There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 148

According to Lee Seong-gye, ‘Nadam’ refers to a grand festival held by the Mongols, a kind of Olympics showcasing their strength and skill.

The events include archery, wrestling, and horse riding – the core skills of a warrior.

Through these competitions, each tribe tests its mettle and a champion is declared.

‘As expected of someone from a Mongol military family.’

His family has served the Mongols for generations, so naturally, he’d be familiar with it.

“Well, that’s all ancient history. It’s been a long time since the Yuan Dynasty fell and the Mongols’ power waned, so Nadams haven’t been held in ages.”

It’s been decades since the Northern Yuan Dynasty was crushed and pushed back by the Ming Dynasty.

It was only natural, considering they probably don’t even know if their government still exists.

The Eastern Three Kings, who once dominated Manchuria, also faded from power long ago.

“Good, let’s seize this opportunity to host a Nadam ourselves!”

Lee Seong-gye said with a hearty laugh.

“When I was young, Nadams were something only the Mongol royal families held. But why should our Joseon royal family be considered inferior to them?”

“Of course.”

Surely, the dignity of Joseon, an independent nation, is far greater than that of the Eastern Three Kings, who were subordinate to the Yuan Dynasty.

Whether other countries agree is another matter entirely.

“I’ll finally get to see a Nadam after all this time!”

Lee Seong-gye grinned.

“Are you planning to preside over it yourself?”

“Of course. Traditionally, the king presides over the Nadam, congratulates the winner, and bestows rewards.”

Then, I eagerly raised my hand.

“Me, me too! I want to go!”

This sounds like fun.

Besides, since it’s related to subjugating the Northeast, I can subtly try to get my outing ban lifted.

However, Lee Seong-gye subtly avoided my gaze.

“Ahem.”

Why is the old man acting like this all of a sudden?

“Well… your daughter-in-law has just given birth, so as the eldest grandson, shouldn’t you be steadfastly protecting the family and attending to your duties?”

“No, where is it written that I have to do that?”

Lee Seong-gye was fidgeting, probably after getting an earful from Lee Bang-won.

“And I’m just an old man confined to the back room, but you are the Crown Prince of this country. You have many important duties assisting Bang-won…”

“Does Father really think Hal-aboji [Grandfather] is going to unite the Jurchens and cause trouble? Does he think he’s letting Hal-aboji go alone?”

The last time I went to the Northeast, it was only because the country had a guarantor that he allowed it.

Jo Sa-ui’s rebellion must remain a significant trauma for Lee Bang-won.

Even if he knows in his head that Lee Seong-gye would never start another rebellion.

But Lee Seong-gye was still fidgeting.

“That’s…”

Lee Seong-gye opened his mouth.

“Honestly, I’m a bit concerned about your daughter-in-law. It seems that Wonbin [Royal Concubine of the First Rank] is being harassed by the Queen these days.”

While I was oblivious, there have been many shifts in the power dynamics of the inner court.

It seemed that Wonbin, the Grand King’s concubine who defended Hyobin Kim, was facing a major offensive from his mother, the Queen.

‘As expected, to capture the general, you must first shoot the horse.’ [An idiom meaning to attack the enemy’s weak point first.]

I swallowed hard.

“I heard that a group from some women’s association petitioned the Queen to suppress the concubines, and the Queen is using that as leverage to control them…”

Somehow, the butterfly effect seems to have flapped its wings in a strange direction.

‘I strangled my own neck!’

I eventually gave up on persuading Lee Seong-gye.

To abandon his grandson for his beloved concubine…

I will never forget today’s events.

Instead, I headed to Induk Palace.

“Nadam… you say…!”

Lee Bang-gwa’s eyes widened.

To him, Nadam was a cherished memory from the past.

“That’s right. The Grand King intends to revive it with our royal family’s blessing.”

As a martial artist, Lee Bang-gwa was a great sports enthusiast.

At my suggestion, he immediately vowed to participate.

“If I don’t participate in Nadam… who will?”

