Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 26

Extracurricular Story 26. The 1592 Southern Sea Battle. (26)

“Hoo~.”

Lee Ju sighed deeply and looked at Shin Rip. Seeing Shin Rip standing with an expression and posture befitting the words ‘confident and dignified,’ Lee Ju sighed again and opened his mouth.

“Hoo~. Alright, explain why the Chief of the General Staff insists on February for the invasion.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Shin Rip answered in a loud voice that echoed through Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace, used for important state affairs], explaining his reasoning.

“The biggest reason is that we must not give Japan time.

Japan has now lost most of its naval power, and its army has also suffered significant losses.

However, as time passes, they will recover this power.

Of course, the navy will not be able to recover properly due to its nature, but the army is different.

Four months is enough time to recover sufficiently to prepare for a landing.

If we accurately assess Japan’s current state, they are likely acting rashly due to desperation. However, as time passes, they will regain their composure. We must strike before Toyotomi Hideyoshi [a prominent 16th-century Japanese daimyo] and his cohorts regain their senses.

Lee Soon-sin [a famous Korean admiral] has advised against operating during the severe cold. However, the Imperial Army is already well-prepared for the severe cold and has ample experience.

The Imperial Navy also suffered losses to its combat ships, but its transport capabilities remain intact.

If we mobilize the battleships from Hainan Island and the 1st Mobile Fleet, we can secure sufficient naval combat power.”

“…Therefore, an invasion in February is more advantageous.”

“Hmm….”

Lee Ju was sparing with his words because Shin Rip’s opinion was reasonable.

After pondering Shin Rip’s opinion for a moment, Lee Ju asked Shin Rip something else.

“But why do you advocate replacing Lee Soon-sin? Is it solely because he insists on April?”

Shin Rip answered immediately.

“Lee Soon-sin is not an incompetent general. However, he is overly cautious! Landing operations are akin to assault warfare! Once the objective and destination are determined, one must focus solely on that! If you overanalyze everything like Lee Soon-sin, progress will be hampered! Therefore, I believe we should replace Lee Soon-sin with Won Gyun!”

“Won Gyun! Has the Chief of the General Staff forgotten why Won Gyun is in prison!”

“I am aware! However, Emperor Lee Hyang [a previous ruler] stated, ‘It is a foolish policy to hold someone accountable for a single defeat!’ It is indeed true that Won Gyun suffered a significant and indelible defeat at Jeju Island! However, Won Gyun is a courageous general who does not yield once a mission is assigned, making him, in my opinion, the right person for the task!”

As soon as Shin Rip finished speaking, Lee Ju immediately retorted.

“Have you forgotten what Emperor Lee Hyang said after that? ‘However, generals who fail in vigilance and supply, and subsequently suffer defeat, must be held accountable and punished!’ The disaster that occurred at Jeju Island was a direct result of Won Gyun’s failure to maintain vigilance! Are you suggesting we entrust command to such an individual again!”

“Won Gyun claims it was Lee Soon-sin’s scheme! He alleges that he was victimized because Lee Soon-sin withheld crucial information! Logically speaking, no general would commit such a blunder even after receiving accurate intelligence!”

“So, Lee Soon-sin deliberately set a trap for Won Gyun?”

“Precisely!”

“Have you reviewed the reports Lee Soon-sin submitted?”

“I have not read them yet!”

“Not yet?”

“I haven’t had time to read them yet because I’ve been focusing solely on the conquest of Japan!”

“Hoo~.”

Lee Ju sighed deeply at Shin Rip’s confident answer and ordered the eunuch.

“Go and retrieve the reports Lee Soon-sin submitted leading up to the surprise attack on Jeju Island.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Approximately half a sh辰jin [approximately one hour] later, the eunuchs brought the relevant reports and laid them out in front of Lee Ju.

“The Chief of the General Staff will read them now, in this very place. For your information, the contents of the reports sent by Lee Soon-sin are identical to those received by Us [referring to the Emperor], the Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and those delivered to other fleets. They were sent urgently, but through official channels, not circumvented like someone else’s.”

