Chapter 1570: The Drum Sounds

He paused deliberately at this point, and the Crown Prince quickly grasped his meaning.

"The army officers and men on the transport ships are to be dealt with in the same manner — none are permitted to leave port!" He made the decision at once, then turned his head toward Zhao Song. "Brigade Commander Zhao, this will rely on you to restrain your subordinates."

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, please set your mind at ease. Your servant will certainly restrain his subordinates and absolutely forbid them from leaving port without authorization." Zhao Song immediately agreed. "Your servant has already explained the situation clearly to the officers under his command. They would never dare defy military orders and ruin the court's great undertaking."

"That is most satisfactory." The Crown Prince smiled, rather gratified.

Then his expression grew stern once more. "Commander Liao, have the Goryeo ministers already arrived?"

"Yes, they have arrived, Your Highness." This time it was another person who answered.

This was a dark-complexioned, short-statured middle-aged man. He had been standing off to the side all along, utterly silent out of deference. He was Liao Hui, the Commandant on Ganghwa Island. Because Ganghwa Island had civil administration, a seaport, and a garrison, the Great Han had stationed many agencies there. To unify management, a Commandant had been appointed to oversee civil administration and both army and navy garrisons, akin to a Governor-General.

Liao Hui had previously served in the Liaodong Army, fought with fierce courage, and earned considerable merit, rising through the ranks to Battalion Commander. Later, during a campaign, he injured his left leg and subsequently retired with the discharge pay and consolation funds provided by the court.

The Liaodong Army had always been tightly knit, and of course they would not simply leave him to his own devices after his discharge. To settle his later years after retirement, the higher-ups had even specially found a position for him to choose at will, and after careful consideration, he chose to serve as the Commandant of Ganghwa Island.

He felt that Ganghwa Island had a pleasant climate, and the post of Commandant, which oversaw both civil and military affairs, was a comfortable sinecure that offered both tangible benefits and honor. Moreover, because he came from a Liaodong Army officer background and had military merit to his name, everyone from top to bottom respected him. Over the years, they had all gotten along very harmoniously. Liao Hui obtained a leisurely and richly compensated post-retirement office, and from the court's perspective, they had found a good candidate for Commandant — it could be considered the best of both worlds.

However, after the Crown Prince arrived on Ganghwa Island, Liao Hui's life of leisure could no longer continue. He had come to the naval port early in the morning to welcome the Crown Prince, and then, with trepidation, dragged his lame leg aboard the Songshan to await the Crown Prince's orders.

Ordinarily, he was a local emperor, but in the presence of the Crown Prince and the two leading figures of the army and navy, how could he possibly get a word in? He could only stand silently to one side, waiting to be addressed by the Crown Prince.

After waiting a long time, the Crown Prince had finally brought him up now. Not daring to be remiss, Liao Hui hurriedly spoke up to explain to him.

"The welcoming minister from the Goryeo court arrived the night before last. It is Chief Minister Kim Jin-guk."

Because they had received prior notification from the Great Han mission, the Goryeo court generally knew the Crown Prince's itinerary between Liaodong and Goryeo. They naturally dared not be negligent and had long since dispatched a delegation to welcome the Central Kingdom's Crown Prince. Kim Jin-guk was the current Chief Minister of the Goryeo court; having him lead the delegation was indeed the only choice.

"They are certainly deferential." The Crown Prince sighed. "I fear we're in for a great deal of trouble now."

Since this was an inspection tour of Liaodong and Goryeo, a visit to the Goryeo capital was unavoidable. He had to follow the Goryeo welcoming delegation to Hanseong to receive the Goryeo king, and there would be a host of miscellaneous ceremonial matters to attend to. Just thinking about it was indeed a headache, yet it had to be done.

"Very well, let's not keep them waiting any longer. We shall disembark." After steadying himself, the Crown Prince rose directly.

In the early morning sea breeze, the Crown Prince, along with the two generals Cai De and Zhao Song, walked down from the Songshan.

Unlike Jinzhou City, Ganghwa Island was very small, so the naval port did not cover much ground, and there was no dedicated guesthouse to receive him. However, given his exalted status as Crown Prince, he would naturally receive the best hospitality. Liao Hui, the Commandant of Ganghwa Island, had specially vacated his own official residence for the Crown Prince to stay in. Fortunately, the Crown Prince would only remain on Ganghwa Island for a day before departing for Hanseong; otherwise, who knew how much more trouble he would cause them.

