I Became the Crown Prince of a Ruined Country

46 – Those Who Leave

As soon as I heard that question, I understood why Pyeongwon-gun was asking such a question.

And I could clearly sense how highly Pyeongwon-gun looked at me.

Looking back, in the eyes of Pyeongwon-gun, I might not have looked like a great child prodigy.

A child sent to a foreign country with no foundation at the age of 9. Nevertheless, instead of being discouraged and giving up, he visited Pyeongwon-gun himself and talked about his great cause and obtained support.

After a while, don’t you give up the comfort you got from the success of a gambler because of your own beliefs?

Even at the moment when they thought it was over, they found a way no one could have imagined, raised capital, and brought in a tycoon named Sinleung-gun to grow into one of the leading conglomerates in Jo Nara.

In the process up to this point, if the approach to Nogucheon, which can be said to be a side branch, or the resolution of the assassination case of the enemy commander, are added, Pyeongwon-gun would have no choice but to rate me highly.

Now, I am expanding my influence to my home country, Yan, and building up the steps to ascend to Yeonwang.

With Jeong, who became the eldest grandson of the Qin royal family, right next to him.

‘Pyeongwon-gun is scary.’

If I, who became King Yeon, and Jeong, who became King Jin, joined hands and attacked the country of Zhao from both sides, even the country of Zhao, where the two great generals belonged to the Gijeonpamok were established, would be a heavy-duty enemy.

Furthermore, Jeong and I had a motive and justification for attacking Jo Nara.

The hatred and persecution inflicted upon us by Zhao was by no means light.

“Pyeongwon-gun…”

The eyes of Pyeongwon-gun looking at me were trembling with earnestness. After that, he felt guilty for not protecting me properly.

While regretting his own mistakes, he put the future of his country ahead of his personal feelings. That decision was the question directed at me.

Pyeongwon-gun’s last question was if you could protect Jo Na-ra, who made you suffer, with humility.

It was an expression of patriotism that the gentleman, who was aloof even in the face of death, could not put down until the end.

Who can call it ugly, and who can criticize it for being pathetic?

Pyeongwon-gun in front of you was born into the royal family of the country of Zhao, and devoted his mind and body to the country, spending a lifetime befitting his status.

Even at the end of his life, he did not give up hope and picked up the sighs he had spewed out to find compassion. Paradoxically, he was virtuous.

“I made a promise to Pyeongwon-gun. I will go back and become King Yeon, and I will always consider Jo Na-ra as my friend while pondering the kindness Pyeongwon-gun has bestowed on me.”

Pyongwon-gun accepted my family members and fulfilled the final responsibility, prepared to be defeated in the political battle with Geonsin-gun.

Then it’s my turn now. It was my turn to respond to his grace.

“So your country is my country.”

My answer to Pyeongwon-gun’s question was an extension of the previous answer to the question of why he was reaping his affection.

The gyeom-ae mentioned by Moja is not just a story of people to people.

Since the feudal lords only love their own country, they do not love other countries, so they attack other countries without hesitation.

Because the people of the world do not love each other, the strong oppress the weak, the rich despise the poor, the nobles act arrogantly towards the lowly, and the cunning deceive the foolish.

To solve this problem, Moja insisted on compassion.

Love other people’s children as you would your own children, respect other people’s parents as you would your own, and respect your country as your own.

That’s what humility is.

I don’t particularly follow the Mohs, nor do I regard Mozi’s words as the truth and serve them.

In the first place, the beginning of my search for love was just a makeshift way to save affection.

But as I met others, won their hearts, and shared my will with them, somehow I was really getting closer to the teachings of compassion.

At my sincere reply, Pyeongwon-gun relaxed his eyes with a relieved face.

His grip on my arm also let go of his strength.

Pyeongwon-gun’s voice was faint as if he had squeezed out his last strength.

“Young master.”

“Tell me.”

“There is something I want to give to Young master.”

I tried to support him so that he could go to the place where Pyongwon-gun had promised to give it to him.

However, Pyeongwon-gun shook his head, saying that there was no need for that.

I thought it was something intangible or left outside the room rather than in the room, but Pyeongwon-gun’s next action showed me that I was wrong.

He pulled out what was hanging from his waist and held it out to me.

“Pyeongwon-gun, that’s…”

“It’s my seal.”

Seal is a seal.

The seal, which started to become popular in earnest from the Spring and Autumn Period, and established itself as a sign of confirmation in both name and reality during the Warring States period, was called Shinyongjimul and was regarded as a symbol of the person.

Official seal (官印), which symbolizes an official position, and private seal (private seal), which symbolizes an individual.

