Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 245

Episode 245: Misunderstandings, Prejudice, and the Butterfly Effect

After finishing reporting to Morimi, the retainer asked other retainers questions.

“Kim Jong-seo? Was that emissary from Joseon really that great? “This is the first time I’ve seen you be so greedy.”

When asked about Kim Jong-seo, his fellow retainers who had experienced him nodded in unison.

“It was great. “It was like the incarnation of the hero from the heroic tale.”

“that’s right. “He always had a smile on his face and acted boldly, but he never suffered any losses.”

“I seemed to only glance at it, but I never missed it.”

“It seemed like he had enough ability to run a country.”

“He seemed to be a debaucher, enjoying drinking and entertainment, but his loyalty was stronger than a rock.”

“Huh… was there someone like that?”

When the vassal who asked the question looked disbelieving, another vassal opened his mouth.

“The day before that Kim Jong-seo returned to Joseon, my lord held a banquet.”

* * *

The day before Kim Jong-seo’s death after successfully completing negotiations with Ouchi Morimi. Morimi held a grand banquet. It was a grand banquet attended by Morimi, Mochiyo (持世), the surviving son of his fallen brother (a child whose father died before he was born) and designated successor to Morimi, and the remaining retainers who did not go to Kyoto.

Nominally, it was a banquet to welcome Kim Jong-seo back to Joseon, but internally it was a banquet to recruit Kim Jong-seo.

Therefore, he gathered famous beauties and talented women from the estate and had them sit around Kim Jong-seo.

As the banquet got underway and everyone started to get drunk, Morimi secretly cheered them up.

“Aren’t they truly beautiful?”

“That’s right. “I feel like a butterfly playing in a flower garden.”

“ha ha ha! A butterfly playing in a flower garden! “That’s great!”

Morimi, who was laughing loudly at Kim Jong-seo’s words, spoke again.

“Prince Kim’s literary skills are truly outstanding. Please write a poem for him.”

“It’s an insignificant skill to boast about.”

Kim Jong-seo, who had declined a couple of times, eventually had to recite poetry.

“It’s a trivial skill, but I hope you enjoy it lightly.”

Kim Jong-seo, who sighed lightly, turned his head and looked outside. Kim Jong-seo, who was looking at the moon outside the window, opened his mouth.

“Is the round moon in the sky the same in Hanseong?

How can the singing voice of a singer be so sad?

“Is it because I can’t forget the single-minded affection of Jongno?”

“Ah…”

Morimi couldn’t keep his mouth shut when Kim Jong-seo recited the poem. Although it was a short poem, it was full of loyalty to the King of Joseon.

‘I guess I’ll have to give up…’

Forcing himself to hide his regret, Morimi let out a series of exclamations.

“Indeed! What a wonderful poem! “Kim Gong’s literary skills are truly amazing.”

“That’s too much praise. “I am sorry that I have defiled the ears of the head of the family with my petty tricks.”

When Kim Jong-seo answered humbly, Morimi shook his head.

“no! no! Although I am a shallow learner, I have ears to hear! What an outstanding poem! “You could say it’s the best in the world!”

Kim Jong-seo responded humbly to Morimi’s words.

“There are many people in Joseon who are better than me.”

As Kim Jong-seo continued to express his humility, one of his retainers quietly intervened.

“Did you say that there are many people in Joseon who are more talented than Gong?”

“exactly. “It’s embarrassing, but my ranking in the past exams was 13th.”

Morimi and his retainers could not keep their mouths shut at Kim Jong-seo’s words.

Meanwhile, the Joseon officials who came along to assist Kim Jong-seo had to desperately control their facial expressions by pinching their thighs.

‘They say it’s more of an interpretation than a dream! Look at their faces! ‘I clearly misunderstood!’

‘That guy’s Hanseong addiction! Even in a place like this!’

‘It’s serious, it’s serious!’

As an aside, the poem that Kim Jong-seo recited here was later published in a middle school Korean language textbook in Korea. And the commentary on this poem was as follows.

– An excellent work that expresses his loyalty to the king in an understated way using the words ‘Round Moon’ and ‘Single Heart’

* * *

The next day, after seeing off the Koreans including Kim Jong-seo and returning to his residence, Morimi became speechless.

