Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 825

825. Ming and Japan – Internal Stability and Expansion (4)

While this ‘stir-frying’ situation unfolded, Emperor Chenghua [Seonghwaje] and the Jamryonghoe [Dragon Ascending Society, a group of reformist officials] steadily consolidated their power in Ming.

“The most important thing is to win the hearts of the people.”

“That’s right.”

Having reached this agreement, Emperor Chenghua and the Jamryonghoe devoted their efforts to gaining popular support.

The first step was to overhaul the tax administration.

Following tax reform, they improved the system of mobilizing labor for national civil engineering projects.

Emperor Chenghua replaced the previous system of unconditional conscription with a paid employment system.

“By doing this, we can help the homeless find work and settle down. Moreover, the wages they earn will stimulate local commerce as they spend, killing two birds with one stone!”

The ministers expressed their reservations about Emperor Chenghua’s decision.

“Your Majesty’s intentions are admirable, but there’s the matter of finances….”

“We can collect a small amount through income tax while paying salaries, and taxes can also be collected from merchants who profit by trading with the laborers. Furthermore, if we identify and eliminate the waste and embezzlement in financial execution, it will be sufficient!”

“That may be so, but this is unprecedented. It’s difficult to be certain of success.”

“No precedent for success? There was a precedent for success when the Empire [Joseon] did it! And you still say there’s no precedent? Are your eyes just for show?”

“Joseon is a small country. Its land and population are small. But our Ming is a great power. Its land is vast, and its population is large. There are too many differences to apply it directly.”

“Are you saying that without even trying!”

“…”

“Our Ming is in a precarious situation! To escape this crisis, it is the duty of the ministers to review historical cases, both ancient and modern, and to examine the examples of other countries! Are you simply going to say it cannot be done and remain ministers of Ming!”

Having lost their argument to Emperor Chenghua’s rebuke, the ministers proceeded with the policy of employing laborers for large-scale civil engineering projects according to his will.

Following that, policies to encourage the development of artisans and merchants continued through the establishment and operation of the ‘Intellectual Property Management Office.’

As these improvements, reforms, and new policies were implemented, the people of Ming gradually began to support Emperor Chenghua.

Nevertheless, some people in Ming still referred to Emperor Chenghua by the nicknames ‘Joseon Emperor’ and ‘Goryeo Emperor.’

This was because many of the policies that Emperor Chenghua implemented were adapted from those that had been successfully implemented in the Empire.

* * *

In contrast to the growing number of Ming citizens who supported Emperor Chenghua, the ministers were in a state of distress.

“Why did I even bother with the civil service examination to become a government official….”

“This is… aren’t we just like cattle being herded around according to the emperor’s whims?”

“It’s all because of the Jamryonghoe!”

The high and low-ranking officials of Ming harbored many complaints about the emperor’s excessive direct rule.

More precisely, they resented the Jamryonghoe, which was entrenched in the Secretariat.

-Revive the declining Ming!

Under this banner, Emperor Chenghua reformed many things. However, most of these reforms and improvements originated from the minds of the Jamryonghoe.

The Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet and the officials of each ministry also put forward various policies according to Emperor Chenghua’s wishes. However, most of their proposals were dismissed as ‘outdated.’

In the end, the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, the ministers, and their subordinates became mere puppets who simply carried out the orders issued by Emperor Chenghua.

And the officials who were dissatisfied with this situation directed their resentment towards the Jamryonghoe.

However, these feelings rarely surfaced.

This was because the aftermath of the last great purge still lingered, and the Dongchang [Eastern Depot, a secret police organization] and Geumuiwi [ Embroidered Uniform Guard, the imperial secret police] thoroughly monitored the high and low-ranking officials and ministers.

As a result, many officials began to adopt a passive attitude, simply doing what they were told.

However, a small number of ambitious individuals smiled with anticipation.

* * *

“Tsk, tsk, tsk… that’s why they’re called outdated.”

“They still don’t realize that the world has changed….”

“The time of 장강후랑추전랑 [The back wave of the Yangtze River pushes the front wave – meaning the new generation replaces the old] has come!”

Young and ambitious officials, realizing that their chance to rise in the world had arrived, began to move diligently.

“There is an answer in what His Majesty said!”

To seize the opportunity to advance their careers, these young officials reviewed the policies implemented in successive dynasties and examined the policies implemented in the Empire and Japan.

“The policies that Japan is carrying out are all modeled after those of the Empire, right?”

“Is the answer only in the Empire after all?”

These young officials began to diligently analyze the policies of the Empire.

And the officials who believed they had created a worthwhile plan submitted their proposals to their superiors.

However, most of the responses they received were curses and rebukes.

“Why are you doing things you weren’t told to do? Huh? Why are you doing things you weren’t told to do!”

“Do the work you’re told to do properly instead of this nonsense!”

The young officials who were cursed and rebuked had no choice but to retreat in despair. However, there were those who carefully watched them.

It was the Dongchang and Geumuiwi.

-It may be a trivial plan, but if it’s not, we can build up great achievements!

After weighing their options, the Dongchang and Geumuiwi retrieved the petitions and submitted them to the Secretariat.

The Jamryonghoe, upon hearing about the petitions, immediately reported them to Emperor Chenghua.

“Are there such bastards!”

Emperor Chenghua, upon receiving the report, was furious and summoned the Chief Secretary of the Cabinet and the Ministers.

“How are you handling personnel affairs!”

Emperor Chenghua, after rebuking the Chief Secretary of the Cabinet and the Ministers, identified all the officials who had blocked the petitions and had them executed.

“If you are not traitors, then who is!”

