Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 563

Episode 563: Disconnection. (2)

After arriving at Jemulpo, Heo Hu climbed onto the waiting sea emergency line. With the help of nearby tugboats, the ship left the dock and as soon as it was out at sea, it set sail and set sail.

“Hmm~. “It feels like my stomach is emptying!”

Enjoying the speed of the front line cutting through the sea, Heohu looked refreshed.

“A ship that can’t be beaten at its speed is an emergency front in this sea.”

“Is that so…”

Heohu, who was nodding at the captain’s words full of pride, looked back at the captain.

“The design of this battle line was also done by the crown prince, right?”

“That’s right.”

Heohu muttered softly in response to the captain’s answer.

“It is indeed a good thing from the perspective of a subject that the rich are all outstanding, but… sometimes I worry about what will happen in the future. It is said that when the light is bright, the darkness is also dark.”

* * *

Few people would deny the excellence of King Sejong, the current monarch of Joseon, and his successor, Hyang. Because of the existence of these two fathers and sons, Joseon came to dream of ‘ascension’.

However, among many government officials, there was talk of anxiety about the future.

As the third son, Wan,’s qualifications were not bad, there were no serious concerns, but the anxiety still remained.

Thanks to this, the people who suffered the most were the members of the National Assembly. This was because officials of the rank of party superior or higher stopped by whenever they had time and asked questions.

“Are you properly checking your health?”

“Are we properly checking Seson’s health?”

No, it didn’t just end with a question; all kinds of precious medicinal herbs were airlifted to the internal medicine clinic.

“They say it’s good for boys’ growth…”

“They say if you eat this well, you won’t have to worry about minor illnesses…”

The medical doctors who received all the medicinal herbs had strange looks on their faces.

“This is a medicinal herb I’ve only seen in medical books. Where do I get it?”

“Where do these gentlemen get these medicinal herbs?”

They were curious about the supply line of medicinal herbs brought by officials.

And in Joseon, occupations that had previously been looked down upon as hard work were transformed into new, high-income professions.

It was Simmani.

* * *

Seeing Heo Hu’s distraught expression, the captain spoke cautiously.

“I heard a rumor that this meandering is very dangerous. “Are you okay?”

“The situation is not good, so there is nothing we can do, right? “If I have to risk my life, I

have no choice but to risk it…” Although Heo Hu spoke calmly, his voice was trembling slightly. Perhaps wanting to hide his anxiety, Heohu immediately changed the topic.

“Anyway… I heard that the front lines of famous countries are also getting bigger these days, right?”

In response to Heohu’s question, the captain nodded.

“Yes, the number of large ships called Daebokseon is increasing.”

* * *

Changes in history due to Hyang’s intervention were not limited to Joseon.

In history before the intervention of Hyang, Ming shipbuilding was in a period of stagnation or decline after the Great Expedition of Zheng He.

The biggest reason was the lifting of the ban.

The lifting of the ban, which had been in place since the early days of the Ming Dynasty, was further strengthened after Emperor Xuande. Because of this, China’s ships stopped developing. Jeonghwa’s Daeboseon also remained a historical record and became the subject of controversy.

Of course, there were advanced technologies such as watertight bulkheads, the development of sails that could sail even in headwinds, and the stern-fixed vertical rudder, but that was the end of it.

However, after Hyang’s intervention, things changed a lot.

Following Joseon’s example, active trade was carried out, which required increasingly larger ships.

Through this, the technology and experience of building the Daebo Ship used in Jeonghwa’s great expedition were not lost and were continued.

In addition, as Joseon produced large battleships that symbolized challenger-class battleships, the Ming Dynasty also began building large ships accordingly.

It was a 15th century version of the ‘gunship competition’.

* * *

This ‘gunship competition’ brought about a huge chain reaction in Asia.

After seeing Joseon and Ming build and operate large battleships and transport ships, neighboring countries also entered into a naval competition.

Starting with Daewol, countries with proper national organizations, such as Seomra and Melaka, jumped into the construction of large ships at once.

There was no other option for them as they saw with their own eyes that the Ming and Joseon Dynasty, with their large battle lines and ships, had a strong military advantage and economic advantage.

The problem was that building and operating such a large ship required a huge amount of money.

Therefore, they began active foreign trade. Ships from various Asian countries have become busy in the Indian Ocean, South China Sea, and East China Sea.

As maritime trade became more active, paradoxically, the ‘era of pirates’ suffering’ was born.

In the beginning, pirates preying on these merchant ships attacked from all directions. Joseon and the Ming Dynasty were the only countries that escaped the clutches of these pirates.

However, Asian countries that suffered losses from pirates began to actively suppress pirates using the large ships they had acquired.

Of course, there were pirates who had large pirate ships that were comparable in size to the large battleships of these countries, but there was a crucial difference.

It was a large-scale use of artillery.

Countries that saw the Ming and Joseon fronts using large quantities of artillery to destroy pirates introduced and operated large quantities of artillery through various channels. But this was difficult for pirates.

And this crucial difference was what put the pirates into trouble.

* * *

Asian countries that participated in the ‘ship competition’ between Joseon and Ming soon brought about political changes.

The military power of a large front and the benefits gained through trade were not something that could be easily shared with others. Therefore, Asian countries began to strengthen their centralized systems. In this process, rebellions and dynasty changes occurred, but ultimately, countries with a highly centralized system similar to the Ming or Joseon dynasties were created.

