Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 158

Jjangra

Helo Night

158. Committing Bugweol (4)

Around the same time, messengers who departed from Hanseong [historical name for Seoul] were galloping to military strongholds and naval bases throughout Joseon [historical Korean kingdom].

Jeolla Province, Gangjin, Jeolla Army Camp.

“This is a command letter from the Chief Command (Joseon Army Chief of Staff).”

“Give it to me.”

Nam Gang-il, the Military Commissioner who commanded all of Jeolla’s land defense forces, received the command letter with a calm face and broke the seal.

He thought it was a routine order, but as he read the contents of the letter, Nam Gang-il’s face grew increasingly serious.

“Is this true?”

“The Chief Command considers it a certainty.”

“Hoo~.”

At the answer from the military officer who came as a messenger, Nam Gang-il sighed deeply.

After reading the contents of the command letter once more, Nam Gang-il asked the messenger.

“So, when is the expected time for this to happen?”

“The Chief Command anticipates it will occur around the Mid-Autumn Festival [Korean harvest festival, also known as Chuseok].”

At the messenger’s reply, Nam Gang-il counted the days. There were about 10 days left until the Mid-Autumn Festival.

‘To avoid alarming everyone unnecessarily, I should first inform only a minimum number of people.’

Nam Gang-il briefly considered who he should inform and consult with immediately, then realized the messenger was waiting before him.

“Tell the Chief Command that I will suppress it at the cost of my life.”

At Nam Gang-il’s response, the messenger took out another sealed letter from his pocket.

“What is that?”

“It is from the King.”

At the officer’s words, Nam Gang-il quickly rose from his seat, straightened his attire, knelt down, and respectfully received Sejong’s secret letter.

After breaking the seal of the secret letter and confirming its contents, Nam Gang-il said to the messenger.

“If His Majesty asks, say that I replied with ‘Devotion to the country’.”

“Understood.”

* * *

After sending the messenger back, Nam Gang-il immediately called the Middle Army Commander.

“These damn bastards!”

Middle Army Commander Lee Han-jong cursed after seeing the urgent report from Hanseong.

“Which son of a bitch is it? I’ll go right now and tear them apart.”

“The problem is that we haven’t identified who those damn bastards are yet. That’s why the Chief Command has only issued an emergency alert.”

At Nam Gang-il’s words, Lee Han-jong immediately nodded.

“Ah…. I see. It’s not something to spread around….”

“That’s why I called you, because I think we need to prepare in advance.”

At Nam Gang-il’s words, Lee Han-jong walked to the map hanging on the wall.

After staring at the map for a long time, Lee Han-jong turned to look at Nam Gang-il.

“Those bastards will have enough manpower. But their armaments won’t be sufficient.”

“That’s right.”

“In that case… they will try to acquire weapons before heading to the capital. Especially cannons.”

“That’s right.”

Nam Gang-il nodded at Lee Han-jong’s explanation. Many had clearly witnessed the power of cannons in the battles against the Wokou [Japanese pirates] since the end of the Goryeo Dynasty [Korean dynasty from 918 to 1392].

Pointing this out, Lee Han-jong indicated a spot on the map.

“We must first secure this place, Bultijae Pass. The fastest way to get to this Jeolla Army Camp is through Bultijae Pass. While blocking those bastards with cannons and gun barrels here, we will have the cavalry detour to strike them from behind.”

“That’s good. We should call the Vice-Commander first, right?”

“Yes. Cavalry is the most important.”

The two men were summoning the Vice-Commander who commanded the army camp’s cavalry.

* * *

Similar events unfolded in army camps across the country.

Each army camp that received the command letter quietly began deploying troops to important locations leading to the camps or to Hanseong, in preparation for when things might occur.

The Gyeongsang Left and Right Army Camps moved the most busily.

“If something happens, they will try to get to Hanseong as quickly as possible. The fastest way to get to Hanseong from Gyeongsang is over the Mungyeong Saejae Pass, so all the rebels will gather there! Intercept them at Mungyeong Saejae and wipe them out!”

Following the orders of the Chief Military Commander—newly established during the reign of King Gyeongjong—who oversaw Gyeongsang Province, the Commissioners of the Left and Right Army Camps began moving their cavalry to Mungyeong Saejae.

* * *

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, an unknown sense of foreboding began to circulate throughout Joseon.

“The air feels strange these days.”

“Right? Something feels unsettling, like a disaster is about to happen.”

