Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: Daggers Concealed in Smiles (2)
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Emperor Xuande was a far wiser ruler than the Hongwu Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang.
He strove not to suspect people without cause, unlike Zhu Yuanzhang, and he did his utmost to avoid purging his ministers and advisors without reason.
This caution extended beyond his subjects; he applied the same care in dealing with foreign nations, including Joseon.
"What does the Minister of War think? Do you believe Joseon would betray us?"
Later generations would acclaim that Emperor Xuande had three brilliant chief ministers under him.
One of them, Yang Shiqi, did not answer the emperor's question immediately. Instead, he paused to gather his thoughts.
The Jurchens who controlled parts of Liaodong, or those barbaric Japanese lunatics who called themselves emperors of the land of the rising sun, were nothing to worry about overly much.
No matter how fiercely they rampaged, they could never deal a fatal blow to Ming.
Joseon, however, was different.
It was a kingdom that had inherited the legacy of mighty Goguryeo, and the Gabyeolcho forces led by Yi Seong-gye had effortlessly crushed even the Red Turbans that Zhu Yuanzhang himself had once served among.
Thankfully, with Yi Seong-gye's death and Joseon's waning influence over the Jurchens, the Gabyeolcho would likely never reform...
Even so, if they ever betrayed Ming, it would shake the empire to its core.
'We must remain vigilant of Joseon's power.'
"Joseon inherited Goguryeo's mantle, so we cannot afford to underestimate them rashly. Though they are barbarians, they deeply revere and emulate Zhonghua culture, so we cannot treat them the same as other barbarians."
"Is the Minister of War defending Joseon in my presence?"
"As the saying goes, know your enemy and know yourself, and you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. Our Great Ming now faces barbarians and Yuan remnants to the north, wokou pirates and Annam to the south. To antagonize Joseon as well and multiply our foes would hardly serve the empire."
"Well said."
Annam had, after brutal wars with the Yongle Emperor, meekly submitted with promises never to fight Ming again, to respect its heavenly mandate, and to offer tribute.
Even so, vigilance toward them could not be relaxed.
But above all, the greatest threat was Northern Yuan.
They could muster tens of thousands of elite cavalry at a moment's notice and shatter Ming entirely.
If Joseon joined that chaos, the empire's very foundations might crumble.
"They dared strike Yi Man-ju, the Jianzhou Left Guard Vice Commander, without first submitting a memorial. But wasn't that vice commander title we bestowed upon him merely an empty honor, meant only to impose hierarchy among the barbarians? Had he truly valued it and sought even the bare minimum respect due, he never would have raided Joseon."
"Joseon struck a man I appointed vice commander, yet you say they bear no blame?"
"Precisely. Yet I do not believe Joseon is a loyal vassal state. Though they ape civilized ways by adopting Zhonghua culture, they hail from barbarian lands and speak a barbarian tongue... How could their base nature change?"
There is one universal truth, no matter where in the world you go.
People never truly change.
Of course, rare exceptions exist, but good luck finding even one without scouring the earth.
Yang Shiqi viewed Joseon through this lens.
"Well said."
"So when their envoy arrives, humiliate and rebuke him to his face. Traitors heavy with thoughts of betrayal might wag their tails at Your Majesty's grace if treated well, but treat them harshly, and they cannot endure—they reveal their true colors."
"Truly, the Minister of War is wise."
"Your grace humbles me."
The Minister of Rites, Yang Pu, chimed in with the Minister of War's words.
"Joseon has petitioned that the crown prince's headwear matches that of a vice envoy, causing great discomfort to Your Majesty upon sight. They suggest changing it."
"Was there anything in their requests we could nitpick?"
If they had erred in ritual protocols as in past reigns, it could be used to dress down Joseon's young crown prince and bring him to heel.
But Kim Dae-bung was no fool.
"None, Your Majesty. Not a word or phrase out of place. Everything they said was perfectly reasonable. They even declared in advance they would bring no merchants, and vowed to rescue Ming subjects held by the Jurchens."
"Joseon is truly insidious."
The plan had been to seize on any flaw, inflate it outrageously, and thrash their envoy to tame them...
That strategy had already failed.
"I intended to harshly rebuke Joseon's crown prince upon entering Liaodong: if he wore the hat bestowed by my predecessor without question, decry Joseon as a barbaric land ignorant of rites. Conversely, if he presumptuously brought and wore his own proper one, condemn it as insulting my predecessor."
