There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 25

A biting winter wind, sharp enough to sting the nose, blew between us, grandfather and grandson.

“…Hanyang was my dream. And Sambong’s dream, too.”

Yi Seong-gye said.

A new city built after overthrowing the 500-year-old Goryeo dynasty.
The symbol of the dynasty he founded.
Though he had returned to Gaeseong after the Revolt of the Princes, Hanyang was, for Yi Seong-gye, the fruit of a grand undertaking he had yet to fully realize.

“You’ve made a big noise about remodeling that Hanyang, so this old man can just sit back and watch the results.”

Yi Seong-gye said that.

“Are you going to leave everything to your grandson and go off to play?”

“Or would you prefer I stick around and help with the Hanyang design?”

“No, not really.”

At my immediate reply, Yi Seong-gye frowned.

“Tch, you can’t even offer an empty compliment.”

“Why would I offer something I don’t have?”

“You’re something else. I’m going hunting around here.”

Yi Seong-gye said, seemingly eager to stretch his legs.

‘So that’s why you barged into Daejeon.’

Grandson’s worries were just an excuse to go out again.

That’s what I thought.

“I may not need your design help, but I do need a bodyguard. Who will be my bodyguard?”

“Look at this one! Is your grandfather your servant?”

“No, it was you, Grandfather, who offered to protect me while I’m in Hanyang…”

“That was just an excuse.”

Of course.

“Someone else would be better than this seventy-year-old. That one will be responsible for your protection.”

Yi Seong-gye gestured with his chin, and the military officer standing behind him bowed his head.

However, Yi Seong-gye, who had introduced him, couldn’t remember his name and muttered.

“What was this friend’s name again?”

“How can you not remember the name of the bodyguard right next to you?”

Is it dementia?

Considering his age, it wasn’t impossible.

‘That terrible disease to my grandfather!’

Yi Seong-gye, seeing my shocked expression, flared up.

“You brat, you just thought I was senile, didn’t you?”

“No, how could I ever think that?”

I replied shamelessly.

Senility and dementia are clearly different.

“He’s a fresh face who just passed the military examination, that’s why I don’t remember him.”

“I see.”

Since Grandfather said so, what else could I do but believe him?

The military officer looked quite young.

‘So, what’s this person’s name, after all?’

The military officer seemed to read my thoughts and bowed.

“I am Byeoljang (別將) [Military Officer] Yi Cheon. I held a position through the Eumseo (蔭敍) system [privilege based on family background], and recently passed the military examination.”

“Yi Cheon?”

There’s someone with the same name among the people of this era that I know.

‘Could this person be that person?’

That person would naturally be a civil official.

‘It’s not like it’s a rare name.’

As I was lost in thought, Yi Seong-gye put his hand on my shoulder.

“Anyway, do well this time. There might be a big celebration when you return.”

“A big celebration?”

I pondered Yi Seong-gye’s sudden words, but no answer came to mind.

Then my thoughts turned to one thing.

‘Could it be marriage?’

In this era, most celebrations would be about marriage.

I had been prepared for this day to come someday, but…

‘It’s too early!’

If I were to marry someone at my current age, they would also be around ten years old.

Even without bringing in modern morals and laws, I couldn’t physiologically consider such a person as my wife.

It’s not a playhouse.

“Isn’t it, too early?”

As I cautiously asked, Yi Seong-gye nodded.

“It may feel that way, but it’s not bad to start early to secure an heir.”

An heir.

It’s really about marriage.

‘Damn it, this cursed early marriage custom…!’

“I am not yet capable of bearing such a heavy burden!”

“Ahem, it’s already been decided. You just need to accept the royal command and follow it.”

I seriously considered whether I should just stay in Hanyang.

===

Yi Seong-gye watched Yi Je, who was stiff with worry, and smiled with satisfaction.

‘Has that kid finally come to his senses?’

If he does well this time and returns to Gaeseong, he is scheduled to be appointed as the Crown Prince.

