Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 342 "Making Korea a Liability for the Qing Dynasty"

"Are you King Gwanghae of Joseon, Yi Hun?" Zhong Minghui's voice echoed in the empty council hall of Baengnyeong Island.

He sat upright in a wooden chair with a backrest, looking up and down at the old man being helped in by a guard with a mixture of caution and curiosity.

But he was hunched over, with white hair and beard, and a faded gray-blue robe hung loosely on his body.

If one did not know beforehand, it would be difficult for anyone to associate this appearance with the king who once ruled over the eight provinces of Joseon.

“I am…” Yi Hun wanted to display the imposing presence of the former King of Joseon, but years of exile and imprisonment had worn down his character. Coupled with the constant anxiety in his heart, he had become an extremely dejected and timid old man. “I am the guilty man of Joseon… Yi Hun.”

Zhong Minghui noticed that the old man's right hand trembled involuntarily as he spoke, a sign of long-term malnutrition and damp prison life.

He rose, walked around the table, and personally helped him up, saying, "Your Highness was once the ruler of a country; please do not be so formal. Please take a seat."

"Uh, no, no." Li Hui shrank back as if burned, waving his hands repeatedly, his gaze shifting uncertainly. "How dare a deposed person call himself Your Highness again? I wonder what your purpose is in inviting me here? Please speak plainly."

Zhong Minghui did not answer immediately, but instead carefully examined the deposed king.

Gwanghaegun's face looked much older than his actual age, with deep wrinkles etched into his features. However, his eyes, though cloudy, occasionally flashed with a sharp light, revealing the still-burning ambition within the old man.

"Hmm..." Zhong Minghui pondered for a moment, then suddenly cut to the chase: "Your Highness, do you still harbor even a trace of lofty ambition?"

"Ambition to the clouds?" Li Hui was startled by the words. A glint of light flashed in his cloudy eyes, but he quickly regained his lost and dejected expression. A bitter smile appeared on his lips. "I am now an old man in my seventies, nearing the end of my life. I have lofty ambitions, but alas, I am powerless to do them and am no longer fit to serve."

“Your Highness, I recently read some of the ‘Annals of the Joseon Dynasty’ written by your Joseon historians. After reading it, and then relating it to the current situation, I found it quite interesting.” Zhong Minghui smiled slightly, picked up an exquisitely bound book from the table, and said softly, “Back then, during the Gyehae Restoration (i.e., the Injo Restoration), the current Joseon King Injong forcibly deposed you, demoted you to commoner status, and exiled you to a deserted island on the pretext of betraying the Ming Dynasty and secretly colluding with the Jurchens.”

Li Hui's breathing became noticeably rapid, and his withered fingers gripped the hem of his clothes tightly.

That memory is a permanent pain in his heart. In the spring of the third year of the Tianqi reign (1623), his nephew, Prince Lingyang, Yi Jong, launched a coup, dragged him off the throne, and exiled him to Ganghwa Island on charges of "betraying the Ming Dynasty," where he has been imprisoned ever since.

“And now…” Zhong Minghui said, pushing a piece of intelligence data sent from Seoul in front of Li Hui, “This once righteous and awe-inspiring King of Joseon has actually groveled at the feet of the slave chieftain Huang Taiji, kneeling and kowtowing three times and nine times to show his submission, openly betraying the Ming Dynasty and becoming a vassal state of the Jurchens.”

"Heh, Your Highness, how ridiculous and ironic this is!"

"..." Li Hui remained silent for a long time before finally picking up the intelligence report with trembling hands.

The ink on the paper is still fresh, and it records in detail the process of King Yi Jong of Joseon performing the three kneelings and nine kowtows to the slave chieftain Huang Taiji at Samjeon-do on the south bank of the Han River, wearing a blue-dyed robe, and presenting the Joseon national seal issued by the Ming Dynasty.

Furthermore, the intelligence materials even included a copy of Yi Jong's handwritten letter of submission.

His fingers gently traced the paper, as if he could see through the words his nephew, who had betrayed his ancestors and abandoned the Ming Dynasty, inside Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul.

“This…” Li Hui looked up at Zhong Minghui, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible, “This news is… really true?”

“Of course!” Zhong Minghui nodded affirmatively. “Last December, the Jurchen cavalry swept in and reached Hanyang in less than half a month. King Injo fled to Namhansanseong, held out for less than a month, and then surrendered.”

"Now, Korea has officially recognized the Jurchens as the legitimate dynasty and has agreed to pay annual tribute of gold, silver, grain, cloth, and countless beautiful women. Your Kingdom of Korea has served the Ming Dynasty as its suzerain for three hundred years, but now you have changed course and submitted to the Tartars, becoming tainted with their filth!"

A nation that has served the world for three hundred years has been tainted by the stench of blood and goat!
Upon hearing this, Li Hui gave a bitter smile.

