Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 39

Jjangra

Hello, Bomb!

39. Laughing and Crying at Fangirling (4)

“A ship has arrived at Jemulpo!”

“Is that so? Did everything arrive without any issues?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sejong, under the order of Emperor Yongle, procured falcons for hunting and dispatched Jinungsa (進鷹使) [Falcon Procurement Envoys]. Naturally, merchants accompanied the delegation, returning with significant profits.

They not only extracted generous return gifts for the falcons offered as tribute but also, as always, allocated half of the funds received from the merchants to purchase rice. Given the substantial amount involved, the rice was transported to Jemulpo using Ming Dynasty ships.

“Have the books and other items arrived as well?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

While Sejong and his ministers were interested in the grains, Hyang’s interest lay elsewhere.

Hyang was interested in the books documenting Zheng He’s voyages and items perfect for exclusive sales.

Two days later, a massive number of chests arrived at the palace.

The chests were placed in the courtyard in front of Geunjeongjeon Hall [the main throne hall of Gyeongbok Palace], and Hyang, the ministers, and even Sejong himself came out to the courtyard to inspect the contents.

The scholars of the Jiphyeonjeon [Hall of Worthies, a royal research institute], who were examining the contents of the opened chests, looked at Sejong with surprised eyes.

“Your Majesty, these all appear to be originals, not copies.”

“What?”

* * *

While the court was bustling with the issue of expanding smallpox vaccination nationwide, there were still many other tasks to be done. Sejong and his ministers addressed these through discussion.

“Has the matter of the falcons to be sent to the Ming Dynasty been resolved?”

“The falconers of the Eungbang (鷹坊) [Royal Falconry Office] are capturing and transporting five birds.”

Sejong frowned at the minister’s response.

“Five, you say… The falconers and the people must have suffered greatly.”

“We are deeply grateful.”

“See to it that a compensation system for this is researched.”

“Understood.”

Having resolved the issue of the falcons for tribute, Sejong and his ministers moved on to the next agenda item.

“What would be good to receive in return for offering the falcons as tribute?”

“First and foremost, sulfur and copper would be most beneficial.”

The Minister of War mentioned sulfur without missing a beat. With gunpowder weapons becoming increasingly important, securing sulfur and copper was essential.

However, since sulfur was not produced in Joseon, it had to be obtained mostly from China and Japan, making its supply quite challenging.

The same was true for copper. No, copper was even more difficult to obtain than sulfur. Copper was also not produced in Joseon, and the problem was that both the Ming Dynasty and Japan had high domestic consumption, making it difficult to export.

In the end, copper and sulfur accounted for the largest portion of the tribute trade between Ming and Joseon, with books and cotton cloth making up the rest.

After continued discussion, it was largely decided to request sulfur and copper, as suggested by the Minister of War.

“And what else would be good to have?”

As soon as Sejong finished speaking, Hyang stepped forward.

“There is a book that we must obtain!”

“A book that we must obtain?”

Sejong and the ministers turned their attention to Hyang’s statement.

“Yes, what book is it? We already have most of the important scriptures in Joseon.”

“It is Zheng He’s voyage records.”

“Zheng He’s voyage records?”

As Sejong expressed his doubt, the Minister of Rites chimed in, pretending to know.

“Ah! There is an eunuch named Zheng He in the Emperor’s court.”

“And what are these voyage records?”

“I heard that he led a fleet on expeditions under the Emperor’s orders.”

“Ah! I have heard rumors of that as well.”

Sejong nodded at the Minister of Rites’ answer. He was not the only one. Most of the ministers nodded as well.

In the 5th year of Taejong’s reign, the Joseon court was abuzz with rumors that an eunuch, under the order of Emperor Yongle, was leading a large fleet composed of massive ships on an expedition.

At the time, the Joseon court, having obtained information about the departure of such a massive fleet, was on high alert.

-Where is that fleet headed? Is it Joseon? Or is it Japan?

With Taejong and the court on edge, closely monitoring the situation, word came that the fleet in question was headed to the far-off outer seas, not Joseon or Japan. Only after confirming that the rumors were true could Taejong and the court relax their vigilance.

“But why do we need those voyage records?”

Hyang looked puzzled at Sejong’s question.

“Yes? Why do we need them? They are worth a fortune!”

