Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 638

638. Wild Wild North (4)

Some days after the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Hyang sat alone in the Gangnyeong Hall’s bedchamber, tapping his fingers on the desk, deep in thought.

“Hmm… Seong Sam-mun can keep Jin-pyeong in check to some extent, but I’m still uneasy.”

Even with Seong Sam-mun watching over Jin-pyeong, Hyang couldn’t shake his anxiety.

“No… it’s not just Jin-pyeong. In some ways, the North itself is a powder keg waiting to explode.”

Hyang sighed deeply, concluding,

“Hoo… a white elephant.”

* * *

As Hyang said, the North was a white elephant [a possession or project that is troublesome and costly to maintain].

It wasn’t particularly suitable for farming, but the potential of its vast plains was considerable.

If they cultivated sorghum, along with the new sorghum and corn varieties currently being improved, or even existing sorghum or beans, achieving self-sufficiency seemed entirely possible.

Moreover, using the wide plains for livestock farming, raising horses or sheep, also had significant market potential.

However, the most crucial aspect was the mines located in the North.

Immediately, the mines in Musun, next to Liaodong Fortress, were yielding massive amounts of iron, copper, and coal. These weren’t like the mines in Gangwon or Hamgil Province, where you had to dig deep underground; they were almost open-pit mines.

Hyang’s concern was the rebellious nature of the North’s residents.

Not only the remnants of the Ming Dynasty and the sinicized Jianzhou Jurchens but also a significant number of the wild Jurchens and Hese Jurchens were rebellious.

If someone emerged who could unite the Jurchens, skilled in horsemanship, it could become quite troublesome.

For now, it could be suppressed with the Imperial Cavalry’s force, but in the long run, that method would bring more harm than good.

The immediate problem was the continuous military expenditure, and the excessive concentration of troops in the North could turn into another political force.

“The best example is the Kwantung Army. No, the entire Japanese army. The Kwantung Army consisted of stubborn fools who didn’t listen to the cabinet… or even the Imperial General Headquarters that commanded the Japanese army…”

To solve this, the best solution was to promote a large-scale resettlement policy and assimilate them into the Empire.

“It reminds me of what Teacher Samcheopo said a long time ago…”

-Why did Gwanggaeto the Great strike the north once and then the south once? It wasn’t because he needed land, but because he needed people! It was to tame the rough people of this Manchurian region! He needed people who could communicate reasonably well, even if their dialects were mixed!

However, Hyang had a concern in this area.

-The Empire has no people!

This year, the population of the mainland finally exceeded 13 million. However, minors still accounted for over 40% of the population.

Considering the manpower needed for the growing commerce and industry and the number of people to be relocated to Shinji, it was very difficult to promote full-scale resettlement in the North.

“Compared to Shinji right now, telling them to go to the North is like telling them to starve to death… Or is it not? What was the original reason for Thanksgiving again?”

Of course, the current situation was completely different from that of the English Puritans who sailed on the Mayflower.

According to reports, none of the Puritans who sailed to America on the Mayflower were engaged in agriculture or fishing.

However, the resettlement policy that the Empire was about to implement was aimed at those who made their living through agriculture and fishing. Moreover, there would be full support from the state.

Once agriculture and fishing were established, and industry, symbolized by District 52, had a foundation, the next step was commerce.

Commerce would start with the monopoly office and then, once the railroad connecting the bridgeheads and the Great Lakes was completed, they planned to foster commerce in earnest.

Hyang continued to think.

“We could use the Japanese from Tsushima Island and the compliant remnants of the Ming Dynasty who were pushed into Hamgil Province, but these guys will create Chinatowns and Japantowns and hold out… Of course, ‘if they pay their taxes well and do what they’re told,’ there’s no problem, but the problem is that very few of them have good feelings towards the Empire. A ‘Pan-Empire Allied Forces’ is unacceptable.”

After analyzing this far, Hyang sighed once again.

