Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 676

676. Birds of a Feather (6)

The branch leader, having concluded his discussion with the Disciplinary Corps Captain, moved with purpose.

Returning to the brothel he had designated as the branch headquarters, he hastily wrote a letter and summoned one of his subordinates.

“You’re the best rider we have, aren’t you?”

“Yes, sir, I am.”

In response to his subordinate’s confirmation, the branch leader retrieved a round token from his pocket and handed it over along with the letter.

“This is a pass (通牌) [a type of official permit] received from the Disciplinary Corps Captain of Liaoyang Fortress. Leave the fortress immediately and deliver this letter to Uiju.”

“Yes, sir!”

* * *

With the Empire securing Bukji, Uiju was newly established just across the Yalu River.

The reason for establishing Uiju was to create a transportation hub and military center north of the Yalu River.

In the event of a retreat, Uiju would serve as the first line of defense, followed by another defensive line further within Uiju itself.

Uiju was planned and built as a strategic city with this goal firmly in mind.

For reference, Uiju was also planned as the starting point on the Yalu River side of the Bukji Railway, which Jin-pyeong was actively promoting.

Thanks to these favorable conditions, people flocked to Uiju as soon as it was established. As the population grew, the market flourished, and all sorts of goods, rumors, and information circulated freely.

Consequently, the support headquarters of the Mili [a secret intelligence organization], dispatched to the Bukji region, was established in Uiju.

The business sector chosen by the Mili to disguise their support headquarters was a brewery.

This provided excellent cover, as brewing alcohol required the constant movement of sacks of grain and barrels, necessitating a large workforce and frequent deliveries.

* * *

The branch leader, after dispatching the subordinate with the letter, assessed the situation with his remaining men.

“What are our losses?”

“Six injured, three dead. If we include those in jail, that makes twenty.”

“So, fifteen left, then?”

The branch leader stroked his chin thoughtfully before issuing an order.

“We only have three brothels to protect right now, which means there are only five men per brothel. Until we get a response from Uiju, focus solely on defense.”

“Yes, sir.”

Seeing his subordinates’ gloomy expressions, the branch leader continued, attempting to boost morale.

“Even if we wanted to retaliate for today’s events, we’re too shorthanded. We need to properly replenish our numbers before we can think about revenge. We may be Mili, but we come from the Geomgye [a martial arts sect]. We’ll have to deal with those heretical bastards in the Geomgye way, right?”

At the branch leader’s words, the faces of the subordinates brightened, and their voices grew louder with agreement.

“That’s right!”

As the branch leader pointed out, even though they were now Mili agents, their roots were in the Geomgye. Though they had learned to be more subtle, their inherent ferocity still remained.

Seeing that the morale of his subordinates had improved, the branch leader continued.

“What’s the condition of the injured?”

“Two are too seriously injured to return to active duty, but the rest will be able to return to the front lines soon with a little rest.”

“When reinforcements arrive from Uiju, prepare to send the seriously injured and the dead back to Seoul immediately.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ten days later, approximately 40 people arrived from Uiju. The Mili agents, disguised as peddlers and in other various guises, entered Liaoyang Fortress and immediately went to the branch headquarters.

“It’s been a while. Thank you for leading the strike force.”

“You’ve worked hard as well, Branch Leader.”

The strike force leader and the branch leader, who had been dispatched to take control of the night in Liaoyang Fortress, immediately began discussing the current situation.

“What’s happening with the trials of those caught by the Disciplinary Corps?”

“The verdict is expected to be delivered within two or three days. It seems they will all be sentenced to penal labor and dragged away.”

The strike force leader nodded at the branch leader’s report.

“The Disciplinary Corps Captain said he would cooperate, and he’s delivering on his promises.”

The branch leader also nodded in agreement.

Since the incident involved deaths and injuries, a harsher punishment was likely. However, penal labor would prevent accusations of discrimination against mainland and Bukji residents, as both the Black Wolf Clan and the Mili would receive the same sentence. This would also eliminate the need for any unnecessary additional operations.

