527.if you collect everyone's resignations—what happens to the country next
Park Seong-jin returned to the topic.
"So if you collect everyone's resignations—what happens to the country next."
"We take them all first, then call back only those who are sound."
"…That's frightening."
"If we don't, we won't hold."
"One word invites a hundred more."
"When there's money, the voice grows loud."
Yoon Dam nodded.
"Exactly."
"That's the crux."
Seong-jin ate calmly, then gestured toward the red seasoned dish.
"Try this."
"It looks like balloon flower root, but it's wild ginseng."
"What?"
"Truly?"
"No matter how I look, it's balloon flower—"
"Would I lie to you, Lord Yoon."
"Where did you get wild ginseng—"
"These days I live half my life in the mountains."
"If I dig some up while passing, we share it at home."
"You know medicinal herbs too?"
"For mountain folk, herbs are basic."
"Not enough to sell—just enough to cook as side dishes."
"Hahaha."
Yoon Dam took a bite and widened his eyes.
The bitter fragrance filled his mouth and seemed to reach his lungs.
"Good heavens…"
"The aroma's different."
"For mountain folk, gathering herbs—chaeyak—is basic."
Chaeyak: literally harvesting plants or roots with medicinal effects; also used metaphorically for inner cultivation. A double meaning.
Unable to stop, Yoon Dam lifted his chopsticks again and again.
"It's delicious."
"Not because of the taste—because it's good for you."
"Hm… perhaps."
Seong-jin brushed his hands and turned to the point.
"Now tell me. What do you want me to handle."
"There may be armed backlash. You'll need to suppress it."
"Who."
"We don't know."
"Which one, when, or how."
"The army?"
"The army is part of the reform."
"This time—everyone."
"…Ha."
"Isn't that too much."
"Yes."
"It is too much."
"Then you'll fall from office."
"And that will be the end."
"Goryeo's reform ends there."
"That's my fate."
Seong-jin clicked his tongue, irritated.
"Why do you speak of it as if it's someone else's story."
Yoon Dam answered without looking away.
"It is someone else's story. I'm from Jiangnan. This country is not mine."
"Good grief…"
So-eun listened to their bickering and smiled faintly.
Seong-jin laughed roughly.
"Fine. Just say the word. I'll go crush them for you."
"That's why—since we don't know who—please stay within the palace for a time and be ready."
"So you mean to bind me inside the palace."
"Only briefly."
"And 'brief' for you is how long."
Yoon Dam only smiled, embarrassed.
Seong-jin tried again.
"If it's an internal revolt—two weeks?"
Yoon Dam shook his head.
"A month?"
He shook it again.
In the end they settled roughly between half a year and a year.
They traded details—where to stay, what to secure, what contingencies to expect.
Seong-jin summed up.
"Specify the residence and the perimeter to guard.
Write down the start and end dates and leave them."
"We'll prepare without inconvenience."
"It's a business of overturning the state—won't there be many eyes from the offices inside that."
"We'll be careful."
Even then, Yoon Dam took another bite of wild ginseng.
Seong-jin glanced at So-eun; she brought a small wooden box.
On green moss lay a palm-sized wild ginseng.
"You like it—take it as a gift."
"Oh my…"
"I shouldn't accept such a thing…"
"Live long and work for Goryeo."
"Ugh…"
Seong-jin added,
"It's potent."
"It wilts quickly—use it at once."
"You can chew the leaves too."
"What a waste…"
Yoon Dam hugged the ginseng box, at a loss.
"Do you accept gifts like this from others."
"I don't."
"Hahaha."
Seong-jin looked to So-eun; she nodded.
It meant the message to the palace ended here.
"Let's go."
Seong-jin sprang to his feet.
Yoon Dam looked up, bewildered, clutching the box.
"Pardon?"
"Let's go."
"Now?"
"Yes."
"Now."
Yoon Dam clicked his tongue.
"Honestly… you're terribly hasty."
But Seong-jin was already leaving the hall.
As his footsteps hit the veranda, Cheo-eun and his son-in-law Ji-ho hurried over.
Surprise and unease crossed their faces.
"I'll need to stay in Gaegyeong for a while," Seong-jin said.
Cheo-eun asked at once,
"How long."
"They say a year."
"We agreed on half."
Cheo-eun's eyes moved, calculating.
"How should we prepare support."
"Secure the house thoroughly, and a detachment of warriors goes with me."
"If contact is needed—this grandfather here."
At "grandfather," Yoon Dam frowned slightly.
"That phrasing—"
Ji-ho asked next,
"Will it become dangerous here."
"Not yet."
"If there are signs, I'll send word."
"I understand."
Seong-jin moved without delay toward the gathered warriors.
He called Song Yi-sul and briefed him; Yi-sul's face hardened.
"Split the force," Seong-jin said.
"Attach most to the palace."
Yi-sul asked at once,
"An internal war?"
After a brief glance toward Yoon Dam, Seong-jin answered shortly.
"We'll do work that could cause one."
Yi-sul asked no more.
He straightened and said,
"I'll prepare immediately."
"Give me one gak."
Seong-jin had told him to take it slow, but Yi-sul was already running.
Seong-jin hurried to the inner quarters.
As he informed his mother, her voice nearly broke with tears.
She sensed her son was heading somewhere dangerous again—
mothers know without being told.
"What is this, Seong-jin."
"How long…"
"How far…"
Seong-jin bowed briefly.
"It's state business."
"I can't tell you anything."
"Please take care—and it may be a bit long."
Even in that short gap, his sisters rushed out—
Okbun, Bokbun, Mabun, Eunbun lined up.
Bokbun nudged her husband with an elbow.
He lowered his head, eyes saying there was nothing he could say.
Seong-jin called out sharply,
"Depart!"
Twenty warriors moved at once.
Saddles were set.
Gear gathered.
The speed at the main gate was no different from preparing for battle.
"Rear unit—complete all measures and depart in one sijin!"
As the order fell, the air tightened further.
Seong-jin did not look back.
Hoofbeats toward Gaegyeong sounded beside him, behind him, all around—
their thunder shaking the courtyard.