Smallpox on the Frontier and Strife in Hanyang
Smallpox. In this era, it was called ducreang, the worst disease of the pre-modern age. Countless people died from it. No wonder they called it ma-ma in the Joseon era.
Such a disease, and here was the vaccine to prevent it, right before my eyes.
"Is there a lot of talk about this right now? No, where did you even get it?"
The chief of the Oryanghap tribe panicked at first, then explained that among the Mongols' horses, there were many like this. They forced the tribe to buy them. Typical Mongol brutality... Well, even scoundrels like Muntermou had fled south to escape the Mongols.
But this was my chance—no, Joseon's chance.
"Bring me just five of those horses. I'll pay, so make sure you get them. Then I'll forgive you."
I'd planned to accept their surrender anyway, so it didn't matter.
"Really?"
"Yes. I'll pay the standard price for horses, so get them without fail. Oh, right—you probably don't have money now."
I tossed them a bundle of silver coins I'd gotten from Ming.
"That should be enough, right?"
He looked immensely relieved. He swore he'd get them no matter what. With that much money, he could buy them and have plenty left over. It would even help rebuild the tribe. Fine by me—if they rebuilt and caused trouble later, I could just crush them again.
With that, I wrapped up the subjugation of Oryanghap and returned to Hweryeong.
On the way back, Choi Yun-deok asked, "My lord, why were you so delighted by that horse earlier?"
"Hm. It's something I saw and heard about in Ming. I want to run an experiment with it."
"What kind?"
"I vaguely heard that in Ming, they treat smallpox by drying the scabs from survivors and inoculating people with them. I'm curious if it works with scabs from cows or horses too."
"There's a method like that?"
"I'm not sure—it's just something I overheard. But if it can cure smallpox, we have to try everything, don't we?"
"True enough. I hope for good results."
Blame it on Ming, and it's always convenient. In all of Joseon, only Gwon Geun and I had access to the Hanlin Academy, so no one could cross-check. Besides, Ming really did invent variolation, so it wasn't wrong.
Anyway, while waiting for the smallpox-infected horses from Oryanghap, I summoned artisans and ordered them to make bifurcated needles—split at the tip. We'd need those for inoculation. I had them start making vaccine too. When more horses arrived later, we'd make more. They followed without question, just like I'd told Choi Yun-deok. Whether because they trusted my words or my status, who knows.
While I was busy like this, joyful news came from the south: Yeo-ul had given birth to a son.
I was happy, but she'd be thrilled. She'd really wanted a boy. Word spread that I'd gotten a son—my first—and everyone congratulated me lavishly. Seemed they all expected a feast, so I dipped into my personal funds and threw one. They ate like kings.
Then Jo Yeong-mu said, "Dotongje of the Left Army, got any new dishes? Planning to make something new here?"
"Soon."
Yi Seong-gye kept nagging, so I'd whip up a couple here. I had some ideas—perfect for wintering here.
"Can't wait."
Not just Jo Yeong-mu. Look at Choi Yun-deok's eyes—he was dead set on eating it. True, he hadn't tried much of my cooking.
The feast ended, and I got back to work. Soon after, news of crushing Oryanghap spread, and tribes that had held out started surrendering in droves. They'd clearly coordinated, arriving all at once with hefty tribute. Probably worried they'd be too late and get subjugated instead.
"Please accept our surrender. We'll never rebel again."
"Fine. You'll never cross the Tumen River again?"
"Yes. We'll never cross the Tumen to attack Joseon again, so please take our tribute."
Pure bullshit, of course. The Jurchens would cross the moment Joseon looked weak. Can't trust them—but they'd stay put for about twenty years. That was enough time to fully integrate the Six Garrisons. If spies like Chetaemin spotted anything off, we could crush them then. For now, accept and prepare thoroughly.
"Very well, I accept. Send representatives on the third of the eleventh month—chiefs or proxies. Miss the date, and the surrender's off."
"Understood."
Thus, I accepted surrenders from multiple tribes and stockpiled the tribute. It was impressive: ginseng, deerskin, horses, and more. The ginseng made me chuckle—we'd started trading it heavily with the Jurchens lately.
Jo Yeong-mu, eyeing it, asked, "All to Hanyang?"
"Of course. And we need a progress report."
"Write it yourself. I can't match your skill. His Highness especially likes yours, doesn't he?"
Felt like he was dumping work on me, but fine. I wrote it up in detail: the battle, the process, current Jurchen status, and future plans—including making friendly tribes vassals.
Then I loaded the tribute and sent it to Hanyang. Lots of horses among the Jurchen gifts—handy.
