Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 432

432. What Was Expected, and What Wasn’t (9)

“So… how should we deal with those Portuguese and Spanish people approaching us?”

At Sejong’s question, the gazes of the ministers all focused on Hyang.

“Why are you all looking at me like that?”

To Hyang’s question, Hwang Hee was the first to speak.

“Among those present, the Crown Prince was the first to speak of the dangers of the Westerners. Surely, he must have a plan prepared?”

At Hwang Hee’s words, Sejong and the ministers nodded in unison. Jo Mal-saeng, in particular, looked at Hyang with eyes full of anticipation.

“Do you perhaps have new cannons or muskets prepared?”

Hyang wore an incredulous expression at Jo Mal-saeng’s question.

“Hasn’t it been only a short while since the new musket was adopted?”

“Hasn’t it been almost a year?”

“Didn’t the report go up? It only moved from low-rate initial production to mass production last month.”

The breech-loading musket, employing a trapdoor mechanism, had been adopted last year. And the artisans, who had become accustomed to producing the new musket through low-rate initial production, were just now picking up speed.

However, Jo Mal-saeng still received the words with eyes full of anticipation.

“I know that, but I was wondering if you were perhaps researching something new.”

Hyang shook his head at Jo Mal-saeng’s words.

“There is something, but it’s impossible right now. If we were to adopt what we’re currently researching right away, we would have to replace all production facilities, starting with the bullet production facilities, and the artisans would have to learn all over again from scratch. If that happens, we would be overspending the budget, and if we’re not careful, we could miss the opportune time.”

“Ah….”

Sejong and the ministers let out sighs full of regret at Hyang’s words.

If Hyang, who spends the budget like water, said it was impossible due to budget reasons, then it really meant it was impossible.

“We can protect our Joseon with the newly deployed Eul-type muskets and Eul-type Hwachas [multiple rocket launchers], as well as the existing Gap-type muskets and cannons. Because they have to cross the sea. As long as they choose the route of sailing around Africa, they can never send a large army.”

‘How could 15th-century Portugal and Spain do that? That’s something only the United States could do during World War II!’

The ministers nodded at Hyang’s explanation.

“Hmm….”

“That’s right.”

“There was an obstacle called the sea….”

Unlike the ministers who nodded at Hyang’s explanation, Sejong, who had been pondering, opened his mouth.

“The scribes and recorders should stop recording for a moment. What I am about to say must not remain on record.”

“But….”

“Tsk….”

The scribes and recorders, who were about to argue against it, immediately lowered their hands when the ‘tsk’ sound escaped from Sejong’s lips.

Confirming that the scribes and recorders had lowered their hands, Sejong asked Hyang.

“I believe your words about the Westerners who have to cross the distant sea. Then, what if those to the west and south of our Joseon were to come at us?”

Just in case, he used the words ‘west’ and ‘south’ instead, but Sejong was referring to Ming [China’s Ming Dynasty] and the Wa (Japan) as enemy states.

At Sejong’s words, the scribes and recorders let out a sigh of relief.

‘It’s a relief we listened!’

At Sejong’s question, Hyang first examined the ministers. Surprisingly, the ministers were showing expressions full of curiosity rather than surprise, shock, or worry.

‘Japan is one thing, but the Ming Dynasty has also lost a lot of hearts and minds…. Well, considering what’s happened so far….’

* * *

From the early days of Joseon, Ming had taken quite a lot from Joseon. There were simple tributes, but there were also considerable amounts strategically taken to weaken Joseon’s military power, such as horses.

This practice disappeared after Seon Deokje ascended the throne and Hyang began to run rampant in earnest.

The ministers, who had experienced such exploitation and military checks, had no aversion to recognizing Ming as a potential enemy state.

* * *

Only after confirming the reactions of the ministers was Hyang able to answer Sejong’s question.

“The navy is in the south, so it is not a big burden. So, the side that Father is concerned about is the west, right?”