“The ‘military police rule’ and ‘cultural rule’ that the Japanese Empire implemented in the Korean Peninsula might be the easiest way, but it’s psychologically unacceptable…”

Thinking that far, Hyang burst into laughter.

“Hah! In the end, it all comes back to ‘hurray for capitalism’… The monopoly office becomes a panacea.”

* * *

Hyang, feeling empty after realizing that he was returning to the monopoly office despite trying to think of something innovative, became serious again.

“Even if we pacify them that way, we have to worry about people in the North having other ideas. Unlike Shinji, there’s no physical barrier… Something to secretly monitor…”

Hyang, muttering to himself, suddenly froze and lightly tapped his forehead.

“What an idiot!”

* * *

The next day, as soon as the morning assembly began, Hyang presented a new agenda.

“Please establish a plan to construct a comprehensive entertainment district in the North and submit it.”

Kim Jeom asked, with a dumbfounded expression at Hyang’s words.

“A comprehensive entertainment district, you say?”

“That’s right.”

At Hyang’s command, the ministers closed their mouths and pondered.

‘At a time like this? Why?’

‘Why all of a sudden?’

Everyone was filled with questions, and the first to speak was Kim Jong-seo.

“Is it to alleviate the grievances of those residing in the North?”

“That’s right. Jurchens don’t have much entertainment, do they?”

Kim Jong-seo nodded at Hyang’s answer.

“That is certainly true. When I used to work in the Northeast region, I saw that *gyeokgu* [polo] and hunting were almost all there was. If not, they were often drunk. If we weave together the comprehensive entertainment district, the monopoly office, the market, and the railroad well, it will greatly help stabilize the North.”

Kim Jong-seo, who had worked in the North with Hwang Hee, explained, and the other ministers nodded in understanding.

Hwang Hee took Kim Jong-seo’s explanation and added,

“That is certainly true. The monopoly office played a big role in the Northeast region in the past as well. And, although it wasn’t a comprehensive entertainment district, the Jurchens liked *gyeokgu* [polo], wrestling, and the performances of *jaeinpae* [traveling entertainers] the most.”

Hwangbo-in added more details following Hwang Hee.

“If we carefully observe the people gathering in the comprehensive entertainment district, we can learn the flow of public sentiment more easily and quickly. This will be the same in the North.”

“Since everyone seems to agree, please establish a plan to promote this and submit it.”

“We shall obey your command.”

* * *

The next night. The chief of the Naegeumwi (Royal Guard) summoned the officers of the secret guard.

“His Majesty has issued a special order.”

At the words of the chief of the Naegeumwi, the officers all wore tense expressions.

‘There haven’t been any special orders lately, have there?’

‘The only special orders we’ve received have been about finding a consort, right?’

‘Judging by that man’s fierce expression, it’s definitely not going to be easy!’

“You’ve been idle lately, haven’t you?”

“No, we haven’t!”

“This time, it’s definitely not an easy task.”

The officers swallowed hard at the chief of the Naegeumwi’s heavy voice and waited for the next words.

“His Majesty has ordered that the ears of the secret guard must also be established in the North. So, draw up a plan accordingly.”

“Yes!”

The officers loudly responded to the chief of the Naegeumwi’s command.

* * *

Five days later, a meeting was held again at the secret guard’s hideout, attended by the chief of the Naegeumwi and the officers.

Present at this meeting were the commanders of the secret guard spread throughout the country—in other words, the heads of the *geomgye* [underworld organizations] belonging to the secret guard—and their staff.

The staff led the meeting proactively.

“Before we carry out the order issued by His Majesty, there are things we need to know in advance.”

“What is it?”

One of the staff members answered the chief of the Naegeumwi’s question.

“In the North, are we only to monitor the officials dispatched to the North? Or does it include influential figures in the North as well? We need to know that to move on to the next step.”

