There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 417

418. Governance and Politics (4)

The fighting in Japan was intensifying.

“Give us poison gas! Let us use poison gas!”

“I heard that when the King of Joseon conquered the Myeong [Ming Dynasty], he simply waved his fan, and the enemy soldiers fell like dominoes!”

My sins feel so immense.

Perhaps the Ouchi clan sees me as a demon spewing hellish sulfur from my nose and mouth.

“How are they going to manage the fallout from this?”

Well, they’ve already pledged allegiance to Joseon and borrowed troops, so they must not be concerned about the consequences.

Still… do they really want to use that in their own country?

“I heard the Mongol army is fighting quite well.”

They’ve been getting beaten by the Yongle Emperor [third emperor of the Ming dynasty] and I’ve been neglecting them lately due to their recent poor performance, but they are still a force to be reckoned with.

If poison gas is a chemical weapon, the Mongol army is the master of biological warfare.

This Mongol army, which once dominated the world, was a biological weapon in itself, but their actions were even more direct.

Throwing corpses into besieged castles to cause epidemics is said to be a germ warfare tactic with a long history.

It seems they are trying to complete the twice-failed Japanese expeditions this time, using any means necessary.

I don’t particularly want to stop them from doing this.

What I did was no less than what they are doing, and it’s not good for us if the Ouchi clan falters.

Sitting across the sea and lecturing them won’t accomplish anything.

‘It’s absurd to impose moral standards on war in this era.’

Sometimes I think we’ve advanced technologically far beyond our social conscience.

When Joseon fought against the Myeong, we had to survive, so we used it, but seeing the Ouchi clan asking for poison gas gives me pause.

I have no intention of selling poison gas to others… but will that position hold after I die?

What about Dan or his son?

Or is there no guarantee that the manufacturing method won’t be leaked?

Joseon can’t monopolize all technology for thousands of years.

That’s why I made my stance clear during the war, but there’s no guarantee that future generations will faithfully follow my words.

A posthumous edict is just something the successor follows if they choose to, isn’t it?

‘But how to ensure it?’

I crossed my arms and pondered.

I know it’s a pointless worry, but I suppose I’m indulging in useless thoughts because I don’t want to work.

‘It’s better than reviewing memorials about building a palace.’

Memorials proposing the construction of a new palace befitting the emperor’s dignity were constantly being submitted.

I kept rejecting them because I didn’t have the time or resources, but it seemed that public opinion among the citizens, who were filled with national pride, was steadily growing in favor of ‘establishing the emperor’s dignity.’

I thought the usual dynamic was that the king pushes for building a palace, and the officials oppose it.

Joseon has definitely become much richer.

There was a time when I was criticized for being extravagant for taking hot baths every day, but now they’re begging me to build a new imperial palace.

Even though it’s not their house, it’s *my* house!

‘Is this public opinion being manufactured?’

Just like how they manipulate public opinion to erect memorials and statues for certain figures, are treacherous subjects perhaps trying to deceive me?

‘The main palace, Gyeongbokgung, is indeed inconvenient.’

That’s why Changdeokgung was built, and there’s also Suganggung, where Yi Bang-won [King Taejong of Joseon] stayed.

But the content of these memorials suggests building an imperial palace on the scale of the Forbidden City to establish the emperor’s dignity?

Considering the area of the Forbidden City, wouldn’t we have to tear down the entire Hanyang Fortress [old name for Seoul] to make room?

‘Then my remaining life will be consumed by building a palace?’

I was involved in building the Hanyang Fortress since I was a prince, but that was when I was very young, and it was a renovation in a somewhat completed city.

Once I start something like this, I’ll only see the light of day when I’m an old man.

‘If I turn all of Hanyang into a construction site, where am I supposed to sleep?’

Is this a prelude to building an imperial palace somewhere else and relocating the capital?

The Seungjeongwon [Royal Secretariat] should reject these real estate speculators’ memorials immediately.

Reading my expression, Chief Royal Secretary Hwangbo In quickly presented another agenda.

“These are memorials from the citizens to demonstrate the dignity of the imperial family; if you dislike the palace proposals, please review these instead.”

I sighed deeply when I saw it.

“Heavenly Ritual (天祭)… Construction of the Royal Ancestral Shrine…”

It’s not a capital relocation scheme; it’s a build-up of imperial rituals by the cunning Ministry of Rites.

I covered my face.

“Is it really necessary?”

“Now that you have declared yourself emperor, shouldn’t you perform them?”

“I think the Crown Prince could take charge of this.”

We could give our kid, who’s playing in his room, some part-time work.

If I do that, he’ll probably pull out the textbook he’s been using as a cushion under his elbow.

“Even if you can delegate state affairs, you cannot entrust the rites of honoring heaven and ancestors to others.”

“Who honors ancestors as well as I do?”

Even now, the Ministry of Rites, excited about being elevated from a vassal state, is trying to add all sorts of rituals and ceremonies, which I am diligently and forcibly blocking.

The dignity of the emperor is invoked at times like this.

‘Even so, they’re happy about not holding Buddhist events.’

I’m planning to hold a Dharma assembly [Buddhist religious gathering] at the palace soon, so they better not say anything then.

People who don’t know might think that Buddhism is my support base, but more accurately, I am Buddhism’s support base.

If I immediately change my stance and revive the pro-Confucianism and anti-Buddhism policy of the early dynasty, Buddhism will be in mourning that day.

I haven’t held Buddhist events because I’ve been too lazy, but these events are necessary to appease those who are quite anxious.

Especially among the royal family, there are many people who deeply believe in Buddhism.

Our late grandfather was one of them.