Seeing that the ministers were also wearing similar expressions, even though Sejong had asked the question, Hyang’s blood pressure rose.

‘These people, no! Are these people for real!’

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Hyang explained why Zheng He’s voyage records were important.

-Zheng He visited countries that our Joseon has not been able to visit, and those records are the voyage records.

-If we obtain those records, we can learn about the countries that have what our Joseon needs.

-It’s not just about knowing the countries. We can also learn in advance about the sea routes to get there, the time required, and the risks involved, reducing trial and error.

“Hmm… Is that so? Hmm… Maybe…”

“Hmm… Uh-huh…”

After listening to Hyang’s explanation, Sejong nodded, showing a gradual understanding, but the other ministers still seemed unsure.

Seeing this, Hyang’s blood pressure rose to the point of feeling drained.

‘Are these people for real… They’re not some old geezers from a remote village who don’t know anything about the world…’

Regaining his composure, Hyang gave an example that was easy to understand.

“Think about the gakgung (角弓) [composite bow], the most important weapon of our Joseon soldiers. Among the materials that go into the gakgung, the most important is suyugak (水牛角, water buffalo horn). But where do we get this suyugak now? Mostly from the Ming Dynasty. But is the Ming Dynasty giving it to us easily?”

“Not at all.”

In response to Hyang’s question, the ministers all answered in unison. Joseon’s gakgung was famous for its powerful force. Because of this, the Ming Dynasty did not sell much of the water buffalo horn, the main ingredient of the gakgung. Because of this, Joseon even asked to buy water buffaloes instead, but there had been no response so far.

Therefore, although the Joseon court strictly prohibited smuggling, it actively encouraged smuggling when it came to water buffalo horns.

In the end, a significant portion of the water buffalo horns needed by Joseon had to be imported through Japan and Ryukyu (琉球) [Okinawa].

As soon as the ministers understood, Hyang added.

“Are water buffaloes only found in Jiangnan in Ming? They are also found in the southern regions of Japan and Ryukyu, but I heard that they are common in Dai Viet (大越) [Vietnam] and Siam-Lavo (暹羅斛國, the old name for Thailand). In particular, Siam-Lavo had envoys during the reign of Taejo the Great, but there has been no proper trade since then. What is the reason? It was because we didn’t know the way to get there, wasn’t it?”

“Ah!”

The ministers all exclaimed at Hyang’s words. It was something they remembered as well.

* * *

During Taejo’s reign, envoys came from Thailand to offer tributes, and Taejo was also interested in trade, but he did not get any special results, and in the end, it ended vaguely. No, vague was a good expression. At the time, most of the ministers thought, ‘We were scammed!’

In addition, most of the ministers who moved the court from Taejo to Sejong thought that one of the biggest reasons why Goryeo had fallen was commerce.

-The powerful and influential families who colluded with merchants fell into extravagance, and the national affairs became corrupt, and all the damage was returned to the powerless common people.

Thanks to sharing such thoughts, the court’s ministers and the private sector’s Sadaebu [scholar-officials] moved as follows based on Confucianism.

-In order to avoid such a situation, Sadaebu must be frugal, and the state must be based on agriculture and suppress commerce (務本抑末) [emphasize agriculture and restrain commerce].

That’s what they said, but the main source of income for the Sadaebu, who were intellectuals and landlords, was the crops produced by the farmers.

In the end, the harshness of life for ordinary people, including farmers, did not change much.

In the end, the ministers and Hyang, who were running the country based on such a way of thinking, clashed, leading to the purge of the Prime Ministers, Daesagan [Senior Secretary], and Daesaheon [Chief Censor].

In the end, Hyang’s argument was accepted, and it was decided to obtain Zheng He’s voyage records.

And, along with the cages containing the falcons, the envoy departed for Beijing.

* * *

“You have worked hard to come here.”

“We are deeply grateful for the Emperor’s grace.”

The chief envoy (正使) and the vice-envoy (副使) bowed their heads with words of gratitude at Emperor Yongle’s praise (致賀) [expressing congratulations].

Emperor Yongle, who was looking at the falcons in the cages with a satisfied eye, opened his mouth.

“Yes. I have received precious things, so I must give a reply. What does Joseon want?”

“We want sulfur and copper.”

At the chief envoy’s answer, Emperor Yongle looked back at the Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet (內閣大學士) who was standing by.

