Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 705

705. The Second Battle of the Yellow Sea (3)

“Hoo~. ‘A moment’s choice determines a lifetime.’ The old saying always rings true.”

Although Hyang conceived the plan, Shin In-son bore the responsibility for its execution.

It was a position where overwork was the norm, and even a minor slip-up could invite severe criticism.

Therefore, he grumbled and sighed whenever he could, but the die was already cast [the decision was made and couldn’t be changed].

In the end, Shin In-son uttered a golden phrase that had become a tradition since the reform.

“Tsk! I can’t go down alone!”

Having steeled his resolve, Shin In-son unfurled the personnel roster.

“Let’s see… useful guys…”

Shin In-son began meticulously combing through the lists and performance reviews of the Imperial Navy’s generals, admirals, and high-ranking officers, carefully selecting suitable candidates.

After burning the midnight oil for several days, handpicking his chosen few, Shin In-son summoned them to a single location.

Shin In-son gathered generals and high-ranking officers in a spacious conference room at naval headquarters and wasted no time in getting to the point.

“Gentlemen, I need your cooperation for the sake of His Majesty and the Empire.”

That was the genesis of the large-scale personnel reshuffle that piqued the interest of Ming’s Minister of War and commanders.

* * *

Hyang nodded in approval as he received the list of naval personnel changes through Min-shin.

“It’s a rather astute selection.”

“However, a considerable number of seasoned generals are being sidelined.”

Hyang offered a positive assessment, but Min-shin couldn’t mask his apprehension. Hyang smiled faintly at Min-shin’s concern and responded.

“But considering the personnel logjam within the navy, it’s a commendable selection. And aren’t the individuals poised to fill the vacancies all talented figures with exceptional capabilities?”

“That may be so, but Ming might misinterpret it.”

‘As expected of the Minister of National Defense! Excellent intuition!’

Admiring Min-shin’s concern about Ming’s potential misjudgment, Hyang flashed a knowing smile and regarded him.

Min-shin’s expression turned grave at the unspoken implication behind the smile, and he cautiously inquired.

“Are you perhaps… orchestrating this?”

Hyang’s smile widened at Min-shin’s question. And within that amplified smile, a subtle hint of ruthlessness lingered.

“If they remain trapped by the delusions of the past, they’re bound to fall for it. Though, in my estimation, they’ve already taken the bait since they conceived that ‘Twin-Headed Flame Dragon’… Crown Prince.”

“Yes, yes! Your Majesty! Please issue your command!”

Wan was startled by Hyang’s sudden address and looked at Hyang. Hyang gave Wan an order.

“This is your first war, isn’t it? Consider this a valuable opportunity. Execute it flawlessly.”

“Yes? What do you mean by that?”

Wan, visibly paling, repeated his question to Hyang. Hyang elaborated on his instructions, noticing Wan’s bewildered expression.

“Ming’s persistent calls for a ‘forceful return’ are nothing new. Their colossal battleships I mentioned earlier serve as the prime example. Waiting for them to be fully prepared is unwise. Devise a plan to provoke them into acting rashly, a military strategy to utterly defeat those who charge in, and a method to deter them from attempting such a maneuver again in the future.”

Upon hearing Hyang’s command, Wan immediately prostrated himself on the floor and declared.

“Your Majesty! This is beyond my capabilities!”

Hyang firmly dismissed Wan’s plea.

“Nonsense, your abilities are more than adequate. What you lack is experience. In fact, this is an opportune moment. That’s because you’re surrounded by veteran officials who have already tasted war. They are more than sufficient.”

“However…”

“Don’t fret. I’ll intervene if things go awry. But if that happens, the Crown Prince will face considerable repercussions.”

At Hyang’s words, Wan raised his voice.

“I will dedicate myself to this task with the resolve to give my life!”

That night, Hyang, alone in his bedroom, grumbled softly.

