Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 103

Jjangra

Hello, Bomb!

103. Hwang Hee, Crisis Overlapping! (1)

Sejong, having seen off the tribal chiefs with generous gifts in addition to the promised salt, turned to his ministers.

“Now we can breathe a sigh of relief. Let’s pick up the pace! Right State Councilor?”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Since you have been appointed as the administrator, immediately finalize the selection of personnel. I would like the results within three days. With the abilities I heard from my father, it should be possible, shouldn’t it?”

Hwang Hee’s face turned pale at Sejong’s words.

‘That wicked king was already plotting to send him to the records office!’

“Why? Are you not confident? Then, someone else….”

“I will definitely finish it within three days!”

“I’ll be expecting it.”

Hwang Hee returned to the State Council building alone and began to rummage through the Seogyeong documents.

As he went through the documents, Hwang Hee gritted his teeth.

“I am Hwang Hee! Hwang Hee! I am the one even King Taejong cherished!”

Although he had been exiled for a while due to the issue of dethroning Yangnyeong, he was trusted so much that Sejong immediately released him from exile and called him back to the court as soon as he ascended the throne.

“I will make sure you know why King Taejong recognized me! I will make sure you know why I am Hwang Hee!”

With that, Hwang Hee gritted his teeth and rummaged through the Seogyeong documents.

“First, exclude those who recommended themselves! I have to choose from those recommended by others! I need to find those who are good at their work but don’t want to move!”

After searching through hundreds of Seogyeong documents, Hwang Hee first picked one person from the Ministry of Personnel.

“This guy is good enough! Kim Jong-seo, the Vice Minister of Personnel!”

The evaluations of Kim Jong-seo by his superiors and colleagues were as follows:

‘A cow that doesn’t want to leave the barn.’

‘A guy who thinks anything outside of Hanseong [the capital city, modern-day Seoul] is hell.’

‘He’s good at his job, but he loves Hanseong too much.’

Kim Jong-seo loved Hanseong so much.

Kim Jong-seo had passed the civil service examination in the 5th year of Taejong (1405) as the youngest graduate (13th place) and had been walking the path of a proper civil official ever since.

As his rank rose, he took on various tasks both inside and outside the capital, and he was a talented individual who never received a bad evaluation.

Everyone who knew Kim Jong-seo added the following to the evaluation above.

“He loves Hanseong too much, but he will be in the position of Minister at least in 10 years, and after that, he will rise to the position of Chief State Councilor.”

However, as the nicknames above suggest, Kim Jong-seo loved Hanseong too much.

His family’s origin was Suncheon, Jeolla Province, and he spent his childhood in Chungju and Suncheon. Kim Jong-seo loved the splendor of the great city of Hanseong.

Some even said that the reason he worked so hard and meticulously when he was assigned to local government positions was because he wanted to return to Hanseong quickly and didn’t want to leave again.

Even in the history before Hyang’s intervention, Kim Jong-seo was the one who sent memorials [formal written requests or petitions] stating that he wanted to return to Hanseong whenever he had the chance after being dispatched as the Pacification Commissioner of Pyeongan Province when the situation in Liaodong became a mess due to the ‘Tumu Crisis.’

“If it’s this guy, he’ll work himself to death to return to Hanseong, which he loves so much! This guy is perfect to control from the middle!”

Hwang Hee, who had set his sights on Kim Jong-seo, picked officials with similar tendencies.

After picking those he thought were the best, Hwang Hee called a clerk and summoned those he had chosen.

“…So, you will go north with me. If you do well, the path to success will open before your eyes. Most of you are Vice Ministers of Personnel of the 5th rank, like Kim Jong-seo. But the moment you belong to the frontier administrative corps, you will go up one rank. Then you will be at least a Censor of the 5th rank, right?”

“That’s right!”

“If you work hard in the north for about 5 years and come back, His Majesty will give you at least a Vice Minister of the 4th rank, or if you do well, a Minister of the 4th rank. Then you will be promoted at least two steps from now. Do you think it is possible to do that within 5 years by working to death only in this Hanseong?”

“…”

“Probably difficult, right?”

At Hwang Hee’s question, those gathered nodded without realizing it. Except for one person.

“I think it’s possible.”

It was Kim Jong-seo.

At Kim Jong-seo’s words, Hwang Hee shouted.

“Hey! You have to go with me no matter what! What are you thinking, trying to get out of this!”

