Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 272
Episode 272 Cleaning up.
While the chase was taking place in the north, Lee Maeng-gyun, who had departed from Hanseong, was also preparing to fight.
The morning before he arrived in Shandong at full speed across the sea, Han Song-ro informed Lee Maeng-gyun of his planned arrival.
“We will arrive in Shandong around noon tomorrow.”
“is it? Thank you. “Then I guess I’ll have to get ready soon.”
Han Song-ro, who informed Lee Maeng-gyun of the expected arrival date and left the cabin, tilted his head.
“preparation? “Ready for what?”
It wasn’t long before Han Song-ro learned what ‘preparation’ meant.
Lee Maeng-gyun, who had been eating regularly without feeling seasick even on a rocking boat, stopped eating and started drinking only water.
And the officials accompanying Lee Maeng-gyun gave Han Song-ro and his crew a firm warning.
“Don’t forget. “Your strength must have been diminished from the moment you got on board.”
“yes? Yes….”
Han Song-ro and the crew could only nod their heads at the official’s words. I wanted to ask the reason, but the murderous look in the military officer’s eyes behind that official made me keep my mouth shut.
The next day, at the scheduled time, Han Song-ro docked the ship at the Joseon Shangguan dock in Shandong.
“Thank you for your hard work…”
Han Song-ro politely responded to the words of thanks given by Lee Maeng-gyun, who came out of the cabin with the help of young officials.
“no. Well then, have a nice trip.”
“Thank you.”
Lee Maeng-gyun answered briefly in a weak voice and went down the pier supported by young officials.
Seeing that, Han Song-ro scratched the back of his head and muttered softly.
“It’s not some kind of ghost play…”
* * *
Lee Maeng-gyun and his group arrived in Shandong and headed to Beijing by carriage. Around Lee Maeng-gyun’s group heading to Beijing, not only the Joseon army but also the Ming cavalry were moving together to protect them.
Such Ming Dynasty cavalry had the task of escorting Lee Maeng-gyun and his party, but they also had the task of watching over them.
Lee Maeng-gyun and his party, who covered about 1,300 ri (about 500 km) from Shandong to Beijing in 7 days, immediately requested to be allowed to serve King Seondeok.
“An envoy from Joseon came? why? “I guess the Shinigami will never come?”
Emperor Seondeok, who was curious about the sudden visit of the Joseon envoy, immediately granted an audience.
Lee Maeng-gyun came to Emperor Seondeok, supported by young officials, and bowed deeply.
“I get to meet His Majesty Lee Maeng-gyun, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Joseon Dynasty and the Emperor of the Great Ming Empire…”
Lee Maeng-gyun fell to the floor before he could even finish his sentence.
“Great!”
“Great!”
The magistrates and officials who came in with Lee Maeng-gyun rushed to help Lee Maeng-gyun, who had fallen on the floor, and while the Ming government officials around him were shocked and confused, Emperor Seondeok jumped up from his throne and shouted.
“Why! “Call the doctor!”
The medical doctor who was urgently summoned and took the pulse reported to Emperor Seondeok.
“I lost a lot of energy and fainted for a while.”
“is it? Then, let the envoy recuperate at the meeting hall.”
“yes.”
“The deputy, please stay for a moment and tell Jim what’s going on.”
“yes.”
After a while, eunuchs came in and carried Lee Maeng-gyun on a stretcher and carried him out. Emperor Seondeok, who was looking at that scene, turned his head to look at the magistrate and his face became even more serious.
“The governor doesn’t look too good either. “What on earth happened to Joseon?”
“It’s such a terrible thing that it’s hard to even talk about it.”
“That’s probably why you found your luggage, so don’t hesitate to tell me.”
The governor immediately responded to Emperor Seondeok’s command.
-Lee Man-ju and Muntemu invaded Joseon!
“You’re an allied concubine with Lee Man-ju?”
“That’s right.”
“hmm. i get it. I will also check the facts. “Please also go and purify yourself.”
“Hwang Eun is devastated.”
Emperor Seondeok, who dismissed the vice minister, looked at the assistant cabinet secretary.
“Subo. “Is what they say true?”
“Based on common sense, there’s no way you could lie about something like that, right?”
“That’s true, but why are Lee Man-ju and Concubine Concubine Mok-ah? First of all, why wasn’t this report sent to Jim? “Isn’t Liaodong or Li Manju’s territory just a stone’s throw away from Beijing?”
