Black Corporation: Joseon

As the situation settled, the court moved swiftly. Following the agreed-upon results, they reassigned personnel and checked the situation. Amidst this busy activity, a secret envoy carrying King Sejong’s handwritten letter crossed the sea.

Morimi, upon receiving King Sejong’s handwritten letter, checked its contents and spoke.

“This doesn’t seem to be something we can decide right away. Please wait a moment.”

“Certainly.”

After asking the envoy to wait, Morimi put his heads together with his retainers.

“You’ve all heard the contents, so there’s no need to repeat them. What do you think we should do?”

“Including the planned education period, they’ll be staying in Joseon for nearly ten years. They might even end up naturalizing in Joseon.”

“Joseon’s governance is completely different from ours. What use would it be to learn their ways of ruling?”

Initially, those opposing the idea were in the majority. However, as they noticed Morimi’s unfavorable expression, opinions started to shift towards accepting Joseon’s proposal.

Mochiyo, recognized as the next lord, was the first to speak up.

“We should accept it. Our domain is growing more powerful by the day. The old ways will surely reach their limits. Therefore, we must learn the governance of Joseon, which is becoming stronger day by day. We must learn Joseon’s ways of ruling to overcome the limitations of our domain.”

***

While managing the Iwami silver mine together with Joseon, Mochiyo was gradually becoming addicted to Joseon.

To be precise, he was captivated by Joseon’s policies. And it all started with a labor dispute at the silver mine.

While Mochiyo was considering forceful suppression as his subordinates suggested, Ahn Sang-taek proposed Joseon’s method, which Mochiyo accepted.

The results were good, so Mochiyo began to gather information about various policies implemented by Joseon.

As he researched the information he gathered, Mochiyo became addicted to Joseon.

“This is what governance should be! Our domain must change like this too! No, not just our domain, but the entire world should change to be like Joseon!”

To clarify, when the Japanese spoke of “the world,” they meant the entirety of Japan, not the whole world.

Because of this, when Ming Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang sent an envoy regarding the wokou (Japanese pirate) problem, the relationship between Ming and Japan soured due to a single phrase in the reply sent by Ashikaga Takauji, the shogun at the time.

“The world does not belong to any one individual.”

In Takauji’s case, he meant “The Japanese realm doesn’t belong to me alone,” but from Zhu Yuanzhang’s perspective, it was understood as “The entire world doesn’t belong to the Ming Emperor alone.” (Note 1)

***

After Mochiyo expressed his agreement, other retainers who concurred with his opinion began to raise their voices.

“That’s right! When our Ouchi clan takes control of the realm, we must govern with a broader perspective. For this, we need people who know well how to rule like great and advanced nations. This is a great opportunity!”

“The bakufu and other lords are still like frogs in a well. To surpass them, we must first surpass them in governance!”

“Exactly!”

“Those despicable Sō clan are still waiting for opportunities in Tsushima. We must learn everything we can from Joseon and gain control of the realm to completely subjugate the Sō clan. Governance is just the beginning!”

The situation had completely turned in favor of acceptance. Seeing the retainers’ reactions, Morimi smiled broadly and made his decision.

“Good! We accept Joseon’s proposal! Let’s learn everything we can and take this realm into our Ouchi clan’s hands!”

“Ha!”

At Morimi’s declaration, the retainers prostrated themselves and responded loudly.

***

Morimi put all his efforts into realizing his dream of overthrowing the Muromachi bakufu ruled by the Ashikaga clan and taking control of the realm.

Using the tally trade with the Ming, he sent people to Ming, and also sent envoys to Joseon to establish friendly relations and adopt their culture.

In this process, Morimi, like Mochiyo, gradually became addicted to Joseon.

The splendor of the great empire described by those who returned from Ming was admirable, but the dazzling development of Joseon reported by those who visited there was close to miraculous.

Whether official or unofficial, the Joseon envoys who came to Ouchi were all highly learned and full of wisdom. Every time these envoys came and went, Morimi sighed at the backwardness of the domain he ruled.

Especially when he heard about the iron horse, Morimi was shocked as if struck by lightning.

‘A cart that moves without cattle or horses! This is it! Joseon is the future I dream of! Our Japan is neither a great nation like Ming, nor do we have much! The only path we should follow is the path Joseon is taking!’

‘I will grasp the realm (of Japan) in my hands!’

The long-standing aspiration of the family was now transforming from political ambition to religious conviction.

“It is the supreme heavenly mandate given to me and our family to transform this backward realm into an advanced nation like Joseon!”

“We must change everything from what we wear, eat, and use! Abandoning our Japanese ways and following Joseon’s path is the only way for our family and the realm!”

This marked the beginning of what historians would later call “De-Japanization Theory” or “Abandoning Japan for Joseon.”

***

Whatever the background, the envoy who obtained Morimi’s acceptance immediately returned and reported to King Sejong.

“Is that so? Ouchi Morimi accepted?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. He only asked that we teach them well, as they are valuable talents who will manage their domain.”

King Sejong smiled at Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer and replied.

“As it’s a request from those who are friendly with us, do your best. And remember that we can’t keep such important talents indefinitely.”

“I will engrave it on my bones and heart!”

Soon after King Sejong’s order, the Japanese students studying in Hanseong suspended their classes to hear an announcement from the court.

“…so, once you complete the course, you’ll be immediately assigned to duties to learn practical skills.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“I should add that the intensity of your classes will increase a bit from now on.”

