There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 219

Strictly speaking, even a retired king receiving the ‘ten thousand years’ cheer, which is reserved only for the emperor, is absurd.

We usually wouldn’t care, but given the timing, we took it upon ourselves to control what was being said.

This was because the imperial envoy was due to arrive soon with inquiries from the Ministry of Rites.

It was all about demanding tribute items.

“What will they threaten to ask for this time?”

“We’ve offered similar items every year, so won’t they just ask for the same this year?”

It would be easier if we could just take the tribute items and hand them over, but the fastidious Yongle Emperor specified each item we were to offer.

‘Still, it’s a relief that the items themselves aren’t too difficult to obtain now.’

Pure white paper bleached with sulfur, horses imported from the north, white porcelain powder, and Seungja Chongtong [a type of cannon], among other things.

And even red ginseng.

These were items that could be produced in abundance, and we could receive substantial return gifts for them.

It would be a real headache if they came to extort women or eunuchs like in the old days.

“Speaking of which, who is coming as the imperial envoy this time?”

“It’s Eunuch Hwang Eom.”

“That guy again.”

I wore a troubled expression.

Hwang Eom was a specialist in diplomacy with Great Joseon, but he was by no means a welcome figure.

Not only was his personality questionable, but he was also closer to Prince Zhao than the Crown Prince.

‘We’ve somehow become entangled with the Crown Prince’s side in many ways.’

That’s why we gave Hwang Eom various concessions last time to appease him, but I wonder how effective it will be.

Dealing with the Ming Dynasty requires constant consideration.

===

Hundreds of flags fluttered in the wind.

The massive army arrayed on the plains south of Beijing moved as one.

The emperor’s commands, first uttered by him, were transmitted without omission through the general and the commander down to the lowest squad leaders, who then directed their soldiers to advance and retreat.

Since the Hongwu Emperor founded the Great Ming, this elite command system had not rusted in the slightest.

However, looking only at the surface, there were some differences from those days.

Joseon muskets—Seungja Chongtong—were assigned to each squad to provide fire support.

Furthermore, cavalry drawn from the Uriangkhai Three Guards, including Taanwi, displayed their fierce spirit.

Seeing an army of 100,000, claiming to be 500,000, crouching and scattering like tigers at a single imperial command, the Yongle Emperor smiled contentedly.

At this rate, there would be no problem even if they set out soon.

Once early spring passed, the Yongle Emperor planned to lead a large army of 100,000 to the north of the desert.

‘Those attached to the Crown Prince complain that just taking 100,000 men to the north of the desert costs hundreds of thousands of gold.’

The weak gentry of Nanjing did not understand the need for the expedition, but the Yongle Emperor was certain.

He had no intention of being satisfied as an emperor south of the Great Wall.

Therefore, he sent Zheng He to the Western Seas, conquered Annam to the south, and now intended to advance north.

The Yongle Emperor frowned as he thought of the Crown Prince.

He had reluctantly entrusted him with overseeing the country while he was in Beijing for the relocation of the capital and the expedition, but he was an unreliable son.

‘All the sycophants around him are gentry from Jiangnan…’

His father, the Hongwu Emperor, had abandoned the plan to move the capital due to their opposition and the death of his brother, Zhu Biao.

Therefore, the Yongle Emperor, who aimed to be the emperor of a world empire beyond China, could not help but see them as thorns in his side.

“No matter how I think about it, Jinling (Nanjing) is too far south. Don’t you think so?”

“Yes?”

The person next to him asked back when the Yongle Emperor suddenly spoke.

“The capital should be around Beijing so that my descendants can easily rule the barbarians in all directions. Isn’t that so?”

In his vision, Beijing was rather at the center of the empire.

Only then did the person realize the Yongle Emperor’s meaning and hurriedly replied.

“Your Majesty’s words are correct. Beijing should indeed be the capital for Your Majesty’s great ambition.”

The one who answered was his son, Prince Zhao, Zhu Gaosui.

He had been ordered by the Yongle Emperor to establish a residence in Beijing long ago.

Zhu Gaosui believed that the Yongle Emperor had allowed him to establish his residence in Beijing because he had intentions for him as well.

