Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 745

745. Generational Shift (3)

The Waeguk’s [Japan’s] strategy of targeting niche markets proved successful.

Countries with some heft, like Daewol [a fictional country], or Seomra [another fictional country], purchased Eul-sik muskets [a type of musket] and Hwachas [Korean rocket artillery] from the Empire.

This was partly due to their superior performance, but also because they were sold at surprisingly low prices.

However, only the muskets and Hwachas were sold cheaply.

To ensure the Eul-sik muskets and Hwachas performed optimally, they required dedicated ammunition. The Empire profited handsomely from these ammunition sales.

The Waeguk employed a similar strategy.

For smaller nations that lacked the economic means to purchase Imperial weapons, such as the small countries in the Philippine Islands and various tribal states in the Indonesian archipelago, Waeguk’s weapons offered reasonable performance at a reasonable price.

Having sold their own firearms and cannons, the Waeguk made substantial profits by selling the gunpowder and bullets needed for them.

However, competition from the powerful Ming Dynasty [the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644] made it difficult to extract excessive profits.

Especially in Luzon [the largest island in the Philippines] and nearby areas, where the Chinese community had long been established, the competition between Ming and Waeguk was fierce.

However, because the export of gunpowder weapons was illegal, most of Ming’s firearms were smuggled, while the Waeguk, backed by the Shogunate [a military government of Japan], gradually gained an advantage.

* * *

As Waeguk’s weapon sales flourished, the Empire reaped unexpected benefits.

Daewol, Seomra, and the larger kingdoms of the Indonesian archipelago—in other words, the countries that purchased the Empire’s weapons—generally had poor relations with their neighbors.

The smaller nations, which had been under military pressure from Daewol and Seomra, immediately purchased Waeguk’s weapons.

Although the difference in performance was clear, this could be offset by making good use of the natural environment. And the smaller nations did just that.

As a result, large and small armed conflicts erupted daily throughout Southeast Asia.

Countries like Daewol and Seomra clashed with their weaker neighbors—especially the divided North and South Myanmar—and the smaller nations fought daily with their bordering countries, including both large nations like Daewol and Seomra, and other smaller states of similar size.

These conflicts consumed vast quantities of ammunition and firearms, allowing the Empire to profit handsomely by selling ammunition and obsolete Eul-sik muskets and Hwachas to them.

* * *

Upon receiving this report, Wan ordered his ministers:

“Let’s drop the issue of the flintlock muskets that Waeguk is manufacturing and selling.”

“We obey your command.”

The ministers accepted Wan’s decision without much opposition.

This was because it was difficult to argue against Waeguk’s production and sale of flintlock muskets.

Firstly, the Empire had manufactured and sold flintlock muskets to Waeguk, but the Empire itself had never used them.

Secondly, Ming also used this flintlock ignition device, making it difficult for the Empire to claim intellectual property rights.

-While it is similar to what the Empire sold us, we referenced Ming’s design.

If Waeguk said this, the Empire would have nothing to say.

The same applied to the rifling in the muskets sold by Waeguk.

-Ming sells muskets with rifling, so we added it too!

If they argued this, the Empire would again have nothing to say.

Therefore, when this issue first arose, Wan recalled what Hyang had said.

-In the realm of weaponry, ‘a successful imitation is better than a failed creation.’ Unless a contract is drawn up from the start, you must give up claiming intellectual property rights. There are too many loopholes in weaponry.

-Ming and Waeguk are still desperately trying to catch up to us. Especially in the field of weapons. And at some point, they will almost catch up to us. In particular, it will soon be difficult to determine the superiority of muskets and similar items.

-The solution? Simple. We must also work tirelessly to stay ahead. Even if we can’t do much about firearms, we must maintain overwhelming superiority in artillery.

In particular, Wan and his ministers all agreed with Hyang’s last statement.

As a result, those who were already obsessed with cannons became even more so.

-Whether on land or at sea, cannons are the answer!

-Bigger, more powerful, and longer-range cannons!

-What is needed for attack? More cannons! What is needed for defense? Even more cannons!

-Cannons are the truth of victory!

Thus began the ‘Ministry of Cannons,’ boasting a long history and tradition.

* * *

The Ouchi Shogunate [a powerful Japanese clan], which had seized control of Waeguk, made great efforts to solidify its power.

The Ouchi Shogunate focused most of its efforts on education and economic development.

In the National Schools, which were modeled after the Empire’s Sammin Schools [a type of school in the Empire], children learned to read and write, and were taught loyalty to the state and the monarch.

However, the monarch here was not the Emperor, but the Shogun of the Shogunate.

And they promoted various policies to develop the economy.

Among these, they placed the greatest emphasis on mining.

“The most important things for developing the economy are coal and iron! Scrap iron has its limits! Find iron mines!”

The mining project, which was carried out with Mochiyo’s strong support, finally yielded results towards the end of Mochiyo’s reign.

Iron and coal mines were discovered in the Kumamoto region, and iron mines were discovered in the Morioka (present-day Iwate) region.

“Kumamoto is fine, but Morioka is a problem.”

Mochiyo, who received the report at the time, was deeply concerned.

The Kumamoto region was one of the areas completely controlled by the Ouchi family. However, the Morioka region was far from the Shogunate.

