Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 428
Episode 428: What was expected, what was unexpected. (5)
“Your Majesty, I have returned safely from my mission.”
“Good job.”
Lee Maeng-gyun, who paid homage to King Sejong, presented Emperor Seondeok’s edict to King Sejong.
“Hmm…”
King Sejong’s expression was not good after reading the edict that Lee Maeng-gyun brought.
“As always… I’m not in a good mood.”
Hwang Hee stepped forward and responded to King Sejong’s words.
“The ministers and the people are all working hard, so someday we will hear good news.”
“Someday… well, that’s the only correct answer for now.”
After giving an answer full of bitterness, King Sejong threw the royal decree aside.
“Whoa~.”
Sejong took a deep breath and immediately moved on to the next step.
“So, did the emperor show interest in the Iron Horse?”
Lee Maeng-gyun answered King Sejong’s question in a serious voice.
“The emperor was very interested. one. “There seems to be a bit of a problem.”
“problem? Hmm…”
Sejong closed his mouth and was lost in thought, stroking his beard, and Lee Maeng-gyun quietly waited for Sejong to open his mouth.
Not long after, Sejong finished organizing his thoughts and opened his mouth.
“The land of Ming is vast and wide. Anyone with even the slightest sense will not miss the usefulness of iron horses and railroads. In that case, the problem would be the price of the iron horse. Is that right?”
In response to King Sejo’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun immediately nodded.
“That’s right. However, considering the price of the iron horse, I have heard that there is a lot of fuss about receiving the iron horse as tribute because it would be a big problem for the family’s finances.”
“turmoil? The emperor shows interest in iron horses? no way?”
King Sejong’s face as he asked the question changed seriously, and the faces of the other ministers also changed seriously.
“Are you trying again to do something that failed once before?”
“That is highly likely…”
“Huh… Shouldn’t we immediately strengthen security not only in Area 51 but also in the places where the artisans working in Area 51 live?”
Did you say, ‘When you grow up, your heart is surprised when you look at the lid of the pot’? Ministers, recalling the ‘attempted recruitment of artisans’ incident that had occurred in the past, all insisted on strengthening protection measures for artisans working in Area 51.
“Be quiet.”
In response to King Sejong’s order, the ministers immediately silenced their mouths. When the ministers fell silent, King Sejong organized the situation.
“The officers’ opinions are correct. It would be nice if the problem could be resolved in a way that makes sense to everyone, but there is a possibility that this may not be the case. Therefore, please strengthen security around Area 51 and the research institute.”
“I follow your orders.”
After sorting out the agenda that came to mind so quickly, King Sejong asked Lee Maeng-gyun again.
“Please report in more detail what the fuss is about.”
“yes. According to the story I heard through secret service….”
Lee Maeng-gyun explained to King Sejong and the ministers the information he had obtained through Ming officials captured in Joseon.
* * *
Ming officials who became secretaries of Joseon were able to survive the storm of the Great Purge.
But the reason was truly paradoxical.
The biggest reason was that the officials whom Joseon had appointed were in a truly ambiguous position, neither high nor low.
What Joseon was asking for was not the top secrets of Ming, but rather what was being talked about in the royal court.
Officials received modest gifts while providing information not considered important for their rank.
It was not a huge bribe that could be avoided like the high-ranking officials, but a gift that was enough to slightly help with daily life, and the people who met such officials were interpreters who could be said to be unsophisticated.
On the surface, an interpreter with whom he had been in a relationship for a long time had come to Beijing and went to his acquaintance’s house with a gift and had a chat before returning.
Funnily enough, this appropriate behavior was the wisdom of life created by Joseon officials who were destroyed by King Sejong.
‘Eat just enough to avoid getting sick and become thin and long.’
This was the motto of Joseon officials.
Because of this situation, officials connected to Joseon and the Joseon Dynasty were subjected to a storm of purges. No, the funny thing is, there were even people who rode it saying they were blue and white.
* * *
“Purchase or tribute….”
King Sejong, who was mulling over Lee Maeng-gyun’s report, suddenly burst into laughter.
“Heh! “Even a country called the center of the world has no choice when it comes to money.”
Hwang Hee responded to King Sejong’s words.
“Wasn’t the restoration of finances what this emperor was most concerned about? “For someone like that, it’s totally worth it.”
“Aren’t they famous people who are willing to risk anything when it comes to wealth?”
“Yes, that’s right. So how do you think it will be decided?”
Hwang Hee, who had been mulling over King Sejong’s question for a moment, came forward and opened her mouth.
“It would be beyond the power of the world to resolve all disturbances by receiving a tribute from an actual iron horse. “They will probably only ask for the physical object as a minimum and ask for a blueprint.”
“Are we going to go our own way?”
Hwang Hee answered King Sejong’s question.
“It has become a situation that has no choice but to do so.”
King Sejong and the ministers all nodded at Hwang Hee’s words. I was thinking about how to make them take only the blueprint like Hyang’s plan, but things were going that way on their own.
After a while, Kim Jeom opened his mouth.
“I think what we need to worry about now is ensuring that our intellectual property rights are guaranteed as they are now, and strengthening the security of Area 51 and the research institute.”
As soon as Kim Jeom finished speaking, Maeng Sa-seong opened his mouth.
