Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 198
Episode 198: The beginning of spring. (3)
As appeals against the road construction continued, King Sejong issued a reply.
-There are some who are opposed to the road construction currently being carried out by the government.
They say that the road in the town where they live is sufficient for people and products to travel, so they claim that it is a useless construction project and ask them to stop the construction.
However, since this is seeing the world through the eyes of a frog in a well, I cannot hide my sorrow at its narrow-mindedness.
Looking at the current situation in Joseon, the roads are narrow and rough, making it difficult for products from one town to pass between two neighboring towns, and it is common for people to give up on traveling long distances.
As a result, the people of Joseon do not know the wideness of the world and are confined within a narrow framework, becoming more and more isolated. This is truly a sad thing.
Road construction began to solve this problem. I hope that the roads will become wider and more comfortable so that many people will no longer feel inconvenienced in moving around and will realize that the world is wide. This is because Joseon prospers only when its people know the breadth of the world and what they need to do.
Secondly, it is valid to point out that there is a problem of the town’s customs being disrupted. We will deploy additional soldiers to prevent this as much as possible, so the people should not worry and go about their business.
Lastly, they say that well-built roads are a problem for national defense, but this is the height of foolishness.
They say that a well-paved road is not good because it makes it easier for the enemy to move, but do they not think that on the contrary, our Joseon soldiers can move faster?
And why do you not trust our Korean soldiers? Joseon’s soldiers are the brave men who conquered Tsushima Island several years ago and are still fighting off barbarians from the north.
Is it the Joseon soldiers or me that you don’t trust?
Due to the last sentence of King Sejong’s proclamation, the noblemen who had been shouting against it became agitated.
Distrusting national defense meant distrusting the king, and this could be seen as disloyalty.
‘You can get into trouble by speaking out loud!’
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the local noblemen completely cleared Xi’an far away.
* * *
Meanwhile, after reading King Sejong’s proclamation, Hyang sighed and burst into laughter.
“These noblemen… I don’t think any of their relatives are military officers? No… was it a good thing it wasn’t there? If I heard the defense saying something, the earthen pot might have been broken right away…”
Joseon’s national defense power had been greatly strengthened to the point where Hyang was joking.
No matter what anyone says, there was not a single court official or military officer who denied that Hyang played a major role in the great strengthening of Joseon’s national defense power.
The first pieces of ‘Area 51’ created by Hyang at the urging of King Sejong were gunpowder weapons and armor.
“It was called Japdeok, but the main focus was Mildeok! I’m like that, and I can’t just ignore this kind of bullshit! There I am, the crown prince! Should we stop the next king from saying he will pay attention to national defense? “Have you at least got solid insurance?”
Hyang, taking full advantage of his political background, steadily produced weapons.
The weapons created by Hyang were recognized for their performance and were mass-produced and deployed.
“It takes a lot of money to make it.”
“But the performance boasts several times the amount of money put into it. “Is there anything else we can do since His Majesty the Lord’s ashes have fallen there?”
Hojo, who executes the budget, complained, but Sejong pushed forward strongly.
The military was an area that King Sejong also paid great attention to. In addition, King Sejong, who had a dream of exploring the north, absolutely needed weapons made by Hyang.
With the supply of powerful weapons that not only the Japanese but also the Ming could not match, Hyang persuaded King Sejong.
“The numbers in the ledger are just numbers! “We need to train proper soldiers and military officers!”
Joseon was a country with a conscription system. According to the system implemented since the reign of King Taejo, Joseon was able to form 300,000 troops in case of emergency.
‘Theoretically’….
However, there were many people who avoided military service due to the irrationality of Joseon’s tax system and the contradictions of the conscription system itself.
Therefore, in the Tsushima conquest that took place in the first year of King Sejong’s reign, everyone from noblemen living in the Samnam region to commoners had to be forcibly conscripted.
The only exceptions were slaves. Slaves were people, but they were not people.
“Since I started! “I will make sure that the images of the Joseon military in dramas where they die as soon as they appear will never exist again!”
The determined Hyang brought in not only the military officers but also the officials of the Yi Dynasty and the Hojo Dynasty and completely overturned the military service system.
The transformation of the Joseon army was achieved by experiencing such labor pains.
That is why Hyang read King Sejong’s proclamation and laughed at the noblemen who filed an appeal.
* * *
“There are still many people who don’t know what’s going on in the world.”
“People like this should be dragged into the army without question…”
The military officers who read King Sejong’s proclamation showed a similar reaction to incense. Kang Gyeong-in, who was one of the military officers who laughed at the noblemen with a face full of scorn, suddenly grabbed a fellow military officer.
“Hey there you are. “What did you say just now?”
“huh? “What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you say we should bring him to the military and run him over?”
“Yes… why?”
Unlike his colleague who had a puzzled expression, Kang Kyeong-in spoke with a serious expression.
“Aren’t there some branches that are lacking even if a military academy is created? Things like administration and supply.”
“That’s right.”
At Kang Kyung-in’s point, his colleague nodded.
As King Sejong ascended to the throne, military officers also demanded liberal arts knowledge, so the academic level of military officers was gradually increasing. However, since a military officer is a military officer, the most important influence on promotion was martial arts and major. Because of this, the rear support section continued to be short of personnel.
“So, let’s bring in the people who filed the appeal and let them do the work.”
At Kang Kyung-in’s words, his colleague shook his head.
“Do you want to do it? “They are noblemen in name and appearance?”
