A groaning sound naturally came out of Jo Geol’s mouth as she sat in the conference room.
“Ugh, this damn bastard… … .”
In the end, Cheongmyeong did not return to his residence until daybreak. Those people who had been waiting for him to come back from his empty room all trudged out like dogs chasing chickens and sat down in the conference room.
“Anyway, there’s something about screwing over people. Isn’t that right, capital punishment?”
Jo Geol tried to make a joke, but there was no reply from Yoon Jong. He just crossed his arms with a stern face, lost in thought.
Jo Geol thought about saying another word, but soon stopped.
‘The atmosphere is no joke.’
Not only them, but also the munju belonging to the Cheonwoomaeng are gathered here now. Moreover, aren’t everyone’s faces seriously stiff?
People who would normally make small talk and smile before a meeting started were now all deep in thought with their mouths shut.
So, even Jo Geol, who did not pay much attention to the atmosphere, could not easily open her mouth.
I understand. To be honest, what Cheongmyeong threw was not that simple.
‘What will happen?’
If I had been able to meet Cheongmyeong even briefly yesterday early in the morning, I would have been able to make a rough guess, but this time I didn’t hear anything from him in advance. I had no idea how things would proceed.
It was a time when I was scratching my head in frustration.
The closed door opened and Cheongmyeong walked in. In an instant, everyone’s eyes were focused on him.
“you… … .”
Jo Geol reflexively stood up and tried to say something, but Yoon Jong grabbed his shoulder and pressed him gently. He meant to shut up and sit still. Jo Geol quenched his appetite and sat down again.
Cheongmyeong sat in the seat assigned to me without saying a word with an expressionless face.
‘What is he thinking, bastard?’
Jo Geol became more confused. To be honest, it was difficult to guess what he was thinking just based on his facial expression.
The other owners also glanced at Cheongmyeong, who remained silent. It was clear that they also had similar thoughts to Jo Geol.
At that time, the door opened wide again and King Hyeonjong and Tanggunak came in.
“good morning.”
Hyeonjong gently greeted the guests and headed to the head table. He then looked around at everyone who had filled the seats and nodded.
“Are you all here?”
Then Zhuge Zain, who had come and sat down first, glanced at the empty seat and said.
“yet… … Jongnam’s Jongli Jangmunin did not come.”
“… … Umm, is that so?”
The promised time is passing by little by little. It can be safely interpreted that the fact that someone like Jongligok did not come on time means that he had no intention of attending this meeting in the first place. Hyeonjong secretly let out a short sigh and nodded his head.
“Then we will proceed with the meeting, leaving Jongnam alone.”
“yes.”
Hyeonjong took a deep breath.
“everyone… … I believe you must have thought deeply about it last night. “What do you think about the agenda presented by the governor?”
Silence fell in the conference room again. It’s clear that everyone had been thinking for a long time last night, but no one was willing to be the first to open their mouths.
After waiting for a while, Hyunjong gently opened his mouth again.
“Personally, the Commander-in-Chief’s opinion may be a bit unreasonable, but from Cheon Woo-maeng’s perspective, I think it is something worth considering. Of course, in order to do that, the cooperation of several scholars is needed… … .”
“Can I tell you something?”
At that time, someone’s voice suddenly came out. Hyeonjong’s gaze turned towards that direction. There was a faint tension in those eyes. There was no way not to be nervous because the first opinion that comes out once the meeting starts usually has a big impact on the outcome.
When Hyeonjong made eye contact with the speaker, he actually felt relieved. A much higher standard than others. It was the beast palace lord Maeng So. Doesn’t he have a close relationship with the Cheongmyeong guy? Then he could rest assured.
“Please speak, my lord.”
“It seems like no one wants to speak first, so I will tell you Nanman Beast Palace’s position first. “To conclude,”
Meng Xiao opened his mouth in his characteristic booming voice. After looking back at his audience, a clear light was placed at the end of his gaze.
“The Beast Palace disagrees with the Musketeer’s opinion.”
“… … yes?”
Hyeonjong, who had asked a question back without realizing it, was shocked and quickly closed his mouth. No matter what is said, one should not express opinions or react carelessly, but Meng Xiao’s answer was so unexpected that he ended up making an uncharacteristic mistake.
In fact, Meng So continued speaking without caring about Hyeonjong’s mistakes.
“I fully understand what the Commander-in-Chief said. I also understand that such measures are needed for Cheonwoomaeng now. But ‘need’ and ‘can’ are different.”
As Meng Xiao’s eyes and Cheongmyeong’s eyes met in the air, Lim So-Byeong asked a question that needed to be asked.
“May I ask why?”
Meng Xiao nodded.
“There is no such thing as a great reason. but… … “The problem is trust.”
“What if you say trust?”
Meng Xiao’s eyes turn to the sitting seniors.
“Even though I am sitting here, I am ultimately a stranger. You can’t be a midfielder forever. “I didn’t tell you, but there are probably some people here who don’t like me being here.”
Some faces changed slightly. It was difficult to tell whether it was because the words themselves made me feel bad, or because I was embarrassed that it had pricked me inside.
Hyeonjong opened his mouth with a slightly troubled expression.
“Palace lord.”
“No, I don’t mean to place blame.”
Meng Xiao shook his head before hearing any more.
“It was the same for us. Until the Commander-in-Chief came to Yunnan, we built a wall with the Central Plains people and ostracized them. “Because I thought that was what had to be done.”
“Hmm.”
Some people were drooling. Meng Xiao said with stern eyes.
“I don’t think so now. I think it needs to change. but… … The wall still exists. “A wall that cannot be denied.”
“… … .”
