Part 1: Min Mu-jil's Diplomacy with the Ming Court
A few days after Min Mu-jil began conducting diplomacy with Ming, Zhu Yunwen granted them an audience. They mourned Zhu Yuanzhang's passing. Honestly, Min Mu-jil had zero desire to mourn Zhu Yuanzhang, but offending Zhu Yunwen was the last thing he wanted, so he put on the most heartbroken display he could manage.
After completing the condolence rituals, they had their audience with Zhu Yunwen and presented the memorial.
Zhu Yunwen, upon receiving it, said,
"You've had a long, arduous journey. I am greatly pleased that you came all this way to pay respects to the late Emperor. I shall review the memorial from Joseon myself, so rest well in the meantime. But let me say one thing upfront: regarding the detained envoys, you needn't worry. I have already issued a great amnesty decree, and they will be returned to Joseon."
"We are immensely grateful, Your Majesty."
"Moreover, though Jeong Do-jeon submitted that insolent document insulting the late Emperor and Great Ming—which sparked the incident—the detained envoys suffered greatly, so I shall provide separate consolation gifts. Accept them."
He went on with various other matters, most of them positive. If this were Zhu Yuanzhang, he'd nitpick everything to put us in our place, Min Mu-jil thought. But Zhu Yunwen lacks that temperament—dealing with him is a relief.
Afterward, they waited at the envoy quarters. Jo Jun remarked,
"This Emperor seems exceedingly benevolent, unlike Zhu Yuanzhang."
"Yes, my lord."
Spot on. Zhu Yunwen was kind-hearted, the polar opposite of Zhu Yuanzhang's vicious, foul nature—which was why so many Ming ministers and scholars had high hopes for his reign. That said, even after Zhu Di emerged victorious, so many refused loyalty to him that a massive purge ensued. Confucian ideals played a role, but it didn't fully explain the sheer number of deaths.
"What do you think will happen next?"
"The current Emperor will likely discuss it with his favored advisors. One of them will come to sound out our intentions, so we just wait."
"Hm. I see. Probably someone coming for you. And Je Tae is the most likely candidate."
"Yes."
Sure enough, after two days, Je Tae arrived. Finally, the real power behind Zhu Yunwen's regime, Min Mu-jil noted. He and Jo Jun greeted him formally.
"We meet often, don't we?"
"Minister of War Je Tae, it's been too long."
After some small talk, they got down to business.
"Why do you persist in conciliating the Jurchens?"
There it is. Min Mu-jil had known this would come up during talks on tribute, trade, and other issues—it was a habit from Zhu Yuanzhang's era. Time to begin.
"Please take a look at this."
He produced a book: Yi Seong-gye's hastily compiled History of Goryeo. It held his trump card.
"This section here."
Je Tae read it.
"Gungheomjinbi? Seven hundred ri north of the Tumen River?"
Yes, Gungheomjinbi. Though sloppily made by Yi Seong-gye, it referenced the border from Yun Gwan's Nine Fortresses of the Northeast. After the Cheollyeong Guard issue was settled, Zhu Yuanzhang had cited Gungheomjinbi as the border. By their records, that placed the line seven hundred ri north of the Tumen River—Joseon's and Ming's boundary. Min Mu-jil had brought it precisely for this: an excuse to stir up the Jurchens in search of it. Zhu Yuanzhang's word carried immense weight.
Je Tae reacted,
"Are you seriously claiming to push the border based on this? Just this?"
"Of course not. The reason we keep conciliating the Jurchens is to locate this Gungheomjinbi. Your Majesty the previous Emperor set it as the border, so from our position, we must find it, mustn't we? When they refuse to cooperate, we resort to force—but only around the Tumen area. So we beseech your leniency. Moreover, Great Ming's greatest foes lie to the north, don't they? Guarding against them takes priority, in our view."
Of course, I'll forge the Gungheomjinbi later to shift the border, but for now, this soft approach. Push too hard upfront, and it backfires. Je Tae was planning to bolster forces in Liaodong—aimed at Prince of Yan Zhu Di, naturally. He wouldn't want Joseon stabbing him in the back with a Liaodong invasion, so he'd welcome us tangling with the Jurchens. Emphasizing the Tumen signaled we had no Liaodong ambitions. Plus, most here were from Jiangnan; they'd resent spending on the northeast and swallow it. And with Zhu Yuanzhang's name attached? No choice but to accept.
"North" carried double meaning: Zhu Di and Northern Yuan remnants. Zhu Di was a threat, but the remnants couldn't be ignored—they survived beyond the Great Wall despite Ming's raids. Better to suspect them than us. It would land well; Mongol atrocities in the Central Plains dwarfed those on the peninsula, and Je Tae shared that deep resentment.
Je Tae pondered, then shifted,
"What does it mean to offer more horses instead of gold and silver as tribute?"
"Joseon produces no gold or silver. Thus, more horses in tribute. And it's beneficial for Great Ming too. Don't you receive horses as tribute from the Wari tribe and northern nomads? But they're unreliable. Vast gifts flow to them, and they may demand more, sparking rebellion—as with the Uyghurs and Göktürks in Tang times. Better to take horses from us in Joseon, who guard your northeast against the Japanese pirates. If Great Ming grants us saltpeter and such in return, we'll keep the pirates at bay, securing your coasts—a great gain."
