Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Ganghwa Island Triangular Zone (1)
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In my view, King Yeongjo seemed to be planning to use the rebellion to strengthen royal authority, but his retainers could think of that too.
The situation now was that remnants of the Soron faction's Musin-year plotters were spreading seditious rumors throughout the capital. With Lady Yeoseon-gun Yi Hak missing as well, the culprits couldn't have been more obvious.
In other words, this incident was a golden opportunity for the Noron faction to wipe out rival factions—including the Soron and Complete factions—and bend the king to their will.
Just as hiring people suited to the job boosts efficiency even on the same salary, bribes work best when they align with what the recipient wanted anyway.
The Noron ministers, having received my consultation fees, immediately began drafting memorials en masse.
However, addressing the crown prince's meddling with the military required the backing of heavyweight ministers.
Lee Cheon-bo, the senior member of the Yeonan Lee clan of Boseo and still bitter toward the king over his nephew Lee Ik-bo's exile to Turbo, took the lead.
"Killing rebels is no crime, no matter who does it. How much less so for the crown prince entrusted with state affairs? Even under regency, military matters cannot be delegated outright, but with the capital's loyal subjects united in hunting rebels, what could be amiss? Palace guards clashing in chaos is an unprecedented outrage through the ages—how could anyone not suspect rebel sympathies?"
Lee Cheon-bo, leader of the Noron pro-crown prince Eastern Party, laid out a flawless argument.
At this point, King Yeongjo couldn't very well say, "Fine, end the regency!"
Why had he granted regency to the crown prince in the first place?
To prove that his own regency during King Gyeongjong's reign had absolutely not been preparation for treason.
But suspecting the crown prince of treason and revoking regency amid swirling rebel intrigue would amount to admitting that regency equaled treason.
That would render Yeongjo's thirty years on the throne a joke.
In the end, Yeongjo had no choice but to approve executing several ringleaders from the Jangyongyeong and Oyeongcheong. Naturally, the Jangyongyeong—who thought they'd dirtied their hands for the king—felt deeply betrayed.
But my meticulously progressing plan shattered thanks to a single pigeon from Yi Jae-un.
What...?
We lost?
To commoners whose gunpowder had been confiscated?
This was bad.
The rebels were far stronger than I'd anticipated.
Japanese manga was right after all. Whether it's eye power, spiritual pressure, or Haki, abilities ultimately boil down to bloodline. I never should have relied on that lowly nephew of a thug.
First, I threw myself into rescuing my wife's family in Chungcheong Province.
The rebels hadn't fully seized Chungcheong yet, but if they did, there was no way those Soron Taliban would spare the Namyang Hong clan of Tohong—the quintessential Gyeonggi Noron house.
It wasn't just for Se-hwa's sake. Hong Eok, now in high office, and rising stars like Hong Daeyong had elevated the Namyang Hong clan's influence in central politics far beyond the old days.
Not to mention their farmland in Boryeong or sway over Chungcheong magistrates—abandoning them was unthinkable from any angle.
Fortunately, Park Jae-ha, commander of the Jeolla Left Naval Station, was currently moored at the Chungcheong Naval Base.
They'd eagerly pursued the Dutch ship but galley ships couldn't keep pace with sailing vessels, so they'd lost it midway and stopped to regroup—turning misfortune into fortune.
Moreover, the current Chungcheong Naval Commander, Lee Ju-guk, was someone I'd coordinated with during the Wangsimni Salho Palace incident. I'd kept up regular contact since, so he'd surely help.
Those two fleets could easily evacuate my in-laws and their retainers.
I'd probably lose half my fortune, but no choice. Money could be earned again.
As I hurriedly penned letters, Se-hwa teared up and clasped my hand.
"Meeting you must be the fruit of a hundred lifetimes of karma. I don't know how to repay this grace."
Hong Daeyong had rushed to our house, clinging to my sleeve begging for help. Outwardly, she'd played the loyal wife vowing heroic death in crisis, but deep down, Se-hwa worried for her family too.
"Rest easy. All will unfold as it should."
Without time to comfort Se-hwa further, I dove into the next task.
I'd spared the rebels in the capital because the external ones seemed too weak, hoping to aid them.
But circumstances had changed.
The humiliated Jangyongyeong had barely avoided annihilation under Yi Geum's desperate protection.
With even the Eastern Division recaptured, they could no longer hunt capital rebels from outside the city walls.
Naturally, Training Commandant Kim Seong-eung—who took over city security—used uncanny wisdom from who-knows-where to pinpoint and raid the rebel leadership's hideout.
The residence of former Training Command Inspector General Jo Dong-jeong, still in mourning, was a scene of utter devastation.
"Rebel Yi Hak, come out and face judgment!"
No prolonged search needed—a servant stuck out his tongue and pointed to the soy jar stand.
Soldiers hurled stones; Lady Yeoseon-gun Yi Hak, hiding in the large jar, became the only royal to swim amid shattered pottery shards.
