Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 755
Episode 755: The Emperor of the Second Class (8)
As time passed, we began to hear about Geumsun’s life in the palace.
When Geumsun’s parents entered Gyeongbokgung Palace to see her, Geumsun complained about her difficult daily life. But Geum-sun’s parents had no choice but to give this answer.
“In the future, if you become the wife of the Ming Dynasty emperor, you will be in an even more difficult situation. We are preparing for this, so please be patient a little longer.”
“mother! father!”
“Please be patient.”
I said that to Geum-sun, but it wasn’t what Geum-soon’s parents were talking about.
Geumsun’s parents returned home and complained to their closest acquaintances to relieve their frustration.
Because it was related to the imperial family, I was only saying this to an acquaintance, but at some point, the words began to spread like a snowball.
Among them, the center of attention was the imperial women’s firearms training.
Everyone who heard the rumor let out exclamations of exclamation.
“Hey! “As expected, the imperial family is amazing!”
“yes? The only thing we can do well is archery. Gunskill… you mean using that expensive gunpowder? “As expected, the imperial family is amazing~.”
Archery was one of the people’s pastimes even before the Joseon Dynasty. Thanks to this, the people recognized gunplay as a more expensive form of archery.
However, there was someone whose complexion turned pale after hearing this rumor.
It was a judgment call.
After hearing the rumor, Bangil and other Jamryonghoe comrades made a joke to Joo Gyeonsim.
“Look. Even when you go to Nanjing, you have to be nice to Geumsun. If you do something wrong, won’t you end up with a hole in your sleep?”
“I shouldn’t even think about having a concubine.”
The Jamryonghoe comrades who had been making jokes like that shook their heads when they saw Joo Gyeonshim sweating with a white face.
“Hey friend! “What should I do if I take a joke seriously?”
“Do you really think Geumsoon would do that?”
But Zhou Gyeonshen answered with a very frightened face.
“I’m worried that if it’s Geumsun, that’s really going to happen.”
“Oh, no way….”
* * *
Amid all the commotion, the departure date for Zhou Gyeonsim was set.
It was three months after the Ming court’s request was accepted.
“I don’t think I’m fully prepared yet…”
Zhou Jianxin still felt like he was lacking and couldn’t hide his disappointment.
But Myeong’s situation was not so good. This was because the emperor’s seat had been vacant for several months, and unsettling movements began to appear from all directions. Thanks to this, the Ming government sent messengers every day urging him to return quickly.
In the end, the date for Joo Gyeon-sim’s return to Korea was set, and ten days before his return, the wedding ceremony of Joo Gyeon-sim and Geumsun, or Onyang Hyangju, was held.
Even Wan and King Sejong especially attended the wedding held at the Duke of Anpyeong’s house.
On the surface, it was said that they were attending the royal family’s auspicious occasion, but in reality, it was pressure on the Ming Dynasty.
-There is so much interest that even the Emperor of the Empire and Emperor Taesang are attending. So don’t even think about doing anything rash!
After the wedding, Ju Gyeon-sim and his wife, Joo Eunuch Wang Chung, other remaining Ming people, members of the Jamryonghoe, and court ladies to support Geumsun’s life – a mixture of real court ladies and female warriors for protection – and finally, members of the Jamryonghoe. The family’s bodyguards – actually military officers selected from the military – moved to Jemulpo to protect the families.
In Jemulpo, ships sent by the Ming Dynasty had already dropped anchor and were waiting for Joo Gyeon-sim and his party.
As soon as the Yebu Sang-seo, who led the welcoming group, saw Joo Gyeon-sim, he immediately knelt down and paid respects.
“I come to see your Majesty the Emperor! “Long live, long live, long live!”
“Thank you for the warm welcome. “Let’s get on the boat.”
“I will guide you!”
Guided by Ye Bu Sang-seo, Zhou Jianxin and his wife, Consort Zhou’s eunuch Wang Chong, and Geumsun’s court ladies boarded the ship.
The problem occurred here.
“Isn’t it better for you, Your Majesty, to put the court ladies of your empire on another ship?”
Zhou Gyeonshim screamed at Yebusangseo’s suggestion.
