Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 278
Episode 278: How the bobcat catches up with the stork. (4)
After taking a quick look at Kim Jeom’s face, Hyang immediately added a word.
“Of course, we are not planning to develop and deploy it right now. We must respond by looking at the situation in Ming and neighboring countries. “If we develop and deploy ahead of time, the efforts made so far will have been in vain.”
“That’s right. “Well thought out.”
Sejong nodded and agreed with Hyang’s words and looked at Lee Maeng-gyun and Jo Mal-saeng.
“Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense should not stop looking at neighboring countries as well as the People’s Republic of China. “Joseon’s power is not strong yet, so we must be careful.”
“I follow your orders.”
The meeting was concluded with King Sejong issuing orders to Lee Maeng-gyun and Jo Mal-saeng on the subject mentioned by Hyang.
As Hyang put Dongchong back into the wooden box and prepared for the next meeting, he looked at Kim Jeom. Hyang muttered to herself as she looked at Kim Jeom’s face, which was gradually returning to its original color.
‘I’ll have to be careful for a while. If you make a mistake, that guy will fall down.’
Meanwhile, Kim Jeom, who was looking around as he felt someone watching him, made eye contact with Hyang. When Hyang slightly lowered his head and gave a greeting, Kim Jeom grumbled inwardly as he answered awkwardly.
‘Wow sir! What else are you looking at me for? Now, my heart starts racing just by making eye contact with the crown prince!’
* * *
After that, the meeting continued regarding the agenda that the Ming envoy would bring this time.
“… hmm. I listened carefully to your opinions. In my opinion, this is an area acquired from the Odori tribe led by Muntumu. And since long guns seem to be the most likely, prepare for these two things.”
When King Sejong came to a conclusion, the local government officials responded by bowing their heads in unison.
“I follow your orders.”
“Then let’s stop here for today.”
When King Sejong declared the end, the local government officials gathered up their documents and stood up.
* * *
That night, Hyang quietly visited Gangnyeongjeon.
“Your Majesty the Crown Prince has passed the entrance exam.”
When the eunuch announced Hyang’s visit, King Sejong’s answer came from inside.
“Come on in.”
“yes. “Please eat it.”
“Good luck.”
Hyang entered through the door opened by the eunuchs and politely bowed to King Sejong.
“Take a seat.”
As Hyang sat down on the chair that the eunuch had brought, King Sejong opened his mouth with a warm smile.
“What happened to the guy who didn’t even come until I called him today?”
“I came because I have something to tell you in private. “Can you pass on the officials and the books?”
“huh? “The officers and clerks should step aside for a moment.”
At King Sejong’s order, the officers and officers immediately stood up and went outside.
As the officers and officials went outside, King Sejong asked Hyang in a low voice.
“So, what’s going on?”
“Please mobilize the sword system.”
“The sword world? “Come closer.”
King Sejong’s face became serious as Hyang-i put ‘Geom-gye’ into his mouth.
The two father and son sat close together and talked in low voices.
“What happened to the sword world all of a sudden?”
“People’s interest may have increased because of what happened in Liaodong this time.”
“I guess so. That is probably why the messenger from Ming is coming this time.”
“Even if an envoy comes for another reason, Ming will be curious about the artillery we have. “The ability shown in Liaodong is not something that can just be ignored.”
Sejong’s face became very serious at Hyang’s words.
“Since there is a high possibility of secretly approaching craftsmen involved in artillery, are you saying we should mobilize the swordsman to monitor them?”
“That’s right.”
“Hmm…”
Hearing Hyang’s words, Sejong stroked his beard with a serious expression. Looking at Sejong’s face, Hyang continued her explanation.
“Long guns and horse guns have undergone a process of division of labor as much as possible, so it is difficult to properly understand the structure of them by acquiring one or two of the lowest level craftsmen.”
“Wasn’t the process of division of labor intended to increase productivity?”
“Productivity was an issue, but confidentiality was also an issue.”
Sejong muttered to himself as he felt goosebumps rising all over his body at the description of the fragrance.
‘He’s my child, but he’s such a scary guy!’
* * *
As Hyang said, the Gap-sik Jangchong and Gap-sik Meat and Blood Masangchong went through a thorough process of division of labor.
In the case of long guns, even the percussion section went through a modularization process. Since the gun was assembled by attaching a bronze box with parts such as springs and levers inside and covering it with a lid, even the craftsmen in charge of the final assembly process did not know the overall structure and how each part worked.
Those who knew the entire process were the incense and the craftsmen who first participated in the development.
* * *
Hyang, who explained this part, continued talking.
“We have reduced the risk as much as possible through this division of labor in the barrel and artillery sections, but the biggest problem is the width. Because of its risk, craftsmen make it alone in private rooms.”
“I see.”
King Sejong, who knew the process of making silver by reading the report submitted by Hyang, nodded.
Sejong, who was examining the situation with a serious face, suddenly had a question.
“I understand the importance and danger of the matter. So, I have a question. “If this were to happen, wouldn’t it have been better to speak publicly and take action?”
In response to King Sejong’s question, Hyang answered why that was not possible.
“If it is publicly monitored or protected, it will place a strong psychological burden on the artisans who are the targets. Then you won’t be able to work properly.”
Sejong shook his head slightly in response to Hyang’s response.
“Anyway, you care about your father-in-law too much.”
“There is no choice as it is difficult to find craftsmen with that level of skill. But the biggest reason is…”
Hyang paused for a moment and sighed.
“Whoa~. “This is to prevent those with useless patriotic loyalty from stepping forward and making a fuss.”
“It’s useless…”
Sejong, who was thinking about Hyang’s words, nodded with a somber expression. Looking at that scene, Hyang added words.
