Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: (Side Story) Inheriting Father
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In September, when the British landed in the Philippines, Chuseok festivities were in full swing in Joseon.
Thanks to the bumper grain harvests from wartime booms, people's faces were bright despite the poor yield.
The ever-jovial Jangdong Kim clan was no exception.
Among Kim Unhaeng's three prodigies, Kaoru had gone independent. Eoji had become a military officer and now lived separately at Inwangsan, only escorting Kim Unhaeng to work.
Naturally, much of the workload fell on Jangbok. Especially during peak holiday seasons like now.
But Jangbok had no complaints.
It was all because of the man flustering in front of him right now.
"My slot's been pushed back too far. When am I going to see old Dog-Beating Stick? This is urgent. If not handled, it'll disrupt official orders and mess up the national treasury!"
Even a lowborn clerk despised by yangban was worlds apart from a slave, but Jangbok straightened his back and neck, wearing a troubled look.
"What's the point of teaching state affairs to this ignoramus? If you have official business for our master, go to the Northern Camp—that's the Training Guard headquarters. Why hassle a lowly slave like me?"
"The Training Guard handles military matters, but everyone in the capital knows the clerkship's real power comes from this Jangdong Hustle-and-Bustle Office. And who can come and go without your say-so?"
"Ahem. That's more than this slave can handle."
Officially, the clerkship fell under the Ministry of Military and the Equal Tax Office.
But the positions doled out there had hefty shares for the Long-distance Patrol Fleet and the Training Guard. Armies were economic ministries, after all.
And Kim Unhaeng was both drillmaster and a renowned warrior acknowledged by Fleet Commander Kim Seong-eung, with ties to the Literary Councillor through personal bonds (or so Kim Seong-eung boasted).
So naturally, anyone savvy enough to run a clerkship instead of blowing wealth on vice came straight to Kim Unhaeng first.
Seoul didn't have just Noryangjin Park clan's yellow kings in the clerkship game. The world had plenty of non-yellow wares, and clerks clashed fiercely over hundreds of commodities.
This petitioner before Jangbok was no different.
"Even Master Seongho (Yi Ik) is getting on in years and scatterbrained—he listened to some Westerner's nonsense and revised the Discourse on All Things Under Heaven, putting me in a bind. Suddenly otters have fur and nurse young, so they're not fish? What drivel! Fly in the sky, you're a bird; live in water, you're a fish!"
Yi Ik, who roamed meeting Westerners with disciple-cum-grandnephew Yi Ga-hwan, was deeply impressed by Daniel Solander's transmission of his teacher Carl Linnaeus's mammalian classification.
He even questioned whales, which Linnaeus himself had deemed fish. Ulleungdo's ongoing whaling provided ample specimens.
'No scales, bellows like an ox, eyes recorded but no one ever saw the young—so maybe like otters, it lives in water but isn't a fish?'
That scholarly fervor quickly produced a revised edition of the Discourse.
But like mechanical looms or kiosks, scientific progress often wrecked livelihoods in absurd ways.
Jangbok replied with mock sympathy.
"True enough—oranges in Jiangnan, trifoliate oranges north of the river. Origin matters, so otters not being fish must sting for river-hunting clerks like you."
"Exactly! So please tell the master..."
But Jangbok was Kim Unhaeng's 'closest aide'.
"Still, Master Seongho's a renowned scholar even this fool's heard of, and he's especially close to your brother-in-law from Cheonan (Hong Daeyong). How dare I risk a scolding? There's reason in beasts and reason in men alike."
Of course, a clerk knew human reason well.
The river-hunting clerk summoned his servant, who produced a tightly sealed jar.
"Sturdy carp, male and female pairs—ten in all. At your level, you've got some prime pond land, right? Dig one, release them, and in a single season, they'll multiply to ten thousand, worth millions in coin. Beats any merchant's haul—that's fish-farming's secret."
"If it's that urgent, no choice. Come back tonight; master should be here. He's skipping camp tomorrow for ancestral rites on Chuseok."
"I'll remember this favor."
For all his bluster, it was a fitting gift from a river clerk.
Yangban Practical Learning scholars weren't the only ones with classifications. Clerks lacked systematic knowledge but knew their wares inside out.
Just collecting excise from merchants yielded slim profits. Deep product savvy prevented merchant scams and enabled lucrative side gigs exploiting authority.
Time-honed natural lore, refined through trial and error, filled specialized treatises traded as trade secrets.
Fish-farming was the same. The clerk left Jangbok with tips like 'Don't believe tales of hatching fish eggs under hens—useless nonsense.'
Jangbok hugged the jar and hurried off. The heavy crock felt like a feather.
