There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 394

395. The Qualification of the Throne (3)

Currently, Joso-hwa’s position was quite precarious.

She was the Queen of Joseon, yet also the princess of the Ming Dynasty, its greatest adversary.

Naturally, no one openly mentioned this to subtly provoke the Queen.

‘Seriously, who would dare to trifle with His Majesty’s wife?’

‘Our King is so devoted that he doesn’t even entertain the thought of a concubine.’

‘Anyone who wrongly accuses the Queen risks losing their head.’

Everyone knew what happened to the Sungkyunkwan [Joseon’s highest educational institution] students who advocated for the protection of slave rights.

This was especially true since Joso-hwa hadn’t shown any flaws in her character or behavior.

However, the current war was no ordinary conflict.

Within Joseon, the Ming Dynasty’s image, having launched a preemptive strike during a period of national mourning, plummeted like Japan’s after Pearl Harbor [a reference to the surprise attack that significantly damaged the US Navy and shifted public opinion].

From an object of admiration, it had become a barbaric nation unworthy of association. Naturally, the prestige attached to Joso-hwa as the ‘Princess of the superior Ming Dynasty’ vanished, whether she liked it or not.

Joso-hwa had to choose one identity.

Was she the princess of Ming, or the Queen of Joseon?

Of course, Joso-hwa had already decided to choose the latter when she married into Joseon.

Having even given birth to children who would inherit Joseon, there was no reason to hesitate now.

“With my husband and sons at war to save the country, how can the women remain idle?”

“I will start by selling the palace’s jewels to contribute to the war funds.

Let the women with idle hands come to the workshops, and arrange for them to make clothing.”

“The next issue of ‘Good Thoughts’ [a moral instruction book for women] will feature the stories of mothers who raised loyal subjects and generals for the nation.”

The consorts, who had been working together for years, carried out Joso-hwa’s orders flawlessly.

These were only small contributions, but Joso-hwa carried them out without hesitation.

Joso-hwa even sold the jewels she brought from Ming in a performance that dispelled the slightest suspicion from the foolish and silenced the gossip behind her back, but she couldn’t completely shake the bitterness in her heart.

‘Still, it doesn’t feel entirely pleasant…’

Even if she didn’t have deep affection for her nephew, he was still her brother’s grandson and her niece’s son.

If she didn’t care whether her family was ruined or her husband and household were destroyed, she would be a cold-blooded person.

However, she couldn’t simply withdraw from state affairs and confine herself to the depths of the palace.

Although the councilors were handling the rear support, they still had to seek her approval as the highest elder of the royal family, with the King and Crown Prince absent.

‘But I can’t just act carelessly.’

Of course, she, as the Queen, was stepping in and handling things, but what would happen if she were accused of colluding with the Ming army?

No, before that, she couldn’t act carelessly for the sake of her husband and children.

The thought of Joseon losing to Ming was terrifying.

She remembered, albeit vaguely, the infighting among her family members during her childhood, which made her even more anxious.

Joso-hwa sighed deeply.

‘Why did they leave me behind?’

Shouldn’t she have followed her husband, with the Crown Prince remaining?

She was saddened by her father-in-law’s death, but why did the King and Crown Prince have to go as well?

Leaving behind her and her daughters-in-law, who were not even in good health.

‘Thinking about it, they’re really awful men.’

Joso-hwa thumped the pillow, resolving to create a law that would prevent husbands from abandoning their wives to pursue other interests during times like these.

Just as she was aimlessly hitting the pillow, the eunuch Eom Ja-chi rushed in with hurried steps and announced.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is returning to the capital!”

“Really!”

“Your Majesty, please calm yourself!”

Joso-hwa jumped up, startling the court ladies beside her, who quickly supported her.

Joso-hwa belatedly patted her stomach, calming her surprised heart.

* * *

Before most of the capital’s residents could even notice, Yi-dan arrived like a whirlwind and quickly seized control of the capital.

It was as if the spirits of his ancestors had descended upon him.

Since he had received the mandate for delegated governance, it wasn’t a coup.

Joso-hwa was overjoyed at her son’s arrival and returned to the central palace.

No, she was about to.

“You’re going to war again?”

“It might be necessary.”

“How long has it been since you returned?”

At Joso-hwa’s outburst, Yi-dan scratched his head and made excuses.

“The Ming army might invade Joseon.”

Yi-dan had his reasons.

If the Ming army were to land without complete control of the sea, it would be a disaster.

Perhaps for them.

However, war situations don’t always proceed rationally.

For Ming, which could mobilize tens of thousands of troops across the sea, landing in Joseon was still an attractive card to catch them off guard.

‘The enemy will probably try to destroy our front lines with a naval battle.’

Shouldn’t he oversee military affairs to support Cheonghaejin [a naval base]?

“First, Mother, please focus on comfortably carrying your child.”

However, Joso-hwa wasn’t listening.

Yi-dan felt guilty, but wasn’t it his duty to inform his parents when leaving and returning home?

He muttered that he would step down and turned away.

Waiting for him after he slipped away from his mother was his younger sister.

“Did you take good care of Mother while I was away?”

He didn’t particularly welcome his older sister, though he didn’t mind his younger sister.

However, he couldn’t ignore her.

Yi-dan asked in a stern voice, like an older brother.

