There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 216

These days, the Retired King Yi Bang-gwa’s daily life was truly leisurely.

He enjoyed his retirement by rotating between polo, hunting, hot springs, and banquets.

When he was occasionally bored, he would barge into the Crown Prince’s residence to see if there was anything interesting going on, and the day would quickly pass.

Recently, the next volume of the autobiographical comic was released, so he was planning to call the Grand Princes to enjoy it together, but unexpectedly, his time was taken away.

It was because of Yi Bang-gwa’s sons-in-law.

Yi Bang-gwa took out a book, saying that a chicken was as good as a pheasant [a Korean proverb meaning to settle for second best].

“You guys… do you know what this is…?”

His sons-in-law barely listened to Yi Bang-gwa and opened their mouths.

“Your Majesty, these sons-in-law have come today to tell you something important.”

Yi Bang-gwa lowered his head glumly.

The story the sons-in-law brought up was as follows:

– Recently, the influence of the Crown Prince’s close aides has gone too far.

– Even the commoners are easily swayed, so the proper order between superiors and inferiors has completely collapsed outside the capital.

– If things continue like this, we don’t know what will happen to the country’s future.

– His Majesty owes the Retired King a debt, so please speak well on our behalf.

The sons-in-law were diligently conveying the opinions of the gentry, as if their fathers had encouraged them from behind, but Yi Bang-gwa, who had no particular interest in state affairs, was simply indifferent.

Yi Bang-gwa, who had been listening to their passionate speeches, opened his mouth.

“You guys… have you been playing polo lately…?”

“Yes?”

The sons-in-law were taken aback by their father-in-law’s words, which they hadn’t been listening to at all, but they couldn’t not answer an elder’s question.

“We have nothing else to do.”

“I have never learned it separately either.”

Yi Bang-gwa sighed.

Polo was such a fun game, but these days, the children didn’t even know how to play it.

‘Come to think of it, it seems like people don’t enjoy polo as much as they used to.’

Rather, the game of soccer that the Crown Prince popularized seemed to be played frequently by the people, but polo’s status was not what it used to be.

“Then… it won’t do… you need to move your bodies…”

Yi Bang-gwa decided to teach his sons-in-law polo on this occasion, but he couldn’t continue his words.

“Your Majesty, polo is not important right now.”

“The affairs of the country are…”

“This is not only my father’s opinion but also the opinion of other elders…”

Yi Bang-gwa just nodded insincerely.

To be honest, it was full of words that didn’t interest him much.

The only story worth listening to among them was this:

“Even now, they’re talking about the New Community Movement [Saemaeul Undong, a modernization project] and the Senior Citizens’ Center, and now they’re even gathering the servants and trying to make His Royal Highness the Crown Prince their leader.”

“It’s not like His Highness hasn’t been doing unprecedented things for a day or two, but how can we keep expanding these associations that don’t even exist in historical records like this?”

Yi Bang-gwa’s eyes widened.

“Shouldn’t the elders of the royal family be watching quietly?”

“It won’t do… this won’t do at all…”

Even now, he was hearing many stories while sitting in the Retired King’s residence in Induk Palace.

His father, the Grand Retired King Yi Seong-gye, was leading the Senior Citizens’ Association, and the old men all over Hanyang [old name for Seoul] were praising his virtue until their mouths were dry.

Also, his sister-in-law, the Queen Consort Min, was taking the gentry women and wielding absolute power within the Women’s Association.

He didn’t particularly envy their honor or power, but he was envious that they were all leading people and actively engaging in social activities.

‘Indeed, a person must have their place.’

A position makes a person.

His current life was enjoyable, but the Retired King Yi Bang-gwa still had a bright future ahead of him to just breathe and live like this.

And if he had to spend his time on something, it was ‘that’.

===

I nodded as I listened to Yi Bang-gwa’s story.

‘It’s a relief that it’s a backlash at a somewhat reasonable level.’

It was fortunate that it didn’t escalate into a rebellion or treason because it infringed on vested interests.

Well, there was no chance of success anyway.

‘Who would dare to defy Yi Bang-won?’

I understand how they feel like they’re being robbed blind, but they wouldn’t want to risk their lives to resist.

It was also the reality of Joseon [Korean dynasty from 1392 to 1897] that they had to do what the court told them to do.

So I knew that the complaints would come out in a similar direction…

‘But I didn’t expect them to lobby my great-uncle of all people.’

Of course, Yi Bang-gwa didn’t pay much attention to what they said.

Rather, what he was interested in was the work I was doing by sending down Jang Yeong-sil [a famous Korean inventor and scientist].

“What is it this time… the servants… you’re making something like a mutual aid group…?”

“We’re not making it directly, but yes, that’s right.”

There was no way they would lend each other a hand.

One way or another, after living together for several generations, the sense of discrimination would fade, but for now, they had to stick together.

I didn’t intend to manipulate them from behind.

There was no need to.

‘They’ll do well on their own.’

What if they don’t do well?

They were all destined to live somehow to survive.

Anyway, Jang Yeong-sil was diligently holding meetings and encouraging them, but it was only a call to voluntarily make relief efforts, so there was almost no element of our intervention.

“Whatever the case… those… servants, old men, and women… they’re all gathering together and cheering each other on…”

Cheering each other on.

Whatever the Retired King’s subtle vocabulary was, Yi Bang-gwa seemed to be greedy for that title.

Come to think of it, I had heard stories about royal families in modern royal families taking on positions in associations and foundations to carry out social activities.

Was it called royal family affairs?

Somehow, our family members were also wearing hats and handling work in a similar way, and Yi Bang-gwa seemed to be very envious of this.

