There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 367

368. The Dignity of a King (2)

Although the Xuande Emperor had declared his intention to oversee matters in Liaodong, he wasn’t enduring hardship in Jinzhou.

He entrusted the army’s vanguard to Zhang Bo and returned to Beijing.

While the scars of the civil war had largely healed, Beijing hadn’t regained its former glory because the relocation project had failed, leading officials and citizens to return to Jiangnan [a region south of the Yangtze River known for its prosperity and culture].

Neither the Hongxi Emperor, preoccupied with the civil war’s aftermath, nor the frugal Xuande Emperor showed much interest in rebuilding the burned-down Forbidden City.

What was the point of rebuilding the palace if there was no emperor to reside there?

Therefore, the Xuande Emperor stayed in the Nantai, which served as both the imperial office and a summer retreat, instead of the burned-down main palace.

It had avoided the turmoil because it was isolated by water even when Beijing was burning.

“The gates of Jinzhou remain closed today.”

The Xuande Emperor said quietly, looking down at Zhang Bo’s report.

The troops he had sent to Jinzhou while he returned to Beijing were still stuck outside the castle gates.

“Look. They no longer heed even the imperial decree.”

“…….”

The gathered officials were speechless.

The Xuande Emperor’s order to Jinzhou was simple:

– The rebel Uriyangkhad has fled east, so join forces with the Jeongto Army to subdue them. If that is not possible, at least open the way for the Jeongto Army.

However, the gates of Jinzhou remained firmly closed despite receiving the imperial order.

Rather, after receiving the Xuande Emperor’s decree, Jinzhou was gradually reinforcing its troops.

A situation that appeared to be a clear refusal or even treason….

…or so those gathered here thought.

Initially, the Ming Dynasty officials were merely taken aback by the Xuande Emperor’s declaration to eradicate the Uriyangkhad.

Most officials maintained a ‘cordial’ relationship with Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom].

There were no problems during the previous emperor’s reign, but when the Xuande Emperor ascended the throne and began sending a series of checks, their position became difficult.

In any case, they had received favors in the past, so initially, they defended Joseon.

“It is not wise to leave the capital for a long time. Withdraw the troops and retreat.”

“That is correct, Your Majesty. The Uriyangkhad have already been defeated and collapsed, so there is no need to waste any more manpower.”

“The Uriyangkhad have been outwardly obedient but have repeatedly raided the borderlands in secret.

As for the burden on the people, the Uriyangkhad invading the north and raising troops again to subdue them is twice as severe. We cannot withdraw the troops until a conclusion is reached.”

The officials had no choice but to step back to appease the resolute Xuande Emperor.

“How can a border general open the gate without the permission of the Prince of Simyang?”

“Liaodong was merely granted to him as his territory; is it not the imperial soil of the Great Ming!

Must I move troops with the permission of the Prince of Simyang!”

“Of course not, but the King of Joseon may misunderstand….”

“The King of Joseon is loyal to Your Majesty. He will surely uphold the imperial decree, so please return to the capital first.”

However, their bold assurances faded over time.

The emperor, who they thought would give up and return if they dragged things out, remained in Beijing, and Zhang Bo, who was confronting Jinzhou, was the same.

Yang Shiqi watched this situation with uneasy eyes.

“Your Majesty, the weakening of the vassal states must be done, but you must not rush. Joseon is a powerful nation unlike the Uriyangkhad. They are not an opponent that can be overthrown with a single plan.”

Yang Shiqi was worried that the Xuande Emperor, emboldened by the collapse of the Taining Guard, would try to strike Joseon as well.

“Jinzhou Fortress is a fortress of iron. It will not be easy to destroy without thorough preparation.”

The Xuande Emperor readily agreed with Yang Shiqi’s words.

According to the Duke of Yingguo, it was built with strange soil brought from Joseon, and indeed, the defenses of Jinzhou Fortress were impenetrable.

In the first place, this expedition was prepared to strike the Uriyangkhad.

To wage war against Joseon, a different calculation was needed.

However, the reason for sending the proposal to open the way was simple.