“That is…”
The cabinet secretary, unable to properly respond to Emperor Seondeok’s rebuke, immediately lost his temper.
“It is the sin of the gods, so please forgive me!”
“Please forgive me!”
“If you know of a crime, check the situation immediately!”
To avoid Emperor Xiande’s anger, a messenger was dispatched from Beijing to Liaodong. However, the messenger dispatched in that way returned the next day.
This was because a messenger came rushing to Beijing with an urgent report recording the troubles that had occurred in Liaodong.
-Lee Man-ju and Muntemu crossed the border and invaded Joseon’s villages!
The moment he saw what was written on the first page of the report, Seondeokje immediately covered the cover.
“It’s over.”
Meanwhile, Lee Maeng-gyun continued to recuperate at Hoedonggwan.
* * *
Emperor Seondeok, who first saw the old man fainting in front of him, ordered an investigation into their journey.
“You only ate half a bowl of porridge for each meal? “A bowl of our famous soup?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After confirming the report, Emperor Seondeok looked back at his cabinet secretary with a serious face.
“Was the collapse of Joseon’s government due to the unfortunate events that befell Joseon? Or is it because I’m starving?”
“Isn’t it because I put so much effort into preparing for bad luck that my body became weak and I ended up not being able to eat properly? “I may be like a god, but my country has suffered great trouble, and I don’t think I’ll be able to eat properly.”
“Hmm…”
Hearing the words of the assistant cabinet secretary, Emperor Seondeok stroked his beard and was lost in thought.
“It would be nice if it were like that, but…”
‘Why do I feel like I’m starving?’
Koreans were also famous for being gluttons. But you only ate half a bowl of porridge for each meal? It was natural that I would faint from hunger.
Emperor Seondeok, who was carefully considering the possibility of a conspiracy, soon came to a conclusion.
“Even so, what can I do? “The cause is already out there…”
It was five days later that Lee Maeng-gyun left the room and woke up.
* * *
After Lee Maeng-gyun returned to his position, a fierce diplomatic battle took place against Emperor Seondeok and the Ming court.
However, throughout the talks, the Ming Dynasty was being dragged along by Joseon. Since Lee Man-ju and Muntemu crossed the border of Joseon and started work, the justification was Joseon.
Most of the agenda items, starting with the treatment of Lee Man-ju and the Muntemu family, turned out in the direction Joseon wanted.
However, there was one area that even Ming could not easily yield, and that was territory.
“An urgent report has arrived that the Joseon army is staying in the land where Lee Man-ju and his tribe of allies Gacheop Mok-a stayed. “Is Joseon planning to take over this river area?”
Lee Maeng-gyun immediately answered the question of the Cabinet Secretary, who represented Myung-guk.
“Oh, they are probably the ones staying to protect the supply route.”
“It’s a supply road… So you’re saying Joseon won’t take over their land?”
“The Pazhe River basin, where the monster Lee Man-ju resides, will be withdrawn as soon as the punishment is over. However, Joseon will occupy the basin that was occupied by the Muntumu clan.”
“Why?”
“Have you forgotten? The place where the Odori tribe led by Muntemu was located is where our Joseon royal family originated. “Your Majesty has not forgotten the imperial decree that he gave you, right?”
In response to Lee Maeng-gyun’s rebuttal, the Cabinet Secretary kept his mouth shut.
When the crown prince of Joseon first came to Beijing, Emperor Seondeok allowed the Joseon royal family to reclaim the land requested. The place where the Odori tribe was located was definitely inside that territory.
As expected, Joseon was taking the victory on this agenda.
“But the land ruled by Yeongyeonggacheopmokah belongs to the Jianjujwawi of our Ming Dynasty…”
“Subo.”
When Emperor Seondeok, who had been listening to the conversation from behind, called Subo, Subo kept his mouth shut.
It was because I thought I knew why Seondeokje called him.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Joseon is correct about the land ruled by Dongmaenggacheopmoka. “Please do not harm the good neighborliness of our two countries through pointless stubbornness.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
By order of Emperor Seondeok, the land occupied by the Odori tribe was officially designated as Joseon’s.
“Joseon envoy, listen.”
When Emperor Seondeok called his name, Lee Maeng-gyun stood up and answered politely.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“For the good of Ming and Joseon, we must give up our greed, which is also true for Joseon.”
“I will keep this in mind.”
Lee Maeng-gyun responded to Emperor Seondeok’s warning by bowing his head.
Lee Maeng-gyun bowed his head like that and muttered to himself.
