Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Causing Chaos in the Ming Dynasty (4)
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Maeng Sa-seong's face, as he looked at me, was filled with dissatisfaction.
On the way to Beijing, I had grabbed him and said that since I was going to do some 'naughty things' in the Ming Dynasty, I'd have to humble myself a bit, so he should just pretend not to see it.
Maeng Sa-seong had told me to do as I pleased, but to bring back good results.
However, permission was permission, and seeing a Joseon official bow low even to a lowly Ming eunuch right in front of him must have been utterly distasteful.
It wasn't pleasant for me either to bow my head to some bottom-rung eunuch.
"Even though the basics of strategy start with deception... seeing you, Kim Jeong-rang, bow first to a Ming eunuch was deeply unpleasant."
"My apologies, my lord."
"You did nothing wrong, Kim Jeong-rang. I gave the permission. Though my insides are boiling with rage right now... would it only be you who bowed to the eunuch?"
The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty evaluate Maeng Sa-seong like this.
'He doesn't have strong convictions like Hwang Hui or Heo Jo, and as a prime minister, he's hopelessly indecisive.'
'However, he doesn't lean too far to either side, making him suited for the role of mediator.'
He's someone who understands others' feelings well, so he's probably more worried about me getting hurt while bowing my head for a greater cause.
"This humble servant upholds the ancestral temple and state altar, and for the benefit of the myriad people, I am prepared to endure any humiliation."
To me, tearing apart the Ming Dynasty had aspects similar to a trip.
When I go on a trip to Japan, the fun starts from the planning stage—deciding where to go and what to eat.
Searching for great restaurants and agonizing over which ramen to try is enjoyable.
Planning the itinerary by reading reviews from other travelers about tourist spots is fun too.
Likewise, as someone with Korean blood, just thinking about how to rip the Ming apart was enjoyable even in the planning phase.
Now that I'm in the Ming and starting the preparations, this is fun too.
In the original history, after the Tumu Crisis, the Ming had been stripped bare right up to their capital, leaving neither the Northern Yuan nor the Ming with the capacity to mobilize more forces.
I already know that fact, so I'll exploit that gap to recover the ancient homeland of the Korean people—Manchuria—by moving Joseon's troops loaded with fire wagons and cannons.
Just imagining that scene makes my heart race already.
No, to make the Ming suffer even greater damage in the Tumu Crisis, I mustn't forget to drop the 'Japanese bastards' on their southern borders too.
That'll be very entertaining.
With barbarians from above and wokou pirates from below, how agonizing and painful would it be for the Ming?
Just thinking about it makes me so happy.
"And I succeeded in obtaining some extremely valuable information."
"For you to say that much, I'm quite expectant. Well, what did you learn?"
"There's a eunuch in the Forbidden City who's exceptionally skilled with writing. His name is Wang Zhen."
"...... A eunuch in the Forbidden City who can read characters (Classical Chinese). That's certainly remarkable. But what of it? Doesn't Joseon teach eunuchs to read and even have them study the Four Books like in the National Academy?"
Modern people think the only qualification for being a eunuch is castration.
But that's just the prerequisite; to become an official eunuch, one must go through rigorous training.
Harsh physical conditioning, mental education, and as Maeng Sa-seong mentioned, a ton of studying.
Even after appointment, steady study is required for promotions.
So in Joseon, eunuchs studying is utterly commonplace.
The problem is that this is the 'Ming Dynasty'.
Until just recently, knowing how to read was enough to make a eunuch a capital offender here.
For such a place to acknowledge and allow a 'literate eunuch' points to one crucial fact.
'The Ming's political direction is changing.'
"It seems His Majesty intends to concentrate power on the eunuchs to strengthen imperial authority."
In Joseon, eunuchs wield power comparable to yangban officials.
The reason is simple.
Joseon doesn't grant eunuchs authority over even a single soldier or the right to propose or enact policies.
But as the king's slaves, eunuchs stick right by the king's side at all times.
That's what becomes their power.
"Even before, it was customary for the chief eunuch to occasionally accompany Ming envoy missions, so we couldn't ignore them. Now their influence will grow even stronger."
Outstanding emperors like the Yongle Emperor or Xuande Emperor had a compulsion to do everything themselves.
So they often sent eunuchs as military inspectors to monitor whether border generals were up to no good.
Well, during the Yongle era, eunuchs couldn't read at all, so they couldn't check documents.
They probably just gauged the atmosphere to see if rebellion was brewing.
Moreover, they served to teach generals that even a castrated bastard, backed by imperial authority, deserved head bowed low.
