There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 314

< The Legend of the Military Shrine (1) >

‘Is this truly what His Majesty desires?’

The princes who heard Yi Do’s hint were deep in thought.

Of course, it was shockingly good that the King had presented them with a vision for the future.

But could they take it at face value?

“······What do you think about going to Shenyang?”

“To Shenyang?”

When Grand Prince Gyeongnyeong, the eldest son, spoke, the other princes asked in surprise.

“Isn’t it the King’s order?”

“His Majesty only told us to find something to do, but he didn’t order us to go to Shenyang.”

Then, Grand Prince Gyeongnyeong sighed deeply and shook his finger.

“Don’t you know that Prince Chungnyeong is the King’s confidant? Do you think he just suggested a position in the Prince of Shenyang’s household?”

“But even if it’s the King’s order, do we really have to go to Shenyang?”

The younger brothers asked, looking disgusted.

They didn’t want to leave the comfortable Hanyang, where their parents were, if they didn’t have to.

But the princes who were old enough to think for themselves were different.

‘This is a test.’

Even if they were sons of concubines, they were still sons of Yi Bang-won.

Why wouldn’t they have dreams and ambitions?

But the existence of the King, whom they had seen since childhood, prevented them from having even the slightest desire.

They felt a great threat during the recent subjugation of Jo Wang.

‘When His Majesty went to war, there wasn’t a single minister who wasn’t worried.’

What if the King was hit by a stray arrow?

Even though there was the Retired King, the Former King, the Queen Dowager, and the Queen, the Crown Prince was still young.

Thanks to Yi Jae’s public health policies, the infant mortality rate had decreased dramatically, but even so, countless dangers still lay ahead for a young child to grow up.

A young Crown Prince.

And the King and Grand Prince Chungnyeong were at the battlefield.

‘What if something goes wrong?’

Grand Prince Hyoryeong and Grand Prince Seongnyeong remained in the capital, but Hyoryeong wasn’t very interested in politics and was only focused on Buddhist projects.

Grand Prince Seongnyeong was the youngest of the grand princes, so he was loved by both parents, but he still had the disadvantage of being young.

‘What if someone instills strange ambitions in them?’

A coup doesn’t require the person being promoted to even know about it.

Even if some fools just mention their name in the succession race, they can be unfairly implicated and ruined.

‘If things go wrong, my mother, her family, and my wife’s family will all be annihilated······.’

How many times had this family been through such bloodshed?

Even the fact that brothers from the same mother were spared, but those like them from the sidelines were never spared, had been revealed (all thanks to Yi Bang-won).

‘I thought it would be over if His Majesty returned safely.’

The sons of concubines, who had been living in seclusion as if walking on a knife’s edge, were now being tested again.

“Isn’t His Majesty trying to eliminate the root of trouble by sending us princes out to the provinces?”

Grand Prince Gongnyeong said with a gloomy face.

But Grand Prince Gyeongnyeong shook his head.

“That’s not it. What threat could we possibly pose to His Majesty?”

“Then what is it?”

“His Majesty is probably trying to gauge whether we will obediently follow his orders or not.”

Will they give up their comfortable lives in Hanyang [modern-day Seoul] and go to Shenyang to take on the work the King assigns them?

Or will they ignore the ‘King’s request’ and live without proving their worth?

‘If we choose the latter, it wouldn’t be strange if His Majesty ordered us to offer our heads at any time!’

These words were not spoken aloud, but the wise princes quickly understood.

The faces of the younger brothers soon darkened.

“That can’t be······.”

“We have no other choice anyway.”

It was rather relieving.

If they prostrate themselves and wholeheartedly demonstrate their talents, wouldn’t His Majesty reconsider at least once when he wields the sword of purification?

===

‘I ended up nagging them while drunk.’

The next day, after sobering up to some extent, I reproached myself.

It must have been bewildering for the younger brothers, especially since the awkward eldest brother had been berating them, asking, ‘What are you going to do for a living?’

Still, now that I’ve said something, I hope they find their own answers.

“Your Majesty, the princes have volunteered to go to Shenyang.”

“Huh?”

