There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 340

The Japan-Joseon Treaty of Amity and Commerce (1)

341. The Japan-Joseon Treaty of Amity and Commerce (1)

It was reported that there is an unknown island called Sambongdo to the east of Gangwon Province.

Hearing this, one might assume it refers to Ulleungdo, but Yeojin Gu is already actively using the Ulleungdo area as an intermediate base.

‘In fact, I ordered them to search every nook and cranny around there.’

This order led to complaints among the officials.

“Your Majesty, is it truly necessary to erect a monument even on a rocky island in the vast sea?”

“Even if it is an uninhabited island, it belongs to Ulleungdo, so how can it not be Joseon territory? We must erect a monument to clearly declare this.”

I emphasized that by discovering the Seonchunnyeong Monument, we were able to clarify that the land north of Gongheomjin was undeniably our territory.

Of course, the Seonchunnyeong Monument was fabricated by me and Yi Seong-gye, but let’s gloss over such minor details.

Since the late Emperor Yongle recognized the monument, even if it was initially a fake, it is now as good as the real thing, guaranteed by the emperor himself.

Besides, if that’s not Joseon land, whose land is it?

Yeojin? They are our people now.

Anyway, thanks to these efforts, the Joseon government is very familiar with the waters near Ulleungdo.

There’s no way they’d be mistaken now.

“The foreign explorer reports that while traveling along the coast of Primorsky Krai, they subjugated the wild people and erected monuments as ordered, and sailed to Yugwiguo without any problems.”

The foreign explorers seemed so eager that they gathered as many related records as possible regarding their destination before departing.

‘I think it’s probably Sakhalin.’

It was called Yugwiguo in the Tang Dynasty, and the Yuan Dynasty also briefly subjugated the area.

‘When did those Mongol bastards go all the way there?’

Those guys even went down to Java Island; there’s nowhere in the world they haven’t been.

“However, as we went east, there was a large island about half the size of the mainland (Joseon’s eight provinces), so we first went down to explore it.

That island is inhabited by a tribe similar to the natives of Yugwiguo, but they have no country and live scattered like wild people. Even after consulting ancient records, there was no one who knew about it, so we first named it Sambongdo.”

Drawing a map in my head, I seemed to get a sense of it.

‘Hokkaido, maybe?’

If going east from Sakhalin led to Hokkaido, that’s the only thing I can think of.

“They wouldn’t have been able to communicate with them, but they were able to figure out various circumstances.”

“The further we got from the mainland, the less the language of the wild people we brought with us was understood, but fortunately, we were able to communicate awkwardly by first giving them ornaments and showing goodwill.”

“Well done.”

After all, body language is universal.

To be honest, I don’t think we’d lose if we fought, but I didn’t send them out to start a war with people who were living well on their own.

This expedition is only for securing exploration bases.

Unless we’re going to scatter Joseon people to create settlements, friendship with the local tribes is essential.

“We gave them pearls and trinkets and received furs in return, and they were interested in our ironware because they didn’t know how to use it.”

“They don’t know how to use ironware.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Our official gave them a spare spoon, and they liked it.”

“Okay. Then next time, we should bring some metal products with us.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Next time……”

The royal secretary, who was receiving the order, suddenly trailed off.

When I looked at him as if asking what was wrong, the royal secretary shrank back and asked.

“…Will you be sending people again next time?”

“As you all know, the world is vast and there is much to do. Now that we have sent people to open up the sea route, shouldn’t we maintain it?”

Yes, write this down.

Why did I create the position of foreign explorer?

It is to create bases and explore information to go to the New World.

Joseon people have become quite accustomed to sailing.

Usually, when departing, they load the hardtack I created—the one Yi Seong-gye almost broke his teeth on—along with various pickled vegetables, salted seafood, fermented soybean paste [doenjang], soy sauce, dried seaweed, and kelp. If there is enough food, they can stay on the ship for several months.

