11th Daehan 1794
The guards on the ongseong called out. The soldiers below came to attention. Through the open gates, someone could be seen running down the street, almost slipping on a patch of ice. Other than the solitary runner, there was no one else. Where were the people of the town? An officer raised a hand as they neared the gates, the column halted. Suk-kwon pulled down the cloth across his lower face to talk to the officer who gave him directions to the minga. He waved a soldier forward to lead them. Warm shelter, food and rest. With those thoughts in mind, the men were eager to get going. Their dipping heads straightened. Their pace were infused with more energy as they marched along the street and turned left. The travelling band behind continued on to the jumak.
"The commoners have been told to vacate the minga," Suk-kwon said almost inaudibly to Yunbok's surprise and shock. Were they not to share the houses with the occupants? "That's what the officer told me so there will be one small house set aside for us and the rest for the soldiers."
"Where did they put the families?" Surely they would not have been chased out into the cold? Yunbok counted the number of houses visible over the wall; about twenty in all. They would have been the peasants who were slightly better off for the houses looked less rustic.
"My guess is they had them put up in the outer villages. Here we are, let's find the smallest house, shall we?" Suk-kwon beckoned to the soldier who was leading the way. The man glanced at the minga compound before pointing to the smallest house huddled behind all the rest in the forefront. He left after Suk-kwon dismissed him. "See to the men first. I'll look into the other houses."
Yunbok nodded and beckoned to Hang-yu, passing the instructions as he dismounted. A couple of men came up to lead away the horses to one of the barns at the back. Stepping past the gate of the first house, Yunbok crossed the small courtyard to open the front door and peered in without taking off his boots. Two rooms, a kitchen and a barn outside. He gestured to the first rank of soldiers waiting outside.
Unable to hide their eagerness, they gratefully took off their boots at the porch and trooped in, stacking their spears in a corner by the door. He did the math. At least eight men could share two rooms comfortably so he sent in the next rank before waving to Hang-yu to take the rest to the other houses. Looking about outside, he noted there was a stack of wood at a corner of the porch.
"There is wood out here if there is no coal in the kitchen. Get a fire going and your rations. Have a good rest tonight," he told the men.
"Yes, sir," they chorused, one of them going into the kitchen while another came out to get the wood as Yunbok made his way out of the gate.
Going from house to house, he checked that the men were settling down. The cooks and clerk were given a house separately with all of the horses stabled in one singular barn at the back of the compound. On checking his horse, he found his packs had been removed and presumed they were at the house he would be staying at. The front door of the smallest house was open when he reached it, he could see Hang-yu moving about in the daecheong. When he stepped in, he found there were the usual two rooms, just slightly less than a kan and the kitchen. It was probably the last to be built due to the constraint of space.
"Your packs are in the back room," Hang-yu said as he placed blazing coals in the brazier.
"Thank you." The back room was empty when Yunbok looked in. "Where's the seonjang?"
"The magistrate wants to have a word with him so he's at the seohwadang," Hang-yu rubbed his hands. "I've already started the fire in the kitchen."
Heat, blissful heat, Yunbok sat down with relief, carefully unwinding the cloth from his face, loosening the flaps of the pungcha as he surreptitiously checked his false beard. The cold was such he was afraid it would drop off. The moustache he started out with had slipped occasionally but fortunately not at a time when anyone would catch it. Over the years, he had experimented with various mixtures of glue and finally found one that seemed to work for longer periods. Still, perspiration and cold would usually negate the effectiveness of the adhesive.
Pretending to smooth out his beard, he was pleased that everything was fine. As he held his hands over the fire pot, he considered the option of having that "accident" he had wanted for so long on this trip. This was as good an opportunity as any. Putting up with the false beard which had become the quintessential manifestation of his assumed identity, he was resigned to it but by no means willing to live with it forever. Still, he knew even if he did get rid of it, it could make a come back later. Would it be worth the trouble to have the "accident"?
Someone called at the door. Hang-yu got up to let in two soldiers, carrying the prepared dinner. Night had already fallen. The cold was more than doubled. Since Suk-kwon was not around, Yunbok placed his share on two sticks of short thin wood over the brazier and ate his own; kongjuk (bean porridge) with yukpo (dried beef jerky) shredded into it, mixed with more namul. As he ate, he wondered where did Young-joon and the others put up at. He supposed he would have to check every jumak in town. He doubted all the jumak would be opened. There would be few travellers to patronise taverns in winter. Especially this winter.
"If you don't mind my asking, is your family travelling with you?" Hang-yu queried diffidently. He had noticed Yunbok talking to a young fellow who looked sixteen at the first stop they made.
