There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 193

One of King Sejong’s greatest achievements was establishing a culture of debate and persuasion in the court.

This was part of his effort to make rational decisions.

However, this only applies when the other party accepts the ‘rational’ conclusion reached. When some officials showed irrationality by not accepting the outcome of debates during the promulgation of Hangul [the Korean alphabet], Sejong immediately dragged them to the Uigeumbu [a Joseon-era judicial and police institution] to give them a ‘Namsan experience’ [a euphemism for torture or harsh interrogation, referring to Namsan Mountain where the Uigeumbu was located], helping them to realize the truth.

Truly a measure worthy of Yi Bang-won’s son [referring to King Taejong, known for his ruthless actions during the founding of Joseon].

Therefore, Grand Prince Chungnyeong, Yi Do’s countermeasure—though influenced by his brother who invented bad systems like gulags—was not an entirely absurd proposal when compared to the original history.

‘Release the books to the world for fair evaluation, but those who try to interfere unnecessarily should be thrown into the gulag.’

Even now, it was quite tempting, but he was quite taken aback by his seemingly docile brother’s sudden change.

‘Why is he suddenly like this…’

Above all, he couldn’t force them to use it as a textbook without any persuasive material.

‘That would be the way of a dictator.’

The officials who had suffered in the meantime would have scoffed at the thought, but now he didn’t feel any particular contradiction.

However, if he were to persuade them himself, he would surely be thoroughly defeated with weak logic, just like when he was defeated by Grand Prince Chungnyeong.

After a moment of contemplation, Yi Je quickly changed his thinking.

‘But why am I worrying about this?’

The king has the king’s work, and the daebu [high-ranking official] has the daebu’s work.

Wouldn’t it be better to just outsource it?

‘Even in modern times, there are countless consulting firms that write reports in the direction the client wants… Ah, maybe not.’

In any case, he has a database that spits out meticulous rebuttals just by asking.

Grand Prince Chungnyeong, Yi Do.

===

When I called him and threw the work at him, he blinked.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

It was said that one who tied the knot should untie it.

Since he was the one who found the loophole, shouldn’t he be the one to fill it?

“It seems like you’re starting to use me as you please?”

“Hey, what have I ever asked you to do?”

To a good brother who has never asked his younger brother to run a single errand.

“This seems like it’s going to be incredibly difficult because it requires a reconstruction of the very concept of Gewul [referring to Gewu Zhizhi, a Neo-Confucian concept of investigating things to gain knowledge] that Zhu Xi [a prominent Neo-Confucian scholar] spoke of…”

Do said, slowly backing away.

I provoked him as I watched him.

“Are you not confident?”

Then my brother’s eyebrows twitched.

“It’s not that I’m not confident, it’s just that it’s not easy, that’s all.”

“So you’re saying it’s possible? Wow, what would I have done without you, my brother? I feel reassured. I trust you.”

“Ah.”

To be caught by such a shallow provocation.

You’re still young.

“If it seems too difficult, go see Teacher Ya-eun [a renowned scholar].”

He’s the most reputable person I know.

At my words, Do’s eyes widened.

“How can a loyal subject of Goryeo [the previous dynasty] help the prince of Joseon?”

So rigid.

“When Teacher Ya-eun was in Geumo Mountain, he even took in and taught the commoners. Would he turn away someone seeking knowledge just because he is the prince of Joseon?”

If he were, he wouldn’t even associate with me.

All the people who were so stubborn were already dead during the founding of the country.

“I did want to meet the famous Teacher Ya-eun…”

Do said, twisting his body.

That’s good.

Who knows, this connection might lead him to receive Giljae’s teachings [Giljae is another name for Ya-eun].

That kind of structure could be fun in its own way.

===

There is a thing called Mohwa ideology (慕華思想) [Admiration of China] in Joseon.

This era has not yet undergone the extreme degeneration into nominalism as in the late Joseon period, but the civilization and development of China are undeniably ahead of Joseon.

Naturally, there is a vague longing for China.

This admiration was more prevalent among the women of the Sadaebu [aristocratic] families than among the Sadaebu officials, who had quite a lot of personal and academic exchanges with the Ming Dynasty and were relatively well aware of the reality.

Consort Ju Sohwa, who married into the Joseon royal family, was benefiting greatly from this longing.

“Oh my, what is that ornament that the Crown Princess has?”

“It was brought from Ming Dynasty, would you like to have it?”

“Thank you, thank you! I will cherish it as a family treasure for the rest of my life!”

To what extent? Even a minor accessory she possessed was praised simply because it came from a great country.

‘This doesn’t seem much different from what is made in Joseon.’

Ju Sohwa thought as she handed over the ornament.

However, the daughters of the Sadaebu who gathered at this women’s association only made the delusion that ‘As expected, she grew up as a precious daughter of the imperial family and has no desire for precious ornaments’ even to Ju Sohwa’s attitude.

But it wasn’t just the accessories she possessed that made her stand out.

“You learned to read and write?”

“Yes, I have read Naehun [a Confucian textbook for women] and have mastered most of the scriptures.”

Exclamations echoed from here and there at Ju Sohwa’s words.

“Then you can also write poetry?”

“If it’s a simple Chinese poem… Don’t the women of Joseon know how to read and write?”

In fact, even the women of the Ming Dynasty are not receiving particularly great education compared to Joseon.

However, how would Ju Sohwa, who grew up in the palace, know the circumstances of ordinary homes in the Ming Dynasty?

Since the people she had met so far were defaulted to be women of the imperial family with high culture, she asked that way from her point of view.

“I’m ashamed to say, but that’s right.”

The young ladies of the Sadaebu replied, blushing.

“So I’m really envious that the Crown Princess is so knowledgeable.”

