Chapter 288
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 288
Chapter 288. The Thief of Poetry (1)
“Yes, that would be good.”
What are you going to give me?
“The combination of you and the Royal Guards was better than I expected. So, I will let you learn the martial arts of the Imperial Palace.”
“...What?”
“You are a merchant, but you are also a martial artist, so I think this is a good reward.”
Good?
It's great. It's so good that my mouth is agape.
To be honest, I didn't expect this as a reward.
“How is it? Is this enough to satisfy you?”
I bowed my head with clasped hands in response to the emperor's smiling question.
“I am so moved by His Majesty's kindness in considering me that I am overcome with tears.”
“You are a smooth talker.”
Working with the Royal Guards, I became interested in the martial arts of the imperial palace.
The reason why it is important to learn which mental technique to use to build up your inner arts at the beginning is because you cannot learn a mental technique that is opposite to the one you have already learned.
If two or more energies collide within one person's body, they may suffer from qi deviation and become crippled or even lose their lives.
But who said that? People's determination is amazing.
The emperor wanted a powerful military force to protect him, and the best way to achieve this was to recruit martial artists who had already mastered martial arts into the imperial army.
However, as they accepted a wide variety of martial artists, problems arose when they tried to coordinate their movements because they used different martial arts.
It was impossible to teach martial arts to those who had already mastered them.
That would have been tantamount to a death sentence.
Therefore, the emperor ordered all martial arts sects and clans to study martial arts, and the result of that study was the imperial martial arts.
Even those who had already mastered martial arts had no problem building up their inner arts, and the imperial martial arts combined the best aspects of various martial arts.
Based on this, the emperor was able to establish a powerful imperial authority.
In any case, imperial martial arts were essential for martial artists loyal to the emperor.
However, learning imperial martial arts without the emperor's permission was considered treason and would result in a bitter punishment.
That's why I was so excited to be able to learn martial arts, which I had always wanted to learn!
One of the reasons I wanted to learn the martial arts of the imperial palace was because they have distinct characteristics.
With those characteristics, I can effectively defeat bad guys...
Hm, hm. Anyway, this is very good news.
“I will give you a separate message, so you may go now.”
“Your Majesty, thank you very much. I will take my leave.”
I happily withdrew at the emperor's order.
.
.
.
“Are you coming?”
As I left the imperial palace, Seo Woo, a warrior who had been waiting nearby, said to me.
“Yes.”
When I came to the imperial palace, I was accompanied by Pal-gap, Seo Woo, and Yeo Eung-am.
The other two warriors told me to wash up and rest for a while.
It is too inefficient to have all four bodyguards follow me.
In fact, I feel a little burdened and sorry that they are guarding me in pairs like this.
They took turns guarding me for four hours at a time.
Honestly, I think that after working for four shifts (eight hours), they should rest for eight shifts (16 hours).
It's not just any job; it's a job that requires constant alertness.
Still, after a few months, when Myeongjong's guards and Chang-un's guards join us, the burden on the guards will be a little lighter.
“Let's go.”
“Yes, sir.”
We arrived back at our temporary residence in Beijing. Before we knew it, it was almost evening.
“Are you here?”
I turned around at the sound of his voice and saw Jung-ho standing there looking at me.
“You must have had a hard time.”
“It was nothing. You did such a good job organizing everything that it wasn't hard at all.”
“Really? Then you're here...”
“Do you want to get hit?”
I laughed at Jung-ho, who was looking serious.
“You know I haven't seen my kids and wife in months, right?”
“Of course I do! I was just joking.”
“I didn't punch you because I knew you were joking.”
“Hahaha.”
“Let's go eat.”
My brother pointed outside and continued.
“I found a good restaurant.”
I nodded and told my assistant to go home, giving him a generous amount of money for the dinner.
Then, I headed to the restaurant with my brother.
The dish Jung-ho chose for me was yuanyang.
