Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 260
Episode 260 The tree wants to stay still… (3)
“Welcome.”
“long time no see.”
Muntemu, who saw Lee Man-ju greeting Lee Man-ju with such arrogance, had to do his best to hold back his humiliation.
‘Damn you! What kind of relationship was I with your father!’
Lee Man-ju’s father, Eo Heo-chul, was a subordinate of Lee Seong-gye along with Muntemu. However, he was able to grow in size like this thanks to the fact that he noticed the difference between Joseon and the Ming and joined hands with the Ming one step ahead – more precisely, when Juche, who was his son-in-law, became Emperor Yongrak.
Thanks to this, Lee Man-ju was able to expand his influence while still serving as a receiver for Ming’s arrows.
Muntemu displayed superhuman patience and entered with Lee Man-ju.
“I heard you’re having a hard time these days because of Joseon. Are you okay?”
“It’s not good. So I guess we’ll have to come to a conclusion soon.”
As Muntemu got straight to the point, Lee Man-ju straightened his posture and looked at Muntemu.
“Are you planning on demonstrating your skills?”
Muntemu nodded in response to Lee Man-ju’s question and got straight to the point.
“So I need some help from you. “I hope we join hands and attack Joseon.”
Lee Man-ju, who thought for a moment about Muntemu’s words, shook his head slightly.
“I am given the title of commanding officer. If done incorrectly, it could cause conflict between Ming and Joseon.”
Muntemu immediately responded to Lee Man-ju’s words.
“I also hold the position of Geonju Commander-in-Chief. But are people really paying attention?”
“….”
At Muntemu’s words, Lee Manju was about to say something but closed his mouth. But inside, he was openly laughing at Muntumu.
‘Is that why you need to worry about a small tribe like yours?’
Muntemu seemed to have sensed Lee Man-ju’s feelings and continued speaking with a grin.
“Of course, compared to you and your tribe, which has the third empress of the previous emperor, Yongle Emperor, as a relative, it is a much smaller tribe. But that’s it. “These days aren’t the same as they used to be, are they?”
“Keuhum!”
Hearing Muntemu’s words, Manju Lee had to clear his throat and hide his expression.
What Muntumu said was correct. After going south to the Paje River under pressure from Daldan, the treatment of the Ming Dynasty became increasingly harsh. Especially after the death of Emperor Yongle, the level of desperation was visible.
As a person, it was a natural thing.
* * *
The reason why Eo Heo-chul was treated was not only because he was the father-in-law of Emperor Yeongrak, but also because he was the leader of many tribesmen.
During Emperor Yongrak’s conquest of Mongol, he went on a conquest with the Ming army, and if there was an invasion by Mongolia or Daldan, he took the lead and blocked it.
Therefore, I had no choice but to provide good support. Of course, we did not forget to consume it consistently to prevent excessive growth.
However, Lee Man-ju abandoned his practice and moved south.
And from this point on, Ming support began to be persecuted.
“Is there a need to feed a dog that was kicked out first after being told to guard the house? “It would be better to get another dog.”
Of course, finding a new dog that would be loyal to the Ming took time, so they continued to provide support and provide some treats, but both the quantity and quality were beginning to be persecuted.
And as the number and intensity of conflicts with Mongolia were reduced through various economic exchanges, including the Masi (馬市), the value of Manju was gradually falling.
Muntumu was pointing out this very point.
* * *
Muntemu continued, observing the change in Lee Man-ju’s expression.
“Think about it carefully. These days, the Ming Dynasty is doing well with Mongolia and is doing a lot of trade with Joseon through the Shandong sea route. That means the value of this fluctuation is decreasing. “If you look at it from the perspective of Ming, this Yodong is not something that can be appeased and looked after like before, but it is a situation where it is more profitable to throw a moderate amount of trash and select three obedient people and make them growl at each other.”
“So you want to attack Joseon? “If we, who have received Ming’s official title, attack Joseon, Ming may attack us first.”
Lee Man-ju’s point was reasonable.
Even in history before the intervention of Hyang, when the Jurchen in Jianju grew in power and caused damage to the Ming, the Ming announced the conquest of the Jurchen and requested Joseon to participate in the war. Joseon used this as an opportunity to purge Lee Man-ju.
“Of course, there is a high possibility that people will step forward like that. But that’s it. How long are we going to play the role of a hunting dog like this?”
“That means…”
“This is a saying that goes around in the Ming Dynasty (朝野 government and civilians), right? ‘If 10,000 Jurchen people gather together, the world will not be able to handle it.’ How long will we have to play the role of guard dog for the Ming and Joseon Dynasty?”
Lee Man-joo’s eyes began to shine as he heard Muntemu’s words.
“Do you mean… to rebuild gold?”
“What else can’t you do? Don’t you have a dream of leading a tribe of 10,000 households and becoming a hero that will go down in history?”
It was Munteomoo that gently stimulated Lee Man-ju’s noble heart.
While being swayed by Muntemu’s stimulation, Lee Man-ju tried to think as rationally as possible.
“Okay. Good. As Beirer said, it is to break away from Joseon and Ming and establish an independent country. Those are really good words. But for that, you need more than one thing, so where can you get it? Shall I order you? Or Joseon?”
“Shipbuilding.”
Lee Man-ju immediately shook his head at Muntemu’s simple and clear answer.
“Are you crazy? Even after looking at the fortresses built by Joseon on the border these days, are you saying that we should attack Joseon?”
“Of course, I know the damn fortresses in Joseon well.”
