Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 489

489. Emptying Pockets (2)

At Hyang’s words, the envoy’s face became tense. Swallowing hard, he cautiously opened his mouth.

“Jjo! No, I am deeply sorry.”

Having made a slip of the tongue due to his extreme nervousness, the envoy immediately prostrated himself on the floor, begging for forgiveness.

‘A mistake in pronunciation before the Crown Prince! If I’m not careful, it won’t end with just my head!’

Seeing the envoy trembling on the floor, Hyang smiled and comforted him.

“Do not worry about it. Be at ease.”

“Ah! Thank you so much.”

Expressing his gratitude at Hyang’s words, the envoy cautiously opened his mouth.

“You mentioned conditions. What are they?”

“First and foremost, Tsushima Island will be completely under Joseon’s control. Looking at the situation of Tsushima, it has been subordinate to both our Joseon and Wa [Japan] simultaneously, but the harm from this has not been small. Therefore, I intend to settle this matter definitively this time.”

At Hyang’s words, the envoy nodded slightly.

‘Tsushima has been causing various troubles in the middle. But… the conditions are not easy from the start.’

Letting out a small sigh, the envoy opened his mouth.

“What other conditions are there?”

“Secondly, a written guarantee of the safety of the Ryukyu Kingdom. You understand the reason for this as well, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Thirdly, do not approach the coast near Daeseol Island without permission. If you wish to trade, you must also guarantee in writing that only those who have received formal permission may approach.”

“Understood.”

“And lastly, I will increase the number of Joseon troops stationed at the Joseon trading post and mines. You understand this as well, correct?”

“…Yes.”

“Ah! I’m not just making demands. If your lord accepts these conditions, I will supply gunpowder at cost and provide medical treatment to injured soldiers through the doctors stationed at the trading post.”

At Hyang’s words, the envoy prostrated himself on the floor, expressing his deep gratitude.

“I am truly grateful!”

* * *

In the meantime, the heads of the Ouchi clan had done their best to develop their territory by adopting Joseon’s culture. However, medicine was still an area with a significant gap.

To solve this problem, they had invited doctors from Ming [China during this period] and distributed medical texts to the doctors in their territory, but they remained at a standstill.

The biggest reason for this gap was the issue of medicinal ingredients.

“The efficacy of medicinal ingredients may seem similar, but the truly good ones come from Joseon.”

All the Ming doctors who were invited to the territory pointed this out.

“Moreover, the performance of medical tools made in Joseon these days is even better than those in Ming. If possible, it is best to obtain Joseon’s medicinal ingredients and medical tools.”

Following the advice of the Ming doctors, the Ouchi clan tried hard to import medicinal ingredients from Joseon.

However, with the outbreak of war, gunpowder and medicinal ingredients were the first to run out, indicating their enormous consumption.

In this situation, the news that injured soldiers would be treated at the Joseon trading post was like welcome rain.

* * *

However, Hyang did not stop there.

“Ah! Of course, there are conditions for this as well. The trading post will treat not only the Daenei clan’s soldiers but also the opposing soldiers equally.”

“Yes?”

“You must consider our Joseon’s position as well, mustn’t you? If I’m not careful, it could be seen as interfering in internal affairs. You know why I’m selling gunpowder for money, don’t you?”

“Ah….”

The envoy, who had been silenced by Hyang’s explanation, paused for a moment before opening his mouth again.

“None of the conditions are easy. Therefore, I would like to make one more request to the Crown Prince.”

“A request? Speak.”

“Please sell us the Bigyeokjincheonleis [large, powerful cannons] as well.”

“Bigyeokjincheonleis? Do you have cannons to fire them?”

“….”

The envoy replaced his answer by prostrating himself on the floor. Seeing this, Hyang opened his mouth.

“If you accept all those conditions, I will consider the sale of Bigyeokjincheonleis and Wan’gu [another type of cannon] positively.”

At Hyang’s answer, the envoy prostrated himself on the floor and answered in a loud voice.

“I will definitely bring good results!”

“Keep in mind that if even one condition is missing, the Bigyeokjincheonleis will be off the table.”

“I will engrave it in my heart!”

* * *

Having accepted Hyang’s proposal, the envoy hurried back.

After sending the envoy back, Hyang reported the progress of the matter to Sejong.

“Good.”

Sejong, who had received Hyang’s report, nodded and showed a positive reaction. However, it did not end there, and evaluation and criticism followed immediately.

“The handling of the Tsushima matter is truly pleasing. No matter how close the Daenei clan is to our Joseon, pushing ahead forcefully could leave a residue of resentment if handled poorly. Giving them advance notice is truly a good thing.”

“Thank you.”

“However, isn’t selling Bigyeokjincheonleis excessive? They could imitate it, mass-produce it, and then use it against our Joseon.”

At Sejong’s criticism, the officials nodded.

Unless engaging in siege warfare, the Bigyeokjincheonlei was the best cannonball. Even if hundreds of fierce Jurchen cavalry charged, firing six or seven Bigyeokjincheonleis would immediately collapse them.

Thanks to this, the Joseon army’s infantry, formations, and long-range patrol units filled almost all their ammunition with Bigyeokjincheonleis.

Therefore, Sejong raised an issue with Hyang’s statement that he would hand over Bigyeokjincheonleis to the Ouchi clan.

At Sejong’s criticism, Hyang immediately replied.

“I did say I would sell Bigyeokjincheonleis, but I did not say I would give them the same ones our military uses. The same goes for Wan’gu.”

“Hmm?”

Sejong, who had paused for a moment at Hyang’s words, soon shook his head.

