Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 253
Episode 253 Exploration Team. (1)
Spring, 13th year of King Sejong (New Year, 1431).
A group of cavalry arrived at the administrative headquarters of the Northeast Region Pioneer Corps located in Gilju.
“What a name.”
When the military attaché got off the horse and announced that the order had been issued, Hwang Hee and Kim Jong-seo, and other officials who had been attending to official duties inside, rushed out.
“Administrative Chief Hwang Hee, receive the command!”
“yes!”
After a while, a mat was laid out in the front yard of the administrative headquarters, and Hwang Hui, neatly dressed in his clothes, bowed to the capital and knelt down.
Once all preparations were completed, the military officer opened the scroll and read its contents.
“Administrative Chief Hwang Hee, please listen.”
The content that followed began with praising Hwang Hee’s contribution to establishing an administrative organization in the frontier areas of the northeastern region.
Next, Dongbuk-myeon, including the expanded area, was to be renamed Hamgil-do and officially incorporated as a province of Joseon.
“… Accordingly, the name of the newly created province is Hamgildo. Hamheung is raised to Hamheung-bu (府), and Gilju is made Daedohobu (大都護府).”
The officials who stood politely and listened to the contents of the royal decree secretly cheered when they heard that Dongbuk-myeon would be promoted to Hamgil-do.
This was because the hardships I had gone through so far were not in vain.
The military officer’s reading continued.
“… Administrative Chief Hwang Hee recognized his merits and appointed him as Dogwanchalchulcheoksa of Hamgildo. He will assume that position and solidify the stability of Hamgildo. However, quarterly visits to Hanseong and face-to-face reporting will proceed as is.”
After that, after a series of small details, the general reading was over, and the military officer, who had rolled up the scroll again neatly, handed the scroll to Hwang Hee and congratulated him.
“We are reducing it. Captain.”
“Thank you. By the way, what happened to Captain Choi Hae-san?”
“He was promoted to the position of Chief of Staff of the Joseon Army.”
“It’s something to celebrate. “I’m glad you worked so hard.”
“That’s right.”
“If you meet the general, tell him I offer my sincere congratulations.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Upon hearing the news of the death of General Choi Hae-san, who had come up to the north with him and was in charge of pacifying the area west of Mt. Baekdu, Hwang Hee expressed his sincere congratulations.
‘By the way… When General Choi Hae-san returns, the appearance of all the castles located on the flat land, excluding the fortress, will change.’
* * *
‘Restoring the birthplace of our ancestors.’ In the course of the conquest of the northern region under the pretext of this, the Joseon army established forts and camps at strategic military locations in the newly recovered region.
In the process of contracting the dams and fortresses, the Joseon military introduced a new product: they built barriers for the dams and bases using iron-loaded stone (reinforced concrete) introduced through road paving construction.
The Jurchen tribe, who were eagerly seeking their stolen land, had to shed tears of blood in front of this barrier.
This was because there was a solid stone wall that could easily have been erected like a wooden fence.
The process of building the facilities inside the stone wall took additional time, but the presence of the solid stone wall itself broke the momentum of the Jurchen people.
The way the stone wall was built there also forced the Jurchen people who were attacking it to make more sacrifices than necessary.
The barrier, which the Joseon army named ‘pole-shaped defense wall’ because the four corners of the beam resemble jagged thorns, was a simplified version of the beam-type fortress.
The barrage wall, which had a rectangular shape pushed inward, concentrated the guns of the musketeers on the wall in one place.
Bigyeokjin thunderbolts fired from artillery placed on emplacements built in the center and four corners of the wall inflicted fatal damage on the Jurchen tribesmen crowded along the wall.
This barrier, which made the Jurchen people shed bloody tears and tremble with pride, was, of course, the work of Hyang.
If Bo was responsible for the first line of defense, Jin was responsible for the second line of defense. The fortress built in this camp was built according to the standard of a star-shaped fortress.
The barrier, which was made of two to three layers of alternating layers, was designed to fire crossfire on the Jurchen tribe.
That was the place where this camp was installed. The township was positioned so that major land transportation routes passed through the center of the township.
