There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 331

332.

‘Could I possibly receive a posthumous temple name [a formal name given to deceased monarchs and nobles, reflecting their reign and character]?’

Yi Bang-gwa abruptly woke up from his sleep.

He had once jokingly grumbled about it to his nephew, but in truth, it was a matter of great importance.

So much so that the mere thought of it banished all sleep.

With a disheveled look, Yi Bang-gwa sat up and scratched his head.

Yi Bang-gwa was a geezer, but not a fool.

He knew that he wasn’t exactly treated as a proper monarch.

Even his subjects, if asked who the second king of this nation was, would carelessly answer Bang-won.

It wasn’t that people intentionally ignored him, but rather that his presence was simply faint… Either way, it wasn’t pleasant.

He remembered the subtle remarks that had surfaced among the officials when they were bestowing the temple name Taejo [the temple name given to the founder of the Joseon dynasty, King Taejo] upon his father.

The question was whether it was appropriate to bestow a temple name as a vassal state [a state that is subordinate to another].

Lee Seong-gye was, after all, the founder of Joseon, and thanks to his younger brother Bang-won’s strong push, he smoothly received the temple name Taejo, but would they really do the same for him?

Recently, His Majesty had been deliberately adopting anything that looked good, regardless of the vassal state’s etiquette, but that didn’t guarantee he would grant a temple name.

“Even I wouldn’t give it if I were him…”

Yi Bang-gwa muttered, scratching the sole of his foot.

The Joseon royal line, which began with his father, was passed down through Bang-won to the current king.

Formally, his younger brother had ascended the throne, continuing his line, but in reality, he was practically pushed out of the nation’s royal lineage.

He didn’t have much attachment to the throne, but whether his descendants would recognize him as a proper monarch was another matter.

“Surely they wouldn’t be so petty as to leave only me out…”

They were even engraving his face on Baegundae [a peak in Bukhansan National Park, Seoul], weren’t they?

So, wouldn’t that mean they had some intention of treating him as a king of this nation?

However, the temple name was another issue.

Originally, the second monarch was given the temple name Taejong [a temple name typically given to the third monarch], to signify the succession of the founder.

But would his younger brother, the retired king, really pass on such a meaningful temple name to him?

“It doesn’t have to be Taejong…”

Of course, Yi Bang-gwa himself had given up on ‘Taejong’ from the start.

But couldn’t his nephew at least arrange for a suitable temple name?

‘That guy seems unlikely to do so.’

Wasn’t he the one who spitefully left him out of the Haedong Yukryong [a poem praising the ancestors of the Joseon dynasty] when composing the Yongbieocheonga [Songs of the Dragons Flying to Heaven, a Korean epic poem]?

Come to think of it, he had also ignored his request to have his face printed on the currency.

“Ugh…”

His body was gradually deteriorating.

It almost felt like he had already exceeded his natural lifespan.

For all he knew, he didn’t have much time left.

He had to clearly show his younger brother and nephew what kind of person this Yi Bang-gwa was.

===

Jeonghwa, perhaps because he himself was a Muslim, supported the Islamic forces spread throughout Southeast Asia.

The sultanates, including Brunei and Malacca, played the role of keeping Majapahit [a Javanese Hindu-Buddhist thalassocratic empire] in check on behalf of the Ming Dynasty.

However, the situation changed when we, Majapahit’s longtime ally, appeared.

The collusion that had been taking place under the guise of being the same tributary state [a state that acknowledges the supremacy of another and pays tribute] under the Ming Dynasty’s shadow was bound to fade.

“What right do these Joseon bastards, colluding with Majapahit, have to act like the big brother!”

“Why isn’t the Ming fleet even showing its nose?”

They wanted direct support and communication from the Ming Dynasty, but the Ming Dynasty, which had already solidified its isolationist stance, could not possibly grant such requests.

I presented the Islamic forces with two options.

Accept our mediating order and offer tribute to Ming.

Or take an independent path.

