He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 92

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Sowing Discord in the Ming Dynasty (8)

Upon hearing that they were looking for shipbuilding craftsmen, Wang Pal, the boss of the slums, first thoroughly examined the attire of Hwang Su-sin and the interpreter.

By carefully observing what clothes they wore and how they appeared, he could roughly determine whether they were people he could carelessly mess with or people who would cause big trouble if wrongly provoked.

The very splendid, highest-quality silk damask clothes they wore even had gold embroidery, and just from this alone he could instantly tell that their wealth was enormous, and seeing their confident posture and leisurely smiles…

‘These are people I shouldn’t carelessly mess with.’

“Why are you looking for shipbuilding craftsmen?”

To his question, the interpreter who had previously owed a great debt to Hwang Su-sin answered very confidently.

“Just because the maritime prohibition has been issued, do you think the Imperial Family, ministers, gentry (the term for yangban in the Ming Dynasty), or wealthy people won’t use precious goods from outside the Ming Dynasty? Even if we leave the maritime prohibition as it is, they’ll still use luxury goods as luxury goods.”

Even with prostitution, only those who deal with riffraff get caught and arrested, but if you deal with very high-ranking people, you rarely get caught in crackdowns.

The reason is extremely simple.

While lowly people playing around wildly is intolerable, high-ranking people enjoying entertainment becomes a very noble activity.

So the Government Office doesn’t dare crack down on the high-level entertainment of distinguished people.

The maritime prohibition is no different.

Since distinguished people who were closer to luxury goods than anyone else want to continue enjoying the luxuries they enjoyed before the maritime prohibition, trade in luxury goods smuggled in violation of the maritime prohibition must continue.

Of course, trading and transportation become very dangerous and difficult, so prices will rise like crazy.

“Since Emperor Yongle the Great passed away, the Royal Court has been implementing the maritime prohibition very strongly, so every single shipyard has closed down. So those who used to build ships are either doing odd jobs in Beijing while letting their skills rot, or doing dirty work like us. So finding them isn’t difficult.”

Wang Pal extended his right hand and wiggled his fingers.

The interpreter handed Wang Pal a box containing several ginseng roots.

After checking the contents, Wang Pal opened his eyes wide as if his eyeballs might pop out.

Goryeo Ginseng is one of the finest medicines most prized in the Ming Dynasty, and the highest quality is actually produced only in Joseon, making it a very precious item.

But if this was someone who readily gave out such things as information fees…

It meant they were either someone who could trade with Joseon’s diplomatic mission with Ming Dynasty high officials as backing, or at the very least, a big shot with enough wealth to bribe border region military officers.

“If you introduce me to a proper person, I’ll give you half a geun more ginseng.”

“Half a geun each, you say?”

“You just handle the introductions properly. If you do, I’m willing to add more to the information fee.”

Wang Pal naturally rubbed his palms together and nodded his head.

“I’ll mobilize every connection I can possibly use to introduce you to all the shipbuilders living in Beijing. Once we gather those guys, building dozens of ships will be no trouble at all, so don’t worry about anything.”

“I’ll trust you and leave it in your hands.”

And not long after, poor people in Beijing who weren’t even registered in the household records all rushed to get jobs at some unknown merchant guild.

Hwang Su-sin led them and departed for Hanyang with complete confidence.

**

During my stay at the Forbidden City, I lived giving my heart and soul to those Ming Dynasty bastards.

I was called to the houses of ministers who wanted to see me as a loyal subject of Haedong, where I endlessly catered to their whims.

I acted as if I had become a 21st-century nationalist TV show.

When eating Ming Dynasty food, I praised it saying that Ming Dynasty cuisine was indeed the best in the world, and I let out worried sighs about how much more effort backward Joseon would need to even reach the feet of the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming Dynasty people, already steeped in Sinocentrism and unable to escape their chronic addiction, were extremely pleased with my reactions.

If they gathered among themselves saying ‘Chinese goods are the best’ or ‘Chinese food is the best,’ they’d just feel a little good and that would be it, but when I, someone from Joseon, shouted ‘The Ming Dynasty is amazing! The Ming Dynasty is the best!’?

Those bastards fell into this delusion.

‘Indeed, the Ming Dynasty is objectively the best in everything.’

Well, by Early Joseon Period standards, the Ming Dynasty was the world’s greatest technological power, scientific power, and economic power, so it was all true.

Since even people from other countries were saying so, they seemed to feel anew just how amazing they were.

That’s why all nationalist TV shows feature ‘foreigners.’

And now it was finally time to leave.

With dirty water, many good products but also overflowing with fakes, and these arrogant bastards who call everyone except themselves Northern Barbarians – just one more Imperial Edict and I’d be parting ways with them.

Before reading the Imperial Edict, Emperor Xuande looked over the Joseon Diplomatic Mission once and smiled with satisfaction.

