Teacher's Day and the Three Provinces Naval Commander
The Three Provinces Naval Commander (Samdo Sugun Tongjesa), Joseon Certified Products (Joseon Jeonpum), and royal ginseng (eosam)—these were the Teacher's Day gifts I'd picked up at the department store today. Just looking at them made me feel healthier, with their overwhelming visual appeal. And their equally overwhelming price tags.
Shouldn't I get a discount on all Joseon Certified Products? I couldn't exactly ask for one, but I wanted to whine to Munjong about it anyway. Still, there was something I needed to check today. In two days, it would be May. It was the night of Saturday, April 28th.
May was almost here.
"Your Highness, how has your health been lately?"
"No cough or night sweats. I've been eating well. It feels like I've returned to my healthy crown prince days."
His active tuberculosis seemed suppressed. Medically speaking, it had transitioned to latent tuberculosis. The TB bacteria were held in check by his immune system—no symptoms, but not cured. If his immunity dropped, it could reactivate at any time.
Preventing reactivation is the task ahead.
In my view, Munjong probably hadn't been truly healthy even as crown prince. He resembled his father, King Sejong, in scholarly and political talent, brotherly affection, and the mindset of a sage king. And in physique, too. He wasn't as obese as Sejong, but he'd inherited his father's body and eating habits. There were records of King Sejong, who had been chided by King Taejong for his obesity, making the chubby Munjong walk, ride horses, and hunt to circulate his blood and qi.
Nosan-gun (Prince Nosan: Danjong) fell ill. Kim Jong-seo, Yi Yang, and Heo Hu visited him and reported,
"King Sejong always instructed his ministers: 'The crown prince has too much fat, so make him practice walking in the inner palace, ride horses in the rear garden, and join hunts to circulate his blood and qi.'"
And Munjong was 38 this year. In modern times, 38 is prime age, but in Joseon, it was different. Plus, TB would have drained his baseline stamina. Obesity, stress, and overwork could lead to diabetes and hypertension. Diabetes greatly increases TB reactivation risk.
The current history where Munjong lives past 1453 could change at any moment. To prevent latent TB reactivation, we needed to manage obesity and other adult-onset diseases too. But a king couldn't avoid overwork or stress.
"Your Highness, if you feel fatigued or lose your appetite, the illness could awaken again."
It was a tough ask for a king. The expected response, so I moved on.
"Your Highness, may I ask one more thing?"
"Speak."
"Might I inquire about Your Highness's build? Is your waist perhaps on the thicker side?"
A long pause before the reply came.
"I... do not think so."
I couldn't help but chuckle at Munjong's reaction. He didn't think so, but everyone else probably did.
"Please avoid overeating and cut back on sweet, greasy foods."
"Understood. I'll instruct Jeon Sun-ui as well."
"Very good. Is the red ginseng production going well?"
"A man has been sent via relay station, but it will take half a month."
Damn, I forgot about Joseon's transportation. This was one of the pains of Gatong with Munjong. In Korea today, I'd know the results in days; in Joseon, not so much. Results from Pyongan-do's red ginseng or Gangwon-do's pollock roe would take a month.
"Next Teacher's Day, I'd like to gift my teacher red ginseng."
"What is Teacher's Day?"
Damn, another slip-up. Maybe the hospital stress was getting to me; two mistakes already today.
"In my world, every May 15th, we thank teachers for their grace with gifts."
Munjong went silent for a long while.
"Your Highness?"
No reply. Still none.
Munjong, in the midst of Gatong with Do-yun, sank into deep thought in his chambers. He missed Do-yun's follow-up message.
"Sa-eun-rye..."
Munjong pondered deeply. He'd loved scholarship since his crown prince days and cherished scholars. Thus, he had reached a considerable level in Confucian studies.
"May 15th is Father's birthday. Father established the Hall of Worthies and promoted learning, so making that day one to honor Father and teachers would be fitting. The Emperor is Joseon's ultimate teacher, so gifting him Joseon Certified Products red ginseng as a token of gratitude would please him."
In the place where his deep-rooted reverence for Confucianism had cracked, capitalism's worship of gold had already taken root—something Munjong didn't realize. Perhaps he didn't want to.
The next day, a Gatong came from Munjong.
What...? Targeting the Ming Emperor first for Joseon Certified Products marketing?
In original history, Grand Prince Suyang—no, Sejo—had volunteered as envoy to gain the Ming Emperor's recognition of Danjong's accession, meeting the Kangxi Emperor. That might have happened this December. Shin Suk-ju had accompanied as vice envoy and later became Sejo's confidant, per later speculations.
But now, Suyang was merely getting his third mission from the Utilization Institute.
"What price do you plan for selling red ginseng to Ming nobles?"
"250 yang of silver per geun of red ginseng."
The Nogeol Daesin-seok (1761 compilation)** depicts a 14th-century Goryeo merchant selling fresh ginseng for 25 yang of silver in China.
Hard to compare exactly, but I'd heard modern red ginseng fetches 3-6 times fresh ginseng's price. Munjong was now aiming for 10 times fresh to Ming nobles.
If Munjong were born today, luxury brands would pay him eight figures to join.
Unaware of my thoughts, Munjong continued calmly.
"Do-yun, I feel Joseon's navy scattered across provinces won't do. To head to Hachijo, we must unify and operate it. I intend to consolidate the three provinces' navies."
Impatient like his Korean descendants. He'd clearly reviewed much already.
"Wise words, Your Highness."
"Thus, what think you of dividing into South and North? I seek your opinion."
"Wise words, Your Highness. But are there suitable men?"
Early Joseon had a weak navy, no famous admirals. Yi Jing-ok, defender of Hamgil-do, was now in Hanyang as Deputy Chief State Councillor.
Yi Jing-ok. An unforgettable name. A warrior who'd spent decades in Hamgil-do under Sejong, feared by the Jurchens. Famous for incorruptibility—even winter clothes just one garment, per reports.
And 1453. The Gyeyu Coup. Suyang, upon seizing power, dismissed him as Kim Jong-seo's crony. Yi Jing-ok rebelled, proclaimed himself Grand Emperor, and was betrayed and killed by subordinates. One year from now.
"An excellent choice, Your Highness."
"For the South, Choi Suk-son, experienced in Jeolla and Gyeongsang navies, would suit. He is now in Hanyang as Palace Defense Commander."
Choi Suk-son... I had to look him up. Son of famed general Choi Yun-deok of the Four Garrisons, former Jeolla Naval Commander and Gyeongsang Right Naval Commander.
And 1456. The Six Executed Ministers incident—he was implicated, exiled, and died.
Another butterfly effect from averting the Gyeyu Coup?
Men fated to die in coup or exile now guarded Joseon's seas.
"The post to oversee the three provinces' navies shall be Three Provinces Naval Commander (Samdo Sugun Tongjesa)."
As expected, the new title was Three Provinces Naval Commander. Famous from 1593 Imjin War, first held by Yi Sun-sin. 141 years from now.
As a history buff, I'd thought history had inertia. History and culture don't change easily. What we see as new era customs are often called 'revolutions' in history because inertia is so strong.
Now, Munjong's Joseon seemed to gain momentum of change, writing history anew.
* Sa-eun-rye: Joseon-era ritual where successful exam passers bowed in thanks to the king's grace at the palace.
** Nogeol Daesin-seok: 'Nogeol-dae' means foreign language primer; i.e., a newly annotated foreign language textbook.