“Such a cunning fellow!”

The officials who heard Hyang’s answer felt the same way.

“Since the Crown Prince’s schemes seem good, I will let this pass.”

Sejong, who had decided to follow Hyang’s opinion on the Bigyeokjincheonlei issue, moved on to the next topic.

“Hmm…. Providing medical treatment to injured soldiers through the doctors stationed at the trading post. Without discriminating against the enemy….”

Sejong, who had been pondering the proposal regarding the treatment of injured soldiers through the trading post, glared at Hyang.

“Given your personality, it wouldn’t be a simple act of compassion. What are you up to?”

At Sejong’s question, the officials nodded simultaneously. Hyang, as they had experienced him, was not one to undertake such a costly endeavor out of mere compassion.

‘If the Crown Prince were such a kind human being, he wouldn’t have handed over the Bigyeokjincheonleis in the first place!’

‘A master of tricks, showing compassion!’

At Sejong’s criticism, Hyang smiled wryly and replied.

“I do have compassion. However, it is true that the trading post matter was not proposed solely out of compassion.”

“Alright. Let’s hear what you’re up to.”

After taking a moment to catch his breath, Hyang began to explain.

“By treating injured soldiers at the trading post without discrimination, we can gain at least three benefits.”

Hyang’s explanation was as follows:

-Our Joseon’s excellence is well known in Wa (Japan), but those who know it are mostly nobles or high-ranking warriors.

By treating the lowest class of soldiers, we can make even the lowest people in Wa have a sense of admiration for Joseon.

‘Why were religious figures and medical personnel the first to enter colonies during the age of imperialism? And isn’t this the background to why the Japanese were spouting such nonsense even in the 21st century?’

* * *

In the 21st century, when a Chinese-originated epidemic swept the world, Japanese Netouyo [a derogatory term for right-wing internet users] argued like this:

‘Didn’t Korea receive medical benefits through the modern hospitals that Japan built at the end of the Joseon Dynasty? Therefore, Korea has an obligation to provide medical support to our Japan!’

The Koreans who heard the story were so dumbfounded that they were furious at the nonsense.

* * *

“A sense of admiration…. Good. Then what is the second benefit?”

At Sejong’s positive reaction, Hyang continued his explanation.

“While providing treatment at the trading post, we subtly induce them to defect to Joseon.”

“Accepting Wa people? Why?”

“Because what Joseon lacks most right now is people.”

Hyang explained the reasons for accepting Wa people.

-Among the Yi [foreigners] who have defected so far, there are very few who are skilled in agriculture, except for a small number of Jurchens.

However, Wa people are skilled in agriculture, so they are advantageous in making agriculture flourish in the newly acquired territories.

-Wa people do not hesitate to obey the strong by nature. Therefore, they are truly suitable for being put to work in the newly acquired territories.

-Paradoxically, the lowest class of Wa people have little sense of belonging to Wa. For them, the village where they were born and raised and the Han [domain] to which that village belongs are the whole world. Therefore, if such people decide to defect, they will become the most loyal subjects.

At Hyang’s words, Sejong and the officials all nodded. Before the Gyeongjang [reforms] were implemented, most of the people of Joseon also lived knowing almost nothing other than the village where they were born and raised. And these people were the most reliable foundation for supporting the power of the local Sadaebu [scholar-officials].

Therefore, the first thing Sejong did through the Gyeongjang was to break this link.

And as this link was broken, the loyalty of the common people to the nation and the king became stronger.

Having had this experience, Sejong and the officials were able to immediately recognize what the second benefit Hyang was talking about was.

“That’s a good idea. Then what is the third benefit?”

“Cheonggyunaek [Antiseptic Solution].”

“Hmm?”

At the completely unexpected answer, Sejong and the officials tilted their heads.

“Why Cheonggyunaek?”

“Rumors are spreading everywhere that Cheonggyunaek’s medicinal effects are great. Is there a problem?”

At Sejong and the officials’ questions, Hyang immediately replied.

“Yes. It is a well-known fact that Cheonggyunaek has excellent medicinal effects on various inflammatory diseases. However, this Cheonggyunaek still has many mountains to climb.”

-It has been found that Cheonggyunaek exhibits excellent medicinal effects on various inflammatory diseases. However, even with the same inflammatory disease, more research is still needed to determine which symptoms it is suitable for and how much should be used.

-The short lifespan of Cheonggyunaek is also a problem. Various attempts are being made to extend its lifespan, but accurate results can only be confirmed by using it.

And in order to obtain accurate results from these experiments, there must be a very large number of subjects.

“…Therefore, we must treat injured soldiers at the trading post without discrimination. The most painful thing for soldiers injured on the battlefield is suppuration, so it is the best place to test Cheonggyunaek.”

Hyang’s explanation was over, but Sejong and the officials’ expressions were not good.

“I know it’s the best opportunity for us, but wouldn’t it be a problem? We might bring them in to save them and end up killing them.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang immediately replied.

“We are not administering poison, are we? The medicinal effects of Cheonggyunaek have already been proven. The current problem is knowing the appropriate use, timing of administration, accurate dosage, and the types and symptoms of side effects. No matter how good a medicine is, it can become poison if you don’t know how to use it properly. Therefore, we cannot miss this good opportunity.”

Hyang’s answer was over, but Sejong did not open his mouth immediately. After pondering for a long time, Sejong finally opened his mouth.

“I permit it.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

Having obtained permission from Sejong, Hyang stopped walking and muttered to himself.

“I need to prepare laws and regulations regarding clinical trials on this occasion. I hear there are doctors making various medicines. I need to prepare in advance.”