There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 364

365. The Men’s Club (1)

As night fell, arc lamps illuminated various parts of Hanyang Fortress.

Electricity discharged between the carbon rods, emitting a bright light and a crackling noise.

In the original timeline, the arc lamp was the first electric lighting device, invented 70 years before Edison created the incandescent light bulb with a filament.

Its high efficiency ensured its continued use even after more advanced lighting technologies emerged, boasting a brightness equivalent to 4,000 candles.

Though too intense for indoor use, it was perfect for illuminating outdoor areas, as it was now.

The same held true for the East Palace training grounds.

Those who finished their duties and came to exercise late in the evening could confidently stride around, their muscles gleaming under the bright arc lamp light.

A home inevitably reflects the characteristics of its owner.

When His Majesty resided in the East Palace, it was like a treasure trove where unheard-of and unseen objects appeared every year.

However, those facilities had long been dispersed to the main palace, the Military Supplies Office, the Hall of Worthies, and Yeouido after the King’s enthronement.

So, what is the East Palace like now?

– A sound mind in a healthy body.

– Physical strength is national power.

Slogans written in bold letters were prominently displayed throughout the training grounds.

“Hoo, ha! Hoo, ha!”

Under the stark white light, men with their topknots removed, revealing their shaved heads, lifted weights while sweating profusely.

One side featured an archery range for practice, while in another area, a combat sport resembling a duel, perhaps similar to a rough version of soccer, was taking place.

“Hoo. Coming here at the end of the day always makes me feel better.”

For Yi Dan, the training grounds were the perfect place to unwind after a busy day.

His mother and other relatives constantly urged him to study, so this was the only time he had to work out.

This training ground was strictly off-limits to women.

The two princesses never set foot in this sweaty place, and there was no guarantee that accidents wouldn’t happen if even palace maids came and went.

As a result, complaints like this occasionally surfaced.

“I feel like the East Palace is too desolate every time I come here. I wish there were children to bring us towels.”

“What are you talking about? That would only disrupt the atmosphere of this men’s club.”

Yi Hyang and Yi Yu.

The two brothers lifted dumbbells vigorously, whispering to each other.

Yi Yu enjoyed martial arts and was on the same wavelength as the Crown Prince, while Yi Hyang, who seemed more interested in books and gunpowder weapons than physical training, was more or less obligated to exercise.

For Yi Dan, who had no brothers, they were his closest cousins.

In particular, the sons of Uncle Chungnyeong were each gifted in their respective fields, making them valuable to consult with when something came up.

Fortunately, Yi Hyang, despite being newly married, didn’t seem particularly reluctant to be called out.

“Can you even come out here so soon after getting married?”

“Your Highness summoned me, didn’t you?”

“That’s true, but… doesn’t your wife mind?”

“I haven’t been married long enough to know, but I think she’s fine with it. She doesn’t seem like a bad person.”

“Are you really okay?”

“…Did you hear something?”

“No, no. I was just asking.”

The Crown Prince makes people feel uneasy for no reason, Yi Hyang thought with a slight frown.

“Your Highness hears a lot of rumors from beyond the palace walls. But rumors are more often false than true, so don’t worry about them.”

“I know that, so you don’t need to add to it,” Yi Hyang chided Yi Yu.

“Now, tell me about your marriage. Have you even seen the face of the person who will be your wife?”

“Of course not. But from what I’ve heard, she seems like a good person too.”

Yi Yu, who was recently ennobled as the Prince Jinpyeong ahead of his marriage, was to marry the daughter of Yun Beon, the magistrate of the Military Supplies Office.

Yun Beon and his son, Yun Sa-yun, were originally known as the wealthiest family in Joseon, but their prominence had slightly faded over time.

As the wealth of Joseon as a whole increased, many new wealthy individuals who read the times well emerged.

