There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 162

As the saying goes, “In heaven there is paradise, on earth there are Suzhou and Hangzhou” (天上天堂地下蘇杭).

The Joseon artisans were enjoying their extended stay in Hangzhou, arguably the wealthiest place under heaven.

Hangzhou, the former capital of the Southern Song Dynasty, was a major port in Jiangnan [the region south of the Yangtze River], which is why the treasure fleet itself was constructed here.

Consequently, the Joseon artisans who had participated in the treasure fleet’s construction in Hangzhou had no intention of leaving, even after Zheng He set sail and the shipbuilding project was suspended.

“Hey, the quality of life here is on a completely different level than in Joseon!”

“Sugar, which even the king can barely obtain in Joseon, is piled high in every market in Hangzhou!”

“Does the Ming Dynasty have sugar fields like our Lord made salt fields?”

Thanks to Joseon’s generous travel stipends and the Ming Dynasty’s prestige, Hangzhou offered endless attractions and amusements.

Since the Joseon officials who were supposed to supervise them had already departed with Zheng He, why would they ever leave?

However, a sudden and unwelcome surprise awaited them, stemming entirely from Emperor Yongle’s change of heart.

“The confrontation at Palcham is over, I hear?”

The Joseon army, under the pretext of responding to an attack on the Crown Prince, had rampaged through Palcham, a buffer zone between Joseon and Ming, accepting the surrender of the Jurchen and Mansan tribes.

As a bonus, they relocated a significant number of captured people to their territory east of the Mudan River.

Even though troops were urgently dispatched from Liaodong to confront them, Nanjing, which had to issue the policy, was too far away to effectively counter the Joseon army, which was rampaging with the perceived protection of the Crown Prince.

Only after the Joseon army had nearly emptied Palcham did both countries withdraw their troops.

“It is truly a fortunate event.”

“If the Joseon army had attempted to build a fortress and garrison in Palcham, there might have been a clash.”

The officials were relieved.

In a situation where national power was being projected in multiple directions, strained relations with the friendly nation of Joseon were undesirable.

Above all, Joseon, while holding the justification, had bowed its head first and retreated.

They did take some people, though.

However, Emperor Yongle felt a surge of resentment for no apparent reason.

‘They are clearly bowing their heads in front of me, but…’

It was evident that since the Joseon king, who had a personal connection with him, had come to power, Joseon had maintained a respectful attitude as its foremost vassal state. However, Emperor Yongle felt that if he accommodated that soft approach, they would somehow extract only the most advantageous concessions.

Originally, this was the standard dynamic between a great power and its vassal states, but Emperor Yongle, in a sense, was the son of a rebel.

He couldn’t be pleased with this situation.

It wasn’t a particularly important issue, but when he thought of his youngest sister, who had turned pale upon hearing the news that the Crown Prince had been struck by an arrow, Emperor Yongle’s mood soured.

Emperor Yongle’s nagging, which had previously been directed at his officials, now turned toward Joseon once more.

“I hear that there are many luxury goods among the items recently presented by Joseon.”

Fearing what the emperor would say next, the officials quickly shrank back.

“There is nothing that our great Ming Dynasty does not produce under heaven, so what need do we have for those Joseon goods?”

Questions like, ‘Then why did you send the treasure fleet?’ remained unspoken.

It was understood.

This was not a business venture for profit, but an effort to enhance the prestige of Emperor Yongle, who had ousted his nephew and ascended the throne.

Looking at how Grand Prince Suyang [King Sejo of Joseon] of later generations made ridiculous claims that an elephant retreated seven steps after seeing him for this purpose, it was clear how difficult it was for a usurper to establish legitimacy.

Conversely, if it weren’t for that need for legitimacy, the Ming Dynasty court would have abandoned navigation and everything else, which is precisely what eventually happened.

In any case, the officials who enjoyed those Joseon luxury goods silently observed Emperor Yongle’s mood.

“The items presented by Joseon are all of little use, so shouldn’t we reduce the quantity or prohibit some items, and also reduce the amount of tribute we give?”

The officials could only express their surprise, wondering, ‘Why is the emperor suddenly doing this again?’ However, the eunuch Hwang Eom of the Office of Ceremonies bravely stepped forward.

