Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 415

415. Lord of War. Huashang (6)

Just when the matter seemed settled, Sejong suddenly called for Hyang.

“Ah! I almost forgot. Crown Prince, the Daenaessi [likely referring to a foreign delegation or group] have requested support in the form of rifles to counter Hwachang [a type of Korean fire arrow or rocket]. What should we do?”

Hyang answered Sejong’s question immediately.

“Dung, no… We can just hand over the Dongchong [a type of Korean rifle], can’t we? We’ll give them the manufacturing method, but we’ll provide the bullets and gunpowder.”

Sejong pondered Hyang’s answer for a moment, then nodded.

“Yes, that would be best. We must prevent gunpowder manufacturing technology from falling into their hands as much as possible. Good work.”

“Yes. Then, I will return and start working on it immediately.”

“Yes, good work.”

Hyang politely bowed to Sejong and left Geunjeongjeon Hall [the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace].

Watching Hyang’s retreating figure, Sejong looked uneasy.

“Huh? Why is that kid so docile?”

Sejong already knew what kind of child Hyang was.

Sejong, well aware that Hyang’s favorite thing was developing weapons, couldn’t understand Hyang’s calm reaction just now.

“I understand him reacting like that when I mentioned the budget, but the problem is that his previous reaction was unusual….”

Sejong looked at his ministers, troubled by Hyang’s uncharacteristic behavior.

“Does anyone know why the Crown Prince is acting like this?”

“I’m not sure, Your Majesty.”

“But it’s definitely not a trivial matter!”

The ministers couldn’t hide their unease at Hyang’s strange reaction. Eventually, the ministers looked at Kim Jeom.

“How about releasing some of the reserve funds?”

“It’s not ‘How about it!’ Release them!”

Under the pressure from the ministers, Kim Jeom looked at Sejong. Seeing Sejong’s face, Kim Jeom finally yielded.

“I will execute it immediately upon request.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

Meanwhile, Hyang, who had returned to his office in Area 51, burst into anger.

“Which money-grubbing bastard did this crazy thing! This messes up my schedule!”

Hyang was making that expression because the unexpected variable had disrupted his planned timeline.

* * *

From the time he first created the Gapsik Jangchongtong – Gapsik Jangchong – Eul [likely referring to a specific model of rifle], Hyang had been making his own plans.

-The rifle I’m making now uses a percussion cap that uses a detonator.

-As long as we protect the manufacturing method of fulminate of mercury [a highly sensitive explosive compound], we can last with percussion caps for a short 10 years or a long 30 years.

-Around that time, someone will either get paid to leak it, or artisans from other countries will accidentally discover something similar, and then we’ll move one step ahead with breech-loading rifles.

-If we develop it little by little like this, we can enjoy our hobby leisurely without worrying about running out of funds.

-Hooray!

This was Hyang’s plan, but it had been disrupted.

* * *

As Hyang was spewing curses about ‘some crazy bastard,’ he returned to reality.

“No matter how I think about it, the military doesn’t seem to be giving up on the conquest of Tsushima Island [an island between Korea and Japan]…. Then, I think we should go with breech-loading rather than muzzle-loading.”

Hyang thought that in order to maximize the effectiveness of muzzle-loading rifles, the collective firing of soldiers in formation was the correct answer.

However, it was difficult to form ranks in the forest. In the end, the soldiers had to be divided into small groups to fight the enemy.

In order for those small groups of soldiers to maintain their firepower advantage, a breech-loading rifle with a fast reload was the best answer.

Having reached a conclusion, Hyang soon unfolded a blank piece of paper and began to ponder.

“Which method would be good….”

And before long, Hyang was humming and drawing concept diagrams.

* * *

While Hyang was having a ‘fun hobby time’ to create a new rifle, a delegation led by Lee Maeng-gyun as the chief envoy visited Beijing.

“The chief envoy seems even healthier than when you came last time? Do you have a secret to rejuvenation?”

Lee Maeng-gyun bowed his head and replied to Emperor Xuande’s jest, based on his appearance when he had visited before.

“My lord has obtained good medicine for me.”

“The King of Joseon truly cherishes his subjects.”

Lee Maeng-gyun muttered inwardly at Emperor Xuande’s words.

‘I don’t think you know how scary the price of that medicine is.’

In an atmosphere softened by light jokes, Emperor Xuande brought up the main topic.

“So, what is the reason for suddenly coming when it is not time for an envoy to visit? From what I hear, Joseon seems to be at peace?”

Lee Maeng-gyun put strength into his voice and brought up the matter in response to Emperor Xuande’s question.

“In fact, a serious matter has arisen concerning the safety of the Celestial Empire [a traditional name for China] and our Joseon, so I have come as an envoy.”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s words, Emperor Xuande straightened his posture and asked again.

“A problem with safety? What are you talking about?”

Lee Maeng-gyun gestured to the vice-envoy. Lee Maeng-gyun received a box from the vice-envoy, politely stepped forward, and handed the box to the eunuch.

“Open it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Xuande looked back at Lee Maeng-gyun after seeing the contents of the box.

“Isn’t this a Dolhwachang [another type of firearm]? Our country and Joseon use better Hwachang than this, so what’s the problem?”

“As you can see in detail, that is a Dolhwachang used by the Celestial Empire’s army. The problem is that these Dolhwachang are circulating in large quantities among the Wokou [Japanese pirates].”

“What!”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s explanation, Emperor Xuande jumped up from his seat.

Emperor Xuande, who came down from his throne, took out a Dolhwachang from the box and examined it carefully.

While examining it, Emperor Xuande sighed after confirming the inscription engraved on the body of the Dolhwachang.

“Hoo~. It’s real. So, are you saying that these Dolhwachang are circulating among the Wokou pirates?”

