Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 511

511. Distance and Proximity (4)

“Now! With the bustling affairs of distant lands settled, let us discuss the concerns closer to home.”

Having concluded one meeting and taking a brief respite with a cup of tea, the ministers straightened their postures at Hyang’s words.

While the eunuchs entered to refill the teapots, Hyang and the ministers shuffled through documents.

“Shall we start with the East? Or perhaps the South?”

At Hyang’s question, posed while leafing through the documents before him, Jo Mal-saeng was the first to speak.

“It seems we must begin with the North.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, the eyes of Hyang and the other ministers focused on him.

“The North, you say? Have the Jurchens stirred up another mess?”

“It is further north than the Jurchens. An envoy from the Oirat [a historical nomadic group] has come. They are currently being brought to Hanseong [old name for Seoul].”

“The Oirat?”

The unexpected appearance of this entity caused Hyang and the ministers’ expressions to turn grave.

* * *

To Joseon at this time, the Oirat and Bukwon were more distant than the Seoi [northern tribes].

They were entities that had faded beyond the realm of Joseon perception due to the fall of the Yuan Empire, the founding of the Ming Dynasty, and the changes from Goryeo to Joseon.

Furthermore, the Jurchens were situated between the Oirat and Joseon.

Due to these limitations, there was no direct exchange between the Oirat and Joseon.

Yet, an envoy from the Oirat had come.

* * *

“Hmm… Why would they send an envoy?”

At Hyang’s question, Kim Jeom responded.

“Is it not to establish relations with our Joseon? The excellence of our Joseon goods must be well-known even in those Mongolian lands.”

Heo Hu immediately countered Kim Jeom’s statement.

“Do you believe those Mongols have only now heard rumors of our Joseon? It has been over ten years since the Mongols established trade with the *Huoshang* [Chinese merchants] in Mashi. They would have heard of our Joseon long ago.”

Hyang and Hwang Hui nodded at Heo Hu’s point.

* * *

Joseon was well aware that the Ming and Oirat were trading in Mashi. And they had also heard that the scale of that trade was growing significantly over time.

Some Joseon merchants, having heard the information, attempted to advance into Mashi, but were repeatedly blocked by the *Huoshang’s* dominance.

In the end, Joseon merchants had to be content with selling goods to the *Huoshang* trading in Mashi, and the *Huoshang* diligently and handsomely pocketed the brokerage profits.

* * *

“Then, Minister Heo, what do you think is their reason for seeking us out?”

At Kim Jeom’s question, Heo Hu replied in a slightly less confident tone.

“Well… I wonder if they might be requesting military exchange.”

“Interesting. What makes you think so?”

Hyang asked, wearing a curious expression. At Hyang’s more positive reaction than expected, Heo Hu spoke with a more confident voice about the reason he had considered.

“It is because of the Mashi issue. According to stories heard from our merchants who have advanced to Mashi, the Ming merchants are not only fleecing our Joseon merchants. They are said to fleece the Mongols even more severely.”

“If they are merchants, wouldn’t they know that it would eventually backfire?”

‘I remember hearing that there was quite a commotion over this issue?’

Recalling memories from the 21st century, Hyang posed the question.

However, Hyang was mistaken.

The cause of the ‘Tumet Crisis’ that Hyang knew was created by the Oirat charging exorbitant prices and the rampant smuggling around Mashi.

At Hyang’s point, Heo Hu replied again.

“Of course, they know it. However, the Oirat and Mongols are also charging exorbitant prices, and there are still many who have not forgotten the grudges from the old Yuan Dynasty.”

“So, you’re saying they’re all fleecing each other?”

“That is correct.”

Hwang Hui, who was sitting next to them, joined the conversation at Heo Hu’s explanation.

“So, amidst this mutual fleecing, relations have deteriorated, and that is why they are trying to have military exchanges with our Joseon?”

“That is correct.”

“Hmm….”

Hwang Hui, stroking his beard as he organized his thoughts at Heo Hu’s answer, turned to Jo Mal-saeng.

“Minister Jo, what do you think?”

At Hwang Hui’s question, Jo Mal-saeng answered with a slightly troubled face.

“Well, I don’t think it’s entirely impossible. However, as it stands now, wouldn’t it be difficult to accept even if the Oirat said so?”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s answer, everyone gathered in Seungwhadang [a government building], starting with Hyang, nodded.

* * *

From Sejong onwards, the Joseon power elite viewed the possibility of a rupture with Ming as very high.

Therefore, they were steadily proceeding with military expansion. However, the navy was bursting with frustration.

“The more Challenger-class battleships we can build, the better, but those Chinese bastards are holding us back!”

The volume of trade with Tianzhu [ancient name for India] and Europe continued to increase. Civilian merchant guilds were also gradually increasing their merchant ships, but the navy was at the center of this long-distance trade.

In that situation, the development of new territories was also accelerating, and the navy was in a situation where they ‘couldn’t do their job because they didn’t have enough ships.’

To the point where such jokes were circulating among the navy, regardless of rank.

“What was it… the founder of the religion that those Seoi believe in walked on water, right? If we believe in that and practice asceticism, can we walk on water too? Then the problem of insufficient battleships would be solved in one fell swoop, right?”

“Are you going to walk carrying that *hwapo* [type of Korean fire arrow]?”

“….”

