There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 4

< The Royal Rascal of Joseon (3) >

Commander Jo Sa-ui of Anbyeon incited a rebellion!

The news reached Gaeseong shortly thereafter.

Yi Bang-won, upon receiving the report from Grand General An Wu-se, was greatly alarmed and summoned his officials.

“He claims to be avenging the late Consort Hyeon (顯妃) Lady Gang, but his momentum is quite formidable.”

Consort Hyeon Lady Gang was none other than Queen Consort Shindeok, the mother of Grand Prince Mu-an Yi Bang-beon and deposed Crown Prince Yi Bang-seok.

Both of them were brothers whom Yi Bang-won had eliminated, causing him to shudder with disgust.

However, something else was more serious.

‘Jo Sa-ui is the nephew-in-law of the late Consort Hyeon Lady Gang, but he has no ties to the northern regions. Then, behind him…’

Could it be that the Supreme King [Yi Seong-gye, the former king] was behind Jo Sa-ui?

‘Was the Heir Apparent warning about this situation?’

At least, that’s how it appeared in Yi Bang-won’s eyes.

No, he wanted to believe it that way.

‘Is this a divine child?’

“Your Majesty, you must quickly establish countermeasures,” Chief State Councilor Ha Ryun advised with a serious expression.

However, Yi Bang-won, hiding his hardened expression, spoke calmly.

“Jo Sa-ui is not originally from the northeast. Moreover, he raised an army not for the late Queen Mother (Taejong’s mother, Queen Consort Shinui), but for the Supreme King’s concubine from Gaeseong. How could the rebel soldiers follow him wholeheartedly?”

But if the Supreme King truly aimed his sword this way, the situation was serious.

There were several ways to deal with it, but…

‘I want to hear the Heir Apparent’s thoughts as well.’

Yi Bang-won called the attending eunuch and said,

“The eunuch shall go and summon the Heir Apparent.”

===

“Hoo, hoo!”

The children with braided hair hurriedly blew air into the embers.

As if their efforts paid off, the fire quickly flared up.

“Is it done now?”

“Yes!”

The girls bowed in unison and ran away, holding the fire.

I waved my hand in greeting and stared at the crackling flames.

“Your Highness, Heir Apparent, you will be punished for playing with fire like this in the palace,” Nobun said, wiping away the sweat flowing down his face.

He had worked hard to start the fire with a bow drill, so Nobun had worked up a good sweat in early winter.

“It’s not playing around; I was just trying to share the fire with those kids.”

I had been wandering around the palace with Nobun when I discovered the young court ladies.

They were distressed about putting out the embers and worried about being scolded, so I tried making a bow drill to comfort them, and it worked surprisingly well.

‘It never worked well when I tried it before.’

It was a method of starting a fire by rubbing wood to create friction heat, so sometimes it wouldn’t work even after hours.

Surprisingly, Nobun seemed to have a good knack for it.

“Instead of that, you could just get fire from somewhere and bring it to them.”

“That’s no fun.”

For the past few days, I had been cooped up in my room.

It was because I had lost consciousness once and needed to recover my strength.

‘During that time, my mother, the Queen Consort, and the Retired King Jeongjong came to visit.’

My mother burst into tears as much as Yi Bang-won did.

I was so touched by her affection following her anger that my nose turned red.

‘My younger siblings couldn’t come because they are still young.’

That’s a shame.

I wanted to see King Sejong’s face at least once.

Anyway, after quietly resting for a few days, I couldn’t stand being cooped up any longer.

Making something simple after a long time made me feel like the inventor spirit inside me was bubbling up.

“Your Highness, you mustn’t keep wandering around like this.”

Nobun said, flustered.

However, I had no intention of considering his feelings.

‘I’m planning to wander around in earnest soon.’

I need to figure out what’s needed in this area and what materials are available to create prototypes that people will respond to.

Besides, isn’t it a child’s duty to play around?

Just as Nobun opened his mouth as if to nag me because I didn’t answer,

“Shh.”

I put my finger to my lips.

Nobun also hesitated and put his finger to his lips.

“Don’t you know that I saved your life once?”

Nobun started to fidget at those words.

Having a weakness is convenient.

“Your Highness, Heir Apparent!”

Just then, an eunuch was seen running busily from afar.

I gestured to Nobun.

“Ugh, why do I have to do this…”

As I watched Nobun hurriedly stomp out the fire, I asked the eunuch innocently.

“What’s going on?”

“Your Highness. His Majesty is urgently looking for you.”

“Father?”

I tilted my head.

Certainly, Yi Bang-won came to check on my condition every day as soon as he finished work, but he had never called me during the day like this.

So it was strange.

‘Don’t tell me he’s going to say he’ll keep me in his pocket all the time. Yi Bang-won seems like he would do that.’

Goosebumps ran down my spine.

The way Yi Bang-won treated his children was almost excessive.

But I couldn’t refuse a royal command.

I followed the eunuch to where Yi Bang-won was.

===

To put it bluntly, my prediction was wrong.

“I greet Father.”

“Commander Jo Sa-ui of Anbyeon has incited a rebellion. Are you aware?”

I was roughly stunned by Yi Bang-won’s sudden words as soon as I greeted him.

Jo Sa-ui?

I’ve heard that name somewhere.

As I remained silent, Yi Bang-won continued.

