As they headed towards Hanyang, the Jurchen tribal chiefs grew increasingly tense.
The cause of their tension was the Joseon cavalry escorting them, claiming to be their protectors.
"Are these the Green-Armored Demons we've only heard about?"
The tribal chiefs muttered to themselves as they observed the green-armored cavalry moving alongside them.
Until recently, the Joseon cavalry they were familiar with had uniforms that were not even properly standardized.
Although the number of iron helmets was gradually increasing, overall, the cavalry wore a mix of various types of armor, which could easily be mistaken for Jurchens if not for their military discipline.
However, starting a few months ago, the units began to be uniformly equipped with new green armor, and now most of the Joseon troops stationed along the border were clad in green armor.
The initial reaction of the Jurchens in the Tumen River area to the unification of Joseon's armor was lukewarm.
"The armor has changed? Did the current king spend some money?"
"It looks decent. Maybe we should raid them later?"
The wild Jurchens, who initially reacted with indifference or saw them as easy prey, had a 180-degree change in attitude when they heard rumors of the bloodbath in Jianzhou.
"Green-Armored Demons?"
"Yes, the Jianzhou cripples call them that."
"Is this just an exaggeration by the Jianzhou cripples?"
The tribal chiefs of the wild Jurchens initially dismissed the rumors as exaggerations.
* * *
To gain control over the Jurchens, both the Ming and Joseon showed similar movements.
On one side, they actively recruited, and on the other, they used force to suppress any resistance.
However, what they focused on even more was dividing the Jurchens to prevent them from uniting.
As a result, the Jurchens insulted and threatened each other, belittling Jurchens from other regions.
'Jianzhou cripples,' 'wild beggars,' 'mongrels from Haeseo'—the Jurchens were in a state where they couldn't wait to devour each other.
* * *
"Even if Joseon becomes strong... the Jianzhou cripples are just stupid."
When the rumors of the Green-Armored Demons first reached the wild Jurchen tribal chiefs, their reactions were largely the same.
However, as more detailed information came in from Jianzhou, the chiefs' faces grew increasingly serious.
"Twelve Boiygons wiped out? And each had over 200 households?"
"By just 500 troops?"
The total force of the Joseon army deployed to subdue the Jianzhou Jurchens was about 3,000.
At the time, the Joseon army divided these troops into six groups, each consisting of 400 cavalry and 100 artillery, and swept through the twelve Boiygons.
This was the point that made the wild Jurchen tribal chiefs tense.
A Boiygon with over 200 households was a significant force that 500 traditional Joseon cavalry could not easily handle. In a real crisis, they would need 600 to 700 cavalry.
Given the capabilities of Jurchen cavalry, 500, or even 400, Joseon cavalry would have suffered severe losses, with at least half of them being casualties. In the case of the Ming, it would have been almost total annihilation.
But if the rumors were true, the opposite had happened.
"Bring back more accurate information, not just rumors!"
"Yes, Khan!"
"And tell the hunting party to avoid touching the Joseon people and troops in the border region for now!"
"Yes, Khan!"
With the information obtained through time and effort, the wild Jurchen tribal chiefs realized that a real crisis had arrived.
"Twelve tribes destroyed, almost no survivors? No casualties on the Joseon side?"
"Acquired the power of the Fire Dragon? What kind of nonsense is this?"
The wild Jurchen tribal chiefs focused on the term 'Fire Dragon.'
"Did the Joseon army use a large number of cannons? So they call it a Fire Dragon? Stupid Jianzhou cripples! Living next to the Ming fools, they couldn't even see cannons?"
Understanding that 'Fire Dragon' referred to cannons, the wild Jurchen tribal chiefs soon realized the truth.
The Joseon army had begun to deploy and use cannons on a larger scale than the Ming army.
* * *
With the news that the Joseon army had become dangerously powerful, the wild Jurchen tribal chiefs had no choice but to increase their tension.
In such a situation, Sejong sent an 'invitation.'
Ultimately, the wild Jurchen tribal chiefs had to head to Gapsan with only a small escort, as stated in the invitation.