The sign that Pyeongwon-gun is offering now was the sign of the latter.

Pyeongwon-gun’s mark.

The seal made of brilliant jade was in the form of a long string that is familiar even today, and was engraved with splendid carvings. However, it is not excessive and gives off a neat feeling, so it is gorgeous but not vulgar.

He was called a nobleman among the four noblemen of the country and was a seal that fully contained the aspect of Pyeongwongun, who was the most royal.

Giving it to me was nothing more than the meaning of designating me as the successor of Pyeongwon-gun’s assistant monk.

I quickly shook my hand and rejected it.

“How did you give me the seal of Pyeongwon-gun? Pyeongwon-gun doesn’t have grown-up children under him. It’s too much for me. I can’t take it.”

“Listen to my last request. This seal is the last gift I give to Young master, and at the same time it is the token of my oath to Young master.”

As long as it was a private person rather than a government official, even if I received it, it would not mean that I could exercise the authority of Pyeongwon-gun. It was impossible to interfere with his domain or influence the Zhao court.

However, since it is a sign, it becomes a stronger sign.

Not as Pyeongwon-gun, but as a human follower, a sign that he regarded me as a more valuable successor than his children.

“If I had this, my guests would surely listen to Young master’ request at least once.”

Paradox, wind, chuyeon….

Although Gongsun Long left Pingyuan County behind, Pingyuan County is still full of outstanding talents.

Personally, I don’t know if it’s a deep friendship, but there was no reason to help me when the connection between Mosu and Pyeongwongun disappeared.

But if I get the seal of Pyeongwon-gun, they will help me even for the sake of our old relationship with Pyeongwon-gun.

Mosu possesses martial arts and judgment that are superior to those of his older brother, and above all, possesses astonishing courage and execution.

Pung-gi, a great editorialist, enough to impress even King Jo, who has a difficult personality, only through his speech.

You can get their help.

When I hesitated, Pyeongwon-gun began to speak long words of persuasion while coughing.

“Please accept it. I know my children well. They will never stand against Jin like me or my sister-in-law. Gunsin-gun only follows the current and has no cause. Even considering his age, it wouldn’t be long.”

Yeompa was a veteran. He is already over sixty years old. He is still showing off his correctness, but old people are broken in an instant.

“There is a sister-in-law above, and Chunshin-kun at the beginning, but two people are not enough. I need someone to fill my vacant position, and someone who is better than me to maintain the current situation and break through.”

Did Pyeongwon-gun see the light in me?

From noble mtl dot com

Mozi considered it extremely sinful for a strong country to invade a weak one.

It is said that he was willing to do anything beneficial to the world, even if his hair from the top of his head to his heels was all worn out.

Therefore, the Mohs who followed his teachings also denied the unjust war of aggression and practiced the art of defending the castle. To resist an attack by one country on another.

Among the hundreds of disciples who toured the Spring and Autumn Warring States Period, Moh, who was most loved by the people, spread as a stepping stone to such self-sacrifice.

Considering that, I might be the most perfect successor to Pyeongwon-gun.

I will do everything in my power to stop the invasion of the Qin Dynasty, which is attacking the Zhao Dynasty, as unjust.

The Zhou Dynasty was destroyed by the Qin Dynasty, and now only three countries, Yan, Wei, and Han, use Hui, which was the national surname of the Zhou royal family.

Among them, it is not an exaggeration to say that I, who was born as the eldest son of the Yan Dynasty, was born with nobler blood than anyone else. Also, although I was poor in the past, I am now the real owner of the Daesang Corps and amassed considerable wealth.

Since I am the lowest, giving myself to the teachings of the Mohs, if others saw me, I would be seen as someone who would follow the path of the Mohs and devote myself to the world.

Even if my true intentions were different, the real image I showed them was like that.

And even if Mozi’s teachings were just a facade, what I was trying to do was ultimately no different from that.

Realizing that, I could no longer find a reason to refuse the seal of Pyeongwon-gun Jo Seung.

“If I get this to make you feel at ease, I won’t refuse any more.”

As soon as I received his seal, Pyeongwon-gun slowly closed his eyes with an expression full of satisfaction that he had never seen before.

Thinking that he had finally completed his last responsibilities, he passed away quietly the next day, surrounded by his family.

Unable to attend the funeral, I saw his body being transported from a distance as time passed and saw off his end.

“I will never forget you.”

Bowing toward the procession of the departing fortune-teller.

In a quiet area with no one around, Pyeongwon-gun’s seal in my arms swayed and responded to my greeting.