I opened my eyes wide at Do’s words.

They’re really going?

“How many?”

“All the grown ones.”

“Unexpected.”

I thought they would focus on book compilation or social work.

Then, Do laughed heartily and said.

“That’s good too, but wouldn’t it be better to learn from good teachers and contribute to the country by working on the ground?”

Listening to his words, suspicion suddenly arose.

“Grand Prince Chungnyeong.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“They all really wanted to go, right?”

Do blinked for a moment, then said nonchalantly.

“Of course, Your Majesty. After I gave them a few words of advice, they were all moved by Your Majesty’s grace and said they would go to Shenyang.”

Something feels fishy······.

‘Well, does it matter?’

I took out the Seal of the Prince of Shenyang, which I had received when I was appointed by Hongxi.

“Appoint each of them as Jinguo General (鎭國將軍) [Defender of the Nation General] of the Prince of Shenyang’s household and assign them to investigate and mine gold, silver, salt, iron, and coal.”

They’re called generals, but it’s not a real military position.

‘Originally, it’s a Ming Dynasty title.’

A position appointed to the sons of princes below the second son.

If my brothers are going to be active in Shenyang, they need to have one of these titles, even if only in name.

It’s called a general, but it’s a position given to them to mine iron and coal, but I’m still planning to give them the authority to mobilize manpower.

‘Especially since we need to absorb the unemployed quickly.’

Currently, there are many people left in Liaodong without homes or property.

This is because a large number of refugees have flocked there due to the continued chaos after the Jo Wang’s rebellion.

‘Their tenacity is amazing.’

The Yongle Emperor tried to control those who opposed his expeditions by accompanying them, but he died suddenly in the middle of the expedition, and they all sided with Jo Wang.

Naturally, after the rebellions of Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui were suppressed, all those who cooperated with them were executed.

No matter how generous Hongxi was, he couldn’t forgive them.

It would have been fine up to this point, but Ming Dynasty, being the size it was, had a large-scale system of guilt by association, so there were countless people who had to die along with them.

The only place where people who refused to accept death could escape was Liaodong.

“In addition, many people who are exhausted from taxes and construction, or who are adjacent to the Great Wall and are subject to invasions by the barbarians, are crossing over.”

“Hmm······.”

The burden on the people is increasing to restore the Beijing and Great Wall defense lines, and security concerns have also become serious as the Uriyangkhai [Mongolian ethnic group] have firmly established themselves.

‘There are even guys coming over by sea.’

The Shandong area was devastated by peasant revolts, and the suppression forces are cracking down on the White Lotus sect [a religious and political movement] like they’re catching lice.

So refugees are crossing over to Liaodong, which is nominally the same country, but I’m not very happy about it.

‘Isn’t this just going to destabilize the Liaodong situation?’

Most of them cross over without proper means of living, so conflicts with the natives are bound to become serious.

The population density in the north may be sparse, but Liaodong isn’t exactly like that.

The reason I’m trying to urgently start development projects in Liaodong is for this reason.

“Gather those who don’t have suitable land and have them mine in various parts of Liaodong.

Have the remaining people cultivate salt fields on the coast, and if there are still hands left over, send them east.”

The population of Bukgye has also increased significantly.

This is partly due to the expansion of Joseon territory and the additional incorporation of Jurchens [a Tungistic people], but more than that, it was due to the spread of farming methods and the influx of Joseon people.

‘Farming is quite good, after all.’

The Jurchens are now quite good at farming.

As yields increase and sanitation and medical care improve, the population is naturally exploding.

Even so, there is still a shortage of people, so they will be happy to have people sent to cultivate vacant land.

“If not, mobilize them for road construction.”

Extend the main roads already built in Joseon to Liaodong.

If people and goods are actively exchanged, and even more people settle down, it’s only a matter of time before it’s effectively tied to Joseon territory.

‘I’ll completely control Liaodong’s economy within a few years.’

Language and ethnicity are secondary issues to this.

Once the economies of Liaodong and Liaoxi are completely dependent on Joseon, we can gradually assimilate them from then on.

‘I have some useful cards too.’

