Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 240
Episode 240: Secret Envoy (2)
As Nam Ki-ju expected, Dodoungwa and his retainers were having a heated argument at Dodoungwa’s residence.
“We must oppose! “It’s like having a knife under your chin!”
“you’re right! Aside from Aso Bay, Ofunako City is a short distance away from Izuhara! “It must be stopped!”
Meanwhile, there were quite a few vassals who agreed.
“We must accept Joseon’s offer! Anyway, those Japanese pirates are a nuisance to us as well. “This is an order to kill someone with a sword!”
“you’re right! Japanese pirates are the ones who don’t listen to us more often than they listen to us! “We need to take this opportunity to sort it out!”
Dodoungwa was troubled as he watched his vassals fiercely arguing for and against.
Both sides had a point.
Since the last invasion of the Joseon army, Tsushima Island has been paying close attention to Joseon’s movements. They needed electricity to use just in case.
The Japanese pirates were also in a difficult situation.
As the Muromachi shogunate completely seized power, Japanese pirates began to have restrictions on their movements.
In addition, the offensive against Ming during the conquest of Tsushima in the first year of King Sejong’s reign ended in a fatal defeat, and after suffering heavy losses, a suitable place to hide was needed.
Since both sides had the same interests, the Japanese pirates often used Tsushima Island as a hideout.
No, it could be seen that the number of Japanese pirates among Tsushima Island residents has increased.
However, as things turned out like this, Dodoungwa was in a difficult situation.
This was because controlling Japanese pirates was not an easy task.
As both sides were fighting back, Hatoyama, the eldest, spoke up.
“I think…”
Hatoyama opened his mouth, and not only his retainers but even Dodoungwa listened.
This was because the person who had not opened his mouth until then opened his mouth.
With everyone listening, Hatoyama spoke his thoughts.
“In my opinion, I accept Joseon’s proposal, but I think it needs to be coordinated.”
“Coordination?”
“yes. You can lend Aso Bay, but you cannot give Ofunakoshi away. This is because Izuhara’s defense will have a problem.”
Not only the retainers but even Dodoungwa nodded at Hatoyama’s words.
Hatoyama continued speaking.
“I am grateful that Joseon pays me in return, but 20 taels of silver per month is too little. No matter how barren Tsushima is, we cannot give it away for such a low price.”
“yes!”
Dodoungwa nodded deeply at Hatoyama’s words.
However, another vassal carefully raised a counterargument.
“But will Joseon really respond? 20 nyang of silver per month is 240 nyang of silver per year. Considering that we receive 100 sum of rice per year as sesami in Joseon, it is like giving twice as much wealth. “I think it’s enough for Joseon.”
Hatoyama’s voice grew louder at those words.
“Land in Tsushima is even more expensive than that! “If you’re only going to end up with 240 nyang, it’s better not to accept Joseon’s offer!”
Hatoyama, who silenced the person who offered a counterargument, bowed to Dodoungwa and begged him.
“According to a rumor I heard a while ago, the Joseon bastards like to hit people. Even 20 taels of silver is sure to be bait! If you bite this hard, heaven and earth will know how incompetent our vassals are! “You have to get as much as you can through negotiation!”
“Get as much as we can… What do we have to gain other than getting more Hatoyama money?”
“It’s a monopoly store!”
“Monopoly? Hmm…”
Dodoungwa stroked his beard as Hatoyama spoke.
Tsushima’s environment was harsh. Therefore, many daily necessities had to be obtained from outside the island, and in the process, they had to suffer from the profiteering of merchants. However, this problem could be greatly solved if a monopoly store came in.
“But will the king of Joseon allow the establishment of a monopoly?”
“Doju is also a subject of Joseon. If a subject makes a request, will the king not listen? In addition, a provision should be added that, in exchange for giving up the port, the families of the sailors stationed at the port must also live together.”
“Sugun’s family? ah! “Are you a hostage?”