Of course, Joseon had a firm grip on the Indian Ocean route.

We have stationed our merchants in every country along the way to India or even the Middle East beyond, and we can supply food and water at the ports.

Therefore, the sailors rarely have to be confined to the ship for long periods.

‘That might be the problem.’

Most of Joseon’s maritime trade is directed to the south, and there are already many countries there.

There is almost no experience of sailing in the vast sea where there are no people to be found.

‘Columbus also suffered because of the sailors’ complaints.’

I think I read it in a biography when I was young.

‘When the sailors’ complaints rose, he appeased them by performing the feat of standing an egg on its end.’

I’m sure that was the content.

‘No, was the egg something else?’

Anyway, what is certain is that even in Columbus’s time, wandering the vast sea was by no means an easy task.

Besides, isn’t the Pacific Ocean about twice the size of the Atlantic Ocean?

We can’t just launch a ship into the Pacific Ocean, so we’re opening up a route to Hokkaido.

We need to make sure that all of our sailors experience that process.

If we succeed that far, maybe we can move on to the next stage.

“Your Majesty, I am sorry to say this, but I don’t think it is necessary to send ships to trade with the wild people of Yugwiguo or Sambongdo.”

“The Yeojin and Tatar are connected to Joseon, and it is meaningful to maintain trade because they sell essential goods such as horses, but why would we embark on that arduous journey to obtain the miscellaneous goods offered by the natives?”

‘Hmm, it might seem that way.’

Looking at the necklaces made of shells that the foreign explorer offered, I think so.

If I put them in the storage, they might become artifacts as evidence of international exchange in this era, but to the officials, they would just be worthless junk.

To the question, ‘Is it necessary to send ships for business that does not generate profits?’ I answered sternly.

“Ahem, tribute is originally about sincerity. No matter how insignificant the item may be, it is meaningful to spread the king’s influence by bestowing gifts, so why should we be concerned with private gain?”

“……”

The officials looked at me with bewildered expressions.

Yes, I know.

They’re probably thinking, ‘When did you ever tell us to get profitable gifts from Ming and now you’re saying this?’

I decided to change the subject.

“Were there any other tribes besides the wild people on Sambongdo?”

“I don’t know if they distinguish tribes among themselves, but they mostly seem to be the same kind. However, as we came down south, we discovered Japanese people coming and going at the edge of Sambongdo.”

“Japanese?”

Come to think of it, Hokkaido was Japanese territory in modern times.

They haven’t settled there, and they only come and go occasionally, so it seems that there is only exchange on an individual level and they haven’t been massively encroached upon yet.

‘Japan.’

They are one of the opponents I want to avoid colliding with if possible.

The Imjin War [Japanese invasions of Korea, 1592-1598] in original history is also a concern, but that’s about 200 years later in this era.

It’s just…… there are quite a few things we could get caught up in.

* * *

First of all, Tsushima Island.

The Joseon army drove out the usurper and put Jong Rye-gang, the descendant of the former lord of Tsushima, in power, but Pyeong Do-jeon, a naturalized Joseon citizen, held all the real power.

Nominally, the So clan’s Tsushima regime is still maintained, but internally, the administrative district incorporation into Joseon has been completed.

Even if Pyeong Do-jeon dies, his son Pyeong Mang-go will soon succeed him as the military governor of Tsushima.

The shogunate has probably already caught on.

The shogunate’s envoys pass through Tsushima when they come to Joseon, and they have a superficial meeting with the lord Jong Rye-gang every time, so it’s impossible not to know this.

However, the shogunate simply remained silent.

Tsushima Island was originally under the influence of the Jojuk Shoni clan, and it’s just a small island that wouldn’t be of much benefit even if they took it back.

However, the relationship with Ouchi is different.

Ouchi openly claims to be of Baekje descent, and our exchanges are active.

I can’t even imagine them joining hands to develop silver mines and smuggle weapons, but they must be feeling uncomfortable at heart, adding to the Tsushima Island issue.

