Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 794

794. The Bureaucrats Go to Shinji (6)

“Hmm….”

Hyang forced himself to maintain a serious expression as he looked at Yi Jing-ok.

Seeing Yi Jing-ok with an expression that seemed to know everything, as if saying, ‘You have it, don’t you? Hand it over right now!’ Hyang felt a surge of defiance.

‘I can’t just hand it over!’

This defiance stemmed from the situations that had unfolded between Hyang, the soldiers, and other officials.

-Hyang insists on creating and using something.

-The actual users, the soldiers and officials, don’t really know its usefulness, so they are indifferent or opposed. In particular, the Ministry of Finance officials strongly oppose it due to budget issues.

-However, later, in actual situations, Hyang’s invention plays a significant role, silencing those who opposed it.

This had been the custom and tradition until now, but now Yi Jing-ok had created the opposite situation.

Thanks to this, Hyang, feeling slightly defiant, raised a minor objection.

“Hmm… Did you come up with the weapon you’re thinking of after arriving here?”

“No, Your Majesty. I had similar thoughts back in the mainland.”

“Just you? Then isn’t it possible that you’ve misjudged something?”

“Ah, no, Your Majesty! There were quite a few young fellows who had similar ideas as me!”

“Then why wasn’t it developed? As I know, there are several artisans and researchers in Area 51 who have dedicated their lives to developing new Hwachas [multiple rocket launchers].”

Hyang’s words were true.

Influenced by Hyang, or rather, impressed by the various firearms Hyang had created, there were several who dedicated their lives to creating new firearms.

Evaluating the bizarre firearms they created—such as combining a short gun with a Gundo [a type of Korean sword]—was one of Hyang’s pleasures.

At Hyang’s remark, Yi Jing-ok replied with a slightly embarrassed face.

“It goes against the Empire’s military action policy, and some also think that cannons are better than Hwachas….”

Hyang nodded at Yi Jing-ok’s answer.

“Indeed, the Empire’s military policy is defense-oriented. And the Byeongshik Hwacha [standardized Hwacha] is a good fit for that….”

* * *

The Empire’s military foreign policy was ‘absolute defense first’.

-Never strike first unless struck first.

This was the most powerful prerequisite that governed the Empire’s military actions.

This prerequisite was due to the Empire’s situation.

-Considering the Empire’s Bukji [Northern Territory], surrounding islands, and Shinji, there is no need for territorial expansion.

-War is an event that places a significant burden on the Empire’s finances. The Empire’s economy is not yet strong.

-The biggest problem that created the above two constraints is population. The Empire still lacks population. Even if it had about 1/3 of Ming’s population—about 30 million—it could overcome the above two constraints.

Because of these weaknesses, the Empire insisted on a thorough defense-oriented military foreign policy.

-Using cannons and Hwachas in firmly fortified defensive positions to repel enemy attacks, and then launching counterattacks to punish the enemy.

And, to operate this doctrine more efficiently, considerable funds were invested in the operation of reconnaissance organizations such as Bigu [secret intelligence agency] and communication networks using light-emitting communicators.

However, there were many objections to this. Of course, even these objections did not propose changing the prerequisites themselves, but rather argued for changing from passive response to active response.

-Even if our Empire’s castles are strong, they are bound to collapse under strong attacks. Therefore, we must introduce the concept of ‘offensive defense’.

-When launching counterattacks, we must move quickly. However, the Hwachas and cannons used by our national army are heavy and difficult to move quickly.

For a simple example, moving the Byeongshik General Cannon, the most basic cannon of the Imperial Army, requires at least six horses. Training the horses to be familiar with the noise of the battlefield is also a problem, but transporting the feed for these horses is also a problem.

The same goes for the Byeongshik Hwacha. To operate it properly, one company must be assigned to each Hwacha.

When pursuing retreating enemies or engaging in street battles against enemies hiding in collapsed cities, it is difficult to time these heavy weapons.

To those who argued for ‘the development of light cannons and light Hwachas,’ the mainstream opponents replied:

-In the case of Hwachas, although one company must be assigned, two soldiers can move it when necessary. This can be said to be light enough.

-It is true that cannons are heavy. Therefore, we are deploying tractors that are definitely more efficient than warhorses.

-Cannons are heavy, but their power is certain. If pursuing retreating enemies or street battles is a problem, we can improve them with cannons that have longer range and power.

To summarize their argument:

“Is catching fleeing enemies a problem? Then just use cannons that fly further!”

“If enemies hiding in the city are a problem, then just use more powerful explosives! If you clear the city with explosives that can turn most stone buildings into powder with one or two shots, what’s the problem?”

‘Cannons, more powerful cannons, more cannons’

‘Cannons are the truth.’

Hyang shook his head at the Imperial Army and Navy’s love for powerful cannons and muttered softly.

“These cannon enthusiasts. Is it ‘Mother Great Han Empire’ instead of ‘Mother Russia’….”

* * *

Knowing this background, Hyang nodded at Yi Jing-ok’s words.

However, Hyang soon asked Yi Jing-ok with a mischievous expression.

“Weren’t you the loudest among those who opposed it?”

At Hyang’s question, Yi Jing-ok blushed slightly and replied.

“At the time, my knowledge wasn’t broad enough… I didn’t know we would be fighting a war in this jungle.”

“Hmm….”

