Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 199

199. The Beginning of Spring (4)

Hyang sighed deeply as he reviewed the proposal from the Ministry of War.

“Hoo~. They’ve all become water ghosts… Who on earth brought in such bad water?”

Hyang nonchalantly spoke words that would have caused ministers and Sejong to clutch the back of their necks if they had heard him.

* * *

Fifteen days later, in front of a tiled-roof house in Andong.

“By royal decree! Jin-sa [a title for a successful candidate in the civil service examination] Kim Chang-seop, come out and receive the decree!”

At the magistrate’s loud voice from outside the gate, the large gate of the tiled-roof house opened, and Kim Chang-seop, the person in question, rushed out, panting.

“Are you Kim Chang-seop?”

Kim Chang-seop hastily replied to the magistrate’s question, who wore a stiff expression as if they were meeting for the first time, even though they had known each other for a long time.

“Yes, I am.”

“His Majesty the King’s decree! Quickly, prepare your attire!”

At the local official’s command, Kim Chang-seop quickly turned around and tidied his clothes.

Following this, he respectfully performed the ceremony before receiving the royal edict (敎書), and then the magistrate began to read the edict.

“Jin-sa Kim Chang-seop, listen. After reading your memorial, I could not hold back tears at your patriotic devotion. Even though you are buried in the countryside, your patriotic loyalty shines brightly. How can I not be pleased?

I am thankful to the heavens and the earth that there are still talented individuals remaining in this Joseon.

How can I leave someone with such patriotic devotion buried in the countryside?

Therefore, Kim Chang-seop, upon receiving this edict, immediately go to Hanyang [the capital city of Joseon] and report to the Ministry of War.

Let the Ministry of War reveal everything you have for the sake of this Joseon’s peace.”

After reading the edict, the magistrate handed it to Kim Chang-seop.

“Congratulations. Such an opportunity is rare. I sincerely congratulate you on your entry into government service by royal command.”

“Yes? Yes? Thank you.”

The magistrate, handing the edict to Kim Chang-seop, who still wore a dazed expression, offered his congratulations once more before turning away.

Such events unfolded here and there throughout Joseon.

The scholar-officials who received Sejong’s edict, filled with dreams and hopes, headed for Hanyang.

* * *

Meanwhile, in the northeastern frontier, discussions were in full swing regarding Sejong’s proclamation.

“It seems there are still many people in the lower regions who don’t know the ways of the world.”

Hwang Hee nodded at Choi Yun-deok’s words.

“They are frogs in a well [idiom for someone with limited knowledge]. Thanks to them, I have a headache.”

“A headache? Why?”

At Choi Yun-deok’s question, Hwang Hee pointed to the proclamation.

“This proclamation is giving me a headache. Looking at the current situation of the Jurchens, many have submitted (歸附, voluntarily submitting) due to the power of the Joseon army led by the Commander-in-Chief. However, I am worried that some who underestimate Joseon will emerge and do foolish things after seeing this proclamation.”

“Hmm…”

At Hwang Hee’s point, Choi Yun-deok stroked his beard with a serious expression.

Hwang Hee’s concern was valid. Most Joseon people thought of the Jurchens as ignorant barbarians.

However, the Jurchens were by no means ignorant barbarians.

They were cunning.

Moreover, many of them possessed intellectual capabilities no less than those of Joseon’s scholar-officials.

If such individuals underestimated Joseon and started trouble, it would bring great chaos to the northeastern region, which was beginning to stabilize.

However, unlike Hwang Hee’s concerns, Choi Yun-deok soon smiled and replied.

“I think it’s okay to post it.”

“Yes?”

“Given the current capabilities of the Joseon army, they can be suppressed. Rather, if there are too many things to hide, they will become suspicious and begin to distrust us. That will be even more of a headache.”

Hwang Hee stroked his beard at Choi Yun-deok’s words.

“There is some truth to that, but…”

“I, who have been fighting with the Jurchens in the north and the Japanese pirates in the south, will guarantee it.”

“Hmm…”

As Hwang Hee pondered, Choi Yun-deok added.

“Unless the Jurchen bastards want to face the Nokho Army [Joseon army], no one will do anything stupid because of a piece of proclamation.”

“I see.”
Hwang Hee nodded with a relieved expression at Choi Yun-deok’s words.

