Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 625

Episode 625: Their Choice (5)

Not long after the Ryukyu envoy left, an envoy from Ouchi visited Joseon.

This was quite unexpected. According to the practice so far, Ouchi was the one who would have arrived first.

Because of this, many words circulated in the royal court.

“Isn’t this really strange?”

“Of course it is.”

While there were opinions coming from all over that it was suspicious, there were also opinions opposing it.

“Aren’t we being oversensitive?”

“That’s right. “Maybe it’s a little late because something happened to them?”

Hwang Hee responded right away.

“Isn’t it a question of what the circumstances are?”

Most of the subjects around him nodded at Hwang Hee’s words, regardless of whether they were for or against him.

* * *

For those living in Joseon, Jurchen in the north and Japan in the south were always objects of caution. Fortunately, the North’s Jurchen continued to be absorbed into Joseon through Gyeongjang, and as Joseon became an empire, great worries were alleviated.

This was because it became a powerful part of the empire and became a citizen of the empire, so it was possible to use sticks and carrots without worrying about others.

However, the situation was different in the Japanese country in the south. There was also the problem of having to cross the sea, and since the country was already established as one country, a justification was needed to crack the whip.

This part also concerned the scent.

‘The fact that justification is essential for waging war is the same now as it is in the 21st century! How much groundweed was laid when conquering Hemp Island!’

During the conquest of Tsushima Island in the first year of King Sejong’s reign, Joseon lobbied the Japanese lords by paying huge bribes. It was to keep Joseon quiet when it attacked Tsushima Island.

For these people, the nightmare of the end of the Goryeo Dynasty and the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty was still vivid in their memories, so their wariness toward the Japanese Empire was at its highest.

* * *

The messenger from Ouchi who arrived in this situation was Norihiro Ouchi.

“Welcome, Gadok (家督).”

“Thank you for your welcome. “Captain Foreign Minister.”

After a polite greeting was exchanged according to etiquette, Norihiro got to the point.

“According to the agreement we made last time, we would like to purchase 20,000 rifles and 2 million bullets, as well as 40 Eulsik freight cars and 10 million bullets.”

“Let’s prepare like that.”

At Norihiro’s request, Heohu nodded calmly. Norihiro, seeing Heohu’s positive reaction, soon got to the point.

“Captain Foreign Minister. Do you know the word ‘license’?”

“You mean license? Doesn’t that mean ‘to avoid permission’?”

“In Korea, it has a slightly different meaning. It means permission has been given to do something.”

“Is that so? “That’s fun.”

Heo Hu’s words were sincere. Although the countries used the same Chinese characters, there were many words that seemed similar but were used with different meanings.

“But why did you mention ‘license’?”

Norihiro answered Huhu’s question right away.

“I would like to receive a license to produce Joseon’s Eulsik long guns and Eulsik boxcar ammunition.”

“huh? “Did you say you wanted to produce our empire’s Japanese rifles and Japanese wagons in Japan?”

“yes.”

“Why do you want to produce it?”

In response to Heohu’s question, Norihiro looked embarrassed and explained the reason.

“Even though it has been several years since the head of the family became the shogun and served the emperor, there are still many people who are not loyal to the shogunate. We are here to subdue them and make them obey. Of course, it is also good to purchase it from the Empire. However, since we cannot obtain the quantity we want on time, we are trying to obtain a license from the shogunate to produce it.”

To summarize Norihiro’s words, this was this.

-There are more than one bastard we’ve beaten up, so where can we get this kind of nudge? Are you abusive? We make it because it’s dirty!

“Hmm…”

Heohu, who was stroking his beard and thinking deeply about Norihiro’s words, came to a conclusion.

“This is not a matter for me to reach a conclusion on my own, so I will report it to Your Majesty.”

In response to Heohu’s answer, Norihiro nodded gently.

“It’s natural. “Here is a handwritten letter from the Shogun.”

Heohu, who accepted the official letter that Norihiro politely held out, answered immediately.

“I will present it to Your Majesty.”

* * *

The handwritten letter of Shogun Mochiyo, which came through Heohu, was inspected at the Seungjeongwon and then delivered to the governor.

-I, Mochiyo Ouchi, general of the shogunate, write to the emperor of the Korean Federal Empire.

Our Ouchi family and Joseon have been the best neighbors ever since the Empire existed in the name of Joseon.

I, too, cannot hide my joy that our neighbor, Joseon, has become an empire like a dragon meeting a cloud and ascending to heaven.

(omitted)

If Your Majesty listens to my request, the good relations between the empire and our Japanese country will continue for generations.

In this way, the official letter sent by Mochiyo was written politely, giving Hyang the highest honorific title.

“Hmm… it’s fun. That makes me even more worried. Everyone, please take a look.”

After reading the entire contents of the state book, Hyang handed it over to the eunuch.

Starting with Hwang Hee, who had received the State Book through an internal official, all the ministers who attended the meeting examined the contents of the State Book.

Hwang Hee, who checked the state records first, informed Hyang.

“It is definitely a national book filled with unprecedented reverence. However, it is not for nothing that there is a saying, “Rate between right and wrong,” so it is even more suspicious.”

At Hwang Hee’s words, all the ministers who checked the state records nodded.

In the past, many personal letters were exchanged between the king of Joseon and the shogun of the shogunate.

