Chapter 193: Chapter 66
“Welcome back, Soonsin!”
Sungryong greeted him with an unprecedented happy look.
“I’m glad to know you have recovered from illness.”
“I owe it to you as you have introduced Kanghyok to me.”
He patted Kanghyok on the back with a hearty laugh.
When he was in Suwon, Kanghyok pleased the mayor by curing his impotence. And now in Hanyang he was enjoying the foreign minister Sungryong’s favoritism by curing his hemorrhoids.
“Come on in!”
“Yes, milord.”
Soonsin walked into the room briskly. Kanghyok felt he was more manly as he was departing for the northern area to suppress the foreign raiders.
“So, are you ready to depart?”
“Yes, sir. I’m fully ready.”
“You have to make sure you’re fully prepared. The people in the northern area are restless and ferocious all the time.”
“Let me keep that in mind.”
The northern area of Joseon at this particular time was chaotic and turbulent because of foreign raiders’ frequent invasions.
“Cheers!”
Kanghyok filled the cups for Sungryong and Soonsin.
Sungryong seemed to be very happy to meet Soonsin on this occasion.
In fact, he had to be content with vegetables for almost one month.
“Let’s have a drink”
“Congratulations, milord!”
Though Soonsin was supposed to receive congratulations for his new post, it was Sungryong who stole the show.
“I feel very good now. Hahaha.”
As if to show his hemorrhoids were cured completely, Sungryong sat on the floor without a cushion. It was a long time since he sat without it.
While they were having a great time over delicious food and drinks, somebody knocked on the door.
“Who is it outside?”
“”This is Hangbok Lee, senior director of the culture and education ministry.”
“Hangbok Lee?”
Sungryong tilted his head in doubt because of his unexpected visit.
As a disciple of Yulgok Lee, the most prominent scholar at that time, Hangbok was on the opposite side of Sungryong in terms of political and philosophical ideology.
“Let me in.”
Though Sungryong differed with him on various issues, today was a happy day to celebrate Soonsin’s departure for the northern area tomorrow.
“How are you, milord? Please accept my warm greetings!”
Given his arrogant attitude, Hangbok didn’t give Kanghyok a good impression.
‘Hmm... This man is Hangbok Lee!’
There were many talented men during the reign of King Sonjo, so Kanghyok ran into them often.
‘He looks handsome, though.’
Sungryong was as handsome as him. When he was young, he might have enjoyed a large following among many women.
“Come on in, Hangbok. This is Soonsin, who has just been assigned to a new post in the northern area, and this is Dr. Kanghyok Paek who has cured my illness.”
At the same time Sungryon was done, Soonsin stood up and said, “My name is Soonsin Lee. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Only then did Kanghyok stand up, too.
Come to think of it, he was the lowest in status among them.
“I’m Kanghyok Paek. It’s an honor to see you here.”
At Kanghyok’s introduction, Sungryon teased him.
“Oh, you’re habitually saying that. I thought you used that expression only to me.”
“What are you talking about, sir?”
“You told me it was an honor to see me, right?”
“Oh, it’s an honor to see you, milrod, and this nobleman here, too.”
“Hahaha. Got it. Never mind.”
In fact, Hangbok, like Sungryong, left a great mark in the history of Joseon.
As premier later, Hangbok was responsible for restoring the devastated land after Japanese invasion of Joseon in 1592.
“Sit down, folks. Don’t stand up like that.”
With the addition of Hangbok, the drinking session was more fun.
In particular, Hangbok made an offensive joke about his father-in-law, General Yul Kwon.
“Do you remember, sir, when my father-in-law stood bare-footed before the king?”
“Oh, sure, I do. Hahaha.”
“Are you poking fun at your father-in-law?”
“Man, I can’t as he has nothing to do with me.”
“You bet.”
As he was happy on that day, he didn’t care about them cracking jokes or poking fun at General Kwon.
“By the way, have you ever seen my wife?”
They shook their faces at Hangbok’s question.
“Perhaps you have seen my wife’s father, right?”
“If you mean by General Yul Kwon, I’ve seen him,” said Sungryong.
Actually, Sungryong has known him for a long time since Kwon didn’t yet enter a government service.
Though he couldn’t call General Kwon as his bosom friend, both were close friends.
“As a matter of fact, my wife exactly looked like her father.”
“Good heavens! Is that true?”
Everyone there, except for Kanghyok who had never seen General Kwon, recalled the general’s face.