“Are you telling us to put those who will assist the empress on another ship?”
“For those people, the ship is already ready.”
“Get them on another boat! “Even the eunuchs!”
“Yes, Your Majesty. This is yes….”
“It’s an order!”
“At least the eunuchs…”
“I said it was an order!”
In response to Zhou Gyeonsim’s firm reply, Ye Bu Sang-seo had to move the court ladies and eunuchs who came with him to another ship.
Ye Bu-sang-seo, who had brought Zhou Jian-shen and his party aboard the boat, muttered with a face full of worry.
“You’re an empress from an empire?”
* * *
When Joo Gyeon-sim and his party all boarded the ship, all the ships sent by Ming raised anchor and left Jemulpo.
As the Ming Dynasty fleet came to the sea off Jemulpo, the imperial fleet began to escort the fleet.
The challenger-class battleships majestically guarding the surrounding area with all sails raised, and the two assault ships moving right next to them while emitting black exhaust smoke, made the people of Ming Dynasty very intimidated.
“Did you say he was a royal eunuch?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Wang Chong bowed his head politely and answered the question of the Minister of Rites. Seeing that, Ye Bu Sang-seo approached cautiously.
“How many hardships did you go through while staying in the empire for such a long time? “The royal eunuch’s contribution is truly great.”
“That’s too much praise. “I just did what I had to do.”
“When I go back, do you think I will receive compensation for my hardships?”
“I didn’t do this hoping for compensation. “I just did my best as a eunuch.”
Seeing Wang Chong politely but firmly drawing a line, Ye Bu Sang-seo slightly savored his appetite.
‘There’s a lot that has come together. I’m sure I’ll get a spot when I get to Nanjing, so I guess I’ll have to brace myself.’
Sensing danger in Wang Chong’s appearance, Minister of Ye changed the topic.
“It’s a huge fleet. “It seems like the empire paid a lot of attention.”
Wang Chong immediately responded to Ye Bu Sang-seo’s words.
“Isn’t it natural that the Imperial Hyangju is on board? On the contrary, I feel very reassured that they are protecting me so firmly.”
“I see…”
Wang Chong’s answer was slurred. Ye Bu-Sangseo, with a dark complexion, closed his mouth and looked at the imperial fleet surrounding him.
In the conversation a little while ago, Ye Bu Sang-seo noticed one important fact.
‘Not only the emperor but even the eunuchs are all dependent on the empire! This is certain! If something bad happens to the new emperor, there is a very high possibility that the Empire will intervene!’
Ye Bu-Sang-seo’s complexion darkened even more as he thought about it that far.
‘If you think about the battles so far, the Empire always counterattacked after defending. But if we go on the offensive with all our might from the beginning, we will be finished!’
* * *
After a tedious voyage, the fleet carrying Zhou Jianxin and his party arrived at the Ming Suigun military port in Nantong.
When Zhou Jianxin got off the boat, the Ming officers who were waiting all knelt down and paid respect.
“I come to see your Majesty the Emperor! “Long live, long live, long live!”
Zhou Gyeonshim responded to the welcome from the generals with a calm expression.
“Thank you for making me feel so welcome. “You can stand up.”
“Here comes the Emperor. “Long live, long live, long live!”
After meeting with the naval commanders guarding Nantong, Zhou Gyeonsim rewarded the naval commanders with alcohol and meat.
Zhu Jianxin, who boarded a ship heading up the Yangtze River to Nanjing, asked Ye Bu Sang-seo.
“Are we going to take a boat to Nanjing like this?”
“That’s right.”
“Isn’t there a railroad?”
“A railroad was built between the South and the North across the Yangtze River.”
“Are you saying you couldn’t cross the Yangtze River?”
“I apologize.”
“The empire built bridges over the Hansu, Taedong, and Cheongcheon rivers as well as over many rivers, but does that mean our name is still there?”
Ye Bu Sang-seo responded to Zhou Gyeon-sim’s reprimand by bowing his head.
“Both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River were so large that they could not be built. “I apologize.”
“Are you saying that our name doesn’t even have that level of skill?”
“During the last war, many craftsmen were taken to the Japanese country….”
