Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 508

508. Distance and Proximity (1)

“This is a letter from His Majesty.”

“Isn’t that a bit large to be called a letter?”

Hyang grumbled, eyeing the large wooden box. The eunuch could only bow his head with a wry smile.

* * *

With the regular shipping routes now well-established, communication between Shinji and Joseon occurred monthly, a testament to the excellent performance of the *gibeomseon* ships [specially designed, high-performance ships]. The transport of goods, however, relying on Challenger-class battleships, occurred on average every two months.

To maintain this schedule, the court relentlessly pushed the navy.

The Joseon navy escaped this pressure only after all the *gibeomseon* ships and Challenger-class battleships launched from the shipyards of Wonsan and Dongbinghang were diverted to the Shinji route.

The court also released considerable wealth to the shipyard workers in the form of overtime pay and bonuses.

* * *

Hyang and the ministers gathered in Seungwhadang and broke the seal on the wooden box sent by Sejong.

“Hoo~. I feel this every time, but really, should we call this a letter?”

Following the bitter smile and sigh, the ministers also offered wry smiles at Hyang’s question.

Inside the box were not envelopes containing letters, but thick books and maps.

* * *

The books detailed newly progressed information since the last report, newly discovered problems, solutions deemed appropriate for these, and items regarding additional support needed.

From the moment Sejong’s reports were received, the court moved busily.

First, they updated the existing development information in Hanseong with the newly added development information.

Next, they re-analyzed the severity of the problems pointed out by Sejong and examined whether the solutions he presented were reasonable.

Finally, based on the results of this process, they adjusted the types and quantities of support materials to be sent to Shinji.

All of these materials were procured and sent to Wonsan before the next supply fleet set sail, concluding the process.

“It seems we’ve become busier since His Majesty went to Shinji.”

“It can’t be helped. But, aren’t there good points too?”

As the executive-level officials in charge of the work spoke, the intensity of the work supporting the development of Shinji increased rapidly. However, Shinji’s development accelerated, and efficiency also increased.

Hwang Hee, after receiving a report related to this, smiled wryly and remarked,

“It’s only natural. There’s someone clearly responsible, and that person is extremely skilled at using people… And if they don’t provide proper support, many heads will roll, starting with the Crown Prince, on the grounds of disloyalty and impiety, so they have to move quickly.”

* * *

“The amount is considerable this time as well.”

Kim Jeom muttered with a look of exhaustion, looking at the enormous thickness of the reports that came out of the box. Hwang Hee responded to Kim Jeom’s words.

“The historians and scribes must have suffered.”

Because he had not abdicated the throne, Sejong was still the King of Joseon. Because King Sejong was directly involved, half of the personnel belonging to the Royal Secretariat and half of the personnel belonging to the National Archives had to go to Shinji together.

“Having to go to Shinji, isn’t that exile?”

“They say they’ll rotate us out.”

“Still, exile is exile.”

“Let’s think positively. How much work could there be in Shinji? Compared to moving the golden brush until your arm falls off here, isn’t it like living in paradise?”

“That’s right!”

Those who went to Shinji thinking they would have an easy time soon sighed with gloomy faces.

“I knew it….”

“What kind of person is His Majesty….”

As Hwang Hee evaluated, Sejong was ‘extremely skilled at using people.’

“This needs some organizing.”

As soon as the words were spoken, the officials of the Royal Secretariat and the National Archives had to organize and rewrite the documents that had been piled up in Shinji.

“How is this different from the National Archives!”

“The National Archives! The National Archives!”

* * *

Hyang and the ministers, discussing the officials of the Royal Secretariat and the National Archives who had suffered while organizing and writing these reports, soon began to read the reports with serious faces.

After reading all the newly arrived reports, Hyang and the ministers exchanged serious expressions.

“What do you think?”

Hwang Hee answered immediately to Hyang’s question.

“We need to examine it further, but shouldn’t we follow the plan established by His Majesty, who knows the local situation best?”

The other ministers all nodded at Hwang Hee’s words.

What Sejong sent was a major revision of the development plan established after the discovery of Shinji.

* * *

When the initial plan was established, Hyang took the lead in advocating for eastward advancement.

‘Even if we miss everything else, we must not miss the Rust Belt around the Great Lakes!’

It was with this determination that Hyang advocated for eastward advancement.

-Just as we advanced eastward and discovered unclaimed land, the Westerners can advance westward and discover unclaimed land! We will cross the unclaimed land before them!

This argument of Hyang was accepted, and Joseon actively advanced eastward as soon as it established a foothold.

The main force of that eastward advancement was the cavalry.

* * *

As soon as they rounded the northern end of the Rocky Mountains, Joseon discovered a vast plain and deployed a large-scale cavalry force.

In the vast plains of North America, the cavalry properly demonstrated its abilities, and as a result, it advanced to the Great Lakes region – Joseon’s territory, *Daehogun* [Great Lake Command] – in just three years of eastward advancement.

The cavalry’s mission was not over. The cavalry was also responsible for firmly establishing the thin and long supply line from the foothold to *Daehogun* as Joseon’s own.

Tribes who were hostile to the unfamiliar foreigners, the Joseon people, targeted this supply line and attacked, but each time they paid a heavy price.

