Chapter 1061

Episode 1061: Gambling. (5)

“It also attracts people... Hmm...”

Hyeon began to struggle with his words at the words of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. It wasn’t just Hyun. Starting with Han Chi-hyeong, the other ministers also fell silent and fell into deep thought.

“To be honest with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, this is a proposal that is difficult to decide whether to accept or reject. You are well aware of this, right?”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs bowed his head and responded to Hyun’s words.

“I know your beliefs well. But it is better to increase your friends than to increase your enemies. What could be better than if you could take on more risks instead of sharing the profits in moderation?”

“If anyone among them has any sense, they would know our intentions, right?”

“Anyone who can sense our intentions will know that this is an offer they cannot refuse.”

“They may prepare a sword to stab us with the profits we gave away. How will we do this?”

“What benefit will they gain by doing so? Rather, it will only cause greater harm. People with ideas would not do such foolish things.”

Han Chi-hyeong refuted the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ words.

“Is there one or two stories where you thought that way and ended up in trouble?”

In response to Han Chi-hyeong’s rebuttal, the Minister of Foreign Affairs raised a counterargument again.

“Why does the imperial army exist? The empire is a power that is already difficult to find an opponent for. A power has its own management and diplomacy skills.”

Hyun showed curiosity at the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ words.

“Hoo? What is that?”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs responded immediately to Hyun’s question.

“No matter how small or poor your opponent is, you must deal with it with courtesy and sincerity, but you must hold a club in your hand. And when you swing, you must swing without mercy.”

In response to the Foreign Minister’s remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Ryu Sun immediately pointed out the problem.

“Do you see that it is not the duty of a gentleman?”

“Doing the duty of a gentleman towards someone who is not a gentleman is not a gentleman, it is only a fool. What is the reason why Duke Yang of the Song Dynasty is ridiculed even now, more than a thousand years later?” ”

But royal politics.....”

“The world is not the era of kings, but the era of defeat!”

“No matter how the trend of the world is, it is like that. If you have learned the words of the sage, you should strive to realize the royal road!”

“That’s right! If you say you follow the trend because it is the way it is, then what kind of gentleman would you be?”

“Reality is reality! Before we are gentlemen, we are ministers of the empire! If you’re running an empire, you can’t forget reality!” As

the voices among the ministers grew louder, Hyun raised his hand to block the conversation.

“Stop. Be quiet! It doesn’t look good!”

At Hyeon’s command, the ministers all bowed their heads and fell silent. Hyeon looked at the ministers and continued,

“The ministers’ verbal exchange did not look bad. But isn’t now the time for that war of words? Why are you so caught up in the side stories that you forget the main point?”

“I apologize!”

“I agree.”

And this was the same for the ministers.

* * *

From a rational perspective, the Foreign Minister’s proposal was a good one. However, emotionally It was a highly objectionable proposal. This was because the Ming and Empire had fought two wars that risked the survival of the country. However, as time passed, the volume of trade between the two countries increased significantly, and merchants from both countries actively traveled back and forth across the West Sea. There was a commercial trade going on. However, there was still a high level of rejection and distrust between the ruling class of the empire and the Ming elite.

“Japan is better than the Ming!”

was even said among the people of the empire. They suffered hardships due to Japanese pirates. Because of the memories, Japan also did not look good. However, the Japanese were literally bandits, and the hostility had been greatly diluted as their seed had dried up after the conquest of Tsushima Island and Gyeongjang. But it was not the Ming. They still lost their families or were maimed in the last two wars. There were many people left behind. Under these circumstances, collaborating with the Ming was not an easy task.

* * *

Hyeon, who had been complaining a lot, passed away and Hyang, who was left alone, muttered to himself.

‘Reminds me of the Yesong controversy?’

After the death of King Hyojong, the political dispute that took place over the formalities of the funeral of Queen Jangryeol, King Hyojong’s stepmother, was called the Yesong Controversy. It started as a debate over the rules of mourning clothes, but it soon developed into a political struggle. As Neo-Confucianism was the state religion of the Joseon Dynasty, the issue of the king’s legitimacy was raised. It was because it had expanded. The same was true of the war of words that took place today. It started with the danger of the proposal put forward by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, but soon it expanded into a question of whether it was in line with national policy or Neo-Confucian values, and a mess broke out. ”

Now that I think about it,” I forgot. Hongik Ingan was a national poem, but Silsagusi was also a national poem.”

Hyang took out a blank sheet of paper and began writing a document to send to Hyeon. And two days later, at a meeting held to discuss the approval or disapproval of the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ proposal, the proposal was passed. This time too, There were formidable objections, but it was because of what Hyun said:

“In the national poetry of the Empire, there are Hongik Ingan, but there is also Silsa Gusi. Think deeply about what will truly be helpful to the empire and its people.”

* * *

Not long after the prefecture made its decision, envoys from the empire visited Yamaguchi and Beijing. The proposals brought by the envoys were discussed at the official gatherings of Beijing and Yamaguchi. A fierce war of words began to take place. This war of words was more intense in Beijing. As soon as Emperor Shenghua and his royal family heard the proposal, they immediately responded positively.

“The problem is those ministers.”

Another powerful group in the Ming Dynasty said, The question was whether the orthodox bureaucracy, or more specifically, the natives of the Ming Dynasty, would accept this. Therefore, Seonghwaje’s royal forces prepared thoroughly and kept an eye on the other party’s movements. And soon, they were delivered with good news that was not bad news.

” Eh? ‘The cards were divided?’

The orthodox bureaucracy in Beijing was divided into two over the pros and cons.

* * *

When they first heard the Empire’s proposal, most of the Beijing bureaucracy scoffed.

“Hmph! What a great proposal the Koreans have brought!”

“Oil? What kind of oil is that, so why should we join hands with the Koreans?”

But soon, those well-versed in the trend began to think differently.

-Oil is a more versatile resource than coal.

-But it is something that does not come from Ming.

-Joseon has oil, but we cannot buy it from Joseon forever.

-Myeongdo also needs its own independent and stable supply and demand channels.

“If you think about it this way, do you think it would be a good idea to join hands with Joseon? Because we can confidently build our own independent supply and demand route no matter what!”

“Do not be ridiculous!”

In this way, it was divided into two factions.