Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 325

325. Those Who Wait, Those Who Move (2)

The person in charge reported the conclusion to the Grand Secretariat along with Emperor Xuanzong.

“Borrow the hands of Joseon? Is this the only answer?”

“As of now, yes, Your Majesty.”

At the Grand Secretariat’s reply, Emperor Xuanzong sighed deeply and stamped the royal seal.

“Hoo… Select envoys to send to Joseon as quickly as possible.”

“Understood!”

* * *

As soon as Emperor Xuanzong’s permission was granted, the people in charge sped things up.

“Another envoy so soon after the last one? What’s going on?”

At King Sejong’s question, the envoy replied with courtesy.

“We have come because there is a matter in which we need Joseon’s help. Here is His Majesty’s edict.”

According to protocol, Sejong knelt in the courtyard of Geunjeongjeon Hall [the main hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace, the most important royal palace during the Joseon dynasty], and the envoy broke the seal of the edict sent by Emperor Xuanzong and read its contents aloud.

“…Therefore, I hope that the King of Joseon will consult with the envoy to resolve the issue.”

After finishing the reading, the envoy carefully rolled up the scroll containing the edict again and politely handed it to Sejong.

Sejong, receiving the edict scroll from the envoy, turned to Hyang.

“Is it possible?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang shook his head.

“It is impossible. Although I must strictly follow Your Majesty’s orders, currency printing plates are not something that can be easily made. To explain in detail, it’s not just about having artisans; all the dedicated facilities must be in place as well.”

The envoy, hearing Hyang’s words through the interpreter, interjected in the conversation.

“If you just tell us, we will build the facilities in Beijing.”

At the envoy’s words, Hyang’s expression sharpened.

“Is making currency printing plates not a state secret? Are you asking us to leak it? Even if you are a superior country, isn’t this too much!”

As Hyang argued, Sejong chimed in from the side.

“The envoy’s words were excessive. Creating printing plates that cannot be counterfeited is a state secret; how can you ask us to hand it over so carelessly? Even if our Joseon is in a position of subservience, this is too much.”

“I, I apologize!”

As Sejong also argued, the envoy immediately bowed his head.

Joseon was not an easy country to deal with. If Joseon were to take issue with this, it was certain that the Emperor would appease the situation by beheading the envoy.

“Please forgive my rudeness. However, the matter is so grave…”

Seeing the envoy’s spirit broken, Sejong slowly began to appease the envoy.

“It’s not that I don’t know His Majesty’s concerns. Therefore, I would like to propose a compromise; please consider it.”

“A compromise, you say?”

“Send us the designs. Then we will create the printing plates and printing facilities and offer them as tribute.”

“Ah!”

The envoy, who had been delighted at Sejong’s words, soon wore a troubled expression.

“The plan Your Highness has given is good, but entrusting the manufacturing of the printing plates poses a security issue…”

The envoy trailed off, but the meaning was clear.

-It’s good that you’re making them for us, but if you make counterfeit money, it will be even more of a problem.

Sejong, understanding the unspoken concern, promised a guarantee regarding that part.

“I know well what the envoy is worried about. However, I hope you realize that there is nothing to be gained for us by doing such a thing.”

After pondering for a moment at Sejong’s words, the envoy eventually chose the most moderate solution.

“This is beyond my discretion. Therefore, I will report it to His Majesty.”

“Please do.”

With that conversation, the envoy immediately packed his bags and returned to Beijing.

* * *

“…Therefore, the King of Joseon has come to offer a compromise.”

“You have worked hard.”

“Your Imperial Majesty is gracious.”

Emperor Xuanzong, after giving a brief compliment to the envoy, stroked his beard and muttered.

“Tribute… Tribute, you say…”

Emperor Xuanzong, tapping the armrest of the jade throne with his finger, burst into laughter. It was Joseon and the King of Joseon, who would never move without a price.

“Hah! Even merchants would cry before the King of Joseon. What great skill.”

“Your Majesty, how about immediately sending an envoy to the King of Joseon to point out his rudeness?”

At the Grand Secretariat’s words, Emperor Xuanzong shook his head.

“No, let’s accept the King of Joseon’s proposal. The King of Joseon’s words are reasonable. No matter how much we are a superior country, ordering a vassal state to hand over its secrets is against custom.”

“However…”

As the Grand Secretariat was about to say something, Emperor Xuanzong lightly raised his hand to stop the Grand Secretariat’s words.

“Of course, Joseon’s claim tends to disregard the dignity of the superior country. However, pressuring Joseon or forcing them to follow my orders would do more harm than good. It would increase Joseon’s dissatisfaction. Grand Secretariat, how many things will our Ming gain from Joseon in the future? To prepare for that time, it is good to listen to their wishes now. Therefore, hand over the currency designs to Joseon.”

At Emperor Xuanzong’s conclusion, the Grand Secretariat bowed and replied.

“Understood.”

* * *

Returning to his office, the Grand Secretariat summoned scholars and staff to begin carrying out Emperor Xuanzong’s orders.

After various reports and orders were exchanged, and the situation was somewhat organized, the Grand Secretariat held a teacup in his hand and asked the envoy.

“By the way… Have you seen the Iron Horse as well?”

“Yes, Grand Secretariat.”

“What is it like?”

At the Grand Secretariat’s words, the envoy carefully chose his words to answer.

“As Your Majesty said, it still seemed to be lacking in many ways. However, its ingenious structure seemed to have a considerable level of difficulty.”

“Does that mean it doesn’t seem easy to replicate?”

“That is correct. I think we should bring it in now and start studying it.”

At the envoy’s report, the faces of the Grand Secretariat and the scholars became serious. One of the scholars, who was listening to the story from the side, asked the envoy reproachfully.