‘Is this also a positive sign in its own way?’

Just the fact that the royal blood was in charge and backing them up would have the effect of giving them authority.

However, I thought as I looked at the Retired King.

‘Can I entrust anything to my great-uncle?’

The Retired King I remember had always been inconspicuous.

I would feel a little bad if he went and played the role of a figurehead.

Yi Bang-gwa, who noticed my gaze, became angry.

“You rascal… I was once… a person who led an army…”

‘Well, yes.’

He was the one who led his subordinates on the battlefield, so there was no way he couldn’t manage a position of that level.

‘So you’re saying I should create a national servants’ association or something.’

As I tilted my head, Yi Bang-gwa answered firmly.

“I’m not interested in that…”

That was a statement that the lobbyists would have shed tears of blood if they had heard it.

Then what would you like to take on and do?

“Polo…”

When I asked, Yi Bang-gwa opened his mouth.

“This… I want to take charge of this…”

===

In Joseon, there is a place called Gujeong (毬庭) [polo field].

In simple terms, it is a polo field.

Polo was very popular during the Goryeo Dynasty [Korean dynasty from 918 to 1392], so it was even built inside the royal palace, but of course, it is different from the Gujeong in Hanyang now.

“When I was the king, Jeong Do-jeon [a prominent scholar and politician] used to conduct tactical exercises there.”

Yi Seong-gye stroked his chin as I went to him for advice on polo.

It was not only used as a polo field but also as a multipurpose stadium.

As a result, it was difficult to call it a polo field these days.

“Originally, polo was a sport enjoyed by the sons of noble families, but as the number of people who know how to play it decreases, it is a natural thing.”

To play polo, you had to take a horse with you and always match your skills, so it was only natural that only the sons of wealthy families could do it.

“But these days, everyone avoids polo because it’s dangerous, so it’s gradually declining.”

The era has come when they encourage scholarship rather than polo.

Even if you only play Go [a strategy board game], which looks gentle, they say you should stay away from *japgi* (miscellaneous skills), so what can you do?

The Retired King, a polo enthusiast, was saddened by this.

“Then did Grandfather also play in the old days?”

“I used to play polo well.”

Yi Seong-gye nodded and said so.

“When I was twenty-two years old, I went to the Dano Festival polo competition, and all the people of Gaegyeong [capital of Goryeo] were surprised and said that they had never seen such a good game.

Those who were fascinated by the sight often called me their older brother.”

“······.”

Now that I think about it, it seems like I only heard useless stories.

I looked at Yi Bang-gwa and said.

“Anyway, how do you plan to revive polo that has become so sluggish?”

The biggest problem is the lack of horses.

‘There are plenty of horses in the Training Command, but.’

However, outside the military, there were few people who had horses.

In the Goryeo Dynasty, the powerful clans had private soldiers, so they had many horses to use for polo, but now that private soldiers have been abolished, it was fortunate if even the wealthy families had one or two horses for commuting.

These days, even those are mostly replaced by rickshaws.

“If we have enough horses to establish a polo team, there will be a fuss about private soldiers again.”

“There are plenty of horses left over anyway…”

Yi Bang-gwa patted his chest, saying that he had investigated everything.

“There are horses left over?”

Although many warhorses are being supplied from the north, most of them are only raised as much as we need.

“Didn’t you bring up the horses from Jeju [island known for its horses]…?”

“Ah.”

Yi Bang-won accepted the proposal to eliminate the burden of tribute from Jeju Island and ordered the closure of the horse ranches.

Some of them were sent to Tsushima [Japanese island], but most of the horses were moved to the mainland.

The number was quite large, so they were temporarily raised on ranches near Hanyang, and Yi Bang-gwa paid attention to that.

Still, to sell them off.

Who knows what kind of trouble will happen if hundreds of horses are released.

However, Yi Bang-gwa snorted.

“Don’t worry… if you see the horses… you’ll take back those words…”

===

“How is it?”

“…I didn’t know it would be this much.”

During the Goryeo Dynasty, Jeju Island was under the control of the Yuan Dynasty [Mongol dynasty], so they raised many warhorses brought from Mongolia.

That’s why Jeju Island is famous as a horse ranch.

However, at this point in time, crossbreeding with Jeju ponies had already progressed, and the size of the horses had already decreased considerably.

In the original history of Joseon, they would have continued to receive tribute while being grateful for this, but for us, who are flooded with northern horses from Hoshi [region in Manchuria], the size is quite ambiguous to use.

‘If I had known this would happen, I would have dumped it on Ouchi [powerful Japanese clan].’

Yi Bang-gwa said as if he was proud of his discovery.

“But it’s suitable for enjoying polo.”

It’s the same if you get kicked by a horse and get seriously injured, but still, the impact of a heavy northern horse and a smaller Jeju pony is bound to be different.

The former is suitable as a warhorse, but in polo, a sport, this may be better to reduce casualties.

“Sell all the horses to the private sector… but the horses themselves are raised on this ranch…”

Are you saying that we should sell the ownership but manage it all at once on this ranch?

That would reduce the worry that someone might buy horses with sinister intentions, and it would also be convenient for the owners to manage them.

My great-uncle was so enthusiastic about reviving polo that I was slightly moved.

“But will polo be revived just by selling the horses?”

“Then… polo is God…”

Excluding Yi Bang-gwa’s biased evaluation, it is true that polo is a very interesting sport for the people of this era.

Just the fact that dozens of horses are entangled over one ball is a rare sight.

But if we want to attract more interest here…

‘It’s gotta be Toto [betting/gambling].’

There is no greater incentive than money changing hands.