I Became the Crown Prince of a Ruined Country

12 – A New Life

“Coming back, one of the remaining Oh Yun Gaek is a man named Mosu.”

“Are you sure?”

“Nangjungjichu. Mosujacheon. Have you ever heard of it?”

Oh, it’s an old saying I’ve heard before.

Nangjungjichu means that an awl in a pocket always sticks out, so those with great abilities will be exposed even if they try to hide it.

Didn’t Mosujacheon say that a person named Mosu made a contribution by recommending himself? I really don’t know who the mother is.

“Mosu was a eater in Pyeongwon-gun, right?”

“That’s right. It seems you’ve vaguely heard of it. Enlisting the support of Chu, Mosu stood tall as the chief of the Oyungaek.”

“Is there a hierarchy for Ohungaek?”

“It’s not official, but there is an implicit order according to the reliability of the Pyeongwon Army.”

Feeling a little embarrassed, Chuyeon said that she was in fourth place.

It was amazing that he was ranked 4th out of 1,000 diners, but it was even more surprising that there were 3 of them in a higher rank than King Soyang’s teacher, Chuyeon.

In the case of Choo-yeon, I wondered if it was because she came in late as a diner, so she had few opportunities to show off her abilities.

“If Mosu gong is first, is Punggi gong second?”

“That’s right. If the mother is Pyeongwon-gun’s hand, it is called Pyeong-won-gun’s mouth.”

“Then who is number three?”

“The third place…”

Just as Chuyeon was about to explain, someone came over and interrupted our conversation.

“Hello, Gongja. And Gong Chu.”

“Are you…?”

The elderly man, who doesn’t seem to have a significant age gap with Chu-yeon, greeted them in a stylish way.

“Gongsun Long, sleeping is called self-defense.”

There were characters in this era as well, but they tended to be used mixedly, unlike later generations, where the standard for calling names between names and characters was clear.

It feels like a nickname we call among close friends who are still growing up, unlike the future where names are given priority because we are careful about calling names.

I said hello to Gongsun Long.

“Young master of Yan, Heidan.”

“Hui Dan… His name means red, and his shape is rough. Despite his true identity, people see him as a boy with red eyes, but you can’t fool this Gongsun Dragon.”

What is this again?

When I was taken aback by the sudden sound, Chuyeon next to me clicked her tongue and said.

“Gongsun Long, he is from a famous family. He is also a guest of fortune.”

Is that person a member of Ohungaek, the third-ranked eater?

Unlike when talking about morals or public morals, I couldn’t find a smile on Chuyeon’s face.

‘They seem to be on bad terms with each other.’

Gongsun-ryong also has a fierce eye for Chu-yeon. It wasn’t to the level of glaring, but the light of alert was clearly felt.

“You don’t have to listen too much. The people of the High House are the people who catch the pods of horses and enjoy exhausting criticism.”

“What are you talking about? The Ming family identifies the world by revealing names and facts. Is there any school that pursues righteousness more than this?

“What?”

“Did I say something wrong? Aren’t the Onmyanga people who can’t even think for themselves, relying on the attributes they find in nature to make their judgments, rather than delving into truth on their own?”

“Huh! This guy really wants to end it with me!”

“Hmm! If you thought that would make me scared and back down, you’d be wrong!”

No, why are the old people who are old enough to drink junk food like this? It’s not some kid fight.

I looked at Chu-yeon with slightly dazed eyes.

Chu-yeon, who had been exuding the same force as a sage who had penetrated the world until just a moment ago, had become an ordinary grandfather who was arguing with her elderly fellow at a nursing home.

‘It’s nice to feel like a person.’

Gradually, other diners around them also show up and start to pay attention.

Wanting to put an end to it at this point, I put my body between the two old men who were fighting for pride between the schools of Myeongga and Onmyoga.

“Stop it, please stop it. What kind of fuss are these two, whom Pyeongwon-gun cares about?”

As if my words calmed down a bit, the two stopped arguing and dropped their faces haughtily.

“Be in luck. If it weren’t for Gongja, today would have been the day you disappeared from here.”

“Hmph, like a fortuneteller, I only lived with my lips.”

“What? You name-maker! Good! I’ll make today a comrade in your life!”

