Chapter 132

Chapter 132: Homeland.

Going back in time.

Kim Kiwoo spent his last moments with Yi Hwang and the Joseon envoys before they returned to their country.

He usually didn’t see off foreign diplomats like this, but he felt more attached to the Joseon delegation because he was from the Korean peninsula.

“So, did you learn a lot during your stay?”

“Yes, we did. Thanks to your majesty’s kindness, we had a meaningful time here. We will never forget this grace until the day we die.”

“Hahaha. What did I do? Come on, eat more. The food on the ship will be poor.”

The banquet was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

“The food of the empire is really delicious.”

“I think I will miss it a lot when I go back to Joseon.”

“Me too.”

The scholars ate the food on the table as if they were starving.

“Don’t worry, no one will take it away from you. Eat slowly.”

Kim Kiwoo secretly stuck out his tongue.

They ate so much that it was hard to believe they were not from Joseon.

They looked like a group of gluttons gathered in one place.

After the banquet was over,

Kim Kiwoo called Yi Hwang aside.

‘What is this great man thinking?’

Yi Hwang was one of the leading scholars of Neo-Confucianism in the long history of Joseon.

He was curious how his thoughts had changed after seeing the empire’s learning and development.

“It’s the first time we’re alone.”

Yi Hwang’s expression was full of confusion as he entered Kim Kiwoo’s office.

‘Why did he call me?’

He kept wondering this as he came to the office.

Seeing him, Kim Kiwoo smiled and asked.

“Haha. Why are you so nervous? I didn’t call you to scold you. Don’t worry too much.”

“May I ask why your majesty called me?”

He couldn’t say that he called him to meet a famous person in history, so Kim Kiwoo answered like this.

“I have a good eye for people. And from what I saw, you seemed like someone who would become a great person in the future. Did that answer your question?”

“…!”

An unexpected answer.

Yi Hwang’s eyes widened at that.

“Now I’m more convinced of my intuition.”

“Your majesty thinks highly of me… It’s truly an honor for my family.”

Yi Hwang’s face was filled with emotion at Kim Kiwoo’s high praise.

“Ahem.”

Feeling awkward in this situation, Kim Kiwoo cleared his throat and started a serious conversation.

“In a few days, you’ll be sailing across the vast sea. Can I ask you what you felt in the empire so far?”

“Of course.”

At Kim Kiwoo’s question, Yi Hwang paused for a moment to organize his thoughts, and then recited his changes of mind in detail.

‘Hmm.’

It was a long story, but Kim Kiwoo listened with great interest.

Yi Hwang, who would later become the head of the Yeongnam school of Neo-Confucianism, did not hesitate to deny Neo-Confucianism now.

He could tell how shocked he was by seeing the reality of the empire.

After Yi Hwang finished his speech, Kim Kiwoo asked him another question.

“Do you want to reform your country like the empire?”

“Yes, I do.”

He said that and told Kim Kiwoo about the current situation of Joseon in detail.

‘It’s as chaotic as I heard.’

The power struggle in the court was the main problem.

Kim Kiwoo asked him bluntly.

“You said you want to reform your country, but do you really think that’s possible in a nation that follows the doctrine of Neo-Confucianism?”

“…It would be difficult. But I and my colleagues who share the same vision will not give up until the end.”

“You are too idealistic.”

Kim Kiwoo shook his head.

Reform without social consensus is extremely hard to succeed.

No, it should be considered almost impossible.

Wasn’t it a similar context that led to the expulsion of Jo Gwangjo?

“Do you think you can achieve your goal by breaking through the resistance of the powerful? It seems difficult to me. You should be lucky if you don’t lose your head before you reach your goal.”

As Kim Kiwoo said this, Yi Hwang’s expression darkened.

But he did not give up.

“Then what should I and my colleagues do? I truly want to make Joseon a great nation like the Wakan Tanka Empire. Please tell me your wisdom!”

“Hmm…”

Kim Kiwoo stroked his chin and looked into Yi Hwang’s eyes, which were filled with intense desire.

As he looked at him, he felt a faint sense of patriotism creeping up on him.

‘Haha. I thought I had left behind any attachment to my homeland when I set foot on this land, but it seems that was not the case.’

He had been on this land for a very long time.

He had achieved many things during that time, and now he had built the strongest empire in the world.

In a way, he could be said to have the greatest power in the world.

He also had a great sense of responsibility, but…

‘It’s not hard to help my country a little bit as I please.’

He soon made up his mind.

Instead of just standing by, he decided to help the young man in front of him, Yi Hwang, with his plan.

Kim Kiwoo and Yi Hwang continued their conversation for a while.

Rewinding time.

Yi Hwang looked at the chaotic foreign land and thought.

‘The emperor said so. Make the king your ally.’

Kim Kiwoo knew well about King Jungjong’s ambition to strengthen royal authority in Joseon.

His attempts had failed repeatedly so far, and he was also very curious about the identity of the Wakan Tanka Empire.

Therefore, Kim Kiwoo was confident that if a clear means of strengthening royal authority came into Joseon’s eyes, he would consider it positively.

‘This is the best option right now. The emperor has done so much for me, how can I think otherwise.’

The content of the report that Joseon was looking at was as follows.

The royal family of Joseon has the bloodline of a great spirit, and the evidence is Hangul.

