Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

"My lord, the Crown Prince of Joseon requests an audience."

"Don't see him! Tell him to leave immediately."

Han Kuang replied without hesitation.

He knew that in matters concerning Korea, he was merely taking the blame for the emperor and playing the villain, so of course he didn't want to see the Crown Prince of Korea.

After being scolded awake by Liu Zongzhou, he knew he had no other choice. If he wanted to become a true chief minister, he had to shoulder the responsibility.

If you try to make a non-stick pan like before, neither the emperor nor the ministers will be satisfied.

That's how it is with the matter of North Korea. He knows the emperor has reservations, so he needs to act as a hardliner.

Li Wang pleaded desperately, but couldn't even see Han Kuang, which only increased his fear.

After returning home, he paced back and forth anxiously, asking his ministers for advice:

"How to do?"

"What should I do now?"

Having never experienced anything like this before, he was extremely anxious.

Although he was essentially a hostage in the Ming Dynasty, he was not mistreated because the Ming emperor valued Korea.

Not only did he not face discrimination, but he also became a student of Liu Zongzhou and Lin Han, passed the Chinese proficiency test, and was recognized as a Chinese.

It can be said that he was a prominent figure among the vassal nobles in the capital, and Joseon was often referred to as the first vassal state of the Ming Dynasty.

In addition, he received a stipend from the Ming emperor and corresponding trade quotas, making his life in the capital quite comfortable. He not only built a princely residence in western Beijing, but also established martial arts clubs popular among the sons of noble families in the capital.

Through the martial arts club's competitions, Li Wang established connections with many noble children.

In addition, by occasionally attending meetings of the Noble Council, he had come to regard himself as a member of the Ming Dynasty's nobility over the past few years.

However, after the imperial court issued an edict rebuking Korea for occupying the former territory of the Han and Tang dynasties, these people all avoided meeting him, which made Li Wang feel truly apprehensive.

Now that even the prime minister is like this, Li Wang feels even more uneasy.

Jin Zidian, a student at the Translation Academy, said:

"Your Highness, please do not panic."

"The affairs of the vassal states are under the jurisdiction of the Court of Colonial Affairs. Your Highness may request an audience with Headmaster Huang."

Li Wang said impatiently:

“I have already been to the Court of Colonial Affairs, and they said it was in accordance with the imperial edict.”

"But you also know the contents of the imperial edict. The emperor requires Father to come to court. How could Father possibly comply?"

The Ming emperor issued an imperial edict ordering the King of Joseon to come to the capital for an audience and to explain the matter of his encroachment on the former territories of the Han and Tang dynasties.

Based on Li Wang's understanding of his father, he knew that his father would most likely not follow the advice.

That would put him in danger in the capital, and he might be sacrificed as a flag by the Ming soldiers on their expedition.

The mere thought of this possibility filled him with inescapable fear.

Only at this moment did he truly understand the feeling of being a hostage, where even life and death were beyond his control.

Jin Zidian, upon learning of his thoughts, comforted him:
"Your Highness, do not frighten yourself. The Ming Dynasty is a civilized country and would not be so barbaric."

“Even in war, envoys are not killed, let alone Your Highness, who is killed without cause.”

"But if Your Majesty does not pay homage, the Ming Dynasty will consider Joseon to be disrespectful and will attack Joseon just as it attacked Annam."

"This is a matter of life and death, Your Highness must persuade His Majesty to obey the decree."

Li Wang nodded, knowing the same thing.

The Ming Dynasty dispatched 30,000 newly trained troops, who captured Annam's capital within three months. In fact, excluding the marching time, the fighting after the new army entered Annam lasted less than ten days, with only 75 casualties.

This legendary achievement not only shocked the entire Ming Dynasty, but also stunned the various vassal states of the Ming.

They all realized that the military strength of the Ming Dynasty had surpassed that of the Yongle era.

