Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 786

786. Internal Troubles (4)

Was it the encouraging words the Emperor had personally written and given, along with Taro’s assurances? Or was it the stark realization that if they didn’t act now, there might not be another chance?

“We will join you.”

“For the sake of the greater cause, there are times when we must act boldly.”

Finally, even the cautious faction decided to align with the radical faction.

Of course, some individuals remained prudent until the very end.

A prime example was Matsudaira Chikatada, the governor of West Mikawa.

After the meeting adjourned and everyone else had departed, Chikatada lingered to speak with Takeda Nobushige, a key figure in the radical faction.

“Is Kono Taro truly reliable?”

At Chikatada’s question, Nobushige seemed surprised.

“Who are you referring to?”

“Kono Taro.”

“He is reliable.”

“Really? Has anyone verified that he actually met with the Emperor?”

“Someone accompanied him inside.”

“Hmm…”

At Nobushige’s response, Chikatada crossed his arms and pondered. Noticing this, Nobushige inquired, “What are you worried about?”

With a serious expression, Chikatada answered Nobushige’s question. “The fact that he’s from the Konoe family is most concerning. Wasn’t the Konoe family the most thoroughly crushed after the *Kuge* [court nobles] were defeated in the last civil war?”

As Chikatada pointed out, Ouchi, having won the civil war, had systematically destroyed the noble families of the *Kuge* who had rebelled against him.

They hunted down not only the direct line but also collateral branches, executing men and women alike. The only survivors were a handful of collateral families who hadn’t participated in the civil war and a few fortunate individuals who had changed their surnames through marriage into other families.

Therefore, Chikatada harbored suspicions about Kono Taro.

“Do you believe it’s possible he survived with the Konoe name despite Ouchi’s relentless pursuit?”

Nobushige responded to Chikatada’s concern. “According to him, he survived by stealing the identity tag of someone who died on the battlefield.”

“Stealing an identity tag? Ouchi’s identity tags were modeled after those of Joseon, so how could that have been possible?”

As Chikatada noted, the Empire’s new identity tags, imbued with the Emperor’s breath, were renowned for being nearly impossible to forge.

* * *

The Empire’s identity tag, which had undergone several revisions, was divided into two parts.

One part contained the holder’s name, date of birth, and place of birth. The other part contained detailed records of the holder’s features, especially physical characteristics that could be easily recognized, such as moles on the face.

These identity tags were placed in protective frames, tightly screwed together, with the screw holes filled with lead. Finally, the seal of the government office was stamped on the lead seal to prevent unauthorized forgery.

Upon graduating from the *Samin* School [commoner’s school], imperial citizens were required to create such an identity tag. The protective frame containing the identity tag was made in the form of a notebook, so imperial citizens were expected to carry it with them at all times.

If caught during an inspection without this identity tag, one would be immediately imprisoned and subjected to a notoriously exhausting identification process. This involved repeated questioning, and not only the individual in question but also those around them were summoned to confirm their identity.

In case of loss, the same notorious procedure was followed, and a reissuance fee of about ten days’ wages for an average worker was charged.

As a result, imperial citizens treated their identity tags with utmost care, as if they were sacred objects.

This inconvenience sometimes led to complaints.

-Why not engrave tattoos on the body, as those who went to military service used to do? Wouldn’t that be impossible to forge and easy to carry?

Whenever such appeals were made, the court’s answer remained consistent.

-How will we confirm the identity of women? Are we going to ask them to take off their clothes in the middle of the street?

And, although it is said to be impossible to forge, it is possible.

Therefore, replacing the identity tag with a tattoo was not permitted.

Emperor Hyang, who was the emperor at the time, chuckled and muttered to himself.

‘In the 21st century, they used biochips instead of tattoos, right? But what was the result of that?’

* * *

Having heard of such an imperial identity tag system, Ouchi’s identity tag operation was 까다로웠다 [difficult].

That’s why Chikatada raised this issue. At Chikatada’s point, Nobushige immediately responded.

“Did you see the scar on his face? It’s a deliberately made wound. He chose someone with similar features, took his identity tag, and used the wound as an excuse to get away with it.”

“So, the bottom line is that you don’t know if he is really Taro from the Konoe family.”

“When the Emperor inquired about the direct line, especially the head of the family and the heir, he answered correctly. He knew details about their appearance and speech habits. Isn’t that enough?”

Nobushige’s explanation was reasonable.

The heads and heirs of the *Gossek* [Five Regent Houses], who took turns holding the position of Regent, were always close to the Emperor. Therefore, the Emperor knew the direct line of the Konoe family well. If Kono Taro had answered incorrectly, the Emperor would have certainly suspected him.

“Hmm.”

Even with the explanation, Chikatada couldn’t shake his anxiety, so Nobushige raised his voice.

“The work has already begun! It’s like *gihojise* [a situation where one cannot stop midway]! Now is not the time to dwell on the details, but to run bravely and boldly!”

“Shh! Your voice is too loud!”

Nobushige looked surprised at Chikatada’s warning and glanced around.

“I am truly frustrated! I know your prudence well, but this time it has gone too far!”

“Hoo~.”

Chikatada, sighing deeply at Nobushige’s rebuke, nodded.

“You are right. The work has already begun. Now is the time to run. I will cooperate with all my might.”

