The first to step forward was Ghost Calculator Jang Seokdam.
“If you beat me in calculation, I will acknowledge you.”
“Good. What kind of calculation?”
“Do you know the Zhoubi Suanjing, which measures the way of heaven?”
“I do. It is a mathematical text comparable to the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, one of the Thirteen Classics.”
“Have you read it?”
“Yes. I’ve read it.”
He had not merely read it. He had mastered it.
It was one of the books he absolutely had to pass through in order to calculate the Five-Elements Mantra Art.
“Good. Then this will be simple. The method is straightforward. Whoever calculates the height of that pillar by mathematics alone and gets it right first wins.”
“Simple enough.”
“Hmph! We shall see.”
Ghost Calculator Jang Seokdam immediately spread out a sheet of paper and began writing down formulas.
After writing for quite some time, he finally set down his brush and looked at Jeok Wigang.
“What are you doing? I believe I clearly said this was a contest. I have finished my calculation.”
“I’m finished too.”
“Absurd! You finished without even writing down this complicated formula?”
Compared to the formulas of the Five-Elements Mantra Art, calculations for the height of a pillar felt like children’s play.
If Ghost Calculator heard even one of the formulas used in the Five-Elements Mantra Art, he would have acknowledged Jeok Wigang on the spot.
“You say yours first.”
“Grr! The height of that pillar is one jang and one cheok.”
“You’re sure?”
“I am! My calculation is not wrong.”
“Well, this is disappointing. They called you Ghost Calculator, so I thought you were an incredible talent.”
“What are you talking about?”
Jeok Wigang walked over to the paper Ghost Calculator had calculated on, picked up the brush, and began correcting the numbers.
“Here, this formula gives you greater accuracy than the one you used.”
“What are you doing?”
“There. Done. The height of that pillar is not one jang and one cheok. It’s one jang and two cheok.”
“I cannot accept that!”
“Fine. Then let’s have them measure it directly.”
When Ghost Calculator nodded, the Gate Master of the Lower Gate called someone over and had the pillar’s height measured.
“It is one jang and two cheok.”
“Impossible! Measure it again!”
At Ghost Calculator’s shout, they measured it again.
“It is still one jang and two cheok.”
Ghost Calculator stared in disbelief at the paper Jeok Wigang had recalculated for him.
Then he understood.
Jeok Wigang’s calculation was more accurate.
“Where did you obtain this formula?”
Ghost Calculator’s tone had become polite.
“I made that one.”
He had asked because it was a formula he had never seen before, only to be shocked by Jeok Wigang’s answer that he had made it himself.
“You truly created this formula?”
“Yes. It’s a simple formula.”
“This is...”
He could not even begin to guess what method had given birth to it.
Ghost Calculator bowed his head.
It was his complete defeat.
“I’ll teach you the other formulas too.”
At Jeok Wigang’s words, Ghost Calculator looked at him with shining eyes, then immediately prostrated himself.
“I, Ghost Calculator Jang Seokdam, greet my lord!”
He had received Ghost Calculator’s acknowledgment.
“I’ll be counting on you from now on.”
“Loyalty!”
Jeok Wigang’s gaze turned toward the Heavenly Craftsman.
“What do I need to do to earn your acknowledgment?”
“It seems you are quite skilled in mathematics. However, architecture is not something one can do merely by being good at mathematics. I disliked this building from the start. Tell me the problems with this building, and tell me how to reinforce them.”
“The gaps in the windows are uneven, so when wind and rain drive against them, water will seep inside. To reinforce them, you need to seal the gaps, but not with simple mud. You should mix in wood that does not absorb moisture and lime.”
The Heavenly Craftsman’s gaze softened slightly.
“Say more.”
“The pillars and ceiling are not joined properly. They were simply fitted together, so as time passes, the load will shift and the wood will crack. The mortise-and-tenon joints should be made deeper, and additional support should be added above to distribute the load. Then it will be safe.”
“You saw it properly.”
“Also, the floor of the house is slanted. When it rains, water will gather on the floor. Then the wood will absorb the water and rot. A proper drainage channel should be built around the house so water cannot enter. Overall, this is a house that would be better rebuilt from the ground up.”
“Correct! Extremely accurate. Do you know architecture?”
“I studied a little.”
“Haah. Then would you look at this?”
SHAAAAANG—
A blueprint was spread open.
“This is the design for a new bridge we are going to build.”
“You have not found a way to distribute the load placed on it.”
“Th-that is correct!”
“If you build it like this, it will collapse before a hundred years pass.”
“Exactly! If that happens, our descendants will be badly hurt.”
“Have you ever carefully observed the houses bees build?”
“Beehives, you mean? No. Why would I look at something made by such insignificant creatures?”
“They are not insignificant. Beehives are hexagonal in shape, so when force is applied from outside, the adjacent walls distribute the pressure. Because of that, they can withstand tremendous force, while using the least material and maximizing space. If you apply that to a bridge...”
Jeok Wigang picked up the brush and began modifying different parts of the blueprint.
“It becomes like this.”
A blueprint of a bridge built with a hexagonal lattice structure entered the Heavenly Craftsman’s eyes.
“How... did you think to apply a beehive?”
“Among martial arts, there are many that imitate the postures of animals or insects. Why imitate them? Because they are excellent. Isn’t architecture the same? Whether it is an insect or an animal, if the structure it makes is outstanding, you should refer to it. When it comes to learning, everything in the world can become a teacher.”
The Heavenly Craftsman’s pupils trembled.
“I... acknowledge you. My lord.”