“Then should we also prohibit red ginseng?”

“······.”

Emperor Yongle paused for a moment, then unleashed his anger on Hwang Eom.

“I told you to prohibit only unnecessary items! Do I have to explain everything to you?”

How could Emperor Yongle relieve his fatigue without the help of red ginseng?

“Then, the white porcelain powder used in the inner palace…”

‘The concubines like that too.’

Emperor Yongle rubbed his forehead.

It was difficult to easily prohibit it because it was related to matters of personal pleasure.

“Should we continue to collect Joseon muskets?”

When Hwang Eom asked, rubbing his face, Emperor Yongle nodded.

“Of course. Shouldn’t we acquire all the new weapons so that none remain in Joseon?”

“Next, there are horses and furs…”

Only then did Emperor Yongle slap his knee.

“Even if we consider horses, furs are not essential, and aren’t they luxury goods that will rot and disappear in three years even if we buy them? Can’t we do without this much?”

When Emperor Yongle asked, the officials hurriedly rolled their eyes.

Of course, they didn’t want to give up using fur because of the emperor’s nagging.

As always, when their own interests were at stake, the officials came up with amazing ideas.

“However, Your Majesty, shouldn’t we move the capital to Beijing soon? Unlike Nanjing, Beijing is cold and has long winters, so if there is no fur, the difficulties of the royal family, nobles, and high-ranking officials will be indescribable.”

“That’s right. Isn’t this an important issue related to the relocation of the capital?”

When they brought up the relocation of the capital, which was Emperor Yongle’s long-cherished desire, the emperor seemed to consider it.

Then, Emperor Yongle suddenly realized.

‘Wait, if I take this out and that out, there’s nothing left to prohibit?’

Before he knew it, trade with Joseon had become essential for the Ming Dynasty as well.

“······.”

However, fortunately, there was still a way to satisfy Emperor Yongle’s nagging.

Emperor Yongle, who had been deep in thought, slammed the jade throne and asked.

“Aren’t there Joseon artisans in Hangzhou now?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Zheng He and the Joseon officials have set sail, so what are those guys doing now?”

The officials also looked at each other, only blinking their eyes.

No one really knew what they were doing now.

There was no reason to pay attention.

Emperor Yongle shouted with satisfaction.

“Kick them all out!”

===

“So you’ve finally come now?”

I rubbed my forehead.

Emperor Yongle actually expelled these guys who were playing around.

Thank you, Your Majesty. I’ll have to pay my respects separately someday.

The news that came through the Majang parlor [a social gathering place] at Hoidongguan [Joseon’s official guest house in China] was even more absurd.

‘The emperor suddenly threw a tantrum?’

It wasn’t strange since he was such an unpredictable person, but it almost became a big problem.

Joseon’s largest importer and exporter was the Ming Dynasty.

Trade with the Jurchens, the Taening Guard, and the Fuyu Guard (with whom we recently began trading), along with Japan, was significant. However, trade with the Ming Dynasty was the be-all and end-all of Joseon’s commerce.

‘Even though trade with the Ming Dynasty itself runs at a deficit.’

Still, we secured a re-export trade position, which proved quite profitable.

The reason this almost fell apart was because Emperor Yongle took issue with something…

‘Maybe it’s because of those layabouts.’

They were just lazing around in Hangzhou, indulging in pleasure and women. Perhaps some unsavory rumors reached the emperor’s ears.

I gritted my teeth.

The punishment for this will be to put you to good use.

===

In reality, the Ming Dynasty prohibited the export of saltpeter produced within its borders.

So, bringing saltpeter from Shandong to Joseon was essentially smuggling.

The question is, how long will the Ming Dynasty turn a blind eye to this?

I said to Yi Bang-won.

“The Ming Dynasty may block and suppress the import of saltpeter at any time.”

‘If Shandong saltpeter is blocked, gunpowder production will immediately drop by 30%.’

Furs are something the Ming Dynasty can obtain from Mongolia.

Although they may not be able to obtain as much as we do by using the Jurchens as intermediaries.

“As you said, we have created saltpeter fields in various places, but the use of gunpowder is increasing rapidly, so we won’t be able to supply it all,” Yi Bang-won said worriedly.

‘We went through a similar period.’

