Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 746

746. Generational Shift (4)

The debate between the preservationists and the abdicationists was no longer just for intellectuals.

In most cities, walls were covered with posters supporting either preserving the current Emperor or having him abdicate.

At first, the posters were mostly written in Chinese characters [Kanji, used for more formal writing], but gradually, more posters in Hiragana [a phonetic Japanese script, often used by women and children] began to appear.

Some posters were even written in Katakana [another phonetic Japanese script, often used for foreign words and emphasis], as if to show their strong will. The elderly frowned at the walls covered in Hiragana and Katakana.

“We sent them to that ‘National School’ or whatever, hoping they’d study hard and succeed…”

“Back in the day, when there were suddenly two Mikados (Emperors), everyone suffered terribly. Now they’re arguing about preservation and abdication… It’ll cause another conflict!”

“Just when we’re starting to get by, they’re doing useless things!”

“It’s only been a few years since we suffered from the war!”

Very few people who had suffered during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period were still alive. However, many remembered the internal conflicts within the Muromachi Shogunate and between the Muromachi Shogunate and the Ouchi clan, as well as the power struggles between the Ouchi and the court nobles (Kuge) who tried to夺取 [dasshu: seize] it.

Those who remembered the pain of those internal conflicts were not happy with the debate between the preservationists and the abdicationists.

Although the debate was fierce, the abdicationists generally had the upper hand.

The daimyo [feudal lords] and lords of various domains (Han), who were the core of the existing system, had collapsed due to internal wars and the abolition of feudal domains and establishment of prefectures. Moreover, most of the Kuge, the Emperor’s most reliable supporters, had been wiped out in the previous internal war.

In this situation, the abdicationists became increasingly vocal.

“We acknowledge the merits of the successive Emperors as the rulers who have led our Yamato (Japan). However, even the moon wanes when it is full. Now that a new era has come, we need a new ruler!”

“The Emperor is a symbol of old customs! We need a new symbol!”

“Look at the history of China and the Empire! Emperor Xian of Han abdicated to Emperor Gaozu of Wei, and King Gongyang of Goryeo abdicated to Emperor Taejo, the predecessor of the Empire! This is a gateway that must be passed to move into a new era!”

Among the abdicationists, or those advocating for abdication, the moderates cited the histories of China and Joseon [historical Korean kingdom] as examples.

However, there were also those who voiced more radical claims.

“The current Emperor has no legitimacy! He should just be expelled!”

“That’s right! Since the last Northern and Southern Dynasties struggle, the Emperor’s legitimacy has disappeared! We cannot recognize the authority of an Emperor without legitimacy!”

“A lineage of ten thousand generations? How can that be proven! He should be expelled, no, purged!”

Although the voices of those advocating for abdication grew louder, there were some regions where the preservationists were in the majority.

* * *

The most representative region was Kyoto.

“What? Not only did they secretly escort the Mikado [Emperor] away, but now they’re saying he should abdicate? What a bunch of traitors!”

“Traitors! Is the power given by someone who is at best a ‘Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Invasion of Joseon’ that good?”

Those who ridiculed the Ouchi clan for advocating ‘De-Japanization and Embrace of Joseon’ to ‘abandon old customs and develop Japan by accepting new civilization’ gave the Ouchi clan the derogatory name ‘Hang-Wae (韓倭, Japanese who surrendered to Joseon).’ [Hanguk (Korea) + Wae (derogatory term for Japanese)]

In particular, the people of Kyoto enjoyed using this derogatory term, because of their pride.

It was the pride of being the center of Japan, the capital of Japan since the Heian period [794-1185], where the Emperor and even the Shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate had established their bases.

“Hmph! Country bumpkins from Kyushu!”

“Hang-Wae who lick Joseon’s asses!”

When the Ouchi clan, who were called Hang-Wae, seized power, they changed the name to ‘Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Invasion of Joseon’.

“Hang-Wae as Shogun (General)? Commander-in-Chief would be more fitting!”

“That’s right! They should be grateful that we even call them Commander-in-Chief!”

Of course, openly using such titles would certainly lead to trouble, so even the proud people of Kyoto only used them in secret.

However, as the debate between the preservationists and the abdicationists surfaced, the atmosphere in the Kyoto area began to turn ominous.

“Traitors, what are you going to do to the Mikado?”

“We have to overthrow them!”

And some people secretly began to gather weapons or recruit disgraced samurai one by one.

* * *

Meanwhile, among the preservationists, some began to decide to use force.

Interestingly, many of those who decided to use force were moderates.

“They are blinding the Shogun and leading him down a wicked path! We must punish them!”

“We must punish the treacherous vassals!”

Their claims began to develop further.

“We must punish the treacherous vassals and make the Shogun realize that he must return the position of Kampaku [chief advisor to the Emperor] to the Emperor!”

“This happened because the Shogun also held the position of Kampaku! We must return it to the original state!”

The seeds of the so-called ‘Taisei Hokan (大政奉還, return of power to the Emperor)’ began to sprout.

Those who decided to use force began to act as soon as they were ready.

The means they used was assassination.

* * *

A high-end residential area in Yamaguchi.

A palanquin carrying a high-ranking official of the Ouchi Shogunate was moving along a long wall.

It was quite late, so people with lanterns were walking in front and behind the palanquin, lighting the way.

Meanwhile, in a dark alley along the official’s procession, several people gathered, watching the procession.

“They’re coming!”

“Fortunately, there aren’t many escorting samurai!”

After confirming the situation, they looked at each other and nodded.

“Let’s do it!”

“Ooh!”

