Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 413

413. Lord of War. Huashang (4)

In the subsequent test run, the new ironclad satisfied Sejong.

After the launching ceremony and test run, Sejong returned to the palace and ordered Kim Jeom.

“Prepare a budget for the mass production of the new ironclad and the passenger and freight cars that run on it.”

At Sejong’s command, Kim Jeom immediately bowed his head and replied.

“I have already allocated the necessary budget. Preparations have been made for its execution every year for the next five years.”

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

Kim Jeom’s immediate answer stunned everyone in Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace]. Sejong, Hyang, the ministers, and even the historians and eunuchs stared at him with wide eyes.

As everyone focused on him, Kim Jeom looked at Sejong with a bewildered expression.

“Have I done something wrong?”

“Ah, it’s not that. It’s just that you answered so… readily.”

At Sejong’s words, Kim Jeom replied.

“The ironclad is a device that will undoubtedly help grow the country’s economy and greatly benefit the lives of the people. And since railroads are already being laid and bridges are being built nationwide, isn’t it natural to prepare and wait in advance?”

“That’s true… That’s true….”

Sejong nodded repeatedly at Kim Jeom’s answer, but the situation felt unusual.

* * *

In any case, with the budget approved by the Ministry of Finance, the 51st District [a special industrial zone] and the railroad construction sites across the country bustled with activity.

In the production workshop of the 51st District, new ironclads were being mass-produced, along with passenger cars much larger than those running on the Hanseong [old name for Seoul] ironclad, and stagecoach-type passenger cars for the towing vehicles were being made step by step.

Final inspections were being carried out at the railroad construction sites across the country, which were gradually entering the final stage.

In this final inspection process, the supervisors were most concerned with the lines connecting Hanseong to Wonsan and the railroads running north and south along the east coast.

The coal from the north and Gangwon-do was transported to the steel mill in Yeonil in the south. In addition, iron materials produced in Musan and Yeonil were transported to Hanseong via the Gyeongwon Line or distributed throughout the country using the completed land routes. The same was true of coal.

Following this east coast axis, the west coast and south coast axes were also nearing completion.

The railroads that Joseon [historical Korean kingdom] planned and executed had their own characteristics. First, the main lines were built along the coastline, and branch lines were connected from those lines into the interior.

The reason for adopting this method was the mountain range that accounted for 70% of the Korean Peninsula. Even Hyang, who was skilled in all sorts of ‘Deokjil’ [obsessive fandom], was weak in architecture and civil engineering. In addition, although locomotives with increasingly strong output were being developed and researched, it was still difficult to climb mountains.

Therefore, the main line was laid along the coastline where flat areas continued, and branch lines were entered inland.

At the center of this magnificent railway network was Hanseong.

The day the Hansu Railway Bridge, which was still under fierce construction, was completed, the entire Joseon would be connected by rail.

And, leading up to that day, Jinpyeong was still traveling around Joseon, meddling in everything.

“The completion of the Joseon nationwide railway network is the beginning of my dream! Starting with this Joseon, I will lay railroads to Liaodong [region in northeastern China], the Central Plains [historical term for China], and beyond! I will take the train to Tianzhu [ancient Chinese name for India] and Alexandria!”

Jinpyeong was shouting boldly, making sounds that would make Kim Jeom clutch the back of his neck in exasperation, as he rummaged through the construction site.

And Hyang, who heard this sound, muttered with a truly serious face.

“Isn’t that Gyeyucheolnan’s [a historical rebellion] dream going to become a premonition instead of a pipe dream?”

* * *

A variable was introduced into Joseon, which was moving peacefully on the surface and fiercely below the surface.

Sejong 18th year (1436, Byeongjin year). April.

Ouchi’s envoy urgently visited Joseon. It was not a regular visit that came every year, but a sudden visit, so Sejong and the ministers became serious.

“The head of the Daene clan, Daene Seonggyeon (大內盛見), is quite old, so hasn’t something happened?”

At Sejong’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun replied.

“Seonggyeon is quite old, but he is not yet sixty years old, and he usually enjoys hunting and pays attention to his diet, so I think the probability of that is low.”

“Is that so?”

