Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1042

1042. The Age of War – The Age of Copycats (1)

While the Empire was thriving internally, the flames of war were once again engulfing Europe. France and the Habsburgs were clashing yet again, and as always, it was over the Lorraine region.

The signs of another Franco-Habsburg conflict in Lorraine had been brewing for a long time. As it was a conflict between two major powers in the heart of Europe, neighboring countries watched their every move with bated breath, and urgent reports flooded into the Empire.

“Don’t they ever tire of war? Or have they caught some disease that makes them die if they don’t fight for even a day?”

Hyeon’s grumbling after reading the report prompted Han Myeong-hoe to step forward and respond.

“It’s because they have no choice.”

“No choice? Why?”

“Because of iron and coal.”

“Iron and coal? Hmm…”

Hyeon pondered Han Myeong-hoe’s words before pointing out the flaw in the argument.

“If it’s iron and coal, aren’t they already abundant in the southern New World, which they call ‘Terra’?”

“The South is far away. And the journey is treacherous, often resulting in the loss of hard-earned coal and iron, as well as the even more precious ships and people. Therefore, the iron and coal mines right on their doorstep are far more tempting.”

“Even so, when war breaks out, so many people lose their lives or become disabled…”

Hyeon, unable to hide his dismay, instructed Han Myeong-hoe.

“Tell the Imperial forces stationed in Europe, especially those in Gibraltar, to carefully monitor Spain’s movements. There will surely be those who try to act foolishly, taking advantage of the chaos.”

“I shall obey!”

After concluding the discussion with Hyeon regarding state affairs, Han Myeong-hoe looked up at the sky for a moment before letting out a long sigh.

“Hoo~. I thought I would just retire peacefully… Hoo~.”

Han Myeong-hoe, sighing repeatedly, turned to look at the person following him.

“Come, Tongji [a term of respect, meaning ‘one who understands’], come quickly. These are the things you will be doing from now on.”

Han Chi-hyung, who was trailing Han Myeong-hoe, frowned and replied.

“You are still in good health, Grand Scholar. Why are you already passing on your work?”

“Already? Think about my age.”

“But there is still much to learn from you. I will simply observe and learn from your actions.”

“Ha! Someone who has even served as the Minister of General Affairs says there is much to learn. Even a dog passing by would laugh itself to death!”

“According to the law, I am supposed to observe and learn from you for a year. And only three months have passed.”

* * *

The law, initially proposed by Seong Sam-mun, was reviewed by the examiners and approved by Hyeon. According to the law, new Prime Ministers or Ministers were to work with their predecessors for up to a year to take over 업무 [eommu – tasks/duties]. This was to minimize 업무 gaps and 시행착오 [sihaengchakoh – trial and error] that could occur before and after the handover.

However, after the bill was implemented and the next Prime Minister and Minister were selected, a fierce battle of wits ensued. It was a battle of wits between the predecessors, who wanted to hand over the work as quickly as possible and enjoy their final years, and the successors, who wanted to delay taking on the work as much as possible.

In the end, Hyang and Hyeon had to intervene again.

“Tsk tsk tsk! I appointed you based on your abilities and loyalty, but what kind of disgraceful behavior is this! Is this not 기군망상 [gigunmangsang – deceiving the king and disregarding superiors]! Truly shameful! Tsk tsk!”

As Hyeon constantly clicked his tongue and rebuked them, the successors had to bow their heads, sweating profusely.

“We, we are sorry! We will do our best!”

“We will, absolutely not cause any concern to His Majesty!”

‘How many times is he going to click his tongue! If I make a mistake, I’m done for!’

‘Dismissal or exile would be fortunate. If I mess up, I’ll be a record keeper for life!’

While Hyeon was tightening the screws on the successors, Hyang summoned the predecessors, including Han Myeong-hoe.

“Tsk tsk tsk! What kind of people are you all! Are you the ones who led this Empire! I am still working hard for the Empire at this age, and you are trying to be cunning!”

The old ministers bowed their heads in unison at Hyang’s rebuke.

“We, we are sorry!”

‘He’s just doing what he likes!’

‘If I were asked to 논하라 [nonhara – discuss] poetry while 음풍농월 [eumpungnongeol – enjoying nature and writing poetry], I would do it all night long!’

Suppressing the words that were rising up, the old ministers continued to bow their heads. Hyang’s warning continued over their heads.

“Do it properly, properly! If you continue to do this, I will make you spend your remaining years in the records office! Tsk tsk tsk!”

The old ministers sweated profusely at Hyang’s warning and bowed their heads once more.

“We, we will do our best!”

‘This person does what they say!’

‘This is the last warning! If I make even a small mistake, I’ll really be stuck in the records office!’

Whether Hyang and Hyeon’s warnings worked, the battle of wits between predecessors and successors was no longer visible.

Not openly. But the battle of wits was constantly taking place behind the scenes. Just like what was happening between Han Myeong-hoe and Han Chi-hyung now.

“This is your job anyway. Let’s go quickly. There are many things to discuss.”

“Yes, I’m going! I’m going.”

Responding to Han Myeong-hoe’s urging, Han Chi-hyung grumbled inwardly as he moved his feet.