“That is so. We can say that we are friendly now, but there is always the possibility of things going wrong.”

At Sejong’s affirmation, Hyang answered immediately.

“There is only one answer. If there is any sign that the west is turning into an enemy, we have no choice but to make and spread a lot, just a lot, of Eul-type muskets and Eul-type Hwachas, as well as Bigyeokjincheonleis [early naval mine] and throwing bombs. Of course, we must avoid fighting head-on as much as possible and rely on the mountains of our Joseon.”

“That would be the case….”

As Sejong nodded, Jo Mal-saeng took the words.

“If that happens, the role of the reservists and throwing bombs will become important. We must train them even harder.”

* * *

According to the military system in the early Joseon period, the size of the Joseon army was always maintained at 300,000.

However, this number of 300,000 had never been properly maintained until Sejong carried out his reforms.

There were various reasons, but the biggest reason was that Joseon did not have the ability to maintain that force.

Therefore, even during the Daema Island expedition in the first year of Sejong’s reign, there was a large-scale conscription in the three southern provinces (Chungcheong, Jeolla, Gyeongsang) due to a shortage of troops.

In this situation, the military system was greatly reorganized as the reforms progressed.

First, the Boyin system was abolished, and the country directly paid salaries. At the same time, the number of soldiers forcibly conscripted was reduced. The size of the army was reduced to a level that did not immediately endanger national defense.

In the early stages of the reforms, professional soldiers were mainly filled with cavalry and artillery soldiers, who could be said to be the true main force, due to budget issues. Later, as Joseon’s capabilities were strengthened, the size of the military was increasing again, and both the army and navy were able to increase in size.

However, Joseon did not give up on the ‘300,000 army’, and Hyang’s quick wit shone here.

It was the creation of the ‘reservists’.

As the household registration ledger was properly prepared, men of military age, regardless of class, were all subject to military service.

Among these military service subjects, men who did not become soldiers were assigned to the reserves.

The reservists thus formed were called up in units of several villages during the winter and received military training for fifteen days.

During the fifteen-day training period, the reservists practiced formation movements and were trained in marksmanship and how to use throwing bombs.

And on the eleventh and twelfth days, live-fire shooting took place. They actually shot 20 rounds and threw 4 throwing bombs over two days.

And on the thirteenth day, they divided into teams and engaged in stone-throwing battles. The reservists, wearing proper helmets and plate armor – although it was wrought iron rather than steel – raised their shields to block the opponent’s stones according to the commander’s orders, and threw stones at the opponent, becoming familiar with small unit tactics.

If a war broke out and even the reservists had to be mobilized, the plan made by Hyang and the Ministry of National Defense was that these trained reservists would be called up to face the enemy.

And the true main weapon of these organized reservists was the throwing bomb.

The throwing bomb properly demonstrated its power in the Beomgwol incident that occurred in the year of Giyu. Impressed by its power, the military made a large quantity – a really large quantity – of throwing bombs. Of course, they were just empty shells without gunpowder for safe storage, but if something happened, the empty shells would be filled with gunpowder and distributed to the reservists.

As an aside, there was a small problem caused by the gunpowder.

Each person was given only 20 rounds of live ammunition and 4 throwing bombs, but when added up, it was a huge amount.

Therefore, starting with Kim Jeom at the time, the Ministry of Taxation strongly opposed it. In the end, only the people living in the northern border area were able to receive live-fire training, and other areas had to replace all of that time with stone-throwing.

Of course, the people who had been forbidden by law until then were excited to have stone-throwing battles to their heart’s content.

In the end, it was after a large amount of saltpeter came in from India that reservists all over Joseon were able to receive proper live-fire training.

And a significant amount of the saltpeter brought in was diverted to fertilizer production, ending the Ministry of Taxation’s whining.

* * *

Hyang, who had answered Sejong’s question, came to a conclusion.

