I Became the Crown Prince of a Ruined Country

5 – Pyeongwongun

Seven days after being rejected for an interview by King Jo and Gunsingun.

I went to the conclusion.

Life in the meantime was literally the limit of frugality. Still, I reduced what I had been eating for two full meals to one meal, and despite the weather slowly getting colder, I solved it by not heating at all and wearing more clothes.

March of hardship… It’s grandiose to say, but it was quite a hard life.

Unlike the royal dishes of the Yan Dynasty, which tasted delicious enough even for modern people, it was an ordeal to eat poorly seasoned food.

But that is the last time.

After today, your life will become even more miserable and you won’t be able to eat even that, or you’ll have to eat the splendid Jeonseok like before you became a hostage. It will be one of the two

‘Isn’t it one way to stick your head into Jo Na-ra and continue your current life?’

If that’s the case, even if you eat as you eat, you won’t be able to taste it properly.

Anyway.

I leave the accommodation with a firm resolve before planting.

I was wearing commoners’ clothes over the colorful silk clothes I had worn from the Yan Dynasty.

I quickly got out while Hankyung looked at the guards with my boots in my change of clothes.

Since we had been holding our breath and living a frugal life, the discipline of the guards had become lax. I easily eluded them with a change of clothes and bait, and followed the path I had memorized before arriving at Pyeongwon-gun’s mansion.

Today, a banquet was being held at Pyeongwon-gun’s mansion. Through the fence came the sounds of wind and laughter.

Although the prestige of Pyeongwon-gun was dampened by the crushing defeat in the Great War of Jangpyeong, there were still many people who wanted to find him.

And now I was one of them. But the situation was grim.

“Young master of Yan, his name is Dan. I’m here to see Prince Pyeongwon, so put a message inside.”

Despite the polite words, the reply was full of ignorance.

“Huh! Are you coming to a kid like this now? Boy, Pyeongwon-gun isn’t the kind of person that a kid like you would call.”

Ah, I was still wearing commoner clothes. Realizing my mistake because I was so nervous, I took off my shabby clothes and spoke again.

“Have you not heard? I am Young master Dan of Yan.”

“Uh, uh huh? He… You look like a young master from a high family… Are you saying you’re really Young master?”

“Come on, put a message inside.”

“Yeah, old! Got it!”

Clothing is the most visual thing that reveals identity.

When the silk clothes, which looked expensive at first glance, were revealed, the gatekeeper ran into the mansion in a hurry.

Then, when he returned, a middle-aged man who appeared to be a literary man was with him. The middle-aged man looked at me and subtly twisted the corners of his mouth.

It was a fleeting moment, but I didn’t miss it. And I realized. The author is not a pure plain eater.

‘A hand prepared by Gunsin-gun.’

The middle-aged man who knew my identity lowered his head, but that’s all. He said calmly as he stood in front of the door.

“Prince Pyeongwon won’t accept any more guests, so go ahead with Young master.”

In his firm tone, it was strongly revealed that he would never let you in here.

“Is that really what Pyeongwongun means?”

“…Of course.”

A brief snowball fight. I was the one who left first.

“I understand your master’s will.”

At my meaningful words, the middle-aged writer showed faint confusion. Have you ever been stabbed?

This is what I expected.

Geonsin-gun must have prepared at least one means to interfere.

But I can’t give up on this one either.

As I walked away from the door of the mansion, I felt the gaze from behind me disappear.

Since I couldn’t stay there forever, I must have gone inside. If you make a fuss about going in anyway, the gatekeepers will block you. It’s not too late to come out after hearing the commotion.

And I had no intention of using such an ignorant method in the first place.

I walked along the fence of Pyeongwon-gun’s mansion. And he stopped at the place where the sound of the banquet could be heard the loudest.

Take a deep breath.

What I was going to do from now on was the most bold thing in my past and present life.

Trembling.

My heart is beating wildly and cold sweat is pouring out.