He had received the Heavenly Craftsman’s acknowledgment as well.
Sword-Tongue raised both hands and laughed.
“Hahaha. You have already earned the acknowledgment of those two exacting men, so what more could I possibly do? I acknowledge you. My lord.”
Jeok Wigang looked at Black-and-White Heart Un Jeok.
“I hear you can read another person’s energy.”
“That is correct. I acknowledge you as well.”
Jeok Wigang looked into Un Jeok’s eyes, then chuckled and said, “You possess Clear-Light Eyes.”
“How did you know that?”
“I can tell by looking. So? What kind of energy do you sense from me?”
“It is an energy I have never sensed even once until now. Something I cannot dare approach... An energy like the heavens themselves.”
And at some point, he had prostrated himself.
“To stand upright before one who possesses such energy feels like committing a sin against heaven. My lord.”
He had received the acknowledgment of four of the Five Artisans.
Now only one remained.
The Human-Heart Thief.
A man with exceptional ability to judge talent.
He was someone needed more than anyone right now, and someone who would be needed in the future as well.
“Let’s go to your house.”
Perhaps because he had seen Jeok Wigang receive the acknowledgment of four of the Five Artisans, the Human-Heart Thief was far more obedient than before.
“Understood.”
Jeok Wigang said to the four artisans, “While I’m gone, select the talents each of you needs.”
“Understood. But what work are we going to do?”
“The Gate Master will explain it to you.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Once Jeok Wigang and the Human-Heart Thief left, the gazes of the four artisans turned toward the Gate Master of the Lower Gate.
The Gate Master of the Lower Gate wore an embarrassed expression and said, “Now you finally look at me.”
At that, the four men’s expressions hardened as they asked, “Enough jokes. What is this about?”
“Tch! You stiff-necked bastards. You must have guessed already, haven’t you? Not only the Lower Gate’s talents, but everyone across the Central Plains with a bit of ability has been gathered here.”
“Yes. Is this connected to the authorities? More importantly, was the Supreme Gate Master an official?”
“No. He was not an official, but this time, he became one.”
“Ah, then his rank must not be high yet. What are the Embroidered Uniform Guards following him around for?”
“That is not just any Embroidered Uniform Guard. He is the Commander, the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”
“What? No, what position does our lord hold that the Commander is guarding him?”
“He is the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.”
“What? No... Did you not just say it has not been long since he became an official?”
“That is right. He has His Majesty’s trust in abundance.”
“Waaah... As expected, he is an incredible man.”
“Could it be... that the reason you gathered us is related to the imperial palace?”
At Sword-Tongue’s question, the Gate Master of the Lower Gate nodded.
“That is right. Because the Emperor appointed our lord as Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, every scholar of the Hanlin Academy submitted a resignation and left the palace. Thanks to that, there is no one in the palace to handle practical work.”
“Then are we going into the palace to do the work those scholars did?”
“Yes. If you want, you can also receive official posts and continue doing that work.”
“Truly? More importantly, is that all right? Is it possible for people of our status to enter the palace and become officials?”
“Normally, it would be absolutely impossible. But from now on, it will not be. Even your descendants will be able to seek office and fame. Our lord said he would change the world that way.”
“Our descendants... will rise in status?”
“That is right. In the future, a world will come where anyone can become an official regardless of status. The first button of that change is you. Only if you enter the palace and do your work properly will that dream be realized.”
At the Gate Master’s words, the four men’s eyes turned resolute.
“We will absolutely do it!”
“That’s right. Those bastards do nothing but chant the words of the sages every day. How much practical work could they possibly know? We will use this chance to show them clearly that talent has no high or low birth.”
“If I had known from the start that this was the kind of work, I would have done it without needing to acknowledge our lord or anything.”
“If you had, you would have taken our lord’s command lightly. That would have been more dangerous.”
“Is that so? Then in the end, this was for the best.”
“That’s right.”
“Then may we select the talents we need from those outside?”
“Yes.”
The Gate Master of the Lower Gate had barely finished speaking before Sword-Tongue kicked the door open and ran out.
The others saw him and hurriedly chased after him.
Watching them, the Gate Master of the Lower Gate smiled with satisfaction.
“Now the Lower Gate is no longer a place where the disregarded gather. It will become a sect that moves the world.”
As he said that, he thought of Jeok Wigang.
“My lord, thanks to you, a new world is opening for the Lower Gate. Thank you.”
The Gate Master of the Lower Gate bowed in the direction where Jeok Wigang had disappeared.
*****
Yu Muncheol the Human-Heart Thief’s house was shabby.
“My house is unimpressive.”
Jeok Wigang knew why the house was this shabby.
Yu Muncheol had squandered his entire family fortune trying to have his parents treated.
The house was shabby, but the room where his parents stayed was properly furnished.
He was a devoted son.
He was crooked only toward the world. His heart toward his parents was utterly sincere.
“Father, Mother. A guest would like to see you for a moment.”
At that, a strained voice came from inside the room.
“Have you... brought another physician?”
“No. He is a high-ranking person from the place where I work.”
“S-such a person... in this humble place... Bring him inside at once.”
When the door opened and they entered, two elderly people who looked unwell at a glance were struggling to raise themselves.
Jeok Wigang quickly stepped inside and laid the two elders back down.
“You do not need to rise. Please lie comfortably.”
Yu Muncheol was surprised by Jeok Wigang’s words.
Because Jeok Wigang had casually spoken down to him despite Yu Muncheol being much older, he had thought Jeok Wigang treated those beneath him carelessly.
But that was not the case.