There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 288

As the harsh northern winds swept in, the people of Joseon [historical Korean kingdom] living in Bukgye [northern region of Joseon] closed their doors early and lit their fires.

It had been over ten years since Bukgye was incorporated into Joseon, so the settled people of Joseon should have been used to this cold, but it was still not easy.

However, the cold does not only torment people.

At least for one person, the northern cold had washed away all arrogance and corruption.

That person was Bulno, who had shed his lazy monk image and become a proper monk.

“The snow needs to stop soon so we can leave; this is a problem.”

“Is there a need to rush so urgently? Why not leave Hoeryeong [city in North Hamgyong Province, North Korea] leisurely when spring comes?”

Meonteomu treated Bulno with respect.

This was partly because he was unofficially the son of the Retired King, but also because most tribal chiefs were generally polite to monks.

This was due to religious reasons and because they took charge of administrative tasks.

Bulno was someone who had traveled around various tribes from the far north of Tamju to Hoeryeong in the south, gaining practical experience, so Meonteomu had no choice but to respect him.

“Grand Prince Hyoryeong has sent a positive reply to the proposal to build a temple in the north. We must go south quickly and discuss it directly.”

The long-cherished desire of these monks dispatched to Bukgye was to build a proper temple in the north.

At best, they could only set up a small Dharma hall [Buddhist sanctuary] that monks used as accommodation.

However, to flourish Buddhism in this land, it was necessary to build a large temple (大刹) [Dacha, a large Buddhist temple] to serve as a center.

So, when they sent a letter to their cousin Grand Prince Hyoryeong, who seemed very interested in Buddhism, requesting support, they received a reply saying that he would be happy to help and discuss it together.

“His Majesty must cherish his younger brothers, giving them a lot of wealth, it seems true.”

“How can we consider the amount of wealth when building a temple with Buddhist faith? But the Grand Prince will have enough to donate generously. As a monk, it’s not my place to say this, but even the Biyak [a valuable commodity, likely ginseng or similar] is so famous that the rumors have spread to this northern region.”

The share that Grand Prince Hyoryeong received was considerably smaller than that of Grand Prince Chungnyeong, but it was still enough to be called a wealthy man.

“Viceroy, about that Biyak trade…”

Meonteomu said, licking his lips.

“Could you possibly petition the Grand Prince to let us join in as well?”

“Viceroy wants to do Biyak trade?”

“Of course, it is true that our current prosperity is due to His Majesty’s grace.”

The King’s majesty was widely spread even here in Bukgye.

He was the successor of the Retired King, who once wielded great influence in the northeast, and the feats he showed when he came to the north himself were impressive.

The rumor that he single-handedly beat a tiger, and the mysterious skills he showed when competing with the son of Taenyeong Guard at the Nadam festival [traditional Mongolian festival], were enough to inflate the imagination about the King.

Above all, under his reign, the Jurchens [ethnic group in Northeast Asia] were able to cultivate their own land and obtain necessary supplies through trade fairs.

Before, the Jurchens relied only on folk remedies passed down orally without systematic medical knowledge, but after being incorporated into Joseon territory, doctors from Gujuseong [city in Joseon], the seat of the provincial government, visited each tribe every year to provide medical care.

All of this was due to the King’s power.

But Meonteomu wanted a little more.

“When I was in Japan, I happened to hear a story from a mainland sailor about trading in the South Seas [Southeast Asian waters].

He said that if you load ceramics and ginseng onto a ship and sell them, you can easily make ten times the profit. Now that we have Biyak, I don’t know how much money we can make.”

“Well, there are many countries (萬國) [Wanguo, myriad countries, referring to the diverse nations] in the South Seas, and the sea route is convenient for transporting goods, so there’s nothing we can do about it.”

“Our Jurchens are connected to the Uryangkhai Three Guards [Mongol military units] in the near future and can also communicate with Mongolia and the Oirat [Mongol group] in the far distance.

But we only sell agricultural tools and ironware that don’t leave much profit, so we can’t compare to the people in the south.

