< Chapter 4: Who Do You Say My Father Is? (2) >
Although there had been a small commotion due to the unexpected choice during the doljabi, the first-birthday banquet continued.
"Ha ha ha!"
"Minister! Have a drink!"
"A cup for you as well, Minister!"
The guests at the banquet laughed, exchanging cups of wine and enjoying themselves.
"My nephew looks truly clever!"
At the Crown Prince's praise, Chungnyeong smiled in reply.
"My wife says that every time she hears me reading aloud, he smiles."
"Ha ha ha! What a talented father and son!"
"To see such an outstanding child is a great blessing indeed. Chungnyeong, congratulations."
"Thank you, Brother."
While blessings passed between the brothers, Hyang was in the Crown Prince's arms. Ever since he had reached for the Crown Prince's earring, he had remained there, continuing his private fantasies.
'Since Hangul will be created anyway, it would be better to start subtly influencing things in advance. If it appears around the middle of the reign instead of the latter half, my room to act will widen. After that, I'll refine the firearms….'
As he continued making plans alone, drowsiness suddenly washed over him, and he grumbled inwardly.
'Ugh, this trash stamina! With such lousy stamina, no wonder I died right after completing three years of mourning!'
Unaware that he was now in the body of a one-year-old child, Hyang kept complaining to himself when a subtle discord began to form among the Crown Prince and his brothers.
The banquet was gradually winding down. Though the guests shifted restlessly, they only watched the Crown Prince, who occupied the seat of honor.
"Would it not be best for you all to return now? You must attend court early tomorrow, must you not?"
"Should Your Highness not return to the palace as well?"
"I wish to speak a little longer with my brothers. You may go ahead."
"In that case…"
At the Crown Prince's dismissal, the guests bowed one by one and departed.
"It's rather stuffy."
Once the guests—even Hyang's maternal grandfather and grandmother—had left and there were no more prying eyes, the Crown Prince loosened the ties of his robe, flushed from drink. When he began to loosen even the ties of his inner jacket, Chungnyeong immediately stepped in.
"Brother, please straighten your attire."
"What is the problem? A man should be comfortable."
"You are the foundation of this nation. You must not forget that."
"Puh—."
At Chungnyeong's insistence, the Crown Prince let out a wine-soaked sigh and adjusted his clothes.
Chungnyeong bowed slightly in gratitude.
"Thank you for heeding this foolish younger brother, Brother."
Pouring wine into his cup, the Crown Prince spoke.
"Chungnyeong."
"Yes, Brother."
"I once told Mother that you are no ordinary man. At your age, your scholarly attainment is beyond that of common men. This foolish elder brother cannot even measure your level."
"You flatter me. It is only that you have not kept the classics close. If you but apply yourself slightly, you will surpass this insignificant younger brother's meager achievements at once."
The Crown Prince burst into laughter.
"Ha ha ha! Chungnyeong, I did not know you possessed the talent for flattery!"
"It is not flattery. If you would only study the classics a little more…"
"Chungnyeong, do you also advocate governance by virtue and the kingly way?"
"Is that not the proper path?"
The Crown Prince shook his head.
"That is merely an ideal. Our Joseon, and even Ming, now live in an age of hegemonic rule. When I ascend the throne, I will recover the lost lands of the ancient Samhan and turn Joseon into a Great Joseon."
"Brother!"
Though alarmed, Chungnyeong's warning did not shake him.
"Do not worry. When I take the throne, I will accomplish this great undertaking."
Chungnyeong pressed further.
"Brother, it is impossible! Ming is a great empire! With Joseon's current strength, defeat is certain! Have you forgotten why Taejo turned back at Wihwado, why Father had to eliminate Jung Dojeon?"
"Are you a prince of Ming?"
"No! I am saying it is beyond Joseon's present capacity! We must build our strength first!"
The Crown Prince lifted his hand lightly.
"Yes, yes. I know that. I do not intend to begin immediately. I consider ten years a period of preparation."
"Ten years is far too short!"
"Ten years is enough! The brilliant generals who served Zhu Yuanzhang are nearly all gone due to purges and age. Those who remained perished in Yongle's civil war. And the generals raised by Yongle have also vanished through wars and campaigns. Therefore, I say again—ten years is enough!"
Exasperated, Chungnyeong sprang to his feet.
"Brother! Have you no sense? Have you forgotten how many troops Yongle mobilized when he campaigned against the remnants of Yuan? Five hundred thousand—five hundred thousand! And not once, but repeatedly! Even after losing thousands, tens of thousands, he kept replenishing to five hundred thousand! That scale of mobilization is terrifying enough—but even more terrifying is the administrative and logistical system that made it possible! And what of Joseon? The census is incomplete, land surveys not even begun! And you say ten years? Wake from your dream!"
"You brat! One year for land surveys, one for the census is enough! Considering Father's reign, by the time I inherit the throne and ten years pass, those Ming generals will all be gone!"
"And have you considered that experienced mid-ranking officers will take their place? To see even them retire would take thirty years! And that assumes Ming's next emperor does not wage war!"
The Crown Prince and Chungnyeong now stood facing each other, the atmosphere on the verge of violence.
As tension mounted, Hyoryeong quietly retreated with Hyang in his arms and emptied his teacup with a sigh.
"Whew… Blood will tell… Who would think they weren't sons of warriors…."
