Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 580

580. Shattered Dreams (3)

The royal physician, practically dragged in by the eunuchs, urgently examined Emperor XuanDe’s condition before retrieving needles from his kit.

“Phew!”

As the royal physician inserted needles of varying thicknesses into Emperor XuanDe’s head and hands, the emperor took a deep breath and regained consciousness.

“Oh! His Majesty has awakened!”

“Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!”

“Truly, a divine physician!”

The officials rejoiced and praised the royal physician as Emperor XuanDe regained consciousness.

“The royal physician has worked hard.”

Emperor XuanDe, sitting up, praised the royal physician and turned to his officials.

“I apologize for the undignified display. The situation of the nation is critical, so let us resume the meeting.”

However, the royal physician stopped Emperor XuanDe with a grave expression.

“You have only just overcome a crisis. You must rest.”

At the royal physician’s words, the Senior Grand Secretary [the emperor’s chief advisor] stepped forward and addressed Emperor XuanDe.

“Your subjects will do their best to find a solution. Your Majesty, regaining your strength is the priority.”

“But, the nation is in imminent danger….”

“Our Ming [referring to the Ming Dynasty] is a great tree that occupies the center of the world. We can overcome this level of adversity. However, if Your Majesty collapses, the sky will fall. Please, take a rest.”

“But….”

As Emperor XuanDe hesitated, all the officials in the throne room, starting with the Senior Grand Secretary, prostrated themselves on the floor and shouted.

“Please, trust us!”

“We will risk our lives to find a solution!”

At the earnest pleas of his officials, Emperor XuanDe relented.

“Then, I will trust in you all.”

* * *

As Emperor XuanDe disappeared into his chambers with the support of the eunuchs, the Senior Grand Secretary and the other ministers began to earnestly seek countermeasures.

“Minister of War.”

“Speak.”

“When will the additional mobilization of 3 million that His Majesty ordered last time be possible?”

At the Senior Grand Secretary’s question, the Minister of War replied with a somber expression.

“Impossible.”

At the Minister of War’s answer, the Senior Grand Secretary’s face turned pale, and he asked urgently.

“Why is it impossible!”

As he asked the reason, the Senior Grand Secretary remembered the previous argument between Emperor XuanDe and the Minister of War, and a look of disbelief crossed his face.

“Don’t tell me! You deceived the heavens [a metaphor for deceiving the emperor]?”

At the Senior Grand Secretary’s question, the Minister of War shook his head with a somber expression.

“I would never do such a disloyal thing.”

“Then why?”

Seeing the Senior Grand Secretary asking for the reason, the Minister of War asked back with a still somber face.

“Do you think creating soldiers is something that can be done overnight?”

“The military registers are already prepared, so what is the problem?”

“Are you not considering the time it takes to gather those listed in the registers, the time it takes to train them?”

“Are we not just training ordinary soldiers?”

“Do you think it ends with handing them a lamellar armor [a type of armor made from overlapping plates], a helmet, and a spear? Shouldn’t we at least teach them how to move to the sound of commands? That alone will take at least a month.”

At the Minister of War’s words, the Senior Grand Secretary looked around at the Left and Right Commanders. At the Senior Grand Secretary’s unspoken question, the commanders nodded silently in response.

Having confirmed that the Minister of War’s words were correct, the Senior Grand Secretary let out a long sigh.

“Hoo~. At this rate….”

Whether he knew the Senior Grand Secretary’s feelings or not, the Minister of War pointed out the bitter reality.

“If Dong Wang [Duke Dong], had known that he would do such a reckless thing, and if he had known that Joseon’s [ancient Korean kingdom] power was stronger than expected, he would have prepared in advance. If we had moved at least three months earlier…. Then, even if the 5 million that His Majesty mentioned was impossible, at least 2 million would have been possible. Of course, they would only be able to move in time with the commands.”

“Ah….”

At the Minister of War’s pointing out, the Senior Grand Secretary put his hand on his forehead. After pondering for a while with his hand on his forehead, the Senior Grand Secretary asked the Minister of War again.