In the past, he was overthrown by the pro-Ming faction, but now Li Zong, who claims to be a pro-Ming figure, has knelt before the barbarians and betrayed the Ming Dynasty. There is no greater irony in history than this.

A complex light flashed in Li Hui's eyes, a mixture of anger at his nephew's betrayal and a hint of unspoken...expectation.

Zhong Minghui immediately noticed this and a meaningful smile appeared on his face.

"Your Highness, are you aware that when our Liaohai Fleet intercepted the Korean naval warship carrying you at the Yanhe River (i.e., the Ganghwa Strait), we also unexpectedly seized an order from Seoul?" Zhong Minghui said, taking another piece of paper from the table and handing it to Li Hui.

"After the Military Commissioner Shen Jingzhen instructed the Water Commissioner of the Capital Region Shen Jingzhen to transfer you from Ganghwa Island to Gyodong Island, he instructed you to 'properly handle' the situation to prevent future troubles."

"They...are going to kill me?"

Upon hearing this, Li Hui was startled, and his face immediately showed an expression of indignation. He stretched out his right hand and grabbed the intelligence data, the veins on the back of his thin hand bulging.

After years of imprisonment, he knew he was doomed, but when he actually saw the cold execution order, a chill still ran down his spine.

"Does Your Highness know why I specifically invited you to look at these intelligence documents?" Zhong Minghui slowly stood up and walked to the huge map on the east side of the hall.

That was a military map of the entire Northeast Asia region, from Liaodong to the Korean Peninsula, then to the Japanese archipelago, and even to the Outer Northeast region, clearly marking mountains, rivers, cities, and passes.

Li Hui's gaze involuntarily followed it.

Despite having been away from the center of power for many years, as a former king who had personally experienced the Imjin War, he immediately understood the significance of this map.

"You... intend to wage war against the Jurchens to stop their rampage against the Ming Dynasty?"

“Exactly.” Zhong Minghui tapped his finger heavily on Liaodong. “Since the Battle of Sarhu, the Jurchens have grown increasingly arrogant, and the Ming Dynasty has shown signs of decline. Now, they hold absolute strategic initiative in Liaodong and are eyeing the Ming Dynasty’s interior. And your Joseon Kingdom…”

His finger slid towards the peninsula and tapped it lightly: "Located on the flank of the Jurchens, in a strategic location, if it is used by the Jurchens, then the Jurchens will have no worries about their rear. On the contrary, they will have a solid rear base, which can provide the Jurchens with a continuous supply of manpower and resources. Then the situation in Liaodong of the Ming Dynasty will face a perilous situation!"

Li Hui's Adam's apple bobbed, and he felt his mouth go dry: "General, are you representing the Ming Dynasty?"

"No, we do not represent the Ming Dynasty."

Li Hui was stunned for a moment, and a look of disappointment immediately appeared on his face.

“However, we can help you contact the Ming Dynasty court,” Zhong Minghui said. “Furthermore, we can cooperate with the Ming Dynasty to help you regain the throne.”

These words struck the hall like a thunderclap.

Li Hui abruptly looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief: "This... how is this possible? I have been deposed for many years, and all my trusted confidants in the court have been purged..." "What if we had the backing of the Ming Dynasty's 100,000 mighty troops?" Zhong Minghui said leisurely, "Add to that the formidable warships of our Xinhua, and the Ming Emperor himself issuing an edict declaring Li Zong's betrayal of the patriarch, stripping him of his title and restoring Your Highness to the throne of Joseon?"

Li Hui's chest heaved violently, and he felt a wave of dizziness.

For so many years, ever since he was deposed and exiled, he thought he had lost all hope.

But at this moment, that long-buried dream—to return to Gyeongbokgung Palace and regain control of Joseon—was so real, right in front of him.

“General…” Li Hui’s voice trembled violently, “This matter is of utmost importance. Although Li Zong betrayed the Ming Dynasty and knelt before the Jurchens, he still has deep roots in Joseon and the support of the Jurchens. If he were to raise an army to restore his country, it would surely be a bloody battle…”

Zhong Minghui smiled slightly, a sharp glint in his eyes: "Your Highness's concerns are not without merit, but please consider them carefully..."

He turned and pointed to the map, his finger tapping heavily on the Yalu River: "The main force of the Jurchens is now returning to their bases one after another. They will inevitably regroup in the Jinzhou and Ningyuan areas to continue their confrontation with the Ming Dynasty's Liaodong garrisons. Meanwhile, only a few hundred inspectors remain in Korea, stationed in various provinces to monitor local officials and troops. There is almost no military presence left."

"As for Li Zong..." Zhong Minghui sneered, "Ever since he paid tribute to the Jurchens and acknowledged himself as a vassal, he has faced much criticism in Korea, and many officials and countless people feel deeply dissatisfied and humiliated."

