Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 726

726. Jang Yeong-sil’s Legacy (3)

With the Office of the Inspector General silenced, no further opposition arose.

The reasons Wan had cited—especially the lack of justification against discrimination and the emphasis on filial piety—were the most significant factor. Furthermore, the method of nurturing and settling skilled workers through the reconstruction was also considered acceptable.

The ministers gathered in the Prime Minister’s conference room reacted positively to the reconstruction of the detached palace.

“Even with the same labor, there isn’t much to learn from railroad construction, but there’s a lot to learn from palace maintenance if done well.”

“That’s right. It could be the best opportunity, especially for the natives. They will realize the need to learn *Jeong-eum* [the Korean alphabet] and numbers.”

While making such positive assessments, some also concluded that the political structure of the Empire itself might change.

The most prominent among these was Kim Jong-seo.

“It seems the future Empire will not just be a federal government in name, but a truly federal system.”

Hwangbo In nodded at Kim Jong-seo’s words.

“That’s the most likely outcome. However, as long as His Majesty continues the tradition of governing Shinji directly, there’s no need to worry about division.”

“That’s the most reassuring aspect.”

Kim Jong-seo strongly agreed with Hwangbo In’s point.

***

As long as transportation and communication remain limited, Shinji would inevitably operate somewhat independently from the mainland.

The saying, ‘Out of sight, out of mind,’ applies to more than just romantic relationships.

Although the super-law—the law applicable to the entire Empire—existed, the lower laws inevitably showed considerable differences depending on the local environment and customs.

And it was certain that the opinions of local officials and people who knew the local situation best would have the greatest influence on the enactment of these lower laws.

If such a process continued, Shinji could eventually break away from the Empire.

However, if His Majesty took charge of governing Shinji,

this possibility could be greatly reduced.

Having already experienced running the state affairs at the center of the Empire’s power, His Majesty was uniquely positioned to mediate conflicts between Shinji and the mainland.

In addition, His Majesty could also prevent subtle discrimination between the mainland and Shinji.

***

Regardless of such movements in Seoul, Hyang was overseeing the reconstruction of the detached palace in Shinji.

“Now that I’ve decided to do it, I have no choice but to proceed. I’ve already written down the reasons and sent them, so it’s do or die. Surely, they won’t execute me, the former Emperor and the current Emperor’s father, right?”

It was this confidence that allowed Hyang to authorize and push forward with the reconstruction.

“And both Shinji and the mainland are severely lacking in manpower.”

Mentioning the manpower shortage, Hyang looked up at the sky and muttered softly.

“When you get to know him, that guy is surprisingly good at balancing things… He gave me a cheat code for the land but nerfed it with a population shortage.”

***

The fact that both the mainland and Shinji had small populations was a critical weakness.

For the Empire to truly establish itself as a strong nation, it needed even more people than it currently had.

Indeed, for the stable operation of the country, a large population—the foundation of labor and tax revenue—was absolutely necessary.

Therefore, from the early Joseon period, those who had many children were given grain and cloth as rewards, and Sejong even officially created a childcare leave system.

This was promoted even more actively as the *Gyeongjang* [economic reforms] were carried out and the Empire was transformed.

Tax benefits were given to those who had three or more children, and childcare subsidies were provided. Even officials were given extra points in their personnel evaluations if they had many children.

Thanks to this, many male and female officials had to suffer from overwork, not only at work but also at home, without a moment to rest.

As a result, the population of the mainland continued to rise, but it was still far short compared to the Ming Dynasty next door.

And the most representative example of the result brought about by this population difference was military doctrine.

While Ming planned operations based on traditional human wave tactics, the Empire insisted on operations centered on attrition warfare and firepower.

The fact that the Empire had emphasized cannons since the Joseon Dynasty also contributed to this.

***

Hyang was acutely aware of the population shortage problem while examining the ‘Shinji Development Plan’ that Sejong had created and he was supplementing.

“Although it’s a butterfly effect I caused, Europe can advance westward faster than expected. In that situation, relying solely on the mainland has its limits.”

The problems Hyang considered were as follows:

– The population of the mainland continues to increase. As a result, the average age of the mainland is getting younger and younger.

This has both good and bad points.

-The good thing is that productivity will increase more and more in the future. And, as there are many young people with high sexual energy, the population will continue to increase.

– The bad thing is that everything else is a problem.

-The fact that the average age is young means that there are few people with sufficient experience in various specialized fields.

-Also, the fact that the average age is young means that the economic base is also weak. The standard of living in the Empire has already risen significantly. Considering this, late marriage or avoidance of marriage will occur. This can be seen even in Europe from the Industrial Revolution era to the early 20th century, without having to go as far as 21st century Korea. At that time, the avoidance of childbirth was becoming a social problem.

-Considering all these situations, the supply of professional manpower sent from the mainland to Shinji is bound to be limited.

-In order to build the foundation of Shinji before the advance of Europe, there are several measures that can be taken, but the first thing to implement is to educate the local natives.

“The second thing is that the state can block it, but people shouldn’t be blocked. Like America.”

Hyang was even considering an active immigration policy for the development of Shinji.

However, the area Hyang was thinking of was Europe.

-Ming is already too accustomed to the concept of the state and ‘Sinocentrism’ [the belief that China is the center of the world]. Accepting them will only cause problems.

