Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 419

419. Cargo Culture (2)

Sejong explained why unconditional subjugation wasn’t feasible.

“Responding with unconditional subjugation without considering the context is not right. Although they haven’t submitted yet, we must eventually integrate them into our Joseon citizenry. Therefore, unconditional subjugation is not an option.”

No sooner had Sejong finished speaking than Jo Mal-saeng spoke up.

“The military also believes that subjugation is not a good option. The areas where iron theft mainly occurs are the land routes connected to Dongbing Port. The forests in that area are dense, and the climate presents challenges, making full-scale subjugation impossible.”

Jo Mal-saeng continued to explain the difficulties of subjugation.

– Most of the area connected to Dongbing Port is inhabited by tribes belonging to the Oljeokhap (兀狄哈, Udiger, a Jurchen tribe).

– Unlike the Ollyanghap (兀良哈, Orangkai, Oronch, another Jurchen tribe) area familiar to us, the area where the Oljeokhap tribes live is covered with primeval forests.

– In such primeval forest areas, cavalry is at a distinct disadvantage.

– To carry out proper subjugation, infantry must eventually be deployed. However, we still lack a proper understanding of the terrain inside the maze-like primeval forest. Therefore, the scale of troops deployed must be larger than usual. According to the military’s calculations, achieving proper results would be difficult even if we mobilized more than three times the usual force.

– In particular, there are still dangerous elements such as unknown poisonous insects scattered throughout the primeval forest.

“…Therefore, if we deploy troops for subjugation, we must be prepared to invest more time than expected, deploy more troops than expected, and consume a huge amount of war expenses.”

By the time Jo Mal-saeng finished his explanation, the officials all shared the same thought.

‘If the military, who only knows how to spend money, is saying such things, then subjugation is impossible.’

“However, if we continue to leave their theft unchecked, the construction period will continue to lengthen, and the costs will continue to increase….”

The Minister of Land Development trailed off, watching Sejong’s reaction. Sejong nodded at the Minister of Land Development’s statement.

“Of course, a solution to that problem is needed. However, this matter cannot be resolved solely through unconditional subjugation. Therefore, you all should come up with solutions regarding this.”

Jo Mal-saeng spoke again.

“Lee Jing-ok, who is serving as the Vice Commander of Hamgil Province, has submitted a memorial regarding this matter. The military and the Joint Chiefs of Staff have researched it and consider it a very good idea, and I was about to report it to Your Majesty.”

Sejong, who had been searching his memory for a moment at Jo Mal-saeng’s report, looked at Jo Mal-saeng with questioning eyes.

“Really? Lee Jing-ok…. He was a very capable general. However, I thought he was very harsh on the Jurchens?”

‘The only good Jurchen is a dead Jurchen.’

This was what Lee Jing-ok had publicly said when he was first assigned to the northern border during the early days of Gyeongjang [a period of military expansion and reform].

As soon as he entered the military as a Gapsa [a type of soldier], he spent his time fighting the Jurchens in the north. After passing the military examination, he spent most of his time in bloody battles with the Jurchens. Lee Jing-ok would grind his teeth whenever he heard the word Jurchen.

Sejong even considered Lee Jing-ok the most radical person.

Because of these memories and reputation, Sejong frowned with suspicion. Jo Mal-saeng smiled and replied.

“Haha! Your Majesty! Wonbong (圓峰, Lee Jing-ok’s courtesy name), that man has mellowed out a lot as time has passed and he has continued to live among the Jurchens.”

“Is that so? Then, let’s hear what plan Lee Jing-ok has come up with.”

At Sejong’s words, Jo Mal-saeng explained Lee Jing-ok’s proposed solution.

“The beginning is simple. The reason they steal iron is because they lack well-refined iron. They use the iron they take to make weapons, but also daily necessities such as axes, kitchen knives, and pots. We will capitalize on that. In other words….”

“A monopoly office [a government-controlled trading post]?”

Jo Mal-saeng, who had paused for a moment at Sejong’s interruption, immediately nodded.

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“If they submit, we will allow them to use the monopoly office, is that it?”

“We will allow them to use the monopoly office even if they do not submit. However, there will be conditions attached. They must continuously patrol the area around the railroad on our behalf and prevent the theft of railroads. Then, we will grant them the qualification to trade at the monopoly office.”

“Trade…. Not just giving it to them unconditionally, but giving them the qualification to trade…. That’s good.”

Sejong nodded, giving a positive evaluation, and looked at Kim Jeom.

“What does the Minister of Finance think?”

“I believe it is a very good idea!”

Sejong nodded, listening to Kim Jeom’s very positive answer, and suddenly burst into laughter.

“Hoo! Now that I think about it…. When it comes to dealing with foreigners, the monopoly office is the best solution. The monopoly office is truly a panacea. I think the Crown Prince’s greatest achievement is the monopoly office. What do you think?”

The officials were momentarily dumbfounded by Sejong’s sudden boasting about his son, but soon they had no choice but to nod.

This was because the monopoly office had been used to solve more than one or two problems, as Sejong had said.

‘Suddenly boasting about his son…. But since the result is like this….’

‘By the time the Crown Prince ascends to the throne, my children will also be in positions…. Sorry! Suffer a little.’

* * *

Thus, Lee Jing-ok’s plan was adopted. Hyang, who heard the story, soon wore a surprised expression.

“Lee Jing-ok, that radical, came up with such an idea?”

Choi Hae-san responded to Hyang’s words, which were similar to Sejong’s evaluation.

“Wonbong, that person has experienced a lot and is a talented person, so he must have changed.”

“Is that so?”

Choi Hae-san nodded at Hyang’s question.

“A truly outstanding general never neglects to observe and understand the enemy. Wonbong, that friend has changed a lot while dealing with and diligently observing the Jurchens. In addition, he now has quite a few Jurchens working under him, doesn’t he?”