In the original history, it would happen about a year and a half later, but thanks to the stir caused by Wonja [Royal Prince] Yi Je, it has been brought forward.

‘A quick-witted fellow, he noticed it before I even brought it up.’

He had never seen the guy, who would usually joke around, look so tense.

‘The position of Crown Prince must feel that heavy.’

If Wonja simply means the eldest son of the king, the Crown Prince is the one who is declared to be the successor to lead the country in the future.

Even a lighthearted Wonja is keenly aware of the weight of the crown.

‘In the end, is royal talent something one is born with?’

The Crown Prince he appointed, Bang-seok, did not know that weight. He was just happy and excited.

‘The king is not one who stands above the people, but one who carries the people forward.’

Knowing that fact is what determines the qualities of a monarch.

His choice was wrong, but his son’s choice was right.

Yi Seong-gye was bitter and pleased at the same time.

===

After Grandfather left for the outskirts, the officials and workers who had departed from Gaeseong began to enter Hanyang.

Since there were many people and luggage, they were half a day later than us.

“I am in charge of the supervision of Hanyang as Wonja, but I am still young and do not know the situation well, so I hope that the various officials will help me with sincerity.”

In fact, I am neither young nor do I know the situation well, but I said so as a formality.

The officials bowed, their eyes full of doubt as to whether a truly young person like me could lead this great construction project.

Apart from casting doubtful glances at me, the lineup of officials gathered here was excellent.

First, there were my slaves, No-boon and Choi Hae-san.

No-boon was my personal eunuch, so it was natural, but Choi Hae-san was strictly a government official, so I had to use separate means to bring him.

“Why is Wonja Mama…”

‘I can see it all, you rascal.’

Choi Hae-san was secretly tearing his hair out in the corner.

I heard he was already going crazy because of the amount of work.

Well, not only me but also my father would send Choi Hae-san to look at the mines and the Hanyang site whenever he was bored, so it was understandable.

However, a slave can’t dare to refuse my orders.

The work at the Military Supplies Department was put aside for a while, and he was dragged here.

And from here on, it was really unexpected.

Hwang Hee, Seungchubu Gyeongryeok [a mid-level administrative post].

Meng Sa-seong, Jwasangidaeebu [a mid-level official title].

‘I know all of them.’

They were two people who made a name for themselves as great statesmen during the reign of King Sejong, but now, in the early days of Taejong, they were mid-level officials of about Jeong 4-品 [a rank in the Joseon Dynasty].

So, they must have received positions in this Hanyang Construction Office instead of high-ranking officials and came out.

‘They look like they’re about to die, though.’

For me, these people, whose abilities have been historically proven, were more comfortable than useless people with only high ranks.

‘My father picked and sent these people without me even asking separately.’

Has Yi Bang-won been keeping an eye on these people since this time?

‘Hmm, next.’

…Well, I don’t know.

My historical knowledge only comes from ‘The Land of the Morning Calm.’ [referring to a Korean history source]

If it doesn’t appear there, I don’t know.

That strict-looking nobleman over there seems to be a nobody too.

“Well, then, let’s start the meeting in earnest…”

When I opened my mouth, the strict nobleman shouted sharply.

“Wonja Mama!”

“Yes?”

I asked without thinking.

He grabbed his stiff-looking beard and said.

“I am sorry to report, but there is something that must be addressed, so I, Heo Jo, the Dogam Pan官 [Official of the Construction Bureau], would like to say a word!”

“Uh… speak.”

“As I came, I saw a cow tied to the stable outside the building. What is this? The cows that carried the luggage from Gaeseong have all gone to unload, so isn’t it that someone among those you employ has stolen a cow from a house in Hanyang and hidden it there?”

“?”

What is this out of the blue?

“How can we start national affairs with such a shameless act? Quickly release people to arrest the thief!”

At Heo Jo’s words, the atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

The words I had reluctantly said to try to ease the stiff atmosphere had all gone to waste.

