There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 400

401. The End of War (2)

The bandwagon effect applies to war as well.

Regardless of time or place, most people are unwilling to risk their lives in a losing battle.

Only a few choose to stand and fall with their lord, knowing defeat is inevitable.

Once the trend is set, those who have been anxiously watching the outcome flock to the victor like dominoes falling.

Therefore, even if the loser still has resources, the fight often tilts to the point of no return.

It was the same now.

While fleeing to Wuchang, the Emperor’s escape procession dwindled endlessly.

Not only the eunuchs, maids, and soldiers attending him, but also the high and low officials.

Because the Emperor’s carriage was moving so fast, it wasn’t difficult to fall out of the escape procession by simply slowing down.

From then on, they could either find a place to hide for a while or simply surrender to the Joseon army.

“Hmph…”

As the escape procession dwindled with every move, Vice Censor-in-Chief Woo Gyeom let out a groan.

Not all those who fled did so voluntarily.

Many were unable to keep up with the Emperor’s carriage due to blisters and exhaustion.

It would be much faster and easier to travel by boat, but with the Joseon navy already entering the Yangtze River, moving along the waterway was tantamount to suicide.

They wouldn’t recklessly set foot on the complex waterways of the Yangtze River, risking a joint attack from both land and water. However, if they knew that the Emperor had fled, the situation would change.

The Joseon navy was already performing some kind of magic [referring to their unexpected speed and efficiency]. It was better to choose the safest route possible.

However, even moving along the arduous land route did not prevent pursuit.

The Mongol cavalry, who had crossed the Yangtze River, rushed fiercely towards the fleeing Emperor as if to make up for their lack of achievements.

To hold them back, troops were sent in groups, and each time, the Emperor’s carriage increased its speed.

Even carts loaded with cloth and food had to be abandoned because they were too slow.

Thus, dozens more carts were abandoned on the roadside.

However, it wasn’t only the carts that stopped.

Most of the attendants chose to be left behind with the carts rather than following the Emperor while starving.

As a result, the escape procession was cut off again in large chunks.

This was why fleeing had always been difficult.

Moreover, they hadn’t had enough time to prepare for the escape.

Each passing town provided food to welcome the Emperor, but it wasn’t enough to feed everyone who followed him.

‘It’s fortunate that they haven’t turned their swords on us here.’

Woo Gyeom, who had even considered the possibility of rebels aiming to become meritorious subjects of Joseon by following the ‘trend,’ was quite relieved.

The Ming Dynasty’s system and the Emperor’s authority hadn’t completely collapsed yet.

‘Yes, we just need to escape safely to Wuchang. Then we can gather troops and try to fight again.’

If they could just reach Wuchang, they could fix this situation.

Yes, fix…….

Can they fix it?

The enemy has already crossed the Yangtze River… Can they really defeat them?

Wuchang is a large town deep inland, so it is suitable as a temporary capital.

By now, troops to repel the Joseon army would be gathering from all over Jiangnan [a region in southern China].

Once the Emperor’s location is identified, they will rush to defend Wuchang.

However, as seen in the battles from Jinju to Beijing, it is clear that the Ming army is no match for the Joseon army in a head-on fight.

Moreover, even Jang Bo’s Northern Army isn’t here now.

The Ming Dynasty’s plan was based on the assumption that they could defend the Yangtze River.

The Yangtze River is as wide as the sea, so they would hold the Joseon army in place, and as time passed and the enemy’s rear became chaotic, they would send up a large army that had been gathered again to push back the enemy.

However, now that the Yangtze River has been breached and that assumption has become meaningless, what hope is there in fleeing to Wuchang?

‘No. There have been cases where countries have been revived even in situations like this.’

There have been emperors who have regained their countries even in difficult situations.

The Jin Dynasty also crossed the Yangtze River and captured Lin’an [present-day Hangzhou, then the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty], but in the end, people like Yue Fei and Han Shizhong [famous Song Dynasty generals] drove the enemy across the Yangtze River and were able to save at least half of the country.

Half.

Woo Gyeom gasped.

Woo Gyeom tried to forget such a desperate thought.

First, he must focus on preserving the dynasty. If they can defend Jiangnan, they can somehow plan for the future.

“Your Majesty, we will soon reach Jiujiang. Let us rest there for a while and obtain supplies and troops to move on.”

“……Is that so.”

Emperor Xuanzong had been gloomy ever since he escaped from Nanjing.

At first, it was because of the guilt of having to abandon the capital, but after that, it was simply because the hardship itself was too much.

“Troops will soon join us. Please hold on a little longer.”

Indeed, Woo Gyeom’s words were true.

Before long, those who had spotted the Emperor’s location rushed over.

“A group of soldiers is approaching!”

“Are they soldiers from Jiujiang?”

However, Emperor Xuanzong’s prediction that they would be soldiers sent from Jiujiang to welcome them was wrong.

“Prince Ying Zhu Quan requests to join with money and grain from Nanchang!”

“Prince Ying? Prince Ying was in Nanchang?”

Well, if Prince Ying had escaped from Nanjing alone, he could have reached Nanchang much faster than the Emperor’s carriage, which had many things to carry around.

Perhaps he had heard of the Emperor’s emergency and sent troops to save him.

The words of the person sent by Prince Ying were not much different from that.

“Prince Ying intends to raise righteous troops in his fiefdom to confront the Joseon army. In the meantime, he heard of Your Majesty’s urgency and sent me to protect you.”

However, Woo Gyeom did not let his guard down.

He cannot question Prince Ying for raising ‘righteous troops’ without permission now.

What would happen if he punished Prince Ying, who had quickly gathered troops at a time when even one soldier was precious?

And right now, he doesn’t even have the power to do so…….

But can he really believe that Prince Ying’s intentions are pure?

