Chapter 22 — Mountain Survey (2)
The innkeeper grinned broadly when she saw Doyul and Isu together.
"Oh my! The two most handsome young masters in our county came together!"
"Uh... Haha. Innkeeper, how can you say that about me when the Yulli is right here...?"
Isu stiffened awkwardly and glanced at Doyul, but the friendly innkeeper answered without hesitation.
"A young master is a young master! I haven't seen our little young master around lately. What brings you here after hiding away for so long?"
"Ahem! Ahem!"
Isu, who had barely left the house recently, had come running the moment Doyul summoned him.
Embarrassed, he simply stared into empty space and cleared his throat repeatedly.
"And Yulli, thank you so much. I heard you gave that wicked fellow who caused trouble at my inn a proper lesson!"
For a moment, Doyul remembered the lunatic who had flipped over a table because he disliked the taste of the gukbap.
...She means that troublesome customer.
But what does she mean by giving him a lesson?
Doyul knew nothing about Donggu's actions, so he couldn't quite understand what the innkeeper meant.
Still, it wasn't important right now.
He gave a vague reply and moved on.
"...I'm glad there hasn't been any further trouble. I came to eat with Isu, so I would appreciate it if you prepared something for us."
"Leave it to me! I'll make you a bowl of gukbap so good you'll remember it forever!"
The innkeeper clenched her fist enthusiastically and hurried away.
For a moment, silence settled between Doyul and Isu.
"Um..."
Unable to endure the awkwardness, Isu spoke first.
"S-Scholar! No, no. You're the Yulli now. Yulli, have you been well?"
"..."
Doyul looked at Isu with a complicated expression.
Did you know about your father's corruption too?
Isu's fine silk clothes suddenly looked different to him.
Historically, local clerks were often known to pursue private profit.
And the Ibang and Lee Isu had always seemed unusually wealthy for people of their status.
Until now, Doyul hadn't considered it strange.
But after learning of the Ibang's corruption, the thought left a gritty feeling in his mouth.
"...I've been doing well enough."
"...I-I see!"
Isu watched his expression for a moment, then quickly continued.
"I apologize for not contacting you. I've had a lot on my mind lately, so my thoughts were rather tangled. But the moment you called for me, I finally came to my senses! Hahaha!"
"..."
Bow!
"The guidance you've given me has been so great, yet I didn't even send word. Please forgive my discourtesy!"
"...There's nothing to forgive."
Dun!
"Then today's meal shall be my treat!"
Doyul answered calmly.
"That's unnecessary. I wanted to check how you've been, and I also had something I wanted to ask you."
"Huh? You have something to ask me?"
Looking at the innocent, slightly foolish Isu made Doyul's heart feel even heavier.
What are the chances Lee Isu knew about the Ibang's wrongdoing?
Based on everything so far...
Extremely low.
Lee Isu had nearly had a fit just because his father gave him a small advantage during the yulli selection exam.
Would someone like that really ignore his father's corruption for personal benefit?
Doyul couldn't imagine Isu calmly pretending not to know.
It also mattered that his classmates had never mentioned anything particularly negative about Isu when discussing the drama.
Of course, perhaps they had spoken about it when Doyul wasn't around.
Or maybe they had intentionally avoided spoilers.
So he couldn't be certain.
But based only on what he knew now, assuming Isu's innocence was far more reasonable.
...Haah. What am I supposed to do with this?
Remembering Isu crying like a child during the examination made the phrase a tiger son born to a dog father come naturally to mind.
The father participates in a vicious scheme to steal the land of local residents.
Meanwhile, the son feels guilty over even the smallest unfair advantage and desperately wants to live honorably.
Isu noticed Doyul's unusual expression and became increasingly nervous.
"Um... Yulli. What was it you wanted to ask me?"
Right then, as if perfectly timed, the innkeeper brought over their gukbap.
"Young masters! Eat it before it gets cold!"
Doyul smiled calmly.
"...Let's talk while we eat."
Lately, Isu had been doing fairly well.
After the Ibang brought him the pheasant jerky, Isu quickly regained his composure and returned to his usual self.
By now, rather than feeling disappointed that he hadn't become the yulli, he actually felt more apologetic toward Doyul.
How foolish of me.
The Yulli must have been worried because I shut myself away all this time. That's why he called me here to check on me.
Isu clenched his fist with gratitude and embarrassment.
I was too short-sighted.
How many people did I make worry while I hid away alone?
"Yulli! Please ask me anything! If it's something I can answer, I'll tell you everything!"
Dun!
Watching Isu make such a dramatic declaration, Doyul hesitated before carefully asking.
"...How has the Ibang been lately?"
"Huh? My father?"
A strange feeling briefly passed through Isu's mind.
But he dismissed it as an ordinary question and answered immediately.
"Hmm. He's been about the same as usual. Ah!"
After thinking for a moment, Isu struck his fist into his palm.
"He's actually quite busy these days. Spring is approaching, so I think he's preparing for the mountain survey."
Doyul listened to Isu chatter like an excited child before becoming curious.
"A mountain survey? What exactly is he surveying?"