“My dreams haven’t been good.”

Even the people who knew nothing couldn’t hide their anxiety in the increasingly ominous atmosphere.

And then, the Mid-Autumn Festival. The flames of rebellion ignited.

The local gentry of the southern provinces rose up.

“Drive out the traitors!”

* * *

The written message circulated by the local gentry who dreamed of revolt specified ‘three days after the Mid-Autumn Festival,’ but the revolt broke out earlier than that.

The reason was that there were many who opposed the revolt.

“Absolutely not! A revolt! That is treason! Neither I nor my children will participate!”

“Sir! Uncle (father’s male cousin)! Don’t you understand the situation? Are you just going to sit and perish?”

“Even so, treason! Neither I nor my sons can do it! Kill me instead! If you don’t kill me, I will report it to the government office! Do you have nothing better to do than start a revolt? Do you want to ruin the family!”

Among those who attended the ancestral rites for the Mid-Autumn Festival and heard the news of the revolt, many vehemently opposed it.

In the end, those who led the revolt had no choice but to deal with the opposition.

“We cannot kill our kin. Lock them in the barn for now.”

“Yes.”

Some were locked in the barn because they were kin and could not be killed, but others resisted violently, saying they could not be with the traitors, and lost their lives.

As the situation unfolded, those who dreamed of revolt had to change their plans.

“There’s no choice! Let’s move!”

“Let’s do it!”

And so, the revolt began to occur on the Mid-Autumn Festival.

* * *

“Magistrate! A rebellion has broken out! A rebellion!”

“Damn it! Why here of all places!”

Local officials also moved busily at the news that ‘a rebellion has broken out.’

“How many rebels are there!”

“A lot!”

“Damn!”

Local officials who confirmed the number of those participating in the revolt moved busily.

The magistrates and prefects of the districts with few soldiers guarding the government offices loaded the registers of population and land ledgers onto carts they had secured in advance and retreated to the Dohobu (major administrative division) with their clerks.

“Sir! Aren’t you leaving?”

Even amidst all this, there were not a few magistrates and prefects who guarded their government offices after sending the registers of population and land ledgers as planned.

“How can I, who receives a salary from His Majesty, run away! The soldiers will guard the government office with me!”

There were also not a few magistrates and prefects who resisted the rebel army in this way. Of course, many of those magistrates and prefects who fought were killed by the rebel army, and those who survived suffered serious injuries and had to be imprisoned.

* * *

News about the rebellion continued to reach Hanseong through messengers.

Minister of War Jo Mal-saeng collected the information that came up and continued to report to Sejong.

“…Thus, the number of rebels involved in this revolt totals about 70,000 nationwide. Yeongnam [historical name for Gyeongsang Province] and Honam [historical name for Jeolla Province] each have 30,000, and Chungcheong has a little over 10,000.”

“What about the movements of the relevant army camps?”

“Chungcheong has moved to suppress the rebels, and Gyeongsang is at Mungyeong Saejae, and Jeolla has decided to engage at the Jeolla Army Camp and naval bases.”

“Hmm….”

Listening to Jo Mal-saeng’s report, Sejong examined the map. Hyang, who was examining the map with Sejong, asked Jo Mal-saeng.

“It seems that the rebels in Jeolla are aiming for the naval bases and army camps for weapons and warships?”

“That is what the Chief Command has also determined.”

The movements of Honam and Gyeongsang in this revolt were somewhat unusual.

Those who revolted in Gyeongsang were advancing north with all their might, and those who revolted in Jeolla were moving towards the naval bases and army camps.

Those who revolted in Jeolla were trying to seize warships and move directly to Hanseong via the West Sea, and Gyeongsang was trying to move quickly by land.

“It is almost identical to the route predicted by the Chief Command.”

“That’s right. But the scale is smaller and the speed seems a bit slower than expected?”

At Sejong’s point, Jo Mal-saeng explained the reason.

“In the areas where the rebellion occurred, those who resist the rebellion have joined the government forces to stop them.”

* * *

In some of the areas where the revolt occurred, unexpected melees were taking place.

Iksan County, Jeolla Province.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

“Agh!”

“Cough!”

“Arrows! Shield! Shield!”

The rebel forces, who were attacking the government office where the Iksan County Magistrate resided, had to stop their offensive due to a sudden large-scale arrow attack.

“There shouldn’t be this many government soldiers?”