I don’t know why, but there were a lot of people from Goryeo [ancient Korean kingdom] in Liaodong during this era.

They were Goryeo people until only a few generations ago, so they were aware of their family’s origins to some extent, and they could communicate.

It would be good if my brothers actively recruited those people.

Isn’t that what the Jinguo General position is for?

‘Even if they’re sons of concubines, they’re still princes, so it’ll be quite a promotion.’

It might be better for my brothers to use the Prince of Shenyang’s residence that I built with so much effort than to leave it empty.

From the perspective of the people of Liaodong, wouldn’t they feel that Shenyang has become Joseon’s territory if Joseon princes stay in Shenyang and handle affairs?

===

Of course, Yi Bang-won’s expression was not very bright when he heard the news.

As expected of a son-in-law.

“Is this His Majesty’s will?”

“No, they all bravely revealed it themselves.”

“I hope they don’t get caught up in unnecessary gossip.”

Yi Bang-won said with a displeased face.

His eyes were full of suspicion, as if saying, ‘Is this guy really my son······?’

‘How unfair.’

They said they would go themselves.

“By the way, while I was out, Dan-i learned a lot of strange things.”

“Ahem! Now that you mention it, I heard that a memorial was submitted to establish a Military Shrine (武廟), Your Majesty.”

It was obvious that he was changing the subject in a hurry.

“Yes. I was going to tell Father about it anyway.”

This war was an overwhelming victory for the Joseon army.

Although it was a victory won against rebels, their foundation was the elite army of Ming.

Since they unilaterally beat up those who seemed like an insurmountable opponent and took a lot of spoils, the morale of the Joseon army was truly soaring.

If we also provide preferential treatment to the wounded, patriotism will soar.

‘Originally, I was thinking of creating a National Cemetery.’

However, in Joseon, it was common to be buried in the family’s ancestral tomb, so there was a sense of aversion to communal cemeteries like the National Cemetery.

The alternative that was presented was the Military Shrine.

“I was interested in the Military Shrine as well. The officials opposed it, saying that literature and military are one, so the Civil Shrine (文廟) [Confucian temple] is enough, so I stopped.”

“They brought that logic again this time.”

Confucius is not only a master of literature (文學) but also a teacher of many emperors, so there is no reason to build a separate Military Shrine.

‘It just sounds like an excuse.’

If they really thought so, they should have enshrined military officials together in the Civil Shrine.

Choi Chi-won, Seol Chong, and An Hyang have been there for a long time, but no one is saying that we should add a military commander to make up the numbers.

“We won the war, and it seems like it would be good to create a new Military Shrine.”

“Yes, you will naturally enshrine King Wucheng (武成王) [Military Sage] in the Military Shrine, right?”

“Is there really a need to do that?”

Traditionally, the owner of the Military Shrine in China was King Wucheng Lü Shang, also known as Jiang Ziya.

Confucius is so revered by the scholars that he has no choice but to be set up as the face of the Civil Shrine, but Jiang Ziya? I don’t know.

If they oppose the establishment of the Military Shrine itself, they would have opposed it, but I don’t think there would be anyone who would make a fuss about not enshrining Jiang Ziya.

“It seems like we can make a Korean person the master (墓主) [chief deity] of the Military Shrine.”

“A Korean general······.”

Yi Bang-won stroked his beard and asked.

“How about enshrining King Taejo?”

“Yes?”

“King Taejo was also a famous general who saved the country from national crisis. Moreover, Confucius was posthumously honored as King Wenxuan (文宣王) [King of Culture], and Jiang Ziya was also posthumously honored as King Wucheng, so to match the status of the Military Shrine, we must enshrine a king. King Taejo is the only one who fits that description, isn’t he? Oh, what a brilliant idea.”

Yi Bang-won clapped his knees and admired his own idea.

But I couldn’t hide my displeased expression.

“Uh······.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

‘Still, it’s a Military Shrine, so a coup leader is a bit······.’

Even though he’s my grandfather, doesn’t it look a bit awkward?

I resolved to find someone else.

Without knowing what kind of chaos that would bring.

< The Legend of the Military Shrine (1) > End