Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 116

Episode 116: He’s back! (2)

As soon as the assembly began the next day, King Sejong called the Yeonguijeong to check the situation.

“okay. Have you found suitable candidates?”

“Yes, I am guessing now.”

“still?”

When King Sejong’s voice became hard, Yeonguijeong immediately explained the reason.

“The situation is such that all the right people are now heading to the northern frontier.”

“Oh, I see.”

King Sejong nodded at Yeonguijeong’s answer.

King Sejong and the government’s ambitious expansion into the north was proceeding quite smoothly.

According to reports delivered every ten days, Joseon’s river area in the north, especially the northeast, was steadily expanding.

And as it expanded, it was absorbing more and more people.

Among the reasons why people continued to enter, armed conflict was at the forefront.

This was because while the Joseon army clearly demonstrated its might, few Jurchen people dared to provoke with force.

However, the reason why more people were needed than expected was because the civilian policy was as smooth as the Jurchen people’s smooth operation.

* * *

“If you go to the north, the government will give you a field! “Tax free for 5 years!”

When the rumor first spread, farmers showed little enthusiasm.

Thanks to this, local officials in the Samnam region, where personnel evaluations were held, began to think about how to increase the number of farmers who would apply for civil service.

One of the local officials who was mulling this over appealed to King Sejong.

-Under the current situation, there are no farmers willing to volunteer as civilians. Please give me a suitable bait to attract farmers.

“What else is appropriate other than tax exemption?”

Hyang immediately answered King Sejong’s question.

“Now, in order to increase the production of Deok-Gap-style gunpowder, the production of gam-yu must be increased. “Please tell me that if you start soybean farming, the government will purchase the entire amount.”

The ministers and ministers all responded to Hyang’s words.

“What a brilliant sight! Please do just that!”

“Gwain thinks so too.”

In this way, a bidap was sent to the local officials of the Samnam region.

The local officials who received the reply immediately spread the word.

-If you farm soybeans, the entire amount will be purchased from the government!

The farmers who heard the rumor began to shake little by little, but there was no real movement yet.

“It’s good that the government buys soybeans, but will they buy that much? What do you need so many beans for? “It’s not like Nara eats soybean paste instead of rice.”

“So… ah!”

Among those who expressed such doubts, those with quick thinking

left immediately and applied to Social Min.

“Did this guy drink during the day! Why are you suddenly saying you’re going to the north after a good night’s sleep? “I can’t survive!”

Of course, those who made arbitrary decisions were immediately ripped off by their wives, and the husbands explained why.

“Think about the owner too. What kind of food is that dog shit that he can’t live without? Dog shit! “What is your favorite thing these days?”

“Gye Jak! “A plan!”

Gaetdong’s father continued speaking in response to young Gaetdong’s answer.

“Did you hear? These days, it’s a rule for every household to eat it once or twice a month. Right?”

“But why is that?”

“What is the most important thing in chicken farming other than chicken? Oil, oil! “Soybean oil too!”

“ah!”

Gaeddong’s mother immediately understood what he said and got busy.

“When did you go to the North? “I have some things lying around here and there, so take care of them!”

* * *

In order to obtain the glycerin needed to produce Deokgap-style gunpowder, the Joseon Dynasty distributed large quantities of soybean oil as well as oil obtained from meat, especially pork.

However, the amount was not large enough to be extracted through traditional pressure extraction rather than chemical extraction as in Korea in the 20th and 21st centuries, so the government had to purchase a large amount of soybeans. The amount spent on this was by no means a small amount.

Although the amount recovered from distributing soybean oil was significant, when calculating profit and loss, the company was facing a deficit.

In this situation, Hojopanseo Kim Jeom submitted a request to King Sejong.

“Under these circumstances, I think it is right to postpone the manufacture of Deok-Gap-style gunpowder.”

“No, it works! Please let us know! “Absolutely not!”

As soon as Kim Jeom finished speaking, fierce opposing opinions began to pour out from the military corps.

