Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 634

634. Now in Beijing… (4)

The aftermath of Emperor Jingtai’s decree was immense.

As soon as the decree was posted throughout the Central Plains, numerous followers of the Jianwen Emperor and Zhu Wengui, who had been operating beneath the surface in the Jiangnan region [the area south of the Yangtze River, known for its wealth and culture], began to emerge.

And, as the officials of Ming and the Empire had anticipated, infighting began.

“I am the true Emperor Hui!”

“No, I am the real one!”

“Ridiculous! My father abdicated! I am Zhu Wengui, the rightful heir!”

“No! I am the true Zhu Wengui!”

While they were busy fighting each other, each claiming to be the real one, information about them flowed into the courts of Ming and the Empire.

* * *

Late at night, Han Myung-hoi brought in a tray full of documents.

“This is new information regarding the infighting in the Jiangnan region of Ming.”

“Leave it there and go.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hyang glanced at the pile of documents Han Myung-hoi had left and reached for the brazier on one side. After pouring black bean tea from the kettle warming on the brazier, and mixing it with milk and sugar, Hyang brought the cup to his lips and examined the new documents.

“Hmm… hmm…”

Hyang, who had been looking through the documents with an indifferent expression, suddenly spat out the black bean tea he was drinking.

“Ptoo! Cough! Cough! Cough!”

“Your Majesty! Are you alright!”

“I will summon the royal physician!”

Startled by Hyang’s appearance as he pounded his chest, the head eunuch hurriedly tried to summon the royal physician, but Hyang waved his hand to stop them.

“Ah, no. I’m fine! I just choked. There’s no need to make a fuss.”

“No! I will summon the royal physician immediately! What are you doing! Go and fetch the royal physician!”

At the head eunuch’s scolding, filled with a sense of duty, the eunuchs diligently ran out to find the royal physician.

“Really, I’m fine…”

Even as he said that, Hyang’s eyes were shaking violently as he looked down at the documents.

It was because of the title written at the very top of the document.

-Those who claim to be the reincarnation of Emperor Hui or his son.

* * *

Shortly after, the royal physician, who had rushed over, grabbed Hyang’s arm, took his pulse, and reported to Hyang.

“There doesn’t seem to be anything seriously wrong. However, the choking has shocked your qi [life force], blood, and heart, so I will prepare a decoction for you.”

“Thank you.”

“You flatter me.”

As the royal physician left, Hyang examined the documents again with a serious expression.

‘Let’s see… when did the Jingnan Rebellion [a civil war in the early Ming Dynasty] occur…’

The 7th year of King Taejo of Joseon (1398) was a ‘year of coups’ for both Ming and Joseon.

In Joseon, the ‘First Strife of Princes’ occurred, and in Ming, the ‘Jingnan Rebellion’ took place.

‘According to what I learned, Zhu Yunwen [Emperor Hui] was about in his early 20s at that time. If he survived then, he would be about in his early 70s now. His son, Zhu Wengui, would be about in his early 50s…’

After calculating that, Hyang examined the documents again and nodded.

‘Most of those claiming to be reincarnated are in their 30s. Then they have no choice but to claim to be reincarnated. The problem is…’

Thinking up to that point, Hyang blurted out without realizing it.

“Could they really be real?”

“Yes? Your Majesty. I am sorry, but could you please say that again?”

The scribes and recorders, who had not heard properly, asked Hyang, but Hyang waved his hand.

“It’s nothing. I was just reading such absurd stories that I misspoke.”

“Yes.”

Clang! Clack!

Watching the scribes and recorders record even those words, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘I said it was absurd, but I’m uneasy that it might not be. Because the person in question is right here!’

Hyang couldn’t simply dismiss it as nonsense because he himself was a reincarnator.

* * *

The next morning.

The hottest topic among the ministers attending the court was about ‘reincarnators’.

“Could they be real reincarnators? No, is reincarnation even possible?”

In response to Lee Sa-cheol’s question, Minister of Foreign Affairs Heo Hoo replied.

“In Tibet (ancient Tibet), it is said that when the Dalai Lama dies, he is reincarnated as the next Dalai Lama, but it has not been confirmed to be true.”

“What are the thoughts of those who follow those claiming to be reincarnated? Is there any material evidence?”

Kim Jong-seo pointed out, and Kim Jeom answered.

“According to the reports, similar things are written in all of them. ‘He has shown extraordinary qualities since childhood, and his demeanor and behavior are exceptionally refined.’, ‘When learning, he understands ten things from one (聞一知十) [understands a great deal from a little], as if he had learned it in advance.’ Perhaps, their different behavior and superior intelligence made them seem like they had been reincarnated.”

“Hmm…”

Everyone nodded at Kim Jeom’s explanation. Watching that, Hyang asked a question.

“Do you think those claiming to be reincarnated have a better chance of winning compared to other competitors?”

Hwang Hee was the first to answer Hyang’s question.

“They will be the first to be eliminated.”

“Oh? Why?”

“First, let’s consider the case of those who claim that the son of Emperor Hui has been reincarnated. When he disappeared from the Nanjing Palace, he was only six or seven years old. Even if he had been appointed as the crown prince, at that age, he would have been learning the Thousand Character Classic [a classic Chinese text used to teach characters], let alone imperial studies. Even if such a young child were to be reincarnated, what experience would he have to discuss the world? If those who follow him think a little more calmly, they will be abandoned immediately. The same goes for those who claim to be the reincarnation of Emperor Hui. The fact that they are too young compared to those who claim to be the actual Emperor Hui or the son of Emperor Hui will strangle them.”

“What if they were real reincarnators?”

Hwang Hee answered Hyang’s question decisively.

“Even if he is real, the son of Emperor Hui has absolutely no chance.”

