# Chapter 204: Dilemma - Odori (1)
As the loyalty of the surrendered Jurchen tribes increased, the military command and the Ministry of War began serious discussions about incorporating the Jurchen into the Joseon military.
"Is it really a good idea to accept the Jurchen?"
"Isn't the problem betrayal?"
From Choi Yun-deok at the foremost frontlines to Jo Mal-saeng in Hanseong, the issue that concerned officials most deeply and sparked heated debates was precisely this matter of 'trust.'
'Can the surrendered Jurchen be trusted?'
The debate over this issue soon extended beyond the military command and Ministry of War, with King Sejong and the ministers joining in fierce arguments.
The arguments of those in favor were as follows:
'They have sworn loyalty to our Joseon, and they depend on our Joseon for the means to maintain their food, clothing, and shelter. Given this situation, it should be fine to incorporate them into the military.'
However, the opposition was equally formidable.
'Surrendering in front while stabbing in the back - that is the Jurchen way. Hasn't Joseon, and even Goryeo before us, experienced this more than once or twice?'
Since both sides had valid grounds, a tense tug-of-war continued.
In response, Hyang proposed a third alternative.
"How about imposing qualification restrictions?"
"Qualification restrictions?"
"Accept into the Joseon military only those who are children of tribal leaders holding important positions, or those who have started families and have children."
"Hmm...."
"That might actually work."
At Hyang's proposal, King Sejong and the ministers showed interest. However, some still raised objections.
"Consider the case of Tong Mengke Temur of the Odori tribe. He swore loyalty while giving hostages to our Joseon, but ultimately went over to Ming. And under Ming's pressure, we had to send back all the hostages. Considering this, it is not the best policy."
Hearing the objection, Hyang countered.
"Of course, such examples exist. However, leaving them as they are is even more dangerous. Consider the ferocity of Jurchen warriors. We must incorporate them into the military and control them."
"But...."
"Then how about this method?"
Hyang presented an improved plan.
- Future power holders like the chiefs' sons will be placed in Sungkyunkwan to receive civil official education and be put to use.
- Elders' children will be placed in military units but maintained as hostages.
- Jurchen warriors who enlist will be grouped by tribe but divided into squads (15-25 men) and mixed with other tribes.
- Promotion opportunities will be given to induce loyalty competition.
King Sejong and the ministers showed increasingly positive reactions to Hyang's improved plan. But since opponents still emerged, Hyang presented additional improvements.
- Jurchen units will not be issued chongtong (firearms). Jurchen will use only traditional bows and spears as weapons.
- Armor will also be limited to helmets and breastplates. The full-body armor used by Joseon cavalry or spearmen will not be issued.
"If chongtong are not issued, I will not object."
Even those who had opposed switched to approval at Hyang's additional improvements.
Following King Sejong and the court's decision, waves of change swept through the Jurchen as well.
The chiefs of surrendered Jurchen tribes held their sons departing for Hanseong and offered their advice.
"Securing a position in the court is an opportunity for you, but also a great opportunity for our tribe. Discrimination is certain, but clench your teeth and endure it."
"Yes, Father."
"I won't expect you to become a Chief State Councilor. But you must certainly rise to the rank of junior officials (junior 3rd rank to junior 6th rank)."
"Yes, Father."
"Then go. Take care of yourself."
Thus the families of tribal chiefs' sons who departed established themselves in Hanseong. For their convenience, the court assigned them residences near the East Gate. This was the birth of the neighborhood later called 'Dongnyeo Village.'
"For our Joseon, for your tribes, and finally for your own success and fame, do your utmost."
Thus, at a banquet welcoming the tribal chiefs' sons who arrived in Hanseong, King Sejong gave the above instruction.
The Jurchen in attendance responded in unison to King Sejong's words.
"We will engrave this deeply in our hearts!"
Three days after the banquet ended, they all entered Sungkyunkwan. The Sungkyunkwan Superintendent, who was in charge of guiding them, looked at them and spoke of the schedule ahead.
"For the next half year, you will study academics here and receive practical training. Your grades will be determined by your attitude and performance throughout this process, and this will influence the ranks you will be granted. Also, how well you speak Joseon language will affect the ranks you receive, so I hope you do your best."
"Yes!"
And so, their turbulent student days began.
Since most had brought their families, they received the stipend given to officials of junior 9th rank.
Additionally, those with excellent grades received a certain amount extra each month, so they fiercely competed with fire in their eyes.
At the end of fierce competition, they received ranks from junior 8th to junior 6th and were assigned to the court.
"Sigh."
On their first day of reporting to the Six Ministries government offices they were assigned to, they all sighed as they stood before the office threshold.
"I'm Jurchen - how much will they discriminate against me?"
Though full of worry, Joseon officials welcomed them warmly.
"Welcome! Welcome!"
"You've come well! You've come well!"
At such enthusiastic welcomes, the Jurchen couldn't help but be suspicious.
'Is this a trap?'
However, within three days, they understood why Joseon officials welcomed them so warmly.
"The work never stops!"
"Overtime every day!"
"Save me! This is hell!"
At the Jurchen's cries of 'hell,' a passing Joseon official chuckled and spoke.
"This is only the entrance to hell? Do you know where the real hell is?"
The Joseon official raised his hand and pointed to where the records office was located.
"That is the real hell. Work hard. If you make a mistake, you'll be sent to that hell."