Morimi’s face, looking at the well-manicured garden, was as tense as ever. Seeing Morimi like that, Mochiyo and the retainers became more nervous than ever before.

‘What’s going on? ‘The negotiations went well?’

‘Why on earth?’

While Mochiyo and the retainers were watching and worrying, Morimi spoke.

“Frogs…”

Morimi suddenly uttered an unknown word and turned to look at Mochiyo and the retainers.

“What do you think about the emissary sent from Joseon this time?”

Mochiyo stepped forward and answered Morimi’s question.

“He was a great talent.”

“yes. He was a great talent. But do you know what’s really scary? That kind of talent ranked 13th in the past. Simply put, there are 12 more talented people above him.”

“Ah…”

Mochiyo and the retainers nodded at Morimi’s words. They also knew about the civil service practices in Ming and Joseon through rumors.

However, they were looking down on the civil service examination system itself.

‘Written (文) is written (文弱)! ‘It is only force that rules the world!’

These were the thoughts of those who lived through the turbulent times of the division of the North and South.

“Of course, military power is the most important thing in order to conquer the world. but!”

Morimi paused for a moment and clenched his fists.

“Even if you conquer the world by force alone, it is only a short dream! In order to become a true master of the world, not just a momentary dream, what is absolutely necessary is literacy!”

Despite Morimi’s strong argument, Mochiyo and his retainers did not seem to easily accept it.

Morimi screamed at the sight.

“So you guys are frogs! Frog in the well! Look at Joseon now! “Who are the people who have control over the Tsushima Strait as well as the seas leading to the Ming?”

“… It’s Joseon.”

“What do you think is the reason for Joseon’s rapid growth?”

Mochiyo, who had pondered Morimi’s words for a moment, asked back.

“Is that the power of the door?”

“Yes! It is clear that increasing military strength is the most important thing! But it is the door’s job to grow and maintain that force! Look at Joseon! I was able to grow so quickly because people like Kim Jong-seo supported me! “Mochiyo!”

“hot!”

“Why did your father, my older brother, and previous head of the family, Yoshihiro Ouchi, have to die?”

“It was because of a conspiracy by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the previous shogun!”

“Why are you in a conspiracy? This was because no one could detect that it was a conspiracy. “There were people who were good at military strategy, but there was no one who was good at politics!”

Morimi spoke impassionedly as if spitting fire at Mochiyo and his retainers.

“It is said that a fortress is more difficult than a siege. Governing a country is more difficult than starting a country! To become the master of the world, which is our family’s dream, we need the power of the door! I will give you an order! Search the estate and gather children with a talent for gates, including your own children! Gather the children and send them to study abroad in Joseon!”

“There may be problems with funds!”

When one of the retainers pointed out the problem, Morimi screamed.

“Have you forgotten the silver mine in Nagato and Iwami that will be built in Nagato?”

“No shame!”

“This is why they call it a frog! It’s important to raise children who have a talent for radish, but you shouldn’t ignore doors either! In order to become a true master of the world, it is not enough to be successful! “We must prepare thoroughly until then!”

Mochiyo and the retainers responded to Morimi’s shout by bowing their heads in unison.

“hot!”

It was a moment when another inflection point was created in history.

* * *

The Panokseon carrying Kim Jong-seo, who succeeded in his mission, took a detour toward Jeju Island instead of Tsushima and arrived at Jeollajwasuyeong.

Because the mission itself was secret, Panokseon, a member of the Jeolla Jwasuyeong, was the one who moved, not Dongrae, where many Japanese people were watching.

After safely arriving at Jeollajwasuyeong, Kim Jong-seo immediately got on a horse and headed toward Hanseong.

“What a sincere man! “You can rest for a day, but you’re going up right away!”

Jeollajwasusa saw off Kim Jong-seo and his party with a happy face. However, the people moving with Kim Jong-seo opened their flounder eyes and glared at Kim Jong-seo.

‘Sincerity is crap!’

‘Do you see that gentleman for a day or two? I’m definitely doing that so I can finish early and go to Gibang!’

