DELEGATES AND DIPLOMATS

"I need you to help me track down all the surviving relatives from those who were linked with the Chilsuk and Seokpum Rang's rebellion." Seungman replied.

"May I ask why Your Highness?" Haesul Rang replied.

"You can think of it as a way of promoting Law and order." Seungman replied with a smile on her face.

"Law and Order?" Haesul Rang asked.

"I am quite uneasy these days and I can barely sleep as well." Seungman replied, "As it seems that the Shilla that both you and I are fighting for is on the verge of crumbling." She added.

"I understand Your Highness." Haesul Rang said.

"We need to be cautious especially with the tides inside because to lower our guard is not something that the both of us can afford to do right now and I am afraid that Her Majesty is much to burdened with the affairs of her people someone must help her with the affairs of state." Seungman remarked.

"Rest assured Your Highness, I'll see what I can do." Haesul Rang said as he bowed his head and he slowly walked out of the room.

Kim Chunchu was seated inside his Chambers as he recalled the words that Seungman had said to him.

Geumyang who noticed how absentia minded he was was deeply concerned that he hurriedly stationed himself by his master's side.

"Your Highness." He called but there wasn't a response.

"He snapped his fingers in front of him and at once Kim Chunchu was drawn back to reality.

"What is on your mind?" Geumyang asked.

"Nothing much." Kim Chunchu replied.

"Are you thinking about Her Highness' words?" Geumyang asked.

"As I told you that she has a rare political acumen." Kim Chunchu replied.

"You are remarkable as well." Geumyang said.

"I need more swords." Kim Chunchu said.

"Your Highness, right now who do you think would curry favour with you?" Geumyang asked.

"Kim Yushin." Chunchu replied.

"He is very devoted to Her Majesty." Geumyang said.

"Regardless of the situation the age difference between both myself and him isn't that much and in our generation he is the most powerful and the strongest General in Shilla." Kim Chunchu replied.

"If someone as powerful as himself backed you up Your Highness then you would be invincible." Geumyang remarked.

"Yushin is a smart man but he has no wits, only courage, however if it comes to devotion then I must say his in a rare way is unwavering." Kim Chunchu remarked.

"How are you going to do it Your Highness?" Geumyang asked.

"I don't need to do very much." Kim Chunchu replied. "I believe that it is a while since he visited his nephew." He added.

"Yes Your Highness." Geumyang said.

"Prince Beopmin is an averages lover of combat like his uncle and perhaps if we must Begin then let us now initiate what is a friendship between the two, you might never know it is the foundation that we need to foster our most common desire." Kim Chunchu replied.

"Yes Your Highness, but how are we going to do it?" Geumyang asked.

"The young boy's birthday is not so far from now and about a month or two away, that's the time that we need." Kim Chunchu replied.

"Yes Your Highness." Geumyang said.

"Make sure that you deliver to him an invitation after all as it is known well amongst people family is power." Kim Chunchu replied.

"Your Highness, what about Lady Seungman?" Geumyang asked.

"I should he worried." Kim Chunchu said, "But to be watchful and hasty is something that we would do best." Kim Chunchu replied.

"Yes Your Highness." Geumyang replied as he withdrew from the room as well.

"Thank you Seungman." Kim Chunchu said as he smirked at himself.

Bidam was seated in his office when Yeomjong walked in.

"Your Excellency." He said as he bowed his head.

"Talk to me if you present good news with you." Bidam said.

"Your Highness, they have all accepted." Yeomjong replied.

Bidam turned around and looked at him.

"How?" He Asked.

"Your Excellency, I have my own ways." Yeomjong replied.

"What did you do?" Bidam asked.

"All that I needed was you to see my loyalty and additionally isn't their loyalty what you wanted?" Yeomjong asked.

"Regardless of what it really is that I truly craved, my deepest desire is to know which means you intend to use against my people?" Bidam asked.

"Alright Your Excellency, I'll tell you." Yeomjong said.

"Hurry up." Bidam said angrily.

"I knew that it would be quite difficult for them to come around but given that we are all human after all then we have weaknesses and there's is family." Yeomjong replied.