Thus overwhelmed by work, the Jurchen seriously considered resigning.
"Should I just abandon the tribe and flee to the far north?"
However, their attempts met strong opposition from their wives and children.
"Leave? Where do you think you're going! We can't have the children's future blocked!"
"Where else in the world can you get such a house and furnishings! Just endure a little! Father-in-law said the same! He said to live for a while throwing away liver and gallbladder!"
"This isn't about pride, I'm being worked to death!"
"But the children aren't going hungry, are they!"
At the wives' final words, the men fell silent.
During their nomadic life, even as tribal chiefs' sons, they had lived worrying about hunger.
In the end, they had to slump their shoulders and go to work.
A sad portrait of household heads overwhelmed by life.
* * *
However, their wives had their reasons.
Though the stipends their husbands brought home were considered meager, from the Jurchen perspective, it was an enormous amount.
Even from the Joseon perspective, the stipends officials received were considerable.
As reforms progressed and the economy grew, King Sejong began making the salaries paid to officials and royal family members increasingly realistic as promised.
Of course, in return, if even the slightest corruption was discovered, most of their property would be confiscated and they would be stuck in the records office or mines.
Therefore, officials had to react with extreme rejection to bribes unlike in the past.
In any case, the standard of living supported by the stipends they received was incomparably higher than what they enjoyed during nomadic life.
Furthermore, the treatment that surrounding Joseon people showed toward them and their families was different.
They were no longer simple 'Jurchen dregs,' but 'sir' who served the country and 'sir's family members.'
Additionally, according to rumors circulating, a commoner school would soon open. The rumor spread everywhere that if they received more advanced education through the commoner school, they could receive good treatment working not only as officials but also in merchant groups.
Hearing the rumors, the Jurchen women clenched their teeth.
"They say the commoner schools are throughout the country, but the higher-level schools will be far fewer in number! It's obvious that the one in Hanseong will be the best! No matter what happens, we must hold out in Hanseong!"
Not only Joseon mothers but also Jurchen mothers began to have their skirts fluttering.
* * *
Meanwhile, the situation was similar for the Jurchen who entered the Joseon military.
Though they were cavalry like others, unlike Joseon forces, the Jurchen received only breastplates and helmets.
In terms of armament, they could not receive the chongtong that Joseon forces used. Jurchen cavalry had no choice but to use the bows and spears they had always used as their main weapons.
However, the Jurchen were generally satisfied.
"The chongtong's power is good, but its range is short!"
The Jurchen pointed out that the range of the horse-mounted chongtong, the main weapon of Joseon cavalry, was short.
The Joseon cavalry's counterargument was also formidable.
"That's true about the short range. However, the new horse-mounted chongtong has much longer range. And the armored long chongtong has even longer range. And finally...."
The Joseon cavalry struck the armor they were wearing and finished their words.
"The distance at which Jurchen arrows can pierce this armor is much shorter than the distance at which horse-mounted chongtong can pierce Jurchen armor!"
At the Joseon cavalry's words, the Jurchen cavalry nodded.
"Hmm, we admit that. That's why we're not complaining."
Though they received only breastplates and pointed helmets with brims, the Jurchen cavalry had no complaints because they were issued armor and helmets of completely identical performance to what Joseon cavalry and spearmen wore.
Rather, there were Jurchen cavalry who preferred receiving only breastplates and helmets.
"The full-body armor that Joseon cavalry wear has good defense, but it's too heavy and difficult to move in!
The Jurchen assessment was as above. To perform the dazzling horse-mounted martial arts that Joseon cavalry evaluated as 'closer to acrobatics than martial arts,' wearing only breastplates and helmets was actually more comfortable.
Thus, when Jurchen cavalry were incorporated into the Joseon military, the upper command organized them into vanguard units.
They utilized the mobility characteristic of light cavalry to scout enemy positions ahead of Joseon cavalry units and transmit information.
If the enemy's scale was moderate, they would independently strike the enemy and pin them down.
Once the enemy was stopped, the Joseon cavalry with overwhelming firepower would sweep in and inflict irrecoverable damage - this became the main tactic.
* * *
When first incorporated into the Joseon military, many Jurchen cavalry shared the same worries as the Jurchen who went to Hanseong.
"What if the Joseon bastards discriminate against us?"
Though they had sworn loyalty to Joseon upon surrendering, until then, the Joseon people and Jurchen had been in a relationship where sword fights were common.
However, when Joseon soldiers encountered Jurchen officers commanding squads as squad leaders, or companies as company commanders, they offered precise military salutes.
It was a precise military salute to the extent that the Jurchen officers receiving the courtesy were rather flustered.
This was due to a royal decree that Hyang issued through King Sejong when the Jurchen incorporation was decided.
King Sejong and the ministers had worried about discord arising when incorporating Jurchen into Joseon cavalry.
Seeing this, Hyang advised King Sejong.
"The military salute defined in military law is courtesy toward rank, not toward the person. Therefore, whether Joseon or Jurchen, rendering military salute to a superior is military law. Not following this is a serious crime violating military law."
At Hyang's advice, borrowed from dialogue he had seen in a drama about US Army paratroopers during World War II from the perspective of the 21st century, King Sejong slapped his knee in admiration.
"Truly well said! Indeed! What does it matter if a superior is Jurchen or Joseon! If they are a superior, it is only natural to render military salute!"