Knowing full well that he could be of little further use, Liao Hui was tactful enough to begin patrolling various parts of the naval port as soon as they disembarked, urging the officials and garrison troops to attend to their duties diligently, while leaving his own official residence to the Crown Prince and his party.

According to protocol, the Crown Prince should first receive the Goryeo ministers who had come to welcome him, but he did not do so immediately. Instead, he summoned Shi Gaoyi, the head of the Great Han mission stationed in Goryeo who had accompanied him here, to his side.

"Chief Shi, this journey has been hard on you." As soon as he saw the man, the Crown Prince greeted him calmly.

Ever since that time he had rebuked Shi Gaoyi to his face, he had never held a private meeting with him again. On this journey to Goryeo, he had not arranged for Shi Gaoyi to board the Songshan, on which he himself traveled, merely allowing him to accompany them on another warship. The Crown Prince intended to use this method to cold-shoulder him, making him understand that he had already fallen from favor and should not think of playing any more tricks.

After all, Shi Gaoyi had navigated the Great Han bureaucracy for so many years and was naturally perceptive. He dared not disturb the Crown Prince, only coming to his side when summoned, and even then did not dare to speak much, simply standing there quietly, which actually made the Crown Prince feel a little sorry for him.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Upon hearing the Crown Prince's greeting, Shi Gaoyi answered with the utmost deference. "Your servant traveled by ship and was not overly fatigued. He only regrets being unable to share more of Your Highness's burdens."

"Previously at sea, you could not share my burdens, but now that we have arrived in Goryeo, it is time for you to do so." The Crown Prince waved his hand. "Now that we are on Ganghwa Island, we must next go and meet the Goryeo sovereign and his ministers. The Goryeo court sent a delegation to welcome us the day before yesterday, led by Chief Minister Kim Jin-guk. Chief Shi, you have dealt with him for several years now in Goryeo. What sort of man is this Kim Jin-guk?"

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, Kim Jin-guk is a cunning and treacherous man. Please be cautious in dealing with him and by no means allow yourself to be deceived by him," Shi Gaoyi answered immediately.

Perhaps sensing that the Crown Prince was looking at him somewhat strangely, he hastily explained, "Your Highness, please do not misunderstand. Your servant is not carrying a personal grudge and maliciously slandering Kim Jin-guk. It is truly that this Goryeo minister is far too detestable."

"In what way exactly is he detestable?" The Crown Prince was in no hurry and asked rather composedly.

"This man was previously frustrated and unrecognized in the court of the deposed king Yi Jong, but after Yi Hon's restoration, by a stroke of luck, he managed to advance and become Yi Hon's right-hand man. As Chief Minister, holding the reins of power in Goryeo, he ought to cooperate with us and genuinely consolidate relations between our two nations. Yet he deliberately offers feigned compliance, proclaiming awe and submission to the Celestial Empire with his mouth while covertly obstructing us in every way. Matters our mission entrusts to him are either not handled at all, or handled with endless delays, causing our mission great suffering. Moreover... it is he who secretly instigates Yi Hon to distance himself from our Great Han mission, spouting words like 'Goryeo's internal affairs should naturally be resolved by Goryeo's own people and should not be subject to Great Han control,' stirring up the Goryeo sovereign and ministers to turn away from us. If not... if not for him sowing discord among them, the Goryeo king would not have become so estranged from us now."

As he spoke to this point, he himself felt a degree of bitterness. As far as he was concerned, it would be best if Goryeo were calm and tranquil, always utterly submissive to the Great Han. If Yi Hon had truly always been obedient to the mission's every word, how could so many troubles have arisen now? Thus, he now harbored dissatisfaction not only toward Yi Hon but also a measure of resentment toward Kim Jin-guk.

"So it seems, for the current discord between our two nations, Kim Jin-guk cannot evade his share of the blame..." Seeing Shi Gaoyi speak with such heartfelt bitterness, the Crown Prince believed him somewhat.

"I implore Your Highness to see through everything clearly and by no means allow those petty men to succeed in their schemes!" As Shi Gaoyi spoke, he bowed deeply.

The Crown Prince looked at him quietly, and after a moment gestured for him to raise his head.

"I understand, Chief Shi. You will accompany me to meet Kim Jin-guk." Then, as if remembering something, he added, "By the way, does this Kim Jin-guk speak Han language?"

Because Shi Gaoyi had previously attempted to deceive him, the Crown Prince now only half-believed him and did not take his words as complete truth. Besides, Kim Jin-guk, as Chief Minister of the Goryeo court, held an extremely high position and could not be denied due respect — even if only superficial respect.

