Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 116

Jjangra

Hello, Bomb!

116. He’s Back! (2)

The next day, as soon as the morning assembly began, Sejong called the Chief State Councilor to check on the situation.

“So, have you found suitable candidates?”

“Yes, we are in the process of narrowing them down.”

“Still?”

Sejong’s voice turned stern, and the Chief State Councilor immediately explained the reason.

“The suitable individuals are currently involved in the Northern Frontier development.”

“Ah, I see.”

Sejong nodded at the Chief State Councilor’s response.

The Northern Frontier development, ambitiously pursued by Sejong and the court, was progressing relatively smoothly.

According to the reports delivered every ten days, Joseon’s northern territories, especially in the northeast, were steadily expanding.

And as it expanded, it was drawing in more and more people.

Among the reasons for the continuous influx of people, armed conflict was the least significant.

This was because the Joseon army had firmly demonstrated its power, and few Jurchens [nomadic people living north of Joseon] dared to provoke them with force.

However, the reason why more personnel were needed than expected was that the resettlement policy was as successful as the Jurchens’ peaceful surrender.

* * *

“If you go to the north, the country will give you land! And taxes are free for five years!”

When the rumor first spread, the farmers showed little enthusiasm.

As a result, the local officials in the Samnam region [the three southern provinces of Joseon], whose performance evaluations were at stake, began to worry about how to increase the number of farmers volunteering for resettlement.

One of the local officials, while pondering, submitted a memorial to Sejong.

-In the current situation, there are no farmers willing to volunteer for resettlement. Please provide a suitable bait to attract the farmers.

“What else is suitable besides tax exemption?”

Hyang answered Sejong’s question immediately.

“To increase the production of Deokgap-style gunpowder, the production of glycerine must be increased. Please order the court to purchase all soybeans if they farm beans.”

The Chief State Councilor and ministers all responded to Hyang’s words.

“That is truly a brilliant idea! Please proceed accordingly!”

“I think so too.”

In that way, the royal decree was sent down to the local officials of the Samnam region.

The local officials who received the decree immediately spread the rumor.

-If you farm beans, the court will purchase all of them!

The farmers’ behinds began to wiggle little by little upon hearing the rumor, but there was still no full-scale movement.

“It’s good that the country buys beans, but will they buy that much? No, what do they need that many beans for? It’s not like the King is eating bean paste instead of rice.”

“That’s…

Ah!”

Among those who expressed doubts, those with quick minds immediately got up and volunteered for resettlement.

“Did this old man have a drink in the afternoon! Why are you suddenly saying you’re going to the north! I can’t live like this!”

Of course, those who made unilateral decisions were immediately nagged by their wives, and the husbands explained the reason.

“You think about it too. What is the food that Gae-ttong [a child’s name meaning ‘dog poop’] loves to death? Gae-ttong! What do you like the most these days!”

“Gyejak! Gyejak! [a chicken and vegetable stew]”

Gae-ttong’s father continued, answering young Gae-ttong.

“Did you hear that? These days, every household eats Gyejak once or twice a month. Right?”

“But, why is that?”

“What is the most important thing in Gyejak besides chicken? Oil, oil! Soybean oil!”

“Ah!”

Gae-ttong’s mother immediately understood and began to move busily.

“When are you going north? I have some things laid out here and there, so I need to take care of them!”

* * *

To obtain the glycerine needed to produce Deokgap-style gunpowder, the Joseon court distributed large quantities of meat, especially oil obtained from pork, as well as soybean oil.

However, unlike the chemical extraction methods used in Korea in the 20th and 21st centuries, the amount obtained through traditional pressing extraction was not large, so the court had to purchase large quantities of soybeans. The amount of money involved was by no means small.

The amount recovered while distributing soybean oil was also considerable, but when calculating profit and loss, they could not avoid a deficit.

In this situation, Minister of Taxation Kim Jeom made a request to Sejong.

“Since the situation is like this, I think it is right to postpone the manufacture of Deokgap-style gunpowder.”

“That cannot be! Please reconsider! Absolutely not!”