“I understand. Let’s check the situation first…”

“Such things must be rooted out once and for all in front of everyone so that they are not repeated!”

Heo Jo did not back down easily, as befitting his stern appearance.

As I was about to call Yi Cheon, who was guarding outside, Meng Sa-seong hurriedly called me.

“Wonja Mama.”

“What’s wrong with you again?”

“The Pan官 seems to be talking about my Nurungyi.”

“Nurungyi?”

“It’s the name of the cow I ride.”

“……”

Did he ride a cow all the way from Gaeseong?

“That’s right.”

Even if he rode it, tying it up in the stable together is not a normal mind.

“……Is the misunderstanding resolved, Pan官 Heo?”

“It is fortunate that the truth has been revealed thanks to what I said.”

Heo Jo said proudly.

‘Why does it seem like there are no normal people?’

It’s hard to even start a meeting.

My head started to ache.

Then, Hwang Hee, reading the situation, quickly said.

“Wonja Mama, may we begin the discussion now?”

Is Hwang Hee the only one I can trust?

As expected, the most famous statesman in Joseon!

“I think the most urgent thing is to build roads.”

“Roads, you say?”

As a result of examining the roads of Hanyang, the roads were not well maintained, and even those were very narrow.

“Even if we try to build a palace, it will be difficult for people and materials to move around, so we will accommodate the houses of the people and widen it enough for two or three carts to pass at the same time.”

Of course, the avenue leading to the palace will be prioritized.

“We will draw the roads first and then determine the detailed sections.”

Officials and people will be moving from Gaeseong in droves, so if we try to widen the roads then, we won’t be able to do it.

I moved the brush on the map of Hanyang.

Dark ink runs through Hanyang from east to west and north to south.

A cross-shaped avenue that runs through Hanyang.

It was decided to divide the sections around this center.

“It is forbidden for the fences of the villages to block the road, and all houses within this area must be accommodated.”

It would be nice to pave it with asphalt, but there is no time, money, or materials now.

It was enough to make the road well-compacted to the level of a modern unpaved road. Trucks also run on it.

Once the avenue is dredged like this, it will be easy to pave it later.

“Are you saying that palace and road construction should be prioritized?”

“That’s right.”

Once the words started flowing, the meeting proceeded smoothly.

After setting up the sections around the avenue, a basic construction plan began to be established.

“Let’s build this village with tiled houses. Most of the houses in the city now are thatched, so if a fire breaks out, it will be easy for the fire to spread, and the dignity of the capital will not be preserved.”

“If we build the entire residential complex with tiled houses, we will need more than one or two artisans. Can we mobilize them in a short period of time?”

“Monks are skilled in making tiles. Call them and have them supervise.”

“Fortunately, we will be able to save a lot of firewood for baking tiles thanks to the stove invented by Wonja.”

“Where should we get the materials?”

“Materials such as timber and stone will be requisitioned by the country…”

“Then what’s left is ironware and paint…”

Iron is the rice of industry.

Even in this era without proper industry, iron was a valuable strategic resource.

‘I think I can solve this somehow.’

“Where should we get the paint?”

The officials, who were looking at each other, soon opened their mouths.

“Paint is mostly imported from Ming.”

“The Song merchants must have a lot of paint stored.”

Since they were friends who had been trading with the Song Dynasty since the Goryeo Dynasty, they still had under-the-table deals with Ming even before the lifting of the ban, or even after it.

“Song merchants.”

Some can be brought in as tribute envoys, but it would be easier to trade with Song merchants to supply a large amount in a short period of time.

“However…”

Meng Sa-seong trailed off.

“These guys are originally big-hearted merchants, so they won’t be easy to deal with.”

“Are you saying that they won’t follow the orders of the court even if they want to make a profit?”

“That’s right. And Wonja…”

He’s still young, so they might see him as an easy target, that’s what he means.

However, instead of getting angry, I twisted the corners of my lips.

“They can do that if they want to get hurt badly.”

Song merchants.

Were they definitely Gaeseong merchants?