“Even when I offered to help her since she’s not in good health, she stubbornly refused.”

“Of course.”

It was clear that she wasn’t helping their mother but looking for something to gain.

‘That cunning girl.’

Yi-dan clicked his tongue, watching his younger sister waiting with her mouth open under a tree where nothing would fall.

“You should get married soon to come to your senses.”

At Yi-dan’s words, Yi-gyeong clicked her tongue.

‘Look who’s talking.’

“Father is away because of the war, so what marriage are you talking about?”

“That’s right. You’re going to end up an old maid.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Yi-gyeong said, flipping her hair.

‘Who on earth is going to take her?’

Whether she’s of marriageable age or not, no one can ‘dare’ refuse if the King tries to marry off a princess.

Didn’t Yi-sok suffer the consequences when he refused King Taejong’s daughter at the beginning of the reign?

Of course, he could have refused with a good excuse, but he was caught for insulting her by finding fault with his aunt’s lineage, which was a serious crime.

In any case, there were many who feared setting a precedent.

‘Well, there’s nowhere we can’t send her.’

What could he do if she was worried about not getting married?

‘She’s not my daughter, so it’s not my problem.’

Even if it’s a concern, it’s his father’s concern, not his.

His father seemed gentle but was strict about his children’s marriages, so that possibility wasn’t high.

“Anyway, take good care of her from now on. I don’t expect much.”

“…Are you leaving the capital again?”

“That’s none of your business.”

Yi-dan cheerfully ignored his younger sister’s question, whistling.

Yi-dan quickly forgot the worries, or rather, the non-worries, of his family.

He had work to do.

“Gather the Royal Guards!”

Under his command were his barbarian friends who would give their lives for him.

They were the ones who could follow him without hesitation on the battlefield where life and death hung in the balance.

Wasn’t this true friendship?

He wasn’t afraid of any battle.

* * *

Jinpyeong-gun Yi-yu saw some potential in the poison fog used in Geumju.

It was said that it had destroyed Jang Bo’s army all at once.

‘It was written that the effect was greatly exaggerated.’

Since the King’s reign, Joseon has been systematically recording the progress of battles in the process of conducting wars.

This was to properly utilize the war lessons.

Because those records were piled up in Simyang, the rear, Yi-yu was able to access them easily.

‘It’s both refreshing and disappointing. It was said that only a few people were actually harmed. If the enemy hadn’t collapsed on their own due to the poison fog, the effect might not have been that great.’

Such signs were slowly appearing even in actual combat.

There were limitations to the poison fog itself, but Yi-yu judged that the amount of chlorine poured in was not that great to begin with.

Thanks to sacrificing the carbonated water maker, a large amount of chlorine gas could be produced, but pouring it into the enemy camp was another matter.

In the case of the Joseon army in Geumju, the actual damage was not that great because the means of delivery were limited.

‘But what about Singijeon [a type of rocket arrow]?’

The Hwacha [a mobile multiple rocket launcher] used by the Joseon army was a bundle of guns, but there was also a type of Hwacha that fired bundles of multi-rocket arrows.

This multi-rocket arrow, called Singijeon, was considered largely impractical in the current Joseon army and was sent to the warehouse.

Yi-yu knew this because the inventor was his brother, Prince Inchang, Yi-hyang.

‘But wouldn’t it be useful if combined with poison fog?’

Yi-yu thought so.

Of course, chlorine gas had many limitations.

His Majesty didn’t seem to enjoy using it, which was also a burden.

‘But doesn’t His Majesty secretly hope that it can be used in some other way?’

Even though he used the family’s secret juicing technique after using the poison fog, the King did not explicitly order not to use the poison fog.

It was a natural thing in a way.

Who knew what the future war situation would be like?

However, even though he made it himself, he was reluctant to use it, but if he really didn’t want to use it, wouldn’t he have sealed it completely?

‘Other generals are racking their brains to somehow change His Majesty’s mind, but I am different.’

If he showed them a more advanced poison fog, His Majesty would be impressed.

Just as his father’s gunpowder led to the development of Biak and created enormous wealth, he could do the same.

However, he didn’t have much knowledge of technology, so he came to find his brother.

At least he was someone who could talk to Choi Hae-san about gunpowder without hesitation while stuck in the military camp.

‘If I make a contribution like this, I’ll have to share it.’

It stung, but he could yield that much to his brother, who wasn’t a stranger.

However, the answer that came back was different from his expectations.

“It won’t be easy.”

Yi-hyang said, adjusting his glasses.

“Why? Why is that?”

Yi-yu was taken aback when his idea, which he thought was perfect, was challenged from the start.

“Wouldn’t the aftereffects of Singijeon cause the poison to spread to the user? If chlorine spreads incorrectly, those nearby will have to hold funerals, and it could even collapse the camp.”

Yi-yu was noticeably disappointed at Yi-hyang’s words.

Yi-hyang, who was watching Yi-yu’s reaction with interest, decided to give his brother hope again and opened his mouth.

“But I found something quite interesting in the military camp. If it’s this instead of poison fog, it might align with your idea.”

“…If you had something like that, you should have told me sooner.”

Yi-yu’s mouth protruded, but the corners of his mouth were slightly raised.

It didn’t matter how he got to Seoul, as long as there was a way to use it in the war.