"What did you do?" Bidam asked.

"Beforehand I organized for tenants who are fake but looked rich enough and when the last of their properties and lands in their possession were at stake as it appeared that they were about to be sold, they had no choice but to come back running to you knowing that you would relieve them and perhaps even halt the transactions on their lands." Yeomjong replied.

"I thought you were just smart I never took you to be as cruel as such." Bidam said.

"What can I say Your Excellency, for you I can do so much more." Yeomjong replied.

"Stop that flattery." Bidam said, "You have done a very good job." Bidam said.

"Thank you for appreciating my efforts Your Excellency." Yeomjong replied.

"I am curious however with such intelligence why aren't you a Courtier or a scholar?" Bidam asked.

Yeomjong kept quiet.

"Is it resentment or anger, remorse or what?" Bidam asked.

"Nothing much Your Excellency, I dare not overestimate myself." Yeomjong replied.

"But I am a person that loves to overestimate myself and even much more than that I am a person that really likes to work with ambitious people and not cowards." Bidam said

"I am no coward." Yeomjong replied.

"I due course we'll be able to confirm that." Bidam said, "For now given that that simple task gas been completed it is time that we planned something else." He added.

"Your Excellency, how far do you wish to teach?" Yeomjong asked.

"You know it well enough, I need that Crown." Bidam replied.

"How does Your Excellency plan to get there?" Yeomjong asked.

"I need to secure some more influence in the Court myself so pick out the very best people that you trust and I want you to dig up as much dirt on all those High Officials especially Sangdaedeung Eulje." Bidam replied.

"Yes Your Excellency." Yeomjong asked

"Additionally, I want you to get me some incense." Bidam replied.

"Yes Your Excellency." Yeomjong replied as he left Bidam waving his fan and trying to conjure for himself some fresh air.

Galmunwang Gukban had arrived in Tang and there firstly he had to stair at the magnificent buildings that graced the streets of Cháng'an.

The market place was very busy with a variety of things that they didn't have in Seoraebeol and the various palaces and residential areas themselves looked very lively.

The women were dressed in very long and beautiful desses and their hair was decorated with flowers and expensive jewelry Having been drawn into loops and interesting designs.

"Your Excellency." Damju called.

"Yes." Galmunwang Gukban replied.

"Cháng'an does beam with so much life." Damju replied.

"Have you ever heard the saying that all Courtiers look to Cháng'an and All states worship Tang?" Galmunwang Gukban asked.

"No Your Excellency." Damju replied.

"That's what I'd now before our eyes." Galmunwang Gukban said as he closed them and he inhaled.

"Where to now Your Excellency?" Damju asked.

"We are here on official business so let us at least behave ourselves." Galmunwang Gukban replied as they approached the gates of the Palace.

There they were halted by a group of guards and Galmunwang Gukban stepped out of his carriage and walked up to one of them.

It was at that time that Damju noticed how fluent his master was in the native Tang Language.

"We are here to convey a Message to His Majesty the Emperor from our New Sovereign." Galmunwang Gukban said and the guards at the entrance inspected his entourage carefully which was made up of people that were all dressed in the Shilla attire.

"Open the gates." One of the guards ordered as the command reached the walls that were about twice as high as those of Wolseong and the magnificent golden gates were opened for them.

Galmunwang Gukban returning to his carriage but maintaining his glance of the outside place started at the very large and beautiful gardens that stretched to as far as four miles.

The Palace itself much wider than the whole of Banwolseong its path was filled with a number of tall lampstands that stretched up to the buildings in a distance.

It was already early in the morning and the Courtiers had gathered in Taiji Palace and as the carriage halted at a very long distance, the Shilla Diplomat himself while being accompanied by Damju treaded and mounted the fifty stairs until he was situated right at the doorway.

The Doors were flung open and Emperor Taizong who was seated on the Dragon throne along with his Courtiers who knelt on either side of the hall shifted their eyes to him.

Confidently, Galmunwang Gukban walked into the Palace and there he stopped at a distance as he bowed his head.