However, not only was the family’s wealth and reputation still considerable, but Chungnyeong Daegun [Prince Chungnyeong], a key figure in the current regime, readily approved the marriage with his son.

“How about you, Hyungnim [older brother]?”

“I’m doing… well.”

Yi Dan answered vaguely.

He was getting along with Crown Princess Jeong without any major problems, but they ultimately failed to drop formalities with each other.

‘She’s subtly difficult to approach.’

Yi Dan, who admired his parents’ easygoing relationship and considered it the norm for marital relationships, found it difficult to bridge the gap.

Then his younger cousins seemed to understand on their own.

“Hyungnim’s tastes are quite unique.”

“If it’s the kind of personality Hyungnim wants, it would be better to find someone among the Jurchen concubines.”

It was no secret that Jurchens and Japanese were trying hard to introduce concubines into the East Palace.

“Goryeo’s Taejo [King Taejo, founder of the Goryeo dynasty] had twenty-nine wives, wouldn’t Hyungnim have about that many too?”

Yi Dan frowned at Yi Yu’s comparison to Wang Geon.

Thanks to his father’s empty promises, he was the only one being teased.

Even though the East Palace was already cramped due to the ever-increasing number of people.

‘Or is it? Is this an opportunity?’

But conversely, he might be able to use this as an excuse to expand the East Palace a bit more.

He decided to pursue this plan separately from his cousins, and he broached the main subject with a solemn expression.

“You know that the Ryukyu Crown Prince is coming to Joseon to study, right?”

“Yes, it’s not much of a secret.”

“Ryukyu is an important ally of Joseon, so His Majesty has given me a special order to take good care of the Crown Prince and deepen our friendship so that he doesn’t feel uncomfortable.”

Yi Yu nodded and said.

“That’s easy. Why don’t we call him here and throw a banquet?”

Drinking together and enjoying each other’s company would quickly lead to a close friendship.

Indeed, it was a solution worthy of the person who left behind the most drinking anecdotes among the kings of Joseon.

“But… I wonder if the Ryukyu Crown Prince even likes alcohol?”

“How many men dislike alcohol? The Crown Prince will definitely attend to show the spirit of a Ryukyu man.”

“I suppose so. Our teacher is also crazy about alcohol.”

Yi Dan nodded.

The King only drank when necessary, Hyoryeong Daegun [Prince Hyoryeong] didn’t drink at all, and Chungnyeong Daegun [Prince Chungnyeong] only took a light sip.

Unlike the older generation, who were strangely disconnected from alcohol, the younger generation was a little more lenient towards it.

‘Right. Relationships between people are no fun if they’re too rigid. Even if our hobbies don’t match, we can loosen our belts and become close friends with a little alcohol.’

First, he would grab the Ryukyu Prince and ply him with drinks, and if it worked well, he would use it on the Crown Princess too.

Yi Dan came to that conclusion.

* * *

The crackling sound of the arc lamps turning could be heard in the distance.

Having such bright lighting has many advantages.

Palace security is also a little easier, and court ladies and eunuchs who have to work busily even when others are asleep can work under bright light without relying on their dim night vision.

It’s not very welcome from the perspective of those who are sleeping, but fortunately, closing the door blocks the light and noise enough so that it doesn’t interfere with sleep.

However, Yi Bang-won was deliberately leaving the door open, admiring the light of the arc lamps.

“The power of lightning is truly amazing. It transmits signals as fast as lightning strikes, and it turns on bright lights in places where there is no sun.

At first, I thought you were just playing around with expensive toys, but I didn’t expect it to have so many unexpected uses.”

“Have you ever seen me do anything useless?”

I’m a little disappointed that you’ve watched me for so long and still thought of it as some kind of strange prank.

Well, when I was fiddling with Voltaic piles [early form of battery], who in Joseon would have imagined that telegraphs and arc lamps would come out?

“How is your health these days?”

“I’m frail, but I’m still alive.”