-Wa [Japan] is not yet in a situation where there is ‘Japan, Japanese superiority’, but it is also accustomed to the concept of the state.

-On the other hand, in Europe, most people are more familiar with the concept of the territory and city they live in than the concept of the state and nation.

– In addition, we must also consider the impact of the religious conflict that has ignited faster than expected. Because it was faster than expected, the influence of the Old Church [Catholic Church] is overwhelmingly strong. This will force Protestants to migrate.

-The interesting thing is that the Old Church has a strong traditional agricultural-centered conservative character, while the New Church [Protestantism] emphasizes commerce and industry.

-If we control the speed of immigration and prevent them from becoming a dominant force, these Protestants will become excellent human resources.

Just like America.

– The problem of white supremacy is an impossible situation at this point.

“And what we should block is the slavery system. It’s the easiest way in some ways, but it brings the worst results.”

Hyang drew a line through the ‘slavery system’ written on a blank piece of paper and muttered as he erased it.

***

As Hyang said, the slavery system was the easiest solution. By using overwhelming force to enslave the natives, and importing slaves from Africa or other Southeast Asian regions if there were not enough, Shinji could be developed smoothly and quickly.

However, this was a choice that had more disadvantages than advantages.

If it was a traditional agricultural-centered society, it might have been able to endure with the slavery system. However, in an industrialized society, the slavery system was a shackle.

This was because slaves had no value as consumers in the market.

In addition, specialized education was essential to train skilled workers, and slaves who received education were sure to rebel to escape slavery.

Indeed, regardless of the situation, slaves revolted or plunged society into chaos to escape their slave status.

Even in the history before Hyang’s intervention, there were revolts such as Spartacus’s rebellion and the Haitian Revolution, and armed struggles such as Manjeok’s rebellion during the Goryeo Dynasty [Korean kingdom from 918 to 1392].

Even in the history after Hyang’s intervention, one of the first orders Milwi [secret organization] received after its creation was the search and assassination of ‘Saljugye (殺主契)’ [secret societies of slaves plotting to kill their masters].

***

Hyang, who had been reviewing the plan for a long time, gradually began to grasp its key elements.

“First of all, let’s start by making the most of the support from the mainland to firmly establish the foundation. The expansion part is unexpected, but the natives and the monopoly office are taking care of it well, so there’s not much to worry about.”

As Hyang said, the natives who had submitted to the Empire were taking the lead in persuading other nearby tribes to join the Empire’s fold.

The biggest concern for these people who were so enthusiastic about persuading other tribes was survival.

Until the Empire first set foot in Shinji, most of the natives of Shinji lived in primitive tribal communal societies.

Of course, there were those who built sophisticated political communities like the Iroquois Confederacy, but most other tribes were repeatedly uniting and dispersing in clan units.

The economy was also mainly based on primitive agriculture and hunting-gathering.

Because Shinji’s natural environment was so favorable, there were no major problems in survival even in this situation, but if there was a bad harvest or an epidemic, the clan itself would be wiped out.

In this situation, the Empire was a welcome presence that guaranteed their survival. The Empire’s officials went around the tribes and solved the food problem, and if there was a shortage, they brought food from the mainland to help the natives survive.

In addition, the Empire’s overwhelming military power ensured the safety of their tribe from hostile tribes.

As a result, the number of tribes submitting to the Empire gradually increased.

The problem was that among these submitted tribes were tribes that were hostile to each other.

The Empire’s officials intervened and worked hard to mediate, but there were still cases of armed conflict between the tribes.

It was Sejong who solved this problem when he arrived in Shinji.

Sejong, who had grasped the situation in Shinji, skillfully used both carrots and sticks [rewards and punishments].

Using his title and status as ‘the greatest leader of the Thunder Tribe’, Sejong intervened in the conflict, providing generous support if the tribes in question followed his instructions, and dispatching imperial troops to forcibly mediate if they did not.

-If you do not follow this mediation plan, I will exterminate you!

The tribes, who knew the Empire’s powerful military strength well, had no choice but to follow the mediation plan against their will. However, before long, most of the tribes accepted the mediation plan. The reason they initially refused and resisted the mediation plan was mostly a matter of pride.

Next, Sejong used *Gyeokbang* [a martial art], education, and appointment of officials.

Sejong, who realized that a significant part of the conflicts between the submitted tribes was a clash of pride, distributed improved versions of *Gyeokbang* manuals and held public matches between the tribes. Many tribal warriors participated in the *Gyeokbang* match with the pride of the tribe at stake, and the tribal members enthusiastically cheered them on.

Next, Sejong, who appointed natives as officials of Shinji through education, lectured them whenever he had a chance.

“Think about it. How useless and futile is it to cover blood with blood? How much better would it be if we could determine right and wrong according to the laws of the Empire and reduce meaningless bloodshed under the protection of the Empire?

And how peaceful would this land become as more and more tribes find safety in the arms of the Empire? How much better would it be for your tribes not to suffer from the fear of slaughter anymore?”

“That is indeed the case.”

The native officials, who had been subtly influenced by Sejong, diligently persuaded the chiefs and elders of their tribes, and the chiefs and elders who had been persuaded actively persuaded the tribes that had not yet submitted.

Interestingly, the chiefs and elders’ most used tool was the monopoly office.