< Chapter 6: Who Did You Say My Father Was? (4) >
The issue of the Deposed Queen ended with Taejong and Sejong's approval, and with this matter concluded, the purge of the in-laws also came to an end.
Afterward, until Taejong's death, no major obstacles arose aside from Ming's suspicions.
Due to the Liaodong Expedition that Taejo and Jeong Do-jeon had planned in the early days of the founding but never came to fruition, Ming had never let down its guard against Joseon. Then Ming suddenly raised objections about the abdication and caused trouble. Because of this, Sejong had to expend considerable mental and financial resources persuading the envoys sent by Ming.
Because he was busy persuading the envoys from the Ming Empire, and because Taejong held military authority, Sejong could only watch the Tsushima Expedition from the sidelines.
"Truly regrettable."
Sejong muttered quietly while examining documents related to the Tsushima Expedition, with Hyang, who had come to pay his respects, seated on his knee. Hearing the complaint, Hyang turned his head to look at him, and Sejong smiled faintly.
"If I had a bit more power and leeway, I feel I could have better prepared for this expedition..."
Watching Sejong filled with regret, Hyang racked his brain.
'How did Yi Jong-mu's Tsushima Expedition turn out? Was it half a success?'
Curious, Hyang reached his hand forward. Seeing Hyang, who had been held in his embrace, reaching for the memorial and report scrolls on the writing desk, Sejong grinned.
"Our Wonja1 is already interested in state affairs, I see. Hmm~. To attend to state affairs, one needs learning."
After pondering for a moment, Sejong looked at Sang-seon standing in attendance beside him.
"Summon the Chief State Councilor."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Watching Sang-seon leave to convey Sejong's command, cold sweat began to run down Hyang's back.
'This is dangerous.'
* * *
Around the time Prince Chungnyeong was confirmed as Crown Prince, Hyang created his own plan.
"The most fundamental thing is that King Sejong the Great is an enthusiast2. And he's quite positive about raising engineers too."
With his short limbs crossed and sitting in a gentleman's posture, Hyang seriously tapped away at the calculator in his head with a grave expression.
1. The original Munjong was also an enthusiast, especially a military enthusiast.
2. As seen with the earrings at the first birthday celebration, the craftsmanship of early Joseon artisans was by no means poor. Particularly, artisans involved with the royal family would be even more excellent.
3. In Joseon, one is recognized as an adult at age 15. 11 years remaining.
4. Combining the background of Crown Prince with skilled artisans means I don't have to struggle alone. I just need to give orders. Especially, it reduces headaches from various calculations. I just need to provide ideas. The most important part!
5. Based on Sejong's enthusiast nature and defense-oriented thinking, I can obtain sufficient support for something decent - flintlock or percussion cap level. Technical level? I expect it can be sufficiently overcome with the artisans' skills of this era. If not? I'll just roll with it. I'm the Crown Prince...
6. If several things succeed in this way, not only will my position become solid, but I can also secure definite material support and expand the fields.
Conclusion. Profit!!!!
Caution: Must firmly establish Confucian cultivation by age 15. It means if I get pushed back in debates with the ministers, it's the end.
Addition: Win over the Seja Bingaek3 as much as possible to my side. When I grow up, they'll all hold positions, so I'll mark my territory in advance.
"In the end, it's my memorization ability and the Seja Bingaek that are the problem..."
Hyang thought about the Seja Bingaek while lightly tapping his crossed arms with his fingers.
* * *
Through the Chief State Councilor, Sejong ordered Hyang's tutors to pay more attention to Hyang's studies.
Hyang, now just past 4 years old, was in the status of Wonja before even receiving investiture as Crown Prince. But thanks to his outstanding qualities, Hyang's education was entrusted to the Seja Sigangwon4.
In this situation, Sejong's command to Hyang's tutors to pay even more attention to his studies was a great pressure.
The Sa5 of the Seja Sigangwon, having received Sejong's royal command, gathered the officials of the Sigangwon including the Bu6, I-sa7, and Bingaek.
"Wonja's age is now entering five... Where exactly has His Highness learned up to?"
"He is currently learning the Great Learning."
"You, at what age did you master the Great Learning?"
"At age 11."
"So you were a prodigy?"
"You flatter me."
