Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 421

421. Cargo Culture (4)

When rumors spread among the Jurchen that the iron horses and the long lines of passenger and freight cars connected behind them were actually dragons in disguise, the Joseon people in the area all reacted similarly.

“Well, it could be…”

“Weren’t we amazed when we first saw the iron horse?”

“Just thinking about the time I went to Hanseong [modern-day Seoul] on business and was treated like a country bumpkin because of the iron horse still makes me wake up in a cold sweat.”

Everyone seemed to dismiss it, but Choi Yun-deok gave a serious order.

“Whenever such rumors are heard, make it clear that these iron horses were created by the Crown Prince and the artisans under the order of His Majesty. It’s too dangerous to dismiss it as mere ‘country bumpkin behavior’.”

“Aren’t you being too sensitive?”

Choi Yun-deok shook his head at his subordinates’ words.

“We could dismiss it as the foolishness of those with limited knowledge and laugh it off. However, the word ‘dragon’ was mentioned. If we’re not careful, the Shang Dynasty [likely referring to the Ming Dynasty, a common anachronism in fiction] might take issue with it. So, we must prepare in advance.”

“Ah!”

At Choi Yun-deok’s words, the subordinates immediately bowed their heads.

“We were immature!”

“We will carry out your orders immediately!”

“We will beat understanding into those who don’t understand!”

Choi Yun-deok shook his head again at the last answer.

“Violence is not allowed. If we make a mistake, the thread we’ve barely managed to connect could be severed. What we need now is an explanation that we have diligently provided.”

“Understood, General.”

“We will act accordingly.”

The subordinate officers who left Choi Yun-deok’s office shook their heads lightly and admired.

“As expected of the General.”

“Do you have to think this much to become the one commanding half of the north?”

“Indeed, he’s said to be the leading candidate for the next Chief of Staff….”

“Anyway, there’s nothing wrong with what the General said, so let’s hurry and do it.”

“Let’s.”

“Then, take care.”

“You too.”

The officers exchanged light greetings and returned to their units on horseback.

As an aside, scholars studying the ‘Great Leap Forward’ [a fictional golden age] in later years evaluated it this way:

-The monarchs who led the golden age known as the Great Leap Forward were no ordinary people, but those who handled the practical affairs under them were also extraordinary. If the abilities of those in charge of practical affairs were commonplace or incompetent, the brilliance of the Great Leap Forward would never have been possible.

And Choi Yun-deok was one of those stellar retainers.

* * *

In any case, the Joseon people diligently explained that the iron horse was a machine made by human hands, but the Jurchens distrusted their words.

“Humph! Is that possible by human hands? You have to say something believable to be believed!”

“But, looking at the number of iron horses running around now…. Were there that many dragons?”

“Dragons are divine beasts. By nature, no one knows how many divine beasts there are. And is there a law that says how many dragons there must be?”

“That’s true, but….”

“And wouldn’t a divine beast that uses transformation be able to use duplication?”

The Jurchens, who claimed that the iron horse was a dragon’s disguise, pointed to the railroad tracks and raised their voices even more.

“And look at those iron tracks! Would mere humans lay such precious iron roads for a machine to travel on?”

For the Jurchens, or rather, to be precise, in Northeast Asia excluding Joseon, properly refined iron was a very expensive commodity.

In many areas of the Ming Dynasty and Japan, as well as in the areas where the Jurchens lived, they still farmed with wooden plows and agricultural tools. Axes and saws were so expensive that multiple people used them in turns.

Therefore, the railroad tracks, with the expensive iron drawn out like taffy, looked sacred in themselves.

The claims of those who insisted on ‘Iron Horse = Dragon’ continued.

“And did you see the ceremony before that iron road was laid and the Dragon-nim [a respectful term for dragon] started traveling on it? All the high-ranking Joseon people in this area gathered to perform the ceremony, didn’t they? Is what travels on a road where such a grand ceremony was held a machine made by human hands? You have to say something believable.”

“That’s true, but….”

