Page 69 of Gumiho Kiss
At the mention of Gwishin, Hyun Soo schooled his expression into one of detached concern despite the way his pulse roared in his ears.“Is that why you’ve been so determined to capture him?”
When Dol Sam’s eyebrows rose, he coughed and added, “Besides your desire to protect Lady Lee, of course.”
Dol Sam rolled his lips, frustration etched into his features.“Gwishin has thwarted my attempts to better this city, stirring up the commoners with dreams of grandeur.Before he was here, they knew their proper place.Now they’re questioning the systems this city depends upon.More and more are refusing to pay their taxes—the taxes we yangban use to serve them—which has forced the police to crack down harder on lawbreakers.There’s even been talk of a rebel camp in the mountains, but so far, no one can prove it’s more than a rumor.It all puts me in a difficult position.I want to be understanding and merciful—these people have children to take care of.But how can I let it go when my fellow nobles are so angry they’re about to start forcing sangmin into slavery until they can pay off their debts?”
“So, what solution have you come up with?”
Dol Sam’s face brightened.“Magistrate Hong and I have been working closely for the past several months to gather enough firepower to silence this resistance once and for all.”
“Firepower?You mean, you intend to put rifles in the hands of the police?”
Dol Sam shook his head, a smug twinkle in his eye.“Not the police, though Hong doesn’t know that yet.”He pulled a document out of his sleeve and handed it to Hyun Soo.Correspondence between himself and a commander by the name of Song Seo Jun.
“I’ve been amassing an army, and according to this, it’s ready to move on my command.”
Hyun Soo nearly dropped the paper, nausea building in his stomach.“What?Dol Sam, you know keeping private armies was outlawed years ago.If anyone were to find out?—”
“Who’s going to stop me?”The nobleman chuckled dryly.“The magistrate?He’s the one who helped make it possible.If I go down, he’ll go down with me.”
Hyun Soo didn’t answer, trying to process what he was hearing.Dol Sam had always advocated for following the law, not taking it into his own hands.
His friend cocked his head to the side, curiosity flickering in his eyes.“This is something your father approved of.”
Hyun Soo stared at him in disbelief.“My father supported your army taking over Sokju?”
“Yeh, he did, my friend”—Dol Sam drew the words out, slow and deliberate—“especially when I told him you would be the one to lead it.”
* * *
Hyun Soo gulped down some more soju, disappointed when he realized he’d completely drained his bottle.“Jumo!”he called to the tavern owner.
An older woman bustled over, but at the sight of his raised drinking bowl, she snapped, “Not until you pay for it.”
Hyun Soo reached into his sleeve and withdrew a small bag of rice.He handed it to the woman, who shook her head.
“This will only cover what you’ve already had.”She held out an open hand.
Hyun Soo sucked his teeth, alcohol fanning his annoyance into a flame.“What do you mean, it’s not enough?That’s robbery, woman.”
The ajumma put her hands on her wide hips.“What choice do I have when ingredients cost so much?If you don’t like it, you can go complain to someone else, you ungrateful boy.”
“Boy?”Hyun Soo blinked until his double vision subsided.“I’ll have you know ...I’m the son of the Minister of National Defense.”
The tavern owner snorted.“And I’m the king’s favorite concubine.Now, get out of here so someone else can have your spot.”
Hyun Soo sullenly rose to his feet, faltered a few times, then made his way to the street, not caring which way he went.Twilight was falling over Sokju, painting the city an ever-deepening blue.How long had he been in there?
Dol Sam’s proposition still had his head reeling, or maybe that was the soju—he wasn’t sure anymore.Had he given his friend an answer?
Hyun Soo pressed the heel of his hand into his forehead, forcing up the memory.
“That’s quite the undertaking.May I have some time to think it over?”
Dol Sam’s mouth twisted with disapproval.“What’s there to think about?Go to the base and look over the recruits.If you’re satisfied with them, return to Sokju and we can make a plan of assault.You always were such a brilliant strategist, thoroughly wasted in your position as a guard.Now’s your chance to show the world who you really are.”
Hyun Soo swallowed.“I still have a few things to finish up here....”
Dol Sam looked skeptical, but he asked, “How long do you need?”
