Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 704

704. The Second Battle of the Yellow Sea (2)

Year 9 of the Imperial Calendar (1457). Autumn. Nanjing.

A conference was in full swing in the Ministry of War’s meeting room. The Minister of War and the Left and Right Chief Military Commissioners were gathered, deeply discussing the expansion of naval power.

“The problem is the budget…”

“It’s truly frustrating, as the Joseon [Korea] bastards’ budget increases in proportion to ours.”

“The officially disclosed budget is frustrating enough, but I’m more worried about how much they’re using unofficially.”

The Left and Right Chief Military Commissioners nodded in unison at the Minister of War’s words.

* * *

When Joseon changed its name to the Great Korean Federal Empire, Hyang established a system of officially announcing the Empire’s budget each year at the beginning of the year.

-It’s the taxes paid by the people! Therefore, the people have the right to know where, how, and how much of their taxes are being used!

There was considerable opposition to Hyang’s decision, but Hyang dismissed it.

“If you use it properly, there won’t be any complaints!”

In the end, the ministers, losing in terms of justification, had to follow Hyang’s will.

With the budget being made public, the Empire’s people could check how much budget was executed last year and how much was allocated this year every year at the beginning of the year.

And, each time, a considerable number of petitions flooded into Gyeongbok Palace [the main royal palace of Korea].

The Gyeongtae Emperor of Ming and his officials discussed the Empire’s behavior.

“To think they’re disclosing such valuable information just because the people should know… Isn’t this a favor to us?”

The ministers all nodded at the Gyeongtae Emperor’s words.

Disclosing the budget was like revealing everything about oneself.

The King of Joseon, calling himself an emperor, cited the reason that the people should know, but it was nonsense.

What was the point of informing the ignorant commoners, who would surely do nothing but complain, without properly understanding it?

The Gyeongtae Emperor scoffed and continued.

“Hmph! The King of Joseon has become too arrogant with just one victory! Isn’t this too good for us?”

The Senior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet stepped forward and replied to the Gyeongtae Emperor’s words.

“That is true, but we must be wary that this could be a secret maneuver by the King of Joseon.”

“A secret maneuver?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Looking at Joseon’s budget table announced this time, the total amount and the budget for each ministry are written, but the real details are not revealed. Above all, no one knows if the total revenue they have written down is the real total. Your Majesty, the King of Joseon has always been known for his cunning. We can see that he is acting foolishly out of arrogance, but it is also highly possible that it is a trick to deceive other countries.”

“Indeed!”

The Gyeongtae Emperor clapped his knees and raised his voice at the Senior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet’s words.

“We almost fell into a trap again! Indeed, the Senior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet! I will continue to trust in your wisdom in the future!”

The Senior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet bowed, cupping his hands in gratitude at the Gyeongtae Emperor’s praise.

“Your Imperial Majesty’s grace is boundless.”

* * *

It was because of this that the Minister of War mentioned the ‘unofficial budget’.

“It is certainly a concern. Especially when looking at the Joseon ships loitering in the Yellow Sea, their number and condition remain unchanged… Haa…”

The Left Chief Military Commissioner trailed off, sighing deeply. The Right Chief Military Commissioner sitting next to him was the same.

“Their assault turtle ships are the same. Two ships are holding out and not moving in the Yellow Sea… If even one ship were to leave, something could be figured out, but if we’re not careful, the two twin-headed flame dragons [powerful Ming warships] we’ve painstakingly created will become useless.”

The Minister of War questioned the Right Chief Military Commissioner’s words.

“Huh? Weren’t we supposed to refrain from action until we completed the target of three ships?”

“The third twin-headed flame dragon has already been completed. All that’s left is to board the sailors. However, facing two assault turtle ships means we have to be prepared to lose two ships in the worst-case scenario. This is too great a loss.”

“Indeed…”

The Minister of War nodded at the Right Chief Military Commissioner’s reply.

* * *

The twin-headed flame dragons were warships built with a huge budget. Constructing these warships, rebuilding the navy, and strengthening the defenses in the north required a massive budget, forcing the Ming court to tighten its belt as much as possible.

Thanks to this, the Gyeongtae Emperor occasionally recalled his predecessor, the Seondeok Emperor, and grumbled.

“The late Emperor should have planned for the Oirat [a powerful Mongol group] before Joseon…”

After losing the Liaodong region in the last war, the Oirat began to slowly show their teeth.

Thanks to this, Ming was forced to pour money into defending the northern border.

However, what angered the Gyeongtae Emperor and the Ming officials even more was that the Oirat, who showed their teeth to them, were groveling before Joseon, the self-proclaimed ‘Empire’, like a dog showing its belly to its owner.

However, this was unavoidable for the Oirat. They had seen the Empire’s power in the last war and had even tasted it properly.

After the Liaodong region became the Empire’s territory, there were small-scale clashes between the Oirat and the Empire in the border area north of Liaodong. And, in that clash, the Oirat warriors were all devoured by beasts, leaving only a few survivors.

The problem was that the number of Oirat warriors at the time exceeded twice that of the Imperial cavalry.

Afterward, the Empire warned the Oirat by completely annihilating the Oirat tribe in question, properly mobilizing its forces. The Oirat, having received the warning, had to prostrate themselves before the Empire.

* * *

“Hmm… If even one assault turtle ship were to decrease, we could seize the opportunity immediately…”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“It’s truly frustrating.”

