Chapter 1575: The Great Han Resembles the Tyrannical Qin

"Thank you, Crown Prince. I, your servant, also feel today is a most auspicious day..." Li Hun's mind was already in complete disarray; he nodded habitually, not even knowing what he was saying himself.

To cover his embarrassment, he picked up his wine cup and took a sip, yet his tongue registered absolutely nothing of the fine wine's flavor.

Because of this sudden disturbance, the two highest-ranking individuals at tonight's welcoming banquet both seemed somewhat lacking in enthusiasm, so the ministers' chatter among themselves also grew much quieter. Although the atmosphere appeared lively on the surface, it seemed more restrained overall.

Late into the night, the banquet finally dispersed. Led by the attendants of Gyeongbok Palace, the Crown Prince went to the sleeping quarters arranged for him within the palace to rest, and the Great Han envoy officials likewise departed Gyeongbok Palace to return to the embassy. However, the sovereign and ministers of Goryeo remained sleepless all night due to the disturbance brought by the Central Dynasty Crown Prince's personal visit.

At the eunuch's hint, Chief State Councillor Kim Jin-guk stayed behind and followed the eunuch all the way to the study beside Geunjeong Hall.

When he arrived at the study, the candlelight inside was very dim. Li Hun, his face sullen, sat upright in his seat, his murky eyes seeming to emit a yellowish gleam, a truly somewhat terrifying sight.

Even with the debt of gratitude for being single-handedly promoted to Chief State Councillor, he still truly could not muster much respect for this monarch.

"Your Highness, may I ask what matter you have summoned your servant for?" Suppressing the disgust in his heart, he bowed and asked Li Hun.

In the former Ming era, the Kingdom of Goryeo, as a vassal state, had its ruler enjoy only the treatment of a prince, and by principle could only be addressed as "Your Highness." After the Great Han replaced the Great Ming, the situation had not changed. However, because no one else had been present before, Kim Jin-guk had privately called Li Hun "Your Majesty." But now that the Central Dynasty Crown Prince had personally arrived at Gyeongbok Palace, for safety's sake, he chose to address his sovereign as "Your Highness."

Hearing this form of address, Li Hun furrowed his brow slightly, but quickly smoothed it again. He could understand the other's intention.

"My beloved minister, summoning you so late, We also feel somewhat apologetic." He likewise changed his form of address to match the other's. "Were it not a matter of necessity, We would certainly have let you get a good night's sleep first."

His words made Kim Jin-guk even more solemn. He understood that for the monarch to appear as if facing a great enemy, he must have encountered some difficult major issue. In that instant, he rapidly replayed the scenes from earlier in his mind.

"Could it be that the Central Dynasty Crown Prince just spoke to Your Highness of some urgent matter?" After a moment, he looked up and asked.

"Indeed so." Li Hun nodded blankly. "His Highness wants me to appoint Li Ke as the Governor of Gyeongsang Province."

"What?" Because this matter was far too sudden, Kim Jin-guk was greatly shocked, almost doubting he had misheard.

But from the monarch's face, he could see no trace of jest. No wonder the monarch had been so flustered earlier, even frightened into summoning him for consultation in the middle of the night.

"This... this..." Kim Jin-guk's mind was also thrown into chaos, his hands even waving unconsciously. "This is far too improper!"

Since the establishment of the Yi Dynasty, Goryeo had modeled itself on the Great Ming to establish a rigorous bureaucratic system, with strict official hierarchies from the central government down to the localities. Moreover, the appointment of officials placed great emphasis on seniority and sequence. Let alone an official like a Provincial Governor, even lesser local officials required the State Council to conduct selection and evaluation, undergoing careful choice before receiving formal appointment.

Now, the Central Dynasty Crown Prince intended to casually designate a candidate for the Goryeo court simply according to his own preference. This had already destroyed Goryeo's previous rules for appointing officials, and what was more, he was even designating a member of the royal clan. Perhaps in His Highness's eyes this was a trivial matter, but it would surely bring endless harm to Goryeo in the future.

Furthermore, once a precedent was set, would there not be more precedents in the future? If the Central Dynasty could arbitrarily appoint Goryeo officials later on, how exactly should the Goryeo court conduct itself? And how should his own authority as Chief State Councillor be exercised? The more he thought about it, the more he felt a chill run down his spine.

