Doctor goes back to Joseon

Oseong Lee Hangbok [1]

“Eo? Sunshin is here!” Seongyong greeted Sunshin with a bright face.

“I am glad to hear that you have recovered.

“It was all because of you introducing him to me.” Seongyong tapped Ganghyuk’s shoulders while laughing amicably.

In Suwon, Ganghyuk was beloved by the governor thanks to Viagra; and in Hanyang, he was beloved by the minister because of the anus.

‘What on earth is this?’ He did not choose it intentionally, but everything was related to the lower half.

“Come on in.”

“Yes, your lordship.” Sunshin came into the room, looking a little tensed as he would soon go to the north.

“Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, I am.”

“You must be very careful. The place is not peaceful. People are harsh, and difficult to govern.”

“I will keep it in mind.”

Seongyong and Sunshin had reasons to be tensed; the north was in a whirl.

“Let’s have a drink first.”

Sunshin did not show any special feeling, but Seongyong seemed to be very glad. He had eaten vegetables only, and had no alcohol for an entire month. Hence, it was no wonder…

“Yes, let’s have a drink.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Congratulations, your lordship!”

It was Sunshin who was starting his life as a military officer, while it was Seongyong who got congratulated here.

“Haha… Good, good.”

He did not choose to use a cushion, so that he could show off his healthy buttocks. He had not touched on the floor for a long time. Even Ganghyuk could feel his thankfulness from sitting down on the floor without the need of a cushion.

While they enjoyed their time, someone knocked on the door.

“Who is it?”

“Master, Yejojeongran Lee Hangbok came.”

“Lee Hangvok?” Seongyong wondered why he was here. He visited him occasionally, but he was not a close friend. Lee Hangbok was a student of Lee Yulgok, and belonged to Seoin. Ryu Seongyong was a part of Dongin.

The relationship between Dongin and Seoin had become worse these days, so he was a quite surprising guest indeed.

“Tell him to come in.”

Today, it was really good day. and he did not really have any reason to deny himself a visitor. With the command, the servant ran to him and then the door opened.

“Your lordship. Lee Hangbok has come here to congratulate your recovery.” He did not seem to be too well behaved considering how he barged in immediately.

‘Ah, so this is Lee Hangbok…He is handsome.’

As it was King Seonjo’s era where there were many talented people, Ganghyuk could meet many great men.

Ryu Seongyong was handsome too. He might have made many girls cry in his days. But, Lee Hangbok was a present continuous tense. He was handsome and young even now, to the point that if he recited a poem, many women would be tempted.

“Come in! This is Lee Sunshin, who will go to north as Josanbo Manho, and this is Baik Ganghyuk, who cured me. ”

At the same time, Sunshin stood up. “I am Lee Sunshin. I have heard of you many times.”

Ganghyuk hurriedly stood up as well; he was the lowest in this room. He could not greet Hangbok like Seongyong did.

‘It was better in Suwon in terms of the hierarchy.’ He thought. He did not need to read somebody’s countenance there, as he was the highest tier existence in most places.

“I am Baik Ganghyuk. I am honored to meet you.”

Seongyong gave a wipe over the knuckles on his greeting.

“You habitually say that, don’t you? I thought you used that expression only to me.”

“Pardon?”

“You told me that you were honored to see me, didn’t you?”

“I am honored to see you and him as well.”

“Haha… You are a wishy-washy person!”

How would Seongyong know that the people in this room would leave a great trace in the history. Lee Hangbok was the prime minister who restored Joseon after the war.

Ganghyuk scratched his head. “I mean it. It is true.”

“Ok, let’s sit down. We cannot make him stand forever.”

“Yes.”

It was funny when they had a drink together, but it became funnier and more exciting when Lee Hangbok joined.

He was a voluble man.

He was a Ronaldo in the drinking party.

He criticized his father-in-law, whom Ganghyuk knew to be Chungjanggong Kwon Yul. As he knew whom he was criticizing with such a bad language, it was even funnier for him.

“Did you remember? My father-in-law presented himself with bare feet in the presence of king?”

“Yes, I remember… Haha.”

“He is very credulous.”

“You should not pull his leg like that.”

“But, I cannot pull your legs, your lordship. He is my father-in-law, so I can do that.”

“Yes, you are right!” Seongyong laughed a lot because he was in good mood, looking like an adolescent girl.

After some time, Lee Hangbok got closer to his target. It was still a member of his family, but the one was even closer to him.

“Have you seen my wife?”

Everybody shook their heads in response while Ganghyuk thought, ‘If somebody nods his head here, there might be a duel here.’

Of course, all of them were very modest and decent, so they might not actually duel…

“Have you seen my wife’s father?

“Yes, of course! If you mean Kwon Yul…”

Seongyong had known Kwon Yul when he was a boy. There were not best friends, but they were acquainted with each other.

