There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 377

378. The Queen Dowager (4)

“The war with Ming is coming.”

As I said this, taking a long swig of my drink, the movements of the men in front of me stopped dead.

“Perhaps hundreds of thousands could die.”

At my words, Hyoryeong, who had been holding rice wine in his mouth, dribbled it down his chin.

“I knew it.”

On the other hand, Chungnyeong, who was deeply involved in national affairs, nodded calmly.

There had been countless war crises between the Korean Peninsula and China throughout history, and recently, it had partially materialized with our involvement in the subjugation of Jo Wang.

However, a full-scale war is a different story.

Historically, this country has fought well against invaders, but no one knows how it will fare when it has to launch a counterattack like now.

It is truly completely uncharted territory.

That’s why I’m trying so hard to rally public opinion.

Originally, public opinion belonged to the Sadaebu [scholar-officials], but in this country that I have changed, that won’t necessarily be the case.

Even if I, as the king, recklessly raise an army, they will follow, but the soldiers who are dragged out need to know why they have to fight in a foreign land thousands of miles away.

Expand military power, complete the encirclement of Ming China, and unite internal public opinion.

Preparations were proceeding smoothly, but there was one more thing I wanted to nail down.

“…There must be a reason why you called us here to tell us this?”

At the words of the youngest, Grand Prince Seongnyeong, I nodded.

“I hope my brothers can lend me some strength.”

Of course, I don’t mean to have them lead the charge in the war.

“Hyoryeong, you have many connections with monks, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do.”

Since Buddhism is strong among the people, I plan to actively involve the Buddhist community as well.

They could hold charity events, participate as military chaplains, and greatly help encourage Buddhists.

“How could I, as your younger brother, not lend you strength when you ask, Brother? There are many spirited monks who served in the Manja Army [a historical Korean Buddhist militia]. They will surely be of great help.”

Using them as monks was like that.

“Chungnyeong, come to the Samgunbu [the Three Armies Command, a military organization] and take charge of military supplies again this time.”

He’s a genius of internal affairs and management who can feed even a million-strong army, so we should use him at times like this.

I should tell Jiphyeonjeon [Hall of Worthies, a royal research institute] to leave it to their subordinates and run over here.

“We should call back the brothers in Liaodong now. Have them return as soon as they finish the handover.”

If Jinzhou is breached, Liaodong will become a battlefield, so it’s safer to call them back in advance.

When the war starts, the workload will skyrocket, and we can use them to fill in the gaps in the shortage of manpower.

“What should this younger brother do?”

Seongnyeong asked, glancing at me, as I didn’t say anything.

“You… um, take charge of cheering.”

“Cheering?”

“So, go around in the rear to reassure your brothers…”

I hadn’t really thought about the youngest’s role, so my answer was naturally poor.

“My brothers are each doing their part, so how can I, as a man, hide in the back?

When the fighting breaks out, I will go directly to the battlefield to encourage the soldiers!”

I answered firmly.

“That won’t do.”

How much did our mother cherish the youngest when she was alive, to send him to war?

“You’re already in charge of the Patent Office anyway. Manage that properly.”

“Even so, the staff are handling the work, so I’m no better than a decorative gourd.”

That’s true.

I put him there to encourage patent registration in the first place, so he’s nothing more than a mascot.

“It’s okay now, but if even the brothers in Liaodong withdraw and return, there will definitely be a lot of talk.

Wouldn’t it be better if I, as a grand prince, stepped forward at times like this?”

Well, from the perspective of this era, isn’t it natural for princes to retreat to the safe rear?

To my eyes, he just seemed to be seized by excessive recklessness.

“If you go to war, all sorts of slanders will pour out.”

Especially since the case of Jo Wang, although it’s a story from a neighboring country, happened not long ago.

“I’m not asking for military power. Isn’t it shameful to drive the people to their deaths in the name of serving the country, while the royal family members turn a blind eye?”

Well… when you think about it, he’s right.

‘Still, no way.’

I don’t know if this kid has been possessed by a modern-day ghost or if he’s just making excuses because he wants to go to the battlefield.

“If you’re so worried, why don’t you take the other nephews with you?”

“What?”

Do was horrified and grabbed the youngest’s shoulder.

“What are you talking about? Nephews?”

“Didn’t you see Inchang-gun’s bookshelf filled with books published by Shin Byeong-ga? With their personalities, they’ll definitely follow…”

Since the age difference between the youngest uncle and nephews isn’t that great, they seem to share hobbies that their parents don’t know about.

Do turned his head sharply towards me and shouted.

“Brother, if you send Hyang to the battlefield, I’ll really die! You can roll me around as much as you want, but not that kid!”

‘No, I wasn’t planning on sending anyone in the first place.’

Why don’t you trust your brother?

Even if I roll my family around, would I really roll them around on the battlefield?

* * *

There was a bit of a commotion, but in the end, everything was sorted out.

‘Is everything really settled?’

It would be troublesome if any more unnecessary noise came out here.

However, there was another person who troubled my mind.

“Father, Father. Are we really going to fight Ming?”

I gave a bitter smile as I looked at my eldest daughter, who was peeking her head in.

Kyeong-yi has always been very interested in politics. Even though she’s just a kid.

I can’t tell her that I’m going to tear down her maternal family’s house, and I can’t lie to her either.

So, I gave a very textbook answer.

“It’s not something you need to know.”

However, Kyeong-yi said, puffing out her cheeks.

“But you discuss state affairs with your uncles!”

“That’s because your uncles are helpful to this father.”

Grand Prince Chungnyeong is a talent who has been proven in original history, and Grand Prince Hyoryeong’s Buddhist connections are also quite useful.

As for the youngest… who did he grow up watching to become so brave?

However, Kyeong-yi said confidently.