Before Jin-sa [lower-level civil service examination graduate] Park Soon-hwi, who was commanding the rebel forces, could finish speaking, dozens of men with bows raised their heads above the walls.

Right next to the firmly closed main gate of the government office, an old man with white hair poked his head out and shouted at the rebel forces.

“Listen, you heinous traitors! I am Kang Hyun-soo, who served as a Jipui [official rank] in the Ministry of Taxation! Throw down your weapons and surrender immediately! If you do not, you will be torn apart!”

Park Soon-hwi immediately retorted at Kang Hyun-soo’s cry.

“Old man! We are not committing treason, but rising up to eliminate the traitors!”

“Shut up! Who are the traitors! Aren’t you the ones who will ruin the country!”

The ensuing argument drew a parallel, and eventually, a siege warfare broke out around the walls surrounding the Iksan County government office.

“Seize the government office!”

“Kill the traitors!”

Similar events were taking place here and there in the areas where the revolt occurred.

Thus, the rebellion, later named the ‘Giyu Rebellion,’ became even more horrific.

As those who lived in the same town but had different intentions clashed, grudges were created, and as a result, horrific revenge dramas began to unfold.

* * *

Sejong, nodding at Jo Mal-saeng’s explanation, pointed out the most dangerous variable.

“What about those hiding in Hanseong?”

“There is no movement yet.”

Sejong, who was briefly organizing the situation at Jo Mal-saeng’s report, muttered.

“They are waiting for the Royal Guards to move.”

The Royal Guards’ main duty was to defend the capital, but they were also a mobile strike force that moved immediately when a national crisis occurred.

Sejong, realizing why Grand Prince Yangnyeong was not moving, came to a conclusion.

“Send out the Royal Guards. You know how to act, right?”

“Yes, I have delivered the orders to the commanders.”

While nodding at Jo Mal-saeng’s report, Sejong did not forget to urge.

“Carry it out without any setbacks.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The next morning, the gates of Gwanghwamun [main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace] opened, and the cavalry spurred their horses forward. The cavalry, which quickly passed through Sungnyemun [Namdaemun, the Great South Gate], joined other units waiting and quickly disappeared heading south.

* * *

The news that ‘the Royal Guards have left Hanseong’ immediately reached Seo Seon’s house.

“Lord. The Royal Guards have finally left the castle.”

“I know.”

Seo Seon, who replied briefly to Nam Jun-seok’s report, reported to Grand Prince Yangnyeong, who was seated at the head table.

“The Royal Guards have finally left.”

“I heard.”

Yangnyeong, wearing a double armor with golden dragon-shaped iron pieces on both shoulders, replied briefly.

Wiping the sword in his hand with a cotton cloth, Yangnyeong asked Seo Seon.

“Shall we strike today?”

“Today will not do. They will be on alert since the troops have just left.”

Yangnyeong nodded at Seo Seon’s answer.

“That’s true. Then when would be good?”

“Two days from now would be good.”

Yangnyeong, who was thinking for a moment at Seo Seon’s answer, nodded.

“That’s good. The moon is still bright, so it will be appropriate.”

“Yes. Then I will prepare.”

Thus, the day of the uprising was set.

* * *

Two days later. At midnight (11 PM)

The front gate of Seo Seon’s house opened silently, and those equipped with arms began to quietly pour out.

It wasn’t just Seo Seon’s house.

From the houses of officials who had promised active cooperation due to the existence of Yangnyeong, groups of warriors quietly began to emerge.

Creak. Creak.

At the forefront of the warriors who came out were large shields with wheels.
The large shields that could cover the entire body of the warriors were made of thick iron plates. Due to the weight of the iron plate, wheels were attached to the bottom of the shield.

Warriors were also leaving the house of Han Gang-in, who worked as a Gyeongryeok [official position] in the Ministry of Personnel.

Han Gang-in’s wife, who was watching the warriors leave, looked back at Han Gang-in with a worried face.

“Even now, a report….”

“It’s too late.”

Han Gang-in replied with a bitter face.

When he first cooperated with Seo Seon, it was simply because of dissatisfaction with being pushed back in promotion. However, it was too late when he learned that it was a coup involving Yangnyeong.

At that time, his family had already become hostages.

Han Gang-in looked up at the sky and muttered.

“Now, I have no choice but to hope for success.”

Meanwhile, a member of the Geomgye [secret sword society], hiding in the shadows of the alley, said to his colleague standing behind him.

“Tell the top. They’ve moved out.”