Jo Jun chimed in, citing Mongol and Tibetan invasions of the Central Plains while noting Korean states never did likewise, bolstering Min Mu-jil's case. We make a good team, he thought.
Je Tae noted,
"You prepared thoroughly despite the short time."
They knew of Jeong Do-jeon's death and the failed Liaodong campaign.
"Sounds reasonable. I'll consider it."
They chatted more—privately amicable.
"Never thought you'd rise so fast. Already junior third rank. You could hit senior first before thirty."
"No, my lord."
"The late Emperor liked you, and so do I."
Naturally—I'm posing as a die-hard pro-Ming loyalist.
"And please accept this, my lord."
Min Mu-jil pulled out a gift.
"What's this?"
"Wild ginseng. What Yuan Emperor Sezu—Kublai Khan—loved most. The finest tonic from these three Han lands. Supreme for replenishing a man's vital energy."
Je Tae's eyes lit up. Nothing hooked like "virility booster." He and Hwang Ja-jing kept dozens of concubines; this would reel them in. Once they taste it and see results, they'll push for it in tribute. Better than forcing it—hook the Emperor's circle first. Min Mu-jil planned artificial cultivation anyway: ginseng. Get it into tribute fast; nothing would boom like it in Ming, filling the treasury.
"Nothing for His Majesty?"
"Of course."
Prepared, naturally. He handed it over; Je Tae was delighted. After more questions, he left, saying they'd meet later.
Jo Jun said,
"I'm worried if it'll work. We conveyed our intent clearly, though."
"It will, Left Prime Minister."
"You do speak well. Now I see why Zhu Yuanzhang favored you."
"You're too kind, Left Prime Minister."
"Anyway, we wait. Results will come."
Meanwhile, Zhu Yunwen discussed the Joseon envoys' memorial and requests with Fang Xiaoru, Je Tae, Hwang Ja-jing, Seo Hwi-jo, and others.
"Teacher, what of the memorial?"
Fang Xiaoru replied,
"Yes, Your Majesty. Unlike before, they followed Tang and Song precedents perfectly, with full decorum. Joseon seems intent on proper tributary rites this time."
Fang approved; it was textbook.
Hwang Ja-jing interjected,
"Your Majesty, the key issue is their requests—on tribute."
All nodded. Condolences were a pretext; they sought resolution on tribute and sundry matters.
"What should we do? Share your views."
Zhu Yunwen, deeming himself no match for his grandfather, preferred heeding advisors and picking the soundest.
They chorused approval. Zhu Yunwen's inner circle's chief foe was Prince of Yan Zhu Di. Most had opposed Zhu Yuanzhang's feudal kings policy, fearing an Eight Princes revolt like the War of the Eight Princes. Zhu Yuanzhang ignored them. Now, with Zhu Yunwen—who shared their anti-fief stance—they saw opportunity, preparing to reduce fiefs and weaken Zhu Di. They also eyed contingencies: if reduction failed, civil war like the Ochu Chilguk unrest. Thus, pressuring Zhu Di's cavalry required more horse cavalry—Joseon's extra tribute horses would help, so consensus formed.
"But what if Prince of Yan yields?"
"Your Majesty, bolstering cavalry isn't bad regardless. Use it to strike Northern Yuan remnants, showcasing Great Ming's might."
Nods. Je Tae returned; Zhu Yunwen sought his view. He'd sent him to Min Mu-jil, an acquaintance, to gauge true intent.
"Your Majesty, I agree: more horses instead of gold and silver is wise."
He relayed the talk. Fang Xiaoru said,
"Sharp. Conciliating northeastern Jurchens to find Gungheomjinbi—excellent pretext. And beneficial to Your Majesty."
Je Tae affirmed,
"It's an indirect assurance of no Liaodong ambitions—just policing Tumen-area Jurchens. Profitable for Great Ming, Your Majesty."
A Jiangsu native, Je Tae hated northeastern spending; better redirect to crushing Northern Yuan and Oirat. Many agreed—mostly Yangtze natives (Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui)—seeing beyond-Liaodong outlays as extravagance. Their proposals aligned perfectly with interests. Plus, these envoys had killed Liaodong hawk Jeong Do-jeon—confirmed pro-Ming vassalists, easing worries.
Hwang Ja-jing added,
"If Joseon fights northeastern Jurchens, Liaodong secures itself. We can then pressure Prince of Yan with those troops—a boon. The late Emperor said handle Joseon via saltpeter supply. More horses reduce our cavalry needs, forcing gunpowder reliance as he envisioned. And to supply many horses, they'll fight Jurchens—mutual benefit. Accept, Your Majesty."
Unanimous, Zhu Yunwen nodded. Je Tae presented Min Mu-jil's wild ginseng gift, explaining. Zhu Yunwen perked up at "Kublai's favorite tonic," tasted it, and approved. Unneeded for young him, but ideal for aged retainers. Post-fief crisis, tribute ginseng seemed fine.
Thus, Zhu Yunwen approved Joseon's requests, ordering detailed talks. The Joseon envoys had achieved all four of Yi Bang-won's goals—save haggling numbers.