“Look at them. They will now realize the reality.”

Wretches who eat in the east house and sleep in the west house (東家食西家宿) [idiom for someone who is opportunistic and unprincipled].

“The thoughts of those rat-like creatures are obvious.”

Just as dissatisfaction was rampant in the Joseon court, dissatisfaction in the Ming Dynasty court was also increasing.

The officials thought they were throwing themselves to block the emperor’s dissatisfaction, but at this point, the King of Joseon, who should have yielded, remained silent.

Dissatisfaction always flows to the easier target.

And in their minds, the easier target was closer to the King of Joseon than the Son of Heaven (天子) [the Emperor] right in front of them.

Some would raise their voices merely to gauge the emperor’s mood, but others would genuinely resent him.

“The King of Joseon must think he has all my officials in his grasp.”

In fact, when he was acting like a docile cat, everyone must have liked him.

But if he sheds that skin and a crouching tiger appears, would that still be the case?

The King of Joseon, who was walking a tightrope on the boundary between loyalty and treason, would have no choice but to make a choice at this point.

“Having pushed him this far, the King of Joseon will directly subdue the Uriyangkhad and ask us to withdraw the order.”

That was the only way to block Ming’s demand for passage (假道) [right of passage through territory].

And that was what the Xuande Emperor wanted.

“Even if that happens, it doesn’t matter. It’s like getting caught in a strategy of using barbarians to control barbarians (以夷制夷) [a strategy of using one group of barbarians to control another] with his own feet.”

It would be a great achievement just to sever the honeymoon between Joseon and the northern barbarians.

Joseon might protect the Taining Guard who fled backward, but how long could they trust each other?

If the King of Joseon outwardly obeyed the imperial decree, it would be easy to shake the relationship between them.

Shut the mouths of all pro-Joseon factions and sever the alliance between Joseon and the Uriyangkhad.

That alone would be enough to achieve the goal.

However, the King of Joseon’s actions exceeded his expectations.

“Urgent news from the Duke of Yingguo, Your Majesty! The King of Joseon….”

He personally led the army north.

* * *

“If we report that we will subdue the Uriyangkhad instead, Ming will readily withdraw its troops.”

‘I’ll subdue them instead’ was Joseon’s long-standing national strategy.

When the Yongle Emperor was raging about invading Japan because of the Wokou [Japanese pirates] problem, Joseon was startled and subdued Tsushima Island on its own.

‘I know it from dramas.’

If a real Japanese conquest had been launched, Joseon would have had to provide roads and supplies.

Of course, this is the story of the original history.

But my judgment is different now.

‘What are you going to do if I don’t give you the way?’

Are you going to ram your head into Jinzhou Fortress?

If the spirits of Emperor Yang of Sui and Emperor Taizong of Tang descend, that might be possible.

But the result will be the same as those two.

Ming is the same in that they don’t have the guts to start a war first.

And in a game of chicken, the one who chickens out first loses.

“What the emperor is using is a typical divisive tactic.”

“But shouldn’t we accept Ming’s request first and then delay it with excuses?”

“If we uphold the imperial decree, we cannot help but subdue the Uriyangkhad.

If we do not do this, it will be like announcing to the world that we have joined hands with the Uriyangkhad, and if we strike the Uriyangkhad, it will only be cutting our own flesh.”

Do explained in my stead.

“Then leading the army now is….”

Yi Cheon took a breath for a moment.

Tension filled the tent at those words.

Even now, troops were joining in Jinzhou.

Not to mention the Liaodong army and the Jurchens, even my half-siblings were bringing workers who had been working in various mines in Liaodong to join.

‘I can’t expect much from their combat power.’

It can’t be helped to inflate the numbers.

Originally, whether it was Joseon or Ming, bringing one adult male meant bringing an army.

It’s the farming season, so bringing those who farm would ruin the entire farming season, but the miners don’t have that, so it’s good.

‘It’s a waste of money, though.’

I swallowed my tears, thinking about the sharply reduced output as I brought in a large number of workers, excluding essential personnel.