“There will definitely be people who call for sending craftsmen to the Ming while shouting, ‘Let small people go big.’ Let us step forward and send craftsmen to prevent future tragedies. Fortunately, there are no such people among the ministers leading the cabinet right now, but if it becomes a public discussion, it will definitely come out. “For our Joseon people, these are people who mistake what is small and what is large.”
“That’s right. Phew~.”
Sejong, who let out a long sigh as well as the incense, came to a conclusion.
“I guess I’ll have to contact the Sword Realm like you said.”
“We must tell artisans to keep a close watch on outsiders who approach them. And although the craftsmen are serious, their families must also be watched carefully.”
“hostage?”
“yes.”
“I get it.”
After completing his business, Hyang bowed and left Gangnyeongjeon. King Sejong, who was glaring at the empty space with a serious face, called for a merchant ship.
“merchant ship.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Please call Captain Naegeum.”
* * *
Two days later, Hanseong’s three major sword world relays gathered together their members.
“A decree has come down.”
At the end of the relay race, the eyes of the relay members began to sparkle.
The members have never had better days like these. They once had a dream of blue clouds, but gave up on that dream due to various restrictions or reasons. They lived in despair and wasted every day as they could, but they were working for the country and the king. Even though they couldn’t say it out loud, their pride was great.
Seeing the members’ grumpy posture disappearing and their energy like sharply sharpened swords flowing out, the relay conveyed King Sejong’s orders.
“This is an order to keep an eye on those who try to approach the artisans working in Area 51.”
“You mean artisans?”
“okay. “You guys also heard about the war that took place in the North not long ago, right?”
“Didn’t you achieve a great victory?”
“They say artillery played a big role in that war. And those guns were made in Area 51.”
The staff who heard the explanation up to that point immediately understood what they had to do.
“therefore. “Are you telling us to monitor what kind of people approach those craftsmen?”
“that’s right. And keep an eye out for those who want to harm my father-in-law’s family.”
The members nodded at the relay’s words.
“This is definitely not something you should look at in vain, so pay special attention. got it.”
“yes.”
“Jaeeum (在陰).”
“Weiguo (衛國).”
The staff members, who chanted their own slogans, soon began to make arrangements with their groups.
‘Jaeeumwiguk (在陰衛國, protecting the country while staying in the dark)’
was the slogan given by King Sejong as Geomgye was transformed into the king’s secret bodyguard. This was not simply written on paper, but engraved on the iris sword carried by Gyewon and distributed. Therefore, this slogan was not just a slogan, but a creed and pride of the sword world.
The members of the sword world risked their lives on these four letters.
As the team members who had organized the order and group left, the team leader of the Bukchon sword team let out a small sigh.
“I hope I don’t have to use my license this time…”
The license Gye-joo was talking about was a ‘license to kill.’
* * *
In the process of suppressing the Beomgul rebellion that took place under the leadership of Grand Prince Yangnyeong, Geomgye engaged in a bloody fight with the rebels.
After the incident was over, a large-scale prosecution of Geomgye was carried out in the Podocheong. This was because it was believed that a large-scale massacre was committed while the capital was in chaos.
At this time, King Sejong secretly sent licenses to the relay runners.
The content written on the scroll with King Sejong’s royal seal was simple.
-Crimes committed by those who hold this license are for the good of the country, so they should not be held accountable for their crimes and personal arrest is also prohibited.
Relay runners who received licenses immediately submitted their licenses to the Grape Administration, and all those who were caught were able to be released.
“Since when is Geomgye…”
Gyeju answered meaningfully, looking at Captain Podo, who had an expression of disbelief.
“It is not the sword world, we are in the sword world.”
“ah!”
“So, please keep your mouth shut and not speak.”
“I understand!”
Captain Podo nodded his head loudly.
‘These are the people who hid in the Sword Realm!’
This line that caused Captain Podo to misunderstand was Hyang’s work.
After that, Sejong and Hyang discussed the license once again.
-The license is kept directly by the king and is issued only when it is deemed necessary or a reasonable request is made.
This was the birth of ‘license to kill’, which would later appear as a regular feature in dramas and movies set in the Joseon Dynasty.
* * *
‘The Reaper is coming.’ Fifteen days after the visit of the envoy informing the deceased, 15 envoys arrived in Jemulpo.
The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was waiting for the ship carrying the Ming Dynasty envoy at the dock in Jemulpo, grumbled to his subordinate official who came with him.
“The name was urgent. “It usually took about a month and a half to arrive, but it arrived in just 15 days.”
“There’s that, but there’s not much to gain by coming to Joseon, so you probably want to end it quickly.”
“is it?”
The Vice Minister sighed and burst out laughing at his subordinate’s words.
In the past, there was a time when Hyang rebelled against King Sejong due to the exploitation of envoys from the Ming Dynasty, and his calf was broken. Afterwards, after receiving a handwritten edict from the emperor prohibiting exploitation through envoys sent by King Sejong, the exploitation by envoys decreased significantly.
In addition, after Hyang personally visited Beijing, the exploitation of envoys from Ming disappeared dramatically. This was because as the contract between the emperor and the Joseon royal family was established, it became difficult to mess with Joseon.
In fact, there was a time when an idiot who did not notice that the situation had changed came to Joseon and continued to live like before. Immediately after the envoy returned, Joseon immediately sent a state letter to Emperor Seondeok. Emperor Seondeok, who was enraged after receiving the subtle but thorny letter, immediately imprisoned the envoy in question.
“Do you want to live even after smearing shit on Jim’s face?”
Emperor Seondeok was very angry and destroyed the nine clans of the envoy family.
Afterwards, there were no envoys from famous countries who came to Joseon and plundered or used force.
Instead, it became customary for envoys to finish their work and then return immediately.