Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 721

721. Investiture (3)

“Thanks to the trading posts, the submission of the natives is proceeding smoothly.”

“Is that so?”

Hyang, reviewing the reports while listening to the manager’s explanation, let out a hollow laugh.

“Seriously… was the report I received in Seoul a watered-down version?”

The content written in the report Hyang was currently reviewing was more detailed than what he had received in Seoul.

The reports arriving in Seoul only contained brief information, such as the increase in trading posts, the profits and expenditures, and the changes in places that were in deficit or had turned into surplus—still, it amounted to several thick books—but what Hyang was looking at now contained far more detailed circumstances.

“Seriously…”

Hyang was at a loss for words as he checked the contents of the report.

“This can’t be seen as a simple trading post.”

The manager immediately nodded at Hyang’s assessment.

“His Majesty the Emperor’s words are always accurate.”

Hyang listened to the manager’s words and pondered as he checked the content related to the trading posts.

“What should I say about this? It’s not only the center of trade but also plays a role in political communication and even as a base for maintaining security…”

* * *

As Hyang said, the trading posts in Shinji had too many differences compared to those in the mainland.

The only commonalities were that they sold specialty goods such as salt, sugar, and pepper, as well as goods from private merchant groups, and that the size and number of trading posts were determined by the population size.

The trading posts in Shinji had more roles.

In addition to selling specialty goods and other products, they familiarized the people with the market economy, grasped public sentiment through the people who frequented the trading posts, and assessed the people’s livelihoods by examining their consumption patterns, which were the traditional roles.

In addition to these, something was added to the trading posts in Shinji.

First, they served as garrisons and supply depots for the Imperial Army.

The Imperial Army stationed in Shinji was composed primarily of cavalry and artillery, almost identical to the organization operated by the Empire in the Liaodong region [a northeastern province of China].

This was because possessing strong mobility and firepower was the most effective way to reliably suppress a wide area with a small force.

The problem was that proper supply was essential to operate this smoothly.

To ensure that the warhorses could exert their power properly, they had to be fed proper feed, not just grass. The same was true for the guns and cannons used by the cavalry and artillery. There had to be enough properly managed bullets, shells, and gunpowder in proper management facilities.

And the place that made this possible was the trading post, which received regular supplies.

Of course, the Imperial Army was not unconditionally freeloading at the trading posts.

There were always those who targeted trading posts full of salt, sugar, and spices. This was the same in Shinji. No, in Shinji, the desire was even stronger.

Salt, sugar, and spices that they had never tasted before, and even fabrics that were so soft that they couldn’t believe they were made by humans. Because of this, in the early days of the trading post’s establishment, they had to fight fiercely against the natives who attempted to plunder them.

However, as the Imperial Army established itself, the trading posts secured safety.

The second role was as a place for political consultation.

This second role was added as the first role took hold.

The size and number of stores in Shinji’s trading posts were determined by the population size, just like in the mainland.

For large tribal confederations such as the Iroquois League [a confederation of five, later six, Native American tribes], more than 10 trading posts were established, but in areas where small tribes were located on the outskirts, one trading post was in charge of grouping 2 to 5 tribes.

Although there were these differences, the criteria for installation locations were the same.

-A place with convenient transportation and a water source nearby.

The trading posts, located according to these criteria, became the best place for people to meet.

As people gathered, various discords were bound to occur, and it was a natural step for the political leaders of the tribes to gather at the trading post to talk in order to resolve these issues.

However, what was interesting was that just as countries bordering each other rarely had good relations, tribes close to each other were not on good terms.

Some even snarled at each other as soon as they met, even though they were related tribes that had branched out from one large tribe. In this situation, it was not uncommon for minority tribes to draw their weapons as soon as they met.

Here, the Imperial Army shined. There were no fools who drew weapons in places where the Imperial Army was stationed. The Imperial Army went one step further and required natives entering the trading post to entrust their weapons to the Imperial Army in order to use the trading post.

And Sejong was not one to simply overlook this situation.

Sejong immediately applied the Imperial Army’s garrisoning of the trading post to all trading posts being installed in Shinji.

Through this process, he solidified the Empire’s control over the submitted tribes.

Following this, he pushed forward with a policy of turning the trading posts into demilitarized zones—excluding the Imperial Army.

And he dispatched the Imperial Army to conduct military demonstrations against tribes that refused. However, some tribes used force against the envoys Sejong sent and refused Sejong’s policies to the end, and Sejong mercilessly suppressed these tribes.

Of course, he did not only use these hard-line tactics. He invited not only the tribes that had already submitted but also the political leaders of the tribes considering submission—chiefs, veteran warriors, shamans—to hold banquets and negotiate, and he successfully mediated disputes between tribes.

In this process, not only Sejong but also Queen Soheon played a major role. In most native tribes—especially the Iroquois League—women also held considerable political power. Queen Soheon invited the ‘grandmothers’ of these tribes to talk and build friendships.

In this way, Sejong used the trading posts to firmly grasp even the political control of Shinji.

