Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 108

Clang!

Hello, Bomb!

108. Partnership (2)

The next day, during the morning assembly, when Sejong announced that Hyang would be sent to Ming [China], the officials, excluding the councilors of state, unanimously opposed the decision.

“Crown Prince, explain yourself.”

“Yes, Father.”

At Sejong’s command, Hyang repeated the explanation he had given to Sejong and the councilors the previous day.

“…Therefore, I, the Crown Prince, must go to Ming.”

“Even so, sending the nation’s heir to another country so carelessly is…”

The newly appointed Minister of Justice expressed his disapproval, and Sejong glared at him.

“Then, who should confront the Emperor? Would you go, Minister?”

“…”

At Sejong’s question, the Minister of Justice fell silent.

An official of a vassal state confronting the supreme ruler of the suzerain state?

There was an insurmountable difference in status, and if things went wrong, he would undoubtedly bear all the responsibility.

In the end, the Minister of Justice had no choice but to remain silent. Seeing this, Sejong clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! You should have just kept quiet.”

“I am deeply sorry.”

“Tsk!”

As Sejong clicked his tongue, the Minister of Justice squeezed his eyes shut.

‘I understand why the other high-ranking officials hate the sound of tongue-clicking so much!’

Having been tormented by Sejong, the ministers and vice-ministers of the Six Ministries had come to despise the sound of tongue-clicking. However, it had become commonplace for the ministers and vice-ministers to click their tongues when pointing out the mistakes of their subordinates.

“Well, it seems there are no objections to appointing the Crown Prince as the chief envoy for this mission, so let’s proceed as planned.”

“We obey your command.”

“Crown Prince, return and attend to your duties.”

“I obey your command.”

As the Crown Prince left the throne room, Sejong looked at the officials with a proud expression.

“Having a son with such outstanding talent is truly a great blessing. Don’t you agree?”

“Indeed, it is!”

“The Crown Prince is so exceptional; it is a great fortune for Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom].”

“That’s right! It is truly a great fortune for Joseon!”

The officials eagerly chimed in, agreeing with Sejong.

The historian who recorded all of this added the following:

-…All the officials of the court praised the Crown Prince’s excellence.

The historian comments:

These days, the sound of children crying is constant in the homes of officials of the Dang Sang rank [high-ranking officials] or higher.

Furthermore, the number of those entering officialdom through the Eumseo system [preferential appointment based on family background] is decreasing.

I will say no more.

* * *

As the historian said, the scolding of adults and the crying of children never ceased in the homes of high-ranking officials.

“The Crown Prince is already building such achievements, and what are you doing!”

“I, I am sorry! I will try harder…”

“Quiet! Roll up your sleeves!”

Children of Hyang’s age or younger were compared in terms of academic achievement and were constantly pressured.

The situation was no better for adult children.

“You rascal! Why is the evaluation written on the Seogyeong Danja [personnel evaluation document] like this! You are disgracing your father’s name!”

“I am sorry!”

“If you wear the official robes comfortably through the Eumseo system, you should work even harder! What have you been doing to receive such an evaluation!”

“I am sorry!”

“Starting tomorrow, go to the office earlier than others and leave later than others! If you go to a courtesan house? I will ask His Majesty to have it recorded in the records!”

“Father, please, anything but that!”

“Do you want to ruin our family like Grand Scholar Jo or Grand Scholar Hwang! I should have you thrown into the records right now! There was a scoundrel like those Hwang brothers here!”

“Oh, Father!”

Those who had easily obtained official positions through the Eumseo system, relying on their fathers and family backgrounds, were going through a difficult time.

Those who had passed the civil service examination and risen through the ranks did not look kindly on those who had entered through the Eumseo system.

In addition, the drastically changing work environment due to the reforms made it difficult for those who had entered as parachutes.

The most devastating thing was what Hwang Hee’s sons had done recently.

After receiving a report that Hwang Hee’s sons had entered the Eumseo system and easily risen to key positions, Sejong issued an order.

“Re-evaluate the performance of those who entered office through the Eumseo system!”

