Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 32

Extracurricular Story 32. The 1592 Naval War (32)

“What? Raise the white flag?”

“White flag?”

“Are you saying surrender?”

The Japanese soldiers who received Takayo’s order couldn’t hide their bewilderment.

“No! If you were going to raise the white flag, you should have given the order sooner!”

“What’s the point of raising the white flag after getting beaten to a pulp?”

“But we can survive!”

“Then the guys who died first died like dogs!”

Such arguments broke out between the soldiers and lower-ranking officers. However, an order was an order, and they also wanted to live if they could.

Therefore, white flags began to flutter everywhere in the order the command was delivered.

The Imperial Army reacted with even greater bewilderment than the Japanese army. This was because white flags were raised and fluttered around the Japanese army’s positions just as they were about to start shelling.

“What? White flag just as we were about to give them a good pounding?”

“Look at these bastards? White flag just when it’s their turn to get hit? Have you ever seen such bastards?”

While both the Imperial Army and the Japanese army couldn’t hide their bewilderment, the Imperial Army’s command and Seoul were showing similar reactions.

The Imperial Headquarters openly wrote the order in plain text and transmitted it wirelessly, so they succeeded in intercepting it immediately.

“Raise the white flag? Does that mean they’re surrendering?”

“Wouldn’t that be right?”

Ministers gathered in the wartime control center temporarily set up in the Gyeongbokgung bunker began to discuss the problematic order.

“Hmm….”

Lee Ju, who had been listening to the back-and-forth arguments among the ministers, ordered the Vice Minister of National Defense.

“What does Yi Sun-sin say?”

“There is no news yet, Your Majesty.”

Lee Ju nodded at the Vice Minister of National Defense’s answer and muttered.

“Is that so? Well, Yi Sun-sin must have just heard it….”

At that moment, a communications officer came in and reported.

“An order has been issued from the Vanguard Army Headquarters!”

-All Imperial forces on the front lines will maintain combat readiness, seize Japanese positions, and disarm the Japanese army.

-If the Japanese army fires, annihilate them immediately with all available force.

-Gather the disarmed Japanese soldiers in one place and monitor them.

-Thoroughly prevent the disarmed Japanese soldiers from returning to their barracks or bases.

The Vice Minister of National Defense, after hearing Yi Sun-sin’s order, reported to Lee Ju.

“It seems Yi Sun-sin does not completely trust that the Japanese army has raised the white flag.”

“Of course, he wouldn’t. I would have thought the same.”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

Everyone gathered in the room nodded in agreement.

* * *

Since the conquest of Tsushima Island led by Taejong in the early years of Sejong’s reign, there had been no major disputes with Japan.

In particular, after Joseon became an empire and the Ouchi family became the masters of Japan, the two countries became ‘relatively friendly’.

However, there were few Imperial citizens who completely trusted Japan. This was because they had suffered too much from the Japanese pirates during the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods.

In addition, Oda Nobunaga and his successor, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, both distanced themselves from the Empire, and Japan once again became an object of distrust.

Therefore, no one thought that Yi Sun-sin’s current order, especially the order to ‘annihilate the Japanese army with all available force if they fire,’ was excessive.

Even the Minister of Education, who constantly talked about ‘the Way of the Sages’ and ‘benevolence (仁) [ren: Confucian concept of humaneness or benevolence]’.

* * *

A little later, the communications officer came in again and reported to Lee Ju.

“This is a request from the Vanguard Army Headquarters.”

“A request? Report.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

-Urgently requests the formation of a negotiation team to handle the armistice negotiations.

“Negotiations? Why?”

Lee Ju expressed his doubts and looked around at the ministers, who also wore similar expressions.

“As far as I know, the most recent war the Empire fought was the ‘Punitive War,’ is that correct?”

The Prime Minister stepped forward to answer Lee Ju’s question.

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“I don’t remember a negotiation team going separately when we accepted surrender in that Punitive War, is that correct?”

“That is also correct, Your Majesty.”

“Then why?”

When Lee Ju asked the reason, all the ministers’ gazes turned to Ryu Seong-ryong.

This was because Ryu Seong-ryong was the only one among those gathered here who could be said to have a close relationship with Yi Sun-sin.