Even merchant travel, never before an issue, could be twisted: seeing merchants, accuse them of profiteering and rebuke to tame them...
"But Joseon adroitly evaded every trap, leaving us no recourse. In compensation, order their young crown prince to wear the ceremonial robes bestowed by Ming from Joseon all the way here."
That alone would inflict profound humiliation on Joseon.
Emperor Xuande decided to settle for that.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Time flew by, and the day of the envoy delegation's departure finally arrived.
Embarking as envoys was never easy, and escorting King Munjong made it graver still, but...
Even accounting for that, the mood was excessively somber.
"My dear Sub-Inspector."
"Yes, Vice Minister."
Choi Yun-deok sighed as he looked at me.
"Despite your illness from the wind, you and Deputy Commander Heo Joo dragged your ailing bodies to help, allowing us to fend off Ming's nitpicks on protocol. Without you, we'd be groveling to the Liaodong governor now, bribing him to deliver our memorial."
"Quite likely. All official documents from Joseon route through the Liaodong governor."
"We averted that disaster, but the crown prince and I wearing the same hat... It sits poorly with me."
"It's all those Ming bastards' petty tricks."
Ming was playing a sophisticated game of schoolyard bullying now.
Hey, Joseon, you gonna hit me? Or tattle to Mom? Oh wait, this is grown-up diplomacy—no Mom here. Suck it up or bash your own head in.
Unable to say it outright, they nitpicked rituals to put us in our place.
Joseon folk, especially yangban, would sooner die than violate protocol—even exaggerating a bit.
A mere minister wearing the same hat as the crown prince?
This was an enormous humiliation.
Like being hosted by a rival firm, only for them to seat your company president alongside a managing director.
The message: Your president's a figurehead, no real power—same level as an exec, right?
"We're adults; we can grit our teeth through the shame. But the crown prince is still young and sensitive. Imagine his anguish at this insult..."
"His chest must be bursting with rage. Yet as heir to the throne, he endures."
Munjong had been exceptionally bright since childhood.
Worthy of King Sejong's eldest son, he'd mastered the Analects at ten, Mencius at eleven—a genius by any Joseon king's measure.
That's how he found time to task Jang Yeong-sil with rain gauges and such.
Even a prodigy like that was just a 13-year-old boy now...
'He must be seething inside.'
"I may not help much, but I'll offer some comfort."
"I leave it to you."
At Choi Yun-deok's request, I approached Munjong.
He was biting his lip hard—clearly furious.
"Crown Prince."
"I'm fine."
No one who says they're fine in such straits ever is.
"Does Your Highness know how King Zhou of Shang made King Wen of Zhou's eldest son a slave?"
"I do. King Wen harbored grand ambitions, endured the shame, and eventually devoured the kingdom that enslaved his son."
"The humiliation Your Highness endures now is like that. For Joseon's people, you bear immense trials."
"I know. How grave my duty is."
For one enduring such hardship, affirming its worth brings solace.
Worthless toil would chafe worse; something valuable at least eases the injustice.
"Even if the Ming Emperor oppresses you, never bend—go forth boldly. Your Highness has done no wrong. Facing them with dignity and pride is the true path to victory."
"Victory..."
"They'll mock and jeer if they see you flustered. But stride forth confidently, defying their expectations, and they'll panic instead."
If Joseon's crown prince showed no discomfiture before Ming, they'd be utterly thrown.
It defied their script.
"Endure this momentary shame with head held high, and even the Ming Emperor cannot scorn you. That tale will shame them forever but exalt your resolve in Joseon for generations."
This was no exaggeration.
If word spread that Ming heaped humiliation but wise Crown Prince Munjong stood unbowed and proud...
21st-century forums would overflow with memes praising cool Munjong and mocking foolish Xuande.
"And once Your Highness completes the journey..."
Word was Munjong always eyed Yi Bang-won firing matchlocks with deep envy.
But his youth forbade it.
"I'll petition Grand King Father so Your Highness can fire a matchlock yourself. And if you have weapon ideas, why not prototype one? I'll assist."
Munjong was a firepower fanatic.
As if unleashing otaku passion, his eyes sparkled.
"Truly?"
"Jang Ho-gun is in Hanyang. We sketch designs together and have him craft them. If viable, it could equip all Joseon forces. Exciting, no? And I'll keep you company on the road to stave off boredom."
"...... Very well. See to it."
Thus, I stayed by Munjong's side all the way to Beijing.
En route, I shared talks on economics and such; blood will tell—he grasped it all.