However, looking at those personal letters, it was a situation where they treated each other with respect, regardless of who was superior or superior.

However, looking at the official letter sent by Mochiyo this time, the situation was completely flat.

Therefore, the ministers were even more suspicious.

In the past, even when Joseon sent a state letter to the Ming Dynasty, it was not like this. No matter how weak a country was, it was a matter of pride to bow down to this level.

“If you look at the examples of the past, the more polite you become, the more Japanese people become a people you have to be wary of.”

Hyang, who was nodding his head at Kim Jeom’s words, pointed out the real problem.

“The most important thing is why the internal government is trying to further strengthen its armed forces.”

Heohu answered Hyang’s question.

“It is true that many of the lords who opposed the Daenae family fell in the last war. However, there are quite a few people who have actually increased their power. “If you listen to what Gadok said this time, it is clear that he is thinking of sorting them out.”

* * *

In the last war with the Ming, Joseon and Ouchi landed Japanese lords and their soldiers on the Ming mainland.

Many people, blinded by the opportunity to make a quick fortune, entered the Ming and plundered, and thanks to this, the Ming was cut off.

The problem came after this.

Joseon and Ouchi, having achieved all strategic goals, immediately withdrew from the Ming.

Of course, they did not withdraw without saying anything. Joseon did not forget to notify them of the withdrawal date through Ouchi.

“The Ming army ran away as soon as it saw us! “There is no need to follow Joseon’s advice!”

“Are you going to listen to those Ouchi guys?”

However, due to the confidence they gained from seeing the Ming army that defeated them all, the wealth that accumulated every day, and lastly, their antipathy towards Ouchi, they ignored Ouchi’s advice.

This was their fatal defeat.

As time passed, the Ming soldiers who came to their senses and even civilian warriors called the Murim people came forward and began to push them back.

Having set out to sea to avoid the subjugation of the Ming army and the Murim people, they now had to deal with the Joseon navy and the Ouchi navy. As soon as Joseon and Ouchi withdrew, they declared those remaining in the Ming to be bandits and subjugated them.

In this process, many lords who had animosity towards Ouchi fell, but there were also many who did not.

‘There is no good will without reason!’

‘But if you don’t send out troops, you will be accused of being a traitor, and even if you are not accused of being a traitor, it is certain that you will gradually decline.’

Some lords who were suspicious of Joseon and Ouchi’s intentions paid attention to the movements of Ouchi and Joseon even during the plundering process.

In particular, when they saw that the Ouchi were eager to secure Ming craftsmen, they also swept up Ming craftsmen.

And as soon as I received the notification, I immediately set off on my way home without any hesitation.

Of course, they were upset as they paid a considerable amount of toll to Joseon, but they safely returned to their territory with a considerable amount of wealth and craftsmen.

Afterwards, they heaved a sigh of relief when they heard through rumors the fate of those who had behaved foolishly, unlike themselves.

The problem was that what happened afterwards was not very pleasant for Ouchi.

Based on the wealth and craftsmen obtained from the Ming Dynasty, lords quietly implemented their own policies to enrich the country and strengthen the military.

“The hillbillies of Ouchi also took control of the world, so why can’t we do that?”

The bloody smell of war began to creep in once again.

* * *

“Hmm…”

In response to Heo Hu’s response, Hyang stroked her chin and muttered to herself.

‘Will the Warring States Period, which was thought to never exist, finally happen? I’m not happy when I think about what impact the end of the Warring States Period had on Joseon… Well, it’s not Joseon now, it’s an empire, and the situation has completely changed, but I think it’s still better to avoid unnecessary bleeding. Especially when the Warring States Period becomes longer as I learned, the variables become too large.’

Hyang’s biggest worry was the last problem.

-It is impossible to guarantee what the future situation will be like after a long period of time has passed.

If things continue like they are now, I have no worries. There was a high possibility that it would go downhill like the history of Rome after the period of the ‘Five Sages’.

‘It could be torn to pieces.’

“Hmm…”

The ministers became restless as they saw the stiff, silent scent that was completely different from their usual scent.

‘what? ‘It’s kind of scary to be so silent!’

‘In the past, you would have made a suggestion right away or followed up with another question, but you suddenly did that…’ Hyang, who

had been silent for a while longer, as if he knew the expressions on the faces of the ministers, finally opened his mouth.

“The situation is not good. According to what the Minister of Foreign Affairs said, if we do something wrong, there is a risk that civil war will break out again in Japan.”

Hearing Hyang’s words, the ministers pondered Heo Hu’s remarks and nodded.

Among the ministers who nodded, Min Shin, the new Minister of National Defense, opened his mouth.

“That is certainly true. However, it is also dangerous to allow domestic companies to produce long guns and freight cars on their own. “I am not sure how long they will obey us.”

Kim Jong-seo raised the main issue in response to Min-shin’s words.

“But isn’t the problem that if they start a civil war, the sparks will spread to us as well?”

Afterwards, a war of words continued over the pros and cons. However, the opponents were more dominant than those in favor.

Hyang, who was sorting out the situation while listening to the ministers’ war of words, finally came to a conclusion.

“I have made a decision.”

Hearing Hyang’s words, the ministers closed their mouths and looked at Hyang. Hyang continued speaking to those ministers.

“Let’s give the university the license it wants. Instead, let’s move towards putting on a few shackles.”