“…”

At Hwang Hee’s outburst, Kim Jong-seo closed his mouth with a dissatisfied expression.

Hwang Hee, glaring at Kim Jong-seo, continued to explain to the others.

“And there is one most important thing. According to the current plan, the area of the region to be acquired this time is about one and a half times the size of Hamgil Province.”

“That’s wide….”

“Haa….”

The officials who had been dragged along by Hwang Hee all sighed.

“You only know one thing and not two. How many Jurchens [nomadic people who lived in the northeast of China] do you think there will be in such a large land?”

“Huh?”

When the officials’ ears perked up at Hwang Hee’s words, Kim Jong-seo poured cold water on them.

“But, surely there will be resettlement of people? Then the workload will not be small? Just in Hanseong….”

“I told you, you’re going with me no matter what!”

“Sa….”

“Are you going to submit your resignation? Just try it! I’ll report it to His Majesty and have you stuck in the records office!”

“…”

After silencing Kim Jong-seo, Hwang Hee continued.

“As that guy said, there will definitely be a resettlement policy, so the work will not be small. But think about it. The land in the frontier is wide, but is it as wide as the Eight Provinces of Joseon [historical administrative divisions of Korea]? Will you work in this Hanseong, being overwhelmed by the work coming from the Eight Provinces, or will you handle only the work of one province, albeit a slightly larger one?”

At Hwang Hee’s words, everyone except Kim Jong-seo answered in unison.

“We will go north!”

“I….”

“I told you, you’re going north with me no matter what!”

Kim Jong-seo looked like he was about to cry at Hwang Hee’s roar.

Hwang Hee, having received answers from the first group of selected personnel that they would go with him, moved on to the next step.

“Now, you can’t do everything from beginning to end, right? Then you have to pick the people who will work under you. How many would be good? Of course, there is a saying that the more the merrier, but if there are too many, it is certain that approval will not be given, so pick an appropriate number.”

At Hwang Hee’s command, the officials began to calculate in their heads what an appropriate number would be.

Just then, Kim Jong-seo opened his mouth.

“In the case of the Ministry of Personnel, 5 officials of the 6th rank, such as magistrates or inspectors, to manage the villages to be formed in the frontier, 10 people to assist them, and 5 people to analyze the administrative issues that will come up from the frontier. A total of 20 people.

Ah! About 20 doctors are also needed to prevent the occurrence of diseases or epidemics, especially smallpox. Among them, there should be about five female doctors.

In the case of the Ministry of War, most of the work will be handled by the military units advancing into the frontier, so about 6 people would be enough, and about 8 for the Ministry of Public Works. For the Ministry of Justice, since the military will be in charge of security issues, about 6 people would be appropriate.”

Hwang Hee looked at Kim Jong-seo, who was spewing out information in an instant, with an absurd gaze.

Whether he knew Hwang Hee’s gaze or not, Kim Jong-seo continued to explain.

“In the case of the Ministry of Rites, considering the possibility of encountering the Ming Dynasty [the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644], about 4 people, including interpreters, would be appropriate.

The biggest problem is the Ministry of Taxation, which must not only organize the household registers of those who will come as resettlers but also resolve land disputes between the Jurchens and the immigrants and create new land registers.

To promote resettlement, tax exemption policies will continue for the time being, but the problem of financial expenditures such as the construction of various facilities must also be resolved, so 48 people would be the best, but it is certain that it will be impossible with the current situation of the court.

So, 30 people would be the best, and 24 people would be able to endure for at least 5 years.”

Everyone, including Hwang Hee, blinked at Kim Jong-seo’s answer, which came out in a flash.

The first to come to his senses was Hwang Hee.

‘As expected! Necessity is the mother of invention! He’s processing everything right away because he wants to return to Hanseong as soon as possible! I chose well!’

Following him, the officials who came to their senses reviewed Kim Jong-seo’s plan.

Since they were all recognized for their skills, they nodded immediately.

“Kim Jong-seo’s opinion seems to be the best.”

“Is that so? Then, first, draw up candidates for 1.5 times the number of personnel and bring the Seogyeong documents. You have to choose properly if you want to be comfortable. I’ll give you one day. Move quickly!”

“Yes!”

At Hwang Hee’s words, the officials scattered in a hurry. Watching the backs of the officials disappearing into the Six Ministries, Hwang Hee muttered to himself.