At the very least, a courteous reception was essential.

"The Goryeo sovereign and ministers have long admired Central Plains culture, and everyone from top to bottom has long been proficient in Han writing," Shi Gaoyi hastily replied. "Although a previous king, to make it easier for commoners to read and write, created the Goryeo script a generation ago, the upper class has always continued to use Han writing."

"That is good, then. It will make it convenient for me to meet him." The Crown Prince nodded slightly. "Chief Shi, when I receive him shortly, if there is any place where my words fail to convey my meaning, I will trouble you to translate between us. But... do not interject lightly."

"Your servant understands." Shi Gaoyi inwardly realized that the Crown Prince was probably already on guard against Kim Jin-guk, and so felt a slight joy, but he did not show it.

Just as they were speaking, Kim Jin-guk, the Chief State Councilor representing the Goryeo court to welcome the Central Kingdom's Crown Prince, was also pacing anxiously inside the government office on Ganghwa Island.

The atmosphere here made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

For as long as he could remember, Ganghwa Island had always been a term that made people turn pale at its mention, a nightmare that had haunted everyone's head through two hundred years of fierce factional strife. So the moment he set foot on this island, he felt uneasy all over, as if he were suffocating.

He came from Goryeo's yangban aristocracy. From a young age, sheltered by his forebears' influence, he had entered the Goryeo court and become a member of the scholar-official class, and amid the vicissitudes of the world, he had preserved his life and position, rising smoothly to his current post of Chief State Councilor — one could say he had reached the pinnacle of officialdom. He ordinarily resided comfortably in Hanseong, living in pampered luxury and enjoying a life of extreme wealth. When had he ever come to such a crude place?

What made him even more uncomfortable was that this place had now virtually become Great Han territory.

Although the various agreements between Great Han and Goryeo contained no clause explicitly ceding Ganghwa Island to Great Han, the Great Han had now stationed troops on Ganghwa Island for many years, long since creating a fait accompli, and had left its mark everywhere.

To others, the bustling naval and merchant ports, and the rows of warehouses standing everywhere, were proof of prosperity. But in his heart, he found it utterly distasteful and felt only a pang of anguish. Even the commandant's office on Ganghwa Island where he now stood — every one of these buildings — was, in his eyes, a humiliation for Goryeo.

What made it even harder to bear was that he had to endure this humiliation without daring to show the slightest discontent.

In the era of the former Ming, Goryeo had already been a vassal of the Great Ming, able only to declare itself a subject and act with the utmost deference in all matters. Yet back then, at least there had been some independence; the Great Ming had not stationed troops in Goryeo and rarely interfered in Goryeo's internal affairs. But now it was completely different. The Great Han had always acted with brutal ferocity, not caring for the dignity of the suzerain state the way the former Ming had — it was a hundred times more vicious.

Because the Great Ming had sent troops decades ago to help Goryeo recover its kingdom from under the iron hooves of the Japanese pirates, the Goryeo sovereign, ministers, scholars, and commoners all felt profound gratitude toward the Great Ming, secretly cherishing it in their hearts even to this day. Contrasting that with the Great Han's current actions, their nostalgia for the Great Ming had only grown stronger.

But nostalgia was nostalgia; before reality, they had to bow their heads. The Goryeo court was now under others' control — what could be done?

The Central Kingdom's Crown Prince gracing Goryeo with his presence was, ostensibly, a tremendous honor. Yet how to welcome him without being perceived as disrespectful was a terribly difficult problem. The Goryeo sovereign and ministers had deliberated several times, all for the sake of pleasing this Crown Prince as much as possible and avoiding offending him.

They were currently in conflict with the Great Han mission stationed in Goryeo. It was said that some time ago, the head of the Great Han mission, Shi Gaoyi, had already sailed ahead to Liaodong to welcome the Crown Prince. Heaven only knew how much ill he might have spoken of them there. Everyone said the Central Kingdom's Crown Prince had been exceptionally intelligent from childhood, but no matter how intelligent a person was, he was still just a youth, extremely susceptible to deception. If he had formed a preconceived bad impression, then matters would become extremely difficult going forward.

At the thought of these vexing problems, Kim Jin-guk could not help but be filled with worry.

Just as he was still fretting over these matters, a sudden commotion arose outside the government office, followed by the announcement: "His Highness the Crown Prince arrives!"

He hurriedly walked out of the office, then called for the other Goryeo court ministers who had come with him to welcome the Central Kingdom's Crown Prince, and together they went out the gate. Then, simultaneously, they knelt outside the main gate, heedless of the considerable dust on the ground.