“Isn’t *Isshokenmei* [dedication to one’s lord] the iron rule of a warrior? Let’s do our best.”

At the word *Isshokenmei*, which means ‘a warrior protecting his territory with his life,’ Chikatada added.

“Are we fighting for the Emperor instead of the 현 [domain]?”

“That’s right.”

“Speaking of the Emperor, do you think the Emperor will help us?”

At Chikatada’s question, Nobushige immediately answered.

“He also knows that this is his last chance. Of course, he will have no choice but to bet everything.”

At Nobushige’s words, Chikatada nodded.

* * *

After the meeting, Chikatada returned and pondered, looking out the window.

“He only said ‘the Emperor.’ No, in the end, he said ‘he’…. The conclusion is that he just wants to be the master of the shogunate. And he is capable enough. Unlike me.”

Takeda Nobushige was the heir to a powerful family, ‘Takeda.’ Although he lost his territory due to the ‘abolition of feudal domains and establishment of prefectures (廃藩置県)’ carried out by Ouchi, he still wielded tremendous influence.

In comparison, his family, ‘Matsudaira,’ was a short and humble family. Thanks to this, he was able to get through the civil war between the Muromachi Shogunate and Ouchi and the civil war between Ouchi and the *Kuge* without much loss, just by observing.

However, Ouchi did not forget. Ouchi, who had firmly seized Japan, inflicted political retaliation in a series of reforms, including the abolition of feudal domains and establishment of prefectures.

Therefore, Chikatada joined the anti-Ouchi group.

Chikatada, who joined the group, soon began to show his talent. Based on prudence and patience, Chikatada waited for an opportunity and succeeded for sure, and the number of people who followed him gradually increased, and before he knew it, he became a symbol of the cautious faction.

He also had ambition. Now that the *Kuge* are gone, the position of ‘second to none’ is what he is aiming for.

However, his most powerful competitor was Nobushige of the Takeda family. He was superior in every way.

“More important than that is still the existence of Kono Taro. I’m too anxious…”

Chikatada could not hide his anxiety.

In the end, Chikatada, who had been 고민하던 [agonizing] for several days, made a decision.

Chikatada gathered his sons and explained the situation.

“….Therefore, I will throw myself into a do-or-die battle for His Majesty the Emperor.”

“We will prepare.”

At Chikatada’s words, his sons nodded with calm expressions. They already knew that their father had joined the forces to overthrow the shogunate. They also wanted revenge for the political retaliation Ouchi had committed.

Chikatada nodded at his sons’ appearance and continued.

“However, we cannot cut off the family line. Therefore, the youngest will be excluded from this uprising.”

“Father!”

“That is the head of the family’s order.”

“But it is a disgrace to a warrior!”

“If the uprising succeeds, it will be a brief disgrace, but if it fails, it will be the best way to continue the family. You are just married, and you will have your first child soon, won’t you?”

The eldest son, who had been listening silently, asked a question.

“Do you think this uprising will fail, Father?”

“It’s fifty-fifty. His Majesty the Emperor is helping, and patriotic people of good will have joined forces. However, the power of those Ouchi bastards is so strong that we will have to wait and see who wins or loses. That’s why I excluded the youngest.”

At Chikatada’s words, the youngest son gritted his teeth and replied.

“I will follow you. But please make sure that the uprising succeeds and ends with a brief disgrace.”

“Thank you.”

Chikatada, who answered lightly to his youngest son’s words, handed over a heavy bundle.

“I have put in a new identity tag and some money. Just in case, yes, just in case. If the uprising fails, you will have to live with the surname in it. The money in it will not be enough to be rich, but it will be enough to secure a stable position.”

At Chikatada’s words, the youngest son untied the bundle and checked the identity tag.

“Tokugawa (德川)?”

“That’s right. If the uprising fails, you will have to live as a Tokugawa.”

“Please make sure that the uprising succeeds.”

“I will.”

The eldest son, who was watching the youngest son pack the bundle again, asked Chikatada.

“But how did you make a new identity tag?”

At the eldest son’s question, Chikatada smiled slyly and answered.

“Isn’t it a well-known fact that Ouchi’s dogs like bribes? I slipped them a few coins and they made it right away. Is it because there is no record office?”

“Ha!”

“Hahaha!”

At Chikatada’s unexpected joke, the room, which had been full of solemnity, was filled with laughter.

* * *

Although they shouted loudly for ‘reform’ and ‘royal road politics,’ ironically, the corruption of the lower-level officials of the Ouchi shogunate was considerable.

There was little to no corruption in the weapons and tax collection sectors, which were directly managed by the leaders of the shogunate, but in general administrative fields other than those sectors, all kinds of bribes were openly exchanged.

This was possible because there were still no people to replace them. The students who studied in the Empire started in middle management positions as soon as they returned, and the number of people who graduated from national and secondary schools and entered lower-level management positions was still small.

In the end, the core of power, especially the students who studied abroad, raised their voices and insisted on ‘establishing a record office.’

“The reason why they openly accept bribes is because they know very well that there will be no one to work immediately if they leave! Rather than killing those arrogant bastards, we have to show them how hard they work to death!”

“The justification is enough if it is the justification of the record office created by the Empire!”

The students’ claims were agreed upon by Yoshinori and other retainers, and finally, Japan was preparing to show the world the record office.

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