Already from the late Goryeo Dynasty, the core force of the military was artillery. In particular, in the case of the navy, as seen in actual combat records, it was an army that ‘started with guns and ended with guns.’

In particular, as soon as gunpowder was improved by Hyang, the naval force adopted it without a second thought.

And as soon as the design of the panokseon came out from Hyang’s research institute, it was the navy that requested King Sejong to build a prototype ship, check its performance, and immediately mass produce it.

“Let’s mass produce?”

“yes! The hull is large, so it can overcome large waves, and above all, it is taller than existing wires, making it easy to block pirate ships! But the best part is that it can mount a lot more artillery than existing front lines!”

Hyang nodded at the actions of the naval forces, which were enough to be called ‘firepower enthusiasts’.

‘I heard that Chungmugong didn’t just come out!’

To the navy, Deokgap-style gunpowder was an item worth thousands of dollars. In other words, the same power can be achieved by using only half of the existing gunpowder. In other words, only half of the existing gunpowder had to be loaded on each front, and other materials such as food or drinking water could be loaded in the remaining space.

Therefore, for the navy, which had to consider the spatial constraints of the battle line, the cessation of production of Deokgap-type gunpowder was something that must be prevented.

This was the same for the army as well. The Army also had a significant proportion of artillery, and Deokgap-type gunpowder was a precious commodity that relieved the burden of artillery.

That’s why the military responded to Kim Jeom’s words, ‘It’s better to cut open the stomach!’ He said and put up a desperate resistance.

In the end, King Sejong sided with the military.

“Even if we suffer a loss, it is something we have no choice but to accept. Therefore, I will not accept the Hojo decision.”

“…I follow your orders.”

Kim Jeom had to accept Sejong’s decision.

As the story goes, on the day that decision was made, Kim Jeom was on the verge of being grabbed by the military police and collar.

“Damn it! Inspector, check the financial statements! “Try it!”

* * *

In any case, with the problem of poor production resolved, the number of farmers willing to migrate to the north increased significantly.

As the number of people planning to emigrate faster and in larger quantities than expected increased, more and more military forces were required in the north.

Another unexpected event occurred in the north, such as the rapid increase in the number of migrating farmers.

Another unexpected thing that happened in the north was the mass exodus of the Jurchen people.

When first planning the strategy to explore the north, the military expected the percentage of Yeojin to be at the maximum of 60%.

“60% is a generous strike. If you look at the personalities of Yeojin, most of them will either resist or leave. “Look at those Odori guys.”

In the example of the Odori tribe who left and returned after the conciliation of Emperor Ahachu and Yongrak, the maximum the military caught was 60%.

However, as the northern exploration actually progressed, the rate of noblemen among the Jurchen tribe started at 70% and gradually increased.

“why?”

“Isn’t it all thanks to you?”

King Sejong responded to Yeonguijeong’s words with a slight smile.

“That would be fine, but please find out the reason right away. “Don’t just assume that a good thing is a good thing and then make a big deal out of it later!”

“I follow your orders!”

In this way, the government ministers immediately found the cause.

“Resale shop?”

* * *

As farmers moved north, Hojo’s monopoly was established in newly created towns.

When the monopoly was opened, it attracted the attention of the Jurchen people who lived as neighbors.

“What is that place?”

To the question of a Jurchen who was fluent in Korean, the farmer answered with an expression that it was no big deal.

“excuse me? “It’s a monopoly.”

“What is a monopoly store?”

“You can buy salt and candy there.”

Yeo Jin-in’s eyes opened wide as he questioned the farmer’s words.

“Can I buy salt?”

“That’s right.”

“Can I live too?”

“Go and ask.”

At the farmer’s words, Yeo Jin-in got on a horse and headed to the monopoly.

“What’s going on?”

When the Jurchen tribe entered the monopoly, not only the dispatched officials of Hojo but also the soldiers who stood guard looked at the Jurchen tribe with nervous faces.

