Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 344

344. The Invisible War (3)

“A Joseon person, yet not a Joseon person? What does that mean?”

The Royal Guard Captain, unable to fully grasp the Second Bureau Chief’s words, requested a more detailed explanation.

“Jo Han-tae and Jang Seok-il once had drinks at a courtesan house. The courtesans who attended them said that Jang Seok-il was quite peculiar.”

“Peculiar?”

“He looks like a Joseon person, dresses like a Joseon person, and speaks like a Joseon person, but there’s something subtly foreign about him.”

At the Second Bureau Chief’s explanation, the Royal Guard Captain stroked his beard, lost in thought.

“Subtly foreign….”

After pondering for a moment, the Royal Guard Captain ordered the Second Bureau Chief.

“As you said, a thorough investigation is needed. Do it properly.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The Royal Guard Captain turned to the other Bureau Chiefs and commanded,

“Keep a close watch on the West Sea Merchant Guild as well.”

“Yes.”

“And, those approaching the artisans of District 51 may not be the only ones. Keep a close eye on them.”

“Understood.”

* * *

After the meeting, the Royal Guard Captain returned to the palace and reported the situation to Sejong.

“A Joseon person, yet not a Joseon person….”

Sejong, upon hearing the Royal Guard Captain’s report, stroked his beard with a serious expression and then turned to the Royal Guard Captain.

“Who do you think it is?”

“The most likely possibility is someone who left for China or Waeguk (Japan) during the late Goryeo Dynasty or the chaotic period of the founding of Joseon, or their descendants.”

Sejong nodded at the Royal Guard Captain’s answer.

From the time Goryeo began to show signs of its downfall, many people left Joseon, either voluntarily or involuntarily. He was suggesting the possibility of it being one of those people or their descendants.

Sejong carefully analyzed the Royal Guard Captain’s reasoning.

‘Waeguk….’

* * *

Since the late King’s reign, Joseon had maintained friendly relations with the lords of Waeguk to resolve the Wokou (Japanese pirate) problem. And, according to information obtained in the process, the land of Waeguk was larger than Joseon and had a larger population. However, although there were an Emperor and a Shogunate, the politics were chaotic. The technology was also very backward, except for the Wado [Japanese sword] and a few other things.

By opening trade with the Ōuchi clan and the Shogunate, Sejong and the court were able to obtain more detailed information quickly and easily.

According to the information acquired, the financial power of Waeguk merchants was larger than imagined. In addition, as the Muromachi Shogunate, which currently ruled Waeguk, paid attention to overseas trade, the number of merchant groups entering overseas trade was also increasing as a result.

Waeguk merchant groups were emerging, advancing not only to the Ryukyu Kingdom (Okinawa) but also to Siam (Thailand) far away.

Combining the information coming through the trading port, the economy of Waeguk, including commerce, was growing.

* * *

Sejong, reviewing the situation in Waeguk, soon had to remove Waeguk from the list of suspects.

‘If we only consider commerce, it is suspicious enough, but considering the technology, it is impossible.’

They were constantly trying to get their hands on artisans from Ming and Joseon, but the overall level of technology in Waeguk was inferior. Even if they managed to take the artisans from District 51 by some means, they would not have the ability to assimilate the technology.

Sejong, having removed Waeguk from the list of suspects, became even more gloomy.

‘Then, is it ultimately Ming [China]?’

Merchants from Ming were certainly capable.

They had an economic power several times that of Joseon, and a long history of foreign trade dating back to the Yuan Dynasty.

In addition, although it was inferior to the rapidly developed technological prowess of Joseon through the Gyeongjang [Crown Prince’s reforms] – or rather, the Crown Prince’s madness – they also had a technological prowess that was competitive enough.

If they were to take the artisans from District 51, the Ming merchant world was the place with a sufficient foundation to assimilate them.

‘It’s not just the merchants….’

The Ming imperial family or the court could not be excluded from the list of suspects either. The Ming imperial family or the court were competing with the Ming merchant world in the same way.

“Haa~. Frustrating….”

Sejong, analyzing these various situations, expressed his frustration.

After relieving some of his frustration with a long sigh, Sejong asked the Royal Guard Captain.

“Milwi [Secret Guard] said they would investigate in more detail, right?”

“Yes, I have ordered them to do so.”

“Tell them to find out and report as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. All responses will be decided after that.”

“I obey your command!”

“And also, pay attention to the surveillance and protection of the artisans in District 15, no, 51. How far has the organization of the Bidaewi [Secret Defense Unit] that you were ordered to organize within the Royal Guard progressed?”

Sejong created Milwi, but he was worried about the Milwi’s predecessor and the tyranny through information monopoly, so he organized a secret unit within the Royal Guard. It was the birth of a special unit called ‘Bidaewi,’ meaning ‘to protect the foundation of the royal family and the country in secret.’

* * *

“We have decided to create something called Bidaewi.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang’s mouth opened automatically.

“Emergency Response Committee?”

“Where did that come from?”

“Ah, no. It just popped out unconsciously.”

“Similar but different.”

Sejong, explaining the meaning of Bidaewi to Hyang, gave Hyang an order.

“You will make the weapons to be used in this Bidaewi.”

“Wouldn’t the firearms and swords currently used by the Royal Guard be sufficient?”

“We need more covert weapons.”

“How should we handle the funds?”

“They will come from Naesubyeoljwa [Royal Household Treasury].”

At Sejong’s answer, Hyang immediately bowed his head.

‘He’s made up his mind.’

“I will proceed as quickly as possible.”

After ending the conversation and leaving Gangnyeongjeon [King’s Quarters], Hyang muttered to himself.

“This… should I go for 007 or Devgru….”

Meanwhile, Sejong, looking at the door inside Gangnyeongjeon, pondered the events of a moment ago.

