There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 94

I froze for a moment upon hearing that name.

Jang Yeong-sil.

It was a name that even the most historically ignorant Korean would have heard at least once.

‘There were many biographies about him, too.’

Though the ending was always him getting kicked out after breaking the palanquin.

For a moment, I scanned Jang Yeong-sil from head to toe.

Like I felt earlier, he looked at least a few years older than me.

‘I thought he wouldn’t even be born yet, but why is he already so grown up?’

I don’t know his exact birth and death years.

Still, in the illustrations in the biographies, he seemed to be drawn younger than my youngest brother, Sejong the Great.

I asked to satisfy my curiosity.

“How old are you?”

“I am 15 years old.”

Calculating it, he was born in 1390.

“Ah.”

He was older than I thought.

‘Well, it’s a good thing anyway. To think I’d find a notable figure in a place like this.’

I knew he was a slave, but I didn’t know he was from Busan.

I looked at Jang Yeong-sil and said,

“From what I see, you have outstanding talent. I will take you to the capital, so work faithfully for the country.”

“Y-Your Highness.”

Jang Yeong-sil stared blankly at me.

‘Hmm, he seems moved that I said that directly. Well, I am the Crown Prince of this country.’

I hoped he would be loyal to me as he was to Sejong, who recognized him.

===

However, Jang Yeong-sil’s emotion was not only because of Yi Je’s high position.

He had no father.

He had only heard that his father was from the Yuan Dynasty [a Chinese dynasty that ruled from 1271 to 1368], but Yeong-sil didn’t know the details.

His mother was not his father’s official wife but just a female entertainer from Dongnae.

Born as a commoner, the son of a female entertainer, he had no choice but to grow up as a slave in Dongnae.

‘Someday, I want to go to China, which is said to be my father’s hometown.’

That was all he vaguely thought.

However, as a mere government slave, he could not escape even Dongnae, let alone the Ming Dynasty.

He just did what he was told.

However, he was quite well-treated because he was skilled with his hands.

He was recognized for his good work even at a young age, and he felt good when many adults praised him.

In fact, he may have shown off his talent even more because of that.

Even the scholars who were known to be talented in Dongnae could not reason about things more precisely than him.

Even though his status was low, he had lived with pride in that.

‘Scholars despise the work of artisans, but if this also reaches its peak, what is the difference from attaining enlightenment?’

However, the rumors that came two years ago shattered his arrogance.

The protagonist of the rumors that reached far-off Dongnae was none other than the Crown Prince of this country, His Highness.

They said that in Seoul, there was a stove that could heat the room warmly and cook food with less firewood, or cosmetics that made the face shine just by applying them, or equipment that produced the power of cattle with less force.

All of them were said to be made by the rumored Crown Prince.

Moreover,

They said that a huge number of people were already being used in Hanyang [old name for Seoul] to construct the capital.

According to those who had been there, Hanyang was almost like another world.

Dongnae was quite prosperous in the south, but it was said that it could not be compared to that place.

It didn’t take long for Jang Yeong-sil, who was proud of his talent even though he was of low status, to be disappointed by those words.

He was a person who far surpassed him in both status and talent.

The sense of loss was so great that he didn’t even bother to go out when many government slaves went to see the Crown Prince.

‘Floating the Daebal [a type of large raft] on the water wasn’t just for pure intentions.’

He was a person who could not be compared to him in terms of status or anything else, but he thought that he had found a better method than the Crown Prince in this matter.

‘There are parts where I am better than the Crown Prince!’

It was something he did with the determination to be punished, in order to subtly reveal that.

‘I regretted it immensely when I was about to be punished.’

However, the Crown Prince did not scold him harshly.

Rather, he asked in detail what he was thinking and even praised him.

Furthermore, he employed him and took care of him so that he could even support his mother.

‘I still have a long way to go!’

It was such kindness that he wondered if there could be such a wise ruler in the world.

Jang Yeong-sil prostrated himself and shouted.

“Y-Your Highness, Crown Prince. Thank you, thank you!”

‘Why is he like this?’

Of course, Yi Je just thought he was overreacting.

“Oh dear, he’s walking into hardship with his own feet… Well, if he’s a fellow government slave, living in Seoul is…”

The government slave standing next to him muttered and looked at him pitifully, but Jang Yeong-sil didn’t notice it.

Yi Je looked at the workshop and said,

“I’m sorry to take one of the government slaves here. Instead, I’ll give you the Japanese slaves captured in this battle, so have them work in the government office.”

“Of course. Rather, I am grateful that you personally distribute the prisoners.”

The Dongnae official said with a sullen expression.

Of course, prisoners could not be distributed privately, so the official assignment as government slaves would be after Crown Prince Yi Je reported to Yi Bang-won, but there was no one to blame for using them before that.

Yi Je chose 10 prisoners who were strong and obedient and distributed them to Dongnae.

Then he shouted.

“Now, let’s go back to Gaeseong!”

===

As soon as I entered Gaeseong, I headed to the office.

Because there was something I had to take care of first.

Jang Yeong-sil, who followed me, looked around the inside of the office hesitantly.

He was curiously looking at the documents piled up, the people moving busily, and the humans stuck at their desks, clutching their heads.

‘You’ll be among those people soon.’

I thought so.

Let’s raise this guy well for now.

‘But what should I do to raise him well?’

I tilted my head.

To be honest, I didn’t have time to give him one-on-one tutoring, and I wasn’t confident in teaching him well.

Studying myself and teaching others were problems in different areas.

I don’t know if I should make him memorize the scriptures like I made Hyoryeong do.

‘Oh well, whatever.’

I had a government slave call Yi Cheon.

