Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 545

545. All-Out War (3)

“Does everyone agree?”

At Hyang’s question, the ministers all nodded in agreement.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“The excuse of Liaodong is certainly suspicious.”

At the ministers’ responses, Hyang turned to Heo Hu.

“Has there been a precedent like this?”

“There has never been a precedent of sending the Crown Prince out. Troop support has always been directed towards reinforcing the troops stationed at the Great Wall. This is definitely unprecedented.”

“Normally, in such cases, wouldn’t they send an envoy to our Joseon first?”

At Hyang’s question, Heo Hu nodded, veins popping in his neck.

“That’s right! Although our Joseon serves Ming as a vassal state, Joseon is not a part of Ming! This is a significant diplomatic discourtesy!”

At the Foreign Minister’s response, Hyang nodded.

“This is indeed a serious diplomatic issue. Prepare to send an envoy.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

After giving the order to Heo Hu, Hyang turned to Hwang Hui.

“You said Liaodong is just an excuse. What do you think their real intention is?”

“What does Your Highness think?”

At Hwang Hui’s question, Hyang immediately answered.

“I believe it is to check our Joseon.”

Hwang Hui immediately responded to Hyang’s answer.

“I also thought the same. According to the information we have obtained, they said they are stationing troops in Liaodong out of concern for the Oirat [a Mongolic people]. But even if they take a detour, they still have to cross the Great Wall. If we consider that…”

“The Oirat must be doing something foolish. They are just buying time for Ming to prepare.”

Hwang Hui nodded at Hyang’s words.

“That’s right. Therefore, increasing troops in Liaodong out of concern for the Oirat is just an excuse. It is clearly to check our Joseon. It must be to prevent us from continuing our expansion in the Northeast.”

At Hwang Hui’s words, the ministers looked at the map, nodding and murmuring.

“Come to think of it, we have taken quite a lot.”

“Indeed.”

* * *

Under the pretext of reclaiming the Hwaryeong region, where the Joseon royal family was born, Joseon took control of the Tumen River area. Since then, Joseon has steadily advanced into the Northeast, and now it has gained a vast territory.

Before Hyang intervened, the eastern coastline of the region called Siberia was almost entirely in Joseon’s hands, and it had penetrated quite deeply inland as well. To put it simply, almost all of the area south of the Stanovoy Range was Joseon’s land.

After the late Gyeongjang period, Joseon stopped advancing into the Northeast and turned westward.

The reason for changing direction was the population problem.

The areas newly acquired by Joseon had extremely few indigenous people due to the harsh natural environment. Therefore, Joseon began to gradually penetrate into the Liaodong region, which had a relatively large population.

Here, Joseon also used a trick. Instead of pushing north from the Tumen River area, they started moving southwest from the Great Forest. And instead of expanding the territory outright, they absorbed the tribes and moved them all into Joseon’s territory.

As a result, by the time Ming noticed, most of the area where the Udige tribe resided, and the tribes themselves, had already been transferred to Joseon.

Of course, Ming protested severely when they found out, but Joseon simply replied.

“This area was where our royal family began, and it was ruled by Taejo the Great! Didn’t you already agree to this issue!”

At the time, Emperor Xuanzong smiled wryly at Joseon’s claim.

“I’ve been outsmarted.”

Joseon was cleverly using what Emperor Xuanzong had allowed when Hyang came and negotiated a deal long ago.

* * *

“Since the consensus is that Ming’s movements are definitely aimed at checking our Joseon, let’s re-examine our defense posture. Minister of National Defense.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“If the Ming army deployed in Liaodong uses force against our Joseon, will those 150,000 be all there is?”

At Hyang’s question, Jo Malsaeng calculated for a moment and immediately answered.

“If they underestimate our Joseon, those 150,000 will be all there is, and they will cross the border immediately. However, that possibility seems very low. If that’s not the case, I think it will be at least 200,000 to a maximum of 300,000.”

“What’s the basis?”

“It is known that there are approximately 50,000 troops stationed in the Weisuo [military colonies] in Liaodong. The problem is that if all these troops are withdrawn, they will not be able to control the security of Liaodong, and any general with sense would try to include the Jurchens in the force. Based on that calculation, I think it will be at least 200,000 to a maximum of 300,000.”

“300,000… That number is very familiar… Was Emperor Yang of Sui’s detached force that tried to attack Pyongyang Fortress of the old Goguryeo 300,000?”

“That’s right. Considering the terrain and supply problems in northern Joseon, 300,000 would be the maximum.”

“I see. 300,000… That’s not a small number. Is the number of standing troops in our Joseon now 250,000?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm…”

Hyang, who was humming and lost in thought at Jo Malsaeng’s answer, soon gave an order to Jo Malsaeng.

“I want you to accurately determine the size of our Joseon’s military force, the size of the forces deployed in the north, the ratio of regular troops to artillery troops, the supply ratio of Type Eul muskets and Type Eul Hwacha [rocket arrow launchers]! Ah! I want you to thoroughly inspect this part, especially focusing on the north. And, I want you to compile and prepare to announce the number of men currently classified as reservists, the scale of reservists that can be mobilized by the hour after the conscription order is issued, and everything related to the clothing and armaments to be provided to the reservists. Would three days be enough time?”

“Yes. I will definitely compile and announce it within three days.”

Jo Malsaeng answered resolutely. Normally, he would have immediately complained about the task, but now it was an emergency situation.

‘Even if the guys in charge all have nosebleeds, we have to finish it!’

