Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 101

Jjangra

Helo Bam

101. Hwanghee, A Close Call! (2)

A dignified aura emanated from Sejong, who sat on the throne.

Overwhelmed by his presence, the tribal chiefs immediately knelt and paid their respects to Sejong.

Seeing the chiefs paying their respects, Sejong commanded in Jurchen,

“Rise.”

The chiefs, surprised by Sejong’s fluent Jurchen, rose from their seats.

‘The current King of Joseon was born and raised in Joseon! Yet, he is so fluent in Jurchen!’

Whether he knew the chiefs’ thoughts or not, Sejong continued,

“It has been quite some time since I ascended the throne, but I have been unable to meet you due to various matters. You were loyal to my grandfather, Taejo the Great, which is my fault… Therefore, I have summoned you here.”

“Your benevolence is boundless!”

“I have prepared accommodations at Bukpyeong Hall (北平館) [a state guest house], so rest from your journey today, and I shall meet with you tomorrow.”

“We obey your command!”

The chiefs paid their respects once more. As Sejong disappeared inside after receiving their greetings, the chiefs, guided by interpreters (譯官) [government translators] and royal guards, left Gwanghwamun Gate and headed to Bukpyeong Hall.

After unpacking their belongings at Bukpyeong Hall, the chiefs immediately gathered in the banquet hall.

Wine and food were prepared for the chiefs, and female entertainers performed songs and dances to liven the mood, but the chiefs’ faces were more serious than ever.

“Could you dismiss the female entertainers?”

“We have matters to discuss among ourselves.”

At the chiefs’ request, the female entertainers left the banquet hall. Once they were alone, the chiefs sighed deeply.

“Hoo… That family…”

“I thought our ties with that family had ended after the Great Elder passed away…”

“But, could this not be a good thing for us? Was there ever a time when we were as peaceful as when the Great Elder was in his prime?”

The old chiefs, who had seen Yi Seong-gye or lived under his rule, spoke with a mixture of worry and anticipation.

On the other hand, the young chiefs, who did not know Yi Seong-gye, spoke with worried expressions.

“What do you think is the reason the King of Joseon summoned us?”

“Isn’t it obvious? To submit (歸附, to come and submit voluntarily) [become a tributary state]?”

“But what about the Ming [Dynasty]?”

“Would those fools in Ming care about us? Way out here on the eastern edge?”

“And there’s another reason too. What was the original location of our tribes’ settlements? It was the area ruled by Yi Seong-gye, whom those old folks call the Great Elder and still revere. Perhaps even the Ming Dynasty can’t say much about it?”

“So… is our choice to submit to Joseon or leave?”

To the young chief’s complaint, another chief added,

“There’s another choice. To be annihilated.”

The chiefs’ faces turned ashen as soon as the word ‘annihilation’ was mentioned.

“Oh dear…”

“I don’t even want to think about that.”

* * *

The next day, a feast was held at Gyeonghoeru Pavilion [a royal banquet hall].

The banquet was attended by the Jurchen tribal chiefs who had been invited, as well as Sejong, the Crown Prince, and all the high and low officials.

“It is truly a pleasure to meet those who had ties with my grandfather! I am truly sorry and ashamed that we have neglected you due to our poor circumstances in Joseon.”

Hatui, the oldest among the chiefs, spoke on behalf of the others in response to Sejong’s words.

“Not at all! We are truly grateful that you remember us and have summoned us even after so many years!”

“We are grateful!”

As all the chiefs expressed their gratitude, Sejong smiled.

“Is that so? I was wondering if you thought of us as strangers after so many years.”

Hatui waved his hands hastily at Sejong’s words.

“That is absolutely not the case!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it is!”

“Hmm…”

Despite Hatui’s answer, Sejong silently looked at the chiefs.

The chiefs swallowed hard and looked around. Sejong was seated at the head of the table, with a boy who appeared to be the Crown Prince next to him. And around them, surrounding the officials and themselves, were royal guards maintaining strict security.

“I will believe your words. I truly hope that your hearts will remain unchanged.”

“We will!”

The chiefs answered in unison.

Having seized the initiative, Sejong began to coax and appease them.

“The reason I invited you this time is to apologize for neglecting you all this time. It may be a bit meager to call it compensation, but I have prepared something for you to take on your way back.”

“What is it?”

Hwanghee stepped forward to answer Hatui’s question.

“Salt. We will distribute ten to fifteen bags depending on the size of your tribe.”

“Your benevolence is boundless!”

“Your benevolence is boundless!”

At Hwanghee’s words, the chiefs bowed respectfully to Sejong and expressed their gratitude.

Salt was essential for them, who lived a semi-agricultural, semi-pastoral life. Ironically, there was a sea nearby, but there were no artisans to make salt.

Having softened the chiefs’ mood with the gift of salt, Sejong immediately went on the offensive.

“It has already been 30 years since our Joseon was founded. However, the land where our royal family originated and where Taejo the Great rode his horse is still not our territory. What do you think about this?”

“Pardon?”

Hatui, unable to think of an answer immediately, asked back briefly at Sejong’s words.

“That land where you are, that is where Taejo the Great conceived great ambitions and began his actions. But now, it is not our territory. I am asking what should be done about this?”

‘Here it comes!’

‘Damn it!’

The chiefs squeezed their eyes shut at Sejong’s question. Although he asked for an answer in words, his intention was the opposite.

‘Our Joseon will take that land! What are you going to do?’

“Why is there no answer?”

Hatui stammered in response to Sejong’s question.

“That, that is because it is something we had not considered at all…”

“Are you saying that you have been dwelling on the land that Taejo the Great cultivated without thinking about the original owner of that land? Hmm… What should I make of this?”