I grumbled internally, but everyone in the group agreed on one thing.

“But make sure to do one thing!”

* * *

Kim Jong-seo arrived in Hanseong amid numerous misunderstandings and prejudices and headed straight to King Sejong.

“Good job.”

Sejong, who received the report through an internal official, spoke to Kim Jong-seo.

“Take a two-day break and then apply. “There are many things I want to ask.”

‘Give me one more day.’

Although he was grumbling inside, Kim Jong-seo bowed his head and answered.

“I am devastated.”

“Let’s go out and see.”

Kim Jong-seo, who came out to pay homage to King Sejong, pointed his finger and grumbled.

“If you’re going to use it, spend a bit more. “What are two days? Two days… Where should I start with this?”

It was Kim Jong-seo who kept counting his fingers and thinking about where to go.

* * *

After two days of rest, Kim Jong-seo had to come to Sejong again.

“What kind of person is the head of the Daenae clan in Kim Jeong-rang’s opinion?”

“You seem like a very ambitious person.”

“Are you very ambitious? The reason is?”

When Sejong showed interest, Kim Jong-seo talked about what he had observed.

“When I heard the idea of jointly mining the silver mine at Seokgyeonsan (Iwami), I would have started by saying that anyone who is loyal to the King of Japan must obtain His approval. However, until Shin returned, such a story was never mentioned, and there was no sign of sending anyone to the King of Japan.”

“Hmm… I see.”

In response to Kim Jong-seo’s explanation, Sejong stroked his beard and nodded.

“If you are that ambitious, you must be hostile to the King of Japan?”

“I didn’t show myself like that in front of God, but I didn’t show any more courtesy than was necessary.”

“Right.”

For a long time after that, Kim Jong-seo had to answer King Sejong’s questions.

After extracting enough information from Kim Jong-seo to satisfy him, King Sejong gave orders to Kim Jong-seo.

“Good job. “If you go to Uijeongbu, there is someone waiting for you, so go.”

“I follow your orders.”

Kim Jong-seo tilted his head as he bowed to King Sejong and came out.

“Who is waiting for me?”

“Jongseo!”

“omg!”

Kim Jong-seo looked like he had met a ghost when he heard a familiar voice calling him. From a distance, Hwang Hee was walking towards him, waving his hand.

“Why Captain? “Why here?”

While Kim Jong-seo was muttering with a white face, Hwang Hee, who had walked right in front, opened her mouth.

“Did you report everything to His Majesty the Lord?”

“yes? yes.”

“Then pack your bags. “I have to go back to work quickly.”

“Great! “It hasn’t been long since I returned from my envoy…”

When Kim Jong-seo, who was in tears, started complaining, Hwang Hee screamed.

“mind! In my time! From the day I returned from my travels, I started working again! “It’s a break. You had a good rest while traveling!”

“Great! “I went across the sea and came back!”

“mind! In my time! I went through a place swarming with Jurchen tribesmen! “Pack your bags now!”

“Captain…”

“Keep in mind that the more you do this, the farther the road back to Hanseong becomes. Choose. Do you want to lead the virgin territory exploration team or work with me and come back to Hanseong?”

Kim Jong-seo responded to Hwang Hee’s words with tears in his eyes.

“I will go home and change clothes.”

* * *

After that, King Sejong continued to receive reports related to the Japanese Empire.

King Sejong, who, like Kim Jong-seo, read the reports of Hwang Bo-in, who returned from meeting Won Do-jin, a Guju thief under secret orders, and Nam Ki-ju, who returned from meeting Yoshinori Ashikaga as a news agency, and the reports that compiled and analyzed these reports, looked back at the ministers.

“To start with, the conclusion is that the situation in the Japanese country is like a light in front of the wind.”

“That’s right.”

Yeonguijeong Lee Jik immediately answered King Sejong’s question and added:

“Seeing that not only the head of the Daenae clan, but also the Gujujeoldo clan Won, who is said to be trusted by the King of Japan, kept the details of the emissary secret, it appears that the reign of the King of Japan may be powerful on the outside, but is unstable on the inside.”

“Right. “If so, please make a plan that assumes the worst case scenario.”

“I follow your orders!”