As soon as Kim Jeom finished speaking, fierce opposition began to pour out from the Ministry of War.

Since the end of the Goryeo Dynasty [918-1392], the core force of the military had been the artillery. Especially in the case of the navy, as seen in the actual battle records, it was an army that ‘started with cannons and ended with cannons.’

In particular, the navy was the first to adopt gunpowder as soon as it was improved by Hyang.

And following that, as soon as the design of the Panokseon [a sturdy, oar-and-cannon-equipped warship] came out of Hyang’s laboratory, the navy was the one who requested Sejong to create a prototype ship to confirm its performance and then immediately mass-produce it.

“Mass production?”

“Yes! Because the hull is large, it can withstand big waves, and above all, it is higher than the existing battleships, making it easier to prevent the Wokou [Japanese pirates] from boarding! But the best thing is that it can carry far more cannons than the existing battleships!”

Hyang nodded at the navy’s actions, which were enough to be called ‘firepower maniacs.’

‘Admiral Yi Sun-sin [a famous Korean admiral] didn’t just come out of nowhere!’

For such a navy, Deokgap-style gunpowder was worth ten thousand gold.

To put it another way, the fact that it exerted the same power even if only half of the existing gunpowder was used meant that each battleship only needed to carry half of the existing gunpowder, and the remaining space could be used to carry more other supplies such as food or drinking water.

Therefore, for the navy, which had to consider the spatial constraints of a warship, the suspension of the production of Deokgap-style gunpowder was something that had to be prevented at all costs.

This was also the case for the army. The army also had a significant proportion of cannons, and Deokgap-style gunpowder was a precious item that reduced the burden on the artillery.

That was why the military put up a desperate resistance to Kim Jeom’s words, saying, ‘Tear my belly open rather!’

In the end, Sejong sided with the military.

“Even if we suffer losses, this is something we have to accept. Therefore, I will not accept the Minister of Taxation’s plan.”

“…I obey your command.”

Kim Jeom had to accept Sejong’s decision.

As an anecdote, on the day the decision was made, Kim Jeom went to the point of grabbing the Minister of War by the collar.

“Damn it! Please check the financial statements once, sir! Check it out!”

* * *

Anyway, as the problem of stable income was resolved in this way, the number of farmers who came forward to move to the north increased dramatically.

As the number of people who wanted to move increased faster and in larger quantities than expected, more and more military forces were required in the north.

Just as the number of migrating farmers increased rapidly, another unexpected event occurred in the north.

Another unexpected event that occurred in the north was the mass surrender of the Jurchens.

When the military first devised the strategy to develop the north, the military estimated the surrender rate of the Jurchens to be a maximum of 60%.

“60% is generous. Judging by the Jurchens’ personality, most of them will resist or leave. Look at the Odori tribe.”

The military set the maximum value at 60%, citing the example of the Odori tribe, who left and returned at the persuasion of Ahachutu and the Yongle Emperor [a Chinese emperor of the Ming Dynasty].

However, when the northern development actually began, the surrender rate of the Jurchens started at 70% and was gradually increasing.

“Why?”

Sejong smiled slightly at the Chief State Councilor’s words, “Isn’t it all thanks to Your Majesty?”

“I would be happy if that were the case, but find out the reason immediately. Don’t just pass it off as a good thing and cause a big problem later!”

“I obey your command!”

In that way, the government officials immediately found the cause.

“The monopoly store?”

* * *

As farmers migrated to the north, the Ministry of Taxation’s monopoly stores were also set up in the newly created towns.

As the monopoly stores were set up, they attracted the attention of the Jurchens who came to live as neighbors.

“What is that place?”

A farmer replied with a nonchalant face to the question of a Jurchen who was fluent in Joseon language.

“That? It’s a monopoly store.”

“What is a monopoly store?”

“If you go there, you can buy salt or sugar.”

The eyes of the Jurchen who asked the question widened.

“You can buy salt?”

“That’s right.”

“Can I buy it too?”

“Go and ask.”

At the farmer’s words, the Jurchen got on his horse and headed to the monopoly store.

