Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 257
Episode 257 Exploration Team. (5)
Because King Sejong cut the period in half, personnel selected from the Ministry of National Defense and the Finance and Economy Department of the Chief of Staff gathered in one place and put their heads together to revise the plan.
The first to speak were those from the Ministry of Defense and the Chief of Staff.
“First, let’s base the geographical data on what we obtained last time.”
“Wouldn’t it be dangerous?”
“We have no choice but to prepare as meticulously as possible before starting work, and then immediately respond to any variables or situations that arise on the spot.”
“There are limits to on-site response.”
“Of course.”
As the debate continued, the attendees had to struggle to find a reasonable alternative.
“How about this?”
When the naval officer, who had been looking through various reports to find an alternative, opened his mouth, the attention of everyone in the conference room was focused.
“Do you have a good idea?”
“We are using the emergency front lines.”
“Emergency? Considering the size of the ship, it can’t carry much…”
A counterargument immediately emerged, but the first proponent shook his head.
“I am not suggesting that we entrust transportation to the emergency services. “The idea is to use Haeunggeung as Pabalma.”
“Let’s use Haeunggeup as Pabalma?”
The eyes of those gathered in the conference room began to sparkle.
“Please explain in a little more detail.”
In response to others’ input, the proponent soon began to explain in detail.
“Among the naval vessels that have been launched so far, there are a total of six ships on which naval forces have been deployed and training has been completed. “These six ships take turns.”
“You take turns?”
“It would be something like this. Two ships will go to the island to be occupied, two ships will go to Wonsan Port, one ship will head to Wonsan, and the last ship will head from Wonsan to the island. Of the two ships staying in Wonsan, one remains on standby and the other one stays on the maintenance island. Of the two ships staying on the island, one is in regular contact with ships coming from Wonsan, and the other ship is in charge of delivering urgent news. .”
“It looks like a spinning watermill.”
“That’s right. How is it?”
After hearing the proposer’s explanation, the attendees put their heads together and began to whisper.
“Do you think it’s okay?”
“But won’t there be a shortage of front lines to deploy to patrol Tsushima Island and the East Sea?”
“Tsushima Island, you don’t have to worry about Panokseon for the time being, right? To be honest, the main purpose of the front lines deployed to Tsushima was to deal with Japanese pirates? It’s about taking the lead from Tsushima by the leash. And wouldn’t it be possible for the patrol officers in charge of regular contact, not emergency contact, to also serve as patrols in the East Sea?”
“Still, a little….”
“Five more sea emergency battleships and three challenger-class battleships will be launched before the end of this summer, so we just have to be patient.”
“Then…”
As the conversation continued, it was decided to use Haeung to build a high-speed communication network.
* * *
Once one agenda was settled, a war of words ensued over another issue.
The topic of the second war of words was ‘Where will we land?’
With the map of the target island in the center, the opinions of the attendees were divided.
“The bay east of this southern spur is the best landing spot!”
“The bay on the west side of the island is better than that!”
In the 21st century, opinions were divided over ‘Uchiura Bay’ and ‘Ishikara Bay.’
The opinions of those who supported Uchiuraman were as follows.
-Considering the topography of the island, this bay is the best place for defense.
-Because the shape of this southern protrusion is like a curved finger. The bay located inside is shaped like a jar, so it is easy to defend if you build a castle on the southern and northern protrusions of the bay, which are like the mouth of the jar.
-Considering the future exploration of the ocean located on the east side of the island, there is no better place than this. This is because if you leave the entrance of the bay and head east, you will go straight into the ocean.
However, the basis for those supporting Ishikharaman was not easy.
-To get to the bay on the southern protrusion, you must pass through a narrow strait located between the Japanese main island and the island.
-This is highly likely to cause conflict not only with the Japanese pirates but also with the Japanese navy.
-It is more efficient to use the bay on the west side of the island as a landing point rather than wasting time and power through a useless armed conflict.
-According to a report from Challenger No. 3, the western bay is directly connected to a wide plain. But this is not the case in the southern bay. Considering the expansion of the territory and the movement of civilians that will follow after securing the bridgehead, the western bay is the optimal location
– the future exploration plan is not to explore the ocean on the eastern side of the island, but to explore the unfinished northern waters of the island. It must continue. Ocean exploration comes after that.
The confrontation between the two sides continued tensely. Because the grounds presented by both sides were reasonable, it was not an easy decision to make.
In the end, the attendees, tired of the endless war of words, realized the need for a mediator.
“Let’s ask the higher-ups!”
“That’s right!”
In this way, this issue was escalated to the General Staff Headquarters and the Ministry of Defense. However, something happened where the Ministry of National Defense and the General Staff Headquarters were split in two, and ultimately it went up to King Sejong.
* * *
“The difficult problem is the difficult problem.”
Sejong, who received the report, also muttered with a perplexed expression.
“What do you think?”
In response to King Sejong’s question, the ministers were divided into two groups and a war of words broke out.
Sejong’s eyes turned to Hwang Hee and Kim Jong-seo as he watched the scene. Because it was his own suggestion, Hwang Hee was unable to return to Hamgil Island and was stranded in Hanseong.
Thanks to this, Kim Jong-seo, who had unexpected luck, was enjoying ‘Hanseong Night’.
Sejong, seeing Hwang Hee keeping her mouth shut even as the war of words was going on, opened her mouth.