It was made impossible to advance into the interior of Joseon unless Jin was captured.
Of course, we did not forget to isolate military and civilian areas from the inside to prevent the ‘Trojan Horse’ tactic of attacking from within by enemies disguised as civilians.
The camp and port built in this way were quite large.
This was to reduce damage by accommodating nearby civilians in the event of an attack by the Jurchen tribe.
And finally, the slightest hint of incense was revealed.
In the case of the fortress, the wall was built so strong that it could block the Jurchen offensive, but would collapse under our troops’ artillery attack.
In Jin’s case, a secret passage was created for a counterattack when the enemy took over the castle.
Because this secret passage was top secret, related information only existed at the General Staff Headquarters in Hanseong.
It was a camouflaged secret passage that even those working in that camp did not know about.
It seemed like Jin was created with double and triple measures, and the Jurchen tribes were unable to overcome the pace and had to retreat with only heavy losses.
And the Jurchen people who retreated disappeared into ashes without even leaving a trace as the Joseon army pursued them.
A very small number of survivors remained and went to the Ming Dynasty, but that was the end.
Most of the Jurchen people who crossed into the area where the Joseon army and the Joseon people ended up becoming food for wild animals.
And Choi Hae-san, who had developed a taste for the combination of concrete barriers and guns, was planning to change Joseon’s main defense base in this way.
* * *
The military officer handed Hwang Hee a thick scroll.
“What is this?”
“This is a personnel transfer order.”
“Personnel transfer?”
Hwang Hee took the scroll and nodded.
They were officials who had suffered for several years in Dongbuk-myeon, a remote and rough area. There had to be adequate compensation.
“You must have a lot of friends who will like you.”
“The officials of Gilju will be busy.”
“Hehe!”
Hwang Hee, who responded to the military officer’s words with a smile, designated a place for the military officer’s group to rest and returned to the office.
Returning to his seat, Hwang Hee opened the scroll and looked at the contents written inside.
The scroll was filled with detailed information, including the names of those riding, the class of passengers to be moved to, and the positions to which they would be moved.
Hwang Hee, who had been carefully checking the contents, looked at one side of the scroll and smiled in remorse.
“These guys… they did it right.”
After completing the confirmation work, Hwang Hee handed the scroll to Kim Jong-seo, who was anxious in front of him.
“Write it down and post it on the bulletin board.”
“Yes, Captain.”
After receiving the scroll, Kim Jong-seo immediately opened it and checked the contents.
“huh? no! “Thank you!”
Kim Jong-seo, who was checking the contents of the scroll, clung to Hwang Hee with a face that turned red.
“What is this? Do you mean the assistant position of Dogwanchalchulcheoksa (都觀察黜陟使)? “What is this strange, unheard of position?”
“This is a newly created position. Did you see the grade? It is the 4th rank position. Congratulations on your promotion, hey. “It’s a quick promotion to go from the 5th grade to the 4th grade.”
“Great! Is promotion a problem now? “Many of my other friends are going to Hanseong, so why do I have to stay here!”
“But you get promoted quickly, right?”
“Is promotion a problem now?”
In response to Kim Jong-seo’s protest, Hwang Hee leaned back on the chair and looked at Kim Jong-seo with her arms crossed.
“So why? “Are you going to submit your resignation?”
“What else can’t you pay?”
Hwang Hee chuckled at Kim Jong-seo’s words.
“You bastard. Do you think it will be possible for me to climb a few levels in one go?”
“yes?”
Kim Jong-seo paused and pondered the hidden meaning of Hwang Hee’s words.
After a while, Kim Jong-seo turned white and muttered.
“No way… no way…”
“That’s the way to catch people.”
Hwang Hee pointed to the ceiling with her index finger and continued speaking.
“Our chief minister is very greedy for talented people. In my evaluation of you, I wrote that you were a ‘talent rarely seen again’, and you did a good job during the last emissary trip. Will the Chief Minister just let you go? I said, ‘I won’t let you go.’ “You can even bet half a year’s worth of bonus on it.”
