There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 220

Hwang Eom was growing impatient.

He had intended to quickly wrap things up if Joseon bowed down first, but the Joseon King only busied himself with banquets and showed no sign of engaging in deep discussions.

“Aren’t they just busy coming up with countermeasures among themselves?”

“It seems they intend to keep us on the periphery until then.”

The members of the envoy spoke with utterly dejected expressions.

The imperial envoys couldn’t even enjoy the bribes they used to receive or the usual abuses they expected.

How could they, with the Emperor’s sister glaring at them?

Since the rewards they were due were not being given, their motivation was half-broken.

“Sir.”

One of the attendants asked Hwang Eom.

“Isn’t it enough to just ask Joseon for a memorial [a formal, respectful written address to a sovereign]?”

Hwang Eom had considered that as well.

Joseon was, one way or another, in a ‘special relationship’ with him.

Since they were in a mutually beneficial relationship, it was only natural for them to write one freely.

That is, if this wasn’t an internal problem of the Ming Dynasty.

“What His Majesty wants is…”

Hwang Eom continued.

“Is it a memorial from the King of Joseon, or a memorial from a Ming Dynasty prince?”

Whether the other members understood or not, Hwang Eom muttered to himself.

===

It’s nothing new, but the predicted pavilion has a room installed for eavesdropping.

And the Taepyeongguan [a state guest house], where the envoys were staying, had also been renovated with the same system as the predicted pavilion.

‘Even in modern times, they eavesdrop on embassies, so this is nothing.’

So, before long, we were able to eavesdrop on the envoy’s real purpose.

“They want a memorial?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

I was so dumbfounded that I was about to sigh.

“If they had just told us, we would have written one a long time ago.”

To hesitate so much to say that.

Originally, memorials presented to the Emperor are full of praise.

Even if a strangely shaped cloud appears, they would say it’s an auspicious sign thanks to the Emperor’s virtuous rule, so what’s so difficult about it?

‘Oh, brother. Beijing is a really great place, you have amazing taste,’ wouldn’t it be easy to just shake the rattle a bit?

However, Yi Bang-won seemed to catch something strange when he heard Wang Ho’s words.

“The Emperor is leading 500,000 troops to Mongolia.”

“In reality, it won’t even be half of that… Why do you ask?”

Yi Bang-won didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he just blurted out something vague.

“The outside of Guju (九州) [ancient term for China] is called Palin (八殥), and the outside of Palin is called Palgwang (八紘), and the outside of Palgwang is called Palgeuk (八極).”

Hmm, was that from the Huainanzi (淮南子) [an ancient Chinese philosophical text]?

Guju refers to the Central Plains.

In the Sinocentric worldview [a worldview that places China as the center of everything], this Guju is at the center of the world, and the Four Seas (四海), where the barbarians live, surround it.

It’s terribly unlucky, but this is considered the orthodox view in this era.

“Throughout history, the emperors of the Central Plains have only ruled Guju and collected formal tributes from the Four Seas.”

“Except for the Yuan Dynasty.”

Wang Ho quickly stepped in to answer.

The Yuan Dynasty.

Originally, the Yuan’s foundation is Mongolia.

Since it was a country that arose outside the Central Plains, isn’t that a natural thing to say….

“It seems the Emperor wants to emulate the achievements of the Yuan Dynasty.”

Could it be that the Yuan Dynasty being a world empire had a middle school syndrome-like influence on our psychopath brother-in-law?

“The Emperor seems to want to make the world one family (一宇).”

Yi Bang-won said, looking at me.

“If we’re already family, then we’re family…”

At least we’re brothers-in-law.

However, Yi Bang-won waved his hand and said.

“That’s not it. The Emperor means that he sees us as subjects within the Ming Dynasty.”

I understood what Yi Bang-won meant.

As long as we profess to serve the great, the King of Joseon is nominally a subject of the Ming Emperor.

In terms of rank, he is equal to a Ming Dynasty prince, and when conducting diplomacy, he exchanges letters with the Minister of Rites.

However, in reality, is the King of Joseon in the same position as the officials within the Ming? That’s not the case.

For Joseon, Ming is clearly a foreign country.

“But the Emperor’s demands… aren’t they acting like they’re dealing with the Joseon Governor-General?”

