There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 374

375. The Dowager Queen (1)

The late Queen Wongyeong [Yi Bang-won’s mother and King Taejong’s wife] cherished our children very much.

It’s natural for a grandmother to love her grandchildren, but for some reason, they were closer to their grandparents than their own parents.

Perhaps it was because the Crown Prince’s residence was attached to the east of the palace, making it close to Sugang Palace where the King Emeritus [Retired King] and his wife resided, which made it easier to visit.

Parents nag if they don’t eat properly, snack too much, or are picky about side dishes, but grandparents don’t do that.

It’s inevitable to favor those who give only love without responsibility.

‘I don’t think I was like that, though.’

It can’t be compared to the exemplary relationship between me and Yi Seong-gye [King Taejo, founder of Joseon], which will go down in history, but it’s true that the children favored their grandparents a lot.

As a result, my mother’s expectations were also directed towards the Crown Prince.

Queen Wongyeong was very prolific even by Joseon standards.

A whopping 7 sons and 5 daughters, including those who died young.

The reason she didn’t oppose me taking concubines so much, even when I didn’t, was probably because she calculated that the royal family would prosper even if I only had as many children as she did.

However, our couple only had 1 son and 2 daughters.

If Dan-i [Crown Prince] can’t produce an heir, the direct line of the royal family will be cut off.

Because of this, Queen Wongyeong became a radical advocate for preserving concubines as she approached her later years.

Even though she was so jealous of the concubines herself.

‘I hope the Crown Prince will devote himself to producing descendants.’

The expectations of our royal family are solely on the Crown Prince, but trusting only the Crown Princess could be a burden.

“I will try my best to produce an heir, whether it be through a concubine or otherwise.”

I said this, but it would be troublesome if a concubine gave birth to a robust son first.

A makjang [over-the-top, dramatic] historical drama played out in my head.

A concubine who gave birth to a son, a queen who gave birth to a daughter, all sorts of conspiracies and slanders taking place behind the palace…….

“Gasp!”

I ran around trying to prevent more bloodshed in our family, so could such a situation really happen in my children’s generation?

Producing an heir is the top priority, whether it be through a concubine or otherwise, but I should pray for some moderation.

……Mainly to avoid stains on the family portrait.

Yi Bang-won looked at me with a pathetic expression as I went on a solo tantrum.

“What kind of novel are you writing in your head again?”

“Hey, a novel? I’m just expressing realistic concerns.”

“Would anyone believe you when the most famous storyteller in Hanseong [old name for Seoul] says that?”

“Oh, come on.”

That’s my personal life, so please respect it.

Well, there’s no word less fitting for a Joseon king than ‘personal life.’

“What I’m most worried about is the issue of an heir. As long as this country doesn’t commit too many blunders, there’s no need to worry about it collapsing, but if the heir isn’t established properly, even the strongest country will inevitably fall into chaos.”

Mainly because the fifth son might stage a coup.

That’s the disadvantage of an absolute monarchy.

In the end, everything from the qualifications of the successor to the legitimacy must rely on bloodline.

‘Dan-i isn’t a fool, though.’

This isn’t just me saying it as a parent, but the objective evaluation of his teachers.

Even though Yoon-hwe is an alcoholic, he wouldn’t lie about this.

However, it’s also true that he doesn’t quite fit the ideal image of a monarch that Joseon requires.

Wouldn’t that be closer to the Sejong-Munjong line in history?

I don’t know exactly, but that’s what I’ve concluded from living in Joseon.

Thinking about this makes my worries swell up like a mountain again, but there’s no point in worrying about it now.

Rather, worrying about this is more realistic.

“We need to send the princesses off to get married now.”

“Aren’t they still young?”

“It’s not that early. It’s about time to send them off.”

I’m not planning on waiting until they reach the very end of their marriageable age before sending them off, but I want to find a good match for them after examining them in as much detail as possible.