“Even with my assistance, he’s still dissatisfied…”

Hyang, muttering while recalling Wan’s appearance of burning with determination as soon as his words were finished, soon smacked his lips.

“Well… I’d work hard if I heard those words too.”

After finishing Wan’s work, Hyang soon grumbled at another target.

“By the way, what is a Twin-Headed Flame Dragon? Twin-Headed Flame Dragon… Is the Ming Dynasty’s imperial family and army all full of chuunibyou [a Japanese term for someone who acts like they have special powers or knowledge]?”

Hyang, slightly shaking his head at the word that reeked of ‘chuunibyou,’ reviewed the list of naval personnel changes again.

Hyang carefully examined the list of those who would be in charge of Shinji’s Far East Fleet and nodded.

“Admiral Shin chose the people well.”

Most of the people chosen by Shin In-son were those who had worked on the front lines during the time when the navy was changing from the navy. They were the ones in charge of the practical work in the process of transforming from a navy whose main mission was coastal defense to a deep-sea navy that controlled trade routes in the distant sea.

They had fought fiercely with the Wokou pirates [Japanese pirates] in the Korean peninsula’s coastal waters and with pirates in the distant seas.

They were not just familiar with combat. From Tsushima Island to Suez, the location of the Imperial Navy’s naval ports and the selection of appropriate-grade battleships were all works that had passed through their hands.

“With abundant ability and experience, they will be able to properly create the Far East Fleet. Is the pillar of the maritime defense wall being properly erected? I can take a breather.”

Hyang nodded and became satisfied.

At the same time, the subjects in question were looking at the moon in the sky and sighing deeply.

“I was completely taken in by the words ‘For the Empire and His Majesty’… Starting over from the bottom at this age!”

* * *

In any case, with this background, the Imperial Navy was bustling with activity due to personnel changes.

And the Ming Dynasty’s court, which had secured information on the Imperial Navy’s personnel changes, was also busy moving.

“So, the Minister of War and the commanders believe that this personnel change is ‘killing the goose that lays the golden eggs’?”

“That is correct.”

At the Gyeongtae Emperor’s question, the Minister of War and the commanders all bowed their heads and answered.

“Hmm…”

The Gyeongtae Emperor, humming, looked at the Chief Secretary of the Cabinet.

“What does the Chief Secretary think?”

At the Gyeongtae Emperor’s question, the Chief Secretary of the Cabinet bowed and immediately answered.

“I also think it is a reasonable opinion. Throughout history, the greatest enemy threatening the royal authority is the one who holds military power. Therefore, the King of Joseon is trying to purge them.”

“Is that so…”

While nodding at the Chief Secretary of the Cabinet’s words, the Gyeongtae Emperor was slightly hesitant.

‘The late Emperor told me to be extremely careful because the King of Joseon is extremely cunning. Isn’t it the same now?’

After much deliberation, the Gyeongtae Emperor asked the officials.

“Isn’t it possible that this is a trap to lure us in? Isn’t it truly coincidental? As soon as we put the Twin-Headed Flame Dragon into the front lines, a personnel change suddenly occurred.”

At the Gyeongtae Emperor’s point, the officials considered the possibility and soon nodded.

“There is a high possibility of that.”

“Since the King of Joseon is famous for being cunning…”

“This also seems to be a plan of the King of Joseon.”

Before they knew it, the officials’ trend was shifting from ‘killing the goose that lays the golden eggs’ to ‘Hyang’s trap’.

However, in any organization, there are always those who want to stand out for their own advancement.

“I am afraid to say, but even this may be what the King of Joseon thought of.”

The Gyeongtae Emperor turned his head at the sudden objection.

“Who is it?”

“I am Han Wang-gyeom, a junior secretary of the Ministry of Rites.”

“So, you are saying that even our thinking that this is a plan of the King of Joseon is the King of Joseon’s plan?”

“That is correct.”

“Explain the reason.”