“My wife resembled her father…exactly.”

“Really?”

Ganghyuk had not seen Kwon Yul, but the others had seen him before, and remembered his face. He was a general who had a manly face. However, if that were a woman’s face? That would be a different story.

“Haha, she is…” Songyong laughed awkwardly. If that was the truth, she could not be considered a beauty. Even the quiet and curt Sunshin could not help laughing, imagining Kwon Yul with long hair.

“She has his chin exactly.” Lee Hangbok made a square jaw with his hands. As it looked very similar to Kwon Yul, Seongyong laughed as well.

“Haha…She seems to resemble him a lot.”

“Yes, she does…Haha.”

Hangbok made a lot of jokes after that too. If he made jokes only, he might be seen as a silly person. However, his insight shown between jokes was sharp.

When he mentioned Yashiro, he could be compared to a sword.

“Have you heard of him?”

“Yes, I think he is already dead in Japan because of the decision you made.”

“Dead? Why do you think so?”

“Yashiro is a subject of the family in Tsushima that had sent tribute to Joseon for generations. He must not have good network in the Japanese society. He came here as an envoy, and returned without a good answer. He must be dead for sure.” His voice was full of confidence. It was then that Ganghyuk remembered a drama that he had watched in that world.

‘Ah, the one who was killed after returning from Joseon without a good answer was indeed Yashiro.’

Ganghyuk knew the history, so he could know that fact. However, Lee Hangbok inferred it based on only his knowledge and logic; he was really sharp.

Seongyong laughed as if he could not believe it. “Haha…But, they might not kill him.”

“I heard that Hideyoshi, who had unified Japan, is very cruel and has a temper. If he feels ignored, he will kill him.”

“Heum…”

His point made sense indeed. Ryu Seongyong also had information heard from trading merchants between Joseon and Ming. It was true that the Japan had been unified, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi was cruel.

Hangbok continued while watching Seongyong nod his head. “Japan will send a new envoy soon. He wants to be acknowledged as a king.”

“Then, what do you think we should do?”

“I think we need to send an envoy too. We don’t need to make them hate us. Please remember what Shin Sukju had said.”

“Shin Sukju.”

It was a name not to be passed lightly. He was a well-known statesman in early Joseon. He served for Sejong, Sejo, and Seongjong.

He had been to Japan when he was very young as a member of the envoy. He left words to Seongjong before he died. It was a famous episode.

“Do not lose friendship with Japan.”

They could not know at that time what Shin Sunju was worried about and why he left such words. But, Seongjong did not ignore his advice, and sent an envoy to Japan. However, after Seongjong, Korea never sent an envoy to Japan. Instead, when Japan sent an envoy, they treated him quite well.

Ryu Seongyong nodded his head as if he had found something.

“Is it so?”

“I think so. They are far from us, and we have a sea between us. But, if we make up our mind, we can go. And if we can, they can do it too.

Although they were short sentences, they held an enormous meaning, making Ryu Seongyong nod his head in agreement.

“I had not known that you were interested in international politics.”

“I just gave my opinion. It is only for your information.”

“No, no. If they send an envoy again, I will follow your opinion.”

Ganghyuk listened to their conversations silently.

‘These are really great men.’

At first, he was disappointed when he saw Lee Hangbok playing jokes. What Ganghyuk expected was the excellent minister, not a Ronaldo during party time. But, when he displayed himself fully, Ganghyuk realized why he could make himself a well-known statesman.

‘I am sorry, because I am ignorant of politics and history.’

If he had more knowledge in history, politics, or social studies, he could have joined the conversation as well. But, he was too busy learning medicine, and did not read any other books.

While Ganghyuk was regretting his past, somebody knocked on the door.

“Master, it is already late night.”

It meant that the bell would ring soon, and they had to go home. The four of them were so absorbed in the conversation that they did not know how time flew by.

Songyong looked out of the room; the sun had set a long time ago, and the moon was in the sky.

“Heo, time really flies by.”

“Yes, we need to go home.” Sunshin hurried up. But, Hangbok hesitated to go.

“I am not happy at home. Your lordship, can I stay overnight?”

“No problem, but did you make a notice?”

“No, but I think she will understand.”

“Heoheo…If you want…”

After he got the consent from Seongyong, Hangbok looked very happy as he came to Ganghyuk.

“Hey Ganghyuk, what will you do?”

“I will stay here for some time.”

“Good! I have something to consult with you.” Hangbok pulled him and took him to an inlet. He put his arm on Ganghyuk’s shoulder, making the situation awkward, as the latter was very tall.

It seemed like a child hanging on an adult.

‘What is the problem with him?’

As he tried to take him to remote place, Ganghyuk felt that it might be a problem that he did not want to reveal.

‘What is it? Does he want Viagra? No, that cannot be it.”