Hyang, having heard Jo Malsaeng’s answer, turned to Hwang Hui.

“It is only natural to contact Shinji’s Abama [father], but I think it is appropriate to finish all preparations before that. Don’t you think?”

At Hyang’s question, Hwang Hui bowed his head and answered.

“No, Your Highness! That is an extremely appropriate decision!”

“Then please prepare everything accordingly. If a real conflict breaks out, it will cause enormous problems for the livelihoods of the people. We also need to prepare for this.”

At Hyang’s words, Kim Jeom bowed his head.

“Yes. I will try to think of alternatives as soon as possible.”

* * *

After the meeting, Hyang immediately summoned the Fantastic Four.

“…Since the situation is like this, I want you to come up with appropriate alternatives.”

When Han Myeong-hoi took a step back, Hyang smiled wryly.

“Aren’t you guys calling each other ‘Excellency’ at drinking parties?”

“Hic!”

“Let’s see if you can really be called ‘Excellency’ this time. I’ll give you two days. Make it properly and submit it.”

“Yes, yes!”

“We will do our best!”

As soon as they left Hyang’s office, the four glared at each other, growling.

“Which loose-lipped bastard…”

“Was it you? Was it you?”

“Judging by the raised voice, isn’t it you?”

“You!”

In a crisis where they were about to grab each other’s collars, Han Myeong-hoi shouted.

“If you have time for this, move immediately! It’s not important now who blabbed! If we screw up, we’ll be stuck in the Archives!”

“Ah, th-that’s right!”

* * *

While piling up all sorts of reports and agonizing over how to resolve Hyang’s orders, Seong Sam-mun crossed his arms and muttered.

“This might be a good opportunity?”

“What is?”

At Kwon Ram’s question, Ha Wi-ji and Han Myeong-hoi also stopped what they were doing and looked at Seong Sam-mun.

Seong Sam-mun explained to them why he said it was a good opportunity.

“Let’s assume that a war breaks out. Since there are already 150,000 troops who arrived in Liaodong, the scale will be different from the Horan [Manchu invasions of Korea] that Yi Man-ju and Muontemu caused in the past, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, of course, the reservists will be called up, right?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“But will the 51st District and the Royal Workshop alone be able to supply the uniforms they will wear in a timely manner?”

“Huh?”

“Oh?”

At Seong Sam-mun’s explanation, the eyes of the others began to sparkle. They were also people who were called geniuses. Before long, they began to add flesh to Seong Sam-mun’s words.

“Muskets, cannons, and ammunition have to be made only in the 51st District because of security issues, but there is no need for spears, swords, or clothing.”

“The same goes for telescopes. If we entrust it to trading companies that make jewelry or glass ornaments, we can make more quantities faster than making them at the Royal Workshop and the Ordnance Bureau.”

Following Kwon Ram and Ha Wi-ji, Han Myeong-hoi added flesh.

“I heard that many trading companies are in trouble because trade has been cut off due to the war in Europe. If we hand over these tasks to such trading companies, we can not only solve the supply problem but also prevent the trading companies from collapsing. Then we can prevent the economy from collapsing to some extent. Good! Then let’s write a report based on this!”

“Good!”

* * *

Two days later, the Fantastic Four submitted the report.

“Hmm… hmm…”

Each time Hyang hummed softly and nodded, the Fantastic Four swallowed hard.

“It’s a good idea. The way to turn a bad situation into a good one was also quite good. If we do this, we can indeed give a breather to the trading companies that are struggling because the trade routes are blocked.”

The faces of the Fantastic Four brightened at Hyang’s praise. However, the complexions of the Fantastic Four darkened again at Hyang’s subsequent words.

“However, if I were to give a score, it would be about average. If you thought this far, why didn’t you think about what comes after this?”

At Hyang’s words, Han Myeong-hoi cautiously asked a question.

“If you mean after…”

“Tsk!”

The Fantastic Four immediately flinched at the sound of Hyang’s tongue. Looking at such Fantastic Four, Hyang continued.

“If you think about what Abama [father], I, and the ministers have been doing so far, our Joseon will not lose. Even if Ming attacks with all its might. Of course, the damage will be considerable, but I am confident that I can make Ming suffer even more. Of course, the premise is that we are properly prepared and move properly at the right time, but Joseon is already not difficult to do that much. As I said earlier, if Ming does not attack with all its might, this war can be a good opportunity for us to aim for Liaodong.”

The Fantastic Four nodded at Hyang’s words.

“If we want to aim for Liaodong, we will need a lot of troops, and supplying them with what they need will be a big deal. It is certainly a good idea to solve that part through the trading companies. That’s what you guys submitted in the report, and I don’t intend to say anything about it. The problem is what comes after this. How much money do you think will be spent in the process of supplying the troops that will increase several times at once?”

At Hyang’s question, the Fantastic Four fell into thought with serious faces, and Hyang waited for their answer.

After a long time, Han Myeong-hoi cautiously opened his mouth.

“Are you thinking that merchants who have tasted enormous profits will want a continued war?”

At Han Myeong-hoi’s words, Seong Sam-mun raised an objection.

“War can be a money-making opportunity, but it is also a monster that demands enormous sacrifices. Historically, there has never been a country that prospered by liking war.”

Hyang nodded at Seong Sam-mun’s rebuttal.

“In the big picture, that’s right. But in the small picture, if you taste the benefits through war, those who say let’s wage war even in trivial disputes will become dominant. Especially if the trade with Europe is not expected to resume anytime soon.”