Chapter 1574: Contributing What One Can

Yet as he sat in the pavilion, gazing out the window at the slightly desolate lake and mountain scenery, the Crown Prince instead found himself freed from the earlier clamor. Most of his retinue had been left on the opposite shore; only a few inner attendants, the Goryeo king and his ministers, and several Han officials remained. The earlier din had given way to the stillness of this moment, a faint breeze drifting across the water to brush his face, as if he had entered another world entirely.

Just then, the inner attendants filed in, placing cups and pastries one by one on the low tables before each person, then pouring wine. But when they came before the Crown Prince, he raised a hand to stop them, not letting them pour him any wine, leaving only an empty bowl in front of him.

When the Crown Prince had been studying, he had read many literati essays extolling the refined pleasure of holding wine before a lofty view; he supposed what they savored was precisely this mood of gazing out the window at the bleakness of all things. It was only a pity that he was still young and bore heavy responsibilities, and so could not drink — otherwise he truly would have liked to emulate those ancient worthies.

Once wine had been poured before everyone, the Goryeo king, Li Hun, raised his cup and made a slow sweeping gesture before himself, his clouded eyes staring into the boundless void.

"Your subject reverently wishes the Son of Heaven health and peace!" he cried out, then tipped the wine from his cup into his mouth.

"Your subject reverently wishes the Son of Heaven health and peace!" The others likewise raised their cups and shouted in unison; even the Crown Prince lifted his empty cup and mimed a toast.

After that first cup was drunk, the inner attendants stepped forward again to refill everyone's cups, and then the company began drinking and conversing in twos and threes, the atmosphere abruptly growing much livelier.

Seated at the very center, the Crown Prince had only Li Hun beside him, and he had no intention of initiating conversation with the man, so for the moment he merely picked up a pastry and ate a few bites.

It was Li Hun, instead, who came to speak with the Crown Prince first; cup in hand, he groped his way over to the Crown Prince's side.

"Your subject reverently wishes Your Highness the Crown Prince swift success, that you may wash away this humble kingdom's bitter grudge." He solemnly offered this toast to the Crown Prince, then once more drained his cup in one draught.

"Many thanks for the king's auspicious words." The Crown Prince hurriedly rose as well, supporting him back to his original seat before answering in a low voice. "However, a campaign depends on unity of purpose from top to bottom. Since this great army is to set out from your esteemed kingdom, achieving swift success will also rely on your kingdom's assistance. I must ask the king to join his heart and strength with our humble dynasty, that together we may accomplish this unprecedented great enterprise…"

"That is only natural. Goryeo and Japan share a blood feud as deep as the sea; the wretched scars left by the Imjin Waeran still sear the eye even now. Your subject dares not forget it for an instant — how could I possibly hinder the work of vengeance? Moreover, your subject is a protective screen for the Great Han. When the Great Han's Son of Heaven issues a command, how could I possibly fail to exhaust my utmost?" Li Hun replied with the most fervent tone. "Please set your mind at ease, Your Highness. Your subject will surely lead this humble nation to overcome every hardship and assist the heavenly troops in defeating Japan."

"The king is most diligent." Seeing the other speak so agreeably, the Crown Prince could not help but smile. "As it happens, I too have some matters to request of the king, precisely to fulfill the purpose of my journey here."

"Pray instruct me, Your Highness." Li Hun was somewhat puzzled.

"Although the king already knows that our court intends to launch a punitive expedition against Japan, I imagine the king does not yet know the specific arrangements." The Crown Prince regarded him calmly. "To facilitate the advance into Japan, our court has chosen as the embarkation point the seaport closest to Japan's Kyushu — namely, your kingdom's port of Busan. That is to say, in the coming period, our court's army and navy, as well as the provisions and military supplies raised from every region, will be shipped continuously across the sea to Busan, there to assemble and await orders. Afterward, I too shall relocate to Busan, so as to direct the great army's rear-area supply from close at hand."

For the sake of secrecy, the Crown Prince did not intend to divulge every detail to Li Hun or the other Goryeo officials. But since he would be personally stationed on another's territory, some matters simply had to be stated. Before coming, the Crown Prince and his retinue had deliberated at length and made their preparations, and today they meant to seize this opportunity to explain everything to Li Hun in one sitting.

"Busan…" Li Hun started slightly, then nodded gently.

