Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 469

469. Liaodong (5)

Hyang, quickly composing himself, addressed Sejong.

“Father, may I speak?”

“You may.”

“As we saw in the recent battle at Gamoksa, and as military texts also state, the value of a commander is immense. If we could eliminate such commanders with a single bullet…”

“Enough. I understand what you’re trying to say.”

Cutting Hyang off, Sejong turned to Jo Malsaeng.

“Immediately organize long rifle shooting competitions for all soldiers and officers throughout Joseon. Both the army and the navy.”

“Both the army and the navy, Your Majesty?”

When Jo Malsaeng double-checked, Sejong looked at him, puzzled, and retorted.

“Isn’t the presence of a commander even more crucial for the navy?”

“Indeed, it is. I will ensure the competition is held in the navy as well.”

However, Sejong still looked displeased.

“Have I made some mistake…?”

Seeing Sejong’s expression, Jo Malsaeng stammered, his face paling. Sejong turned his head and clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! We’ll talk again after the ceremony!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Jo Malsaeng hurriedly bowed, but inwardly, he was cursing a storm.

‘Damn it! He suddenly issues an order and expects me to know what to do! Just because he’s the king! Argh! That damned tongue-clicking sound!’

Meanwhile, the other officials watching the scene felt sorry for him and muttered inwardly.

‘Goodness! Does he still not know His Majesty’s temperament? Even if he didn’t, he should have waited! If he had just paused for a moment, His Majesty and the Crown Prince would have told him everything!’

‘That tongue of his! No wonder people say he planted his official hat on his head [meaning he’s foolish and doesn’t understand protocol]!’

‘He’s so dense that he’s called the wooden figure in Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbok Palace, implying he’s stiff and unresponsive]!’

‘Ugh! That tongue-clicking sound! It was nice not hearing it for a while!’

As if sensing the officials’ thoughts, Hyang spoke to Sejong.

“Father, if we simply order them to check their skills, it will be difficult to evaluate without a clear standard.”

“Ah! That’s right! I forgot that part!”

Acknowledging his mistake, Sejong looked at Jo Malsaeng. Sejong’s eyes seemed to say,

‘This is how you make a correction!’

After glaring at Jo Malsaeng, Sejong turned his head towards Hyang. His eyes were filled with pride as he looked at Hyang.

‘Well done, my precious son!’

“Then, what should we do?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately replied.

“Yes. Just like archery competitions, we should set up targets and compete. Otherwise, it will be difficult to determine the outcome easily.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong and the officials all nodded.

“That’s true…”

The fact that Joseon people were incredibly skilled with bows was known to everyone in the surrounding countries. Even in the history before Hyang’s involvement, there was a record of an archery contest between Joseon military officers escorting Qing Dynasty envoys, and it was difficult to determine a winner.

As Sejong and the officials all agreed, Hyang continued.

“We will create targets modeled after the size and shape of adult men. Then, we will divide the distances into 50 *jang* (approximately 150m), 70 *jang* (approximately 210m), and 100 *jang* (approximately 300m) and set up the targets to compete. Ah! We should mark the vital points on the targets and give higher scores for hitting them.”

“That’s good.”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s suggestion. Seeing Sejong’s reaction, Hyang continued.

“Based on the results of this competition, we will select those who have recorded excellent scores at 70 *jang* and 100 *jang* and form a special sniper unit.”

“A unit specializing in sniping…”

Listening to Hyang’s words and doing some calculations, Sejong turned to Jo Malsaeng.

“It seems like the best plan. What do you think?”

“I believe it is the most reasonable.”

“Then, let’s proceed as the Crown Prince suggests.”

“I shall obey Your Majesty’s command.”

At Sejong’s words, Jo Malsaeng bowed his head in response. The other officials also bowed their heads and muttered inwardly.

‘See! If you just wait a little, the answer comes out on its own. Why did you have to rush in!’

Thus, the small commotion ended the event. Some people reversed their fortunes through this event, namely Oh Bang-seop and Man-bok.

Oh Bang-seop was promoted and immediately assigned to the General Staff Department. Upon hearing this news, the military officers volunteering for the front lines increased, and among the commanders of the garrisons and forts in the front lines, some began to pray with a bowl of clean water every night.

“Please, please. Just send some Jurchen remnants to my jurisdiction… I don’t need many. About 200 or so… Please, please…”

The Jurchens, who were once a source of fear, had fallen to the status of sacrifices for promotion.

* * *

If Oh Bang-seop was the hope of the officers, Man-bok was the hope of the soldiers.

“Man-bok, you said? What is your surname?”

“I don’t have one.”

“You don’t?”

“Yes. I am a hunter, one of the *sinnyangyeokcheon* [people of good status but base occupation, referring to those in professions looked down upon despite their social standing], so I do not have a surname.”

“Hmm…”

It was still a time when many commoners did not have surnames.

After pondering for a moment at Man-bok’s answer, Sejong spoke.

“Your father used a bow to capture a tiger and reassure the people, and you also used a gun to capture the leader of the Jurchens and reassure the people. Such a family deserves a surname. I will grant you the surname Hong (弘), meaning ‘vast.’ The shape of Hong resembles a bow being drawn greatly, and many have found peace because of you, so it is the most fitting surname.”

At Sejong’s words, Man-bok prostrated himself on the ground and bowed deeply.

“Your grace is boundless! You have personally bestowed a surname upon the son of a humble hunter. I will never forget this grace, even in death, and my descendants will repay it for generations!”

With tears filling his eyes, Man-bok shouted. Sejong smiled and replied.

“Then, rather, I and the royal family should be grateful.”