Even when I was in the Department of Business Administration in my previous life, I always left the presentation of group assignments to other members and was in charge of PPT and data research. That’s me, now I’m going to put on a show on the roadside where people come and go.

I can’t help but tremble.

But I had to.

It is difficult to expect support from the home country, and even though he gave up on his pride and went to visit him himself, he was rejected without seeing King Jo, or even the military commanders in the upper direction.

There is no guarantee that I will not become a pawn in the old Qin Dynasty if things go on like this.

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Will you slowly wither away, or will you throw away your pride and face and jump into gambling.

‘I don’t know if I’m alone, but how many family members are under me!’

Must do.

If I stay still, the damage won’t stop at me.

Recognizing my resolve, I took a deep breath.

And looking straight at the mansion that just pushed me away, I burst out the air that had filled my chest at once.

“Is Mount Tai standing again (太山起乎)! Does the beam rise (梁柱立乎)!! Has the iron man returned (哲人復乎)—!!!”

§

Pyeongwon-gun Jo Seung (趙勝) listened to the song of the banquet and tilted his glass.

His stomach was full of hot tantrums that could not be cooled by any cold water. Only alcohol made me forget the fever for a while.

Among the nations of the Warring States Period, Zhao was always a military power that belonged to the upper ranks.

Although the Qin Dynasty now holds the title of the strongest country, unlike the Han and Wei Dynasty, the Zhao Dynasty was able to stop the Jin Dynasty from advancing eastward with active activities such as Impression, Yeompa, and Survey.

Bullock walls protecting the central plains from the Qin Dynasty.

Pyeongwon-gun praised his country like that.

If there is Hamgok-gwan in Qin to protect the country, there is Zhao in the countries of the Central Plains, so Qin dare not show ambition.

Being one of the four pillars supporting the late King Jo Hye-mun and the country of Cho was a pride that could not be replaced with anything in Pyeongwon-gun’s life.

But it collapsed.

Because of the Jangpyeong Great War.

The worst defeat in the history of the Cho Dynasty caused by Pyeongwongun’s misjudgment.

Because of that one failure, the Zhao Dynasty could no longer boast of being an impregnable military power that could easily block the advance of the Qin Dynasty.

He has fallen into a situation where he can barely defend the country from the Jin Dynasty only by cooperating with the Wei Dynasty’s Sinling Army and the Chu Dynasty’s Chunshin Army.

Everything seemed to be his fault. And in reality, Pyeongwongun’s responsibility was not small.

So, even when the capital, Handan, was under siege, he drank, suffering from remorse and self-loathing. He banquets and he blinds himself with luxury and pleasure.

If the low-level foodie named Lee Dam (李談) hadn’t reminded Pyeongwon-gun, he would have been foolishly drinking and watching the country fall.

Fortunately, Pyeongwon-gun recovered his spirit and accepted that he still had responsibilities. Afterwards, Pyeongwon-gun leads 3,000 death squads and directly raids the march outside the castle, succeeding in buying time until reinforcements from all countries arrive.

After overcoming the greatest crisis brought about by the defeat in the Battle of Jangpyeong, Pyeongwon-gun resigned his official post.

After a brief peace came, Pyeongwon-gun was again buried in regret.

Regarding the military, there is nothing to worry about because there is Yeompa, the great general of the Jo Nara, and the Gunsingun fills the position well enough. It was good that Pyeongwon-gun did not have to go to the front line anymore.

Unlike Yeompa, Gunsin-gun didn’t have a part he didn’t like. Hana Pyeongwon-gun was afraid that the country would fall into crisis again due to his misjudgment.

Pyeongwon-gun wanted to put everything aside and melt into the momentary pleasure of a banquet and the peace of drunkenness.

Suddenly, a strange singing sound came to his ears.

Will Taesan stand again? Does the crossbeam happen? Has the Iron Man returned?

If you listen without knowing it, it may sound like a false song, but Pyeongwon-gun realized that it was referring to someone.

And that the target is none other than himself.

“Isn’t that singing voice twisted Nibu’s sage ball?”

Nibu was none other than Young master’ honorific.