It is a type of hot pot, a Beijing winter dish made by boiling broth in a large, shallow pot and lightly blanching thin slices of meat and vegetables.
The name yuanyang comes from the fact that spicy red broth and light white broth are mixed in equal parts in a pot with a divider and boiled together.
“Hot pot is the best in winter.”
I nodded in agreement with Jung-ho.
Hot pot is a dish that is eaten while boiling, so it is perfect for cold Beijing.
My friend Jung-ho, Pal-gap, and I sat at one table, with the other bodyguards sitting on either side.
“I've been here a few times, and this place is the best.”
“I like this restaurant too.”
It was my favorite restaurant in my previous life.
The meat is better than other places, and the portions are generous.
Meat is the best when you're feeling weak.
As we enjoyed our meal and drank tea, Jung-ho asked me,
“What are you going to do now?”
“What?”
“Your schedule. Are you going to stay here?”
I shook my head in response to his question.
“No, that's not it. It's too cold to do construction work in winter anyway.”
“That's true.”
Beijing is a cold place to begin with, but this winter was extremely cold, just like last year.
That's why it's not a good idea to do construction work in the middle of winter. The materials freeze, which can weaken the structure and endanger the workers.
“So my father told me to finish up here and return to Hubei with my brother.”
“I see. Then what about the work here?”
“I'll leave it to the local magistrate.”
Of course, I have to learn martial arts at the imperial palace, but that won't take just a day or two...
“Ah! I forgot to tell you something.”
“...?”
“Happy birthday.”
I scratched my cheek at Jungho's words.
“I'll give you your present when I get back. I already prepared it at home.”
“Okay.”
At that moment, someone approached cautiously from the side.
“Excuse me... Are you Sunhae-mi and Gong?”
I blinked at the question, then nodded.
“It's you! It's the hero of the Dragon and Phoenix Duel! I'm honored!”
At that, the guests around us began to murmur.
“Really? The hero Sun Hyeok-mi?”
“He's handsome...”
My name is already known here...
Jeong-ho was looking at me with a proud expression, so I couldn't run away.
Damn it.
It was hard to give a word of praise to each of the people who gathered around me.
This is because there is a saying that if you receive praise from a hero, good luck will come your way.
And it had to be a hero who saved the lives of many people, not just any hero.
* * *
Jin-yeong hurriedly made his way to the imperial palace.
The emperor had summoned him.
When he stood before the emperor, the emperor asked him,
“Can you teach someone the martial arts of the imperial palace?”
Jin-yeong immediately replied,
“Of course. However, I believe that is the duty of an instructor.”
“I am aware of that. However, the person who will be learning the martial arts of the imperial palace is in a special position.”
“...?”
“You will teach him the martial arts of the imperial palace yourself.”
Seeing the deep smile on the emperor's face, Jin-yeong knew who the person was.
The emperor was not a man who smiled easily, but a few years ago, he had something to smile about.
It was when he met Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Trading Company.
Jin-yeong, who was watching the emperor from the side, wondered more than once if he would collapse from the strain of smiling so much.
However, on the day he met Eun Seo-ho, the emperor looked very happy, and Jin-yeong was very glad for him.
He had come to the imperial palace with his father when he was a child.
At that time, the current emperor was just one of many princes. However, the moment Jin-yeong saw the prince, he knew instinctively.
He knew that this was the one to whom he would devote his heart.
He became the prince's bodyguard, as he had wished, and now he is the emperor's right-hand man.
The emperor often described Eun Seo-ho to Jin-yeong as “a bold man.”
But Jin-yeong knew better.
Eun Seo-ho wasn't just bold; he made the emperor smile.
He was quick-witted and skilled at getting out of trouble, but above all, he was good at his job.
Like a busy bee gathering honey, he diligently brought things that were beneficial to the emperor.
“That's why Captain Eun Seo-ho looks like a honey pot to His Majesty the Emperor. By the way, martial arts skills in the imperial palace...”
