There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 106

“Your Majesty, please execute Lee Geo-yi!”

“We must not let the traitor Lee Geo-yi live!”

As the meritorious subjects jointly appealed for Lee Geo-yi’s crimes to be revealed in detail, the matter proceeded swiftly.

Soon, impeachments and appeals from all walks of life followed in droves.

Lee Geo-yi, who received no protection from anyone, was immediately stripped of his status, and his son-in-law, Lee Jeo, suffered the same fate.

It was a miserable downfall for a high-ranking official who had formed a marriage alliance with the royal family and even served as Chief State Councilor.

He was not killed as a meritorious subject who had rectified the dynasty, but he lost everything else.

Was it Lee Bang-won’s final consideration to at least spare his life?

“This is clearly because His Majesty holds a grudge against Lee Geo-yi for opposing the disbandment of private soldiers.”

People whispered.

Stripping him of his status, prohibiting his descendants from holding office, and confiscating his property were all severe punishments, but considering the nature of the treason, his entire clan should have been exterminated.

However, Lee Bang-won did not go so far as to create a reign of terror.

The meritorious subjects were relieved, but the fact that they had to be cautious remained unchanged.

Therefore, no one could stand in the way when Lee Bang-won issued this order.

“The fact that Grand Prince Igan voluntarily requested the return of the meritorious subject land shows that he truly cares about the nation’s great plan.

We accept the memorial and henceforth limit the ownership of meritorious subject land and special reward land to the current generation.”

In this way, Lee Bang-won easily seized the economic foundation of the royal relatives… or rather, normalized it.

‘If I had known this would happen, I would have just taken it easy.’

I clicked my tongue and thought.

My father had already marked Lee Geo-yi long ago and completed preparations for his purge.

So, what was the point of me dragging in Prince Sunnyeong and Grand Prince Igan to fight?

“If you had something prepared, you should have told me…”

I said to Lee Bang-won with a somewhat disappointed look.

By removing Lee Geo-yi and Lee Jeo, the meritorious subjects would also be intimidated, and in the meantime, the goal of recovering the meritorious subject land could have been achieved as a bonus.

“Well, thanks to you opening up another front, it became much easier to purge Lee Geo-yi.

We were able to push for the recovery of meritorious subject land on a much wider scale and with greater intensity than initially planned.

Isn’t this the strategy of feinting east to strike west?”

In the end, I was just an assistant.

“Still, you did a great job.”

Lee Bang-won warmly encouraged me.

But my unease did not go away.

“How do you feel?”

At Lee Bang-won’s question, I heavily turned my head.

“Honestly, it feels a bit dirty.”

Dividing the royal relatives into two and making them fight.

Bringing in Grand Prince Igan, who was on the verge of death, to sway public opinion.

It was easy to say, but my heart was not at ease doing this.

‘I used Prince Sunnyeong’s desire for revenge, and I used Grand Prince Igan’s concern for his children.’

To carry out such political maneuvers targeting family members, no less.

Lee Bang-won did not comfort me.

He simply spoke as an experienced person.

“There will be many more things like this in the future.”

Because the throne is such a place.

“You may have to plot to smile on the outside while slitting throats on the inside, and the target may be your father or siblings.”

Lee Bang-won said.

“Can you do that?”

“If it is something that must be done,”

I said.

“I have no choice but to do it.”

“Yes.”

Lee Bang-won nodded.

“I was relieved to see you handle this well. At least you won’t hesitate at important moments.”

Just recently, there was Emperor Jianwen, who hesitated to strike his uncle and ruined his reign.

Lee Bang-won wanted to use this incident as a stepping stone to help me grow, so that such a thing would not happen.

‘But,’

I took a deep breath and said.

“I will still keep my promise with Grand Prince Igan. Because he is family.”

“…”

Lee Bang-won blinked.

It was an answer he probably didn’t expect to hear.

Lee Bang-won soon smiled.

“That’s also reassuring.”

===

Lee Geo-yi’s treason did not lead to a reckless expansion of the investigation, thanks to Lee Bang-won’s meticulous orchestration.

Only Lee Geo-yi’s family was completely destroyed.

However, one problem remained that others could not overlook.

“Who exactly is the son of the Retired King that Lee Geo-yi tried to enthrone four years ago?”

In this era, being caught up in a conspiracy against one’s will is enough reason to die.

So, upon hearing that there was a conspiracy to enthrone his son, Lee Bang-gwa had no choice but to rush to me in great alarm.

‘Why do I always get called when there’s a problem?’

I tilted my head.

It seems that lately, my father, mother, grandfather, and uncle have been bringing me problems more often.

‘I don’t know why.’

I calmly reassured Lee Bang-gwa.

“This is just something Father is doing to discipline the meritorious subjects. No harm will come to our cousins.”

I said that, but with even the son-in-law being blown away in one shot, the Retired King was still uneasy.

“Even if it’s other guys… Bulno was the Heir Apparent, and there was that incident before…”

Including the Retired King’s son in the treason case could only be seen as targeting Bulno, who had been the Heir Apparent.

“Do you want to save even such a scoundrel because he’s your son?”

“He’s my son, what can I do…”

What tearful parental love.

‘Ah, come to think of it, the original Grand Prince Yangnyeong is the same.’

Lee Bang-won protected even such a son to the end, so parents’ hearts must all be the same.

But then he told King Sejong to kill him if he didn’t like him.

“Still, Bang-won listens to you a bit… find a way,”

With my uncle acting like this, my heart, which was already pricked by using Grand Prince Igan, throbbed.

