Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1075

1075. The Point When the Rabbit is Hunted, the Hunting Dog is Cooked (5)

“My leader, envoys from the Eastern heretics have departed from the royal palace.”

“Where did they go?”

“They returned to the camp where the heretics are stationed.”

“Is that so? Have we not heard from our friends in the palace yet?”

“Not yet. The surveillance by the turncoats who collude with the vizier [a high-ranking political advisor or minister] has become severe these days, making movement difficult. So, they will likely come this evening.”

“Is that so…”

The leader of the Qizilbash [a militant Sufi order that helped establish the Safavid dynasty], upon receiving the report from his subordinate, trailed off and fell into thought.

‘The Shah [king or emperor of Persia] has become too worldly.’

Ismail, who opened the royal court in Tabriz after enduring a difficult struggle, was only 15 years old, barely an adult. He was Ismail who desperately wanted revenge for his parents and siblings who had died as victims of power struggles, and who followed the doctrines of Shia Islam.

Ismail was the one who showed the qualities of ‘the most ideal monarch who upholds the doctrines of Shia Islam.’

‘Ismail can create the Shia kingdom that we desire!’

The Qizilbash, judging this, took Ismail as their monarch and began to seize Persia. However, from the moment Ismail became the monarch of Persia, the relationship between Ismail and the Qizilbash began to deteriorate.

‘Damn the vizier and ministers! They have tainted the pure Shah with worldliness!’

The Qizilbash cursed the vizier and ministers who managed state affairs with Ismail. They did not try to convert the accursed heretics, the Sunnis, and even tried to employ Sunni Persians as officials. Of course, the vizier and ministers’ attempts were thwarted by the strong opposition of the Qizilbash, but the resentment still remained. An even bigger problem was that Ismail was gradually getting closer to the vizier and ministers.

“Why do you seek only worldly things and not heavenly ones!”

The Qizilbash raised their voices, but Ismail was not the Ismail of the past. He was increasingly being tainted by the worldliness of ‘politics.’ As this situation unfolded, the conflict between the bureaucratic group, symbolized by the vizier, and the Qizilbash was heading towards a catastrophe. The problem was that the officials and ministers, even if their factions were different, were also Shia Muslims.

* * *

“Leader! Urgent news!”

“What is it!”

“The Shah’s soldiers are withdrawing from the heretics’ encampment!”

Upon hearing the urgent report from those who were monitoring the encampment of the Three Kingdoms Alliance delegation, the leader of the Qizilbash analyzed the situation.

‘The Shah’s army is withdrawing from the encampment? Why?’

The leader of the Qizilbash considered the reasons, but the most plausible answer was one.

-If the heretics of the East have heard something, they will be concerned about their safety. Therefore, they would not welcome the Shah withdrawing his soldiers.

-Then, for some reason, the relationship between the heretics of the East and the Shah has soured overnight.

Having thought this far, the leader of the Qizilbash stood up from his seat with a bright face.

“This is an opportunity! Tell the brothers! Annihilate those heretics!”

The Qizilbash who were with the leader were horrified by his command.

“Leader! Even if they are heretics, they are envoys!”

“Even if they are envoys, annihilate them!”

“War could break out!”

“If the Shah repents for his sins and returns to the pure path, is war a big deal!”

The Qizilbash, who had hesitated for a moment at the leader’s resolute answer, hardened their resolve.

“We will gather the brothers in the vicinity!”

“Show no mercy to those heretics!”

“Yes!”

Soon after, Qizilbash began to pour out from various places in Tabriz and form groups. The leader of the Qizilbash, wearing a scimitar at his waist and holding a flintlock musket boasting a long barrel and ornate decorations, mounted a spotless white horse. Gripping the reins tightly in one hand, the leader of the Qizilbash looked around at the gathered Qizilbash and raised his voice.

“Brothers! Once again, the time of judgment has come! Let us annihilate those heretics who confuse the Shah’s eyes and ears! Let us prevent those heretics from defiling the kingdom of Allah!”

“Uwooooo!”

The Qizilbash responded to the leader’s words with a shout. As the roar that echoed in all directions subsided, the leader of the Qizilbash shouted again.

“Brothers! Do not fear martyrdom! You will enjoy eternal happiness in Al-Jannah (الجنة, Paradise) [Arabic term for Paradise or Garden of Delight]!”

“Uwoooo!”

“Let’s go!”

“Uwoooo!”

With shouts, the Qizilbash slowly rode their horses towards the envoys’ encampment. Watching the Qizilbash heading towards the envoys’ encampment with great fanfare, the leader of the Qizilbash muttered softly.

“Repay with death for the sin of confusing the Shah’s eyes and ears.”

The leader of the Qizilbash, having delivered a verdict that was not a verdict while looking at the envoys’ delegation, turned his gaze to the Shah’s palace.

“Repent for the sins you have committed. War will be a path for repentance.”

The leader of the Qizilbash was also aware that attacking the envoys of the Three Kingdoms Alliance would lead to war. However, the leader of the Qizilbash desperately wanted the war to break out.

-If we attack the delegation, Ismail will try to hold us accountable. But Ismail will not be able to do that.

Because war will break out.

-If war breaks out, Ismail will have no choice but to rely on us again.

-At that time, we will once again cleanse the worldly court.

-And, we will properly build a Shia kingdom and convert all of Persia and Arabia to Shia Islam.

This was the Qizilbash leader’s intention. Of course, he was well aware of the power of the Eastern Three Kingdoms, especially the Empire.