Although the scope of the purge was smaller than the last great purge, a bloodbath erupted once again. The officials craned their necks and muttered while watching the situation.

“This is… the more capable the emperor is, the harder it is to survive….”

“The nightmare of the old Seondeokje [a previous emperor known for purges] era is coming back to me.”

Seondeokje, who would have been remembered as the ‘most virtuous ruler in history’ if he had not waged war with Joseon, was also synonymous with purges.

Although a sudden storm had arisen, the Jamryonghoe selected the best proposals from the petitions that came in and submitted them to Emperor Chenghua.

Emperor Chenghua, after reviewing the petitions, summoned the authors, praised them greatly, and immediately appointed them to high-ranking positions.

“From now on, petitions related to the reform and improvement of state affairs should be sent directly to the Secretariat!”

According to Emperor Chenghua’s decision, the planning proposals of ambitious new officials began to flood the Secretariat.

Seeing the increasing number of planning proposals, the members of the Jamryonghoe all sighed at once.

“We dug our own grave….”

However, the Jamryonghoe knew very well that there was no other way.

“If Dongchang and Geumuiwi are our eyes and ears, we need limbs to replace us.”

“That’s right. We need stones to fight against those embedded stones in our place.”

“But, what if we raise them like that and they turn against us later?”

“Before that happens, the emperor and we must firmly seize power.”

“We’ll have to raise them only to an appropriate level. We must not make the mistake of turning a puppy into a tiger.”

With that calculation in mind, Emperor Chenghua and the Jamryonghoe nurtured the new officials as their own instruments. And the new officials grew up as they expected.

The most representative example was their use of titles for the Empire.

Most of Ming’s high-ranking officials still called the Empire ‘Joseon.’ However, most of the new officials called the Empire ‘Daehan’ or ‘Daehan Federation.’ Some even called it ‘the Empire’ like Emperor Chenghua and the Jamryonghoe.

-We must acknowledge that the current Empire is not the Joseon of the past.

-What must be acknowledged must be acknowledged.

This was the thinking of the new officials.

And, as much as they were favored by Emperor Chenghua, they also built friendships with the Jamryonghoe. As they built their power, the new officials came to the forefront of the political struggles with the old generation of officials.

* * *

The power struggle between Emperor Chenghua, the Jamryonghoe, the new officials, and the old generation of officials was conveyed to Seoul as quickly as possible.

Well-trained spies were mixed in with the imperial troops dispatched to Nanjing to protect Emperor Chenghua and the Empress, as well as the maids who followed them, and even the Jamryonghoe members.

The spies dispatched in this way immediately conveyed the events taking place in Nanjing to Seoul.

They were not the only ones.

Wane [the Emperor of Joseon] knew even more deeply through Secret Mission [Joseon’s intelligence agency].

This was because Secret Mission had succeeded in co-opting three of the Jamryonghoe members.

To co-opt them, Secret Mission even requested help from Wane.

“If it’s something like that, I should naturally step in!”

Wane, responding to Secret Mission’s request, met with the Jamryonghoe members in the safe house created by Secret Mission. Moreover, it was not a meeting where Wane and all the members to be co-opted met, but a one-on-one meeting.

“I hope you will help the Empire. That doesn’t mean betraying your faith. All you have to do is tell me what’s going on without hiding anything.”

The Jamryonghoe members who met Wane were overwhelmed with emotion and immediately prostrated themselves and answered.

“As subjects of the Empire and servants of His Majesty, it is only natural that we do so! We will do our best to carry it out!”

In this way, Secret Mission was able to plant its ears in the deepest part of Nanjing.

As a side note, the three members who were co-opted by Secret Mission thought that they were the only ones who had seen the Emperor through Secret Mission, and that they were the only informants in Jamryonghoe.

Thanks to this, Secret Mission was able to compare the intelligence sent by these three people and identify any inconsistencies.

Secret Mission, which had been established by Hyang and Sejong [previous rulers of Joseon] and had performed all sorts of missions, had become the world’s strongest and best intelligence agency at this time.

* * *

“Hmm… in the end, Ming seems to have decided to focus on internal stability. It seems that we don’t have to pay much attention to military affairs for the time being.”

Hwangboin [a Joseon minister] responded to Wane’s words.

“That is correct.”

“The problem is that it’s good that we don’t have to pay attention to military affairs, but the management of intellectual property rights is a bit of a concern. If they make genuine efforts in commerce and industry, wouldn’t that be disadvantageous to us? Considering their vast land and population.”

Hwangboin smiled slyly at Wane’s point and replied.

“That vast land and population is the problem. No matter how much the Ming Emperor tries to spread good intentions, it will take a long time because the land is so vast. In addition, the people of the Central Plains have been making imitations and forgeries since ancient times, so it is impossible to correct this at once. In my opinion, it will take at least 100 years to settle down. That is assuming that there are no problems in Nanjing.”

Kim Jongseo [another Joseon minister] took over from Hwangboin.

“In addition, the corruption of the low-ranking officials who govern the Ming Dynasty is endless, so 100 years is a short time. No, even if it is corrected within 100 years, the Empire will be even further ahead during that time.”

“It has to be, but I’m very worried. It is difficult to eradicate corruption and bribery, and this is the same for our Empire, isn’t it?”

Kim Jongseo smiled at Wane’s concern and replied.

“Hahaha~, Your Majesty. Our Empire has the Record Office!”

As soon as the words ‘Record Office’ were spoken, all the officials in the hall, even the eunuchs, flinched.

Whether he noticed or not, Wane responded to Kim Jongseo’s words.

“Ah! Speaking of the Record Office….”