Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 723

723. Abdication (5)

Hyang, having lightly warmed up with Jin-pyeong while bickering, mounted his horse and headed for the Shinji Imperial Villa.

“It’s supposed to be quite large…”

As he headed towards the villa, about 5 li [approximately 2 kilometers] away, Hyang couldn’t hide his curiosity.

* * *

After discovering Shinji and securing a foothold now called Choshi, the Empire—then Joseon—embarked on a construction project to solidify the foothold.

At the time, the soldiers involved in the construction work had to cut down trees like crazy.

“I’m sick of just looking at axes now!”

Such words were openly circulating among the engineers, as an enormous amount of logging had to be done in Choshi. This was because the surrounding area was all forest. The problem was the size of that forest.

The Shinji forest was vast, easily surpassing the cognitive range of the Empire’s people.

“The forest north of Dongbing Port was also impressive, but Shinji seems to be several times larger.”

Even seasoned veterans who had participated in the construction of Dongbing Port and the subsequent development of the northern forest shook their heads at the enormous size.

However, even with these complaints pouring out, logging could not be stopped.

This was because space was needed to store the supplies sent from the mainland.

“There are two options. One is to fill the sea, and the other is to cut down all those damn trees. Which shall we do?”

At the words of the officers in charge of administrative supply, the soldiers immediately shut their mouths and picked up their saws and axes.

The trees that were diligently cut down to create space for residence were well-dried and then transformed into materials for building.

From this point on, the situation became interesting.

* * *

“I think we’ll run short of bamboo frames? And steel bars, too.”

“Right? But we can’t reduce the supply of food, medicine, or gunpowder either.”

On the mainland, bamboo frames and steel bars had pushed out wood and taken the place of major building materials.

However, it was inconvenient to use bamboo frames and steel bars in Shinji, which was too far to receive supplies from the mainland.

And, even in the early stages of Shinji’s development, there were more hostile tribes than friendly ones, so the supply of ammunition could not be reduced.

In the end, the commanders had no choice but to come to a conclusion.

“Let’s just build with wood! There’s plenty of it everywhere!”

Fortunately, there were many carpenters and stonemasons among the lower and middle-ranking officers of the engineering unit. This was natural, because Hyang had actively recruited carpenters and stonemasons from the very beginning of the engineering unit’s creation.

And, thanks to the abundance of wood and stone everywhere, they began to build buildings with great enthusiasm.

“Such good wood quality! If you wanted to build a house with this kind of wood on the mainland, you couldn’t even dream of it unless you were a very wealthy person! To be able to use such good materials for free! Oh my, how wonderful!”

The decisions of high-ranking officers and administrators also played a part.

“It is certain that more and more supplies and people will come in the future, so let’s build big while we’re at it!”

“Yes!”

“Is there a lack of space? Then cut down some more trees!”

“Yes!”

According to the decisions of the higher-ups, the buildings in Choshi boasted considerable size from the beginning.

Later, the fortresses and garrisons built in between during the eastward advance were also built in a large scale.

Through this process, the skills of the carpenters and stonemasons belonging to the engineering unit improved rapidly.

As a result, the buildings built further east became increasingly magnificent and refined.

It wasn’t just that they became bigger and more magnificent. Even in the case of defense facilities, they were made large and solid using wood, earth, and stone.

These buildings also had an unexpected effect: the tribes in the vicinity, seeing the magnificent buildings, began to become friendly.

“Have you been to the place where the Thunder Sound Tribe stays? How can they make such big buildings?”

At the time, the living standards of the Native Americans in North America were, unlike those in Central and South America, virtually stagnant at the Neolithic level [late Stone Age].

Most of them lived in tents made of buffalo and deer hides. A small number of tribes built houses using wood, earth, and stone, but the buildings they could build without ironware, let alone bronze, were difficult to escape from pit houses.

In such a situation, the magnificent buildings and fortresses built by the Imperial Army were intimidating to look at.

Because of this, the surrounding tribes began to bow their heads and come in.

And the culmination of these changes was the Imperial Villa built in Mishigama.

* * *

As one came further east, the trees in the forest became more and more dense and had harder wood.

The sturdy hulls of the American ships that wreaked havoc during the Anglo-American War [War of 1812] in the history before Hyang’s intervention were made of timber harvested from this eastern region.

Thanks to this, the best building materials could be obtained all too easily if they were properly trimmed.

The decisive factor was the discovery of the Great Lakes (now the Great Lakes region).

As there were many resource zones around it, and the east coast would appear if they advanced a little further east, Sejong decided to make this place the center of Shinji’s development.

Of course, Hyang’s generous encouragement also played a part.

“I can’t miss the Rust Belt!” [A region in the northeastern United States that experienced industrial decline.]

As Sejong’s decision was made, the Shinji pioneers carefully considered where to build the base city.

“I’ve suddenly become Monk Muhak!” [A famous Korean monk known for selecting capital sites.]

“Then, is this Wangsimni?” [A district in Seoul associated with Monk Muhak’s search for a capital.]

It was half a joke, but with the heart of Monk Muhak, who was looking for a new capital, the pioneers searched around the Great Lakes.

After much deliberation, they decided on Mishigama. Mishigama, which means ‘big water, much water’ in the local natives’ language, was in contact with four of the five Great Lakes.

“We’ll lay railroads anyway, but until then, we can use water transportation, so it’s the best area.”

“The lake itself becomes a natural defense facility, which is also good.”

Having established themselves in this way, the pioneers began to firmly pave the way for connection with the bridgehead—later named Choshi—and began to build buildings.