At the words of the Chief Education Officer, the color drained from the students’ faces.

“Pardon?”

“Your lord requested to His Majesty, ‘They are valuable talents who will manage the domain, so please teach them well.’ How could we be negligent?”

“Hai…”

“So, brace yourselves and follow along well.”

“Hai…”

The students responded with half-dazed faces to the Chief Education Officer’s words.

The classes had been tough so far, but now they were being told that future classes would be even tougher.

Later, when the students who completed the course and were assigned to practical duties, they all screamed.

“The classes were easier in comparison!”

And when those who returned to Ouchi and took charge of practical duties, they badgered their subordinates.

“What! You call this work? When I worked in Hanseong…”

***

While things ended well with Ouchi, the internal affairs of Joseon were once again in an uproar.

It was because of the court’s proclamation announcing ‘partial revision of the civil service examination system.’

“Opening the doors to women? What nonsense is this!”

“It’s the end of times! The end of times!”

Local nobles men, indignant at the news that women would also be given the right to take the civil service exam, took action.

“Write a petition! A petition!”

“No! We must go to Hanseong! Meoksoe! Bring the axe! I’m going to submit a petition with an axe!”

“I’ll go with you!”

And so, once again, petitions flooded into Gyeongbok Palace. The royal secretaries and lower-ranking officials of the Privy Council who received the petitions sighed deeply at the mountain of petitions piled up.

“Huu~ We expected this, but…”

However, it was their job to pre-screen and categorize the petitions, so the royal secretaries and lower-ranking officials began to open the envelopes and read the contents.

The royal secretaries and lower-ranking officials reviewing the petitions showed unusual behavior: they inserted yellow papers into most of the opened petitions and set them aside.

“We should contact the Typography Bureau and ask them to print more of these.”

“Right? How many copies do you think would be appropriate?”

“Let’s start with about 100 sheets.”

“That sounds about right. You go and deliver the message, then take a short break.”

“Yes.”

King Sejong and his ministers, anticipating this flood of petitions, had prepared and printed appropriate responses in advance.

***

“Please reconsider!”

“Your Majesty~. Please reconsider!”

“Hm?”

Hyang, who was returning to the Crown Prince’s palace after working in Area 51, stopped his horse at the sound of shouting in front of Gwanghwamun Gate.

“What’s going on? Asking for reconsideration?”

“I’ll go check and report back, Your Highness.”

In response to Hyang’s question, an accompanying eunuch ran forward to assess the situation.

Shortly after, the returned eunuch reported the situation to Hyang.

“They say it’s a petition with axes, Your Highness.”

“A petition with axes? For what reason? Don’t tell me it’s because of the recent civil service exam system revision?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Oh my… tsk!”

Hyang clicked his tongue briefly and rode his horse towards the shouting crowd.

“Your Highness! It’s dangerous!”

“Your Highness!”

The Royal Guard guards in charge of protection were startled. A petition with axes meant that the protesters were demonstrating with dangerous blades placed beside them. As the Royal Guard tried to stop him, Hyang smiled and replied.

“I trust you all.”

At Hyang’s words, the Royal Guard wore expressions of resignation as they rode their horses to the front of Hyang.

“We’ll go ahead, Your Highness.”

***

As Hyang approached the vicinity of the protesters, he dismounted and walked. The Royal Guard, who had also dismounted, surrounded him in layers as Hyang drew near, and the protesters raised their voices.

“Your Highness! You are not only the Crown Prince but also a subject! It is the duty of a subject to speak frankly to the king and prevent foolish policies, so why have you neglected this duty!”

“That’s right! Why are you neglecting your duty?”

In response to the protesters’ outcry, Hyang muttered quietly.

“They have loud voices and big guts.”

“Pfft!”

“Kup!”

At Hyang’s words, the surrounding Royal Guard soldiers gritted their teeth to forcibly hold back their laughter.

“Captain Jang.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hyang pointed at the protesters with his finger and ordered.

“Start with the one sitting on the right, and bring them one by one with their axes and petitions.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

A moment later, after reading the petition brought by the captain, Hyang examined the axe.

“Hmm…”

Making a nasal sound, Hyang took out a golden brush from his sleeve, scribbled something on the petition, and returned it to the captain.

“Return it, and tell them to read aloud what I’ve written.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Shortly after, the scholar who received the message through the captain unfolded the petition. The scholar’s arms trembled like aspen leaves as he confirmed what Hyang had written.

“What are you doing?”

At Hyang’s urging, the scholar gritted his teeth and shouted loudly.

“Axe blade equals penmanship!”

At the scholar’s shout, the surrounding people murmured.

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t know?”

Amidst the murmuring, a somewhat literate commoner clicked his tongue.

“Tsk tsk tsk… He got insulted outright.”

“What did the Crown Prince say to make you say that?”

“He said the axe blade and the writing skill are the same.”

“Huh?”

The commoner who heard the explanation looked at the axe held by the scholar in question and burst into laughter.

“Puhah!”

The scholar’s axe was covered in bright red rust.

Similar evaluations followed. One scholar who received the evaluation that “the axe blade is sharper than his writing skills” burst into tears on the spot.

Looking at these scholars, Hyang raised his voice.

“If you can’t stand the sight of women wearing official robes, then you take the civil service exam and pass it yourselves! How dare you have so much to say when you can’t even pass the exam!”

***

Note 1) Joseon Dynasty Military Strategy. P.61. Ministry of National Defense Military History Compilation Research Institute.