“In the end, are you saying that we have to solve this crisis with the 3 million we have now?”

“2.75 million. Have you forgotten that our navy was annihilated in the recent Yellow Sea naval battle? And that Qingzhou naval port was attacked by the Waegu [Japanese pirates]?”

“Oh dear….”

At the Minister of War’s pointing out, the Senior Grand Secretary put his hand on his forehead again.

Looking at the Senior Grand Secretary, the Minister of War informed him of the harsh reality.

“This is the current situation. Due to the recent Yellow Sea naval battle and the Waegu attack, we estimate naval losses of 20,000. The remaining naval force is 150,000, which is barely enough to defend the coast of the Jiangnan region [a region in southern China]. Then, all that remains are 2.6 million troops defending various provinces and border regions. The problem is those northern barbarians. They also have ears, so they won’t stay still, and we can’t withdraw troops from that area because we have to defend against them.”

“Then, should we bring up the southern troops?”

“That is the best option, but it is not easy. Because the point where the Waegu invaded this time has created two major problems.”

Having said that, the Minister of War looked around at the Left and Right Commanders.

“The commanders know that part well.”

“Ahem!”

“Cough!”

When the Minister of War suddenly mentioned them, the commanders coughed repeatedly with uncomfortable faces. Seeing the commanders’ reaction, the Senior Grand Secretary opened his mouth.

“What are the two biggest problems?”

At the Senior Grand Secretary’s question, the Left Commander opened his mouth.

“Traditionally, the Waegu mainly plundered in the Jiangnan region. However, this time they came up to the central region. The problem is that we don’t know whether the Waegu who came this time will only plunder the central region, or whether they will plunder Jiangnan again as before. Considering that, we can’t bring up all the troops in Jiangnan.”

“I understand. Then what is the other problem?”

“Because we don’t have enough troops, the 3 million reinforcement to Liaodong [a region in northeastern China] that His Majesty ordered is impossible.”

“Oh dear… It’s a series of misfortunes.”

Having heard the Left Commander’s explanation, the Senior Grand Secretary put his hand on his forehead again.

While suffering with his hand on his forehead, the Senior Grand Secretary shouted without realizing it.

“Dong Wang! Why did this incompetent man create this situation by doing things he couldn’t take responsibility for!”

The Senior Grand Secretary, who had burst out shouting, was startled and looked around, but no one was criticizing him. Even the eunuchs belonging to the Eastern Depot [an intelligence agency] were showing expressions of agreement.

To be honest, the words that the current Senior Grand Secretary had uttered were representing everyone’s feelings.

Moreover, it was not criticizing the emperor, but cursing Zhu Qizhen, who was unqualified and dismissed, so there was no problem.

Not yet.

* * *

The Senior Grand Secretary, who had poured out what he had kept inside, continued the meeting with a much lighter expression.

“Then, let’s start by adjusting the order of things first.”

The Senior Grand Secretary organized the tasks ahead one by one.

-First, the conflict with Joseon in Liaodong.

The 800,000 troops that had already been decided to be sent will be sent as planned. However, knowing that Joseon’s power is stronger than expected, avoid unnecessary battles.

Full-scale battles with Joseon will proceed after reinforcements are made.

-The forces stationed in the Jiangnan region are about 800,000, and 300,000 of them will be moved up. These 300,000 troops will repel the Waegu who have invaded the central region.

-After dealing with the Waegu, a large-scale conscription will be carried out nationwide. At least 3 million will be gathered to attack Liaodong and Joseon.

“I would like to proceed in this way, what do you all think?”

At the Senior Grand Secretary’s question, the Minister of War and the Left and Right Commanders all nodded.

“I think it is the most reasonable.”

“I think it is the best answer in this situation.”

“Then let’s submit this to His Majesty as it is. Hoo~.”

The Senior Grand Secretary, who had completed the countermeasures to be submitted to Emperor XuanDe, let out a long sigh.

“It is fortunate that the Crown Prince is in Nanjing. We will be able to move quickly.”