While the Minister of War and the Chief Military Commissioners were talking about their frustrating feelings, a young military officer hurriedly entered the meeting room and saluted.

“What’s going on?”

The officer immediately replied to the Minister of War’s question.

“There has been a personnel change in the Joseon Navy! The Chief of Naval Operations and a considerable number of generals have been removed from their positions.”

“What!”

At the officer’s report, the Minister of War and the Chief Military Commissioners stood up from their seats at the same time.

According to the report brought by the young officer, those who had commanded the Joseon Navy since the last war and those with similar experience were simultaneously pushed out of their positions and were to be transferred to the ‘Far East Fleet Command’.

“Far East Fleet Command… Is that the fleet the Joseon bastards are building on the island they call Shinji?”

“That’s probably the place.”

The Left Chief Military Commissioner nodded at the Minister of War’s question.

* * *

As Shinji was discovered and rumors about it began to circulate little by little, the court entered into strict secrecy and active muddying of the waters [spreading misinformation to confuse the public].

-If you go further east from the Northeast Archipelago, there is a huge island. That place is Shinji.

-The size of Shinji is about three times the size of Daeseol Island.

-Most of Shinji is plains.

The Empire’s people nodded at the rumors spread by the court to muddy the waters.

“Daeseol Island is also a huge island, but it’s three times bigger than that? Then it’s land.”

“Right!”

“Since it’s a plain, will farming be possible? Should I apply for resettlement later?”

While diligently muddying the waters, the Empire diligently entered into secrecy. Letters sent by Europeans to their home countries were more strictly censored, and letters sent by Imperial citizens who volunteered to immigrate to Shinji to their relatives were also strictly censored.

Through this muddying of the waters and censorship, Shinji, as perceived by the Empire’s general public and foreigners, was much smaller than it actually was.

* * *

Because of this perception, the Minister of War, the Chief Military Commissioners, and the officer who reported it all thought that they were ‘removed’ or ‘pushed out’.

“Deliver this report to the Senior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet immediately.”

“Yes!”

The Minister of War, after sending the officer out with the documents again, looked back at the Chief Military Commissioners.

“What do you think? In my opinion, the King of Joseon seems to have started something for his son?”

The Chief Military Commissioners all nodded at the Minister of War’s words.

“I agree.”

“There have been widespread rumors that the King of Joseon will step down next year or the year after, it seems to be true.”

What the Minister of War and the Chief Military Commissioners thought was the cause of this personnel change was a political purge.

-It’s funny, but there are rumors that the current King of Joseon wants to abdicate quickly.

-According to other rumors, he plans to go to a place called Shinji immediately after abdicating.

-The Prince of Joseon, who will inherit the throne, still has shallow political experience.

-Therefore, a political purge is necessary for a stable transfer of power.

-Since the last war, the military, especially the navy, has been gaining more and more prominence.

-Therefore, a purge disguised as a personnel change has taken place.

The Minister of War, having analyzed the situation up to this point, looked back at the Chief Military Commissioners.

“The atmosphere in the Joseon Navy must be very turbulent.”

“It must be very turbulent.”

“If we do this well…”

The Right Chief Military Commissioner trailed off, but everyone else knew what would come next.

‘If we do this well, we’ll have the best opportunity to avenge ourselves!’

* * *

As the Minister of War and the Chief Military Commissioners thought, the atmosphere in the Imperial Navy was turbulent. In particular, a cold wind was blowing in the Imperial Navy Headquarters in Seoul.

From the lowest private to the general, everyone was cautiously moving, watching only the Chief of Naval Operations’ every move.

“Aaaagh!”

“Eek! It exploded again!”

“Run! Run!”

When a scream-like shout suddenly erupted from the Chief of Staff’s office, the privates, officers, and generals who were nearby immediately disappeared.

“At this age! To rebuild the fleet from scratch! At this age!”

The one shouting at the sky was Shin In-son, the Chief of Naval Operations.

“Hoo~. Hoo~.”

Shin In-son, calming his anger by repeating deep breaths, lamented, placing his hand on his forehead.

“I’m the stupid one…. I was completely taken in by His Majesty’s words, ‘You are the only one who can complete this great task.’…”

* * *

Not long ago, Shin In-son had a secret meeting with Hyang.

“General, how well do you know about the construction of the Far East Fleet stationed in Shinji?”

“I know that it will consist of a considerable number of fleets.”

“Not a considerable number, but more than that.”

At Shin In-son’s answer, Hyang explained the ‘Maritime Barrier Plan’ that Sejong had conceived and he had revised.

“…That is the Maritime Barrier Plan. I hope the General will join me in completing this plan.”

“Yes?”

Hyang explained to Shin In-son in more detail.

-Although we are blocking it as much as possible, rumors about Shinji are gradually entering Europe.

-Europeans will definitely come to Shinji.

-Then the most likely direction is east.

-Therefore, we must complete the maritime barrier as much as possible before they come….

“And there is another reason. It is Ming.”

At Hyang’s words, Shin In-son immediately grasped the point.

“Are you trying to induce Ming’s misjudgment?”

“That’s right. You are the only one who can accomplish the great task of properly achieving these two goals. Please grant my request.”

Shin In-son waved his hand in horror at Hyang’s appearance of bowing his head.

“It’s absurd to call it a request. You can just give an order.”

“Then will you join me?”

“I will!”

That’s how the personnel change was decided.

* * *

Shin In-son, recalling what happened at that time, sighed deeply again.

“Hoo~. I’m the stupid one!”