* * *

The Jurchens called the Joseon army the Nokho Army.

This was because the plate armor worn by the Joseon army was covered with dark green cotton cloth.

This was Hyang’s idea.

Plate armor, which covered most of the body, became hot under the sunlight as the weather warmed.

To prevent this, Hyang covered the outside of the plate armor with cotton cloth.

“While we’re at it…”

Hyang dyed the cotton cloth dark green.

As a result, the Joseon soldiers were able to approach the Jurchens more closely as the armor reflected less sunlight.

Thus, the dark green armor became a symbol of the Joseon army. And as the development of the northeastern region progressed, the Joseon army began to be called the Nokho Army.

The Jurchens, who had never clashed with the Joseon army, disparagingly called the Joseon army the ‘Nokho Army (綠狐群, Green Fox Group).’

“No matter how many of them gather, a fox is still a fox! A cunning fox that only knows how to ambush!”

They ridiculed the Joseon army, which mainly used ambushes and ambushes as their main tactics, calling them foxes.

However, to the lucky Jurchens who survived the Joseon army’s attacks, the ‘Ho (狐)’ in ‘Nokho Army’ was not a fox but a tiger.

“It’s not a fox, but a tiger as cunning as a fox! Those tigers are moving around in packs!”

Those who survived the Joseon army’s attacks shouted in fear.

* * *

Hwang Hee nodded with a relieved expression at Choi Yun-deok’s confident words.

“I am relieved that the Commander-in-Chief is so confident. By the way, what are you planning to do with Odori?”

Choi Yun-deok looked troubled when Hwang Hee mentioned the Odori tribe.

“That’s a bit of a concern. They rarely show any openings…”

“Wouldn’t it be better to order Yi Jing-ok?”

Choi Yun-deok shook his head at Hwang Hee’s suggestion.

“That won’t do. His Majesty the King ordered us to handle it discreetly. But if it’s Jing-ok, he’s the type to charge in without question and finish it… He’s a guy who doesn’t think about diplomacy.”

“That’s true.”
Hwang Hee nodded at Choi Yun-deok’s assessment.

* * *

The reason Sejong ordered the Odori tribe to be dealt with was due to a bad relationship dating back to Taejong’s reign.

Dong Meng-ge Tie Mu-er (童孟哥帖木兒, Aisin Gioro Mentemu), who led the Odori tribe, was a Jurchen tribal chief who had been subordinate since Taejo’s reign.

However, after Taejong succeeded Taejo and the Yongle Emperor ascended the throne in Ming, Tie Mu-er defected to Ming.

This was the beginning of the bad relationship between the Odori tribe and Joseon.

Taejong did not want the Odori tribe, located near the origin of his family, to go over to Ming.

Therefore, conflicts continued between the Joseon army and the Odori tribe, and the Odori tribe migrated to the place where Aha-chu’s Hooligai tribe was located.

Later, after Sejong ascended the throne, the Odori tribe returned to its original residence near Hoeryeong.

Tie Mu-er expressed his intention to return to Joseon and offered to leave his son as a hostage, but Sejong refused.

“I don’t need hostages. Tell me what you need. I will support you.”

On the surface, they had a friendly relationship, but Sejong had decided to eliminate Aha-chu’s Hooligai and Tie Mu-er’s Odori.

‘We cannot entrust the border to those who are like bats! Eliminating them is the best option!’

Therefore, Sejong gave orders to Choi Yun-deok.

-If you see an opportunity, eliminate Odori immediately.

* * *

Choi Yun-deok, explaining that entrusting it to Yi Jing-ok would do more harm than good, smiled and continued.

“Fortunately, the Uliangha (兀良哈, Orangkai) tribe is located on either side of Odori. And the Uliangha tribe has definitely submitted to our Joseon, and the better thing is that they don’t get along with Odori.”

Hwang Hee stroked his beard and nodded at Choi Yun-deok’s words.

“Then there will be an opportunity soon.”

“That will be the case. At that time, it depends on how long Tie Mu-er and his clan can endure, but…”

“I hope it doesn’t take too long. That sly bastard under me is making such a fuss…”

Choi Yun-deok pretended to know at Hwang Hee’s complaint.

“Sly bastard… are you talking about Kim Jong-seo?”

Hwang Hee nodded silently at Choi Yun-deok’s question.