“Gwanchalsa – the official name was Dogwanchalchulcheoksa (都觀察黜陟使). However, thanks to the name’s tongue-twisting nature, it was often shortened to Gwansa-sa, and later Gwansa-sa became the official name. (Note 1) – What do you think?”
In response to Sejong’s question, Hwang Hee gathered her thoughts for a moment and opened her mouth.
“Will you also proceed with the matter of sending Kim Jong-seo as an emissary last time?”
“exactly.”
“Then God recommends the western bay.”
“Is Mann’s choice related to what is happening on Kuju Island? Hmm… I see.”
Sejong, who pondered Hwang Hee’s words for a moment, nodded and looked away. Sejong, seeing the incense beneath the temple, asked a question.
“What does the Crown Prince think?”
Hyang immediately answered Sejong’s question.
“I agree with the opinion expressed by the observer. “What happens in Kuju Island will also irritate the King of Japan, and if something happens in the north, he may overreact.”
“yes. But it looks like you have something more to say?”
“It’s because of the people who live on that island. “I saw records showing that there were indigenous people.”
“ah.”
Sejong nodded at Hyang’s point.
* * *
It was not only the military that checked the report posted by the captain of ship number 3 and a copy of the voyage log that arrived later and began an investigation. The Foreign Office also got into action.
Looking at the voyage log of ship number 3, there was a record of contact with the island’s native people. To avoid unnecessary collisions, the captain of ship number 3 attempted to communicate. However, since there was no communication with the natives, it took a lot of effort to find someone who could communicate in writing. As a result of finding and writing a conversation with someone who knew Chinese characters, I learned that they called themselves ‘Ainu’.
According to the captain’s report, the natives’ reaction was not favorable, but they were not unconditionally hostile.
As a result of a more in-depth discussion, we were able to understand that we were not on good terms with the Japanese main island to the south and were able to return.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs meticulously analyzed the captain’s account and voyage log and searched the records of the record office.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs analyzed the records of the Record Office and the information obtained by interrogating Waegwan merchants and inferred that ‘Great General Jeongi’, a title referring to the shogunate’s shogun, was related to them.
“I think the pieces fit together roughly?”
“Right. “I’ll report it.”
* * *
Hyang continued speaking after seeing Sejong’s reaction.
“Considering the securing of the bridgehead and the expansion of the occupied territory, contact with those natives will inevitably occur. If so, I think we need to prepare in advance how to accept them as the people of our Joseon Dynasty. “Shouldn’t we avoid going unprepared and making a mistake resulting in a conflict?”
“That’s right. “But it won’t be easy.”
“It may be surprisingly easy to fill in their gaps. “Didn’t the Jurchen people do the same?”
King Sejong and the ministers nodded at Hyang’s words.
“Fill in what is lacking….”
Sejong muttered, and Hyang immediately received his words.
“Don’t we have a monopoly?”
“aha!”
When Hyang mentioned the ‘monopoly office’, King Sejong and the ministers simultaneously let out exclamations.
Hyang smiled slightly at that sight and muttered to himself.
‘If Western explorers beat the natives with glass jewelry, we have a monopoly!’
When Hyang mentioned the monopoly, Hwang Hee added.
“Certainly a monopoly would be much more useful than force. “There is also the Jurjin tribe who are wealthy because of their monopoly.”
“I think so too.”
When Sejong agreed, Jo Mal-saeng intervened.
“It is better to build relationships through trade than to prioritize military force. “What our Joseon army lacks most is people.”
King Sejong let out a long sigh at Jo Mal-saeng’s words.
“Whoa~. “Is this only the military?”
Kim Jeom, the Minister of Finance and Economy, intervened in King Sejong’s sigh.
“Joseon’s population is growing rapidly, so your concerns will soon be resolved.”
“I hope that day comes soon.”
King Sejong responded to Kim Jeom’s words with a truly earnest expression.
* * *
As the war progressed, the population of Joseon began to increase.
The spread of cowpox methods, strengthening of hygiene education, and preparation of large quantities of medicinal herbs in advance prevented the spread of infectious diseases.
In addition, as irrigation facilities and agricultural land were improved, food production also began to increase.
In addition, the noble families of the Jurchen tribe accounted for a significant portion of the population increase in Joseon.
As these and other conditions were added, the graph showing Joseon’s population growth was increasingly sloping steeply to the right.
After checking the graph, Kim Jeom muttered with a smile on his face.
“If we keep going like this, we will soon be able to surpass 7 million. And when the children born these days grow up, start a family, and have children, even 10 million won’t be a dream.”
Population 10 million.
As Joseon’s capabilities are strengthened and new civilizations are spread, as it is now, when the population exceeds 10 million, it will no longer be bowed down to by other famous countries.
It was the revival of a powerful nation that even the ancient Chinese rulers could not treat with care.
* * *
Although he got sidetracked for a moment, Sejong came to a conclusion.
“I will come to a conclusion. “The place where our Joseon army will establish a bridgehead is in the western bay.”
“I follow your orders.”
“And prepare well for armed conflict, but make sure that our country does not attack first. Let’s trust the reseller.”
“I will keep this in mind!”
According to King Sejong’s decision, preparations for the attack operation against Muju Island began in earnest.
Although it was slightly off to the side, Joseon’s external expansion had begun in earnest.
* * *
Note 1) In 1466 (12th year of King Sejo’s reign), the name was changed from Dogwanchalchulcheoksa to Gwansasa. This is the author’s imagination based on this.