Chapter 199: The Beginning of Spring. (4)
Looking at the proposal that came up from the Ministry of Military Affairs, Hyang let out a long sigh.
"Hoo~. They've all turned into water ghosts... Who on earth put in such bad water?"
If the ministers and Sejong had heard these words, they would have grabbed the back of their necks at how nonchalantly Hyang spoke them.
* * *
Half a month later, at a tile-roofed house in Andong.
"By royal command! Scholar Kim Chang-seop, come forth and receive the royal command!"
At the magistrate's loud voice from outside the gate, the large gate of the tile-roofed house opened, and Kim Chang-seop himself came running out in a fluster.
"Are you Kim Chang-seop?"
At the magistrate's question, his face stiff as if meeting for the first time despite having known each other for a long time, Kim Chang-seop hurriedly answered.
"Yes. That is correct."
"It is the royal command of His Majesty the King, so quickly arrange your attire!"
At the local official's command, Kim Chang-seop quickly turned around and straightened his attire.
Then, after properly performing the ritual before receiving the royal edict, the magistrate began to read the edict.
"Hear me, Scholar Kim Chang-seop. Upon reading your memorial, I could not hide my tears at your loyalty and devotion to the nation. Though buried in the countryside, your patriotic devotion shines bright—how could I not rejoice?
I thank the gods of heaven and earth again and again that there are still talented people remaining in this Joseon.
How could I leave buried in the countryside a person with such patriotic devotion?
Therefore, Kim Chang-seop, upon receiving this edict, immediately come to Hanyang and report to the Ministry of Military Affairs.
The Ministry of Military Affairs shall have you reveal everything you possess for the peace of this Joseon."
After finishing reading the edict, the magistrate held it out to Kim Chang-seop.
"Congratulations. Such opportunities are rare—to enter official service by royal command, I sincerely congratulate you."
"Huh? Huh? Thank you."
The magistrate placed the edict in the hands of Kim Chang-seop, who still wore a dazed expression, offered words of congratulations once more, then turned away.
Such events took place here and there across Joseon.
The scholar-officials who received Sejong's edicts headed to Hanyang, filled with dreams and hopes.
* * *
Meanwhile, in the Northeast frontier, discussions were in full swing regarding Sejong's proclamation.
"It seems there are still many people down below who don't know how the world works."
At Choi Yun-deok's words, Hwang Hui nodded.
"Frogs in a well. Thanks to them, I have a headache."
"A headache? Why?"
At Choi Yun-deok's question, Hwang Hui pointed to the proclamation.
"My head hurts because of this proclamation. Looking at the current situation of the Jurchen tribes, quite a few have submitted, pressed by the might of the Joseon army led by the Commander. However, I'm worried that seeing this proclamation, some who look down on Joseon might pop up and cause trouble."
"Hmm..."
At Hwang Hui's point, Choi Yun-deok also stroked his beard with a serious face.
Hwang Hui's worry had merit. To ordinary Joseon people, the Jurchens were ignorant barbarians.
But the Jurchens were by no means ignorant barbarians.
They were cunning.
Moreover, quite a few possessed intellectual refinement comparable to Joseon's scholar-officials.
If such people looked down on Joseon and caused trouble, it would bring great chaos again to the Northeast region that had been finding stability.
However, unlike Hwang Hui's worries, Choi Yun-deok soon answered with a slight smile.
"I think it's fine to post it."
"Pardon?"
"With the current capabilities of the Joseon army, suppression is fully possible. Rather, if we hide this and that, they will become suspicious and start to distrust. That would make things even more troublesome."
At Choi Yun-deok's words, Hwang Hui stroked his beard.
"That has some merit, but..."
"I, who have grappled with Jurchens in the north and Japanese pirates in the south, will guarantee this."
"Hmm..."
As Hwang Hui fell into thought, Choi Yun-deok added.
"Unless the Jurchen bastards want to face the Green Tiger Army, none of them will do something stupid over a mere scrap of a proclamation."
"I see."
Hwang Hui nodded with a relieved expression at Choi Yun-deok's words.
* * *
The Jurchens called the Joseon army the Green Tiger Army.
