There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 323

324.

Hanseong Essayist.

This Joseon’s premier satirist, who debuted like a comet through ‘Joteunsaenggak’ [a popular magazine], was also famous for having his identity completely hidden.

Through exchanges with the Ming Dynasty, which had increased significantly more than in the original history, works like the *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* had just begun to enter, but it was woefully insufficient to meet the demand for stories.

Therefore, the works he wrote were a hit of unprecedented scale.

However, it was truly amazing that even with such near-divine writing skills, almost nothing was known about his personal details.

Because of this situation, there were many rumors circulating inside and outside the court about his identity.

“Even if a scholar is ashamed to sell his writing, he would reveal his identity by now. Could he perhaps be a descendant of the Goryeo dynasty in seclusion?”

“Isn’t ‘Joteunsaenggak’ a magazine published by the royal women’s association? There’s no way the royal family would accept writings from the remnants of the late Goryeo dynasty, would they?”

Who knows, maybe they’ll take him on a tour of the Dragon Palace with his relatives?

Yi Je, who built Sunguijeon [a shrine] to continue the ancestral rites of the Wang family, would have been driven mad if he had heard this, but it was the karma of his family, so there was nothing he could do.

“Or there might be another reason. I heard that the Queen Consort is in charge of publishing ‘Joteunsaenggak’…”

“And?”

“Among those who came from Ming with the Queen Consort, could there be someone who has to hide their identity?”

“Could it be the deposed Jianwen Emperor?!”

From rumors close to conspiracy theories, to claims that he was a hidden son of a high-ranking official or even a woman, all sorts of stories circulated, but nothing was clearly revealed.

There were almost no clues to guess his identity, so those who had rolled up their sleeves and gnashed their teeth due to the ending of the *Old Scholar and Lady Joo* could only suppress their resentment.

The fact that he suddenly revealed his name in the Sunbo [a newspaper] was a major event.

[Confucius, seeing that the people of Wei were numerous, first discussed enriching them and then teaching them (先富後敎) [a Confucian principle emphasizing economic well-being before moral education], but there has never been a saying in ancient or modern times to disperse the people for the sake of the country’s peace.

I will write about how the eight current affairs policies argued by Jeong Changson cut off filial piety, harmed righteousness, insulted the king, and defiled even the names of parents…]

“Hmm, the Hanseong Essayist’s words are quite reasonable.”

“Until now, I suspected that he was a woman or a commoner because he wrote in pure Korean, but this article is written in true script (眞書, Chinese characters) and skillfully uses historical events. He might really be a learned person.”

“His writing always had a hidden depth (玄機), but it is clearly revealed in this essay.”

“When did you read the Hanseong Essayist’s writing?”

“…That’s not very important.”

Yi Je’s logically written rebuttal—actually ghostwritten by Grand Prince Chungnyeong—aroused people’s admiration.

Of course, there were not only favorable views.

“Hanseong Essayist! If he has time to post such miscellaneous writings, he should properly refine the ending of my story! How dare he disturb people’s minds with essays and whatnot!”

“Have you also read the Hanseong Essayist’s writing?”

“Ahem! I only heard my sister denouncing it from the side.”

Considering that, the answer came back with too much resentment, but such prickly gazes certainly existed.

Either way, it didn’t matter.

The presence of Jeong Changson, who had made a name for himself with unrestrained commentary, was quickly overshadowed by the appearance of the famous Hanseong Essayist in the Sunbo, in both good and bad ways.

The *yangban* [aristocrats] gathered at the tea house were all talking about the Hanseong Essayist.

“It seems like he’s going to publish such commentaries from time to time?”

“To be honest, I wish he would just focus on ‘Joteunsaenggak.’ It’s been three months since I’ve seen his work.”

“There was even an extreme statement that Jeong Changson isn’t even a Confucian scholar, so he can’t just stand still. We’ll have an interesting spectacle in the Sunbo soon.”

“I can’t miss such honey-like fun. I’m always trying to get it, but it’s frustrating. I should subscribe to the Sunbo.”

