Chapter 6

< Chapter 6: Who's Your Father? (4) >

Chapter 6: Who's Your Father? (4)

The issue of the deposed queen ended with the disagreement between Taejong and Sejong, and with this, the purge of the royal in-laws also came to an end.

After that, until Taejong's death, there were no major obstacles except for the Ming's suspicions.

Due to the failed Liaodong expedition planned by Taejo and Jeong Do-jeon in the early years of the Joseon Dynasty, the Ming, which had been wary of Joseon, suddenly raised issues about the abdication and began to cause trouble. As a result, Sejong had to expend a great deal of mental and financial resources to persuade the envoys sent by the Ming.

Because he had to persuade the envoys sent by the Ming and because Taejong held the military power, Sejong could only watch the expedition to Tsushima.

"Truly regrettable."

Sejong, who had placed Hyang on his lap to greet him, sighed softly while reviewing documents related to the Tsushima expedition. When Hyang turned his head to look at him upon hearing the sigh, Sejong smiled slightly.

"If I had more power and more leeway, I could have prepared better for this expedition..."

Seeing Sejong's regretful expression, Hyang's mind raced.

'How did Yi Jong-mu's expedition to Tsushima turn out? Was it a partial success?'

Curious, Hyang stretched out his hand. Seeing Hyang, who was in his arms, reach for the memorial and report scrolls on the desk, Sejong smiled.

"Is our Crown Prince already interested in state affairs? Hmm~. To handle state affairs, one needs to be well-versed in scholarship."

After a moment of contemplation, Sejong turned to Sangsun, who was standing beside him.

"Summon the Chief Secretary."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

As Sangsun left to deliver Sejong's order, a cold sweat began to trickle down Hyang's back.

'This is dangerous?'

* * *

When Chungnyeongdaegun was officially designated as the Crown Prince, Hyang drew up his own plan.

"The foundation is that King Sejong is a fan. He's also quite positive about nurturing scholars."

Hyang, who was still a toddler, crossed his arms and legs and seriously worked through the calculations in his head.

1. The original King Munjong was also a fan, especially of military history.

2. The craftsmanship of early Joseon artisans, like the earrings seen at a previous birthday celebration, was not bad. Artisans related to the royal family were even more skilled.

3. In Joseon, one is considered an adult at the age of 15. That's 11 years from now.

4. Combining the background of being the Crown Prince with skilled artisans means I don't have to work myself to the bone. I just need to give orders. This will reduce the mental strain of various calculations. I just need to provide ideas. This is the most important part!

5. Considering King Sejong's fan-like personality and his emphasis on national defense, I can get sufficient support for something decent, like flintlock or percussion cap firearms. The technological level? I expect it to be achievable with the current level of artisans. If not? I'll push it. I'm the Crown Prince, after all...

6. If a few of these succeed, my position will be solidified, and I can receive substantial material support to expand into other areas.

Conclusion: Profit!!!!

Precautions: I must definitely cultivate Confucian scholarship by the age of 15. If I lose in debates with ministers, it's over.

Additional: I will try to make the Crown Prince's guests as much my allies as possible. By the time I grow up, they will all have positions, so I need to lay the groundwork early.

"Ultimately, it's about my memorization ability and the Crown Prince's guests..."

Hyang, who was tapping his crossed arms with his fingers, was deep in thought about the Crown Prince's guests.

* * *

Sejong ordered the Chief Secretary to instruct Hyang's guests to pay more attention to his studies.

Hyang, who had just turned four, was still a prince before being designated as the Crown Prince. However, due to his exceptional talent, his education was entrusted to the Crown Prince's Lecture Hall.

In this situation, Sejong's order to the guests teaching Hyang to pay more attention to his studies was a significant pressure.

The master of the Crown Prince's Lecture Hall, along with the secondary master and the guests, gathered the officials of the Lecture Hall.

"The Prince is now five years old... How far has he learned so far?"

"He is studying the Great Learning."

"At what age did you learn the Great Learning?"

"At 11."

"You were a prodigy?"

"Your praise is too kind."

"Even at 11, you were called a prodigy... The Prince is not even five yet. If we push too hard, he might lose interest in his studies."

"Is that what you mean by 'overdoing it is as bad as not doing enough'?"

"Exactly."

"Hmm~."

The officials, hearing the master's decisive statement, all sighed.

'Teaching the prince who will succeed to the throne.'

The Crown Prince's Lecture Hall was a place where one could seize the best opportunity to rise to the core of the next administration. However, teaching the Crown Prince was both an opportunity and a risk.

Like in the case of Taejong and Yangnyeong, the king wanted his successor to be intelligent and of good character. However, as in the case of Yangnyeong, it was not easy for the Crown Prince to meet these expectations.

If the expectations were not met, the king would hold the officials responsible.

The problem was that the king, who was the father of the prince being educated, was known for his exceptional scholarship even as a prince, to the point where the old ministers marveled.

Given his own excellence, the standards he set for the prince were undoubtedly high. The new imperial order made this a reality.

The officials of the Crown Prince's Lecture Hall were concerned about the prince. They feared that the prince, who showed extraordinary talent, might lose his enthusiasm for learning under excessive pressure.

After much deliberation, the master of the Lecture Hall came to a conclusion.

"The conclusion is that we must adhere to the middle way."

"That is the principle, but..."

"Difficult problems can only be solved by adhering to the principle."

The officials of the Crown Prince's Lecture Hall educated the prince according to the principle. They praised him when his academic achievements were good but warned him not to become complacent. On the other hand, if he showed any slackness or laziness in his studies or behavior, they disciplined him strictly.

