Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 684

684. Suez (4)

“What do you mean I can’t go because of my dream?”

Jinpyeong looked at Hyang with an expression of utter disbelief. Hyang, who had been silently observing Jinpyeong, countered with a question.

“Do you truly not know?”

“I truly do not know.”

“Truly?”

“Truly, I do not know.”

Seeing the genuinely clueless expression on Jinpyeong’s face, Hyang sighed softly and explained the reason.

“Hoo~. That dream of yours—to lay railroads across the world and run iron horses [trains]. That dream is not bad in itself. However, your nature is the problem.”

“My nature, you say?”

“To achieve that great undertaking, you are the type to disregard considerable losses, even greater losses. The railroad being built in the Suez region will bring enormous national benefits to the Empire. But you would focus solely on the construction of the railroad and ignore the Empire’s national interests. That is why I cannot send you.”

At Hyang’s words, Jinpyeong raised his voice.

“I, too, know how important the Empire’s national interests are! And….”

Just as Jinpyeong was about to continue, Hyang raised his hand to stop him.

“Enough. The moment you used the word ‘and,’ you revealed your own inadequacy for this task.”

“Ah….”

At Hyang’s words, Jinpyeong lowered his head. Seeing Jinpyeong’s demeanor, Hyang continued.

“This negotiation is a dogfight in a mud pit. In the worst-case scenario, you must be prepared to overturn the entire table to protect even the minimum national interest. In this aspect, you are too soft. No, your vision is too grand.”

At Hyang’s words, Jinpyeong raised his head.

“My vision is too grand?”

At Jinpyeong’s question, Hyang smiled softly and nodded.

“That’s right. To dream of ‘laying railroads across the world’ is something impossible for a mere commoner. I know very well how difficult and dangerous it is to build railroads, and that is why I trust you, who steadfastly pushes forward with that task. It’s just that negotiation is an ill-fitting garment for your nature.”

At Hyang’s words, Jinpyeong bowed his head and replied.

“I, Jinpyeong, Duke Lee Yu, will dedicate my life to railroad construction and meet His Majesty’s expectations!”

“Well, I would be grateful for that. Ah! And, the Wa [Japanese] country has also requested to build railroads. Select personnel to go to the Wa country and investigate the possibilities.”

“I shall obey the command!”

As Jinpyeong left Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbok Palace] after a flurry of events, Hyang smiled bitterly and placed a hand on his forehead.

“Hoo! Appeasing and coaxing is tiring. He’s old enough, yet he’s still like a child….”

Kim Jeom and the other ministers, who had been watching this scene, also wore similar smiles.

After cooling down for a moment with his hand on his forehead, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘I received help from Teacher Samcheopo again this time.’

-Why do you say such things? Sejo [King Sejo of Joseon] was endlessly benevolent to appease the meritorious subjects after ascending to the throne. Was he really watching their every move because he was pressured by their power? Would a man who was so cautious have stepped forward to smash the heads of Kim Jongseo, Hwangbo In, and Grand Prince Anpyeong? In my opinion, Sejo’s heart at that time was like a ‘satiated lion.’ He had obtained the throne he desired, and all of Joseon became his. So, he generously overlooked the meritorious subjects’ abuses of power. And, those meritorious subjects wouldn’t live for thousands of years anyway, right? If they went too far, he could just purge them at the right time. It didn’t necessarily have to be during his reign. The same goes for the Ming. If he could secure the throne and control Joseon, the rest became ‘I don’t care.’

* * *

After briefly recalling Teacher Samcheopo’s memories, Hyang quickly composed himself and moved on to the next topic.

“Then, who do you think is suitable to go to Suez for negotiations?”

At Hyang’s question, Kim Jeom bowed his head and asked back.

“Do you perhaps have someone in mind?”

At Kim Jeom’s question, Hyang replied with a mischievous expression.

“I think the best choice would be the Prime Minister?”

At Hyang’s words, Kim Jeom turned pale for a moment and stammered.

“Y-Your Majesty thinks so highly of me, I am truly at a loss for words. H-However, I am now too old….”

“That’s why I excluded the Prime Minister.”

“Hoo~. Heop!”

No sooner had Hyang finished speaking than Kim Jeom let out a long sigh of relief, but then immediately realized his mistake and looked around.

Observing Kim Jeom’s expression, Hyang mentioned the person he had in mind.

“I think the Minister of General Affairs, Jeoljae [Kim Jongseo’s pen name], is the right person.”

“Heop!”

Horrified by Hyang’s nomination, Kim Jongseo hurriedly asked Hyang.

“A-Are you referring to me?”

“Is there another Jeoljae here besides you?”

“I, too, am old and frail and do not have the confidence to properly carry out the important task entrusted to me by Your Majesty.”

“With your abilities, you will be more than capable.”

“There are many young and capable talents like the Chief Secretary, wouldn’t they be better?”

Seeing Kim Jongseo’s persistent refusal, Hyang frowned slightly and clicked his tongue.

“Tsk!”

The moment Hyang clicked his tongue, the inside of Geunjeongjeon froze over.

‘Ugh! That tongue-clicking sound!’

‘If I hear that sound even in my dreams, I’ll immediately get sleep paralysis!’

‘How can father and son be so alike!’

Tensed by Hyang’s tongue-clicking, the ministers glared at Kim Jongseo with all their might.

‘Aish! Just go if you’re told to!’

‘Should we send him a whole bunch of restorative medicine!’