"Your Highness, please absolutely do not agree to the Central Dynasty Crown Prince's demand!" Kim Jin-guk, having regained his senses, immediately shouted loudly at Li Hun. "If you agree to him, it will surely become a great calamity later!"

"But what can I do if I don't agree?" Li Hun first gave a bitter smile, then asked in return.

This counter-question immediately left Kim Jin-guk speechless.

Goryeo was a vassal state of the Central Dynasty, and in theory, they were all subjects of the Central Dynasty imperial house. Given the Central Dynasty Crown Prince's status, if he demanded that Goryeo appoint an official, what grounds were there to oppose it?

"Then... Your Highness... did you agree?" After another moment, Kim Jin-guk asked again, somewhat bitterly.

"If I had agreed, I wouldn't need to summon you here tonight as well." Li Hun answered somewhat coldly. "To buy time, I said the matter was of great importance and requested that the Crown Prince grant some more leeway, allowing the State Council to prepare further, at least to go through the procedures, so as not to alarm public opinion."

'So as not to alarm public opinion'—wasn't it just fear of bearing the responsibility alone? Kim Jin-guk sneered coldly in his heart. It was foreseeable that once this decision was announced, it would surely stir a great uproar throughout Goryeo's court and society. When the time came and court criticism surged, those handling the matter would certainly bear the infamy. He had never imagined that while he was still completely unaware, such a huge trouble would land on his shoulders.

Yet, even though he understood the monarch's true intent in doing this, he had no way to point it out to his face.

"Beloved minister, the reason I summoned you tonight is to ask you: do you have any method to change the Crown Prince's decision?" Li Hun let out a long sigh. "Although I have managed to delay things slightly for now, the Crown Prince demands the court make a decision as soon as possible. If we anger him, I'm afraid it will put everyone in a very difficult position next, won't it?"

Kim Jin-guk also knew in his heart that the monarch was entirely correct, yet after thinking it over repeatedly, he remained utterly at a loss, unable to think of any way to make the Crown Prince change his mind.

The founding emperor of the Great Han, with his civil and military brilliance, had carved out achievements rivaling any previous emperor, and was naturally a sovereign who brooked no resistance. And as his eldest son by the primary wife, raised from childhood with the education of an heir, no matter how amiable his outward appearance, this Crown Prince was likely not someone who would easily change his mind. Since he had already given the order, how could one easily make him retract it?

"I shall go find Lord Jeongseong and explain the greater good to him, making him understand that this matter is harmful and not beneficial to Goryeo, and that he must decline this appointment to the Crown Prince." After a long silence, Kim Jin-guk voiced his idea. "As long as Lord Jeongseong still retains even a slight sense of loyalty in his heart, he should decline it to the Crown Prince."

Lord Jeongseong was Li Ke's title. Kim Jin-guk decided to seek out Li Ke and have him personally decline the appointment as Governor of Gyeongsang Province. This could be considered the only option when there were no other options.

"And if Li Ke refuses, what then?" Li Hun asked in a low voice. "With rank and position before him, not everyone would yield and step aside."

"If Lord Jeongseong refuses, then we will simply have to proceed according to the Crown Prince's wishes." Kim Jin-guk replied with a bitter smile. "I have no other method. This infamy, I can only bear it in silence."

"Then let it be done so." Li Hun's expression was also miserable. "Beloved minister, I must trouble you."

After a pause, he asked again. "Beloved minister, you personally welcomed and attended to His Highness before, and have spent several days with him. In your view, what kind of person is he exactly?"

"The Central Dynasty Crown Prince is just as the rumors say: indeed intelligent, astute, and quick-witted, treating others with humility and sincerity, without the arrogance of a noble scion, and deeply winning the hearts of his attendants." Kim Jin-guk naturally understood exactly what the monarch was asking. "More importantly, he is not lacking in benevolence, able to treat others generously and understand the people's hardships. In my view, if he can maintain this same character afterward, the Central Dynasty will yet welcome a wise sovereign."

"He presses and urges us so urgently, yet you can still speak so well of him." Li Hun gave a bitter smile.

"One matter is one matter. Although this affair gives your servants a terrible headache, I cannot speak falsely because of it." Kim Jin-guk's face was utterly serious. "Your Highness should understand my meaning."