Just as they were all kneeling, the Crown Prince and his retinue also arrived at the entrance of the government office.

"Your servant Kim Jin-guk, Chief State Councilor of Goryeo, kowtows before His Highness the Crown Prince!" At the moment he appeared, led by Kim Jin-guk, these Goryeo ministers all shouted their names in Han language while knocking their heads to the ground. Because their movements were very uniform, the sound was quite continuous and carried a certain imposing air.

Yet this very gesture only startled the Crown Prince. The new dynasty had abolished kneeling before the Crown Prince from its founding; he had never seen such a display among his attendants and tutors growing up, let alone from court officials. For a moment, he was at a complete loss.

Still, he had by now witnessed his share of grand occasions, so he quickly regained his composure and walked slowly over to where Kim Jin-guk and the other Goryeo ministers stood.

"Chief State Councillor Kim, honored ministers, please rise. There is no need for such ceremony."

"Your Highness, as Crown Prince of the superior state, you have deigned to visit our humble country on an inspection tour. We subjects are duty-bound to welcome you with the highest rites — how could we dare be remiss!" Kim Jin-guk first replied, then knocked his head to the ground once more. He rose to his feet, then knelt and kowtowed again, completing the grand rite of three kneelings and nine kowtows under the Crown Prince's astonished and awkward gaze.

"I have come to inspect Liaodong and Goryeo merely to observe the people's condition. Chief State Councillor Kim need not be so elaborate..." Only after he had finished the rite did the Crown Prince find his words.

"The Great Han is the superior state. For this subject to behold the bearing of His Highness the Crown Prince is a supreme honor. I only regret that I cannot glimpse the heavenly countenance..." Kim Jin-guk rose once more and lightly brushed his face with his robe sleeve.

You crude lot are nothing but rebel ministers and traitorous scoundrels who seized the realm while the Great Ming was in decline — what do you know of propriety? In his heart, a vague yet unmistakable sense of superiority welled up.

The Crown Prince, of course, had no idea what this Goryeo minister was thinking. He only felt that although these men observed the rites with extreme deference, there seemed to be a certain distance about them that made them hard to talk to. At the same time, he took the opportunity to study Kim Jin-guk carefully. He found this bearded, middle-aged minister's face to be exceedingly stern. Despite his earlier arrogance and later obsequiousness, he carried a certain bearing, and did not quite match the image of a base villain that Shi Gaoyi had previously painted.

Still, he knew that one cannot judge people by appearances alone, so he simply kept his doubts to himself.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, please go inside. The wind and sand are strong out here." Seeing that the Crown Prince was still standing outside the gate with the Goryeo welcoming envoy, which was probably a breach of decorum, Zhao Song could not help but remind him.

"Very well, let us go in." The Crown Prince nodded, then smiled at Kim Jin-guk. "Chief State Councillor Kim has come from afar. The journey must have been arduous. Let us dispense with some of these elaborate formalities. If the Chief State Councillor is too constrained by them, not only will he be exhausted — I fear even I would feel rather apologetic..."

With that, he placed his hands behind his back and strode, head held high, into the Great Han government office on Ganghwa Island.

As he spoke, Kim Jin-guk remained bent at the waist. Only when the Crown Prince turned and left did this Goryeo Chief State Councillor straighten his back. Together with the Goryeo ministers who had accompanied him, he followed step by step behind the Central Dynasty's Crown Prince.

This brief audience, lasting less than a quarter of an hour, was likewise insufficient for him to see through the Central Dynasty's Crown Prince completely. However, though the Crown Prince was young, he possessed composure; and though his manner was amiable, one could tell he was a rather intelligent person, not easily manipulated.

The Central Dynasty's Crown Prince gracing Goryeo with his presence was an event without precedent in all prior history. How exactly he ought to be received — these men had no clear idea either. The Goryeo sovereign and ministers had gathered to deliberate several times. After much thought, they concluded that, in any case, the reception must be as grand as possible, and they must ensure that the Central Dynasty harbored no further ill will toward the Goryeo court during this season of troubles.

Upon entering the spacious office interior, the Crown Prince took the host's seat as was his due, while the Great Han and Goryeo officials who followed him moved to the side seats — though no one sat down.

"Gentlemen, please be seated. Do not stand on ceremony." The Crown Prince made a gesture, once again urging them.

Once they had all taken their seats in turn, the Crown Prince immediately looked toward Kim Jin-guk. "Chief State Councillor Kim, how fares your sovereign's health at present?"