Soon, five smallpox-infected horses arrived from Oryanghap. I had men make vaccine immediately. It was done soon after, dried and stored properly. Effective for sure—I inoculated myself right away. Rash formed, scabs set. When they fell off, I'd be immune to smallpox. No dying from it now.
Want to try on others, but it's tricky. Need clinical proof it works, or they'll call me mad—say Yi Bang-won and Min Da-yeon broke me. I sent a private letter: vaguely heard from Yi Bang-won, not certain, just precaution. No real cure but superstition this era, so better safe. Hope he takes it well.
Anyway, prove it during an outbreak. Until then, store carefully—use on cows or horses if it spoils, harvest fresh. Studies say that's more hygienic anyway.
Preventing smallpox is huge. If proven, the court, Yi Bang-won, and Min Da-yeon would rejoice. Come to think—didn't one of Sejong's daughters die of it? Can't recall the name, but yes. Preventing that would make him happy too.
Speaking of Yi Bang-won and Min Da-yeon... frustrating. Yeo-ul's letter said they'd started fighting again. Without me, no mediator—it felt that way. Really worried for Min Da-yeon. She drained me, but she's my sister. The palace color issue was clearly Yi Bang-won's fault. Why else would Yi Bang-gwa intervene?
But Yi Bang-won sent me here to discipline her firmly, so I can only watch. He went too far, but she provoked him some. His womanizing is bad, but pick your words. When I return, soothe her. She's family.
For now, prepare for the Jurchen chiefs on the third. Not much time left. My report should have arrived by now. Hope they like it. Back to work. They'll see it positively. Unless... they call me back since it's done? Hope not.
While Min Mu-jil prepared to receive the Jurchen chiefs, his report and tribute arrived at court.
Using Muntermou to lure in over a thousand enemies, killing them; securing surrenders from hostile Jurchen settlements; renewing loyalty oaths from friendlies; and planning to vassalize them all as gimi-ju. All detailed in the report.
Yi Bang-won was greatly pleased and shared it with the ministers. They marveled. Three months in the northeast, and this? Especially the strategy: use Muntermou to draw out rebels, annihilate them, subdue Oryanghap, then win over the rest. Universal praise.
Yi Bang-won ordered special rewards for Min Mu-jil. Then Left Prime Minister Kim Sa-hyeong spoke.
"Your Highness, the Left Army Dotongje has stabilized the Six Garrisons—no need for him longer. Recall him to court for other duties. Incorporating Jurchens as gimi-ju can be handled by others. No need for both Yeongseung-chubu-sa (Jo Yeong-mu) and Left Army Dotongje there—summon him back."
Right Prime Minister Ha Ryeon added, "Ming's civil war intensifies—we must send envoys to assess. No one better than Left Army Dotongje. Summon him to the capital, Your Highness."
But Yi Bang-won replied, "No. He's planning to vassalize the other tribes himself—the planner should execute it. Not even four months gone; too soon to recall. Send the elderly Yeongseung-chubu-sa home and give Left Army Dotongje full authority. No more debate."
Yi Bang-won flatly refused Min Mu-jil's recall. Other ministers pressed with Ming diplomacy excuses, but he ignored them utterly. He'd planned for over a year in the northeast from the start, so he dismissed their pleas. He had other schemes.
Ha Ryeon vaguely guessed but needed Min Mu-jil badly. Most ministers wanted him back too. Yi Bang-won and Min Da-yeon's quarrels had worsened terribly.
Until Min Mu-jil left, peace held tenuously—walking on thin ice, but mediated somehow. Now shattered. Min Da-yeon's maid Kim had gotten pregnant; reporting it sparked the fights.
Yi Bang-won ordered her into the palace immediately. Enraged, Min Da-yeon yelled he couldn't make a slave a consort. Yi Bang-won knew Kim's ambitions but planned modest quarters, no honors. Her snarling attack infuriated him; he yelled back.
He brought Kim in anyway. To provoke—or otherwise?—he summoned Min Da-yeon's other maid Sin to his chambers. She exploded. Now they fought daily, voices booming, no end in sight. Court was chaos.
The ministers admired Min Mu-jil more. How had he juggled duties and mediated those two? No wonder he'd wasted away. Not work—them. They wanted him back to mediate. Too risky for them; he was close to both. (Self-preservation too.)
But Yi Bang-won wouldn't summon him. All lamented. Thus Hanyang stewed in Yi Bang-won and Min Da-yeon's discord.
Then it erupted: in a fight, Yi Bang-won exploded, ordering all senior ladies and maids from the queen's palace expelled beyond the walls.