There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 123

The Hongwu Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was wary of eunuchs’ involvement in politics, so he only appointed illiterate men as eunuchs. His grandson, the Jianwen Emperor, also faithfully followed this decree.

However, the rebellious Yongle Emperor was different.

If he had been inclined to listen to his father in the first place, he wouldn’t have started the rebellion.

Thus, eunuchs were now involved in various state affairs as close aides to the emperor.

Like Hwang-eom, who frequently visited Joseon as an imperial envoy.

Hwang-eom had become a complete Joseon affairs diplomat, but the envoy who actually came to Joseon to determine the border was not Hwang-eom.

“Grand Eunuch, aren’t you upset?”

The man riding beside him said, clearly disgruntled.

“To send a great man who has so much to do with upholding the sacred will of the Western Ocean to this place.”

“That’s right. How can he create the problem and then pass the buck to us like this?”

The target of their sharp criticism was clear.

It was Grand Eunuch Hwang-eom of the Office of Ceremonies.

He had orchestrated the major event of confirming the border in exchange for the Joseon crown prince’s visit to the capital, but he had slipped away from the task himself, which was only natural.

“Isn’t it too obvious that he intends to take credit if it goes well and blame us if it doesn’t?”

“Ahem!”

The man feigned a stern rebuke at his subordinates’ complaints.

“Grand Eunuch Hwang is clearly our superior. Besides, His Majesty has already approved it. We are only following His Majesty’s orders.”

The Office of Ceremonies was an institution that oversaw all eunuchs, and its head, the Grand Eunuch of the Office of Ceremonies, could be considered the leader of all eunuchs.

Although the man was the second-in-command, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Palace Attendants, he was no match for Hwang-eom’s power.

However, that didn’t mean the man wasn’t feeling uncomfortable.

His quick-witted subordinates continued to speak ill of Hwang-eom.

“Wasn’t he the one who sided with Prince Zhao from the moment His Majesty raised his army? How can His Majesty keep such a person as a close aide…?”

The Yongle Emperor had several sons, including Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi, Prince Han Zhu Gaoxu, and Prince Zhao Zhu Gaosui.

Hwang-eom had sided with Zhu Gaosui and constantly undermined Zhu Gaochi during the Jingnan Rebellion [a civil war from 1399 to 1402] .

The man’s subordinates were pointing that out.

It was said that eunuchs were nothing without politics, but wasn’t he more interested in political maneuvering than the eunuch’s inherent duties?

The man didn’t openly scold his subordinates even after hearing those words.

“Sending a great man here is like riding a tiger. If the outcome of the treaty doesn’t please His Majesty even slightly, he will pounce on the great man.”

There was some truth to his subordinates’ warnings.

“I am deeply indebted to His Majesty’s grace. Even if you didn’t say so, this is a momentous task of determining the border with a tributary state. How could I do it carelessly?”

The man said that, but he couldn’t help but feel twisted inside.

There was another important task that the emperor had given him.

To head to Joseon at such a crucial time, with less than a year left until that task.

‘Does this mean my favor is still not as great as Grand Eunuch Hwang’s?’

The man clicked his tongue inwardly.

He vowed to complete the tasks given to him perfectly and reverse this relationship without fail.

Whether it was the task of heading to Joseon or heading to the great ocean.

Eunuch Zheng He made that resolution as he headed to Joseon.

===

“Zheng He?”

I was surprised to hear the name of the person who had come to determine the border.

Wasn’t that a name I often heard in places like National Geographic?

He was said to be the Chinese version of the Age of Discovery explorer.

I didn’t know the details of that voyage, but I swallowed hard at the fact that someone I had heard of had come.

My father and I went to Taepyeonggwan [a state guest house] to greet Zheng He, who had come as an envoy.

“It is a great honor to meet His Majesty, the King of Joseon.”

Unlike Hwang-eom, Zheng He’s attitude was very courteous.

‘I thought he would be arrogant like Hwang-eom.’

Zheng He immediately presented the imperial edict to Yi Bang-won.

The content of the edict was roughly that he would accept the request of the tributary state of Joseon and that the envoy would discuss the border.

“Let’s start the discussion right away.”

At Zheng He’s words, Yi Bang-won asked.

“Aren’t you tired? I’ve prepared a banquet, so why don’t you relax and enjoy yourself today and start the discussion tomorrow?”

“If I had come for other matters, I might have, but I have come for the serious matter of determining the border. Since this was originally requested by Joseon, let’s get to work.”

I clicked my tongue inwardly at the sight.

‘Damn it, I was thinking of greasing the wheels a bit.’

I would like this style if he were my subordinate, but it’s not easy since I’m in a position where I have to lobby.

“Alright. Then let’s start the discussion right away.”

When I clapped my hands, No-bi [government slaves] brought in a pile of old books from outside.

“These are the geographical records of Goryeo [previous dynasty of Korea] and the historical records of that time. Please refer to them.”

Then Zheng He and the delegation received the books.

“Cough!”

The delegation coughed in unison as the dust that had been piled up beforehand rose up.

“Cough, cough, it seems to be very old data.”

“That’s right. It’s from the Daegwan era of the Song Dynasty (大觀, 1107 ~ 1110), so it’s at least several hundred years old.”

Of course, it was fabricated.

The delegation, who had been diligently examining the books, discussed among themselves and said.

“According to the contents, it is certain that the territory of Goryeo was 700 li [approximately 350 kilometers] above the Tumen River.”

“That’s right.”

The Ming Dynasty would not have any data to verify it separately.

That’s why they had accepted our claims as they were from the past.

However, Zheng He’s words were not over yet.

“But this is also hundreds of years ago. It is natural for a country’s borders to recede and advance. We cannot determine the border based solely on these historical records.”