"Greetings Your Majesty." He spoke in Chinese.

"Please Rise." Emperor Taizong said and Galmunwang Gukban complied.

"Thank you Your Majesty.": Galmunwang Gukban said.

"I am interested in your very sudden visit and I wish to inquire what it is that has brought you here?" Emperor Taizong said.

"Your Majesty, I apologise for my unannounced visit but I convey greetings from our New Sovereign in the Land." Galmunwang Gukban replied.

"New Sovereign in the land?" Emperor Taizong said a little bit surprised.

"Yes Your Majesty, it's been a year almost since there was a coup to overthrow the Monarchy but thanks to his great diplomacy and his choice it was crushed much earlier." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"I am sorry to hear the death of your Sovereign and it strikes my heart deeply to have learnt that a little bit too late." Emperor Taizong said.

"We are most grateful for your sympathies Your Majesty." Galmunwang Gukban said as he bowed his head.

"So about Your New Sovereign in Shilla, who exactly is it as I recall that it was widely Known that the Late King Jinheung had no male heirs to inherit his throne." Emperor Taizong said.

"Your Highness, I speak on behalf of his daughter Queen Seondeok, the New Female King of Shilla." Galmunwang Gukban replied.

At once Emperor Taizong stood up from his throne as the Courtiers were rather alarmed by the words that followed from his mouth.

"His daughter Queen Seondeok? Female King?" Emperor Taizong said.

"Yes Your Majesty." Galmunwang Gukban replied.

"Have the Courtiers there lost it, have the Courtiers known no embrace for wisdom, where is the love for their country when a decision such as this is bound to plunge their nation into crisis?" Emperor Taizong asked.

"Your Majesty, I dare not talk back to you but contrary to the Han traditions and those of Sui and also those of Tang, in Shilla rule is based on the caste of the Sacred bone which is descended from our forefather Bak Hyeokgyeose, was reinforced by his great grandsons through Naemul of Shilla, for us it is tradition and in the respect of regents who have ruled on before, a female King in her own right is no different." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"Can Tang Manage such a service, can Shilla herself withstand humiliation when her neighbours won't ever fear her for having a female Sovereign.

Men and women were never born equal as the former is superior and the latter must be submit, your actions give the clear portrait that in the eyes of the other states, Shilla is most willing to adopt that similar status of submission." Emperor Taizong said.

"For more than half a millennium of rich History, the Royal Dynasty has considered this bone rank of its own to be unbroken and our founder's tradition, Confucian advocates for filial and ancestral piety, we can not bend rules in Shilla because we do not wish but we act because our ancestors want." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"Where in this hall is a woman, not even a servant and not even my Empress graces this room with me, could women have not been appointed as Courtiers, could daughters not give their own children their names rather than their husbands.

Does Confucian advocate for interference of women in power and if so those of the Han traditions that reigned where at the moment do they still lie as revolutionaries in History, they are only rebels to the national order." Emperor Taizong said.

"If you can point out for me where it has ever been for a woman to restore peace, law and order like Shao and Yun and you can verify one other qualification other than possesing the Hallowed bone and the King's blood that's flowing through the Queen's veins then you can convince why I should accept her as the Sovereign of the Shilla state." Emperor Taizong said as he sat down onto his Throne.

"Her Majesty's ascension onto our throne came as a result of failed resistance which the people themselves approved of, she had the chance to compete for it fair and square with men and in the end she succeeded.

To us this was not an impulsive move but rather one which was taken into deep consideration so of Your Majesty holds any objection to this then as Shilla we have our intention of keeping it that way for as long as Her Majesty still breathes.

My purpose was to only visit perhaps I am short in my knowledge of Confucian principles and virtues but our state also runs on tradition just like the son of heaven is picked from the Emperor's very own bloodline, mine is a message that I carry from our Sovereign and female King, however your Majesty may choose to react we are willing to respect it as well." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"For the Mighty Tang to give it's consent to such a frivolous policy is unthinkable especially if it's Emperor is still myself.

