Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1114

1114. The Growing Embers (2)

Emperor Hongzhi’s policies were immediately relayed to Seoul, where Minister Woo and his officials meticulously analyzed them.

“…Strengthening military power is certain, but it seems equally certain that the blade is not pointed at our Empire.”

“Indeed. However, complacency is forbidden.”

Woo nodded at the Prime Minister’s response.

“I agree. Though Ming and Japan are moving with us now, we must never forget that they have shed blood against each other in the past.”

All the officials nodded at Woo’s words. Seeing this, Woo continued.

“However, we must not forget moderation. Rash actions could lead them to misjudge us. Always keep moderation and cautious movement in mind.”

The officials bowed in unison at Woo’s instruction, replying,

“We will engrave it in our hearts!”

* * *

After finishing the discussion with the officials, Woo visited Sugang Palace. As always, Hyang and Wan, who were discussing blueprints, greeted Woo warmly.

“It seems the palace is too small for both of you. We should either expand it or build another palace.”

Hyang was the first to respond to Woo’s words.

“If you have the funds, give us more in the budget.”

“That’s a bit…”

As Woo showed difficulty, Wan added,

“A new palace? That’s all pomp and extravagance. Sugang Palace is enough for two old men. Instead, give us more in the budget…”

“I will discuss the budget with the officials later.”

“I’ll trust you.”

“We’ll trust only the Emperor.”

“I will try my best.”

Woo, who answered hastily, grumbled inwardly.

‘Ah, damn it! My mouth is the problem! I shouldn’t have said anything!’

* * *

“But, what brings you to see these old men today?”

At Hyang’s question, Woo composed himself and got to the point.

“Have you seen the reports related to Ming?”

“I looked at them as soon as I received them.”

“I discussed Ming with the officials…”

Woo briefly told them about the meeting with the officials and revealed his inner thoughts.

“…So, I emphasized moderation and cautious movement to the officials. I’m seeking advice in case there’s anything I haven’t considered.”

Hyang and Wan wore pleased expressions at Woo’s words.

‘He’s working properly.’

‘The guy who whined about not wanting to be the Crown Prince is now working as a proper Emperor.’

Hyang and Wan felt both pleased and proud as they looked at Woo. Woo himself was well aware that he was the Emperor and acted accordingly. The presence of the Grand Grand Emperor and the Grand Emperor was a reliable support and advisor to the Emperor.

However, if he consulted Sugang Palace on everything, the Emperor’s qualifications would be questioned.

-What can the Emperor do on his own!

But, in Woo’s case, he was a very normal Emperor.

-He discusses everything with the officials and makes his own decisions.

-Only when he feels something is lacking or needs advice does he visit Sugang Palace.

This way of acting was the standard for an Emperor. Anyway, Hyang and Wan, who received Woo’s question, picked up the reports they had put aside and examined them again.

“Hmm…”

Hyang, who read the report with a humming sound, turned to Wan.

“Emperor Chenghua seems to have raised his son well. He’s very bright, isn’t he?”

“Indeed. Very bright.”

Everyone around them was dumbfounded by Hyang and Wan’s evaluation.

‘Calling a man in his 30s bright?’

‘They’re treating the Emperor of a nation like a kid next door…’

The people who were dumbfounded by their conversation soon nodded.

‘Considering their age, they must feel like they’re watching their grandson’s antics.’

Anyway, Hyang and Wan’s evaluation continued.

“If the current Emperor of Ming can continue to make such judgments, there will be no major problems with the Empire. However, we must constantly be vigilant.”

“I believe the Grand Grand Emperor’s words are accurate. The Ming Emperor’s current actions, especially regarding the navy, are clear. He won’t provoke our Empire, but he won’t just be looking at us either. Furthermore, the expansion of transport ships is evidence of that. It means that they will move troops independently whenever necessary.”

“If they move troops, where would they be aiming?”

Hyang answered immediately to Woo’s question.

“It will be Persia. Bringing transport ships into our Empire? The fish in the West Sea will feast.”

“I agree.”

At Hyang and Wan’s words, Woo asked again.

“Still, isn’t there a ‘what if’? What should we look for to know in advance if Ming is trying to do something foolish?”

“What do you think, Emperor?”

At Hyang’s question, Woo thought for a moment and answered.

“I think it’s the purge of the Secretarial Bureau.”

“Correct.”

Wan immediately affirmed Woo’s answer.

The pro-Emperor forces surrounding Emperor Chenghua were the work of Hyang and Wan. The pro-Emperor forces of Emperor Chenghua were loyal to the Empire as much as they were loyal to Emperor Chenghua. They never leaked Ming’s top secrets, but they did their best to prevent anything that would increase tensions with the Empire.

Purging them would be a sign that Ming would fight the Empire, or at least be at odds with the Empire. Following Wan’s answer, Hyang added.

“If Ming moves the capital, then it’s best to think of it as war.”

“Ah…”

Woo nodded at Hyang’s words.

* * *

Currently, Ming and the Empire had similar weaknesses.

-The capital is close to the coast.

