Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 206

206. Dilemma – Odori (3)

With Joseon’s victory over Emperor Xuande and the securing of the northeastern territories, the Odori tribe found themselves in an increasingly precarious position.

The Odori tribe primarily inhabited the Hoeryeong region, centered around Mount Baekdu (the highest mountain on the Korean Peninsula, considered sacred).

To the east and west of the Odori tribe resided the Urianghai tribes.

The central issue was the strained relationship between the Odori and these Urianghai tribes.

Nomadic herding, particularly of sheep, formed the core of their economy, necessitating vast lands. This stemmed from the grazing habits of sheep, which, unlike cattle or horses that primarily consumed leaves and stems, uprooted vegetation, demanding extensive pastureland.

This competition for resources was the primary cause of the deteriorating relationship between the Odori and Urianghai tribes.

* * *

“Bailer [chieftain], another branch tribe has defected to Joseon.”

“Hoo~.”

Munte Mu sighed deeply upon receiving the report from his subordinate warrior.

“Is this the fourth time now?”

“Yes, Bailer.”

At his subordinate’s confirmation, Munte Mu pressed his temples, attempting to alleviate his throbbing headache.

“Understood. You may leave.”

“Yes, Bailer.”

After dismissing his subordinate, Munte Mu sighed deeply once more.

“Hoo~.”

Alone, Munte Mu gazed into the distance with regretful eyes, muttering to himself.

“Was I mistaken back then?”

* * *

Aisin Gioro Munte Mu was a significant figure during the intense competition between Ming China and Joseon in the early Joseon period, within the region that would later be known as Manchuria.

Munte Mu, who became the chief of the Odori tribe at a young age, was renowned for his exceptional strategic abilities.

Munte Mu and Ahacu forged a connection with Yi Seong-gye, the ascendant power in the northeast region, and became his subordinates. Yi Seong-gye granted him control of the Hoeryeong region.

This relationship with Yi Seong-gye began to sour when Yi Seong-gye turned his attention to Goryeo.

The saying, ‘Out of sight, out of mind,’ held true in this case. As Yi Seong-gye became engrossed in Goryeo and initiated his full-scale political ascent, the bond between him and Munte Mu gradually weakened.

Even after Yi Seong-gye founded Joseon and ascended to the throne as Taejo [the first king of Joseon], their relationship, though strained, was not entirely severed.

However, the connection between Munte Mu and Joseon was completely severed when Yi Bang-won ascended to the throne. Simultaneously, Emperor Yongle of Ming began to consolidate his control over Liaodong [a region in Northeastern China].

Munte Mu’s relationship with Emperor Yongle was facilitated by Ahacu, who had previously served as a subordinate of Yi Seong-gye.

When Emperor Yongle was still the Prince of Yan, Ahacu’s daughter became one of the Prince of Yan’s concubines.

Later, when the Prince of Yan ascended to the throne as Emperor Yongle, Ahacu was appointed as the Jianzhou Wei [a Ming dynasty military command] Counselor. Ahacu’s mission was to entice the Jurchens under Ming’s rule.

This was part of Emperor Yongle’s strategy to keep both Northern Yuan [the remnants of the Mongol Yuan dynasty] and Joseon in check. He intended to restrain Northern Yuan by leveraging the Jurchens bordering them and to weaken Joseon’s influence by bringing the Jurchens connected to Joseon under his control.

* * *

When Ahacu visited Munte Mu, Munte Mu was deeply contemplating the future.

Although he had established a lord-vassal relationship with Taejong [the third king of Joseon], the absence of Yi Seong-gye had stripped the relationship with Joseon of its personal element, leaving only a political connection based on mutual benefit.

At this critical juncture, Ahacu visited Munte Mu and suggested that he submit to the rule of Emperor Yongle.

Ahacu persuaded Munte Mu with the following words:

“For the sake of the tribe’s prosperity, it is best to be under the protection of a powerful figure. Now that the great elder [Yi Seong-gye] has passed away, Joseon can no longer provide that protection! The shadow of Yi Seong-gye, the great man, is gone! We need a new protector!”

“And that protector is the Emperor of Ming?”