The elite troops that conquered Annam in five months back then were not as strong as the modern firearms-equipped army.

With this army, no country could resist its conquest of the surrounding vassal states.

Korea, in particular, has the deepest understanding of this because it was once invaded by the Jurchens.

If they couldn't even stop the Jurchens, how could they possibly stop the Ming Dynasty's new army that was driving out the Tartars?

Therefore, after the imperial edict was issued, Li Wang had no intention of resisting at all. All he could think about was how to explain to the Ming Dynasty in order to save Joseon.

He said to Kim Jae-sik:

“Father probably doesn’t know the seriousness of this matter. I beg Kim Saeng to return to Joseon and carefully persuade the King.”

"Otherwise, if the Ming army were to march, Korea would regret it too late!"

Jin Zidian accepted the order and said:
"I'm afraid Your Majesty won't believe me if I say it alone."

"Your Highness should consult with the ministers of the Ming Dynasty and have them warn the King."

Li Wang sighed deeply and said helplessly:
"Isn't this why I went to see Prime Minister Han?"

"Unfortunately, Prime Minister Han is unwilling to meet with him."

Jin Zidian frowned and offered another suggestion:

"Besides Grand Secretary Han, Grand Secretary Yuan and Vice Grand Secretary Yang of the Ming Dynasty were comparable in status to the Grand Secretary."

"Your Highness's teacher, Mr. Liu, is also a high-ranking official who has influence in front of the Emperor."

"If we can persuade even one of these people, the king will trust us even more."

Li Wang's face grew even more bitter upon hearing this, and he said:

“You know Yuan Shufu’s attitude toward Korea. He insists that my father usurped the throne. Back then, when my father was recognized by the Ming Dynasty, the biggest obstacle was this man.”

“Vice Minister Yang and Governor-General Hong are from the same hometown, and their attitudes are aligned. My father knows better what Governor-General Hong thinks about this matter.”

"As for my teacher, Mr. Liu, he has gone to Annam to educate the barbarians and is no longer in the capital."

This is the most frustrating thing for him: when he needs his teacher, the teacher is suddenly not there.

Moreover, thinking of Annam, he said with great fear:

"The Ming Dynasty regarded those in Annam who did not understand Chinese as barbarians and treated them as beasts."

"It is said that the various vassal states in Southeast Asia are capturing Annamese people as slaves. Soldiers who kill the rebels among the barbarians can earn merit and be allocated more land."

“The Annamese are in dire straits now. Korea must not be reduced to this state, and must not be regarded as barbarians.”

The North Koreans present were terrified when the matter was brought up.

The Ming Dynasty's attitude towards the Annamese truly frightened them.

So much so that people who weren't enthusiastic about learning Mandarin or writing Chinese characters before are now eager to study and take exams to obtain Chinese citizenship.

As official envoys sent by Korea, they were treated with preferential treatment. As long as they paid taxes according to the law in Ming China and passed the examination, they could obtain Chinese citizenship.

If you don't cherish this opportunity, it will be difficult to become a Chinese person when you return to North Korea.

Following the chaos of the Jisi Rebellion, the Ming Dynasty ceased accepting donations from Koreans to become Ming citizens.

Only those who served in the Ming army for more than three years and passed the examination could become citizens of the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming Dynasty's attitude towards the "barbarians" after its attack on Annam truly frightened them, making them feel that they had to secede from the barbarians and integrate into China no matter what.

This is actually why Zhu Youjian allowed the nobles of Southeast Asia to arrest barbarians.

If we don't ruthlessly target the barbarians, how can we demonstrate the preciousness of Ming citizenship? Only when the people of each vassal state strive to become Ming citizens can the Ming intervene in their affairs under the pretext of protecting them, preventing these vassal states from becoming independent.

Once a vassal state becomes independent, its citizens will be stripped of their Chinese identity and reduced to barbarians, who can then be captured and enslaved.

