599.to cross the sea to strike pirate bases
The moment the words from the throne ended, robes rustled at one side of the court.
Several officials of the powerful families stepped forward at once.
"Your Majesty."
One seasoned minister bowed deeply.
"You speak of unifying regional forces by royal command, yet this is a measure that shakes the foundation of military authority.
It has not been long since order was barely established through the abolition of private armies.
If forces are released again, we fear chaos will come first."
Another official continued.
"Jungnangjang Park Seong-jin's martial merit is widely known.
Yet to place regional forces into one hand would burden him with excessive weight.
Though it be by royal command, in the field it will soon appear as forces wearing the guise of private armies."
A third official stepped further forward.
"Moreover, to cross the sea to strike pirate bases is an external expedition.
An external expedition requires the movement of great armies and is not a matter for a mere Jungnangjang to bear."
Each sentence was layered with words like "national law" and "precedent."
"The military must remain solely within the king's grasp."
"If local gentry and clerks are summoned, who can ensure that the blade will be sheathed to the very end."
The air of the court hardened.
Some officials nodded.
Others held their breath.
It was the moment when the calculations of the powerful families were laid bare.
One official drove in the final nail.
"Your Majesty, today's command may not be one that guards the southern seas, but one that nurtures tomorrow's rebellion.
We beg you to reconsider."
The debate beneath the throne ended, yet the tension only sharpened.
---*
Yi In-jung stepped forward once more.
The court's gaze gathered upon him.
"Your Majesty."
His voice was not loud.
Yet it cut through the murmur of the court and reached clearly.
"All the words spoken just now by the ministers are correct."
A faint breath of relief loosened on the side of the powerful families.
Yi In-jung lifted his head.
"Military authority is not something to be lightly released.
For remnants of private armies to again don the guise of military forces is a matter that punishment alone would scarcely suffice to govern.
How could one who bears the office of Supreme Commander be unaware of such concerns."
The court grew quiet.
Yi In-jung continued.
"However, if responsibility is to be debated in this matter, we must first make clear who will bear it.
Your Majesty, all military outcomes, political repercussions, and fluctuations of public sentiment arising from this royal command—
all responsibility for them, I, Yi In-jung, shall bear in full as Supreme Commander."
The court stirred.
Among the powerful officials, the sound of breath stopping could be heard.
Yi In-jung went on.
"Jungnangjang Park Seong-jin is nothing more than the blade that carries out this command.
Responsibility for a blade's swing belongs not to the blade, but to the one who holds it."
He placed both hands on the floor and prostrated himself deeply.
His forehead touched the cold stone of the hall.
"If by this command the regional forces scatter, and in time the seeds of rebellion take root,
I ask that all such crimes be taken upon this one head of mine."
Someone swallowed.
Someone lowered their head.
Yi In-jung raised his head.
His eyes did not waver.
"I present conditions.
First, all force integration shall be enacted with a fixed term.
Second, troop registers shall be reported daily without omission to the Supreme Command.
Third, upon the completion of sea-raider suppression, all forces shall be disbanded at once and returned to their original registers and districts."
When his words ended, the court sank into complete stillness.
Yi In-jung added one final line.
"Your Majesty.
If this command saves the nation, the merit belongs to Your Majesty's resolve.
If this command harms the nation, the crime is more than sufficiently borne by this one body of Yi In-jung."
He bowed once more.
No immediate rebuttal rose in the court.
The silence upon the throne came to an end.
The king's gaze swept across the entire court once.
The sound of swallowed breath spread between the pillars.
"The Supreme Commander's words are not excessive."
The king's voice was low and firm.
"The southern seas now stand in a situation bordering on national calamity."
"If the root is not struck, the fire will flare again."
The king paused briefly.
That silence was time for calculation.
The officials' heads bowed all at once.
"The capital's forces will not be emptied.
Yet neither will the southern seas be left to endure alone."
The king's words fell straight.
"For the suppression of sea raiders, regional forces shall be temporarily unified by royal command.
The period of integration shall be limited to three months.
All command authority is delegated to Jungnangjang Park Seong-jin.
As he has already crossed the tally axe, in truth this was possible even without my permission."
The court stirred once more.
The king cut through the movement and continued.
"However, all forces shall remain under royal command.
Those who gather troops privately shall be punished under the law of treason.
Military merit belongs to the court, and spoils shall be distributed according to law.
Any force that encroaches upon the people's property shall be disbanded at once."
The king's gaze settled on Yi In-jung.
"Supreme Commander."
"Loyalty."
"Carry out this command at once."
Yi In-jung stepped forward immediately.
"This servant shall uphold the command."
His voice did not tremble.
The king added one final line.
"Be sure to tell Jungnangjang.
Though he may be short-handed and burdened, he is to remove the nation's worries."
The court attendant stepped forward.
"Receive the royal command."
The audience began to conclude.
That morning, a single road leading to the southern seas was opened from the court.