Queen Wongyeong died last year, and now Yi Bang-won’s condition is not very good either.

Nevertheless, Yi Bang-won repeatedly dismissed him at the time of his daily greetings, telling him to take care of state affairs, so this was a rare moment of personal conversation.

“How is the competition with Ming China going?”

But Yi Bang-won eventually steered the conversation back to state affairs.

He’s a politician to the bone, that old man.

“The Emperor has finally drawn his sword. He has dispatched forces to conquer the Uriyangkhai [Mongol tribes].”

“You have a plan to deal with it, right?”

“Of course.”

I said with conviction.

I received intelligence that Emperor Xuande had begun preparations for an expedition three years ago.

It was a careful preparation to resume the Mongol conquest that had stopped after the Yongle Emperor, but their preparations would probably be in vain.

“Ming China seems to believe that we will not help the Uriyangkhai, at least outwardly.”

Even if we provide covert support from behind, they must think that they can easily deal with the Uriyangkhai as long as Joseon doesn’t clash head-on with Ming.

‘They’re trying to remove our influence in the north by striking the Uriyangkhai.’

“I have already sent word to the Oirat [another Mongol tribe] through Dani.”

We won’t move directly as the Emperor wishes, but if they get hit in the back of the head by the force I’ve prepared, it will be quite painful.

“Zheng He is also rampaging in all directions at sea. He’s desperate to break out of the fence we’ve put up.”

The Chinese coast is currently surrounded by us and our friendly forces.

However, unless we are going to wage a full-scale war with Ming China, we cannot completely block the advance of Zheng He’s fleet.

They seem to be trying to create a hole by contacting Malacca, the only Islamic force among those sponsored by Ming China that has maintained its power.

Malacca is not an enemy of Joseon, but as long as we have joined hands with Majapahit [Javanese kingdom], Malacca will inevitably have to side with someone else.

In particular, the Manja War [historical conflict in the Philippines and Indonesia] that took place throughout the Philippines and Indonesia seems to have caused them great alarm.

‘There are things you lose if you gain something.’

My mouth tasted bitter, but I had no choice but to accept it.

At least the remaining countries are in a situation where we are ahead in the influence competition.

Ming China, mobilizing its vast wealth and army to come out again, and Joseon, thoroughly blocking it.

The two sides were in a tense standoff, but in fact, just maintaining this situation is a strategic defeat for Ming China, which cannot reverse the situation.

“I am sending troops and people to countries that I could not have imagined when I was young to compete with Ming.”

When his father was young, all they did was bicker with Ming over Liaodong [region in northeastern China], so it’s understandable.

“I am proud, but if we are pushed back here, the result will be worse than if we had not extended our power from the beginning.”

“Don’t worry. We won’t lose.”

I said to Yi Bang-won with a confident expression.

“You must not be careless. If I were the Emperor, I would definitely dig into the weak links.”

“Weak links?”

I quickly narrowed down a few candidates in my head.

The only one that immediately comes to mind is Vietnam, a traditional tributary state of Ming China, but Annam King Yeo seized power through war with Ming and has received quite a bit from us.

“It means a weak link to us. If I were the Emperor, I would definitely try to bring in Ryukyu.”

Yi Bang-won said, tracing the map.

“That’s why I’m keeping an eye on Ryukyu. If they betray us, it will be fatal.”

If Ryukyu stabs us in the back, not only will there be a major hole in the Ming encirclement, but we will also lose our intermediate base for going south.

The collapse of the Allied Fleet is a bonus.

That’s why we always station our troops there. To be exact, it’s the Cheonghaejin mercenaries [historical Korean naval base].

“However, King On Sado of Ryukyu knows gratitude. Didn’t he entrust us with even his Crown Prince?

I have repeatedly told Dani to take good care of him, so don’t worry.”

“To the Crown Prince?”

Yi Bang-won was silent for a moment at my words, then opened his mouth.

“Is that… okay?”