Hatoyama nodded at Dodoungwa’s words.
“That’s right. In addition, it becomes a solid basis for setting up a reseller. “Isn’t this where the people of Joseon are?”
“Right!”
When Dodoungwa appeared to be leaning toward giving up the port, the vassal who had been opposing it quickly opened his mouth.
“No matter how many hostages there are, it’s too dangerous! Even if the area between Aso Bay and Izuhara is blocked by a mountain, if the Joseon army really wants to, they can overcome it at any time! And other lords will laugh at you for giving up your territory for just a little wealth!”
After hearing the counterargument, Hatoyama began to refute it again.
“A visible enemy is safer than an invisible enemy. If the Joseon army enters Aso Bay, we can prepare immediately by deploying a few quick-moving soldiers in the middle! But do you think Joseon will remain silent if the Joseon military is completely blocked? They will definitely harbor a grudge, and they will have to expend several times more troops to monitor Joseon like this! And do you think Tsushima will be conquered with only 230 ships loaded with soldiers?”
In the last conquest of Tsushima Island, the number of front lines mobilized by the Joseon army was 227 large and small ships, and the number of troops was 17,285. (Note 1)
* * *
Hatoyama paused for a moment and took a breath. After catching his breath, Hatoyama bowed to Dodoungwa and spoke.
“Tell the other lords to laugh at you! It was called ‘Wasin Sangdam (臥薪嘗膽)’. We must gradually collect the wealth provided by Joseon to faithfully cover military expenses and raise military funds. “Shouldn’t we restore the real land that was taken away by Ouchi?”
“Yes!”
At Hatoyama’s words, Dodoungwa jumped up from his seat and shouted.
The Daenae Clan, who suffered great losses in the armed resistance on the Japanese main island, advanced to Europe.
In this process, a conflict broke out with the Soi (small Shoni) family, an indigenous force in Kuju. As a result of the armed struggle, the Shawnee lost much of their territory, and the Dodoungwa clan, supported by the Shawnee, lost control of Guju and had to retreat.
Dodoungwa, who had made up his mind, shouted to his vassals.
“Other lords may laugh at me! It’s a home consultation! It’s a home consultation! Thoroughly prepare your military supplies and recover your health! Until then, thoroughly please Joseon and take care of as much as you can!”
“hot!”
To Dodoungwa’s command, the retainers all responded with one voice.
* * *
The next day, Dodoungwa, his vassals, and envoys from Joseon gathered together again.
After exchanging brief greetings, Hatoyama resumed negotiations on Dodoungwa’s behalf.
“I have thought deeply about the proposal made by the Joseon envoy yesterday.”
“Is that so? Have you decided?”
Hatoyama responded to Nam Ki-ju’s words.
“I think some coordination is needed.”
“You mean coordination?”
“That’s right. “First of all, I hope that Aso Bay will be the only port to be given to Joseon.”
“Is Aso the only one?”
“That’s right. Ofunakoshi is too close to Izuhara. Many Tsushima residents still suffer from the nightmare brought about by the previous invasion of Joseon. To reassure residents, Ofunakoshi is absolutely not allowed. Instead, you can use Aso Bay as you wish.”
Nam Ki-ju nodded at Hatoyama’s words and muttered to himself.
‘The Crown Prince has become the Crown Prince again. If this is the case, will it proceed with plan B?’
In the difficult discussion that took place in the process of making plans before departure, the village predicted that Tsushima would make this proposal.
Since we could not ignore the possibility that the situation would not turn out as expected, a revised plan to proceed in this situation was created and received approval from King Sejong.
In any case, since the Tsushima side made a proposal, the Joseon side also had to come up with an answer.
“This is not my decision to make alone, so could you give me a moment?”
“That’s right.”
Nam Ki-ju, who stopped the meeting for a moment and returned to his lodgings, talked to his manager.
“Just as His Majesty the Crown Prince expected.”