“Then, shouldn’t you have remonstrated with His Majesty? If you are a subject…”

As a principle-based criticism came out, the envoy cut off the scholar’s words and protested.

“Isn’t it already something that His Majesty has concluded? Are you telling me to overturn His Majesty’s will now?”

“If you are…”

“Then why don’t you step forward!”

At the envoy’s outburst, the scholar who was about to speak closed his mouth.

* * *

For a subject to request the Emperor to overturn his decision was a serious crime close to treason. No, the moment they said those words, they were creating a place to die for themselves.

If the Emperor made a decision based on the opinions of his subjects, and then tried to reverse it, the subjects would have no choice but to see blood. It was because they had failed to properly advise the Emperor.

Conversely, if they tried to overturn a decision that the Emperor had made on his own judgment, they would be punished for intimidating the Emperor.

Therefore, unless they were a subject who received the Emperor’s utmost favor, they could not even think of making the Emperor reverse his decision.

* * *

“Scholar Oh, you made a mistake.”

“However, if you are a subject…”

“Ahem!”

The scholar, who was about to speak again in response to the envoy’s rebuttal, immediately closed his mouth at the Grand Secretariat’s shout.

The Grand Secretariat, with a look of dismay, glared at Scholar Oh.

“To think that such a petty person is a member of the cabinet…”

“Grand Secretariat! I!”

“I told you to shut your mouth! Get out now!”

At the Grand Secretariat’s shout, Scholar Oh left the room with a pale face. With the Grand Secretariat’s disapproval, his career was over.

The Grand Secretariat, having kicked out Scholar Oh, who only knew how to talk, turned to the envoy and the scholars and continued.

“We cannot arbitrarily overturn the decision made by His Majesty. However, whether it will be a wise wait like Taigong’s waiting [referring to Jiang Taigong, who waited patiently for an opportunity], or a foolish farmer of Suju Daeto [a story about a farmer who waited by a stump for another rabbit after one accidentally ran into it], depends on us. Therefore, we must prepare well.”

Emperor Xuanzong’s decision to ‘wait until a usable Iron Horse comes out’ was certain to bring one of those two results. However, if they waited without any preparation, it would be the latter case.

This was the thought of not only the Grand Secretariat but also all the scholars and officials.

“Then, should we bring up the artisans from the private sector?”

When one of the scholars suggested an alternative, the Grand Secretariat shook his head.

“Do you think those damn merchants will give up their artisans? Even if they do, they will eventually steal the results of our hard work.”

* * *

After Ming firmly established its foundation, the commerce of the Central Plains greatly developed.

It was thanks to the vast land, large population, and the water transport that had been continuously developed since the Sui Dynasty.

Thanks to this, the technology for making goods needed by ordinary people developed rapidly.

Thanks to this, at some point, the technical level of the artisans hired by the merchants surpassed the level of the artisans employed by the imperial family and the government.

What fueled this was trade with Joseon. As all kinds of goods made in Joseon became a hit, Ming artisans began to hone their skills to catch up.

However, Joseon still maintained at least one step ahead.

Learning this, the Ming imperial family and the government tried to absorb the artisans from the private sector, but the attempt was repeatedly blocked by the walls created by the merchants.

Most of the skilled artisans were employed by large merchant groups and received high salaries and conveniences. The merchants of the large merchant groups were ‘spending money’ to protect the artisans they were raising and to steal skilled artisans from other merchant groups.

The imperial family and the court also jumped into this competition, but they repeatedly failed. Ironically, the financial power of the merchants was stronger than that of the imperial family and the government.

It seemed like a ridiculous story, but it was inevitable. The Ming imperial family and the court had enormous tax revenues collected from the entire empire, but the expenditures were equally enormous. In addition, the northern expeditions and great voyages that had been carried out during the reign of Emperor Yongle had created a huge hole in the finances.

Since Emperor Xuanzong’s accession, Emperor Xuanzong and even the low-ranking officials had made constant efforts to fill this hole, and they had managed to fill it to some extent, but there was still a large hole. And as long as that hole existed, the imperial family and the court were limited.

Of course, if the Emperor was determined, he could forcibly suppress the merchant forces as much as he wanted.

However, they were the Ming merchants, called ‘descendants of Lu Buwei’ [a historical figure known for his political maneuvering and wealth]. Before they knew it, a significant number of officials were involved with the merchants. If they thought the Emperor’s pressure had crossed the line, the Emperor could be replaced. There would surely be someone who dreamed of becoming Lu Buwei, who enthroned King Zheng of Qin as Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

* * *

This was why the Grand Secretariat showed a negative reaction to attracting artisans from private merchant groups.

“It’s funny, but the biggest competitors regarding the Iron Horse are our merchants. They will also know of the existence of the Iron Horse and will have realized its usefulness. So, what we have to do is two things. One is orthodox, and the other is unconventional.”

At the Grand Secretariat’s explanation, one of the scholars pretended to know.

“By orthodox, do you mean sending artisans to Joseon?”

“As Scholar Wang said.”

As the Grand Secretariat nodded in affirmation, Scholar Wang expressed concern.

“Joseon, who does not hand over even the printing plate manufacturing technology, saying it is a secret. Will they really accept it?”

“It won’t be easy. But shouldn’t we try? That’s the only way to create justification. What is most needed in politics is justification. And…”

The Grand Secretariat, taking a sip of his teacup, continued.

“We must also think of unconventional methods. Find someone who is from Joseon or who speaks Joseon as well as a Joseon person. If necessary, put a line in Dongchang [a Ming dynasty secret police agency].”

The scholars and officials, realizing what the Grand Secretariat meant, immediately bowed their heads.

“We will look into it immediately.”