There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 239

“I heard Ryukyuans who were trying to win over the Wokou [Japanese pirates] at Byeokrando have been arrested.”

Rubbing my eyes, summoned in the middle of the night, Yi Bang-won said, tossing the report from the Gaeseong Prefectural Governor.

Startled by the sudden news, my eyes widened.

“The Ryukyu Prince?”

Ryukyu, isn’t that Okinawa?

We have diplomatic relations with them.

Cheonghaejin ships sometimes stop there for southern trade, and in the process, official letters are exchanged.

However, if Ryukyuans had visited Byeokrando, a report would have been filed.

“When did Ryukyu send an envoy?”

No matter how hard I tried to remember, I had no recollection of any such visit.

Yi Bang-won shook his head and said,

“Don’t you know that when the Nanzan King of Ryukyu lost his throne during the reign of the Grand King, he fled to Joseon?”

“That happened?”

Usually, when a coup occurs, shouldn’t they either dive into the Okinawan sea or beg the usurper to spare their lives in exchange for the throne?

It’s not common in East Asia for a deposed monarch to seek refuge in another country.

‘Or is it?’

But thinking about it, this era is a bit different.

Even the Ming Dynasty sent us various descendants of rebels, didn’t they?

The sons of Chen Youliang, Zhu Yuanzhang’s rival, the son of Ming Yuzhen, who ruled Sichuan, and the descendants of the Yuan Dynasty’s Prince Liang, who ruled Yunnan, were all exiled to Joseon.

Thinking like this, I suspect my late father-in-law regarded Joseon as some kind of dumping ground.

Anyway, whether it was because of our unintended reputation as a place of exile, the Nanzan King also came into exile with only a dozen retainers and their families.

Yi Bang-won placed a strange jade seal on the desk.

It doesn’t look like he just had a new seal made. Whose is it?

“Nanzan King On Sado died not long after seeking refuge, and now his son has inherited the seal. This is it.”

I took the seal from Yi Bang-won and examined it.

It was a gilded silver seal that read [Ryukyu Kingdom, Nanzan King].

It was sent down from the Ming Dynasty.

“So, the culprit is perhaps?”

“Yes, the Prince of Nanzan. This has become troublesome.”

Although Nanzan is a small country, it is a vassal state formally recognized by the Ming Dynasty.

Just a moment ago, I was about to say, ‘Let’s severely punish any foreigners who do nonsense,’ but I straightened my posture.

“It seems he was planning to hire the Wokou to regain his lost throne.”

“You’re right. The Uigeumbu [Royal Secret Investigation Bureau] has already secretly interrogated those who were assisting the prince and found out his intentions.”

‘That’s treason…’

What are these guys trying to do to the country that gave them refuge?

“This matter will be discussed in the court tomorrow. The officials will naturally demand punishment, but the Nanzan King’s family has been protected by the Grand King before, so it’s difficult to reach a hasty conclusion.”

So, that’s why he called me in the middle of the night.

He might be displeased if Yi Seong-gye overturned his decision.

I have to step in again in this situation.

“Then, I will suggest that we consider his status as a royal of a country, severely reprimand him, and handle it by confiscating the fields that were granted to him. Wouldn’t that be acceptable to Grandfather?”

If I step in, Yi Seong-gye’s grumbling might subside a bit.

Yi Bang-won patted my shoulder with a satisfied expression.

“There’s no son like you.”

Of course, there’s no son like me.

Did I make up for the points I lost last time?

“If only you caused a little less trouble…”

Why did he have to add that unnecessary remark?

Just give me compliments.

===

What is the current state of Ryukyu?

Since the fall of the Aiso Dynasty of the Tennoji clan, the first dynasty of Ryukyu, Ryukyu has been divided into three countries: Hokuzan, Chuzan, and Nanzan, starting the Sansan period [Three Mountains Period].

Among the three, the country with the largest territory and the most solid terrain is undoubtedly Hokuzan.

However, Hokuzan never unified Ryukyu.

Hokuzan, having exhausted all its strength in battles with the local clans, was defeated in the ensuing war with Chuzan as if it were a lie.