“If it is the Emperor’s will, guaranteeing intellectual property rights will not be that difficult. This is because the profits of the joint venture are at stake right now. The most important thing is the security of Area 51 and the laboratory, which continues to be talked about. And the outflow of artisans must also be prevented.”
King Sejong nodded at Maeng Sa-seong’s words.
“What you said is right. Of course, there is a saying that ten police officers cannot stop one thief. If the other person decides to take it away, no matter how hard we try, things may break through. It means force majeure. However, if technology is leaked, there is a loss of 10 years, but if a person is leaked, there is a loss of a hundred years. Please keep this in mind.”
All the ministers responded to King Sejong’s command by bowing their heads.
“I will keep this in mind!”
And a month later, an envoy from Ming visited Joseon.
King Sejong muttered softly after hearing the business revealed by the envoy.
“Did you get hit?”
* * *
The content of the emperor’s edict, read by envoys of Ming, was as follows.
-Jim speaks to the king of Joseon.
Since Jim ascended to the throne, he has not missed a single day to pray for peace in the central plains and surrounding areas. Heaven must have been pleased with Jim’s sincerity. If you look at the world in recent times, it is truly a peaceful world. And since the king of Joseon played a part in achieving this era of peace, we cannot help but praise him.
-As the era of peace continues and products become abundant, the number of people traveling long distances is increasing. But how difficult was it to travel across this vast world relying only on two human legs and the four legs of a horse?
-In order to resolve this pitiful situation, Jim asked everyone in the mid-level about a solution, and one member of the upper level volunteered to solve the problem. The meaning at the top was so admirable that I asked for help.
-Sangsanju answered Jim’s question by saying that Joseon’s railroads and iron horses were really useful, so he wanted to import them. However, since this is a Joseon product, it is not an easy task for me as a merchant.
– Accordingly, I sent an edict to the king of Joseon, hoping that he would look favorably on the merchant who accompanied me. How beautiful is the meaning of taking on difficult tasks for the people of the empire?
Therefore, I hope that the King of Joseon will give a good answer.
When the envoy’s address was over, King Sejong bowed and gave three cheers according to etiquette, and then received the emperor’s edict.
The envoy who handed over the emperor’s edict politely bowed to King Sejong and said,
“It was truly beautiful to see the bridge placed in the same water as the gods and the iron horse riding on it. “I sincerely want to see such beautiful scenery in our people, so please make a good decision.”
King Sejong responded to the envoy’s words with a calm face.
“I will do my best. But the iron horse is the rarest of precious things, so it won’t be easy.”
“I hope to see good results.”
After a conversation full of subtle pressure and avoidance, King Sejong returned the envoy to Mohwagwan, walked to Geunjeongjeon, and gave orders to the Merchant Marine.
“Call the crown prince right away.”
* * *
When Hyang entered Geunjeongjeon after being called, King Sejong explained the situation to Hyang.
“…So what do you think, Seja?”
Hyang immediately answered King Sejong’s question.
“Considering the precedent of tribute and return and the prestige of a great nation, I thought it was a very exquisite move. It will reduce the financial burden and at the same time preserve the prestige of the empire. Even amid the great purges that have taken place, there are indeed many people left who can think like this.”
Sejong nodded at Hyang’s evaluation.
“That’s not true.”
Even as he nodded, Sejong’s face didn’t look very good. The reason Hyang pointed out just now was because he was poking at Joseon’s sore spot, the ‘lack of talent.’
* * *
The abilities of talented people active in various parts of Joseon’s society, including the court, were never inferior to those of famous countries. The problem was the absolute number.
Unlike Joseon, which was now approaching 10 million, the population of Ming had already exceeded 80 million and was approaching 90 million.
It was a situation where quantity overwhelmed quality.
* * *
Hyang’s words continued.
“Although the target has changed to the top rather than a name adjustment, the overall situation has changed little. “The Minister of Finance and Economy will be very disappointed.”
At Hyang’s words, Kim Jeom nodded without realizing it.
‘If only I had received three times as much in return… Ah! ‘I feel sick!’
Kim Jeom’s face was full of regret.
Hyang, who brightened the mood with a light joke, continued.
“It is a reasonable decision for the upper body to take charge of the construction. “For we also did the same.”
As Hyang said, while constructing railroads and roads, most sections except those that required large amounts of gunpowder were entrusted to the Joseon Dynasty. Thanks to this, companies specializing in civil engineering emerged.
“But the problem lies next. We have already explained the problems of producing iron horses and railways, so you will be familiar with them, and the problems of operating them will be quite troublesome. But that’s not our problem, so it doesn’t matter, right?”
“Operation issues?”
Hyang immediately answered King Sejong’s question.
“Railroads are closely related to the lives of the people. Because of this, in some cases, we have to operate while accepting losses. Therefore, even if the construction is handled by the top, the operation must be done by the government. But since it was built by the top, what would happen if it were concluded that the top should run it?”
Sejong’s answer to Hyang’s question jumped out immediately.
“The country will be ruined.”
Hyang also nodded and responded to Sejong’s words.
“If it were Emperor Tang Jin’s disposition, such a thing would not happen, but if any of the succeeding emperors did something like this, the empire would collapse.”
At Hyang’s words, the faces of King Sejong and the ministers changed strangely.