The branch leader continued.

“It’s fortunate that there are no major deviations from the initial plan to expose our identities, at least up to the Disciplinary Corps Captain and the judge of the court.”

“You’ve met the judge of the court?”

“No, I only met the Disciplinary Corps Captain directly. However, based on what I’ve heard, the Disciplinary Corps Captain must have spoken to the judge.”

“Hoo~. That’s a relief.”

The strike force leader sighed in relief at the branch leader’s words.

* * *

As time passed, people began to vaguely notice the existence of the Mili, one by one.

One reason was that the Emperor and Hyang frequently noticed subtle clues and ordered investigations into matters that were just beginning to circulate among the officials.

Another reason was the battles fought between the Mili and foreign spies, especially those from the Ming Dynasty, who were trying to extract the Empire’s secrets.

People clearly heard the sounds of fighting, sword clashes, and screams, but when they went out to investigate, there were no traces other than bloodstains. Or the police would start an investigation, but it would fizzle out midway.

Eventually, those who were quick to notice—most notably Han Myung-hoi—began to vaguely sense the existence of the Mili.

Hyang was also concerned about this issue. However, his course of action was already decided.

“We’ll have to reveal what we can when the time comes, but until then, we must remain hidden as much as possible. Aoh! Damn Chinese bastards! Those bastards are no help now or in the future!”

Hyang gritted his teeth, thinking of the Ming spies who were constantly trying to sneak in and steal secrets.

* * *

Two days later, the verdict was handed down at the Liaoyang Fortress court.

“The criminals are all sentenced to 10 years of penal labor!”

According to the judge’s verdict, the Black Wolf Clan members and the Mili agents were handcuffed and shackled, then loaded into barred wagons (檻車) [a type of prison transport wagon].

The wagons, having departed from Liaoyang Fortress, headed to the nearest railway station.

As the iron horse [train] carrying them was departing for Uiju, a Naegeumwi [royal guard] military officer belonging to the Emergency Committee secretly visited the Uiju Disciplinary Corps.

“Why is the Naegeumwi here?”

The Uiju Disciplinary Corps Captain, with a very nervous expression, greeted the Naegeumwi military officer at the sudden visit.

“Welcome!”

The Disciplinary Corps Captain, returning the Naegeumwi military officer’s respectful salute, looked at him with a very nervous expression.

“What brings the Naegeumwi all the way here?”

In response to the Disciplinary Corps Captain’s question, the Naegeumwi military officer took out a letter from his pocket.

“This is a personal letter from His Majesty.”

“Heok! Then I will prepare a seat immediately!”

Seeing the horrified Disciplinary Corps Captain trying to observe proper etiquette, the Naegeumwi military officer hurriedly stopped him.

“This is a secret letter. No one else must know.”

“Ah, ah? Ah! I understand!”

The Disciplinary Corps Captain knelt down, broke the seal on the letter, and examined the contents.

After carefully checking the contents, the Disciplinary Corps Captain replied to the Naegeumwi military officer and handed over the letter.

“I would like to hear the plan.”

The Naegeumwi military officer, having received the letter back, held it to the lamp next to him. After completely burning the letter, the Naegeumwi military officer explained the plan to the Disciplinary Corps Captain.

* * *

The prisoners who departed from Liaoyang Fortress disembarked in Uiju.

They were to transfer to another iron horse to cross the Yalu River.

Following the Uiju Disciplinary Corps Captain’s orders, the soldiers of the Disciplinary Corps separated the Mili agents and the Black Wolf Clan members and accommodated them separately in two escort cars.

“It seems like we can put them all in one car?”

In response to the question from the field worker, the superior officer replied with an indifferent expression.

“Those are the Captain’s orders. If you have any complaints, go and tell him yourself.”

“… Hey guys! What are you doing! Load them up quickly!”