After answering that far, Hwang Hee carefully asked Hyang.

“Your Majesty has rarely asked such in-depth questions, are you perhaps interested in reincarnation?”

Hwang Hee’s face was full of worry as he asked the question. Since ancient times, when the ruler of a country dreamed of immortality, it almost always led to the downfall of the country. Especially, if a person with great abilities fell into such a path, it would bring about an even more fatal catastrophe.

Whether he knew Hwang Hee’s feelings or not, Hyang smiled and replied.

“Ah! It’s nothing. I was just thinking, if reincarnation is possible, how about reincarnating with Emperor Sangwang [the previous emperor, Hyang’s father] and all of you to lead this country again? If I lead the nation with Emperor Sangwang and you, wouldn’t we be able to overcome any difficulties?”

At Hyang’s words, Hwang Hee bowed his head and replied.

“It is truly overwhelming that you value us, who are full of shortcomings, so highly!”

“Overwhelming!”

The ministers bowed their heads and answered at the same time as Hwang Hee, but inside, they were shouting different words.

‘Work together again? Even if I have to grab Buddha by the collar, I will never reincarnate!’

‘No matter what happens then, I will not take office!’

Whether he knew the ministers’ feelings or not, Hyang continued with a smile.

“Well! Let’s stop the jokes here and move on to the next topic!”

* * *

That night, Hyang, who was alone in his bedchamber, sat with his arms crossed and pondered.

‘It’s not a joke, it could be a really serious problem. I’m the person in question, after all. There’s no guarantee that a cheat key [an unfair advantage] won’t appear in that neighborhood too, right?’

Thinking about various possibilities, Hyang burst into laughter.

“Hah! Let’s just sleep.”

‘A startled heart is startled by a pot lid after being startled by a turtle? [an idiom meaning to be easily frightened after an initial shock] If it were a case like me, they would have already shown their potential a long time ago. But there aren’t any, are there? A guilty conscience needs no accuser…’

Hyang chuckled and organized the situation before going to sleep.

* * *

While Jiangnan in the Central Plains was noisy, Giovanni of Florence visited Joseon alone.

“What happened to those who came with you last time? Why have you come alone?”

At Heo Hoo’s question, Giovanni replied quietly.

“I have come because there is a matter of secret cooperation between our Florence and your country.”

“Secret? Cooperation? About what?”

“It is about the Suez.”

“Huh? Let’s talk about it in more detail.”

Heo Hoo, who had heard Cosimo de Medici’s proposal brought by Giovanni, summarized it and reported it to Hyang.

Hwang Hee, who heard Heo Hoo’s report in Daejeon [the main hall of the palace], asked a question as soon as Heo Hoo’s words ended.

“Do you have any documents proving that what that Giovanni said is true?”

“No, I don’t.”

Hwang Hee’s face frowned at Heo Hoo’s answer.

“Then how can we believe that what he said is the will of Cosimo de Medici, the head of the Medici family? It could be a scam perpetrated by a desire for fame and recognition, couldn’t it?”

“He said that he could not have documents because it was something being done secretly from the Ottomans and Portugal.”

“Hmm…”

At Heo Hoo’s answer, Hyang and Hwang Hee nodded with plausible expressions.

What the Medici were doing now could be seen as stabbing Portugal and the Ottomans in the back. Naturally, they had to move in secret, and if they did, they could not receive the protection of the Ottomans and Portugal. However, if they led a large-scale escort force, the Ottomans and Portugal would immediately notice. In the end, they had to go on a dangerous journey to Aden with only a small escort.

Therefore, Giovanni’s statement that he did not create documents for security reasons made sense.

“Even if we put aside the document issue, the proposal is a bit strange. Minister of Foreign Affairs, please summon that Giovanni here immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Hyang’s command, Giovanni entered Geunjeongjeon Hall [the throne hall] shortly after.

“I greet the Emperor of the Great Han Federal Empire.”

Giovanni bowed politely to Hyang.

“It is commendable that you have come this far despite the difficult journey.”

“You flatter me.”

Hyang praised Giovanni in that way and began to pressure Giovanni in earnest.

“As I know, your family, the Medici family, is a great family. Although they are a merchant family, ordinary nobles cannot treat them carelessly, and even the kings of great countries listen to your words, right?”

“It may sound like I’m showing off, but that’s mostly the case.”

“Yet you brought something like this as a proposal?”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“Are you saying that the proposal you mentioned is really the proposal of Cosimo de Medici, who is said to shake Europe? Is this what you’re saying!”

“Yes? Ah, that, uh…”

Giovanni, unable to grasp the situation at Hyang’s sudden harsh words, began to panic, and Hyang fiercely drove him.

“As I heard, you asked us to hand over 5% of the 40% stake that our Empire demanded to you! What can you do with this 5%? If we think about this again, the calculation comes out that you can only take about 10% of the 60% stake that you, Portugal, and the Ottomans will take! Am I wrong?”

“That, that is…”

“Why can’t you answer!”

Giovanni, who could not give a proper answer, had to be verbally beaten left and right by Hyang’s harsh words.

“Even if we combine your family’s 10% stake, it’s 50%! 50%! If a dispute arises with Portugal and the Ottomans, it means we can only play tug-of-war! It would be fortunate if it ended with just tug-of-war. We have to make concessions that we don’t have to make in order to pass the agenda! Then why should we take a 5% loss!”

“Ah, that’s…”

“There’s nothing more to talk about! If your family wants to have this conversation with me, secure at least 1% in addition to the basic 10% stake! If we combine with you and exceed 50%, then I will listen to you again! Go back! Go and tell your head of household this: ‘If you want to play the role of a balance, take proper weight!'”