Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 509

509. Distance and Proximity (2)

The officials’ faces brightened at Kim Jong-seo’s words, and they actively exchanged opinions.

“That’s right! Considering the case of Jinpo, who barely survived [a naval battle], it’s definitely not an easy sea.”

“The Ming’s large ships are truly large ships. That means they have to carry even more people than our Challenger-class battleships…”

“Food and water will run out quickly.”

“Indeed! Indeed!”

The officials, having reached a consensus, nodded.

* * *

The ships that Zheng He’s fleet sailed were so large that the term ‘unprecedented’ was fitting.

In the early Gyeongjang period [a period of significant reform in Joseon], Joseon, having received Zheng He’s navigation logs in their original form, sent people to observe the ships of Zheng He’s fleet that had returned from their voyages.

They couldn’t go inside properly and only observed the exterior, but they could confirm the approximate size, and they could analyze the approximate capabilities through the navigation logs.

As a result of that analysis, Joseon came to this conclusion:

-The size of the ships is unexpectedly large, and the scale of the crew to operate them is also unexpectedly large.

-A huge amount of food and water must be loaded for the crew to consume, but there is a limit considering the space for loading other supplies.

-Therefore, a considerable number of ports of call are needed during the voyage to receive food and water.

-The frequent calls at ports recorded in the navigation logs serve the purpose of establishing diplomatic relations between Ming and the countries, but the issue of supply cannot be ignored.

-Conclusion: Unnecessary non-stop long-distance voyages are impossible.

* * *

“In simple terms, can we assume that it is difficult for the current Ming Dynasty to sail east from Siam [modern Thailand], Daewol [likely referring to Đại Việt, a historical kingdom in Southeast Asia], or Luzon [the largest island in the Philippines]?”

Jo Mal-saeng nodded at Hwang-hee’s question.

“That is correct. Of course, merchants from Luzon and neighboring sultanates have ventured forth, but it would be difficult to rely on them.”

“Are you sure?”

“According to the information we have secured, not only the merchants but also the natives say that the eastern sea is hell. Even the natives don’t consider going east.”

Hwang-hee and the officials looked at the Joseon map hanging on the wall at Jo Mal-saeng’s answer.

“Since it is impossible for Ming or Japan to advance directly east, the conclusion is that they have to come up north, but we are holding that area.”

“That is correct.”

Hwang-hee, who organized the situation while looking at the map, came to a conclusion.

“I understand why His Majesty has excluded the west coast of Shinji [newly discovered territory] first. It is still too much for our Joseon’s capabilities.”

“It is truly a pity.”

The officials all nodded at Ki Jong-seo’s assessment.

The discussion that started with Kim Jeom’s point ended with the conclusion of ‘Actively support Sejong’s maritime defense plan.’

“Then, let’s submit this part to the Crown Prince as it is, and move on to the next item.”

Following Hwang-hee’s lead, the officials moved on to the next agenda item.

The second item of the amendment sent by Sejong was a large-scale increase in the number of medical officials, especially those who could make Cheonggyun-aek [a medicinal concoction] and those skilled in cowpox vaccination.

* * *

Unlike the previous report, the report sent by Sejong this time contained a considerable increase in records about the natives living near the Great Lake Group (large group of lakes).

-According to Shin Suk-ju’s report and what I have observed so far, the natives living around this Great Lake Group are largely divided into five tribes with tens of thousands of people.

-Their administrative structure is very primitive compared to our Joseon’s administrative structure, but it is said to have a fairly efficient political structure.

-In addition, they are mainly engaged in agriculture and maintain a very stable life. However, they also hunt a lot to make clothes and living spaces.

-This is a significant difference from the natives of Daeseol Island, Jongjang Island, and nearby areas that we have experienced so far.

-Therefore, it is expected that it will take considerable time and effort to bring them under Joseon’s rule. Unlike the case of Daeseol Island and Jongjang Island, where survival was the priority except for a very few exceptions, these people have their own way of life.

Those who have an independent and stable way of life have a considerable aversion to external beings and tend to insist on their way of life.

-In order to bring these conservative people under Joseon’s rule, it is necessary to show them that joining Joseon will not infringe on their interests but rather increase them, while also taking time.

-The best ways to make them understand the preservation of interests are medical care, trade, and education.

Trade has just begun, but I believe that medical care is more effective.

-This is based on reports from the bridgehead and information obtained from the Great Lake Group. Most of the natives of Shinji have no experience with diseases that our Joseon people are familiar with.

In my opinion, as they have more contact with our Joseon people, they are likely to suffer from diseases that they are experiencing for the first time.

In this case, our Joseon’s advance into Shinji will experience both opportunities and crises.

-The crisis is that they are likely to become hostile to our Joseon due to diseases they are experiencing for the first time. And if this hostility turns into the use of force, our Joseon will most likely have to give up absorbing the natives of Shinji.

-On the other hand, if our Joseon has the means to treat these diseases and actively uses these means, it can be a good opportunity.

They will maintain a very friendly relationship with us, and they will think that our Joseon’s way of life is more convenient and useful.

-If we take advantage of this opportunity to establish a friendly relationship with them, we will use education.