"It is said that after being dismissed from his post, Kim Ryu, the Chief State Councilor (equivalent to the Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty), became very close to the 'anti-peace faction' in the court and had many complaints about King Injo's surrender to the Jurchens. Furthermore, the dismissed and exiled Grand Marshal Kim Ja-jeon harbored deep resentment towards King Injo's treatment."

"It can be said that because of the defection from the Ming Dynasty to the slaves, the court of your Joseon Dynasty is now turbulent and full of undercurrents."

Li Hui's cloudy eyes suddenly lit up, and his withered fingers gripped the wooden chair armrests tightly: "Jin Liu and Jin Zidian, back then they were..."

"These two were the main contributors to the deposition of His Highness back then." Zhong Minghui smiled meaningfully, "But times have changed. Now there are voices in the court suggesting that the deposition back then... may have involved a forged edict and rebellion!"

The hall suddenly fell silent.

Li Hui's breathing became heavy, and the veins on the back of his hands, covered with age spots, bulged.

He closed his eyes, and countless images flashed through his mind—his youthful spirit, his resilience and courage during the Imjin War, the humiliation of being deposed, and the torment of his years in exile…

And those loyal ministers who died, those supporters who were executed by Yi Jong...

After a long silence, he slowly raised his head: "General, what do you need me to do?"

Upon hearing this, Zhong Minghui immediately breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the other party was already interested. He then said seriously, "Three things."

"Firstly, Your Highness should personally write a letter to your former subordinates, recruiting them to serve you."

"Secondly, he submitted a memorial to the Ming court, reiterating the tributary relationship between the Ming and the tributary states."

"Thirdly, issue a proclamation denouncing the rebels and resisting slavery, in order to sever ties with the false rebel Li Zong."

Upon hearing this, Li Hui immediately fell silent.

This is going to cause internal strife in North Korea!

If we are not careful, the whole situation could spiral out of control.

Even worse, it could very well cause North Korea's vast territory to fall into a state of fragmentation.

应？
Or should we not?

However, when he recalls the palace coup that still haunts him to this day, and the fact that his heir, Yi Cho, was ordered to commit suicide by Yi Jong, thus ending his lineage, the hatred in his heart becomes uncontrollable.

Furthermore, his most beloved concubine, Lady Liu, starved herself to death because of the injustice he suffered, and even now, thinking about it still causes him unbearable pain.

Li Zong is guilty of heinous crimes!

He took a deep breath, and a hint of his former sharpness returned to his cloudy eyes. He slowly said, "General, this matter is of great importance. May I have time to think it over?"

“Hmm?…” Zhong Minghui paused for a moment, but then showed a gentle expression and cupped his hands, saying, “Of course. Your Highness can rest on the island for a few days, and we can discuss this matter later.”

Haste makes waste; it's best not to push this deposed Korean king too far.

Yi Hun slowly rose and suddenly asked, "General, if I successfully regain my throne, how will the Ming Dynasty treat my Joseon?"

Zhong Minghui thought for a moment and said, “Your Highness, rest assured, the Ming Dynasty has always regarded Korea as its closest tributary state and a loyal subject. As long as Korea does not collude with the Jurchens, continues to act with respect and courtesy, forever upholds its tributary status, and strictly abides by the rules of the vassal state, the Ming Dynasty will not interfere in Korea’s internal affairs as before.”

"And what about Xinhua...?"

"We simply want to engage in unrestricted trade with North Korea so that we can exchange goods and benefit each other."

After hearing this, Li Hui gave the other person a deep look, nodded silently, and walked out of the hall with the help of two guards.

"General, why don't we bring up the issue of ceding Baengnyeong Island, Tamna Island, and the Kangnyeong Peninsula?" Zheng Dayuan, the person in charge of Baengnyeong Island, looked at Li Hui's hunched back and asked in a low voice.

"What's the rush?" Zhong Minghui replied with a smile. "We've already occupied these places, so why would we worry that he won't give them back to us later? If you want something, you have to give something first. If we ask him for territory without providing any substantial support or help, it will only arouse his resentment and vigilance."

"General, can we really help him restore his kingdom and reclaim the throne?"

"Who knows!"

“Huh?…” Zheng Dayuan stared at him in astonishment.

"Whether he can seize the throne is not important." Zhong Minghui's lips curled into a sneer. "What is important is that the emergence of this deposed king of North Korea will cause political turmoil in North Korea, which will then plunge the entire country into civil war."

"The Jurchens completely conquered Korea in order to obtain a stable rear base and to draw a continuous stream of nourishment from it. But we must do the opposite. We must destabilize Korea, plunge it into an uncontrollable chaos, and turn it into a liability of the Jurchens, a black hole that is constantly bleeding money."
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(End of this chapter)