There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 356

357. Chief Secretary (1)

Nanjing Imperial Palace.

The atmosphere in the Imperial Palace was unsettlingly subdued.

The Emperor’s condition was very poor.

It was hard to believe he was the son of the Yongle Emperor; the Emperor’s mild manner and critical condition caused unease even among the lowest palace maids and eunuchs.

Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji was equally distressed.

However, he had a weighty responsibility to bear: the fate of the nation, not just his dying father.

So, Zhu Zhanji looked down at Zheng He and Yang Shiqi and questioned them.

“Did the Emperor order you to inform Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom] of his illness?”

At the Crown Prince’s questioning, Zheng He nodded with difficulty.

“He commanded that the illness be reported to the Grand Princess, as she is a close member of the Imperial Family.”

“Hmm.”

Zhu Zhanji then turned his head towards Yang Shiqi.

“Leaving aside the Imperial Order, why didn’t Minister Yang object?”

“I also believe that Joseon’s cooperation is necessary.”

Yang Shiqi said, bowing his head.

“Since word will eventually leak out through the officials connected to Huidongguan [a Ming dynasty trade delegation] anyway, I thought it would be better to secretly inform Joseon and ask for help.”

Unlike the original history where he died a year after ascending the throne, the Hongxi Emperor’s reign began much earlier.

This was because the Yongle Emperor passed away six years earlier than in the original history—but much more happily.

Thus, the Hongxi Emperor’s achievements are incomparable to those of the original history.

He fended off the challenges of his brothers who aimed for the throne, mostly cleared up the excessive foreign expansion of the previous generation, and repaired the scars of the civil war and the collapsed defense lines.

Internally, he continued and completed the institutional reforms of the Yongle Emperor, relaxed the iron-fisted rule, reduced taxes and corvée labor [unpaid labor owed to the state], and cared for the people’s livelihood.

These achievements were made in the seven years since the late Emperor’s death, so the praise of the officials calling him a wise ruler was not undeserved, but it had also only been seven years since the chaos of his enthronement.

Just as those here remembered the civil war seven years ago, so would external enemies.

“The northern barbarians may dare to take advantage of the situation and act rashly, so it was unavoidable to prepare for this.”

Zhu Zhanji still looked displeased but did not refute.

‘The Emperor must have thought the same way, so he made that decision.’

However, he still felt uncomfortable.

“Isn’t Joseon itself a threat?

I heard they are holding some kind of barbarian festival called Nadam [traditional Mongolian festival] again this year.”

Initially, only the Jurchens, Taining Guard, and Fuyu Guard participated in Nadam, but as Joseon’s status rose, its participants became more diverse.

Following the Mongol tribes connected along the Biar Road, even the Oirat [a major Mongolic group] in the west sent people to participate in this festival.

– This is merely an event to eat, drink, and compete in each other’s talents, and it is just a tradition passed down from ancient times. It has no political meaning whatsoever!

Since Joseon’s official position was this, Ming regarded it as a barbarian feast and did not interfere much.

No, it would be more accurate to say they could not interfere.

If they were to make an issue of it, they would have to step up to resolve the problem, but the current Ming had no ability to do so.

However, Zhu Zhanji did not try to turn a blind eye to Joseon’s influence on the grasslands.

He was one of the few in Ming who clearly recognized this.

“When you think about it, even the Prince of Shim’s privileges are absurd.

It’s not like they have a separate regional military commission in the fiefdom, with the King of Joseon also serving as its head. All command is concentrated in the Prince of Shim’s office, a mere princely domain, and even Joseon officials who have only changed their positions to the Prince of Shim’s office are governing Liaodong and Liaoxi.”

Certainly, compared to the princes within Ming, the privileges were excessive.

The princes and grand princes of Ming had undergone extensive political castration once when the Yongle Emperor ascended the throne, and again when the Hongxi Emperor ascended the throne.

This was because both emperors had experienced rebellions by princes (the Yongle Emperor started one himself) before ascending the throne.

