Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1061

1061. Gambling (5)

“Pulling in the Myeong… Hmm…”

Hyeon trailed off, deep in thought, at the Foreign Minister’s words. It wasn’t just Hyeon. Starting with Han Chi-hyung, the other ministers also fell silent, lost in contemplation.

“Foreign Minister, frankly, this proposal is difficult to decide on easily. You understand that well, yes?”

Hyeon’s words prompted the Foreign Minister to bow his head and reply, “I am well aware. However, it is better to gain friends than to make enemies. If we can mitigate risks by sharing profits appropriately, what could be better?”

“If they have any sense, they will realize our intentions, won’t they?”

“Those capable of realizing our intentions will also know that this is an offer they cannot refuse.”

“They might use the profits we give them to prepare a knife to stab us in the back. What about that?”

“What benefit would they gain from doing so? It would only invite greater disaster. Those with sense would not do such a foolish thing.”

Han Chi-hyung countered the Foreign Minister’s words, “Are there not ancient tales of those who suffered disaster from thinking that way?”

The Foreign Minister rebutted Han Chi-hyung’s counter, “What is the purpose of the Imperial Army? The Empire is already a powerful nation that is hard to match. A powerful nation has its own way of conducting itself and its own diplomacy.”

Hyeon showed curiosity at the Foreign Minister’s words. “Oh? What is that?”

The Foreign Minister immediately answered Hyeon’s question, “No matter how small and insignificant the opponent, one must treat them with courtesy and sincerity, but one must also hold a club in hand. And when wielding it, one must wield it without hesitation.”

Deputy Prime Minister Ryu Soon immediately pointed out the problem. “I don’t believe that is the way of a gentleman?”

“To act with the manners of a gentleman towards those who are not gentlemen is not being a gentleman, but a fool. What other reason is there for Yang Gong [a historical figure known for his downfall due to excessive trust] of the Song Dynasty being ridiculed even after more than a thousand years?”

“But, the politics of virtue….”

“The world is not in an era of virtuous rule, but an era of hegemony!”

“No matter how the trends of the world may be, shouldn’t those who have learned the words of the sages strive for the realization of virtuous rule!”

“That’s right! If we follow the trends just because they are trends, then where is the gentleman!”

“Reality is reality! We are ministers of the Empire before we are gentlemen! Those who manage the Empire must not forget reality!”

As the ministers’ voices grew louder, Hyeon raised his hand to stop the conversation. “Enough. Be quiet! This is unseemly!”

At Hyeon’s command, the ministers bowed their heads in unison and fell silent. Hyeon looked at the ministers and continued, “Your debate was not unpleasant to watch, but isn’t now the time to be having such a debate? Why are you so focused on the branches that you forget the main point!”

“We, we are sorry!”

At Hyeon’s criticism, the ministers bowed their heads and apologized. However, Ryu Soon disputed Hyeon’s words. “I hesitate to speak, Your Majesty, but I do not believe that the debate that has just taken place is a side issue. I believe that this is an important debate that determines how the Empire should conduct its diplomacy. When the Founding Emperor created the Empire, he declared ‘Hongik Ingan’ [a Korean philosophical ideal of benefiting all mankind] as the national motto. What is the meaning of Hongik Ingan? It means to benefit people widely. How could that person only be the people of the Empire? If we look at it that way, diplomacy is the best way to put the national motto into practice.”

No sooner had Ryu Soon finished speaking than Left Deputy Prime Minister Seong Jun stepped forward. “Your Majesty, I hesitate to speak, but the Deputy Prime Minister’s words are too idealistic. No one can deny the beauty of the Deputy Prime Minister’s words. However, those words are nothing more than an empty cry. They criticize us for pandering to the trends, but we cannot survive if we ignore the trends!”

“Your Majesty, I hesitate to speak……”

As Ryu Soon opened his mouth to refute again, Hyeon raised his hand. “Enough, it would be good to stop. Be careful.”

“I hesitate to speak……”

“If you are hesitant, then do not say things that will make you hesitant!”

The Great Hall froze in an instant at Hyeon’s rebuke. Hyeon spoke to the ministers in a voice that had become quite fierce. “Both the Founding Emperor and the Supreme Emperor said this: ‘Those who manage the country must always have both feet on the ground,’ and ‘Always be careful. Even if it is an opportunity, aim for the second best, not the best, and even if it is a crisis, aim for the second worst, not the worst. Caution is the best thing for those who manage the country.’ Do you not know what this means?”

“……..”

None of the ministers opened their mouths at Hyeon’s question. Hyeon pointed to Ryu Soon. “Deputy Prime Minister, listen. I do not think your words are wrong, but I do not think they are entirely right either. It is commendable to strive to realize Hongik Ingan and the politics of virtue, but one must not forget reality. Keep this in mind.”

At Hyeon’s command, Ryu Soon bowed his head and replied, “I will engrave it in my heart.”

Hyeon, who had given a warning to Ryu Soon, ordered the ministers, “The Foreign Minister’s proposal is worth considering deeply. I will give you two days. Organize your thoughts by then.”

“We shall obey the command!”