“If you worry about the country like that and become angry, but then insist that you don’t do it because you’re told to, you’re a false gentleman!” “They also said what they said, so shouldn’t they be held accountable!”
“Hoo?”
In response to Kang Kyeong-in’s words, his colleague also said, ‘That sounds plausible?’ He made an expression like this. That wasn’t enough. The military officers who were listening to Kang Kyeong-in’s story showed similar expressions.
“How about trying to frame it in detail?”
“Is that so?”
The plan that was born by chance was quickly documented and posted to Jo Mal-saeng.
“It’s okay. “Please try making it properly.”
“yes!”
As the military officers who received permission withdrew happily, the commander of the military command asked in a voice full of worry.
“Are you okay, Captain?”
Jo Mal-saeng responded to the judge’s concerns with an expression that said it was no big deal.
“If you are a nobleman and a gentleman, you should follow suit. “If you don’t want to be criticized as ‘a hypocrite who speaks once and twice.’”
“Isn’t the problem that there are very few decent people among those who talk like that?”
“You know because you’ve experienced it, right? If you roll it, you can do it. If it doesn’t work out, you can be charged with the crime of recklessly speaking cunningly to the king and have it thrown into the record office. These days, people are complaining that there aren’t enough people in the records office. “It went well.”
Jo Mal-saeng, who was talking about the solution to the judge, suddenly stopped talking and stroked his beard. Jo Mal-saeng, who was thinking about this and that for a while, laughed evilly.
“Hmm… Wait, is this okay? We can filter out the good ones and use them in the military corps, and send the general-purpose ones to the north. Marshal Choi and Captain Hwang were already complaining that there was no one there… And those who were not up to standard were thrown into the record office… That was good. It went well. “Isn’t that right?”
In response to Jo Mal-saeng’s question, the military commander nodded. The face that was initially full of worry disappeared and became a face full of evil.
* * *
As the war progressed, ministers and government officials developed a ‘common enemy’.
The ‘common enemy’ they thought was the local noblemen. Every time an appeal from a local nobleman came up, the government officials hurled a barrage of curses at them.
“Oh shit! “I’m so busy already!”
“If you’re that good, why don’t you come forward and do the work!”
The orders and tasks given by King Sejong were difficult but rewarding. Because it was clear to them that Joseon was gradually moving toward becoming a wealthy nation and strong military.
However, the local noblemen were ugly guys who ‘could get away with being scolded for three days and nights.’
“You guys are giving advice without really knowing anything!”
This was the common assessment of officials working in the central government.
Ironically, it was the officials of the Saheonbu and Saganwon who responded most hostilely to the appeals of local noblemen. This is because the item that was always included in the appeals that were posted was criticism of the Saheonbu and Saganwon.
-It is the sin of the Saheonbu and Saganwon that they failed to stop the Chief Minister even though he made a misjudgment! So, they must be severely punished!
Every time he saw a sentence like this, King Sejong smiled and presented an appeal to Daesaheon and Daesagan.
“What do you think?”
“This impudent man must be severely punished!”
“you’re right!”
It was Daesagan and Daeheon who seemed ready to beat up the person who filed the appeal if they were in front of them.
The same was true for other ministers. Originally, it was assumed that once you had power, you would dislike sharing it with others.
However, as the reform progressed, the overworked ministers chewed them down with one voice every time such complaints came up.
“Then why don’t they try it together!”
“Do they know the scene?”
“Who lives where?” Find out the address! “Get rid of it!”
* * *
In the end, the plan created by the military and military officials putting their heads together was submitted to Jo Mal-saeng.
“It’s okay! “I will treat you like this!”
Jo Mal-saeng, carrying the plan, immediately ran to Sejong and submitted the plan.
King Sejong carefully read the plan submitted by Jo Mal-saeng and gave orders to Do Seung-ji.
“Ask all officials and ministers from each group to come.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Soon, all the officials and ministers gathered at Geunjeongjeon. After confirming that everyone had gathered, King Sejong presented the military plan to Sang-seon.
“Let’s all read it and talk about it.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The officials and ministers who received the plan from the Merchant Marine took turns reading the plan carefully.
“Huh…”
After reading the plan, Lee Jik was astounded and sighed.
“I live, live….”
Lee Jik’s words were slurred, but the expression he looked at Jo Mal-saeng told the story of what happened next.
The faces of the ministers who read the plan were also similar to those who had changed jobs.
“What do you think?”
In response to King Sejong’s question, the officials and ministers looked at him. Maeng Sa-seong looked at Sejong for a moment and then opened his mouth.
“This is a plan that a truly evil gentleman should not rashly think about. However, I think it is the best plan to make those who do not know reality aware of reality.”
“Even though it’s evil?”
“Doesn’t reality add up?”
King Sejong laughed at Maeng Sa-seong’s answer.
“What the Left Councilor said is right. The plan put forward by the military team is truly evil. But the reality is even harsher, so let’s take this opportunity to inform the frogs in the well about the world.”
In this way, the ‘talent supply and demand plan’ proposed by the military service was passed unanimously.
The officer who recorded all these scenes added:
-… As a result of all the ministers agreeing, the superior allowed the execution of the military commander’s order.
The officer says:
Looking at the current government, all the noblemen who discuss morality have disappeared.
Even if you look at the commands issued by the military, you will not find anything that is right even if you wash your eyes and look for it. It’s just full of deception.
However, this officer also likes the military commander’s advice, so it is truly bittersweet.
I can’t just die.