Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 426
Episode 426: What was expected, what was unexpected. (3)
“‘Request for sale to Joseon.’…”
Emperor Seondeok’s response after reflecting on Gunbo’s remarks was positive.
“If you ask for it as tribute,
you will receive it in return….” “No!”
Suddenly, a violent remark came out, interrupting Emperor Seondeok’s words.
“Who is it! Who dares stop Jim from speaking!”
When a remark suddenly appeared that interrupted his speech, Emperor Seondeok shouted with a very angry face.
As Emperor Seondeok could not hide his anger, the inside of Daejeon once again froze.
“Who are you?”
In response to Emperor Seondeok’s shout, an official with gray hair jumped forward and answered with all his might.
“god! Yebu Gaksa Nangjung (各司郞中) Sopyeongsul! I’m risking my life! Asking to sell to Joseon is something you should never do!”
The ministers closed their eyes tightly at Sopyeongsul’s remarks.
After the great purge, which was sparked by the illegal leakage of artillery and gunpowder, there were no major subjects who rebelled against Emperor Seondeok’s words. There was no such thing as the emperor interrupting his speech even before the purge.
‘If I make a mistake, there will be more bloodshed…’
All the ministers and eunuchs gathered in Daejeon had grim faces. In particular, the face of Yebusangseo was that of a person who had already died.
‘Damn it! Why is it a wedding ceremony? You stupid bastard! If I’m going to die, I’m going to die alone!’
While the ministers and eunuchs were anxious, Emperor Seondeok forced himself to calm down and asked:
“Why? “If the reason is not reasonable, I will be held guilty of carelessly blocking Jim’s speech.”
Emperor Seondeok explained why Sopyeongsul was not possible.
-The name is Empire. It is not just an empire, it is the suzerain of this world.
-What is a suzerain country? A country cannot be called a suzerain simply because it has a large territory and a strong military. It becomes a suzerain country because it is superior in every way.
-Receiving tribute is not just receiving what is lacking, but receiving the loyalty of a vassal state. That is why, even though I know it is a burden, I return the favor several times over.
-However, transacting in a country-to-state relationship means recognizing dependent countries as equals.
-Considering such a situation, it would be unacceptable for the emperor to directly request trade with the king of a vassal state, especially Joseon. What kind of country is Joseon? As the Emperor has already said, this is not a country to be taken lightly. Showing weakness to such a country is something that must be avoided.
“…For this reason, it is absolutely unacceptable for His Majesty to send an envoy directly to request a sale to Joseon!”
“That makes sense.”
Emperor Seondeok muttered with an embarrassed face at Sopyeongsul’s remarks. Emperor Seondeok, who was still looking at Sopyeongsul, who was shouting the Buddha with his whole body, with all his courage, opened his mouth.
“You can wake up. “What happened just now was because of your loyalty, so I won’t hold you guilty.”
“Hwang Eun is devastated. “Long live, long live, long live!”
“Long live, long live, long live!”
When Emperor Seondeok showed mercy, everyone in Daejeon, including Xiaopingsul, praised Emperor Seondeok’s mercy and chanted three cheers.
However, Emperor Seondeok showed a displeased expression despite such enthusiastic cheers.
“Wouldn’t it be better to think of an alternative while shouting ‘Hurray’?”
At those words, the place in Daejeon instantly became quiet.
“If we go by the opinion of the Yebu Gaksa-nangjung, we should receive three or four actual iron horses and blueprints as tribute. But there is a problem with the blueprint. “Do you remember the promise you made when the crown prince of Joseon came to visit?”
In response to Emperor Seondeok’s question, Ye Busangseo opened his mouth, remembering.
“Are you talking about intellectual property rights?”
“Yes, rather than just receiving the blueprint as a tribute, the intellectual property rights linked to the blueprint should be guaranteed. “How should we do this?”
In response to Emperor Seondeok’s question, the entire Daejeon fell silent once again.
In the past, Hyang came to Beijing to solve various problems, starting with the settlement of the Joseon Dynasty, and created a joint venture between the emperor and the Joseon royal family. At the time, the contract clearly included a clause regarding ‘intellectual property rights guarantee’.
