Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1104

1104. Overture of Calamity (11)

While Charles VIII and Louis XII were reaching an agreement, in Seoul, Woo and his ministers were discussing the ‘assault ship’.

“…So, you’re saying that France is developing this unusual weapon called an ‘assault ship’?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“If the French monarch has any sense, would he accept it?”

“If it has military value, I believe he would.”

At the Minister of National Defense’s answer, the gazes of Woo and everyone else focused on him.

“Minister of National Defense, explain in more detail.”

At Woo’s command, the Minister of National Defense cleared his throat and began his explanation.

“First, the construction cost is low.

Although the steam engine is expensive, compared to the steam engines used in large battleships, the price is very cheap. And, if mass production begins, the production cost will drop even further.

Second, even if one is sunk, the loss is small.

Large battleships carry at least 1,000 sailors. If such a large battleship is sunk, at least half of the sailors would be lost. However, in the case of assault ships, the maximum is 20 people per ship. Even if all the occupants die, the loss is only 20 people.”

(Omitted)

“Hmm… So, should we also build assault ships?”

At Woo’s question after listening to the explanation, the Minister of National Defense shook his head.

“No, Your Majesty. Their assault ships are a kind of unconventional tactic. In military strategy, unconventional tactics are used only when unavoidable. Unconventional tactics may bring a single victory, but they cannot guarantee victory every time. In the long run, only the orthodox approach is the answer.”

“However, according to your explanation, that assault ship seems to be a very deadly weapon. Is there a way to stop it?”

“There is.”

“What is it?”

At the Minister of National Defense’s answer, the eyes of Woo and the other ministers sparkled. The Minister of National Defense gestured to the officials waiting behind him. At the Minister of National Defense’s gesture, the waiting officials brought out a chart and hung it up.

Standing in front of the chart, the Minister of National Defense began his explanation, turning the cover of the chart.

“His Majesty [referring to the former king, Hyun] began to conceive of this warship and has already established a framework to some extent. His Majesty named it ‘destroyer’.”

After the Minister of National Defense’s explanation, Woo nodded and gave his assessment.

“A warship that chases and drives away the enemy… I think it’s a very fitting name. Hmm… I officially authorize its development.”

“Your benevolence is boundless!”

At Woo’s decision, the Minister of National Defense bowed his head with a bright face. Until now, he had been proceeding with development only with funds secured by emptying the pockets of Hyun, the Sangwang [retired king], and squeezing the national defense budget as much as possible. However, with Woo’s official approval, he was relieved.

On the other hand, the Minister of Finance’s expression was not very good. Seeing the Minister of Finance’s expression, Woo wrapped up the situation.

“I cannot shake the thought that this is a battle of spear and shield. However, France will not be the only one to have such an idea. Soon, there will be countries that follow suit or come up with similar ideas. Preparing for this is absolutely necessary. Why else would there be a saying, ‘forewarned is forearmed’?”

“I will prepare the budget.”

After hearing the Minister of Finance’s answer, Woo asked the Minister of National Defense again.

“You said that His Majesty began to conceive of it, did His Majesty foresee that this would happen?”

“That was not the case. Initially, it was a warship to deal with the pirates who were resurging in the Strait of Malacca.”

“Ah…”

At the Minister of National Defense’s answer, Woo and the ministers nodded.

Recently, pirates had begun to be active again in the Strait of Malacca and the Indian Ocean. They were committing robberies on small pirate ships equipped with steam engines, from who knows where. Chasing and suppressing small, fast pirate ships, or ‘rat-like’ ships according to the navy, was not an easy task.

Therefore, the Empire adopted a tactic of chasing them down and destroying their bases – also known as ‘rat hunting’. The problem was that this was a very expensive operation. To wipe out the pirates who scattered like rats, it was necessary to operate with at least a regular fleet.

“France is a big problem, but pirates are also a big problem. I hope the Minister of Finance will cooperate more actively.”

“I will obey your command.”

With that, Woo wrapped up the situation and moved on to the next topic.

“Looking at this case, it seems that the ‘Communications Management Bureau’ is slowly starting to do its part.”

At Woo’s words, the Prime Minister stepped forward and answered.

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

* * *

The ‘Communications Management Bureau’ was an integrated information management organization created by the Empire.

Even before the establishment of the Management Bureau, the Empire had put a lot of effort into collecting information. However, the situation could be described as ‘disorganized’. All departments that had contact with the outside world, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Ministry of Finance, independently acquired and managed information.

Of course, this information and intelligence were immediately reported to the Emperor, and the Emperor ordered other departments to be notified of this information and respond if necessary. However, as the amount of information coming in increased, this processing method became the epitome of inefficiency. Therefore, Hyang initiated the idea, and Woo and Hyun responded, and the ‘Communications Management Bureau’ was established.

-Primarily manages the Empire’s communication system.

This was the goal of establishing the ‘Communications Management Bureau’. And most of the managers belonging to the Management Bureau were engaged in this work. However, a classified department ‘Classification Department’ in charge of information work was established within it.

And, information managers from the Imperial Army and other departments were assigned to this Classification Department. Interestingly, about 10% of these people belonged to Milwi [a secret intelligence organization]. And, according to the plans of Hyang, Wan, Hyun, and Woo, that ratio would gradually increase.

-Half inside, the other half outside.

This was the plan of Hyang, Wan, Hyun, and Woo.

And, the first major achievement of the Communications Management Bureau established in this way was information about the ‘assault ship’.