“That’s right. “Then we should go ahead with the plan, right?”
“I guess so. Let’s take a moment. “How about we chat for a moment or play Go?”
“Good!”
When Joseon’s envoys did not appear for quite some time, Dodoungwa turned to Hatoyama.
“It takes quite a long time.”
“It may be that it takes time to actually coordinate, or it may be that they are intentionally taking time.”
“on purpose?”
“I guess they are trying to shake us up. “It’s a common tactic.”
“Right.”
* * *
After about 2 o’clock (about 4 hours), Nam Ki-ju and his group returned to the conference room.
“Has there been a decision?”
“I will accept the offer if you give me Cheonmoman in full.”
“You can do whatever you want with Cheonmo.”
“thank you. “So is that all done?”
“no. “20 taels of silver per month is too little.”
Nam Ki-ju’s voice rose slightly at Hatoyama’s words.
“We reduced the number of ports from two to one, but are you asking us to pay more?”
In response to Nam Ki-ju’s words, Hatoyama explained the reason.
“If Aso Bay is given over to Joseon, the people who lived in Aso Bay will have to be relocated. Considering the cost of relocating the people, the tax cost that will not be collected until the people who migrated like that settle down, and the cost of comforting the people who will be driven out, 20 taels of silver per month is too little.”
“So how much do you want?”
“40 nyang of silver.”
“Cut the ports in half and double the cost? Do you think it makes sense?”
“Then, are you leaving from Dongrae?”
Nam Ki-ju’s face became fierce at Hatoyama’s words.
“I guess Tsushima merchants don’t need Waegwan?”
This time Hatoyama’s face became fierce.
It was like striking each other with one blow.
After that, the war of words between the two sides continued.
Thanks to the strong exchange from the beginning, the words exchanged were not pleasant.
Eventually, when the atmosphere on both sides became tense, Dodoungwa intervened.
“now! This is a negotiation that everyone wants to benefit from, so can we do this? I make an arbitration plan! Honestly, 20 nyang of silver is too small! However, since we have reduced the number of ports by one, let’s make it 30 nyang of silver. “How do you feel?”
In Dodoungwa’s mediation, Nam Kiju and the envoys sat back and whispered.
After a while, Nam Ki-ju sat down again and answered.
“The governor has proposed a mediation, so I will accept it.”
“Thank you!”
Dodoungwa, pleased with Nam Ki-ju’s words, gave Hatoyama a quick glance.
This was something the two of them planned.
By doing this, Dodo Woongwa would be recognized as a person favorable to Joseon and would receive positive evaluations.
The problem was that Nam Ki-ju and the deputy were also making eye contact with each other.
* * *
After that, intense negotiations took place over several issues.
‘Joseon naval forces stationed in Aso Bay must also have their families live together.’
When Tsushima presented this proposal, Joseon responded as follows.
‘Then we will build a wall for the safety of the people.’
There was a long argument over this issue, but in the end, Joseon won.
‘Instead of building a wall, we will install monopoly stores in civilian residential areas. And this monopoly will also be available to Tsushima residents who enter unarmed.’
Since the monopoly was what Dodoungwa and his vassals also wanted, this issue was immediately agreed upon.
And through this agreement, Joseon was able to build defense facilities in strategic military locations.
A fierce war of words continued like this, but almost all of the agenda items were what Joseon had expected – exactly what the Hyang had expected.
The Joseon envoys and Do Do-woong-wa, who reached an agreement through coordination of opinions, smiled with satisfaction.
“Then all that remains is to go to Gyeongdo.”
Dodoungwa immediately responded to Nam Ki-ju’s words.
“I will do my best to help. “Then let’s leave as quickly as possible!”
* * *
At that moment, the ship carrying the emissaries departed for the Savior.
* * *
Note 1) Chapter 2 Conquest of Tsushima Island. Military strategy of the Joseon Dynasty. Ministry of National Defense Military Compilation Research Institute.