The citizens of the vassal states were certainly unwilling; they needed the order established by the Ming Dynasty to protect their rights. Even the vassal nobles were subject to the protection of the Ming Dynasty's order and would not easily cause trouble for independence.

Zhu Youjian's dispatch of Liu Zongzhou to the south was to demonstrate this point. The capture of barbarians was for the purpose of establishing a new order, not for indiscriminate slaughter.

Furthermore, it is important to distinguish between Chinese people and protect their rights. Give willing "barbarians" the opportunity to become Chinese, thereby reducing the pressure on the ruler.

Only in this way can the Ming Dynasty become stronger and stronger, and gain more supporters.

This is how the people of Korea are. Although the Ming Dynasty was stern with Korea and demanded the return of the former territories of the Han and Tang dynasties, they felt no anger at all. Instead, they were filled with fear, deeply afraid of being regarded as barbarians by the Ming Dynasty.

The desire to shed barbarian identity and integrate into Chinese society became everyone's pursuit; they all wanted to obtain Chinese citizenship.
-
Remembering that Mao Pijiang had already gone to Korea to implement civilization and elevate Korea to a semi-Chinese state, Li Wang grasped at a straw and said:
"Our Korea is a country with half Chinese characteristics, not a barbarian country like Annam."

"Korea will never become like Annam. We have always been respectful to the Ming Dynasty."

Jin Zidian seemed to remember something and hurriedly said:
"Your Highness, does the imperial edict of the Ming Dynasty require the King to explain it?"

"Are you here in the capital to attend the Noble Council?"

Li Wang opened the transcribed imperial edict and said:

"Yes, the Ming Dynasty requests that Father come to the capital for an audience and explain to the Council of Nobles."

Jin Zidian let out a long sigh of relief and said thankfully:
"In that case, North Korea has nothing to worry about!"

"Does His Majesty's permission for Your Highness to participate in the Council of Nobles indicate that His Highness is regarded as a noble of the Ming Dynasty, or as one of his own?"

“As long as Your Majesty comes to the capital to pay homage, Joseon will not fall into the same situation as Annam.”

"Does Your Highness know what imperial decree was issued before the Ming Dynasty launched its campaign against Annam?"

This is something that ordinary people wouldn't pay attention to, but Li Wang knew about it. He said:
"The Ming Dynasty dispatched envoys to summon Annam's vassal states to an audience."

"Both the Mo and Zheng families feigned illness and refused to attend court. The Ming Dynasty first subdued the Mo family, and then sent troops to conquer the Zheng family."

"The former head of the Mo family has now been sent to the Ming Dynasty, and Gaoping is under the control of his son."

After he got to this point, his eyes lit up, and he knew what Jin Zidian was planning.

As expected, Jin Zidian said:
"The King of Joseon was bestowed the title of Prince Shunren by the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. As the Crown Prince, Your Highness, as long as you are loyal to the Ming Dynasty, the Emperor will certainly not treat you unfairly."

"Therefore, Your Highness need not be alarmed at all. The one who should be alarmed now is the King of Joseon."

"No matter the outcome, as long as Your Highness remains loyal to the Ming Dynasty, there is no need to worry about wealth and status."

“Look at the embassy here, the Ming Dynasty hasn’t sent any troops to guard it.”

Hearing this, Li Wang felt more confident.

The Ming Dynasty actually treated him very well. Although it issued an edict reprimanding Korea, it did not impose any restrictions on him.

Even his activities in the capital were left to his own devices.

Regardless of the outcome, those who remain loyal to the Ming Dynasty will inevitably enjoy wealth and status.

However, the consequences of his father's failure to attend court were still severe, and he couldn't help but feel uneasy whenever he thought about the current state of Annam.
"We must still persuade Father to go to the capital for an audience!"

"North Korea must not become like Annam."

“We cannot be relocated like the Mo family of Gaoping.”