As the clerk said, Jangbok—riding Kim Unhaeng's coattails—had quietly bought land. With his eight or nine junior slaves, digging ponds was child's play.
But grinning too wide was his mistake.
When a familiar voice sounded behind him, Jangbok nearly dropped the jar.
"What're you hugging like that?"
"Y-Young master? Whew, you scared the wits out of me."
It was Kim Ihwan, dressed sharply as if headed out.
Only twelve, but the fine attire highlighted the striking looks he'd inherited. Every scholar visiting Jangdong Kim praised him as a prodigy.
Before Jangbok could react, Kim Ihwan peered into the jar.
Then flashed a smile that sank Jangbok's heart.
"Where'd these carp come from? If you're aboveboard, no sweat—but your guilty feet tell me plenty."
"W-what? Just a holiday gift for the master."
"Yeah? Let's see..."
Kim Ihwan pointed to the two largest carp.
"Fish those out, put 'em in another bucket, and follow. For an esteemed guest—no killing or bruising."
"Eh? N-no, I need master's permission..."
"Didn't you say it's from Father? Family property—I'll tell him later."
"I've got Hustle-and-Bustle Office duties..."
"It won't collapse without you. Father skipped camp for a month, and troops were fine. What business of a slave's? You an official? Quit yapping and hop to it."
True heir to Kim Chunsik's blood. Jangbok slumped, dreams of carp vanishing.
Kim Ihwan's talk of an 'esteemed guest' was no bluff. His destination: the Crown Palace.
Don't underestimate Jangbok, though. He'd trailed Kim Unhaeng to the palace since Ihwan was a babe.
So Jangbok chattered without palace jitters.
"If you're off to be playmate, should've grabbed more carp."
"Tch. Then folks'd whisper I'm buying favor with fancy treats. You wouldn't get it—there's protocol."
Kim Ihwan had been officially named Crown Prince Yi Jeong's friend some time ago.
Less for his scholarship than Crown Prince Yi Hwon binding future Kim Unhaeng as Royal Prince Consort. Couldn't summon daughter Sugeong, after all.
Instead, he dangled: brother's looks speak for the sister, right? A subtle nudge.
The king, whose own son showed promise at Yi Jeong's age, figured his boy fancied girls too.
Yi Hwon firmly believed he understood and communed with his son unlike the 'Retired Emperor.' Precisely the pointless meddling sons loathe.
Sons hate such fatherly care because it's true.
Yi Jeong, curious about unseen Kim Sugeong, puzzled over his friend's carp gift.
Carp typically symbolized lord-vassal loyalty—fit for the histories.
But at his age—with Joseon's fast maturity curve, old enough to finish family planning grabbing a neighbor girl's pen—only 'eternal harmony' came to mind for the pair.
Yi Seonhwa would've been disappointed learning Kim Ihwan squandered her gift on Kaoru Bakery sweets, commandeering slave carp—but he never mentioned it.
Yi Jeong, skipping sister questions, praised drawing on scant reading.
"Gifts are banquets at root. I well grasp your loyalty."
When retainers offered sincerity, lords bestowed favors.
As always, the prince granted a handful of Kaoru's sugar.
That sugar was why he'd hustled the gift.
At first, Kim Ihwan used the old Yi Gwangryeo ploy.
Praising Father's scholarship to snag calligraphy. Touched, Kim Unhaeng inscribed dozens of fans.
They didn't sell well. Fine script, wrong content. Ihwan grumbled, most went to the hearth.
Switching to the prince: smash hit.
Yi Jeong lavished sugar each visit. Hearing from Queen Hong that Kim Sugeong loved sugary sweets, how could he stint?
With boy-lord trade done, real work began.
Thankfully, Yi Jeong didn't hate study like his father, so he quietly opened a book.
Not classics, though. Kim Ihwan asked,
"What's that book?"
"Ah. Thinking of something different today. We've housed Western teacher-priests at the Observatory lately; they offered several books."
Imprisoned in the Security Office, Hallerstein and Ko Gai-seul were quietly released.
Yi Hwon, trusting only Kim Unhaeng, placed them at the 'Observatory'—but calendar-making for emperor-fugitives? No.
This time, Chundangdae backed Kim Unhaeng on risks. Yi Hwon yielded, settling them at stargazing-friendly Bukhansanseong.
Seasoned missionaries sensed their fortunes turning. They timely offered the king novelties.
Yi Jeong's book was one.
"His Majesty devours books from Yanjing, so I should follow suit. Father approved—read along."
Sad misunderstanding: grooming Northern Learning second-gen sapling.
Kim Ihwan flipped one open.
"This must be the Western 'Lord of Heaven' doctrine. Father says it's Buddhist offshoot, all deceptive prattle."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Set it aside and do something fun. How about a 'tour'?"