“There are widespread rumors that the King of Joseon will leave for the place they call Shinji within a year or two. Therefore, he is already having the prince act as regent. If I were the King of Joseon, I would want there to be no threats until the prince’s power base is strengthened. That is why he led this personnel change. Through this personnel change, he is trying to strengthen the prince’s power and secure time for the disorganized Joseon navy to stabilize again.”

“So, you are saying that we are being tricked into thinking that this is a trap of the King of Joseon and missing a good opportunity?”

Han Wang-gyeom immediately answered the Gyeongtae Emperor’s question.

“That is correct. Like the plan in the old days when the dead Gongming [Zhuge Liang] chased the living Zhongda [Sima Yi].”

“Aha!”

The Gyeongtae Emperor clapped his knees and exclaimed at Han Wang-gyeom’s explanation.

‘That’s it!’

Han Wang-gyeom, who realized that the Gyeongtae Emperor had fallen for his explanation, put strength into his voice.

“You must think about the Shinji that Joseon has newly acquired. The fact that the current King of Joseon is directly moving there to work is proof that it is not just a small island. In addition, the King of Joseon is already over sixty years old and in a state of decline. Therefore, the King of Joseon must go to Shinji himself within at least a year or two. Therefore, the cunning King of Joseon has come up with a plan to kill two birds with one stone.”

“That’s right! That was it!”

The Gyeongtae Emperor, repeatedly exclaiming at Han Wang-gyeom’s explanation, turned to the Chief Secretary of the Cabinet.

“What does the Chief Secretary think?”

“There is some truth to it.”

“The Chief Secretary also thinks so? I think so too! If we only think about Joseon, there were parts that didn’t fit, but if we connect it to that Shinji, everything fits!”

The Gyeongtae Emperor, excited, told his thoughts.

-The Twin-Headed Flame Dragon, newly developed by Ming, is a battleship that even Joseon finds difficult to deal with.

-But now, the King of Joseon must go to Shinji soon.

-To pass on the royal authority stably, the purge of the military is essential.

-However, it takes time for it to stabilize again after the purge.

-In addition, Ming must not move during that time.

-Then, deliberately leak information to confuse Ming.

“… If we organize it like this, everything fits! As expected, the King of Joseon is cunning! Truly cunning!”

The Gyeongtae Emperor, who uttered words that were ambiguous whether they were praise or sarcasm, ordered the officials.

“Send reconnaissance ships to the Yellow Sea to closely examine the situation of the Joseon navy!”

“We will follow your orders!”

The Minister of War and the commanders, who had left the palace after the morning assembly, gathered again in the Ministry of War’s conference room.

The three people, facing each other with teacups between them, soon began to share their opinions on what had happened earlier.

“What do you think? Is it really a ‘dead Zhuge Liang scares away a living Sima Yi’ strategy?”

“It is a strategy that the King of Joseon is capable of…”

The Left Commander blurred his words with a troubled face at the Minister of War’s question. However, the Right Commander frowned and shook his head.

“There is a very high possibility that it is not. What if we really think it is a good opportunity and charge in? It is too complicated and risky.”

The Minister of War nodded at the Right Commander’s point.

“Certainly… There is also a rumor that the King of Joseon told the monks of the Western Regions, ‘The truth must be simple and clear.’ And in military strategy, it is said to avoid overly complicated strategies.”

“But when I think of the King of Joseon’s cunning… and, to be honest, the Twin-Headed Flame Dragon is in its best condition right now. But as time passes, it becomes harder to be confident. Therefore, now is the best opportunity when the Joseon navy is disorganized.”

“Are there many problems with the Twin-Headed Flame Dragon?”

“The problem is not with the Twin-Headed Flame Dragon itself, but with the steam engine inside and the ironclad that covers the outside. Everyone knows that our Ming artisans’ skills are inferior to those of Joseon, right?”

When the Left Commander honestly admitted the problem, the Minister of War and the Right Commander nodded without realizing it.

“Time is not on our side, so should we take a gamble…”

The three people were becoming increasingly troubled.