However, the Prince of Shim was exercising more autonomy within his fiefdom than Hongwu Emperor had granted to his sons.

“The reason for granting such privileges to the Joseon Prince of Shim was to somehow keep Liaodong as Ming territory.”

“I know that. But the reason you displayed such ingenuity was to one day reclaim the land, wasn’t it?”

Yang Shiqi affirmed Zhu Zhanji’s words.

“Yet you suppress the imperial relatives at every turn, but leave the rights of the Joseon Prince of Shim untouched?”

“There is an order to all things. When the Crown Prince takes charge of state affairs, he will be able to resolve these issues sufficiently, so for now, the Crown Prince should focus solely on caring for the ailing Emperor.”

Only when Yang Shiqi calmly soothed him did Zhu Zhanji cool his head.

Just then, the Emperor regained consciousness, so he headed to the Hongxi Emperor.

The Hongxi Emperor sensed his death.

“Now I am about to leave, and I am afraid that I am insufficient and placing too much of a burden on you.”

“How could that be? During your reign, the national treasury has been replenished, and the country’s strength has greatly recovered. Now is the time to restore the prosperity of the late Emperor, so why do you speak of leaving?”

Zhu Zhanji grabbed his father’s hand, shedding tears.

“The late Emperor… Yes, the late Emperor cherished the Crown Prince very much during his lifetime, so I have no doubt that he will lead the country better than I.

However, you must not blindly follow the abuses of the previous generation. Do not waste national power recklessly, burdening the people, or needlessly raise armies.”

The Hongxi Emperor gasped for breath.

“Fortunately, there are no contenders in the south aiming for the Central Plains, and only the northern barbarians have always been a concern. Join forces with Joseon, our Imperial Family, to keep them in check.”

‘Family? Don’t you know how much suffering we’ve endured because of family?’

Zhu Zhanji wanted to shout that.

Even he had once felt goodwill towards the King of Joseon and his brother, who had entered the court when he was young.

But what kind of deeds did the two uncles, to whom his father had endlessly shown favor, dare to commit?

The Emperor has no family. He only has subjects.

And if the King of Joseon were truly the Emperor’s subject, he would not have greedily seized the territory of Great Ming, flaunting his achievements.

How can a subject who tries to trade with the Emperor on equal footing be called a loyal vassal?

However, the Crown Prince, displaying filial piety, did not voice this, so the Hongxi Emperor was able to leave relatively peacefully.

“Please take care and ensure that there is no crisis in the nation.”

However, the Emperor’s last concern ultimately did not reach the Crown Prince’s ears.

* * *

When the Emperor dies, Ming will have to focus on internal affairs for the time being and will not be able to move.

I spotted quite a few guys who would take advantage of that gap to make trouble, so I massively forward-deployed troops through the Prince of Shim’s office.

Desperate inquiries poured in from places like the Taining Guard and Ta’an Guard, asking if we had done anything wrong, but I coolly ignored them.

It’s not because you did anything wrong. It’s just that if you’re about to do something wrong, our troops will help you come to your senses.

Therefore, even when the news of the Hongxi Emperor’s death arrived by fast ship, the security guarantee for Ming was solid.

I offered words of condolence to the envoy.

“Now that the Emperor has passed away, I, as a subject, cannot bear the grief.”

I wasn’t as sad as Zhu Suohua, who had been sniffling for days, but I also had a bitter taste in my mouth.

He was not only a politically reliable partner but also a decent person.

He was also the nephew-in-law who contributed decisively to our marriage.

‘He should have taken better care of his health.’

He had been in poor health for a long time, with a belly as big as Namsan Mountain [a prominent mountain in Seoul], and considering the enormous stress the Emperor received from state affairs, it was a miracle he had lived this long.

I sighed deeply but also embarked on the newly assigned task.

‘This is why being an Emperor is not good.’

The Hongxi Emperor’s interests were thoroughly focused on the country, only on the Central Plains.

That’s why he readily decided on the withdrawal from Annam [historical name for Vietnam] and the cessation of Zheng He’s voyages.