This idea from the Central Dynasty was not unexpected. Busan was a fine natural harbor, developed over many years into a commercial port with complete facilities, ideal for assembling seagoing vessels, and it was extremely close to Japan, allowing for the swiftest possible landing. Back when Japan had invaded Goryeo, they too had landed at Busan — one could call this heaven's justice coming full circle…

Though in his heart he held no fondness for the Central Dynasty, Li Hun's hatred for Japan was even deeper, so he was only too eager for the Central Dynasty to do to Japan exactly what the Japanese had done in Goryeo all those years ago.

"Your Highness intends to go to Busan in person to take command?" Still, he had some misgivings about the Crown Prince's personal presence. "Though Busan is a large commercial port, its conditions are after all crude… and a commercial port where merchants of every nation gather, a mix of fish and dragons, might well pose a danger to Your Highness's safety. Would it not be better for Your Highness to remain here in Hanseong? You could direct operations from Hanseong just as well."

"I am responsible for the rear; naturally I must be where I can be of greatest use. I appreciate the king's kind intentions." The Crown Prince shook his head gently, rejecting the proposal. "If I were seeking comfort, I could simply have stayed in the capital. Why would I have come all the way to Goryeo? As for safety, the king need not worry. By then, Busan port will be massed with our nation's naval and land forces — if someone could still do me harm there, that would truly be a wonder."

That is precisely what worries me, Li Hun thought to himself.

With the Central Dynasty massing its naval and land forces at Busan, and the Crown Prince personally stationed there to take command, would Busan then belong to Goryeo or to the Central Dynasty?

But… what use was there in objecting? It would only needlessly displease the Central Dynasty's Crown Prince.

"What Your Highness says is most correct. Your subject understands. I shall certainly issue orders to the local officials to cooperate fully with Your Highness the Crown Prince." With a sense of helplessness, Li Hun answered in a low voice.

"Indeed, full cooperation is essential." The Crown Prince suddenly smiled. "King, I have heard that your kingdom's entire territory is divided into eight provinces, and that Busan port falls under Gyeongsang Province, is that correct?"

"That is correct, Your Highness." Li Hun nodded gently, a sudden ill premonition rising within him.

After the Yi dynasty was founded, the entire country's prefectures were redivided, and eight provinces were established (equivalent to the provinces of China, the highest level of local administration). Busan fell under the jurisdiction of Gyeongsang Province. Li Hun had not expected the Central Dynasty's Crown Prince to be so familiar with Goryeo.

"King, this is precisely what I wish to request." The Crown Prince's smile grew ever more modest and amiable. "To better facilitate our nation's campaign against Japan, and to ease my own command and coordination, the full cooperation of the local government is absolutely indispensable. And it must be the most capable and most trusted person. Therefore, I make bold to ask the king to temporarily replace the governor of Gyeongsang Province with a capable candidate…"

"A capable candidate…" Li Hun repeated the words unconsciously, his heart beginning to pound wildly.

The Crown Prince's words were tantamount to declaring his deep distrust of Goryeo's local officials and demanding their replacement with someone acceptable to him — this was an extremely blatant interference. Yet he had no grounds to refute it, for he knew perfectly well what sort of men those local officials were.

"Most of the current officials in Gyeongsang Province are indeed old, decrepit, and useless. If Your Highness finds them unsatisfactory, your subject shall, upon returning, charge the State Council with conducting a personnel review and replacing them with suitable candidates as quickly as possible, so as not to delay Your Highness's great undertaking." Suppressing the alarm in his heart, he answered quietly.

"With the great undertaking now poised like an arrow on the string, how can a slow personnel review possibly keep pace?" The Crown Prince shook his head, rejecting the suggestion. "Perhaps it would be better to do this: your kingdom's envoy stationed in the capital, Li Ke, is a man of quick wits, upright and honest in character, and most methodical in his work. These past days, traveling with me to Goryeo, he has told me a great deal about Goryeo's affairs, to my immense benefit… Since he is so thoroughly versed in the conditions of Goryeo high and low, and can maintain amicable relations with our court, let him take temporary charge of this Gyeongsang Province. Let him oversee the local officials — I consider him most suitable."

At these words from the Crown Prince, a chill surged up from Li Hun's gut, nearly causing him to lose his seat.