"Yes. We had planned to travel in spring but decided to do it now since I have been called up." Yukbok winced when he bit into a pellet of bone and meat. Turning away, he spat it out into his hand and dumped it into the brazier where it flared brightly for a moment.
"I've been chewing on those," Hang-yu nodded at the burning gristle.
"They're harder than stone, your teeth must be tough," Yunbok was surprised.
"I should have said I was swallowing those," grinned Hang-yu. "I'm used to getting them back home and decided to just swallow instead."
"Spoiled rations?" Yunbok said sympathetically as Hang-yu nodded.
"Food is food. I thought it pointless to keep spitting out all the hard bits. They often show up in the yukpo and the namul." Taking a sip of hot tea, Hang-yu dug into the remainder of his meal with enthusiasm. "This is already way better, just a sore spot or two."
"Are you able to raise any crops this season?"
"Not much. The reservoir is dry, has been since the second year. The water from the wells are reserved for drinking. We searched for other water sources in the hills, found a few pools and concentrated all our efforts on a few fields," Hang-yu said easily, as if all that effort in climbing up and down the hills were insignificant, "and raised enough to feed everyone. How is it for you?"
"It was easier for us. There is a creek by the village so we did the same. The water level dropped these three years but there was enough for our needs." Yunbok decided to follow Hang-yu's example and simply gulped down the bits of bone and whatever else that turned up.
"No hard bits for you," laughed Hang-yu. "My wife is all for pounding out the knots. That's what she called them. I said why go through all that trouble when our bodies can do the same?"
"My son is keen to try eating the bark off the trees after hearing of tales of past famines from the village elders," Yunbok chuckled as he recalled the incident, "He is confident there are many recipes to be found with bark."
"Mine wanted to try everything that crossed his path," Hang-yu shook his head with amusement. "We can eat so many things!" He spread his arms wide, miming the enthusiastic innocent wide eye entreaty that raised a chuckle. "Ants, worms and anything that crawl or walk, if we gather enough, they would be filling."
"Were we thinking of new food recipes when we were that young?" Yunbok could not recall.
"Haha, I should think you and I were thinking of what's to eat for the next meal than to think of recipes." Hang-yu picked up his bowl of tea.
Yunbok put aside his empty bowl. "I wonder how many people have died since."
"It is troubling," Hang-yu said sombrely. "We came across frozen bodies in the hills in the spring of the second year." He rubbed his brow wearily. "They took to the hills. Would it not have been better to voluntarily go to the encampments? Even if there is little to go around, shelter and food are ensured."
"Maybe they were trying to. Or perhaps they were fugitives. Who knows?" Yunbok stared at the glowing coals, recalling all too well the pain and hunger of a lonely winter. He shook himself out of the reverie. "Time is getting on. I promised my family I will drop by when we reached town so I have better locate them."
Hang-yu nodded. "The men will mostly be resting and not likely to wander. There should be no trouble, I will make sure of that."
With that assurance, Yunbok left the minga. At the entrance, he looked about. The road was almost empty with only a few passers-by. He glanced at the night sky. Nearing the end of first watch. Taverns were mostly near market places and town center so he walked up the road. It was then he realized he had forgotten to bring along his sword. Should he turn back to get it? He decided against it, he was not on duty. Moreover, he was not sure he had the authority to prance around with it in a strange town. As he walked along he spotted a familiar figure approaching him.
"Aigoo, wandering already. Did you leave dinner for me?" Suk-kwon puffed, clapping his hands together for warmth after tucking his sword under his arm.
"It's being kept warm for you. Do you know where they are?"
"That I do. I spotted them at a jumak just further up this road so you need not swim around. Give them my regards," he added as Yunbok nodded and moved on.
His master carried his sword, Yunbok mused over that fact. Well, he should since he was reporting to the magistrate. On duty and all that. But he himself was in uniform was he not? Should he or should he not? It was so troublesome! He had better grilled Suk-kwon on when he should and should not be toting a sword about. Something suddenly came down hard on his shoulder, bringing him to a tense halt.
"You forgot something, didn't you?"
Yunbok stared at the scabbard that rested over his shoulder. "Really, you gave me a fright!" he said peevishly, turning to glare at a grinning Suk-kwon.
"Come back with me to get it."
"Do I really have to carry it around with me all the time?" he complained, turning back with Suk-kwon.
"While you're in that uniform, in a strange town, yes. Other than protection, it's the bona fide item that identifies you."
"Just let me borrow yours, I don't want to..," Yunbok began to say.
"It's a little too long for you. Don't be lazy," scolded Suk-kwon.