“In addition, there is also the issue of funding. A *giru* [courtesan house] is not something that can be opened with just a few pennies.”

“Hmm…”

The chief of the Naegeumwi made a troubled expression at the staff’s points and couldn’t speak, and the staff’s expressions also became troubled.

‘I knew it!’

‘Did you think we could just create it if you told us to?’

Everyone attending the meeting wore troubled expressions when Hyang’s voice was heard from behind the folding screen at the back of the meeting room.

“I will speak to that part.”

As Hyang revealed himself with his words, everyone belonging to the secret guard gathered in the meeting room prostrated themselves and shouted in unison.

“재음위국(在陰衛國)! [We Serve the Nation in the Shadows!]”

“Thank you for your hard work. Because of your efforts in unseen places, the Empire is safe, so I will not forget your contributions.”

“It is an honor!”

‘A scholar gives his life for the one who recognizes him! Even though we are violent *geomgye* [underworld organizations], we will risk our lives because His Majesty recognizes us!’

‘Even if we have to go to the North and die, we will!’

The people of the secret guard were burning with even more loyalty at Hyang’s praise.

* * *

With Hyang’s attendance, the atmosphere of the meeting room became even more serious.

“You pointed out the funding issue earlier, and the funding will be provided separately by the Imperial Family. And, the targets of surveillance will be the officials and military commanders dispatched to the North, and the local influential figures who have connections with them will be primarily monitored. Also, once the comprehensive entertainment district is opened, we will have to monitor the reactions of the local residents through it. The officials of the entertainment office will also look into public sentiment, but wouldn’t the people be careful in front of those wearing official robes?”

The officers and staff of the secret guard nodded at Hyang’s words.

Even those who were completely relaxed in the lively atmosphere of the entertainment district and didn’t distinguish between what they could and couldn’t say after drinking alcohol would immediately be careful if they saw officials wearing official robes and *pojo* [police officers] from the police station.

However, there was no such thing in front of the secret guards who came to protect the *ginyeo* [female entertainers] performing, and the secret guards collected all of this and reported it to track public sentiment.

One of the staff members who heard Hyang’s answer stood up from his seat and spoke.

“Would it be better to procure the *ginyeo* [female entertainers] locally?”

“What method would be better?”

The staff member, who had been pondering for a moment at Hyang’s question, soon presented his opinion.

“We shouldn’t recruit local women as *ginyeo* [female entertainers] for at least 10 years. No, we shouldn’t recruit them at all unless they have considerable talent.”

Hyang’s eyes sparkled with curiosity at the staff member’s statement.

“Why?”

“Because of *jeonjok* [foot binding]. Since ancient times, the Chinese have had the custom of *jeonjok* [foot binding], which binds women’s feet, and this makes it impossible to teach them to dance even if we try. The basics of *ginyeo* [female entertainers] are, no matter what anyone says, singing and dancing. If they can’t sing and dance, they’re nothing more than *yunyeo* [prostitutes] who are all about prostitution. Then, the high-ranking people won’t look for them.”

“I see…”

Hyang nodded at the staff member’s statement.

The *ipa* [second-tier] and *sampa* [third-tier] *gisaeng* [female entertainers], excluding the *ilpa* [first-tier] *gisaeng* [female entertainers] who were the highest-class *gisaeng* [female entertainers] and only performed dances and songs in front of the king, also unofficially engaged in prostitution. However, even for them, dancing and singing were the basics. No, even the *nondani* [wandering prostitutes] who wandered around and sold their bodies had to have the skill to sing a song.

Seeing that Hyang’s reaction was positive, the staff member’s voice gained strength.

“Since His Majesty raised the status of *ginyeo* [female entertainers] and entertainers to *yangin* [commoners], the public’s perception has improved a lot. However, if the *gisaeng* [female entertainers] in the North are treated as *nondani* [wandering prostitutes], then the *ginyeo* [female entertainers] and entertainers in other regions will be treated the same way.”