In order to resolve this frustrating situation, they had to increase the budget by even a penny, but they had to fight tooth and nail every time because of the problems of the army and navy defending the northern border areas.

“We can just load them on a ship and take them to Beijing!”

“How many can you load on that tiny ship? And will you guys stop the Chinese bastards coming over the Great Wall? Or, like the saying ‘too many cooks spoil the broth,’ are you going to drag that ship over the Great Wall?”

“Damn it!”

* * *

Although the Joseon power elite were proceeding with military preparations in this way, they viewed military exchanges with the Oirat negatively.

“That’s right. We must not give them cause until the moment the rupture is decided.”

Hwang Hui and the ministers all nodded at Hyang’s words.

“That is correct. In matters between countries, justification is the most important thing.”

Hyang also nodded at Hwang Hui’s words.

At that moment, the Minister of Finance, who had been overshadowed by Kim Jeom, opened his mouth after a long time.

“Could it be because of the horses we sell to Ming?”

“Huh?”

“Huh?”

At the Minister of Finance’s words, Hyang and Hwang Hui’s heads turned sharply.

“Why horses?”

At Hwang Hui’s words, the Minister of Finance immediately replied.

“The horses we sell are said to be popular in Ming.”

* * *

From the early days of Joseon’s founding, Ming had demanded a considerable amount of horses from Joseon as tribute.

There were two purposes for this: one was to prevent the strengthening of the cavalry, which was the core force of the Joseon army, and the other was that Joseon surprisingly raised horses well.

To solve this problem, as soon as Sejong began his reforms, he started operating horse ranches, starting with Jeju Island and Jindo, and selecting suitable islands. And after absorbing the Jurchens in the Northeast region, he additionally installed horse ranches on the Gaema Plateau and nearby wide plains.

Of course, all of this was 추진된 [pushed forward] in secret. And outwardly, every time a Ming envoy came, Sejong and his ministers groaned.

“Ah, damn it! We don’t have horses either!”

The tug-of-war that continued with all sorts of tricks ended with the export of iron horses [early trains] to Ming.

“I’ll give you a slightly cheaper price on essential parts! Instead, I won’t pay tribute with horses anymore!”

Ming’s envoys expressed their displeasure at Joseon’s request. However, Seondukje [Zhu Zhanji, the Xuande Emperor], having heard the story, made a bold decision.

“Instead, discount the price of the iron horse parts supplied by Joseon by 10%, and supply as many as we want. Then we will not receive horses.”

“Isn’t that too much grace?”

Ming’s Prime Minister and Ministers expressed concern at Seondukje’s decision, but Seondukje shook his head.

“No, what is needed now is to make more iron horses and advance the completion of the railway network. That way, even the horses brought in from Mashi will be enough. Carry out my orders.”

“We obey the imperial decree.”

And Seondukje, having made this decision, muttered alone while looking at the map.

“To win in the showdown with Joseon, we must concentrate as many troops as possible in Liaodong. This cannot be handled with horses. Only iron horses are possible. We must give up small things and take big things. Cough! Cough!”

Seondukje, coughing violently, barely caught his breath and muttered.

“It’s so hard and lonely. I never knew there would be so few who would understand my intentions… Even if I say it now, there will only be fools who say to strike Joseon right now….”

That’s how the tribute of horses disappeared into history.

* * *

“How many horses does our Joseon sell to Ming that an envoy would come?”

Hyang asked the Minister of Finance with an incomprehensible expression.

In Joseon now, horses were as useful a livestock as cows. If cows were the core of agriculture, horses were the core of commerce and transportation.

In small towns where it was difficult to lay down a circular railway, horse-drawn carriages and rickshaws carried the people.

In addition, post horses traveled on the roads connecting places where the wide-area railway that connected the entire Joseon passed and nearby villages, and connecting provinces.

Traveling merchants who traveled around Joseon’s markets also traveled in carts pulled by donkeys or ponies.

And every household that claimed to be well-off had a few horses and one or two luxurious carriages.

As a result, the demand for horses in Joseon was always outpacing the supply.

At Hyang’s question, the Minister of Finance replied.

“There are several breeds raised on ranches operated by civilians, and Ming merchants like them because they are small but strong.”

“Even so, it’s only a few, I don’t understand them sending an envoy for that.”

Hyang still couldn’t understand, but the Minister of Finance continued to speak.

“Consider the situation of the Oirat. They only have horses and sheep to sell, so wouldn’t they think it’s a problem if our Joseon sells horses?”

“Hmm….”

“Hmm….”

At the Minister of Finance’s answer, Hyang and the ministers wore plausible expressions and fell into thought.

After a moment of silence, Hwang Hui opened his mouth.

“The Minister of Finance’s words are reasonable, but I don’t think they are entirely justified. Considering the number of horses the Oirat sells in Mashi and the number of horses needed throughout Ming, the horses our Joseon sells cannot be a problem. However….”

“However?”

When Hwang Hui paused, Hyang and all the ministers waited for the next words. Hwang Hui, taking a moment to catch his breath, continued.

“However, it would be a good excuse for the Oirat to send an envoy to our Joseon.”

“So, outwardly they are coming to question our Joseon’s sale of horses, and inwardly they have other intentions? Is that correct?”

At Hyang’s question, Hwang Hui nodded.

“That is correct. And that intention must be related to military affairs.”