Ryu Seong-ryong, who had received the unspoken question, paused to organize his thoughts and then opened his mouth.

“Perhaps Yi Sun-sin considers negotiations to be in the realm of politics.”

“The realm of politics?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Yi Sun-sin has said before, ‘The military and politics are like the wheels of a cart. They must face the same direction, but they cannot be too close to each other if the cart is to be used comfortably.'”

“Oh? That’s a very interesting thought.”

Lee Ju’s eyes lit up at Ryu Seong-ryong’s words.

Although he said ‘the military and politics,’ the saying ‘literature and martial arts are like the wheels of a cart’ was a golden saying that had been passed down from ancient times.

And the one who always repeated this was the famous Emperor Yi Hyang.

“‘Neither too close nor too far (不可近不可遠) [Bul-ga-geun-bul-ga-won: a principle of maintaining a balanced relationship],’ I think it’s a very interesting idea, don’t you?”

The Prime Minister bowed his head and replied to Lee Ju’s assessment.

“It is indeed so.”

“It’s a stark contrast to that Won so-and-so who was sending useless private letters.”

“….”

“Tsk!”

At Lee Ju’s clicking of his tongue, the ministers became turtle-necked and cursed Won Gyun in their hearts.

‘Won Gyun, because of that stupid bastard!’

‘Why did he have to spread those letters everywhere!’

‘General Shin Rip too! He couldn’t even properly distinguish what to cut off and what to leave behind!’

‘Anyway, is His Majesty’s pettiness something that can’t be hidden in his bloodline?’

Lee Ju, who was glaring at the ministers with a displeased expression, ordered the Chief Secretary.

“Ask Yi Sun-sin why he needs a negotiation team.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

And, not long after, the communications officer reported to Lee Ju.

“A reply has arrived from the Vanguard Army Headquarters.”

-The Japanese army’s sudden change of attitude is due to the Emperor’s order.

-Until then, the source of the orders was the Imperial Headquarters.

-The change in the commander and the unexpected change in the war situation are judged to be caused by political intrigue.

“Political intrigue…. What do you think?”

At Lee Ju’s question, the ministers once again reviewed the political situation in Japan.

‘Let’s see…. Before Oda, there was Mori… and before Mori took power….’

‘What was the atmosphere in Japan that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials dispatched to Japan conveyed?’

While the ministers were diligently reviewing, the Prime Minister stepped forward and opened his mouth.

-Looking at the rumors that have been circulating among the Japanese, before powerful figures like Mori, Oda, and Toyotomi appeared, the Japanese court was called ‘the Ten Eunuchs (十常侍) [Shi Changshi: a group of powerful eunuchs who heavily influenced the Han Dynasty court].’ And after Toyotomi became Grand Minister of State, the saying ‘calling a deer a horse (指鹿爲馬) [zhǐ lù wéi mǎ: deliberately misrepresenting something]’ circulated.

-Both sayings are metaphors for the weakness of the royal authority.

-But the order that was just delivered was from the Emperor of Japan.

-This can be seen as the Emperor of Japan coming to the fore.

-Then, it should be seen that Toyotomi has fallen from power.”

Lee Ju immediately countered the Prime Minister’s explanation.

“Conversely, could it not be that they are putting the Emperor forward as a shield?”

The Vice Minister of National Defense stepped forward to answer Lee Ju’s rebuttal.

“In that case, they would have ordered ‘fight to the death.’ Because they could pass the responsibility on to the Emperor.”

“That’s right….”

Only then did Lee Ju nod as if he understood, and he smiled softly and muttered to himself.

‘Yi Sun-sin, this guy, says he doesn’t know politics well, but he knows politics better than anyone else. I’ve come to know an interesting person.’

“Perhaps very capable….”

“Your Majesty?”

“Just talking to myself. Then, quickly select a negotiation team.”

“I obey your command!”

* * *

The disarmament of the Japanese army by the Imperial Army was first carried out in Kitakyushu, Shimonoseki, and Yamaguchi.

Because there was an order from the Emperor, the Japanese soldiers willingly disarmed and were accommodated in temporary camps created by the Imperial Army.