* * *

Having grasped the situation up to this point, Hyang muttered with a serious face.

“The Supreme Emperor has left me with a very difficult task.”

The manager nodded without realizing it at Hyang’s muttering.

In just 10 years, Sejong had created a firm foundation in Shinji. And the managers of Shinji, who saw that sight right next to him, were always busy sticking out their tongues [being amazed].

‘Indeed, he is the Supreme Emperor!’

‘The stories of the elders about the Supreme Emperor were not exaggerated!’

Thus, the managers of Shinji, who had directly seen and experienced Sejong, were looking at Hyang, who had taken over Shinji after Sejong, with a mixture of expectation and worry.

‘The current Emperor is also praised as a talent no less than the Supreme Emperor, but will he…’

‘The situation in Shinji is completely different from the mainland, so will he…’

Whether he knew the minds of such Shinji managers or not, Hyang was making his own plans.

‘Certainly, there is a problem with only relying on force. There is also a limit to supplying troops from the mainland. And, as early as 10 years from now, Europe is highly likely to cross the Atlantic. Even without Columbus.’

Hyang, who was certain that history had changed greatly due to his intervention, was convinced that Europe’s advance would be faster than expected.

‘The answer is to bring the natives into the military. For this, tyrannical rule is the worst option. The problem is that we must expand Shinji’s territory at the same time… Hmm… What to do?’

Hyang sighed without realizing it as he worried about the future.

“Hoo~. The gates of hardship are wide open.”

‘It seems the Supreme Emperor deliberately made a move?’

Hyang seemed to see Sejong’s mischievous smile. And this was somewhat true.

Before Hyang departed for Shinji, he had explained his plans to Sejong.

At the time, Sejong mainly listened and did not give much advice.

“Your Majesty, I wrote it briefly in the report, but…”

He only started talking like that occasionally to prevent him from going too far.

In the end, Hyang arrived in Shinji and was racking his brains inside the iron horse [train] heading to Mishshigama.

At the sight of Hyang, Jinpyeong said indifferently.

“Why didn’t you try to please the Supreme Emperor? You only did what you were told and spent all your time at Area 51 and the research lab… Perhaps the Supreme Emperor made a move because he was worried that you would do the same here?”

At those words, Hyang gnashed his teeth and replied.

“Jinpyeong. Would you like to open that door and go out for a moment?”

“You want me to open the door and go out while the iron horse is running?”

“Yes.”

At Hyang’s short answer, Jinpyeong immediately prostrated himself [bowed down in submission].

“I will shut my mouth and only maintain the railroad plan!”

Hyang glared at Jinpyeong, who immediately buried his nose in the map, and sighed again.

“Hoo~. I have no choice. I have to do it properly. The Supreme Emperor would not give me an impossible task…”

Everyone knew that the tasks Sejong entrusted were always difficult, but nothing was impossible.

Therefore, Hyang complained but did not lose his motivation.

* * *

Having steeled his heart, Hyang enjoyed the surrounding scenery and the unique cuisine of Shinji with a much more relaxed mind.

“The taste of the soup is unique? It’s unique, but not bad.”

The cook who served the food smiled brightly and replied to Hyang’s evaluation.

“It is a soup made using meat cakes made by the people of Shinji.”

“Meat cakes?”

When Hyang showed curiosity, the cook explained in more detail.

“It is made by making dried meat from buffalo or deer, mixing it with grain flour, and kneading it with hardened oil.”

Hyang soon realized what it was when he heard the cook’s explanation.

‘Pemmican [a concentrated mass of dried lean meat pounded and mixed with fat and occasionally berries]? Am I eating real traditional pemmican instead of the factory-made stuff? Not bad?’

Hyang took a few more spoonfuls of the soup and continued his evaluation.

“Even though it’s a soup made with fermented soybean paste, it doesn’t smell as gamey as I thought. You must be very skilled.”

The cook grinned and bowed his head at Hyang’s compliment.

“You flatter me. The ingredients were good. When I first encountered meat cakes, I worried a lot about how to make them into a dish. But the meat cakes that come out these days hardly smell gamey.”

“Is that so?”

The manager next to him added to Hyang’s reaction.

“There is talk that the Imperial Navy also wants to purchase them in large quantities. If we succeed in supplying the military, there will be people among the residents of Shinji who have as much wealth as the rich people of the mainland.”

“Oh? How so?”

When Hyang showed curiosity, the manager excitedly explained the reason.

The Imperials who first encountered meat cakes suffered from the gamey smell.

“It’s easy to eat, but the gamey smell is a bit strong?”

“Even though it’s meat, the gamey smell is too strong. The taste is too bland!”

Even while continuing to complain, the Imperials could not throw away the meat cakes. It was because of the Imperials’ unique habit of being sincere about eating.

“Besides, it’s meat! Meat!”

In the end, the Imperials started to make soup to eat it a little more deliciously. The Imperials, who ate the soybean paste soup with the vegetables they found around them, finally had happy expressions on their faces.

“Yes! That’s the taste!”