And the most useful tool in this process will be Hunminjeongeum [the Korean alphabet]. This was because it had already been proven through Daeseol Island and Jongjang Island.

-When communication with the natives becomes smooth through education, we actively induce allegiance.

However, in this process, we must avoid unconditionally ignoring or excluding the natives’ political methods. Although their system or system is primitive compared to our Joseon, it has been built up over a long period of time. If we ignore this, they will immediately become enemies.

Therefore, the best thing to do is to harmonize their ways with our Joseon’s ways.

To this end, we must guarantee the provision of equal opportunities as we have done to many natives, including the Jurchen [a Tungistic people who lived in the northeast of China].

If allegiance is successful through all these processes, Joseon will secure a base of about a province (道) with tens of thousands of people in this Shinji.

And, based on this population, it will be able to integrate the entire Shinji into Joseon’s territory more easily.

* * *

Hyang, who read Sejong’s report, nodded and muttered.

“Indeed… I had to send Father because of the rebellion issue, but this was the best move.”

From the moment they learned that Shinji was a place with enough size to build several countries, everyone concluded that Sejong was the only one who could lead the development of Shinji.

Of course, they could have sent the Crown Prince or a Grand Prince. However, the Crown Prince could not leave Joseon because he was the Crown Prince, and it was also a problem for a Grand Prince to go.

If something went wrong even a little, he would be suspected of ‘maybe?’, and the more he showed his ability and achieved results, the stronger the suspicion would be. On the contrary, there was a possibility that he would dream of independence and act recklessly as soon as he had established a certain foundation.

Therefore, Sejong was the only one who could be the chief executive in charge of operating Shinji.

And this was the best move.

Sejong was the one who had the most powerful royal authority through the Gyeongjang, which started with the purge of Ryu Jeong-hyeon.

It was Sejong who had such strong royal authority that he could choose a flexible method in Shinji.

If it were someone other than Sejong, he would have no choice but to stick to extremely conservative methods due to political responsibility issues.

* * *

“…Therefore, it is certain that Father is the best choice and this was the best move, but this part is the problem.”

What Hyang pointed out as a problem was the ‘guarantee of equal opportunities for Joseon people’ part.

“If it were the Jurchen, I would be less worried… Tsk!”

Hyang clicked his tongue and could not hide his concern.

This was due to the discrimination issues that Hyang had learned and experienced in the 21st century.

The problem of discrimination, symbolized by ‘second-class, third-class citizens’ and ‘high-class citizens, low-class citizens’, had been a problem since the age of imperialism.

“The Jurchens have been living together since the ancient Three Kingdoms period, so they could just let it pass, and the natives of Daeseol Island and other natives were so small in number and were absorbed by the army, so they could manage it well. But that’s not the case there….”

Hyang could not make any optimistic predictions about this part.

* * *

While Hyang was worried, the officials were also having similar concerns.

“Guaranteeing equal opportunities… Will it be easy?”

Kim Jeom answered Heo Hoo’s question.

“Even now, Jurchens, as well as natives of Daeseol Island and Jongjang Island, are working here and there, aren’t they?”

“The Jurchens are familiar people, and the natives of Daeseol Island and Jongjang Island were so small in number that they could be easily assimilated, right? But Shinji is a very different case….”

A considerable number of officials nodded at Heo Hoo’s point. Hwang-hee opened his mouth at the sight.

“Didn’t you say that you would provide opportunities not right now, but after allegiance? After allegiance, you will properly teach them and then provide opportunities if they want them, right?”

“Looking at the report, I don’t know if they will learn properly because they live such a primitive life….”

Kim Jeom stepped up to refute Heo Hoo’s words!

“The natives of Daeseol Island and Jongjang Island were like that too, but they learn very well! In particular, there are many people who are better than ordinary Jeonjang employees [government workshop employees], especially when it comes to taxes!”

“But….”

Kim Jeom repeatedly questioned as Heo Hoo still hesitated!

“Are you going to keep picking people from here in Hanseong [the capital of Joseon] and sending them there? You have to teach the people there and pick them to use!”

“I’m worried about whether they will do a good job after being picked!”

Hwang-hee opened his mouth at Heo Hoo’s words.

“They will work hard when they know how sweet power is.”

“What if they don’t?”

“We have to kick them out. As the saying goes, whether it’s a bull, a cow, a yellow cow, or a black cow, it’s the law of nature to feed and raise them well if they do a good job, and to kill and eat them if they don’t, right?”

“Ah….”

The officials all nodded at Hwang-hee’s words.

Joseon was feeling the lack of manpower in all fields of society as Gyeongjang progressed.

In particular, as administrative organizations, including the court, were greatly expanded, Joseon opened the door to women.

The reason for this was to secure as many talented people as possible.

And those who were selected were all brutally exploited, regardless of gender.

In order to survive in such a harsh work environment, superiors coldly conducted performance evaluations on subordinates.

‘Loyal if you do well, traitor if you don’t’

This was the word that spread in Joseon’s officialdom (官界) [bureaucracy].

Meanwhile, Hyang, who heard Hwang-hee’s words through various channels, smiled and muttered.

“Did this old man level up?”