Following this, Nanzan was also absorbed by Chuzan, and thus the unified dynasty, the First Sho Dynasty, continued.

This is the flow of original history.

However, that flow was being drastically twisted from here in Hanyang.

The beginning was a casual remark made by the officials as a pastime.

“Did you hear the story?”

“Ah, about the Prince of Nanzan gathering the Wokou to plot his return?”

“Losing the throne is all according to fate, so he should consider himself lucky to have saved his life…”

While the officials were chatting and gossiping about the Prince of Nanzan’s actions, someone made a thoughtless remark that caused the problem.

“I heard that Ryukyu is mild all year round, and Nanzan is located in the south, so the weather is like that of Jiangnan [a region in China known for its warm climate].”

“Oh, I wouldn’t be able to go. Even when I go to Jiangnan on a diplomatic mission, I can’t sleep because of the heat. But sugarcane would grow well in the heat…”

“Wait a minute.”

Wanseongun Yi Cheon-woo quietly raised his hand.

“Did you just say sugarcane?”

“Ah, are you also interested, Wanseongun? Sugarcane looks like water reeds, and there are endless fields in Jiangnan…”

The rest of the words were not heard by the meritorious subjects.

They were all thinking of one thing.

‘Sugar!’

Recently, there was a saying in Joseon that they wouldn’t have any regrets if they had as much sugar as salt.

It sounds like a luxury, but in reality, salt is overflowing.

The solar salt fields are nothing new in Joseon anymore.

Thanks to the continuous salt field construction projects, not only Bupyeong but also Ongjin in Hwanghae-do and Muan in Jeolla-do were covered with salt fields.

‘Rice transport is good, but what if we control the sugar line?’

Wanseongun Yi Cheon-woo’s eyes became hazy.

Would he envy the salt fields run by the Min clan and the descendants of the Grand King?

Looking around, it seemed that the shareholders of Cheonghaejin were thinking the same thing.

And so, a little later, when the King and the Crown Prince entered,

“The Gaeseong Prefectural Governor reports that the Prince of Nanzan was caught gathering the Wokou. We must discuss how to handle this…”

“Your Majesty, the Prince of Nanzan is innocent!”

The meritorious subjects began to chant in unison.

===

‘What did these people eat wrong?’

My inner thoughts were as bewildered as when I argued for the Daedong Act [a tax reform act].

Glancing sideways, Yi Bang-won was holding his forehead.

This was the scenario I had envisioned.

1. The officials request the punishment of the Prince of Nanzan.

2. Father mentions the Grand King’s will and rejects it.

3. I propose a reasonable compromise.

4. The Prince of Nanzan is moved by Joseon’s benevolent punishment, and the officials are also satisfied.

However, the meritorious subjects suddenly launched a collective barrage of ‘innocent, innocent,’ leaving me unable to contain my bewilderment.

“What on earth are you up to?”

“What do you mean, ‘up to’?”

The meritorious subjects said with resolute expressions.

“We are sincerely indignant at the fact that an uncle usurped his nephew’s throne. How can such an outrageous thing happen in the world?”

If our brother-in-law in Beijing heard that, he would exterminate ten generations of the family.

“The principle of a hegemon punishing the rebels of another country and continuing the succession is clearly stated in the Spring and Autumn Annals [an ancient Chinese chronicle].

Duke Huan of Qi also benefited the State of Lu by striking down Qingfu, which followed the proper principles of preserving the state. Shouldn’t our civilized Joseon also help the Nanzan Heir?”

He was called the Prince of Nanzan a moment ago, but now he’s the Heir.

‘If that’s the case, you should have helped him sooner.’

They’re the kids who came into exile during the Grand King’s reign. What were you doing until now?

The packaging was also an art.

“I know all your intentions. There’s no need to make excuses even where others can’t see. What are you trying to get from Ryukyu?”

“Sugar, sugar.”

“Your Highness, Ryukyu has a mild climate all year round, so it’s good for growing sugarcane. Go and plant your flag right away.”

I told them not to hesitate, and the meritorious subjects are really not hesitating to spill out their words.

“…”

Goodness, these people.

I already have a lot of complicated things to deal with, and now you’re telling me to start a war?

