Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 426

“‘Demanding sales to Joseon,’ huh…”

Emperor Xuanzong mulled over Gun-bo’s words, reacting favorably.

“Certainly, if we demand it as tribute, the return gift would be…”

“Absolutely not!”

Suddenly, a vehement objection cut off Emperor Xuanzong’s words.

“Who is it! Who dares interrupt me!”

Startled by the interruption, Emperor Xuanzong roared, his face contorted with anger.

As Emperor Xuanzong’s fury flared, the hall froze once more.

“Who is it!”

At Emperor Xuanzong’s shout, a gray-haired official stepped forward, prostrating himself.

“Your subject, So Pyeong-sul, a secretary of the Ministry of Rites, risks his life to advise you! Demanding sales to Joseon is absolutely unacceptable!”

At So Pyeong-sul’s words, the other officials grimaced.

Since the great purge following the illegal outflow of cannons and gunpowder, no official had dared to oppose Emperor Xuanzong. Moreover, interrupting the emperor’s speech was unheard of even before the purge.

‘If we are not careful, there will be another bloodbath…’

The officials and eunuchs in the hall wore grim expressions. The Minister of Rites, in particular, looked like a dead man.

‘Damn it! Why does it have to be the Ministry of Rites! You fool! If you want to die, die alone!’

As the officials and eunuchs anxiously waited, Emperor Xuanzong suppressed his anger and asked,

“Why? If the reason is not valid, I will hold you accountable for interrupting me.”

So Pyeong-sul explained why it was unacceptable.

“Your Majesty, Ming is an empire. Not just any empire, but the suzerain state [a dominant state that controls the foreign policy of a vassal state] of all under heaven.”

“What is a suzerain state? It is not merely having a vast territory and a strong military. It becomes a suzerain state because it is superior in every way.”

“Receiving tribute is not just about receiving what is lacking, but about receiving the vassal state’s loyalty. That is why we give back several times more, even knowing it is a burden.”

“However, trading on a nation-to-nation basis means acknowledging the vassal state as an equal.”

“Considering this situation, it is unacceptable for the Emperor to directly demand trade from a vassal state, especially Joseon. What kind of country is Joseon? As the Emperor has already said, it is not a country to be taken lightly. Showing weakness to such a country must be avoided at all costs.”

“…Therefore, it is absolutely unacceptable for Your Majesty to send an envoy to demand sales to Joseon!”

“There is a point there.”

Emperor Xuanzong muttered, looking troubled by So Pyeong-sul’s words. He looked at So Pyeong-sul, who was still prostrating himself and vehemently objecting, and opened his mouth.

“You may rise. I will not hold you accountable for what you just did, as it was out of loyalty.”

“Your Imperial Majesty is gracious. Long live the Emperor! Long live, long live, ten thousand years!”

“Long live, long live, ten thousand years!”

As Emperor Xuanzong showed mercy, So Pyeong-sul and everyone else in the hall praised his benevolence and shouted “Long live” three times.

However, Emperor Xuanzong wore an indifferent expression despite the enthusiastic cheers.

“It would be better to think of alternatives instead of shouting ‘Long live’.”

At those words, the hall fell silent in an instant.

“If we follow the Secretary of the Ministry of Rites’ opinion, we should receive three or four actual iron horses and blueprints as tribute. But there is a problem with the blueprints. Do you remember the promise we made when the Crown Prince of Joseon came before?”

At Emperor Xuanzong’s question, the Minister of Rites searched his memory and opened his mouth.

“Are you referring to intellectual property rights?”

“Yes, it is not just about receiving the blueprints as tribute, but also about guaranteeing the intellectual property rights associated with those blueprints. How should we handle this?”

At Emperor Xuanzong’s question, the hall fell silent once more.

Previously, when Hyang came to Beijing and resolved various issues starting with Jogye Byeonmu, he created a joint venture between the Emperor and the Joseon royal family. The contract at the time clearly stated a clause regarding ‘protection of intellectual property rights’.

According to the contract, even if it was tribute, royalties had to be paid when Ming manufactured goods made by Joseon. And the Emperor himself had guaranteed this.

In the end, Emperor Xuanzong turned to Gun-bo, who had come up with the idea of ‘sales’.

“What are your thoughts?”

“It is difficult to give you an answer right now. If you give me some more time, I will create and present an answer that will fully satisfy you.”

“How much time do you need?”

“At least fifteen days.”

“I will give you five days. Bring me an answer within five days.”

At Emperor Xuanzong’s command, Gun-bo bowed his head.

“I obey the Imperial command.”

Having settled the matter, Emperor Xuanzong turned to the Minister of Rites.

“The Minister of Rites should properly console the envoys from Joseon.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then, let’s end the discussion about Joseon and the iron horses here and move on to other matters.”

* * *

That evening, Emperor Xuanzong, having finished his official duties, visited Chang’an Palace. Crown Prince Zhu Qizhen resided in Chang’an Palace.

“Your Majesty, have you arrived?”

Zhu Qizhen, who had been studying with Royal Preceptor Wang Jin, came out upon hearing that Emperor Xuanzong had arrived and greeted him respectfully.

Emperor Xuanzong smiled at the Crown Prince’s appearance and asked,

“So, what were you doing?”

“I was studying with the Royal Preceptor.”

At Zhu Qizhen’s answer, Emperor Xuanzong looked at the eunuch Wang Jin.

“Is the Crown Prince doing well?”

“As he is naturally gifted, he is doing very well.”

“Really? How far along is he in his studies?”

“He has finished the Three Classics and is studying the Book of Rites among the Three Rites. He is learning very quickly.”

Zhu Qizhen wore a confident expression at Wang Jin’s answer, but Emperor Xuanzong frowned slightly.

