Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 773

773. A Self-Inflicted Disaster (8)

Hyang sighed as he analyzed why the current Empire hadn’t faced the crisis that the Spanish had to endure in the history before his intervention.

“Hoo~. It’s good that we avoided what could have ended in tragedy, but it looks like we need to clean up the Central American region sooner than expected.”

Large-scale human sacrifice and cannibalism.

This was not something that could be covered up. If it was condoned, it would certainly lead to the decline of imperial authority.

No matter how much the image of ‘Neo-Confucian Taliban Joseon’ had almost disappeared through Hyang’s intervention, this was not something that could be salvaged.

“Besides, to seize and digest the Central American region in the future, we need to deal with them, whether they are Aztecs or Mexica. Hoo~.”

Hyang sighed again, unable to hide his disappointment.

“The problem is that time is holding me back. Every time I try to do something, time is always holding me back….”

The ‘time’ Hyang was referring to meant that the Empire was still in its growth phase.

The Korean peninsula had actually regressed in population due to the extreme chaos of the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods, coupled with successive years of famine caused by climate change.

It was only when King Sejong, who succeeded Taejong, actively promoted reforms that it returned to a growth trajectory.

However, to use a human analogy, the Empire was still an adolescent in its growth phase.

It was full of vitality and growing rapidly day by day, but it was still not fully mature.

“I can’t do something for someone else’s benefit, so I need to contact Wan. Wait? This is also a problem?”

Hyang, thinking of Wan, the current emperor, wore a slightly troubled expression.

* * *

In his last letter, Wan had already informed him that the Crown Prince had taken over the 업무 [work/tasks] of Area 51. The Crown Prince was 16 years old, so there was no problem, but Wan, not wanting to be caught by Hyang, meticulously organized the situation and sent a letter.

-The Crown Prince had already completed the required level of education at the age of 14 and had been learning practical skills as an intern under Jeong In-ji for two years.

-He married at the age of 12 and currently has two children, a son and a daughter. They are also 嫡統 [direct lineage/legitimate heirs].

-According to Jeong In-ji’s report, he is operating the research institute and Area 51 very enthusiastically. In particular, he is showing great interest in the development of ironclad ships and power lines using steam engines.

So far, so good. The problem was what came next.

-I would like you to report on the results of the flying machine test site and the artisan training plan that the Taesanghwang [retired Emperor] laid the foundation for. I judge that the results are insufficient compared to the past.

In a way, it was an incredibly rude statement of a son questioning his father, but it was a valid point since the son was the emperor.

Even though Hyang was Taesanghwang, strictly speaking, he was a subject of the emperor. The issue of 효 [filial piety] was a separate matter to consider.

In the end, Hyang had to write a letter of apology to Wan. However, the content of the letter, full of roundabout sentences, could be summarized as follows:

-I’m so sorry, damn it!

-But if you keep pushing me like that, I might not come back here at all. Got it?

Wan, upon receiving Hyang’s letter, had to send a letter of apology immediately.

* * *

“Knowing that guy’s personality, he’ll immediately say, ‘I’m taking over the 왕권 [royal authority/throne], Father,’ and take action. As soon as the Taesanghwang mentioned that he had created a flying machine test site, that guy’s butt was already halfway off his seat….”

Hyang, who knew Wan’s personality well, knew roughly what Wan would do with this as an excuse, as he was completely immersed in ‘flying in the sky.’

“At least I came with a promise of 20 years, so I still have 14 years left, but the problem is the Taesanghwang’s age.”

Sejong was currently 69 years old. Compared to the history before Hyang’s intervention, he had lived almost 15 years longer, but the future was the problem.

“He’s almost seventy…. Of course, from what I hear now, he seems like he’ll be fine even at ninety, but you never know with old people….”

Hyang, worried about Sejong approaching seventy, suddenly realized his own age.

“Come to think of it, I’m already over 50. Hmm….”

Hyang, realizing that he was also getting old, suddenly burst into laughter.

“Hah! The Taesanghwang stayed for 10 years, and I’m planning to stay for 20 years, so will Wan stay for 30 years? Or will it become a tradition to stay until you’re sixty once you come here?”

As he drifted off on a tangent, Hyang soon straightened his expression.

“Ah! I’m off track again! That’s not the problem right now!”

Barely stopping himself from going off on a tangent, Hyang pondered what the best way to deal with the current situation was.

“The answer is still to send troops from the 본지 [homeland/main territory]… but the problem is that this might have a similar result to ‘card 돌려막기 [revolving credit/using one credit card to pay off another]’….”

In the current situation, the only answer was to send reinforcements from the 본지 [homeland/main territory]. However, the problem was that new troops had to be recruited to replace the troops that were being withdrawn.

They could solve the problem of 일반 사병 [ordinary soldiers] to some extent by mobilizing the reserves, but the problem was the commanders.

They were steadily increasing the number of people in the 군학원 [military academy], but it would take time for them to do their part.

“Hmm… how should I 돌려막아야 [manage this revolving situation]….”

This was something that Emperor Wan and the 신하 [officials/ministers] of the 본지 [homeland/main territory] should be worrying about, but Hyang, as the person who caused the problem, had to offer a reasonable alternative to avoid getting criticized.

Because Hyang was a 상황(上皇) [retired Emperor].