Whether he knew the ministers’ thoughts or not, Hyang continued, clicking his tongue.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk! Does the Minister not know the importance of this matter? It takes more than half a year just to travel back and forth from Suez! Do you not know what that means? The person participating in the negotiations must carry out the important task of deciding everything on behalf of my will! And yet, you want me to send someone with little experience? Do you think that makes sense?”

At Hyang’s rebuke, Kim Jongseo bowed his head.

“Please forgive my foolishness! My thoughts were too short-sighted.”

“Then you will go?”

“I will do my best! I will begin preparations immediately!”

As Kim Jongseo waved the white flag, Hyang subtly appeased him.

“Well, you don’t have to leave right away, so there’s no need to rush. It will take at least a year for the surveying team to go and investigate everything from the soil. There’s no need to rush so much.”

“Yes.”

Seeing Kim Jongseo’s relieved expression, Hyang grumbled inwardly.

‘It’s probably because of Giru [his favorite concubine]! Aish! That Giru addict!’

Even while grumbling, Hyang diligently praised Kim Jongseo.

“I have great expectations for Minister Jeoljae. In the past, when developing the Northeast Frontier, you were more courageous than the military officers, and I believe that your boldness and bravery in smashing the heads of the Jurchens [Manchu people] with the handle of a masangchong [matchlock rifle] like breaking earthenware will bring the best results.”

At Hyang’s words, Kim Jongseo bowed his head and replied loudly.

“I, Kim Jongseo! Will do my best with the determination to never retreat from battle!”

* * *

With the issue of selecting a representative negotiator to send to Suez resolved, Hyang moved on to the next topic.

After wetting his throat with black bean tea served by a court attendant, Hyang continued.

“As I said to Duke Jinpyeong earlier, the Wa [Japanese] country has made another troublesome request, hasn’t it?”

At Hyang’s question, Kim Jeom immediately responded.

“That is correct. They are requesting that we train the military officers who will command the newly created, self-proclaimed ‘Japanese Armed Forces,’ along with the construction of the railroad.”

At Kim Jeom’s reply, Hyang stroked his chin and responded.

“Hmm…. Has the head of the Daenai clan [Ouchi clan] already seized control of the Wa country to the extent that he is confident in making such a request?”

At Hyang’s question, Heo Hu responded.

“Subjugating the Kongga [powerful clan] during the last civil war and seizing all of their territories has been a great source of power.”

* * *

Up to this point, the scale of the territories controlled by the Kongga accounted for nearly half of Japan, an enormous size. By completely subjugating the Kongga during the last civil war, the Ouchi clan gained control of these territories in one fell swoop, instantly becoming the largest landowner in Japan. In other words, they became the family with the greatest economic power in the Wa country.

Having seized not only the military power of the shogunate but also the Wa country’s court and even its economy, which had been controlled by the Kongga, the Ouchi clan became the undisputed supreme power in the Wa country.

Having seized everything in the Wa country in this way, Ouchi Mochiyo began to implement the family’s long-cherished desire of ‘Dis-Wa [Dismiss Japan] and Enter-Joseon [Embrace Joseon]’ in earnest.

The first thing he started was ‘Abolish Domains and Establish Prefectures.’

-Abolish the domains (藩國, *hankoku*, the country of feudal lords) that have been passed down until now!

-Instead of abolishing the domains, divide them into provinces, prefectures, and counties according to their size, and have officials dispatched from the central government govern them!

Because it was a radical declaration, it was only natural that the remaining daimyo [feudal lords] and lords, both large and small, protested all at once.

Mochiyo offered them a carrot.

-The lords will be given central government positions in the central court according to their rank. And, these positions will be hereditary unless they commit a major crime.

-In addition to the stipends for their positions, the lords will receive an additional 10 to 20 percent of the taxes collected from their former domains.

-The soldiers that the lords have been raising will all belong to the national army. The samurai [warriors] who commanded them will be granted military ranks according to their grade.

Of course, he didn’t just give carrots.

-Those who receive central government positions in the central court must reside in Yamaguchi [Ouchi clan’s territory].

-The soldiers and samurai who have been transferred from each domain to the national army must leave the domain where they have been residing until then and be stationed in a place designated by the central government.

In this way, he severed the ties between the lords, the samurai, and their territories.

In addition, Ouchi mobilized another method that could be called a policy of division.

-All ranks in the military and the ranks of all positions other than those given to the lords will be given based on ability!

-Future promotions will also be based on ability and performance.

Ouchi’s policies began to erode the traditional ‘loyalty between lord and vassal.’ In particular, this erosion was even faster among the young literati (文人, *bunjin*) and samurai, commonly referred to as the domain faction.

Although the lords of the domains each took a seat in the central court, the power was still held by the Confucian scholars.

The Confucian scholars who had studied in the Empire and returned began to consolidate their power by taking key positions in the central court and local administrative organizations and forming factions.

Strongly stimulated by this, the domain faction soon began to petition Mochiyo.

-We also want to learn the Empire’s advanced learning! Give us the opportunity to study abroad!

After receiving the domain faction’s petition and pondering over it, Mochiyo called his heir, Norihiro, and asked for his opinion.

After several days of deliberation, Norihiro told Mochiyo his thoughts.

“Wouldn’t it be alright? From ancient times, a well-fed hunting dog tends to become lazy. No, it may even bite its owner if things go wrong. But, if you bring in another dog and make it slightly hungry, the two dogs will risk their lives to be loyal.”

At Norihiro’s answer, Mochiyo clapped his knees and rejoiced.

“The heir’s opinion is correct!”

That’s how Mochiyo put in a request to the Empire.

-I would like to send more students to the Empire! In addition, I would like to send military officers to receive training!