Therefore, he was busy expanding his influence here in Beijing while the Crown Prince remained in Nanjing.

The Yongle Emperor nodded satisfactorily.

“Only by being based here can Joseon, the Jurchens, and the Mongols fear the might of the Great Ming and submit. There was a reason why the old Yuan Dynasty established its capital in Dadu [present-day Beijing].”

Then, the Yongle Emperor changed his expression and shouted.

“Hwang Eom!”

“Yes!”

Hwang Eom, who had been standing far away, came running, shaking his whole body, at the Yongle Emperor’s call.

“Why are you so late!”

The Yongle Emperor screamed, and Hwang Eom bowed so low that his forehead almost touched the ground.

“I, I am deeply sorry.”

“Are memorials from the Jiangnan gentry still being submitted?”

“Yes, they are.”

“Those tireless bastards.”

The excuses for opposing the already decided relocation of the capital were various.

At first, they worried about the inconvenience to the people, then they brought up the difficulty of defense, and finally, they mentioned the foundation of Nanjing.

Then, they even argued that moving the capital closer to the border could cause friction with Joseon.

They cited the decree issued by his father, the Hongwu Emperor, ‘Do not fight with Joseon.’

However, if the Yongle Emperor was the kind of person who cared about such words, he would not have started a rebellion in the first place.

“What about the memorials we are sending up?”

“They are already prepared.”

Memorials were also being prepared on this side for the sake of public opinion.

Isn’t this why the Eastern Depot [secret police] is needed for such tasks?

‘Something is missing…’

The Yongle Emperor opened his mouth again.

“Hwang Eom.”

“What is your command?”

“You are going to Joseon this time, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am.”

The Yongle Emperor nodded and said.

“Make sure to collect a memorial from Joseon praising the relocation of the capital to Beijing.”

“Yes?”

Hwang Eom blinked at the sudden words.

It was as if he was being told to go to the market and buy a fish.

“I sent my precious younger sister [as a concubine], so my brother-in-law should naturally provide this much help on his own. Isn’t that so?”

“That, that is…”

Hwang Eom was taken aback by the Yongle Emperor, who was entrusting him with a task without mentioning any specific methods, but…

“Do you dislike it?”

“I, I shall obey your command.”

As always, he could not refuse.

===

The Ming Dynasty envoys who had visited Joseon in the past were mostly arrogant.

‘Even if they help Joseon later, seeing this, it’s clear they were nothing more than a gangster state.’

However, Hwang Eom entered Joseon relatively quietly this time.

“Have you been well, Your Majesty?”

“I am at peace thanks to the envoy’s concern.”

Hwang Eom’s face was always full of greed, but somehow he seemed to have many worries now.

No doubt it was because of his superior.

After exchanging greetings several times, Hwang Eom sighed softly.

“The envoy’s complexion does not look good. Is there anything uncomfortable?”

When Yi Bang-won asked, Hwang Eom worried with an exaggerated expression.

“Hasn’t His Majesty graciously postponed the offering of palace women and eunuchs?”

‘Gracious my ass.’

It’s strange to demand such things in the first place.

Hwang Eom continued.

“However, recently, there have been many opinions in the court that offering people as a way for a small country to serve a large country is a tradition from previous dynasties, so how can it be abolished forever?”

‘Ugh…’

I had postponed this human trafficking for a few years by entering the Ming Dynasty, but it seemed that the gangster nature was slowly resurfacing.

“Could it be that the Emperor has accepted that?”

“No, I mentioned Joseon’s loyalty and tried my best to stop it.”

We gave Hwang Eom’s nephew quite a few concessions, so he should do that much.

It’s a relief that Hwang Eom was worth the money.

“However, it seems that His Majesty also thinks there is some merit to these opinions. If many officials eagerly advise, there is no guarantee that His Majesty’s heart will not waver.”

Correction.

He wasn’t worth the money at all.

If what Hwang Eom said was true, it meant that the revival of human tribute was not far off.

My face hardened, but Yi Bang-won examined Hwang Eom’s expression and asked in a meaningful voice.