Thus, the traditional military family ‘Hanseong Hong Clan,’ which would continue along with the history of the Korean army, was born.

* * *

Man-bok’s miracle did not end there.

“If you put your mind to it, what is the maximum distance you can accurately hit?”

“I have hit targets up to 250 *jang* (approximately 750m).”

At Man-bok’s answer, Sejong and Hyang looked at Man-bok with surprised eyes. Hyang, in particular, was in a state of shock.

‘That distance is almost the maximum range!’

Of course, it could fly further, but he hadn’t measured beyond that due to the lack of a place and equipment to measure it. Nevertheless, that range was astonishing.

At Man-bok’s answer, Hyang muttered to himself.

“Your shooting skills are amazing, but your eyesight is even more impressive.”

“Hmm~. That’s amazing. How did you manage to hit targets at such a long distance?”

Expecting another tale of valor, Sejong asked. Man-bok immediately replied.

“The *Gwon-gwan* [military official] said that shooting training inside the fort was not effective, so we went outside for training. That’s where I caught a wolf.”

“I see.”

Sejong nodded at Man-bok’s answer.

Hyang re-entered the conversation.

“Father, I have something I want to ask Man-bok.”

“You may.”

Having received Sejong’s permission, Hyang asked Man-bok a question.

“Your shooting skills are extraordinary, but it doesn’t seem possible with talent alone. Have you learned anything separately?”

“My father taught me archery and taught me how to breathe and a few other things.”

“Like what?”

“How to read the wind, how to aim properly, how to suppress my presence, and how to approach a tiger without being detected, and other things.”

Hyang’s eyes sparkled at Man-bok’s answer.

‘This is a complete special forces unit!’

After hearing Man-bok’s answer, Hyang did not hesitate and spoke to Sejong.

“What Man-bok learned from his father is truly valuable. If we teach those selected through the competition Your Majesty decided on, they will become even more capable!”

“I agree. Promote Soldier Hong Man-bok to *Jinmu* [military rank] and assign him to the personnel selection and training instructor positions.”

“I shall obey Your Majesty’s command!”

“That is a truly wise decision!”

As the officials answered in unison, Kim Jeom opened his mouth.

“No matter how rigorous the training, it can be useless without practical experience. Therefore, how about mobilizing those selected for hunting fierce beasts?”

“Hmm?”

Pausing for a moment at Kim Jeom’s words, Sejong soon nodded.

Even now, Joseon was experiencing constant incidents of people being killed and injured by fierce beasts such as tigers, leopards, and bears. In many cases, these incidents occurred when people entered the territory of these beasts, but it was also common for old beasts with diminished hunting abilities to attack people.

“That would be good. I already felt that the *Chakhogapsa* [tiger-hunting soldiers] were insufficient, and this will allow them to properly master what they have learned. It is truly killing two birds with one stone. Let’s do that.”

“I am truly grateful that you have accepted my suggestion.”

As Sejong readily agreed, Kim Jeom bowed his head with a face full of joy. Hyang, who was watching this scene from the side, muttered inwardly.

‘As expected of Minister Kim Jeom! Even in this moment, he’s thinking of ways to make up for the expenses! Truly a money-grubber!’

As his notoriety regarding the budget increased, Kim Jeom gained a new nickname: ‘Don-dok’—or, more elegantly, ‘Jeon-dok’ (money poison).

* * *

Thus, Man-bok became the hope of the soldiers. He received decorations and rewards, and the king even bestowed a surname upon him. That alone was enough to make people envious, but he was also promoted to an officer rank and received the position of instructor.

Eventually, from some point on, not only the officers but also the soldiers began to pray with a bowl of clean water every night.

“Please, please. Just let me get one good catch.”

Thus, with Sejong’s full decision and support, a specialized sniper unit was born.

‘*Chakhocheongsadae* (Tiger Hunter Musketeer Corps).’

It was known as a unit tasked with hunting tigers and fierce beasts that harmed the people. In reality, they roamed not only the Baekdu Mountain Range but also the plains of Liaodong and the northern forest area of Dongbinghang, catching fierce beasts.

In the process, soldiers specialized in covert maneuvers, ambushes, and sniping were trained.

They became infamous as ‘challengers of the sea are bandits, and on land, there are the *Chakhocheongsa*,’ the birth of a unit called ‘Tiger Hunters,’ ‘Tigerjäger,’ ‘Tigris venandi.’

* * *

Meanwhile, the report written by Jo Tae-nam followed the path and arrived at the hands of the Xuande Emperor in Beijing.

“Hmm…”

While the Xuande Emperor read Jo Tae-nam’s report, the officials in attendance swallowed nervously.

‘Why did it have to end like this….’

‘Why….’

The reason the officials were nervous was that the conclusion of this subjugation was not good. It was the Ming army, which had been cultivated as an elite force during the Xuande Emperor’s reign. And in this subjugation, they were continuing the situation befitting that evaluation. However, Ayuta and his men crossed the border into Joseon and were annihilated, failing to complete the *Hwaryongjeomjeong* [the finishing touch, referring to the final, crucial step in a process].

As the emperor had become increasingly frail and irritable these days, they did not know what kind of harsh order would be issued.

In the past, they might have been able to tamper with the report, but such a thing was impossible during the Xuande Emperor’s reign. If they made a mistake, a bloody incident would surely occur under the charge of ‘blinding the emperor’s eyes.’

Thanks to this, the Xuande Emperor’s officials did not even organize the reports when they came up from the field and immediately sent them to the emperor. It was much better to be severely scolded or have one or two heads cut off than to have a mass death.