However, he was making a fatal misjudgment.

-The Shah’s army withdrawing from the heretics’ encampment must be because the relationship between the heretics and the Shah has soured.

-The heretics of the East are powerful, but they have to come a long way. Naturally, they cannot exert their full strength.

-Although the East and the Ottomans are friendly, the Ottomans cannot move due to the conflict between the heirs.

-The Shah will have no choice but to rely on us, and the heretics of the East will be fighting a war with one arm and one leg tied.

-If that happens, we, who know the geography of Persia well, will be at an advantage.

-A draw is natural, and if we do well, we can win.

This was his misjudgment.

* * *

A temporary watchtower set up in the encampment.

The soldiers guarding the area from the watchtower rang the alarm and shouted when they saw the Qizilbash approaching.

Ding ding ding!

“Enemy! Enemy attack! 敵だ [Japanese for ‘Enemy!’]!”

At the sentry’s cry, the envoys and commanders jumped out of their tents.

“They have no patience… I thought they would at least be cautious for a day.”

At the words of the Imperial official, the Ming [Chinese dynasty from 1368 to 1644] and Japanese officials smiled and nodded.

“Anyway, since things have started, it’s the commander’s turn to step up. I’m counting on you.”

“Leave it to me.”

The commander-in-chief, who answered confidently, ordered the commanders who followed.

“Let’s show those guys what fear is.”

“Leave it to me.”

“We’ll make sure they never think about targeting us again.”

“Good luck.”

“May fortune be with you.”

The commanders, exchanging words of encouragement, ran to their respective areas and raised their voices.

“All troops to battle stations!”

“Release the camouflage!”

“Check the status of your weapons!”

“Now, then…”

The Imperial official, who was observing the situation as the escort guarding the encampment prepared for battle, returned to his tent and began to pack his gear. The Ming and Japanese officials were surprised to see him packing a rifle, a pistol, and even a bow and arrows with familiar movements.

“No! Are you also participating in the battle?”

“Isn’t it obvious? This is the norm for Imperial officials going abroad.”

“The norm?”

“It’s a time-honored tradition that has been passed down since the old days when Grand General Kim Jong-seo carried out the royal command in the northeastern region. Officials going abroad from the Empire, even female officials (女吏) [Chinese term for female officials], must know how to handle a gun.”

“Heo…”

The Ming and Japanese officials couldn’t close their mouths for a while at the Imperial official’s answer.

‘Come to think of it… one of the qualities that the Empress of the Empire must have is archery and gunnery, right?’

‘There was a joke that they misunderstood the art of the bedroom (房中術) [ancient Chinese sexual techniques], but it was real!’

“But why the bow…”

The Ming and Japanese officials, who were about to ask again, immediately closed their mouths. The most representative pastime enjoyed by the Imperials was archery.

‘If the Imperials have a bow in their hands, should we quietly step back?’

The Ming and Japanese officials, watching the Imperial officials preparing for battle step by step, soon turned around and went to find their own troops.

“If you have any spare guns, please give me some.”

“Why suddenly a gun?”

“Just sitting in the back and watching would be insulting His Majesty the Emperor.”

“The Imperial officials are stepping up to fight, and if we retreat, we will have no face to see His Majesty the King. Wouldn’t it be more honorable to die in battle than to commit seppuku [Japanese ritual suicide]?”

The commanders, hearing the answers from the Ming and Japanese officials, handed over their rifles without saying a word.

“I’ll have a soldier teach you how to shoot, so please be sure to learn it.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

While the soldiers and officials of the encampment were preparing for battle, the Qizilbash completed the encirclement of the encampment. Once the encirclement was complete, the leader of the Qizilbash approached the encampment with one of his brothers holding a white flag.

As the leader of the Qizilbash approached, the envoys of the Three Kingdoms Alliance also put down their guns and headed to the entrance of the encampment. Facing each other with the entrance of the encampment in the middle, the leader and the envoys began their final conversation.

“The heretics from the East must leave this place immediately!”

“Is that the Shah’s command?”

“No.”

“We are envoys who have come here by the order of the monarch. Only the Shah’s command can make us retreat! Your actions are insulting the Shah!”

“Do not try to deceive with clever words! This is the sacred land of Allah! Heretics cannot be here!”

“Is that a law written in the scriptures? As far as we know, there is no such word in the scriptures?”

“Do not defile the Quran [Islamic holy book]! This is the sacred land of Allah! Unclean heretics cannot defile this place!”

“So, is this the Shah’s command! Are you threatening the envoys without the Shah’s command! We will not succumb to such unfair threats!”

As the Imperial official declared on behalf of the envoys, the Ming and Japanese envoys also expressed their agreement. The leader of the Qizilbash also declared firmly in response to the envoys’ reaction.

“Unclean heretics! You will pay for rejecting goodwill with your lives!”

After speaking, the leader of the Qizilbash turned his horse and returned to the Qizilbash headquarters. In response, the envoys also turned and returned to the encampment.

Shortly after, the Qizilbash, who had been a little further away, began to charge towards the entrance of the encampment, picking up speed. As the Qizilbash’s charge began, the Imperial army commander guarding the entrance gave the order.

“Prepare the Hwachas [Korean rocket artillery] for firing!”

“Ready!”

“Fire!”

Tatatatatatang!

The Hwachas of the Imperial army, which had formed a fire net centered on the entrance of the encampment, began to fire all at once.

It was the beginning of ‘the day that changed the fate of the Safavid Empire.’

And it was the day ‘the East-West conflict’ began.