"Lazy," Yunbok repeated with some annoyance.
Hang-yu was surprised to see his return but grinned when Suk-kwon marched to the back room and returned with the sword. Making a face at the older man as Hang-yu watched with interest, he buckled it on and retraced his journey back up into the street. Few people were about even though curfew had not sounded. With none of the liquor shops, moknojujeom, sobalmakgeollijip or even the saekju open, there was very little reason to hang about in the cold. It was almost like a ghost town. There was hardly any of the comforting bustle. The only signs that there were people were the glowing lanterns and windows.
The well lit jumak was a cheery sight. The air was warm with aroma and murmur of customers seated at the tables. Most of these were those travelling with the soldiers. After a word with the tavern-keeper, he was shown to the guest lodgings. Outside the door of the last room, he could hear voices.
"Aboji!" was the first thing he heard on opening the door after Young-joon bid him to enter after his call. P'ado, he noted, seemed his usual self.
"Not tired at all, I see." He joined the two as they sat at the brazier. "Had your dinner?"
"Gone so fast you would not have noticed it existed at all," laughed Young-joon. "How is the military rations?"
"Not too bad. Kongjuk, yukpo and namul." Yunbok held his hands out to the brazier.
"Aigoo, you eat like a king," teased Young-joon, "is it the same every meal?"
"No doubt it will be mostly a little grain, beans, yukpo and namul with a little variation."
"It will be the same for us. The next two weeks will be difficult," Young-joon sighed.
"I am more afraid we might be held up in the open if there are snowstorms or rain. Getting held up in town is not so bad." Rubbing his hands slowly, Yunbok tried to think of the complications that might crop up along the journey.
"Weren't you caught in a snowstorm once before?" said Young-joon.
"Yes. I found shelter in an abandoned hut but was held up in it for a few days. With so many people..," Yunbok trailed off. He did not notice P'ado's attentive curiosity. "Did you carry extra supplies?"
"Yes, for several days."
"We will have to hope for the best." Yunbok nodded. The merchants and travellers would have packed their own extra supplies too. If they were really caught out in the open, those extra supplies would tide them for a few days.
"Aboji, when were you caught in a snowstorm?" P'ado asked curiously.
"Oh, that happened during the year after I left home. That's of no matter," Yunbok said dismissively, not inclined to talk about his experiences. "Do you have other questions?" he changed the subject.
By changing the topic, P'ado knew Yunbok had no wish to discuss the snowstorm incident so he followed the lead but he was determined to find out about Yunbok's travels if he could. "What can you tell me about abonim?" he said.
"Hak-sun," Yunbok pondered for a moment. "You look a little like him around the brow but there are more of your mother's features. When I first met him, he was the scariest person I have ever seen."
"Why? Was it because you were going to fight him?"
"Yes. I had never fought anyone in earnest before so I feared him very much. Motivation and anger guided my hand in defeating him. When I saw him again eight years later, there was less fear but he was as dangerous as before. When I learned he is your father, I was astonished. How strange the whims of fate, to twist and turn. Our conversation was full of mistrust but I could see his sincerity when he offered his service. He said he would prove his words were true with action. He saved me from getting trampled by a horse and he tried to protect omoni but lost his life," he sighed. "I felt his temperament was most volatile. I was afraid he would cause the deaths of many should he betray us but in the end, he was loyal to his oath."
"He did not tell you of the deal he struck with the spy?" P'ado was pleased to hear that his father had been true.
"He did not. Most likely he thought he was watched and did not wish to give himself and us away."
"Did he tell you anything more of himself?"
"I'm afraid not. We were to play our respective roles; he was to be omoni's servant and I was a hired painter. There was little chance for us to interact."
At the crestfallen look on P'ado's face, Yunbok lowered his voice and leaned towards him. "He was a able, honorable, affectionate man, P'adoa. His thoughts were of you and of the future he would create."
"Is that why you insisted I should go to the hyanggyo?"
"It's not just his, it is also our wish too. You have the capabilties to go farther. Attending a hyanggyo will also exemp you from military duties."
"Are you expecting me to take on an official post?" P'ado did not know what he should do if the answer was a affirmative. Working in the government interest him not at all.
"If that is what you want."
It was not surprising the boy would assume that was the goal they wanted him to have. Seeing the boy's dilemma, Yunbok explained further. "I have been remiss in not making it clear. We are not expecting you to aim for an official post, we only expect you to expand your knowledge beyond the scope of the basics of what you have learned at the seodang."
"It is not that easy to attain a high post. I am not saying you will not be able to do it but there are many stages and requirements which you have to pass through," added Young-joon.