“Gongheomjin has been our territory since ancient times, and our influence still reaches there.”

Even if the Ming Dynasty was a gangster, they couldn’t ask us to hand over land that we had occupied since the beginning and still occupy now.

It was not worth starting a war with Joseon to obtain it.

However, Zheng He dug into the fact that the land was inhabited by Jurchen tribes, not our direct control.

As a result, the argument did not end easily.

‘Damn it, this guy is so picky.’

I cursed inwardly.

“Well, border demarcation is an important matter anyway. It can’t be done overnight. Let’s have a cup of tea.”

Yi Bang-won clapped his hands as the atmosphere became awkward.

He had sensed that the other side’s attitude was not easy and ordered a break.

Then he had tea brought in.

I suddenly had an idea and said.

“By the way, doesn’t your great country have plans to go out to the distant sea?”

Zheng He’s eyes widened slightly at my words.

“How did you know?”

However, he didn’t look that surprised.

This wasn’t exactly a secret that had to be kept from the outside, and Joseon and Ming exchanged envoys frequently, so he thought I might have heard it somewhere.

“We have decided to set sail for the first time next year. It is to inform the barbarians in all directions of our emperor’s virtue and receive tribute.”

Zheng He said with a proud face, but I cursed the Yongle Emperor inwardly.

‘He’s doing everything he can to establish his prestige.’

Well, a man who usurped his nephew’s throne needs that kind of achievement to maintain his legitimacy.

Like my visit to the capital.

However, Zheng He’s expedition could be a good opportunity for our Joseon if we used it well.

‘Is there any way to get a piece of the action?’

I pondered.

While I was thinking, Zheng He was busy drinking in the national pride.

“There are many countries in the world, but there is no country as great as our Great Ming. That’s why it’s called China (中國) [literally “Middle Kingdom”]. Haha.”

“Since the Emperor is the master of such a vast world, wouldn’t it be generous to concede some land on the border?”

When I asked slyly, Zheng He hardened his face and turned his head slightly.

“That’s why we are here to report and discuss.”

He has a lot of land, but his heart is narrow.

Geez.

===

“The other party is too stubborn. Hwang-eom at least seemed to have some room for compromise.”

I confided my concerns to Yi Bang-won.

We need to know how much they can concede to secure the area south of Gongheomjin.

“The border we initially requested was the Mudan River… Should we give up a little more?”

I said that because I thought it would be better to give up some land than to confront them head-on.

Pointing at the map, I asked, and Yi Bang-won tilted his head.

Then he asked.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

“Please speak.”

“Do they really cling to this kind of land? As you said, it’s just a remote area of the world, isn’t it?”

“Then what is it?”

I also tilted my head.

“Compromise is not always achieved by unconditionally conceding. Didn’t I tell you to give the other party what they want?”

“You mean the issue is not about conceding a little land or not.”

“That’s right.”

Yi Bang-won said, as if he was proud that I understood him well.

“What the Emperor wants and what the delegation wants are separate.”

“What the Emperor wants is proof that our Joseon is not colluding with the Jurchens to target Liaodong [a region in northeastern China]…”

Yi Bang-won continued.

“The delegation must want something else. We need to fulfill that.”

We need to find out what the working-level delegation wants.

“I will find out.”

There was a suitable place.

===

Zheng He was continuing the working-level negotiations.

However, not everyone was involved in this border demarcation agreement like Zheng He.

The attendants who had followed the delegation were not in a position to participate in the important issue of determining the border, so they were like sacks of barley placed in Taepyeonggwan.

When our officials offered to take them to a secluded place, they did not refuse.

“Oh, to think there is such a place in the village where the Joseon officials reside. The feng shui [traditional Chinese concept linking destiny to environment] is really good.”

“I didn’t know there was such a place in Joseon.”

The attendants said, each with a gisaeng [Korean female entertainers] at their side.

They didn’t really watch their words, thinking that the gisaengs wouldn’t understand them.

“Then, please rest comfortably.”

When our officials left, they indulged in drinking among themselves.

After spending some time with trivial talk, they started talking about politics, which is the rule of drinking parties.

“By the way. I don’t know why Grand Eunuch Zheng is so desperately clinging to it. Even though he can’t enjoy women because he’s a eunuch, doesn’t he refuse to even have a drink in such a good place?”

Someone asked, laughing loudly.

Then, the person who is always knowledgeable about politics at a drinking party answered.

“Why else? Grand Eunuch Hwang only took the sweet taste of visiting the capital and passed the border demarcation work to Grand Eunuch Zheng, so he can’t afford to be caught. He doesn’t want to make even the slightest mistake.”

It would be a disaster if rumors spread that he had taken bribes and favored Joseon.

“Hmm, it’s not really relevant to us low-ranking officials, but Grand Eunuch Zheng must have a headache.”

“Wouldn’t Grand Eunuch Hwang be the same? Grand Eunuch Zheng is a person who was even granted a surname for his contributions during the Emperor’s Jingnan Rebellion? It’s a situation where two tigers are baring their teeth and checking each other.”

Someone who was knowledgeable about palace politics said with a lot of swagger.

“Well, it looks like Grand Eunuch Hwang has given Grand Eunuch Zheng a big middle finger right now. Haha, Grand Eunuch Zheng must be grinding his teeth inside!”

“Shh. Don’t talk about such things carelessly.”

Someone who had finally come to his senses warned, but he didn’t stop.

“Who’s listening? The women here don’t understand our language at all. Or do they?”

However, the delegation had no idea.

The stories they were telling were leaking into the next room through a thin groove and being heard.

I smiled when I heard the translator’s words, who had his ear pressed tightly against the iron plate.

“So the reason he’s being so picky is because of Hwang-eom?”

It seemed like the answer was in sight.

End

ⓒ Pitkong