What has eased this atmosphere is the existence of Biak.

What is the current state of Japan’s political situation?

“The previous shogun passed the position of shogun to his son, but that son is weak and unable to continue the line properly.”

That’s what I heard from Ouchi.

‘The effect of the sample I gave him before seems to have been good.’

I’m worried that if I have the shogun, who is already weak, use Biak, it might shorten his lifespan, but that’s none of my business.

Thanks to that, only Ouchi, who holds the Japanese monopoly, has benefited, but the shogunate must not be feeling comfortable.

They probably want to create a direct line to Joseon at all costs.

The fact that they hurriedly sent an envoy after Yi Bang-gwa’s death is probably for that reason.

You can see that from the fact that they lay down and requested an interview with me even after Yang Sa-gi and other foreign envoys had returned.

‘I wonder if I’ve made them anxious enough.’

They must have been very frustrated because they could only communicate with Minister of Rites Heo Jo.

I’m a little frustrated with that guy too.

However, we also had a justification.

“The national letter was received by the Ministry of Rites a long time ago, but the reply was given late due to circumstances. It took time to understand the will of the Emperor of Ming.”

In simple terms, it’s because they are not in our Ming clan.

The previous shogun cut off allegiance to Ming and stopped paying tribute, so it’s good to use as an excuse.

Even if it wasn’t before, now that I’m acting as the leader, I can’t easily overlook it.

Ouchi? They’re okay because they’re in the same family as us.

Even if we serve different kings, shouldn’t we at least exchange greetings between family members? This is why blood ties are important.

“I understand. However, since there is already a Tenno [Emperor of Japan] in Kyoto, we cannot continue to pledge allegiance to the Emperor of Ming.

It has been a long time since our country and Joseon shared neighborly affection, so how can we cut off exchanges even in times of mourning?”

“I know. That’s why I didn’t refuse the condolences. I heard that the shogun is ill, so take the given red ginseng and return home.”

A dismissal order to go back if you’ve finished your business.

But if he’s the kind of guy who actually goes back just because I told him to go back after the condolences, he wouldn’t be qualified to be in this position.

It was just a word to make him anxious, and indeed, the envoy was really anxious.

“Our shogun wishes to resume trade.”

Finally, the main point came out of his mouth first.

I answered firmly.

“If you mean to resume the licensed trade, it will be difficult until you pledge allegiance to the Emperor of Ming again.”

I don’t expect Japan to bow down to Emperor Hongxi.

In the first place, even if Ming-Japan trade is resumed, we won’t get anything out of it.

“Trade with Ming is important, but the shogun has told us to prioritize resuming trade with Joseon.”

Most of the countries surrounding Japan are members of the Ming clan.

We are the ones who manage the Southeast Asian and Indian Ocean trade on behalf of Ming, which has practically turned to isolationism.

Japan cannot go to sea without our permission.

The easiest way to participate in this is to rejoin the Ming clan, that is, to pledge allegiance, but Japan will desperately try to avoid that.

That means…….

‘There will be many things to extract in exchange for letting them avoid pledging allegiance.’

“Have you heard of a place called Sambongdo?”

“Are you talking about Sambongdo?”

“What do you call the northern barbarians, yes, the Emishi live there.”

“Of course, I know about it, but……”

“The wild people of that land have sworn to submit to us.”

Let’s start with Hokkaido for now.

There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]

There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]

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Status: Completed Author: Native Language: Korean
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[English Translation] Imagine a Joseon dynasty unlike any you've read before, where the throne isn't yours by right, but by cunning and strategy. What if the most revered king in Korean history, Sejong the Great, was your younger brother? Forced to confront a destiny not of your choosing, you face a daunting question: Can you truly surrender to fate, or will you defy it to forge your own legend in a kingdom ripe with ambition and intrigue? Dive into a world where blood is thicker than water, but power is the ultimate prize. Will you yield, or will you rise?

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