"That is true," agreed Yunbok. "Before anyone tries for the basic exams, there is the requirement that at least one person in the preceeding four generations had served in an official post. It is essential if the candidate intends to try for the top level posts. If the candidate meets this stipulation, he has to pass the preliminary examinations. After which, he attends a seowon before taking the civil examinations. There are two papers each for the Classics and Literary Licentiate exams. If he pass, he is accepted into the Sungkyunkwan and prepares for the Munkwa exam which comprise of three stages. An oral test is usually conducted for the first section of each stage. Pass those stages and a high post of the third rank and beyond awaits.
"There is not just those two important examinations, there is the Miscellaneous exam as another option," put in Young-joon, almost laughing at P'ado's dazed reception to the deluge of information.
"I never thought of an official post," admitted P'ado, much daunted by all the stages to get to a high official post. "Much less of going to a hyanggyo. I am happy where I am. But I understand, aboji, you wish me to know more of the world around me than than just learning how to read and write."
"Will you go to the hyanggyo come spring? If you do not wish to go, then it shall be as you will," Yunbok said impassively.
"I will go," P'ado said, after thinking for a while. "Can I stop if..."
"If you do not like it, I will have to employ someone to teach you." Yunbok was pleased that the boy was willing to make the attempt.
"Can't you teach me yourself, aboji?"
"I will have little time for chores and who will do them? The higher subjects require indepth instruction and I can't spare the time," Yunbok shook his head. "You need someone to drone at you just so you can remember."
"Is that how it was for you? Your teacher droning at you?" laughed P'ado as Young-joon chuckled. It was the same for him too though he did not say so aloud.
"I'm afraid I had little interest in exploring many of the classics. I suppose the blame rested solely on the instructor, he was more interested in acquiring the money than in teaching two scamps bent on mayhem," Yunbok recollected wryly. "Between him and aboji, we learned enough to pass the japgwa and daegwa."
"And then after to..," prudently, P'ado did not finish the sentence. "There is no seowon in Uiryeong is there?"
"No. Most of the seowon in this province are at Jinju, Hamyang and Hapcheong. They are irrelevant. I do not want you to attend," Yunbok admitted.
"Why not?" Having heard much of what was expected of him, P'ado was taken aback at that contrary statement.
"Seowons serve mainly as the political arm of the rural scholars. Students tend to involve themselves when they disagree with policies. In addition, at this second last stage of higher learning, discipline is required," Yunbok explained.
"Which I don't have as my aboji knew. That's why I was pulled from the seowon after attempting the preliminary test," Young-joon put in cheerfully.
"You need not attend one when you can borrow their books if you wish to learn," continued Yunbok with a wry twitch to his lips. Trust Young-joon to blithely relegate his ineptitude as a negligible setback.
"Then attending a hyanggyo is sufficient?" P'ado felt if it was up to him, he would prefer not to continue after. Studying was not his forte, he felt.
"That is for you to decide." Yunbok realised the noise from outside had considerably reduced, most of the guests must have retired. What time was it? "It's time for me to go, I'll need to look in on Jeong-hyang before I go back."
"She's just next door. Set off at dawn tomorrow?" Young-joon asked as he saw Yunbok to the door.
"Yes. I'll send someone to notify you." Yunbok headed to the next guest room. Was she asleep? He called softly at the door and heard the soft tread of footsteps. He was promptly enveloped in a warm hug once he stepped through the open door. "Was it difficult?" he said after a while as they stood by the door. Pokkot, he noted, was already fast asleep. Was she not just like a hibernating cub he noted in amusement at the small lump.
"I had to pinch myself now and then to prevent myself from falling asleep completely." She let go of him reluctantly. "I heard you talking next door." She sat down on her bedding as he lifted a corner of the quilt tucked around Pokkot.
"Not very clearly, I hope," he smiled down at the slumbering girl. "She reminds me of a bear cub, doesn't she sleep just about everywhere we took her?"
"Makes it easy to move her around, doesn't it?" she chuckled as she drew the quilt around them as he sat beside her. "To answer your first question. No, I could not hear you clearly, your voice was too low."
"That's good," he was pleased. "We'll likely set off at dawn tomorrow so be prepared. I'll have to ask.. er, the seonjang what should be done if we encounter a snowstorm. I really hope we don't. Young-joon said he brought extra provisions for several days."
"What do you think will most likely happen if we run into one?" she tried to imagine getting stuck in a blizzard and was not much looking forward to such a situation.
Once more, that image of his time trapped in the hut rose before him. "It is a bad idea to stop. If one blows up, we will have to try to make our way through. Make sure the children wear extra clothing. You too. Remind Young-joon and the rest." A yawn caught hold of him. "I'll have to get back."
