Episode 331. Corruption Management Crisis (2)
“It’s been a while, Mr. Eosa.”
After the greeting with Ha Hu-yeon, when we started moving again, Ha Hu-dong approached us with a coy voice and cringing at the waist.
“Who… ah! Instead of Hahu, who left Shuchunseong with the royal seal?”
The painter remembered Ha Hu-dong’s face and surname, but couldn’t remember his name, so he called him instead.
“Yes, I am now an official of Luoyang Castle.”
“It’s been a while. I thought you would be in the imperial city, but when did you come to Luoyang?”
“At that time, I delivered the royal seal to Empress Mupyeong and received the position of Grand Chancellor from the emperor, so I came here.”
“Ah, so it’s been a while.”
“yes.”
“Eosadaebu, do you remember me?”
Xiahudong wanted to talk to the painter some more, but when Jeon Jeon, who was in charge of Luoyang County’s planner, approached and pretended to be ignorant of the painter, he was unable to talk further and fell back.
“I don’t know about this bookmaker? You broke your leg and suffered for a while, didn’t you?”
“I was treated by your Eosa Daebu and now I am fine.”
“Looks like this bookkeeper is managing Luoyang’s county with Dodok Xiahu…” Even after the
transfer, Hwabu did not realize time passing until he arrived at Luoyang Castle, receiving personal greetings from various generals and officials and asking their regards.
After Hahudong talked to the fireman once, he couldn’t even get close to him and was pushed back.
‘I guess I’ll have to visit and say hello again.’
In fact, Ha Hu-dong had been concerned about the bribes he had received from wealthy merchants and wealthy people, rather than coming to take a picture of his eyes.
There was no problem with the paperwork, but why did the officials of Dong-gun or Ha-nae-gun run away because they were not good at filling out the paperwork?
* * *
“Yes! Ha Huyeon Dowi was in charge of the three defense forces: Hadong-gun, Hanae-gun, and Han Nam-yoon?”
Unexpectedly, the painter was able to hear from Hwafu the reason why Xiahouyeon remained in Luoyang as a swordsman.
The combined strength of the three armies of Hedong, Henae and Henam is approximately 100,000.
I don’t know which schemer it came from, but Cao Cao, who went to fight Yuan Shao, had Xia Huyeon and Jeon move the 100,000 defensive troops organically to defend the 3rd Army.
If the defending forces were divided into three armies, they could easily be defeated individually, but if the enemy noticed signs of an attack first and gathered the defending forces together to defend, it was possible to defend the castle with as many as 100,000 troops.
Of course, such a strategy is like a risky gamble that can be broken if the enemy notices it and sends only a few troops to another castle, but if the longevity and schemer operating it are Ha Hu-yeon and Jeon, it is a strategy that is fully feasible.
“It’s not that I don’t know what Queen Mupyeong thought, but this tactic was too dangerous.”
“It’s a very risky ploy, but about two months ago, Hansoo of Pungik’s army led the army to attack Hadong’s army and returned after suffering great losses.
“I heard that Xiahu Dowei was hit by an arrow in that fight, but did you fake that to deceive the enemy?”
“I don’t even know about that. I am briefed on the situation on the battlefield, but I am not on the battlefield, so I do not know the details.”
“hmm! Perhaps the enemies heard the news that Xiahou Taoyu was shot by an arrow?”
“I don’t even know.”
The painter realized that what he could know through the hwabok was limited, and after a while called Eulji to find out what was going on.
Although Nakyang has been Jojo’s territory so far, since it is a place where Eulji’s limbs are actively moving, questions will be answered soon.
“Eosadaebu.”
At that time, the guard standing outside called the fireman.
“What’s going on?”
“Dae Changryeong of Hahudong came to see Eosa Daebu.”
“this time? Well, stop by now.”
“yes.”
The painter tilted his head for a moment, but allowed it because he knew that he was Jojo’s relative’s younger brother.
“Meet Eosa Daebu and Hwabok Taesu.”
Hahudong bowed his head as soon as he entered.
“It’s quite a late hour. What’s going on?”
“Just yesterday, a merchant I knew came from a long way up to get some precious medicine, and he said that the medicine was good for relieving fatigue, so I remembered Eosa Daebu and Taesu-nim, who had come a long way, and brought it.”
Hahudong held out a wide cloth, and the painter made a slightly puzzled expression.
“Did you see me as a person who couldn’t find even a single medicine like this to openly use bribes as soon as I arrived in Luoyang?”
In response to the fireman’s reaction, Xia Hudong immediately fell flat on his stomach.
Thank you if you give the courtesy, but if you don’t, it’s a bribe, but you’re angry? It was embarrassing for a moment, but because of the years of living with notice, the situation was quick.
“This is a gift, not a bribe. Even though it is a precious medicinal material, how could it be that Mr. Eosa…”
“I don’t want to hear it. Take it out immediately.”
“I see. sorry.”
Xiahoudong hurriedly took up the cloth and retreated. In this case, if you try to force it, it will only make you angry.
“Then see you next time.”
Hwabu and Hwabok did not answer, and Hahudong ran away in a cold sweat.
When he disappeared, Hwabok opened his mouth.
“Since the guy named Daechangryeong who manages taxes is like that, I can guess what Lukyang has been like.”
“That’s right. After your inauguration ceremony, you will have to correct the discipline.”
“It should be. Now, Luoyang is not the territory of Queen Wu Ping, but yours, so I have to pay more attention.”
“No more, no less, just rule like a subordinate or an ally.”
“First of all, I’ll have to get rid of all the people with no reputations like Hahudong.”
