There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 425

426. The World Now (6)

Yi Je, the Emperor of Joseon, once again opened the Silk Road, and the one who spearheaded the construction of the Central Asian logistics network was none other than Esen.

After his father Toghon’s death, he received the title of Taishi [Grand Preceptor] from the Great Khan, who had settled in the restored Shangdu, but he was excluded from the permanent Kurultai [Mongol assembly of nobles].

It was a clear signal to focus on the western conquest and disregard Mongolia.

Wasn’t the title conferred by Joseon also the King who Pacifies the West?

However, Esen was now conflicted as to whether he was the King who Pacifies the West or the head of Joseon Express.

He had to concentrate all his attention on creating, maintaining, and managing the direct trade routes and the intermediary bases.

Of course, this was not something he could accomplish alone.

The Ming Dynasty inherited and significantly developed the postal station system from the Yuan Dynasty.

Its sophistication impressed even Timur’s envoys, so it was natural for Esen, in charge of the Central Asian hub, to receive their assistance.

The officials and scholars who had been involved in creating the *Hanyu Tongqu* [a comprehensive map of postal stations] since the Hongwu Emperor’s reign were now employed in Esen’s court. For the record, they had no power to object.

Under the guidance of these Han Chinese officials, postal stations—logistics hubs—began to take even firmer root.

A great deal of manpower was invested in developing the postal stations, and cities began to form around them.

At the center was Kashgar, the capital occupied by Esen.

Originally, this place was ruled by the Moghulistan Khanate.

After Timur’s death, Moghulistan, which had broken away from his dominion, suffered the humiliation of having its Khan captured by Esen’s attack in the original history. However, unexpectedly, Esen released Uvais Khan, considering him a direct descendant of Genghis Khan and Chagatai.

Considering that he even captured and released Emperor Zhengtong, another major rival, he could be compared to Zhuge Liang from the *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* [a famous historical figure known for capturing and releasing enemies to gain their loyalty].

However, Esen had no time for such gentlemanly games of capturing and releasing seven times.

Esen had already married the daughter of Zhu Chi, the Prince of Taining, and received substantial military support from her.

He couldn’t ignore the demands from his primary backer, asking when the logistics network would be completed, especially since he was funding his ventures with his wife’s family’s resources.

Using Kashgar as a base, Esen destroyed the Moghul Khanate and sought to advance into Transoxiana [a historical region roughly corresponding to modern-day Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and parts of Kazakhstan].

This area has been a key region of the Silk Road since ancient times.

Timur himself used this place as a base of operations.

Shah Rukh, who recovered this place after the divisions following Timur’s death, didn’t move his base to Ili but sent his son Ulugh Beg to govern it.

However, an unlucky Yi Seong-gye, who would later be defeated and killed by his own son, was no match for Esen.

Esen quickly drove Ulugh Beg out and sent a triumphant letter to his father.

“Already in the east, the Emperor of Joseon, the grandson of the Great Yuan, has conquered China and pacified the world. You should also quickly uphold the majesty of the true Ming Emperor!”

Shah Rukh wondered if there was another human being like his father Timur at the eastern end.

In particular, the part where he insisted that his maternal family was of the Golden Family [descendants of Genghis Khan] was very similar.

However, the opponent was the one who had conquered China, something even his father could not do.

Although Yi Je did not directly step forward, Esen Taishi was also nominally the one who captured Emperor Zhengtong and was called the greatest threat to Ming before the rise of the Qing Dynasty.

Now that history has been altered, he hasn’t achieved such grand feats, but his potential remained.

Moreover, the symbolism of even forming a brotherhood with the Crown Prince of Joseon and Joseon’s land-based trade expansion strategy have expanded his power far beyond what it was in the original history.

However, Shah Rukh was also a formidable hero.

When Ulugh Beg was defeated and fled, he lamented his incompetent son’s abilities and personally led the army to confront Esen.

The battle between Esen and Shah Rukh over Transoxiana was fiercely fought for several years.

“Returning…going…”

The result was a mutual loss.

Esen briefly swept through Transoxiana but ultimately failed to capture Samarkand.

Meanwhile, Shah Rukh was also feeling uneasy.

While he was preoccupied with this battle, Kara Iskander of the Black Sheep Dynasty, who had been stubbornly holding out, resurfaced.

Having confirmed the balance of power, the two sides entered into negotiations.

Esen was ceded the Khujand area near the Syr Darya River, and a marriage alliance was formed with Shah Rukh’s side.

Dredging the trade route leading to Shah Rukh’s sphere of influence was an added benefit.

Although the complete conquest of Transoxiana, which was the original goal, was out of the question, Esen was able to achieve his initial objective.

Leaving behind the dramatically restored diplomatic relations, he now turned his attention elsewhere.

* * *

The Grand Duke of Moscow at the time was Vasily II, a man who had been crowned three times and deposed twice.

The Kipchak Khanate, the ruler of North Asia and Eastern Europe, disintegrated during the reign of this man, who had been deposed once and restored by his uncle.

However, the idea that it would be easy to deal with a powerful enemy simply because it had fragmented was naive.

Vasily II was keenly aware of this fact in Moscow, which was besieged by Ulugh Muhammad of the Kazan Khanate.

The Tatars were too strong, and the yoke they had cast over this Rus’ land showed no signs of being easily lifted.

“Must I surrender like this!”

Originally, he should have escaped from Moscow and fled to the forests beyond the Volga, but Ulugh Muhammad’s army moved faster than he had expected.

While the other Khanates of the Kipchak were hesitant at the sudden appearance of a strongman, he moved to Moscow with confidence.

