Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 705
Episode 705: Second Battle of the Yellow Sea (3)
“Whew~. They say, ‘A moment’s choice determines your whole life.’ There’s nothing wrong with that old saying.”
The plan was well thought out, but execution was up to Shin Shin-son.
Overwork was a place where even the slightest mistake in the basics could result in heavy criticism.
Therefore, we shouted and sighed whenever we had time, but the ship had already left.
In the end, Shin In-son uttered a maxim that has become a tradition since Gyeongjang.
“Use it! “I can’t be the only one who dies!”
Shin In-son, who had made up his mind, opened the personnel list.
“Let’s see… useful people…”
Shin Shin-son began to search through the directories and personnel evaluations of the imperial navy’s generals, admirals, and high-ranking military officers to select suitable people.
Shin Shin-son spent several days and nights selecting the people he liked and gathered them all together.
In-son Shin, who gathered generals and high-ranking military officials in a large conference room located at the naval headquarters, got straight to the point.
“Everyone, you must do something together with me for your majesty and the empire.”
In this way, a large-scale personnel change took place that made people sick and the provincial governors excited.
* * *
Hyang nodded after receiving the list of personnel changes in the Navy through Minshin.
“It’s a pretty good appointment.”
“However, too many generals with excellent experience are being left out.”
Hyang gave a positive evaluation, but Minshin could not hide his worries. In response to Minshin’s concerns, Hyang smiled slightly and accepted the words.
“But considering the Navy’s personnel backlog, this is a good selection. And aren’t those who will fill the empty positions all talented people?”
“That is true, but people may misjudge.”
‘As expected, the Minister of National Defense! ‘I like it!’
Inwardly admiring Minshin’s concern about Minshin’s misjudgment, Hyang looked at him with a secret smile.
Minshin’s expression hardened at the unspoken answer visible beyond her smile and she asked cautiously.
“Are you sure you are inducing that?”
Hyang’s smile grew even deeper at Minshin’s question. And the fishy scent of blood lingered in that deepened smile.
“If they still haven’t escaped the illusion of the past, they will definitely be caught in it. Well, I think we were caught from the moment we created the ‘double-headed dragon’ or something… Prince.”
“Yes yes! your majesty! “Please command!”
Wan was startled by the sudden call of incense and looked at it. Hyang gave orders to Wan.
“This is your first time in war, right? This is a good opportunity. “Do it right.”
“yes? “What do you mean?”
Wan, who was pale, asked Hyang again. Hyang explained Wan’s appearance in more detail.
“It is not something new that people have been shouting ‘Gwontojungrae’. Their large front line, which I mentioned earlier, is the best foresight. It would be a shame to wait until they are fully prepared. “Make a plan to make them lose their senses and attack you, a military plan to completely suppress them if they attack you, and a plan so that they will not even dare to try that again.”
At Hyang’s command, Wan immediately bowed down on the floor and raised his voice.
“your majesty! “It’s too much for a small child’s abilities!”
Hyang flatly rejected Wan’s request.
“No, your abilities are sufficient. What is lacking is experience. Rather, now is a good opportunity. This is because there are ministers around him who are old and have already experienced war. “They are enough.”
“Haona….”
“Don’t worry. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll have to leave too. But if that happens, the prince will suffer a lot.”
Wan raised his voice at Hyang’s words.
“I will do my best, even if I am prepared to die!”
That night, Hyang, who was left alone in his bedroom, grumbled softly.
“Even if you offer to help, I’m still dissatisfied…”
Hyang, who was complaining as he remembered Wan burning his will as soon as he finished his sentence, quickly lost his appetite.
“Hey… if I hear those words, I’ll work hard too.”
After organizing Wan’s affairs, Hyang soon grumbled at another person.
“Anyway, what is a two-headed dragon? “The two-headed flame dragon… and the black flame dragon, too, are the Ming Dynasty’s imperial family and army filled with only middle school soldiers?”
Hyang, who slightly shook his head at the word that had the scent of ‘junior high school soldier’, looked again at the Navy’s personnel transfer list.
Hyang nodded after carefully examining the list of those in charge of Shinji’s Far East Fleet.
“President Shin chose the right people.”
Most of the people chosen by Shin In-son were those who served on the front lines during the time when the navy changed into the navy. They were in charge of practical work in the process of transforming from a navy whose main mission was coastline defense to an ocean-going navy that controlled trade routes in distant seas.
They fought bloody battles with Japanese pirates in the waters off the Korean Peninsula and with pirates in distant seas.
They were not just accustomed to fighting. From Tsushima Island as close as Suez to Suez as far away, everything from the location of military ports where the empire’s navy would stay to the selection of appropriate grade of battle lines were all created through their hands.
“We have a lot of capabilities and experience, so we can build a proper Far East Fleet. Will the pillars of the sea defense wall be erected properly? “I can take a breather.”
Hyang nodded and looked satisfied.
The subjects of the same time problem were looking at the moon in the sky and letting out a long sigh.
“To fall for that bastard’s words ‘for the Empire and Your Majesty’… I can’t believe I’m starting from scratch at this age!”
* * *
In any case, given this background, the Imperial Navy was busy with personnel changes.
And the Ming Dynasty government, which had secured information on personnel changes in the Imperial Navy, was also busy.
“So, the military inspector general and provincial governors see this person as ‘Tosa-gu-pin’?”
“That’s right.”
In response to Emperor Gyeongtae’s question, the military inspector and provincial governors all bowed their heads and answered.
“Hmm…”
Gyeongtaeje, who was thinking while making a snoring noise, looked at the cabinet secretary.