It’s an event to relieve the anxiety of the Buddhist community and to create events for family and relatives, so no complaints.

* * *

“Your Majesty, it has been a long time.”

“Yes, you have all worked very hard.”

I offered words of praise to the monks who visited Changdeokgung Palace to prepare for the Dharma assembly.

It’s been a long time since I’ve held a Dharma assembly, so it feels like all the famous people have flocked to the palace.

“Didn’t Bulno and Jiun come?”

“It seems that the two monks are still in the north. They are reluctant to set foot in the capital, fearing that they might be a burden to Your Majesty.”

“I think it’s okay for them to return to the capital now. If you meet them later, please convey my intentions.”

When you think about it, they are both my cousins.

In particular, Bulno had to live outside the capital because he was the eldest son of Yi Bang-gwa [King Jeongjong of Joseon].

He was exiled outside the capital because he was guilty of speaking out of turn, but that’s all in the past.

Yi Bang-won’s legitimacy is at stake, but….

‘At this point, Yi Bang-won has legitimacy not because he is the son of Yi Seong-gye [King Taejo of Joseon] and the adopted son of Yi Bang-gwa, but because he is my father.’

The posthumous conferment of Jeongjong is also in the same context.

“It seems that they feel it is more rewarding to preach the Buddha’s teachings to the barbarians than to preach in the capital.”

If that’s the case, I have no choice but to respect it.

I looked around at the faces of the eminent monks who had come to the palace this time.

‘I know all of them.’

It’s not that I’m such a devout believer that I seek out famous monks one by one; it’s just that I’ve seen them around in the old days.

‘They’re practically all from the Muhak line [referring to the disciples of the monk Muhak].’

Muhak’s disciples, who helped me with papermaking and printing, have now become prominent figures in the Buddhist community.

‘That means the connection with the royal family is important.’

From the perspective of Buddhism, which can only rely entirely on the king’s favor, they have no choice but to promote people who are close to the royal family.

Of course, there is no such thing as a free lunch.

In return, in addition to papermaking and printing, they had to take the lead in proselytizing the Jurchen people, assisting with administrative work, and actively participating in the Korean alphabet dissemination movement and various social projects.

…I wonder if it’s just my imagination that they’ve taken over the order with their skills rather than being parachuted in.

But they are also quite old now.

That means it’s time to start nurturing the next generation.

That’s why they brought a string of young monks to this Dharma assembly.

They need to make a good impression on the royal family in advance and create connections to continue to be recognized for the Buddhist community’s advancement.

I slowly looked around at the monks who bowed so deeply that their foreheads touched the ground while putting their hands together.

They were all handsome men, perhaps because they were carefully selected talents from the Buddhist community. But not as much as me.

However, as I looked at those who were introducing them one by one with a benevolent smile, I couldn’t help but stiffen my face when I reached someone.

“This is the monk Shinmi who recently joined.”

“Shinmi?”

I was nodding, but I briefly recalled a Dharma name that I had heard somewhere.

“S, Shinmi…!”

Suddenly, I remembered a certain movie.

Kkyaek!

He’s here to steal my Korean alphabet!

No matter how important I am, I know about a certain monk who was rumored to be the real creator of the Korean alphabet.

The source is the internet.

I couldn’t help but be greatly surprised when the protagonist suddenly appeared at an unexpected time.

The monks were embarrassed to see me suddenly taking a defensive posture.

“Why, why are you doing this, Your Majesty?”

The monks turned pale, wondering if they had made a mistake.

On the other hand, Juso-hwa and Dan-i sighed deeply when they saw me tearing at my hair and jumping up and down.

“Father….”

“What strange thoughts are you having again?”

I was about to retort to Juso-hwa, who was poking me in the side, without realizing it.

“Strange thoughts… that guy is!”

I was about to shout that he came to steal the Korean alphabet that I, no, my brother made, but I swallowed my words.

‘Wait, is that even logically possible?’

The fact that I… no, my brother invented and disseminated the Korean alphabet is a fact that all the people know.

Besides, that fact must be written in all sorts of official records, so can a young man who looks to be in his mid-twenties at best steal the Korean alphabet?

It didn’t seem like this young monk sitting in front of me could make that possible.

I was someone who didn’t even blame my nephew, who was a (potential) traitor.

Whether he was involved in a Korean alphabet copyright dispute in the original history or not, it’s irrelevant now.

After making a quick decision, I changed my words.

“I was just surprised because that monk’s Dharma name was unusual.”

“I don’t think so….”

Juso-hwa raised her eyes and said suspiciously.

I asked Shinmi to smooth over the situation.

“Yes, you still look young, but what made you decide to devote yourself to Buddhism?”

I didn’t expect a special answer because it was a question I threw out randomly to get through the situation.

I would have passed it off without saying anything even if he gave a reason like ‘The wooden fish beat was too exciting.’

However, an unexpected answer came from Shinmi.

“I also served in the last war, Your Majesty,” Shinmi said, putting his hands together.

“I saw the horrors of the poison gas that Your Majesty used there.”

“Here we go!”

The monks next to him were very embarrassed and tried to stop Shinmi from speaking, but I stopped them.

“Even though war involves killing, I thought it had crossed the line. It was there that I realized the futility of killing. That is why I converted to Buddhism.”

I paused for a moment, then asked him.

“Then do you think we should strictly prohibit the use of poison gas?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Even if Joseon prohibits poison gas, it is meaningless if other countries use it. Wouldn’t that only put Joseon at a disadvantage?”

Then Shinmi said.

“The laws and rules of the world are all under the jurisdiction of the Emperor. Why don’t you try to enact such a law?”