The Emperor’s party will soon reach Jiujiang.

That means that if Prince Ying wants to take control of the Emperor, now is the only chance.

“Shouldn’t Prince Ying come in person to see Your Majesty and speak to him, rather than sending a subordinate?”

“He will do so soon. However, the Joseon army is chasing after us, so the situation is urgent. Prince Ying has gone to stop them first.

Please allow the troops he brought to escort the Emperor’s carriage.”

“I appreciate your intentions, but we are almost at Jiujiang, so there is no need for an escort. You should return to Prince Ying and help him diligently.”

Emperor Xuanzong also nodded at Woo Gyeom’s words.

He also noticed something strange.

However, the other party pretended not to hear and ignored him.

“But Your Majesty, after arriving in Jiujiang, where do you intend to go?”

“Why are you suddenly asking about my intentions?”

“Wuchang is a large town, but it is located where the large waters of the Yangtze River reach, so it is not safe from the Joseon navy. In my humble opinion, wouldn’t the south be safer?”

If you go northwest from Jiujiang, you will reach Wuchang, and if you turn south, you will reach Nanchang.

Nanchang is Prince Ying’s fiefdom.

Emperor Xuanzong said coldly.

“That is not for you to interfere with. I will gladly accept the loyalty shown by Prince Ying, but I cannot delay because I have a long way to go.”

He shook off his robe and stood up.

It wasn’t just words. He was planning to leave this place right now.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Then I will return to Prince Ying and convey your intentions.”

The other party turned back with a smile on his face.

And a moment later.

Prince Ying’s guards rushed towards the Emperor’s carriage all at once.

* * *

I looked at Nanjing.

A fierce battle to defeat each other was taking place across the Yangtze River…… but it wasn’t.

Our army, which had already captured Suzhou and advanced from the east, soon captured Zhenjiang, a satellite city of Nanjing.

At the same time, our army, which had crossed the river from Yangzhou, steadily poured out troops.

Zhenjiang is also called Jingkou [literally “mouth of the capital”], which means the gateway to Nanjing.

Like its name suggests, Nanjing’s fate was decided at the point when Zhenjiang was captured.

When a few high-explosive bombs broke through the gates of Nanjing, the troops inside resisted aimlessly and surrendered one after another.

With the Emperor already fleeing from the capital, would the soldiers have any will to fight?

Even if the Emperor had remained, the outcome would not have been much different, so the escape itself was a wise decision.

‘Or is it?’

Since the fight is already over, is it more foolish to continue resisting?

Well, let’s put these random thoughts aside for later, and I gave the military order.

“Occupy the imperial palace and government offices first!”

Useless street battles did not occur.

Nanjing is already a large city, so it’s fortunate that it might take several days to completely suppress it if we decided to fight.

I rode on Ttaeng-gu’s back and walked slowly along Nanjing’s main street leading to the imperial palace.

Some familiar faces were gathered in front of the imperial palace.

Our in-laws, that is, the imperial family.

They were wearing robes to show off their noble status, but their faces were filled with subtle fear and anxiety.

“It’s been a while.”

When I greeted them while riding Ttaeng-gu, the imperial family raised their heads and opened their mouths.

“Your Majesty, the King of Joseon…….”

It’s a strange feeling to see faces that all resemble my father-in-law gathered together looking for me.

‘It’s a great relief that my wife resembles my mother-in-law.’

Anyway, these are the faces I’ve seen for the first time since I met them in Nanjing.

At that time, I was busy trying to read the faces of both Prince Han and Prince Jo.

Now, the two of them have become spirits and scattered, and the remaining imperial family members are all looking at me instead.

“You are all relatives of the Great Ming imperial family and in-laws of mine, so how can I treat you as prisoners? You should be treated comfortably.”

The eyes of the imperial family members lit up at my words.

Along with the relief of being alive, they read a significant implication in my words.

Since I mentioned the relatives of the Great Ming imperial family, they must have taken it as a guarantee that I would not completely shut down the Ming Dynasty.

The complexions of those who had been fidgeting like puppies about to poop noticeably brightened.

“Oh, it’s been a while. Brother-in-law!”

“Uncle!”

“Grandfather!”

All sorts of titles were rampant according to their ranks.

Their desperate struggles to somehow get close to me are even tearful.

“While the foolish king was disturbing the country, brother-in-law bravely stepped forward and showed loyalty in preserving the Jongmyo Shrine [the royal ancestral shrine], so he can be called a true hero!”

Zhu Gui, the 13th son of Zhu Yuanzhang [the Hongwu Emperor, founder of the Ming Dynasty], said. Following him, Prince Gyeong Zhu Jeong, Prince Min Zhu Pyeon, and others uttered similar praises.

‘They’re drinking the kimchi soup in advance [a Korean idiom for counting one’s chickens before they hatch].’

I slowly looked around them.

I have the blood of Yi Bang-won [King Taejong of Joseon], the exterminator of relatives, who achieved a grand slam in purging his maternal relatives (Kang clan), in-laws (Min clan), and relatives by marriage (Shim clan).

Moreover, a war has broken out between the two countries.

No one would say anything even if I wiped them all out.

Even Ju So-hwa would understand if I said I did it because I needed to, saying, ‘It couldn’t be helped.’

Even if there is no one I have affection for, she will be somewhat depressed because her family has been ruined.

‘Well, there’s no need to do that.’

These people have no real power, but they are very useful.

Nanjing, the capital of the Great Ming, and the support of the imperial family.

They are perfect tools for establishing justification.

There’s no need to get rid of them when they’re being so servile.

On the other hand, there were still people in Nanjing who would not bow down to me until the end.

“Lord Yang was in charge of the garrison.”

Yang Sa-gi, the garrison commander of Nanjing.