Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 781

Distributed by Ajit Novel (formerly Ajitun Novel).

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781. A Self-Inflicted Disaster… (16)

As Lee Jing-ok finished speaking, Kim Jong-seo stepped forward.

“Although it is true that those natives His Majesty mentioned are beings wearing human skin, I believe it is excessive for the Minister of National Defense to submit his resignation.”

As Kim Jong-seo finished speaking, Wan nodded in agreement.

“I share the same thought. There is a saying among the people, ‘Using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken.’ I understand the Minister of National Defense’s concerns, but I believe it is an overreaction.”

Lee Jing-ok bowed his head and replied to Wan’s words.

“It is not an overreaction. Since our Empire proclaimed itself, there has been only one instance where we risked our national fortune in battle. We are severely lacking commanders who can lead large-scale troops, both in the navy and the army.”

Lee Jing-ok’s reasons for wanting to resign were as follows:

-The soldiers in the unit going to Shinji to punish those beings wearing human skin are volunteers. Of course, they are reservists who receive regular training, so there isn’t a significant issue with their training.

-The problem lies with the commanders.

-As I mentioned before, the number of commanders who have experienced major battles risking the nation’s fortune since the proclamation is not large.

-Of course, those who experienced the war as junior or mid-level commanders at the time are gradually rising to senior positions, but those with experience in seeing the big picture and moving large armies are continuing to retire.

-According to the letter from His Majesty and the combat report from the navy stationed in Shinji, those natives have a national system and the ability to mobilize tens of thousands of soldiers at once.

-In addition, our Empire will deploy more than 30,000 troops. We need a senior commander with experience in seeing the big picture and coordinating the movement of a large number of personnel.

-Therefore, I must go.

“That’s not wrong…”

As Lee Jing-ok’s explanation ended, Wan hesitated with a troubled face. The other ministers felt the same way.

‘It doesn’t seem wrong, but it feels like too much.’

Kim Jong-seo stepped forward again, speaking for the ministers’ feelings.

“I understand why the Minister submitted his resignation. However, it still feels excessive. And the statement that the senior commanders of the Imperial Army lack experience in moving large armies… While it is true, don’t you think this punitive expedition is a good opportunity to gain that experience?”

“It is a good opportunity, but if they gain that experience incorrectly, we may see unnecessary sacrifices. Someone needs to prevent that while teaching them.”

“That someone is the Minister?”

Lee Jing-ok nodded in response to Kim Jong-seo’s words.

“Hmm…”

Even after the conversation between Kim Jong-seo and Lee Jing-ok ended, no one readily opened their mouths.

Wan, sitting in the Dang House [a traditional Korean government building], was the same. Wan also stroked his chin and pondered.

‘The Supreme Emperor said it was not right, but His Majesty said that a moderate level of conflict is necessary for the Empire’s safety.’

* * *

Sejong and Hyang’s opinions on national defense and war seemed the same yet different.

-Not to the extent of invading other countries, but a level of national defense that other countries would not dare to invade.

Both Sejong and Hyang agreed on this point.

However, Sejong and Hyang’s opinions differed on the next point.

-It is not good to move the military carelessly. No matter how small the conflict, there will inevitably be sacrifices of soldiers and expenditure of war expenses.

All of this involves the taxes of the people, so it should not be moved carelessly.

This was Sejong’s thought. However, Hyang was different.

-There is a saying, ‘The best defense is offense.’ Of course, using force hastily is foolish. However, if we continue to respond to provocations with patience, they will look down on the Empire and bring greater conflict. We must use force decisively when necessary. Also, we must always maintain a certain number of commanders with practical experience. And the compensation for the sacrifices that occur in the process and the expenditure of war expenses must be included as fixed expenditures.

As Sejong became the Retired Emperor and went to Shinji, and Hyang, who became the Emperor, operated the Empire, the Imperial Army moved according to Hyang’s policy.

The Imperial Navy constantly suppressed pirates, gaining practical experience, and the Imperial Army continued to gain practical experience by suppressing bandits operating on the Mongolian border.

However, the problem pointed out by Lee Jing-ok occurred in this process.

Since the Yellow Sea Battle, there have been no large-scale movements of the army and navy, so the movement of large armies has only been done through tabletop exercises.

They only experienced small-scale battles, so they had abundant ‘combat experience’ but lacked ‘war experience,’ which was the current situation of the Imperial Army.

* * *

Eventually, after two days, Wan accepted Lee Jing-ok’s resignation and appointed him to the position of ‘Supreme Commander of the Shinji Punitive Force’ at the same time.

“The volunteers are soldiers who will carry out the punitive expedition and will also do a lot of work in Shinji afterward. I will trust you.”

“I, Lee Jing-ok, will risk my life to carry out Your Majesty’s orders!”

Lee Jing-ok bowed his head and answered resolutely.

The court assembly ended that day with Wan accepting Lee Jing-ok’s resignation.

Kim Jong-seo, who came out of the Grand Hall, called Lee Jing-ok.

“Hey, Lord Wonbong (圓峰) [Lee Jing-ok’s title]. It’s like locking the stable after the horse is stolen, but let me ask. Do you really have to go?”

Lee Jing-ok shook his head firmly at Kim Jong-seo’s question.

“I must go to properly deal with those beings wearing human skin. These days, the kids are too soft…”

Most of the people around him made absurd expressions at Lee Jing-ok’s words that they were ‘soft.’