“Damn it…” Kim Jong
-seo’s head fell down at Hwang Hee’s words.
Hwang Hee, who was watching this, did something to sprinkle salt on the wound.
“Of course, if you’re going to give up riding and just hang out until you retire, I’ll send you to Hanseong. But what about Jong-seo? How much is Jeongrang’s green bonus? Would it be easy to enjoy a noble life while supporting your family with that green salary? Do you tolerate that? The dog holds back his poop. Then the only answer is bribery. Then, if you get caught, if you’re not a recorder, there’s a high chance that you’ll end up in the mine.”
“Ugh…”
At Hwang Hee’s words, Kim Jong Seo could only let out a groan.
Even if you think about it, there is a high probability that you will receive a kickback in such a situation. And if King Sejong’s personality was one of punishing a talented man more severely if he committed fraud, he was sure to go to the mines.
In response to Kim Jong-seo’s reaction, Hwang Hee gently hugged Kim Jong-seo.
“So, Jong-seo. Would you rather live in Hanseong, receiving a small amount of salary, looking at your wife and lamenting about your light pockets, or would you rather live a life doing what you like, riding a car even if it is a little difficult, and being treated well by your wife? You know it well, right? “It means that customers who come occasionally but spend a lot each time are treated better than customers who wander around and spend only occasionally.”
“Keuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…
) In response to Kim Jong-seo’s reaction, Hwang Hee waved a tasty bait.
“This time I became an observer, right? You know, right? The term of office for an observer is usually 2 or 3 years. In this situation, it would probably take a full 3 years, right? If you work hard for 3 years, you will return to Hanseong. What do you want to do? Do you want to suffer for three more years and continue to ride and be treated well, or do you want to go to Hanseong now and live by being judged?”
At Hwang Hee’s words, Kim Jong-seo pursed his lips and was deep in thought. Kim Jong-seo, who had been thinking for a while, shouted loudly.
“Keep that promise! “If you leave me behind in three years, I don’t know what I’ll do!”
“mind! You just have to stick next to me and move! So go and do what you’re told!”
“Mr….”
Kim Jong-seo returned to his office, swearing under his breath.
As Kim Jong-seo disappeared outside, the officials who saw the scene cautiously approached Hwang Hee.
“Captain, we too….”
“It’s the same with you. “Just work hard!”
“yep!”
Hearing Hwang Hee’s words, the officials quickly returned to their posts. Hwang Hee, who was watching this, suddenly remembered something and called a subordinate.
“hey! “Go and tell Jong-seo that he has to go to Hanseong in five days and to prepare properly!”
“yep!”
* * *
A few days later, Hwang Hee and Kim Jong-seo came to Hanseong. This was due to regular reporting directly to King Sejong.
Entering Geunjeongjeon, Hwang Hui and Kim Jong-seo politely bowed to King Sejong, who was sitting on the temple.
“I am announcing the entrance exam to His Highness Hwang Hee, Chief of the Dogwanchal Chulcheoksa of Shin Hamgildo.”
“I am announcing the entrance exam to His Majesty the Lord Kim Jong-seo, assistant to the new Hamgil-do Dogwanchalcheoksa.”
“Thank you for coming this long way. Thanks to Gyeong’s good handling of Dongbuk-myeon’s affairs, Dongbuk-myeon was able to be promoted to Hamgil-do. “Thank you very much.”
Hwang Hui bowed his head and responded to King Sejong’s admiration.
“I am devastated.”
“And Kim Jong-seo. Thank you for your hard work too. “I am truly grateful to have such a talented person like you, not only for the secret mission I did last time when I went to Daenae clan, but also for faithfully assisting me in Dongbuk-myeon.”
“That is an undeserved compliment. “I don’t know what to do with the praise that is so undeserved.”
“No, no.”
King Sejong, who praised Hwang Hee and Kim Jong-seo, received a report on their work.
The officer who recorded the report, which was conducted in a warm atmosphere throughout, added as follows:
-… So the award praised the contributions of Hwang Hee and Kim Jong-seo.
The officer discusses. Kim Jong-seo is so talented that he must be very busy.