“Does that mean?”

“In my opinion, Joseon should first please the Emperor. Only then will the Emperor not listen to such claims.”

‘Would he be pleased if he hugged his nephew?’

I don’t think the psychopath Yongle Emperor would like his nephew, but whatever the method, it would be cheaper than selling my people.

Just as I was about to ask urgently, Yi Bang-won raised his hand for a moment and said.

“Well, this story is not urgent, so let’s postpone it for a while. How about meeting the Crown Princess first?

His Majesty seems very curious about the Crown Princess’s recent situation.”

At those words, Hwang Eom frowned, then forced a smile.

“I, I am not feeling well, so I might be rude if I meet the Crown Princess. I am afraid, but may I rest at the Taepyeong Hall today and visit tomorrow?”

‘Did something happen between them?’

They didn’t seem to get along at first glance.

Hwang Eom is the type of person who lives with his own arrogance, and my wife is not the type to let that go.

Hwang Eom, who stiffly raises his head even to the King of Joseon, cannot do so to the Emperor’s younger sister, so he is trying to avoid the situation.

“Very well.”

Yi Bang-won nodded readily.

After Hwang Eom hurriedly left, I said to Yi Bang-won.

“Why did you stop me? We should have asked Hwang Eom and come up with a plan.”

“Don’t speak hastily.”

Yi Bang-won continued.

“My gut feeling is that Hwang Eom is bluffing.”

“Yes?”

At my question, Yi Bang-won’s eyes shone.

“His demeanor is not as dignified as before, and he doesn’t even make eye contact.”

“Isn’t that because he’s not feeling well?”

I thought it was an excuse, but after hearing Yi Bang-won’s words, I thought it might be true.

However, Yi Bang-won shook his head.

“If such stories are circulating in the Ming court, we can just wait quietly until a conclusion is reached. But isn’t he acting as if he’s worried about us and telling us?”

“Well, he received something…”

“Would a guy like Hwang Eom care about that? If he really wanted to show off, he would have done more than this.”

Conclusion.

“Are you saying the whole story is a lie? The story he just told?”

Was Hwang Eom that bold?

“That could be the case. The Emperor is the type to overlook the unpleasantness of most processes as long as the result is good.”

At Yi Bang-won’s words, I asked.

“But, wouldn’t it be a big problem if it’s true?”

“Yes.”

Yi Bang-won nodded and said.

“So, we have to use a spy.”

===

Wang Ho met Hwang Eom and came back.

Since Yoo-jeong is already dead, he is the only spy in the Eastern Depot.

Therefore, Hwang Eom, who came as an envoy, also called him to hear about the situation in Joseon.

However, it is almost impossible to obtain meaningful information from him, who has already defected.

‘Wang Ho might hint to the envoy and try to defect again, but…’

However, the possibility of that was almost non-existent.

Is the Ming Dynasty some kind of angelic country that would pity Wang Ho and take him to the Ming Dynasty?

Even if it were me, I would leave him in Joseon and try to use him as a double agent again.

Wang Ho probably knows that even if he switches sides now, only he will be in trouble.

Wang Ho told us everything he had talked about with Hwang Eom.

“It doesn’t seem like he came to demand palace women…?”

“That’s right.”

Wang Ho nodded.

“In fact, the Ming Dynasty is not a country that lacks palace women or eunuchs. There are plenty of people in the mainland, and now that they have conquered Annam and established the Pacification Commissioner there, they can bring them from there if necessary.”

‘Poor Annamese people.’

I clicked my tongue inwardly and asked.

“Then?”

“It seems that the Emperor gave the envoy a separate order… I suspect he is deliberately bluffing for that purpose.”

A door-in-the-face strategy [a persuasion technique]?

We have been consistently avoiding the demand for human tribute, so it is not surprising that Hwang Eom is trying to use this in reverse.

‘Well, the atmosphere was ruined because we called Wang Ho and discussed it.’

From Hwang Eom’s point of view, he wanted to bring in Wang Ho, who knew the situation in Joseon well, but rather, his intentions were revealed to us.

‘First, we need to find out the purpose.’

End

ⓒ Pitkong