“I think it is excessive to develop new weapons right now. Rather, what is needed right now is to train a large number of people like the artisans working in the steel mills and iron horse [locomotive] production plants.”

Sejong immediately questioned Hyang’s words.

“Artisans working in steel mills and artisans making iron horses? Not artisans making weapons?”

“That’s right. The reason is….”

Hyang explained the reason in a calm voice.

-The current Challenger-class battleships and Haeung-class battleships are so powerful that they cannot find rivals in the vicinity.

-However, as time passes, battleships with stronger firepower and defense will be needed.

-The best material for making these battleships is iron. Iron ships with keels and ribs made of high-quality steel and thick iron plates attached to them will become fortresses on the sea.

-The important thing here is the quality of the iron used, but the size of the iron plates is also a problem. Proper iron ships can only be made by making and attaching huge iron plates the size of houses.

-To make these large iron plates, the facilities of the steel mill are important, but the level of the artisans producing the iron is also important.

-The importance of the artisans producing iron horses is the same. Riveting is the best way to attach iron plates to the keel and ribs of a battleship.

-Those who are familiar with making large objects through riveting are the artisans who make iron horses.

-The problem is that it is impossible to build a battleship with just one or two artisans. Therefore, a large number of artisans must be trained through the iron horse production plant.

“…Finally, if high-quality, large-sized iron backplates are made, it will be easier to make iron horses with even better performance. It will be possible to increase the size of the heating tank for boiling water, and the number of joints where water can leak will be reduced.”

Sejong nodded greatly as if he understood Hyang’s explanation.

“They are in a mutually supportive relationship.”

“That’s right.”

Sejong looked back at the ministers.

“The Crown Prince’s plan seems reasonable, so discuss it and report back.”

“We obey your command!”

Leaving the ministers’ answers behind, Sejong complained to Hyang.

“National defense is becoming increasingly complex.”

“When a war breaks out, the monarch and the people all devote themselves wholeheartedly, which has not changed from the past to the present, but cannons and gunpowder are truly monsters that require the total power of the state.”

Sejong replied with a bitter face at Hyang’s words.

“It is true that they are monsters. But the problem is that if we don’t have them, the country will be in danger right away.”

* * *

That evening, Hyang, who had left the East Palace, headed to Hassan’s house.

“Welcome, Your Highness!”

Hassan, who had heard of Hyang’s visit, hurriedly rushed out to greet Hyang.

“I’m sorry for coming so late at night.”

“Not at all!”

“Is Mansur inside?”

“Yes.”

“I want to meet him.”

“Please come in! I’ll call him right away!”

As Hyang took a seat of honor in the guest room, Mansur, who had been called by Hassan, came in and paid his respects to Hyang.

“The reason I came is that there was something I didn’t ask earlier.”

“Please ask.”

“What does Cosimo de’ Medici truly want? The map he sent is not something that can be obtained through a simple connection. It is a map that cannot be obtained without a significant investment in the country that made it. However, he has made such an investment, but he wants the current situation to be maintained? It doesn’t make sense. What does he truly want?”

At Hyang’s question, Mansur pondered for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“I think Cosimo de’ Medici is worried about Portugal’s betrayal. There is a possibility that Portugal will monopolize the profits that can be obtained through the route to Joseon.”

“So, he will build a relationship with us in advance and then show it off?”

“There is a high possibility of that. And, it is a rumor widely spread among the merchants of Alexandria, but he will sell the waterway.”

“Waterway?”

‘Is it the Suez Canal?’

Hyang, who had been pondering Mansur’s answer, opened his mouth.

“The merchants of Alexandria will hate it.”

“That is so.”

* * *

Hyang, who had left Hassan’s house, muttered softly.

“Waterway….”

Hyang, who was returning to the East Palace and thinking about this and that, wore a strange expression.

“What about a railroad instead of a waterway? And if I send Jin-pyeong there….”