At Lady Hyanggeum’s words, Geum-soon’s face showed complete incomprehension.

Seeing Geum-soon’s expression, Hyanggeum explained in more detail.

“The Grand Empress Dowager[1] once directed firefighting efforts while heavily pregnant when a great fire broke out in Seoul. Furthermore, during the palace intrusion incident in the Year of Giyu, not only the Grand Empress Dowager but also the Empress Dowager[2] personally took up rifles to subdue the traitors. Because of this, it has become tradition for all imperial women to learn firearms.”

“Ah, I see…”

Though Geum-soon nodded, Hyanggeum explained the necessity of this training in even greater detail.

“The only ones who can protect their sovereign husband from the closest position and until the very end are their consorts. Therefore, you must learn firearms to protect your husband. Especially since when you join your future husband in Nanking, he will be in an isolated position without allies. In such a situation, never forget that you must protect him to the end.”

“Yes. I will keep that in mind.”

At Geum-soon’s response, Hyanggeum slightly frowned.

“Though you belong to the External Palace Women, your rank is above mine. You must quickly learn the proper forms of address and speech.”

“I underst—, I mean, I understand.”

***

Thus began Geum-soon’s full-fledged palace life.

Besides learning etiquette and proper speech, she had to study more advanced subjects beyond the Middle Academy level she had graduated from. Of course, it wasn’t at a profound level, but rather a surface understanding.

“When you go to Nanking, there will be times when you socialize with the wives of high-ranking officials in the Ming court. To avoid being looked down upon, you must learn at least this much.”

“Yes, yes…”

“Did you say ‘yes’?”

“Ah, no. I understand well.”

Under Hyanggeum’s stern gaze, Geum-soon had to endure grueling lessons.

Hyanggeum continuously pushed Geum-soon, who was struggling with her studies.

“We don’t have enough time. You must catch up in a few months what would normally take several years to learn. So, even if it’s difficult, please exert yourself a little more.”

“I understand…”

After finishing such demanding lessons and returning to her quarters, Geum-soon would collapse onto her bedding and sigh.

“Sigh~ Even Science Academy entrance classes would be easier.”

But the lesson Geum-soon found most challenging was firearms training.

***

The ones teaching Geum-soon firearms and archery were the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress.

Even without knowing archery, learning firearms properly required posture correction, and it was inappropriate for outside men to freely touch the bodies of imperial women.

Therefore, in such cases, a court lady would typically step in. However, the most proficient in firearms among the imperial household were the Empress Dowager, who was Hyang’s principal wife, and his consorts. Thus, they had trained the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress.

But with them now in the “New Territory” with Hyang, the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress became Geum-soon’s instructors.

And they trained Geum-soon rigorously.

“Since your archery is passable enough, we’ll skip that and focus entirely on firearms.”

The Empress also nodded in agreement with the Grand Empress Dowager Queen Soheon’s decision, and Geum-soon quietly sighed in relief.

It helped that I shot arrows at the archery range whenever I was bored…

But in the firearms training that followed, the Grand Empress Dowager and Empress put their hands to their foreheads in dismay.

Bang!

“Oh my goodness!”

Startled by the sound and recoil of the pistol she had fired, Geum-soon dropped the gun and collapsed onto the floor.

“What are we going to do with her… tsk!”

Clicking her tongue lightly, the Grand Empress Dowager looked at Hyanggeum.

“How much has she mastered of the etiquette and proper speech?”

“She has learned almost all of it, and is now primarily studying the classics and poetry.”

“We will focus primarily on firearms training for the time being.”

“Yes…”

Afterwards, Geum-soon had to undergo training until her hands bled, her palms blistered, and her teeth gritted.

While Geum-soon was going through such hardships, Zhu Jianshen was also spending his time quite busy in his own way.

***

The marriage to Geum-soon, which he had considered the most difficult problem, was easily resolved thanks to his own stubbornness and the Empire’s support.

“Although it’s somewhat disappointing that she’s only a Provincial Lady, it’s better than a commoner, so I must accept it.”

Noble Consort Zhu created an excuse for herself as she accepted the marriage with Geum-soon. It was a much better condition considering that Zhu Jianshen had been determined to marry Geum-soon even when she was a commoner.

Additionally, another benefit offered by the Empire became a decisive factor in accepting the marriage.

• They would unofficially provide an appropriate-sized guard force.

As her son Zhu Jianshen became Emperor, Noble Consort Zhu dreamed of revenge.

But she was also keenly aware that they would be in an isolated position with no allies.

In this situation, the Empire’s offer to provide a guard force was like rain in a drought.

In the end, Noble Consort Zhu pretended to yield to her son’s stubbornness and consented to the marriage.

In any case, with the permission of Noble Consort Zhu, the highest authority, officials from the Administration Office and Eunuch Wang Chong searched through calendars to find an auspicious date for the wedding.

***

Having overcome the major hurdle of marriage, Zhu Jianshen was now putting his heads together with his Hidden Dragon Society friends over the organizational chart of the Ming court and related reports he had previously requested from the Administration Office.

“Isn’t it remarkably antiquated?”

At Zhu Jianshen’s cynical assessment, his friends nodded.

“It’s a system that’s been in place at least since the Tang Dynasty. No wonder it’s in such a state…”

Zhu Jianshen gritted his teeth and spat out harsh words.

