Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 110

Jjangra

Helo Bam

110. Poison (1)

After reading the contract, the ministers looked even more puzzled.

‘Strengthening the supervision of the pear blossom pattern is good, but… this alone is not enough…’

Sejong carefully examined the expressions on the faces of the ministers.

The Chief State Councilor, the Second State Councilor Maeng Sa-seong, and the Minister of Taxation Kim Jeom seemed to understand something but couldn’t quite grasp it, while the other ministers still looked clueless.

In that situation, only Hwang Hee, who had returned to Hanseong [present-day Seoul] for the quarterly report, had an expression of understanding.

“Has the administrator understood?”

“I have understood.”

“Good, how do you evaluate it?”

“On the surface, it seems like a loss, but the more we delve into it, the fewer losses our Joseon [historical Korean kingdom] will incur.”

“You got it right.”

Sejong, after giving a short answer, glared at the ministers.

“I am greatly disappointed in you today. Can I really entrust the fate of this Joseon to you?”

“Please kill us!”

At Sejong’s rebuke, the ministers all bowed their heads and shouted.

“From now on, do not only look at the surface (表) of all matters, but also carefully examine the depths (裏) within.”

“We will engrave it in our bones!”

“And Administrator Hwang Hee, listen. As you can see, there is no one in the court who knows the affairs as well as you do. Take care until the work at the Tuman River is finished. I will look forward to your return.”

At Sejong’s words, Hwang Hee bowed deeply and replied.

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

* * *

As soon as the royal court session ended, Hwang Hee was immediately dragged to the State Council building.

“What on earth does His Majesty and the Crown Prince being properly prepared mean?”

Hwang Hee instead asked back at Lee Jik’s question.

“Do you really not know? Lord Maeng?”

“It seems to be related to the Ming imperial family, but I’m not sure…”

“This is…”

Hwang Hee was dumbfounded, and the other Six Board Ministers shouted in unison.

“Explain it then!”

When even the Six Board Ministers stepped up to press him, Hwang Hee explained what Sejong and Hyang were aiming for.

– Although the financial scale of the Ming Dynasty [historical Chinese dynasty] is large, the scale of expenditures is also large. Therefore, the amount that the Ming Emperor directly obtains through this joint venture is not a small amount for the Emperor.

To protect this profit, the Ming Emperor will take various measures, which will greatly benefit our Joseon.

– First of all, while cracking down on counterfeit goods with the pear blossom pattern, the people of Ming will naturally recognize products with the pear blossom pattern as expensive luxury goods.

Afterward, products with the pear blossom pattern will be treated one level higher than products from other countries, even if they are of the same quality.

“I understand, but I don’t understand why His Majesty and the Crown Prince are so happy with just that. There seems to be something more… but I can’t quite grasp it.”

“Hoo~.”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, Hwang Hee sighed softly and replied briefly.

“It may not be in the short term, but in the long term, the Crown Prince has now released poison into Ming.”

“Poison? Poison?”

Maeng Sa-seong, who had been thinking deeply at Hwang Hee’s words, was shocked.

“Good heavens! Who on earth came up with this idea… it was the Crown Prince! Such a poisonous mind (毒心) at that age!”

“What on earth are you talking about!”

“Don’t just speak in riddles, explain it!”

Under the pressure of the other ministers, Maeng Sa-seong looked at Hwang Hee and opened his mouth.

“See if my thoughts are correct.”

“I will.”

“Then…”

Maeng Sa-seong began to speak about what he had been thinking.

– The wealth coming in through the merchant guilds is unearned income for the Emperor.

– If the Emperor is wise, it will end with funds to enjoy moderate luxury, but if not, he will become addicted to luxury and try to enjoy even more luxury.

– In this situation, if you try to adjust the profit distribution rate, the partnership will break according to the contract, and if that happens, the Emperor, who is already addicted to luxury, will tamper with the finances for the sake of luxury.

– In the end, due to this trend of extravagance, Ming’s finances will falter, and it will fall into internal troubles (內憂).

“That’s why I said it was poison.”

Hwang Hee nodded at Maeng Sa-seong’s explanation.