As a result, Vasily’s feelings were similar to those of King Injo, who had retreated to Namhansanseong [a mountain fortress used as a refuge during invasions].

The white stone Kremlin built by Dmitry Donskoy would not easily collapse under the Tatar attack, but as history shows, the Qing army didn’t win because they captured Namhansanseong.

When Ulugh Muhammad learned that the Grand Duke of Moscow was trapped, he didn’t lift the siege but instead burned with even greater determination.

“Please, let that Tatar devil be struck and killed by a stray cannonball!”

Vasily could only pray in despair.

Perhaps his earnest prayer reached the heavens.

The Lord sent him something more effective than a cannonball.

Grand Duke Vasily II of Moscow opened his eyes wide.

Since he still had a few years left before he went blind, he could clearly see Esen’s army gathering, clad in black.

“W-What is this! Who are these guys attacking from!”

“It’s the Oirat! Weren’t these guys fighting the Nogai in the south!”

Ulugh Muhammad’s army was shattered by Esen’s forces, which appeared from the rear.

“The Lord sent these people to protect us!”

Vasily II shed tears of joy.

His faith, which had been weakening, soared.

To his weary eyes, Esen’s army looked like angels sent by the Lord to help him.

The fact that they were also Tatar tribesmen, just like Ulugh Muhammad’s army, didn’t register in his mind.

Therefore, Vasily didn’t properly grasp the situation until Esen’s army, which had easily driven out Ulugh Muhammad, deployed its cannons.

Even when the cannonballs shattered the walls of the Kremlin.

Even when Esen’s army, which had stormed into the castle walls, trampled Moscow.

Even when Esen’s men stripped Vasily of his clothes and made him perform the *SamBaeGuGoDoRye* [a traditional Korean prostration ceremony involving three bows and nine kowtows] before him.

“??”

Vasily could only make a bewildered expression as he knelt before Esen.

The plan of Yi Je, the Emperor of Joseon, to extend the logistics network, covered Moscow as the hooves of the nomadic people under Esen.

The Tatar yoke, which had not yet been properly removed, had returned.

* * *

[Shin, King Yasen who Pacifies the West, reports. Our Emperor pacifies all people with his virtue, and finally, civilized countries have voluntarily submitted to the Emperor.

However, in the distant borderlands, there are groups who not only imitate this sacred rule but also arbitrarily raise armies, which I cannot bear to see. This is because beast-like barbarians who do not know the King’s grace still remain.

Therefore, I have taken the initiative to subjugate the 36 kingdoms of the West and have obtained their land and people. I should report this to the Emperor, ask for his disposition, and seek his wise judgment……]

I read through the memorial submitted by Esen.

Seeing the ink-soaked memorial, which Esen would never have been able to write himself, it seems that the Ming Dynasty officials I sent him are performing their roles perfectly.

Well, my support isn’t limited to that.

Currently, Chinese and Japanese manpower accounts for a very large proportion of the forces supporting Esen’s power.

Labor is essential to manage and maintain logistics terminals.

Let’s start with the Ming soldiers who were captured in the Joseon-Ming War, and the Han Chinese slaves who were thoroughly plundered even while they were watching our every move.

In addition, the Mongolian army, which even went on an expedition to Japan, was able to capture a considerable number of prisoners.

The *Ikki* [peasant uprisings] that habitually occurred in Japan were of great help in expanding these slave populations.

Complaints were boiling over throughout Japan due to the backlash against the establishment of a new dynasty by some rootless individuals, but it was simply a good hunting ground.

I heard that there were places where entire villages that had started *Ikki* were captured, from men to women and children.

Juchi boasted, with some exaggeration, that there were as many as 100,000.

If Juchi had really captured that many people by himself, wouldn’t it be backbreaking just to feed them? Anyway, it would be a great help to the sparsely populated western territories.

‘But his attitude is still respectful.’

Esen isn’t stupid, so there’s no way he wouldn’t know that Joseon holds the leash.

The Silk Road is only meaningful if there are goods to be traded back and forth.

However, now that I encompass both Joseon and China, if I were to issue a land-based maritime ban—a continental blockade, for example—Esen would have no choice but to starve.

Even if that weren’t the case, his position would be very weak.

It’s only a loss for a country that relies on a trade route that is essentially a ‘poverty road’ to revolt against Joseon.

If a real fight breaks out beyond the level of subtle power struggles, it would be even more of a loss because they wouldn’t be able to defeat the Joseon army.

In the first place, Esen’s power isn’t a unified entity.

The troops of the Oirat tribe inherited from his father Toghon are already only a part of the power he has amassed.

It’s a country formed by a complex combination of Han Chinese officials I sent, the royal families of East Mongolia connected to him by blood, and surrendering people from newly conquered territories.

At least two of these groups are under my influence, so Esen would be careful in dealing with me.

Anyway… it doesn’t cost money to submit a memorial politely.

Well… I also gain something by being treated with such respect.

Besides the stable trade expansion through Esen’s power expansion…

‘Prestige.’

Now that I’ve become an emperor, I’ve realized that this prestige is surprisingly important.

Esen has already grown to be so powerful, so just the fact that such a person respectfully praises me contributes to the so-called ‘Celestial Emperor aura’.

At this point, I don’t think that the name ‘Son of Heaven’ is a narcissistic title.

I thought as I looked down at the map that Esen had presented with the memorial.

‘I didn’t know he would even encroach on Russia.’

When did these guys go all the way here?

What is *SamBaeGuGoDoRye* again?

‘When did they develop this etiquette?’

For some reason, the countries surrounding Joseon seem to be getting a little strange.

As the leader of a civilized great power, I felt the weight on my shoulders.