Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 536

536. Conspiracy (2)

While Joseon was busily engaged in a game of ‘hide and seek’ with the Ming Dynasty over the Oirat issue, Joseon was still moving busily on other fronts.

Among these, the biggest task was the relocation of the residents of Tsushima Island, starting with the lord himself.

Ships carrying the residents of Tsushima Island headed to Dongnae [present-day Busan, South Korea] under the escort, though a rather loose one, of Joseon naval vessels.

Upon arriving in Dongnae, the Japanese from Tsushima Island rested from their journey in accommodations prepared by Joseon. After resting, they were escorted by Joseon soldiers to the railway station.

Choo-choo! Peep! Boom!

“Uwaaah!”

“It’s an oni (鬼)! An oni!” [A Japanese demon or ogre]

“Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu!” [A Buddhist chant invoking Amitabha Buddha]

The residents of Tsushima Island caused a commotion upon seeing the iron horse, which emitted a loud whistle and heavy vibrations.

“Calm down! That is the iron horse you will be riding!”

“Calm down!”

Joseon soldiers, many of whom were former Japanese soldiers who had surrendered (降倭), shouted and, after much effort, calmed the residents down. Once the commotion subsided, the residents looked at the iron horse with curious faces.

“So that’s the rumored iron horse…”

“Amazing…”

“Look at that size.”

The residents of Tsushima Island, who had been examining the iron horse with curious eyes, boarded the train and headed north.

The place designated as their residence was Nokdundo [an island in the Yellow Sea]. And the low-ranking samurai who moved with them were assigned to the Pocheong (捕廳), which was in charge of local security [a type of police or constabulary force].

The low-ranking samurai who became Pojol [police officers] of the Pocheong were thoroughly monitored and evaluated by Joseon Podo officers [high ranking police officers].

* * *

Unlike the residents of Tsushima Island and the low-ranking samurai who went straight north, the lord, Todo Ungwa (都都熊瓦, also known as So Sadamori), and the members of the Shoni clan (少弐氏) went to Hanseong [present-day Seoul] on a different train.

Todo Ungwa, sitting in a passenger car and looking at the scenery outside the window, sighed softly.

“I missed my chance because of my pride…”

* * *

During the last conquest of Tsushima Island, Todo Ungwa was able to protect Tsushima Island by using a brinkmanship tactic: acknowledging allegiance to Joseon and offering a suitable land or island in exchange for relocating the residents to Joseon.

Todo Ungwa had already suffered a significant blow to his pride with just this. However, as the Joseon navy rapidly grew stronger, the opportunity for revenge disappeared. And the fact that he had to hand over a military port to the Joseon navy due to the overwhelming difference in power inflicted an indelible wound on Todo Ungwa’s pride.

Since then, Todo Ungwa had completely closed his eyes and ears to anything related to Joseon. Even though he could have obtained information about Joseon through the vassals and merchants who traveled to and from Joseon for trade, Todo Ungwa strongly resisted.

“Anyone who speaks about Joseon in my presence will be immediately executed!”

And the result was the current situation.

The people he ruled had been taken away by Joseon, and he had lost all his official positions and was now in a position to only rely on Joseon’s mercy.

Looking at the scenery outside the window, Todo Ungwa lamented his fate.

“If I had properly assessed the situation and made an effort, I could have avoided this fate…”

* * *

Todo Ungwa and the Shoni clan一行 [entourage], upon arriving in Hanseong, headed to Gyeongbokgung Palace [the main royal palace of Joseon Dynasty].

When Todo Ungwa and his party arrived in the front yard of Geunjeongjeon Hall [the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace] in Gyeongbokgung Palace, Hyang [likely referring to the King] and the ministers came out to greet them.

“Welcome to the embrace of Joseon. I hope you will live in peace in this embrace of Joseon.”

With a short welcoming speech, Hyang left the scene, and Hwang Hee [a prominent Joseon Dynasty scholar and politician] remained to deal with the group.

“First, I will inform you of the place where the Todo family will live. We have already prepared a place to stay near Heunginjimun Gate [one of the Eight Gates of Seoul], so you can stay there.”

“Thank you.”

“And, the stipend will be paid until the lord dies, so you don’t have to worry about being in poverty. The monthly stipend will be equivalent to that of a vice-minister.”

“Thank you.”

Todo Ungwa continued to bow his head and say thank you to Hwang Hee’s explanation.

“Next, a residence has also been assigned to the Soi clan. The place where you will reside has been prepared near Gwanghuimun Gate [another of the Eight Gates of Seoul]. The two eldest brothers will be paid a monthly stipend equivalent to that of a manager.”

“Thank you.”

The brothers of the Shoni family also bowed their heads and thanked Hwang Hee. For them, this alone was more than enough. Ouchi [a powerful Japanese clan], the enemy of their family, had taken over not only their base in the Kyushu region but also the entire Japan. It was a much better choice to take root in Joseon.

Hwang Hee, who was explaining about the residence and treatment, continued with a look as if he had forgotten something.

“Ah! I forgot this. The payment of the stipend I just mentioned only applies while the parties are alive. When the person dies, the treatment will be downgraded by one level for the eldest legitimate son. And when the eldest legitimate son dies, the payment of the stipend will be stopped. Therefore, if you want your descendants to be at peace, you should constantly cultivate learning and encourage them to make a name for themselves.”

“Yes…”

“This is not discrimination, but a method that is applied equally to all members of our Joseon royal family and meritorious subjects, so I hope you will not complain.”

“Yes.”

* * *

The method of treating the royal family members and meritorious subjects of Joseon, who were national merit recipients, was firmly established through the founding process and the Gyeongjang [a period of political reform in Joseon Dynasty].