"If only..," she muttered, unwilling to voice the rest of the statement.
"I know. I wish I can sleep here," he said wistfully. "That's setting a bad example unfortunately."
"Do you have to go so soon?" It was churlish of her but she could not help it when he got up.
"It's late. You and I need rest. This cold is sapping a lot from everyone," he said wearily. "Don't worry, I'll wear extra clothing too," he put in as she opened her mouth and drew her into an embrace. "All is well. I'll see you tomorrow," he said after a moment, letting go of her reluctantly and was gone.
The chill struck him as he walked down the road. It seemed to gnaw right into his bones. Hurriedly, he returned to the minga. All the houses were dark saved for the dim glow from the small house at the back. The sight of Hang-yu rolled up like a ball in his bedding in the front room until nothing could be seen of him met his gaze when he opened the door. A tunggyong had been left alight for him, he realized as he locked the front door. Quietly, he picked it up and made his way to the back room. There was hardly any sound from the similarly covered hump. A bedding was already spread out beside it. Was Suk-kwon really asleep? There was no snoring. Yunbok removed his uniform, folded and placed them beside his bedding as he lay down on it and blew out the tunggyong. When Suk-kwon spoke up softly, he was expecting it.
"Took you long enough."
"Took a lot of tongue wagging."
"So how is he?"
"As usual."
"Hmmmph ... not what you expected, no?"
"Perhaps later."
"You need not tell him, you know that."
"True but I would rather not keep anything from him."
"Will you do the same with Pokkot?"
"Of course although," he paused contemplatively, "she might not be as shocked."
"Why do you say that?" Suk-kwon did not understand and peered at Yunbok.
"Don't you recall what she said about Akeno?" The silence that met him was all the answer he needed. "She once told Iseul that Myung-hee was a special omoni?"
"That!" Suk-kwon had totally forgotten all about that peculiar remark. It threw a different aspect on the girl.
"We set her up in P'ado's room because we are afraid of what she might inadvertently discover before the time is right." Pokkot had been afraid of sleeping alone initially until Jeong-hyang spent a few nights with her to ease her fear, Yunbok recalled. They had also taken to inviting Chang-mi to spend a few nights with her. An arrangement that suited Ae-young and Chang-sun just fine. It ended up becoming a weekly routine.
"It did not occur to me that she was so astute to know Myung-hee was different," Suk-kwon was amazed. "Akeno would have taken precautions. She might have found out accidentally and did not understand what she saw, she was only six. But she knew her mother was different."
"I'm not sure how much she remembers."
"It might just be enough." Suk-kwon hoped the knowledge would help the girl into acceptance.
"Perhaps."
"But you think P'ado will be more difficult to handle."
"Maybe it's because he came to us as a baby..," a pang hit Yunbok as images of the boy whirled before him.
"Your bond to him is stronger. You are thinking of something...very much later, aren't you?"
Death. Suk-kwon did not say it aloud. Of course Yunbok would think of what would happen when he eventually passed away. Even in death, there would be problems. There was no predicting who would go first. If Jeong-hyang was still around, then all would be covered up.
"If we stay. It will not matter if we do not. The other alternative will be Jeong-hyang and I move away before it happen but I do not know how it will be. Who can predict such matters? If it is I, then I want her to have support."
"What makes you think she will stay?" Suk-kwon said bluntly.
Silence.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"True, it is a depressing topic considering that it is most likely I to be the first to ..."
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Then let's talk about the possibility of a snowstorm..."
"That was what I was thinking about earlier."
"Ah, you did. What do you think we ought to do if we are caught in the open?"
"It is too dangerous to stop so we have to press on."
"Correct. Say we press on but the storm becomes worse, making visibility almost impossible?"
"That's really bad. We will have to get off our horses, someone will have to try to lead the way ahead..."
"True, that must be attempted. To stay still is to die. To advance blindly brings the same result. If anyone is lost..," Suk-kwon trailed off leadingly.
"Before we advance we have to link everyone together with ropes."
"Very good. You make a promising officer. We will get fresh provisions tomorrow and those ropes you are talking about. Preparations must be made before dawn because we must set off early to make it to the next town. Get some sleep."
There was a rustle and all was quiet.
Korean Words
Japgwa / chapkwa - miscellaneous exams
daegwa - civil service exams
hyanggyo - equivalent to secondary school
kongjuk - bean and rice porridge
seonjang - captain
seowon - equivalent to college, preparatory school for the national civil service examination
yukpo - dried beef jerky