“That’s right. The lord of Yeongju, who communicates with our Joseon, has sent an urgent report that hundreds of them are already circulating, and the number is increasing.”

“Heo~.”

“The biggest concern right now is whether the method of making gunpowder has also been passed on.”

Emperor Xuande exploded at the mention that not only had the Dolhwachang been leaked, but an even bigger problem could arise.

“Is that so! These traitors!”

Emperor Xuande gnashed his teeth and looked at the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.

“Immediately form an inspection team to find out the truth! Go through all the armies of the empire, conduct a real investigation into the quantity of Dolhwachang, and find out the irregularities! If there is anyone involved, arrest them all, regardless of their status! Arrest not only the parties involved but also their entire ten degrees of kinship! No, conduct a full investigation not only of Dolhwachang but also of all cannons and gunpowder! This is my imperial order, and those who neglect this will be charged with treason!”

“We, we obey the order!”

The Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, terrified, stammered and answered immediately.

Once again, a storm of blood began to blow across the empire.

* * *

Following Emperor Xuande’s strict order, the largest investigation team in history was formed.

The investigation team, which was formed by mobilizing not only the Censorate [an agency that supervised the efficiency of the government] but also the Embroidered Uniform Guard [a secret police] and the Eastern Depot [another secret police organization], thoroughly searched not only the empire’s armies but also the merchants connected to them.

The screams coming from the investigation team’s interrogation room went over the walls, and dozens of people returned home as corpses every day.

The full picture of the incident revealed in this way was as follows.

Some merchants, struggling to maintain their businesses and gain more profits in the face of increasingly fierce competition, noticed the Dolhwachang being retired from the military.

According to the established law, these retired Dolhwachang were supposed to be moved back to the workshops in Beijing and other places for recycling.

However, copper was an expensive mineral, so a significant number of merchants approached the officials, gave them bribes, and smuggled out the Dolhwachang.

While melting down the smuggled Dolhwachang to make utensils, some merchants who had connections with pirates had another idea.

“I think we can sell it to the pirates at a high price?”

This was an opportunity that merchants who had already smuggled and sold even the Ming army’s cannons could not miss.

The pirates, who contacted the merchants and heard about the matter, welcomed them with open arms. Soon, Dolhwachang began to be handed over to the pirates.

The rumor that the pirates had obtained Dolhwachang was immediately conveyed to the Wokou pirates, who also secretly contacted them and demanded Dolhwachang.

That was how Dolhwachang entered Japan.

However, gunpowder was needed to use Dolhwachang properly, and Ming merchants began to supply gunpowder as well.

As Chinese people enjoyed fireworks for celebrations such as New Year’s celebrations and weddings, gunpowder was easy to obtain. However, the merchants, who were stingy with the money spent on gunpowder production, contacted the military again.

The merchants contacted the gunpowder managers in the military and received the gunpowder that had been decided to be disposed of at a low price.

This was because gunpowder technicians working in the merchants could recycle it.

However, as the demand for gunpowder increased, the merchants began to smuggle and sell even perfectly good gunpowder from the military.

It was natural for a chain of bribes to be created in this process. At first, it was simply the on-site manager, but as the scale grew, the line reached even the Regional Military Commission, which oversaw the troops stationed in one province.

* * *

“I can’t even say anything….”

Emperor Xuande, who had confirmed the investigation report, looked as if he had aged several years in an instant.

“30% of the Dolhwachang were smuggled out in this way, but the problem is the remaining 10%, even though 2/3 of them were melted down to make bowls. This alone is in the tens of thousands….”

Emperor Xuande, who was reconfirming the contents of the report, closed his eyes tightly when he saw the gunpowder section.

“I’m afraid to see it again. Why do I have to see this report! Tell me!”

At Emperor Xuande’s roar, everyone, including the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, prostrated themselves on the floor.

“Please have mercy!”

“Please forgive our shortcomings!”

“Hoo~.”

Emperor Xuande, who was suppressing his anger with a long sigh, began to tremble as he looked at the list of related parties written in the report.

“Only four Regional Military Commissions are involved? I trusted them and slept comfortably? I will issue an order! The four Regional Military Commissioners will be executed by boiling, and their families will be found and exterminated, including all ten degrees of kinship from their paternal and maternal families! And all those who have embezzled weapons and gunpowder for the defense of the empire and enriched themselves, and all those associated with them, will be beheaded and all their assets will be confiscated! And their three degrees of kinship will also be exterminated!”

Everyone in the palace trembled in fear at Emperor Xuande’s cruel order and answered.

“We obey the imperial order!”

In this way, the entire territory of Ming was once again submerged in blood. Countless people’s heads were cut off and rolled on the ground. However, the ones who met the most miserable end were the four Regional Military Commissioners.

They were boiled alive in a pot.

The tragedy that turned the entire empire upside down brought great changes to the empire.

First of all, looking at the merchant world, a huge number of companies, from large companies boasting history and tradition to new companies, were swept away, and fierce competition among the survivors began to take place to fill the vacancies.

Next, the government, eunuchs, and military were reshuffled once again. The ones who suffered the most damage from this reshuffle were the eunuchs and the military.

Among the eunuchs who were gradually gaining political power due to Emperor Xuande’s policies, a significant number of high-ranking eunuchs were beheaded, and the same was true for the military.

The situation in the military was particularly serious, with almost all military units involved in corruption, and as a result, a huge number of generals and officers were purged and lost their lives.

New officers were transfused through the military examination, and existing officers were promoted to fill the positions, but so many people with combat experience and leadership skills disappeared.

It was to the extent that Hyang, who heard the story, evaluated it as follows.

“This is… a purge similar in size to the Great Purge carried out by Marshal of Steel [possibly a reference to a historical figure or event]? The future of the Ming military will be interesting to watch.”