There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 116

Looking down at Yi Seong-gye crying, I rubbed my temples.

‘Why is this old man acting like this?’

Is something wrong with him?

“You know that doesn’t work on me.”

I said coldly.

“Tch.”

Yi Seong-gye wiped away his tears and stood up.

Buffalo horns aren’t that easy to come by in the first place.

‘They don’t even grow in Joseon.’

All buffalo horns must be imported.

The main source is China, but Ming considers buffalo horns a strategic material and strictly prohibits their export.

On the other hand, Joseon kept sending envoys to Ming to beg for permission to import buffalo horns.

They even ordered the envoys to smuggle buffalo horns.

In such a situation, it was impossible to give them away to outsiders carelessly.

Even if it was my grandfather.

I doubted if there were any left in the Hanseong [Seoul] warehouse.

‘I’m not Doraemon [a popular Japanese cartoon character with a magic pocket], I can’t just bring them just because you tell me to.’

That’s what I thought.

In fact, the reason why matchlocks are replacing bows faster than expected was due to the lack of these buffalo horns.

Bows made of wood or ox horns were also mainly used, but after I repelled the Wokou [Japanese pirates] in Geoje Island, the effectiveness of matchlocks was greatly noticed.

The court was greatly encouraged by the result of repelling the ferocious Wokou with the power of matchlocks.

‘Isn’t this the power of new weapons!’

Yi Bang-won, who had already noticed its effectiveness, began to accelerate the supply of matchlocks.

Yi Bang-won seemed to be discussing with his close aides, Jo Young-mu, and others to dissolve the Sipsa [private army] and expand the Training Command.

In the process, the use of bows was rapidly declining.

“But why do you suddenly need a bow?”

I suddenly became curious and asked.

Then Yi Seong-gye raised his head proudly without a moment’s hesitation and said.

“There are bastards who need to be shot to death. If I use my bow, it will be obvious.”

“Yes…?”

What does that mean?

As I doubted my ears and asked again, Yi Seong-gye shouted, enraged.

“The descendant of a Ming Dynasty monk sent a royal decree to steal my men!”

Ah.

Oh dear.

His Majesty the Emperor across the sea touched his grandfather’s reverse scale [angered him greatly].

===

General Zhang Pae-ra, So-gi, and Wang Na-hap of the Liaodong Garrison were briefly surprised by the sight of Hanyang Fortress.

It was obvious that Hanyang, the capital of a country, was much more prosperous than Liaoyang, where the Liaodong governor was located.

‘But it doesn’t seem to be this much when I came the other day…?’

As they had such questions, Zhang Pae-ra opened his mouth.

“Ahem, but it’s still far inferior to Nanjing.”

“That’s right, sir. Hanyang has been decorated quite a bit, but how can it compare to the grandeur of the Great Ming?”

Then So-gi and Wang Na-hap eagerly chimed in.

They had never been to Nanjing, but they had no choice but to believe Zhang Pae-ra’s words.

Ming was the greatest country in the world, and Nanjing was its capital.

‘What is this fortress made of?’

Meanwhile, Zhang Pae-ra had such a question, but he had to shake it off to answer the words he heard soon.

The officials of Liaodong, who had regained their pride and self-esteem with a brief Q&A, were chattering enthusiastically.

“The King of Joseon will have no choice but to accept this royal decree when he sees it.”

“That’s right. Isn’t it a royal decree from the Emperor himself to appease A-ha-chu? How can he not follow it?”

Zhang Pae-ra said confidently.

===

The war of nerves between Joseon and Ming over the Jurchens had been going on continuously since the beginning of the nation.

Even after King Taejong Yi Seong-gye and Crown Prince Yi Je went to the northeast, it was the same.

“General Zhang Pae-ra of the Liaodong Garrison and others have brought the Emperor’s royal decree to appease the Jurchens.”

A-ha-chu was the grandfather of the famous Jurchen, Yi Man-ju, and was once a subordinate of Yi Seong-gye.

“To appoint A-ha-chu to the position of Chamjeong [military commissioner] of Jianzhou Guard and have him appease the Jurchens? Isn’t the intention to completely take the Jurchens out of our Joseon’s grasp extremely clear?”