"In other words, at least there will be one more wise sovereign?" Li Hun indeed understood Kim Jin-guk's meaning. He let out another long sigh, a rare look of melancholy appearing on his face.

"The Great Ming... is never coming back after all..."

Because of repeated oppression by the Central Dynasty, the Goryeo sovereign and ministers deeply missed the Great Ming, grateful for its grace in helping restore the kingdom, and also nostalgic for the Great Ming's lenient rule of non-interference in internal affairs back then. Even many years after the Great Ming's destruction, this sentiment had still not faded; many Goryeo scholar-officials even enshrined spirit tablets of the Great Ming's Shenzong Emperor in their homes.

Thus, their most fervent hope was that the Great Ming could be restored—or at the very least, that the Great Han could fall swiftly like the Qin and Sui dynasties.

Previously, they had muttered in secret that the Great Han did not revere Confucianism and encouraged industry and commerce, and its conduct was so greedy, tyrannical, and violent; it looked just like the Legalist Qin dynasty, and its national fate surely would not last long. Yet contrary to their wishes, these years the Great Han's national power had continued to flourish daily, campaigning everywhere and achieving victory. Not only were the Jurchens and Mongols dealt crushing defeats, even the remnants of the former Ming had become a candle in the wind, about to be extinguished at any moment. No matter how much they disliked that founding emperor, they had to admit that he was now at the height of his power, just like that First Emperor, sweeping across all under heaven.

Now, Kim Jin-guk further judged that the Central Dynasty Crown Prince could also become a wise sovereign of his generation. That meant the Central Dynasty would have at least two generations of wise rulers. The Crown Prince was only in his teens now and could live for many more decades, so the Great Ming was truly never coming back—at least, their generation would never see it again.

Both men could not help but feel a sense of lament.

"The Qin dynasty's Crown Prince, Fusu, was also very virtuous and wise." After hesitating a moment, Li Hun suddenly said. "But in the end, the Great Qin still fell to Huhai. Perhaps... perhaps history could indeed repeat itself. The Son of Heaven has such a wolfish and tigerish nature; he probably wouldn't like a gentle and benevolent son, would he? Besides, the Son of Heaven is in such robust prime; how long must the Crown Prince remain Crown Prince? Sooner or later, he won't be able to endure it anymore... Looking at it this way, after many years, the Central Dynasty might well fall into internal chaos."

"Such matters are dictated by Heaven's fate; who can be certain? If it turns out that way, that would be best, but our country cannot place its hopes on such things." Kim Jin-guk shook his head, not agreeing with the other's view. "At least for now, it is what it is. Your servants can only treat it as it is and show due respect, without the slightest impropriety."

"I understand everything you say; this was merely idle talk." Li Hun also withdrew his fanciful musings and faced reality again. "Beloved minister, proceed according to what we agreed upon tonight."

After arriving in Hanseong, the vast entourage accompanying the Crown Prince out of the capital also went their separate ways. The Crown Prince himself and his personal attendants stayed in Gyeongbok Palace, while the other Great Han members were arranged to stay at the Great Han embassy. As for the Goryeo people who had followed the Crown Prince back to Goryeo, they each returned to their own homes.

These Goryeo people were all members of Goryeo's mission stationed in the Great Han capital. Having been stationed in the capital for several years with hardly a chance to return home, now that they finally had the opportunity to come back, they all felt a sense of relief. In particular, since the Great Han was, after all, the suzerain state in people's eyes, being able to serve a diplomatic posting there—even though everyone's impression of the Great Han was not very good—these envoys were still envied by other scholar-officials. As soon as they returned, they received invitations one after another, with social engagements unending.

However, unlike the other envoys who went about socializing everywhere, Li Ke, Lord Jeongseong, who was of the royal clan, shut his doors and refused all visitors as soon as he returned home, neither hosting banquets nor visiting other people's homes. Although this conduct carried the suspicion of arrogance, because he was of the royal clan, most people understood his approach and did not come knocking to disturb this Goryeo Chief Envoy to the Great Han.

However, the rule of Lord Jeongseong's household declining all outside visitors was broken today. Early in the morning, a guest arrived at Lord Jeongseong's residence by sedan chair. This guest was someone Lord Jeongseong could not refuse: the current Chief State Councillor of Goryeo, Kim Jin-guk.