“It takes a day to draw up the candidates, and a day to review them and form the personnel, so it will be over in two days. Then His Majesty will have nothing to say.”

When Hwang Hee, satisfied with his conclusion, was nodding, Maeng Sa-seong burst through the door and rushed in.

“Hey, Lord Hwang! How can you do this!”

“What are you talking about?”

At Hwang Hee’s question, Maeng Sa-seong shouted.

“Bribing His Majesty! Does that make sense!”

“It’s not a bribe! I’m showing my determination! By the way, how did you know?”

“I found the historian who recorded the court records last night and found out… No! That’s not the problem now! If even you leave, what am I supposed to do! The Chief State Councilor will be going to Ming as an envoy soon! Then I’ll be the only one left among the State Councilors!”

“The Chief State Councilor will be back soon, and my vacancy will be filled immediately, so what are you worried about?”

“This guy, really!”

Maeng Sa-seong was angry to the point of grabbing his collar, but Hwang Hee did not back down.

“I’m sorry, but I’m desperate too! I, who have been recognized for my abilities since King Taejong’s time, do you know what His Majesty says to me the most now! I will take this opportunity to be recognized for my abilities! Otherwise, my life will be denied!”

“Huh….”

At Hwang Hee’s words, Maeng Sa-seong sat down on the chair with a hollow expression. It was because he understood Hwang Hee’s feelings to some extent.

In the end, after a while, Maeng Sa-seong had to accept reality.

“Please take care of yourself.”

“Thank you.”

Two days later, Hwang Hee prepared a list of officials to go with him and submitted it to Sejong.

“Good. Proceed.”

“Yes.”

“And, take care of yourself. If I lose you, I will be greatly saddened.”

At Sejong’s words, Hwang Hee bowed deeply.

“Your grace is boundless!”

“Ah! I almost forgot. The administrative staff going north this time should learn how to shoot horse-mounted cannons at the training center until they depart.”

“Cannons?”

At Hwang Hee’s question, Sejong explained the reason.

“The cunning of the Jurchens is well known, isn’t it? Just in case, we should have minimal preparations for self-defense, shouldn’t we? I’m doing this for the safety of you and the staff.”

‘No, if even the civil officials have to hold cannons, then it’s over!’

Hwang Hee suppressed his desire to argue and bowed.

“Your Majesty’s concern for us is truly boundless!”

In that way, Hwang Hee and the officials had to learn how to handle, shoot, and maintain horse-mounted cannons at the training center until two days before their departure.

* * *

As it became winter solstice, the soldiers who would develop the Jurchen region gathered in Hanseong and held a send-off ceremony.

At the send-off ceremony, Sejong reminded the soldiers of the importance of this task.

“I am well aware that moving in winter is not an easy task! But this task is our Joseon’s long-term plan! Do not forget that the future of our Joseon rests on your shoulders! Then I wish you military success!”

At Sejong’s address, the soldiers raised their arms and shouted cheers.

“Long live His Majesty! Long live! Long live!”

The soldiers who finished the send-off ceremony passed through Heunginjimun Gate [one of the Eight Gates of Seoul in the Fortress Wall of Seoul] and went north.

* * *

The development of the Tumen River region proceeded relatively smoothly. Most of the tribal chiefs of the Jurchens kept the promises they had made last time and willingly submitted.

In the middle, there were also tribes that broke their promises and resisted with force, but those tribes were annihilated by the overwhelming firepower of the Joseon army.

While the Joseon soldiers were gradually expanding their territory at the front, the officials led by Hwang Hee were quickly adjusting the administrative districts in the rear.

They divided and distributed farmland to the Jurchens who had submitted and the farmers who had come as resettlers, assigned administrative districts, and appointed local officials.

“It would be good to appoint those we brought to important points and appoint the tribal chiefs as magistrates in other regions.”

Hwang Hee nodded at Kim Jong-seo’s suggestion.

“That would be the best.”

“So, we will first appoint our local officials here, here, and here, and in other regions… and as local officials….”

Hwang Hee kept nodding and liking the sight of Kim Jong-seo, who had already identified the regions to be directly governed by the local officials dispatched from Joseon and was reporting even the suitable local officials.

‘As expected, he’s processing everything thoroughly because he wants to return to Hanseong as soon as possible! I chose well!’

While things were proceeding smoothly, a major accident broke out in Hanseong.