“Ah….”

Hyang nodded at Choi Hae-san’s words.

As Choi Hae-san said, Lee Jing-ok meticulously studied the customs and history of the Jurchens in order to deal with the powerful enemy right in front of him, the Jurchens.

As he delved into the Jurchens, Lee Jing-ok gradually began to change his exclusive thinking.

In addition, as the number of Jurchen who submitted increased and he saw more and more Jurchens working under him, Lee Jing-ok began to study how to use carrots instead of sticks.

“Anyway, if we make good use of this plan, we will not only ensure the safety of the land route leading to Dongbing Port, but also generate quite a bit of additional income. The Minister of Finance will be very happy.”

Everyone present nodded simultaneously at Hyang’s last words.

“In that sense, I should go and meddle for a bit.”

As Hyang said that and stood up from his seat, Choi Hae-san and the others also stood up. As they saw Hyang off, they all had the same thought.

‘From today, some people will be blaming their own heads and suffering.’

Whenever Hyang meddled, the relevant staff had to suffer.

“How could you leave out this part? Do you have any sense or not?”

Whenever they received Hyang’s scolding, the staff suffered from self-loathing and had to work overtime.

* * *

Thus, the plan, with a little extra input from Hyang, was soon implemented targeting the Jurchens in the area.

– If you guard the railroad being built to Dongbing Port on our behalf, we will give you the authority to use grain and the monopoly office.

– Being able to use the monopoly office means that the tribe can sell the medicinal herbs and furs they have collected to the monopoly office and freely obtain the necessary goods.

Joseon made this proposal to tribes who had not yet submitted but were friendly to Joseon and lived near the railroad.

The chiefs and elders of the tribes who received Joseon’s proposal put their heads together.

“Should we accept Joseon’s proposal?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to accept it? They say that there is nothing that Joseon’s monopoly office doesn’t have.”

“Think about the Ming merchants and the merchants of other tribes who trade with us. When have they ever paid us the proper price?”

“But, if we’re not careful, we might get backstabbed by Joseon, right?”

“Rumor has it that Joseon at least doesn’t break its own word first.”

Opinions were divided among the tribes that received the proposal, but the conclusion was to accept Joseon’s proposal.

Compared to their own tribes, which were struggling to escape poverty no matter how hard they tried, Joseon was prosperous in everything.

* * *

As the tribes near the railroad came forward to protect the railroad, construction began to speed up.

As the construction site became more active, the nearby Jurchens unexpectedly gained the opportunity to earn money. They were paid wages for working as laborers at the site.

With the money they earned, the Jurchens became regular customers of the monopoly office.

“If we do this well….”

The managers of the monopoly office began to shine as they looked at the performance reports that were steadily rising.

It was a monopoly office in a dangerous area where they had risked their lives to come, but if they did a little more, they were accumulating performance that would earn them bonuses and good work evaluations.

* * *

The Jurchens who participated in the railroad construction leading to Dongbing Port all had one question.

“But why are they building this road?”

It was a complicated and labor-intensive construction that required a great deal of care in laying the foundation, spreading gravel on top of it, and laying sleepers and rails.

They saw carts pulled by horses that were almost three times the size of the horses they rode coming along the railroad and unloading materials, but the Jurchens still tilted their heads.

“Of course, they are huge carts pulled by huge horses, but it doesn’t seem right to build this road just to allow those carts to pass, does it?”

“Right?”

“Why the heck are they building this road?”

The Jurchens, who gathered in groups of three or five whenever they had unresolved questions, made all sorts of guesses.

And on the day the construction section was completed, the Jurchens learned what was running on the railroad.

KWAEEEEEEEEK!

The Jurchens standing around the railroad were terrified and scattered when they saw the huge iron lump approaching with a loud whistle.

“Kyaaak!”

“It’s a monster!”

“Run away!”

The terrified Jurchens screamed and scattered in all directions, and those who could not run away because their legs had given way prostrated themselves on the ground and clasped their hands over their heads.

“Oh, Buddha!”

* * *

Such commotion was repeated several times until the railroad was connected to Dongbing Port and the iron horse ran.

Sejong, who received a report about such commotion, chuckled and soon became serious and asked Hwang Hee.

“Do we have such things in our Joseon?”

“We perform ancestral rites for safe operation, but we have not had such commotion or shamanistic rituals that extort the people’s wealth.”

While showing a relieved expression at Hwang Hee’s answer, Sejong did not forget to urge.

“Even while seeing it with your own eyes, it is hard to believe in that iron horse and railroad. You must carefully guide the people so that no one comes out to deceive and confuse them. The recurrence of the Doo Bak-shin incident must be prevented.”

Hwang Hee bowed his head and replied to Sejong’s urging.

“I will engrave it in my heart!”

* * *

Last May, a truly bizarre thing happened.

A man wrote the names of civil and military officials who had been executed on paper, hung them on poles, and called them ‘Doo Bak-shin.’

‘Doo Bak’ means ‘to die falling over,’ and Doo Bak-shin literally meant a vengeful ghost who died falling over.

Soon, wherever the rumor spread, people similarly hung papers with names written on them on poles and performed ancestral rites and offered sacrifices.

Jang-ah, the magistrate of Yongin County, who saw the scene of deceiving and confusing the people, soon confiscated and burned the poles and sent a report.

Sejong, who received the report, soon ordered a strict investigation, and soon Kang Yu-doo, Park Doo-eon, Choi Woo, and others were caught and punished. (Note 1)

Therefore, Sejong was concerned that such a thing would happen again and ordered it to be strictly prevented.

* * *

Note 1) Sejong the Great Annals Read in One Volume. Written by Park Young-gyu. Woongjin Knowledge House