At the Senior Grand Secretary’s words, the Minister of War and the commanders also nodded.

* * *

Zhu Qiyu, who succeeded Zhu Qizhen as Crown Prince, was receiving Crown Prince lessons in Nanjing.

This was not simply learning imperial studies. In Nanjing, a court almost identical to the court in Beijing had been created. The Crown Prince was learning how to run the country through this court.

This was not just a simple practice. It was a way to efficiently manage the vast territory of the Ming Dynasty in a situation where transportation and communication were poor.

* * *

“Urgent news!”

Just as the ministers, who thought they had overcome a crisis, were taking a breather, a young general rushed in with a desperate face and shouted.

“What’s going on?”

At the Right Commander’s question, the general handed over a memorial and shouted.

“It’s a memorial from Dezhou! Jinan has been attacked!”

Clang!

At the general’s shout, the Minister of War dropped the teacup he was holding without realizing it.

The Right Commander, who hurriedly received the memorial, read the contents of the memorial and looked at the others with a bewildered face.

“The canal has been cut off….”

At the Right Commander’s words, all the other ministers had bewildered faces. In particular, the Minister of War had a completely devastated expression and muttered.

“‘Make a feint to the east, but strike in the west’….”

At the Minister of War’s words, the Left and Right Commanders all nodded with similar faces.

The Senior Grand Secretary, who had heard the words of the Minister of War and the commanders, had an unbelievable expression.

“Are you saying that Joseon is behind the Waegu attack?”

“That’s right. Indeed… now the pieces are falling into place. The pieces are falling into place.”

The Left Commander, who was muttering to himself, turned to the others.

“Now I understand why the Waegu broke into the central region. Joseon is trying to cut off our waist.”

At the Left Commander’s words, the Minister of War added in a gloomy voice.

“Not trying to cut it off, but already cut off more than half of it.”

No sooner had the Minister of War finished speaking than the Senior Grand Secretary shouted.

“Why wasn’t there a report when things got this bad!”

“They probably didn’t have the mental capacity to report because of the Waegu attack….”

It was just as the Minister of War said.

The Ming soldiers, who had fought against Joseon and the Ouchi fleet [a powerful Japanese clan] that were going against the Yellow River, were so devastated that they didn’t even have the 余裕 [leisure/capacity] to send a memorial, and their garrisons were also turned into scorched earth by the Ouchi soldiers.

And the areas where the Waegu’s main force landed were struggling just to grasp the damage they had suffered from the Waegu.

* * *

In this chaotic situation, the first to come to his senses was the Minister of War.

“In the end, we have to review everything from the beginning. First, let’s think about how to send a messenger to Nanjing.”

At the Minister of War’s words, the officials who had come to their senses put their heads together again.

“Since the situation is like this, let’s change the order of things.”

The first to make a suggestion was the Minister of Rites.

“Change the order of things, what do you mean?”

“We must gather all the troops that can be mobilized right now and send them to Liaodong to strike Joseon.”

At the Minister of Rites’ words, the Senior Grand Secretary burst out shouting.

“Are you crazy! The reasons why we shouldn’t do that have already been given!”

“I’m not crazy. But it’s true that it’s a story that will cost me my head.”

“Why on earth… Hoo!”

The Senior Grand Secretary, who had sighed, continued.

“Let’s hear the reason.”

The Minister of Rites paused for a moment and began to speak.

“The biggest reason is that His Majesty is very ill right now. If His Majesty passes away, how will we bring the Crown Prince from Nanjing? If the sky of Beijing is empty, are you confident that there will be no one who will aim for that position?”

“….”

While no one could easily open their mouths at the Minister of Rites’ pointing out, the Minister of Rites continued.

“The fastest way for the Crown Prince to come to Beijing is by sea. However, the sea is now in Joseon’s hands. Then, we will eventually have to negotiate, but in the current state, we will have no choice but to be dragged around by Joseon. However, if we win in Liaodong, we can match each other’s eye level.”