“What’s going on?”

When the Jurchen entered the monopoly store, everyone, including the Ministry of Taxation official dispatched and the soldiers guarding just in case, looked at the Jurchen with tense faces.

“I heard that I can buy salt here.”

The Ministry of Taxation official’s expression relaxed at the Jurchen’s question and replied.

“Salt? Ah, if you are a Jurchen who has surrendered, you can buy it. Do you have a certificate of surrender?”

“Here it is.”

The Jurchen rummaged through his clothes and took out the certificate.

The Ministry of Taxation official checked the document with the official seal, confirmed the Jurchen’s residence on the map hanging behind him, and nodded.

“It’s under our jurisdiction. Then you can buy it. Are you going to buy it now?”

At the Jurchen’s distrustful question, the Ministry of Taxation official smiled and replied.

“Would I be lying after coming all the way to this north? So, are you going to buy it or not? I’m already busy, so speak quickly.”

The Jurchen came to his senses at the Ministry of Taxation official’s urging and replied.

“Ah! I don’t have anything to sell right now. What should I bring?”

“Anything that can be wealth. Cows, horses, sheep, grains, as well as fur, gold, and silver are all acceptable.”

“I understand! I’ll be back soon!”

The Ministry of Taxation official hurriedly called out to the Jurchen, who was running around in a hurry.

“Hey! You have to take this certificate with you! It’s useless without this!”

“Yes? Yes! Thank you!”

The Jurchen, who took the certificate of surrender, carefully put the problematic certificate in his arms, immediately bowed, and hurried out.

Similar cases to that Jurchen occurred here and there in the northern frontier.

Being able to stably obtain salt, the most essential commodity for survival, was like a lifeline from heaven for the Jurchens.

In the end, seeing the surrendered Jurchens offering livestock or grain and obtaining not only salt but also sugar, the Jurchens who had not yet surrendered began to compete to surrender.

As the situation became like this, the demand for manpower in the north increased tremendously.

The existing troops left to guard the borders of the rapidly increasing territory.

Inside the frontier, additional troops were deployed to maintain security and prevent disputes between the immigrants from the Samnam region and the Jurchens, resulting in a shortage of people.

* * *

“I was happy that the northern development was progressing rapidly, but there are such side effects. I need to fill the position of Minister of War quickly…”

As Sejong said with a regretful expression at the Chief State Councilor’s answer, the Minister of Justice advised.

“Former Minister of War Hwang Sang’s crime is so great that it cannot be helped, but reappointing Yi Sun-mong is important…”

“Sir! Speak sense!”

The Chief Censor cut off the Minister of Justice’s words before they were finished.

“What is Yi Sun-mong’s position? Supreme Commander, Supreme Commander! He is the one with the important duty of escorting His Majesty’s carriage, but he not only had illicit relations but also falsely took sick leave! How can we use such an outrageous person again!”

“The Chief Censor is right.”

Sejong, who sided with the Chief Censor, ordered the Eunuch.

“Go and bring Jo Mal-saeng.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

As Sejong ordered to bring Jo Mal-saeng back, the Chief State Councilor immediately asked.

“Your Majesty, are you going to use Jo Mal-saeng again?”

“That’s right.”

The Chief Censor immediately advised at Sejong’s answer.

“Your Majesty! This is absolutely not acceptable! The criminal Jo Mal-saeng has not even served 2 years since receiving his sentence. Reusing such a criminal is absolutely unacceptable! Please reconsider!”

“The Chief Censor’s words also make sense. But the criminal Jo Mal-saeng is doing his best to serve his sentence and is proving it. Eunuch, hand this over to the Chief Censor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Eunuch received the report from the record office and handed it over to the Chief Censor.

“Huh~.”

The Chief Censor sighed as he received and read the report.

The report clearly summarized the results with graphs and tables – again, all Hyang’s work – and Jo Mal-saeng was showing outstanding results.

“Haa~.”

The Chief Censor, who sighed deeply once again, waved the white flag.

‘There are results, and the royal mind is set. It’s hard to break with just justification!’

“As you wish.”