Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 35

Extracurricular Story 35. 1592 South Sea War. (35)

Under Lee Chi’s command, the Governor-General’s Office smoothly proceeded with the ‘demilitarization operation’ of Japan.

Japanese government officials were dissatisfied but had no means to respond, so they were merely stamping their feet.

It was a matter of justification.

The requirements of the armistice agreement and the tasks of the Governor-General’s Office were so extensive and neatly presented that Lee Chi evaluated it as a ‘harmony of literature and martial arts.’

-Martial arts created the means and goals, and literature created the justification.

This single sentence was the most perfect evaluation of the result.

The negotiation process of the armistice agreement and the Governor-General’s Office’s ‘Japan national reform operation’ were difficult for even Japanese officials and King Takayo to oppose.

The justification that the Empire presented for each issue was too strong.

And, although neither the Empire nor Japan explicitly stated it, the most powerful justification was separate.

-Japan was defeated.

-Moreover, they started the war first and lost.

-What can you say to that?

* * *

The Governor-General’s Office, having silenced the Japanese officials, steadily progressed with its work.

Among these tasks, the reduction of the Japanese army and navy received the most attention.

In the process of this reduction, and in its aftermath, Lee Chi laid a trap.

It was a trap designed to ‘create enemies.’

First, using the budget as a weapon, he divided the Japanese army and navy.

Budget issues often cause friction between the army and navy in any country, but in Japan, the situation was even more pronounced.

The initial step was to drastically reduce the overall military budget.

-The military budget must be reduced to pay war reparations to the Empire and compensate the Japanese people who suffered from this war.

This was the justification presented by Lee Chi’s Governor-General’s Office.

Even in defeat, the Japanese military could not help but protest against such a large-scale budget reduction.

And this was precisely Lee Chi’s aim.

When the Japanese military’s opposition surfaced, the Governor-General’s Office secretly leaked it to the Japanese media.

Of course, it wasn’t just a leak; it was presented with a carefully crafted spin.

-We are trying to alleviate the suffering of the Japanese people by reducing the military’s budget.

-But that stubborn military is opposing it.

-Isn’t it adding insult to injury? Who created this painful situation? Wasn’t it Toyotomi [Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a powerful feudal lord] and the military who acted in collusion!

Through this kind of propaganda, the Japanese people were incited to turn against the Japanese military.

Lee Chi, upon receiving the report on the situation, smiled wryly and said to the officials of the Governor-General’s Office.

“Not all Japanese people will antagonize the Japanese military, but if most of them dislike them, that alone is a success.”

As Japanese public opinion turned increasingly negative, the Japanese military had no choice but to shut their mouths and accept the reduction.

Because the Governor-General’s Office, as well as King Takayo, criticized the military using public opinion as a weapon.

“The Governor-General’s Office is one thing, but why is His Majesty doing this!”

The Japanese military, who did not understand Takayo’s actions, expressed doubts and feelings of betrayal, but from Takayo’s point of view, it was a reasonable choice.

-If we have to remain in the shadow of the Empire anyway, there is no need to maintain a large army.

-And, those who have become more threatening than the powerful vassals, starting with Oda Nobunaga [a powerful feudal lord] and continuing with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, are the military.

-For the sake of maintaining stable royal authority, the military must be cut down.

-If security is well maintained, the people will support the royal family.

-Because the people also deeply felt that Japan could not escape from the shadow of the Empire.

Having reduced the size and strength of the entire Japanese army in this way, the Governor-General’s Office, which had already divided the army and navy, proceeded to divide the army itself into two.

* * *

Just before dividing the army into two, Lee Chi visited Takayo and openly informed him of the plan.

“The army has already been reduced as much as possible, but do we have to go this far?”

To Takayo’s question, Lee Chi explained why it had to be done.

-When a war breaks out, the most important thing is the army.

-Whether it’s advancing into the enemy’s territory or defending the mainland, it’s all the army’s responsibility.

