Chapter 421

Episode 421 Cargo Culture (4)

When I heard that there was a rumor going around among the Jurchen tribe that the iron horse and the long trains of carriages and freight cars behind it were actually dragons disguised as dragons, the reactions of all Koreans in the area were similar.

“Well, that could be possible....”

“How amazing were we when we first saw the iron horse?”

“Just thinking about the memory of going to Hanseong on a business trip and being treated like a country bumpkin because of my iron horse still makes me jump out of my sleep.”

Everyone responded that it was no big deal, but Choi Yun-deok gave the order with a serious face.

“Whenever you hear such a rumor, let it be known straightly that the iron horse was made by the crown prince and craftsmen under the order of His Majesty the Lord. “It is dangerous to simply dismiss it as ‘the behavior of countrymen.’”

“Aren’t you being oversensitive?”

Choi Yun-deok shook his head at the words of his subordinates.

“You can just laugh it off and dismiss it as the foolish behavior of those with limited insight. But ‘dragon’ was mentioned. If you do something wrong, the superiors can criticize you. So, you have to prepare in advance.”

“ah!”

The subordinates immediately bowed their heads to Choi Yun-deok’s story.

“The directors are inexperienced!”

“I will carry out your order immediately, General!”

“I will beat those who don’t understand to make them understand!”

Choi Yun-deok nodded again in response to the last answer.

“Violence is not allowed. If you do it wrong, the string you managed to connect may break. “What we need now is an excuse that we explained things thoroughly.”

“I understand, General.”

“I will do so.”

The subordinate officers who left Choi Yun-deok’s office lightly shook their heads and expressed their admiration.

“As expected, you are the general.”

“Is that something you have to think about to become the person who commands half of the North?”

“It is said that he is likely to be the next Chief of Staff....”

“Anyway, there is nothing wrong with what the general said, so please act quickly.”

“That’s right.”

“Then, good luck.”

“You too.”

After briefly exchanging greetings, the officers mounted their horses and returned to their units.

As an aside, scholars who later studied the ‘Great Leap Forward’ evaluated it this way.

-The monarchs who led the golden age, called the Great Leap Forward, were not ordinary people, but those in charge of practical affairs under them were also not ordinary people. If the abilities of those in charge of practical work were general or incompetent, the splendor of the great leap forward would have been absolutely impossible.

And Choi Yun-deok was one of those noble subjects.

* * *

Anyway, the Joseon people tried hard to explain that the iron horse was a piece made by human hands, but the Jurchen people actually distrusted the words of the Joseon people.

“joy! Is that possible by human hands? “You have to say something trustworthy so I can believe you!”

“But looking at the number of iron horses roaming around now... were there that many dragons?”

“The dragon is a divine beast. Since ancient times, no one knows how many Shinsoo there are. And is there a law that dictates how many dragons there should be?”

“That’s true, but...”

“And a god who uses disguise techniques can’t use clone techniques?”

The Jurchen people, who claimed that the iron horse was a dragon in disguise, raised their voices even more, pointing to the railroad tracks.

“And look at that iron road! “Why would such a precious piece of iron be paved just for a man-made object to pass through?”

For the Jurchen people, or to be more precise, properly refined iron in Northeast Asia excluding Joseon was a very expensive commodity.

In areas where the Jurchen people lived, as well as in many areas of the Ming and Japanese countries, farming was still done with wooden plows and farming tools. Axes and saws were expensive, so it was common for multiple people to use them.

Therefore, the railway track, made of expensive iron pulled out long like taffy sticks, seemed sacred in itself.

-That iron horse is definitely a dragon!

-Look at the villages on the road that the iron horse rides! Abundance abounds!

-The reason we are so rich is because of the dragon’s protection! Joseon is an auspicious country protected by the dragon!

-Let us also join Joseon and pave the way for the dragon!

“Wouldn’t it be better for us to bring that dragon over to you rather than your wife?”

Those in favor of the nobleman scoffed and asked back at the arguments of the opponents who opposed the nobleman and said it would be better to bring in an iron horse.

“joy! Are you confident that you will win against those who guard the Dragon’s Path and the Joseon army? And even if you win, how are you going to bring it back? “He’s a divine beast, so are you going to tie him up with a rope and drag him around like Uma?”

“If you raise a ritual to the sky with utmost sincerity...”

“What are you doing as a ritual for rain?”

“....”

Eventually, the idea of ‘retiring to Joseon’ became a trend, and many tribal leaders headed to Nokdundo Island with their tribal symbols and treasured swords.

The Yeojin tribe leaders who arrived at Nokdundo Island presented Choi Yun-deok with the tribe’s emblem and treasured sword and declared his status as a nobleman.

“... Instead, please pave the way for the dragon to our tribe!”

* * *

“... So, the Jurchen people, who misunderstood the railway as the ‘dragon’s path,’ asked them to pave the dragon’s path instead.”

A few days later, after receiving a more detailed explanation from Choi Yun-deok, Hwang Hee explained the entire incident to King Sejong.

“Hmm...”

King Sejong, who was tapping his fingers on the armrest with a small snort, looked at the incense in Geunjeongjeon for the first time in a long time.

‘This guy only comes here at times like this!’

King Sejong, who had been glaring at Hyang in Geunjeongjeon, opened his mouth when Choi Yun-deok told him that another general had arrived, as if he had heard the story of the ‘Way of the Dragon’.

“Crown, what do you want me to do?”

Hyang, who thought for a moment about King Sejo’s words, soon opened his mouth.

“Isn’t it the duty to accept you because you are noble?”

“What about the dragon’s path or the railroad?”

“They have made a very good excuse for themselves, so what are you worried about?”

“A good excuse?”

Sejong, who tilted his head for a moment, soon understood the meaning and immediately burst into laughter.

“Ahahaha! I see! Since it is the ‘Dragon’s Path’, it is an auspicious thing in itself that cannot be laid anywhere! It would be right for them to come near the Dragon Path! This is a wise answer to a foolish question! Ahahaha!”

The ministers grumbled inwardly as they alternately looked at King Sejong, who was smiling so brightly that tears came to his eyes, and Hyang, whose expression was nothing.

‘It came again! Ask and answer among yourself!’

‘Is it fortunate that the Chief Minister explained it this time?’

“Haa~.”

Sejong wiped away the tears from his eyes with a light sigh and ordered Hwang Hee.

“Ask General Choi Yun-deok to order this. ‘Welcome and support the noble Yeojin people, but answer the issue of the railroad as the crown prince says.’”

“This is a clear decision. And how about sending an envoy to Beijing?”

At Hwang Hee’s words, Sejong immediately turned serious and nodded.

“I thought that too. Speak with the Minister of Foreign Affairs to organize an envoy and send it to Beijing. Since this is a serious issue, it would be better for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to visit in person this time as well.”

When he was mentioned, Lee Maeng-gyun stepped forward and opened his mouth.

“It is indeed so. Considering the dangers of the word ‘dragon’, it would be best to go to Beijing as soon as possible to explain it. “Do you...”

Lee Maeng-gyun paused for a moment to gather his thoughts and then continued speaking.

“The problem is that it is very likely that Beijing will demand an iron horse. It is said that when the Iron Horse first came out and moved from Hanseong, there was an opinion to accept it as tribute. However, the emperor refused because it was ‘still immature.’ “It was like that.”

Sejong nodded at Lee Maeng-gyun’s words.

“I remember receiving the report too.”

“The problem is that the iron horse running on the railroad now is out of immaturity. The horse will definitely come out.”