There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 51

My sewing machine’s reputation for usefulness spread like wildfire.

It hadn’t yet reached the palace walls, but those in the know, thanks to the chattering of the needlework maids, were well aware.

The needlework maids, whose primary duty was sewing, couldn’t help but be interested.

It was that well-made a sewing machine.

Due to technical issues, the internals were simpler than I’d hoped, but even so, it was several times more efficient than hand sewing.

Thanks to this, I was bombarded with requests from all sides to install sewing machines, which gave me a headache.

Normally, I could just ignore such requests, but some came from people I couldn’t refuse, which was the problem.

Namely, my mother, who managed the inner court.

“You want the inner court to use sewing machines?”

We didn’t have enough to go around, so the Hanyang Construction Bureau’s work camp was supposed to get them first, but Mother was asking for that allocation to be diverted here.

‘This is awkward.’

Even if it was my mother, I couldn’t grant that request.

“Don’t we already have needlework maids? It seems they can handle the palace’s sewing needs just fine.”

But Queen Wongyeong was firm.

“Aside from the labor involved, isn’t the sewing machine more precise and durable than hand sewing? If there’s such a good item, it’s only right that our royal family uses it.”

Right now, many people at the Hanyang Construction Bureau’s work camp were diligently learning how to use the sewing machines.

Mother must have realized its usefulness after seeing a sample with meticulous stitching, though I don’t know how it got to her.

“And that’s not all. I need to make a contribution this time.”

“Haha… Pardon?”

You’d think she was a general going to war, not talking about making a contribution.

I chuckled, thinking Mom was joking, but Queen Wongyeong’s expression was serious.

“That Kim woman finally entered the palace, didn’t she?”

“Yes, she did.”

She was the concubine Kim who returned to the palace with her newborn baby after my event eased Mother’s heart last time.

Afterward, Yi Bang-won, watching Mother’s reaction, subtly appointed Kim as a *Bin* [a high-ranking concubine title].

Of course, lower than the Queen, but the next in rank, a generous reward for bearing a firstborn son.

Mother exclaimed in a sharp voice.

“Now that she’s given birth and recovered, she shamelessly asks if there’s anything she can do to help in the inner court. Do you know how infuriating that is?”

“Ah, yes…”

‘Yikes.’

Queen Wongyeong’s fury was truly terrifying.

My mom is scary.

“She’s also flaunting her closeness with the Grand King’s concubine, so what does she really want?”

‘Wait, why are we filming a war of flowers [a metaphor for intense rivalry between women] without me knowing?’

While I was busy with Hanyang and everything else, this was happening in the palace.

I’ve heard that Kim is kind, so I don’t think she has any ill intentions.

It seems like Mother is just preemptively acting.

The Grand King’s concubine that Mother is wary of seemed to be Concubine Won, Yi Seong-gye’s concubine.

She was the highest-ranking concubine and Yi Bang-won treated her with respect, so her status was considerable.

‘Still, to assume she’s plotting something…’

Since Wonbin is so close to our father, it seems natural that she’s being kind to Kim, whom Father favors.

But Mother was furious at the thought that Wonbin, who could threaten her position as the head of the inner court, might join hands with Kim.

‘If this were a romance fantasy novel, our mother would be the villain, right?’

Kim would be the pure and innocent heroine.

Then, am I the villain’s son destined to fall with her?

‘Let’s ditch the silly thoughts.’

Yi Bang-won, who couldn’t give up on even that hopeless Yangnyeong, wouldn’t be swayed by concubine politics.

Mother has already solidified her position as Queen.

Besides, she’s given birth to three legitimate sons.

No matter how many firstborn sons Kim bears, she can’t even compare, but a woman’s jealousy is truly terrifying.

Queen Wongyeong, patting her chest, said.

“When I used to confide these worries, your uncles would roll up their sleeves to help, but now they’re engrossed in salt farm management, so there’s no one to help.”

‘That’s why you need to stop that, so your family can survive.’

I thought quietly to myself.

Fortunately, the solar salt farm was so enjoyable that my uncles were engrossed in it.

As soon as they handed over the salt, it was sold all over the country, so they were busy making and spending money.

When I met them last time, they seemed very satisfied.

‘How are you doing these days?’

‘Hehe, it’s going as Your Highness said. This Bupyeong is close to Hanyang, so it’s good for building a family estate, and we’re making a lot of money from the salt farms, so it’s better than taking care of your sister in the court… Ahem! Anyway, these uncles are having a great time.’

It seemed like their true feelings came out for a moment, but I pretended not to notice.

They seemed to think that living a life of leisurely earning money, stepping back from the political strife in Gaeseong, wasn’t bad either.

Not only Min Mu-gu and Min Mu-jil, but also their younger brothers Min Mu-hyul and Min Mu-hoe seemed interested in the salt farms, so the Min family was practically withdrawing from the court, except for my maternal grandfather, who was holding a nominal position.

‘They might think differently when the court moves to Hanyang, but that’s how it is for now.’

Unaware that her son had ‘purged’ her family in this way, Mother looked quite frustrated.

I knew about the Min clan’s downfall through history, so I peacefully removed them like this, but from Mother’s perspective, she must have felt betrayed when her brothers suddenly resigned and went off to make money.