Of course, there was a big difference in absolute distance, but from a military point of view, Ming’s capital, Nanjing, and the Empire’s capital, Seoul, were close to the sea.

Thanks to this, the situation of Ming and the Empire could be expressed in extreme terms as follows.

-A situation where they are holding a knife to each other’s chin.

Of course, the commanders of the Imperial Navy added these words.

“It’s true that we’re holding a knife, but there’s a difference. Ming’s is a dagger, and the Empire’s is a longsword. Before they stab our chin with a dagger, their chin will be pierced by our longsword first, right?”

While answering with such confidence, the Imperial Navy, which was in charge of defending the inner sea, was fully prepared. They knew that even one breach would be fatal.

* * *

Hyang continued to speak.

“Ming abandoned Beijing because of the Empire’s Northern Expedition. That’s why they came down to Nanjing. It was an unavoidable choice, though.”

Woo nodded at Hyang’s words. As Ming’s first capital, Nanjing was already a well-established city. Even after the capital was moved to Beijing, Nanjing’s palace and administrative organization were maintained, and it was used as a place for the Crown Prince to learn administrative work.

Therefore, Ming, which had abandoned Beijing, had no choice but to settle in Nanjing.

“Up to this point, it’s all assumptions, and looking only at the current situation, it’s certain that Ming’s new Emperor has no intention of being at odds with our Empire, but he’s not going to be dragged around either.”

Woo’s expression hardened slightly at Hyang’s conclusion.

“Should we also consider the possibility that the tripartite coordination in Persia will break down?”

“It won’t break down, but we should pay more attention to the possibility of unexpected actions. And this is a troublesome thing. If we put pressure on them rashly, the very thing we were worried about could happen as a reaction.”

At Hyang’s words, Wan sighed and added.

“Hoo〜. That’s always the problem. I still vividly remember worrying about such things happening in Suez and Italy. Especially after a certain person went directly to Italy…”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

Hyang quickly interrupted Wan with a cough and changed the subject.

“In my opinion, the current Emperor of Ming is very smart. He knows his situation well, and it’s clear that he’s trying to get the best results in that situation. What I’m worried about is the Emperor after this.”

“Do you think the next Emperor will be a problem?”

“If the Empire’s luck is very bad, it will be the very next one, and if it’s usually bad, it will be a later generation. If we’re lucky, he’ll maintain good relations with the Empire and gain practical benefits, just like the current Emperor.”

With those words, Hyang closed his mouth. Wan, who had been pondering Hyang’s words next to him, asked Hyang.

“Then what is the case where luck is very good?”

At Wan’s question, Woo nodded without realizing it and looked at Hyang. He also wanted to ask the same question. At Wan’s question, Hyang looked up at the sky and answered.

“The case where luck is very good is when there are no stupid guys among the Empire’s next Emperors.”

“Ah…”

Woo sighed without realizing it. He knew very well how difficult this was to achieve when he looked at the history of the past. Wan took over the words in place of Woo’s feelings.

“We should pray hard from tonight.”

“What we should do even before praying is to educate the Crown Princes. So that whoever becomes the Crown Prince can at least be average. The officials will suffer, though. But isn’t that why they’re officials? To ‘substitute’ for the suffering.”

The surroundings froze instantly at Hyang’s unexpected dad joke. And the historian who was recording this added the following.

-…..The people around the Grand Emperor’s joke…

The historian says.

Ah, I don’t want to record this!

Anyway, Ming’s military buildup was not welcome news for the Empire. Therefore, Woo had no choice but to increase the budget for the development and improvement of new equipment to be supplied to the Imperial Army.

And the Ministry of Finance was in tears.

Hyang, who heard the rumor that ‘Ministry of Finance officials are depressed,’ scratched his head and rummaged through the drawings and books piled up on one side.

“I’ve committed many sins, and I have a lot of work to do in the future… I need some kind of carrot.”

After rummaging through the drawings and books for a long time, Hyang took out one drawing and crossed his arms.

“Should I release this? Or should I let it sit a little longer…”

The title written on the drawing that Hyang unfolded was as follows.

‘Animal cart using an internal combustion engine.’

“If you’re going to reuse the current internal combustion engine as it is, a truck is the best. Of course, a passenger car is better to make money. But… the size is the problem.”

The current internal combustion engine was a radial air-cooled type. It had a large area but a thin shape. If it was a truck, this shape would not be a problem. Like the most popular truck shape in the 21st century, you could put the driver’s seat in the front, the internal combustion engine in the middle, and the cargo box in the back.

However, it was too big to be used in a passenger car.

“But, it’s certain to make money…”

After thinking for a moment, Hyang’s face soon brightened.

“Ah, Da Vinci was there, wasn’t he? What’s the point of leaving him alone? I have to call him and roll him around!”

Having found the answer, Hyang immediately called a eunuch.

“Go and bring Da Vinci!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Watching the eunuch disappear in a hurry, Hyang muttered to himself.

“I’ll make a real ‘luxury’ carriage! One that will make the rich go crazy and open their wallets!”