Two old men who wanted to stop, but then started screaming at each other again.

Couldn’t this be called human compatibility?

I squirmed away from the two of them, who were still arguing over me, and slowly backed away.

I didn’t leave it at all, I did as much as I could. I don’t know anymore. Do it yourself

Isn’t that what the commentators of this era originally did? Properly arguing with each other to make their names known, arguing with someone more famous with the reputation they have built up, and raising the ransom.

Then ascending to a government post or meeting the owner and living as a gourmet was the pattern of success for those called intellectuals at the time.

There is no separate test like the past or civil service exam, and if you don’t have bloodlines or connections, you should at least make your name known.

They think they are doing their best in their work. Maybe.

And above all.

‘It’s fun. Arguments.’

Of course, I am in a position to support Chu-Yeon, saying that I bend my arms inward, but I also have high expectations for Gongsun-Long.

It is an argument between big players who are called Oh Woon-gae. You will be able to learn more than Hankyung’s classes just by listening from the side.

However, the two never had an unlimited discussion until the end.

“You two should do this for today.”

It was because the newly appeared person stopped the two people’s argument as if they were familiar.

“Mosu, no matter how you are, I can’t just let you go today.”

“Me too.”

Is that person Mosu… It’s rougher than expected. Rather than a scholar, he had the impression of something resembling Imhyeop on the street.

Chuyeon, Gongsunryong, followed by Mosu, the number one in the rankings.

I wish I had some popcorn. Come to think of it, was there no corn at this time? They said they came from the Americas, yes.

Sorry, sorry.

Still, I was looking forward to the exciting three-way battle, but unfortunately the situation did not go the way I hoped.

“Then what about me?”

“Pyeongwon-gun!”

No matter how proud the two geniuses were, they didn’t flinch in front of their employers.

Pyeongwon-gun, who briefly cleaned up the cluttered hall, even threw a book of appeasement to ease their dissatisfaction.

“Sooner or later, let’s arrange an opportunity for the two of them to clearly compare their knowledge. Rather, will everyone listen to my story today? I’m just on my way to meet His Majesty and Sangbang.”

I was thinking that something about state affairs would come out, and it would be right to get out of the way, but Pyeongwon-gun pointed at me.

“Let Young master be with you. Today’s work has nothing to do with Young master.”

“…Yes, I will.”

Is it overtime today? I think I’ll be going home a little late, so I’ll have to send someone to Hankyung.

Well, I’ve never actually worked overtime.

§

Humans are creatures of adaptation.

I realized it again after a month.

At first, when I was neglected, I thought that there was nothing more I could wish for as long as food, clothing, and shelter were settled.

“It’s boring.”

I didn’t find much fun in Hankyung’s education, and visiting Pyeongwon-gun and interacting with the diners has now become an ordinary daily routine.

I don’t know if a war of words between Chu Yan and Gongsun Rong breaks out, but there hasn’t been any particular conflict between the two since then. It was because the two were away for a while for the mission assigned by Pyeongwon-gun.

Recently, Pyeongwon-gun has been busy preparing to return to government office. So, when I visited, only Mosu or Punggi greeted me.

But it’s hard to get close to Mosu and something, or I’m not good at adapting.

If I thought I was going to be idle for a little while, I would criticize them,

Mosu often told me that I was too weak, and that a man should have the strength to protect himself.

To put it a little vulgarly, he was a bad guy, and Mosu was a fighter who shouted that his fist was closer than the law.

Gongsun-ryong and Chu-yeon are busy snarling at each other whenever they face each other, perhaps because of the characteristics of their respective schools, so I wonder if the composition of Oh Yun-gae is really good.

Pyeongwon-gun, which brings together such people, was not called the National Four Gentlemen for nothing.

I needed something new to stimulate.

A fresh experience to soothe this boring daily life.

And I knew how to get it easily.

“Travel.”

For the past month, my daily routine has been running like a treadmill.

Wake up, breakfast, morning class, lunch, afternoon business, dinner, go home.

Just like this. The radius of activity was naturally the home and Pyeongwon-gun’s mansion.

But now that you have fully adapted to this kind of life, there is no better time to move on to the next step.

“Should I do it? A cruise on Handan.”

The time has come to become a tourist!