There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 164

< The Purpose of the Reunion >

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen my brothers.”

Even when I went to Hanyang [the capital of Joseon], I didn’t have time to see them.

I chewed on the savory-smelling squid, slathered in butter made at Yuuso [a region known for its dairy products].

It was good to chew on when I was bored, so I had been making it often since coming to Byeokrando.

“Has it already been a year since I started this…?”

But there were results.

In the past year, Byeokrando had undergone a complete transformation.

With the experience I gained from building Hanyang, it was easy to develop the port, and that was enough time to build ships as well.

Of course, it was effective to thoroughly grill the Joseon shipbuilders.

“Is this the right way to lay the deck?”

“Don’t you remember?”

“I was only in charge of the lower part of the ship, how would I know about the deck?”

“Well, I don’t know either.”

These were the shipbuilders who were saying this after I had sent them to Hangzhou [a major port city in China, known for shipbuilding].

Frustrated, I had them all hung upside down, and thanks to the blood rushing to their heads, they finally started squeezing out what they knew.

‘And even then, it failed spectacularly at first.’

As soon as the prototype was launched into the sea, the balance was off and it tilted over completely, so I had to hang the shipbuilders again.

The majesty of the flagship, completed after two attempts, was truly impressive.

It was over 70 meters long and 12 meters wide. The displacement must have been at least 600 tons.

It was small by modern standards, but it was big enough to be called a large ship by the people of this era.

The Jurchens [a nomadic people north of Korea] and Japanese, who used to swear all the time, could only marvel at the sight of this ship.

The ships that the Jurchen and Japanese pirates used to ride were sleek, but they were not this big.

It was amazing that they were able to roam the East and South Seas with such ships.

‘Honestly, I didn’t like these guys either, but I had no choice.’

There was no one to sail the ships except for these pirates.

This was especially true in Joseon, where there was a strong perception that the sea was dangerous.

This was partly true.

The open sea cannot be considered a friendly environment.

Not only is the nature harsh, but even the residents of ordinary fishing villages that happen to dock there turn into bandits in an instant if they look weak.

Rather, these rough guys with nothing but guts might be suitable as sailors.

‘The trading itself can be left to the Ortok merchants [merchant groups, often associated with Mongols, who engaged in trade].’

After bringing them to Byeokrando, I felt that preparations for the Age of Exploration were underway.

Baek Dalwon was also greatly impressed.

“I have spent my whole life wandering around this land. But now that Your Highness is launching such a large ship to trade with distant countries, I am tempted to jump in as well.”

Ah, right.

This man was originally a peddler.

But Baek Dalwon was in charge of overseeing Hansang [a guild of merchants based in Hanyang], so I couldn’t drive him out to sea.

He was also old.

“Is there anyone you can send in your place?”

Baek Dalwon looked troubled at my question.

“Songsang [a guild of merchants based in Songdo, present-day Kaesong] has been familiar with maritime trade for a long time, so there are some who want to step up, but most of Hansang are from peddlers and merchants in the city, so no one is willing to take on the challenge.”

Ironically, Hansang had become complacent because it had occupied the huge market of Hanyang, and Songsang, which was on the path of decline, was showing great interest.

I clicked my tongue.

At this rate, Songsang might take away all the pie.

“Similarly, I recommended it to a relative who is also a merchant, but it seems he is caught up in some unsavory business right now.”

“Should I use my influence?”

I was in the mood to use my influence to get him involved, as long as it wasn’t a serious crime like murder or robbery.

However, Baek Dalwon hurriedly waved his hand.

“How can I ask Your Highness for such a small matter? I will look for someone else.”

“I see, tsk.”

I was very disappointed, but I couldn’t help it since Baek Dalwon said it was okay.

===

Children really grow up fast.

Thanks to the successful launch of the flagship, I returned to Hanyang after a long time and saw my brothers, who had become heavy, and someone came to the East Palace [residence of the Crown Prince].

It was Maeng Saseong.

“Have you been well, Your Highness?”

“Oh, it’s been a while. Is Nureongi doing well?”

When I asked about the recent situation of Maeng Saseong’s beloved companion animal, Maeng Saseong nodded with a bright face.

“Of course. He’s quite old, but he’s still healthy without any illness.”

Maeng Saseong looked somehow radiant.

Was it because he was doing well these days?

‘No, the Hwang-Maeng-Heo trio are all doing well.’