The meritorious subjects, reading my expression, hurriedly said,

“Ryukyu is a small country, and since the rebel minister usurped the throne not long ago, there must be many who do not follow him. There’s no need to send a large army, just lend the Nanzan Heir some ships.”

“When you think about it, it’s easier than defending Simhaseong [a fortress]. There’s even more to gain, so please consider it, Your Highness.”

“Hmm.”

Bringing up Singapore was probably to remind me of when my uncle pulled out the troops to get rubber last time.

‘Should I listen to these people?’

If I refuse, they will definitely tear me apart over the Singapore purchase that I glossed over last time.

I thought it might be better to compromise and make some concessions.

‘We intervene, restore the throne of Nanzan, and in return, we get the exclusive rights to sugar…’

The big picture that the meritorious subjects drew up and presented didn’t seem so bad.

We mainly communicate with Chuzan, not Nanzan, so even if things go wrong, we don’t really have anything to lose.

“I don’t know anything about this.”

“Of course. If Cheonghaejin provides a ship and allows him to use mercenaries as he wishes, we will take care of the rest.”

At the tacit expression of consent, the meritorious subjects answered with expressions more cunning than any treacherous subject.

Well… it’ll be alright, right?

===

Similar to how the kings of Hokuzan inherited the name Paniji, the kings of Nanzan have also inherited the name Ohusato since the founding of the country.

The name transliterated in Joseon was On Sado, so this young man, who is now locked in a room and pacing around, was the 4th On Sado.

His father, the 3rd Nanzan King On Sado, died not long after seeking refuge in Joseon, leaving him only the seal of the Nanzan King bestowed by the Ming Dynasty.

But even that was confiscated after he was arrested, so On Sado’s heart was filled with anxiety.

“I thought I could hire mercenaries and leave soon, but I never expected this to happen…”

He bit his nails.

The ambitious plan to recruit soldiers from Gaeseong and return triumphantly to his homeland was thwarted from the start.

He never expected the Joseon people to block him.

They didn’t imprison him as a descendant of the old royal family, but On Sado couldn’t shake the feeling that he would soon be.

“Is this the end…?”

On Sado felt so miserable that he was about to cry.

Is the lineage of the Nanzan royal family going to end here? Without even starting the great task of restoring the throne?

As On Sado was lamenting, an amazing thing happened.

The door creaked open, and well-dressed Joseon ministers entered.

“Is this the person?”

“Yes, it is.”

Having received confirmation, the ministers strode towards On Sado and grabbed his hand.

“For a young man to risk his life to continue the work of his ancestors, he is a great hero!”

“It’s rare to see such a young man these days. He is indeed a descendant of a prestigious family.”

Although he is the Prince of Ryukyu, On Sado, who came to Joseon with his father at a very young age, could understand all their words.

On Sado blinked, not knowing what was going on in this sudden situation, but the meritorious subjects praised him repeatedly.

“We support your intentions. Yes, you must defeat the rebels and regain the throne.”

“Then, the punishment…?”

“How can we punish the proud descendant of a monarch? Our King is a sage and does not know such impropriety.”

“Is that all? We have obtained a firm promise to actively help you return.”

“…Hic!”

On Sado, overwhelmed by their words, burst into tears.

“Oh, don’t cry when things are about to come to fruition!”

Wanseongun Yi Cheon-woo hugged On Sado and comforted him.

On Sado was moved by the feeling of returning to his father’s arms.

“How can I repay the grace bestowed upon me by the King of Joseon and the loyalists! I will engrave this grace in my bones and never forget it.”

“You can slowly repay it from now on.”

“Ah, sign here first.”

“Sniff, yes…”

On Sado, shedding tears of emotion, took the brush that the meritorious subjects handed him without knowing what it was.

[Heir of Nanzan, On Sado, promises that in exchange for borrowing troops from Joseon, Cheonghaejin will handle all production, distribution, and sales of all sugar grown in Nanzan…]

It seemed like there was something strange, but On Sado didn’t pay attention to it because of the overwhelming emotion and excitement.

The acting shareholders achieved victory again today.

End

ⓒ Pitkong