With those words, Lee Ju shook a letter placed on one side.

“It was sent by Won Gyun. The Chief of the General Staff is already familiar with its contents.”

“Cough! I will read it.”

Hiding his embarrassment with a light cough, Shin Rip began to read the situation reports submitted by Lee Soon-sin on the spot.

After Shin Rip finished reading and putting down the last report, Lee Ju asked immediately.

“How is it? Is there any evidence of a scheme within?”

“…There was nothing overtly visible.”

“Nothing overtly visible, huh….”

Lee Ju trailed off, glaring at Shin Rip and muttering inwardly.

‘Is he daring to play a mind game with me? Or… wait? Who did Shin Rip mention he was close to?’

Lee Ju’s expression became even more ferocious as he considered that possibility.

‘So that’s what this is about?’

Hastily composing his expression, Lee Ju ordered Shin Rip.

“The matter is serious, making an immediate decision difficult. Return to your duties and remain diligent. I will discuss this with various ministers and then make a decision.”

“Yes! Loyalty!”

Shin Rip gave a loud military salute and withdrew from Geunjeongjeon.

Lee Ju, watching Shin Rip’s departing figure, muttered in a small voice.

“It’s still worthwhile to leave Won Gyun alone, but the taste is a bit bitter….”

* * *

As things turned out this way, discord began to arise within the Imperial Army.

On a large scale, it was a confrontation between the Army and the Navy.

The reason for the conflict was, of course, the issue of ‘landing is impossible due to the severe cold.’

“Look at these weaklings in the Navy! Operations are impossible in winter? Does anyone think we haven’t experienced winter?”

“Don’t you know how harsh the winters are in the North and near Lake Baikal? It’s a place where water freezes as soon as you spray it into the air! The Imperial Army endured such winters, so are you saying it’s dangerous because of winter? Seriously!”

“From now until April, we can recruit at least 30,000 infantrymen! Regardless of gender or age, all they need to know is how to pull a trigger! But what are you trying to do by giving them time!”

The Navy was also furious at the Army’s criticism.

Naval staff belonging to the Joint Chiefs of Staff were being silenced by the battleship faction who were friendly with Won Gyun. However, the staff of the Naval Headquarters and Fleet Headquarters, and the front-line captains, were furious and stood up.

“What nonsense are those idiots spouting?”

“They don’t understand the winter sea, so they’re talking nonsense like that!”

“If the winter on land freezes from the nostrils, the winter sea freezes from the internal organs!”

“Dip your feet in the winter sea and stay there for just one sh辰jin [approximately one hour]! Where would such a sound come from!”

The relationship between the Imperial Army and Navy, which had not been very good from the beginning, became even worse.

The discord between the Army and the Navy was not just a problem for the Empire.

Most countries that had to operate both the Army and the Navy at the same time were suffering from similar problems.

It was because of the budget problem.

In a situation where every penny was precious, they had to divide a limited budget, so they had no choice but to confront each other.

And this conflict gradually grew in scale.

Not only the Ministry of National Defense and the Imperial Army, but also the directors and vice ministers of other ministries participated in the dispute.

Just as the Imperial Navy was divided into the ‘Battleship Faction’ and the ‘Air Carrier Faction’ and growled at each other, the Imperial Army, as well as other ministries, were divided into factions and confronted each other.

In this situation, Won Gyun’s extensive network became the focal point.

When Shin Rip showed his support for Won Gyun, those within Won Gyun’s network stepped forward to assist, while the opposing faction supported Lee Soon-sin.

The two divided factions not only engaged in fierce debates but also resorted to all sorts of slander and personal attacks, prompting Lee Ju to visit the Retired Emperor Lee Beon of Suganggung Palace [a palace for retired emperors].

“If we continue to trust those individuals, the country is bound to be ruined. I wish we could just sweep them all away.”

Lee Beon smiled bitterly at Lee Ju’s complaint and comforted him.

