Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 441

441. Laying the Groundwork (3)

Hyang returned to his study in the Crown Prince’s palace, placed a piece of paper before him, and entered a period of deep contemplation.

After pondering for some time, Hyang scratched his head and muttered,

“No matter how I think about it, the most efficient, stable, and long-lasting system is a federation…”

Having considered what he believed to be the optimal form of government, Hyang moved on to the next step.

“First, you have to choose a good title to make everything else fall into place. In other words, the nation’s name is important.”

Hyang began to write down the names he had in mind on the paper, repeatedly writing and erasing them.

“Joseon Federation? It sounds a bit old-fashioned…”

Hyang crossed out the words ‘Joseon Federation’ and then wrote ‘Goryeo Federation’.

“Is it because of ‘Korea’? It’s the most familiar, but if I write it in Korean, the problem becomes bigger. It’s not just about the ‘red flavor’; it’s about using the name of Goryeo, which Joseon overthrew, as the nation’s name…”

It had not even been 50 years since Goryeo fell and Joseon changed its name. But to include Goryeo in the nation’s name? The consequences were obvious.

Hyang erased the words ‘Goryeo Federation’ and wrote another name.

“The next thing that comes to mind is the Korean Empire… But thinking about that mess makes me feel uneasy…”

After considering several names like this, Hyang finally decided on the most suitable name.

“This is the best.”

‘The Great Korean Federal Empire.’

That was the nation’s name Hyang had decided on.

Hyang wrote ‘The Great Korean Federal Empire’ in large letters on the cover of the proposal to be submitted to Sejong and rolled up his sleeves.

“Alright! I’ve written the title… Shall we get started?”

* * *

Meanwhile, in the conference room of the Prime Minister’s residence, Hwang Hee and other ministers were gathered, discussing.

“It seems we cannot give up the unclaimed land in the East that we discovered this time, can we?”

“His Majesty will never give it up.”

The ministers who heard Kim Jeom and Hwang Hee’s conversation all nodded.

‘Unclaimed land with infinite possibilities.’

They used Sejong as an excuse, but the ministers had no intention of giving it up either.

Of course, the officials in charge of the budget were having a terrible time.

“Considering the issue of managing the reclamation of the unclaimed land, it ultimately comes down to the question of abdication or regency.”

When Jo Gye-saeng mentioned the choice between ‘abdication or regency,’ the ministers frowned and offered their opinions.

“Perhaps a regency would be more palatable?”

“Indeed, a regency is better.”

“Abdication… Ugh~. Just thinking about it makes me want to throw up.”

The ministers who uttered the word ‘abdication’ shuddered and hurriedly rinsed their mouths with tea.

The word ‘abdication’ brought back bad memories for the ministers.

* * *

When Grand Prince Yangnyeong, who committed the grave crime of ‘breaching the palace’ (犯闕) and was given a death sentence (賜死), was in the position of Crown Prince, Taejong had expressed his intention to abdicate (傳位, passing the throne) no less than three times.

Each time, Yangnyeong had to prostrate himself in repentance, with disheveled hair and wearing only his undershirt and trousers.

It wasn’t just a declaration; he actually sent the royal seal to the Crown Prince through a court eunuch. Yangnyeong, upon receiving it, immediately returned the seal to Taejong, and the ministers had to gather in the palace courtyard and shout ‘Absolutely not!’ until their throats were sore.

The problem was that Taejong’s abdication commotion was a political ploy.

Through the three abdication commotions, Taejong identified the ministers who had sided with Yangnyeong and seized the excuse to purge Yangnyeong’s maternal relatives, the Min brothers.

Thus, Taejong charged them with ‘挾幼執權’ (挟幼执权) – attempting to seize power by holding the young Crown Prince – and purged the Min family and the officials who opposed him.

Therefore, the ministers shuddered whenever they heard the word ‘abdication’.

* * *

Predicting future events, the ministers looked at Jo Mal-saeng and asked.

“If His Majesty is to relocate (移御, the king moving his residence), when do you think it will be?”

To the ministers’ question, Jo Mal-saeng immediately replied.

“At the earliest, 5 years; at the latest, 10 years.”

“What is the reason for such a difference?”

“Even with challenger-class battleships, traveling back and forth once a year is the best we can do. If we mobilize all the challenger-class battleships that can be sent east, and if those battleships arrive without a single loss, and if we smoothly establish a bridgehead and pacify the natives of the unclaimed land, then 5 years. If things get tangled up due to various variables, then 10 years.”

“5 to 10 years…”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s explanation, the ministers counted on their fingers.

“This year is Gyeongsin…”

In the 22nd year of Sejong (1440, Gyeongsin year), Sejong was approaching the age of 43. According to Jo Mal-saeng’s calculations, it would be when Sejong was in his late 40s to early 50s.

“It feels a bit precarious…”

The position of the king was one prone to early death. Running a country consumed immense mental energy. Excessive consumption of mental energy soon led to the collapse of the body, which led to an early death.

“Still, thanks to the Crown Prince’s efforts, His Majesty’s health is good, so we don’t have to worry too much, do we?”

“And managing the unclaimed land will be easier than running the country…”

The ministers were doing their best to think positively.

“Alright! Let’s think about that part later!”

Hwang Hee raised his voice to wrap up the situation.

“That part will be decided by His Majesty’s decision, not ours, so let’s stop thinking about it!”

“Understood.”

“That would be the best.”

At Hwang Hee’s words, the ministers put aside their thoughts related to abdication.

However, the ministers, unable to put aside their thoughts about the unclaimed land, continued to talk.

“By the way, how big do you think it will be?”

