Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 381

381. Dongjin Archipelago (3)

Southeast of Unwol Peninsula.

In the history before Hyang intervened, it was a small port city called ‘Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky,’ but now, under the control of the Joseon navy, it was called ‘Johang (鑿港).’ [Johang literally means ‘drilled port’.]

The reason for using the character ‘Jo (鑿),’ meaning ‘hole,’ was due to the port’s location, reminiscent of the hole used to attach decorative tassels to the back of Unwoldo’s blade.

Other Chinese characters meaning hole—孔 (gong), 穴 (hyeol)—were available, but they were often used in vulgar metaphors, so the name was chosen after consulting a dictionary.

Despite its etymology, Johang’s location was a natural harbor. Situated inside a round bay, the port was well-protected from rough waves and winds.

“Even so, the problem is that it freezes over as soon as it gets a little cold…”

Ko Il-nam, watching the unloading of supplies destined for the monopoly, muttered quietly as he looked around.

* * *

Through explorations conducted by mobilizing all available resources of the Joseon navy, the islands and peninsulas north of the Yeonhaeju region and Daeseol Island could be placed under Joseon’s influence.

The next step was, of course, to subjugate the indigenous tribes.

The monopoly [a system granting exclusive trading rights] played the biggest role in this process. Joseon, having enjoyed considerable success using the monopoly to control the Jurchen people in the Tuman River area, did not forget this experience.

Therefore, as soon as bases were established in Daeseol Island, as well as Yeonhaeju, Jongjang Island, and Unwol Peninsula, monopolies were established.

The existence of these monopolies was mutually beneficial.

The indigenous tribes in the Yeonhaeju region paid tribute to and submitted to the Yuan and Ming dynasties, partly due to being subdued by force, but also to easily obtain scarce goods.

However, sending goods to this region was not easy, so the indigenous tribes still suffered from a lack of supplies.

However, Joseon’s monopolies consistently received supplies unless there were unavoidable natural disasters such as typhoons.

Therefore, the tribes in this northern region strongly desired to trade at the monopolies.

To these indigenous tribes, Joseon offered only one condition.

-Submit to Joseon. Those who submit will be treated as Joseon people.

“What does it mean to be treated as Joseon people?”

“It means there will be no discrimination if you faithfully follow Joseon’s laws.”

“Ah…”

“Think carefully.”

The tribal chiefs, having heard Joseon’s proposal through written communication, returned to their tribes with troubled faces.

The indigenous tribes did not make a decision immediately. However, as they saw more and more goods entering the monopolies in the summer and autumn of Imja year (King Sejong 14, 1432), the indigenous tribes had to make a decision.

‘Submission or a gamble on plunder.’

While they were contemplating, a few impatient natives raided the monopoly near Yeongnyeongsa.

“There are not many Joseon soldiers, so we can hit and run!”

Those who raided the monopoly with hopeful calculations were torn to pieces by the Joseon navy’s artillery and musket fire.

The Joseon army’s response did not stop there. After finding out which tribe the raiders belonged to through inquiries, the Joseon navy immediately requested cavalry.

The cavalry, which came on the navy’s ships, immediately struck the problematic tribe, completely destroying it.

The indigenous tribes, having confirmed the Joseon army’s power, had no choice but to make a decision.

The decision was, of course, submission.

Although there was bloodshed in the middle, Joseon faithfully kept its original promise.

And the submitted tribes became addicted to the monopolies. The monopolies created in Yeonhaeju, Jongjang Island, and Unwol Peninsula were crowded with people trying to sell various items such as furs and medicinal herbs to obtain necessary goods—salt and sugar—and luxury items—black bean tea and pepper.

Hyang, having received the related report, chuckled and muttered.

“It’s still ‘the root of all evil, capitalism’…”

* * *

The impact of the ‘Battle of Yeongnyeongsa’ was not limited to the submission of indigenous tribes.

In the process of evaluating the results of the ‘Battle of Yeongnyeongsa,’ Jang Hang-seon submitted a proposal.

‘On the necessity of creating a naval unit dedicated to ground warfare and the discretion of field commanders.’

Jo Mal-saeng, having seen the title of the report, immediately summoned Jang Hang-seon.

“Isn’t this a waste of unnecessary budget?”

Jang Hang-seon answered firmly to Jo Mal-saeng’s question.

“No, it is not! It is effective enough!”

Jang Hang-seon explained in detail to Jo Mal-saeng.

-Looking at this Battle of Yeongnyeongsa, it took a considerable amount of time from stopping the attack to the cavalry striking.

-Looking at the reason for taking so much time, it took time to confirm the arrived report, for His Majesty to decide and issue an order, but even more time was consumed in designating the cavalry to be in charge of the attack, transmitting the order, and transporting it on the ship.

-In the future, Joseon’s territory will gradually increase. If this kind of thing happens when a dispute occurs far from the Joseon mainland, it will only be a case of ‘prescribing medicine after death’ [a Korean idiom for acting too late].

-Therefore, it is more reasonable for ports far from the mainland to station a separate force in charge of offense in addition to the forces defending the port.

-It is most reasonable to organize these separately stationed forces around cavalry and artillery. Mobility and firepower are the most important.

-Depending on the size of the port, station troops ranging from a *cho* (哨, about 100 people) to a *sa* (司, about 500 people), and gather these troops to quickly deploy them according to the intensity of the conflict.

-To do this, the discretion of the field commander must be expanded.

“…It is more efficient to gather and deploy these divided troops than to gather and send troops from the mainland!”

Jo Mal-saeng stroked his beard with a troubled face at Jang Hang-seon’s explanation.