* * *

Having gone through such a commotion, Hyeon sought out Hyang and complained. “…..I really don’t know why everyone is so eloquent. No, it’s okay to be eloquent. The problem is that they throw away the main point and fight over the branches, which only makes me sigh. I feel like dismissing them all.”

“Are there people to fill those positions?”

“Hoo~. That’s the problem. That’s why I’m leaving them there. It seems certain that the same thing will happen again even if I fill them with new people.”

Hyang smiled and responded to Hyeon’s words, “Think of it positively. It’s all because the Empire is doing well enough to eat.”

“Are you saying it’s a time of peace and prosperity?”

“I don’t know if it’s a time of peace and prosperity. Even at this moment, there must be many people starving or shedding tears due to injustice in various parts of the Empire. But, I can guarantee that people’s lives are definitely more comfortable than before. That’s why such debates are taking place. There are words circulating in the market from a long time ago: ‘Even a nobleman will cross the wall of another’s house if his child starves for three days.’ As the lives of the Empire’s people become more comfortable, they begin to consider morality and prioritize things. Do you think the people would consider morality if their lives were difficult? There would be bloodshed before that.”

Hyeon nodded with a brighter face at Hyang’s words. Hyang, seeing Hyeon’s expression, asked about Hyeon’s intentions. “What does the Emperor think of the Foreign Minister’s proposal?”

“I don’t think it’s bad. It can give strength to the emperor who is friendly with the Empire, and if it goes well, it can increase the power of pro-Empire factions within the Myeong court. The problem is that it’s Myeong [Ming Dynasty China].”

Hyang nodded at Hyeon’s words. “I agree.”

And this was the same for the ministers as well.

* * *

From a rational point of view, the Foreign Minister’s proposal was a good one. However, emotionally, it was a very repulsive proposal. This was because Myeong and the Empire had fought two wars in which the fate of the nation was at stake. However, as time had passed, the amount of trade between the two countries had greatly increased, and merchants from both countries were actively trading across the West Sea [Yellow Sea]. However, there was still a high level of aversion and distrust towards each other among the ruling class of the Empire and the vested interests of Myeong.

“Japan is better than Myeong!”

These kinds of words were circulating among the people of the Empire. Japan was not viewed favorably either because of the memories of suffering caused by the Wokou [Japanese pirates] pirates. However, the Wokou were literally pirates, and they had been wiped out after the Conquest of Tsushima Island and the Gyeongjang Reformation [a series of reforms in Joseon Korea], so the animosity had been greatly diluted. But, Myeong was not. There were still many people who had lost family members or become disabled in the past two wars. In this situation, it was not easy to cooperate with Myeong.

* * *

After Hyeon, who had been complaining, returned, Hyang muttered to himself. ‘It reminds me of the Yesong Debate [a political dispute in Joseon Korea]?’

The Yesong Debate was a political dispute that took place after the death of King Hyojong over the funeral rites for Queen Jangnyeol, Hyojong’s stepmother. It started as a dispute over the rules of mourning clothes, but it soon developed into a political struggle. This was because Joseon’s national policy was Neo-Confucianism, so it was expanded to the issue of the legitimacy of the king. The debate that took place today was the same. It started with the risk of the proposal put forward by the Foreign Minister, but before long, it expanded and developed into a question of whether it was in line with the national policy and Neo-Confucian values, and a mess broke out.

“Come to think of it, I forgot. Hongik Ingan was also a national policy, but so was Practical Learning.”

Hyang took out a blank sheet of paper and began to write a document to send to Hyeon. And two days later, at a meeting to decide whether to approve the Foreign Minister’s proposal, the proposal was passed. There were many objections this time as well, but it was because of what Hyeon had said.

“The Empire’s national policy includes Hongik Ingan, but it also includes Practical Learning. Think deeply about what will truly benefit the Empire and its people.”

* * *

Not long after Hyeon made his decision, the Empire’s envoys visited Yamaguchi and Beijing. Fierce debates began in the political circles of Beijing and Yamaguchi over the proposals brought by the envoys. These debates were even fiercer in Beijing. Emperor Chenghua and his loyalists immediately showed a positive reaction upon hearing the proposal.

“The problem is those ministers.”

The problem was whether the orthodox bureaucrats, another powerful group in Myeong, or more specifically, the natives of Myeong, would accept it. Therefore, Emperor Chenghua’s loyalists were making thorough preparations while watching the movements of the other side. And before long, news that was not exactly good news was delivered to them.

“Huh? They’re divided?”

The orthodox bureaucrats of Beijing had split into two factions, for and against the proposal.

* * *

When they first heard the Empire’s proposal, most of the Beijing bureaucrats scoffed. “Humph! What great proposal could those Joseon [Korean] bastards have brought!”

“Oil? Why should we join hands with those Joseon bastards for some oil?”

However, before long, those who were astute about the trends began to think differently.

-Oil is a more versatile resource than coal.

-But, it is not found in Myeong.

-Joseon has oil, but we cannot buy it from Joseon forever.

-Myeong also needs an independent and stable supply route.

“If we think about it this way, it seems good to join hands with Joseon? Either way, we can proudly establish an independent supply route!”

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

This is how they were divided into two factions.