Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Radical Enlightenment Faction (1)
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No matter how competently the Crown Prince was handling regency affairs, military matters were always the exception. Having received the official report from Kim Unhaeng, the Crown Prince naturally relayed it to his father.
Upon receiving the document, Yi Geum scoffed.
"Minister Wonryang is far too frivolous. How can he make such a fuss over mere pirate ships?"
He reflexively scolded the Crown Prince, replenishing his essential nutrients after a long while, but Yi Geum's mind was inevitably preoccupied.
This wasn't something he could navigate with his greatest strength—shrewd experience. Experience is backed by precedent, and there was no way such an absurd incident had any precedent, let alone experience.
Yi Geum first calmed his mind.
According to the report, the armed force amounted to just one pirate ship. It wasn't fundamentally different from the many bizarre ships that had appeared before.
There was no need to mobilize the warp engine Han River Rapid Force on Ganghwa Island. Yi Geum suppressed the Ancestor and Injo raging in his veins.
Objectively speaking, the border wasn't urgent right now.
If anything, the urgency lay with the central government.
For Yi Geum, this was an opportunity to sever Kim Unhaeng from the Crown Prince, purge the Crown Prince, and then reincorporate Kim Unhaeng into the royalist faction.
It was entirely feasible. Whether Kim Unhaeng had fabricated trade permissions or commanded a battle without military authority, it could be deemed a grave crime depending on interpretation.
Forgiving everything just because the outcome was good would collapse the national system. Everyone would start causing chaos under the excuse of "pay it forward." What would set them apart from pirates then?
However, punishing Kim Unhaeng would require punishing the Liberation Squadron that actually fought the battle.
Yet the Liberation Squadron was the pillar upholding the flat-rate official system, and the gradually expanding flat-rate system in Gyeonggi Province was now the Ministry of Equalization's lifeline. He couldn't afford to break their morale.
Moreover, the fact that not one but two foreign powers were involved amplified Yi Geum's hesitation.
Foreign-related incidents inherently tensed absolute monarchs, regardless of content, simply by denying the ruler's omnipotence.
From any angle, it reeked of a shitstorm where one misstep would plunge him in deep.
So Yi Geum decided to throw his son into that pit instead.
That was the point of installing a regent in the first place.
Filial piety should be self-initiated, but to think he had to contrive even the opportunity for his son to play the dutiful heir—it was truly an unfilial child.
Yi Geum first banned the ministers' repeated petitions.
"Do you ministers not understand the purpose of regency? The enemy has already been crushed, so this is no urgent military matter. Leave it to the Crown Prince."
As always, the ministers wailed that no matter the regency, how could they entrust such grave military duties to the Crown Prince?
But there was a difference this time.
Not all the ministers did so.
Some insisted it was a minister's duty to petition the king to the end, while others argued that given the urgency, they should follow the royal command and defer to the Crown Prince.
Normally, ministers should unite in staunchly supporting the king. The very fact that opinions were divided here proved cracks in Yi Geum's political power.
Kim Sangseong, the Minister of the Board of War in charge of this central matter, epitomized that shift.
Unlike Park Mun-su or Jo Jaeho, Kim Sangseong wasn't even from the Tangpyeong faction. He was a fervent Noron still upholding loyalties from the Sinim Impeachment—a staunch Little Noron, or Junso.
To Kim Sangseong, who firmly believed King Gyeongjong had been murdered by his younger brother, this was a golden chance to weaken the king's military authority. Once precedent was set, the Crown Prince could handle military matters again.
In Kim Sangseong's view, the king had been foolish this time. No matter how burdensome, he should have handled military affairs personally.
Just as King Taejong Yi Bangwon had succeeded in suppressing superiors and neutralizing inferiors without the taint of lowly plots like crab sauce scandals or inhuman abuse of his sons.
Yi Bangwon's family governance as a householder monarch had been that masterful.
Sneering coldly at the king, Kim Sangseong returned the matter to the Crown Prince.
With assurance that the king had "fully entrusted" it to him.
The Office of Inspectors might impeach him for ministerial arrogance, but to a minority radical like the Junso faction—worse off than the Namin—it was mere tickling.
And the Crown Prince was similar.
Strictly speaking, he should rush to his father and roll on the floor. Accepting military duties could brand him a rebel. Until last year, he certainly would have.
But now, he had no intention of banging his head begging for understanding.
Especially not when it involved Kim Unhaeng.
Jo Jaeho had returned from exile in Gyeyang and resumed his post as Minister of the Board of Personnel.
He wouldn't say he liked Kim Unhaeng yet, but they'd coordinated during the Mun clan's incident, and anyone could see the exile was the king's manipulation. No deep grudges lingered.
Thus, when Jo Jaeho joined the other ministers in the secondary audience to report, his words stemmed not from personal dislike of Kim Unhaeng but from his duty as an impartial appointment official.