Not many received good evaluations in the newly conducted performance evaluation, which was joined by the Office of the Inspector General and the Office of Censors.

And because it was certain that this evaluation would have a negative impact on their fathers and families, there was even more chaos.

In the end, as the reforms gradually gained momentum, even the children of powerful families entered officialdom through the formal path of the civil service examination rather than the Eumseo system.

Rather than entering an intermediate-level position through the Eumseo system with limited experience and receiving a below-average evaluation, they thought it was safer to climb the ladder step by step from the bottom.

* * *

Having completed the selection of the delegation, Hyang boarded a ship with the Ming envoy and departed from Jemulpo [ancient port in Korea].

Standing at the bow, looking at the sea, Hyang spoke with the envoy.

“I heard the security in Liaodong [region in northeastern China] is not good?”

The Ming envoy nodded at Hyang’s question.

“That’s right. The Jurchens [ethnic minority in northeastern China] have become increasingly ferocious in recent times.”

As the Ming envoy said, the atmosphere among the Jurchens in the Jianzhou and Haixi regions was not good.

* * *

Some tribes in Haixi and Jianzhou, who had submitted to Ming early on and started sedentary life instead of nomadic life, were living quite well, but other tribes were becoming increasingly impoverished.

The biggest reason for this change in situation was that Joseon had opened a trading post in Shandong [coastal province in China].

As a formal trading post was established in Shandong and merchants traveled through maritime routes, the smuggling that had continued in the Liaodong region disappeared.

This was a matter of survival for the Jurchens in the region.

The wealth earned by attacking smuggling rings or escorting them was more significant than expected.

In addition, as Ming merchants moved to the horse market created to avoid conflicts with the Northern Yuan [Mongol dynasty], economic hardship worsened.

In the end, the Jurchens, reaching their limits, attacked other tribes or raided Ming settlements, or crossed the Yalu River and attacked Joseon’s border villages.

However, the Jurchens who attacked Ming or Joseon suffered even greater damage.

This was because Ming and Joseon mobilized troops to suppress them.

In particular, Joseon carried out retaliatory operations that wiped out not only the tribe in question but also nearby tribes.

Thanks to this, the sight of Jurchens crossing the Yalu River was no longer seen.

As the situation became like this, all that remained for the Jurchens was fratricide.

And so, the atmosphere in the Liaodong region became very ominous.

* * *

“How does the suzerain state plan to resolve the situation in Liaodong?”

At Hyang’s question, the envoy smiled slightly and shook his head.

“What would a minor official like me know? However, His Majesty is paying close attention, so a good solution will come soon. What are your thoughts, Crown Prince?”

At the envoy’s question, Hyang made a similar expression to the one the envoy had made and replied.

“What can I, who am just beginning to learn state affairs, judge? I only hope that no great disaster befalls our Joseon.”

“But seeing you go as a chief envoy, doesn’t that mean you are trusted?”

As the envoy subtly probed, Hyang smiled and replied.

“Hahaha! I am just a frog that has just left the well, wanting to know the vastness of the Yangtze River and the sea, so I made a bit of a fuss!” [idiom for limited perspective]

“The rumors I hear are not like that?”

“Rumors are just rumors.”

* * *

The fleet carrying Hyang and the envoy stopped briefly in Shandong to rest and resupply, and sent a messenger to Beijing [capital of Ming Dynasty].

After resting for three days in Shandong, the fleet then set sail for Tianjin [major port city in China].

When the fleet arrived in Tianjin, a group of officials was waiting for Hyang.

“We offer a welcoming greeting to the Crown Prince of Joseon!”

Hyang, receiving a polite greeting from the waiting officials, returned the greeting with impeccable manners.

“Thank you for the warm welcome.”

Escorted by officials and soldiers, Hyang headed to Beijing.

* * *

Hyang, entering the Forbidden City in Beijing, immediately had an audience with the Xuande Emperor [Ming Dynasty emperor].

“Welcome, Crown Prince of Joseon.”

“It is a great honor to meet the Emperor, the ruler of the suzerain state. Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!” [traditional greeting for emperors]

“Hahaha. It feels good to receive ten thousand years from the Crown Prince of Joseon. Let’s rest from your journey first and then talk.”