-It is also to ensure the safety of the Japanese royal family.

-From Mori Motonari [a prominent warlord] to Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, they all rose from the ranks of the army.

-If the Governor-General’s Office’s structural reform is successful, not only the government but also the military will not be able to threaten the Japanese royal family.

“…Therefore, we have to do this.”

After Lee Chi’s explanation, Takayo, who was pondering it, eventually nodded.

“Proceed as planned.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

It was not strictly ‘necessary’ to obtain Takayo’s approval. However, the Governor-General’s Office, having secured justification by obtaining approval, proceeded without hesitation.

It divided Kyoto into east and west, with Lake Biwa to the east serving as the boundary.

-The west side of Lake Biwa is called the ‘Western Military District,’ and the headquarters is located in Naniwa—present-day Osaka.

-The Western Military District is in charge of the Honshu region west of Lake Biwa, Shikoku, Kyushu, and the attached archipelago.

-The east side of Lake Biwa is called the ‘Eastern Military District,’ and the headquarters is located in Nagoya.

-The Eastern Military District is in charge of the Honshu region east of Lake Biwa and the attached islands.

The distance between Osaka and Nagoya was a little over 450 li (approximately 180 km or 112 miles).

And Konishi Yukinaga and Kato Kiyomasa were appointed as the first commanders to operate these Eastern and Western Military Districts.

The appointment of Konishi Yukinaga and Kato Kiyomasa was also a strategic move by the Empire.

Konishi Yukinaga and Kato Kiyomasa were highly regarded as capable commanders. However, their position became precarious as they surrendered to the Empire.

They argued that they were only following the orders of Maeda Toshiie [a powerful feudal lord], but the problem was that Maeda Toshiie took responsibility and committed suicide.

“Maeda committed suicide, so why are you guys still alive?”

Whenever they received such questions, they had no choice but to shut their mouths and were increasingly pushed to the brink.

-They are capable, but their position is precarious.

-They will actively cooperate with the Empire for their own survival.

-In addition, it is well known that Kato and Konishi have a very bad relationship.

-They were not on good terms before, but their relationship completely broke down in this battle.

-Therefore, if these two are given the position of commander, they will check each other on their own.

With these calculations in mind, the Empire assigned the Western Military District to Konishi and the Eastern Military District to Kato.

And the two acted wonderfully according to the Empire’s wishes.

They began to competitively cooperate with the Empire and check each other at the same time.

The Empire did not stop here and laid another trap.

It prevented Japanese army officers from rotating between the Eastern and Western Military Districts.

There was a justification.

-The size of the army has decreased, but the area in charge remains the same.

-Therefore, experts who know each region well are needed.

-It takes at least 10 years to create these experts.

-Therefore, the rotation system is not applied.

In other words, it was a measure to train experts who perfectly knew the area they were in charge of.

However, as a result, the East and West became Kato’s and Konishi’s factions.

Just as Kato and Konishi were on bad terms, it was clear that these factions would also be at odds with each other.

And even after Kato and Konishi, this discord between East and West would continue.

* * *

In this way, the Governor-General’s Office’s ‘structural reform’ proceeded step by step.

Later, historians who studied Japan during this period evaluated it as follows.

-The event that ended the Japanese warrior regime that had lasted for over 300 years.

-Of course, it was a major transformation that succeeded in just 10 years in a great undertaking that the Ouchi regime [a powerful clan] had been trying to do but failed even before the Governor-General’s Office.

-An unprecedented great undertaking that changed the way Japanese people think from martial arts to literature.

So far, it was a positive evaluation. However, the negative evaluations were several times that.

Whenever negative evaluations of this ‘Governor-General’s Office politics’ became an issue and protests came to the Empire, the Empire’s answer was always the same.

“It was inevitable for the peaceful coexistence of the Empire and Japan.”

“The Empire didn’t start the war first, did it?”