* * *

“Hmm… I received the report, but that ‘salon’ method was truly novel.”

At Woo’s assessment, the first Director of the Communications Management Bureau, who was sitting in one corner, bowed his head.

“You flatter me.”

“I look forward to it in the future. If you need support, feel free to ask at any time.”

“Your benevolence is boundless. I have received great favor, so I will do my best.”

“I expect it.”

Woo and the Director of the Communications Management Bureau had an amicable conversation. Others did not know, but the Director of the Communications Management Bureau belonged to Milwi. Meanwhile, the ministers who were listening to the conversation next to them were having a different conversation.

“Isn’t that ‘salon’ ambiguous?”

“I agree. It’s not a gisaeng house [Korean courtesan house], it’s not a daru [tea house], it’s not a seowon [private Confucian academy]… Hmm… Is it similar to a sarangchae [scholar’s study]?”

“It’s probably most similar to a sarangchae.”

The ‘salon’ was a means devised by the Imperial Communications Management Bureau to extract confidential information from foreign countries, especially European powers. Perhaps because of the Empire’s influence, the Renaissance began earlier and spread more widely than in the history before Hyang’s intervention.

In this social atmosphere, exchange meetings – salons – began to become popular among the upper classes of European powers. Those who attended the exchange meetings drank tea and alcohol and held discussions on various fields. And this was enthusiastically welcomed by the upper classes and intellectuals.

-Eat, drink, and be merry. And dance.

For the upper class, whose social gatherings were only banquets like this, exchanges through discussion were a breath of fresh air. Salons were also a favorite place for intellectuals. Until then, when discussions were held at universities and churches, fierce debates were held with a determination to fight to the death.

However, in the discussions held in salons, it was possible to enjoy the discussions more comfortably. No, they had to. Because if they conducted radical discussions as they did at universities, they would be expelled from the salon.

“We are not the entertainment of the nobles!”

Some intellectuals refused invitations to salons, saying this, but most intellectuals eagerly looked forward to invitations to salons. If they were lucky, they could find a wealthy sponsor who could support their research.

It was not only intellectuals who looked forward to invitations to salons. Artists were the same. If their paintings were hung in the mansion of the host where the salon was held, they would be sold as soon as they were painted from then on. Music also began to develop chamber music that was good to enjoy indoors, breaking away from the heavy and grand sacred music.

* * *

The Communications Management Bureau raised the need for ‘resident spies’, and in the process of finding an answer to this, they paid attention to ‘salons’. However, if you dig a little deeper, this was Milwi’s plan.

-There is a limit to acquiring information with the existing disguised companies.

-As the saying goes, ‘if the tail is long, it will be caught’, it may be discovered someday.

-Risks must be diversified!

-Then?

Here, ‘salons’ came into view.

“However, considering the characteristics of salons, it’s not an easy task.”

Salons were places opened by the upper class. In Europe, a deep-rooted family was basic for the upper class.

“That said, it’s not right for the sadaebu [aristocratic] families of the Empire to go…”

“You can build relationships, but it’s impossible to acquire information.”

Europe was more lax in ‘maintaining confidentiality’ than the Empire, but there was still a minimum line. In the end, Milwi’s executives secretly asked Hyang for help.

“Hmm… I’ll try to find an answer as soon as possible.”

Hyang, who was worried after receiving Milwi’s request, suddenly woke up in the middle of the night and shouted.

‘Anastasia! No, My Fair Lady!’

The famous truth debate over women claiming to be ‘Nicholas II’s youngest daughter’ [referring to the historical mystery surrounding Anastasia Romanov]. A musical about teaching speech and etiquette to lower-class women and debuting them in the upper class [likely referring to “My Fair Lady”, a musical based on George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion”]. Hyang, who found the answer, immediately ordered Milwi.

-Select qualified women from among the women who are being trained to be dispatched to Europe.

-Those from noble families.

-Those with an outstanding appearance in their late 20s.

-Those who have absolute loyalty to the Empire.

-Select such people and thoroughly educate them on the etiquette and speech of the European upper class.

-The first goal is Paris.

Three years later. A new person appeared in the upper-class residential area of Paris.

She was a beautiful blonde woman. As someone with an unusual appearance appeared and settled down, the nearby upper classes began to show interest. A few days later, the beautiful woman invited her neighbors to a small party.

Those who visited the woman’s house were lost in the Empire’s luxury goods that filled the entire house. It wasn’t just luxury goods. The servants and maids were also unusual. Although their appearance was European, most of the servants and maids were dressed in the Empire’s attire. And soon, rumors about this woman began to spread in Paris.

-The woman is from the Empire. But her origin is French.

-She was born in a North African colony from a French noble family.

-When she was young, she was attacked by pirates and sold into slavery, but an Imperial nobleman saved her.

-The Imperial nobleman treated her like a daughter rather than a slave and raised her.

-However, as her master, the Imperial nobleman, became old, her treatment began to deteriorate, and she herself became homesick and returned to France.

-The items and wealth that fill the mansion are the master’s last gift.

Those who liked to gossip investigated the truth of the rumors, and the result was.

“It was real!”

There was actually such a family, and it was also true that they were destroyed by pirates who were active in North Africa. And it was also true that the noble couple had a young daughter at the time. And that daughter was famous for her beautiful blonde hair and face.

In the end, she emerged as the core of Parisian high society. To the extent that King Charles VIII and Duke Louis XII of Orléans invited her.