Black Corporation: Joseon

“Only mathematics can answer!”

The lower-ranking officials heading towards Geunjeongjeon Hall frowned at the loud shout coming from the research institute.

“Those, those…”

“How can they be so outrageous…”

“Tsk! It’s nothing but a trivial field of study…”

“They don’t read the classics of the sages and cultivate virtue, that’s why they make such noise…”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

The lower-ranking officials who were badmouthing the institute’s researchers stopped talking when they heard a cough from behind, and slowly turned their heads.

“Eep!”

Jeong-cho was glaring at them with a fierce expression.

‘We’re doomed!’

The faces of the lower-ranking officials who had been enthusiastically gossiping turned pale.

***

To those unfamiliar with him, Jeong-cho might appear to be a sidelined old man in terms of power, being the deputy director of the politically less prominent “Joseon Institute of Science and Technology Development”.

However, those who knew even a little about the movement of power within Gyeongbokgung Palace never dared to underestimate Jeong-cho.

Although he was the deputy director, his rank was that of Jeonghun Daebu, the Senior Second Rank. While that was already a considerable position, what was more important was that his superior, the director of the institute, was the Crown Prince.

King Sejong, who had gained absolute power after purging the elder ministers just before the reformation, and his eldest son, the Crown Prince.

Assisting such a Crown Prince was certainly not a task for a sidelined old man.

That’s why the lower-ranking officials who were caught gossiping by Jeong-cho turned pale.

***

Jeong-cho, glaring at the pale and flustered lower-ranking officials, began to growl at them.

“What, trivial study? What are you, who can’t even do your jobs properly without the help of those who have mastered this ‘trivial study’?”

“We are deeply sorry.”

“We have behaved shamefully…”

“You petty men. Even children just learning etiquette at the Commoner’s School wouldn’t behave as shamefully as you are now. Be ashamed of yourselves! Tsk! How on earth are those ministers managing their subordinates! I need to have a word with them! Tsk!”

Watching Jeong-cho’s retreating figure heading towards the research institute located in Eastern Palace while expressing his displeasure, the lower-ranking officials muttered with gloomy faces.

“We’re really done for…”

***

Around the time when the weather started to warm up as March began, a message arrived from the Jeolla Right Naval Station.

“An envoy from the Ōuchi clan has arrived?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Chief State Councillor, immediately answering King Sejong’s question, presented the official report to him.

“Hmm…”

After reading the report with a hum, King Sejong looked at the ministers.

“Have the Ministers of National Defense and Foreign Affairs read it too?”

“Yes, we have confirmed the copy, Your Majesty.”

“If the contents of the report are accurate, the envoy had no choice but to come to the Jeolla Right Naval Station instead of the Japanese trading post.”

King Sejong nodded at the Foreign Minister’s words.

***

As Joseon began trading with foreign countries, the Jeolla Right Naval Station, especially the Mokpo Naval Base, was turning into an unofficial international trading port. To prevent infectious diseases, even Mansur’s merchant fleet had to first dock at Mokpo Naval Base, and the Challenger-class warships traveling to and from India were officially affiliated with the Jeolla Right Naval Station.

The same was true for ships traveling to and from Japan. Ships carrying raw ore mined from the silver mines jointly operated with the Ōuchi clan entered Mokpo Naval Base.

Ore wasn’t the only thing being secretly brought from Japan.

Thanks to the Minamoto clan, the Governor of Kyushu, properly regaining their territory, large quantities of cotton cultivated on consignment were scheduled to be imported from the latter half of this year, the year of Imja (the 14th year of King Sejong’s reign, 1432).

To conceal the alliance with the Ōuchi clan, Joseon also actively operated the route connecting the Japanese trading post – Dongnae – Tsushima – Honshu.

The biggest factor enabling the active operation of this route was the trading posts established in Nagato and Naniwa (present-day Osaka).

Merchants from small territories inland or lacking large ships capable of sea navigation sought out the Joseon trading posts in Nagato and Naniwa.

The scale of transactions made through these merchants visiting the trading posts was considerable, leading to a gradual increase in the number of ships deployed for regular voyages between Dongnae and Nagato/Naniwa.

As the volume of goods moving between Joseon and Japan continued to grow, significant changes began to occur between the two countries.

***

For Joseon, the biggest change, apart from economic benefits, was that they could comfortably conceal a substantial portion of their dealings with the Ōuchi clan.

As the volume of fleets traveling between Joseon and Japan increased, and the size of the Joseon navy stationed in Tsushima grew to protect them, the Japanese pirates lost their foothold. This inadvertently helped prevent the joint operations of the Ōuchi clan and Joseon from being exposed.

In Japan, the internal situation that had been gradually changing was increasingly coming to the surface.

The most significant change was that Joseon’s products had deeply penetrated into the inner parts of Honshu and Kyushu. These Joseon goods were becoming the spark that was changing Japan.

The problem was that this change was not in a good direction for Japan.

***

Merchants from various large and small territories flocked to the Joseon trading posts to purchase Joseon goods and return to sell them in their own territories.

Among these goods were many high-end products for use by the lords or high-ranking samurai, but there were also many items for use by ordinary people.

For example, while lords or high-ranking samurai would purchase dishes and tea sets made of high-quality white porcelain and celadon, ordinary people would buy earthenware pots.

Joseon merchants, whether they were official merchants or general merchants, adopted the same sales strategy.

-Sell expensive items that are costly even in Joseon at high prices, and sell low-priced items with small profit margins but in large volumes.

Because of this, even ordinary people in Japan could purchase items like earthenware pots.

