There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 119

On the surface, it seemed like he had fallen for my trick to provoke him, but from Hwang Eom’s perspective, it wasn’t a loss for him either.

This was because his role was simply to inform Emperor Yongle that we were willing to discuss setting the national border.

‘There’s no reason to criticize the issue of setting a border itself, and however the border is decided, it’s a matter that’s already out of Hwang Eom’s hands by then.’

Even as he got worked up and answered my question, he must have finished all those calculations in his head.

That’s why he confidently declared that he would report it to the Emperor.

Hwang Eom created an issue for which he wasn’t really responsible, while achieving his desired goal.

‘This means it’s not a loss for this gentleman personally.’

Rather, he would be praised by Emperor Yongle for achieving results.

So, what about us?

‘In this situation, pushing to clearly define the border is a huge win.’

This is because the claim that the location of Gongheomjin is 700 li [approximately 230 miles, a traditional Chinese unit of distance] north of the Tumen River had already been accepted by Zhu Yuanzhang.

And Emperor Yongle didn’t particularly deny it either.

No Ming Dynasty official would be able to deny this when setting the border.

Moreover, considering my reputation, Hwang Eom would likely persuade Emperor Yongle to overlook this much, so perhaps we could take it smoothly?

“Haha, Imperial Secretary Hwang is indeed magnanimous.”

I praised Hwang Eom like that after calculating on the abacus.

Hwang Eom also did not reject my praise.

We exchanged unspoken understanding.

I secretly wiped the sweat from my forehead.

Anyway, did I barely manage to complete Yi Bang-won’s quest?

‘I barely got through this too.’

I really should get a bonus from the country.

===

I didn’t know when the Ming Dynasty’s response would come, but I thought it would be good to tell my family about it, so I brought it up.

Then, Queen Wongyeong firmly said.

“No, absolutely not. Nanjing is tens of thousands of li away; how can a child like you go?”

“But, I’ve been to the southern coast and the Northeast Frontier Command, too?”

You didn’t say anything when I went to those far places, so I’m a bit taken aback that you’re acting like this.

‘It’s much safer than places where wild people or Japanese pirates might pop out.’

But Queen Wongyeong was firm.

“At least those were still within Joseon.”

Let’s not talk about almost getting killed by a tiger after going beyond the Tumen River.

With Queen Wongyeong’s personality, it would be a relief if she didn’t grab her father-in-law by the collar.

“We don’t know what the Great Country [referring to Ming China] will say yet… I’m just mentioning it.”

In the end, I had no choice but to quickly make excuses.

On the other hand, Yi Bang-won calmly accepted the result.

Since the audience with the Emperor was already decided, and with these conditions, it was satisfactory enough for him.

“They must have realized the conditions we didn’t mention. If they don’t acknowledge the territory up to Gongheomjin, the audience will be postponed again with some excuse.”

“That’s right.”

Emperor Yongle would also consider that point when making his decision.

Then, Yi Bang-won said something out of the blue.

“700 li south of Gongheomjin… it’s a bit of a waste.”

“Yes?”

“I thought you might be able to bring back more.”

What do you think of me, anyway?

‘Even if you don’t say it, you secretly have a desire for territory.’

I thought, glancing at Yi Bang-won.

But Joseon only needs to continue managing the Jurchen people who were under grandfather’s control.

Let the Liaodong friends take care of the rest.

“Even if the Emperor sets the border, who knows what else he’ll do…”

“That’s a matter for then.”

I said with a chuckle.

And finally, the Grand King, who would have been most interested in this issue.

“We have decided to set the national border. Our demand will be 700 li north of the Tumen River.”

Yi Seong-gye was very pleased.

Since there are no Four Garrisons and Six Fortresses right now, the only places where administrative power properly reaches are, by modern standards, South Hamgyong Province and part of North Hamgyong Province.

However, it was natural for the corners of his mouth to rise at the news that land where influence indirectly reaches could be officially recognized as territory.

“Yes, if those guys nail it down as Joseon land, that would be great.”

I nodded at Yi Seong-gye’s words.

“But we need to be more certain. I am preparing this.”

“What, do you mean you need evidence?”

I said.

“That’s right.”

We need ‘something’ to prove that Gongheomjin is our land.

But logically, there’s no way something like that exists, right?

But when I came to Joseon, I made a decision.

‘If it doesn’t exist, make it.’

I made matchlocks and white porcelain, there’s no way I can’t make evidence.

I immediately called the officials of Hanseongbu [the capital administration] and ordered them to create and present documents from the time of King Yejong of Goryeo.

“Oh, my arm!”

Hwang Hee groaned as he wielded his brush.

He glanced at me and complained.

“I’m having a very hard time holding a brush after only using pencils for a while, Your Highness.”

“Stop exaggerating and write quickly.”

You haven’t even written a few letters, where are you trying to slack off?

Right now, we were fabricating historical facts from the Goryeo period on suitably old-looking paper.

The work of compiling the history of Goryeo was said to have started during the time of the Grand King.