“What do you think of Subo?”
To Emperor Gyeongtae’s question, Naegubo immediately answered with a sigh.
“I think your conviction is also a reasonable opinion. The biggest enemy that threatens royal authority from ancient times is the one who holds military power. That is why the King of Joseon is trying to purge them.”
“Is that so…”
While nodding his head at the words of the Assistant Cabinet Secretary, the Minister of Economic Affairs was slightly hesitant.
‘The Emperor said that the King of Joseon is extremely cunning, so be careful until the end. ‘Isn’t it still the same now?’
Gyeongtaeje, who was worried over and over again, asked the ministers.
“Could it be a trap trying to lure us in? Isn’t it truly elaborate? “After we had just deployed the Two-Headed Flame Dragon to the front lines, there was a sudden personnel change.”
The ministers who were considering the possibility at Emperor Gyeongtae’s point immediately nodded.
“There is a high possibility of that happening.”
“The King of Joseon is famous for his cunning….”
“I think this is also a plan of the King of Joseon.”
Before we knew it, the trend among ministers was shifting from ‘Tosagupang’ to ‘Fragrance Trap’.
However, in any organization, there were bound to be people who wanted to stand out for their own advancement.
“I ask your Majesty, but even this may have been what the King of Joseon had in mind.”
Emperor Gyeongtae turned his head at the sudden rebuttal.
“Who is it?”
“Here comes Han Wang-gyeom, one of the most difficult people in the Soshin Yebu.”
“So, are you saying that even what we think is the King of Joseon’s plan is also the plan of the King of Joseon?”
“That’s right.”
“Explain why.”
“There are widespread rumors that the King of Joseon will leave for the place they call Shinji within one or two years. That’s why they’re already having the prince act as a proxy. If Soshin is the king of Joseon, he would hope that there will be no threats until the prince’s power base is solidified. That’s why I took the lead in this personnel change. “Through this personnel change, we are trying to strengthen the power of the prince and secure time for the disorganized Joseon navy to stabilize again.”
“So, are you saying that we thought this was a trap for the King of Joseon and planned to make us miss a good opportunity?”
Han Wang-gyeom answered Gyeongtaeje’s question right away.
“That’s right. “It’s like the plan that the dead Gongmyeong used to chase away the living Jungdal.”
“aha!”
Emperor Gyeong slapped his knees in admiration at Han Wang-gyeom’s explanation.
‘done!’
Han Wang-gyeom, who realized that Gyeong Tae-je had been fooled by his explanation, strengthened his voice.
“You must think about the new faith that Joseon has gained. The fact that the king of Joseon personally moves to this island to work on it is proof that it is not just a small island. In addition, King Sang of Joseon was already over sixty years old and was in a senile state. Therefore, the King of Joseon must personally go to Shinji within at least 1 or 2 years. Therefore, the king of Joseon, known for his cunning, came up with a plan that kills two birds with one stone.”
“I see! “That was it!”
Emperor Gyeongtae, who was repeatedly impressed by Han Wang-gyeom’s explanation, looked back at the cabinet secretary.
“What do you think of Subo?”
“You have a point.”
“Does Subo think so too? So does Jim! “When I just think about Joseon, things keep coming out that don’t fit, but when I connect that new chapter, everything falls into place!”
Gyeongtaeje was excited and shared his thoughts.
-The Two-Headed Flame Dragon, newly developed by the Ming Dynasty, is a difficult battle line for even Joseon to deal with.
-But now the king of Joseon must go to Shinji soon.
-Purge of the military is absolutely necessary to ensure a stable transfer of royal power.
-But it takes time for things to stabilize again after the purge.
-In addition, people must not move during that time.
-In that case, he intentionally leaked information to confuse the people.
“… If you organize it like this, everything fits together! As expected, the cunning King of Joseon! “How cunning!”
Emperor Gyeongtae, who spoke something unclear whether it was a compliment or a sarcasm, gave an order to the ministers.
“Ask them to send a spy ship into the Yellow Sea and closely examine the situation of the Joseon navy!”
“I follow your orders!”
After the assembly, the military officers and provincial governors who had left Daejeon gathered again in the military department’s conference room.
The three people, facing each other across a teacup, soon began to exchange opinions on the topic of what had happened earlier.
“What do you think? Is this really a ruse of ‘Si Gong’s life is the same as life?’
“It’s a possible plan for the King of Joseon, but…”
When asked by Sang-seo of the sick, the left governor blurted out his words with an embarrassed look on his face. But Udodog frowned and shook his head.
“It’s very unlikely. What are you going to do if we think it’s a real opportunity and attack you? “It’s too complicated and the risk is high.”
The medical examiner nodded at Udodog’s point.
“Of course… there is a rumor that the King of Joseon said to the monks of the West, ‘The truth must be simple and clear.’ And even in the art of war, it is said to avoid overly complicated strategies.”
“But when I think of the cunning of the King of Joseon… and I will be honest. The two-headed dragon is in excellent condition right now. But as time passes, it becomes harder to be confident. Therefore, now, when the Joseon navy is in disarray, is the best opportunity.”
“Are there a lot of problems with the two-headed dragon?”
“It’s not a problem with the two-headed flame dragon itself, but a problem with the steam engine inside it and the iron armor that surrounds it. “Isn’t it true that we all know that the skills of our craftsmen are not as good as those of Joseon?”
When the left governor honestly acknowledged the problem, the sick minister and the right governor nodded without realizing it.
“Time is not on our side, so should we take a gamble?…”
The three were becoming more and more worried.