Hyang, pretending to ponder for a moment while listening to Yi Jing-ok’s answer, soon nodded.

“I understand. Let’s find a solution. I don’t know if we can make it in time, but I’ll try my best.”

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”

Watching Yi Jing-ok, who kept bowing and retreating, Hyang sighed.

“Hoo~. I’m going to have to unpack my bags sooner than expected? Hmm… Let’s unpack just one. Just one….”

Firming his resolve, Hyang called a eunuch.

“Contact Area 52 and have Jang On come. Tell him to come as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Five days later, Jang On rushed into the Haenggung [royal villa] and looked for Hyang.

“Your Majesty, I have come at your command!”

“Welcome. There’s something to do in Area 52.”

“Please command me!”

“We are going to actually make the Gyeonghwacha [improved Hwacha] that was sealed in Jang Yeong-sil’s vault last time.”

“Which Gyeonghwacha are you talking about?”

“The one that uses magazines.”

“Ah! Ah?”

Jang On, who paused for a moment, carefully asked Hyang.

“However, Your Majesty. Last time, you instructed that the items sealed in the late Director Jang Yeong-sil’s vault should be left for at least 30 years, didn’t you?”

“I did. But the situation is urgent, so it can’t be helped.”

“I understand. Then I will go back and start right away.”

“Do so.”

After sending Jang On out, Hyang suddenly stood up from his seat.

“No! Am I just going to let someone else do this and end it? Absolutely not! Eunuch!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Pack my bags! I’m going on a business trip to Area 52! Let everyone know that I will be handling all 업무 [work/tasks] there for the time being!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The eunuch, who came out after receiving the order, looked back at Hyang’s office and shook his head.

“He’s just like Duke Jinpyeong at times like that…. Blood is thicker than water….”

And, the officials who heard Hyang’s order through the eunuch grabbed the back of their necks.

“Agh! A business trip! That means it’s not just His Majesty who’s going!”

“Send an official document to the bottom! Tell them to send reports to Area 52 for the time being!”

* * *

While working with Hyang in Shinji, the officials became cunning.

In the past, they would organize everything at the Shinji Haenggung and then send it back to Area 52 or other business trip destinations to receive approval or rejection.

Naturally, a lot of time was wasted unnecessarily, and the officials had to work all night.

Then, at some point, the officials realized one thing.

“Wait? Anyway, there are railroads laid in Area 52, and there is enough space to work, eat, and sleep there, right? We can just receive the reports there, right?”

“That’s right?”

The officials who realized that fact moved together when Hyang moved.

And, the efficiency of 업무 increased a lot.

However, only the efficiency of the officials working at the Haenggung.

The officials working at the local administrative agencies in Shinji had to check the railroad timetable whenever they received an order to send reports to a place other than the Haenggung.

The Haenggung direction passed almost once a day, but Area 52 only departed from the Haenggung once every two days. If they missed the timing, a disaster would occur, delaying them by at least four days.

The next to suffer were the officials in charge of operating Area 52.

To them, Hyang was a mother-in-law, and the officials of the Haenggung who came with Hyang were sisters-in-law. No, Hyang was okay. The problem was the officials of the Haenggung who followed.

“Since we’re here, we should check the operating status.”

With these words, the officials from the Haenggung scrutinized the operating status of Area 52 like they were catching lice.

“Huh? This expenditure is strange?”

“Isn’t there an error in the input/output volume here?”

Whenever the officials from the Haenggung thoroughly searched, the officials of Area 52 had to bow their heads.

“I, I’m sorry! The person in charge is still a newbie….”

“If he’s a newbie, you should have looked after him more.”

“I, I’m sorry!”

“If you’re sorry, don’t make things to be sorry about! If you do that, we’re the ones who get scolded by His Majesty!”

“I, I’m sorry!”

“And, there were several broken things in the accommodation facilities, didn’t you see them?”

“I’ll fix them right away!”

“You should have looked after them before I pointed them out. Are you not going to be successful?”

“I, I’m sorry!”

“I’m telling you again, if you’re sorry, don’t make things to be sorry about! I’ll be watching you!”

“Hiek! I’ll do my best!”

In this way, the officials of Area 52 had to endure all kinds of hardships. However, they had to endure these hardships. Most of the officials from the Haenggung were higher-ranking than them. Even if they were of the same rank, they were about to be promoted soon, so it would be a big problem if they got on their bad side.

* * *

In this situation, Hyang’s ‘business trip to Area 52’ was announced to every corner of Shinji through the light-emitting communicator.

“Agh! Why this time!”

“He hasn’t had any business to go to these days!”

At the sudden news of the business trip, the officials went crazy to find the cause.

“I found it!”

“Who is it?”

“General Yi Jing-ok!”

“S….”

The officials forcibly suppressed the swear words that were about to come out.

It was Yi Jing-ok, the ‘Commander of the Expeditionary Force’ and ‘former Minister of National Defense’.

In the end, the officials chose action instead of words.

“A lot of tonics are coming these days….”

Yi Jing-ok had a bitter expression as he looked at the bundles of tonics piled up in his office and accommodation.

Because he knew the meaning of the tonics too well.

“Do you want some too?”

At Yi Jing-ok’s words, the subordinate generals shook their heads in unison.

Ironically, some of the people who sent the tonics were subordinate generals.