As soon as Lee Jing-ok finished speaking, Kim Jong-seo stepped forward.

“What Your Majesty said about those natives wearing human-skin masks is correct, but I think it’s excessive for the Minister of Defense to submit his resignation and leave.”

As soon as Kim Jong-seo finished, Wan nodded his head.

“I have the same thought. There’s a saying in the marketplace: ‘Using a knife for slaughtering cattle to kill a chicken.’ I understand the Minister of Defense’s feelings, but I think it’s too much.”

In response to Wan’s words, Lee Jing-ok bowed his head and replied.

“It is not excessive, Your Majesty. Since our empire established itself, we have only fought a battle with our national fate at stake once. We are severely lacking commanders who have experience leading large numbers of troops, not only in the navy but in the army as well.”

The reasons Lee Jing-ok gave for his resignation were as follows:

• The soldiers who will go to the New Frontier to punish those human-skin mask wearers are volunteers. Of course, there’s no major problem with training since they’re reservists who receive regular training.

• The problem is the commanders.

• As already mentioned, there aren’t many commanders who have experienced major battles where the fate of the nation was at stake since the empire was established.

• Of course, those who experienced war as junior or mid-level commanders at that time are gradually ascending to senior positions, but those with experience moving large armies while seeing the big picture continue to retire.

• According to the letter sent by Your Majesty and the battle report sent by the navy stationed in the New Frontier, those natives have established a national system and have the ability to mobilize tens of thousands of soldiers at once.

• In addition, our empire will deploy more than 30,000 troops. We need a senior commander with experience coordinating the movements of a large number of personnel while seeing the big picture.

• Therefore, I must go.

“It’s not wrong…”

When Lee Jing-ok finished his explanation, Wan’s face became troubled and his words trailed off. The other ministers were the same.

‘It doesn’t seem wrong, but it feels too extreme.’

Kim Jong-seo stepped forward again to express what the ministers were feeling.

“I understand why the Minister has submitted his resignation. But I still feel it’s excessive. And regarding what you said about the empire’s senior commanders lacking experience moving large armies—that’s correct. But don’t you think this punishment provides a good opportunity to gain that experience?”

“It is a good opportunity. However, in gaining that experience, unnecessary sacrifices could be made if something goes wrong. Someone needs to prevent that while teaching them.”

“And that someone is the Minister?”

To Kim Jong-seo’s question, Lee Jing-ok nodded his head in response.

“Hmm…”

Even after the conversation between Kim Jong-seo and Lee Jing-ok ended, no one easily opened their mouth.

The same was true for Wan, who sat in the royal seat. Wan also stroked his chin in deep thought.

‘The Emperor Emeritus said it wasn’t right, but His Majesty said that a moderate level of conflict is necessary for the empire’s security.’

***

Regarding national defense and war, Sejong and Hyang’s opinions were similar yet different.

• The correct answer is to have enough defense capability to prevent other countries from daring to invade, though not enough to invade other countries.

Both Sejong and Hyang agreed on this point.

However, their opinions diverged on the next point.

• Moving the military carelessly is not good. Even in the smallest conflict, there will inevitably be sacrifices of soldiers and commanders, and military expenses must be spent.

All of these things involve the taxes of the people, so the military should not be moved carelessly.

This was Sejong’s thinking. But Hyang’s was different.

• There is a saying, ‘The best defense is offense.’ Of course, using force hastily is a foolish thing. However, if we continue to respond to provocations from our surroundings with patience, they will look down on the empire, which could bring greater discord. When necessary, force must be used boldly. Additionally, we must always maintain a certain number of commanders with field experience. And the compensation for sacrifices made in this process and military expenditures should be included as fixed expenses.

Since Sejong became the Emperor Emeritus and went to the New Frontier after the empire was established, and Emperor Hyang operated the empire, the imperial army moved according to Hyang’s policy.

The imperial navy continuously gained field experience by beating pirates, and the imperial army gained field experience by suppressing bandits operating on the Mongolian border.

However, in this process, the problem pointed out by Lee Jing-ok had arisen.

Since there had been no large-scale movement of the army and navy after the Yellow Sea Naval Battle, the movement of large armies was only practiced in map exercises.

This was the current situation of the imperial army: they had abundant “combat experience” from small-scale battles but lacked “war experience.”

***

Eventually, after two days, Wan accepted Lee Jing-ok’s resignation while simultaneously appointing him as the “Commander-in-Chief of the New Frontier Punitive Force.”

“The volunteers are soldiers who will carry out the punishment and also do much work in the New Frontier afterward. I trust you.”

“I, Lee Jing-ok, will devote my life to fulfilling Your Majesty’s command!”

Lee Jing-ok bowed his head and answered firmly.

The day’s audience ended with Wan accepting Lee Jing-ok’s resignation.

Coming out of the great hall, Kim Jong-seo called for Lee Jing-ok.

“Listen, Lord Wonbong. It’s like closing the barn door after the horse has escaped, but let me ask you. Do you really have to go?”

To Kim Jong-seo’s question, Lee Jing-ok firmly nodded his head.

“To properly beat those human-skin mask wearers, I must go. Today’s kids are too soft…”

Most of those around them wore incredulous expressions at Lee Jing-ok’s description of them as “soft.”