In the case of the royal family, the eldest legitimate son of a Grand Prince was given the title of Gun (君) [a royal title]. And, the payment of stipends to the royal family members ended with the Gun. After that, they were recorded as members of the royal family, but there was no title.

The same was true for meritorious subjects. Support from the state was limited to the eldest legitimate son of the meritorious subject.

There were some exceptions to this custom, where support was provided up to the grandson – only for the eldest grandson. These were people who died or were injured in the process of war or maintaining public order.

-It is natural to commemorate and emulate the merits of those who lost their lives or became disabled in the process of protecting the country and the people.

“It is best to eliminate ridiculous ways of thinking, such as ‘our children when needed, your children when something happens’.”

* * *

Meanwhile, the Portuguese merchant fleet that left Joseon arrived safely in Suez.

The Portuguese sailors, who dropped anchor in Suez and got off the ship, shook their heads as they watched the Joseon ships unloading cargo next to them.

“It’s much bigger, but it’s hard to even keep up…”

The Joseon Challenger-class battleships and the merchant ships that were modified from them were famous for their large size, but they were even more famous for their speed.

Even when fully loaded with cargo, there were no ships that could keep up with the Challenger-class if they caught the wind properly.

Interestingly, except for the first year or two, there were no cases where the Challenger-class battleships sailed with all sails deployed.

The reason for this was the powerful firepower, another characteristic of the Challenger-class battleships.

It was not uncommon for a fairly large pirate fleet to be annihilated by a single Challenger-class battleship, so merchant ships from countries that traded with Joseon moved with the Challenger-class battleships.

Like ducklings swimming behind their mother duck, the general 모습 [appearance] of merchant ships traveling the Joseon route was to follow closely behind the Challenger-class battleships. Thanks to this, they did not have to run at full speed to keep up with those merchant ships.

On the other hand, pirates were increasingly struggling to make a living and were wearing gloomy expressions.

This was because it became difficult to move recklessly as Joseon naval bases were built in Ryukyu [Okinawa] and Temasek (present-day Singapore).
The existence of military ports was a threat, but the bigger problem was the battleships deployed in those military ports.

“Damn Haeung!”

The pirates cursed the Haeung-class battleships deployed in those military ports.

Although they were smaller than the Challenger-class battleships and could not move as far, their speed was the problem. The speed of the Haeung was easily overtaking the Challenger-class battleships.

Once caught by a Haeung-class battleship, it was over. Pirates had to choose between raising a white flag and surrendering to be imprisoned or being sunk and becoming fish food.

Escaping was a matter of extremely good luck. Ironically, when such cases occurred, offerings poured into temples and shrines near the pirates’ bases.

There were also pirates who tried to operate outside the short operating radius of the Haeung-class battleships, but their ends were not very good either. Either no merchant ships traveled to the places they chose, or they moved with Challenger-class battleships.

* * *

The Portuguese merchant fleet, which had desperately followed the Challenger-class battleship and dropped anchor in Suez, headed straight to Alexandria.

They had to endure the 텃세 [bullying or territorial behavior] of the Alexandrian merchants every time they transported goods, but they had no other choice now. There were no suitable port facilities in other areas except Alexandria, and there were many gangs of thieves.

Therefore, a common opinion had been formed among Portuguese merchants.

“We need our own port that is closer to Suez and safer than Alexandria. We are willing to cooperate as much as possible for this.”

The Portuguese cargo that arrived in Alexandria in this way began to be loaded onto ships heading to Portugal.

“Wait! It is forbidden to pass through without going through customs!”

When the Alexandrian customs officers tried to stop the loading by finding fault with this, the Portuguese merchants handed them large pouches.

“Hehehe. This time, it’s because a… precious person urgently needs it…”

“A precious person? Urgently?”

Upon hearing the merchants’ words, the customs officers recalled a rumor they had heard recently. It was the rumor that the regent of Portugal, Duke Pedro of Coimbra, was marrying his daughter to the king, Afonso V.

‘Is it a gift…’

The customs officers nodded and cleared their throats as they accepted the pouches that the merchants were handing over.

“Ahem! Ahem! Okay! I’ll just let it go this time! But not next time!”

“Yes, yes. Would there be any other way?”

The merchants, who had passed through customs and finished loading safely, sailed their ships at full speed towards Portugal.

* * *

The merchants who arrived safely in Lisbon immediately 옮겼다 [moved] the cargo that had been unloaded to the mansion of the Duke of Coimbra.

The fact that a huge number of boxes were entering the mansion was seen by more than one or two people, and the story soon reached Duke Afonso of Braganza, a political enemy.

“Many merchants from Joseon entered Pedro’s mansion? Hmm…”

Afonso stroked his beard as he listened to the story. Soon, Afonso nodded.

“Indeed, is that it?”

* * *

Last year, in 1445, Pedro married his daughter Isabella to his nephew Afonso V.

After the marriage, Pedro said to Afonso V:

“I am afraid to say, but I was unable to obtain gifts in time due to my lack of ability. They are scheduled to arrive from Joseon next year, so please wait a little longer.”

“From Joseon?”

Afonso V, who was delighted by Pedro’s words, smiled and nodded.

“Yes. I’ll wait. What’s the problem with waiting a few months? I’m not upset at all!”

* * *

Afonso, who remembered what happened last year, burst into a smile.

“Yes. It’s good for me that he’s wasting money like that. It’s a good thing.”

Afonso was prepared for a military struggle against Pedro. He needed a lot of troops to win, and he needed enough money for that.

And now, his opponent, Pedro, was spending money recklessly.