"There are many suspicious aspects to Investigator Kim Unhaeng's account. Why would Hollanders, who sat idle in Nagasaki for over a century, suddenly come to Ulleungdo seeking revenge for ancient castaways?
Perhaps the reporting Japanese used cunning tricks. We must summon Kim Unhaeng and interrogate him harshly before rashly engaging in battle."
Jo Jaeho's statement also served the Crown Prince.
This Red-Haired (Dutch) riot entangled military, diplomacy, and economics in a tangle as thorny as arrowroot roots—not at all easy.
Extreme caution was needed. And the basis of caution was grasping the facts accurately.
Even if it meant punishing a favorite retainer, knowing the truth was vital. Talented youths were plentiful, but lost political ground was hard to regain.
Even now, the king had lost face over a mere palace maid.
It wasn't a fatal blow to Yi Geum. But the realization dawning on people—like waking from a dream—"Ah, right. Our king is mortal too"—that was crucial.
And it could backfire anytime. The Crown Prince's nascent political faction could be nipped in the bud.
Thus, the Crown Prince must handle it strictly "by the book."
Jo Jaeho made sure the Crown Prince understood.
No matter his favor for Kim Unhaeng, he couldn't overtly protect him in such a grave matter.
He was wrong.
The Crown Prince overtly protected Kim Unhaeng.
"Where is the oddity? It all fits in my view. Until now, our zealous ancestors and His Majesty tolerated the Japanese presence, leaving the Hollanders no pretext. They bought goods from Tsushima, and Tsushima traded freely with Joseon.
But we couldn't ignore the Japanese lewdness this time, so we banned trade at Dongnae, giving the Dutch pirates their perfect excuse."
Jo Jaeho's voice faltered at the unexpected turn.
"Gr-GRANTED that, we must still hear the Hollanders' side..."
"Does the Minister of Personnel say this after seeing Kim Unhaeng's map? Their spies are beyond doubt. From the Zhou dynasty to Chongzhen, all histories say barbarians are caressed in submission and exterminated in rebellion—just like now."
Jo Jaeho wanted to ask when he'd gotten so into the histories.
But contrary to Jo Jaeho's thoughts, the Crown Prince was a master of the Naked Chinese Histories.
The erudite Crown Prince soon struck a point Jo Jaeho couldn't ignore.
"Moreover, Minister, are you saying—as a subordinate official—that we should heed a royal command-bearing investigator like Kim Unhaeng and filthy pirates with equal weight? That's neglecting impartiality as an appointment official. How could it not invite suspicions of factionalism?"
Jo Jaeho's mistake.
In this era, equal crimes didn't mean equal punishment for noble and commoner—that wasn't "fair." The gap widened manifold for domestic nobles versus foreign pirates.
Anyone could see it as forcing Kim Unhaeng, a Noron, down.
Even War Minister Kim Sangseong, a Junso, thought so.
He inwardly cursed Jo Jaeho's ten generations of ancestors. It was like a fellow minister sniping a subordinate from another line in parliament.
Thus, Kim Sangseong cut Jo Jaeho off and firmly reported to the Crown Prince.
"If you don't trust a minister, why send him to the border? And having sent him, why distrust? Since Grandfather has entrusted it to you, subordinates have no cause to debate. Handle as you see fit."
"The War Minister speaks my mind."
Buoyed, the Crown Prince issued regent orders.
"Kim Unhaeng has already interrogated the Hollanders, so no need for redundant probes. Escort them all to Seoul. Spare the leader; the rest are likely cheap hires, but as King Injo instructed Park Yeon, they won't escape without wings."
The Crown Prince's command continued.
"No need to bring items logged by Kim Unhaeng's detachment to Seoul. Send one each of cannons and bayonets, etc.; use the rest for the weary Liberation Squadron soldiers, reequip armories, and ensure they can defeat Westerners henceforth. If their grudge from King Hyeonjong's era is so deep, won't they return using this as pretext?"
Thus, under Superintendents Park Mun-su's oversight (Jo Jaeho insisted on monitoring), Kim Unhaeng and Liberation generals consulted to allocate Dutch warships and assets for national defense.
The Crown Prince's directives were apt.
His restraint on diplomatic issues—like warning vassal Japan for foolishly releasing the Dutch to sea or setting terms with the Dutch—was politically astute.
Suspiciously so.
Jo Jaeho was Crown Prince faction, but that didn't mean he rated the Crown Prince's intellect highly. Quite the opposite—as faction, he knew him well.
It didn't add up. The Crown Prince wasn't this sharp.
So Jo Jaeho probed if Kim Unhaeng had sent separate advice with the report.
But no documents beyond the report reached the Crown Prince.
Kim Unhaeng (naturally detectable) avoided such methods. He merely sent a "personal item" home.
From Jangdong to Inwangsan, Inwangsan to Citizen Hall—the "Kim Chunsik's silk pouch" was Kim Unhaeng's petty ploy, honed from profit off Romance of the Three Kingdoms on Ulleungdo.
