was about to depart, Ju Seo-gi spoke to him.
“You are no longer the Grand Scholar of the Cabinet.”
Jeok Wigang nodded and smiled.
“You did well. The position of Grand Scholar of the Cabinet is hardly appropriate for someone who is not in the palace.”
Now he was beginning to show the bearing of an emperor.
“So I have created a new official rank.”
“What?”
“Jeok Wigang, listen.”
When Ju Seo-gi spoke with a serious expression, Jeok Wigang knelt before him.
“I hereby confer upon you the title of Grand Tutor Commander. Continue to assist We in the prosperity of this nation.”
“What? What is Grand Tutor Commander?”
“I have newly created it. From now on, you have the authority to act on my behalf in all matters I can handle.”
“What?”
“Anytime, anywhere, you shall represent me. Not following your words will be tantamount to defying the imperial command.”
“Your Majesty. This position is too excessive for someone retiring to the countryside.”
“It is not excessive! If I could, I would give you a position even higher than mine, but my inability to do so is my regret. This is my heart, so please accept it, Grand Tutor Commander.”
Speaking with such an earnest expression, he could not bring himself to refuse.
“I understand, Your Majesty.”
“Hahaha! Thank you! Truly, thank you. The Imperial Command Plaque I gave you is yours, so please continue to use it well.”
Unexpectedly, he had gained power second only to one, above ten thousand.
Now Jeok Wigang had become an existence no different from the grim reaper of all government offices.
Being an existence with the Emperor’s authority and divine power, one would have to bow their head unconditionally to survive.
“To repay His Majesty’s grace, I will surely crush this rebellion.”
“When the Grand Commander stepped forward, all my worries and concerns already disappeared.”
“I am deeply honored that you think so.”
“Ah, I have one request.”
“Please say anything. If it’s something I can fulfill, I will do everything I can.”
“Really? It’s something you can certainly do for me.”
“What is it?”
“Please become sworn brothers with me.”
“Pardon?”
“I have no brothers at all. So I have nowhere to turn for support. If you became my sworn brother, I think I could remain in this position with peace of mind.”
“How could I possibly become sworn brothers with His Majesty?”
“I’m asking you as a favor.”
Jeok Wigang looked at Ju Seo-gi.
He could feel the sincerity.
In the end, Jeok Wigang decided to grant Ju Seo-gi’s request.
“If someone as lacking as myself is acceptable, I will become His Majesty’s sworn brother.”
“Lacking? Rather, I can only be grateful that you would accept someone as lacking as me as your older brother. Then, from today we are sworn brothers.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
