There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 294

You tell such chilling jokes, even when you’re kidding.

Having retreated from his brother, Grand Prince Chungnyeong, Yi Do, immediately checked to see if there were any hidden scribes nearby.

Fortunately, Min In-saeng was away training in the deep mountains (now he was quite happy to take long-term unpaid leave), so there was no one around to eavesdrop.

Only then did Yi Do heave a sigh of relief and paused to think.

His older brother always hid truth within his jokes.

It wasn’t difficult for him to read the other person’s true intentions from passing remarks.

‘Did he say that to establish his authority over me?’

That was the most political interpretation, but Yi Do was certain it was wrong.

Wasn’t his older brother the type to just laugh it off even if his younger brother grabbed him by the collar and shook him?

He knew his brother had dark schemes brewing, but he wouldn’t bring them up even with family.

‘He’s just a nasty person… Oh dear, such disloyal thoughts.’

Yi Do shook his head, realizing his thoughts were already tainted by his brother.

Making such jokes in front of his younger brother meant that his older brother’s authority was unassailable, but specifically mentioning his own safety was unsettling.

‘Could it be?’

Yi Do suddenly raised his head.

‘Is he nervous?’

His older brother, who wouldn’t bat an eye even when his life was in danger?

His brother tried to brush it off with his usual eccentricities and jokes, but he couldn’t fool his eyes.

Ultimately, the reason led back to ‘that’ operation plan that the King had ordered to be drafted.

‘War, huh.’

He didn’t know when it would be, but his older brother was preparing for, or planning, a war.

And not against some petty bandits raiding the border, but against the master of the world, the Great Ming [the ruling dynasty of China at the time].

If a war with Ming broke out, the fate of Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom], and his family, would be at stake.

Wasn’t his brother afraid of that?

‘Something big is coming.’

Yi Do clenched his fist.

Whatever decision his brother made, he was determined to support him to the best of his ability.

That was the resolution Yi Do made, not just as a subject, but as a member of this family.

Even if he couldn’t achieve his goals.

“Grand Prince, Your Excellency. His Majesty has ordered you to submit the agricultural association establishment review proposal quickly.”

…For now, he had to finish his work first.

===

“If you don’t hit them, they won’t obey; hit them until they obey (不打不服, 打服爲止).”

Emperor Yongle’s northern expeditions proceeded under this principle.

The expeditions were definitely ‘temporarily successful’.

Taisun Khan Alutai, who had killed five Ming generals and defeated 100,000 troops, was beaten like a dog and surrendered to Emperor Yongle.

Taking advantage of Alutai’s weakened state, Mahmud of the Oirat rebelled, and Emperor Yongle crushed the Oirat as well.

Mahmud, with his nose thoroughly broken, followed Alutai’s survival strategy and prostrated himself, and was soon appointed Prince of Shun Ning.

However, the effects of the expedition were also ‘successful but temporary’.

Mahmud himself surrendered and died a few years later, but his sons and grandsons remained.

It was a story for a generation later when this grandson, later known as Esen Taishi, would cause a major incident.

Even without looking that far ahead, unrest continued in the northern border.

In the original history, Alutai, who had taken a breather, cut off tribute and invaded the Ming Dynasty’s border again.

Each time, Emperor Yongle launched the 3rd, 4th, and 5th expeditions in quick succession, and finally died on the last expedition.

Alutai’s rebellion was the same here, but what was different was the timing.

“Hwaryeong Prince Arughtai has rebelled; how did he recover his strength so quickly?”

The Uriankhai [a Mongolian ethnic group], who had stockpiled supplies through trade with Joseon, supported Alutai, and Alutai captured Heunghwa and killed the general Wang Huan (王煥).

Emperor Yongle decided to go on an expedition even before he had finished moving the capital to Beijing.

“Your Majesty, the army has already been mobilized to suppress the rebellion in Annam, so how can you also send troops to the north?”

“The national treasury is empty due to successive expeditions, and it is not right to try to fight enemies in the north and south!”

Minister of Revenue Ha Won-gil, Minister of Justice Oh Joong, and Hanlim Academy Reader Yi Si-myeon were imprisoned for opposing the expedition.

When Minister of War Bang Bin committed suicide because he could not dissuade the Emperor, Emperor Yongle had his body dismembered.

It was an expedition that left after quashing the opposition of the officials, but Alutai, who knew that there was no chance of winning if they faced each other head-on, avoided the confrontation and fled.

“The vanguard Zhu Rong has captured Arughtai’s soldiers at Salhuwon.”

“It is said that Arughtai has already abandoned his horses and armor and fled north of Hwalanhae.”

“Do not pursue him recklessly. Our army is not familiar with the terrain and does not know the enemy’s situation well. The barbarians are a concern on the border, so it is enough to chase them far away.”

Emperor Yongle quickly grasped the situation.

He had won a victory without fighting.

Even for nomads, losing their base was a major blow.

However, as long as Alutai was alive, there was still room for him to invade Ming’s border again.

“The reason why the enemy cut off tribute and opposed the Celestial Dynasty [another name for the Ming Dynasty] is because they must have something to rely on. Although we have struck and chased away Arughtai, if we do not break the bird’s wings, will he not return again?”

“The Uriankhai (兀良哈) are suspicious. Like bats, they watch the situation and stick to us, and they stick to the Tatars, so it is likely that they supported Arughtai.”

Emperor Yongle accurately pointed out that the Uriankhai were the culprits.

No matter how much the Uriankhai outwardly showed allegiance, barbarians could never be trusted.

