Black Corporation: Joseon

Southeast of the Unwol Peninsula.

In history before Hyang’s intervention, it was a small port city called ‘Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky’, but now that the Joseon Navy had taken control, it was known as ‘Chohang'^[1].

The reason for using the character ‘Cho'^[2], meaning ‘to bore’, was due to the port’s location. It was positioned similarly to the decorative hole on the back of a crescent-shaped blade.

While there were other Chinese characters meaning ‘hole’ – such as ‘Kong’ (孔) and ‘Hyeol’ (穴) – they were often used in vulgar metaphors, so this name was chosen after searching through dictionaries.

Despite this background, Chohang’s location itself was a natural harbor. The port, situated inside a rounded bay, effectively blocked rough waves and winds.

“Even so, the problem is that it freezes over as soon as the weather gets a bit cold…”

Go Il-nam muttered softly as he looked around, watching the unloading of supplies for the government monopoly store.

***

Through extensive exploration utilizing all available resources, the Joseon Navy was able to bring the islands and peninsulas north of the Maritime Province and Daesuldo under Joseon’s influence.

The next step was, naturally, to subjugate the indigenous tribes.

The government monopoly stores played the most significant role in this process. Joseon hadn’t forgotten the benefits gained from using these stores to control the Jurchen tribes in the Tumen River region.

Therefore, as soon as they established garrisons in Daesuldo, the Maritime Province, Jongjangdo, and the Unwol Peninsula, they set up government monopoly stores.

These stores served the interests of both parties.

The indigenous tribes of the Maritime Province had paid tribute to and submitted to the Yuan and Ming dynasties not only because they were forced to by military power, but also to easily obtain scarce goods.

However, sending supplies to this region was not an easy task, so the indigenous tribes still faced shortages.

But the Joseon government monopoly stores consistently received supplies, barring unavoidable natural disasters like typhoons.

Because of this, the tribes in these northern regions strongly desired to trade at the government monopoly stores.

Joseon presented only one condition to these indigenous tribes:

-Submit to Joseon. Those who submit will be treated as Joseon people.

“What does it mean to be treated as Joseon people?”

“It means there will be no discrimination if you faithfully follow Joseon’s laws.”

“Ah…”

“Think about it carefully.”

The tribal leaders, having heard Joseon’s proposal through written communication, returned to their tribes with faces full of contemplation.

The indigenous tribes didn’t make an immediate decision. However, as summer and autumn of the year of Imja (1432, the 14th year of King Sejong’s reign) arrived and they saw more goods flowing into the government monopoly stores, the indigenous tribes had to make a decision.

‘Submit, or gamble with raiding?’

While they were deliberating, a small group of impatient natives launched a surprise attack on a government monopoly store near Yeolyeongsa.

“There aren’t many of those Joseon soldiers, if we hit and run, we can definitely succeed!”

Those who attacked the government monopoly store after their own hopeful calculations were torn to shreds by the crossfire of the Joseon Navy’s cannons and muskets.

The Joseon military’s response didn’t stop there. After identifying which tribe the attackers belonged to through interrogation, the Joseon Navy immediately requested cavalry support.

The cavalry, transported by naval ships, struck the problematic tribe, reducing it to complete ruins.

Having witnessed the military might of Joseon, the indigenous tribes were finally forced to make a decision.

That decision was, of course, submission.

Although there had been a bloody incident in between, Joseon faithfully kept the promise it had initially made.

And the tribes that submitted became addicted to the government monopoly stores. The stores established in the Maritime Province, Jongjangdo, and the Unwol Peninsula were bustling with people trying to sell various goods like furs and medicinal herbs to obtain necessities – salt and sugar – and luxury items – black tea and pepper.

Upon receiving the related reports, Hyang smirked and muttered,

“As expected, ‘the evil of capitalism’…”

***

The impact of the ‘Battle of Yeolyeongsa’ wasn’t limited to the submission of indigenous tribes.

During the process of evaluating the results of the ‘Battle of Yeolyeongsa’, Jang Hang-seon submitted a proposal.

‘On the necessity of creating a naval unit dedicated to ground combat and the discretionary power of field commanders.’

Upon seeing the title of the report, Jo Mal-saeng immediately summoned Jang Hang-seon.

“Isn’t this an unnecessary waste of budget?”

To Jo Mal-saeng’s question, Jang Hang-seon answered firmly.

“No! It has sufficient utility!”

Jang Hang-seon explained in detail to Jo Mal-saeng.

-Looking at this Battle of Yeolyeongsa, it took considerable time from stopping the raid to the cavalry’s strike.

-The reason for consuming so much time was not only the time it took to confirm the arrived report, for His Majesty to make a decision and issue orders, but even more time was spent designating the cavalry to carry out the attack, disseminating orders, and transporting them on ships.

-Joseon’s territory will continue to expand in the future. If conflicts occur in places far from the Joseon mainland and situations like this happen, it will only result in too little, too late scenarios.

-Therefore, for ports far from the mainland, it is more appropriate to station separate troops for offense in addition to troops defending the port.

-These separately stationed troops should be primarily composed of cavalry and artillery. Mobility and firepower are the most important factors.

-Depending on the size of the port, station troops ranging from about 100 to 500 men, and quickly deploy these troops by gathering them according to the intensity of the conflict.

-To achieve this, the discretionary power of field commanders must be expanded.

“…It’s more efficient to gather and deploy these divided forces than to gather and send troops from the mainland!”

Hearing Jang Hang-seon’s explanation, Jo Mal-saeng stroked his chin beard with a troubled expression.

