There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 426

427. A Tree with Many Branches (1)

After reading up to the part where he conquered Moscow and even erected a large monument, I slammed the report shut.

“Do you have any further instructions?”

“No.”

Essen was only asking me for instructions as a formality; he probably already handled everything on the ground.

If he couldn’t manage the conquered territories, Joseon might as well step in directly.

“Next is the memorial submitted by the King of Baekje, received by the Ministry of Rites.”

“I still can’t get used to that name.”

Well… I did approve the name Baekje, but there were circumstances.

From the start, they presented Baekje and Yamato as candidate names for their nation.

Of course, using ‘Great’ (大) in the name of a vassal state is unacceptable.

I wasn’t planning to be that strict, but my officials couldn’t tolerate such rudeness.

The envoys who brought Ouchi’s memorial prostrated themselves and apologized, saying they weren’t yet familiar with the etiquette of vassal states, but we couldn’t shake the suspicion that it was a trick to induce us to choose the desired name.

Joseon also presented Joseon and Hwaryeong to Zhu Yuanzhang, so we weren’t in a position to criticize others.

However, hearing that they named a rock near their capital Jeongsaam and called their king Eorahha, I was confused whether it was the 15th or 5th century.

After the Ministry of Rites, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, was ordered to make detailed adjustments to Baekje’s whining about maintaining the same silver price in tribute trade as before, I picked up a letter from Ryukyu.

“Gyeong-i…”

When she was full of ambition and seduced the Crown Prince of Ryukyu, I wondered what would happen, but I’m glad they seem to be getting along well.

It seems that the newborn grandson is also growing up well.

‘I should have him sent to Joseon later.’

It would be difficult for me to go to Ryukyu, so it would be better to have my grandson come to the court when he grows up.

It would also be good for the Crown Prince to get to know his cousins.

Meanwhile, at the end of the letter, which was full of inquiries about my well-being and updates on my son-in-law and grandson, there was a subtle request for support.

It’s obvious what she’s up to.

I guess this is the only time she calls her dad, when she wants money.

I slammed the letter shut and said,

“Let the Crown Prince handle this.”

“Didn’t Your Majesty say you would personally review the state letters received by the Ministry of Rites?”

I shook my head at Minister of Rites Ha Yeon’s words.

“This is a letter from a daughter to her father, so it’s not a matter of diplomacy. Let the Crown Prince, as her brother, carefully review and decide.”

I have affection for my daughter, so I can’t help but lean towards her, but Dan will make a decision based purely on practicality.

Even more so because it’s his sister’s request.

‘I feel sorry for burdening him with this task when he’s already busy with the regency.’

Even now, I seem to be exclusively in charge of diplomacy and national defense.

Clearly, I am the absolute monarch of the most powerful country in the world, but in reality, I am nothing more than a work slave.

Even though the Central Plains, which occupies most of Joseon’s territory, is under indirect rule through the Nanjing court, it’s still this much.

The bureaucracy, which seems to be running smoothly like a well-oiled machine, will ultimately face catastrophe if the emperor, the apex of the system, doesn’t attend to state affairs.

I’m starting to wonder if we should introduce the Nanjing cabinet system to Gyeonggi as well.

In any case, that’s why, except for diplomacy and national defense, only urgent or critical state affairs are reported to me; Dan, who is in charge of the regency, effectively makes all the decisions.

In fact, Dan’s incredible stamina may have been bestowed upon him not for his role as a military commander, but for handling state affairs.

On the other hand, I’m gradually declining physically as I pass my mid-forties.

‘The emperor needs stamina too.’

I jokingly criticized our old man in my mind, but if it weren’t for the hellish training he put me through back then, I would have already been in a coffin.

‘I’m tempted to abdicate.’

I sincerely thought so.

Wouldn’t it be better to throw off all these worldly bonds and shackles and just leave for the Blue House [the executive office and official residence of the South Korean president, here used metaphorically]?

I don’t know exactly how old the original Grand Prince Yangnyeong lived, but considering the average lifespan, I probably have less than twenty years left to live.

‘I want to focus on inventions before that.’

Even if I die right now, the country will still function somehow, but what about the future knowledge in my head?

Wouldn’t it be more efficient to hand over the throne to Dan and focus solely on research and development?

‘Come to think of it, Father abdicated around my age.’

Back then, Joseon’s size was much smaller and society was less complex.

I was already preparing the groundwork for it.

I vacated Changdeok Palace, which had been serving as the royal control tower, for Dan to use, and I retreated to Gyeongbok Palace.

Of course, considering that Gyeongbok Palace is Joseon’s main palace, it might seem like no groundwork at all, but for various practical reasons, the place where I reside is not exactly the main hall of Gyeongbok Palace, but its annex.

The Blue House (靑瓦臺).

Literally, a house with blue tiles.

Compared to halls like Gangnyeongjeon (康寧殿) [Hall of Health and Peace], where one obtains health and peace, Geunjeongjeon (勤政殿) [Hall of Diligent Governance], where one diligently governs, or Sajeongjeon (思政殿) [Hall of Thoughtful Governance], where one constantly examines and thinks, the name is truly simple.

But what does the name matter?

The important thing is that it’s my practical office and residence built in the rear garden of Gyeongbok Palace.

Those who desired the construction of a large-scale imperial palace befitting the emperor’s dignity were disappointed with this modest (?) scale of the annex, but it suited my sensibilities.

There was also Sugang Palace next to Changdeok Palace, which Taejong used, but it’s right to give the Crown Prince the power to move independently.

It’s to the point where it wouldn’t be strange if the abdication edict came down from here.

If there’s one problem…

‘There are no descendants.’