I was reminded of China’s trade restrictions in modern times.

And the solution to that was almost identical.

Trade diversification.

“We need to venture out into that wide sea,” I said, looking at the Map of Integrated Lands and Regions of Historical Countries [a comprehensive world map] hanging behind Yi Bang-won.

A masterpiece created in the 2nd year of King Taejong, but the world I know is not so limited.

China alone isn’t that large, and the sea isn’t that narrow.

In other words, there are endless places for us to explore.

I had been planning it for a while, but this incident solidified my decision.

Joseon needs a wider world.

“We have to attempt offshore navigation regardless.”

Considering that more than 10,000 people have perished off the coast of Anheungnyang [a treacherous sea route], we can’t remain confined to coastal navigation forever.

The territory of Joseon that reached Gongheomjin [a strategic military point] and the newly established trade line with the Ouchi clan [a powerful Japanese clan].

The Jurchens and Japanese pirates who were subjugated in the process.

The Joseon artisans who learned from China.

The Ortog merchants [Mongolian merchant groups] who were second to none in trading.

It turned out that the things I had done had become the groundwork for the Age of Exploration.

“Do you know Cheonghaejin [Jang Bogo’s maritime stronghold]?”

“Of course. Are you underestimating your father too much?”

Well, there’s no way anyone who has studied history in this era wouldn’t know about Jang Bogo and Cheonghaejin.

“Revive Cheonghaejin.”

At my words, Yi Bang-won’s eyes widened.

In a Joseon without me, even Anheungnyang in front of them couldn’t be properly managed even hundreds of years later, but things are different here.

Trade with the Ouchi is already active, and preparations to bring their silver are complete.

There were also Jurchens who were diligently crossing the East Sea and raiding Kyushu.

Yi Seong-gye [King Taejo, founder of Joseon] wanted to gain Liaodong and become a powerful country to achieve independence.

Yi Bang-won sought Joseon’s security and practical benefits in the international order by complying with powerful neighboring countries.

However, I was thinking of going a different way from them.

“If you keep going west, there are countless lands and countries. Just look at Tianzhu [ancient name for India], it’s as big as China.”

Launch a fleet made in Joseon and connect to the Indian Ocean network.

If that happens, Joseon will be able to procure the materials it needs without having to rely on the Ming Dynasty.

‘Saltpeter is guano.’

There must be a place in the Indian Ocean where that much guano is piled up.

If we can bring saltpeter from somewhere other than Shandong, we will be able to provide a huge amount of gunpowder.

Currently, the supply of gunpowder is less than the supply of muskets, so we are creating saltpeter fields and making a fuss, but these difficulties will be completely resolved.

“I heard that Zheng He led more than 20,000 troops to the Western Seas. What’s the point of sending that many troops?”

“It won’t be necessary to that extent.”

The Joseon cannons that Choi Mu-seon [a Korean scientist and military commander who developed gunpowder] had already laid the foundation for would be quite advanced in this era. Maybe.

It would be enough to introduce the Sapsyo [a type of cannon] and make improvements such as creating a Poga [another type of cannon].

“How much wealth can we accumulate if we sell our goods and bring back sugar and pepper through that vast sea?”

“I will open the Age of Exploration.”

The Ming Dynasty is not interested in navigation itself at all.

The country itself is so big that it can meet the demand with the products from their country.

But our Joseon was different.

As long as that big presence is next to us, we have no choice but to desperately go out to sea.

“Please leave it to me.”

The full-scale start will be after the people who accompanied Zheng He’s fleet and acquired navigation skills and local knowledge return, but the ship will be built from now on and sent out as soon as they return.

This time in the name of Joseon.

‘It’s not too late in this era.’

I was mistaken until I visited Beijing, but Europe has not yet fully emerged.

On the other hand, we had everything.

“Let’s move forward, to the future.”

My inventions have already changed history quite a bit, but they are of a nature that can be buried in the flow of time at any time after I die.

But the Age of Exploration will twist Joseon’s history so much that it can never be turned back.

Once you enter this path, you can no longer retreat.

‘Come to think of it, the idiom that described Joseon in modern times was the Land of the Morning Calm.’

But from what I’ve experienced, Joseon was the noisiest country.

‘Mainly our family.’

Now let everyone in the world know.