“I may be young, but there are definitely parts where I can be helpful.”

“Of course, there are.”

“Really?”

I said to my daughter, who was brightening up.

“Come and massage my shoulders.”

Kyeong-yi massaged my shoulders with a dissatisfied expression.

Even so, she’s a good kid.

“Do you know how hard I’ve worked to prevent any bloodshed in this family?”

“…Sort of.”

She must have heard it from her uncles. Or her grandparents.

“It’s enough for only your brother to be interested in state affairs. Or do you not trust the Crown Prince?”

Kyeong-yi looked around and whispered in my ear.

“Honestly, I think I’d do better than my brother.”

I laughed and nodded.

If it was my son who said this, there would have been a huge uproar.

It’s good that I can take it as a joke since there’s virtually a 0% chance of her coveting the throne.

“Even though he looks foolish, he’s not the type to let anyone who tries to climb over him get away with it.

I don’t want to see that kind of thing happen between my children. So, it’s best if you stay out of it.”

My older sisters and younger sisters don’t get involved in real politics, even if they do at their own homes.

It seems like they’re acting as support troops in the inner court power game, but that’s within the acceptable range.

“Okay.”

At that sullen answer, I thought.

‘She’s not convinced.’

Did I raise her too indulgently?

I tried to raise them without distinguishing between the big ones and the small ones as much as possible, and as a result, I may have awakened the blood of ambition flowing in this family.

I’m worried that my future son-in-law will be used as a political pawn by my daughter and ruin his life.

I need to have a serious career counseling session with my wife.

“Your Majesty, a reply has arrived from Ryukyu.”

Even while receiving my daughter’s massage, I twisted my body greatly to cover the unfolded state letter.

‘Trying to peek, are you?’

I’m definitely not going to show it.

* * *

As befits internationalized Hanyang [the capital of Joseon], Sungkyunkwan [the Royal Academy] had many children of local magnates who flocked not only from Ryukyu but also from the North and South.

Since the Tang Dynasty also had precedents of accepting foreigners into the Guozijian [Imperial Academy] to study abroad, Joseon was also following that example.

No matter how many international students Ryukyu sent, it could not be compared to the Jurchens or Tsushima islanders, who were incorporated into Joseon and had become accustomed to sending their children to Hanyang almost as hostages.

However, their scholarship was shallow, and they were mostly desperate to pass the military examination, which was their realistic goal, so they were attending Yaeun Academy instead of Sungkyunkwan.

This was because the pass rate was high, and it was well-known for putting the minimum amount of culture needed for a military officer into their heads.

Those who enrolled in Sungkyunkwan and devoted themselves to the civil service examination were only a minority among the international students who came to the capital.

For this reason, the number of international students excluding Joseon people was almost equal.

The country did not particularly encourage this, but a competitive structure was bound to be established naturally.

The Ryukyuans, who had been like grains of sand due to a long period of division, were now swelling with a faint sense of homogeneity.

If they didn’t feel a sense of unity when they used the same dormitory, took the same classes, ate the same meals, and cheered for the same team during the sports day, it would be even stranger.

For Ryukyu’s Crown Prince Onryuhwan, who had been suffering from the bloated egos and lack of cooperation of the local magnates’ children, it was truly a magical change.

‘Would such a scene have unfolded in Shuri [the capital of Ryukyu] rather than Hanyang?’

Even if he asked himself, the answer did not come.

Those who used to growl at each other when they were in the country came out into the wide world and were thrown into competition with others, but rather united.

Now that the identity of Ryukyuans is gradually forming, the Ryukyu students are even showing respect for himself, the Crown Prince.

He was so moved that he almost shed tears.

Of course, the fact that he frequents the Crown Prince’s residence these days also plays a part.

‘It’s hard enough to die, but…’

He was very doubtful whether it was effective even though he barely followed the exercise.

However, there was a reason why he visited the Crown Prince’s residence every day, even with his exhausted body.

“You’re working hard again today.”

Seeing the smiling princess, his heart was pounding.

This is what reminds him of the romance novels circulating in Hanyang’s marketplace.

‘Ryukyu is a small country, but I am also a prince of a country…!’

If he does well, could his unrequited love not end as unrequited love?

Onryuhwan took out the handkerchief he had hurriedly taken at their first meeting and sniffed it.

It was something that others would have frowned upon, but it was pure in his own way.

Thinking about the hand she had extended that day was amazing.

However, he was too timid to openly ask for the princess anywhere.

He thought about creating a meeting with King Joseon himself, but after calling him to the Jinzhou League and having him sign, he didn’t particularly call him alone.

As he was groaning in his heart, the opportunity finally came.

“Our King has summoned the Crown Prince of Ryukyu.”

He wondered if he should bring it up this time, but as he waited quietly for the summons, Lee Je opened his mouth.

“A letter has come from the King of Ryukyu.”

“Yes… I have received it too.”

The purpose of his being here is all to form a bridge between Joseon and Ryukyu.

Learning and mastering the developed scholarship in Joseon is honestly the next story.

He clearly remembered that he had been asked through himself whether he could strike Salma country (薩摩國, Satsuma) [a Japanese feudal domain], and his father had accepted it.

“So, the King of Ryukyu conveyed his acceptance to me… and asked the Crown Prince to stand at the forefront.”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince? In our fight?”

Lee Je looked at him as if he was talking nonsense.

His eyes widened in his head as if they were about to pop out.

“M, m, me?”

“It seems that he wants you to lead the army yourself. I tried to stop him, but he seems to think it will be a good opportunity for his son.”

Lee Je grumbled, ‘I shouldn’t have written the saying that a lion pushes its cub off a cliff.’

Onryuhwan sincerely felt a threat to his life.

He wanted to run away from Joseon, forget about proposing, and hide in a country that no one would find.