Yi Bang-won was furious but calmly refuted Zhang Pae-ra.

“The Jurchens are fierce and difficult to govern, so our Joseon is in charge of managing them. A-ha-chu has been our Joseon’s vassal since King Taejong, so how can the Emperor of Great Ming directly appoint an official to govern the Jurchens?”

When Yi Bang-won asked, Zhang Pae-ra replied.

“The whole world is our Emperor’s territory, so why do you follow private old relationships?

Also, A-ha-chu’s daughter is our Emperor’s concubine, so it is only natural to treat him as a high-ranking official.”

‘These guys…’

Yi Bang-won’s eyebrows twitched.

To assert Ming’s suzerainty while mentioning private relationships is to deny all the suzerainty that Joseon had over the Jurchens.

‘Now they’re coming out in the open.’

Although they are controlling the Jurchens by opening the market, Joseon does not have many ways to respond if Emperor Yongle comes out like this.

“If you are to follow the imperial order, you must order A-ha-chu to come to Ming to pay tribute.”

Zhang Pae-ra pressured.

What problem would the pressure from the Liaodong Garrison be to Yi Bang-won, the King of Joseon, but Yongle was behind him.

Although his body is now in Nanjing, his base was originally Beijing when he was the Prince of Yan.

He could not help but be sensitive to the situation in Liaodong.

However, he could not simply follow Yongle’s words.

Yi Bang-won appeased Zhang Pae-ra with appropriate words and then told the eunuch.

“Bring the Crown Prince.”

===

“If A-ha-chu sides with Ming, we must capture him and throw him into the river!”

Yi Seong-gye shouted.

I don’t think he acted this recklessly when he was on the throne, so why is he coming forward like this?

– Hey, don’t stop me, don’t stop me.

Is it like the psychology of a fighter?

‘Or is it because he becomes a hard-liner when he retires from the front line?’

He’s not thinking of going to war with Ming now, is he?

Yi Bang-won seemed to have similar thoughts and asked with dull eyes.

“Why did your grandfather bring you here…?”

“I didn’t bring him.”

He insisted on following me.

Yi Bang-won said calmly.

“Even though Ming issued a royal decree, A-ha-chu will not move easily since Father and the Crown Prince have been to the northeast.”

Even Mente-mu, whose attitude was the most subtle, was flattened when Yi Seong-gye got angry once.

“If we leave it alone, Ming will continue to plot, and we cannot leave the northeastern border as it is!”

“I know King Taejong’s concerns, but I have my own thoughts. Openly rebelling is a bad idea.”

Yi Bang-won said.

“Their justification is good. A-ha-chu’s daughter is the Emperor’s concubine, so why should she continue to be loyal to Joseon?”

A-ha-chu’s daughter was said to have been taken by Yongle when he was the Prince of Yan.

Therefore, A-ha-chu was being treated quite well by Ming, so it was not easy for Joseon to manage him, even though he was once a subordinate of Yi Seong-gye.

Those words touched Yi Seong-gye’s pride.

“Is he trying to match me just because his daughter became the Prince of Yan’s concubine!”

As the King Taejong of the foremost country, Joseon, he is clearly above A-ha-chu, the father of a concubine, in terms of status.

However, he does not like the fact that A-ha-chu, who was once his subordinate, has been promoted to a subtle position.

“If I ride to the northeast now, A-ha-chu will be terrified and bow his head! It was like that last time!”

“Yes, that’s right. However, this relies only on the majesty of King Taejong, so it will be difficult to keep A-ha-chu forever if the Emperor is determined.”

“So we have to solve it now!”

Yi Seong-gye shouted.

Then he patted my shoulder.

“I already went to the northeast and declared this guy as my successor. If that’s the case, bring A-ha-chu’s daughter as this guy’s concubine!”

“Yes?”

I was taken aback and asked again.

What concubine when we haven’t even had a royal wedding yet.

“How can we bring in a Jurchen concubine to the royal family?”

Then Yi Bang-won responded with a racist remark.

“That’s why you can’t do it! Our family has been intermarrying with the Jurchens for generations, so what’s the big deal about a concubine?

You’ve only been living comfortably in Gaeseong since you grew up, so how can you know how the northeastern situation is going…?”