According to the contract, even if it was a tribute, a fee was required to be paid when an object made in Joseon was made in Ming. And this was guaranteed by the emperor himself.
In the end, Emperor Seondeok looked back at Gunbo, who came up with the idea of ‘selling’.
“What do you think?”
“It is difficult to give an answer right now. “If you give me more time, I will come up with an answer that will satisfy you.”
“How much is enough?”
“You have to give it at least 15 days.”
“I will give you five days. “Please come back with an answer within five days.”
The military officer bowed his head at Emperor Seondeok’s command.
“I follow the Emperor’s command.”
After sorting out the matter, Seondeokje looked back at the Yebusangseo.
“So that Yebusangseo can properly comfort the envoys from Joseon.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Then let’s stop here about Joseon and the Iron Horse and move on to other items.”
* * *
Emperor Seondeok, who finished his official duties that evening, visited Jangan Palace (長安宮). The crown prince, Ju Ji-jin, was staying at Jangan Palace.
“Your Majesty, are you here?”
Joo Ji-jin, who was studying with Gukrang Wang Jin, went outside and greeted him politely when he heard that Emperor Seondeok had arrived.
Seeing the crown prince like that, Emperor Seondeok smiled and asked.
“So what were you doing?”
“I was studying with Gukrang.”
In response to Joo Jin-jin, Emperor Seondeok looked at the eunuch Wang Jin.
“Is the prince doing well?”
“He is such a smart person that he is doing very well.”
“okay? How much are you learning now?”
“You have taken the three sutras and are learning the rituals of the three rites. You are learning so quickly.”
At Wang Jin’s answer, Joo Ji-jin looked confident, but Emperor Seondeok frowned slightly.
“It’s a little late…”
“No. “If you think about Yeonchi, the Crown Prince is very quick.”
Despite Wang Jin’s protests, Emperor Seondeok shook his head.
“It is said that the crown prince of the Joseon Dynasty devoured all the Four Thirteen Classics even before he was installed, and had no obstacles even when arguing. At that time, the Joseon crown prince was only 8 years old! “This is the person the prince will deal with from now on!”
“I’m sure it’s an exaggerated rumor. No matter how much of a prodigy he is…”
Wang Jin insisted that he was the manager, but Emperor Seondeok shook his head.
“I’m doing this because I saw that crown prince in person! The Crown Prince of Joseon was only thirteen when he came to Beijing and dealt with Jim! Nevertheless, it was not enough to be Jim’s opponent. And a few years later, when the king of Joseon established his own government, it was said that his skill in acting as a proxy in Hanseong was unparalleled! “Prince, listen!”
At Emperor Seondeok’s command, Joo Ji-jin immediately knelt down and bowed his head.
“Please give your order.”
“I know that your abilities are outstanding, but you must never neglect learning! Because your opponent will be the Crown Prince of Joseon! Keep this in mind!”
Joo Ji-jin bowed his head in response to Emperor Seondeok’s command.
“I will keep this in mind!”
After that, Emperor Seondeok left Jangan Palace after giving a few more words of admonition.
Ju Ji-jin, who returned after seeing off Emperor Seondeok, could not control his anger and swung his arms and threw the books on the west bank.
“Aaaah!”
“His Royal Highness! Please be patient!”
Due to Ju Jin-jin’s rampage, the eunuchs, including Wang Jin, tried to calm him down.
However, Joo Ji-jin’s anger did not subside easily.
“Damn Joseon! Damn Crown Prince of Joseon!”
“Please calm down my anger. Even so, it is only a vassal state and the crown prince of a vassal state! “If you get angry like this, you will only incur His Majesty’s wrath!”
Hearing the words of the eunuch Wang Jin, Joo Ji-jin forced himself to calm down his anger.
Joo Ji-jin, who was sitting on a chair, took a deep breath and cursed.
“Damn Joseon, damn Joseon Crown Prince….”
