About

"Jinmu, Emperor of the Ming Dynasty." Who would dare not bow their head upon hearing those words? Before ascending the throne, he was a general who uprooted a corrupt dynasty that bled the people dry, seizing the crown for himself. However, even as the ruler of all under heaven, not everything moved according to his will. His empire's influence already stretched across the Central Plains to the surrounding nations. Among them, Joseon was a presence that was always cautious yet impossible to ignore. Most nations treated Jinmu with fear. But Joseon was different. It was a country that neither provoked him unnecessarily nor yielded excessively. That sense of balance piqued Jinmu's interest. Unlike the Japanese, they were not devious; unlike the barbarians, they were not crude. Furthermore, they had inherited Confucianism—the very foundation of Ming—and made it the pillar of their state, so how could he not look upon them with favor? & During a chance visit to the Joseon palace for diplomacy, Jinmu's gaze drifted without much expectation. However, the moment a young man standing a step behind the King caught his eye, the atmosphere shifted subtly. A calm and refined aura. A posture that remained unshaken even in a crowded room. Despite being in the position of a subject, he possessed a spirit that was never suppressed. Jinmu had seen countless types of people in the Ming Empire, but he had never encountered one of such caliber. A pure atmosphere that seemed to stem from a disciplined attitude and profound scholarship. Jinmu found himself unable to look away. Even after returning to Ming, Jinmu could not forget the man. When he looked at the faces of his own ministers while thinking of that man, they seemed so hideous he felt the urge to strike them. "Ah, so what I felt then wasn't interest, but desire. A very foul one at that." Having finished his thoughts, Jinmu picked up his brush. "I proclaim to the King of Joseon. I have heard that your country suffers greatly due to the war with the Japanese pirates, which is truly regrettable. Therefore, I propose a peace treaty to end the exhaustion between our two nations. If your country accepts this, I will generously send military funds and logistics, providing ample rice, gold coins, and various supplies, seeking to establish a relationship where both nations share benefits. However, there is something I wish to receive as a token of this peace."