“Who knows that…”
Muntumu continued speaking, interrupting Lee Manju.
“But wouldn’t it be okay to attack places that are not Joseon but are still in Joseon, where that damn fortress is not yet in place?”
“A place that is Joseon but is not Joseon? “Is there such a place?”
“Yes. “Aren’t there some guys who got fat by sticking with Joseon?”
“ah!”
At Muntemu’s words, Manju Lee’s eyes began to shine again.
‘There’s still a chance there!’
The place that Muntemu pointed out was where the Jurchen tribes, who were noble in Joseon, were located.
* * *
When the Jurchen people made a fortune, the first thing Joseon set up was a monopoly.
Officials stationed at the monopoly office surveyed the exact population and territory of the noble tribes. As soon as the related report was posted, the people who made the identity cards came down and made and distributed the identity cards to the Jurchen people.
As long as they had that identification card, Jurchen people could easily obtain salt, candy, and various spices at the wholesale store. It wasn’t just easy to purchase. The price was also much cheaper than that of Myeong and Yeojin merchants.
Of course, money was needed to buy these items. To raise money, wealthy Jurchen people brought furs, wild ginseng, and other various items and exchanged them for money.
In this process, the Jurchen people were once again surprised. Unlike the merchants of the Ming Dynasty or Jurchen, the management of the monopoly in charge of the transaction set a fair price and made the transaction.
“ah! “You are now a citizen of Joseon, so you have to pay taxes, right?”
Of course, a considerable amount of money had to be deducted in taxes, but it was still a business with a long surplus compared to previous transactions.
As this process was repeated, the Jurchen people truly became the people of Joseon. In that case, Joseon moved its farmers from the south.
The people of Joseon who immigrated in this way introduced farming methods that were more advanced than those of the Jurchen people at the time, and the Jurchen people who learned these farming methods by helping with the work began to produce more and more crops from their farms.
“Then you have to pay taxes, right?”
Of course, I felt sick every time I paid taxes, but it was the same for Jurchen people and Joseon people.
And once the place was completely settled, the Joseon army’s fortress came in and took its place.
It seemed like the order of events had changed somehow, but considering the deep-rooted distrust of the Jurchen people, it was inevitable.
Because of this, the ‘fat Jurchen people’ that Muntemu spoke of arose.
They were the ones who had an abundance of supplies through monopoly shops and learned Joseon’s farming methods, which increased their production, making them financially comfortable, but they were not yet fully protected by the Joseon military.
Of course, they were well aware of their situation, so they formed a vigilante organization and prepared for it.
However, when troops exceeded the limit they could withstand, there was a vigilante organization, but it was mana.
* * *
“Hmm….”
Sensing that Lee Man-ju was almost over, Muntemu strengthened his voice.
“If we catch these fat pigs, we will have enough supplies to set up a new home and foundation. No, if it’s not enough, you can dig a little deeper into Joseon. “Those damn fortresses are blocking the traffic route, but isn’t there only one way?”
“But it will take a while.”
“Will it only take 100 people? Joseon will also be in chaos. So, as soon as work begins, the tribes will have to start migrating.”
“Hmm…”
Lee Man-ju, who was thinking deeply about Muntemu’s words, looked straight at Muntemu.
“So, do you have any thoughts on where to set up a new home?”
‘We’re almost there!’
Cheering inwardly, Muntemu answered immediately.
“Samseong area north of the Mudan River.”
“Is that the area of the Woodiger tribe?”
“It’s the northern border of the Woodiger tribe.”
“Hmm…”
Lee Man-ju folded his arms and pondered at Muntumu’s words. Lee Man-ju, who had been mulling over things in silence for a while, asked Muntemu.
“So how many troops do you plan to mobilize?”
‘It came over!’
“1,000 years old. But in actual battle, it will only move around 700. “I need to leave at least 300 to protect the tribes going north.”
“Then I will mobilize 2,000. “But first things first.”
Lee Man-joo got up from his seat and walked outside.
Lee Man-ju called the soldier waiting outside and immediately gave an order.
“Gather the tribal leaders.”
“yes!”
* * *
Most of the gathered tribal chiefs under Lee Man-ju agreed with Muntemu’s plan. This was because they also felt that the situation was getting worse.
Three days later, Manju Lee was seeing Muntemu off.
“The due date is 10 days later, and in 10 days, the great work will begin, starting with self-reflection.”
Muntemu immediately responded to Lee Man-ju’s words.
“Then I will proceed, starting with Wuchang. “I wish you luck.”
“Good luck.”
When Lee Man-ju returned to his house after seeing Muntemu off, one of the tribal leaders who was still left asked with a face full of worry.
“Can you trust that guy? “Aren’t you blaming us by doing things like this?”
Lee Man-ju answered the tribe leader’s question with a slight smile.
“That guy will have no choice but to take action. Because we are already in a situation of being cornered. And then you throw a dump at us? Then at that moment, he will die first by our hands. “What are we going to do with barely a handful of troops?”
The tribal leader nodded at Lee Man-ju’s words. The downfall of the Muntemu tribe was already a story known to all Jurchen people in the Liaodong region. If Muntumu was stabbed in the back, that moment would be Muntumu’s end.
Even if he was lucky and escaped the crisis, the fate of Muntumu and his tribe was doomed. There would be no Jurchen people anywhere who would welcome the person who betrayed the children of their great elder, Lee Seong-gye, and then betrayed the Ming Dynasty again, and then plunged the sword of betrayal again.