To be precise, there was no great-grandson (元孫) [the eldest son of the Crown Prince].

A great-grandson is the eldest son of the Crown Prince.

Dan had children indiscriminately with his concubines, so there were many grandchildren.

However, only daughters were born between Dan and the Crown Princess, so there was no official heir.

‘If I abdicate, will Dan appoint one of his illegitimate sons as Crown Prince?’

I’m still young, so I’m in a position to wait and see.

Since there’s already a Crown Prince, no one will say anything even if the appointment of a great-grandson is delayed appropriately.

But things will be different when Dan becomes emperor.

Surely the discussion of appointing a Crown Prince will surface.

Those who want to choose an heir from among the illegitimate sons rather than waiting for an unborn legitimate son will dominate the scene, and behind the scenes, there will be lining up and factionalism.

So, for the time being, even if I don’t like it, it’s better to stay in this position…

“Father!”

“Oh, my Hwan (鐶) [literally ‘ring’]!”

I picked up my youngest son and hugged him tightly.

There’s nothing like children for vitality.

Compared to Dan and Gyeong, who are quite grown up and subtly asserting themselves, the energy brought by the still innocent youngest is truly amazing.

‘I understand why my father-in-law cherished his wife.’

The reason why I appointed Hwan as the Prince of Shenyang (瀋王) [a historical city in China, now known as Shenyang] before he was even ten years old was also for that reason.

“What brings you to the Blue House?”

“I heard that Uncle and the Pope’s envoys have come to Jiaozhou (交河) [an ancient city along the Silk Road]!”

Uncle refers to my maternal cousin, Min Chu, and the Pope’s envoys refer to the priests of the Vatican that Min Chu brought.

“Yes. I was going to provide them with lodging anyway. I’ll have them brought to Gyeongbok Palace soon.”

“Did you know?”

“Who would know if your father, the emperor, didn’t know? Do you want to see them too?”

“Yes!”

Hwan shouted, spreading his arms.

Everyone in Joseon likes to see envoys from foreign countries, but the reason is usually one of two things.

Some feel a great sense of pride seeing barbarians crawling in to pay tribute to Joseon, the land of the Son of Heaven, and others are intrigued by the strangely 생긴 [looking] barbarians.

Strictly speaking, the youngest was closer to the latter, but fundamentally, he was very interested in the races and cultures of distant lands.

Well, kids who memorize dinosaur names end up forgetting them all when they grow up, so this curiosity will only last for a while.

I should make a memory for my son.

* * *

Min Chu, who returned to Hanyang, had an expression like Guo Qubing [a famous Han dynasty general], who had pacified the Xiongnu [nomadic people north of China].

‘All he did was travel around each country, exchange state letters, and be treated well.’

With a determined face, as if he were capturing barbarian chieftains to present to the Emperor, Min Chu introduced those sent by the Vatican.

Of course, none of them were people whose names I knew.

‘I was kind of expecting it.’

When I sent Min Chu as an envoy, I let my imagination run wild.

There are many geniuses in Europe whose names I know, like Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and Galileo Galilei.

I don’t know which era those people were active in, but it felt like buying a lottery ticket and waiting for the weekend.

In reality, I ordered him to gather useful talents, expecting that, but when I opened it up, they were all priests.

There was even a nun.

‘Why did they send a nun?’

Is the Vatican trying to build a convent in Joseon?

I was a little disappointed, but I smacked my lips and changed my mind.

‘Still, clergymen must be fairly educated, right?’

If I put them in the Hall of Worthies [a Joseon Dynasty research institute] and grind them, they’ll spit something out.

That’s what I thought.

“Your Majesty, no, Brother. Are you really going to accept them?”

Prince Hyoryeong… no, Prince Gye (薊王) [Prince of Ji] Lee Bo bent down and whispered in my ear.

The emperor’s direct descendants are princes.

Therefore, after I ascended the throne, my brothers were all appointed as princes.

Grand Prince Hyoryeong Bo is Prince Gye, Grand Prince Chungnyeong Do is Prince Jin, and Grand Prince Seongnyeong Jong-i is Prince Hyeon.

Even though he was a prince, Hyoryeong, who was originally an important patron of the Buddhist community, had become a figure similar to a giant of Joseon Buddhism.

That’s why he was wary as soon as he saw them, who seemed to have been sent for the clear purpose of proselytizing.

Thanks to the long-standing exchange with Venice, Christianity is not a very unfamiliar religion in Joseon.

However, the Venetian merchants who frequented Byeokrando [a historical port in Korea] were not particularly interested in proselytizing.

The number of those stationed in Sangwan [likely a trading post] was also small.

For that reason, Christianity was just a religion that foreigners or their own people believed in, and it couldn’t be called a competitor to Buddhism, but if the Vatican extended its reach like this, things would be different.

“There are temples in the capital, so why shouldn’t they be allowed?”

“But, but!”

My brother looked at me with eyes that said, ‘I can’t believe my brother, who is a pro-Buddhist monarch, would betray me like this.’

‘Hold on a minute, you.’

One-third of my faith is Buddhist, but Catholicism also takes up 1/3.

Originally, religions need competition to avoid corruption and develop.

That being said, the state religion of this country is Confucianism.

Although Confucianism is not a religion, there are still Crusaders who want to smash the heads of those who spread teachings that contradict the doctrine and drive them out.

Whether Christianity can take root in this country remains to be seen.

Rather, I was more concerned about the introduction that Min Chu laid out.

“Your Majesty, this woman is a Buddhist nun specially sent by the Pope’s governor, and her name is Jang Dal-gu.”

As soon as I heard that name, I was greatly surprised.

‘How can someone’s name be Jang Dal-gu.’

Can’t we do something about that devastating transliteration sense?