Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 761

761. Encounter (6)

Nameless Bay, east of the Nameless Peninsula.

It was called Nameless Bay because a formal survey hadn’t been conducted and thus a proper name hadn’t been officially designated.

However, among the captains and admirals overseeing the area, several strong contenders for a name were being considered.

– The bay’s shape resembles a round earthenware jar, with the island in the middle acting like a bolt securing the bay’s entrance.

Consequently, using the character ‘缸’ (gang), meaning jar, the northern peninsula—Florida Peninsula—became known as Bukhang Peninsula (North Jar Peninsula), the southern peninsula—Yucatán Peninsula—as Namhang Peninsula (South Jar Peninsula), and the island acting as a bolt—Cuba—was named Daegwando (Great Bolt Island) using the character ‘關’ (gwan), meaning bolt.

This was practically unavoidable, as ships on exploration voyages needed geographical landmarks to ascertain their position.

The problem was that simply marking these landmarks as Gap, Eul, Byeong (A, B, C) without proper names proved inefficient.

So, despite the proposed names, they couldn’t be officially used immediately due to Hyang’s directive.

* * *

As the number of newly discovered territories in Shinji increased, Hyang issued the following order:

– Newly discovered place names in Shinji should be named using either the names used by the natives or a combination of the Imperial language and Jeongeum [the native Korean alphabet].

“Your subject is ignorant and does not fully understand.”

Hyang immediately responded to the officials’ inquiry.

“Until now, we’ve been naming places in Hanja [Chinese characters], such as Daeseoldo and Jongjang Peninsula, but from now on, name them in the Imperial language. Hmm… let’s say there’s a place called ‘Dalmaji Cape’ (Moon Viewing Cape). The Hanja for ‘cape’ (串) has been used for a long time, so that’s fine, but don’t bother changing the name ‘Dalmaji’ to the Hanja ‘Yeongwol’ (迎月, Welcoming Moon).”

“However, doing so will take a lot of time to record. When creating maps, there may not be enough space to write the place names.”

“That part will have to be tolerated.”

“However…”

“Enough, this is an order.”

Raising his hand to halt the officials’ complaints, Hyang added.

“This is unavoidable as the world is changing. Even if you put your heart into naming them, there will be few who truly understand the meaning of those names in the future.”

At Hyang’s words, Shin Suk-ju, who oversaw civil affairs for the natives in Shinji, had a flash of understanding.

Shin Suk-ju, known as a ‘genius of language,’ immediately grasped the meaning behind Hyang’s statement.

“I heard that the mixed use of Hanja and Jeongeum (正漢文倂記) designated by the main office has decreased significantly. Is it for the same reason?”

“That’s right.”

Nodding at Shin Suk-ju’s words, Hyang muttered inwardly.

‘It can’t be helped since Hangul [another name for Jeongeum] came out. Even in the 21st century, you have to search to know what Apgujeong (狎鷗亭) means [a famous district in Seoul].’

* * *

As Hyang predicted, with Hunminjeongeum, abbreviated as Jeongeum, being promulgated and widely adopted, the use of Hanja quickly diminished.

To address the problem of homonyms (同音異義) [words with the same pronunciation but different meanings], the mixed use of Hanja and Jeongeum was initially essential in official documents and gazettes.

However, in the private sector, it became common to send documents using only Jeongeum.

The fields where the mixed use of Hanja and Jeongeum was properly maintained in the private sector were primarily legal documents, such as contracts involving money.

Of course, homonym issues still arose in the private sector. However, it wasn’t a major problem because the meaning could usually be understood from the context of the sentence.

If there were people who failed to understand properly, they were often ridiculed.

“Hey, that’s not what it means! Can’t you understand that? Where did you even go to Samin School?”

There were also instances where people who stubbornly wrote or recited Hanja as it was would be subtly gossiped about behind their backs.

“Yeah, you’re so great!”

* * *

“In this situation, in about ten years, there will be almost no one who knows what you meant by those names. Therefore, avoid naming in Hanja as much as possible.”

“We obey your command.”

This was the reason why they couldn’t immediately formalize the names, even though they had already decided on them.

“Of course, we could name them Jar Bay, North Jar Peninsula, South Jar Peninsula, Great Bolt Island, but somehow it doesn’t quite roll off the tongue…”

The admirals and captains of the area smacked their lips and expressed their regret.

It had been decades since Jeongeum was promulgated, and it was common to write official documents in Jeongeum. However, when it came to naming or composing elegant sentences, it still felt right to use Hanja.

“But these days, young people don’t even use the mixed script in official documents, right? Sigh…”

The admirals and captains, letting out long sighs, muttered while looking at the sunset.

“Is this what it means to grow old…”

* * *

Due to these circumstances, a Challenger-class battleship was passing through the western region of the unofficial Namhang Peninsula.

Captain Kim Taek-gil, who was reviewing the navigation log and work log, examined the nearby terrain and ordered the crew.

“Drop anchor and prepare to land! Start surveying!”

“Yes, Captain! Drop anchor!”

“Drop anchor! And furl the sails!”

Thanks to the crew’s swift movements, preparations were completed quickly. The chief officer, who directed the preparation process, approached Kim Taek-gil and reported.

