Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 483

All the ministers hurried to Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbok Palace] upon receiving the urgent report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Inside Geunjeongjeon, Hyang and Sejong were already waiting.

Sejong had been preparing to depart for Shinji in Gangnyeongjeon [the king’s living quarters], but the seriousness of the situation led him to summon the ministers to Geunjeongjeon.

Any issues in Waeguk (Japan) and Ming (China) would immediately impact Joseon [ancient Korean kingdom].

* * *

“Now, let’s assess the current situation,” Sejong said.

At Sejong’s words, Minister of Foreign Affairs Heo Hu stepped forward to explain the overview.

“The current Japanese King, or rather, the Shogunate’s General Ashikaga Yoshikatsu, passed away twenty days ago.”

“The cause of death?”

“It is reported as death by illness.”

“Death by illness… If I recall correctly, the Japanese King was very young?”

“He turned ten this year. He was six years old when he first ascended to the position of Shogun.”

The ministers stirred slightly upon hearing Ashikaga Yoshikatsu’s age. However, the commotion soon subsided, and the ministers listened attentively to the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ explanation.

“Hmm…”

Sejong, who had been deep in thought while listening to Heo Hu’s explanation, spoke, “Then, has a new Japanese King been decided?”

“Yes. There is a report indicating that Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the third son of the former Japanese King Ashikaga Yoshinori, will most likely become the new Japanese King.”

“How old is he?”

“He is now eight years old.”

Once again, a small stir arose and then disappeared within Geunjeongjeon at Heo Hu’s explanation.

“Hmm… Strange.”

Sejong, analyzing Heo Hu’s explanation, posed a question. “Considering the authority of the Shogunate, the Japanese King is too young. Are there no suitable individuals among Ashikaga Yoshinori’s brothers?”

“Most have entered the priesthood, and the remaining one was annihilated in the last civil war.”

At Heo Hu’s answer, Sejong chuckled. “Hmph! I know that Ashikaga Yoshinori also entered the priesthood before returning to secular life to become the Japanese King. So, they are not qualified because they entered the priesthood? Does that make sense?”

“…”

At Sejong’s pointed remark, all the ministers fell silent. Seeing this, Sejong called out to Hwang Hui.

“Prime Minister, what are your thoughts?”

“I understand what those who are trying to promote Ashikaga Yoshimasa are thinking, but it’s too disrespectful to say outright…”

Hwang Hui trailed off, and the other ministers nodded silently.

At Hwang Hui’s response, Sejong spoke. “It would be a situation where the term ‘regent’ is too generous for them. Looking back, there were the Ten Eunuchs of Later Han [a historical period in China], and more recently, the military groups of the previous dynasty.

It’s about setting up a young and weak ruler and manipulating the state affairs, isn’t it?

As I understand it, the reason Ashikaga Yoshikatsu became the Japanese King was also the result of an agreement among the families holding the position of Kanrei [high-ranking officials in the shogunate]. So, it will be the same for the one who is newly ascending to the Japanese King this time, right? Like those who tried to use tricks as soon as I ascended to the throne.”

At Sejong’s question, the ministers lowered their heads silently.

* * *

Although Sejong now shared much of his authority with the ministers, he was still an absolute monarch. In front of such a person, they could not say anything that implied the monarch’s power should be divided among the subjects.

And, although he did not explicitly name anyone, Sejong was once again issuing a warning while alluding to Ryu Jeong-hyeon’s faction, who were veteran ministers and founding contributors.

*Do not dare covet the king’s power!*

Therefore, Hwang Hui and the ministers simply kept their mouths shut.

* * *

After warning the ministers, Sejong resumed the meeting.

“If another child ascends to the throne of the Japanese King, what do you think will happen to the political situation in Waeguk?”

At Sejong’s question, Heo Hu answered first. “The three families holding the position of Kanrei are the main power. In addition, the seven families who inherit the core institutions of the Shogunate, called the Three Kanrei and Four Offices, have joined forces. Moreover, they have the support of the Emperor and the court, who are symbolic figures in Waeguk, so they will not express their dissatisfaction immediately.”

As soon as Heo Hu finished speaking, Kim Jeom opened his mouth. “That may be the case, but there is a significant chance of conflict. There were many lords who were dissatisfied with Ashikaga Yoshinori’s tyranny, and Ashikaga Yoshikatsu’s reign as Japanese King was too short to establish a foundation.”

Heo Hu raised an objection to Kim Jeom’s words. “However, looking at the process of suppressing the civil war that broke out due to Ashikaga Yoshinori’s assassination, the power of those seven families maintaining the Shogunate is considerable. In addition, there are many families who insist on loyalty to the Shogunate, even if they are dissatisfied.”

Kim Jeom raised a counter-objection to Heo Hu’s rebuttal. “Even if they insist on loyalty, aren’t they already half-detached from the Shogunate? They call themselves so-and-so ‘Koku’ (國) [domain or province], attaching the character for ‘country’ to their own territories and acting lawlessly. If they were so insistent on loyalty, why would the Kamakura Shogunate have collapsed?”

“Even so, there are no individuals who would easily denounce the current Shogunate and raise a rebellion. The habits of the Waegu people are truly cunning, and it is commonplace for them to stab you in the back at the slightest gap. In other words, they are not unable to move because they fear the Shogunate, but because of the lords around them,” Heo Hu countered.

Starting with Heo Hu and Kim Jeom’s debate, the ministers inside Geunjeongjeon split into two and engaged in a heated discussion.

The reason why the court’s ministers were so interested in the future of Waeguk and engaged in debates was because of the Wokou [Japanese pirates].