* * *
From the time Joo Gi-jin began to speak properly, the standard for evaluating Emperor Seondeok was incense.
“The crown prince of Joseon is about the same age as you…”
Whenever Seondeokje was evaluated for learning scriptures and martial arts, he always started with those words. And the ending was always the same.
“You are outstanding, but the crown prince of Joseon was even better than you. “Never be lazy.”
“What kind of person is the Crown Prince of Joseon?”
Tired of Emperor Seondeok’s reprimands, Joo Ji-jin one day asked nearby officials about incense.
“The crown prince of Joseon….”
And Joo Ji-jin, who heard the anecdote about incense from the officials, shook his head.
“Are you sure it’s a person? “Do we have to deal with someone like this?”
Just looking at the anecdotes accumulated so far, Joo Ji-jin was completely frustrated by the story of Hyang, who had gone far beyond the level of a criminal.
And when Joo Jin-jin was frustrated, the person who encouraged him was the eunuch Wang Jin.
* * *
Wang Jin, from Ulju, was a failed soldier. Wang Jin, who had been exiled for a crime while working as an instructor at the county office in his hometown, castrated himself and entered the imperial palace when the imperial palace recruited eunuchs.
Wang Jin, who was known as a teacher among the eunuchs because he knew how to read, received the trust of Emperor Seondeok and became Gukrang, Joo Gi-jin’s writing teacher.
Wang Jin, who became a national scholar, began to be favored by Joo Ji-jin by teaching him how to write and pleasing him well.
In particular, whenever Joo Ji-jin was reprimanded for his lack of learning, Wang Jin comforted him.
“After all, he is a vassal state and the crown prince of a vassal state. “These are lowly things that will be subservient when your Majesty ascends to the throne.”
* * *
Because it was such a visit, this time too, he comforted Joo Jin-jin with the same words.
Joo Ji-jin, who calmed down his anger through Joo Ji-jin’s comforting words, gritted his teeth.
“The day I ascend to the throne, Joseon will feel the emperor’s defeat!”
“You certainly will.”
Hearing Wang Jin’s words, Joo Ji-jin took a deep breath and made up his mind again.
“Your Majesty is generous, but you are generous! But I’m not like that!”
“It will be so! You will surely do so and become a great emperor!”
It was Wang Jin who eagerly responded to Joo Ji-jin’s words.
* * *
Funnily enough, it was Emperor Seondeok’s praise that made Joo Ji-jin dream of this kind of defeat.
When Lee Man-ju and Muntemu started a rebellion, King Sejong personally took control of his government.
Emperor Seondeok, who heard that King Sejong had personally visited his father’s government, was greatly impressed and said the following.
“It is a shame for a king to sit in the palace when all his efforts have been made to protect the royal business! Indeed! It is said that Lee Seong-gye, who opened the gates of Joseon, was an amazing military commander. His blood has not gone anywhere! Ha ha ha ha ha!”
It would have been nice if it had ended there, but the next order was the problem.
“How was Emperor Yongle? Every time Northern Yuan was in trouble, he personally went out to conquer it! Tell those in charge of the prince’s teachings! “Any monarch of a country must take the lead and go to the front when the country is in crisis!”
In the end, it was Emperor Seondeok who made Joo Jin-jin fall into paedo.
* * *
The envoys who had an audience with Emperor Xuande in Beijing left Beijing on the third day.
This was because, except for the ‘Dragon’s Path’ issue, there were no diplomatic issues between the two countries that needed to be dealt with urgently.
“This time, I will not raise an issue because I know that there was no intention from Joseon. However, when incidents like this become frequent, he cannot help but suspect Joseon’s intentions. “I wrote it in the edict, but I also told it to envoys, so tell the king of Joseon to keep this in mind.”
Lee Maeng-gyun responded to Emperor Seondeok’s warning by bowing his head.
“I follow the Emperor’s command.”
Lee Maeng-gyun, who received Emperor Seondeok’s edict and boarded a ship heading to Jemulpo, gathered all his strength and spat phlegm into the sea.
“Kaaaak~. “Tsk!”