The iron horse carrying the Mili agents and the Black Wolf Clan members arrived at Uiju Station after crossing the Yalu River, and the escort cars were separated.

Among the separated escort trains, the car carrying the Black Wolf Clan members was connected to the iron horse heading to Aozi, and the car carrying the Mili agents moved to a secluded place.

The door of the car, which had been moved to a place not easily seen by people, opened, and the Mili agents inside received keys, unlocked their handcuffs and shackles, and got off the car.

The agents, who got off the car and lightly stretched their bodies, immediately stood at attention upon seeing the Naegeumwi military officer in front of them.

“Good work. Rest well for three days and return to Uiju.”

While the situation was being sorted out like this in Uiju, the Black Wolf Clan was being destroyed in Liaoyang Fortress by the Disciplinary Corps.

The charge on which the Disciplinary Corps destroyed the Black Wolf Clan was ‘poppy sales.’

* * *

As the Gyeongjang [political reform] progressed, Hyang, who had solidified his position, proposed several policies to Sejong and insisted that they be implemented.

Among them was the ‘poppy ban.’

“You want to ban poppies? Aren’t poppies medicine?”

Not only Sejong but also the ministers all tilted their heads at Hyang’s claim.

Poppies were considered the best painkiller.

When suffering from abdominal pain or toothache, eating a small amount of poppy immediately relieved the pain. In addition, it was common to treat fractures and other external injuries by feeding poppies to put the patient to sleep before treatment.

“Of course, poppies are good medicine. However, I saw in the medical books of the Westerners….”

Hyang explained the dangers of poppies to Sejong and the ministers, detailing their addictive properties and potential for abuse.

Sejong and the ministers soon nodded at Hyang’s explanation.

“Indeed… it is the most suitable item for the saying ‘too much of anything is as bad as too little.'”

“That is correct. If a doctor who knows medicine well uses the right amount in the right place, it is a panacea, but if not, it becomes a poison that eats away at the country and the people. Regulation is definitely necessary.”

This is how the ‘poppy ban’ was implemented.

Poppies were treated as medicines and could only be cultivated by those who had received permission, in permitted places. When it was time to collect the sap from the poppies, officials and police officers were dispatched to measure the collected sap and collect it all without leaving any behind. Then, only the husks used for medicine and the seeds needed for cultivation the following year were left, and everything else was burned.

It was even legislated that growing poppies without permission or collecting poppies growing in the wild would be treated as murder.

Although it was banned with an emphasis on severe punishment, for a while, there were people who secretly cultivated poppies here and there and had their lives ruined when they were caught.

However, as time passed, illegal poppy cultivation almost disappeared, and it was rarely seen except for doctors using it for medicine.

* * *

To destroy the Black Wolf Clan and take over the night in Liaoyang Fortress, the Mili agents quietly and persistently investigated everything about the Black Wolf Clan.

They could have just destroyed it by force, but relying on the Disciplinary Corps again was a burden for the Mili as well.

In the process of investigating, they found out that the Black Wolf Clan was supplying poppies to the poppy dens.

Thanks to Hyang’s butterfly effect, the use of poppies for anything other than medical purposes was also prohibited by law in the Ming Dynasty. Thanks to this, even at this time, the perception of poppy dens was not very good.

The only difference was that the Empire cracked down on them as soon as they were seen, while the Ming Dynasty turned a blind eye up to a certain point—about 40 or more people coming and going was illegal. Of course, cracking down on those who supplied poppies to these poppy dens was the same in both the Ming Dynasty and Joseon.

Thanks to this, the method of supplying poppies to the poppy dens in Liaoyang Fortress was very secretive, but the Mili caught it.

The Mili immediately passed this information to the Liaoyang Fortress Disciplinary Corps, and the Disciplinary Corps, having received the information, immediately arrested the Black Wolf Clan.

Thanks to this, the Liaoyang Fortress Disciplinary Corps Captain accumulated tremendous achievements and was overjoyed.