On the other hand, the tendencies of the newly enthroned Crown Prince were still unknown.

Judging from the assessment that he had the spirit of his grandfather, he may have inherited the expansionist tendencies of the Yongle Emperor…….

‘This is troublesome.’

The Hongxi Emperor tended to side with Joseon in most matters.

This was partly due to my personal friendship with him, but also because Ming had no choice but to make some concessions.

‘But the Central Plains is a monster, indeed.’

They are like Saiyans [a powerful warrior race from Dragon Ball] who get stronger just by breathing.

From the end of the Hongxi Emperor’s reign, the influx of refugees into Liaodong had already decreased to almost zero.

The scars of the civil war, which had been so severe that it was unknown when they would recover, had been healed.

A young emperor, recovered national power, and the beginning of his reign, which is a good time to build achievements…….

‘It’s the perfect timing for an accident to happen.’

If he were a good grandson who cared for his great-uncle, he would try to ease the atmosphere at times like this, but unfortunately, the Emperor didn’t seem to have any intention of doing so.

‘He’s like an orphan who doesn’t even know the Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues [Confucian ethical principles] (which is true).’

If he had been familiar with Joseon’s bestseller, the Samgang Haengsildo [an illustrated book of Confucian ethics], this would not have happened.

I lamented inwardly and asked.

“Are you saying you want the Crown Prince to enter the court?”

“Yes. Isn’t His Highness the Crown Prince a member of our Imperial Family?

The late Emperor also wished to see His Highness, so wouldn’t he be pleased even in spirit if he received the Crown Prince’s condolences?”

If the dead Emperor had been an ordinary person, I would have sent him to offer condolences myself.

One way or another, Dan is also his cousin.

‘But the intention is too obvious right now.’

This is the newly enthroned Emperor establishing his authority.

Seeing who is lining up in advance.

Otherwise, there’s no way he would even throw out the demand to bring in the Crown Prince.

“Didn’t His Majesty also enter the court during his Crown Prince days and receive the grace of the Taizong Emperor?”

‘That’s exactly the problem.’

If Dan enters the court following me, it might become a custom for the Joseon Crown Prince to enter the Ming court.

Of course, we have no intention of creating such a custom, but the Emperor’s thoughts may be different.

In many ways, he’s like the Yongle Emperor.

‘Instead of resembling the Yongle Emperor in things like this, he should go into Vietnam one more time.’

No offense to the Vietnamese, but if one of the two has to get caught up in Ming’s power grab, frankly, it’s better for Annam to take it.

In fact, I think they would think it’s better for Joseon to suffer?

There was a chance that the newly enthroned Emperor – the Xuande Emperor – might touch Annam again, but fortunately or unfortunately, he didn’t seem to be that stupid.

He sent an envoy to Annam, which was controlled by Lê Lợi, so that means he’s going to compromise, not start a war.

“The King of Annam will probably send his Crown Prince as well.”

They’re just a figurehead that Lê Lợi put up.

They’re going to abdicate soon and hide in the mountains. How can they be compared to my son?

I opened my mouth to refuse with kind words.

“The Crown Prince has not yet returned from inspecting the north. The Emperor’s condolences cannot be delayed even a little, but waiting for the Crown Prince, who may not return…….”

“Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has returned!”

I ran my hand over my forehead.

‘That eunuch has no tact at all.’

Who’s your direct superior?

I think he came running without delay to tell the Emperor, who would be so happy to see the Crown Prince return, but I’ll have to say something to Roh Boon later.

‘By the way, why did this guy come back so soon?’

I frowned and thought.

As expected of my family, who only have boosters when they’re counterattacking, the speed seems to be twice as fast coming back from the north as going there.

“Your Majesty, now that the Crown Prince has returned…….”

“That’s for later! Let’s greet the Crown Prince first and then talk!”

I shook off the clinging envoy and headed to the palace gate to meet the Crown Prince.

And the next moment.

I was dumbfounded and muttered.

‘What the hell has this guy been up to in the north?’