There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 59

Hanyang.

It was a place I frequented for work, almost like my own home, but this time the atmosphere was quite different.

Unlike the past when only frail civil officials shuffled around with documents, there were many people moving about.

“Your Highness, Crown Prince, Minister of Military Affairs Jo Young-mu has arrived.”

“Minister Jo Young-mu is here?”

Before I could even say to let him in, Lee Suk-beon, who had been buried in paperwork next to me, threw down his pencil and jumped up.

‘What’s with this guy.’

“Ouch!”

I smacked Lee Suk-beon on the head and then told the eunuch,

“Let him in.”

Jo Young-mu had a slightly angular face, typical of a military officer.

A close aide to my father in the military.

It wouldn’t hurt to be friendly with him.

However, Lee Suk-beon, who had been rubbing his head, jumped out before I could.

“Oh, Minister of Military Affairs!”

“?”

“I heard you’ve been put in charge of creating the new elite unit. Please take me with you!”

The usually arrogant Lee Suk-beon was now pathetically clinging to Jo Young-mu’s pant leg, begging.

Jo Young-mu was taken aback by Lee Suk-beon, who used to be so stiff-necked as a fellow meritorious subject, now groveling on the floor.

“You saw me during the planning of the coup, so you know my martial skills! If you use me, I’ll be a great help.”

It seemed that Hwang Hee’s hellish training was quite painful.

It was too much for Lee Suk-beon, who claimed to be physically and mentally weak.

His connections had been blocked by my threats, so Lee Suk-beon must have been driven to madness.

So, when Jo Young-mu joined, he begged for help, not even distinguishing the time or place, but Jo Young-mu shook his head.

“His Majesty has entrusted this matter to His Highness, the Crown Prince, so it is impossible without his permission.

And, where do you think you are, acting so recklessly without knowing your place?”

Jo Young-mu said sternly.

‘As expected.’

Before leaving Gaeseong, I had collected evaluations of Jo Young-mu, who I would be working with.

He was originally known for his fiery and impetuous nature, but after being exiled to Hwangju for expressing dissatisfaction with the disbandment of private soldiers during King Jeongjong’s reign, his personality became calmer.

‘So, you have to mess someone up to change them.’

People mature when they fall to the bottom.

The reason why Lee Suk-beon is still like that is not because he is a hopeless scoundrel, but because the trials I have given him are not enough.

I blamed myself for not taking care of my subordinates properly.

I will definitely make it so from now on.

First, I’ll take measures to prevent further interference.

“Drag Lee Suk-beon out.”

I said that.

With the nuisance gone, Jo Young-mu bowed politely to me and said,

“I am Jo Young-mu, who will also be serving as the training commander this time. Your Highness, please feel free to treat me comfortably.”

“Ah.”

I reached out my hand, ready to accept the greeting with a relaxed mind.

‘It’s been so long since I’ve seen a normal person.’

As someone who had only been watching people with missing screws, even if they were capable, I was very happy to see Jo Young-mu, a socially adjusted person.

So, just as I was about to greet him warmly, a loud voice came from behind.

“What business do you have here!”

‘What is it now?’

There aren’t many people who can shout at Jo Young-mu, who had even served as a Prime Minister.

And there is only one person who has both the reason and the ability to do so.

“Sigh.”

Jo Young-mu’s eyes wavered, unlike his usual self, when he saw Lee Seong-gye rushing in, fuming.

“So, this is the guy Bang-won put as a supervisor?”

“Supervisor? General Jo has only received an order to train a strong army by leading the troops.”

Strictly speaking, Jo Young-mu is the commander of the Training Corps.

Lee Seong-gye is just an advisor.

Jo Young-mu quickly bowed his head.

“It’s been a while, Your Majesty, the Supreme King.”

“Ah, it has been a while indeed. Is this the first time since you held a knife to me?”

Lee Seong-gye’s nagging wasn’t a new thing, but his current momentum was too ferocious.

‘Even if Jo Young-mu participated in the Princes’ Rebellion…’

If we were to count everything, half of the court officials wouldn’t be able to raise their heads in front of Lee Seong-gye.

But Lee Seong-gye was particularly harsh on Jo Young-mu.

‘Could it be that Lee Bang-won passed another bomb to me?’

Please, someone save me.

However, Lee Bang-won’s answer was not heard.

…Of course, sending telepathy to someone in Gaeseong wouldn’t work.

“Why are you so angry?”

I asked Hwang Hee, who was standing next to me.

Hwang Hee, who was well-versed in the trends of the court, would naturally know the reason.

“General Jo was originally from Gabyeolcho [elite royal guard] and was trusted by the Supreme King to the point of being in charge of the Royal Guards. But during the Second Strife of Princes, he joined His Majesty and contributed to killing two Grand Princes, so how could he be pleased?”

Hwang Hee said.

“The Supreme King felt so betrayed that he later pressured His Majesty to send him into exile.”

There was such a hidden story.

Anyway, he is an absolute figure who cannot be combined with Lee Seong-gye.

Lee Bang-won’s intention in choosing Jo Young-mu as the training commander must be there…

‘How can the atmosphere be shattered like this from the beginning?’

It’s chilly.

The air between the two of them sank low, and I felt uneasy for no reason.

In times like this, the best strategy is to run away.

“Your Highness, I would like to discuss the new formation.”

Jo Young-mu looked at me and said, and I nodded.

“Let General Jo listen to the Supreme King’s wise opinions and handle it accordingly.”

As I was trying to slip away, Jo Young-mu grabbed me.