“I had the same thought.”

The Minister of Justice, who was listening to Hwang Hee and Maeng Sa-seong, raised an objection.

“Isn’t that too optimistic? Let’s say the contract falls apart that way. If our Joseon sells independently according to the contract, will the Ming Emperor just sit back and watch?”

“That’s why I said to look at it in the long term, not the short term.”

“Huh?”

The ministers looked blank at Hwang Hee’s words. Just as Hwang Hee was about to say something, the Minister of Taxation spoke first.

“Our Joseon doesn’t necessarily have to go to China to sell goods. Think about when the current reforms are completed. If all goes according to plan, we can create a trading port in our Joseon. And merchant ships from all over the world will gather at that trading port. Even Ming’s merchant ships. Then we don’t need to go all the way to Ming.”

“Ah!”

“That’s right!”

“And if that situation occurs, Joseon’s products will become even more precious in Ming.”

The ministers nodded at the Minister of Taxation’s words.

At that time, Maeng Sa-seong looked at Hwang Hee and said a word.

“Of course, there will be more work in the north as well.”

“Ugh.”

Hwang Hee felt overwhelmed at the thought of going up again.

* * *

Meanwhile, in Gangnyeong Hall [royal residence], Sejong and Hyang were sitting in front of refreshments and talking.

“You have worked hard indeed. You endured humiliation and succeeded in the plan, so I know your efforts without having to see them.”

“I don’t know what to do with such excessive praise.”

“You rascal.”

Sejong smiled slightly at Hyang’s humility. However, that smile was fleeting, and Sejong’s face was filled with worry.

“However, this father is concerned about constantly mentioning vassalage and tributary states.”

At those words, Hyang replied calmly.

“It is a battle of justification. Although we requested it, the Ming Emperor clearly acknowledged that this transaction is a transaction between countries. We gave up a little justification and gained practical benefits.”

“That’s right.”

Thanks to that, didn’t we solve the Jonggye Byeonmu [border dispute], which had been dragging on for a long time, in one go? In addition, the issues of palace women and eunuchs were also resolved together.

At that time, Hyang continued to speak.

“Among the sayings circulating in the marketplace, there is a saying, ‘If you’re going to suck up, suck up to the other person’s toes.’ If we want to succeed in the plan by putting the other person off guard, what can’t we do?”

Hyang couldn’t bring himself to say the words ‘suck up until the other person’s butthole is raw,’ so he beat around the bush.

However, Sejong still had a worried look on his face.

“However, my pride is a little hurt. Even when envoys come and subtly insert a word or two like ‘vassal’ or ‘tributary state,’ my blood boils.”

“When the reforms are completed and Dongjin is also completed, they won’t be able to say such things. Unless they have extra lives to spare, there will be no one daring enough to come to this Joseon and spout such words.”

“That’s right. But wouldn’t they say that among themselves?”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang replied with an expression that it was nothing.

“Let them. As the saying goes in the marketplace, ‘Even the king is cursed in his absence.’ What good is it to worry about them talking like that among themselves? Rather, it’s just funny.”

“It’s okay if the Ming people talk like that, but I’m sure there will be people like that in our Joseon as well, and that’s what worries me.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang laughed coldly.

“Isn’t that good? Those are the ones we need to filter out anyway. It will be a good opportunity instead.”

“That may be true.”

The historians who were recording the conversation between the two fathers and sons on one side recorded with cold sweat.

-The historian comments.

There is a saying, ‘You must have a poisonous mind to be a great man.’ However, the Crown Prince’s poisonous mind can be said to be an extreme poison capable of killing ten thousand.

Shortly after, Hyang ordered the historians and scribes.

“Historians and scribes, please step out for a moment.”

At Hyang’s words, the historians all expressed their refusal.

“Our mission is to record everything about the affairs of state and pass it on to future generations.”

Hyang scoffed at the historians’ words.

“Humph! Who would know if you wrote it properly or not since those future generations won’t even see it? Get out.”

“We cannot!”

At the historians’ and scribes’ refusal, Hyang warned.