Hwang Hee was the mayor of Seoul, Hanseongbu Yun [the mayor of Hanseong, the capital], and Heo Jo was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, utilizing his major.

And Maeng Saseong was recently appointed as the head of the judiciary, Daesaheon [Chief Censor].

‘If you think about it, I leveled up all of them.’

But he hadn’t come to see me once in the meantime.

I deliberately hardened my expression.

Maeng Saseong quickly said in surprise, wondering what he thought of my reaction.

“It is all thanks to the Crown Prince that I have become so successful. Even if others don’t, I don’t resent Your Highness, so you don’t have to look so sorry.”

“You shouldn’t resent me!”

He kept exaggerating, but since I introduced Excel, various diagrams, and systematic document organization, the work has been running much more efficiently.

‘The work has decreased, not increased….’

Ah.

I’ve been doing a lot of work.

But if you are the best elite in this country, Joseon, shouldn’t you be able to do that much?

Isn’t that why the Hwang-Maeng-Heo trio are on the path to success?

Maeng Saseong was at least very conscientious.

‘Well, Maeng Saseong’s career hasn’t been smooth.’

I heard that Maeng Saseong’s father, Maeng Huido, secluded himself in Onyang to maintain his loyalty to Goryeo [the previous dynasty].

However, he had no intention of blocking his son’s path to success, so when Yi Seonggye [the founder of Joseon] visited Onyang, he wrote a poem and offered it to him, and he also exchanged letters with Jeong Dojeon and Jo Jun, taking care of everything behind the scenes.

‘Everyone is like that.’

Just looking at Gil Jae, who came up to Yeouido, even if he didn’t know, his disciples were eager to take the civil service exam.

So, in fact, it was safe to say that there were no families who were loyal to Goryeo for generations.

However, despite such efforts, Maeng Saseong’s career was not smooth, as he was pushed out to a foreign post after creating a reform plan for the government system during the reign of Jeongjong, but it was not adopted.

Maeng Saseong returned to the central government after several years of touring the provinces, but this time he was impeached again for not properly judging the slave issue.

“If I hadn’t taken refuge under Your Highness at that time, I would have been dismissed or exiled.”

Maeng Saseong reflected on his official life.

Maeng Saseong, whose official life was so precarious, went through the Hanyang Construction Office and took the position of Hanseongbu Uyun [Vice Mayor of Hanseong], and now he was sitting in the highest position in the judiciary, Daesaheon.

‘Anyway, it’s good that my people are doing well.’

I nodded and thought.

Isn’t it finally time for a long period of patience to see the light?

Now, he has to run smoothly as a clean official and a wise statesman who will be remembered in later generations… right?

According to history.

“Now that I have become Daesaheon, I will perform my duties without any problems and establish the justice of this country.”

Maeng Saseong clenched his fists and burned with fighting spirit.

Is it because he believes that the official luck that had not been resolved until now is finally being resolved?

I looked at him and asked.

“Do you have any cases?”

If the Office of the Inspector General is said to be doing a good job, it means that it is doing a good job of investigating and impeaching.

Then Maeng Saseong said with a proud look.

“The problem is Kim Hanro, Jaegak of the Office of Royal Decrees (藝文館提學) [a high-ranking position in the royal library and academy].”

“······.”

“Kim Hanro took advantage of his trip as an envoy this time to covet wealth and arbitrarily accompanied a wealthy merchant named Baek Gu (白龜).

He even forged the name on the envoy’s list as Yong (龍) to take him, so how can a minister do such a thing?”

He’s a real corruption offender….

‘Kim Hanro is my father’s friend, right?’

I heard that he was also a classmate in the past, and that whenever Kim Hanro went to the government office, Yi Bangwon would call him Jangwon [top graduate] instead of his name.

‘No, is this because he took first place over him?’

It was a great achievement for the Office of the Inspector General to have caught Kim Hanro’s corruption,

“······He’s a very bad person.”

I had no choice but to answer reluctantly.

Regardless, Maeng Saseong grabbed my hand and continued.

“Anyway, today’s glory is all thanks to Your Highness. I will never forget it.”

Looking at Maeng Saseong, who was even tearing up, I felt a heavy feeling in my heart.

He has to do well.

Surely my fair and just father wouldn’t shield Kim Hanro even after seeing such clear circumstances?

Unless he’s hitting him with a shield.