Emperor Yongle completely forgot that he had gone back on his promise to give Daening to them and thought so.

Now that Arughtai has suffered a setback and fled, they must be struck.

“First, the troops should be withdrawn and rested, and then 20,000 men should be selected from the army to quickly strike the Uriankhai. The entire army should prepare to retreat.”

Emperor Yongle ordered.

He was not completely satisfied because Arughtai had escaped, but a victory was a victory.

If he struck the Uriankhai, who served as Arughtai’s warehouse, and taught them a lesson, the northern border would be safe for the time being, and he would have something to say to his subjects when he returned.

After finishing the military council, Emperor Yongle rubbed his eyes with a tired look.

“In any case, we have won a victory, so we must forget our worries for today. Bring in the beauties.”

It was important to refrain from seeking women during wartime.

However, he had already won a victory, and the army was disarming and preparing to retreat.

Also, since he had obtained the enemy’s lair, it was natural to take their women.

Emperor Yongle, who had already abstained from pleasure while advancing from Beijing to the north of the desert, had no intention of waiting any longer.

“Should I bring in Bi-ah as well?”

“…”

Emperor Yongle looked at the eunuch with an expression that said, “Are you asking the obvious?”

The eunuch quickly ran away from Emperor Yongle’s sight, fearing that a sanction would be imposed on him at any moment.

Soon, women in fluttering clothes entered with fear on their faces, but Emperor Yongle’s gaze was fixed on Bi-ah, who had entered with them.

‘This guy is truly amazing.’

Emperor Yongle, whose energy had gradually declined with age, was enjoying his second prime thanks to the Bi-ah sent by his brother-in-law.

Even though he had a headache after applying it, it was bearable, and he could easily forget it if he concentrated.

In the original history, Emperor Yongle was even told two years later, ‘Why are you blaming others for your wife cheating on you because your yang energy is weak?’ but here, he was much more active(?).

The doctors often told him that enjoying women too often was bad for his health, but what was the point of living long if he didn’t have such pleasures?

This mysterious Joseon elixir created by his brother-in-law was like a lifeline sent from heaven to him.

Emperor Yongle loaded Bi-ah with a determined expression.

“Come on! No matter how many of you there are, I will face you all!”

Emperor Yongle shouted in a dignified voice, befitting a hero who had swept through an era.

===

The purpose of the northern expedition was to subdue the barbarians who were disturbing the border and to place the four seas (四海) [a metaphor for the world] under the Emperor’s feet, but Emperor Yongle also used it for internal control.

He made those who had not cooperated in the Jingnan campaign [a civil war in the early Ming Dynasty], those who had opposed the seizure of the throne, or those who had surrendered only after Emperor Yongle’s victory was decided, participate in the expedition.

It was to suppress their resistance and make them comply with his regime in the process of carrying out the expedition to a distant place.

Therefore, these were the very people that Prince Zhao, Zhu Gaosu, could best win over.

In the course of the expedition, Zhu Gaosu gradually became acquainted with them and built friendships under the pretext of resolving their grievances.

On the surface, it was to appease those who might oppose his father, which pleased Emperor Yongle, but it was an act for Zhu Gaosu himself, not his father.

Those who were alienated from the Yongle regime were gradually becoming closer to Prince Zhao.

However, Prince Zhao, Zhu Gaosu, only became more impatient.

Was this the time for him to leisurely gather only outsiders?

“When exactly can we start the uprising!”

Zhu Gaosu was going crazy from assisting his father in the camp, which was hot during the day, cold at night, smelly, and infested with bugs.

In fact, when he thought about it, there was no guarantee that his father would die on the expedition.

Thus, Zhu Gaosu’s mind gradually became more vicious.

“Now that Arughtai has fled, the Emperor will retreat. Then we will have to wait until he comes out on another expedition, and I will have to follow him again then, too? Until the Emperor passes away!

You advised me on the strategy of Shaqiu [a historical event involving a coup], so come up with a countermeasure!”

Zhu Gaosu snapped at Meng Xian.

However, even if it was Meng Xian, what countermeasure could he come up with when the Emperor wouldn’t die?

Was Prince Zhao telling him to assassinate the Emperor?

“The Emperor is heavily guarded, and many people are always careful when serving him food. It will not be easy to use a plan.”

“So are you saying we should wait until the next expedition? And go out and accompany him then, too?

If this goes on, and the Emperor returns to the capital and passes away, it will all be over. The throne will pass to that fat older brother without even a chance to twitch!”

Zhu Gaosu slammed the table.

From Meng Xian’s point of view, it was a plan that had been prepared as a ten-year project, so he could not hide his embarrassment when Prince Zhao could not bear it.

“Then I will follow your orders.”

However, what could he do but obey when his lord ordered him to do so?

It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered assassination as a means.

Meng Xian silently retreated from Zhu Gaosu’s presence, thinking of various methods in his head.

However, a moment later.

Meng Xian rushed in with a eunuch, panting.

“Your Highness, Your Highness!”

Zhu Gaosu looked at the eunuch with annoyance.

However, with the words that followed, his annoyance vanished like snow.

“The Emperor has collapsed!”

Zhu Gaosu quickly turned to look at Meng Xian.

He conveyed a look of deep admiration.

‘Amazing, Meng Xian! You succeeded in that short time?’

However, Meng Xian was just looking at Zhu Gaosu with a bewildered expression.

‘I haven’t done anything yet?’

‘?’

‘?’

Then what on earth is it because of?

Zhu Gaosu, dumbfounded, headed to Emperor Yongle’s camp.

End

ⓒ Pitkong