Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 329

Episode 329: Those who wait, those who move. (6)

“Num-soo-eung-dap (唯數能答)!”

The officials heading to Geunjeongjeon frowned at the loud shout coming from the research center.

“I…”

“I can’t be that crazy…”

“Egh! It is nothing more than trivia….”

“If you don’t read the scriptures of the sage and practice virtue, you say things like that….”

“Great! “Keuhum!”

The officials who were chewing on the researchers at the institute stopped what they were talking about and quietly turned their heads when they heard the sound of coughing coming from behind.

“Hi!”

“Master…”

Behind them, Zheng Chu was glaring at them with a fierce look.

‘ruined!’

The faces of the officials who had been gossiping excitedly became thoughtful.

* * *

To those who don’t know him, Jeong Cho could be seen as an old man who was pushed out of power because he was the deputy director of a politically step-back organization called the ‘Joseon Science and Technology Development Research Institute’.

However, those who knew even a little about the movements of power within Gyeongbokgung Palace never looked down on the New Year’s Day.

Although he was called a deputy director, his rank was Jeongheondaebu of Jeong2 rank. It was a significant position, but what was even more important was that the director of the institute, his superior, was the crown prince.

Sejong and his eldest son, the crown prince, took absolute power after purging the senior ministers just before the war broke out.

Assisting the crown prince was definitely not something the old man in the back room could do.

Because of this, the officials who were caught by Jeongcho while gossiping became mesmerized.

* * *

Jeong Cho, who was glaring at the scurrying subordinate officials in contemplation, began to growl at them.

“What trivia? “What are you people who can’t do their jobs properly without the help of those who have learned the trivia?”

“I apologize.”

“The young people behave in a disgraceful manner….”

“The small people. Your current disgrace is something that even children just learning courtesy in the Social Democratic Party would not do. Embarrass yourself! Ah! How on earth do those ministers manage their subordinates! I must say something! “Egh!”

The officials of the party became tearful and muttered as they watched Jeongcho head to the research institute located in the Eastern Palace, expressing the uncomfortable feelings as they were.

“It was really ruined….”

* * *

As the days began to warm up in March, a wave of waves came up from Jeonra Swimming.

“An envoy from the Daenae clan has arrived?”

“That’s right.”

Do Seung-ji, who immediately answered King Sejong’s question, presented a general message to King Sejong.

“Hmm…”

King Sejong read the instructions with a snort and looked at the ministers.

“Have the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Foreign Affairs also read it?”

“Yes, I have checked the copy.”

“If what was written in the royal decree was true, the envoy would have had no choice but to come to Jeonra Suyeong, not Waegwan.”

King Sejong nodded at the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ words.

* * *

As Joseon began to trade with foreign countries, Jeonra Suyeong, especially Mokpo Suyeong, was turning into an unofficial international trade port. To prevent infectious diseases, Mansour’s merchant fleet had to stop at Mokpo Suyeong, and the challenger-level front lines traveling to and from Cheonchukguk were all affiliated with Jeolla Woosuyeong.

The same was true for ships traveling to and from Japan. Ships carrying ore mined from the silver mine operated with Ouchi entered Mokpo Suyeong.

Ore was not the only thing secretly transported from Japan.

Thanks to the Won clan, the Guju Jeoldadosa who recovered the territory, established himself properly, cotton grown on consignment was scheduled to arrive in large quantities from the second half of this year (1432, the 14th year of King Sejong’s reign).

In order to hide its collusion with Ouchi, Joseon also actively operated a route connecting Waegwan – Dongrae – Tsushima Island – Honshu.

The biggest background to the active operation of this route was the superiors established in Nagato and Naniwa (now Osaka).

Merchants from small fiefdoms in the interior of the archipelago or without large ships to sail the seas sought out their Joseon superiors in Nagato and Naniwa.

As the volume of transactions carried out through merchants looking for superiors was significant, the number of ships used for regular voyages from Dongrae to Nagato and Naniwa gradually increased.

As the volume of cargo between Joseon and Japan increased, significant changes began to occur between the two countries.

* * *

The biggest change for Joseon, other than the economic benefits, was that it was able to conveniently hide much of its transactions with Ouchi.

As the number of fleets traveling between Joseon and Japan increased, and the size of the Joseon navy stationed on Tsushima Island to protect them increased, the place for Japanese pirates disappeared. Thanks to this, we were able to avoid the case where the collaboration between Ouchi and Joseon was unintentionally revealed.

Even in the Japanese Empire, the internal situation, which had been changing little by little, was gradually coming to the surface.

The biggest change was that Joseon products penetrated deep into Honshu and Kyushu. And these Joseon items were becoming the spark that changed the Japanese country.

The problem was that this change was in a bad direction for the Japanese nation.

* * *

Merchants from all kinds of fiefdoms, large and small, flocked to the Joseon Dynasty, purchased Joseon goods, and returned to their fiefdoms to sell them.

The items taken in this way were many high-end items for use by feudal lords and high-ranking samurai, but there were also many items used by ordinary people.

For example, lords and high-ranking samurai purchased vessels and teaware made of high-quality white porcelain and celadon, while ordinary people purchased earthenware pots.

Joseon merchants adopted the same sales method regardless of whether they were commercial merchants or general merchants.

-Even in Joseon, high-priced items were sold at a higher price, and low-priced items were sold off unconditionally.

Because of this, even ordinary people in the Japanese country were able to purchase items such as earthenware pots.

In addition, there were products that the average Japanese citizen must purchase, including steel farming tools and kitchen knives made in Joseon.