Although the feudal domains had been abolished, there were still signs of unrest in the area due to its remoteness.

The Shogunate’s officials debated the solution to this problem.

“Let’s develop Kumamoto first and postpone the Morioka region for later!”

“The existence of the mine is already known. If we leave it alone, illegal mining will become rampant, and subversive elements may exploit it! We must develop it simultaneously!”

After a fierce debate, Mochiyo made a decision.

“First, we will develop the iron mine in Morioka and the coal mine in Kumamoto. We will dispatch Shogunate troops to Morioka to manage it directly. This will prevent subversive elements from moving easily. We will then deplete the iron mine in Morioka first and develop the iron mine in Kumamoto.”

“Yes! What a wise decision!”

The officials bowed their heads in unison in response to Mochiyo’s decision.

In accordance with Mochiyo’s decision, mining began in Kumamoto and Morioka.

With important iron and coal mines divided between the north and south, there was a need for a means to efficiently transport them.

As a result, the railway construction project, which had been started at the request of the Empire, gained even more momentum.

As these events unfolded in succession, the entire Waeguk began to suffer from the throes of change.

Many people left the rural villages where they had lived until then and flocked to the cities and mines. And merchants and prostitutes flocked to the railway construction sites and mines, hoping to make money.

Those who made money in this way moved to secure a better future for their children.

As a result, more and more children flocked to the National Schools.

And numerous academies and boarding schools were established to learn higher-level academics and advance in the world.

Since these academies and boarding schools were not official educational institutions, the Shogunate established ‘Middle Schools,’ higher education institutions, earlier than planned.

As Waeguk’s economy grew in this way, the Waeguk people gained confidence. As they gained confidence, some began to voice different opinions.

“Lord, memorials are being submitted these days.”

Yoshinori, who was busy approving the piles of documents, straightened his posture at the word “memorials.”

“Memorials? What kind of memorials? Bring me the memorials.”

“Yes!”

At Yoshinori’s command, the officials brought trays filled with memorials.

The contents of the memorials were largely the same.

-The word ‘gyeongse’ (經世, governance) is a term created and used by the Empire.

-The word ‘gyeongse’ is an abbreviation of ‘gyeongsejemin (經世濟民, governance and relief of the people).’

-Governance is important, but relieving the people is also important. Therefore, it is not right to use only ‘gyeongse.’

-The Empire is the Empire, and Waeguk is Waeguk. It is right to emulate the advanced Empire, but there is no need to emulate what is not right or what does not suit our Waeguk.

-Therefore, it is right to commonly use the word ‘gyeongje (經濟, economy)’ instead of the word ‘gyeongse.’

“Hmm…”

Yoshinori, having read the contents of the memorials, stroked his beard and pondered.

The creed that had been passed down from Morimi, the head of the Sandai family, through Mochiyo to himself was ‘Datsu-Wa Nyū-Jo (脫倭入朝, Leave Waeguk, Enter Joseon) [Leave Japan, Enter Joseon].’ It meant abandoning outdated customs and becoming a powerful nation by emulating the developed Joseon, the current Empire.

‘But the Empire is the Empire, and we are us.’

“Are those who submitted these memorials from the pro-Joseon faction?”

At Yoshinori’s question, the officials immediately answered.

“Most of them are from the pro-Joseon faction.”

“Summon those who can be summoned immediately.”

“Yes!”

About half a shijin (approximately one hour) later, a group of officials prostrated themselves before Yoshinori.

“Did you write these memorials?”

“Yes!”

“Answer my question.”

“Yes!”

In the ensuing Q&A, the content of the pro-Joseon faction’s answers was almost identical to the content of the memorials. However, the last statement resonated with Yoshinori.

“It is true that the Empire is an advanced and powerful nation in all respects. However, only about 20 years ago, the Empire was subservient to Ming. But now, it has become a powerful nation that overwhelms Ming. If the Empire could do it, why can’t our Waeguk do it? We believe that abandoning the word ‘gyeongse’ and choosing ‘gyeongje’ is a way to firmly commit to this. Isn’t it the same reason why we chose the name ‘National School’ instead of ‘Sammin School’?”

“Hmm…”

Yoshinori, pondering as he listened to the words of the pro-Joseon faction, made a decision.

“You are right. We cannot just keep looking at the Empire’s back. Discuss with the other officials and bring me a word to replace ‘gyeongse.'”

“Yes!”

* * *

As movements to gradually break away from the Empire’s shadow were emerging, another debate was taking place among Waeguk’s intellectuals.

It was a clash between the ‘preservation faction’ and the ‘abdication faction.’

-The Emperor has already become a nominal existence. Therefore, he should abdicate to the Shogun of the Shogunate.

This was the argument of the abdication faction. The argument of the preservation faction, which opposed this, was as follows:

-The Emperor is a descendant of Amaterasu [the Japanese sun goddess] and has continued for all ages. Abdication is out of the question.

The abdication faction scoffed at the preservation faction’s argument.

“For all ages? What about when the Northern and Southern Courts split and fought in the past? It’s time for the Emperor to step down from history!”

“That’s right! The Emperor is a symbol of outdated customs! He must step down!”