“It seems good, but this part is the problem. The part about ‘expanding the discretionary power of field commanders’. What if we initiate conflicts first due to misjudgment by an aggressive field commander? Or what if a field commander plots a rebellion?”

To Jo Mal-saeng’s point, Jang Hang-seon replied immediately, as if he had already thought about it.

“That’s why we divide the troops! The criterion for deciding the size of these divided and deployed units is to make it just enough so that the enemy doesn’t easily decide to attack, while also ensuring that our Joseon forces can’t easily decide to attack first!”

“Hmm…”

After pondering for a while at Jang Hang-seon’s words, Jo Mal-saeng seemed to reach a conclusion and spoke.

“I will submit it to His Majesty for consideration.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, Jang Hang-seon bowed deeply and replied.

“Thank you!”

And after receiving the report from Jo Mal-saeng, King Sejong reviewed it and reached a conclusion.

“It seems like a good idea. Review it further, refine it, and submit it again. Pay particular attention to the part about the discretionary power of field commanders.”

“I receive your command!”

Meanwhile, upon hearing the news, Hyang immediately sought out Jo Mal-saeng.

“I have some equipment ideas in mind. If the unit creation is actually decided, I request an evaluation.”

At Hyang’s words, Jo Mal-saeng replied with a broad smile.

“Is that so! Then I shall do my best to ensure its creation!”

“And please pay close attention to the issue of field commanders’ discretionary power.”

“Yes!”

As he left after cautioning Jo Mal-saeng, Hyang muttered quietly.

“At least we shouldn’t end up like the Kwantung Army…”

Anyway, based on the proposal submitted by Jang Hang-seon, a new branch was created in the navy.

‘Joseon Navy Rapid Response Mobile Force’

It was the birth of a branch that would later be evaluated as ‘one of the sharpest swords of the Joseon military’.

And like other Joseon weapons and branches, it would become an entity that made foreign armies grind their teeth in frustration.

***

While Go Il-nam was grumbling about the sea that would start to freeze as soon as snowflakes began to fall with the slightest drop in temperature, and how snowflakes quickly led to heavy snowfall, a light flickered from the watchtower set up at the entrance of the bay.

“Huh?”

Confirming the light from the watchtower, Go Il-nam immediately began to decode the signal.

“Multiple unidentified vessels approaching?”

Jing jing jing!

Gwang gwang gwang!

Besides Go Il-nam, others who had confirmed the signal caused gong sounds and kkwaenggwari (small gong) sounds to overflow from various parts of the port.

Amidst the clamorous gong and kkwaenggwari sounds, the port guard hurriedly gathered their weapons and began to prepare for battle, while Go Il-nam also moved busily.

“Deck officer! Is the unloading finished?”

“There’s still some left, sir!”

“Stop it immediately! Battle stations!”

“Battle stations! Stop the unloading!”

“Battle stations!”

As the sailors moved busily at Go Il-nam’s orders, the vice-captain approached and asked.

“Wouldn’t it be ships coming from Dasangdo (Bering Island), sir?”

The vice-captain mentioned an island about 580 km northeast of Chohang. Named ‘Dasangdo’ because of the frequent frost, Go Il-nam shook his head at the mention of the island.

“Would the watchtower guards not recognize ships coming from Dasangdo?”

“Ah, that’s right, sir.”

At Go Il-nam’s point, the vice-captain nodded and immediately agreed.

“Just in case, prepare to raise anchor and move away from the dock immediately. For our ship to exert its full power, it needs to move freely.”

“Understood, sir!”

At Go Il-nam’s order, the vice-captain immediately answered and moved to command his subordinates.

***

As the Joseon forces remained on high alert, the vessels in question entered the port.

“A bit larger than a narrow boat. We might be able to end this in one shot if we’re lucky.”

As Go Il-nam was estimating the size of the ships approaching the dock, the vessels in question docked at the pier where the natives’ boats were moored.

Those who docked their ships disembarked with very tense expressions. They were intimidated by the Joseon soldiers who had gathered around the dock.

As the natives who had landed on the dock stood still, a military officer accompanied by a native interpreter approached them.

After a brief conversation, the military officer led the natives away. And not long after, the gong and kkwaenggwari sounds rang out again.

“Emergency over!”

“Stand down!”

As the port guards who had prepared for battle stood down, Go Il-nam also issued orders.

“Stand down from battle stations. And dock the ship again.”

“Yes, sir!”

As the order was transmitted, the tense atmosphere on the Kirin ship also relaxed.

Once the Kirin ship was docked again and firmly tied to the pier, the sailors resumed the unloading of supplies that had been interrupted.

Watching this scene, Go Il-nam ordered the vice-captain.

“I’ll be going to the port command post for a moment. I leave the ship to you.”

“Understood, sir. Leave it to me!”

Having thus entrusted the ship to the vice-captain, Go Il-nam disembarked and headed towards the command post.

He too was a native Joseon person who would be a corpse if not for his curiosity and meddling nature.

***

Upon arriving at the port command post, Go Il-nam sought out a military officer he was friendly with and began to converse.

“Where did they say they were from?”

“They say it’s an island we’ve never heard of before. They say even those living on Dasangdo might not know about it.”

At the military officer’s answer, Go Il-nam’s eyes began to shine.

“An island we’ve never heard of?”

“They say it’s about 960 km east of here, Chohang.”

“960 km in boats like that? Wait! Did you say east?”

Go Il-nam’s eyes widened greatly.

1. 鑿港[↩]
2. 鑿[↩]