‘For the time being…’
* * *
When the negotiations were over and the envoy led by Lee Maeng-gyun was leaving the Forbidden City, a messenger from Liaodong entered the imperial palace and reported.
-Lee Man-ju Muntemu and the Joseon army are getting closer. It seems likely that a battle will take place in the Jilin area.
-Considering the results of the battles so far, it is highly likely that the Joseon army will win.
After receiving the report, Seondeokje glared at Lee Maeng-gyun.
“Listen to the messenger. They say Joseon will win. How do you feel? “It seems to me that Joseon has put a lot of effort into this, knowingly or unknowingly.”
“Joseon’s subjects, including Soshin, are only making efforts (concentrating their hearts and energies) for the safety of our Joseon.”
“is it?”
Emperor Seondeok, who was glaring at Lee Maeng-gyun, leaned back on the backrest of the throne and gestured.
“Go back to Hanseong. The reason for this incident lies with you. However, I will keep an eye on your Joseon from now on.”
“Hwang Eun is devastated.”
After bowing politely, Lee Maeng-gyun took a step back and left the position where Seondeokje was.
Lee Maeng-gyun, who left the Munhwajeon (文華殿) where Seondeokje was located, let out a long sigh.
“Whoa~. “It’s going to get tough in the future.”
* * *
As the Joseon army was finishing its final battle in Jilin, a merchant ship departed from Shandong for Jemulpo.
At the bow of the merchant ship, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Maeng-gyun looked east with a worried face.
“I hope it went well?”
Seeing Lee Maeng-gyun looking toward the east with a worried face, Han Song-ro spoke to Old Man Chu, the navigator.
“Inspiration. “I will never have to take care of my children.”
“Huh? “At one point, you said you would send me to middle school as soon as I finished social democratic school, so why did you suddenly get the idea?”
Han Song-ro answered Old Man Chu’s question by pointing to Lee Maeng-gyun.
“Looking at the amount of work that person does, managing him is not an easy task. “I’d rather have you do boat work after me.”
Old Man Chu nodded at Han Song-ro’s words.
“Well… when I got off the boat to go to Beijing, I saw that it was okay to cheat.”
* * *
Thanks to the favorable weather, the ship carrying the envoys was able to return to Jemulpo in five days.
“Good job. “The balance will be paid immediately.”
To Lee Maeng-gyun’s words, Han Song-ro bowed low and answered.
“thank you. Please use us again anytime!”
Lee Maeng-gyun smiled and responded to Han Song-ro’s words.
“It’s a good thing I don’t take your boat!”
“yes?”
“Good luck!”
After bidding farewell to Hansong-ro, Lee Maeng-gyun mounted a horse prepared in advance and headed toward Hanseong.
“It’s urgent, so move as quickly as possible! Hey!”
“Hey!”
As the group of envoys on horseback disappeared into the distance, Han Song-ro straightened his back and looked back at Old Man Chu.
“What did you mean just now?”
“Isn’t the reason you got on board this time because of the uproar in the north? “Would we be able to board our ship without those guys causing trouble?”
“Ah…” Old Man
Chu muttered to himself when he saw Han Song-ro nodding his head as if he understood only after hearing the explanation.
‘It’s not that the captain’s son doesn’t manage, it’s that he can’t manage. ‘Where will that blood go?’
* * *
Lee Maeng-gyun and his group returned to Hanseong and headed straight to Gyeongbokgung Palace.
“welcome! Thank you for your hard work on the road!”
Lee Maeng-gyun responded to Hyang’s hospitality with a polite bow.
“No. “God just did his job.”
Lee Maeng-gyun answered like that and gestured to the official who followed him in. At Lee Maeng-gyun’s gesture, the official handed the eunuch a tray containing a thick scroll.
“Here comes the decision of the Ming Kingdom regarding this conquest.”
“Is that so?”
Hyang took the scroll, opened it, checked the contents, and nodded.
“Thank you for your hard work. “I will copy this and send it to Abamama right away.”
“What was the situation of the war?”
“The results haven’t arrived yet, but looking at the results so far, I don’t think it will be bad.”
“Ah~. Fortunately, the.”
Lee Maeng-gyun looked relieved at Hyang’s answer. Looking at Lee Maeng-gyun like that, Hyang added.
“Please take a break from your travels for two days and come to the hospital the day after tomorrow. “I’m very busy with work right now.”
“… yes.”
After a while, Lee Maeng-gyun left the East Palace and muttered while looking at the sky.
“Did I have to starve on the way home?”