His face looked good as a general.
But what if his daughter’s face was a carbon copy of his?
That’s a totally different story.
“I got it now,” said Sungryong with a lanky expression.
If Hangbok’s description of his wife was true, she was far from a beauty.
Even reticent Soonsin laughed uncontrollably.
“In particular, her jaw looked exactly like the same as her father’s,” said Hangbok, imitating her square jaw.
As his gesture recalled them of General Kwon’s appearance, Sungryong burst into laughter.
“Hahaha. It seems she really looks like her father.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
They kept cracking jokes like that.
Suddenly Hangbok changed the topic and talked about Japanese envoy Yasuhiro, who recently visited Joseon.
“Oh, you also heard about that Japanese.”
“Yes, I think that guy was probably killed because of your decision.”
“Killed? Why do you think so?”
“As the governor of Tsushima Island, Yasuhiro is a vassal of the family that has paid a tribute to Joseon. As he returned with bad news from Joseon, he must have been killed,” said Hangbok confidently.
Only then did Kanghyok recall a scene in a relevant TV soap opera back in modern Korea.
‘Gee... that guy who was so arrogant as a Japanese envoy during his stay in Joseon was Yasuhiro!’
Kanghyok remembered it as he studied it in a history textbook. Hangbok sharply inferred from Yasuhiro’s activities in Joseon as an envoy that he must have been killed upon his return.
With an unbelievable eye Sungryong laughed lightly, saying,
“Well, I wonder if they could kill him.”
“Right now, the current ruler of Japan, Hideyoshi, was allegedly very cruel and impatient. If he felt he was ignored, he might have killed Hideyoshi.”
“Hmmm...”
Hangbok had a point as he heard rumors from merchants coming and back to Japan.
“Probably Japan will send another envy to have their leader formally recognized.
“What do you think we should do then?
“Well, I think it’s better for our government to send a special envoy. Why do we invite their anger? Don’t forget what Lord Sookju Shin said before.”
“Sookju Shin’s advice?”
Shin was one of the key officials who served King Sejong, King Sejo and King Sungjong during the early days of the Joseon Dynasty.
There was a famous episode involving his visit to Japan as a young official.
And he left some famous dying advice for King Sungjong, which was as follows,
<Never lose your friendly relations with Japan.>
There was no way of knowing why Sookju left such advice.
King Sungjong didn’t ignore his advice, and sent a special envoy to Japan.
But the successive kings of Joseon didn’t send an envoy to Japan any more since then.
When Japan sent an envoy, the Joseon government treated him well and sent him back.
As if he realized something, Sungryong nodded his head.
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes, that’s my opinion. Though Japan is an island country across the sea, we can go there if we have the will. They will do the same,” said Hangbok.
As if he was greatly impressed by Hangbok’s insight, Sungryong nodded and said, “I didn’t know you were so interested in international affairs like this.”
“It’s just my opinion. So, don’t dwell on that too much.”
“When Japan sends another envoy next time, let me take your point into account.”
Kanghyok was just listening to the two giants’ dialogue quietly.
‘As learned men, they’re in quite a different league!’
In fact, Kanghyok was pretty disappointed when Hangbok cracked silly jokes.
For what Kanghyok expected of him was his imposing posture as a famous premier.
But Hangbok began to show his true worth when he began to impress them with his erudite knowledge of world affairs.
When Kanghyok regretted he didn’t learn much about world politics, somebody knocked on the door.
“Milord, it’s quite dark outside.”
That meant that there would ring a curfew bell, so it was time to go back home.
“Wow, time passed so fast!”
“I think I have to leave now, milord.”
Soonsin raised himself quickly, while Hangbok was sticking around.
“I don’t feel up to going back home tonight, milord. Can I stay overnight?”
“I have no problem, but did you inform your wife?”
“No, sir. She would understand, though.”
“Haaha. It’s up to you!”
When Sungryong gave a greenlight, Hangbok was more happy now.
He approached Kanghyok, who was just laughing whenever he cracked jokes.
“Hey, Kanghyok, what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to stay here for the time being.”
“Really? That sounds good. In fact, I have some business to discuss with you.”
Wrapping his arm around Kanghyok’s neck, Hangbok then took him to a secluded spot in the house.
‘What the heck does this man want from me?’
Given that Hangbok was taking him to a secluded spot, he seemed to have a problem he didn’t want to reveal to others.
What? Does he want Viagra like the mayor of Suwon? I hope not.’
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