Chapter 10

## Chapter 10 — My Name Is! (2)

While handling government affairs, Kim Jiseok fell into deep thought.

"Haah. These days, there is barely a petition submitted to the government office that hasn't passed through Kang Doyul's hands. Could he perhaps... be receiving payment for writing petitions on behalf of others?"

Ignorant commoners needed help.

So there was nothing inherently wrong with Kang Doyul offering them sound advice instead of leaving them to deceitful oejibu.

But...

If Doyul continued like this and established himself as an oejibu, that would become a serious problem.

A promising young man's future could be ruined over a few coins in the present.

"...What should I do?"

Even if Doyul had become an oejibu for money, Kim Jiseok didn't feel capable of condemning him.

After serving as a magistrate and governing ordinary people, he had learned that not everyone lived under circumstances like his own.

Kim Jiseok had been the pride of a noble scholar-official family.

He passed the state examination while still young.

He possessed an incorruptible character and had once taken immense pride in himself.

But after becoming a local official and seeing the realities of provincial life firsthand, he realized there was an enormous gap between the teachings of sages he had read in books and the world people actually lived in.

How shameful.

Instead of condemning those who fail to work hard, I should have recognized that some people are trapped in circumstances where they cannot even afford to try.

Judging by the situation, Kang Doyul's assistance had become far too frequent to be explained entirely by public-minded charity.

Kim Jiseok could roughly guess what was happening.

There was only one problem.

Even knowing the likely reason, he had no idea what he could do about it.

"...How frustrating."

At that moment, the county's local clerk, the Ibang, bowed to the magistrate.

"Magistrate, is something troubling you?"

The Ibang was one of the few men Kim Jiseok genuinely trusted.

Though he belonged to the jungin class, he was exceptionally wise.

In fact, he had played a significant role in breaking down many of Kim Jiseok's old prejudices.

"You've arrived."

"You don't look well. Is something bothering you?"

Kim Jiseok hesitated before answering.

"There is someone who has been weighing on my mind lately. I've been wondering what I should do with him."

"Do you mean Kang Doyul?"

As expected of the magistrate's trusted subordinate.

He understood immediately.

"Yes. He has no family with him and lives only with a single servant. His financial circumstances are obvious. Nine times out of ten, he must be helping with other people's lawsuits for money. But I worry that chasing immediate profit may bend the branches of a tree destined to become great."

Wanting to help Doyul was one thing.

Finding a legitimate reason and method to help him was another.

If Kim Jiseok had his way, he would have sent him rice and meat by the cartload.

But if local residents who felt slighted accused him of favoritism, it could become a serious issue.

The Ibang pretended to think for a moment before speaking subtly.

"Especially when rumors say a secret royal inspector may arrive soon... No matter how noble the intention or proper the use, if you simply give him goods, no one knows how it might appear."

"Indeed."

"Then what matters is having proper justification, is it not?"

"...Oh?"

The Ibang clearly had an idea.

"You have already confirmed that the young man's intelligence is exceptional. Then simply have him assist with the affairs of the government office and pay him an appropriate salary for his work."

"I considered something similar. But if I suddenly summon a young man with no official connection and give him government work, someone will certainly object."

The Ibang smiled slightly, as if he had already thought of that.

"The main state examination is considered the highest of examinations not merely because it is difficult, but because all who possess the proper qualifications are given an equal opportunity, is that not so?"

Kim Jiseok understood what his subordinate meant.

"...An examination? An examination for the position... Yes. That could work."

Kim Jiseok smiled brightly.

He failed to notice the deeper meaning hidden in the Ibang's phrase, "all who possess the proper qualifications."

"As expected, you truly are wise!"

"..."

The Ibang silently swallowed a smile.

At last... an opportunity has come.

***

Like any other day, Doyul was conducting consultations.

"So please stop fighting and try to reach a reasonable settlement..."

"What? I heard that if I came here, a brilliant man would completely destroy the other side for me. I even heard that if I paid extra, you'd send your servant to beat them into a bloody pulp. Yet you're telling me to reconcile? I suppose it's true that famous feasts often have nothing worth eating. Rumors really are exaggerated."

Doyul couldn't help sighing at the visitor's nonsense.

For some reason, more and more strange clients had been appearing lately.

...What the hell is he talking about? Why would I beat people up?

He didn't know why, but ominous rumors had apparently begun spreading.

It was becoming seriously troublesome.

Then Donggu, who had gone shopping, came rushing back while shouting.

"Y-Young Master! This isn't the time for that!"

"Why?"

"G-Gasp! Isn't that... the Red Fist from the rumors?!"

Donggu glanced at the visitor.

"Leave while I'm still asking nicely."

"Ahem! They said you always say kind things whenever someone comes here, and it appears the rumor was true. I have suddenly remembered some urgent business, so I shall be going..."

The visitor took one look at Donggu and fled.

Then Donggu turned excitedly toward Doyul.

"Th-The government office is recruiting people! This is our chance!"

"Recruiting for what?"

"The magistrate says there are too many lawsuits these days, so he's going to pay someone to help with them!"

"...What?"

"A huge notice has already been posted in the marketplace! I can't read, so I don't know exactly what it says. Young Master, you should go check it immediately!"

The magistrate was suddenly recruiting someone?

Of course, presiding over that many lawsuits alone had to be exhausting.

So it made sense.

Still, the timing was almost too perfect.

Could this be part of the original drama's plot?

Doyul couldn't immediately tell whether this had always happened in the historical drama or whether his actions had changed the story.

But either way, his choice was obvious.

...I absolutely need to stand out to the magistrate.

There was no more reliable way to become deeply involved with him than working alongside him.