“It looks good, but this part is the problem. ‘Expand the discretion of the field commander.’ What if we provoke a dispute first due to the misjudgment of a belligerent field commander? Or what if the field commander plots a rebellion?”

Jang Hang-seon had already thought about Jo Mal-saeng’s point, and immediately answered as if he had already thought about it.

“That’s why we divided the troops! The criterion for determining the size of the troops deployed in this way is to prevent the enemy from easily deciding to attack, and at the same time, to adjust it so that our Joseon army cannot easily decide to attack first!”

“Hmm…”

Jo Mal-saeng, who had been contemplating Jang Hang-seon’s words for a long time, opened his mouth as if he had come to a conclusion.

“I will report it to His Majesty (上申).”

Jang Hang-seon bowed deeply and answered to Jo Mal-saeng’s words.

“Thank you!”

And Sejong, having received a report from Jo Mal-saeng, reviewed it and came to a conclusion.

“It seems like a good idea. Review it further, supplement it, and submit it again. Pay special attention to the part about the discretion of the field commander.”

“I will obey your command!”

Meanwhile, Hyang, having heard the news, immediately sought out Jo Mal-saeng.

“I have some equipment in mind, and if the creation of the unit is actually decided, please evaluate it.”

Jo Mal-saeng smiled broadly and answered to Hyang’s words.

“Is that true! Then I will do my best to make sure it is created!”

“And please pay attention to the issue of the field commander’s discretion.”

“Yes!”

Hyang, giving a warning to Jo Mal-saeng, muttered quietly as he came out.

“At least I shouldn’t let it become like the Kwantung Army…” [A reference to the aggressive and independent-minded Japanese army that operated in Manchuria before WWII].

In any case, a new branch of the navy was created based on the plan submitted by Jang Hang-seon.

‘Joseon Navy Rapid Response Mobile Force (朝鮮水軍 迅速對應機動隊)’

It was the birth of a branch that would later be evaluated as ‘one of the sharpest swords of the Joseon army.’

And, like Joseon’s other weapons and branches, it was an existence that made foreign armies grind their teeth.

* * *

While Ko Il-nam was grumbling, watching the sea that started to snow as soon as the weather got a little colder, and immediately turned into a blizzard as soon as it started to snow, and immediately froze as soon as the blizzard started to fall, a light flickered in the watchtower set up at the entrance of the bay.

“Huh?”

Ko Il-nam, having confirmed the light from the watchtower, immediately began to decode the signal.

“Multiple unidentified ships approaching?”

Jing, jing, jing!

Gwaeng, gwaeng, gwaeng!

Due to those who confirmed the signal in addition to Ko Il-nam, the sound of gongs and *kkwaenggwari* [a small, flat gong] began to overflow everywhere in the port.

While the port guards, hearing the loud sound of gongs and *kkwaenggwari*, hurriedly grabbed their weapons and prepared for battle, Ko Il-nam also moved busily.

“Chief mate! Is the unloading finished?”

“A little more left!”

“Stop it right now! Prepare for battle!”

“Prepare for battle! Stop unloading!”

“Prepare for battle!”

At Ko Il-nam’s order, the sailors moved busily, and the deputy came and asked.

“Could it be the ships coming from Dasang Island (多霜島, Bering Island)?”

The deputy mentioned an island about 1,400 *li* (about 580km) northeast of Johang. When he mentioned the island named ‘Dasang Island’ because it had a lot of frost, Ko Il-nam shook his head.

“Wouldn’t the guards in the watchtower recognize the ships coming from Dasang Island?”

“Ah, that’s right.”

The deputy nodded and immediately agreed to Ko Il-nam’s point.

“Just in case, prepare to raise the anchor and get out of the dock right away. Our ship needs to move freely to exert its power properly.”

“I understand!”

At Ko Il-nam’s order, the deputy answered immediately and moved to command his subordinates.

* * *

As the Joseon army was on high alert, the ships in question entered the port.

“It’s a little bigger than a *Hyeopseon* (挾船) [a small, fast warship]. If we do well, we can finish it in one shot.”

While Ko Il-nam was estimating the size of the ships approaching the pier, the ships in question docked at the pier where the natives’ ships were docked.

Those who docked the ships got off the ship with nervous faces. They were intimidated by the presence of the Joseon soldiers gathered around the pier.

While the natives who got off the pier were standing blankly, a military officer accompanied by a native interpreter approached the natives.

After a brief conversation, the military officer led the natives away. And not long after, the sound of gongs and *kkwaenggwari* rang again.

“Emergency release!”

“Release!”

As the port guards who had entered battle preparation released their preparation, Ko Il-nam also gave an order.

“Release battle preparation. And dock the ship again.”

“Yes!”

As the order was transmitted, the atmosphere of the Gilrim ship, which had been tense, also relaxed.

As the Gilrim ship docked again and was firmly tied to the pier, the sailors resumed unloading the stopped supplies.

Ko Il-nam, watching the scene, ordered the deputy.

“I’ll go to the port headquarters for a while. I’ll leave the ship to you.”

“I understand. Just leave it to me!”

Ko Il-nam, leaving the ship to the deputy, got off the ship and headed to the headquarters.

He was, after all, a curious and meddlesome Joseon person.

* * *

Ko Il-nam, having arrived at the port headquarters, began to talk to a military officer he was friendly with.

“Where did they say they came from?”

“They say it’s an island I’ve never heard of before. They say that the people living in Dasang Island might know.”

Ko Il-nam’s eyes began to shine at the military officer’s answer.

“An island you’ve never heard of before?”

“They say it’s about 2,400 *li* (about 960km) east of here in Johang.”

“2,400 *li* with those ships? Wait! East!”

Ko Il-nam’s eyes widened.