Amid Hyoryeong's grumbling, the heated argument between the Crown Prince and Chungnyeong neared its climax.
"Once the army is reorganized, the first things to deal with are the private armies and the Japanese pirates! We must secure our rear before anything else!"
"The private armies have already been dealt with by Father! The pirates have also been quiet lately! The ones still causing trouble—and just as troublesome as the pirates—are the Jurchens! If we are thinking of the future, we must deal with the Jurchens first!"
"So you're saying the private armies are completely gone? I'm telling you, dealing with the private armies and the pirates comes first!"
"Enough! I am the Crown Prince! I admit you're clever! But it is I—not you—who will inherit the throne! All you need to do is assist me!"
"…."
At the Crown Prince's sharp outburst, Chungnyeong clenched his teeth and glared at him.
Meanwhile, in Hyoryeong's arms, Hyang stared wide-eyed at Chungnyeong's face.
Sensing a subtle current of emotion there, he felt a cold sweat form.
'Wasn't this man supposed to have been pushed into becoming king?'
In his previous life, the common understanding had been:
—Chungnyeong became king because Yangnyeong was morally corrupt and Hyoryeong was devoted to Buddhism, leaving him no choice. And that had turned out to be a masterstroke.
With that belief, the subtle expression on Chungnyeong's face shocked Hyang.
In his mind, he could almost hear the OST of a famous historical drama.
'Damn it! This isn't a fusion sageuk—it's a hardcore traditional one! Don't tell me my reincarnation is causing a butterfly effect that twists history?'
Though worry piled high as mountains, his one-year-old body could not overcome its fatigue. Forcing his drooping eyes open, he grumbled.
'Damn this body! Trash stamina!'
Unbeknownst to Hyang, the rivalry between Yangnyeong and Chungnyeong was steadily surfacing.
* * *
Two months after Hyang's birthday banquet, in December, Chungnyeong visited Nam Jae's residence with several others.
During the gathering, Nam Jae praised Chungnyeong's profound scholarship and said:
"When His Majesty was still a prince, I urged him to study. He replied, 'A mere prince has no place to participate in affairs—what use is study?' I answered, 'Who can say which son of a king will not become king?' Seeing Your Highness love learning as you do now gladdens my heart."
[NOTE 1 - Nam Jae was one of the highest deliberative bodies of Joseon Dynasty.]
It was a deeply meaningful remark.
Though Nam Jae did not elaborate, the weight of his position ensured the words reached Taejong. Taejong merely laughed them off.
"That old man went too far."
Yet while Taejong laughed, the competition between those supporting Crown Prince Yangnyeong and those backing Chungnyeong intensified.
The decisive cause was Taejong's ambiguity. In principle, he recognized Yangnyeong as heir, but he continued to show interest and praise toward Chungnyeong.
"Look at Chungnyeong!"
Whenever reports came that Yangnyeong neglected his studies, Taejong invoked Chungnyeong to chastise him.
Once, unable to endure the comparison, the Crown Prince criticized Chungnyeong during a private audience.
"Chungnyeong lacks bravery!"
Taejong openly rebutted him.
"Though he may not seem brave, in deciding great matters according to righteousness, none in this age can match him."
Combined with his benevolence toward the suffering people, Chungnyeong became Yangnyeong's strongest rival.
Though Taejong fueled the rivalry, he continued to recognize Yangnyeong as Crown Prince.
Eventually, whether by Taejong's intent or by ministers wishing to prevent another 'Strife of Princes', Park Eun warned Shim On, the leader among Chungnyeong's supporters:
"Since the Grand Prince's virtue draws the hearts of people both within and outside the country, you must report it so he may know how to conduct himself."
[NOTE 2 - Shim On was Chungnyeong's father-in-law.]
Shim On ignored the warning and did not relay it. At last, Park Eun personally went to Chungnyeong's residence.
That incident Hyang remembered. Though he slept more than half the day as a child barely past his first birthday, the commotion outside was enough to wake him.
"Minister Shim! Have you no sense?"
"Ho ho. Minister Park, it is not that…"
"Do you intend to relive the bloody tragedy of Taejo's time?"
"Surely not."
"Then what is this conduct? Move aside! I must see His Highness!"
"I merely forgot last time. I will deliver the message this time. Let us end it here."
"Minister Shim!"
"That will be enough for today."
Though he saw nothing, Hyang understood the gravity.
'Is this really going to cause trouble?'
"Whew…."
After pushing Park Eun out, Shim On sighed deeply.
"Having mounted the tiger, we cannot dismount."
His voice was resolute. Yangnyeong was not incompetent—but he had many flaws in conduct. Hyoryeong had no interest in the throne. Eliminating them left only Chungnyeong, his own son-in-law.
'For Joseon's future, only Grand Prince Chungnyeong is the answer!'
Resolved, Shim On pushed for Chungnyeong as Crown Prince. It was a gamble with his life, but he believed he had a chance, given Taejong's lukewarm reaction. As his faction grew, so did his confidence.
"Though His Majesty dislikes in-laws, once the Grand Prince becomes Crown Prince, all will be solved. I need only lie low until he ascends the throne!"
And on that day, he would stand as the king's father-in-law, the Crown Prince's maternal grandfather, and the foremost meritorious subject—second only to the king.
[Note 1) Annals of Taejong, Year 15, December 30]
[Note 2) Annals of Taejong, Year 17, October 6]