This was because the outside of the plate armor worn by Joseon soldiers was covered with dark green cotton cloth.
This was Hyang's idea.
The plate armor covering most of the body, when the days grew hot, would heat up under the sunlight.
To prevent this, Hyang wrapped the outside of the plate armor with cotton cloth.
"Since we're wrapping it anyway..."
Hyang dyed the cotton cloth dark green.
Thanks to this, as the armor gleaming in the sunlight decreased, Joseon soldiers were able to approach closer to the Jurchens.
This dark green armor became a symbol of the Joseon army. And as the development of the Northeast region progressed, the Joseon army began to be called the Green Tiger Army.
The Jurchens who had never clashed with the Joseon army looked down on them, calling them the "Green Fox Group."
"No matter how much they roam in packs, a fox is still a fox! Cunning foxes that only know how to ambush!"
They mocked the Joseon army, calling them foxes for utilizing ambushes and traps as their main tactics.
However, to the lucky Jurchens who had encountered and survived the Joseon army, the 'Ho' in 'Green Tiger Army' was not a fox, but a tiger.
"It's not a fox, but a tiger as cunning as a fox! Such tigers roam in packs!"
Those who survived the Joseon army's attacks shouted this in terror.
* * *
At Choi Yun-deok's confident words, Hwang Hui nodded with a relieved expression.
"Since the Commander is so confident, I feel at ease. By the way, what do you plan to do about the Odori?"
When Hwang Hui mentioned the Odori tribe, Choi Yun-deok's face became troubled.
"That is a bit worrying. They're not showing any openings..."
"Wouldn't it be better to give orders to Yi Jing-ok?"
At Hwang Hui's suggestion, Choi Yun-deok shook his head.
"That won't do. His Majesty commanded us to handle it without leaving traces. But Jing-ok is the type who would just charge in and finish it without asking questions... Jing-ok is someone who doesn't think about things like diplomacy."
"That is true."
Hwang Hui nodded at Choi Yun-deok's assessment.
* * *
Sejong's command to handle the Odori tribe was due to a grudge dating back to King Taejong's time.
The leader of the Odori tribe, Dongmengga Cheolmok-a (Aisingoro Mentemu), was a Jurchen tribal chief who had submitted since King Taejo's time.
However, when Taejong ascended to the throne after Taejo, and the Ming Dynasty saw the Yongle Emperor take the throne, Cheolmok-a defected to Ming.
This was the beginning of the bad blood between the Odori tribe and Joseon.
Taejong did not want the Odori tribe, located near his family's place of origin, to go over to Ming.
Therefore, clashes continued between the Joseon army and the Odori tribe, and the Odori tribe migrated to where the Huligai tribe led by Ahachu was located.
Afterward, time passed and Sejong ascended to the throne, and the Odori tribe returned to their original residence near Hoeryeong.
Cheolmok-a expressed his intention to submit to Joseon again and offered to leave his son as a hostage, but Sejong refused.
"A hostage is not necessary. If there is something you need, speak. I will provide support."
Outwardly, they maintained this friendly relationship, but Sejong was determined to eliminate both Ahachu's Huligai and Cheolmok-a's Odori.
'I cannot entrust the border to people like bats! Elimination is the best policy!'
Therefore, Sejong gave the order to Choi Yun-deok.
—If an opening appears, immediately eliminate the Odori.
* * *
Having explained that entrusting it to Yi Jing-ok would bring more harm than good, Choi Yun-deok continued with a slight smile.
"The fortunate thing is that the Wuliangha tribe is positioned to the left and right of the Odori. And the Wuliangha tribe has definitely submitted to our Joseon, and what's even better is that they have bad relations with the Odori."
At Choi Yun-deok's words, Hwang Hui stroked his beard and nodded.
"Then an opportunity will arise soon."
"It will. Though it depends on how long Cheolmok-a and his clan can endure."
"I hope it doesn't take too long. The slick fellow under me keeps making such a fuss..."
At Hwang Hui's complaint, Choi Yun-deok knowingly asked.
"Slick fellow... are you talking about Kim Jong-seo?"