Yi Jeong wasn't father-level oddity-obsessed, nor Sejong-study-mad. He perked up, leaning in.
Playmates' prime role: academic oversight. Poor personnel choice, nothing more.
Not a real outing—Kim Ihwan wouldn't drag the prince from the palace.
He fetched Father's carelessly tossed telescope. Kim Unhaeng rarely needed it, thanks to skills.
"Isn't this a telescope? Read about it."
"Yes. Your Highness likely hasn't used one—views a hundred ri seated, no need mobilizing troops or troubling folk for landscape tours."
A prince starved for outdoors beyond stuffy rites (Yi Hwon had been considerate)—welcome news.
"A tool fit for a virtuous king!"
Modern equivalent: handing over a VR headset.
They sat on the verandah, sightseeing Seoul. Looked like proper princely play, unlike Father's youth.
But tiring of that, Kim Ihwan swiftly pivoted.
"Let me show you a wondrous principle I learned lately."
Unaware of telescope value, he tapped it, removing the lens.
Propped paper under afternoon sun, he maneuvered the lens carefully.
Soon smoke rose from one spot, charring black.
In modern Korea, kids half their age outgrew such tricks. But novel to Yi Jeong: electric thrill.
"Me too!"
Yi Jeong snatched the lens excitedly. Paper burned as expected.
Too well.
Aiming at the 'deceptive' catechism: dry pages ignited instantly.
Out on the verandah for telescope, sun-aligned book sat on the doorsill.
Flames jumped to the paper door. Distant palace servants rushed in frenzy.
"Prince, evacuate!"
Unnecessary panic.
Here was Kim Unhaeng's son, before whom all fire demons froze.
Kim Ihwan dashed inside, grabbed the carp bucket.
Splashed the door without hesitation. No inferno like Nakseondang—just that quenched it.
To arriving eunuchs: 'My mistake. Don't tell Father—he'll worry.' Yi Jeong sighed relief.
"Your quick thinking saved us."
Kim Ihwan bowed demurely, as if he'd never brought the telescope. Prince owned the fault—no guilt.
"How could an unworthy son not emulate his father, lifelong servant of Your Augustness and the royal house?"
Kim Unhaeng once applied medicine saving Yi Jeong from illness.
Now Kim Ihwan applied flopping carp (medicine).
Kim Unhaeng plunged into Nakseondang, rescuing King Yi Hwon from flames.
Kim Ihwan saved Prince Yi Jeong from fire.
Yi Jeong was moved by this clan's innate vassal loyalty.
What house better for bridal kin to prosper the altars of state?
Yi Jeong grasped Kim Ihwan's hand.
"Jangdong Kim shall shine eternally in history. Strive to learn from your father, and your line shall never fade."
Yi Jeong wasn't hurt, so carp went to father Yi Hwon.
Yi Hwon presented it to the 'Retired Emperor' at Namhansanseong.
Holiday filial meds for parents: standard. Sado Seja-symbol gochujang included.
Yi Geum's reaction to gochujang braised carp: unknown. Rumors of flipping the tray yelling 'Send crab sauce and persimmons!' pure gossip.
One certainty:
On Hallerstein's ashes of missionary ambitions among elites, Jangdong Kim laid another cornerstone for the next generation.
Author's Note
This is a side story, but the timeline connects directly to the main plot.
1. Records of whale bellows like oxen are in the Annals of King Taejong; eyeball tales in the History of the Three Kingdoms. 'Glowed at night' suggests some gem-like (uranium?).
2. Era's natural science mixed gems and junk. In-story fish-farming from Seo Yu-gu's Management of Ten Thousand Affairs—hatch eggs under hens? Dump human waste to detox pond sludge? Plenty weird.
West wasn't advanced: Hamburg market sold fake hydra taxidermy (multi-beast heads) as souvenirs. Linnaeus exposed it (got booted); he once got a footless bird-of-paradise specimen, named it 'footless bird'.
3. Kim Ihwan trading fans for Yi Gwangryeo's calligraphy to swap for sweets: chapter 176, 'Three Years Later, in the Southern Seas'.
4. Telescopes known in Joseon since King Injo at latest. Actually, playmates appointed at 3-5; Yi Jeong's too old for that.
5. Per Yulgok Yi I, Chuseok isn't for ancestral visits—lesser folk holiday than Lunar New Year's (China notes it, but Korea's 'biggest' since ancient times). Realistically can't ignore customs; plus Sukjong's birthday fell on the 15th, so Yeongjo era hosted events then.
In-story Noryang ability rites: one such. Yeongjo rarely took Sado Seja out; here he actively does.