Japanese swords, made with great care by skilled craftsmen, have long been recognized as luxury goods even in China, but the iron farming tools and kitchen knives used by ordinary people were of poor quality.

Therefore, if the Japanese people could afford it, they unconditionally purchased Joseon-made farming tools and household goods.

As the social climate of the Japanese country changed, the number of blacksmiths and potters who gave up their jobs began to increase even though only about two years had passed since Nagato and Naniwa were established. This was because there was no competition with Joseon except for a few famous generals.

After receiving and reading the related report, Hyang muttered with a cynical expression on his face.

“Has the situation between Japanese screwdrivers and American screws been reversed?”

* * *

In the 21st century, Korea has caught up with or surpassed developed countries, especially the United States and Japan, in many areas. However, it was still lagging in some areas.

The things that could be felt most directly were general tools and consumable parts symbolized by ‘Japanese screwdrivers and American screws’.

Many technicians muttered the same thing when looking at things such as American-made screws that did not crush the screw heads even after loosening and re-driving them several times with a Japanese screwdriver that was reasonably priced and of excellent quality.

“This is why they say damned domestic products can’t be made….”

If the quality is similar to Japanese-made, it is more expensive than Japanese-made, and if it is cheaper than Japanese-made, domestic tools of poor quality and screws that fall apart when turned with even the slightest force were used in Korea until the last half of the 20th century. It symbolized technological prowess.

Of course, Korean companies that make such tools and parts are aware of this and have invested a lot of money and effort to improve quality. However, by the time the results were released, Chinese products had taken over the market.

* * *

One of the changes brought about in Japanese society as Joseon goods spread was that, knowingly or unknowingly, an arms race began to take place, and the competition began to gradually accelerate.

The road back to the territory after going to the Joseon Dynasty was always dangerous. As the Joseon navy took control of the sea, it was instantaneous for the pirates who had been driven to land to turn into bandits.

And although it had been a while since the Muromachi shogunate came into power, bandits created by those who were defeated and pushed out in the conflict during the Northern and Southern Dynasties still existed.

As the number of bandits increased, the need for military force to protect merchants traveling up and down the country became necessary. Therefore, the lords mobilized soldiers to protect the top.

The problem was when an armed party like this passed through another territory. Needless to say, if it was a hostile territory, even a friendly territory could not relax its tension whenever soldiers entered.

Thanks to this, all the lords increased their military power and even laundered their identities with bodyguards belonging to the upper class. The reason for laundering one’s identity was firstly to avoid provoking other fiefdoms, and secondly to conceal the strengthening of one’s military power.

However, no matter how hard you tried to hide it, it was natural for all of your movements to be noticed at some point. And the moment that happened, the surrounding lords began an open arms race.

This arms race, knowingly or unknowingly taking place, stimulated the vigilance of Ashikaga Yoshinori, the shogunate’s shogun.

Yoshinori, who had a harsh side to the point of coining the word ‘fear of all people’, showed a nervous reaction. In addition to strengthening the military power directly under the shogunate, any sign of even the slightest abnormality was punished or the territory confiscated.

All of these movements were conveyed directly to Hanseong through the fishing merchants in the superior offices.

After reading the report, Hyang muttered with a strange expression.

“If this continues, won’t the Warring States Period begin a little sooner?”

* * *

Similar stories were occurring between King Sejong and the ministers.

“If this continues, won’t there be unrest among the Japanese again?”

Jo Mal-saeng immediately answered King Sejong’s question.

“There is a high probability of that happening.”

Lee Maeng-gyun added following Jo Mal-saeng’s words.

“There may not be a commotion right away, but there will definitely be a commotion.”

“It will definitely happen?”

“Yes, if you consider the nature of the Japanese people, it will definitely happen.”

“Hmm…”

In response to Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, King Sejong stroked his beard and was lost in thought.

After thinking for a moment, Sejong looked back at Jo Mal-saeng.

“Minister of National Defense: If there is a disturbance among the Japanese, Japanese pirates will definitely appear and fight, so what are your defenses against this?”

“yes. “We are strengthening the power of the navy and strengthening the communication network in the Samnam region.”

“The country can only be peaceful if the military is properly prepared. “I will believe in you.”

Jo Mal-saeng bowed his head and responded loudly to King Sejong’s request.

“I will keep in mind and do my best!”

After finishing his conversation with Jo Mal-saeng, Sejong looked back at Heo Jo.

“If a disturbance breaks out in the Japanese Empire, what should the Japanese government in Joseon do?”

“We must mobilize the military and confiscate all weapons within Waegwan.”

“It could be a diplomatic issue.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Maeng-gyun immediately responded to King Sejong’s point.

“It means that if turmoil breaks out, there will be no Japanese government to deal with.”

“is it?”

“That’s right. “We must keep Waegwan under strict control until someone comes along to calm the chaos and sort out the situation.”

Sejong nodded slightly in response to Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer and looked back at Jo Mal-saeng.

“Minister of Defense.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Assuming that there is a disturbance in the Japanese Empire, write a plan to control the Japanese government and submit it.”

“I follow your orders!”

King Sejong, who gave orders to Jo Mal-saeng, looked at his ministers and complained.

“Ha~. The existence of the Japanese nation is truly like Gyereuk. When it is peaceful, it is peaceful and creates problems, and when it is chaotic, it is chaotic and creates worries…”

The ministers all nodded at Sejong’s assessment.

* * *

In this situation, an envoy sent from Ouchi arrived.