Chapter 120 – Rejecting the Proposal
Where people gather, hierarchy inevitably forms—above and below, before and after.
The Jungbang (重房), where the Supreme Generals and Great Generals of the Two Armies and Six Guards (二軍六衛) convene, has no formal title, yet it stands as the very core of Goryeo's military power.
The Two Armies and the Six Guards are not equal, and even among those holding the ranks of Supreme General and Great General, precedence is determined by command and assignment.
In the end, it was the Supreme General of the Eungyang Army—the old man known as the Banju—who summoned Yeong-u.
If things had ended with his report on the first day he arrived in Gaegyeong, none of this would have happened.
But as the days passed, the situation grew.
Every careless word he uttered struck the political court like a hammer.
At first, it merely exposed the long-standing hardships of the expeditionary forces.
But soon, it expanded into military and political matters.
As the king came to understand reality piece by piece, he began to distrust the Jungbang.
Because of Yi Yeong-u.
He had not directly accused anyone of lying, nor had he denied any specific statement.
Yet as issues of mobilization, organization, weapons, equipment supply, and logistics surfaced, their position became increasingly untenable.
When personnel matters were brought up, the perception spread rapidly—
that the entire structure was rotten.
They appeared as a collective of men who lacked even the most basic integrity.
In court, they could not raise their heads.
When matters were judged based on facts, they had nothing to say.
The Jungbang, at the highest level, had no choice but to rely on reports.
Unable to endure it any longer, the Banju Supreme General summoned Yeong-u.
He was the very same old man Yeong-u had once thought kind.
The gentle smile, the warm expression, the soft, coaxing tone that carried no force—
that was how he remembered him.
The path into the Jungbang was short, but his steps slowed on their own.
The closer he came to the doors, the quieter the voices became, until only the sound of footsteps against the floor remained.
Two soldiers stood at the entrance.
They did not move.
They only watched him with their eyes, then lowered their posture slightly and opened the way.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the air changed.
The interior was wide—
empty at a glance, yet not empty at all.
Every place where a man stood carried weight, and even the stillness itself was tense.
Officials lined both sides, holding their positions.
No one spoke first.
Some held their heads high, others lowered them,
but all eyes converged on a single point.
A map lay spread across the floor.
Small wooden markers and stones were placed upon it.
Someone reached out, moved one, and stopped.
That single motion drew immediate reactions from several others.
Words were short.
Thrown. Received.
Before one sentence ended, the next judgment followed.
A scribe sat beside a pillar.
He held a brush, but it did not touch the paper.
He listened, calculated, and only wrote when necessary.
The generals sat at the head.
None leaned back.
Their bodies tilted slightly forward.
Hands rested on their knees, unmoving.
Only their eyes moved—constantly.
When their gaze settled on someone, that man spoke immediately.
Along the walls stood lower-ranking officers.
Silent, yet ready to move at any moment.
Their hands hovered near their sword hilts,
one foot already set forward.
The Jungbang was quiet.
But a single word turned instantly into action.
Orders were brief.
Explanations unnecessary.
Outside, night had not fully fallen.
Inside, time was already moving fast.
As Yeong-u entered, several glances cut toward him.
There was no need to ask who had summoned him.
In this place, results came before reasons.
"Loyalty! Deputy Commander Yi Yeong-u of the Seonchun Ridge Expeditionary Force, answering the summons."
"Come forward."
The old Banju spoke.
His tone was different—firm, cold.
When a man's mind changes, everything changes with it.
They say never trust a man whose expression changes too easily.
A man who shifts with his interests is not one to stand beside for long.
Yeong-u made up his mind—
he would not cooperate with this man.
The same man who had once praised and comforted him now wore a hardened face.
Something was wrong.
Even the arrangement was different.
Before, there had been barely over a dozen generals.
Now, the room was filled—subordinates standing behind them.
It was formal. Deliberate.
"Do you know why you were called?"
It was a question that demanded he speak for himself.
There was irritation in it.
Displeasure.
If he said he didn't know, he would be rebuked.
If he answered, he would still be rebuked.
Men in power rarely differed in this regard.
Silence was better.
"I will listen."
"Not listen. Decide."
"Give your command."
"How long do you intend to dig into our disgrace?"
It was not a question of time.
But he answered as if it were.
"I will return soon."
"That is not what I meant."
"You mean I should stop speaking of it?"
"Yes."
"The King asks me directly. The highest authority.
And you tell me to ignore that command—
and instead follow those beneath him, whose interests are entangled?"
The old man's eyes narrowed.
"Then am I undermining the chain of command that begins with His Majesty?"
"Yes."
"That only applies when the system still stands. It is already broken.
How can you report directly without passing through ranks?"
"I answered His Majesty's question.
Those who should have reported did not.
They were not even present.
What was I to do?"
"You should have said you did not know."
"I see."
"If I may state that you instructed me to say so, I will do exactly that."
"What are you trying to do, exposing everything?
If the military collapses, who will defend the nation?"
Yeong-u closed his eyes.
They spoke of the nation as if it were theirs to hold hostage.
As if only they could defend it.
That arrogance filled the room.
"If His Majesty commands it, I will speak accordingly.
That too is an order."
"Order?"
"Or is this a request?"
The old man let out a rough laugh.
"…Fine. A request."
Then the word came—
"Shit."
From a mouth that once carried refinement.
The mask was gone.
They were all the same.
"And removing you is no difficult task.
You think you've been safe?
Only because you stayed within bounds."
Yeong-u looked around.
The room was crowded.
Too crowded.
The intent was obvious.
This was not the same chamber.
This was a place prepared for force.
If words failed, they would use strength.
If that failed, they would beg.
No spirit of warriors remained.
"This is your last chance.
Stop here.
Or this place becomes your grave."
"An honor.
To be buried in the heart of Goryeo's Jungbang."
Yeong-u refused.
"I will not reject His Majesty's command.
Nor will I lie.
To use force for private gain, to conceal corruption—
that is unlawful.
Force must be directed at the enemy."
"You presume to teach us?"
"If you are unfit, then you must be taught—even now.
At the very least, you must be told."