* * *
As they headed towards Hanyang, the wild Jurchen tribal chiefs grumbled.
"Is this escorting us or escorting prisoners?"
Their complaints were directed at the Joseon cavalry that surrounded them, claiming to be their 'escort.'
The Joseon cavalry, all clad in green armor, exuded an overwhelming presence just by their uniformity.
Upon arriving at Gapsan, the first sight of the new armor of the Joseon army made the tribal chiefs realize how sturdy it looked. Unlike the traditional iron helmets and other armor, this new armor provided full-body protection while maintaining mobility.
"How can they make such armor?"
"The armor is one thing, but the fact that they can mass-produce and distribute such armor is even more terrifying. This current king of Joseon is not an ordinary ruler."
In the temporary quarters, the wild Jurchen tribal chiefs gathered and discussed seriously.
The older chiefs looked even more serious.
"I haven't seen the king of Joseon, so I can't judge, but the real problem is that the Joseon army's morale has become even more fierce."
"That's true. Before, they were just difficult opponents, but now, just by their presence, I don't want to face them as enemies."
The Joseon soldiers they encountered on the way to Gapsan had a different aura compared to before.
Previously, only the cavalry felt intimidating, but now even the soldiers guarding the walls and gates exuded a fierce presence.
Not only were they fierce, but they also showed a fighting spirit, as if saying, "Let's fight!"
"Since the great elder passed away, I haven't felt this way... sigh."
The chiefs, who had forgotten the strong presence of Yi Seong-gye, sighed.
The chiefs felt even more pressure as they moved towards Hanyang.
The Joseon cavalry, assigned to 'escort' them, maintained a distance of at least 10 zhang (about 30 meters) from the chiefs' procession. While it was a distance that could be closed quickly if they decided to charge, it was also a distance that experienced cavalry could easily prepare to counter.
Whenever they reached open plains, new cavalry units would appear, forming another layer of defense.
When the path narrowed in valleys or passes, the Joseon cavalry would move to the front and back of the procession.
The chiefs, sandwiched in the middle, sighed as they saw the green armor of the Joseon cavalry scattered among the trees.
"Sigh. Just go to Hanyang without thinking."
"Still, I envy the Nagutai tribal chief. He had good luck."
The chiefs, who had been sighing, looked enviously at the chief who seemed relaxed.
At the location of the Nagutai tribe, there were large prison carts.
Inside these carts were men and women in disarray, dressed in a mix of Joseon and wild Jurchen clothing.
These men and women were the Huacheok and Huajik, who had been pursued by the Joseon army.
* * *
As Sejong pushed for the reform, he issued an imperial edict to all local officials regarding the Huacheok groups, and the officials posted the edict on the walls of the Dongheon.
-All Huacheok in the eight provinces of Joseon must report to the authorities by the end of the year to register their household. Those who register will be educated and provided with means of livelihood, becoming proud citizens of Joseon.
However, those who do not report by the end of the year will be treated as internal bandits and punished severely.
Upon seeing the edict, those connected to the Huacheok informed them.
The Huacheok had to make a decision.
A significant number of Huacheok led their families down from the mountains and voluntarily registered their households. They moved to Nabeul Island for training in animal husbandry and prepared to be deployed to the livestock farms being prepared nationwide.
"I want to do something other than animal husbandry."
Those who wanted to do other work were placed under merchants or artisans who were starting to face a labor shortage.
After some time, as the livestock farms began to produce cattle and pigs, the 'slaughter ban' was completely lifted, and the trend of 'cooking' led some to enter the butchery and food service industries, accumulating wealth.
Of course, this is a story for later, and the number of Huacheok who voluntarily registered their households by the end of the year was not as high as expected.
To be precise, those who registered were those who had already adapted to living close to Joseon citizens. Most of the other Huacheok continued to commit crimes.
In other words, the Huacheok openly defied Sejong's order.
"How dare they defy my imperial edict! Not only that, but they also attack the people with swords? Mobilize the troops and crush them!"
"Your order will be carried out!"
With Sejong's command, a nationwide campaign to eliminate the Huacheok began