“Of course! Ming is now the supreme power that no one can challenge! Of course, it can be a protector!”

“But….”

Seeing Munte Mu’s hesitation, Ahacu thumped his chest and declared.

“Trust me! I am the Emperor’s father-in-law!”

With Ahacu’s assurance, Munte Mu met Emperor Yongle. Indeed, Emperor Yongle possessed the aura of a great leader, just as Ahacu had described.

Ultimately, Munte Mu pledged allegiance to Emperor Yongle.

Upon Munte Mu’s oath of allegiance, Emperor Yongle appointed him as the Commander of the Jianzhou Left Guard.

“I will grant you the surname Dong.”

“Your Imperial Majesty is most gracious!”

* * *

As soon as the news of Munte Mu obtaining a Ming official position and swearing allegiance reached Joseon, Taejong immediately took action.

He halted trade with Odori and launched an attack on Molinwei [a Jurchen tribe]. In response, Munte Mu retaliated by plundering Gyeongwon [a Joseon border town].

As the relationship between the two deteriorated, Ming intervened.

To the Joseon envoy who arrived to protest, Emperor Yongle issued a threatening ultimatum:

“Which is more important to you, Joseon or Munte Mu?”

Under Emperor Yongle’s pressure, Joseon was forced to hand over Munte Mu and return all the hostages they had taken.

“The elder’s family is tenacious. It is best to avoid them for the time being.”

Fearing a re-invasion by Joseon, Munte Mu led his tribe and departed from Hoeryeong, heading north.

* * *

However, the outcome was far from favorable.

Ming, under Emperor Yongle, had no desire for the Jurchens to become powerful. Consequently, they constantly enticed and subjugated the Jurchens, sowing discord among the tribes to prevent them from uniting. The tribes that gained power were then thrust into conflicts with Northern Yuan—referred to as the Tatars by Ming.

Munte Mu’s Odori tribe was no exception. While the tribe grew in size, many warriors perished in conflicts with Northern Yuan.

Furthermore, relations with neighboring Jurchens deteriorated due to Ming’s divisive tactics.

Eventually, in the second year of King Sejong’s reign [the fourth king of Joseon], Munte Mu dispatched an envoy to Joseon.

-I apologize for the events of the past. I ask for forgiveness. And request permission to return to Hoeryeong.

Sejong—with Taejong’s influence behind him—accepted Munte Mu’s request.

* * *

Upon the return of Munte Mu’s Odori tribe, Sejong provided support for their resettlement. Trade was resumed, and various goods were bestowed, but the envoy’s report was discouraging.

“I could not detect any genuine goodwill in the eyes of the young King of Joseon.”

“Oh no…. Hoo~.”

Munte Mu sighed deeply upon hearing the envoy’s report.

Ultimately, for the sake of the tribe’s survival, Munte Mu had to work tirelessly with his warriors. He was forced to play the role of a ‘藩胡’ (Pan-ho, barbarian forming a fence) [a term referring to a border tribe used as a buffer], preventing other Jurchen tribes from threatening Joseon’s border, while also fighting against the Jurchens who were harassing Ming.

* * *

During this precarious period, the surrounding environment began to shift once again. Yimanjeu, Ahacu’s grandson, led his tribe south.

And, with Taejong’s death, Sejong, having consolidated all power, began to implement reforms in earnest.

As Sejong pushed forward with reforms, the capabilities of the Joseon army also changed. The opponent, once considered easily manageable, gradually transformed into a formidable adversary.

Then, a few years prior, an incident occurred in which a Joseon village on the border was plundered, completely reversing the power dynamic. Through a retaliatory war that annihilated not only the tribe responsible for the raid but also neighboring tribes, the Joseon army became an object of terror.

And, as the situation evolved, the dark age of the Odori tribe began.

* * *

The full-scale onset of this dark age coincided with Emperor Xuande’s ascension to the throne. In Emperor Xuande’s eyes, the value of Munte Mu and Yimanjeu had diminished significantly. Conversely, the value of Joseon was on the rise.

Munte Mu, realizing that Ming’s interest was waning, lamented.

“Do I have to find another protector? Where should I find it?”

While Munte Mu was contemplating, his subordinates delivered urgent news.