"Even learning the Great Learning at 11 earned praise as a prodigy... But His Highness is not yet even five years old. If we handle this wrongly, he might lose interest in his studies."
"Are you speaking of 'excess being as bad as deficiency'?"
"Exactly so."
"Huu~."
At the Sa's assertion, all the gathered officials sighed.
'Educating the prince who will inherit the next throne.'
In some ways, the Seja Sigangwon was a place where one could seize the best opportunity to rise to the core of the next regime. However, educating the Crown Prince at the Seja Sigangwon was both an opportunity and a danger.
Like the case of Taejong and Yangnyeong, the king wanted his heir to be brilliant and of impeccable conduct. However, as in Yangnyeong's case, it was not easy for the Crown Prince to satisfy those demands.
If those demands were not met, it was certain the king would hold the officials responsible.
The problem was that the current king educating the Wonja was someone whose scholarship was so excellent that even old ministers marveled at it since his days as a prince.
As excellent as he was, the standards he would demand of the Wonja were certain to be high. And the newly issued royal command made that a reality.
The reason the Seja Sigangwon officials were worried was because of the Wonja. They feared that the Wonja, showing extraordinary qualities, might lose his passion for learning under unreasonable pressure.
After various deliberations, the Sa of the Sigangwon reached a conclusion.
"The conclusion is that we have no choice but to maintain the Doctrine of the Mean8."
"That is the principle, but..."
"Difficult problems can only be solved by principle."
The Seja Sigangwon officials educated the Wonja according to principle. When his academic achievements were good, they praised him but cautioned against arrogance. Conversely, if any laxity or laziness appeared in his studies or conduct, they immediately disciplined him strictly.
"His Majesty is no ordinary person, but Wonja too is no easy figure."
The Left and Right Bingaek directly responsible for Hyang's education clicked their tongues while speaking of Hyang's achievements.
Hyang was showing even better academic achievement than the Bingaek had expected. His conduct was also impeccable.
So much so that the following joke circulated among the Seja Sigangwon officials:
"Is it true that Wonja's age is really not yet five? He is too precocious for his age."
"I agree. Seeing him not simply accepting instruction but raising questions..."
"I worried there might be excess in carrying out His Majesty's command, but since Wonja's talent and wisdom are this outstanding, it seems good to be a bit more greedy."
"I agree as well. I should speak with the superiors again."
The Seja Sigangwon officials began to lean toward conducting more active education and training.
The Wonja's excellent achievements that formed the background for the Seja Sigangwon officials' decision were greatly due to Hyang's qualities, but Hyang's determination was the biggest cause.
"I need to accelerate the plan!"
As July passed, Hyang decided to completely revise his plan.
"I intended to start activities at the Age of Ambition Learning9, but I can't stand this suffocation!"
Hyang didn't hide his frustration as he beat his chest.
"As quickly as possible! At the latest, I need to start things from age 10!"
Unable to bear the frustration, Hyang found water, gulped it down, and exhaled.
"Phew! If I don't start quickly, I'll explode from frustration!"
There were two reasons that led Hyang to decide to completely revise his plan.
One of those reasons was the Tsushima Expedition. For the Tsushima Expedition, the court issued mobilization orders for warships and troops. The regions subject to mobilization were Gyeongsang, Jeolla, and Chungcheong provinces.
What made Hyang explode in frustration was the content of the mobilization order.
-Conscript 200 warships from the three provinces along with lower-shift armored warriors, Byeol-pae10, Si-wi-pae11, fortress garrison troops, Jae-in12, Hwachuk13, idle people, daily commanders, and yangban skilled in sailing...(omitted)... board them on warships and assemble at Gyeonnaeryang by June 8th. (Note 1)
"Absolutely amazing! Amazing!"
Hyang, having obtained and read a copy of the mobilization order, exploded in frustration.
"Warships and lower-shift armored warriors, reserve forces like Si-wi Byeol-pae are one thing... But fortress garrison troops, performer troupes, commoners, vagrants, minor officials... If they're yangban, they're those who passed the civil and military exams, right? Yangban skilled in sailing... They're gathering everyone except farmers since it's farming season."
Looking over the conscription targets, Hyang sighed.
"Huu~. It's the Joseon era, but this is too much, isn't it? Not just combat troops but professional naval forces are severely lacking."