“Listen, envoys of Joseon. The Great Ming Empire has maintained a close relationship like father and son with Joseon since its founding, though there may have been slight misunderstandings. During this time, Joseon’s King Lee Do has mourned the passing of my father and former emperor, Emperor Hongxi, while simultaneously congratulating my ascension to the throne.”

If we don’t properly mourn and congratulate you, it’s obvious you’ll cause a ruckus, so we had no choice but to come pay tribute, you wicked bastard!

You rotten Ming Dynasty supremacist emperor bastard, just get sick and die in agony.

Tell your son to leave politics to the eunuchs and live like a mess.

“The wicked Japan and Dai Viet, which rejects the heavenly order led by the Ming, did not do so, therefore your Joseon is all the more precious to me. Thus, I wish to generously bestow precious Royal Gifts in return for Joseon King Lee Do’s loyalty.”

“Your imperial grace is boundless.”

As soon as the Emperor said he would generously bestow Royal Gifts, a eunuch standing beside him recited the list of gifts in detail.

The tedious reading continued with how many bolts of silk, how many Jewels, how much medicinal herbs, how many Books, and so on.

There were so many types and such large quantities that I’d need to examine the list written in the Imperial Edict the Emperor gives later to properly understand what and how much was given…

‘Even listening roughly, this is twice the estimate we expected when coming to the Ming Dynasty…?’

Indeed, there was value in flattering even while throwing my pride into the gutter.

“And I have heard that Joseon is a small country that lacks sufficient War Horses and produces no Gold and Silver. Nevertheless, until now the Ming has demanded War Horses, Gold, and Silver as tribute from Joseon because the Ming needed Gold and Silver, War Horses.”

Just thinking about it makes my teeth grind.

Joseon has suffered all kinds of hardships preparing those things.

Especially since Gold and Silver were barely mined in Joseon yet they demanded we provide them, we even prohibited mining altogether to prevent the Ming Dynasty from demanding Gold and Silver.

“Joseon is a nation of propriety and the Ming’s foremost vassal state. Therefore, the Common People of Joseon are also the Common People of the Ming, so how could I trouble the Common People of Joseon? The Great Ming Empire has abundant War Horses and plenty of Gold and Silver, so from now on you need not excessively strain to collect them. Henceforth, the tribute of War Horses shall be reduced from the previous 10,000 horses annually to 3,000 horses annually, and the tribute of Gold and Silver shall be specially abolished.”

I barely managed to suppress the cry of “Long live!” that almost burst from my mouth.

Well, even if I had shouted “Long live!” in this situation, it wouldn’t have been a big problem.

Since the Emperor had bestowed great grace upon Joseon, shouting “Long live!” here would also be fitting behavior for a vassal state.

‘Still, it wouldn’t be good to interrupt the Emperor’s words.’

“Since Joseon serves the Great Ming Empire with loyalty, I too wish to bestow grace upon you. Continue to serve the Great Ming Empire with loyalty from now on.”

Why should I serve the Ming Dynasty with loyalty that springs from my heart?

What, just because you’re treating us a little well now, does that erase all the atrocities you’ve committed until now?

Do you know the pain of how busy the Common People of Pyeongan Province were hiding their money and property, fearing their households might be ruined whenever your Diplomatic Mission passed through?

You bastards know that because you demanded tribute women from Joseon, the marriage age for women dropped severely to as low as 11 years old.

They had no choice but to do that to avoid sending their daughters as tribute women.

Rather than serve such bastards from the depths of my heart, I would truly bite my tongue and die.

Though I vow revenge once more in my heart, for now I must smile and hide my blade from them.

Confucius also said it, didn’t he?

A gentleman’s revenge is not too late even after ten years.

“Long live, long live, long live forever!”

“Let the envoys of Joseon return carefully.”

Having received the Emperor’s command, Maeng Sa-seong, the Deputy Envoy, and I as Secretary also left the Forbidden City.

Smiles hung on the lips of Maeng Sa-seong and the Deputy Envoy.

“The tribute of gold and silver has been abolished, and the tribute of war horses has been reduced… His Majesty will truly be delighted when he hears this news.”

“Indeed. How much Joseon suffered because of those things…”

“Now that we can put our minds at ease, we can return home with our shoulders held high.”

“The delicacies of the Ming Dynasty are delicious but greasy and sweet, so above all I miss Joseon’s food. I want to hurry home and eat soybean paste stew.”

While the two were conversing happily, Maeng Sa-seong looked at me and asked.

“Is our Secretary not pleased? Thanks to you enduring the humiliation of crawling between someone’s legs, Joseon’s burden has been greatly reduced, hasn’t it?”

“I am also pleased, my lord. However…”

I spoke in a voice small enough for only Maeng Sa-seong to hear.

“Joseon cannot live forever relying only on their grace, can it?”

I will surely tear you Ming Dynasty bastards to shreds.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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