“Joseon soldiers have occupied Mount Baekdu!”

“What!”

When Munte Mu arrived at Mount Baekdu with his subordinates, the commander of the Joseon army presented Emperor Xuande’s edict.

-Joseon is permitted to reclaim the land of its ancestors. All neighboring Jurchen tribes must actively cooperate with this.

The cunning Joseon had even brought a Ming official and was waiting.

“His Imperial Majesty’s order is absolute, so comply with the order.”

“I understand.”

At the Ming official’s command, Munte Mu had no choice but to withdraw his subordinates. He was outmaneuvered in terms of both justification and power.

‘We will establish the border along the foothills of Mount Baekdu.’

With that declaration, the Joseon army established a radius of 50 li (approximately 20 km or 12.4 miles) north of Mount Baekdu as Joseon territory.

“Isn’t that excessive!”

Munte Mu protested against Joseon’s decision, but the Ming official ignored his objections.

This was Emperor Xuande’s directive.

-It is certain that Joseon will be greedy. But do not impede them. The more strained the relationship between Joseon and the Jurchens, the more advantageous it is for us.

The Ming official faithfully carried out Emperor Xuande’s order.

* * *

Following this, the situation of the Odori tribe continued to worsen.

The young King of Joseon summoned the chiefs of the Jurchen tribes who had been under Yi Seong-gye.

The problem was that Yimanjeu and Munte Mu were excluded from this summons. As a result, Munte Mu was able to clearly discern Sejong’s intentions.

‘Yimanjeu and Munte Mu are marked for elimination!’

Realizing the precariousness of the situation, Munte Mu was forced to consider his options.

‘Should I move north again?’

However, in that scenario, he was certain to be used as a shield in conflicts with Northern Yuan, as before.

‘What if I completely surrender to Joseon?’

If a Ming vassal became a Joseon citizen, Ming would undoubtedly retaliate. Because it was an act of a Ming vassal defecting to another country, even though Joseon was nominally a vassal of Ming.

‘What if I defect to Ming instead?’

If he did that, they would certainly be annihilated by the Joseon army.

-They have twice formed a lord-vassal relationship and betrayed us both times!

It would be the ultimate self-inflicted wound, handing Joseon a knife to use against him.

“Haa~.”

In a situation where no viable solution presented itself, no matter how much he pondered, Munte Mu’s sigh grew deeper and deeper.

In such a situation, an event occurred that pushed Munte Mu further to the brink.

Branch tribes, witnessing the improved living conditions of the surrendered Jurchens, began to defect to Joseon one by one.

The problem was that they were not merely leading their tribes over but also ceding the very territories where the tribes resided to Joseon.

And, with each surrender, Joseon dispatched soldiers and established the area as Joseon territory.

Munte Mu protested to Ming, but the response he received from Ming was devastating.

-After reviewing the records, it is confirmed that the area was indeed under the rule of Yi Seong-gye. Therefore, in accordance with the previously issued edict, it is recognized as Joseon’s territory.

Munte Mu, upon receiving the reply from Ming, collapsed with a miserable expression.

* * *

In this dire situation, an event occurred that shattered Munte Mu’s composure.

“Bailer, a Joseon military officer has arrived to meet you.”

“A Joseon military officer?”

“Yes. But….”

As the reporting warrior’s expression was uneasy, Munte Mu rose from his seat and went outside.

Outside, a group of Joseon cavalrymen were confronting the warriors of the Odori tribe.

“Sheathe your swords!”

At Munte Mu’s command, the warriors of the Odori tribe sheathed their swords.

As Munte Mu stepped forward, the military officer at the front greeted him.

“Bailer, how are you?”

“You!”

Munte Mu could not believe his eyes. The Joseon military officer smiling before him was the chief of the Urianghai tribe, with whom the Odori tribe had the worst relationship.

The smile of the chief of the Urianghai tribe, adorned in the Joseon military officer’s robe and hat, widened menacingly.

“This time, I have received the King’s grace and been appointed as a Pachong [a lower-ranking military officer]. Although I am merely a local official guarding my territory, let us strive to get along well in the future.”

Though he spoke of getting along, the smile he wore was terribly ferocious.