Sejong replied briefly and glanced at Hyang. Most of the things that Morimi kept and carried out were things that Hyang urged Sejong to keep.

Sejong cleared his throat and gave an order.

“Ahem! Anyway, the sudden arrival of the envoy must be due to some reason, so the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should find out the details of the reason.”

“I will obey your command!”

* * *

The officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who greeted the envoy, suddenly changed their expressions at the news conveyed by Ouchi’s envoy, immediately submitted a report to Lee Maeng-gyun, and Lee Maeng-gyun ran to Sejong.

“So, why did the Daene clan’s envoy come so suddenly?”

“They are requesting that we sell the rifles used by our Joseon army.”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s words, harsh words popped out of Jo Malsaeng’s mouth, who was sitting with them.

“They want rifles? These bastards, I’ve been treating them nicely, what nonsense….”

“Minister!”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

Jo Malsaeng, who regained his senses at Lee Maeng-gyun’s urgent cry, bowed his head to Sejong.

“Your Majesty! Please forgive me for losing my temper and showing such an unsightly appearance!”

“It’s okay. It was what I wanted to say. So… Why did they suddenly come to sell rifles? They also know how our Joseon manages cannons and rifles, right? What happened in Waeguk [old term for Japan]?”

At Sejong’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun immediately replied.

“It has been confirmed that the Wae [old term for Japanese] people who are at odds with the Daene clan have gun barrels.”

“What!”

Sejong shouted, jumping up from his seat.

* * *

At the report that ‘the Wae people have gun barrels,’ Sejong immediately ordered Jo Malsaeng.

“Immediately dispatch inspectors to all of Joseon’s land and naval forces to check the management status of cannons, rifles, and horse-mounted rifles!”

“I will obey your command!”

Sejong, who gave the order to Jo Malsaeng, turned to Lee Maeng-gyun.

“So, is that why the Daene clan’s envoys came to us?”

“That’s right. In particular, seeing that the person who came as the head of the envoys is Daene Jise (大內持世, Ouchi Mochiyo), we can see the Daene clan’s urgency.”

Sejong, who was contemplating for a moment at Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, opened his mouth.

“I will meet the envoys directly. Prepare it.”

* * *

The next day, the envoys of the Ouchi family, led by Ouchi Mochiyo, were able to meet Sejong in Geunjeongjeon.

The Mochiyo party, who entered Geunjeongjeon, immediately prostrated themselves on the floor and bowed deeply to Sejong, who was sitting on the Dangjip [raised platform] above.

“Ouchi Mochiyo of the Ouchi family greets the monarch of Great Joseon!”

“You have worked hard to come from afar. Have the eunuchs bring chairs for the envoys.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sejong and the ministers poured out a barrage of questions to the envoys who were sitting on the chairs brought by the eunuchs.

“I heard that those who are at odds with the Daene clan have gun barrels. Is that really certain?”

Mochiyo replied in clumsy Joseon language.

“It is certain.”

“Which family is it?”

“As far as we have confirmed, it is Otomo, Shoni, and Shimazu.”

“Otomo? Shoni? Shimazu?”

At Sejong’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun immediately explained.

“They are the Daewoo (大友), Soyi (少貳), and Dojin (島津) clans.”

Sejong, who was nodding at Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, was struck by one thing.

“Wait… If it’s the Soyi clan, isn’t that the clan that the lord of Tsushima Island, Jong (宗), follows?”

“That’s right.”

“I have been informed that the Soyi clan is currently staying in Tsushima Island, dreaming of a comeback. Is that certain?”

“That’s right.”

Sejong’s face became even more serious at Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer.

“For gun barrels to go to such people is a big problem….”

Sejong, who realized that the situation was more serious than expected, continued to ask Mochiyo.

“Among the gun barrels they have, does the Daene clan have any that they have acquired?”

“We have it.”

Mochiyo, who answered immediately, ordered his subordinate who was behind him. At Mochiyo’s command, the subordinate came forward with a wooden box that he was carefully holding. As Mochiyo’s subordinate came forward with the box, the Naegeumwi [royal guards] soldiers nearby tensed up all at once. Amid the glares of the tense soldiers, Mochiyo’s subordinate put down the box and carefully stepped back.

“Open the box.”