When Waeguk fell into chaos, it was the Wokou who immediately began to run rampant. Of course, with the current power of the Joseon navy, suppressing the Wokou was not a problem.

However, just as there is a saying, ‘Ten policemen cannot catch one thief,’ there was a considerable possibility that they could penetrate the Joseon navy’s defenses and cause damage.

Therefore, the most important issue was whether to focus on the stability of the Shogunate or the outbreak of civil war. All of Joseon’s policies would move according to that focus.

* * *

While the ministers were fiercely debating, Hyang was quietly observing.

When the ministers’ fervor subsided to some extent, Hyang joined the conversation.

“From what I have heard so far, it seems that the biggest reason why internal strife is difficult to occur is that it is difficult for the great lords to cooperate with each other. Is that correct?”

At Hyang’s question, Heo Hu immediately nodded and answered. “That is correct. As I said before, cooperation is a difficult task due to the cunning habits of the Waegu people. It can be seen as almost impossible.”

“However, don’t the Waegu people also have the habit of submitting to the strong? Wouldn’t it be possible for such a strong person to subjugate the surrounding territories and increase their power?”

Heo Hu immediately responded to Hyang’s point. “Of course, such a habit also exists. However, for that to be possible, they would need military power that could overwhelm all the surrounding territories, even if they cooperated. Not just military power, but also sufficient finances…”

At that moment, Heo Hu stopped speaking as if he had thought of something. At the same time, Kim Jeom opened his mouth. “There is indeed someone who possesses both military power and finances. We have all forgotten the Ouchi clan (大內氏).”

At Kim Jeom’s words, Jo Mal-saeng took over. “That’s understandable. Looking at the Ouchi clan’s actions so far, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to consider them not a territory of Waeguk, but a dependency of our Joseon.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, all the ministers nodded.

* * *

As Jo Mal-saeng said, the Ouchi clan was practically ‘Another Joseon.’ Ouchi was Joseon’s most faithful economic partner, with the development of silver mines and the establishment of trading posts.

It was the same not only in economic aspects but also in cultural aspects. They modeled their basic educational facilities after Joseon’s Samin Hakdang (士民學堂) [private schools during the Joseon dynasty] and encouraged commerce and industry.

In addition, they actively utilized students who had learned knowledge and practical skills in Joseon and returned, greatly overhauling the administrative organization within the territory.

As a result, Ouchi’s society and culture had become almost completely Joseonized.

On the one hand, based on the growing economic power and the funds coming in from the silver mines, they also began to properly strengthen the military.

The composition of the Ashigaru (足輕) [foot soldiers], the lowest-ranking infantry, was filled as much as possible with properly trained regular soldiers rather than forcibly conscripted farmers or mercenaries.

The Ashigaru, whose armor and clothing were all unified, were trained rigorously to become elite soldiers.

Of course, besides these standing forces, the number of conscripts was also considerable, but most of these conscripts were only assigned to the tasks of building fortifications or rear supply.

In addition, the biggest feature that distinguished Ouchi from other territories was the ‘large-scale use of gunpowder weapons.’

Ouchi mass-produced the Dongchong (hand cannon) [early firearm] imported from Joseon and the Hwapo (cannon) [type of cannon] brought in from Ming. In addition, they brought in gunpowder artisans from Ming to manufacture gunpowder, an essential element for operating these weapons.

Ouchi tried to hide the existence and size of this Hwapo unit and Dongchong unit as much as possible. As part of such efforts, Ouchi did not project military power to the outside as much as possible.

For example, Ouchi persisted until the end when he was asked to dispatch troops in the process of suppressing the rebellion that occurred after Yoshinori was assassinated.

*We cannot spare soldiers because of the Wokou!*

Hosokawa Mochiyuki, who received Ouchi’s reply at the time, had to mutter with a bitter smile. “‘It’s difficult because of the Wokou?’ A family that controls half of Kyushu and the western half of Honshu?”

* * *

As Ouchi was nominated as a candidate, the discussion gradually tilted towards the ‘outbreak of civil war.’

“In my opinion… I think the Ouchi clan is quite likely to start something?”

Hwang Hui agreed with Sejong’s analysis. “There is a high possibility. With the power that the Ouchi clan has accumulated so far, they have the ability to do so. The problem is whether they have the will to do it.”

Heo Hu took over Hwang Hui’s words. “We should assume that they have enough will. Your Majesty, do you remember when the head of the Ouchi clan changed a few years ago? At the time, the previous head of the family was old, but he was in a position to maintain his position sufficiently. Nevertheless, I think the reason he changed the head of the family was to seize the opportune moment (勿失好機) [idiom meaning to not miss a good opportunity].”

Following Heo Hu’s words, Hwang Hui concluded. “Considering the bad relationship between the Shogunate’s Japanese Kings and the Ouchi clan, it is believed that the Ouchi clan has enough potential to raise an army.”

Sejong nodded at Hwang Hui’s conclusion. “I agree. Then, if a civil war breaks out in Waeguk as we expect, what do you think our Joseon should do?”

At Sejong’s question, the hall became noisy again.

The ministers who were debating were largely divided into three groups:

*Active intervention.*

The chaos in Waeguk can have a negative impact on our Joseon. Therefore, we must actively intervene.

*Active observation.*

There is no justification for active intervention. If our Joseon intervenes without justification, they will unite and resist us. Therefore, we must only defend the sea between Joseon and Waeguk and never intervene.

*Passive intervention.*

It is true that there is a lack of justification for active intervention. However, observing only carries a high risk. Therefore, intervening appropriately at the right time is the answer.

While the ministers, divided into these three groups, were once again fiercely debating, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“What do you think, Crown Prince?”