“The Beast Sign may struggle to overcome that wall. However, if such Beast Signs are scattered, the archers will be labeled as Nanman people rather than Beast Signs. “I’m not sure archers will be able to receive the same treatment as other Central Plains people in their condition.”
Meng Xiao’s gaze was directed directly at Xuanzong this time.
“The reason Nanman Beast Palace left Yunnan and came here was because he trusted Tianyu Meng and Huashan. but… … However, it is unacceptable for us to say that we must show the same trust to others.”
Hyeonjong faintly sighed. To be honest, I didn’t consider Meng Xiao’s position at all. Perhaps the relationship between Sae-oe and Jung-won is even more distant than the relationship between the old faction and Cheonwoo-maeng… … .
At that moment, one person quietly raised his hand.
“We too… … .”
“Please speak, Lord Seolgung.”
Seol Sobaek glanced at Hyeonjong and Cheongmyeong and said.
“sorry… … However, our Ice Palace is in the same position as the Beast Palace. that is… … .”
Seol Sobaek slightly lowered his head and continued speaking.
“It is true that Binggung is with Cheon Yu-maeng thanks to the grace of the volcano. but… … I haven’t received any particular favor from the other members of the central committee, and we are not that close… … .”
It is wrong to say that they are not close. Rather, it would be more accurate to say that they are far, far apart. It was only a few years ago that Binggung ostracized all Central Plains who entered the North Sea.
“It is not easy for Bingung to receive orders from such people. Oh, of course, if that… … If we can move together with Huashan or Nanman Beast Palace, we will not oppose this agenda itself. If you would consider that… … .”
Hyeonjong quietly closed his eyes. There was room for approval, but in the end, it was as good as not being there. If someone has to take orders from someone they don’t want to, and someone can only take orders from someone they want, then a new wall will be created from then on.
You can’t do something absurd like create a new wall to tear down a wall.
“… … Well sir.”
However, Hyeonjong fully understood Seol Sobaek’s feelings. At the same time, he realized his mistake.
His entire attention was focused on the new members of the Cheonwoo Alliance. If you were a true leader of the Cheonwoo Alliance, you should not have missed the fact that even those you thought were on the same page had their own circumstances and positions. I should have met them last night and had an honest conversation… … .
There was a short silence in the conference room. Tanggunak broke the silence and opened his mouth, as if he couldn’t let the atmosphere go like this.
“We, the Sichuan Party, are in agreement with the governor’s opinion.”
It was a concise conclusion, like his usual personality. However, as interrogative gazes gathered, the party music became more pronounced.
“And personally, I plan to relinquish the position of vice-maengju of Cheonwoomaeng.”
“Matriarch?”
Hyeonjong was very surprised. Tanggunak’s expression did not change at all.
“That would be fair. It is not fair if the Sichuan Party can seek comfort through the position of Cheonyumaeng while others are giving up their authority. “My decision is firm, so I hope you will not dissuade me further.”
It was a stern tone that left no room for even a needle to enter. And from anyone’s perspective, this was a move that gave strength to Cheongmyeong’s argument.
“What do you plan to do, Namgung?”
Tanggunak asked Namgungmyeong as if his turn was over. Namgung Myung shook her head as if she was embarrassed.
“As I am not the decision-maker for the Namgung family, I first conveyed the related matter to Sogaju. The answer is… … “It hasn’t arrived yet.”
I guess so. This is not an agenda that can be asked for opinions in just half a day.
“For that reason, I will put Namgoong on hold first.”
“Is it difficult for an elder to make a decision?”
“As you know… … .”
Tanggunak nodded as if there was nothing he could do.
Now that the two factions outside of Sae have turned around, the factions most friendly to Qingming are the Sacheon Dang family and the Namgung family. However, if even the Namgung family withdrew, it would mean that among the political factions left here, there are no friendly forces of the Qingming Dynasty.
Tanggunak, who was quietly shaking his head, unconsciously smiled bitterly.
‘I was sharing again out of habit.’
Although this was done to tear down the wall, Tanggunak was still distinguishing between the right and left sides based on the Qingmyeong standard. As naturally as breathing.
I feel that way again. Is this really possible? Does it have any meaning? Still, even he, who is one of the people who understands Cheongmyeong’s feelings the best, cannot move according to Cheongmyeong’s will like this?
What if even colleagues outside the company who thought they had crossed the line of fire together and come this far are drawing new lines just because the situation has changed a little?
‘Look… … .’
Tang Gunak’s sad gaze turned to Cheongmyeong. He was still staring straight into space, with no idea what he was thinking.
Tanggunak bit his lip without realizing it.
If this meeting ends poorly, I can assure you that Cheonwoomaeng will never go back to the way it was before. It’s like they’ve revealed each other’s true feelings and opened up buried wounds.
And perhaps this act itself may become the biggest obstacle in the coming war.
Cheongmyeong would definitely know this. However, despite looking at all of this, it doesn’t move at all, to the point where it’s surprising. Even though all the currents in the conference room were not going well for him.
‘What are you thinking, you?’
Tanggunak, unable to overcome his nervousness, tapped his thighs with his fingertips.
People usually have a tendency to gravitate toward the side with more people. Overall, when opposing voices grow louder, even those who were wavering will make up their minds. At this point, someone has to raise Cheongmyeong’s hand… … .
It was that moment.
The closed door slowly opened with a squeak, revealing a person.
“It’s a little late.”
Everyone’s eyes were focused on the person who had just entered.
It was Zhongligok.
Tanggunak’s eyes darkened as he saw Jongnam’s Jang Mun-in walking in with a cool and cool face, as if he had made up his mind about something.