“If you lost people, you should have thought about raising them again! “You didn’t even do that!”
“I apologize.”
Ju Gyeon-shim clicked his tongue involuntarily at the sight of Ye Bu-sang-seo repeatedly bowing his head.
“Tsk! This is what it is…”
It was Zhou Gyeonsim who forced himself to say, ‘We suffered a crushing defeat in the Yellow Sea last time!’
Meanwhile, Ye Bu Sang-seo was horrified by the sound of Joo Gyeon-sim clicking his tongue.
‘I heard that the imperial officials start a fight whenever they hear the imperial emperor clicking his tongue, and it’s only natural! By the way, the new emperor lived a long time in the empire!’
As the three generations of King Sejong and Hyang Wan continued, it became the norm for the people of the empire to click their tongues when they were not satisfied.
Starting with the ministers who were harassed by King Sejong and Hyang Wan, it became routine for them to click their tongues when something they did not like, and it naturally spread downward over time.
* * *
After a few days, Zhou Jianxin and his party arrived in Nanjing.
At the dock in Nanjing, all high-ranking government officials, eunuchs, and high-ranking officials of the Imperial Court, including the Assistant Cabinet Secretary, were waiting for the review.
When the boat carrying Zhou Gyeonsim arrived at the dock and Zhou Gyeonsim got off the boat, everyone who was waiting knelt down in unison to show respect.
“I come to see His Majesty the Emperor. “Long live, long live, long live!”
“Nice to welcome you.”
Following the calm visit, Zhou Gyeonsim exchanged greetings with the officials who were waiting under the guidance of Yebu Sangseo.
After the short meeting ceremony, Zhou Gyeonsim and his party boarded a palanquin prepared in advance and entered Nanjing.
“I come to see Your Majesty the Emperor! “Long live, long live, long live!”
As soon as the residents of Nanjing who were out on the road saw the palanquin carrying Zhu Jianxin, they fell to the ground and shouted for national independence.
Hearing the people’s cheers for national independence, Zhou Jianxin entered the imperial palace in Nanjing.
* * *
As soon as Zhou Jianxin was relieved of his illness after arriving in Nanjing, he began to carry out political affairs in earnest.
As soon as Zhou Jianxin began his political affairs, the first thing he decided was to establish an era name.
“As we are gradually escaping from the past tribulation, I think sanctification would be good as it means moving towards perfection.”
Zhu Jianxin, who thought for a moment about the assistant cabinet secretary’s report, nodded.
“Good. “Let’s decide it through sacred fire.”
“I follow your orders.”
Bowing his head, the Cabinet Secretary muttered to himself.
‘Isn’t it very different from what the precepts say? If we continue to look like that, running the government will become easier.’
However, these optimistic thoughts soon collapsed miserably.
“National marriage?”
“yes.”
“But Jim already has an empress.”
The Cabinet Secretary immediately responded to Joo Gyeon-sim’s words.
“She is an imperial person who was born in the empire and has lived in the empire. “I don’t know if she is a concubine, but she is not suitable as a mother of the nation.”
Zhou Jianxin’s expression immediately turned fierce upon hearing the Assistant Cabinet Secretary’s answer. Zhou Jianxin shouted at the assistant cabinet secretary in a very angry voice.
“what? Doesn’t suit me because I’m from an empire? So what is the burden of living in the empire from the moment you were born? Are you saying that I am not fit to be the father of an empire?”
“That’s not it…”
“Say it properly!”
At Zhou Jianxin’s shout, the assistant cabinet secretary turned white and violently shook his head. But there was one conclusion.
‘It’s an outside conversation!’
In the end, the Cabinet Secretary had no choice but to wave the white flag.
“I was mistaken in my convictions.”
“Then I will assume there is no talk of a national marriage. Those who are against it, come forward!”
No one came forward in response to the judge’s command.
In this way, Zhou Jianxin’s reign began by breaking the spirit of the ministers and the powerful.
-A reform monarch who did his best to rebuild the Ming Dynasty.
-A cancer army that could not escape the shadow of the empire.
This was the beginning of the reign of Zhou Gyeonshim, who received polarizing evaluations.