Sasegu refers to a deathbed poem left before death. It is said that Young master, before his death, closed his eyes after singing a song titled ‘Is Mount Tai fall, does a beam break, does an iron man die’.

It may sound surprising to later generations who are accustomed to the absolute status of Young master, but the evaluation of Young master at this time was not so great.

As the founder of Confucianism, he is an outstanding scholar who is counted among 100 disciples. Just like that.

Rather, with the rise of Confucianism, the Moo School, which was almost half-dead, was the mainstream school that dominated the Danggeum world.

Adding to this the Yang family of Yang Zhou (楊朱), who inherited the Daoist school of Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu, and the Fa family (law school), which emerged as the core of state management after Shang Yang’s transformation of law, three schools dominated the world. Was leading

Since this is the reality, the leaders of the Confucian family who inherited the academic lineage of Young master left many words lamenting the social situation. Representatively, Mencius criticized Mukjeok and Yangju, and Sunja pointed out the limitations of the legal school.

Looking at the case of Xunja, who was alive at the time, we could see the reality of Confucianism.

Sunja was one of the greatest scholars in the world even at the time. It was to the extent that he served as the dean of the Imperial Academy, the hall of learning, three times.

However, although his academic achievements were acknowledged and he left great footprints in Confucianism to his posterity, Sunja’s achievements in real politics were meager.

Apart from academic value, the teachings of Confucianism did not reach much for those who lived a hard life in the Spring and Autumn Warring States Period.

Nevertheless, it was clear that Pyongwongun’s level of knowledge was quite high in that he knew Young master’ four years.

At Pyeongwon-gun’s words, the diners began to spit out one by one.

Those who flatter, those who are indignant and have to scold, those who try to interpret the meaning of the words. Various voices broke out.

Some people were silent to check their surroundings or organize their thoughts. The one who just sent out the joy group belonged to this group.

‘This voice is definitely that kid.’

He recognized his identity only through his voice.

‘I thought I gave up, but I never thought I would do something like this.’

I was too careless. A child of only 9 years old. Since he gave off a sense of intimidation, he quickly decided that he would realize the subject and withdraw.

It was incredible action and boldness for a 9-year-old child.

Just looking at the way he aroused interest by twisting Young master’ sasagu, it’s no wonder. There may be someone who will teach you behind the scenes, but memorizing them and actually using them is another matter.

His admiration is admiration, and he was faithful to his role. He quickly opened his mouth to stop Hee-dan from trying to get Pyeongwon-gun’s attention.

“Pyeongwon-kun! It’s really bizarre that there are people singing such songs on this happy day. I’ll go and give a damn!”

He jumped up before Pyeongwon-gun gave permission, and he tried to go outside, but he had to stop before taking a few steps.

Pyeongwon-gun’s hand was raised.

“Pyeongwon-kun…?”

“You stay where you are. There must be a reason why you called me like that. And the fact that you chose such a loud method is just that you couldn’t see me in a normal way.”

Although it is said that he retired from the chancellor and lived in banquets, Pyeongwongun’s knowledge did not rust in the slightest.

The moment he met Pyeongwon-gun’s gaze, he couldn’t move as if his body was frozen. His eyes seemed to be saying, “I know you are the leader of the Gunsin Army.”

‘Is this the true face of Pyeongwongun? !’

Pyeongwon-gun, who had silenced the diners just by looking around the crowd, soon called out a person’s name.

“Is there any Chuyeon?”

The person called took a step forward.

“Yes, Pyeongwon-gun.”

“Will you go and fetch that singer?”

“I will.”

Chuyeon.

Among the diners of Pyeongwon-gun, where there are many talented people, he was one of the most talented and was a scholar of the Onmyang family.

Among Pyeongwon-gun’s foodies, Chuyeon, who had a high standing, stepped forward, so even after washing his eyes, there was no room for him to intervene.

Even in a situation of dismay, he somehow managed to straighten his expression. And he prayed fervently.

‘I hope the guards outside handled it somehow…….’