But to give someone he loves martial arts skills in the imperial palace, which are more valuable than gold and silver...
It may seem a little strange, but Jin-yeong knows the emperor.
He knows that when he gives something to someone he favors, he thinks about their future.
“I accept your order.”
With that reply, Jin-yeong thought to himself.
Soon, the emperor would give Eun Seo-ho and the Royal Guards a big task.
* * *
The next day.
Master Jin-yeong visited my temporary residence again.
“It's good to see you again.”
“Did you get home safely yesterday?”
“Yes, Master. Thanks to you, I got home safely.”
Master Jin-yeong looked around my house and asked, “Is there a place where you can practice martial arts here?”
“Yes, there is.”
As expected, Master Jin-yeong had been chosen to teach me the martial arts of the imperial palace.
“Of course.”
“Then change your clothes and come with me.”
“Yes.”
I asked Lee Pil to show Master Jin-yeong to the training ground, then went inside.
Then, with the help of Pal-gap, I changed my clothes and headed for the training ground.
Although this was only a temporary residence, I would have to stay here for quite some time. Therefore, a fairly large training ground had been prepared for my training.
Not only I, but also the other bodyguards and Pal-gap trained here.
When we arrived at the training ground, Master Jin was examining the floor.
Seeing that, I knew he was serious.
“It's dirt.”
“Yes, it's just ordinary dirt.”
“That's surprising. I thought someone as wealthy as you would have paved it with stone.”
“Yes. It's easy to maintain, clean, and doesn't kick up dust, so our clothes don't get covered in dirt.”
I smiled.
“But most places where battles take place are just ordinary dirt floors, aren't they?”
When using martial arts, or rather, when fighting someone, the most important thing is to understand your surroundings.
And the basis of most martial arts is the ground.
Unless you reach a very high level, you will inevitably fight on the ground most of the time.
When using footwork, you have to adapt to the ground, and the same goes for wielding weapons.
“I think if we only train on bluestone, we'll make a lot of mistakes in actual combat.”
“Hahaha. You're right. To be honest, I think the major martial arts sects lay blue stones on the training grounds for no other reason than to show off.”
I agree with you.
“Then, before we begin training in earnest, let me tell you about the martial arts of the Imperial Palace.”
“I'm all ears.”
“The official name of the martial arts of the Imperial Palace is ‘Imperial Palace Martial Arts for the Protection of Ten Thousand Generations.’”
Martial arts that protect the Imperial Palace like the sky for ten thousand generations... What a grand name.
“But honestly, it's too long. So we just call it Imperial Palace Martial Arts for short.”
“I see.”
“The Imperial Martial Arts are divided into inner arts, movement arts, fist techniques, sword techniques, formations, and pursuit techniques.”
I understand everything else, but what are pursuit techniques?
Master Jin seemed to know what I was thinking and explained.
“You understand everything else, but you're wondering what pursuit techniques are, right?”
“Yes.”
“Just think of it as tracking skills. To be honest, the purpose of the Imperial Martial Arts is to protect His Majesty the Emperor, but another purpose is to track down and arrest criminals.”
“Ah!”
Master Jin-yeong continued his explanation.
“...That's all for now. Do you have any questions?”
“Yes. I heard that the eunuchs learn martial arts separately.”
“Ah... You mean that? Yes, that's right. But that can only be learned by eunuchs for physical reasons. Why? Are you interested?”
Master Jin-yeong's gaze shifted slightly to my lower body, and I replied firmly.
“I'm not interested. I was just curious.”
Ugh... Master Jin-yeong is saying something that could get him into big trouble.
The training was over.
Master Jin-yeong said he would visit every other day, and today he checked my basic physical fitness.
And he muttered, “I guess we can start in earnest.”
I am now at the construction site of the Beijing branch.
I came at night because I didn't have time to look around during the day.
But... what is that?
As I stared at something in the distance, I screamed in horror.
“Over there! What are you doing at someone else's construction site?”