But starting from the Xuande era, they established the 'Inner Court Bureau' to train eunuchs.
These trained eunuch inspectors transformed from mere disciplinarians into true powerhouses overseeing the military.
'It's going to end up like the Ten Chief Eunuchs.'
"Among them, this Wang Zhen will stand at the center of the eunuchs."
"Indeed, Ming officials despise eunuchs so much they'd hesitate to even teach them to read. So Wang Zhen will end up teaching all the eunuchs directly. As you say, he'll stand at their center."
In Confucian culture, the sovereign, teacher, and father are greatly revered.
They revere teachers almost like fathers, even supporting them like real parents.
How much more would eunuchs, unable to have children, band together tightly among themselves?
And naturally, Wang Zhen would be at their center.
"Then it would be good to get close to this Wang Zhen... Do you have a good way?"
If we didn't know what kind of person Wang Zhen was, finding a sharp method would be nearly impossible.
But I learned exactly what kind of man he was studying history.
He's a petty, corrupt sycophant driven by a desperate craving for recognition.
A madman who, after failing the exams and facing exile for causing a scene, volunteered to castrate himself to become a eunuch.
The way to get close to such a man is surprisingly simple.
"From the rumors I've heard, Wang Zhen greatly enjoys being recognized by others. So if someone prestigious from Joseon acknowledges him when he's still lowly, praises and elevates him, we can gain immense favor without spending much wealth."
Maeng Sa-seong furrowed his brow.
Among those who came from Joseon, the most prestigious by far is Maeng Sa-seong himself.
So he seems to have taken it as meaning he, the most junior of juniors, would have to bow and fawn over a bottom-rung eunuch like Wang Zhen.
If he interpreted it that way, even the mild-mannered Maeng Sa-seong might try to kill me.
When Ming chief eunuchs come and make a fuss, enduring it with bowed head is already a huge blow to pride.
But for a 'Senior Second Rank Minister of Rites', expecting him to bow to a mere underling eunuch with a bright future? That would be immense humiliation.
What would others in Joseon think of Maeng Sa-seong upon return?
They'd mock him as a madman who'd sell his liver and gall to flatter the Ming.
But if I, who bowed to a Ming eunuch nobody, did it, the meaning would be entirely different.
"And I will take on that role, my lord."
"...... Kim Jeong-rang, even for you, that's not right. Who would want to do this? If so, why should you? It's not necessary. Far from it. Even for Joseon's sake, how could I command you to endure such great humiliation?"
Joseon is a land of face and honor.
Thus, no one shies from death for their house's honor.
In such Joseon, for me to bow my head to a Ming eunuch—no, a lowly one—and greatly praise and elevate him is like declaring I'd forfeit honor more precious than life.
The Ming Emperor would naturally learn of this too.
And yet, if I—the top scorer of the civil service exam, with all sorts of famous anecdotes—bowed my head...?
He'd surely think:
'Joseon really knows how to kowtow to the Ming!'
Joseon's favor and trust with the Ming would skyrocket.
In the end, the burdensome tribute amounts would plummet.
Indeed, one major turning point improving Joseon-Ming relations was the 'Restoration of King Jungjong'.
The reason: with royal authority fallen and the nation weakened, Joseon lacked the capacity to resist China.
"This humble servant has already received immeasurable grace from His Highness the Former King and His Highness the King that I can never repay. I've pondered deeply my whole life how to return it, but if enduring this 'crawling under the crotch' humiliation here repays even a fraction, that satisfies me fully."
Maeng Sa-seong fell silent, at a loss for words after hearing me.
"Even now, I can't forget the time when I was Jinhae County Magistrate, and the people joyfully offered me all sorts of delicacies from land and sea. But thinking of those same people bending under the weight of tribute to the Ming tears my heart apart. I believe Their Highnesses the Former King and the King feel the same. So as a subject, if I can cast aside my trivial pride and ease Their Highnesses' worries, how joyful would that be?"
...... And if I can blind the eyes of Wang Zhen, who will seize power over the Ming eunuchs—no, the entire Ming.
Joseon will expand to Manchuria, Southeast Asia, India, and beyond.
For the greater good, for revenge against the Ming, it's a burden I—who knows the future—must rightfully bear.
Maeng Sa-seong, eyes brimming with tears, gripped my hand tightly and said,
"...... Kim Jeong-rang is a loyal subject for the ages."
Thus, I fully captured even Maeng Sa-seong's heart and went to meet Wang Zhen.
The moment I saw him, I said,
"I heard your calligraphy is outstanding. Might I receive some writing from you?"
...... Since I'm going to suck, I'll suck it good and proper.