Chapter 628 Daewongun's Decision (3rd update, please subscribe)
There is a kind of love that is unforgettable.
This kind of love can be personal as well as between countries.
The same is true when we apply this love to our country.
Korea has a deep love for the Ming Dynasty. Even though the Ming Dynasty has been gone for more than two hundred years, Korea still insists on using the Chongzhen era name.
"Our country is the Great Ming!"
Even though it was forced to surrender to the Qing Dynasty, Korea was still loyal to the Ming Dynasty. After the Ming Dynasty fell, although Korea ostensibly paid tribute to the Qing Dynasty, it had been preparing for the Northern Expedition to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and restore the Ming Dynasty. At that time, the Joseon Dynasty privately called the Qing emperor "Hu Huang". Except for official documents congratulating the Qing Dynasty, internal official documents still used the Chongzhen reign title. However, King Hyojong of the Joseon Dynasty took it as his mission to restore the Ming Dynasty.
However, this "Northern Expedition Faction" has been talking about this from two hundred years ago to the present, and even when they learned about the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, they had the idea of "Northern Expedition to the Central Plains and restoring the Ming Dynasty", but it was just an idea.
On the third day of the sixth lunar month of the tenth year of Tongzhi… no, in Korea it should be called the second hundred and forty-fifth year of Chongzhen. On this day, Chen Sheng’s passport and several banknotes issued by the Imperial Bank of the Ming Dynasty were placed in a brocade box and sent from Seoul Prefecture to Unhyeon Palace, to Daewongun Lee Si-eung. Ten years ago, King Cheoljong of the Joseon Dynasty died without an heir. Lee Si-eung’s 12-year-old son Lee Myeong-bok entered the palace, ascended the throne five days later, and changed his name to Lee Hee. So far, Lee Si-eung became the “Daewongun” of Joseon. He was given the title of Daewongun and named “Heungseon Daewongun”, which was a step to heaven. Later, he was given the power of “assisting in the great government” by the Queen Dowager Cho, who was ruling the country from behind the curtain, to manage the government for the young king. Three years later, Queen Dowager Cho withdrew the curtain and returned the government. Although Lee Si-eung did not have the title of “regent”, he actually became the “regent” of Joseon.
Thus, for the first time in 500 years of the Joseon Dynasty, the king's biological father was still alive and ruling, and Yi Si-eung was finally able to display his talents and realize his ambitions. However, the drastic reforms he initiated were not reforms to promote modernization, but reforms to repair the old system.
As regent, Lee Si-eung almost became the de facto ruler of Joseon. The orders issued by the "Daewonge Bongbu" almost replaced the king's decrees. Only important matters or decrees were announced in the name of the Queen Mother or the king.
Precisely because he was the de facto ruler, the "good news" from Seoul had to be delivered to him.
"The Ming Dynasty has been restored!"
Li Shiying opened his eyes wide in astonishment and could hardly believe his ears.
"Is this certain?"
Even though he had been a "street thug" for many years, Li Shiying did not admire the Ming Dynasty as much as the people of the Huaxi School, but he still maintained the vassal system in his bones. What was his foreign policy? He strictly closed the country to the outside world, called for repelling foreign invasions, led the Korean army and civilians to resist the French invasion of "Bingyin Foreign Disturbance" and the American invasion of "Sinmi Foreign Disturbance", erected his handwritten "Repelling Peace Monuments" all over the country, and refused to accept the letters sent by Japan after the Meiji Restoration, and only interacted with the Qing Dynasty within the framework of the vassal relationship.
Now there is a new Ming Dynasty. It’s not that it’s new, but for some unknown reason, the Ming Dynasty, which had been dead for more than 200 years, was just... resurrected on the spot!
Uh, not the original place, but Li Shiying had no idea.
"Ming Empire Passport!"
Looking at the passport in front of him and the small seal Chinese characters on the red passport, Li Shiying felt as if he was shocked.
It’s not because of the small seal script on the passport. After all, small seal script itself is used in serious and formal occasions. Important documents such as Emperor Zhu the Great’s sacrificial text to heaven were written in small seal script.
But it was because of the information brought by this passport—the Ming Dynasty had actually been resurrected!
"The Ming Dynasty...has really been restored?"
Once again, Lee Shi-eung looked at Prime Minister Hong Chun-mok and asked,
"It seems that it should, maybe... be true."
Hong Sunmok was a close confidant of Daewongun, otherwise Lee Si-eung would not have promoted him to the position of Prime Minister after Kim Byung-hak returned to his hometown to observe mourning last year.
Although his words were vague, when he mentioned the restoration of the Ming Dynasty, he looked so excited that it was as if his dead father had been resurrected.
Actually, it’s true!
For North Korea, the Ming Dynasty is the sky and the father, closer than the father and closer than the mother.
Being filial to your parents is the best thing.
But for the Ming Dynasty, that is the righteousness of the Spring and Autumn Period that is more important than anything else!
"This... Since the Ming Dynasty has been restored, why didn't they send envoys to Korea to let them know? The Seoul government said that the Ming Dynasty has restored the old vassal state of Ryukyu, and all the Korean women they bought were first sent to Ryukyu and then to the Ming Dynasty."
Li Shiying said with some doubt.
"Why go to so much trouble?"
"Alas, Ryukyu has returned to the Celestial Empire, but Korea has been abandoned by the Celestial Empire. This is because the Celestial Empire still remembers the "Bingzi Rebellion" when Korea surrendered to the Qing Dynasty! Your Majesty, now that the Ming Dynasty has been restored, Korea has worshipped the Ming Dynasty for generations. We should send envoys to the Ming Dynasty to find out the truth. If the Ming Dynasty is indeed the orthodox Ming Dynasty, Korea should respect it as the legitimate master. Secondly, in this chaotic world, the Qing Dynasty can no longer take care of itself. If Korea can return to the Ming Dynasty, it will not only be an abandoned child returning to its parents' country, but also seek the protection of its mother country."
Return to the motherland!
Whenever Hong Chunmu thought of this, his heart was filled with ecstasy. This had been the wish of the entire North Korea for nearly two hundred and fifty years since the "Bingzi Rebellion"!
In the past, this wish was at most just a thought in his mind, or even a delusion. But now, this wish is about to come true, how can he not be happy?
"Besides..."
Hong Chunmu said in a low voice.
"The princess and her followers have long been dissatisfied with Daewongun's regency. If Daewongun can be enthroned by the Ming Dynasty, it will be so legitimate. Even the princess' followers will not dare to go against the will of the Heavenly Dynasty!"
In the final analysis, it’s all for profit!
Hong Chunmu's suggestion made Li Shiying's heart move. The daughter-in-law he personally chose was a very capable person. In the past few years, in addition to instigating Gojong, she also secretly cultivated her own power. She not only brought together her natal family, the Lixing Min clan, but also united the Andong Jin clan and the Punggyeong Cho clan, which had been excluded by Li Shiying earlier, and gradually formed a force that controlled the government.
Facing the threat from his son and daughter-in-law, Li Shiying was alert and thinking about how to fight back. Now Hong Chunmu's suggestion is indeed worthwhile. After thinking for a while, Li Shiying said.
"But, after all, our dynasty has been a vassal of the Qing for many years. If we rashly send an envoy, we may not only be retaliated by the Qing, but it will also cause unrest in the court. If we are not careful, it may backfire!"
"Maharaja."
Hong Chunmu thought for a while and replied.
"You can send a secret envoy. Before that, keep it strictly confidential and try not to let outsiders know."
(End of this chapter)
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