The cavalry, riding large beasts called horses that they had never seen before, covered in iron armor, and armed with gunpowder weapons and swords, responded to the attacking tribes as if they were dealing with the Jurchens.

In simple terms, they annihilated them.

The Joseon cavalry, mixed with Jurchens and Joseon people, was literally a symbol of terror.

Conversely, the Joseon cavalry established very friendly relations with the native tribes who peacefully wanted to trade, while also guaranteeing their safety, thereby solidifying the supply line.

* * *

According to the initial plan established with Hyang as the core, they would advance eastward in this way to create a foothold in the east, and based on that, they would advance southward and westward simultaneously. Once the southward advance from the east began, they would send exploration teams along the west coast of Shinji. They would send exploration teams eastward from the westward advance route, with the ultimate goal of the exploration teams advancing inland from the east and west meeting in the middle of Shinji.

“This is not something that can be finished in a short time. If Shinji is truly as large as it is called a continent, it will take at least 50 to 100 years.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong muttered with a slightly horrified expression.

“It will take at least three to four generations. We must stake the fate of this Joseon on it.”

“But if we succeed, the Ming will have to be mindful of our Joseon.”

“That’s true….”

It was a plan created after fierce debate based on Hyang’s proposal, but Sejong stepped in to revise it.

* * *

Sejong based the revision of the plan on the rapid changes in the Western situation.

-If we examine the rapidly changing Western situation now, there will definitely be winners and losers.

-And the losers will inevitably turn their eyes to the west to find new avenues.

Based on this reasoning, Sejong set the completion of the first phase of the plan as deploying the Joseon navy to the east of Shinji to block the approach of the Westerners.

The next step was to build strength around *Daehogun* in the east and then advance southward along the east coast.

-If we secure the eastern sea and land of Shinji as our own in this way, the monopoly of Shinji will proceed smoothly.

Hyang, who had repeatedly read Sejong’s revision plan for several days, muttered softly.

“If it goes according to this, it will be a definite land grab… The problem is how far down we should go. Given Joseon’s current situation, it will take more than 30 years just to dominate North America… South America….”

Hyang, recalling the Central and South American empires well-known for human sacrifice, shook his head.

“If our noblemen go to that neighborhood, I can already see them making a fuss about wiping out the people living there… Should we give up on South America? If we give up, I keep getting caught up in the saltpeter mines somewhere in Chile….”

After much deliberation, Hyang chose the ‘third way.’

“Going down to South America will probably be impossible during my reign. Let’s pass it on to future generations. During my reign, it’s best to focus on digesting only North America. After digesting it properly, I’ll abdicate and hide away.”

It was Hyang who valued his hobbies to the end. Feeling a slight pang of conscience as he made that decision, Hyang persuaded himself.

“Even with just the results I’ve created so far, I’ll be called a wise ruler, right?”

* * *

Of course, Hyang wasn’t the only one worrying.

The ministers were also engaged in heated debate over Sejong’s revision plan.

“His Majesty’s revision plan seems reasonable, but there is one thing that bothers me.”

Kim Jeom pointed to the map of Shinji and continued speaking.

“In this way, the west coast of Shinji, except for the foothold, will be completely abandoned. Wouldn’t it be a big problem if we did something good for someone else?”

Kim Jongseo responded to Kim Jeom’s point.

“It is impossible for our Joseon’s current capabilities to aim for the west coast of Shinji as well. The budget will be a problem right away.”

Following Kim Jongseo’s point, Jo Malsaeng responded.

“We are also short of people. Our Joseon’s population exceeded 11 million in the year of *Gimmi* [one of the sixty-year cycle years], and even though we are about to reach 12 million now, aren’t almost 40% of them minors? That’s unlike you, Minister.”

It was an unexpected situation where Kim Jeom, who used to object to new policies with the excuse of budget issues, was rather supporting the expansion policy.

Kim Jeom responded to Kim Jongseo and Jo Malsaeng’s rebuttals.

“Of course, the pressure on the budget and the shortage of manpower are serious right now. But I don’t think we should abandon it at all. If we do, some innocent guys might benefit.”

“If it’s the Westerners, we can block them on the east coast of Shinji as His Majesty planned.”

“What about the guys who will go from this side? How long can we hide it?”

“This side… Ming?”

At Jo Malsaeng’s question, Kim Jeom nodded.

The conference room became quiet at Kim Jeom’s point. All the ministers gathered in the conference room were silent, analyzing the situation based on Ming.

“Hmm… maybe….”

“If it’s Ming….”

Most of the ministers came to a similar conclusion.

-If it’s Ming, it might be possible.

The background for their decision was the record of the past ‘Zheng He’s fleet.’

“Wouldn’t it be difficult even for Ming?”

At that time, Kim Jongseo raised an objection. Hwang Hee opened his mouth with sparkling eyes.

“Why?”

“Have you forgotten the shipwreck of Jinpo?”

At Kim Jongseo’s point, the ministers all exclaimed.

“Ah!”

“That’s right!”

When Jinpo, who fearlessly challenged the Pacific Ocean and almost became a ghost ship, was mentioned, the faces of the ministers brightened.

* * *