It’s not the famous , but the National History of Goryeo compiled by Jeong Do-jeon and Jo Jun.

However, because of the short compilation period, the content was quite a mess, so after my father took power, Ha Ryun began revising the National History of Goryeo.

‘In this situation, it was easy to take on a few tasks to help with the revision work.’

I just added a little imagination to it.

‘I just added the Nine Fortresses of the Northeast, created counties, added some names, and slightly moved the location north of the Tumen River.’

This much can’t even be called distortion.

Creating documents like this was rather easy.

Because all you have to do is call a few officials and play with settings with a brush.

However, there were also things that required more difficult work.

“Oh, I’m going to die.”

No Bun shouted like that, soaked in sweat.

He had just straightened his back after diligently working on the stone.

The work of carving letters into the rock was in full swing.

“Hurry up. There’s no time.”

I put him in because he seemed to have learned a lot while being in the Military Supplies Department, but I scolded him because he wasn’t thinking about working and was just making groaning noises.

“Why are you carving the letters so clearly?”

“Your Highness, please understand. Are you going to say something even if I carve it well now?”

“Hey, you stupid bastard.”

I gave No-boon a flick on the head.

“This is a monument from the Goryeo Dynasty. It’s been at least hundreds of years, so how can it be as clean as if it was carved today? Make it feel like the passage of time. Chop between the letters and drop pieces.”

“Your Highness, if I have to worry about things like that, I’m really going to die.”

“You’re not dead yet. If you die doing this, I’ll be sad for you.”

It looks like he can still do it, but he’s exaggerating.

After making the monument according to my conditions, and covering it with dirt and dust, a monument that looked appropriately old was made.

– Great Goryeo Territory Seonchun Pass Monument

Yun Gwan might have built something similar somewhere, but it has been revived after hundreds of years.

“It would be appropriate to put it somewhere in the Mudan River area.”

I wanted to make it in Hamheung and have them bring it up, but if I made it there, some rumors might spread.

It was better to make it in Hanyang [the capital city, modern-day Seoul] and secretly load this monument and put it there, so that the Ming Dynasty officials who came to set the border would not hear about it and be alarmed.

‘It’s not that big of a monument in the first place.’

It was just about the size of a monument that says XX Mountain Summit Altitude 486m when you climb a local mountain.

“But if you make something like this and put it there, will the Ming Dynasty believe it? They might find evidence to refute it.”

No Bun asked.

Then I clicked my tongue at No Bun’s ignorance and asked back.

“Bring it? From where?”

“That’s from China…”

“Where is there data about the Goryeo border, you idiot.”

I explained to No Bun.

‘Of course, you can only find the border of the Goryeo Dynasty in Goryeo.’

When Goryeo built the Nine Fortresses of the Northeast, the Song Dynasty was a loser who couldn’t even come near Liaodong, so how would they know if Goryeo ate the corner of Manchuria or not.

In other words, if the Ming wants to set the border, they must refer to our historical records.

In addition, it was not just a claim made in words, and Yi Seong-gye’s influence remained strong.

I looked at the completed monument and documents with a proud expression.

Although it is a relic that I fabricated, wouldn’t this become a cultural asset after hundreds of years?

‘And broadly speaking, this is all a Goryeo Dynasty relic. Yes, yes.’

Joseon has only been founded for over ten years, so it is half Goryeo stuff.

The paper used in that document is Goryeo Dynasty paper, and the stone used in the monument is Goryeo Dynasty stone.”

Then, Yi Seong-gye’s voice was heard from behind.

“You were making evidence, so you were doing this?”

“Yes? What did you think I was doing?”

“Tsk, tsk, who did you take after to develop such a habit of cheating?”

To dismiss the results of my tireless efforts as fraud.

I asked out of spite.

“Then should I just quit? I’m doing this for Grandfather, so if Grandfather tells me to stop, I’ll stop.”

About half of it is fabrication out of filial piety for the Grand King.

Who am I moving for, why are you doing this?

Yi Seong-gye was speechless for a moment.

His grandson is staging such a grand fraud for him, what can he say?

‘It was also made to screw over the Ming Dynasty.’

In fact, that feeling is a little bigger.

But Yi Seong-gye’s indescribable gaze reached me.

Could it be that he was slightly moved?

“Hmm.”

Yi Seong-gye couldn’t bring himself to say stop.

He just asked this.

“Are you confident?”

“There are materials written in the Goryeo Dynasty and even a real monument remains, and the Jurchen people also serve Grandfather, so the Ming will never be able to deny it.

Didn’t Emperor Hongwu acknowledge it in the first place?”

I said confidently.

“Yes. You’re doing all this, so of course you should.”

Yi Seong-gye said.

Then he got up, hmm.

“My grandson is running around alone, how can this grandfather just stand still? I’ll use my strength once.”

“Yes?”

What are you going to do again?

“I will take this monument to the Northeast Frontier Command myself.”

Yi Seong-gye patted the monument that came up to his waist and said.

“I’m going to have a big shamanic ritual in the Northeast Frontier Command.”

Yi Seong-gye made a boast.