“A little slow…”

“No, considering his age, the Crown Prince is very fast.”

Despite Wang Jin’s protest, Emperor Xuanzong shook his head.

“The Crown Prince of Joseon had memorized all of the Four Books and Thirteen Classics before being invested, and he was fluent in debates. At that time, the Crown Prince of Joseon was only eight years old! The person the Crown Prince will face in the future is such a person! Crown Prince, listen!”

At Emperor Xuanzong’s command, Zhu Qizhen immediately knelt and bowed his head.

“Give your orders.”

“I know you are talented, but you must never neglect your studies! Because your opponent will be that Crown Prince of Joseon! Keep this in mind!”

At Emperor Xuanzong’s command, Zhu Qizhen bowed his head and answered,

“I will engrave it in my heart!”

After giving a few more words of instruction, Emperor Xuanzong left Chang’an Palace.

Zhu Qizhen, who had seen Emperor Xuanzong off and returned, could not contain his anger and threw the books on the desk, flailing his arms.

“Ugh!”

“Your Highness! Please restrain yourself!”

Wang Jin and the other eunuchs tried to calm him down at Zhu Qizhen’s outburst.

However, Zhu Qizhen’s anger did not subside easily.

“Damn Joseon! Damn Crown Prince of Joseon!”

“Please calm down. They are just a vassal state, and the Crown Prince of a vassal state! Getting angry like this will only incur His Majesty’s wrath!”

At the words of the eunuch Wang Jin, Zhu Qizhen forcibly began to calm down.

Sitting in his chair, Zhu Qizhen took rough breaths and cursed.

“Damn Joseon, damn Crown Prince of Joseon…”

* * *

From around the time Zhu Qizhen began to speak properly, Emperor Xuanzong’s standard of evaluation was Hyang.

“The Crown Prince of Joseon at your age…”

Whenever he learned the classics and practiced martial arts and received evaluations, Emperor Xuanzong always started with those words. And the ending was always the same.

“You are talented, but the Crown Prince of Joseon was even more so. Never be lazy.”

“Just what kind of person is the Crown Prince of Joseon?”

Tired of Emperor Xuanzong’s scolding, Zhu Qizhen one day asked the officials nearby about Hyang.

“The Crown Prince of Joseon…”

And, after hearing the anecdotes about Hyang from the officials, Zhu Qizhen shook his head.

“Is he really human? Am I supposed to face such a person?”

Zhu Qizhen was discouraged by the stories of Hyang, which far surpassed the realm of ordinary people, just by looking at the accumulated anecdotes.

And, when Zhu Qizhen was discouraged like that, it was the eunuch Wang Jin who encouraged him.

* * *

Wang Jin, from Ulju, was a failed scholar. Having worked as an instructor at the local county office in his hometown and then exiled for committing a crime, Wang Jin castrated himself and entered the palace when the imperial palace was recruiting eunuchs.

Wang Jin, who was called a teacher among the eunuchs because he could read, gained Emperor Xuanzong’s trust and became the Royal Preceptor, teaching Zhu Qizhen.

As the Royal Preceptor, Wang Jin began to gain Zhu Qizhen’s favor by catering to his whims in the process of teaching him.

In particular, whenever Zhu Qizhen was scolded for his lack of learning, Wang Jin comforted him.

“They are just a vassal state, and the Crown Prince of a vassal state. When Your Highness ascends the throne, they are just lowly beings who will submit.”

* * *

It was Wang Jin who comforted Zhu Qizhen with the same words this time as well.

Zhu Qizhen, calming his anger amidst Wang Jin’s comforting words, gritted his teeth.

“The day I ascend the throne, Joseon will experience the hegemony of the Emperor!”

“That is certainly what will happen.”

At Wang Jin’s words, Zhu Qizhen took a deep breath and renewed his resolve.

“His Majesty is benevolent, but he is weak! But I am not!”

“That is what will happen! You will certainly become a great Emperor!”

Wang Jin was enthusiastically agreeing with Zhu Qizhen’s words.

* * *

Ironically, it was Emperor Xuanzong’s praise that made Zhu Qizhen dream of such hegemony.

When Yimanjoo and Meonte-mu caused a rebellion, Sejong directly led a campaign.

Emperor Xuanzong, upon hearing that Sejong had personally taken to the field, was greatly impressed and said the following.

“To sit in the palace when the situation calls for all-out effort to protect the royal heritage is a disgrace to the monarch! Indeed! Yi Seong-gye, who founded Joseon, was an amazing military commander, and his blood has not gone anywhere! Hahaha!”

It would have been good if it had ended there, but the subsequent order was the problem.

“What was Emperor Yongle like? Whenever the Northern Yuan caused trouble, he personally went on expeditions! Tell those in charge of the Crown Prince’s education! A monarch of a country must go to the front lines when the country is in crisis!”

In the end, it was Emperor Xuanzong who tainted Zhu Qizhen with hegemony.

* * *

The delegation that had an audience with Emperor Xuanzong in Beijing left Beijing on the third day.

This was because there were no urgent diplomatic issues between the two countries to be dealt with, except for the ‘Dragon Road’ issue.

“This time, I will not make an issue of it because I know that Joseon did not do it intentionally. However, if this happens frequently, I will not be able to help but suspect Joseon’s intentions. I have written it in the imperial edict, but I am also telling the envoys, so tell the King of Joseon to keep this especially in mind.”

Lee Maeng-gyun bowed his head and answered at Emperor Xuanzong’s warning.

“I obey the Imperial command.”

Lee Maeng-gyun, who received Emperor Xuanzong’s edict and boarded the ship heading to Jemulpo, gathered all his strength and spat phlegm into the sea.

“Kaak~. Ptoo!”