“Even if you are a type of person, if you are competent and have no problems, do not cut them off and embrace them. You’re not going to pretend right now, are you?”
“I get it. I will take care of the level control.”
“I believe you will do well if you are my brother.”
“It’s late at night, so let’s go to sleep.”
“yes.”
* * *
Ha Huyeon and Jeon’s expression became serious.
They also now know that Cao Cao changed his karma to Luoyang Castle.
“It’s a good word, brother-in-law. If this is enough, it should be considered a transaction between the feudal lords.”
“I see. Right now, Eopseong is a key point for attacking Giju and Yuju, but Lukyang here is also a place that is no less… I don’t understand how the Duke of Ju made such a decision.”
“It’s only merchants who make deals by finding weaknesses. Eosa Daebu made a big profit by aiming for a difficult time when Zhou Gong was fighting Yuan Shao.”
“And in order to solidify the gains, we are bringing in 250,000 troops and stationing them.”
Ha Hu-yeon had been informed by Hwa-bu to withdraw all of Jojo’s troops who had been guarding Lukyang to Hadong-gun. “I thought he
was a person worthy of being imitated after seeing his generous benevolence…”
However, it is a feudal lord who competes for the world. I can’t help but be greedy.”
“The feudal lords who compete for the world… Maybe we can point our swords at each other in the future.”
“You should already think that we are sharpening knives with each other. Dowi-nim and I are so resentful, but how can the generals and schemers who fought together in the castle feel so sad? No, right now, the state governor’s feelings will be more miserable than ours.”
“Right. Now, Eosa Daebu also needs to be vigilant.”
“In fact, through this incident, it was revealed on the surface that from the beginning, only one person can be the owner of the world.”
Ha Huyeon’s eyes, which had been listening to the previous words, flashed coldly.
“If it’s half the enemy, I’ll have to move the soldiers to Hadong-gun and give them a small gift.”
“A gift? It’s not like you’re thinking of giving one more rice cake to the ugly child, what can you do?”
“It will take at least 15 days for the soldiers of Eosa Daebu to adapt to this lukyang castle. Wouldn’t it be a big loss if you greet the enemy when you’re not adapted?”
“Are you planning on provoking Ma Teng or Han Su?”
“You notice right away.”
“The idea is good, but it is not yet time to stimulate the Eosa Godfather. Did the Duke of Zhou concede this Luoyang for nothing? If you don’t notice it, you can get into trouble.”
“The soldiers are busy adjusting to the castle, and the governor and the bureaucrats he brought from Hana-gun and Dong-gun must be busy figuring out their duties. So if I do it secretly, who knows?”
“I guess so. Perhaps the right time will be after we retreat to Hadong-gun.”
“No, I have changed my mind. If Ma Teng attacks after I step back, he might find out that I’ve been cheating, so I’ll have to deal with it before that happens.”
“Ho~. That would be better.”
“If you are an ally, show mercy, but if you are an enemy, do not choose any means. First of all, this schemer should find a suitable excuse and delay the soldiers’ retreat by about 10 days. In the meantime, I…”
The longer Ha Huyeon spoke, the former’s eyes shone.
Previously, he secured the lax parts of Ha Hu-yeon’s plan and discussed feeding the fireman deep into the night.
* * *
Instead of Hwabok becoming governor of Luoyang, governor Gong became governor of Hanaegun.
Since the two governors are changing their surnames, those with whom they have a close relationship or have a heavy relationship with each other are taken or brought. To do that, the two governors must coordinate in advance.
When the coordination was over and the list of officials to be sent from Luoyang to Henae County was announced, Xia Hudong put on a dazed expression, like someone hit in the back of the head with a hammer.
‘I don’t have my own name! Damn it, how many bribes have I paid so far… Are you saying you’re leaving me?’
Xia Hudong thought that the bribes he had given to Governor Gong were enormous, so he immediately rushed to Governor Gong’s house in a panic and begged him to take him.
“Tsk, how could I want to leave the great Changryeong here? But unlike the other officials, the Grand Changling of Xiahu was directly appointed by His Majesty the Emperor, wasn’t it? So I can’t change it at will.”
“That’s like that…”
Ha Hudong was devastated. I heard it and it is true.
He wanted to immediately contact the imperial palace and ask for a change of place of work, but most of the people who could do that in positions of high responsibility had gone to the Giju battlefield, so he couldn’t.
After leaving Taesujeon, Hahudong went to the customs office with a troubled face, but came out in a hurry to meet a subordinate official who was looking for him.
“Hahoo, Grand Chancellor, something big happened.”
“I’m still disturbed, but what’s the matter with making such a fuss?”
“The customs officers from the eastern army brought by Governor Hwabok come in and say they will inspect the books.”
“what! We haven’t even had an inauguration ceremony yet. What do you mean by that?”
“The governor of Hwabok has given an order.”
“You mean that Master Hwabok is targeting me?”
“I guess so.”
“Did I look bad? shit!”
Ha Hu-dong suddenly recalled, from the time he had been given the royal seal by the fireman, to the recent time he was kicked out for carrying medicinal materials as a bribe.
‘There are no clothes that don’t get dusty by shaking them off. If you’re targeted, you have to negotiate before it surfaces!’
Xiahoudong hurriedly ran to the guesthouse where Hwabok was staying. Since Hwabok had not yet taken office, he was staying at a guesthouse called Jihandang.
When he arrived at Jihandang, he saw that the officials Hwabok had brought from Dong-gun and Ha-nae-gun had gathered.
“uh? Saga chief? What is Zhang Zhu doing here?”
Xiahoudong found Sao, the head of the Saga, and made a slightly puzzled expression.
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