The imperial army made pirates and bandits tuck their tails and run at the mere sight of them. Lee Jing-ok had assessed such an imperial army as “soft.”

Perhaps seeing the expressions of those people, Lee Jing-ok added:

“Think about when we used to rough up the Jurchen tribes or the Japanese pirates. Weren’t they similar to those monsters in the New Frontier, except for the cannibalism?”

“That’s true. Especially those damn Jurchens. Tsk!”

Kim Jong-seo, who had been nodding at Lee Jing-ok’s words, ground his teeth.

***

In the early days of the Reformation era, when pioneering the northeastern region, Kim Jong-seo and Lee Jing-ok had confronted the Jurchen tribes together.

The Jurchen tribes that refused to submit to Joseon at that time were vicious. They would attack and massacre villages of Jurchens who had submitted or Joseon people who had migrated through the resettlement policy whenever they had the chance.

The attacking Jurchen tribes didn’t just massacre. Looting and rape were basic, and it was not uncommon for them to cut off residents’ heads and hang them on stockades.

Lee Jing-ok, who commanded the Joseon cavalry at the forefront at that time, responded with “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

When it became known which tribe the Jurchens who had committed attacks and massacres belonged to, the Joseon cavalry under Lee Jing-ok would chase them to the end and pay them back exactly as they had done.

‘The only good Jurchen is a dead Jurchen.’

This was the motto of the Joseon cavalry that was combing through the northeastern region at that time.

Eventually, the Jurchen tribes had no choice but to surrender to the Joseon cavalry.

As an aside, in the subsequent battle with the Liaodong Army and the ensuing battle with Ming, the Joseon cavalry showed their ferocity unfiltered.

***

Looking at Kim Jong-seo’s strongly sympathetic expression, Lee Jing-ok continued:

“Wouldn’t the pirates and bandits that today’s kids deal with be quite docile compared to the Jurchen tribes or Japanese pirates of old? That’s why there’s no fierceness in the kids’ eyes! No fierceness! If that’s the case with active-duty soldiers, what about reservists? When they see the atrocities beyond human imagination, they’ll either lose their minds and tuck their tails, or they’ll make a fuss about killing everyone without distinguishing who should be killed and who should be spared. To avoid such situations, shouldn’t I, with experience, go and suffer?”

Only then did those around them nod their heads with understanding expressions. However, Kim Jong-seo instead wore a dubious expression.

“Hmm? Why is the great Lord Wonbong talking like this? Hmm… Wasn’t ‘layer by layer’ what Lord Wonbong hated the most? Are you perhaps trying to escape the layer by layer paperwork by being here?”

“N-no. I only have pure loyalty to the empire that wells up from…”

“Where are you looking when you say that?”

“I’ll go first! I have much to do, starting with setting up the command headquarters!”

Watching Lee Jing-ok disappear in a hurry, Kim Jong-seo clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! That person has grown older and only become more cunning…”

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, those around him all had strange expressions.

‘Birds of a feather flock together? To recognize it right away, as expected of Lord Jeoljae!’

‘Ah! Damn! Give me back my sympathy!’

Meanwhile, having heard the story through various channels, Wan placed his hand on his forehead and murmured.

“Should I refuse the resignation? But the statement that we need to toughen up to deal with those crazies isn’t wrong either… Whew~.”

After letting out a long sigh, Wan clicked his tongue and complained.

“Tsk! How did father and the grandfather manage to handle such people so well?”

***

The number of those volunteering for the punitive force going to the New Frontier decreased significantly but continued steadily.

“It’s good that volunteers continue to come in, but I think it would be best to wrap things up now.”

“That’s right. If we continue to accept them like this, it will be difficult to set an accurate budget and organize the troops.”

The countermeasure team, with Han Myeong-hoe as its leader, seriously discussed ending the applications.

The working team, having decided on ‘ending applications’, began to write a report about it.

Just then, a petition was received from monks working at the research institute and students who had studied abroad, saying they wanted to volunteer for the punitive force.

The working team members, regardless of rank, all shouted in exasperation.

“When a mullet jumps, a goby jumps too! What are these guys up to now!”

***

The monks and European exchange students volunteered because of their doctrine.

The content of the petition they submitted can be summarized as follows:

• In the Old Testament, when the Jews settled in Canaan, Yahweh commanded them to annihilate those living in Canaan.

• The reason Yahweh gave such an order was because they practiced human sacrifice.

• Many saints were martyred while evangelizing in Europe, and this was also to prevent human sacrifice by those who did not yet believe in Yahweh.

• How can we, as believers, stand idle when what Yahweh strictly forbids is happening in the New Frontier? We also want to volunteer.

Upon receiving the petition, Wan asked his ministers:

“Is information about the New Frontier being properly controlled for Europeans?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Europeans think the size of the New Frontier is similar to Great Snow Island.”

“Hmm… That’s somewhat fortunate.”

As Wan showed a relieved expression, Hwangbo In pointed out a problem.

“The problem is that their opinion is justified, Your Majesty. Since they’re volunteering according to their doctrine, it’s awkward to refuse them arbitrarily.”

“For that part, I have a good card.”

“Pardon?”

Looking at the ministers’ expressions, Wan muttered to himself:

‘Did His Majesty set such conditions back then with this in mind?’