Such a choice could encourage about all Princesses throughout the continent to also rebel and fight for power when the sibling rivalries themselves have already had a toll we can not afford to only increase their intensity.

Whereas it still stands with us here in Tang my Court is rather disappointed and along with myself very much unyielding to let our women go astray they shall have defied put Confucian Principles who himself to us was also a founder that defined our own administration to this day.

That being said go back and tell your Female King that in the eyes of the Tang Emperor Taizong, Shilla is Kingless." Emperor Taizong said.

"I shall pass on the message Your Majesty." Galmunwang Gukban replied as he bowed his head and he slowly withdrew from the hall leaving the Courtiers in an uproar and each one of them arguing amongst themselves.

Galmunwang Gukban walked down the stairs with Damju who closely followed by his side.

"How was it Your Excellency." Damju asked as he noticed his master's long face.

"Every Nation and it's own demons, the Tang Emperor has refused to consent to the existence of a Female Sovereign in Shilla." Galmunwang Gukban replied.

"But that isn't his choice to make." Damju replied.

"According to the Confucian principles we do believe in what is known as the respect for the great and that is why it rests usually with the most powerful state on the continent to ensure the order of it's neighbouring societies." Galmunwang Gukban replied.

"Regardless of the Principles that we fall All states aren't Confucian in nature, there are traditions which we follow that when considered barbaric in the eyes of the others to us it is our piety to our ancestors." Damju remarked.

"Nevertheless, what has happened is a sign from the mighty Tang that he is unyielding and that they despise our choice of a female monarch. At the end of it all upon the grounds of so much resistance should we try to face the most tumultuous age we are on our own." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"Then Your Excellency, we can not reside here any longer and we must return to Shilla at once." Damju said.

"You are right, Her Majesty needs to know and at this very moment she needs to stand the more, it is only in so doing that she prove to the world that she is fit for the job and perhaps even disgrace the words of Emperor Taizong himself." Galmunwang Gukban replied.

Seungman had looked through the books that dealt with the financial records and there right in front of her and seated were three officials each serving as a subordinate to her father.

"Your Highness." One called, "Is there anything that you needed from us?" She asked.

"I wish to know for myself which of the documents is faulty because as it appears to me most of the finances accumulated in line with the numbers that are added here they don't add up." Seungman replied.

"Your Highness, this is a big problem that we can not guarantee that we can also give an account of to you, as it is that you see right now there are always miscountings in the various departments and in addition much of the money is embezzled by the Officials themselves." One replied.

"The Documentation is poor as the people that count themselves are illiterate and they aren't the very best but for more remote areas than the others they are the only ones that nature can offer." Another added.

"The Departments themselves that collect taxes, how efficient are they?" Seungman asked.

"Your Highness, we are short of skilled personnel for this task and additionally, some times we count the same amount over and over again that if we are to measure a particular degree of accuracy, 66% is our Highest." They replied.

"Has this matter ever been reported?" Seungman asked.

"Your Highness, this is something that you have just noticed and sometimes we subordinates can not conjure any form of trouble with our seniors.

The past regime that supported Galmunwang Baekban and Chilsuk in their resistance was one which was filled with so many corrupt Officials and despite knowing our families were at stake there was not much that we could do." They replied.

"During my father's absence I shall be responsible for the actions of the Finance Ministry." Seungman said.

"Yes Your Highness." The Officials replied.

"I want you to get me some of the most remarkable talents from lowly and poor families and have them enrolled as well into some of the best schools.

I shall support them all but they shall be trained like Courtiers with emphasis when it comes to the ministry of Finance that in the near future I could boast a Generation that is going to secure the financial position of the state." Seungman said.

"Yes Your Highness." The officials replied.

"That being said you are free to take your leave." Seungman said as the officials stood up and bowing their heads they walked out of the room.

Shortly after their departure, Haesul Rang walked in with Damhyeong.

"Your Highness." They greeted her as they bowed their heads.

"How far with what I asked of you?" Seungman asked.

"Your Highness, close to at least all the descendants of those that were involved in the failed coup and rebellion a year ago have vanished from sight." Haesul replied.

