THE KING’S SAHEONBU chapter 12
As the ministers and scribes filed into the grand throne hall, an unusual sight greeted them: the entire hall was surrounded by armed palace guards, swords drawn, while an unsheathed blade rested on a stand directly behind the throne.
Visible panic swept through the room.
The ministers and court scribes stood frozen, shaken to their core.
The King stepped forward, his voice cold and echoing through the vast space.
“Late last night, a group of assassins broke into the palace grounds, targeting both myself and the Crown Prince.”
The Chief State Minister stepped forward, bowing deeply as he declared, “Jeonha! This is an absolute atrocity! Anyone found complicit in this outrage must be put to death immediately!”
“Yes, Jeonha!” the rest of the ministers echoed in unison, dropping their heads to the floorboards.
Without warning, the King snapped.
He kicked his low royal desk aside with a resounding crash, drew the heavy blade behind his throne, and pointed it directly at the trembling ministers.
“Who among you is the rat?!” the King bellowed, his eyes wild with fury.
“WHO?!”
The ministers and scribes pressed their foreheads against the floor as the guards stepped closer, their drawn steel reflecting the morning light from every corner of the room.
“Bring them in!” the King ordered.
The double doors creaked open, and guards dragged in two bound royal sentries who had been stationed at the inner palace gates during the night attack.
“These two men,” the King growled, resting the tip of his sword against their chests, “failed to protect their posts. A swift investigation revealed they were paid spies, feeding internal guard rotations to someone outside these walls.”
The Minister of Personnel gasped, covering his chest.
“How utterly despicable, Jeonha!”
“Indeed,” the King replied, his tone shifting into a chilling, unnerving calm.
“Which is why I want everyone present to see this side of me today. Guards, push the ministers back and form a shield!”
The guards immediately forced the ministers to the rear of the hall, forming a wall of steel between the court and the center floor.
The King knelt and sliced the ropes binding the two treacherous sentries, tossing two short swords at their feet.
“I personally ensured you were fed and not beaten in the dungeons overnight,” the King said softly.
“Now… you both fight and die like real men, or you make history. Attack me.”
Terrified, the two guards hesitated.
Realizing it was their only chance at survival, they lunged together.
The King moved with terrifying speed.
With a single fluid sweep of his blade, he severed the right hand of the first guard before running him through the chest. This story is hosted at g.com.
Turning in the same breath, he slashed the second guard straight across the torso.
Both men collapsed lifeless onto the wooden floorboards.
“Remove the bodies,” the King commanded, wiping his bloody blade with a silk cloth.
“Ministers, return to your positions.”
The trembling ministers scrambled back to their places as servants scrubbed the fresh blood from the floor.
“Now,” the King said, taking his seat on the throne.
“The morning assembly begins. Guards, step outside. I am here to discuss politics with my ministers.”
The palace guards bowed and backed out of the throne hall, closing the heavy doors behind them.
“Are there any urgent reports or petitions?” the King asked.
The Minister of War stepped forward, holding a official scroll.
“Jeonha, the Jurchen tribes along the northern border of Manchuria have been launching frequent raids on our frontier villages.”
“Do we not have a stabilized garrison to defend our northern borders?” the King questioned.
“Jeonha, we have troops stationed there, but the harsh winter terrain has made it nearly impossible to maintain proper border security due to a severe lack of manpower.”
“A lack of manpower?” the King leaned forward.
“How many soldiers are currently holding the northern garrison?”
“Roughly one thousand troops, Jeonha,” the Minister of War replied.
The Right State Minister stepped out from the ranks, bowing respectfully.
“Jeonha, the capital Military State Exams (Mugwa) are only a few days away. I believe this presents a perfect opportunity to recruit both young noblemen and physically capable commoners across the provinces—not only to bolster the army, but also to strengthen the direct protection of the royal household.”
The Left State Minister immediately interjected, glaring at his colleague.
“Right State Minister! How can you suggest such a reckless idea? Drafting commoners into the provincial army is one thing, but allowing unscreened commoners into the Royal Guard?! Do you have any idea how easily low-born men can be manipulated by outside forces?!”
The King’s eyes locked onto the Left State Minister.
“So… you are saying someone in this court is attempting to manipulate my Royal Guard? Is that what you mean, Left State Minister?”
The Left State Minister went pale, dropping to his knees.
“I would never dare imply such a thing, Jeonha! As your loyal servant, I am merely voicing my genuine concerns for the safety of your sacred person and the stability of the nation!”
“I am going to recruit a select group of elite young swordsmen to form the Seohonbu (Royal Shadow Guard). They will serve under my direct command to investigate internal spies and lead special strike forces during wars. I will handpick every single member myself. What does the Chief State Minister think of this?”
The Chief State Minister stepped forward, his face an unreadable mask of polite deference.
“Jeonha, your wisdom is immeasurable. We, your loyal ministers, shall immediately issue a royal decree to summon every able-bodied young man in Joseon to the capital.”
The King stood up, sheathing his sword.
“Issue the decree today. In fourteen days, every eligible youth must assemble at the military exam grounds. Any family that fails to present an able son will be executed for treason. Do you all understand?”
“Yes, Jeonha!” the ministers chorused, bowing low.
Without another word, the King turned and walked out of the hall.
As the ministers exited the grand gates into the outer courtyard, the Chief State Minister walked alongside the Left State Minister, the Minister of War, and the Minister of Personnel.
“I think the King is up to something, Dae-gam,” the Left State Minister whispered nervously.
“Did you not see his eyes? Building his own Seohonbu… does he no longer trust us? Or does he suspect one of us sent those assassins?”
“Do you honestly think he trusts any of you?” the Chief State Minister remarked dryly.
“Besides, you should be relieved we walked out of that hall with our heads attached.”
“What do you mean by that, Dae-gam?” the Minister of Personnel asked, wiping cold sweat from his neck.
“It means he knows exactly who funded those assassins,” the Chief State Minister replied quietly.
“I simply do not know why he chose not to strike us down today.”
Just then, the Right State Minister approached from the adjacent corridor, accompanied by the Minister of Taxation, the Minister of Justice, and the Minister of Public Works.
“Where are you heading in such a hurry, Chief State Minister?” the Right State Minister asked with a faint smirk.
“Where else?” the Chief State Minister replied smoothly.
“We are returning to our ministries to carry out the King’s decree.”
“Ah,” the Right State Minister chuckled, stroking his long gray beard.
“I am going to check on the welfare of the royal family. After all, if someone hadn’t caused such a chaotic disturbance last night, we wouldn’t be standing here holding emergency trials, would we?”
The Right State Minister let out a hearty laugh and brushed past the Chief State Minister’s faction.
The Minister of War glared at their retreating backs.
“Look at them… pretending to be deeply concerned for the royal family’s well-being.”
“Mind your tongue,” the Chief State Minister warned, a dark, amused smile touching his lips.
“What could be the duty of a loyal minister, if not to worry endlessly about the safety of the crown?”
With a dry laugh, the Chief State Minister adjusted his robes and led his men out of the palace gates.