Of course, the latter meant refusing to offer tribute to Ming through Joseon, which meant severing the relationship of serving the great [a concept in East Asian international relations where smaller states acknowledge the supremacy of a larger state] with Ming.

“Balni (Brunei) has withdrawn our supervisors.”

“Pirate ships from Solok (Sulu Sultanate) have attacked our ships!”

“They are refusing the drink offered and choosing the penalty drink [idiomatic expression meaning they are choosing the worse option]. All that should be given to those who dare betray the grace of the Celestial Dynasty is an iron fist!”

The only one who was thrilled by this was Majapahit.

Whether it was Brunei, Sulu, or even the creeping Islamic communities up to Java, Majapahit was annoyed by all of them.

Through active cooperation with both sides, the sultanates in various regions were beaten like dogs.

Naturally, the request for support from Annam was ignored in this process.

It was a matter of utmost priority to punish the countries that had betrayed the grace of the Great Ming, so why should they even help suppress the rebels within Annam?

“It seems that the Jowa Kingdom intends to wipe out the royal family of that country.”

“Ahem, this war is solely for the purpose of restoring the order of serving the great. How can we cut off another’s ancestral rites?”

Even if we completely destroy them, we can’t directly rule that land, and we’d only be doing Majapahit a favor, so why should we?

It’s better to manipulate them appropriately and make them accept the order led by Joseon.

We should maintain the balance by supporting Majapahit when its territory is invaded.

Isn’t that why we’re diligently transporting the White Lotus Society [a religious and political movement that inspired uprisings in China] members?

Just as Zheng He [a Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat, and fleet admiral] used Chinese Muslims to form a force against Majapahit.

‘Come to think of it, it feels like a religious war.’

Majapahit’s state religion is Hinduism, but Buddhism also has a significant presence.

Moreover, if you look at the troops I’ve mobilized this time, if you had to categorize them… they’d be closer to Buddhists.

Buddhism is the foundation of the Joseon people’s religious life, and the same goes for Japan.

The Jurchens even spread monks to use Buddhism as a means of assisting governance, and Ryukyu has its own unique beliefs, but Buddhism also has a significant influence.

The White Lotus Society guys are originally derived from Buddhism anyway.

As a result, strange rumors were circulating in the Buddhist community.

– This war is a war between Buddhism and Islam!

The rumor was that I, the ruler who favors Buddhism, had gathered Buddhists from various countries to raise an army to punish the rebellious Muslims.

“Don’t tell me you’re spreading this around?”

“H-How could I, Brother? It’s clear that the monks have just picked up some false rumors from somewhere.”

Hyo-ryeong jumped up and down, making excuses.

“There are countless absurd rumors coming from sailors. These days, news from outside the country is often transmitted through the ports, so it may have been distorted.”

“…Is that so?”

Strangely enough, there is a widespread atmosphere within domestic Buddhism of supporting Majapahit, which is fighting against Islam.

It seems to be due to a sense of camaraderie, recalling the days when they were oppressed by the Confucian boys.

At this rate, the Majapahit’s anti-Islamic war might get a nickname like the Crusade… or rather, the Swastika Army War.

‘From my perspective, there’s no need to antagonize Islam unnecessarily.’

As long as they obey the Joseon order that is trying to take root, it doesn’t matter.

That’s why I’m joining hands with Majapahit to mess them up because they don’t.

‘Places like Malacca have been friendly with us from the beginning, so they obediently accept reality.’

Malacca was founded with the support of the Ming Dynasty from the start.

It has been a major partner in Southeast Asian trade, so even though we are close to Majapahit, they are not entirely happy, but they have come in bowing.

Since there is a buffer zone called Singapore in between, the conflict between the two sides is also quite suppressed.

Far away, the Mamluks, which are currently the end point of our trading ships, are the same.

Those friends also desperately want to trade with us, so they won’t interpret this as a religious war.

However, the strange frame that has spread within the country has somehow spread to our family.

“The Retired King wants to lead the army?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. He says that protecting Buddhism is what the royal family should do…”

“What the.”