“That, that…”

Hatui sweated profusely and stammered under Sejong’s pressure. Seeing this, Mutui, belonging to the younger generation, retorted.

“Your Majesty, it seems that you have already made up your mind. What do you want us to do?”

Sejong answered briefly to Mutui’s question.

“It’s simple. Join us, or leave. I will not stop you from leaving. But, if you cannot join us, you will bitterly regret feeling the power of our Joseon army.”

“If we join you, what benefits will there be for us? Your Majesty has many people to govern and cares for their well-being. Our chiefs are the same. Although our numbers may be small compared to Joseon, we have tribesmen to govern and must care for their well-being.”

Sejong nodded at Mutui’s words.

“That is indeed the right argument. If you come into our Joseon, you will receive the same treatment as our Joseon people. However, there is a prerequisite. If you follow our Joseon’s laws and institutions, and follow our Joseon’s customs, then I and the court will treat you without discrimination. In time, when your son or grandson grows up, he may even become an official of this Joseon.”

“Do you promise?”

“There are no falsehoods in the words of the King.”

Mutui closed his mouth at Sejong’s answer. After pondering for a while, Mutui answered.

“I need some time to think.”

“What about the others?”

“We need time.”

At the chiefs’ request for time, the Crown Prince spoke up.

“Father, may I offer them some advice?”

“You may.”

Having granted the Crown Prince’s request, Sejong introduced the Crown Prince to the chiefs.

“This is my eldest son. He is the one who will lead this Joseon after me. Listen carefully to the advice this child gives you.”

“Yes.”

The Crown Prince, receiving the chiefs’ attention, rose from his seat and opened his mouth with a small smile.

“I am the Crown Prince of this Joseon. I am pleased to meet you.”

“It is an honor to meet you.”

“Thank you. What I am about to say is to explain why it would be beneficial for the tribes here to join our Joseon.

Perhaps the biggest part of what is making you worry now is the issue of livelihood. Is that not so?”

“That is correct.”

Mutui answered immediately to the Crown Prince’s question. The Crown Prince fixed his gaze on Mutui and continued.

“If you join our Joseon, this issue of livelihood will be resolved. Currently, our Joseon is expanding its economy by trading with various countries. Expanding in this way means that we need people to work in various fields. Our Joseon has a national law that even a mere slave must be paid for their work, so wouldn’t the issue of livelihood be resolved?”

“However, most of us only know how to ride horses and herd sheep.”

“As far as I know, I’ve heard you are good at riding ships too? I am well aware of the infamy of the Jurchen pirates.”

“….”

Mutui closed his mouth at the Crown Prince’s remark. The Crown Prince continued.

“As Joseon grows, there will be more things that people seek. And among those things is meat. Isn’t animal husbandry your forte? If you come and join us in our Joseon, you will no longer have to worry about starvation. Think carefully about this.”

Having finished speaking, the Crown Prince sat down, and Sejong looked at the chiefs.

After a long silence, Mutui opened his mouth with difficulty.

“Please give us a little more time.”

“I hope you will give me an answer before you leave.”

* * *

After the banquet, Sejong returned to the throne room and ordered his ministers.

“Regardless of their decision, begin the operation this winter according to the plan. We must cross the Tumen River when the water is frozen.”

“We obey your command!”

“And, has the selection of envoys to send to Ming been completed?”

Lee Jik answered immediately to Sejong’s question.

“The Chief State Councilor and the Minister of Rites will go in person.”

“Both of them?”

Sejong looked at Maeng Sa-seong and the Minister of Rites and nodded.

“That’s good. And, has the selection of the special administrator to be in charge of the administration of the area to be developed this time been completed?”

“We are ashamed to say that it has not…”

Sejong clicked his tongue at the Chief State Councilor’s answer.

“Tsk! Still? Are there so few people willing to go?”

“We are ashamed.”

“Finish the selection as soon as possible.”

“We obey your command.”

There was something that Lee Jik, who was bowing his head, did not say until the end.

It wasn’t that there were few people willing to go, but that there were too many.

* * *

The Pyeongan Province Governor was to be in charge of managing the western region of the Odori tribe and organizing the administrative structure, but a special administrator was to be appointed for the Hamgil Province area due to the region’s special characteristics.

“Some will submit willingly, but there will be many who resist!”

“Considering the area and population of the development region, it is unreasonable for the Hamgil Province Governor to serve concurrently! A full-time administrator is needed!”

Following the suggestions of the military and the court, Sejong ordered the State Council to select an administrator to work with the special administrator.

As soon as Sejong’s order was issued, the State Council’s councilors were flooded with requests.

“Please send me!”

“No, please send me!”

“I will show you what it means to give my all!”

“Me! Me!”

Not only the officials of the Six Ministries but also the officials of the Office of the Inspector General and the Office of Censors pushed in self-introductions full of self-praise. The thoughts of those who applied were all the same.

“Once you go, you can hold out until the reorganization is roughly finished!”

“It’s a chance to legally escape from the court!”

No, it wasn’t just self-introductions that were being pushed in.

Vast gifts flooded the councilors’ homes.

“Husband, what good thing has happened? Suddenly, gifts are coming in?”

The councilors, returning home from leaving the court, were horrified to see mountains of gifts.

“No, these guys! Are they trying to make me receive a document-sorting punishment [a form of demotion or reprimand]! Wife! Send all of these back!”

“Pardon? These precious things?”

“Don’t you know what happened to Councilor Jo? Are you trying to make our house bankrupt?”

“Oh my! I’ll send them back right away!”

The councilors who were returning the gifts were also in desperate situations.

‘The competition rate is too high! No matter who I pick, there will definitely be someone who is dissatisfied! I have to block it from the start!’