As soon as he heard of Kim Jin-guk's visit, Li Ke, who had originally been chatting idly with his family, did not dare to be remiss and hurriedly welcomed him into his home's main hall. Although under normal circumstances, contact between the royal clan and court ministers should not be so ostentatious, times were different now, and Kim Jin-guk could not concern himself with that anymore.

After the servants had served tea, Li Ke waved them away, then looked curiously at Kim Jin-guk, who sat upright in his seat. "May I ask what noble business brings you to visit me today, sir?"

"It is impossible that Lord Jeongseong does not know the purpose of my visit today." Kim Jin-guk replied with an impatient look. "Lord Jeongseong, at this point, let us not hide things anymore."

Seeing Kim Jin-guk so blunt, Li Ke's expression also changed slightly, and he too became much more serious. "Sir, you seem to be in a poor mood today."

"Of course I am in a poor mood. Seeing myself about to become a criminal cursed by the masses, how could my mood possibly be good?" Kim Jin-guk sneered. "Lord Jeongseong, on the other hand, is in a very fine mood, about to become a Provincial Governor with great power in your grasp."

"It seems… it seems His Highness the Crown Prince has already spoken to the Sovereign about this," Li Ke's expression grew even more solemn. "May I ask, my lord, what is the Sovereign's view on this matter?"

"What view could there be? Utter unwillingness, of course, and boundless fury directed at you as well." Jin Jinguo answered with a cold sneer, though he could also see that Li Ke showed no fear because of it, so he continued. "Lord of Jingcheng, I know you do not care whether the Sovereign likes it or not. As long as His Highness the Crown Prince insists, we will indeed swallow our anger and agree to this demand — in the end, you will get what you want. But, Lord of Jingcheng, if we are reviled by the court and the people then, do you think you can escape it? His Highness the Crown Prince has already stated plainly that this is merely a temporary expedient, meant to serve his own mission, and that once the war is over he will no longer concern himself with your appointment. So even if you can become the Governor of Gyeongsang Province now, what will happen when the war ends? When His Highness no longer looks after you, and the court and the people are thoroughly discontented with you, how will you manage then? Lord of Jingcheng, you had best think carefully on the consequences — do not let profit blind you to reason!"

His speech was delivered with great emotion and expression, and toward the end became deeply earnest, as if he were putting himself in the other's shoes and thinking entirely on his behalf.

And his words were persuasive enough — at the very least, they shook Li Ke.

"Lord Jin… can this matter truly involve such grave repercussions?" After a moment of silent deliberation, Li Ke looked toward Jin Jinguo with some hesitation. "I have no great ambitions; I merely wish to do my utmost so that the soldiers and people of Goryeo suffer less harm… As you well know, my lord, the Central Dynasty is now infiltrating our country everywhere, committing lawless outrages in every corner. If His Highness the Crown Prince reaches Busan, where large numbers of Great Han troops are massed, and with the Crown Prince backing them they will have nothing to fear — who knows what they might do then! I served as an envoy to Great Han for many years. Though I cannot claim any great prestige, I have at least accumulated some personal connections with high officials of Great Han and even the imperial house. If I could place myself in the middle, I could at least make those people somewhat restrained, so they would not excessively ravage the region. My lord, this is my wholehearted devotion to the country — I beg you to understand!"

He spoke with such earnestness and impassioned fervor that Jin Jinguo was momentarily at a loss for words.

"The Lord of Jingcheng's thinking is not, in fact, without some reason." After a moment, he sighed softly. "But, Lord of Jingcheng, consider this: if this precedent is set — and a precedent for a provincial governor, no less — will Great Han not be able to interfere at will in our country's official appointments from now on? If the Lord of Jingcheng truly has the nation's interests at heart, he should decline this appointment. There are many ways to help the country avoid being ravaged; one need not necessarily resort to the worst possible method."

"Even if this precedent is not set, can the Central Dynasty not interfere in Goryeo's internal affairs from now on?" Li Ke shook his head, looking somewhat dejected. "Lord Jin, you are the Chief State Councillor. Of course you are unwilling for such a thing to happen. But ask yourself honestly — is Great Han not already able to manipulate our country at will?"

"You… what do you mean by that?" Jin Jinguo's expression changed; he had not expected the other to say such a thing.