That must have fueled Mother’s sense of crisis, which had been quiet for a while.

“I need to go to Hanyang soon. There’s no one to help me in Gaeseong.”

I gently comforted my mother, who was holding her head.

“Oh, what are you saying? Isn’t there a son more reliable than four uncles?”

Cheer up, Mom, we’re here for you.

“Yes, that’s right. I live thanks to our Crown Prince.”

Mother hugged my small body tightly and said that.

Hehe, as expected, a son’s charm melts a parent’s heart.

Even that iron-blooded Yi Bang-won couldn’t escape this magic.

Queen Wongyeong, who was holding me, was the same.

“Even for our Crown Prince, I need to make sure that woman knows who the master of the inner court is.”

“Ah.”

Operation failed.

Mother’s eyes became sharper?

‘Before she causes an accident, it’s better for me to take the lead.’

“I, I will do my best to supply sewing machines to the inner court.”

“Will you do that? You’re really my Crown Prince!”

‘Gack.’

The pressure of Queen Wongyeong’s hug intensified.

I could barely breathe.

Is she that happy to suppress Concubine Kim?

“However…”

I need some money.

As I rubbed my hands together, Mother said confidently.

“Who do you think I am? I am the Queen of this country and the daughter of the Yeoheung Min clan, one of the most prestigious families in the Three Han [ancient Korean kingdoms]. Do you think I can’t handle that much?”

Ooh.

She’s a villainous noble lady with an aura flowing out of her.

‘That’s all the wealth I’m going to inherit.’

Whether it’s Father’s wealth or Mother’s wealth, it will all be mine someday, so it’s very good news.

The more money, the better.

‘I don’t know about the younger siblings below me.’

I’m sure they’ll take care of it.

That’s what I thought.

===

‘I agreed to prevent a bigger accident, but can we even handle the volume?’

Thanks to the various devices I made, the work at the Military Supplies Bureau has increased too much.

I ordered them to increase manpower last time, but how is it going?

I called Choi Hae-san and asked.

“How is the matter of increasing the manpower of the Military Supplies Bureau going?”

Choi Hae-san stammered in response to my question.

“We are doing our best to promote it, but…”

“I suppose there’s a shortage of blacksmiths?”

“The absolute number itself is small, so there’s nothing we can do about it.”

I sighed deeply.

The late Goryeo period was truly a mess.

I internally criticize Yi Seong-gye from time to time, but I can’t deny his contribution to overthrowing the ruined Goryeo and establishing a new country that lasted 500 years.

‘And our father, who took down Jeong Mong-ju.’

Thanks to them, the country had a semblance of order just 10 years after its founding.

In the early Joseon period, it would have been impossible if there weren’t talented people, regardless of the king or his subjects.

However, apart from that, these technical professions were severely lacking in reality.

Even the few blacksmiths in Gaeseong were reluctant to join the Military Supplies Bureau.

“What about training new artisans?”

“We are trying to gather children with nowhere to go and train them to become artisans, but…”

Originally, if there’s no way to make a living, many people take the fast polytechnic route.

The problem is…

“It will still take at least several years to become a useful blacksmith.”

It was a story I had heard several times.

We can look to the future and raise blacksmiths, but securing people who can be used immediately is another story.

‘Should I give up hope and just work the existing manpower hard?’

As I was about to give up, the sewing machine in the corner caught my eye.

It was the culprit that made me worry now, but it was also made to maximize the labor of the women in the work camp.

‘I made the sewing machine because it was inefficient to have them sew by hand.’

That was only a few days ago.

Why was I, a modern person, stuck in traditional ideas and complaining that there was a shortage of usable manpower?

Just like I made the sewing machine because there was a shortage of skilled sewing personnel, if there’s a shortage of blacksmiths, I just need to find a way to maximize their labor.

‘What a pathetic thought I was having!’

I slammed the desk.

Then the officials who were watching the scene whispered.

“His Highness is finally… due to excessive workload…”

“It’s understandable. I also get angry when I go home. When you work for a long time, you lose your mind.”

“Y-Your Highness. Are you alright?”

Choi Hae-san asked in embarrassment, but I didn’t answer.

I just put my finger on my temple and pondered.

‘How do I do it?’

Various plans came to mind, but the most efficient and applicable from now on was…

I stood up again, slamming the desk.

Then Choi Hae-san, who was standing in front of me, flinched.

“Your Highness…?”

“Choi Hae-san, gather all the blacksmiths in the Military Supplies Bureau right now!”

“Yes? Do you mean right now?”

Choi Hae-san, who asked back, soon shut his mouth on his own.

He seemed to have realized that I didn’t like repeating myself due to my long slave life.

It’s a good sign.

Soon, more than dozens of blacksmiths gathered in front of me and lined up.

I looked around them and opened my mouth.

“Is everyone here?”

“Yes, Your Highness. But why did you call us?”

Deok-man, who was standing at the front, asked.

Good question.

“We need to drastically change the way we’ve been working.”

I looked at them and said.

“From now on, we will implement a division of labor.”

It was a declaration to usher in the era of factory-style manufacturing.

End

ⓒ Pitkong