Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 382

Episode 382: East Jin Islands (4)

After experiencing the ‘shipwreck of the Jinpo’, the biggest concern of the Joseon navy exploring the eastern part of the Eonwol Peninsula and Daeseol Island was to confirm the existence of an island that would serve as a stepping stone.

The first island identified in the process was Dasangdo Island, but Dasangdo Island had a fatal problem.

The area north of Dongbing Port did not have good conditions for ship navigation. The winter was too long.

No, even though the winter is long, the sea where ships can travel has become too dangerous. In winter, not only the entrance to the port but also the sea in areas close to the port froze. It was a pain to have the sea frozen like that, and even the waves and wind became rough.

Therefore, the Joseon navy had to investigate the possibility of islands located further south.

However, due to the above natural limitations, exploration was not easy and exploration was sluggish.

However, people appeared who said they had come from an island 2,400 ri east of Jojo.

* * *

After hearing the story, Go Il-nam immediately went to the port commander.

“Have you seen and heard the chief priest of Cheonjeolje (僉節制使)?”

In response to Go Il-nam’s question, Cheomjeoljesa Lee Hong-sik, the commander of Suyeong, who defends Jojo, nodded and held up a bundle of paper.

“I just got it. It was quite fun. “Read it.”

“Thank you.”

Go Il-nam sat in a chair and read the report.

What was written in the report was simple.

-The island where foreigners say they came is said to be 2,400 ri east of Jojo. An interpreter from Dasangdo confirmed this.

-There is only one interpreter from Dasangdo who can understand the language used by foreigners. Writing in writing is also impossible.

-The reason why only the interpreter can communicate is because of his relationship with his father. It is said that his father, who had been shipwrecked at sea, lived on the island for a considerable period of time and learned the language in the process of returning to life. Afterwards, exchanges occurred at intervals of 2 to 3 years.

-The population of the island is estimated to be about 300.

“Hmm…”

Go Il-nam put down the report and said to Lee Hong-sik.

“May I speak directly with the interpreter?”

“Let it be so. “Let me give you my orders.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

After Lee Hong-sik’s order was delivered, Go Il-nam was able to talk with the interpreter in question.

Entering the conference room in the headquarters building, Go Il-nam muttered without realizing it.

“They say my belly button is bigger than my stomach…”

There were other people in the conference room besides the interpreter in question.

First of all, there was a Korean interpreter to convey Go Il-nam’s words. Even though he was an interpreter, only written communication was possible, but he was assigned because it was not appropriate for a high-ranking official like Go Il-nam to directly communicate by writing.

Next, there was a resident of Eonwol Peninsula who could interpret the Dasangdo interpreter’s words, and a resident who would translate the resident’s words into Chinese characters. Lastly, there was an interpreter from Dasangdo in question.

Seeing the people sitting in a row like that, Go Il-nam smiled bitterly and spoke to the Korean interpreter.

“It must be so hard to work.”

“Is there anything easy about receiving bonuses? “At least now that a social democratic academy will be established here and the Hunminjeongeum will be distributed, I think it will become more convenient.”

“is it?”

The interpreter added to Go Il-nam’s words.

“Of course, the children who will learn at the Social Democratic School will have a hard time. “In addition to the language used by the tribe, we will also have to learn Korean.”

“I guess so. “It would be really convenient if we just made them use Korean.”

“If you do that, like the government said, you will be called a ‘bastard without foundation.’”

Go Il-nam nodded at the interpreter’s words.

* * *

The ‘problem of language unification’ arose around the time when the Jurchen people began their journey. However, it was with the incorporation of the indigenous people of Daeseol Island that the discussion began in earnest.

“The use of the Korean language should not be forced! Must be used together!”

After hearing about the problem, Hyang strongly advocated ‘the combined use of two languages.’

“Then it won’t be too much of a hassle?”

“I’ll buy it back. And since you are a citizen of Joseon, you must use the Korean language.”

The government’s ministers talked about using only Korean, citing efficiency issues, but Hyang refuted this with a simple example.

“Do you want to turn noble foreigners into ‘bastards without roots’? Like Hwacheok?”

“….”

Although it was not as bad as the late Joseon Dynasty, the current situation in Joseon was to strongly consider ‘roots and fundamentals’ including genealogy.

“We have to let them choose, even if it takes time and is less efficient. If you force something, there will be a backlash. “The right thing to do is to take time on this issue.”

“But if you use other words, it will be difficult to feel that they are Korean.”

“We should not make them Koreans, but rather make them citizens of Joseon. Aren’t the people of Joseon who are loyal to Joseon more valuable than those who sell out their country? “Think about what happened not long ago.”

The ministers became speechless at Hyang’s point.

The person who tried to steal the craftsmen from Area 51 for the benefit of himself and the merchant was a Korean who had lived in this land for generations. Although he failed to be arrested, the famous person who roasted the merchant was from Joseon.

The merchant, who was a Korean, became a traitor for his own benefit. And although Ming Dynasty people were from Joseon, they were loyal to the Ming Dynasty.

In the end, King Sejong, who was watching the verbal exchange between the local government and the ministers, came to a conclusion.

“Words are roots. To lose one’s words is to lose one’s roots, and this is the same law as Bupyeong grass. In that case, he will move around to pursue his own interests, so I think the Crown Prince’s words are reasonable this time.”

“I follow your orders.”

In this way, the law was established so that even if a person was a descendant of Joseon, he or she would not be forced to use only the Korean language.

According to the law, foreigners who entered Joseon’s rivers, from the Jurchen people to the Ainu of Daeseoldo, were required to ‘learn the Korean language’ but were not forced to ‘use only the Korean language.’