“Well, considering the political considerations, there’s no need to rush. Especially since they’re the only two legitimate princesses, we need to choose even more carefully.”

No…… It’s not that I haven’t thought about it!

You usually adore your granddaughters, but you’re so cold about these issues.

“There’s no need to see political maneuvering as necessarily bad. In the end, they have to be sent off to get married somewhere anyway, so it’s natural to send them to a place where they can live well.”

Well, didn’t I consider political reasons when I got married?

If Joseon and Ming hadn’t agreed, it would have been a no-go.

‘Should I start looking for sons-in-law candidates now?’

Preferably guys who will live long and not cause trouble.

“I don’t know if the kids will like it.”

“Where are there couples who like each other from the start without even seeing each other’s faces? They’ll grow fond of each other as they live together. Absolutely.”

It’s an era where considering the children’s opinions on marriage is seen as strange.

That’s how the Crown Prince’s marriage was arranged, so the princesses are no exception.

‘The question is whether they’ll be so obedient.’

Our second daughter seems like she’ll accept it obediently no matter where we send her, but I don’t know if the eldest daughter will glare and retort.

Maybe it’s because she’s close to her grandmother, but she’s just like the late Queen Wongyeong.

I should say she only resembles the strong points of her grandmother.

It seems like there will be constant turmoil no matter where we send her.

I should talk to her mother about it later.

* * *

When the topic shifted from family matters, political talk inevitably popped up.

“What do you think about scrapping all the etiquette for vassal states?”

It would be nice, but why now?

“Actually, it was Jeong Do-jeon who downgraded all of that. His son died recently, but his grandsons are still alive, so how about employing them and entrusting them with the task of restoring it?”

Is that some kind of novel *paedeurip* [a Korean slang term referring to insulting someone by attacking their parents or family]?

Did you really forgive him? You’re not bitter that I restored the honor of a meritorious subject whose son died, are you?

“We’ve already refreshed the atmosphere once with the Hoemeng [alliance of Jurchen tribes], so it’s not necessary. We should save that for a change of pace.”

Even amidst the turbulent outside situation, a peaceful atmosphere continued within the country.

Prices and public safety are stable, and heinous crimes are less frequent than before as people’s pockets are full.

As they say, generosity comes from the barn, and constancy comes from constant possessions.

Got it? The point is that revitalizing the economy has a better ‘edifying’ effect than constantly telling the king to read books and set an example.

It’s honestly a shame that Joseon, which is sailing smoothly under the leadership of this economic Hokage [reference to Naruto, meaning a leader who protects their village], will have to be dragged into the abyss of war someday.

“Is war really going to happen?”

“It’s a matter of time. As long as the emperor remains in that position, it will be unavoidable.”

Even now, fierce proxy wars are unfolding in the Mongolian Plateau.

Roughly estimated, about 70% are on our side and 30% are on Ming’s side.

Even though the number of people Ming has won over is lacking, it’s enough to check the Hoemeng’s control of Mongolia.

We can’t just sit still, so we’re encouraging those who participated in the Hoemeng to launch a large-scale subjugation, but it’s difficult to completely eradicate the enemies who flee beyond the Great Wall when they’re at a disadvantage.

From Ming’s perspective, they’ll probably try to maintain that balance until an all-out war breaks out.

I’m glad I told Ouchi to drop the Wokou [Japanese pirates] in advance.

But this is just the beginning.

Soon, the Jo-O [Joseon-Ouchi clan] joint conquest of Kyushu will be achieved, and when a large number of unemployed people and prisoners of war occur, then the Wokou double event will start.

It will be enough to keep the Ming Dynasty busy until the war breaks out.

It would be nice if we could stab them once more in the north in the meantime.

‘The problem is that we have to win without suffering any damage.’

It’s meaningless if we win but the country is a mess, like the Red Turban invasion at the end of Goryeo or the Imjin War [Japanese invasion of Korea in the late 16th century].

“Look at this prosperous capital.”

Hanyang [Seoul].