Therefore, if the king of Joseon wishes, he will provide the necessary support for strengthening royal authority and social reform based on the spirit of serving the great spirit of the empire.

“The bloodline of a great spirit…”

Yi Hwang repeated this sentence.

Of course, Kim Kiwoo had a lot of trouble when he designated Hangul as the evidence.

This claim distorted King Sejong’s sacred achievement of creating Hangul.

But Kim Kiwoo wrote the report with a deep apology to King Sejong in his heart.

He thought this was the most ideal way for Joseon’s successful reform.

Kim Kiwoo hoped that King Sejong would understand this for the sake of Joseon’s people.

Wasn’t it because he pitied the people that he created Hangul?

“This is what you mean by the bloodline of a great spirit.”

“The emperor said so. I was also curious about why the Hangul dissemination period of Joseon and the empire overlapped, but if what the emperor said is true, doesn’t it solve all the questions?”

Yi Hwang’s words continued.

“Your Majesty, this is an opportunity. The power of the Wakan Tanka Empire is truly endless. The emperor himself recognized you as the bloodline of a great spirit and declared that he would not spare any support for you. We must not miss this opportunity.”

“Hmm…”

As Yi Hwang continued to speak, Lee Yeok’s mind swayed like a reed.

‘Is this really the right thing to do?’

Until now, the center of the world was the Central Plains, the Ming Empire.

But he was suddenly unsure if he could change his attitude so abruptly.

Moreover, if he accepted this, it would mean turning his back on countless scholars.

He could even be driven out of the throne like during Yeonsangun’s reign if he made a mistake.

Therefore, he could not accept Yi Hwang and the Wakantanka Empire’s proposal at once in this place.

“…You’ve worked hard. I’ll give you an answer later, so let it be known.”

“Your Majesty, I will wait for your decision.”

Even after parting with Yi Hwang, Lee Yeok repeated his worries for a long time.

But he did not stop learning about the Wakantanka Empire.

He sent envoys along with the merchants who traveled back and forth by ship.

But as time passed, he only realized how amazing the Wakantanka Empire was.

However, one day, an incident that hardened Lee Yeok’s mind occurred.

“What?”

“Th-that is… A ship made entirely of iron arrived at Ganghwa Island.”

A sudden news caused a commotion in the court.

“What nonsense are you talking about… How can you make a ship out of iron?”

“How dare you lie to us! Arrest him and hold him accountable for his false report!”

The ministers did not easily believe in the existence of the iron ship.

Of course, not everyone was like that.

“If it’s the Wakantanka Empire…”

“Do you think they would report such a blatant lie to the court? We should first find out the situation before and after.”

“Find out what you want, it’s absurd. Do you really believe that iron can float on water?”

The court was in an uproar, but in the end, they decided to check it out first.

And soon enough, the iron steamship was confirmed.

“So it was true.”

Lee Yeok laughed bitterly.

And one thought lingered in his mind.

‘I want to see it for myself.’

So Lee Yeok decided to go out of the palace for the first time in a long time.

His destination was Ganghwa Island, where the empire’s iron ship was anchored.

***

Time passed, and Lee Yeok finally saw the iron ship with his own eyes.

“…It’s truly incredible.”

He was amazed when he heard about the size and speed of the empire’s flagship, but the iron ship in front of him was unreal.

Lee Yeok realized why Yi Hwang praised the empire’s capabilities so much.

“I see you again. Can I try riding that ship?”

“Why not? Come this way.”

The person in charge of bringing the iron ship to Joseon, Swift Rope, guided Lee Yeok.

And the ship that carried Lee Yeok started with a loud noise.

‘How can a ship made of iron move so fast?’

It was surprising enough that it floated on water, but its speed was also very fast.

Lee Yeok marveled more and more as he sailed.

“Do you enjoy sailing, Your Majesty?”

Then, Swift Rope approached Lee Yeok and asked him.

Lee Yeok nodded and replied.

“It’s very enjoyable. When will I ever get to ride a ship made of iron like this?”

“Well. Maybe you can ride it whenever you want.”

Swift Rope answered meaningfully.

“Oh. Is that so?”

“His Majesty, the great Emperor of the Empire, is waiting for you to make a decision.”

Lee Yeok said no more.

Then, the nimble rope guided him through every corner of the iron wire.

And finally, they headed to where the goods loaded on the ship were.

“There’s so much.”

Lee Yeok exclaimed as he looked at the pile of imperial goods.

There were all kinds of items, including firearms.

“Do you like them?”

“Hmm?”

Lee Yeok turned his head toward the nimble rope at the sudden question.

It sounded as if he was offering him these goods.

And this was not a complete misunderstanding.

The nimble rope smiled and pointed to the imperial goods with his hand.

“If you make a decision… everything on this ship will be yours.”

“…!”

Lee Yeok could not understand, and his mind went blank for a moment.

But soon, he regained his senses and asked him.

“Are you saying you’ll give me all these things for free?”

“Of course. His Majesty said this is a token of promise. Of course, you still have to make a decision.”

The nimble rope’s words drove a wedge into Lee Yeok’s heart.

It was too hard to refuse, because of the power of the iron wire and the imperial goods inside it.

“Phew… Fine. Tell him I accept his offer.”

“You made a good choice.”

And so, the curtain rose on the reform of Joseon.