She unleashed her rehearsed defense for this moment.
"I was dragged here by the rebels!"
Kim Seong-eung snorted. As a Joseon man, he knew her type well.
Like many royals who shirked blame but dreamed of the throne if handed for free.
Figures like Prince Jinseongdae or Prince Neungyang succeeded but their petty natures doomed their reigns.
Whether Yeonsangun or Gwanghaegun were tyrants mattered less than whether they'd staked their necks in resistance.
Even self-armed Prince Suyang or self-taught Prince Yeo-ing seemed better.
Kim Seong-eung waved dismissively without reply.
"Drag out every dog in this rebel-harboring household, spare none!"
"Yes, sir!"
Though still petty officials at heart, the Training Command didn't repeat the Jangyongyeong's fruitless torture.
Kim Seong-eung recalled his talk with Kim Unhaeng.
"Just nab the elites. Ignore the rabble. They're brainless types rallied by a meal or pocket change."
"Even so, how can we overlook rebels...?"
"Chasing untouchables wastes time. Snag the leaders' friends and kin; the rest aren't worth interrogating. Win public favor."
Dubious how faking documents built reputation, but Kim Seong-eung followed the advice.
And it worked.
Commoners praised the Training Command's precision strikes, then cursed the Jangyongyeong's dragnet as deliberate looting.
Officially, the grounded crown prince had no hand in this.
Yet he'd already crushed two nuisance units at Gyeongbok Palace, earning awe from the masses.
And the Training Command had been at his side.
Memories of their cabbage extortion in markets or back-alley shakedowns had vanished from public minds.
Armies needed solid roots too.
Only the Training Command—founded by King Seonjo, the sole Joseon king to win a national war—had them.
Not some dubious outfit fed to brothers by kings who'd merely headbutted Jurchens.
Thus, hope for righting the future lay with the commander of this "rooted" force.
Emboldened Noron pro-crown prince factions launched their next move.
Hong Bong-han, Noron leader, couldn't act openly as the crown prince's father-in-law—more the king's in-law—but that didn't bind the Eastern, Southern, or Spring parties.
With the king seemingly short-lived, they pushed hard to impress the next one.
"Thanks to the Training Command, capital bandits are eradicated, but external rebels devour Chungcheong. With both camps' commanders disgraced, let the Training Commandant assume all troops for a southern expedition, per precedent."
Politically and militarily, Yi Geum had no grounds to refuse.
He couldn't claim they must guard the king—the king himself had stripped that duty.
Plus—though unspoken—Yi Geum's fault for placing an unproven relative as Chungcheong Defense Commissioner.
But Yi Geum wasn't one to fold here.
For a veteran gamer like Yi Geum, this was no crisis compared to classic days.
He pocketed counterattack tools from the defeat, then set safeguards.
"I accept the ministers' counsel. Appoint Gwangju Governor Hong Bong-han Supreme Commander; let the Training Commandant lead troops to crush southern foes."
Balance-wise, he'd have preferred Park Mun-su, but with Soron in rebellion, impossible. Park was self-isolating as a "criminal," unkempt and reclusive.
Settle for Noron. If the Training Command won, credit Hong over Kim Seong-eung.
Next, Yi Geum dispatched envoys west, urging reinforcements.
Recipient: Jangyongyeong Commander Sin Min, hunting the Dutch ship.
Mere return wouldn't do. He must smash the Dutch first.
That gave pretext to reclaim Jangyongyeong troops from the Training Commandant, restoring the king's zero unit.
Yi Geum had no intent to flee north like Seonjo or summon northerners like Injo.
Regardless of dislike for Kim Seong-eung, the Training Command could handle "two-man rule." Emptying borders risked too much.
Not Qing invasion fears.
Large movements in Yanggye (Manchuria) would alert Shenyang generals to the emperor, prompting political meddling in Joseon unrest.
No paranoia—ongoing intel suggested Qianlong aimed to rule not just China, but humanity.
Thus, Yi Geum focused on the Dutch.
He'd appoint a minister deeply aligned with his ideal tangpyeong policy—forgiven leniently with ten cane strokes in the recent Mun clan case for "recruitment."
"Military Registry Clerk Kim Unhaeng once captured a Red-Haired ship and knows barbarians well—ideal to assist the commander. Grant him temporary Jangyongyeong Separate General (Regular 3rd rank); follow to Ganghwa and shatter the barbarians."
Aboard the rocking ship, I offered maximal courtesy.
"A noble like Lord Yeongseong-gun must find the vessel uncomfortable, but for the realm's sake, bear it briefly."
Park Mun-su snorted.
"I've commanded Yellow Sea fleets—ships don't faze me. What bothers me is you."
Ungrateful bastard.
Hey, I orchestrated your joint rebel-suppression appeal with Yi Cheol-bo, Jo Jae-ho, and other Soron suspects right after my Separate General post—escaping political and hygienic peril.