Since Biyak is small, if we have excellent horses and riders transport it, we can move ten thousand li [Chinese unit of distance, approximately 5000 kilometers] in a month, and the profit will be incomparable to before.”

Meonteomu spoke passionately.

“Please, Monk, who is a member of the royal family, please build a bridge for us. If our Bukgye people make money, wouldn’t we be able to start great Buddhist projects?”

“Hmm…”

“This is not just my opinion but also the content agreed upon by Iribuka of Samsan.”

“If Viceroy Jeong says so, I will mention it indirectly, but don’t expect too much…”

Bulno said with a troubled expression, but Meonteomu understood it as a sign of permission.

“Really? Thank you, Monk!”

Meonteomu grabbed Bulno’s hand with a delighted expression.

Bulno shook his head and changed the subject.

“It doesn’t seem like the snow will stop easily, so I should study Hangeul [Korean alphabet] in the meantime. Open the book.”

Originally, the Jurchens also had their own writing system.

The Jin Dynasty [historical dynasty in China] created its own Jurchen script under the influence of Chinese characters and Khitan script, but it had already been gradually ignored since the Jin Dynasty existed.

Then, when the Yuan Dynasty [historical dynasty in China], the sworn enemy of the Jin, entered the place where Jin had fallen, a ruthless destruction of the old order swept in, and the lineage of Jurchen script was cut off.

In that situation, the Jurchens in this northeast region would not have been interested in Jurchen script.

At the same time, few Jurchens were educated enough to learn Chinese characters, so it was an even better environment for Hangeul to spread.

According to the royal order, Choi Yun-deok, the Bukgye Military Commissioner who received the royal decree, copied Hunminjeongeum [the document describing the Korean alphabet] and distributed it to each tribe, and the monks who learned it first were teaching the tribal chiefs, spreading it in a structured way.

It was merely writing Jurchen in Hangeul, but it was still good that at least the writing system was unified with Joseon.

“I will study Hangeul diligently. But you must keep your promise!”

Meonteomu shouted, and Bulno nodded.

‘But will His Majesty really allow it?’

Thinking about the humiliation he suffered from his cousin, the King, still made his hair stand on end.

Perhaps he would shout, ‘You scoundrel! A monk talking about Biyak is just a lazy monk!’ and throw him into the gulag [prison in Russia].

‘If it doesn’t work out, I’ll have to ask the Retired King for a favor.’

If the Retired King proposes it instead, His Majesty won’t be able to say much.

Bulno thought so, but…

In reality, Yi Bang-gwa [King Jeongjong of Joseon] was not in a situation to grant his son’s request.

===

“Aigo, my head…”

As I held my head, Yi Bang-gwa cautiously watched my reaction and opened his mouth.

“That… that’s all her fault… I’m the victim…”

“A victim, when you think about it, you are.”

“I… even if I didn’t give her a concubine title… how could she have an affair with a eunuch…!”

‘You should have behaved yourself better.’

The beginning was a woman named Gi-mae (其每).

True to our family’s nature of being weak to women, my great-uncle had touched Gi-mae, who was working as a maid, but he didn’t make her a concubine because of her usual behavior and status.

Then, Gi-mae, who had lost her affection, ended up having an affair with a eunuch.

To make matters worse, she had an accident with a eunuch, so Yi Bang-gwa’s morale, which had been soaring since the invention of Biyak, was immediately broken.

My great-uncle, who had great pride in his own strength, was hurt in his pride and ran to me.

‘How can you have an affair if you don’t have it?’

I tilted my head in confusion.

Well, there are many ways.

In particular, Joseon’s eunuchs only cut off the testicles and leave the stick, so if they try to have a relationship, they can.

‘Still, it’s amazing.’

To have the charm to seduce the Retired King’s maid as a eunuch.

Moreover, this eunuch is not the first time.

“I heard he had an affair with Grand Prince Hoean’s concubine in the past?”

Grand Prince Hoean refers to our exiled traitor great-uncle Yi Bang-gan.

How many traitors are there in this family?