“Aish! Hey! You frustrating human! Look at the goods piled up in the monopoly agency! Every single one of them is something we couldn’t easily see before, piled up like mountains! What was Joseon like that we knew? It wasn’t a country rich enough for such things to be common! But suddenly, it’s changed like that in the last few years? Do you see that as possible by human power? It’s possible because the dragons helped! It would never be possible if the dragons didn’t help!”

At the mention of the ‘monopoly agency,’ the Jurchens who had been objecting nodded.

To them, the monopoly agency was full of things they desperately needed. Even if they couldn’t get the goods in time, the empty spaces would be filled up neatly a few days later.

Considering the old Joseon they knew, this was absolutely impossible.

The Jurchens, nodding their heads, muttered softly.

“Then, the King of Joseon, who receives the help of the dragons and even orders the dragons who use transformation to carry goods and people….”

“Is an amazing person!”

“Then, wouldn’t it be better to pledge allegiance to Joseon?”

“Huh?”

“Huh?”

The Jurchens, who had been arguing back and forth, muttered with even more serious faces.

“Pledging allegiance….”

While ‘pledging allegiance to Joseon’ was being mentioned among the ordinary Jurchens who were talking about the topic of ‘Iron Horse = Dragon,’ the tribal chiefs and elders were also having a heated debate on the same topic.

“The ridiculous talk of ‘dragons transforming into iron horses’ can be laughed off, but we need to have a serious discussion about ‘pledging allegiance’.”

The elders nodded at the tribal chief’s words.

“Now that that iron road has been laid, this land has become Joseon’s land. Looking at the situation, pledging allegiance is the best course of action.”

“We can use the monopoly agency now, but the tribesmen want more and more. For example, the Samin Academy [a type of school].”

“Samin Academy….”

When one of the elders mentioned the Samin Academy, the tribal chief and other elders nodded.

* * *

The railroad from Nokdundo to Dongbinghang was not a direct route.

Stations were built in between to install monopoly agencies to deal with the Jurchens in charge of guarding the railroad, and for the Joseon military garrisons and merchants who wanted to trade with the Jurchens.

Among those stations, there were places where settlements of Jurchens and Joseon people who had pledged allegiance from Hamgil-do [a historical province of Korea] were created. And the places that were always created in such settlements were the Samin Academy and a clinic.

Therefore, the residents of the Oljeokhap (兀狄哈, Udige) tribe who visited not only Nokdundo and Dongbinghang but also these settlements were increasingly envious.

This was because they and their families were fighting for survival every day, but the residents of the settlements were living a life for tomorrow.

The thought of taking what the settlement residents had by force disappeared at the sight of the Joseon army’s fierce eyes guarding the settlement.

In the end, the Jurchens of Oljeokhap, who saw a life that was not rich but had almost no shortages and could prepare for the future, began to seriously consider pledging allegiance.

* * *

Eventually, most of the Jurchen tribes guarding the railroad decided to pledge allegiance to Joseon.

The rumor that so many tribes were preparing to pledge allegiance to Joseon was also spread to other tribes living deeper inland.

In the tribes that heard the news through the Jurchens who came and went for the trade of daily necessities, a fierce debate broke out among the tribesmen.

“Dragons transforming? What nonsense!”

“What kind of animal is a dragon that pulls carts like cattle!”

“Let’s see it with our own eyes!”

“Yes!”

The Jurchens who secretly arrived at the railroad were terrified to see the iron horses running on the railroad with loud whistle sounds.

“Kke-ae-ae-aek~.”

“Oh my!”

“Oh, Forest Spirit!”

“Namuamitabul! Namuamitabul!” [Buddhist chant]

The Jurchens, who were stunned by the iron horse, returned to their tribes and strongly advocated for pledging allegiance.

-That iron horse is definitely a dragon’s disguise!

-Look at the villages on the road that iron horse runs on! They are overflowing with abundance!

-That abundance is because of the dragon’s blessing! Joseon is an auspicious country protected by dragons!