I just had to learn Korean for ‘administrative convenience’.

“Well, it would be accurate to say that it was Josam Mosa, but since the cause was taken care of… One way or another, the American style is better than the Japanese or Chinese style in this regard.”

As I was checking related reports, the smell of coffee grew stronger that day.

* * *

Go Il-nam, who learned some of what he was curious about through the interpreter, went back to Lee Hong-sik and reported.

“I think it would be a good idea to take this opportunity to confirm the location of the island where those foreigners are said to have come.”

Lee Hong-sik nodded at Go Il-nam’s words.

“It’s not an opportunity for genius. Hmm….”

Lee Hong-sik thought for a moment but soon made up his mind.

“good! Let’s supply the supplies needed for the voyage! “And I will write and send the instructions to Hanseong on your behalf!”

“Thank you!”

Go Il-nam repeatedly expressed his gratitude with a bright face.

* * *

In this way, the Jilin ship set off on a voyage toward the east, carrying indigenous people. The Jilin ship, with the boats carrying the natives on its tail, headed east and sailed to Jangdo.

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

Go Il-nam answered the manager’s question with a confident face.

“Wouldn’t 2,400 ri be easy for our Jilin ship?”

“But I am worried because we are already entering October.”

At the manager’s words, Go Il-nam raised his head and looked at the sky.

Go Il-nam, who was looking at the increasingly dull sky, looked back at the manager.

“First, let’s do our best to confirm the location of the island. As soon as you check the island, turn the boat around and return to Wonsan as quickly as possible. If you do that, it may be a close call, but you will be able to avoid dangerous times.”

After confirming the location of the island heading east, the Jilin ship returned to full speed and raised its command.

* * *

The presenter, explaining the process by which Jilin Ham discovered the island, pointed to three red dots with a pointer.

“These three places shown at the northeastern end of the map are the islands that have been identified this time. “If you prepare properly and choose the right time, you can easily travel back and forth from Wonsan.”

Kim Jeom immediately asked a question following the presenter’s report.

“Are those islands at the eastern end?”

The presenter answered Kim Jeom’s question right away.

“no. The navy is predicting the possibility that there are other islands or landmass along the movement of those islands (to the east of a certain location).”

“Do you tell fortunes?”

Kim Jeom’s voice and expression became sharper as he responded to the presenter’s answer.

As the mood of the person in charge of the budget became unusual, Jo Mal-saeng immediately took action to extinguish the situation.

“I may be an adventurer, but isn’t it worth a try? “It was an adventure again this time, but it didn’t yield results, right?”

“Do you think you will get lucky twice in a row at the gambling table? Do you think that makes sense? “It’s impossible unless it’s a fraudulent gamble!”

“Let’s live a little more positively!”

‘ah! ‘My mouth is itching to death!’

Hyang, who was watching the verbal exchange between Kim Jeom and Jo Mal-saeng, was so tired that he almost died.

‘If you go further east from there, there is an incredible continent! There is a continent full of bonanzas!’

I wanted to shout that right now, but I couldn’t.

This was because there was no basis to say so confidently right now. When we brought in the lice that had been used like licorice in a pharmacy, the lab was overcrowded with lice.

‘Now that I think about it, it’s still a problem even if I find it? Should we stop sending letters altogether?’

“…hey? “Is it Crown Prince?”

“yes? yes! Did you call Abamama Soja?”

Hyang, who had suddenly fallen into Samcheonpo, was startled and returned to reality when he heard Sejong’s voice calling her.

“What are you so distracted by?”

“Oh, that’s it…”

In response to Sejong’s question, Hyang furiously racked her brain to find the optimal answer. After thinking about it like that, Hyang found an appropriate answer and immediately answered Sejong.

“It was no different than the question of whether or not to disclose Joseon’s newly discovered geographical discoveries.”

“huh? Let’s see…”

King Sejong and the ministers also began to worry about Hyang’s answer.

After thinking for a moment, Sejong nodded slightly and opened his mouth.

“I see… They say this world is round, so if we keep going, we can reach their country. If you do that, it will be beneficial because you won’t have to take a detour in the direction of the heavenly axis like you do now. “In particular, we don’t have to do intermediate trade in Alexandria.”

Kim Jeom’s face brightened at Sejong’s point. Before Kim Jeom, who had a bright face, could open his mouth, Heo Jo spoke first.

“I hope that happens. Wouldn’t it be possible for them to come flocking through the route we discovered? Didn’t you hear from Mansour how violent these people are? Please remember the fight between Spain and Portugal in a place called Gibraltar.”

* * *

News of the naval battle between Spain and Portugal that took place in the Strait of Gibraltar was also delivered to Joseon through Mansour.

King Sejong and the ministers who heard the news at the time all clicked their tongues and shook their heads.

“You are trying to solve everything only by force! “How reckless these people are!”

* * *

Jo Mal-saeng immediately began to refute Heo Jo’s words.

“That is why we must secure this route! “Knowing and preparing in advance can actually suppress conflict!”

“What is the budget? “What are you going to do with the budget?”

In response to Heo Jo’s question, Jo Mal-saeng looked back at Kim Jeom.

Kim Jeom answered the unspoken question with an embarrassed expression.

“That’s a bit… If we have a direct transfer, it could bring us great benefits, but there’s also the problem of military expenses…” As

the ministers began to argue, Hyang had to struggle to hold back the words that were about to come out.

‘Ah! There is a continent there! Ah-oh! ‘He’s dead!’