Chapter 232 — The Great Khan's Question 1
After that, he had the council divided into three.
Nothing is accomplished through those who like gathering together and talking noisily.
Some speak as if meetings are unnecessary, but what means of communication is more efficient than that?
Some use meetings to hide their own incompetence.
They are cunning people who understand their role as making sharp attacks against the presenter, or the one putting forward an argument.
Some use meetings to forcefully persuade others of claims that do not fit before and after.
In most cases, such people raise their persuasiveness not through the democratic procedure of the meeting, but by using their status and their right to speak.
If one follows an argument simply because it belongs to a powerful man, ruin may not be far away.
There are those who do not reveal information in meetings.
It should be a place of communication where the information one possesses is shared, but they clutch their information tightly and refuse to let go.
It is true that information is power, but if one holds it without sharing it, the result of the meeting will not be very good.
There are truly many reasons why things fail.
Yet now the council had been divided into three smaller parts, and each had to sort out the matters that would return to his own role, so they began to engage in discussion very actively.
The Great Khan raised his palm toward the outside.
It was a gesture that seemed to push the heavy air inside the council hall out for a moment.
"Shall we walk for a while?"
The three divided meetings had not all ended yet.
Yeongu briefly considered which place he should return to, then soon bowed respectfully.
"Yes."
The Great Khan left the council hall first, and Yeongu followed him.
The guards immediately followed behind.
They came out as if surrounding the two from behind, but when the Great Khan gave them a look, they silently widened the distance.
They were close enough to guard, but far enough that they could not hear the words.
In the courtyard of the newly built palace fortress, the day's heat and the smell of earth still remained.
Craftsmen who had been trimming pillars stepped far aside, and workers carrying timber lowered their heads.
As the sun tilted, long shadows crossed the courtyard, and on the still-damp earth, horse hoofprints and human footprints were mixed together.
The Great Khan walked slowly and asked,
"Are you satisfied now?"
Yeongu matched his steps from one pace behind.
"I thank the Great Khan for allowing me to do my utmost."
The Great Khan looked at him from the corner of his eye.
"I am the one who should be grateful. This is not for your own profit."
"They say a man stakes his life for one who recognizes him."
The Great Khan did not laugh for a moment.
His face showed that he knew those were not words to be taken lightly.
"I know your heart. And I know your will."
He slowed his pace a little.
"Even so, if I did not accept it, would that be the proper conduct of the head of a country receiving your help?"
Yeongu did not answer.
The Great Khan looked forward again and walked on.
His steps were large and slow.
Yeongu followed half a step behind.
Between the two of them was a strange space that was neither the distance between ruler and subject, nor the distance between friends.
It was the distance between people who knew each other's will and recognized each other's need.
The Great Khan suddenly asked,
"Was all well at home?"
Yeongu's face loosened a little.
"Lord O Geol-mae had sent many things.
Thanks to that, we became wealthy.
My family also looked comfortable."
The Great Khan laughed softly.
"I thought we had to make sure the rear was at ease.
When you devoted yourself so thoroughly, how could we pretend not to know?"
"It nearly became a bribery offense."
The Great Khan seemed about to stop walking, then continued.
"Bribery?"
He seemed to roll the word around in his mouth for a moment.
"Hm. I see. In Goryeo, it may be understood that way. So what did you do?"
"I turned the disposal of it over to His Majesty."
"What did the King of Goryeo say?"
"He said that since it had already been received, I should leave it as it was. He also acknowledged that there had been no quid pro quo, and that my decisions had not changed because of that matter."
The Great Khan let out a great breath.
"That is fortunate."
Yeongu offered courtesy again.
"Once again, I thank you."
The Great Khan tilted his head slightly and looked at him.
"Then, if your heart changes now because of that matter, does it become a bribe?"
Yeongu laughed soundlessly.
Only the corner of his mouth moved very slightly, and mischief brushed across his eyes.
The Great Khan also laughed at that expression.
"As if you would do such a thing."
He turned his hand behind him and waved it lightly.
It was neither a scolding gesture nor a teasing one.
"You stubborn Jungnangjang."
The Great Khan's smile was comfortable because it rested on trust in the person before him.