Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 117

Jjanggeura

Hello, Bomb!

117. He’s Back! (3)

Not long after the Grand Scholar waved the white flag, Jo Mal-saeng entered the main hall.

As Jo Mal-saeng walked in, wearing a white robe and a gat [traditional Korean hat], Hyang felt like he could hear the theme music from a famous Western movie composed by Ennio Morricone.

‘All he needs is a cigarette in his mouth!’

Jo Mal-saeng, exuding a perilous aura, walked up to the platform where Sejong was seated and bowed deeply.

“Jo Mal-saeng, a sinner, has come here by the order of His Majesty!”

“So, how is life in the Archives? I heard everyone is having a hard time, to the point of death?”

At Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng answered vigorously.

“Not only did you spare a sinner who deserved to die, but you also gave me a chance to atone for my sins. What hardship could there be?”

“Hahaha…”

Sejong burst into hearty laughter at Jo Mal-saeng’s reply, and the officials felt their hands and feet curling up. They cringed at his blatant flattery.

‘He didn’t go to the Archives to organize documents, but to practice sucking up!’

As much as the officials were dumbfounded, Sejong, who had been laughing in vain, turned serious and glared at Jo Mal-saeng.

“I intend to give the sinner Jo Mal-saeng a chance. The position of Minister of War is currently vacant. Can you take this position and do it properly?”

At Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng prostrated himself on the floor and answered in a loud voice.

“Sinner Jo Mal-saeng! If you entrust it to me, I will devote myself and spare no effort!”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s answer, Sejong made a decision.

“Come to the court from tomorrow. However, if you do not do your job properly, you will be immediately dismissed and sent back to the Archives.”

Jo Mal-saeng buried his head further into the floor and shouted.

“I will keep that in mind!”

“I will watch you for three months first. If you properly handle the affairs of the Ministry of War, I will give you suitable land in Bukchon [traditional Korean village in Seoul] and rebuild your house… but if not, you know what will happen next, right?”

At Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng answered immediately.

“How could I not know! Even if I die, I will die in front of the desk of the Ministry of War!”

“Then go and rest, Minister of War.”

“Your grace is boundless! May His Majesty live for ten thousand years! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years!”

After shouting “Ten thousand years” three times, Jo Mal-saeng carefully backed out of the main hall. Seeing this, Sejong turned to the officials.

“Now… now that we have filled the position, let’s get back to work. The reform is almost over.”

“We obey your command!”

Meanwhile, the historian who recorded all of this added the following words.

-…Therefore, the officials did not oppose the reappointment of Jo Mal-saeng.

The historian comments:

The King is scary.

* * *

The next day, Jo Mal-saeng, dressed in proper official attire, came to the court and immediately began working on improving the problems of the military.

“…As the northern territory expands, communication problems are arising. The solution to this is a major overhaul of the post stations (驛院) [government-run relay stations for travelers and officials].”

“An overhaul of the post stations…”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s suggestion, Sejong stroked his beard and pondered.

The post station system, which started in China and was established in Joseon from the Three Kingdoms period [ancient Korean kingdoms], was also the most important element of the administrative network.

“Does the Minister of War have any thoughts on this?”

“First, we need to identify the problems that have arisen from the existing system.

Until now, we have given land to those living around the post stations to manage them. The horses to be stationed at the post stations were also secured by imposing the duty of providing horses (立馬役) [horse provision duty] as corvée labor on the post station workers, servants, and soldiers.

However, this has many side effects.

According to what I have confirmed while organizing documents in the Archives, the demand for horses is increasing due to the escort and reception of envoys traveling between Joseon and Ming, and the price of horses is rising, leading to people selling their entire fortunes to provide horses.

As a result, not long after our Joseon was founded, the number of people running away from the post stations or wandering around (流離, scattering and wandering) is increasing.”(Note 1)

At Jo Mal-saeng’s report, Sejong’s face became serious.

“That’s a problem… So, what’s the solution?”

“The easiest way is to designate households near the post stations as assisting households (助役戶) [households assisting with corvée labor] and have them provide horses (立馬). The next is to supply government horses (官馬) [horses owned by the government] from the ranches located in each province. I believe we should choose the second option.”