As Sejong, who received the report, sent a large-scale development team, the construction of Mishigama accelerated further.

In particular, as artisans for the construction and operation of Area 52, modeled after Area 51 [a highly classified United States Air Force facility], arrived on a large scale, the administrators of Mishigama drew a big picture.

“Let’s create a city that is not inferior to Hanseong—now Seoul!”

“That’s good! It’s going to be recorded anyway! I have to leave my name properly!”

As befitting the ‘Land of Records,’ the Empire recorded the names of those involved in all administrative tasks without exception.

In addition, rumors were rife that Sejong would abdicate and move to Shinji to lead the project.

And it was certain that the situation would not end with Sejong managing Shinji while staying in Shinji.

-Then, let’s do it right from the start!

The problem was funding.

However, there was wood everywhere, and the artisans who came to build Area 52 had the necessary iron materials, so it seemed possible to solve the problem to some extent.

The problem of minerals to supply to the artisans could be sufficiently solved by appeasing the tribes around them.

After weighing the pros and cons, the administrators and soldiers, who were convinced that it was possible, joined forces.

“Yes, let’s do it!”

“Let’s go!”

* * *

It was against this development background that Hyang showed curiosity about the Imperial Villa built in Mishigama.

And, upon arriving at the main gate of the Imperial Villa, Hyang gaped.

“This is the Imperial Villa?”

At Hyang’s question, the administrator replied with a face full of pride.

“Yes, it is.”

“It’s quite large.”

“Yes, it’s a bit large!”

At the administrator’s answer, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘The Forbidden City looks shabby.’

“What is the scale?”

“It is 5 li [approximately 2 kilometers] from east to west and 6 li [approximately 2.4 kilometers] from north to south.”

At the administrator’s answer, Hyang shook his head.

‘The scale of the Heavenly Dynasty came not from people but from the land! If it had grown a little more, it would have been the same size as the entire Seoul!’

Hyang, shaking his head at the unimaginable scale, asked the administrator.

“Isn’t the scale too large?”

“It seems that the efficiency of work has increased, so the size has increased.”

“Efficiency of work?”

“Yes, the size has increased because the buildings of the administrative department and the Imperial Army’s garrison are close to each other.”

“So, all the buildings of the Six Ministries [the main administrative divisions of the government], the palace, and the garrison of the army defending Mishigama are all inside there?”

“That’s right. In addition, the size has increased because we have also included places where people living outside can evacuate in case of emergency.”

At the administrator’s explanation, Hyang nodded.

“It’s reasonable in its own way… I understand. Let’s go in.”

“Yes. Your Majesty.”

Guided by the administrator, Hyang and his party headed for the main gate of the Imperial Villa.

“Chung!” [A military salute]

Passing through the main gate while receiving the military salute from the soldiers guarding the main gate, Hyang shook his head once again as he looked at the straight main street.

“I’ll have to ride a horse even inside the palace.”

“We plan to operate a circular carriage for cleanliness and efficiency.”

“Circular carriage?”

“Yes.”

At the administrator’s answer, Hyang shook his head again and shouted inwardly.

‘Father! What on earth did you make!’

* * *

Upon arriving at the inner palace, which was also the main palace, Hyang immediately gave orders to the administrator as soon as he unpacked his luggage.

“Bring the map of Mishigama.”

“Why don’t you relieve your fatigue first….”

“Fatigue is fatigue, and work is work. Bring it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hyang, who checked the large map brought by the administrator, smiled awkwardly and muttered.

“This is….”

The administrator, who heard Hyang’s muttering, hesitated for a moment and handed Hyang a letter.

“What is it?”

“If His Majesty the Retired Emperor looks for the map first, the Supreme Emperor left a letter to be delivered to His Majesty the Retired Emperor.”

Hyang, who received the letter at the administrator’s words, tore open the envelope and took out the letter.

The content, which was definitely in Sejong’s handwriting, was short and concise.

-I didn’t start it. I just fanned the flames.

“Hahahaha….”

Hyang, who burst into a hollow laugh with a look of dismay, looked at the map and ordered the administrator.

“Tell Duke Jin-pyeong to come.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hyang, who sent the administrator out, stared at the map and sighed.

“Hoo~. I have to lay the city’s circular railway before the east-west transverse railway. I never thought I’d encounter a situation that perfectly fits the saying, ‘They only know that the sky is high and the land is wide.'” [A Korean proverb meaning someone is unaware of the vastness of the world].

* * *

“Did you call me?”

As soon as Jin-pyeong arrived, Hyang pointed to the map and got straight to the point.

“First of all, we need to build a railroad that goes around Mishigama.”

“Yes?”

As Jin-pyeong expressed his doubts, Hyang pointed to the map with his finger.

“This sh….”

Jin-pyeong, who barely suppressed the curse that was about to come out as soon as he saw the map, turned to Hyang.

“I didn’t see this map on the way here. Why are you showing it to me now?”

“I didn’t do that.”

“Yes?”

Jin-pyeong, who expressed his doubts, soon let out a long sigh.

“It seems that the Supreme Emperor really didn’t want to return to Seoul.”

“I agree.”

It was Sejong’s small revenge for having to return to Seoul when he wanted to stay in Shinji.

The brothers, who were only sighing as they looked at the map, soon came to a conclusion.

“I think we need to abandon the concepts of distance and weight that we were familiar with in Seoul.”

“That’s right. I underestimated the size of Shinji too much. Liaodong was also great, but here, Liaodong looks insignificant.”