The unprecedented keyboard battle surrounding Joseon’s first newspaper, Yeoheung Sunbo.

Everyone was looking forward to the next chapter, but Jeong Changson did not come forward to refute.

Unlike Min Insaeng, who smiled broadly at the explosive growth of Sunbo subscribers in the capital, the readers were wondering why he didn’t refute even after being subjected to such harsh insults.

People who were tired of waiting blamed Jeong Changson, and this resentment turned into ridicule.

“He must have lowered his tail because he couldn’t properly refute it!”

“He’s supposed to be a descendant of a prestigious family, but he got thoroughly beaten by the Hanseong Essayist!”

However, Jeong Changson had not *not* refuted.

He just couldn’t.

Immediately after the Hanseong Essayist’s rebuttal was published, Big Brother’s hand covered him.

===

At first, Jeong Changson also felt a deep displeasure at the appearance of the Hanseong Essayist.

He was furious at the arrogant rebuttal, but arguing with a commoner (下民) whose identity he didn’t even know was in itself an act of degrading his status.

However, as time passed, he leaned towards using this opportunity to expand the situation.

If there had been no intervention, he would have actually done so.

“Which is better, going outside the country for a while, or being paraded around the Sunbo in shame and then being found in a ditch after drinking?”

Jeong Changson’s chin trembled.

Even now, *yangban* sometimes get drunk and end up in ditches, but it didn’t seem to mean being found alive.

‘The Uigeumbu [police], Hanseongbu [capital administration], or Podocheong [police bureau] don’t seem to be involved.’

Anyway, they were all the same in that they would create crimes even if there were none if there was an order, but the difference was that they did it a little more openly.

Then, like the legends that roam the back alleys of the capital, a truly hidden and secret organization….

“What will you do?”

“How can I, as a gentleman, leave the house without my parents’ permission?”

“Don’t worry about that. Your father and older brother welcomed your son’s entry into the world through the *umseo* system [a privilege allowing sons of high-ranking officials to enter government service].”

“….”

No matter how explosively exchanges had increased in Joseon, Jeong Changson, who was born and raised in Hanyang [old name for Seoul], would not regard going abroad as a casual outing.

But of course, there was no room for choice.

===

Of course, I couldn’t write the rebuttal myself because I was busy, so Do took on the task.

Next to him, Jeong Inji, who first started talking about the population disaster, was being grilled to complete the logic.

In the end, all I lent was the name of the Hanseong Essayist.

‘One way or another, I played the biggest role.’

People were looking at the appearance of the Hanseong Essayist more interestingly than the fight itself.

‘I didn’t expect so much attention to be focused on the Hanseong Essayist.’

Should I occasionally have Do submit essays or contributions supporting government policies?

It doesn’t sound good to be called a government-sponsored writer, but since I’m the Hanseong Essayist, and the Hanseong Essayist is me, whatever I do, I can only be government-sponsored (御用) [employed by the government].

‘Let’s drop it.’

One such troublesome task is enough.

The reason I secretly stepped forward this time wasn’t exactly because of small fries like Jeong Changson.

Should I trample on the budding media culture?

Besides, there’s no need to give the impression that I’m cracking down on commentators and unnecessarily increase their size.

Those who agreed with Jeong Changson will criticize him subtly, even if they can’t say it openly.

This had to be made into a picture of a disheveled-haired Confucian student talking nonsense and then getting beaten by the Hanseong Essayist and running away with his pants down.

They should be grateful that we at least gave them a justification for running away.

‘I heard that there are those who are worried that the country’s population will increase in the future, and there will be a shortage of land and food.

They asked to find land where Joseon people can live, so even though it’s like the worries of the old man of Qi (杞憂) [groundless fears], their hearts are commendable.

Therefore, I am establishing the position of External Explorer (外探事) and appointing them to quickly leave and survey the east of the country.’

“Brother, you are so mean. It was true that it was not something a Confucian scholar should say, but you are sending him to a place where there is nothing and making him work hard.”