Kim Ja-jeon didn't think there was anything wrong with the Lee family being relocated. His family, the Kim clan, was a prominent Korean clan and had been granted fiefdoms.

They would be more at ease if the Joseon king did not belong directly to the Ming Dynasty.

However, in that case, the scattered Korean domains would be in even greater danger when facing Japan, which had been integrated by the Tokugawa Shogunate.

He suggested to Li Wang:
"The reason why the Ming Dynasty attacked Annam was because Annam had always been disrespectful, calling itself a king to the Ming Dynasty, but calling itself an emperor internally, and harassing the Ming Dynasty's borders."

"There is another country that does very similar things to Annam. Not only does it harass the Ming Dynasty's coastal areas, but it also claims to be king of the Ming Dynasty while calling itself emperor in its own country."

“We must make the Ming court and the public realize that, rather than reprimanding Korea, we should punish Japan.”

Li Wang was delighted to hear this, thinking it was a good suggestion.

Compared to North Korea's submissiveness, Annam and Japan are far too unruly.

If the Ming Dynasty wanted to fight, it should have fought Japan instead.

Soon, he began spending lavishly to get newspapers to report on Japan's aggression against the Ming Dynasty and its usurpation of the throne.

The attention of the Ming court and the public quickly turned to Japan.

Because Japan was so unruly, many people still haven't forgotten the Wokou raids and the Imjin War.

Compared to North Korea, we should attack Japan.

However, North Korea will also punish them, not allowing them to occupy the former territories of the Han and Tang dynasties.

The nationalism that Zhu Youjian inspired did have some effect after all.

Many people, seeing the achievements of the Restoration Army, have developed a desire to restore the former territories of the Han and Tang dynasties.

Otherwise, how could the Ming Dynasty's superiority over the Han and Tang dynasties be recognized?

Both the Privy Council and the Navy Department submitted memorials proposing an attack on Japan.
-
Zhu Youjian looked at the newspaper and the memorials, and couldn't help but laugh:
"These North Koreans have quite a few tricks up their sleeves."

"No wonder it has survived for thousands of years."

Huang Liji, the head of the Court of Colonial Affairs, said:
"Should we eliminate North Korea this time and treat it like Annam?"

Zhu Youjian shook his head and said:

"Didn't you see in the newspapers that North Korea is far more submissive than Annam and Japan?"

“We must not treat Korea the same way we treat Annam, as that would make the various vassal states uneasy.”

"However, North Korea should indeed be punished to prevent them from having any ulterior motives."

“If the current King of Joseon does not perform pilgrimages like the King of Annam, send troops to capture him and replace him with a new King of Joseon.”

He could tolerate the existence of the King of Joseon, after all, he had granted fiefdoms to many vassal kings after ascending the throne.

As the Korean Peninsula is an independent region, the best way to govern it is to establish feudal kingdoms.

Compared to enfeoffing princes with the surname Zhu, it was more reassuring to have princes from other surnames occupy Joseon.

Therefore, Zhu Youjian had no intention of deposing the King of Joseon. Even if the current King of Joseon was not honest, he only planned to replace him.

However, sending troops carries risks, Huang Liji said:
"If Korea resists and prevents the change of king, what should the Ming Dynasty do?"

Zhu Youjian laughed heartily:

“That’s ungrateful. We can send more troops to capture the capital of Joseon and relocate the crown prince to a new fief.”

"Although the Ming Dynasty enfeoffed people in Korea, it did not necessarily require a king."

"The Andong Protectorate could also govern the various domains of Korea and prevent Japanese invasion."

As he spoke, he pointed to Japan to the east and said:

"I am more worried about Japan than North Korea."

"This is a large country with a population of twenty to thirty million, more than one-tenth the size of the Ming Dynasty."

"Once the Ming Dynasty weakens, there will be forces that threaten it."

"We must be cautious about this country; it is the most dangerous enemy surrounding the Ming Dynasty." (End of Chapter)