"Vanished?" Seungman asked.

"Yes." Haesul replied.

"Not even the elderly?" Seungman asked.

"Not at all your Highness, I have secretly carried out an investigation hoping to at least come up with a lead but there is none at all." Haesul replied, "It's like they no longer exist." He added.

"This is what I feared." Seungman remarked.

"What is it Your Highness?" Damhyeong asked.

"All those people wouldn't have just vanished, they could have known that someone would Perhaps be after them which is why they can not suffice now." Seungman replied.

"Shilla is wide but who can escape both yours and Her Majesty's eyes?" Haesul asked.

"They didn't just run away, for them to have survived then it must have been at the bidding of a very powerful person." Seungman replied.

"I see." Damhyeong said.

"Who could this powerful person be?" Haesul asked.

"One can say that the majority of the people in court are Her Majesty's lifelong allies that if I were to bring up such an idea to her she wouldn't believe it, her reducing the taxes had popularised her across the middle class and the lower classes but I would have said it no longer benefited the aristocrats but the taxes on us aren't as heavy." and there are perhaps still officials embezzling them .

For someone to have to conceal more than even thirty identities they must be very powerful and of all there are Courtiers that don't pose a threat at all." Seungman replied.

"Anyway Your Highness, someone who must have beat you to it must be very smart." Damhyeong remarked.

"You are right, I thought that it had occurred to me much earlier but now I realise that I might as well be late like everyone else." Seungman replied.

"If I must propose Your Highness, I can secretly carry out an investigation on all the officials until I find out who it is that is behind this." Haesul said.

"That is very hectic work and there are much more important matters for us to handle than missing people.

Think of it also this way of you went around looking from those men then an investigation may alert them to retrace your steps back to me and I am not willing to take the risk of political appearance right now when the time is not right.

I can plan for my own future which involves me luring the traitors out of hiding when the time is right so I wish that you only keep this to Yourselves and it shouldn't land in the ears of anybody." Seungman said.

"Yes Your Highness." The two replied.

"I have another task for you in mind." Seungman replied.

"What is it Your Highness?" They asked.

Seungman picked up two envelopes and gave one to Haesul and the other to Damhyeong.

"Take that one to Chunchu." Seungman said as she looked at Haesul.

"Yes Your Highness." Haesul replied as he bowed his head.

"Take the other to Yushin Rang." She said to Damhyeong as he bowed his head as well and the both of them withdrew from her presence while she was left alone to the silence within the room.

Queen Seondeok was at the Palace and presiding over the morning Assembly when Gopheung Rang walked up to her.

"Your Majesty." He whispered.

"What is it?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"His Excellency Galmunwang Gukban is back and he requests to have an audience with you." Gopheung replied.

"Let him in." Queen Seondeok ordered and Gopheung Rang announced for the doors of the throne room to be opened.

Galmunwang Gukban walked in until he halted. right in front of her.

"Your Majesty." He Said as he went onto his knees and he bowed his head.

"Rise up." Queen Seondeok ordered and he was helped onto his feet by Damju while looked at her.

"You are back from your visit much sooner than I expected so please tell me what His Majesty the Great Emperor Taizong thinks about this our Heavenly Kingdom's new Female Sovereign?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Your Majesty, I dare not lie and I must confess that I find myself to rather be inadequate." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"Don't say that Your Excellency, all the men that are within my Court are the talents that our Heavenly Kingdom has nurtured and for whose existence I am most grateful, when the Emperor of Tang undermines you he is undermining me because you travel in my image and if he rewards with prudence as well then he is appreciating me likewise." Queen Seondeok replied.

"Your Majesty is in deed benevolent but I am afraid that what brought me back here is disappointing news." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"Go ahead and tell me." Queen Seondeok said.

"According to His Majesty the Tang Emperor, Confucius teaches that men are to be supreme and women humble, he teaches that men are to lead and women are to follow, in contrast to regents that exist in a King or an Emperor's name, to reign in your own right is a frivolous policy that he can not accept and perhaps in his eyes we are being barbaric.

