Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 628

Year 31 of Sejong’s reign, the inaugural year of Hyang’s reign.

As autumn approached, envoys from the Ryukyu Kingdom arrived in Seoul once more.

After settling into the Yeongbin Hall, they paid their respects to Hyang and continued their discussions with Heo Hu at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“So, what decision has your king made?”

“Our king has stated the following: ‘The proposal for a joint venture farm, as suggested by the Empire, aligns with the interests of both nations and is greatly welcomed. Furthermore, the Empire’s offer to support our nation with weaponry is also greatly appreciated. However, as our nation is small, the large quantity offered by the Empire at a reduced price is excessive.’”

Heo Hu, surprised by the envoy’s response, inquired again, “Then, what quantity would be sufficient?”

The envoy paused, swallowed nervously, and cautiously asked, “If the joint venture farm is established, will the Empire’s troops be stationed in our nation?”

“Perhaps that will be the case. Of course, the scale would need to be agreed upon with your nation.”

“Still, wouldn’t there be a minimum size?”

“We are considering about one squad.”

“One squad seems too small, doesn’t it?”

Heo Hu smiled at the envoy’s concern and replied, “One squad of the Imperial Army does not consist of 100 men, but 625.”

* * *

During this period, in the military organization of Northeast Asia, a squad typically consisted of around 100 men.

However, in Joseon’s case, with the ongoing military reforms, units that were properly staffed were invariably organized in multiples of five.

Starting with the smallest unit, the ‘O’ (伍) [a unit of five men], the higher echelons were expanded, adhering strictly to the rule of fivefold multiplication.

Of course, second-line units in the rear typically organized in multiples of two or three. If a war broke out and reinforcements arrived, and new units were formed, the existing soldiers would become seniors and lead the reinforcements.

And this operating system proved its worth during the last war with Ming.

* * *

At Heo Hu’s response, the Ryukyu envoy replied with a bright expression.

“Ah! Then how about about three squads?”

Heo Hu stroked his beard at the envoy’s suggestion and replied, “That matter would be best discussed with our Ministry of National Defense. But why did you ask that?”

“Surely, military preparations require a great deal of wealth? Our nation is small, so excessive military spending would burden the country.”

The envoy stopped there, but Heo Hu could read his mind.

‘So, you’re saying you want to rely on our shadow [seek protection from us].’

“Hmm…”

Heo Hu, having understood the envoy’s intentions, hummed and calculated inwardly.

‘We’re not in such a hurry to force weapons on Ryukyu right now, and the Waeguk [Japanese] are also watching us closely, so it should be fine.’

Having reached a conclusion, Heo Hu nodded.

“I understand what you mean. So, what quantity does your nation desire?”

“The 1,000 Eul-sik rifles and 10 Eul-sik Hwachas [rocket launchers] we initially requested.”

“Huh?”

Heo Hu uttered a brief interjection at the envoy’s response. The quantity the envoy was now requesting was almost a quarter of what they had asked for during their second visit.

Heo Hu wanted to ask the reason, but seeing the envoy’s expression that seemed to say, ‘Please don’t ask why,’ he changed the subject.

“I understand. Now, let’s discuss the joint venture farm.”

“Yes.”

Subsequently, the Ryukyu Kingdom’s proposals regarding the joint venture farm also deviated significantly from Heo Hu’s expectations.

The Ryukyu Kingdom recommended a location near Shuri Castle, where the royal palace was located, as the site for the farm.

“How about this Naha (now Naha City) area? It’s a low hilly area, good for farming, and there’s also a river, which is good for water management. And the harbor is nearby, making it easy to dock ships.”

“That’s good. But is it alright with the royal palace so close?”

“Would the Empire ever abandon its trust?”

“That’s true, but…”

Heo Hu trailed off.

‘The location is too good!’

In the subsequent talks, the issue was the Empire’s direct management of the wages to be paid to those working on the farm.

“This is a policy that our Empire implements in Waeguk as well.”

“However, our nation’s situation is different from Waeguk’s.”

“The Empire’s policies are the same.”

At Heo Hu’s firm response, the envoy had to back down.

“I understand.”

Heo Hu’s eyes twinkled at the envoy’s response.

‘Huh? They’re just accepting this? Without even asking their king?’

After that, the talks proceeded smoothly.

“Now that the important issues have been decided, I will submit them to His Majesty for approval.”

“Then, when can the weapons be supplied?”

“They will be supplied as soon as approval is received and the signing of the agreement in Ryukyu is completed.”

At Heo Hu’s response, the Ryukyu envoy rose from his seat, bowed, and earnestly requested, “I beg you to ask His Majesty to bestow his grace and issue a swift approval.”

“I will do my best.”

Watching the Ryukyu envoy leave with bows, Heo Hu immediately rose from his seat and headed to one of the bookshelves.

“Let’s see… reports on the Ryukyu Kingdom’s situation…”

* * *

That evening, at a meeting of key ministers, Hyang, after receiving Heo Hu’s report, paused for a moment before asking Heo Hu a question.

“Is the situation in the Ryukyu Kingdom still unstable? With the quantity requested by the envoy today, it seems only the royal guard protecting the king can be armed?”

Heo Hu immediately responded to Hyang’s point.

“According to reports received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is as Your Majesty suspects. Although the late King Sho Hashi ended the Sanzan period (三山時代) [Era of Three Kingdoms], there are still many nobles who show a challenging attitude towards the royal authority.”

Hwang Hee, who was listening to Heo Hu’s response, opened his mouth.

“Are they trying to use the ‘borrowing the authority of the tiger’ strategy (狐假虎威) [using someone else’s power to intimidate]?”