“The Grand Secretary should consult with the envoys and provide an appropriate amount of sulfur and copper.”

“I obey the imperial order.”

Emperor Yongle, who gave the order, looked at the Joseon envoys and opened his mouth.

“And is there anything else you want?”

“I am sorry to say, but we want a copy (寫本) of the expedition records made by the eunuch Zheng He.”

“Hoo? Zheng He’s expedition records?”

Emperor Yongle, who heard the interpreter’s words, showed curiosity.

“Why does Joseon want that?”

At Emperor Yongle’s question, the chief envoy explained the reason while deeply prostrating.

“Our Joseon is a small country located in a corner of the vast world, so we do not know how wide the world is. Thanks to the grace of His Majesty the Emperor, this small country has come to know that there are many countries in this world. This alone is something to be grateful for (感泣) [moved to tears], but I heard that Zheng He, who received His Majesty’s order, spread the majesty of His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire to the four seas (四海) [everywhere]. Thanks to the grace of His Majesty and the Empire, our Joseon has come to know that the world is wide, but we are now like frogs who have just come out of a well and do not know the width of the Yangtze River (長江). Therefore, we want to know the width of the four seas and the majesty of the Empire that has spread to the four seas, so we want a copy of the records.”

It was a word that made even the interpreter who conveyed the words cringe.

Of course, this ambassador was not created by the ministers. It was an ambassador created by Hyang in a mock dialogue (模擬對談) [simulation] held by the ministers and Sejong.

Hyang, who created the ambassador, went back to his room and scratched his arms, grumbling.

“Ugh! It’s so cringeworthy that I get goosebumps! Goosebumps! I sucked up really well! I said it, but, ugh! Goosebumps!”

“Puhahahaha!”

Emperor Yongle, who heard the words through the interpreter, laughed loudly (破顔大笑) [burst out laughing]. Emperor Yongle, who wiped away the tears that had formed from laughing too hard, opened his mouth.

“The current King of Joseon is truly virtuous! He knows his place well! He’s better than his father or grandfather!”

The Joseon envoys gritted their teeth at Emperor Yongle’s words. However, enduring this, the envoys bowed their heads.

“We are deeply grateful for the Emperor’s grace!”

“Yes! A small country in the corner wants to know the width of the four seas, so I have to give it! The Grand Secretary should prepare a copy and send it to Joseon!”

“I obey the imperial order!”

As Emperor Yongle’s order fell, the Joseon envoys raised their arms high and shouted.

“We are deeply grateful for the Emperor’s grace! Long live, long live, long long live!”

* * *

That’s how the records written by Zheng He came to Joseon.

The problem was that the original came, not a copy.

“Is it an administrative error?”

“Isn’t this a problem?”

Faced with an unexpected problem, Sejong, as well as Hyang and the ministers, were troubled, when a scholar from Jiphyeonjeon, who was opening another chest, found a sealed letter (封書) [sealed document].

“There’s a sealed letter here!”

The Minister of Rites, who received the sealed letter in an expensive silk envelope, tore open the seal and tilted his head as he read the contents.

“What is it?”

“It is a letter (書札) [missive] sent by the Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet.”

“Let me see.”

Sejong, who received the letter from the Minister of Rites, read the contents and made an expression that he could not understand even more.

“I can’t understand it even more.”

Hyang intervened in the reaction of the Minister of Rites and Sejong.

“May I read it?”

“Yes. Read it.”

Hyang received the letter and immediately checked the contents.

The contents of the letter were simple.

-This was done through legal procedures, so Joseon should not doubt or inquire.

Hyang tilted his head as he read the contents of the letter.

‘No matter how I look at this, the feeling is…’

No matter how many times he read it, the atmosphere of the sentence was this.

-Just put it in! Uh-huh! It’s not stolen goods (贓物) [ill-gotten gains]! Just put it in! And don’t even open your mouth! Shh! Shh! Uh-huh! Just put it in!

After thinking and thinking, Hyang recalled his memories of the 21st century and muttered to himself.

“Was it a double-edged sword (鷄肋) [something of little value or use] after all?”

“A double-edged sword? Crown Prince, do you know what it means?”

When Sejong asked a question after hearing Hyang’s muttering, Hyang nodded.

“Yes, it is my personal opinion (私見) [private view], but…”

Hyang began to explain.

End

ⓒ Gukbbong