Soron calling to purge Soron forces Noron to pause attacks. Like preemptively yelling "Xi Jinping scum! Free Tibet!"—they can't cry racism first.
Yeongjo, relieved, appointed Park Mun-su Jangyongyeong Naval Overseer.
With Soron-Dutch collusion rumors rife, the appointment drew backlash.
But Yeongjo countered that overseers held no real power.
"If a mere word brands everyone rebels, who'll trust and follow me?"
This warning—that nitpick words in future treason probes could ensnare Noron—kept them wary.
What's your beef?
Yet grumbler Park Mun-su stayed prickly toward his benefactor.
"Going this far, you must have a surefire plan to nab the Red-Hairs. Share it, and I'll puppet the Jangyongyeong commander for you."
No, sorry. None.
What do I know about naval battles? That Dutch capture wasn't combat.
But saying so, he'd toss me overboard here.
"How could a lowly one like me have grand strategies? Still, Jeolla Left caught the barbarians and pursues hotly; Chungcheong joined—situation ripe for victory."
The allied fleets were at Jemulpo. They'd drop my in-laws first, then merge.
Park Mun-su clicked his tongue.
"Chungcheong aside, Jeolla Left's your close friend. Now you command the navy at will?"
"Perish the thought. He came dutifully as befits his station. Liberation Squadron goes anywhere needed, no? Not even my 'close friend,' yet he'd join if Chungcheong deemed Jeolla's intent pure?"
Park Mun-su eyed me steadily, then sighed.
"For the realm, I can't tell if the Red-Hairs or you are the greater foe."
Whoa, sea wind too fierce—missed that.
"But no time to quibble. Mine's short too."
As I pondered ignoring or questioning, Park turned away.
At Ganghwa, Jangyongyeong Commander Sin Min raged till his bald pate glowed red.
Unable to snap at Park Mun-su, he vented on me.
"Jeolla Left and Chungcheong now? A civilian as Separate General? We'd spotted the Red-Hair ship, poised to seize—now you swoop for glory? Such delusions!"
I humbly bowed.
Go, Park Mun-su! Body-slam him!
As if receiving telepathy, Park haughtily slammed papers on the table.
"So you let the Western ship roam free for near a fortnight?"
Yeongjo was right—overseers lacked real authority.
But formal powers existed: oversight.
I.e., to lord it over others.
And Overseer Park Mun-su was a multifaceted genius—especially at assholery. I'd felt it bodily.
"L-Lord Yeongseong-gun, not so. Two days ago, we charged the foe...!"
Sigh. He fell for it.
"Charged? Without scouting skies or terrain, rash pursuit sans battle—sinking your own ship and dozens? That's your 'charge'?"
Ganghwa currents menaced small Jangyongyeong boats.
Plus, hating Liberation Squadron credit theft, he'd chased solo.
Dutch guns missed, but panicked into rapids, his ship wrecked.
"Blind to foe speed or your armaments—pure ignorance! Like boasting Won Gyun fought valiantly at Chilcheollyang!"
Wow, Soron viciousness. Comparing a Joseon general to Won Gyun?
"You questioned Separate General Kim Unhaeng's civilian presence here; now I ask: Why ignore experts and squander state ships?"
"Experts? You mean...?"
"Kim Unhaeng formed the Liberation Squadron, first captured Red-Hairs at Ulleungdo. Scholarship shallow, skills green, character iffy—"
Why tack on useless snark?
"—yet unlike you, ghost-making masses sans merit or boasts! Fools rush in—heed the experienced!"
Sin Min paled and retreated.
Ogunyeong commanders ranked near ministers, but "defense commissioner fast-track" vs. "Yeongseong-gun Park Mun-su" was worlds apart. No choice.
We tracked the Dutch while awaiting the commanders. By arrival, we were ready.
Author's Note
1. Lee Cheon-bo, mentioned several times, later took responsibility for Crown Prince Sado's Pyongyang excursion and committed suicide. His loyalty earned posthumous honors.
2. Ogunyeong commanders were political; if issues arose, middle officers like Inspector General didn't auto-inherit—instead, another commander often co-led.
3. Yi Cheol-bo (Soron, distinct from Noron Lee Cheon-bo) swiftly filed a rebel-suppression appeal to escape Na ju placard fallout—true, but Park Mun-su and Jo Jae-ho didn't join. Park, as depicted, self-confined as "criminal," unwashed; Yeongjo protected him, but he never returned to politics before death.
4. Qianlong mention: Joseon sparsely but steadily received Qing military intel. This timing marks Qianlong's Dzungar extermination war start. Annals simply note "Western Tatars (Dzungars) rebelled." Qianlong skipped Beijing for Shenyang amid rear unrest, likely signaling Mongol 48 banners. Yeongjo rags on past sage-kings returning for rebellions while Qianlong doesn't—but context implies "If only Shenyang lacked the real emperor, I'd north-conquer."