Anyway, we can’t leave alone a guy who has been habitually doing gold-digging.

“Let’s see that guy’s face.”

===

‘Damn, he’s handsome.’

Of course, not as much as me, but the eunuch Jeong Sa-jing was quite handsome.

I asked sternly.

“How dare you have an affair with the Retired King’s maid who you serve?”

“It’s not an affair.”

“Huh?”

I was naturally waiting for ‘I was wrong’ to come out, but what came out of Jeong Sa-jing’s mouth was an absurd statement.

Despite his swollen face, he said confidently.

“Gi-mae and I are in love.”

‘Crazy bastard.’

I clicked my tongue and said.

“If you two were single men and women, I wouldn’t care, but isn’t Gi-mae clearly the Retired King’s woman? Are you going to package that as love?”

“If you insist that Gi-mae is the Retired King’s woman, shouldn’t you have made her a concubine? She’s already had the Retired King’s child!

I just couldn’t stand to see the tears of that woman who was being mistreated. Isn’t it a crime to fall in love!”

“Ooh~”

The jailers standing behind exchanged glances and admired quietly.

“Quiet, quiet!”

I shouted, banging on the armrest.

Who is making a fuss in this sacred family court?

‘I almost fell for it.’

I wouldn’t care if you directly confronted the Retired King, telling him to take care of the woman, but this bastard is still having an affair?

You’re just trying to suck honey, but why are you pretending to be a pure love?

“There’s nothing more to hear. Give that guy a hundred strokes with a cane and send him to the gulag.”

I said, waving my hand.

“You’re not going to kill him…!”

Yi Bang-gwa shouted angrily from the side, but I whispered in a small voice.

“Honestly, isn’t that the right thing to say?”

She wasn’t officially made a concubine, and Gi-mae’s current status is only the Retired King’s maid.

We’ll only ask about the crime of a eunuch and a maid playing around without permission, and add more strokes for talking back to me.

That should be enough.

“Your Majesty, are you really going to put him in the gulag?”

“Why?”

When I asked back, Wang-ho said.

“Although it is a lowly matter of yin and yang [referring to sexual relations], isn’t his talent a waste?”

‘Hmm, now that I hear it, it’s true.’

His face is okay, and he speaks so eloquently, so even if he’s a eunuch, women will fall for him.

Of course, that’s only a talent that works in modern times, and this country of morality, Joseon, doesn’t need an adultery offender.

“He is not needed in Joseon, but there may be a use for him elsewhere.

If you give him to me, I will train him.”

In fact, I don’t care what happens to such a gigolo.

I don’t know what Wang-ho saw in him, but I don’t mind giving him away.

“Take him.”

I readily allowed it.

I don’t know where he’s going to use him.

===

“Meonteomu must be in a hurry.”

I muttered, receiving Iribuka’s letter.

It has been over 10 years since we formed a relationship as uncle and nephew under the arrangement of Yi Seong-gye [King Taejo of Joseon, founder of the Joseon dynasty].

It’s good to have a direct line to the Jurchens so I can know these things right away.

“While he was away, his younger brother Beomchal has grown considerably, so he must be trying to start a big business like this to regain the initiative.”

Kim Jong-seo, who was next to me, agreed.

He had been in the north for a long time, so he was the most knowledgeable person about the north among the court officials.

‘As expected, sending them to the north automatically levels them up.’

Of course, his knowledge of the north won’t be updated if I leave him alone, so I should call Choi Yun-deok back soon and send Kim Jong-seo as his successor.

Anyway, it’s a bit uncomfortable that Meonteomu proposed it, but it was a proposal worth considering for me.

‘Meonteomu has definitely broadened his horizons since he came back from Japan.’

It’s not a bad thing for us either.

Joseon is reaching out in all directions, and he must have realized that this northern region where these Jurchen tribes are bickering is only a part of it.

He won’t rashly think of causing an accident.

So, let’s only consider whether it benefits our Joseon or not.

“We can reopen the Silk Road.”

End

ⓒ Pitkong