This later created an unexpected situation when European countries advanced into Asia. The result was very different from the history before the intervention of incense.

To add insult to injury, Japanese historians who studied this period all expressed the greatest regret for Japan during this period.

-Due to internal constraints, we were unable to ride the huge flow in time.

Although the Ouchi clan took power, local feudal lords, large and small, still held real power and kept the Ouchi clan in check.

In the process of checking and suppressing them, Ouchi consumed a huge amount of time and resources, and as a result, he was delayed in responding to changes encompassing the entire Asian region and fell behind.

* * *

“How big of a ship is it?”

“It’s a bit bigger than the challenger class.”

“Then you’ll be carrying a lot of artillery, right?”

“I haven’t confirmed it properly, but it is said to be equipped with 80 guns.”

“80 questions! “How many Challenger-class battleships are on board?”

“There are 50 newly improved Eul-sik General Firearms, 10 shotguns, and 10 Eul-sik Firearms.”

In response to Hamza’s answer, Heohu sighed with a face full of worry.

“Huh~. When the Challenger level front first came out. I heard that many ministers were surprised to hear that the ship would be equipped with 50 guns. But 80 doors is a big deal. “There is no time to build a new front.”

The captain responded with a smile to Heohu’s words full of worry.

“You can trust the navy. Rumor has it that although the Great Battleship is large, it is not as strong as a challenger-level battleship. Also, although it carried more artillery, Ming’s artillery had a shorter range and was less powerful than our Joseon’s artillery. Also, all of the naval officers are elite.”

“That’s true, but…”

As Heohu still couldn’t hide his worry, the captain asked in a low voice.

“Have you heard the rumors about Kabinik?”

In response to the captain’s question, Heohu quickly looked around and asked back in a low voice.

“Are you sure the rumors are true?”

“yes.”

“I’ve only heard that ‘it can change the game of naval warfare.’ Is it artillery? Or is it a wire?”

The captain answered Heohu’s question in a low voice.

“You will see it soon.”

“Huh~. Are you going to end it with just a buzzing sound?”

“Isn’t it Vinik? “I only heard that far.”

“Then let me ask you one more question. “If you are a Kabinik, can you make all of the Ming Sea belong to Joseon?”

In response to Heohu’s question, the captain immediately nodded.

“I heard it’s quite possible.”

“is it? Then that is enough.”

Heo Hu ended the conversation with those words and turned his head to the horizon.

The worry disappeared from Heo Hu’s face as he looked at the calm horizon.

Heo Hu looked over the horizon towards the Ming Dynasty and muttered softly.

“If that happens, it is worth risking my life for.”

* * *

After arriving at the Shandong Peninsula, He Hu and his party immediately boarded an iron horse and headed to Beijing.

“It’s still slow. It exploded slowly. “It’s like an old donkey.”

Heo Hu, who was complaining about the iron horse running at a slower speed compared to Joseon’s even though it had been laid for several years, asked a subordinate who accompanied him.

“News of the Yalu River must have reached the Forbidden City by now, right?”

“There must have been enough.”

“I wonder what your answer will be.”

Everyone in the group nodded at Heo Hu’s words. Heohu turned his head out the window and continued complaining.

“Anyway, I have to get on a boat again!”

He Hu and his party were now heading to Beijing using the Gyeonghang Grand Canal.

* * *

After arriving in Beijing, He Hu and his party unpacked their luggage at the Huidong Pavilion and immediately entered the Forbidden City.

“I come to see His Majesty the Emperor!”

Emperor Seondeok, who was clearly ill, responded to Heohu and his party with a light gesture and opened his mouth.

“It’s not the time for envoys to come, so why did they come?”

“I have come to report to Your Majesty that something terrible has happened at the Yalu River.”

“Yalnok River? A terrible thing? Something?”

Heo Hu immediately responded to Emperor Seondeok’s words.

“The army of the King of Liaodong crossed the Yalu River and invaded Joseon. How can we say that it is not a terrible thing! “How can this happen?”

“Liaodong King?”

When Emperor Seondeok tilted his head, the assistant cabinet secretary who was present immediately explained.

“You seem to be referring to the East King.”

“Hmm… I see. But you crossed the Joseon border at the Yalu River? “I haven’t heard any luggage?”

“There has been no report regarding that yet.”

“I see…”

Emperor Seondeok nodded slightly and looked back at Heohu.

“Jim has given orders to find out the whole story. But is there a conflict taking place in the Yalu River now?”

“That’s right.”

“Then stop fighting immediately and step back. How can the soldiers of a swift country be hostile to my heavenly soldiers? This is not an example.”

“It’s impossible!”

Heo Hu raised his voice in response to Emperor Seondeok’s command.

Finally, Heo Hu’s life-threatening war of words against Emperor Seondeok began.

* * *

“Impossible? “Are you telling me it’s impossible now?”

Emperor Seondeok’s voice became sharp, but Heo Hu answered confidently.

“That’s right! Even though Joseon is subservient to the Ming Dynasty, it is a country with its own right of self-defense! “No matter how much you say it’s abolished, this is unfair!”

“This is outrageous! Jim is the emperor! “Joseon must follow my orders!”

“I tell you again, this is not possible! “No matter how hard we are, we cannot give up Joseon’s borders!”

“I’m just asking you to stand back for a moment while Jim figures out the whole story!”

“The one who has to retreat is a thousand soldiers! “We, Joseon, cannot retreat even an inch!”