“I am truly grateful for His Majesty’s consideration.”

Three days later, Hyang officially began his official duties.

“Yes, I heard the report from the envoy who went to Joseon. You will cover three outer halls with glass?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“And you said you would only receive the cost of the glass as a reply?”

“That is correct.”

At Hyang’s answer, the Xuande Emperor laughed loudly and tapped the armrest.

“Hahaha! That’s really good! I have also heard that glass is a truly beautiful object. However, I was worried about wasting the nation’s finances by indulging in beauty, so I was refraining, but your Joseon has made a truly grateful proposal!”

Seeing the Xuande Emperor’s good reaction, Hyang gradually proceeded with the work.

“Maintaining good neighborly relations with the suzerain state is our Joseon’s wish. Bring in what we have prepared.”

At Hyang’s command, the Joseon officials who had been waiting brought in large and small boxes and a large table covered with silk cloth.

“What is it?”

“They are insignificant things made of glass.”

Hyang, who answered, removed the silk covering the table.

“Oh!”

“Oh, oh!”

Seeing the table revealed as the silk was removed, not only the Xuande Emperor but also the surrounding officials and eunuchs were impressed.

It was a beautiful table with four dragons supporting a glass tabletop.

“It’s truly beautiful.”

The Xuande Emperor muttered to himself without realizing it. The Xuande Emperor, who usually emphasized frugality, could not help but admire the beauty of the glass.

Hyang then opened the boxes. Seeing the glass products surrounded by sawdust, the Xuande Emperor was greatly impressed and said to Hyang.

“From ancient times, the East Sea region has been famous for making beautiful objects. Seeing these glass objects, I know that the rumors are not false.”

“That is an excessive compliment.”

“It is not excessive.”

As the eunuchs cleared away the tribute, the Xuande Emperor got to the point.

“I say again, according to what the envoy said, you will replace all the outer doors of the three outer halls with glass, and you will only receive the cost of the glass as a reply. Is that correct?”

“That is correct.”

“Instead, you said you would stop sending tribute women and eunuchs. Is that also correct?”

“That is correct! Many parents in Joseon shed tears and wail in the process of sending tribute women and eunuchs. How can this not be a tragic event?”

“That’s true.”

The Xuande Emperor nodded at Hyang’s words.

The custom of tribute women was created by the Yuan [dynasty]. The Yongle Emperor had inherited it as it was.

‘There is no reason for our Ming to continue to inherit the customs that the barbarians of Yuan used to do. But…’

The Xuande Emperor, calculating this and that, began to bargain.

“If you cover the inner palace’s rear three palaces with glass as well, I will accept that request. However, the cost will be 6 silver taels [currency] per sheet for the outer and inner palaces combined.”

“Your Majesty! It costs 8 silver taels per sheet just to make the glass! Considering the parts that can be damaged during transportation, 6 silver taels is impossible!”

Hyang strongly refused, but the Xuande Emperor did not budge.

“Does the King of Joseon save money on stopping the tears of his people?”

“…”

Hyang bit his lip at the Xuande Emperor’s question. The Xuande Emperor smiled slightly at the sight.

‘Now, what will you do? It’s a matter of your father’s honor!’

Hyang, showing a look of repeated contemplation, looked at the Xuande Emperor.

“Let’s make it 7 silver taels, but I would like to make a suggestion to Your Majesty.”

“A suggestion? Speak.”

“As you just saw, our Joseon has made various objects with glass. These glass objects will soon be sold in Ming.”

“Is that so? Joseon will earn a lot of wealth. Is this a problem?”

“Therefore, I propose a partnership to Your Majesty.”

“A partnership? With me? Why would I?”

As the Xuande Emperor expressed his doubts, Hyang explained about the joint venture.

“Hmm… I have heard your explanation well. But why me?”

“The owner of the royal glass workshop that produces glass is my father. Although he is the ruler of a vassal state, his rightful partner is only Your Majesty.”

“Hmm…”

The Xuande Emperor began to calculate, drumming his fingers on the armrest of the throne.