-The 상황 [retired Emperor] is not helping the country but only causing problems!

If such words were to spread, it would cause problems with the 황권 [imperial authority]. In addition, considering the things Hyang had done so far, he had to come up with a plausible alternative.

“Hmm….”

While Hyang was 고민하고 [pondering/worrying] to create a decent, no, a plausible alternative, a 관리 [official] outside rushed in.

“Your Majesty! Urgent news from the navy!”

“From the navy again?”

Hyang, receiving the 급보 [urgent report] that the 관리 [official] handed him, frowned and involuntarily uttered a curse.

“Aoh, 썅 [damn/shit]! Why at a time like this!”

The contents of the 급보 [urgent report] sent by the navy were as follows:

-Three European ships were discovered in the southeastern waters of 신지 [new territory/colony]. Two ships were sunk, but one ship escaped with severe damage.

-They encountered a storm while pursuing the fleeing ship and returned to port.

-All the 전선 [battleships]投入 [投入] into the operation need repair. The reason is damage caused by the storm.

-Unable to determine the survival of the fleeing ship.

Hyang, confirming the contents of the 급보 [urgent report], put his hand on his forehead.

“It never rains but it pours….”

* * *

“Ugh….”

“Captain, are you awake? Captain!”

Thomas, the captain of the English exploration ship ‘Golden Mary,’ barely opened his eyes at the shout of his subordinate.

“Did we get away from the pursuit?”

“I think so.”

“Help me. I need to get up.”

“Yes, Captain.”

With the help of his subordinate, Thomas got up and looked around.

He and his subordinates were on a beach with a dense jungle of palm trees in front of them, and the ‘Golden Mary,’ which was more than half broken, was stranded on the beach right in front of them.

Looking at the ‘Golden Mary,’ which was almost overturned, Thomas sighed.

“Hoo~. It’s a relief that we survived.”

“That’s right.”

Thomas, listening to his subordinate’s words and examining the broken ship, cursed.

“Damn pirates! Damn Empire bastards!”

* * *

‘The Theory of the Spherical Earth’ was transmitted to Europe through 유학생 [students studying abroad] and professors who came to Seoul to study.

Of course, ‘The Theory of the Spherical Earth’ was not an unfamiliar theory in Europe either. However, only a small number of intellectuals recognized it.

Due to religious reasons and the influence of superstitions that had been passed down unknowingly, most Europeans believed that ‘the Earth is flat’ or ‘the Earth is square.’

Because of this belief, 엔히크 [Henry the Navigator] faced many difficulties in the early stages of exploration.

-Go south of the equator along the west coast of Africa.

A significant number of sailors refused to board after hearing the purpose of the exploration.

-South of the equator is an endless cliff, and you’ll fall to your death!

-The sea south of the equator is full of boiling water! If you go there, you’ll be 삶겨 [boiled] to death!

These superstitions were rampant among the sailors, so they refused to board. Thanks to this, 엔히크 [Henry the Navigator] had to offer even higher wages than other voyages.

However, as 엔히크’s [Henry the Navigator’s] expedition safely crossed the equator and went up the east coast of Africa, these superstitions gradually disappeared. No, the superstitions disappeared, and these explorations began to be seen as opportunities for a quick fortune.

In fact, some people were able to obtain gold and silver and acquire slaves along these newly discovered routes, making huge profits.

In this situation, ‘The Theory of the Spherical Earth’ began to receive attention again.

“That empire in the East also said that the world is round, right? Then, do we necessarily have to go around Africa or take a ship from Suez to get to the empire? Can’t we go west instead?”

People who thought like this began to pop up here and there.

However, those who put these ideas into practice were not easily seen.

“It’s not impossible to go west. But how long will it take? That’s the problem.”

The most commonly used ships in Europe at this time were carracks, galleons, and caravels.

Long-distance voyages were almost impossible with these ships.

In reality, Africa had to use colonies or ports built in the middle, and the Eastern route also had to use cities in India, 믈라카 [Malacca], and the southwest of the Empire as intermediate stops.

In this situation, ‘the latest geographical information’ came through those who studied in the Empire.

Although it was a theoretical figure, they learned the diameter and circumference of the Earth.

Those who saw these figures began to speculate on the possibilities once again.

“There may be errors as we readjust the Empire’s weights and measures to our own, but it seems possible?”

“It’s still too far, no matter what.”

“What if we go north?”

When the method of using the North Atlantic came up, those who had even a little knowledge of the North Atlantic and the North Sea immediately shook their heads.

“Those seas are famous for being rough. I heard that even the famous Vikings prayed with all their hearts before venturing into the North Sea and the North Atlantic.”

“Is it that bad?”

In fact, those who had experienced the violent seas of the North Sea gave up the northern route.

And the route that those who were reviewing other routes most strongly suggested was to start from the entrance of the Mediterranean and go west.

“We’ve learned about this area to some extent through Portugal and Spain, so there’s a possibility, but there’s still a problem with supplies….”

“We need a big ship, but the only country that can build such a big ship is….”

“The Flower Country [China]. The problem is that that country doesn’t sell such big ships, and even if they do, we have to go around Africa. We have to think about the infamous triangular waves south of Africa. If we lose a ship that we bought at a great cost, we’ll fail before we even start.”

While adventurers and investors were still hesitating, there was a country that stepped forward first.

It was England.