“Wasn’t Father the happiest when I passed the civil service examination?”

Old feelings began to erupt like a volcano due to this conflict.

“Father was the one who made the youngest son, who didn’t even live in the northeast, the Crown Prince in the first place…?”

“What, what did you say?”

“Both of you, stop it.”

You’re not kids, why are you fighting over this?

When I stopped my grandfather and father, they turned their heads to me.

“Whose words do you think are right, Crown Prince?”

“Yes! You tell me!”

Ah.

I’m in a checkmate.

‘I’m a neutral country.’

As much as the two kings have trust and affection for me, if I take one side, the aftermath will be enormous.

‘This is a case where at least one of them will be sulking for months.’

I closed my eyes tightly.

In this case, I have to go with the Hwang Hui Jeongseung [a famous Joseon Dynasty prime minister known for his neutrality] meta.

Of course, not the Hwang Hui who is a corruption offender under me now, but the Hwang Hui Jeongseung in the unofficial history.

“King’s words that we cannot confront Ming right now are correct.”

I said, looking at Yi Bang-won.

“I knew you would say that!”

Then Yi Bang-won admired, and Yi Seong-gye’s face turned red.

Then I said before Yi Seong-gye exploded.

“But it is not desirable for the Jurchens to escape from our arms like this.”

“Yes, so we have to show our majesty once. We have to put military pressure on A-ha-chu.”

Yi Seong-gye said.

I clapped my hands and said.

“Then, how about compromising and jointly managing the A-ha-chu forces with Ming?”

In my own way, I presented it as a buffer plan, referring to the modern joint management area, but Yi Bang-won and Yi Seong-gye’s expressions were subtle.

“It’s terrible.”

Yi Seong-gye threw a word.

“It’s absurd.”

Yi Bang-won also said.

“Such an ambiguous appeasement policy will not work. Rather, the Jurchens, who think our power has weakened, will defect en masse.”

“Ming will also regard the joint management as offensive and it will be counterproductive.”

‘Oh, oh?’

I scratched my head, saying this is not it.

“Rather than that, it might be better to take a step back and look forward to the future.”

“We may have to thoroughly draw A-ha-chu to our side.”

After criticizing the strategy I put forward with one mind, the two seemed to be in harmony.

“I understand what the Crown Prince said. Go back to the East Palace for now.”

“…Yes.”

I answered sullenly.

Yi Seong-gye and Yi Bang-won were still exchanging strategies, but their voices did not get louder like before.

Still, it’s a relief that I fixed the discord, isn’t it?

===

“Sigh, yeah. What kind of diplomacy am I doing…”

I was greatly criticized and heartbroken, so I scratched the ground with a branch.

Then someone poked my cheek from the side.

“Your Highness’s expression is rotten.”

“…Even if it’s your brother, is it okay to say that he’s rotten?”

“But it really is rotten.”

Is it that obvious?

Do asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, there’s a complicated problem…”

“Ah!”

Do clapped his hands and said.

“Is it because of Mother? Because of the youngest one you’re raising in the East Palace?”

That’s not really it.

My half-brother, who was walking clumsily in the distance, caught my eye.

Well, it might look like that to this guy who only walks around in the palace.

This age group is originally most afraid of their mother.

“Even if Mother doesn’t like it, she won’t be able to scold you too much. Your Highness is Mother’s eldest son.”

Do stretched out his small hand and poked my face.

“Well, I guess so…”

I answered without a soul.

Queen Wongyeong is scary enough just by sending silent glances.

‘Huh?’

Wait a minute.

I felt something strange in Do’s words.

That’s right.

Queen Wongyeong doesn’t like me being close to my half-brother, but she doesn’t want our relationship to break down either.

‘It’s natural because we’re family.’

But isn’t that the same with Ming and Joseon?

‘Of course, it’s not like Ming and Joseon are family.’

That’s something to say after the Imjin War [Japanese invasions of Korea, 1592-1598].

But there were also parts that coincided with the current situation.

It felt like I was about to grasp something, but I didn’t have the brain to concretize it.

Fortunately, I had someone to fill it.

“Bring Kim Jong-seo!”

I shouted like that.

End

ⓒ Pitkong