And whenever the ‘invasion inducement theory’ originating from Konishi became an issue, the Empire scoffed.

“This isn’t a thesis, it’s a novel?”

But the real intention was this.

‘They not only started the fight first but also lost, and they have so much to say.’

* * *

Back in time, when Ryu Seong-ryong was actively negotiating in Japan.

The inside of the Empire was also noisy.

It was because of the trial over Won Gyun.

When Won Gyun was first referred to the tribunal of the Court of Justice, the attorneys began to calculate diligently.

“Considering the current Emperor and the public sentiment, a guilty verdict is certain. If you step forward recklessly, you’ll be ridiculed.”

“The disadvantages outweigh the advantages. It’s better not to take it.”

The initial atmosphere was negative, but soon the atmosphere began to change.

It was because of that public sentiment.

“Has there ever been a case that has attracted so much public attention lately?”

“There hasn’t been, has there?”

“If we do this well, can’t we greatly increase our name recognition?”

“Your notoriety will increase.”

“Hmm… Wait, wait… An old man in Europe said, ‘Even bad laws are laws.’ Then wouldn’t ‘notoriety also be fame’?”

“Huh? Does it work that way?”

In the end, attorneys who were aiming for fame moved to take on Won Gyun’s defense.

There was a rumor that Won Gyun’s family had offered a large sum as a retainer fee to save Won Gyun’s life, and a full-scale competition broke out for the position of the attorney in charge.

The attorney selected in this way engaged in fierce legal disputes in court.

The legal disputes between the prosecutor (訴追官) [a public official who initiates legal proceedings], who is like a prosecutor these days, and the attorneys were immediately published in private newspapers and distributed to the people, and the people held their own debates around these newspapers.

It raised the ‘price of paper in Seoul’ instead of the ‘price of paper in Luoyang [an ancient Chinese capital known for a similar event].’

The attorneys who defended Won Gyun used the ‘Jeju Island invasion’ as the main argument to receive Won Gyun’s acquittal or the lightest possible punishment, such as retirement.

The grounds presented by the attorney to defend Won Gyun were as follows.

-There is no item in the Empire’s military law that punishes for the responsibility of defeat.

-There is only a tacit agreement to retire only if the scale of the defeat is large.

-In addition, Emperor Lee Hyang also said, ‘You should not hold them responsible for one defeat.’

-They criticize him for consorting with prostitutes from the day before the surprise attack, but this is also unreasonable.

It may be criticized ethically, but it is not illegal legally.

-Because it was a vacation from the day before.

-In addition, it is also wrong to say that it was a violation of military law because his location was unknown at the time of the surprise attack.

-This is because the members of the fleet at the time, regardless of officers and soldiers, knew where Won Gyun was drinking.

-Therefore, the soldiers were able to find Won Gyun immediately when the surprise attack occurred.

-The reason why Won Gyun arrived late at the headquarters at the time was only because he was heavily drunk the day before.

To this attorney’s defense, the prosecutors refuted each basis and argued for Won Gyun’s guilt.

The most representative was ‘Emperor Lee Hyang’s sayings.’

-It is true that Emperor Lee Hyang said, ‘You should not hold them responsible for defeat recklessly.’ However, he also added these words. ‘However, commanders who fail in vigilance and supply and are defeated must be held accountable.’

-Won Gyun falls under this category.

The prosecutors, who gained the upper hand in the attorneys’ debate in this way, took issue with the fact that Won Gyun privately sent letters to his superiors requesting the impeachment of Lee Soon-shin and his reinstatement.

“This has disrupted the chain of command and is a great crime that has confused the eyes and ears of His Majesty!”

This part was also difficult for the attorneys to defend.

In the end, Won Gyun was sentenced to ‘indefinite mine labor.’

At the same time, Lee Chi issued an order to erase all of Won Gyun’s career.

With Won Gyun’s punishment and the signing of the armistice agreement, the ‘South Sea War’ that took place in 1592 was officially concluded.