“I understand. I already said I would take care of it, so I will find a way to save him.”

Thinking about Bulno’s incredibly insolent attitude made my blood boil, but I couldn’t ignore the Retired King’s request.

I sighed deeply.

“Send him abroad.”

“Abroad?”

Lee Bang-gwa asked.

“I heard that the Jurchens and Japanese deeply believe in Buddhism.”

“That’s right…”

Lee Bang-gwa nodded.

He may not know about the Japanese pirates, but he knows well what the Jurchens, whom he has seen since childhood, are like.

“Since I have already embraced the Buddhist community, I was thinking of exporting the Tripitaka Koreana [Korean Buddhist scriptures] and sending monks to serve as spiritual pillars.”

Even if the Jurchens follow the logic of power, they have a fear of the afterlife.

That creates respect for high-ranking monks.

Even if they don’t understand difficult Buddhist philosophy, everyone will rush to ask for blessings from high-ranking monks with great spiritual power.

“So, if you send monks to enlighten the Jurchens, you can control them through Buddhism…”

“Even if they don’t follow the control, you can at least make them act as spies.”

Lee Bang-gwa was impressed by my advice.

“Indeed, he is Bang-won’s son… his ability to use his brain is outstanding…”

‘Are you insulting me?’

But this is Lee Bang-gwa’s way of praising me.

“Isn’t Bulno also pretending to be a monk? Send him to the Jurchen territory under the pretext of spreading the Buddha’s teachings.”

It would be no different from exile, but it is not a punishment.

After all, he is going to preach to the barbarians as a Buddhist.

Since it is not a punishment, the scope of his actions will be much wider.

He can also save his life.

‘I don’t know if Bulno will like this.’

Lee Bang-gwa, who is originally from the north, may think that this is a good enough proposal, but I don’t know what Bulno’s position is.

But, what do I care?

‘As long as my uncle is happy.’

I thought so.

“Good… I’m glad I talked to you after all.”

At Lee Bang-gwa’s words, I raised one finger.

“?”

“There is one condition.”

“Condition?”

Lee Bang-gwa asked back in disbelief.

But from my point of view, it was not an unreasonable request.

I had no intention of profiting from this.

“Just send one person from the Retired King’s residence.”

“Person…?”

Lee Bang-gwa tilted his head.

All he had were eunuchs and court ladies.

Other than that, there were only a few officials managing the palace.

But even if Lee Bang-gwa didn’t know, there was one person who caught my eye.

“The Hanlim [member of the Royal Academy] who led the Retired Queen’s palanquin when we were in Gaeseong was quite resourceful.”

I smiled and said.

“Hmm… take him if you want.”

Lee Bang-gwa answered very readily.

Since he is an official of the country anyway, not someone who can be called a retainer, and his position is not very high.

But I couldn’t hide my joy.

‘Kim Jong-seo, you’re mine!’

===

Bulno, who was beaten to death by the order of the Crown Prince, remained in Hanyang under the pretext of recuperating, without going down to Jukju.

“Hiyah, the capital is really good. It can’t be compared to a rural village like Jukju.”

Bulno muttered.

Hanyang was a completely different world.

It was a place full of things to play, see, and enjoy (of course, it was still lacking in Lee Je’s eyes).

As soon as Bulno regained his strength, he roamed the capital of Hanyang, hanging out with gangsters and renegade monks during the day, and harassing courtesans in the brothels at night.

He had more than enough money from the Retired King.

He had been beaten for running into the Crown Prince, but he vented his anger over a glass of alcohol.

‘So what if he’s the Crown Prince? I see. Do you think your reign will last forever?’

As he was grumbling like this, Bulno’s friend came into the brothel.

“Hey, someone came from Induk Palace [residence of the Retired King].”

“From Induk Palace? Is my father going to give me more pocket money?”

Bulno’s friends chuckled at his joke.

It was not a joke to be made carelessly in a monarchy, but these guys were not likely to think that deeply.

Bulno confidently followed the eunuch from Induk Palace into the Retired King’s residence.

However, as soon as he stepped into the palace, Bulno soon felt something strange.

The palace was brightly lit as if it were a national trial, and soldiers from the Training Command were lined up.

At that moment, someone’s frosty command poured out.

“Seize him!”

At the same time, soldiers who rushed in like tigers grabbed Bulno and threw him to the ground.

Bulno was greatly surprised by this situation, but he was also a member of the royal family.

He shouted as if he were brave.

“I entered the palace by order of His Majesty the Retired King. Where in the world is there a law that treats a royal descendant like this?”

But they did not answer.

They did not laugh at him for calling himself a royal descendant, nor did they rebuke him for being disrespectful.

They were just waiting for someone.

Then, someone walked out from the Retired King’s residence.

Bulno could clearly recognize him.

“C, Crown Prince!”

It was Crown Prince Lee Je, who had ordered him to be beaten.

“Hanlim Kim, arrest all of Bulno’s gang.”

Kim Jong-seo, who received the order from Lee Je, hurriedly disappeared.

Lee Je, who had finished giving the order, walked towards him.

Bulno tried to step back without realizing it, but he couldn’t because of the soldiers holding his shoulders tightly.

Lee Je took out a bayonet from the waist of a soldier holding a musket.

– Chuck!

“H, Hik!”

Bulno was terrified when the bayonet held by Lee Je touched his cheek.

The Crown Prince looked down at Bulno and opened his mouth.

“Do you want to die, or go to the north?”

End

ⓒ Pitkong