The country that was second to none in lacking commercial morality was the Tang Dynasty.

So, as soon as they destroyed Goguryeo and Baekje, they even established a Protectorate in Silla, their ally, and made King Munmu the Governor-General of Gyerim [an ancient name for Silla’s capital].

It was clearly an act to degrade them into a single province within the Tang Dynasty.

Is that the gesture they want from us?

“Whether Ming moves its capital or not, we shouldn’t be involved, nor do we need to be involved, that’s normal.”

Of course, Yongle mentioned diplomatic friction as an excuse to get the memorial, but would that person care about such things?

However, Yongle wanted our memorial in addition to the memorials of his own officials.

This is….

“Doesn’t this mean that he intends to think of us as subjects belonging to the Ming Dynasty? Like the relationship between the Yuan Dynasty and Goryeo.”

Goryeo preserved its national structure even after surrendering, but as time went on, such measures became nominal.

The Goryeo kings became accustomed to the position of being a son-in-law king and a subject of the Yuan, rather than the king of a country.

“Is that the system the Emperor is aiming for?”

“So, he proposed a royal marriage to us first.”

Was the offer to give us a Hwaban Princess [a princess from the Ming Dynasty] also a proposal thrown out by Yongle, aiming for the revival of the Yuan Dynasty system?

“Do you regret it?”

“No.”

I shook my head at Yi Bang-won’s question about the royal marriage.

‘Return to the Yuan Dynasty or whatever.’

Whatever delusions Yongle is having, it probably won’t become reality.

‘If that had gone well, we wouldn’t have been beaten like dogs by the Qing Dynasty about 200 years later, right?’

I don’t know for sure, but Yongle’s dream will end in his generation.

There are no families that stay rich for three generations.

“The Emperor’s intentions will be difficult to achieve.”

“Hoo.”

Yi Bang-won admired.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Yi Bang-won tapped the desk.

“Then it might be beneficial to us instead.”

“Yes?”

“The Emperor is trying to bring our Joseon into the Ming Dynasty… But if what you say is true, then he won’t be able to easily harm our national structure.”

“That’s right.”

In the first place, I doubt anyone in the Ming Dynasty other than Yongle is interested in such things.

And unless Zheng He brings back the elixir of immortality, that human’s lifespan will eventually come to an end.

“Fortunately, thanks to taking in a daughter-in-law with high status, your position in the imperial family of the great country is by no means low.”

Yi Bang-won said that.

“Do you know how Goryeo obtained the position of King of Shen [referring to the King of Shenyang]?”

From what I learned from my teachers, King Chungseon received the title of King of Shenyang for his contributions to the Yuan Dynasty’s imperial succession.

It was a bizarre anecdote that was possible because the King of Goryeo was closer to being a subject of the Yuan than a king.

“The Emperor wants to gradually make Joseon a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, starting with this memorial, but with this plan, we can conversely shake up the Ming Dynasty.”

Yi Bang-won said, his eyes shining.

“Is that so?”

I can only think of the ending where the shrimp’s back is broken in a whale fight for no reason.

Come to think of it, Yi Seong-gye also predicted that the Ming Dynasty would one day be shaken.

‘Well, frankly, isn’t that just the wishful thinking of an old man who suffered from the abuse of a primary contractor?’

Even if it goes that far, can Joseon really do well in tightrope walking in the Ming Dynasty’s political world?

However, Yi Bang-won’s expression, who was a political animal himself, was filled with unknown confidence and excitement.

‘Well, my father will take care of it.’

That’s what I thought.

It was an issue where the intentions of many people were fiercely intertwined, but in the end, isn’t it just a single memorial?

‘It would be beneficial if we could clearly resolve the issue of tribute women and eunuch conscription at this opportunity.’

Hwang Eom threatened us by mentioning this, but in reality, it was also our weakness.

The power struggle with the Ming Dynasty would be more comfortable than having my people taken away.

“Then you should write the memorial.”

“Me?”

“We must cater to our Emperor’s intentions. This is a memorial raised not by the Crown Prince of Joseon, but by the son-in-law of the Ming Dynasty.”

A brief look of bewilderment flickered across my face, but Yi Bang-won said that.

“And even if you don’t study, you still have a talent for writing. You even defeated Teacher Yangchon (Yangchon, Kwon Geun) with poetry.”