In addition, there were products that ordinary Japanese people would definitely buy, which were steel agricultural tools and kitchen knives made in Joseon.

While Japanese swords (Watoū) made by skilled craftsmen with great care were recognized as masterpieces even in China since ancient times, the quality of iron agricultural tools and kitchen knives used by ordinary people was poor.

Therefore, if Japanese people had even a little surplus, they would definitely seek out Joseon-made agricultural tools and household items.

As Japanese society changed in this way, even though only about two years had passed since the establishment of trading posts in Nagato and Naniwa, the number of blacksmiths and potters going out of business began to increase. Except for a very small number of famous master craftsmen, they couldn’t compete with Joseon.

After reading the related report, Hyang muttered with a cynical expression:

“Has the situation of Japanese screwdrivers and American screws been reversed?”

***

In the 21st century, Korea had caught up with or surpassed developed countries, especially the United States and Japan, in many areas. However, in some aspects, it still lagged behind.

The most tangible examples of this were general tools and consumable parts symbolized by ‘Japanese screwdrivers and American screws’.

Many technicians would mutter the same thing when they saw Japanese screwdrivers with excellent quality at reasonable prices, or American screws that wouldn’t get stripped even after being loosened and tightened multiple times:

“This is why damn domestic products just don’t cut it…”

Korean tools with similar quality to Japanese ones but more expensive, or cheaper but poor quality, and screws that would immediately get stripped with just a little force, symbolized Korea’s technological capabilities until the very end of the 20th century.

Of course, Korean companies making such tools and parts were aware of this and invested a lot of money and effort into improving quality. However, by the time the results were about to emerge, Chinese products had already taken over the market.

***

One of the changes that the spread of Joseon products brought about in Japanese society was that an arms race had begun, knowingly or unknowingly, and this competition was gradually accelerating.

The journey back to one’s territory after visiting a Joseon trading post was always fraught with danger. As the Joseon navy gained control of the seas, the Japanese pirates who were pushed onto land quickly transformed into bandits.

And although it had been quite some time since the Muromachi shogunate was established, bandits formed by those who were defeated and pushed out during the disputes of the Northern and Southern Courts period still existed.

As the number of these bandits increased, armed force became necessary to protect merchant groups engaged in trade. Therefore, lords mobilized soldiers to protect the merchant groups.

The problem arose when these armed merchant groups passed through other territories. It goes without saying that they were tense in hostile territories, but even in friendly territories, they couldn’t relax their guard whenever soldiers entered.

As a result, all lords not only strengthened their military power but also carried out status laundering by designating their soldiers as escort guards for merchant groups. The reasons for status laundering were, firstly, to avoid provoking other territories, and secondly, to conceal the strengthening of their own military power.

However, no matter how much effort was made to hide it, it was natural that at some point, all these movements would become noticeable. And the moment that happened, the surrounding lords began to openly engage in an arms race.

This arms race, occurring knowingly or unknowingly, stimulated the vigilance of Ashikaga Yoshinori, the shogun of the bakufu.

Yoshinori, who was so cruel that he created the term “terror of ten thousand people,” reacted nervously. While strengthening the military power directly under the bakufu, he would punish or confiscate territories at the slightest sign of suspicion.

All these movements were immediately reported to Hanseong through the official merchants at the trading posts.

After reading the report, Hyang muttered with a strange expression:

“At this rate, won’t the Sengoku period start earlier?”

***

Similar discussions were also taking place between King Sejong and his ministers.

“Won’t this lead to another conflict among the Japanese?”

To King Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng immediately replied:

“There’s a high probability of that, Your Majesty.”

Following Jo Mal-saeng’s words, Lee Maeng-gyun added:

“While a conflict may not break out immediately, it will certainly occur.”

“It will certainly occur?”

“Yes, considering the nature of the Japanese people, it will certainly happen.”

“Hmm…”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, King Sejong stroked his beard and fell into thought.

After pondering for a moment, King Sejong turned to Jo Mal-saeng.

“Minister of National Defense, if a conflict breaks out among the Japanese, Japanese pirates will surely appear and cause trouble. How are our defenses against this?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. We are strengthening our naval forces and reinforcing the communication network in the three southern provinces.”

“When the military is properly prepared, the country is at peace. I trust you.”

At King Sejong’s exhortation, Jo Mal-saeng bowed his head deeply and responded loudly:

“I will do my utmost, keeping Your Majesty’s words etched in my bones!”

After finishing his conversation with Jo Mal-saeng, King Sejong turned to Heo Jo.

“If a conflict breaks out in Japan, what should we do about the Japanese trading posts in our Joseon?”

“We should mobilize the army and confiscate all weapons within the trading posts.”

“It could become a diplomatic issue.”

To King Sejong’s point, Foreign Minister Lee Maeng-gyun immediately replied:

“If a conflict breaks out, it means there’s no Japanese government for us to deal with.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Until someone appears to quell the chaos and stabilize the situation, we must strictly control the trading posts.”

Nodding slightly at Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, King Sejong turned to Jo Mal-saeng.

“Minister of National Defense.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Prepare and submit a plan to control the Japanese trading posts in the event of a conflict in Japan.”

“I will obey Your Majesty’s command!”

After giving the order to Jo Mal-saeng, King Sejong looked at the ministers and complained:

“Sigh~ This Japan is truly like a thorn in our side. When it’s peaceful, it creates problems because of its peace, and when it’s in chaos, it creates worries because of its chaos…”

All the ministers nodded at King Sejong’s assessment.

***

It was in this situation that an envoy sent by the Ōuchi clan arrived.

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