‘The ancient sages said that if the age difference is more than double, treat them like a parent, if it’s more than 10 years, treat them like a brother, and if it’s more than 5 years, stand shoulder to shoulder. I’ll endure, I’ll endure!’

Meanwhile, Han Myeong-hoe, walking ahead, also grumbled inwardly.

‘What! I heard he was 순박 [sunbak – innocent], 침착 [chimchak – calm], and 강직 [gangjik – upright], but how can he be so slippery!’

Meanwhile, rumors about this battle of wits among the Empire’s high-ranking officials spread to the marketplace in Seoul.

The people who heard the rumors all tilted their heads.

“That’s strange… What kind of positions are those? Aren’t they literally ‘one person below, ten thousand people above’ [a high-ranking position]? If I were in such a position, I would quickly seize it, so why are they all acting like that?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“They were all eager to be called ‘대감 [Daegam – a high-ranking official title]’, but it’s really hard to understand.”

The officials who heard the words circulating among the people, especially those in the central government, gave bitter smiles.

“The predecessors were such prominent figures…”

“They don’t know what kind of people those ‘one person’ are.”

* * *

The report on the escalating tension between France and the Habsburgs was also delivered to Hyang. After confirming the report, Hyang muttered with a strange expression.

“As far as I know, France and England are the ones who fight at the slightest opportunity, is this also a butterfly effect?”

Hyang suspected a butterfly effect, but France and the Habsburgs were deeply rooted enemies. It was a deeply rooted animosity that had continued since the division of the Frankish kingdom. In particular, the Lorraine region, now called ‘Alsace-Lorraine,’ was a region where disputes constantly arose between Germany and France due to its geopolitical location and mineral resources.

The conflict in this region subsided after Europe was integrated into the EU [European Union].

* * *

As it became certain that war would break out once again between France and the Habsburgs, Gibraltar suddenly became tense. Since the Empire occupied Gibraltar during the Italian Unification War, Spain had been biding its time to recapture the region. It was France and the Habsburgs who suppressed Spain’s recapture attempts.

This unexpected situation was created because the Empire was the one who occupied Gibraltar. Although there were frictions due to France’s betrayal and Spain’s counter-betrayal, the military alliance was still maintained. If Spain were to launch a military provocation against the Empire, France would have no choice but to side with Spain.

This was due to the 명분 [myeongbun – justification/rationale] of the military alliance, as well as the public opinion of the French people, who were calling for ‘revenge.’ The French people had not forgotten the humiliating defeat they suffered in the last Italian Unification War. The deployment of new weapons and the acquisition of the Lorraine region gave these French people confidence and made them call for a ‘revenge match.’

However, the reaction of French military officials was the opposite.

“Fight the Empire? Are you crazy?”

The French military was well aware of the Empire’s military power, thanks to encountering Imperial forces in the Suez and Atlantic sea routes. Therefore, France had no choice but to stop Spain. The same was true for the Habsburgs.

Spain and the Habsburgs became allies through marriage. This marriage alliance also led to a military alliance. Therefore, if Spain entered the war, the Habsburgs would automatically participate. As things turned out this way, an ambiguous relationship was created between France, Spain, and the Habsburgs.

France and Spain became a little uncomfortable, but they were still military allies.

The Habsburgs and Spain were marriage allies and military allies.

The Habsburgs and France were in a hostile relationship.

Because of this relationship, France and the Habsburgs had no choice but to pay close attention to Spain’s movements and suppress Spain’s military ambitions. But this time, the situation was a little different.

Although the last war ended in a short-term battle due to France’s surprise operation, the Habsburgs were also preparing thoroughly this time. Military officials and politicians from neighboring countries who knew this well were all saying the following.

-If war breaks out again in the Lorraine region? This time, it will never end in a short-term battle!

Because the last war ended in a short-term battle, Spain did not have time to do anything strange, but if it became a long-term battle, it was certain that Spain would do something.

-If Spain does something?

When this topic came up, military officials from neighboring countries all made the sign of the cross.

“Then the whole of Europe will be a sea of fire.”

If Spain did something, the Empire would move, and the Empire’s allies, Portugal, Italy, and Switzerland, would move. No, it would be fortunate if it ended there. The Ottomans, who were aiming to seize control of the Mediterranean, would move, and the Balkans would become noisy.

In the north, Poland-Lithuania would move against the Teutonic Order, which had lost the support of France. If, no, almost certainly, the Habsburgs and France were weakened while fighting the Empire, the independent faction within the Holy Roman Empire would attempt independence, and the residents of the Low Countries, which were French territory, were certain to attempt independence.

And England, which had been quietly watching, would support the residents of the Low Countries and expect France to weaken. As France weakened, the French colonies in Terra and Gloria would become delicious prey for other great powers. No, it wasn’t just the French colonies. The European powers were certain to clash fiercely once again over the colonies in Terra, Gloria, and Africa.

“…Then it’s over.”

Everyone predicted that the events that followed would bring about the worst results, but France and the Habsburgs were increasingly heading towards war.

Whatever the outcome, both countries needed war right now.