The origin of Ming’s administrative organization, especially the central government, was the Three Departments and Six Ministries system of the Tang Dynasty.

As eras and countries changed, there were processes of adding and subtracting, but this system had consistently persisted.

Ming also maintained this system in its early days.

But during Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang’s reign, the Chancellor Hu Weiyong abused his power.

The so-called “Case of Hu Weiyong” had occurred.

Because of this incident, Zhu Yuanzhang abolished the position of Chancellor, and it transformed into a direct system where the Emperor connected directly with the Six Ministries.

“That’s where the problem arose. It’s impossible for the Emperor to handle every matter.”

Seokjun, who had taken on the role of the group’s brain, tapped the chart hanging on the wall with a pointer as he identified the problem.

• To repeat, it’s impossible for the Emperor to handle all matters.
• Because of this, Ming uses eunuchs. And for this reason, the eunuch organization is growing and gaining more power.
• If this trend continues, it wouldn’t be strange if the infamous Ten Attendants[3] appeared again.

“…Therefore, the first thing to do is to organize the eunuch institutions.”

“I agree. To do that, we should dismantle the Eastern Depot first.”

In response to Zhu Jianshen’s words, Pilsu added:

“The problem is that those eunuchs already have powerful influence. If you confront them directly, it would be disadvantageous. We need an appropriate blade.”

To Pilsu’s observation, Seokjun responded:

“I would recommend using the Brocade Guard. Originally, most of what the Eastern Depot does should be the Brocade Guard’s job anyway.”

“The Brocade Guard…”

Stroking his chin at Seokjun’s words, Zhu Jianshen slightly frowned and asked him:

“It’s good to dismantle the Eastern Depot that way, but wouldn’t the Brocade Guard become too powerful?”

Seeing Zhu Jianshen’s concern, Pilsu interjected on Seokjun’s behalf:

“What if our Hidden Dragon Society takes over what the Eastern Depot had?”

“The Hidden Dragon Society takes over what the Eastern Depot had?”

As Zhu Jianshen showed interest, Pilsu elaborated:

“The role of our Hidden Dragon Society is to become your loyal faction. But we’re few in number. We also have a weak foundation. In such a situation, becoming a loyal faction won’t have any impact. But if we grasp what the Eastern Depot had, wouldn’t your wielding power become stronger?”

While nodding at Pilsu’s words, Zhu Jianshen didn’t forget to point out a problem:

“The issue is how we can take over what the Eastern Depot had, isn’t it?”

“Dismantling the Eastern Depot doesn’t mean eliminating all the eunuchs belonging to it, does it? We just need to get rid of the head Chief Eunuch and a few below him, then take over the eunuchs beneath them.”

“Hmm… That sounds good, but how do we get rid of them?”

At Zhu Jianshen’s question, Pilsu smiled and replied:

“Don’t you have Wang who would risk his life for you?”

At Pilsu’s suggestion, Zhu Jianshen’s face brightened.

“Aha!”

Once Wang Chong was designated as the blade to take over the Eastern Depot, subsequent matters proceeded smoothly.

The Secret Police team leader, disguised as a beggar and eavesdropping on the conversation from beneath the pavilion, brightened his eyes.

So the roles of the Hidden Dragon Society members are being defined.

Seokjun, acknowledged as the most intelligent among the Hidden Dragon Society members, was skilled at analyzing situations and identifying problems.

And Pilsu, implicitly treated as the leader of the Hidden Dragon Society, was proficient at finding solutions.

The other friends either found aspects that Pilsu or Seokjun missed or worked enthusiastically for success.

The Secret Police team leader could roughly picture how they would operate in Nanking.

-Using the power taken from the Eastern Depot, Seokjun analyzes while Pilsu creates methods. Then, when Zhu Jianshen decides to implement, the other friends move to accomplish the task.

Imagining the picture he had drawn, the Secret Police team leader muttered inwardly:

If done well, it could become the strongest combination, but if mishandled, it could become a seed of division.

Having found an alternative to the Eastern Depot problem, Zhu Jianshen and his friends returned to the administrative organization issue.

“We need to change it, but…”

All agreed that Ming’s administrative organization was problematic, but the issue was the answer.

Their scholarship and experience were both insufficient to find and present the optimal answer.

In the end, after much deliberation, the result was to take the Empire’s administrative organization and create variations.

“There are some deficient parts, but this is the best we can do now.”

To Seokjun’s words, Pilsu added:

“The problem is finding a justification for implementing such reforms.”

To Pilsu’s observation, Zhu Jianshen smiled and replied:

“There’s a very good justification.”

“Really? What is it?”

“The crime of losing in the last two wars.”

“…”

At Zhu Jianshen’s words, the expressions of Pilsu, Seokjun, and the other friends turned strange. And Pilsu articulated what they were all thinking:

“Don’t tell me you’re also planning to wage war against the Empire?”

Seeing Pilsu’s expression turn fierce, Zhu Jianshen immediately waved his hands:

“Of course not! I too enjoy wealth and glory! And domestic peace is important too!”

Though it was a short statement, much was hidden within it.

-Preparing for war is a costly affair. -Ming’s current situation is not good at all. -In such a situation, to prepare for war, one must tighten the belt, which is something I’d rather not do. -Also, with an Empress from the Empire, I don’t even want to think about what would happen if we went to war with the Empire.

Understanding these implicit meanings, the Hidden Dragon Society friends burst into laughter simultaneously.

“Hahaha!”