“A place where there is nothing?”

I asked, widening my eyes.

“If you are talking about the east, it can’t be Japan, and what is behind that?”

“How can you be so sure? The earth is round, so who knows what will be there if you keep walking?”

The idea that the sky is round and the earth is square (天圓地方) was a basic perception that had been passed down from the past.

From there, the theory of the universe, which says that the sky covers and the earth supports, is the mainstream in this era.

However, among the books I brought from Beijing in the past, there were books that differed from this view.

Among the tasks of the Jiphyeonjeon [Hall of Worthies] were to organize and prove these books.

It’s not an order I gave. I, who brought those books, was too busy with this and that to pay attention, but Do proceeded with it out of pure academic curiosity.

“We can see that not only the sky but also the earth is round by looking at the horizon.

Zhu Xi said that Emperor Taizong of Tang led his troops to march north, and the reason why the night became shorter was because they touched the pointed part of the earth, but in fact, the theory of the Western scholars (西士) was correct.”

“But we, who live on this round earth, have only sent ships to the west so far?”

Starting with the Southeast Asian Indian Ocean trade, all of our officials who had been to Venice went only to the west.

In the process, most of the officials would have roughly grasped how wide this world is.

“If there is that much land and sea to the west, wouldn’t that mean that there is that much land to the east as well?”

“There might only be sea?”

“Oh, no way.”

I shook my head sternly.

It’s a barrage of famous sayings after a long time!

“If only the sea is on half of this vast earth, it would be a serious waste of space.”

Well, it was a forced logic in a world where 2/3 of the earth is sea, but there is actually a new continent there.

“Then, brother, are you sending Jeong Changson to find that place?”

“Of course, I don’t know how far we have to go. Maybe, as you said, we’ll only find it after crossing an endless ocean.”

Maybe it’s impossible for our generation?

Unless Dan takes over and rules after me.

“Is that right, Daddy?”

Dan tilted his head.

“Yes. I’m trying to pave the way for you.”

Jeong Changson and the others headed north along the Yeonhaeju region, not Japan.

“This place is nominally our territory, but so far, we have mainly moved along horses or waterways, and sea routes have not been properly developed.”

This expedition is tasked with planting a stele along the coast of Yeonhaeju and subjugating the natives.

Of course, that’s just something they’re taking on as a side job, and the main purpose of this ‘first’ expedition is to create maps and develop sea routes.

I’m thinking of opening a road to at least Hokkaido.

If the first expedition explores that far, then we can send them to more distant places from then on.

Jeong Changson, who is in charge of writing, will have to record and report meticulously.

Wouldn’t he also be tasked with contacting the barbarians living there and extracting information?

Of course, our officials must always spread the King’s influence (王化) [civilizing influence] anytime, anywhere. They must also preach the King’s virtue and the doctrines of Confucius and Mencius.

Those who do not believe in the edification of people, reflect on themselves and return.

It’s a scholar’s duty, so don’t complain and do it.

===

Unlike Jeong Changson and the expedition, who headed north half voluntarily and half involuntarily, the White Lotus followers were transported to the south, where fierce battles were taking place.

Even though they may have been rebels in Ming, Majapahit was in no position to be picky, so they decided to use the wisdom of using barbarians to control barbarians (以夷制夷) [a strategy of using one group of non-citizens against another].

“The king of Jowa State says that he will not ask about the past as long as you pledge allegiance and help protect the country.”

As far as I’ve been informed, Majapahit is a Hindu country.

However, the influence of Buddhism is also quite strong, so the White Lotus sect, a Buddhist-affiliated pseudo-religion, is a perfect fit for laundering and entering.

Majapahit has already given us Singapore to prevent the expansion of Malacca.

Perhaps similar measures will be taken for the White Lotus sect.

The sultanates that are slowly pushing in will not be happy with the sudden appearance of the White Lotus sect, so a fight is certain.

I, who helped the allied countries with just one weeding out, turned my head to internal affairs this time.

I was going to set new standards for Joseon.

End

ⓒ Pitkong