The Central Dynasty was directly seeking to interfere in Goryeo's internal affairs — and to directly appoint an official to govern an entire province!

Goryeo had eight provinces, and the highest local official was the Provincial Governor. According to Goryeo's bureaucratic system, this was a junior second-rank post, one of the very highest civil offices in the kingdom. How could such a position be handed out so casually?

"Your Highness… this… this is perhaps somewhat inappropriate?" So tense was he that his voice trembled slightly. "The Governorship of Gyeongsang Province is one of our kingdom's most important offices. It requires a thorough personnel review before an appointment can be made. Li Ke, formerly our kingdom's envoy to the suzerain court, has little experience in governance — how could he possibly shoulder such a weighty appointment? Furthermore, our kingdom has no precedent of appointing a member of the royal clan as a high-ranking regional official…"

This was no lie. From the very founding of the Yi dynasty, royal clan infighting had been ferociously intense, with multiple palace coups occurring, and members of the royal clan had several times been propped up as rivals. Successive kings had therefore been extremely vigilant against the royal clan, rarely permitting them to serve as court or local officials — much like the Great Ming after the Jingnan Campaign. Li Ke, as a royal clansman, if arbitrarily appointed by the Central Dynasty as the chief official of an entire province, who knew what ambitions might stir in him?

He then raised his head to face the Crown Prince. "Your Highness, allow your subjects to deliberate carefully once more, and then separately dispatch a capable official to take up the post and assist Your Highness in accomplishing this great enterprise. Though our humble kingdom is small and sparsely populated, we do at least possess no small number of scholar-officials versed in both civil and martial affairs."

"Your kingdom certainly has many scholar-officials versed in both civil and martial affairs, but how many of them are thoroughly familiar with the customs and habits of the Great Han, and have had dealings with us?" The Crown Prince still did not quite accept Li Hun's protest. "King, I know this request may put you in a difficult position, but this is merely an expedient measure. Once the great enterprise of the Japanese campaign is complete, you may immediately revoke Li Ke's appointment if you wish — there would be no objection. This is merely a special exception made to coordinate with our court, and also to help your kingdom exact its vengeance."

"But… but…" Li Hun still hesitated. "Your Highness, why not simply have Li Ke accompany you to Busan in the capacity of an advisor? I shall issue a decree ordering all local officials to obey his intermediary direction, including the Governor of Gyeongsang Province. If even that will not do, I shall simply make him the Commissioner of the Dongnae Protectorate, placing him in overall charge of all affairs of the Dongnae Protectorate… and, well, he could also command the naval forces of Gyeongsang Province."

Busan port was now Goryeo's largest harbor. After the Yi dynasty was founded, a military garrison was established here during the reign of the founding ancestor Yi Seong-gye, and during the reign of King Taejong it was converted into a naval command. Another century or two later, owing to the region's importance, it was elevated to the Dongnae Protectorate, and its highest administrative official was called the Dongnae Protectorate Commissioner.

Beyond being a commercial port, this Dongnae Protectorate also specifically housed the Waegwan, which served as the central hub for trade and diplomacy with Japan.

The Waegwan was an institution specifically for trade with Japan, much like the Great Han's trading post in Nagasaki. Originally, this Waegwan was located at Busan-po, but after the Imjin War, with the two countries in constant conflict, the Busan-po Waegwan was destroyed during the fighting. Following the Imjin War, after several years of tentative probing, the two nations resumed trade relations, and the Waegwan was re-established at Dumopo.

At the same time, the brutal Japanese pirate invasions had made the Goryeo court and king keenly aware of the importance of national defense, and the Busan region was regarded as the most critical frontline area. After the Imjin War, the Goryeo court immediately established the Gyeongsang Left Naval Command, under which several naval garrisons were set up to defend the coastline.

Of course, after many years of peace, these naval forces had, like Goryeo's other government organs, grown corrupt and mediocre through graft and decay. But for Li Hun to offer Li Ke such an important local post, and even let him command the navy, was already a very considerable concession.

Yet even this outcome could not satisfy the Crown Prince. Ever since he had accepted this mission, his sole and single-minded focus had been on ensuring its flawless completion, dreading the slightest mishap or hindrance. Having Li Ke appointed Governor of Gyeongsang Province was a decision he had already settled upon with his advisors beforehand — how could he be swayed by a few words from Li Hun?