You’re talking about me defeating Kwon Geun with the Yongbieocheonga [a Korean epic poem].

But that was a victory through plagiarism, and my real skills are terrible, what should I do?

I looked at the ceiling and sighed deeply.

‘What do you mean, what should I do?’

I’ll have to plagiarize again this time.

An idea came to me, and I raised the corners of my lips in a smirk.

He wants to hear the sound of praising the Emperor’s relocation of the capital?

I’ll let him hear it to his heart’s content.

===

The diplomatic discussions with Joseon, which had been dragging on, ended in an instant as soon as the Crown Prince took his seat.

“If you had told us earlier. What’s so difficult about offering a memorial between us?”

Hwang Eom was greatly pleased with the very refreshing answer.

‘As expected, my plan worked.’

Hwang Eom inwardly admired himself.

Since what Joseon wanted to give up the least was people, using this was the right answer.

By covering the opponent’s eyes and ears while mentioning tribute women and eunuchs, they failed to read the hidden intentions of Yongle in this matter.

Even though the King and Crown Prince of Joseon are said to be wise, they ultimately failed to see through his smokescreen.

“Instead, please make sure to nail down the matter of tribute women, Imperial Envoy.”

“Of course. I will take responsibility and stop it.”

Hwang Eom made a loud noise.

Isn’t this something that he can handle sufficiently with his influence?

Moreover, if he returns with the memorial from Joseon, his position will become even more solid.

But in the end, his position as the Emperor’s punching bag will not change.

Hwang Eom couldn’t hide his joy at the thought that his plan had worked.

“I will write and present the memorial to be given to His Majesty myself, so I hope that the Imperial Envoy will deliver it well.”

“The Crown Prince himself?”

“As a son-in-law of the Great Ming, an in-law of the imperial family, I think it would be better for me to write it myself.”

Hwang Eom nodded.

He doesn’t know if the Crown Prince has any writing talent, but even if he writes it terribly, wouldn’t the scholars next to him fix it properly?

“Even I think it’s a very well-written piece, so the Imperial Envoy doesn’t need to worry.”

When the Crown Prince said that confidently, Hwang Eom had a relieved expression as if a tooth that had been aching had fallen out.

And that was the same for Joseon.

===

Hwang Eom, having achieved his purpose, rushed back to Beijing without even receiving the remaining hospitality from Joseon.

He knew what would happen if he delayed even a little and displeased Yongle.

‘I must deliver it before His Majesty leaves for the north!’

Fortunately, he was not late, and Hwang Eom was able to arrive in Beijing before Yongle set out.

Yongle smiled with satisfaction when he saw the memorial that Hwang Eom had brought.

‘Yes. What can those guys do?’

Whether the King of Joseon did not realize his intentions, or whether he knew and bowed his head, the result would be the same.

In any case, Yongle was quite pleased with the thought that the Joseon court had hurriedly prepared this memorial at his word.

“The various officials and people of the Great Ming have petitioned me to move the capital and renew the foundation of the country. The King of Joseon, my subject, has also raised this memorial, so how can it not be commendable?”

Yongle emphasized that with force.

He reminded them that the King of Joseon was also his subject, and that Joseon was also a part of the Great Ming’s territory, but the officials only blinked and expressed their soulless agreement.

‘These pathetic fellows.’

Yongle clicked his tongue.

How could a sparrow know the phoenix’s intentions, but who knew there would be so many who didn’t understand his grand plans?

Thinking of the guys surrounding the Crown Prince right now, Yongle’s head was boiling with annoyance.

Hwang Eom, who noticed this, hurriedly opened his mouth.

“This is said to be a poem of praise written directly by the Crown Prince of Joseon.”

“Really?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. As a member of the imperial family, he said he wanted to praise the relocation of the capital with beautiful writing, so isn’t it truly commendable?”

“Hmm.”

Yongle tilted his head because he had not heard that the Crown Prince of Joseon was famous for his poetry, but still, wasn’t it quite commendable?

Yongle, feeling quite relieved, unfolded the memorial and read it through.

The Crown Prince’s poem began like this.

[I love the Tiananmen Square in Beijing (我愛北京天安門).]

End

ⓒ Pitkong