There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 138

< Dongpalcham >

Dongpalcham is a border area between Joseon and Ming China.

I learned after arriving in Joseon that the borders of this era were more like areas than clearly defined lines.

Dongpalcham was such a region.

Although there was a tacit understanding that the area south of the Amnok River was Joseon territory and the area north of it was Ming territory, the actual administrative control varied.

In particular, Joseon regarded the Dongpalcham area as a buffer zone or a neutral ground between the two countries.

In fact, the administration of the Yodong governor [a Ming Dynasty official in charge of the Liaodong region] did not extend beyond Yeonsan Pass.

As a result, various bandits and Jurchens [a Tungistic people who lived in the northeast of China] were rampant, which was a problem.

‘Then, could that group be…?’

I thought, dumbfounded.

Of course, I had passed through Dongpalcham when crossing over to Ming China.

However, at that time, the Jurchens of Dongpalcham didn’t even try to approach, seeing our well-organized escort.

‘This is absurd.’

Can’t they tell at a glance that we are not to be trifled with?

The officials dispatched from the Yodong governor were no different.

“Ah, no…”

They must be thinking, how could they dare to attack us when the news of the Joseon Crown Prince’s return has spread?

‘Didn’t Yodong manage this properly?’

Well, they must have left it as a neutral area.

But now was not the time to assign blame.

“Your Highness, step back. We will protect Your Highness’s safety at all costs.”

Lee Cheon said in a determined voice, drawing his sword.

The men facing the Jurchens began to prepare their weapons.

– Clang!

Guards came forward, surrounding the horse my brother was riding in a protective circle, and drew their swords.

Even those who were not armed did what they could.

Even Jang Yeong-sil [a famous Joseon inventor and scientist] picked up what looked like a thick piece of wood, and others set up carts as barricades.

Because it was such a dangerous era, people didn’t hesitate to act.

‘I’m not particularly worried.’

In case this situation might happen, Joseon sent a separate, strong escort to the envoy on the way to Liaoyang [a city in present-day Liaoning Province, China].

As it was an envoy for the Crown Prince’s audience, the escort was especially large and composed of elite soldiers.

They could easily repel the Jurchens of that size.

After a while, the Jurchens, stirring up dust clouds, approached and fired arrows all at once.

– Swish!

The arrows rained down from the running horses and struck the carts with a thud.

“Duck down, Your Highness, Grand Prince!”

At Lee Cheon’s shout, I grabbed my brother’s head and bent forward with him.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the volley.

I thought the enemies would soon break through, but there was no immediate attack.

That was strange.

I cautiously peeked my head out from behind the cart to assess the situation.

“That’s it! They were aiming for that!”

The guards had rushed in from all directions to protect me as soon as they saw the group, so the rear was rather unguarded.

The attackers were taking advantage of that gap to target the pigs and sheep in the rear.

They must have smelled the livestock we brought and moved that way.

“Their goal isn’t me! Protect the livestock now!”

As soon as I realized that, I shouted frantically.

We couldn’t lose the animals we had barely brought from Ming China!

“But, Your Highness…”

Lee Cheon was reluctant to weaken the escort, saying it was dangerous.

But I couldn’t lose such a valuable source of protein.

These were the livestock that would spread throughout Joseon and feed all the people in the future.

However, Lee Cheon’s reaction was passive, perhaps because he was overly concerned about the safety of the Crown Prince.

“Damn it!”

Unable to bear it any longer, I pushed Lee Cheon aside.

===

Joseon’s management of the Northeast Jurchens was at its peak.

They offered the carrot of trading daily necessities, and with the approval of the Ming Dynasty, they declared that the land you live on is Joseon land, and you who live here are also Joseon people.

Of course, most of it was only in name.

Naturally, not everyone welcomed this.

“This is surely a scheme to absorb us into Joseon in the future!”

Until now, what had tied them to Joseon was Lee Seong-gye’s [the founder and first king of the Joseon dynasty] strong influence, but after the Ming Dynasty ceded the land south of Gongheomjin [a fortress in present-day North Korea] to Joseon, the situation changed.

“The granaries have become abundant and the products have flourished since the opening of the markets in Gyeongwon and Gyeongseong, so how can you say it is all bad?”

“Then, to the end, are you truly going to become Joseon people!”

Even now, it is only nominally Joseon land, and Joseon’s administrative power does not fully reach it.

However, in addition to Lee Seong-gye’s influence, which is still maintained, it was obvious that the reach of the Joseon government would slowly extend.

Moreover, the number of Joseon people is dozens of times greater than that of the Jurchens, so after a long time, when their land is full, what will happen when they set foot here, claiming this is also Joseon land?

“Then what are you saying? Are you suggesting that we leave our beloved hometown and cross over to the west of the Mudan River [a river in present-day Heilongjiang Province, China]?”

However, even though the Jurchens were engaged in semi-farming and semi-pastoralism, it was not easy to move their base.

Even if they went to Ming territory, the situation might not be different, and such places were usually already claimed.

For that reason, there were not many who managed to escape Joseon’s influence.

It goes without saying that Iribuka, who had been friendly with Joseon from the beginning, and even Meonteomu, who had ulterior motives, did not think of leaving after considering the situation, so the only one who completely moved his base was Yang Mutawu of Oljeokhap.

In the original history, he refused Meonteomu’s persuasion to surrender to Ming and attacked and killed him.

First, this Yang Mutawu moved to the northwest and decided to live in Palcham, a neutral area between Ming and Joseon.

However, it was difficult for him, who had no established base, to take care of the hundreds of households that followed him.