Heo Hu nodded at Hwang Hee’s question.

“That is the most likely possibility.”

Hwang Bo-in interjected at Heo Hu’s response.

“If the royal authority is so unstable, why did they ask for 4,000 Eul-sik rifles and 30 Eul-sik Hwachas last time?”

Kim Jong-seo answered on behalf of Heo Hu at Hwang Bo-in’s point.

“They must have been planning to distribute them to the pro-royal (勤王派) [royalist] nobles. But, since our Empire’s troops are stationed there, they are only asking for the quantity to be paid to the royal guard.”

Hyang and the ministers all nodded at Kim Jong-seo’s response.

Hwang Bo-in, having heard Kim Jong-seo’s response, shook his head.

“Even so, trying to rely on the military of another country… this is…”

Hyang muttered inwardly at Hwang Bo-in’s appearance.

‘That’s how they ruined the country. You don’t have to go far. But, if this goes wrong, won’t a Ryukyu version of the Russian legation exile (俄館播遷) [a situation where a monarch takes refuge in a foreign legation] occur? Trying to use foreign powers but being swayed instead… Hmm. Then is it a Korean legation exile (韓館播遷)? Ah! I digressed again!’

Hyang, having grabbed the mental thread that was about to stray, made a decision.

“If they are planning to use us with the ‘borrowing the authority of the tiger’ strategy, we can use them as well. When the joint venture farm is dispatched, we will send farmers and artisans to research efficient sugarcane cultivation methods and sugar manufacturing methods. And, if good results come out, let’s start the business in earnest in Seonamdo.”

* * *

Seonamdo was the Imperial name for Dongbeon (東藩, present-day Taiwan), which was obtained by winning the war with Ming.

With Seonamdo and the nearby Penghu Islands becoming part of the Empire’s territory, the Empire gained the best transit point.

This was Ryukyu’s tragedy.

Until the outbreak of the Jo-Ming War, Ryukyu had been solidifying its position as an intermediate transit point on the sea route to and from Joseon.

This was because the establishment of a port in Dongbeon was blocked by Emperor Xuande.

Ryukyu was also enjoying the profits from taxes from trading ports and intermediary trade between Ming and Waeguk.

However, with the Empire gaining Dongbeon, it became unnecessary to go through Ryukyu unless unavoidable circumstances such as encountering a typhoon occurred.

Of course, right now, it was in the process of building a port and appeasing the nearby natives. However, the moment that process was over, Ryukyu’s value would greatly decline, which was obvious.

* * *

The process of imperializing Seonamdo was also quite unique.

Instead of using force like Ming or European countries, or simply neglecting it, it was using both the carrot and the stick at the same time.

First, by establishing monopoly offices and conducting trade, it made them familiar with the Empire’s products and Imperial currency. Afterwards, it provided jobs and improved living facilities, drawing the natives into the Empire.

“In some ways, it’s similar to what the Japanese imperialists did.”

The Japanese imperialists, who obtained Taiwan from Qing, subtly implemented a Japanization policy. They implemented policies such as building modern social infrastructure and reorganizing the education system.

“Thanks to that, it became a representative pro-Japanese country.”

However, Hyang added a little seasoning.

-If you properly receive the education provided by the Empire and your abilities and qualifications are recognized, you will be appointed as an administrator! And that treatment will be equal to that of the Imperial people of the mainland!

None of the ministers opposed Hyang’s announcement. Rather, they were actively supporting it.

This was thanks to the experience gained from incorporating natives in the Jurchen region and Daeseol Island.

“Locals know the local situation best! So we have to use them properly!”

“It’s the truth that you shouldn’t do unnecessary overtime!”

* * *

Hyang continued to speak.

“Seonamdo is not only useful as a transit point. Looking at Seonamdo’s climate, winters are short and not cold, so double or triple cropping is easy. By properly utilizing this, we must maintain the Empire’s food situation stably.”

Thanks to the water management projects that had been underway since the early days of the Gyeongjang [economic reforms], the number of famines had greatly decreased, unlike the history before Hyang’s intervention. In addition, the Empire had prepared for food shortages by importing large quantities of rice (米穀) [migu, a general term for rice] from the Jiangnan region of Ming, so the food situation until just before the declaration of the Empire was quite stable.

However, warning lights had come on as Bukji was incorporated into the Empire’s territory. This was because Bukji’s climate was not suitable for agriculture.

In order to properly digest the Empire’s Bukji, the first thing to do was to solve Bukji’s food situation.

To this end, the Empire actively imported food from the Jiangnan region of Ming, as well as from Daewol and Seomra.

However, Hyang and the ministers all knew that this was a stopgap measure.

Immediately, there was a problem with the Jiangnan region of Ming. If the Grand Canal leading to the north had not been cut off, the Empire would not have been able to obtain grain from Jiangnan in Ming.

“I’d rather give it to the pigs than sell it to those Joseon bastards!”

There were more than a few merchants who said this and actually used it as feed or gave it away to beggars for free.

In addition, there was the problem of distance with Daewol and Seomra.

Sejong was well aware of this problem, so Sejong brought back the grain seeds and farming methods of Shinji on his way back.

“It has flowers that look like sorghum, but the grains in the ears are big and good.”

What Sejong brought was corn.

‘Huh? It’s very different from the corn I knew? The taste is also a bit…’

Hyang, who only remembered the taste of corn that had undergone numerous seed improvements, sent the seeds that Sejong had brought to the Seed Research Institute.

“Since the climate of Shinji and this land are different, try to improve it into a seed suitable for this land and Bukji!”