The Imperial Army was the one that made pirates and bandits run away with their tails between their legs just by seeing them. Lee Jing-ok was evaluating such an Imperial Army as soft.

Perhaps seeing those people’s expressions, Lee Jing-ok added.

“Think back to when we were fighting with the Jurchens [nomadic tribes] and the Wokou [Japanese pirates] in the past. Weren’t those guys similar to those bastards in Shinji, except for the cannibalism?”

“That’s true. Especially those damn Jurchen bastards. Tsk!”

Kim Jong-seo, who was nodding at Lee Jing-ok’s words, gritted his teeth.

* * *

During the early Gyeongjang period [a historical period], when pioneering the northeastern region, Kim Jong-seo and Lee Jing-ok had faced the Jurchens together.

The Jurchens who refused to return to Joseon [historical Korean kingdom] at that time were vicious. Whenever they had the chance, they attacked villages of Jurchens who had returned or villages of Joseon people who had migrated through the resettlement policy, committing massacres.

At that time, the attacking Jurchens did not simply massacre. Plunder and rape were basic, and they often cut off the heads of residents and hung them on palisades.

Lee Jing-ok’s response, who commanded the Joseon cavalry at the forefront at the time, was ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’

The Joseon cavalry under Lee Jing-ok at the time would track down which tribe had committed the attacks and massacres and repay them in kind.

‘A good Jurchen is a dead Jurchen.’

This was the motto of the Joseon cavalry that roamed the northeastern region at the time.

In the end, the Jurchens had no choice but to surrender to the Joseon cavalry.

As an aside, in the battles with the Liaodong army and the subsequent battles with the Ming [Chinese dynasties], the Joseon cavalry revealed their ferocity without reservation.

* * *

Seeing Kim Jong-seo’s expression of strong agreement, Lee Jing-ok continued.

“Aren’t the pirates and bandits that these days’ kids deal with much more docile compared to the Jurchens and Wokou of the old days? That’s why the kids don’t have venom in their eyes! Venom! If the active-duty soldiers are like that, what about the reservists? If they go and see the unspeakable horrors, they’ll either lose their minds and run away with their tails between their legs, or they’ll go crazy and try to kill everyone, regardless of who’s guilty or innocent. To avoid such a situation, shouldn’t someone with experience go and suffer?”

Only then did the people around him nod with understanding. However, Kim Jong-seo rather made a suspicious expression.

“Huh? Why is the great Wonbong talking so much? Hmm…. Was ‘layers of superiors’ what Wonbong hated the most? Perhaps you’re trying to escape because you’re suffering from layers of superiors here?”

“N, no. I’m only doing this out of loyalty to the Empire…”

“Who are you looking at when you say that?”

“I’ll go first! I have a lot to do, starting with creating the headquarters!”

Watching Lee Jing-ok disappear in a hurry, Kim Jong-seo clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! That person is getting older and only getting more cunning…”

The people around Kim Jong-seo had strange expressions at his words.

‘Like attracts like? To recognize that right away, as expected of Lord Jeoljae [Kim Jong-seo’s title]!’

‘Ugh! Damn it! Give me back my emotions!’

Meanwhile, Wan, who heard the story through various channels, put his hand on his forehead and muttered.

“Should I reject the resignation? But it’s not wrong to say that you have to make them tough to deal with crazy people… Hooo~.”

Wan sighed deeply and clicked his tongue, complaining.

“Tch! How did the Retired Emperor and the Supreme Emperor hold those kinds of people in their hands?”

* * *

The number of people applying to the expeditionary force going to Shinji decreased significantly, but continued.

“It’s good that the applications are continuing, but it would be good to start organizing them now.”

“That’s right. If we continue to accept them as is, it will be difficult to accurately budget and organize the units.”

The task force created with Han Myeong-hoi as the person in charge seriously discussed ending the acceptance.

The working-level staff, having decided to ‘end acceptance,’ began to write a report on this.

Just then, a memorial was received from monks and European students working at the research institute, stating that they would support the expeditionary force.

The working-level staff, regardless of rank, shouted in anger.

“When a mullet jumps, a mudskipper jumps too! Why are these guys doing this again!”

* * *

The reason why the monks and European students applied was because of doctrine.

The contents of their submitted memorial can be summarized as follows:

-In the Old Testament, Yahweh commanded the Jews settling in Canaan to exterminate those living in Canaan.

-The reason why Yahweh gave this command was because they practiced human sacrifice.

-Many saints were martyred while preaching in Europe, and this was also to prevent the human sacrifice of those who did not yet believe in Yahweh.

-The things that Yahweh strictly forbade are happening in Shinji, so how can we, as believers, stand idly by? We will also support.”

Wan, who received the memorial, asked the ministers.

“Is the information control regarding Shinji being properly maintained against Europeans?”

“Yes. Europeans think that Shinji is similar in size to Daeseol Island.”

“Hmm…. That’s fortunate, at least.”

While Wan was making a relieved expression, Hwangbo-in pointed out the problem.

“The problem is that their opinion is reasonable. They are saying that they are supporting according to doctrine, so it is ambiguous to refuse them arbitrarily.”

“I have a good card for that part.”

“Yes?”

Looking at the ministers’ expressions, Wan muttered inwardly.

‘Did His Majesty foresee this far when he set those conditions in the past?’