But it deeply impressed the Crown Prince.
'Like Zhuge Liang's loyalty to Lord Liu Bei, this means Kim Unhaeng will serve me!'
Thus, the Crown Prince recited the pouch's stratagem verbatim before the ministers, never betraying Kim Unhaeng as he'd lectured his son.
In this nation's 300-year history, such monarch-minister bond was rare.
The Crown Prince would surely delegate the Dutch assets' local distribution to us, as I wrote in the silk pouch.
Local handling Joseon-style was commonsense. I'd even provided the "Dutch reinvasion" pretext.
So before orders arrived, we planned extra revenue allocation.
Han Jungnyang and I quickly agreed on dividing the spoils.
I needed to handle inkstone smuggling first, so I planned major concessions to his Liberation Squadron.
Without their Southeast coast grip, smuggling variables multiplied. Han Jungnyang was amenable, reasons unknown.
But we split on the bulkiest, priciest item: the "ships."
"Any civilian official might not know, but Dog-Beating Stick—who built the Liberation Squadron—surely knows shipbuilding costs. Why destroy this flagship? Dismantling such a treasure for firewood or fences!"
Han Jungnyang beat his chest. Hey, that's me wanting that.
I asked incredulously.
"How do you propose using it? No one but those spies can sail Western ships. Sails without galley oars, right?"
I pointed to Dutchmen taking beatings from Red Flower Eoji yonder.
"Entrust it to them? Nonsense. All must go to Seoul immediately. Even sailing to Uljin worried me."
True story. No one could handle Western square-riggers, so we relied on Dutch sailors—binding half, swords to throats, coercing the rest. Now beating to break spirits.
"After interrogations, request a couple back! They sailed halfway 'round the world.
How swift, how sturdy? Learn their design, and we won't cower by coasts—we could go anywhere."
Idiot. Then no isolationism.
This case proves it. Think my report would've worked without seclusion? That "unsearched Western ship gold and silver" lines your pockets too.
Limited info allows easy manipulation.
Every bastard sailing frigates across borders? Goryeo era? Primitive when any Hui Muslim slipped in, grabbing women at twin cakes shops?
I tolerated Dongnae smugglers' rafts, but state-level Age of Exploration? Is this Joseon? Modern man?
I bellowed thunderously.
"Magistrate, how can you chase horse rumors, blind to the greater world!"
"What?"
"Ivory chopsticks unfit jade cups [象著玉杯]. Luxuries erode frugality, fixating on profit. Covet that ship, and you'll learn their tongue and books, mingle with beastly barbarians, becoming pirates by degrees.
Setting that aside, per your words, we'd pardon some—unlike Park Yeon's driftwood, these are clear spies and thieves. Releasing for ship convenience? Where's strict reward-punishment? Trading great ships for great principles?"
Moved by my isolationist zeal or chilled by implication of guilt using Westerners, Han Jungnyang bowed.
"Investigator's right."
Our ally, so compliant. Can't skimp.
I soothed promptly.
"When you bravely seized this ship, did we have such flagships or cannons? Solely lofty integrity and selfless loyalty won that merit. Need big ships? I'll contact old Gyeonggang traders."
Han Jungnyang nodded reluctantly.
More realistic than using or mass-producing exotic ships.
"I know Dog-Beating Stick instructs from concern, but it's a shame."
"Haha, no need. 'Halfway 'round the world'? Pirate brag. Nothing special. World a ball? Opposite dwellers would fall off."
Han Jungnyang stared incredulously.
Yeah, I know. Flat Earth debunked since Spring-Autumn; Zengzi refuted in Warring States: "Round heaven, square earth leaves corners uncovered." Later philosophical cosmology.
But I kept iron face. Neo-Confucians skip astronomy.
Luckily, no need long.
Jangbok galloped from afar, kicking dust. Slave riding bold now?
"Urgent dispatch!"
I scolded louder than usual in meeting—for Han Jungnyang's diversion from astronomy.
"You wretch, interrupting master's official talk—what manners?"
"Y-You're not master! Superintendents Park Mun-su said wake you pounding if asleep..."
Han Jungnyang chuckled. Damn, face lost.
Red stamps on missive—only court military orders bore three.
Unified stamps replaced couriers' bells. Park Mun-su got it from Dongnae, sent via Jangbok minding Jeongseon and Park Sangsoon.
I tore open.
Swallowed surging curses.
Crown Prince's writ: as expected, local Dutch assets distribution.
And simultaneously: send "Hollander cannon-ship" intact to Seoul with prisoners.
Author's Note
1. Kim Sangseong was indeed War Minister in Yeongjo 29. Injo's "no wings, no escape" to Park Yeon is from Hamel's drift account, not annals.
2. "Heaven round, earth square"—ancients knew nonsense; Zengzi refuted in Spring-Autumn/Warring States: corners uncovered. Later philosophical.
3. Han Jungnyang no magistrate, but military like plainclothes, warrants, constables often called "Magistrate."