And Gaeseong and Byeongnando adjacent to it.

The metropolitan area, with these two as its axes, is developing the fastest, but even in local areas such as Pyongyang, Dongnae, and Daegu, things that can be called large cities are now being formed.

Goods are pouring out of the dense industrial complexes, marketplaces are developing, and agricultural productivity has improved to the point where this year’s famine is better than the average year in the past.

It’s not like the Joseon mainland will be invaded and everything we’ve built will be burned to the ground, but all the able-bodied men will be dragged into the military and ground up, and that vitality will inevitably drop significantly.

Even if it doesn’t seem like we’re going to lose.

There’s nothing but depressing talk, damn it.

Yi Bang-won listened to my story carefully and then threw out a word.

“But…… do you have to think so pessimistically?”

“Yes?”

Isn’t it natural to be pessimistic about a fight where there’s not much to gain and only a lot to lose?

Even though I confidently told Seonjeokje to fight.

“If you think about the time when Goryeo’s Shinwoo (King U) or our Taejo the Great tried to throw themselves into Liaodong with an army that had nothing, isn’t it truly *sangjeonbyeokhae* [a world turned upside down; a complete transformation]?”

I’m trying to think that way too, and my fighting spirit is soaring…… but I’m worried sick every night.

“I heard you’re making new military uniforms and having them made? For 100,000 people.”

“Yes…… Isn’t that natural?”

Why else would I have created the spinning jenny and the loom?

At the very least, the country should provide military uniforms.

If clothes tear even when a stone flies, the number of injured will skyrocket before we even fight.

While we’re making military uniforms, I’m thinking of unifying the colors and dyeing them.

When it comes to military uniform colors, I think of colorful camouflage, but with current technology, it’s inefficient, and it seems like we’ll choose one color and make it a solid color.

“I heard you’re replacing weapons too.”

“Ming also has matchlocks.”

Considering that these guys will steal them someday, it’s fortunate that we’re just giving them matchlocks.

Instead, our troops must be equipped with a more advanced arsenal.

We’ll push all the inventory to our barbarian friends.

“There’s a large-scale fortress being built in Liaoxi right now.”

“Isn’t Jinju Fortress alone *bul-an* [unstable]?”

After gathering the opinions of the military, they said that it was necessary to build a defense line in connection with Jinju, so we’re diligently applying concrete from the beginning.

“……Wouldn’t we win easily?”

Oh, come on.

Being hopelessly pessimistic is a problem, but being hopelessly optimistic is a bigger problem.

Well, Yi Bang-won has no military experience other than coups and coup suppressions, so he can’t match my insight as the best conquering monarch on the Korean peninsula.

I should run a war game later and send him the results.

* * *

The waterwheel turned diligently.

The water sprayed from the nozzle under pressure, swirling the water receiver attached to the side of the wheel in a curve, transferring energy.

The structure of this waterwheel, which is clearly different from ordinary waterwheels, was similar to the Pelton Turbine in original history.

This waterwheel operates with the same weight of water but is much smaller than ordinary waterwheels, and its efficiency is also superior.

While ordinary waterwheels show an efficiency of around 60%, the efficiency of the Pelton Turbine reaches 90%.

Park Seo-saeng, who has become Joseon’s best waterwheel expert, proudly declared.

“Now you can turn the waterwheel anywhere!”

The Pelton Turbine can be used without difficulty even in small streams or small waterfalls.

Making it with metal is more efficient, but it can also be made with wood, so there should be no major difficulties in distributing it nationwide.

Already, the eccentrics who have come to the capital are busy learning how to make and operate it.

However, the most important use of the Pelton Turbine was separate.

It is hydroelectric power generation.

The electricity demand in the capital is steadily increasing, but outside of that area, the power source is limited, so there are slight disruptions in electricity supply.

Now, we have decided to focus on thermal power generation for a stable supply of large amounts of electricity, but for now, this should open the way for most electricity supply.