Lee Bang-gwa just decided that on his own.

My big aunt’s gaze towards me wasn’t exactly friendly, but…

‘If I give her a bunch of soap later, she’ll say it’s okay, right?’

Or pearls harvested from the South Sea.

===

– It has been decades since the Yuan Dynasty fell. It is a pity that the tradition of Nadam has been lost during that time.

Fortunately, our royal family is about to hold a grand Nadam again, so anyone with talent, whether Joseon or Jurchen, should come forward and receive generous rewards!

When the propagandist arrived in the Northeast from Hanyang [the capital of Joseon], everyone was surprised.

Wasn’t it an event that had been slowly fading from people’s memories because it hadn’t been held for decades?

Among the newly born generation, there were those who didn’t even know what Nadam was.

But who wouldn’t welcome the country holding a big festival in the Northeast?

However, there was a slight difference in this perception.

“The venue is north of the Duman River?”

“Last time, he came to Hamheung to soothe public sentiment, and this time, he seems to be visiting the newly incorporated land.”

“He’ll visit Hamheung again on the way, right?”

“Of course! Where is the foundation of our royal family?”

“Will His Highness the Crown Prince come along this time too?”

This was the thought of the Joseon people in the Northeast, including Choi Heung-rip.

It was just the opinion of people who accepted Nadam as a simple festival.

However, the perspective of those who were more familiar with nomadic culture and could see through the essence was different.

The propagandist who delivered the news to the Northeast then went up north of the Duman River to Guju, where the Joseon army was stationed.

And from here, the replicated edict of the Grand King was delivered to the large and small tribes of the Jurchens.

The military commander of Samsan, Iribuka, was no exception.

“No, what brings the military commander of Samsan here?”

Munteumu was surprised to see Iribuka, who had come to visit him with a very excited look.

“Have you heard the news?”

“The news that the Elder [Lee Seong-gye] is going to hold a Nadam?”

Since there were not many literate people among the Jurchens, it was not very common to exchange such letters.

But it was okay.

Already, there were monks from Joseon in each tribe’s camp, skillfully interpreting the text and handling administrative tasks. The sermons they gave were a bonus.

Munteumu was uneasy about it, but he left it alone because it helped govern the tribe and the tribe members had deep faith.

Iribuka nodded.

Originally, Nadams were held wherever there were Mongols, but of course, there was no reason to hold a Nadam in a small and insignificant tribe with few people.

Wasn’t the core of Nadam the competition between several tribes?

So, in this Manchuria, Nadams had been hosted by the Eastern Three Kings in their front yard.

Who were the Eastern Three Kings?

Were they not the descendants of Genghis Khan’s brothers, Prince Kasar, Prince Kachuin, and Prince Temuge Otchigin?

In particular, the Otchigin royal family, unlike the other two royal families, was a supreme family that had been granted the Imperial Brother’s Seal (皇太弟寶) by the imperial family.

For the Joseon royal family to host Nadam in place of them was significant.

“Originally, the Elder’s family was under the Otchigin royal family.”

Iribuka said, holding the letter.

Lee An-sa, who fled to the Northeast, was appointed as a military commander and Darugachi [local administrator] by the Otchigin royal family, and his descendants inherited it for generations, forming the basis for the later founding of Joseon.

“But for him to personally host Nadam this time is truly significant. Doesn’t it mean that Joseon will replace the disappeared Otchigin royal family?”

Iribuka shouted excitedly.

After the fall of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, the Otchigin royal family disappeared when Prince Ajassri surrendered to the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming Dynasty divided them into Taanwi, Taenyeongwi, and Bokyeowi.

These are called the Uryangkhai Three Guards.

“Ha, but will the Uryangkhai Three Guards stay still?”

When Munteumu asked, Iribuka said.

“They may have complaints, but what can they do? The era of great kings has already passed.”

The Uryangkhai Three Guards had already lost their throne. They lost not only their throne but also their pride. So, weren’t they dragged into the recent Rebellion of Jeongnan like mere mercenaries?