However, he thought of the case of Zhu Yin, the Jurchen chiliarch [a military rank] of Cheongju (Bukcheong), who was also notorious for stealing other people’s cows and horses.

Since Yang Mutawu had always seen him doing that, it didn’t take long for him to start doing the same.

Fortunately, the trade of cattle between Joseon and Liaodong had begun by order of the Yongle Emperor [the third emperor of the Ming dynasty], so it was a good opportunity to start.

“The cattle market has opened in Liaodong; it seems it was opened for us!”

Even so, bandits were rampant in this Dongpalcham.

He was getting used to stealing little by little so that he would not be singled out for suppression.

The Jurchens, who rushed in without hesitation at the news that a lot of livestock was coming down from Liaodong, were very embarrassed.

“These, these guys, they have quite a few soldiers and their power is impressive!”

If they were Jurchens who had lived in Palcham for a long time, they would know that these were different from the usual cattle-selling groups.

It was the Joseon and Ming envoys exchanging goods, and the procession included an unimaginably precious person.

However, Yang Mutawu, who had not been here for long, had no way of knowing.

Yang Mutawu shouted.

“Haven’t we taken other people’s cows and horses once or twice? Surely this must also be what Heaven has given us!”

Yang Mutawu kicked the horse’s belly boldly.

After that, the Jurchens followed in droves.

“Attack!”

When they fired arrows all at once, they saw the enemies cowering.

However, they were not very flustered, nor did they collapse on their own.

Yang Mutawu instinctively felt that the opponent was quite elite, unlike those they had been robbing until now.

“We don’t need people anyway! Go around to the side and strike only the livestock!”

Yang Mutawu gave the order, but there was a point he missed.

Unlike those who would be terrified by this threatening fire and not pay attention to the cattle, the pursuit started immediately.

This was his downfall.

===

Although the Jurchens were fierce, I wasn’t too worried.

The enemies were poorly armed and few in number.

I personally took my bow and sword.

‘Damn it, it’s inconvenient because it’s not a matchlock.’

But I couldn’t bring a matchlock because there were eyes watching.

“They’re going for the sheep and pigs!”

Of course, the looters’ goal was livestock.

‘I heard that quite a few cattle were stolen.’

If they didn’t know that we were the Crown Prince and his party, it wouldn’t be strange for them to turn their eyes to that side.

The enemies seemed to think they had caught us off guard, and they were busy looting the pigs and sheep even when they were right in front of us.

‘They’re not a proper army after all!’

It seemed more like a band of robbers than an army with strict military discipline.

“Even if they rummage through like that, they won’t be able to take much, so there’s no need for Your Highness to step in.”

Lee Cheon said, pushing me to the back.

He seemed worried that I would be swept away by the enemies.

‘I can do my part.’

“Still, we have to stop them. Even if they don’t take many, we can’t afford the number that will be scattered due to the confusion in the ranks like this.”

How hard did we work to get those pigs and sheep?

In Joseon, the native breeds are small, so they are not suitable for livestock.

At least there are cows and chickens for meat, but the slaughter of cows is strictly prohibited because they are used for farming.

Although that rule is not always followed.

Therefore, these were animals that must be bred, propagated, and raised well in Joseon.

Seeing those animals being driven into the hands of dirty robbers made my blood boil.

– Swoosh!

The arrow I shot flew and pierced the head of one of the Jurchens.

Then, those who were busy looting finally turned their heads this way.

The leader, who appeared to be the boss, did the same.

Lee Cheon did not miss the opportunity and drove the soldiers forward.

“You bastards! What safety are you violating by acting violently here!”

However, unfortunately for Lee Cheon, their eyes were not fixed on him.

“S, surely! The grandson of the Grand King?”

The boss raised his finger and looked at me and shouted.

“Oh, do you know me?”

Not ‘the Crown Prince of Joseon’ but ‘the grandson of the Grand King’.

The Jurchens of Palcham wouldn’t know me well as the Crown Prince, so does that guy also come from the Northeast?

“If you kneel down and surrender now, I will spare your miserable lives!”

There was agitation among the Jurchens who recognized my identity.

Of course.

First of all, aside from the fact that they attacked the Crown Prince of Joseon, I am the grandson of the Grand King, who is almost a legend among the Jurchens, and I even caught a tiger myself.

“Eek…! Don’t be shaken! Now that we’ve already left Joseon, what’s the big deal about the grandson of the Grand King!”

I thought they would surrender or run away, but the guy gritted his teeth and reloaded his arrow.

However, my reaction was faster.

The arrow that flew from my bow pierced the boss’s head, and soon the strength in his hand slipped away, and the arrow bounced off belatedly.

And the arrow that flew─

“Ugh.”

Feeling the sensation of the arrow hitting my chest, I made a dull sound.

‘Could it be, did I get hit?’

No matter how much the development of surgical medicine has been achieved through Pyeongwonhae, there is no way a human who has been shot in the heart can survive.

When the highlights of my life were flashing before my eyes, I felt the lightning-struck wood in my chest pocket crack.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

I heard the shouts of the guards rushing in in great surprise, but my nerves were focused elsewhere.

‘Ah, could it be!’

I then realized why Lee Seong-gye gave this to me.

It is said that the Mongol army put such a piece of wood in their pockets to protect their vital points.

Of course, Lee Seong-gye, who was from a Mongol chiliarch, would have known as well.

‘Grandpa, you gave it to me for this purpose, but you said it was an amulet or something?’

Well, if he had told me the truth, I would have thought it was overprotective and taken it off.

‘Grandpa knows exactly what kind of person I am now.’

Still, it was a proper amulet.

There was not much left of the Amnok River, but I suddenly missed Lee Seong-gye.