“Let’s go!”

Clang! Clang!

The people who drew the swords they were wearing at their waists all rushed out of the alley at once.

“Punish the treacherous vassals!”

The samurai in charge of escorting were horrified and drew their swords as the men with swords rushed in.

“It’s an attack!”

“Protect the Tono (Lord)!”

Soon, the alley in the residential area of Yamaguchi became a scene of carnage filled with blood, screams, and death.

* * *

As such assassinations began to occur not only in Yamaguchi but also in many cities, Yoshinori immediately made a decision.

He issued the ‘Sword Abolishment Order (廃刀令)’.

-Those who have not received permission from the Shogunate and the Imperial Court are prohibited from wearing swords (佩用).

-If anyone violates this, they will be immediately arrested and severely punished.

However, the Sword Abolishment Order caused considerable backlash.

Although a considerable amount of time had passed since the Shogunate seized power, there were still many places where public order was unstable.

“Are you telling us to walk around without swords in this situation? Are you telling us to just die?”

Some refused the Sword Abolishment Order for their own safety, but others opposed it for other reasons.

They were the descendants of disgraced samurai and armed families.

“The sword is our pride! We can never let it go!”

The Ouchi Shogunate’s method for this reaction was carrot and stick.

-We will solve the problem of 불안한 [buanhan: unstable] public order by deploying a large number of 순사 [sunsa: police officers].

-If everyone doesn’t wear a sword, there will be no need to be 불안한 [buanhan: unstable].

Therefore, those who do not comply with the Sword Abolishment Order will be arrested immediately.

-If you join the Shogunate’s Inspection Department (査察部) and the military, you will be allowed to wear a sword.

Not only will they be allowed to wear a sword, but they will also be given appropriate ranks according to their abilities.

The samurai and descendants of armed families who had been refusing to serve due to 불복 [bulbok: disobedience] to the Ouchi and issues of pride were 고민 [gomin: troubled] over these last two clauses.

However, they were also increasingly suffering from livelihood difficulties and were 암담해진 [amdamhaejin: disheartened] by the uncertain future.

However, if they joined the Shogunate’s security organization or the military, they could solve both their livelihood difficulties and their 불안한 [buanhan: unstable] future.

If they only 꺾는 [kkeokkneun: suppressed] the pride they had maintained until now.

In the end, they were divided into two groups.

One decided to join the Shogunate, and the other decided to join those who resisted the Shogunate.

The two divided groups fiercely criticized each other.

“Traitor!”

“Fool (愚人) who cannot see the future!”

* * *

Although the Shogunate strongly pushed for the Sword Abolishment Order, those who 반발 [banbal: resisted] continued to resist.

In the process of suppressing them, considerable damage occurred, and the officials 고민 [gomin: troubled] about a solution to this.

“Of course, there will be damage if you fight a sword with a sword.”

“That’s right. In particular, it’s too common for the resisting guys to have even better swordsmanship.”

“We have to stop assassinations, but this is…”

The choice of those 고민 [gomin: troubled] about a good solution was, of course, the Empire.

“Are we going to bring in the Empire’s weapons?”

“The best way is to bring in the designs and produce them ourselves. Ammunition may be impossible, but we must negotiate to produce the weapons themselves.”

“So, what kind of weapon is it?”

To Yoshinori’s question, the officials immediately answered.

“It is the Empire’s horse-mounted rifle, or short rifle.”

* * *

Under Hyang’s leadership, District 51 developed the ‘Six-Shot Horse Rifle’ based on the ‘Colt 1860 Army’ and supplied it to the cavalry.

And the cavalry used the horse rifle very effectively.

As copper casings became established over time, this horse rifle was either converted to a casing type or newly produced.

And from this time on, this horse rifle was no longer the exclusive property of the cavalry. As it was selected as the basic armament for Imperial Army officers, the horse rifle came to be called the ‘Short Rifle (短銃)’.

And this short rifle was not only used by the military. The Najol of the Pocheong [police force], who maintained the peace of the Empire, also carried it on their waists as a basic armament along with 육모방망이 [yungmobangmangi: six-cornered club], 쇠좆매 [soejotmae: iron flail], and 추포용 밧줄 [chupoyong batjul: arrest rope].

* * *

Since it was already being used well in the Empire, the Shogunate officials immediately thought of importing it.

There had been many people who suggested 도입 [doip: introduction] before, but the reason why they had not been brought in until now was one thing.

It was quite expensive.

However, as the situation was as it was, it had become necessary to 도입 [doip: introduce].

“Even so, if we can produce it ourselves, we can reduce costs, so negotiation is necessary.”

“Hmm…”

Yoshinori, who had been 고민 [gomin: troubled] over the officials’ words, made a decision with an unavoidable expression.

“Select an envoy to send to the Empire.”

“Yes, sir!”

Having made that decision, Yoshinori had something on his mind.

“Bringing in short rifles from the Empire is the answer, but it will take time. We need an alternative to supplement this.”

An official immediately replied to Yoshinori’s point.

“Yes! Therefore, an agenda has been raised to select those with excellent swordsmanship from the patrol department and the military to create a separate organization.”

“Good. Implement it. Have you decided on a name?”

“Not yet, sir.”

“Is that so? Then…”

After 고민 [gomin: troubled] for a moment, Yoshinori took a gold pen and wrote a name on a blank sheet of paper.

“How about this?”

The name Yoshinori wrote was ‘Battotai (抜刀隊, Drawn Sword Squad)’.

It was the birth of a notorious organization that made the preservationists and anti-Shogunate activists tremble, and even made ordinary people afraid.