Even when I was young, he was lively enough to suppress the Wokou [Japanese pirates], but a lot of time has passed since then.

If I send an old man to that distant land, wouldn’t I get all the curses I’d ever get from my family, officials, and people?

“…Has he finally gone senile?”

I even blurted out such words for a moment.

Fortunately, I said it in a small voice, so only the surrounding eunuchs bowed their heads with a look of fear.

‘What is this tantrum all about?’

Come to think of it, he did ask if he could sneakily follow along during the Jowa subjugation war.

But just like then, there’s no way I can allow it.

I’d rather go myself. Not that I have any intention of doing so.

“The Retired King probably doesn’t really mean to go to war.”

“Of course, he shouldn’t.”

This is an expression of some need for approval.

He must be bored of being confined to the palace.

‘Even so, to turn the palace upside down like this.’

It seems he’s aiming for something else.

“Recently, the Retired King has been frequently ill. So, some time ago, the Samsa [the Office of the Inspector General, responsible for monitoring government officials] petitioned to restrict the Retired King from going out.”

“Huh? Really?”

It’s a fact that many people misunderstand, but I have never suppressed the Samsa.

I just sent a few people who wanted to go to Saga Dokseo [a special leave granted to officials for study and reflection] a few times.

So, the Samsa institution is still alive and well, and righteous officials still frequently offer me advice. I just don’t read it.

“So, the Retired King has become practically unable to go out…”

Since he’s a sick old man, his family and eunuchs can’t let him out.

“I know that the Retired King insisted on attending the Nakgwanhoe, but in the end, they didn’t allow it.”

“Nakgwanhoe?”

I tilted my head at the unfamiliar word.

Then one of the Seungjis [royal secretaries] stepped forward and said.

“Isn’t it customary to put a Nakgwan [a seal or signature on a painting or calligraphy] on a painting after drawing it to show that you drew it?”

“That’s right.”

Writing and painting are quite respected hobbies among scholars.

The person who completes a work writes their pen name or name and stamps a seal on it to certify that it is their work, and this is called Nakgwan.

“But what kind of meeting do you hold just to put a Nakgwan on something? And it’s not even in the palace, but outside? What is His Majesty putting a Nakgwan on that he’s doing that?”

“That is… the Retired King’s memoirs.”

No, that’s a printed book.

And it should have been published a long time ago.

“However, it seems that the owners of the secondhand bookstores in the capital gathered and submitted a petition. They said that it would be a great honor if you would visit and show them the sight of you putting a Nakgwan on it…”

I think I knew what was going on then.

The Retired King’s memoirs are the masterpiece of a lifetime completed by my great-uncle.

He may have had the idea of putting a few Nakgwans on it as a symbolic gesture, even if he couldn’t put them on all of them.

But somehow, the secondhand bookstore owners ended up poking Yi Bang-gwa to create an event where he would publicly put Nakgwans on the books.

‘It’s an autograph session….’

Now that this artistic monarch Yi Je has opened the era of the literary renaissance, even such events are appearing.

Well, meeting your favorite author, having a conversation, and getting an autograph is something that anyone, in any era, would welcome.

Especially if that person is a king of noble status.

‘Damn it.’

If there’s a star in the capital, it’s me, Hanseong Scholar, so why didn’t I think of this?

No, why didn’t I get this offer in the first place?

‘Is it because I only write anonymously?’

Well, even if I had been asked, I wouldn’t have been able to go.

‘To think that such a fun event was about to take place without me knowing.’

But unfortunately, it seems to have fallen through, and my great-uncle’s unfulfilled ego has bounced off in a strange direction.

It’s not like I have to choose between sending me to the autograph session or sending me to the battlefield.

‘In times like this, my nephew has to step up again.’

“Now that the Retired King has gotten up from his seat, is there really a need to ban him from entering the palace? Rather, getting some fresh air might be better for his recovery.”

Who would dare to object when I, the god of medicine who conquered smallpox, guarantee it?

‘Of course, I have to follow too.’

As a guardian.

End of

ⓒ Pitkong