“I heard you can buy salt here.”

In response to Yeo Jin-in’s question, the Hojo official answered with a relaxed expression.

“salt? iced coffee. If you are a noble Yeojin person, you can live. “Do you have a certificate of honor?”

“Here it is.”

Yeo Jin-in searched in her arms, took out a certificate, and held it out.

After checking the document with the official seal, the Hojo official confirmed Jurchen’s residence on the map hanging behind him and nodded.

“It’s under our jurisdiction. Then you can live. Should I buy it now?”

“Can you really live?”

In response to Yeo Jin-in’s question filled with disbelief, the Hojo official smiled and answered.

“Could they come all the way to the north and tell lies? So should I buy it or not? “I’m really busy, so please speak quickly.”

At the urging of the Hojo official, Yeo Jin-in came to his senses and answered.

“ah! I haven’t brought anything worth selling right now. “What should I bring?”

“Everything that can become wealth. “Not only cows, horses, sheep, and grain, but also fur, gold, and silver.”

“All right! “I’ll be back soon!”

Seeing Yeo Jin-in running in a hurry, a police officer urgently called him to stop him.

“Look! I have to take this certificate! “If you don’t have this, you’re in trouble!”

“yes? yes! thank you!”

Yeo Jin-in, who took the certificate of honor, put the certificate in question in her arms, immediately said hello, and hurried out.

Cases similar to the Jurchen people occurred here and there in the northern frontier.

For the Jurchen people, being able to securely obtain salt, the most essential material for survival, was like a rope sent from the sky.

In the end, seeing the wealthy Jurchen people offering their livestock and grains to get not only salt but also candy, the Jurchen people who were not yet wealthy began to compete to become wealthy.

As the situation progressed, the demand for manpower in the north increased significantly.

Existing troops were withdrawn to protect the boundaries of the rapidly expanding river area.

Inside the settlement, additional troops were deployed to prevent conflict and maintain security between immigrants from the Samnam region and the Jurchen tribe, leading to a shortage of people.

* * *

“I liked the rapid progress of northern expansion, but this side effect arose. “We need to quickly fill the position of the military magistrate…”

When King Sejong spoke with a look of regret at Yeonguijeong’s answer, the criminal magistrate remonstrated.

“The Emperor, the former Minister of Military Affairs, said that the sin was so great that there was nothing he could do, but Yi Sun-mong was important again….”

“Chief! “Say something that makes sense!”

Before the sentencing judge could finish his sentence, Daesaheon interrupted.

“What is Yi Sun-mong’s position? Provincial governor system, provincial governor system! A person who has the important task of watching over His Majesty the King’s carriage (the king’s carriage) did not only commit an affair, but he also filed a false sick leave! “How can we use such a ruthless writer again!”

“Daesaheon’s words are correct.”

First, King Sejong, who took Daesaheon’s side, gave orders to the merchant ships.

“Go and call Jo Mal-saeng.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

When King Sejong ordered Jo Mal-saeng to be brought back, Yeonguijeong immediately asked.

“Your Majesty, are you going to rewrite Jomalsaeng?”

“exactly.”

Daesaheon responded immediately to King Sejong’s answer.

“majesty! This will never happen! Convict Jo Mal-saeng has been sentenced for less than two years. It is absolutely impossible to use such a sinner again! “Please inform me!”

“What Daesaheon said makes sense. However, the criminal Jo Mal-saeng is doing his best to serve his sentence and proves it. “Please hand this to Daesaheon.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The Merchant Marine received the report from the Record Office and delivered it to Daesaheon.

“Huh~.”

After receiving and reading the report, Daeheon sighed.

In the report, the results were clearly organized in graphs and tables – as expected, Da-hyang’s work – and Jo Mal-saeng was showing the results of his academic work.

“Haa~.”

Daesaheon once again let out a long sigh and waved the white flag.

‘The result is there and the referee has been decided. ‘It’s hard to defeat with justification alone!’

“As you wish.”