282.the Emperor issues this imperial edict:
至正十四年,皇帝敕曰:
In the fourteenth year of Zhizheng (至正), the Emperor issues this imperial edict:
江浙行省平章達識帖睦邇 奏曰,
Darughachi-Pingzhang Darughachi Tebmür (達識帖睦邇), Administrator of the Jiangzhe Branch Secretariat (江浙行省), memorializes as follows:
南軍未已,百姓疲弊.
The southern warfare has not yet ceased, and the common people are exhausted and impoverished.
今以大商人張士誠 已降,
Now, as the great merchant Zhang Shicheng (張士誠) has already submitted,
許其修貢,
He is permitted to resume the offering of tribute,
毋得侵擾高麗軍.
And is not to encroach upon or harass the Goryeo forces.
若再起兵事,
Should military actions be raised again,
違命者罪同逆皇命.
Those who violate this command shall be judged as having defied the imperial will.
欲明者奉此文.
Let those who seek clarity receive and abide by this document.
The air inside the tent wavered, subtly unsettled.
The meaning of the text was unmistakable:
"Zhang Shicheng has already submitted. Cease fighting.
To continue the battle is to defy the imperial command."
Inosan muttered under his breath.
"If it is truly the Emperor's order, then our reason to fight disappears."
Another general answered at once.
"It does not stand to reason. An imperial edict must bear the seal of the Yuan court. This is likely Zhang Shicheng's stratagem."
"Still—"
Someone hesitated.
"The reign title is correct. Zhizheng, fourteenth year—this very year. The form is proper as well. To forge this, it would require someone close to the center."
Yi In-jung raised his hand quietly.
"Enough."
All fell silent.
He studied the document for a long while, then laid it flat upon the table.
"To make something look genuine," he said lowly,
"one must first know the grain of the genuine."
His voice settled, heavy and restrained.
"This came from such a hand."
Park Seongjin bowed his head and lifted the document.
His fingertips brushed the paper. A faint scent of ink lingered.
He narrowed his eyes and traced the characters.
"These strokes—something is off," he said.
"The Yuan court's script is dry, restrained.
This is too smooth.
It resembles ledger writing.
Not a magistrate's hand—
a scribe's. No—
a performer's."
At the word performer, eyes turned toward him.
"I've heard Zhang Shicheng keeps many men of letters," Inosan said.
Park Seongjin set the document down slowly.
No matter how skillful the imitation, the mind remains in the hand.
Technique may deceive, but direction always leaks through.
"This is not the hand of an official," he said.
"It is the hand of a merchant."
The corner of Yi In-jung's mouth lifted, just barely—then hardened.
He stood after a moment's thought.
"Store the document.
At dawn tomorrow, send an envoy to Beiping.
We will verify its authenticity."
He turned to his adjutant.
"Until then, no one speaks of this.
If the soldiers hear, the camp will waver."
"Yes, General."
Park Seongjin was still looking at the paper.
More frightening than the silver chest was this sheet of parchment.
A single line of writing weighed more heavily than a thousand blades.
Even the act of sending to Beiping would surely be within their calculations.
Yi In-jung asked him,
"What do you make of it, Commander Park?"
Park answered shortly.
"This is not a battle.
It is Zhang Shicheng's ledger.
He has placed us upon his balance sheet."
Silence settled inside the tent.
A gust of wind stirred the paper with a dry rasp—
like the whisper of a thin blade.
"However," Park continued.
Yi In-jung asked at once,
"However what?"
Calmly, Park said,
"They do not see us as an independent force capable of deciding this war.
They do not know our aim.
They do not know how long we can endure.
Nor do they know how best to use us for their gain."
Yi In-jung's voice lowered.
"What do you mean—use us?"
Park's gaze moved to the map.
"We do not desire a single unification of the Central Plains.
Chaos here serves us.
But it cannot be prolonged indefinitely.
What we seek is equilibrium—
a balance of three powers locked in tension.
If we present that larger board to Zhang Shicheng through diplomacy, his calculations will change.
If he understands it, he may even seek our hand."
"Can such a man be trusted?"
Yi In-jung's reply was sharp.
Park answered without pause.
"We proceed on the shared premise of mistrust.
We take what we need.
They take what they need."
Yi In-jung clenched his teeth.
His breath escaped, low and controlled.
Park spoke again.
"Meet him in person.
Zhang Shicheng can no longer be bound by the name of a regional strongman.
In truth, he is already a king.
Such a man cannot be gauged by words alone.
See his face.
Read his breath.
Cut the board in his presence.
Meet him."
The air in the tent sank.
It was a proposal—
and a test.
On a battlefield where blades, silver, and words were already entangled,
the moment to decide by speech alone was drawing near.
Yi In-jung said nothing for a long time.
Each flicker of the lamp stretched his shadow across the canvas.
At last, he exhaled.
"Fighting with the body," he murmured,
"my hands know well.
Fighting with words—
my hands are slow."
Park lifted his head.
Yi In-jung looked at him steadily.
He is better than I am, he thought.
The reasoning was clear. The line unbroken.
In that moment, he understood why the Goryeo army was often at a disadvantage.
There were too few who could speak like this.
After a pause, Yi In-jung cleared his throat.
"Oi, Park Seongjin."
Park replied at once.
"General, I am a Jungnangjang now."
Yi In-jung suppressed a laugh.
"We studied under the same master.
Surely I may call you that much."
Park tilted his head.
"You change titles whenever it suits you."
Yi In-jung waved it off.
"Very well. Then—Commander Park."
"Yes. What is it this time?"
"In this army," Yi In-jung said,
"you are the only one who answers back so freely."
Park let out a brief chuckle.
"Loyalty, General.
Does that put you at ease?"
Yi In-jung snorted.
"You make me sound like a schemer."
"Were you not?" Park replied.
For a moment, they both laughed.
The tension eased.
Yi In-jung straightened.
"You will lead the talks.
I can wield a blade, but I am slow with words.
You know that."
"I accept," Park said.
"But not alone."
Yi In-jung nodded.
"Agreed. I will go as well.
The one who bears the blade and the one who bears the word must go together.
With only one, the board tilts."
He looked outside for a moment.
"Only after this do I understand why civil officials must stand above."
Park answered quietly.
"Our master used to say:
Martial force governs movement.
Civil force halts it."
Yi In-jung laughed softly.
"Yes. That saying was always right."
The wind brushed the tent.
They fell silent.
Then Park spoke first.
"Then let us go together, General."
Yi In-jung answered shortly.
"Yes.
This is now a war fought with words."
Their gazes turned beyond the tent.
The smoke of battle still lingered,
and above it, a faint light of dawn was beginning to spread.