At Choi Yun-deok's question, Hwang Hui silently nodded.
* * *
Meanwhile, Kim Jong-seo was having a conversation with Yi Jing-ok.
"Say, Jing-ok. It seems the organization of the Jurchens is almost complete, why isn't the Commander withdrawing the troops?"
"Brother Kim, isn't there still one left? Or is it two?"
At Yi Jing-ok's words, Kim Jong-seo nodded as if he understood.
"Ah, that tribe at Baekdusan?"
"Correct. Those reed-like bastards. The other one is Yi Man-ju."
"Tsk."
At Yi Jing-ok's words, Kim Jong-seo clicked his tongue softly.
To Joseon, Ahachu and Dongmengga Cheolmok-a were symbols of betrayal, beings that had to be eliminated someday.
Of course, beyond the reason of eliminating them for being turncoats, there was also the issue of national defense requiring the elimination of Yi Man-ju's Huligai and Dongmengga Cheolmok-a.
This was because the areas where the two tribes were located included the region north of the Amnokgang, the northeast area of the Dumangang, and Baekdusan.
To secure the natural defenses of the Amnokgang, Dumangang, and Baekdusan, the elimination of the two tribes was essential.
Yi Jing-ok grumbled with a face full of dissatisfaction.
"If it were up to me, I'd just charge in and sweep them away, but the problem is that both have received official positions from Ming and are subjects of Ming... This is why I hate politics!"
"I hate politics too."
"Brother Kim, aren't you an official of the court? How can a gentleman like you hate politics?"
"It's my job, my job. I'm just a romantic man who wants to enjoy the nights of Hanyang."
At Kim Jong-seo's words, Yi Jing-ok inwardly grumbled.
'That's why you're called slick.'
In the Northeast frontier, Kim Jong-seo was famous as the 'slick one.'
The Jurchens even called Kim Jong-seo the 'old horse.'
This was because while he did better than anyone when ordered, until then he would slip away here and there, avoiding work.
Just like an old horse that had been through everything and had only cunning left.
Whether knowing of Yi Jing-ok's grumbling or not, Kim Jong-seo continued to grumble.
"Ah~. I miss Hanyang. I miss the gisaeng alley in Unjongga and Bukchon! I miss it so much I even miss the smell of feces from Cheonggyecheon!"
Kim Jong-seo, expressing his love for Hanyang without hiding it, proposed a plan to Yi Jing-ok.
"How about using the Jurchen cavalry?"
"Jurchen cavalry? Ah! The scouts?"
"Exactly!"
Kim Jong-seo mentioned the Jurchen units newly organized within the Joseon army some time ago.
* * *
As Joseon developed the Northeast region, many Jurchen tribes submitted.
Hwang Hui pondered how to easily manage these submitted Jurchens.
When Hwang Hui couldn't easily find an answer, Kim Jong-seo provided one.
"Soon, people from the south will come up, won't they?"
"That's right."
"For them to farm, they need to clear the land, but isn't the situation that there's plenty of land but not enough people?"
"That's true."
"How about recruiting manpower from the Jurchens?"
"Hmm?"
Kim Jong-seo's plan was as follows:
—As mentioned earlier, the new frontier areas lack people relative to the land area.
—Recruit Jurchen men who wish to farm.
—Employ those recruited as laborers to assist in the land clearing of the incoming settlers.
—This way, Joseon farmers can quickly clear farmland, and the Jurchens can learn how to clear land and farm.
—Since Jurchens were recruited as laborers, wages must be paid. This should be provided by the state, but a significant amount of funds can be recovered from what they spend at the monopoly bureau.
—Proceeding this way, many Jurchens can be settled.
"Not bad."
When Hwang Hui showed a positive reaction, Kim Jong-seo immediately continued.
"Of course, the wage payment issue requires His Majesty's approval. If so, you would need to go to Hanyang, my lord. Since you said I must always move with you, I will prepare to go to Hanyang!"
"Hey! How did the conversation end up like that!"
He shouted loudly, but Kim Jong-seo had already disappeared.
Watching Kim Jong-seo's figure, Hwang Hui grumbled.
"That slick bastard..."