Donggu bounced excitedly.

"As expected, even Heaven has been moved by the Young Master's virtue! You've been helping troubled commoners for free with a true heart, so surely word reached the government office!"

Judging by his tone, Donggu clearly hoped Doyul would finally abandon lawsuit work altogether.

But...

I'll put that on hold.

Doyul had no idea what kind of situations might arise in the future.

Money was one of the most reliable weapons for protecting himself.

So for now, he had no intention of giving up his oejibu work.

"Y-Yeah. Let's... go take a look first."

"Exactly!"

Donggu had his own thoughts.

With the Young Master's ability, he'll obviously get the position at the government office.

But the Young Master doesn't understand. The amount of rice the government office gives as salary isn't very much.

For Donggu, justification was more important than money.

The Young Master was clearly serving ignorant commoners for free.

Yet as the number of visitors increased, ugly rumors had begun spreading that Kang Doyul was an oejibu!

But if he works at the government office, all that nonsense will disappear.

Of course, Donggu had personally punished every bastard who spread such slander.

Still, he wanted Doyul to work for the government office.

Not for money.

For honor.

Young Master should walk only on a road of flowers.

He doesn't need to worry about money.

Righteous Outlaw Donggu... will continue operating until the Young Master becomes Chief State Councillor!

And so the two headed toward the marketplace while dreaming completely different dreams.

***

When Doyul appeared in the marketplace, the murmuring crowd immediately reacted.

"What? Is that fellow applying for the yulli position too?"

"Good grief. Then it's over for the rest of us!"

"What's the point of announcing that status won't matter? Ignorant men like us still won't have a chance! Tch!"

"The Young Master needs to read the notice, so everyone move aside!"

"Please, just stay quiet..."

Embarrassed, Doyul walked through the crowd, which parted like the Red Sea, and slowly read the notice.

[During my five years in Yeongsan County, recent events have become increasingly strange. The grievances of the people have reached such heights that lawsuits now arise as frequently as chickens are sold in the marketplace, making it impossible for one man to examine every matter thoroughly. Yet it is the magistrate's duty to care for the people. Therefore, after much thought, I have devised a small measure. In order to set the county in order and prevent wrongful suffering, I shall select a yulli to assist with lawsuits. Let many fair and upright people apply so that the laws and order of the county may be restored.]

...A yulli.

Doyul thought carefully while reading the notice.

There had been no official government position called "yulli" in historical Joseon.

Most likely, the magistrate had temporarily created a position by combining the character for law, yul, with ri, meaning a lower-ranking government clerk, in order to deal with the surge in lawsuits.

Joseon's administration separated central and local government.

Provincial officials were also paid from taxes collected locally.

So if the magistrate governing the county wanted to employ someone temporarily, it wasn't inherently impossible.

...If this was part of the drama's original plot, then someone must have taken this position.

Doyul looked around.

Once that thought occurred to him, he carefully scanned the crowd without making it obvious.

...Hm?

His caution proved completely unnecessary.

One person stood out immediately.

"Hahaha! These days every dog and horse in the county brings some trivial complaint before the magistrate. Of course His Excellency must be exhausted! Naturally, a wise man must step forward and assist him. Someone... how should I put it? Someone like me! Hahaha!"

A young man was loudly boasting with obvious excitement.

"And why did His Excellency declare that social status would not matter? Because there is something more important than rank! Perhaps there is someone he absolutely wishes to keep by his side regardless of status! No, surely that's exactly it! He must have had someone like me in mind! Hahahaha!"

Doyul was an introvert.

Just looking at the young man made him feel exhausted.

...I really hope it isn't him.

If Doyul's hypothesis was correct and the original drama also included the selection of a yulli, then whoever obtained the position would inevitably become deeply connected to Kim Jiseok.

That meant the character was likely important to the story.

Still, I can't judge too quickly.

Becoming one of Kim Jiseok's close aides would benefit me too. For now, I'll apply and observe what happens.

They're selecting the person through two stages...

Doyul was carefully reading the rest of the notice when Donggu spoke without any sense of timing.

"Oh! He's not quite as skilled as you, Young Master, but the magistrate is an excellent calligrapher too."

"Ah. Yeah. I see. Thanks."

"Did you know, Young Master? The magistrate placed third in the top rank of the state examination. He was a Tamhwarang!"

"Ah. Really? I see."

Doyul reacted casually.

Of course, placing third in the top rank was an enormous achievement.

A candidate had to survive the preliminary examination, the secondary examination, and finally the palace examination.

The final three were essentially the top three examinees in the entire country.

In modern terms, Kim Jiseok had ranked third nationwide.

But Doyul himself was a genius who had spent his entire life placing first.

So hearing that someone ranked third nationwide didn't impress him much.

Then...

"Hey! You there!"

"...Hm?"

The young man who had been chattering nearby suddenly flushed red and pointed at Doyul.

"You just thought the magistrate wasn't actually that impressive, didn't you?"

"...What? Who are you, and why are you suddenly saying that to me?"

At Doyul's question, the young man proudly answered.

He struck a pose.

"My name is Lee Isu! My father serves as the local clerk of Yeongsan County!"

Doyul's mind immediately began racing.

Wait.

Lee Isu?

"I seriously laughed so much whenever Isu appeared!"

"Agreed! Lee Isu basically carried the comic relief."

Doyul remembered Changwoo and Minjae mentioning that name during one of their conversations.

Then that chatterbox is...

"And furthermore...!"

Dun!

Although Lee Isu belonged to the jungin class...

He was a bold young man who sincerely admired the magistrate.

"I am the man who will become the yulli serving beside the magistrate!"