The Yongle Emperor promised to give them the Daenyeong area in return, but of course, he didn’t keep his promise.

Well, what can you expect from a man who promised his younger brother, Prince Yeong, half of the world and then washed his hands clean?

The hierarchical relationship between the Lee Seong-gye family and the descendants of Otchigin had already been completely reversed.

They can never defeat Joseon.

“Even the Ming Dynasty is having an event in their own land where they eat, drink, and enjoy themselves, so they won’t even think about interfering with this.”

Would the Ming Dynasty, with all its attention focused on the conquest of Annam, care about such a thing?

“So, you’re really going to replace the fallen Uryangkhai Three Guards and succeed the Otchigin royal family…?”

“The Elder is seventy years old, would he harbor such ambitions now?”

Munteumu was still skeptical.

But Iribuka thought it was not a problem at all.

“Doesn’t he have a grandson!”

Lee Seong-gye had already recognized Crown Prince Lee Je as his successor.

And this grandson proved his bravery by piercing the tiger’s neck with a single sword.

If he were his grandfather, he would gradually build a foundation from now on for the sake of his descendants.

“This Nadam is nothing more than a small Kurultai [Mongol political and military council]. A Kurultai where Joseon will ascend to succeed the Otchigin royal family.”

Joseon was already supposed to occupy south of Gongheomjin.

But if that was all, there was no need to go through such formalities.

So, what is Joseon aiming for?

The territory of the Otchigin royal family, in its heyday, reached the Xing’an Mountains in the northernmost part of Manchuria, beyond the Songhua River.

In an instant, the two trembled.

This is… not just a festival.

It is a declaration that the true master of the North is the Joseon royal family, and that it will soon be so.

‘How will the Uryangkhai Three Guards react? What about Bokyeowi, which borders Joseon right now? Are they planning to absorb them as well, not just the 700 li [unit of distance] north of the Duman River?

…If Joseon wins, can we get some crumbs too?’

‘It will definitely be a difficult fight. But…’

But they had already decided to serve Lee Seong-gye and his successor as their king.

If the master commands, they will run to the north without hesitation.

Hiding their excitement and fear, the two quietly looked at each other.

===

“Absolutely not!”

Lee Bang-won shouted, foaming at the mouth.

“Nadam? What’s that again? You, you want to go outside, don’t you?”

You hit the nail on the head.

Unlike Lee Seong-gye and Lee Bang-gwa, who were the very essence of northerners, Lee Bang-won, a Gaegyeong [old capital of Goryeo] man who passed the Goryeo civil service examination, had no interest in Nadam.

“Your mother barely gave birth to the youngest in good health, and the palace is in a festive mood. How can you even think about leaving?”

“Ack.”

You’re playing the filial piety card.

When Queen Wongyeong came out, I couldn’t help but flinch for a moment.

But I had a trump card.

“Please visit Father and Mother more often.”

90% of Queen Wongyeong’s hysteria comes from Lee Bang-won’s womanizing.

The remaining 10% is, well, probably the troublemaking children.

I need to educate my younger siblings more strictly.

At least it won’t be because of me.

Lee Bang-gwa also stepped up to support.

“I’m going to see my son’s face… can’t you trust this hyung [older brother] to take your nephew…?”

Then, Lee Bang-won’s face hardened.

He was reminded of the ‘minor’ conflict between him and his hyung when the King Emeritus was in power.

“Son? Bulno is just a criminal exiled to the north. Isn’t he?”

Lee Bang-won said dryly, but I could notice that his expression was slightly distorted.

After all, he was the father who didn’t even allow Bulno to be recognized as his hyung’s child, so there was no other way.

They were warm people to their blood brothers… sometimes.

“Father, hyung, and son are all so eager to find dangerous places.”

Lee Bang-won sighed deeply, looking at the ceiling.

“Really, this family’s blood doesn’t go anywhere!”

That’s right.

End

ⓒ Pitkong