“The second one?”

Jo Mal-saeng continued to argue for its necessity.

“Having assisting households provide horses may be convenient in the short term, but over time, people will run away or wander again. Looking at the reforms currently being 추진 [promoted/advanced], the goal is to unify the taxes that the people have to pay. Therefore, the first plan does not conform to the purpose of the reforms.”

“That’s right.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, Sejong and the officials nodded. As Sejong and the officials showed a positive reaction, Jo Mal-saeng continued to speak.

“Therefore, the best option is to deploy government horses that are being raised on ranches in each region.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, Kim Jeom raised an objection.

“The Minister’s opinion is reasonable, but the problem is the supply of horses.”

“Why is the supply a problem? Have you forgotten the memorial that came up from Jeju Island this January?”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s pointed remark, Kim Jeom hurriedly tried to recall. Seeing this, Jo Mal-saeng clicked his tongue.

“To forget even before the year has changed… How can the Minister of Taxation of a country be so careless?”

“Ugh…”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s attack, Kim Jeom could only groan. Jo Mal-saeng, having silenced Kim Jeom, appealed to Sejong.

“There was a memorial that came up from Jeju Island in January and was transferred to the Ministry of War. It was a memorial submitted by the Jeju Pacification Commissioner (按撫使) [official in charge of pacifying a region], and it was related to the horses of Jeju Island.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, Sejong, who had been trying to recall for a moment, answered.

“I remember now. It was about regularly releasing horses from Jeju Island, right?”

“That is correct.”

* * *

In January, the Jeju Pacification Commissioner submitted a memorial.(Note 2)

-The residents of Jeju rely solely on horses for their livelihood, so they have a strong desire to sell horses to the mainland.

However, the problem is that the country has prohibited the sale of female horses. Male horses are often sold at bargain prices before they are even two years old, which leads to an imbalance in the ratio of males to females, which reduces the breeding rate.

Therefore, please allow female horses to be sold to the mainland regularly every two to three years.

The problem of Jeju Island was also related to Joseon’s tribute system.

As Jeju Island emerged as a key horse-breeding area for Joseon, local officials focused on increasing the number of horses raised.

For that reason, they left only female horses that could give birth and sent out male horses.

Thanks to that, only the residents of Jeju Island suffered.

Most of the land on Jeju Island was pasture, but there were a small number of people who farmed. However, the horses from the ranches trampled or ate the crops in the rice paddies and fields, causing enormous damage.

In the end, the people of Jeju Island gradually gave up farming and became more and more dependent on animal husbandry.

As a result, a shortage of grain became commonplace, and the horses they raised also frequently starved to death.

What was even worse was that the horses that did not receive proper nutrition had poor development. In addition, with the disappearance of male horses in their prime and only old and senile stallions remaining, inbreeding became frequent, leading to an overall deterioration (劣化) [degeneration] of the Jeju horses.

It was almost a common saying that ‘Even if it is a horse of a good breed, if it gives birth to a foal on Jeju Island, it will gradually become smaller.’

This was a disaster brought about by the short-sighted decisions of local officials and residents who were only focused on performance.

* * *

As Sejong recalled, Jo Mal-saeng immediately continued.

“Currently, the condition of the horses on Jeju Island is not good due to excessive animal husbandry. The number of horses raised on Jeju Island should be reduced to an appropriate level, and the number of horses raised on mainland ranches should be increased to properly grow the horses, and these horses should be supplied to the government, post stations, and military to meet the demand.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s advice, Sejong looked at the other officials.

“Are there enough ranches in the mainland area?”

At Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom answered immediately.

“In the early stages of the reform, we have been expanding ranches nationwide according to Your Majesty’s decision. However, there are not enough ranches to do as the Minister of War said now.”

“According to what I have confirmed while organizing in the Archives, there are not enough ranches right now, but the ranches will gradually expand in the future.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s rebuttal, Sejong looked at Kim Jeom. At Sejong’s unspoken question, Kim Jeom looked at the distant mountains.

Jo Mal-saeng continued to propose policies.