"King, as the saying goes, if the name is not correct, the words will not ring true; if the words do not ring true, the task will not be accomplished. If Li Ke is merely a Protectorate Commissioner, he will be of equal rank with other local officials, and subordinate to the Provincial Governor — how would he have sufficient authority to direct these local officials? Would he not simply be obstructed for no reason? I have said, this is only an expedient measure. Once the Japanese campaign is over, Li Ke can be immediately removed from the post, and I shall not interfere further. The king need not be overly concerned."

Though he could not see the Crown Prince's frown with his own eyes, Li Hun could already detect a trace of impatience in his tone.

On the surface, he spoke with extreme courtesy, but this was likely a demand that brooked no refusal.

Ha. For all his fine words and superficial gestures, for all his talk of reining in the lawless conduct of the envoys, this Crown Prince of the Central Dynasty was in truth more arrogant and overbearing than any of those embassy members! However arrogant the previous envoys had been, none had ever directly issued orders demanding the appointment of a junior second-rank official according to their own will.

If he agreed, this would set a precedent for the Great Han to further interfere in Goryeo's internal affairs, and he would surely be despised and resented all the more by his country's scholars and commoners. How could he then face his ancestors in the netherworld?

His continued silence only made the Crown Prince more impatient. "King, I know this request puts you in a difficult position. But did you not say before that Goryeo is a vassal state of the suzerain court, wholeheartedly devoted to serving the suzerain? Now I have not yet asked your kingdom to contribute much in the way of funds, grain, or troops — I am merely asking your kingdom to arrange for one local official, and a temporary measure at that. Can it be that your kingdom cannot even manage this much?"

In his view, China had already been more than courteous enough to Goryeo. During the Imjin Waeran, the former Ming had twice dispatched armies on a massive scale, fighting the Japanese forces for years on end, expending untold manpower, materiel, and wealth before finally driving the Japanese army out — truly a debt of rebirth that Goryeo owed. Moreover, out of consideration for Goryeo's poverty and weakness, the Ming had borne all these military expenses itself, bringing immeasurable strain upon the dynasty. The Ming's finances had grown increasingly strained from the Wanli era onward, ultimately leading to the empire's collapse — and it could well be argued that the enormous cost of this war was one of the reasons.

This time, the Great Han's military expedition had not demanded that Goryeo contribute troops, nor even asked them to cover military expenses — only to provide a bit of land. Provisions and military supplies were being raised from within their own borders. Goryeo was, after all, a vassal of the Great Han — was it not a matter of course to borrow land when needed?

Under these circumstances, for Li Hun to still be evasive and obstructive — this was beginning to displease him.

"Your Highness… Your Highness… your subject acknowledges his fault." Seeing the Crown Prince's words grow so stern, Li Hun could not withstand the pressure and hurriedly apologized. "Your subject understands Your Highness's meaning. As a vassal state of the Great Han, Goryeo ought indeed to render service to the Great Han. This request, your subject can agree to. It is only… though your subject is the king of Goryeo, he must after all rely on his ministers for counsel. The appointment of local officials requires the approval of the central ministers. Your subject must inform the ministers, so as not to cause an upheaval in the court and the country."

The pressure from the Central Dynasty's Crown Prince was simply too great right now; he absolutely dared not refuse to his face. So, in his helplessness, he could only think to buy some time, then deliberate with his ministers to see if there was any way to avoid this — and if there truly was none, he could at least shift some of the blame onto the court ministers, sparing himself from bearing the condemnation alone.

"The appointment of a provincial governor is no child's play; informing the assisting ministers and going through the proper procedures is only right. The king may proceed as he sees fit." The Crown Prince could understand this reasoning, so he nodded. "However, I must ask the king to complete the appointment as quickly as possible, lest delays hinder the great undertaking."

"Yes, yes, your servant understands." Li Hun bobbed his head hurriedly, over and over.

Seeing the great matter settled, the Crown Prince's suspended heart finally settled. Now, looking at the blind old man before him, trembling with fear and trepidation, a trace of pity rose unbidden in his heart.

"Very well. Today was meant to be a fine day. I have just arrived in Goryeo and have been most satisfied with the warm reception from your sovereign and ministers. Now that the official business is concluded, let us all take a good look at your country's scenery once more."