The Japanese soldiers who entered the camps wore surprisingly comfortable expressions.

‘Now we’re alive!’

The conscripted soldiers who had been forcibly drafted were relieved by the reality that they would not die and wore comfortable expressions.

On the other hand, the veteran soldiers had comfortable expressions for other reasons.

‘We avoided dying like dogs while dragging around those stupid conscripts!’

Three days after the Emperor’s order was issued, the second division of the Imperial Army arrived in Yamaguchi.

The second division of the Imperial Army, which arrived in Yamaguchi, soon spread throughout Japan and began to disarm the Japanese army.

Meanwhile, Japanese officials visited the Vanguard Army Headquarters, which had established itself in Yamaguchi, every day.

“Let’s start the armistice negotiations!”

“Wait a little longer.”

“The war is over anyway! Then why are you telling us to wait!”

“The negotiation team has not yet arrived from the home country.”

Against the Japanese officials who insisted on starting negotiations, the headquarters officers continued to refuse, citing ‘absence of the person in charge.’

“There is a precedent for the Punitive War, is there a need to wait for a negotiation team?”

Yi Sun-sin immediately answered the staff’s question.

“If we’re not careful, we could be caught in the Emperor’s scheme. If that happens, everything will be in vain (萬事休矣) [man-sa-hyu-ui: all is lost].”

“What is the Emperor’s scheme?”

“A shield to block the arrows that will fly at him.”

“Yes?”

Yi Sun-sin told the staff and commanders in the room about the Emperor’s scheme that he had thought of.

-Looking at the Emperor’s tricks so far, they are as follows.

-The royal authority had fallen to the point where the saying ‘Ten Eunuchs’ was openly circulating.

-In response, the Emperor used Mori and Oda Nobunaga to purge the powerful figures and gather power into one.

-Now, when he was about to purge Oda and take that power for himself, Toyotomi snatched it away.

-Due to the strength of Toyotomi, who had seized power, the Emperor had no choice but to continue to bide his time.

-However, the situation changed rapidly when Toyotomi started a war with the Empire.

-Taking advantage of the fact that defeat was imminent, the Emperor was able to remove Toyotomi.

-But defeat is defeat. It is difficult for the Emperor to escape responsibility.

-At this time, if our Imperial Army steps in, the Emperor will use our Imperial Army as an excuse.

“He will say that he wanted to end the war with a truce, but he had no choice but to sign the surrender document due to the threat of the Imperial Army. In the process, many parts of Japan’s territory will be devastated and many people will die or be injured. But, considering the power he has regained, wouldn’t it be a cheap price to pay?”

“Ah….”

While the staff and commanders who heard the explanation were nodding, Yi Sun-sin came to a conclusion.

“So, leave politics to those who do politics. Why is there a saying that things should be in their proper place? You all should keep that in mind.”

“We will keep that in mind!”

After the commanders and staff left the conference room, the senior staff member who was left alone carefully suggested.

“Wouldn’t it be better to submit what you just explained as a report? If we’re not careful, rumors may spread that Your Excellency is neglecting his duties.”

“I already reported the reason, didn’t I?”

“You must not forget Won Gyun.”

When the staff member mentioned Won Gyun, Yi Sun-sin clicked his tongue.

“That damn human…. How many times do I have to tap the stepping stone before crossing because of that guy….”

Yi Sun-sin grumbled as he inserted paper into the typewriter on one side.

* * *

Lee Ju, who read Yi Sun-sin’s report delivered by transport plane, chuckled and muttered.

“A man who is more political than anyone else insists that he doesn’t know politics? Interesting, interesting. Eunuch, summon the Chief Secretary.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lee Ju looked at the report in his hand and uttered meaningful words.

“It seems I’ve caught a big fish. It seems I’ve caught a very big fish.”

At that moment, Yi Sun-sin, who was in Yamaguchi, suddenly shivered with a chill.

“Why suddenly? Could it be? No, it can’t be?”

There was a saying that circulated in the government and military circles from ancient times.

‘If you’re perfectly fine without any pain, but you suddenly get the chills? Then you’re marked. There’s no way to avoid it. Buy and stock up on tonic from now on.’