“Preparations are complete.”

“Then, good work.”

“Yes. Lower the support boat!”

“Yes!”

Following the chief officer’s order, the support boat loaded with surveying equipment and weapons was lowered with the crew on board.

While the support boat, its ropes untied from the crane, headed to the beach, the Byeongshik Hwachas (rocket artillery) mounted on the battleship turned their gun barrels towards the beach area and went on alert.

If an unexpected event occurred on the beach, the Byeongshik Hwachas would be the first to fire, followed by the cannons striking the beach. And then, using that time, the crew would either retreat or reinforcements would head to the beach.

Kim Taek-gil’s face was filled with tension as he watched the support boat carrying the chief officer, surveying team members, and escort soldiers head to the beach.

“I hope nothing happens this time either…”

He had heard that traces of people had been found on Daegwando and Namhang Peninsula. The fact that only traces were found suggested the natives were very cautious.

It would be fortunate if they were just cautious out of fear, but if they were hiding to ambush, there was a high possibility of encountering troublesome events.

* * *

The chief officer’s party, having landed on the beach, looked around for a suitable place.

“That place looks good.”

Under the direction of the chief officer, who had found a solid flat ground, the surveying team members installed surveying equipment and began surveying.

While the chief officer and surveying team members were conducting the surveying work, the accompanying soldiers guarded the area with rifles.

As time passed, the atmosphere of the soldiers guarding the area gradually began to relax.

There had been few incidents involving natives so far, and the weather also contributed to their complacency.

“Hoo~. The weather is really annoying.”

Among the soldiers on guard, one from a native background wiped the sweat from his forehead and grumbled, and a colleague next to him jokingly teased him.

“Isn’t it familiar weather since it’s your hometown?”

“My hometown is Daehogun up north. It’s not this hot. Of course, it’s freezing cold in winter…”

“Ah, I admit that. It’s colder than my hometown.”

“Where is your hometown?”

“Uiju.”

They were soldiers who were keeping watch but also joking around.

Right then.

Rattle!

A rustling sound came from the jungle adjacent to the coast, and a group of natives appeared.

“Stop!”

Clank! Clank!

The soldiers, seeing the natives, shouted ‘Stop’ with great tension and immediately loaded their guns and aimed.

At the soldiers’ shouts, the chief officer took out a pistol from his waist and looked at the natives.

The soldiers and chief officer, who were very nervous, swallowed hard as they watched the approaching natives.

The natives approaching them slowly were also very nervous.

* * *

The Aztec warriors who encountered the Imperial Navy were equally nervous.

They had come to the beach while searching for sacrifices—animals or people—but instead encountered the Imperial Navy.

There were only a few strangers on the beach, but the real problem was the ship they seemed to have arrived on.

The ship floating near the beach was so huge that it couldn’t be compared to any ships they had ever seen.

“If it weren’t for that ship…”

If it weren’t for that ship, the strangers on the beach would be perfect for sacrifice.

If they captured these strangers, whom they had never seen in the vicinity before, and offered them as sacrifices, they would surely receive great praise from the king and priests.

However, that ship was the problem. With a ship that big, there would surely be even more strangers on board.

Therefore, the Aztec warriors looked at the jaguar warrior who led them.

Whether he knew the minds of his subordinates or not, the jaguar warrior Chupiputan Pjaekuriputan bit his lip and pondered deeply.

‘What to do…’

If he could capture the strangers in front of him now, he could make a significant contribution.

However, the large ship floating in the sea was a major concern. He couldn’t even guess how many strangers might be on board, given its size.

‘No, there would be at least more than 100 people.’

In that situation, if they rushed to attack, they would likely be defeated.

However, retreating like this was also problematic.

Retreating after being seen by the enemy was a disgrace for a warrior. Even if he decided to retreat and report to his superiors, he would surely face criticism.

‘I’m already being criticized because of my name…’

His name, when translated, was ‘The Calamity-Bringing Brown Jaguar’s Calamity.’ Since ‘calamity’ was included twice, many people avoided him.

Depending on what kind of beings those strangers were, he would surely be branded as a calamity-bringing being. And, in the worst-case scenario, he could be sacrificed, and his heart could be taken out.

‘I have no choice!’

In the end, after much deliberation, Putan looked back at his subordinates.

“We will meet those strangers. Move as slowly as possible, and do not attack until I give the order.”

After giving orders to the soldiers, Putan rose from the shadows of the jungle and began to move towards the beach.

As soon as they saw Putan and his subordinates, the strangers made incomprehensible noises and aimed long wooden sticks.

In response to the strangers’ reaction, Putan grabbed the macuahuitl [a wooden club with obsidian blades] with both hands, raised it above his head, and slowly approached.

The subordinates also followed Putan and slowly approached the strangers. The only difference was that the subordinates were holding spears, ready to strike at any moment.

After a while, both sides faced each other at a distance of about 1 jang (approximately 3 meters) [a traditional Korean unit of length].

While the soldiers on both sides were observing each other with great tension, Putan and the chief officer simultaneously thought the same thing.

‘But will we be able to communicate?’

Both sides were encountering beings they had never seen before, and everything from their clothes to their weapons was completely different.

It was almost certain that they would not be able to understand each other.