“Bear with it. Don’t they say that factions and party strife are inevitable? Let’s be patient a little longer. If we sweep them all away like that, there will be no one left to do the work.”

“Hoo~. I understand.”

After complaining for a long time, Lee Ju returned, and Lee Beon called the eunuch.

Lee Beon wrote something in a single stroke on a large piece of paper and handed the paper to the eunuch, ordering.

“Go to the artisans in Area 51 and have them make a signboard with this. It must be made to fit the Prime Minister’s Office, each ministry, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.”

“I obey your command.”

As the eunuch who received the paper stepped back, Lee Beon looked up at the sky and muttered.

“It would be in accordance with commercial ethics to give a warning before starting something, right?”

Three days later, eunuchs carrying signboards wrapped in large cloths visited the offices of the ministers of each ministry and the Chief of the General Staff’s office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“We are from Suganggung Palace.”

“Oh my!”

The eunuch continued, looking at the ministers and Shin Rip, who were horrified and stood up.

“The Retired Emperor has ordered this to be conveyed. ‘If you continue to act in this manner, replace the signboard behind you with this one.'”

“The signboard?”

At the eunuch’s words, the ministers involuntarily turned their heads and looked at the signboard behind them.

The ministers, who saw the four clear letters ‘國泰民安 (Gu泰民安) [meaning the country is peaceful and the people are comfortable],’ turned their heads, and the eunuchs unpacked the bundles they had brought and held up the new signboards.

-黨利黨略 (Party Interests and Tactics)

“Ahem! Ahem!”

The ministers, who understood the hidden meaning, coughed in unison and took the signboards from the eunuch.

“Then I’ll be on my way….”

“Take care.”

After the eunuch left, the ministers visited Suganggung Palace and bowed their heads.

“There will never be a time to replace the signboard!”

“I’ll believe you.”

“We will do our best!”

“You must do your best. If such a thing happens, His Majesty will not replace the signboard, but will replace you.”

The ministers sweated coldly at Lee Beon’s warning and replied.

“We will keep that in mind!”

* * *

The ministers who received Lee Beon’s warning gathered in the Prime Minister’s conference room and held a meeting.

“First of all, shouldn’t we try to discern what His Majesty is thinking?”

“I agree.”

“The root of the matter is, of course, the invasion of Japan.”

“The problem is whether it’s February or April, Lee Soon-sin or Won Gyun.”

“That’s right. And, judging by what has transpired so far, His Majesty seems to value Lee Soon-sin a little more.”

“So, we should support Lee Soon-sin?”

“That’s not a good idea. If that happens, General Shin Rip’s situation will become precarious.”

“Shin Rip? If we trace the origin of this whole mess, isn’t it Shin Rip? If he hadn’t insisted on February and Won Gyun, this mess wouldn’t have occurred!”

“However, the problem is that His Majesty acknowledged that Shin Rip’s idea had its own merits. Therefore, it’s unwise to unconditionally pressure Shin Rip to change his mind.”

“Then?”

“We have to deal with Won Gyun first.”

“Won Gyun?”

“Who is at the heart of this mess? Won Gyun? If a foolish person commits a foolish act, he should simply remain silent….”

“Since he’s foolish, he probably doesn’t realize he did something foolish.”

Before they knew it, the conference room was filled with voices denouncing Won Gyun. The interesting thing was that even those who had been defending Won Gyun until recently were now criticizing him.

‘Even if he is someone I have a connection with, my own neck comes first!’

While the senior officials were gradually grasping the situation, an official ran up and informed them.

“His Majesty has summoned the Chief of Naval Operations!”

“The Chief of Naval Operations?”

“Yes!”

* * *

Lee Ju, who had summoned Park Hong, immediately got to the point.

“If you were an admiral, who do you think is more suitable, Lee Soon-sin or Won Gyun?”

“If it were me….”

Park Hong paused for a moment, considered the implications, and carefully opened his mouth.

“If it were me, it would be Lee Soon-sin. Won Gyun is unacceptable.”