Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 15
WhenIbroachedthepossibilityofitshetoldme,warminmyarms,thatIwasherkingandthatwhereverIledshewouldfollow.Asyoushallseeitwastruth,fulltruth,thatsheuttered.
ItwasYunsan’sfaultforlettingChongMong-julive.AndyetitwasnotYunsan’sfault.Hehadnotdaredotherwise.DisgracedatCourt,neverthelessChongMong-juhadbeentoopopularwiththeprovincialpriesthood.Yunsanhadbeencompelledtoholdhishand,andChongMong-ju,apparentlysulkingonthenorth-eastcoast,hadbeenanythingbutidle.Hisemissaries,chieflyBuddhistpriests,wereeverywhere,wenteverywhere,gatheringineventheleastoftheprovincialmagistratestoallegiancetohim.IttakesthecoldpatienceoftheAsiatictoconceiveandexecutehugeandcomplicatedconspiracies.ThestrengthofChongMong-ju’spalacecliquegrewbeyondYunsan’swildestdreaming.ChongMong-jucorruptedtheverypalaceguards,theTigerHuntersofPyeng-YangwhomKimcommanded.AndwhileYunsannodded,whileIdevotedmyselftosportandtotheLadyOm,whileHendrikHamelperfectedplansforthelootingoftheImperialtreasury,andwhileJohannesMaartensschemedhisownschemeamongthetombsofTabongMountain,thevolcanoofChongMong-ju’sdevisinggavenowarningbeneathus.
Lord,Lord,whenthestormbroke!Itwasstandoutfromunder,allhands,andsaveyournecks.Andtherewerenecksthatwerenotsaved.Thespringingoftheconspiracywaspremature.