“The words that will come out from now on are top secret. If these words spread outside, a great disaster will occur. If that happens, your heads will be the first to be cut off without question.

No, to prevent such a thing, I must cut off your heads right here and now. Will you still stand there?”

“It is our mission!”

As the historians and scribes strongly resisted, Sejong opened his mouth.

“It is my order. Get out.”

“It is the law! We cannot leave!”

“Heo? These guys?”

As anger began to grow on Sejong’s face, Hyang suddenly had an idea.

‘Wait! Anyway, it’s a foregone conclusion that the Chinese bastards will make noise later, so if I create an official record that will be the basis for it at this opportunity?’

Hyang, having come to a conclusion, stopped Sejong.

“Father, how about letting them stay?”

“Let them stay?”

“Yes. In the future, wouldn’t we be able to create a basis to shut the mouths of those who arbitrarily prejudge and make a fuss?”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong calmed his anger and pondered what Hyang’s words meant.

Eventually, Sejong, understanding Hyang’s intention, burst into laughter.

“A guy who will catch fish even when he falls into the water, there’s no way he’ll just let it go.”

“Your grace is boundless.”

Sejong, giving a small smile, glared at the historians and scribes and said.

“Good. Sit down and record every single word without leaving anything out.”

“Your grace is boundless!”

“However, if even a single word of the conversation we had here is leaked outside, I will cut off your heads!”

At Sejong’s stern order, the historians and scribes answered with cold sweat.

“We obey!”

Even while bowing their heads in response, the historian’s golden brush did not rest.

-Thus, the conversation between the King and the Crown Prince was recorded.

The historian comments.

It is the basic attitude of a historian to record everything accurately and without omission, but I don’t feel good about being forced to do so.

With the historians and scribes in attendance, Hyang continued his conversation with Sejong.

“Have you heard the rumors about the Đại Việt [historical Vietnamese kingdom]?”

“The rumors about the Đại Việt?”

“The Outer King, Inner Emperor (外王內帝) [a system where a ruler acknowledges a foreign king publicly but acts as an emperor internally]?”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong nodded.

“I heard. The current Emperor appointed him as the King of Annam, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Are you saying that our Joseon should also adopt the Outer King, Inner Emperor system?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang shook his head.

“No. Not such superficiality, but to truly become an empire and have Father wear the yellow dragon robe, that is my wish.”

At that moment, the historians and scribes froze. They simultaneously had the same thought.

‘Damn it! I shouldn’t have insisted on staying!’

A subtle emotion swirled on Sejong’s face for a moment.

“The yellow dragon robe…….”

“What was the reason why Taejo the Great [founder of Joseon dynasty] sent a letter calling himself the Acting Administrator of Goryeo [previous Korean dynasty] after the retreat? It is power. Speaking frankly, even looking at Ming, a prince has also taken the throne of Emperor. For now, we are subservient, but in the end, power is what governs everything.”

Regardless of whether the historians and scribes were making faces at the increasingly high level of remarks, Hyang continued to speak.

“If this Joseon becomes prosperous and its territory increases, there will be no one to oppose Father ascending to the throne. Of course, the population problem is a concern, but that will also increase rapidly if Joseon becomes prosperous. If that happens, even if the Ming people say that we call ourselves subservient, it will be their own cry. The so-called mental victory.”

‘Northeast Project? Tell them to screw off!’

“Mental victory?”

When Sejong expressed doubt about the word he had never heard before, Hyang explained its meaning.

Sejong nodded after hearing Hyang’s explanation.

“That’s a very interesting word. Yes, it would be fun if the Ming people had that mental victory. But you know, Crown Prince. If what we are doing now does not succeed properly, we will have the mental victory. Never forget that point.”

At Sejong’s urging, Hyang replied strongly.

“I will engrave it in my bones! And we will achieve true victory and re-proclaim that we will compete for the hegemony of the world and become the master once again in a thousand years.”

‘History is changing anyway! All or nothing!’

Similar emotions lingered on the lips of Hyang and Sejong.

The historians were also making faces, but they could not erase the ambition (雄心) that was rising in one corner of their hearts.