While confirming the content regarding troop conscription, Hyang recalled a scene from a foreign film he'd seen before.
It was a scene where soldiers armed with clubs stormed into a tavern where sailors who had returned from a long voyage were noisily chatting, clubbed them, and dragged them onto warships. In the process, navigators and boatswains protested by showing their certificates, but the soldiers answered those protests with clubs.
"The problem is that wasn't fictional in the movie... Looking at this mobilization order, a similar situation will probably unfold."
Hyang sighed at the personnel composition that was even more haphazard and lacking professionalism than expected, but in any case, the expedition preparations were complete.
"Wonja, you want to go too?"
"Yes, Father."
At Hyang's words that he wanted to attend the expedition force's departure ceremony, Sejong pondered for a moment then nodded.
"Very well, let us go together. Sang-seon, prepare for Wonja to accompany us."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
May 18th. A ceremony was held at Baeksajeong in Dumopo (present-day Dongbinggo) on the Han River shore to send off the expedition force including Yi Jong-mu, the Three Armies Supreme Commander.
'At least they're all wearing armor properly.'
Hyang, checking the soldiers' attire, sighed faintly. The appearance of the lined-up soldiers was different from what he'd seen in historical dramas - they were even wearing armor over their hearts.
* * *
Thus begun, the Tsushima Expedition was first concluded on July 3rd when the expedition force withdrew to Geoje Island. While the expedition force was reorganizing at Geoje Island, pirate raids occurred again, leading the court to discuss a second expedition.
When opinions advocating postponement of the second expedition were increasing due to reasons like the expedition force's lowered morale and the typhoon season, urgent news arrived that Japanese pirates who had invaded Ming had been annihilated.
Receiving the urgent report, the court disbanded the expedition force and sent envoys to Tsushima.
-Tsushima is recorded in documents as Joseon's territory. Therefore, the Lord of Tsushima must restore the ruler-subject relationship.
-The Lord of Tsushima must relocate all island residents to Joseon.
-If these orders are not carried out, the expedition will be launched again.
Under Joseon's pressure, the Lord of Tsushima sent a letter through envoys.
-Tsushima's land is barren so living is difficult, so please relocate Tsushima's residents to islands including Geoje Island. Also, if you grant the Joseon king's title and seal to the Lord of Tsushima, we will obey orders with the rites of subject to ruler.
Receiving the letter, the court regarded it as the Lord of Tsushima's surrender document. Since relocating Tsushima residents to Joseon might turn Geoje Island and its附属 islands into dens of pirates, they granted the Lord of Tsushima a seal bearing the name "Clan Head Do-do-ung-wa." (Note 2)
Hyang, hearing the progress of events at the Eastern Palace, clicked his tongue.
"Too soft, too soft!"
"The strategy, the operation, the command were all too inadequate!"
"First, they should have accepted all Tsushima residents into Joseon! If Tsushima residents were completely accepted, there would have been no need to worry about the Lord of Tsushima after that! Send them all north, not to islands, and it would have been over!"
"They underestimated Tsushima's value too much!"
Alone as he summarized the results, Hyang exploded in frustration.
"I absolutely can't stand this!"
* * *
Note 1) Sejong Year 1, Year of Musul
Note 2) Joseon Dynasty Military Strategy, Ministry of National Defense Military History Compilation Research Institute
< Chapter 6: Who Did You Say My Father Was? (4) > End
ⓒ Gukppong
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1: Wonja (元子) - "First Son," title for the eldest son of the king before being invested as Crown Prince
2: "Deok-hu" (덕후) - Korean slang for "otaku" or enthusiast/obsessive
3: Seja Bingaek (世子賓客) - Tutors/instructors for the Crown Prince
4: Seja Sigangwon (世子侍講院) - Crown Prince's Tutorial Office
5: Sa (師) - Head instructor
6: Bu (溥) - Assistant head instructor
7: I-sa (貳師) - Vice instructor
8: Doctrine of the Mean (中庸) - Confucian principle of balance
9: Age of Ambition Learning (志學, jihak) - Age 15, from Analects
10: Byeol-pae (別牌) - Special guard unit
11: Si-wi-pae (侍衛牌) - Royal guard unit
12: Jae-in (才人) - Skilled people/entertainers
13: Hwachuk (禾尺) - Butchers/butchery workers (low social class in Joseon)