“Your Highness, have you been well!”

“It’s been a long time.”

Joo Chi, who had moved to Bokyeowi, ran like the wind as soon as he received my call.

The same was true of Toguqi, the commander of the Taining Guard, who was standing next to him.

“I knew Your Highness would come to save us!”

Unlike Toguqi, who seemed afraid that he would be tied up and handed over to Ming, Joo Chi shouted with sparkling eyes.

Then Joo Chi came closer to me and whispered.

“My brother was reluctant to answer Your Highness’s call, but I took responsibility and persuaded him. If we don’t arrive when you call, I said, how will our clan’s fate be?”

If Joseon had decided to cut ties with the Uriyangkhad, these guys would be dead anyway.

It’s better to stick with us and beg us to prevent them from colluding with Ming and to mediate.

The ones I called were not only Toguqi and Joo Chi of the Taining Guard.

By now, my will would be spreading far and wide along the Biak River.

But there was someone who arrived before them.

It was Ming’s Minister of Rites, Yang Shiqi, who had rushed over after hearing about my northward march.

Yang Shiqi looked around and said.

“I heard that Your Highness has brought Joseon’s elite troops. Is it to help uphold the imperial decree and subdue the Uriyangkhad?”

“That is not so. It seems that there is some misunderstanding between the Great Ming and the Uriyangkhad, so I have come forward to resolve it myself.”

Yang Shiqi wore a look that said he didn’t know what misunderstanding I was talking about.

Well, you guys should have just squeezed the Uriyangkhad appropriately.

But I brazenly put on a straight face.

“It so happens that the Emperor was also curious about why Joseon was not upholding the decree. It would be good to report directly at this opportunity.”

“Are you telling me to go to Beijing?”

However, the Xuande Emperor doesn’t seem to be crazy enough to demand an audience now.

“That is not the case. The Emperor will personally visit Jinzhou, so please meet the Emperor and tell him then.”

Is this also part of that ‘northern tour’?

He’s more daring than I thought.

To come all the way to Jinzhou in person.

With both armies facing off tensely, it was truly a touch-and-go situation.

“The Emperor was greatly surprised to hear that Your Highness had come to Jinzhou in person.”

“I was also surprised to hear that His Majesty was coming to Jinzhou.”

I said, nodding.

“Not only the Uriyangkhad, but also the two countries that have maintained friendly relations since the founding of the country have recently been confronting each other frequently, which is regrettable. Moreover, the Emperor is not related to me by marriage? I hope that we can frankly resolve the misunderstanding at this opportunity.”

Let’s skip the fact that neither of us had been particularly friendly for long.

“How can it be right if the ruler and his subjects cannot open their hearts to each other? Will Your Highness come to our camp?”

I said friendship, and Yang Shiqi mentioned the relationship between ruler and subject.

‘You’re picking on every little word, how can I trust you and go there?’

It’s obvious that it will be the Feast at Hongmen [a banquet arranged as a trap].

“The camp is bleak. Although Jinzhou is a barren borderland, I hope we can go together to a scenic spot and have a chat.”

Yang Shiqi seemed to have just thrown out the words, so he agreed and stepped back.

Thus, an emergency meeting with the Xuande Emperor was arranged.

‘Come to think of it, I met the Hongxi Emperor in Beijing before.’

If I count the meeting with the Yongle Emperor when I paid my respects before that, wouldn’t I be the first person to have met with three Ming Dynasty emperors?

However, this meeting will not be as easy as the conversation with the Hongxi Emperor.

Even then, I had to fight against the Ming Dynasty court, which was trying to extract as much as possible, but at least the emperor was friendly to us.

‘It was a good thing I brought the joker card.’

I asked in a calm voice.

“Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since the Queen Consort met her family. Can I take her with me?”

“The Queen Consort is a princess of our imperial family, so there is no reason why she cannot….”

Yang Shiqi seemed to have never imagined that I would bring my wife to Jinzhou, the front line.

But he couldn’t refuse.

As they admitted, this was a family meeting to resolve misunderstandings.