Yi Cheon rushed over, looking exhausted.

“Commander Yi.”

“I am here to receive your orders, Your Highness. But this child…?”

Yi Cheon stopped bowing and turned his gaze to Jang Yeong-sil, who was standing next to me.

Jang Yeong-sil flinched at the gaze.

He was clean, but he still had a rustic look, so was he losing confidence because he looked shabby?

“This child is a government slave from Dongnae, whom I acquired and brought with me.”

Jang Yeong-sil’s status was still a government slave.

There was nothing I couldn’t do if I, the Crown Prince, personally stepped in to free him from slavery, but I wanted to watch him for now.

If I gave him special treatment for no reason, he might feel burdened, or he might get carried away.

But I couldn’t just put him in the military supplies office like a regular government slave and have him do chores.

‘Because he will become the best engineer in Joseon.’

In the end, I had no choice but to leave it to Yi Cheon.

“As I observed this child’s talent, he is no ordinary person. Commander Yi, keep him by your side and teach him well.”

“Yes? Y-Your Highness!”

Yi Cheon’s eyebrows twitched at my words.

Was he unhappy about teaching a slave himself?

Just as I was about to scold him, saying, ‘How dare you judge people by their status even after receiving my orders!’, Yi Cheon opened his mouth.

“I am sorry, but do you know how much work I have?”

“How much do you have?”

“In the morning, I am stuck helping Chief Choi of the military supplies office, and in the afternoon, I am busy supplying materials to the Hanyang Construction Office.

Moreover, the Hanyang steel mill calls me from time to time, so once I go on a business trip there, the work piles up as it is! Furthermore, the Dancheon silver mine keeps looking for me.

But now, if I take on the task of taking care of a mere slave child……”

I stared at Yi Cheon, who was screaming and clutching his head, with a dumbfounded expression.

‘He wasn’t originally this kind of character.’

Who are you?

Give me back the serious military officer Yi Cheon.

I barely appeased Yi Cheon, who looked like he was about to explode.

“No, well. I’m not saying to take care of him, but to have him attend to you while you take him around. He is a bright child, so Commander Yi might get help from him.”

“Even so……”

The rest of the words were probably, ‘How could such a slave child be of any help?’

It was obvious that he quickly swallowed those words because he was in front of me, the Crown Prince.

But there was no way Jang Yeong-sil wouldn’t notice it.

As soon as Yi Cheon glanced at Jang Yeong-sil, Jang Yeong-sil quickly lowered his eyes.

Poor guy, he’s already starting to eat humble pie.

‘But he has to overcome this.’

Even if I have his back, there is bound to be subtle discrimination due to people’s habits.

Moreover, if he is a parachute appointment, the gazes will be even more unkind.

‘But the story will be different once he builds up achievements.’

So, it would be good for Jang Yeong-sil to grow up quickly and do his part.

They say lions even push their cubs off cliffs, so he has to overcome this level of hazing.

“It is my order.”

When I spoke strongly, Yi Cheon reluctantly nodded.

“I understand……”

Then he continued.

“Grand Prince Chungnyeong has come to the office.”

“Do you?”

You should have said that sooner!

Before I even ordered him to be brought, Do came riding on Hwang Hee’s neck.

“Hyungnim!”

“Yes, yes. It’s been a while.”

I smiled and picked up Do.

“Oh, I’m alive!”

Hwang Hee, who could not be said to be in good physical condition, collapsed to the floor with a dying sound.

I didn’t care about that and looked at Do.

“What’s going on in the office?”

Could it be that he, who will become a scientific monarch, has become interested in the essence of engineering and technology, the Hanyang Construction Office?

But the words that came out of Do’s mouth were not such soft words.

“Father is looking for you. He said he would burn the entire office if you didn’t come right away.”

“Ah.”

Oh, damn it.

I forgot.

‘What kind of Dumundong [a historical site associated with loyalty and seclusion] is this?’

I think I know why he’s calling me.

I bit my lip.

===

“You son of a bitch!”

When I went to the private residence, Yi Bang-won ran out with a look of disbelief and hit my back repeatedly.

“How old are you to lead the troops yourself and strike the Japanese pirates! Do you have any sense? Are you imitating the Prince of Yan?”

The Prince of Yan refers to Zhu Di, the Yongle Emperor, who is now sitting on the throne.

I heard that this man also fought on the battlefield himself.

“I didn’t strike the Japanese pirates, they came looking for me on their own……”

“Words, words! How can I trust you and send you out again!”

Yi Bang-won hit my back repeatedly.

I had only heard that I had gone down to Dongnae, but I could only imagine how he felt when I was attacked by Japanese pirates in Geoje.

“I sent it with the victory report because I thought you would worry like this.”

“That’s not the point right now, is it?”

Yi Bang-won was furious, but Yi Seong-gye was calm.

“Isn’t this the blood of a warrior passed down through the generations, hahaha!”

No, don’t just laugh, try to stop him.

But it certainly helped.

Yi Bang-won’s resentment was directed at Yi Seong-gye.

I was barely released and was able to catch my breath.

“Father is the same! How can you send your young grandson alone to a dangerous place? Is that what a grandfather should do?”

“No, he’s alive, so that’s enough……”

Yi Seong-gye made a poor excuse, but it didn’t work at all.

“How many more dangers would there have been in a place where my eyes could not reach! As the king of this country, I cannot tolerate the actions of the Grand King and the Crown Prince!”

Yi Bang-won finally drew his sword.

“I will ban both of you from going out, so know that!”

“What?”

“Yes?”

At the sudden measure, Yi and Yi Seong-gye opened their mouths wide.

End

ⓒ Pitkong