===

However, my expectations were shattered without exception.

“You want me to meet Kim Hanro?”

“I didn’t say that. But if you go, he’ll be there.”

Yi Bangwon paused for a moment and then said.

“It’s already been five years since Master Woo Hyunbo died.”

Woo Hyunbo was said to be Yi Bangwon’s mentor in the past.

Those who passed the civil service examination went to the examiners of that year’s examination, served as their mentors, and called themselves their disciples to form a deep relationship.

Therefore, the mentor wanted to be his political backer, and the same disciples wanted to be his political allies.

People like Jeong Mongju and Yi Saek were also famous mentors who led disciples and formed political forces.

This relationship was so strong that it was often compared to a father and son.

“So I served Woo Hyunbo like a father. He was actually very helpful.”

If Yi Seonggye heard this, he would grab me and grumble for a whole day.

Even though they don’t have a good relationship, they have a subtle and strange father-son relationship.

“Woo Hyunbo was classified as a pro-King U and pro-Goryeo, so he was exiled several times, but after being reinstated, he worked hard for this father.”

Yi Bangwon said with a longing face.

When Yi Banggan caused a rebellion, he heard about the plan from Yi Rae, Yi Banggan’s nephew-in-law and his disciple, and had his son Woo Hongbu inform Yi Bangwon.

In fact, he was the one who contributed to suppressing the Second Prince’s Rebellion, so Yi Bangwon had no choice but to like him.

“Woo Hyunbo’s house is in Gaeseong, and the disciples gather every year on the anniversary of his death to hold a memorial service.

I can’t go there myself as the king, so go there and say hello and share your friendship.”

So I, who was in charge of Joseon in Byeokrando, was the perfect person.

It was clear that it was a kind of alumni association where disciples gathered for a memorial service.

‘Attending an alumni reunion on behalf of someone else.’

I grabbed my head.

Then, of course, Kim Hanro, Yi Bangwon’s former classmate, will come too, right?

But I couldn’t refuse Yi Bangwon’s request.

“Oh, Crown Prince!”

Woo Hongbu, Woo Hyunbo’s son, ran out barefoot.

As expected, Woo Hyunbo’s disciples gathered without exception, except for Yi Bangwon.

‘Is it because it’s a class with a father that it’s especially close?’

Yi Bangwon, like a political monster, made full use of his history as a civil service examination passer.

He moved his classmates who had passed the civil service examination with him to control the public opinion of the court.

‘A king who perfectly controls the civil service examination cartel.’

I’m scared.

“His Majesty has not forgotten my father and sent the Crown Prince to commemorate him, so I am truly grateful.”

I listened to Woo Hongbu’s words and let them flow away.

Because I noticed someone who was openly making a face saying, ‘Hmph, I’m upset.’

‘Kim Hanro came too.’

He came ahead of a major investigation, so his intentions were obvious.

As soon as the memorial service was over, the subtle tension completely surfaced.

“The Office of the Inspector General is arresting innocent people and asking for their dismissal, so how can the country be like this?”

“Isn’t it just that a new Daesaheon has been appointed and is arresting anyone to strengthen discipline?”

“We can’t leave it like this!”

Yi Bangwon’s classmates shouted on behalf of Kim Hanro.

“Come on, let’s stop. It’s because this person didn’t behave properly.”

Kim Hanro glanced at me and calmed his classmates.

How can they hold such a condemnation in front of the Crown Prince?

‘No, did I come and give them more strength?’

They must have thought that the king sent me to this alumni association on his behalf.

It could have been read as a kind of declaration of support.

‘Poor Maeng Saseong.’

If he is pushed out this time, wouldn’t it be the third time he has experienced a crisis in his official position?

I felt a surge of pity when I thought of Maeng Saseong, who shed tears like chicken droppings, saying that his father had opened his way to success even while breaking his loyalty to Goryeo.

‘Honestly, Kim Hanro is at fault, right?’

I looked around at the cartel members who were condemning the Office of the Inspector General and found one person who was awkwardly involved.

When I looked at him, he quickly turned his head and hid his face.

But I wasn’t going to miss it.

‘I’ve already seen it all.’

I raised my voice and called him.

“Mayor Hwang.”

Then the other person flinched greatly.

Then Hwang Hee turned his head back here.

‘Oh, this human….’

I sighed.

< The Purpose of the Reunion > End

ⓒ Pitkong