‘Without even asking what I want, he asked about the cost first. That guy! He already had some kind of plan in mind!’

“I really need to catch that guy and shake him down…. The problem is that if he’s gone, District 15, no, 51, won’t function properly….”

Sejong, grumbling about the guy who seemed to have a dozen snakes living in his stomach, soon grumbled for another reason.

“By the way, why did they name it District 51…. I keep calling it District 15. Suddenly attaching the number 51….”

Sejong was grumbling about the name of District 51, which was confusing if he lost his mind even for a moment.

* * *

In response to Sejong’s question about the progress of ‘Bidaewi,’ the Royal Guard Captain bowed his head and replied.

“The selection of personnel is almost complete. The size is about 30 people as you said.”

“You have chosen those who are tight-lipped, right?”

“Yes.”

Sejong nodded at the Royal Guard Captain’s answer and gave an additional order.

“First, have them stationed in District 15, no, 51. I will write an order to be sent to Milwi, so have them work with Milwi for the time being and absorb their knowledge and skills.”

“Understood.”

“However, say that they went out of the Royal Guard to support the insufficient personnel. Conceal the identity of Bidaewi.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

After giving the order to the Royal Guard Captain, Sejong sighed deeply.

“Hoo~. A tree with many branches is never free from wind….”

Sejong, sighing deeply at the situation where problems that could lead to fatal results were piled up if he relaxed even a little, jumped up from his seat.

“Eish! At times like this, it’s best to focus on research!”

It went off on a tangent, but one of the butterfly effects that Hyang brought about was Sejong’s night work.

Whether it was stimulated by Hyang’s Deokjil [obsession with a particular field] or thanks to the strengthened absolute monarchy, Sejong’s research on Hangeul [Korean alphabet] began much faster than expected.

Sejong was praised as ‘smart, liked to learn, and liked to ponder’ even in the history before Hyang’s intervention. He was the one who quickly started creating a unique writing system for Joseon.

As a result, the biggest impact was on Sejong’s night work mentioned earlier.

As Sejong became absorbed in the study of letters, the number of women Sejong took decreased significantly.

Up to Queen Yang, it proceeded the same as in the history before Hyang’s intervention, but other concubines did not exist except for Sangchim Song.

Hyang also pondered this issue.

“Huh? What’s going on? Why is he the King of the Night [working late]? For what reason?”

Hyang, pondering over Sejong’s change, who was also famous for having many concubines and children, came up with one of the most plausible hypotheses.

“Has he already started researching Hunminjeongeum [Proper Sounds for the Instruction of the People, i.e., the Korean alphabet]? Did he bite the bait I’ve been throwing all this time?”

Hyang was considering the possibility, recalling the bait he had been throwing little by little.

* * *

Meanwhile, as Sejong’s formal order was issued, Milwi began its investigation in earnest.

“No matter how I look at it, he is not a Joseon person who has been living in Joseon all along.”

The Milwi agents, after compiling the reports of the courtesans who had attended the drinking parties held by Jo Han-tae and Jang Seok-il, came to that conclusion.

“Then where do you think he came from?”

“Judging from the intonation of his speech, it’s China. It is certain that he came from Ming.”

“Ming….”

At the agents’ report, the Second Bureau Chief stroked his chin and trailed off.

“Ming…. Did the merchants of Ming send him?”

One of the agents responded to the Second Bureau Chief’s reasoning.

“According to the opinion of the head courtesan, there is a very high possibility that he is a eunuch.”

“A eunuch? Why?”

“He uses a lot of incense with an overwhelmingly strong fragrance. According to the head courtesan, the eunuchs who come to Joseon as envoys from Ming exuded a tremendous fragrance from their bodies like him.”

“Hmm…. That makes sense.”

The Second Bureau Chief nodded at the agent’s words.

According to rumors, Chinese eunuchs, unlike Joseon’s eunuchs, completely removed the entire external genitalia. In such cases, urine often leaked, so they wore diapers made of thick cotton or pants made of cotton, and covered the smell with incense that gave off a strong fragrance. (Note 1)

In addition, as Gyeongjang progressed and Joseon’s national power strengthened, the number of Gongnyeo [tribute women] and Hwaja [eunuchs] sent from Joseon to Ming decreased significantly. If it was someone who went to Ming and became a eunuch, the pieces fit together.

The Second Bureau Chief, having come to a conclusion, became serious.

“This is no ordinary problem.”

The fact that he approached the artisans of District 51 was not a minor problem in itself, but if a eunuch belonging to the Ming imperial family was involved, it was a ‘very serious’ problem.

In the end, the Second Bureau Chief ordered his subordinate.

“This is not a problem that can be solved at my level. Write a report.”

“Yes.”

* * *

The report written in that way was immediately sent to Sejong through the Royal Guard Captain.

“Serious….”

Sejong, receiving and reading the report, muttered in a stiff voice.

It was a matter involving a eunuch, a servant of the Emperor.

It was very important whether this was an affair approved by the Emperor or not.

Sejong, pondering a solution with a serious face, came up with one idea.

‘Sending a eunuch secretly means it’s unofficial. If we secretly deal with the eunuch, the Emperor will have nothing to say!’

“Officially, nothing will have happened….”

Sejong, having come to a conclusion, ordered the Royal Guard Captain.

“Deliver a license to Milwi.”

“If you mean a license, what kind of license?”

Sejong replied briefly to the Royal Guard Captain’s question.

“Myeolgu [extermination]. However, the target is limited to those from Ming only.”

At Sejong’s answer, the Royal Guard Captain immediately bowed his head.

“I obey your command!”

Sejong, having sent the Royal Guard Captain out, called a Sangseon [court attendant].

“Bring the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

Note 1) https://namu.wiki/w/환관#s-4.1