As it is that Tang is a Confucian state and he fears that the presence of a female Sovereign in the Kingdom shall hamper it's development and shall make her a laughing stock amongst all the others on the continent, in his eyes Shilla at this point is a Kingdom that is Kingless." Galmunwang Gukban replied.

Queen Seondeok tightly ceased the arms of her throne and she smiled.

"Shilla?" Kingless?" She asked as she smirked a little while all the other Courtiers that were around looked either at her or the other way and Bidam smiled from the corner of his mouth.

"Who in the world is it that dares question the mighty Tang, must we remember who was barbaric in their own succession.

That Dynasty though still young is considered to be their most glorious how different was their revolution to end Sui and establish themselves on a foundation of bloodshed different from our revolution to have a female Sovereign?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Pardon me Your Majesty." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"Tang is considered to be very rich but where does her wealth come from, her Emperor's are the sons of heaven ours are heaven's annointed to rule over our Heavenly kingdom.

We are rich in our resources and even us amongst other states can maintain our pride and choose to be selfish with our resources." Queen Seondeok said.

"Your Majesty, please contain your anger." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"I just told you not so long ago that should they despise you then they despise me because you go in my name and should they despise me then they are despising Shilla as well which is the institution that I represent.

We'll not beg for Mercy but I shall send a diplomat once again and before we can consider ourselves with Tang as one everything that is mine and of my people shall be diverted to the ends of Takla Makhan because in this court and here today, I wish to give Tang an example of how stubborn the new female Ruler of Shilla can become." Queen Seondeok said.

"Yes Your Majesty." The Courtiers said.

"I heard that Was boasts a ready market for our goods and so do the Jurchens and the people of Qara Hoja and those other areas, we can not depend on Tang alone to survive when amidst the vast choices to submit and to break away from another is up to us." Queen Seondeok said as she stood up from her throne and then she walked out furiously.

"Tang has refused to acknowledge Her Majesty as the new ruler of Shilla and according to your father, the Tang Emperor Taizong just said that in his eyes, Shilla is Kingless." Alcheon Rang told Seungman.

"I couldn't have expected much more considering his temperament and his attitude." Seungman remarked.

"According to you you knew that Emperor Taizong wouldn't give his consent?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"Her Majesty must have known it as well but she decided to at least take a step of faith and that is why she has insisted that with time she is going to send another diplomat to Tang.

Just think about it, this is considered to be their most glorious age and the Country has fluorished, what more is there for the Mighty Emperor Taizong to feel remorseful about?" Seungman replied.

"You are right, there is nothing." Alcheon Rang said.

"As I had predicted we are on our own and it's about time that we at least polished up the little that we have prepared so far." Seungman said.

"Time isn't on our side." Alcheon Rang said.

"It never was." Seungman replied, "We weren't trying to beat it in the beginning as my duty was to ensure that we can only catch up to it but my strategy itself isn't the very best it might take another four to five years." Seungman replied.

"Can't we do anything else?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"Should we concentrate then it is quite clear that the odds not being in our favour as it is shall desert us and we'll lose all and should we gain bountifully then it shall be at a very heavy cost.

If we invest so much right now in the future after the pressure has weakened us we can only collapse." Seungman replied.

"But what you are doing is asking us to just give up fighting." Alcheon Rang said.

"Just like you can never plough infertile land there is no use fighting a fruitless battle, at this stage the only thing that Shilla can afford is defense and not offensive attacking.

If we run a war then to sustain it we need more troops and food supplies but all in all that means that economic activities shall have crippled and considering the state of the national treasury along with the National budget it will be very difficult.

We still need time to accumulate enough of everything including wealth so that after the enemy is exhausted, we can charge with full force and take over all that is lost and much more while still sustaining our economy." Seungman replied.

"Perhaps I could try and understand you but do you think that the other Courtiers will?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"Leave them to their business for there shall be a time when they won't have a choice anymore, I may not be the smartest but I consider myself to be Shilla's good fortune so before there is anything done out of haste let us wait when the time is right to strike." Seungman replied.