At Sejong’s command, the eunuch opened the lid of the box and showed the contents to Sejong.

Inside the box was a gun barrel with knots like bamboo.

Sejong, who confirmed the gun barrel in question, turned to Jo Malsaeng.

“It seems a bit different from the gun barrels that our Joseon army used to use?”

“That’s right. No, it’s definitely different.”

“Hmm….”

Sejong, stroking his beard as he organized his thoughts at Jo Malsaeng’s confirmation, ordered the Doseungji [chief royal secretary].

“Tell General Choi Hae-san and General Lee Cheon to come in immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

At Sejong’s call, Choi Hae-san and Lee Cheon, who were working in the 51st District, urgently entered Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Choi Hae-san, who had stabilized the north, volunteered to work in the Byeonggi Bureau [military weapons bureau] created in the 51st District as soon as he returned.

For him, who was strongly influenced by his father, Choi Mu-seon, the Byeonggi Bureau in the 51st District was a vocation.

In this way, Choi Hae-san and Lee Cheon were in charge of spearheading the development and improvement of gunpowder weapons in the 51st District and the research institute.

And, Hyang said this while watching Choi Hae-san.

“He’s a bigger true ‘Deokhu’ than me when it comes to gunpowder. Then it’s me, and No. 3 is General Lee Cheon.”

* * *

Choi Hae-san and Lee Cheon, who were such true ‘Deokhu’, examined the gun barrel in question and came to the same conclusion.

“It’s a fire lance (突火槍) [early type of firearm].”

“That’s right.”

The two people who agreed immediately reported to Sejong.

“It’s a fire lance used by the Ming Dynasty army.”

“A fire lance of the Ming Dynasty army?”

“That’s right.”

“I see. You may sit down.”

Sejong, who knew that the gun barrel in question was a fire lance used by the Ming Dynasty army, asked Mochiyo.

“Do those three families that threaten the Daene clan have many of these gun barrels?”

“I know that there are at least hundreds of them. And it is still increasing.”

“Hmm….”

Sejong was lost in thought again at Mochiyo’s explanation. Sejong, who had been contemplating for a long time, opened his mouth as if he had made a decision.

“Daene Jise, listen. It is a very serious problem that those who are at odds with the Daene family are using these gun barrels. The Daene family and our Joseon have been continuing Gyorin [neighborly relations] until now, so how can we just let it pass? I will find a good answer soon and let you know, so go back to the envoy’s residence and wait.”

At Sejong’s command, Mochiyo immediately prostrated himself on the floor and replied.

“I earnestly hope that you will look after our lacking family and give us help!”

“I will find a good answer.”

* * *

After sending the envoys back in that way, Sejong turned to the ministers.

“I think we should help them. The Daene clan and we have a relationship of ‘lips and teeth’ [close, interdependent relationship]. If the Daene clan goes wrong, we will also be in trouble.”

At Sejong’s words, Jo Malsaeng immediately stepped forward.

“That’s right. In particular, the biggest problem is the Soyi clan. As long as they have a foothold in Tsushima Island, there is a high possibility that the Wae pirates will become rampant again if things go wrong.”

The ministers all nodded at Jo Malsaeng’s words. Jo Malsaeng, who saw the ministers’ reactions, took another step forward.

“Helping the Daene clan is important, but it is also important to deal with the problematic parts in advance.”

Hwang Hee intervened at Jo Malsaeng’s remarks.

“Preemptive handling? Are you saying we should strike Tsushima Island?”

“The Soyi clan’s problem is also the Daene clan’s problem, but it is also our problem. Isn’t it a fact that even a child knows that the Soyi clan is seeking a comeback after being defeated by the Daene clan in the last battle? Where will they get the funds to make that comeback? What else is there but piracy? They look docile now, but if we miss this opportunity, they might stab us in the back someday!”

“Do you think war is easy? Have you forgotten the hardships we went through in preparing the army and preparing the war expenses during the Tsushima Island conquest in the past Haenyeon [year of the pig]?”

“Isn’t the current Joseon a world apart from that time! The current Joseon doesn’t have to go through as much hardship as it did then!”

Suddenly, the topic changed to ‘The Second Tsushima Island Conquest,’ and the Daejeon [royal court] became noisy.