“Does Mama [a respectful title for a noblewoman] have any poems she has written? I want to read them!”

Seeing the young ladies of the women’s association rushing at her, Ju Sohwa blushed and said shyly.

“If you promise not to read it out loud…”

Even the middle-aged women who had been directly trained by Queen Inhyo Munseong Seo, and had accumulated quite a bit of culture for a woman of this era, praised Queen Wongyeong one by one.

“Mama, the newly arrived Crown Princess is so bright, it is truly His Highness’s good fortune.”

“Hmm, even I think so… ahem, no, she still lacks a lot.”

Her mother-in-law, Queen Wongyeong, hesitated to praise her and changed her words.

How could she maintain her dignity as a mother-in-law if she praised her directly just because she saw something to praise?

As it was her first daughter-in-law, Queen Wongyeong naturally had to rely on the stories around her.

When she was a daughter-in-law, she only heard stories of daughters-in-law complaining about the situation at her in-laws’ house, but now that she had married off her son, she only heard stories of mothers-in-law complaining about their daughters-in-law.

That’s why Queen Wongyeong was stingy with praise.

‘They said you have to keep your daughters-in-law in check from the beginning so that the future will be comfortable.’

Somehow, things weren’t going as she had planned, but Queen Wongyeong renewed her determination once again.

Queen Wongyeong cleared her throat a couple of times and said to Ju Sohwa.

“After the Crown Prince visited the great country, he said that women in the Ming Dynasty could read skillfully and that the civilization of the great country was bright, and indeed it is so. Shouldn’t the women of Joseon also strive to study, following the example of the great country?”

“Her Majesty the Queen’s words are indeed correct.”

Mohwa is an ideology of accepting and following China’s advanced civilization.

To them, Ju Sohwa was nothing short of a new woman who had fallen from the Ming Dynasty.

“I am ashamed that you think so highly of my shallow knowledge.”

Ju Sohwa answered, neatly sweeping back her hair.

The women flattered her once again, saying that her dignified posture was indeed worthy of the eldest daughter-in-law of the royal family.

However, Queen Wongyeong looked at her daughter-in-law with an expression that was somehow not refreshing.

===

“Ah~ I’m tired!”

Ju Sohwa leaned on me and whined.

“Husband, massage my shoulders~!”

She acts professionally and coyly like a modest young lady in front of others, but in front of me, she’s just like a child.

It feels like raising another younger sibling.

“What’s so tiring when you’ve been in the palace all day?”

I said, pressing down on her shoulders.

The advanced massage techniques I learned in modern times were also useful in appeasing this girl.

“A wife has her own difficulties, you know? How hard am I trying to look good to my in-laws? But you only play with Grand Prince Chungnyeong…”

Ju Sohwa pretended to hit my chest and showed quite a bit of jealousy.

I twisted my lips and said.

“That guy is probably thinking the same thing about you.”

Both of them are so eager to get at each other.

Where in the world would you find a sister-in-law and brother-in-law like this?

“It’s not my fault. I want to get along with everyone.”

Ju Sohwa said, clasping her fingers together.

“But Mother told me not to get too close to someone named Hyobin? She said she’s a very scheming and wickedly plotting person.”

“Don’t listen to Mother too much. Mother doesn’t get along very well with the concubines.”

Hyobin Kim was the biggest target, but that didn’t mean she got along well with the other concubines.

To Queen Wongyeong, all of Yi Bang-won’s concubines were competitors.

“But don’t ostracize her openly, just be moderately friendly.”

I said, stroking her hair.

Then Ju Sohwa sighed and said.

“Mother must be tired too. Having to deal with women clinging to her husband.”

As she rubbed her face against my arm.

I don’t know why she’s talking as if it’s not her own business, but Ju Sohwa started chattering again.

“Anyway, I was very popular today. Mother told everyone to follow my example?”

“Hmm.”

I had previously suggested to Queen Wongyeong that she promote education for the women of the Sadaebu families.

It was a worthwhile project because it could clarify the purpose of the women’s association and establish Queen Wongyeong’s authority, but the atmosphere seemed to have changed with the appearance of this girl.

“So I advised them to study Naehun, which our Empress Mama wrote, but they all seemed to have a hard time.”

She said, twirling her finger around.

“Isn’t there an easy way to learn it? I heard that the newly released Samgang Haengsildo [Illustrated Guide to the Three Bonds] is also very well received?”

“Where did you see that?”

Quite a lot of copies have been released, so you can get it anywhere, but I don’t remember getting it for her.

“I got it from the First Grand Prince?”

“Ah, that guy.”

Ju Sohwa seemed to get along quite well with her other brother-in-law, Hyoryeong.

Enough to borrow comic books.

“You really have a talent. It’s a pity that you should be a king, not a writer.”

“Oh, not that much.”

That’s because all the works were brought from the future.

Ju Sohwa, who doesn’t know that, can’t help but think so.

“Ah, then why don’t we publish these too?”

Ju Sohwa handed me the books she had. The books were so worn out from being read so much.

“No, let’s start with the scriptures first.”

Samgang Haengsildo can be glossed over as a purpose for learning loyalty and filial piety, and scientific methodology is another matter, but fairy tales are a bit…

Paper is becoming quite common, but it would take at least a few years for the supply to increase enough for every household to have these books.

“But there’s no better way to learn to read and write than this.”

Ju Sohwa said.

‘Well, there will always be more demand for these books than for scriptures.’

I remember reading comic books more often than textbooks when I was in school.

Every day, I skipped night classes and ate a bowl of jajangmyeon [black bean noodles] at a nearby comic book store, stacking up ten books and reading them…

“Ah.”

I hit my head.

Since when did I think books were something to buy?

End

ⓒ Pitkong