"Hm? Naturally, he's checking whether anyone has created slash-and-burn fields! Yulli, you're astonishingly knowledgeable about principles, but you really don't seem interested in ordinary affairs of the world."
"...Haha. Perhaps I've spent too much time shut inside reading books."
Isu accepted that explanation immediately.
"Hmm, that makes sense! Wisdom like yours surely requires blood, sweat, and constant study!"
...Slash-and-burn farming.
Slash-and-burn cultivation involved setting fire to a section of mountain forest, clearing the land, and farming it afterward.
Isu scratched his head and added more explanation for Doyul.
"Can you believe there are still shameless people who set fire to mountains to farm these days? So every spring, my father patrols the mountains and checks for signs of burned land. Mountain surveys are extremely important!"
Dun!
"Stopping people from burning mountains to avoid land tax and making sure proper taxes are collected! Isn't that one of a local clerk's most important duties?"
Pride filled Isu's voice and expression as he explained the work.
Doyul carefully hid his complicated thoughts.
"...I see. Then the Ibang must be very busy."
After Doyul answered calmly, Isu realized he'd gotten overly excited and awkwardly changed the subject.
"Y-Yes, indeed! Haha.... Yulli, how are you finding life at the government office?"
"I think I've adjusted reasonably well."
"I-I see. That's good. Um... and..."
Isu hesitated for a moment before speaking bashfully.
"...Yulli. There's something I'd like to tell you."
"Go ahead."
"Thank you. Truly. I... always keep the lessons you gave me close to my heart."
"..."
Doyul's spoon stopped.
"You're working in the county now, but someday... I have no doubt you'll pass the main state examination with ease and become a great man."
"...Isu."
"So... I may never become someone like you, but still! I want to follow your example. I've been studying even harder lately so that I too can become a better official!"
Isu smiled brightly.
"If you become an admirable magistrate like Magistrate Kim, and I become a great local clerk like my father... what greater happiness could there be?"
"..."
When Doyul said nothing, Isu continued.
"Yulli, so please don't worry about me. I'm doing well."
"...I see."
Looking at Isu's face, the words Doyul had intended to say disappeared.
Now that I've confirmed the Ibang was involved in that fraud, I can't exactly pass along the magistrate's offer.
Even if I had brought it up, though... I suppose his answer would've been the same.
Doyul had also intended to draw information about the Ibang out of Isu.
But after speaking with him, it seemed obvious that Isu knew absolutely nothing.
I'll have to investigate separately.
Just as Doyul reached that temporary conclusion, Isu's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Yulli! By the way, I heard you handled another troublesome case brilliantly! They say you resolved the dispute between Makdong and Elder Yang perfectly!"
"Ah. That matter?"
"Yes! Would you explain it to me too? What exactly happened, and how did you reach your judgment? I've been so curious I could barely sleep!"
Doyul looked at him.
...Right.
What crime have you committed?
He felt both pity and affection for Isu.
So Doyul set down his spoon and began explaining the case.
"It began because Elder Yang confused the medicinal geun with the meat geun..."
[Record of the Magistrate's Administration]
Kim Jiseok's brush stopped moving.
The Magistrate's Administrative Record was a report submitted to the royal court, summarizing the condition of the region governed by officials such as county magistrates.
Kim Jiseok's term was nearly finished, so he had begun wrapping up his duties as a local official.
He was widely recognized as an incorruptible administrator.
So he had been writing quickly without any concerns...
Until one section made him smile bitterly.
[Report on the Suppression of Slash-and-Burn Fields]
"...What should I do about this?"
Kim Jiseok put down his brush and looked outside.
Forsythias, azaleas, and other spring flowers were in full bloom.
No matter what anyone said, spring had clearly arrived.
The reason the government prohibited slash-and-burn farming was not merely tax evasion.
The loss of taxes was a minor concern.
Some people climbed deep into mountains and were killed by wild animals.
Others accidentally started wildfires.
Mountain surveys were therefore essential measures to protect people from making dangerous choices simply to avoid a small amount of tax.
For that reason, investigating slash-and-burn fields was one of the most important duties of a local magistrate.
The problem was...
The actual fieldwork was handled by the local clerks.
Which meant the Ibang had to conduct the investigation.
"If I send him as usual, it bothers me. But I can't simply refuse to send him either.... How frustrating."
Until now, the Ibang had handled the mountain survey every year.
But now that Kim Jiseok had begun to harbor suspicions about him, he could no longer feel comfortable granting him full authority.
He had entrusted every mountain survey to the Ibang throughout his entire term.
Now, near the very end...
An unpleasant doubt naturally arose.
Kim Jiseok closed his eyes and groaned quietly.
"...What if he has been turning a blind eye to slash-and-burn farmers?"
Kim Jiseok did not want to suspect the Ibang.
But neither could he simply ignore the possibility.
In the end, there was only one answer.
"I truly feel sorry for the Yulli. But I have no alternative."
Kim Jiseok thought for a moment, then called for one of the government servants.
"Is anyone outside?"
"Yes, my lord. Did you call?"
"...Yes."
When he considered the matter carefully, only one person came to mind who could carry out what he wanted properly.
"Go and summon Yulli Kang."