“Your prediction was correct. The Supreme King has moved. Now, the entire northern region is engulfed in the flames of rebellion.”

Supreme King, northern region, rebellion.

Even in my confusion, the keywords began to reassemble in my head.

‘So, Yi Seong-gye has started a rebellion?’

I remembered.

Because it was also a major topic covered in ‘The Land of the Morning Calm’ [a fictional drama].

In the drama, the conflict between Yi Seong-gye and Yi Bang-won was emphasized, so I didn’t even remember the name of the instigator, but it was Jo Sa-ui.

Seeing my face deeply contemplating, Yi Bang-won said with a hollow expression, wondering what I was thinking.

“So, you were already aware of it.”

What are you talking about?

“The judgment that we must bring the Supreme King to Gaeseong to be at ease was correct. The enemy is trying to overthrow this country, backed by the Supreme King’s authority.”

Oh my, oh my.

It finally happened.

Yi Bang-won looked at me and said,

“The court is now discussing the suppression of the enemy. The ministers are putting their heads together, but I would like to hear your opinion as well.”

“Yes?”

Why are you asking me that?

I inadvertently looked straight at Yi Bang-won’s face and then lowered my head.

‘Damn it, what are you saying to someone who’s only been a squad leader?’

Everyone knows that Yi Seong-gye is the best general in Joseon.

There’s no way I have the ability to defeat Yi Seong-gye.

I was about to answer that I didn’t know, but I quickly swallowed my words.

‘Wait, if I make a contribution here, won’t some goodies fall?’

The fact that Taejong continued to maintain the throne even after this means that he won in the original history.

Then there must be a way to win.

And I must have picked it up while watching ‘The Land of the Morning Calm’.

‘Remember, remember.’

Only battle scenes came to mind, but something was about to be remembered in between.

– Well, anyway, if Yi Seong-gye is gone, those guys will collapse on their own.

“Ah!”

It came to mind.

The words that Hyuk-jin hyung said next to me as I admired the rebel’s charge scene.

“Has a plan already come to mind?”

Yi Bang-won’s eyes widened.

“Yes, Father.”

I said, making the most of the historical drama tone.

“If we only defend and solidify the situation, it is a lower strategy. If we try to suppress the northeast by force, it is a middle strategy.”

Taking a beat,

“The rebels rely solely on the Supreme King’s authority. If we can bring the Supreme King, the enemies will collapse on their own.”

My words were practically reciting lines from ‘The Land of the Morning Calm’, but Yi Bang-won slapped his knee.

“For the Heir Apparent, who is only nine years old, to be so wise!”

It’s a plagiarized answer, but it’s embarrassing to be praised like this.

“That’s what I think too. Jo Sa-ui and Gang Hyeon gained the hearts of the people of the northeast because of the Supreme King. If we bring the Supreme King, they will collapse on their own.”

‘What, did you already have a plan?’

I felt deflated.

However, Yi Bang-won continued, twitching his eyebrows.

“But the Supreme King is said to be with Jo Sa-ui’s rebel army in Maengju (孟州, present-day Maengsan, South Hamgyong Province), so it is difficult to bring him here.”

‘Huh?’

Clearly, the scene where Yi Seong-gye encountered the army sent by Yi Bang-won was filmed at sea.

I don’t know where Maengju is, but it wouldn’t have gone deep into Hamgyong Province.

“That may have been the case at one time, but now they will be acting separately. Send people to find him.”

I don’t know why.

Anyway, that’s how it came out in the drama, so I’ll just trust that knowledge.

“Acting separately.”

Yi Bang-won didn’t bother to ask for the basis.

That was fortunate for me.

“Discord with Jo Sa-ui? Or recuperation due to old age?”

Yi Bang-won stroked his beard and muttered something.

Then he jumped up from his seat.

“Whatever the possibility, we must release people immediately. If we bring the Supreme King as is, you will be the first-class meritorious subject.”

Yes, well, do your best.

Even if it wasn’t me, Jo Sa-ui’s rebellion would have been suppressed anyway.

I scratched my head awkwardly.

===

“The Supreme King is in Hwanghae Province?”

“Yes. He is said to be in Wonjungpo (元中浦).”

Wonjungpo has been known as a hunting ground since ancient times.

Taejo also often went hunting there, so it’s not strange that he’s there, but isn’t this a time when a rebellion has broken out?

“Something must have happened.”

Yi Bang-won once again marveled at his son’s foresight.

‘Was this child originally like this?’

I thought he was still an immature child, but he was coming up with insights that even adults would find difficult.

“Order Kim Jeong-jun, the governor of Hoeyang, who reported this, to be rewarded.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Yi Bang-won then said,

“I will personally go to Wonjungpo to bring the Supreme King. Prepare everything.”

“I will obey your command.”

The last pillar of Goryeo, which had been supporting the five-hundred-year dynasty alone,

The influential subject who designed the country of Joseon,

Even the brothers who faced him with swords,

He swept them all away to get to this position.

His father was no exception.

‘I can’t lose, even to pass on the country to the intelligent Heir Apparent.’

Yi Bang-won, who had that thought, said.

“The Heir Apparent’s qualities are excellent, so we must hasten his education. When the construction of the academy is finished, I will personally educate him.”

He finally got a gem-like child, so shouldn’t he raise him well?

< The Royal Rascal of Joseon (3) > End