"The king was not an ordinary person, and the Prince is also not an easy one."

The left and right guests, who were directly responsible for Hyang's education, marveled at his achievements.

Hyang was showing even better academic achievements than the guests had expected, and his behavior was impeccable.

To the extent that the following joke circulated among the officials of the Crown Prince's Lecture Hall.

"Is the Prince really not yet five years old? He is too mature for his age."

"I agree. Not only does he accept teachings, but he also raises questions..."

"I was worried that I might be overstepping the king's orders, but given the Prince's intelligence, I think it's good to be a bit more ambitious."

"I agree. We should discuss this with the higher-ups again."

The officials of the Crown Prince's Lecture Hall decided to take a more proactive approach to education and training.

The outstanding achievements of the prince, which led to this decision, were due not only to his exceptional talent but also to Hyang's determination.

"I need to accelerate my plan!"

In July, Hyang decided to revise his plan comprehensively.

"I planned to start my activities when I turn 15, but I can't stand the suffocation any longer!"

Hyang pounded his chest, unable to hide his frustration.

"As soon as possible! At the latest, I need to start by the age of 10!"

Unable to bear the suffocation, Hyang gulped down water and exhaled.

"Phew! If I don't start soon, I'll burst with frustration!"

There were two reasons why Hyang decided to revise his plan comprehensively.

One of them was the expedition to Tsushima. The court issued a mobilization order for warships and troops for the expedition to Tsushima. The regions affected by the mobilization order were Gyeongsang, Jeolla, and Chungcheong.

What made Hyang furious was the content of the mobilization order.

- Mobilize 200 warships from the three provinces, along with reserve soldiers, special troops, guards, city defense troops, talented people, farmers, idle people, and skilled gentlemen... (omitted)... and have them board the warships to gather at Geonae Harbor by June 8. (Note 1)

"Absolutely ridiculous! Ridiculous!"

Hyang, who obtained a copy of the mobilization order and read it, was furious.

"Reserve soldiers and special troops are one thing, but... city defense troops, jesters, commoners, idlers, low-ranking officials... and gentlemen, who are supposed to be successful in the civil and military exams? Skilled gentlemen... They are gathering everyone except farmers during the farming season."

Hyang, who pointed out the mobilization targets, sighed.

"Hmm~. Even in the Joseon era, this is too much? There is a severe lack of combat troops and specialized naval forces."

While checking the content of the mobilization order, a scene from a foreign movie he had seen before came to mind.

When sailors returned from a long voyage and were loudly chatting in a tavern, soldiers with clubs burst in and dragged the sailors to the warship, beating them with clubs. During this, the navigators and deck officers protested by showing their certificates, but the soldiers answered with clubs.

"The problem is that this is not just a fictional scene in a movie... According to this mobilization order, a similar situation will occur."

Hyang sighed at the lack of professionalism and the haphazard composition of the mobilized forces, but the preparations for the expedition were complete.

"Prince, are you going too?"

"Yes, Father."

After a moment of contemplation, Sejong nodded.

"Alright, let's go together. Sangsun, prepare for the Prince to go as well."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

On May 18, a ceremony was held at Baeksa-jeong (present-day Dongbinggo) on the Han River to send off the expeditionary forces, including Samgun Dodeocha (Three Armies Inspector General) Yi Jong-mu.

'At least they all have their armor on.'

Hyang, who was checking the soldiers' attire, sighed. The soldiers were dressed in armor, including the chest plates, unlike what he had seen in historical dramas.

* * *

The expedition to Tsushima began and ended on July 3 when the expeditionary forces returned to Geoje Island. During the time the expeditionary forces were regrouping in Geoje Island, another raid by the Japanese pirates occurred, leading the court to discuss a second expedition.

As opinions to postpone the second expedition due to the low morale of the expeditionary forces and the typhoon season increased, an urgent report came in that the Japanese pirates who had invaded the Ming were eliminated.

Upon receiving the urgent report, the court disbanded the expeditionary forces and sent envoys to Tsushima.

-Tsushima is recorded in documents as Joseon territory. Therefore, the lord of Tsushima must restore the lord-vassal relationship.

-The lord of Tsushima must relocate all the islanders to Joseon.

-If the above orders are not followed, the expedition will be resumed.

Under pressure from Joseon, the lord of Tsushima sent a letter through the envoy.

-Tsushima has poor soil and a harsh life. Please relocate the residents of Tsushima to islands such as Geoje Island. If the title and seal of the lord of Tsushima are granted by the king of Joseon, we will obey the orders as a sign of the lord-vassal relationship.

The court, upon receiving the letter, considered it a surrender document from the lord of Tsushima. Since there were concerns that relocating the Tsushima residents to Joseon could turn Geoje Island and its surrounding islands into pirate strongholds, the court granted the lord of Tsushima the seal 'Jongsi Dodowonwa' (宗氏都都熊瓦). (Note 2)

Hyang, listening to the progress of the events from the Eastern Palace, clicked his tongue.

"Too lenient, too lenient!"

"The strategy, tactics, and command are all too sloppy!"

"First, all the Tsushima residents should have been accepted into Joseon! If all the Tsushima residents were fully integrated, there would have been no need to worry about the lord of Tsushima! If they were all sent north, the problem would have been solved!"

"The value of Tsushima was underestimated!"

Hyang, who was summarizing the results alone, was furious.

"I can't stand it any longer!"

* * *

Note 1: Year 1 of Sejong, 1418

Note 2: Military Strategy of the Joseon Era, Ministry of National Defense Military History Research Institute

< Chapter 6: Who's Your Father? (4) > End

ⓒ National Pride

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