“Didn’t they say that even after going down 4,000 *li* [approximately 1,240 miles] along the coastline, the coastline didn’t end? Then that means it’s at least bigger than our Joseon land, doesn’t it?”

“I suppose so?”

While they were talking, Kim Jeom muttered quietly.

“It would be really nice if it was at least as big as the Ming Dynasty… It would be even better if there were a lot of things to extract and exploit…”

At Kim Jeom’s words, the ministers nodded without exception.

Later, Hyang, who heard Kim Jeom’s words through various channels, chuckled and muttered.

“If we secure just one California, the Vice Minister of the Left will be flying around.”

The gold mines famous for the ‘Gold Rush’ and the agricultural area well-known for ‘Calrose rice’.

To put it simply, if they properly secured just this California region, they could solve the problems that Joseon was worried about.

However, there was one thing that even Hyang didn’t know well. The Native Americans who occupied the southwestern region of the United States, including California, were the notoriously fierce Apache tribes.

* * *

Three days later, Hyang announced his ideas on the new national governance system in Geunjeongjeon Hall.

With the eyes of Sejong and the ministers focused on him, Hyang stood next to a large map and paid his respects to Sejong.

“Begin.”

“Yes, Father.”

Hyang, responding to Sejong’s command, paused for a moment to clear his throat and then opened his mouth.

“Three days ago, according to the command Your Majesty gave me, I have been contemplating. Joseon’s territory is gradually expanding, and just recently, we discovered unclaimed land that is considered a continent.”

Hyang, starting with an explanation of the current situation, turned the cover of the map.

Turning past the cover, which had nothing written on it, a new piece of paper appeared with six large letters written on it.

– The Great Korean Federal Empire (大韓聯邦帝國)

“This is the new national governance system and the nation’s name that I have devised.”

At Hyang’s words, a light commotion arose in Geunjeongjeon Hall.

“Silence.”

Sejong, quieting the commotion, checked the letters written on the paper and asked Hyang.

“Does ‘Great Korea’ mean that it inherits the lineage of the unification of the Three Han [ancient Korean kingdoms]?”

“Yes.”

“The word ‘federation’ is a bit unfamiliar, but if we interpret it, it means that countries are linked together, and you called it an empire, so…”

Pausing for a moment to organize his thoughts, Sejong asked Hyang again.

“Is it a revival of the feudal system of the old Zhou [ancient Chinese dynasty]?”

“It is similar, but very different.”

Hyang continued to explain, turning the paper.

– As Joseon’s territory gradually expands, direct rule is becoming increasingly difficult.

– This will cause great difficulties in governing the newly incorporated areas of Joseon.

– As we become less aware of the circumstances of distant lands (遠地), we may enforce policies that do not suit the situation in those areas, and the people of those lands will become dissatisfied.

– This will induce rebellions among the people who were difficult to incorporate, and integration will be a distant matter.

– Therefore, the distant lands will create administrative bodies composed of residents of those areas to promote policies suitable for the local situation.

– The central government will secure the rights of defense and diplomacy in exchange for allowing local autonomy.

“It is here that the difference between the feudal system of Zhou and our system arises. The military force of the administrative bodies that operate the region is limited to a level that can maintain public order.”

“Hmm…”

At Hyang’s explanation, Sejong nodded, and the ministers also nodded with favorable expressions.

“It seems quite good…”

After that, Hyang’s explanation continued at length.

“…That is all.”

Hyang, having finished his explanation, looked at Sejong.

“What do you think?”

“It seems quite good, but…”

Sejong, trailing off and mulling over the content, asked Hyang.

“Are you thinking of separating the Jurchen areas or Daeseol Island and Jongjang Island now?”

“Not the Jurchen and Dongbinghang areas, but I think it would be good to separate the Daeseol Island and Jongjang Island areas.”

“Is it because the Jurchen area and Dongbinghang are connected by land, and Daeseol Island and Jongjang Island are separated by the sea?”

“That is correct.”

At Hyang’s answer, Sejong nodded and fell into thought again.

When Sejong stopped asking questions, Hwang Hee asked a question this time.

“Daeseol Island and Jongjang Island are not a major concern when considering the size of the land or the means of livelihood. However, the problem is the unclaimed land. Considering the size of the unclaimed land and the potential that has not yet been properly confirmed, isn’t it dangerous? If we are not careful, the positions of suzerain and subordinate states may be reversed. Please consider the relationship between Goryeo and the Liao and Jin dynasties.”

Goryeo and Liao and Jin established diplomatic relations, calling each other ‘Brother Nations’ (兄弟之國). However, before they knew it, the positions of elder and younger brother were reversed, and later, Goryeo’s position fell to that of a vassal.

Hwang Hee pointed out exactly this part.

The size of the unclaimed land discovered now was said to be a continent. With that size, it was only natural that it would surpass Joseon’s national power over time.

In that case, there was no guarantee that Goryeo’s tragedy would not happen to Joseon again.

At Hwang Hee’s point, Hyang nodded and replied.

“That part can be a problem. Therefore, my solution for the unclaimed land is not a ‘one land, one country’ (一地一國) system, but a federal system of ‘one land, multiple countries’ (一地多國).”

‘United States! Of course, the next one will be Korea, not America.’

“One land, multiple countries?”

At the moment when Hwang Hee showed a look of not understanding properly, Hyang explained with examples.

“Just as Zhou divided the Central Plains into feudal states, the unclaimed land is also divided into several pieces. And Joseon mediates and monitors between those pieces.”

“What if those pieces join forces and revolt?”

To Hwang Hee’s question, Hyang asked back.

“Have you ever seen the neighboring Jurchen tribes get along well with each other?”

“Ah!”

At Hyang’s question, Hwang Hee finally understood and exclaimed in admiration.