“Surely, His Majesty always said to consult with His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

‘What do I know?’

This is all because of Lee Bang-won, who regarded me as some kind of military god.

I can’t reveal my lack of knowledge here, so I tried to make an excuse to get out, but Jo Young-mu’s attitude was firm.

“I cannot do that. I did not come here to follow the Supreme King’s orders.”

My intention to pass the buck to Lee Seong-gye was exposed.

I was a little embarrassed, but I smiled nonchalantly.

I had no choice but to sit down again.

“Alright. Then let’s gather together and discuss it.”

I’ll just keep my mouth shut and wait for the storm to pass.

“Since Grandfather is the originator of the formation, please explain it first.”

Lee Seong-gye glared at Jo Young-mu for a moment and then began to explain his formation.

Even Jo Young-mu was impressed by the idea that several square formations consisting of guns and spears would organically perform offense and defense.

I was indifferent though.

“If it works as intended, we will be able to defend against the enemy’s cavalry with infantry.”

Jo Young-mu said, slapping his knee.

However, Lee Seong-gye’s reaction was quite strange.

“Sitting down and blocking the enemy?”

“If so…?”

“If we succeed in creating this kind of unit, we should naturally send them out of the country to attack the enemy!”

“?”

Jo Young-mu and I were speechless for a moment.

Uh… so you’re saying we should assign them an active expeditionary mission?

“Where to?”

Where on earth are we going to war?

I stared blankly at Lee Seong-gye, who had suddenly become a warmonger.

There’s only one place Joseon can go.

‘Is he possessed by King Woo’s spirit?’

Is King Woo’s ghost, wandering in the afterlife, attached to Lee Seong-gye because he couldn’t conquer Liaodong?

===

Fortunately, Lee Seong-gye was neither possessed by King Woo nor senile.

His argument was more moderate.

But it still looked similar to me.

“Dong Meng-ga Tie Mu-er [Jurchen tribal leader], his movements are strange. It is clear that he is being courted by the Ming Dynasty. They may give him an official position soon.”

“But isn’t that none of our business?”

Then Lee Seong-gye burst into anger.

“This bastard, Jurchen was originally my territory. Are you saying we should just stand by and watch it being taken away?”

What he said was right, but the current Ming emperor is no ordinary man.

If Emperor Yongle was an easy person, would Joseon be so submissive?

He is a man who will use all means to crush Joseon if it twitches.

‘He was a person who even fought unnecessary wars because of his pride, or so Jin-hyuk hyung said.’

That was the evaluation of Jin-hyuk hyung, who watched the Land of the Morning Calm [Korean historical drama].

Anyway, for some reason, that pride might lead to a result that would make both Ming and Joseon unhappy.

But Lee Seong-gye was firm.

“The influence in the northeast is dwindling as Jo Sa-ui was defeated. If we continue like this, we will lose the barbarians forever.”

The biggest reason for losing that influence is that Lee Seong-gye was messing around with Jo Sa-ui and was suppressed, but I didn’t bother to point that out.

Anyway, Lee Seong-gye seemed to have no intention of giving up Jurchen.

Jurchen was like one of his arms, so he couldn’t stand to see the Ming Dynasty take it away like this.

“But you’re not thinking of attacking Liaodong, are you?”

He overturned Goryeo because he said it was absolutely impossible to retreat, and now he’s bringing up the Liaodong conquest that Jeong Do-jeon pushed for and failed?

In the most powerful period of the Ming Dynasty?

However, Lee Seong-gye didn’t seem to be that senile.

“Nanjing is far away, and Joseon is right in front of us. If we show some of the guys who are echoing the Ming’s attempt to subjugate us a hot taste, the others will naturally be wary of us.”

So, anyway, the goal is to find an excuse to go to war and smash the heads of the guys you don’t like?

Then Jo Young-mu said quietly.

“The Training Corps should be organized for the purpose of defending the capital. Isn’t that why the Central Army exists in the first place?”

“Nonsense. How can we be so passive and crawling because we are mindful of the Ming Dynasty?”

I don’t want to see a war in my life.

But Lee Seong-gye’s words also make sense.

It’s also unsettling to have all the Jurchen lackeys taken away because of the Ming Dynasty.

I calmly persuaded Lee Seong-gye.

“Anyway, the current unit is aimed at defending Hanyang, so focus on that.”

“Seja [Crown Prince], are you too!”

Lee Seong-gye shouted, slamming his fist down.

“I believed you would understand my ideals!”

What are they?

“If we beat up the Jurchens for not siding with the Ming for no reason and cause a diplomatic dispute, we can’t handle it.”

We barely appeased them with the scam of the Seungja Chongtong [powerful cannon], so are we going to do something here that will raise more vigilance?

“Then are you going to just let those guys defect like this? Can the Ming Dynasty, ten thousand miles away, manage them properly?”

They will move the capital to Beijing soon, but well, it failed in the end, so Ming was destroyed by the Jurchens.

That’s why Injo bowed his head so diligently.

Thinking from that point of view, Lee Seong-gye’s words are not entirely wrong.

‘Wait, then my descendants might bow their heads instead of Injo?’

Thinking that way, my mouth felt quite bitter.

We can’t send troops to forcibly hold them like Lee Seong-gye said, but it’s also awkward to just stand by.

Lee Seong-gye kept clicking his tongue, and Jo Young-mu worked hard to persuade him to create the Training Corps as originally intended.

And I,

“There is a way.”

It is said that the best strategy is to win without fighting.

“Economically subjugate the Jurchens.”