* * *

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-seo was talking with Yi Jing-ok.

“Hey, Jing-ok. It seems like the Jurchen situation is almost over, but why isn’t the Commander-in-Chief withdrawing the troops?”

“Brother Kim, isn’t there still one left? Or two?”

Kim Jong-seo nodded as if he understood something at Yi Jing-ok’s words.

“Ah, that tribe in Baekdu Mountain?”

“That’s right. Those reed-like guys. The other one is Yimanjeu.”

“Tsk.”

Kim Jong-seo clicked his tongue at Yi Jing-ok’s words.

To Joseon, Aha-chu and Dong Meng-ge Tie Mu-er were symbols of betrayal and had to be eliminated someday.

Of course, in addition to the reason that they had to be eliminated because they were traitors, Yimanjeu’s Hooligai and Dong Meng-ge Tie Mu-er had to be eliminated due to national defense issues.

This was because the areas where the two tribes were located included the north of the Amnok River, the northeast of the Duman River, and Baekdu Mountain.

In order to secure the natural defenses of the Amnok River, the Duman River, and Baekdu Mountain, the removal of the two tribes was essential.

Yi Jing-ok grumbled with a dissatisfied expression.

“I want to charge in and wipe them out right away, but there’s the problem that both of them received official positions from Ming and are subjects of Ming… That’s why I hate politics!”

“I hate politics too.”

“Brother Kim, aren’t you an official in the court? How can someone like you hate politics?”

“It’s a job, a job. I’m just a romantic who wants to enjoy the nights of Hanyang.”

Yi Jing-ok grumbled inwardly at Kim Jong-seo’s words.

‘That’s why he’s called a sly bastard.’

In the northeastern frontier, Kim Jong-seo was famous as a ‘sly bastard.’

Even the Jurchens called Kim Jong-seo an ‘old horse.’

This was because he did better than anyone else when ordered to do something, but until then, he would try to avoid it.

Like an old horse who has experienced everything and only has cunning left.

Whether he knew of Yi Jing-ok’s grumbling or not, Kim Jong-seo continued to grumble.

“Ah~. I miss Hanyang. I miss the Unjongga [Bell Street] and Bukchon’s courtesan alleys! Now I even miss the smell of poop from Cheonggyecheon [a stream in Seoul]!”

Kim Jong-seo, who expressed his love for Hanyang without hiding it, proposed a plan to Yi Jing-ok.

“What about using Jurchen cavalry?”

“Jurchen cavalry? Ah! You mean the scouts (前哨) [advance units]?”

“That’s right!”

Kim Jong-seo mentioned the Jurchen unit that had recently been formed within the Joseon army.

* * *

As Joseon developed the northeastern region, many Jurchen tribes submitted.

Hwang Hee pondered a way to easily manage these surrendered Jurchens.

When Hwang Hee couldn’t easily find an answer, Kim Jong-seo came up with one.

“Won’t the migrants from the south be coming up soon?”

“That’s right.”

“If they want to farm, they have to reclaim land, but isn’t the situation that there is plenty of land but not enough people?”

“That’s right.”

“How about recruiting manpower from the Jurchens?”

“Huh?”

Kim Jong-seo’s plan was as follows.

-As mentioned earlier, new frontier areas lack people compared to the area of land.

-Recruit those among the Jurchen men who wish to farm.

-Hire these recruits as laborers and put them into the reclamation work of those who came as migrants.

-This is good because Joseon farmers can quickly reclaim farmland, and the Jurchens can learn how to reclaim and farm.

-Since the Jurchens were recruited as laborers, wages are paid. This must be paid by the country, but a considerable amount of funds can be recovered by them consuming it at the Jeonmaecheong (Monopoly Bureau) [government-run store].

-If you proceed in this way, you can settle many Jurchens.

“Not bad.”

As Hwang Hee showed a positive reaction, Kim Jong-seo immediately continued.

“Of course, this is something that requires His Majesty the King’s approval due to the wage payment issue. In that case, you have to go to Hanyang, right? You always said that I have to move with you, so I will prepare to go to Hanyang!”

“Hey! Why is the story going that way!”

He shouted, but Kim Jong-seo had already disappeared.

Watching Kim Jong-seo’s disappearing figure, Hwang Hee grumbled.

“That sly bastard…”