-Let’s also pledge allegiance to Joseon and ask them to lay the dragon’s road for us!

“Wouldn’t it be better for us to bring that dragon here rather than pledge allegiance?”

At the opposition’s claim to bring the iron horse rather than pledge allegiance, the pro-allegiance faction sneered and asked back.

“Humph! Do you have the confidence to win against the guys guarding that dragon’s road and the Joseon army? And even if you win, how are you going to bring it? It’s a divine beast, are you going to tie it up with ropes like cattle and drag it along?”

“If we offer sacrifices to the heavens with utmost sincerity….”

“What, are you doing a rain ritual?”

“….”

In the end, ‘pledging allegiance to Joseon’ became the trend, and many tribal chiefs headed to Nokdundo with their tribe’s symbols and treasured swords.

The Jurchen tribal chiefs who arrived in Nokdundo handed over their tribe’s emblems and treasured swords to Choi Yun-deok, declaring their allegiance.

“…Instead, lay the dragon’s road for our tribe too!”

* * *

“…So, the Jurchens who misunderstood the railroad as the ‘Dragon’s Road’ pledged allegiance and asked us to lay the Dragon’s Road for them instead.”

A few days later, Hwang Hee, who had received a more detailed explanation from Choi Yun-deok, explained the whole story to Sejong.

“Hmm….”

Sejong, making a small humming sound and tapping the armrest with his finger, looked at the incense placed in Geunjeongjeon [the main hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace] after a long time.

‘This guy always comes quickly only at times like this!’

Sejong, glaring at Hyang, who was in Geunjeongjeon at the news that another report had come from Choi Yun-deok after hearing the story of the ‘Dragon’s Road,’ opened his mouth.

“Crown Prince, what do you think we should do?”

Hyang, who had been contemplating for a moment at Sejong’s words, soon opened his mouth.

“Wouldn’t it be right to accept them since they are pledging allegiance?”

“What about the Dragon’s Road, no, the railroad?”

“They themselves have created a very good excuse, so what are you worried about?”

“A good excuse?”

Sejong, who was puzzled for a moment, soon grasped the meaning and burst into hearty laughter.

“Ahahaha! That’s right! It’s the ‘Dragon’s Road,’ so it’s an auspicious thing that can’t be laid anywhere! It would be right for them to come near the Dragon’s Road! A foolish question, a wise answer! Ahahaha!”

The officials, alternating between Sejong, who was laughing heartily with tears in his eyes, and Hyang, who was making a nonchalant expression, grumbled inwardly.

‘There it is again! Asking and answering among themselves!’

‘Is it fortunate that His Majesty explained it this time?’

“Haa~.”

Sejong, wiping the tears from his eyes with a light sigh, ordered Hwang Hee.

“Order General Choi Yun-deok to welcome and support the Jurchens who are pledging allegiance, but answer the railroad issue as the Crown Prince said.”

“It is a clear decision. And how about sending an envoy to Beijing?”

At Hwang Hee’s words, Sejong immediately became serious and nodded.

“I was thinking the same thing. Discuss with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and organize an envoy to send to Beijing. Since the matter is what it is, it would be good for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to go himself this time as well.”

Lee Maeng-gyun, who was mentioned, stepped forward and opened his mouth.

“That is indeed true. Considering the danger of the word ‘dragon,’ it is best to go to Beijing and explain as soon as possible. However….”

Lee Maeng-gyun, who paused for a moment and organized his thoughts, soon continued.

“The problem is that there is a very high possibility that Beijing will demand the iron horse. When the iron horse first came out and moved in Hanseong, there was an opinion to receive it as tribute. However, the Emperor refused, the reason being ‘it is still immature’.”

Sejong nodded at Lee Maeng-gyun’s words.

“I remember receiving the report too.”

“The problem is that the iron horse running on the railroad now has 벗어났다는 것이옵니다. [surpassed that level]. 분명히 말이 나올 것이옵니다. [there will definitely be talk about it].”