“If there is a problem due to the lack of ranches in the mainland. Employing naturalized Jurchens [nomadic people living north of Korea] is also another option. Entrusting the Jurchens with the breeding of horses is a win-win situation. The Jurchens are known for raising horses well. We can obtain good horses, and the Jurchens can be tamed more quickly while their livelihoods are guaranteed.”

“Can we trust the Jurchens?”

“If we continue to be wary, the Jurchens will never become our people!”

“Let’s say that’s true! But we are expanding ranches according to the current reforms, but there are limits! There are limits!”

“Have you forgotten Dongjin? According to Dongjin’s plan, as soon as the annexation of the Tumen River basin is completed, we will advance to the great forest zone of Dongjin! Is the land we will acquire in the process not land, but dung?”

The officials continued to offer rebuttals, but they only recorded defeats against Jo Mal-saeng’s counterattacks based on records.

In the end, Sejong made a decision.

“The Minister of War’s opinion seems to be correct, so decide on policies based on the Minister of War’s thoughts.”

“I obey your command.”

At Sejong’s decision, Jo Mal-saeng expressed his gratitude in a loud voice.

“Your grace is boundless!”

The historian who recorded all of this added the following words.

-In this way, the decision of the council was made.

The historian comments:

What happened to the Minister of War in the Archives?

Meanwhile, Hyang, who was watching the debate between Jo Mal-saeng and the officials, suddenly remembered one thing.

‘Come to think of it… Ottaibi, why aren’t these guys here yet? I told them to get horses, are they planning to start with mating and bring them?’

* * *

While Hyang was thinking about Ottaibi for the first time in a while, the Ottaibi family was standing at the crossroads of life and death.

“Just a little further and it’s Joseon! Just a little more strength!”

“Yes!”

The captain, responding to the leader’s command, shouted at the sailors.

“Shoot the arrows! Arrows!”

At the captain’s command, the sailors fired fire arrows at the pirate ships chasing behind them.

It was not only the merchant ships belonging to the Ottaibi family that were shooting arrows at the pursuing pirate ships. The merchant ships of the accompanying Azram family were also desperately trying to block the pirates’ attacks.

The pirates were just as desperate.

“Catch them quickly!”

“Chief! If we go just a little further, it’s the patrol area of the Joseon navy! It’s dangerous!”

At the subordinate’s report, Wang Ga-hak, the chief of the pirate fleet, gritted his teeth and replied.

“I know! But if we catch those ships properly, we won’t have to imitate these Japanese pirates for the next two or three years!”

They were dressed as Japanese pirates, but in reality, they were Chinese imposters (假倭) [fake Japanese pirates].

Swoosh!

“Fire arrow!”

“What are you doing! Put out the fire!”

“Let’s shoot fire arrows too!”

The merchant ships of the Ottaibi and Azram families and the pirate fleets were engaged in a desperate chase when smoke rose from the distant northern sky.

Poof!

As clouds of various colors burst in the air, the subordinates shouted to Wang Ga-hak.

“Chief! It’s the Joseon navy!”

“Damn it! Turn the ship around!”

“The pirate ships are turning around!”

“Are you sure!”

“I’m sure!”

At the captain’s report, Ottaibi ran to the stern and examined the pirate ships.

The pirate ships, which had been chasing after them with a murderous spirit until just now, were turning their ships around, making a big turn.

“It’s a relief, but why on earth?”

Ottaibi, who had survived by the skin of his teeth, was more curious than relieved.

“It seems to be related to the smoke that burst in the sky earlier.”

“That smoke?”

At the captain’s words, Ottaibi immediately recalled the colorful smoke clouds that had burst in the sky earlier.

“What the hell is that?”

As Ottaibi could not hide his doubts, the sailor who was watching from the top of the mast shouted.

“Ships are coming from the north!”

At the sailor’s words, the leader and the captain ran to the bow.

As the sailor said, ships with yellow hemp sails were approaching them from afar.

“It’s not a junk ship.”

“That’s right.”

On the square-shaped ships, colorful flags with various animals drawn on them were fluttering.

* * *

Note 1) Encyclopedia of Korean Culture https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0036639#self

Note 2) January 6, the 10th year of Sejong.