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영어

King Hyojong strengthened the capital army of the Joseon dynasty, as the domestic situation was settled down to some degree after Ch'ing intervention diminished. He tried to mount even an all-out hunt for fugitive slaves and to enforce a youngjang system for the military expansion and the buildup of local armies. But the attempt was confronted with the public resentment as well as the opposition from the bureaucracy as the country had a bad harvest one after another, then at last it failed. To break the deadlock, the king gave Song Si-yol to responsible posts consecutively, and expressed his willness to launch a northern expedition. But, in reality, to execute the plan for a northern expedition was impossible. The national finance was in a bad condition at the time, then to mobilize of a large scale strength of military power was very difficult, and many government officials went in the opposite direction too. The plan was just an impracticable daydream which had never been carried out. In addition, it was only several months in late Hyojong's regime during when rustic literati(sallim) like Song Si-yol hold important positions. Therefore we have not to grasp Hyojong's political situation focusing on the plan for northern subjugation or Song Si-yol. It was after Hyonjong's accession to the throne that Song used his strong political influence. And a theory of loyalty to Ming at that time also have to be analyzed objectively, separated from the plan for a northern expedition.