Black Corporation: Joseon

The new iron horse satisfied King Sejong during the subsequent test run.

After the completion of the launch ceremony and test run, King Sejong returned to the palace and ordered Kim Jeom:

“Prepare a budget for mass production of the new iron horse and its accompanying passenger and freight cars.”

At King Sejong’s command, Kim Jeom immediately bowed his head and replied:

“I have already allocated the necessary budget. And preparations have been made for annual execution over the next five years.”

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

“What?”

When Kim Jeom responded immediately, not only King Sejong but also Hyang, the ministers, and even the court historians and eunuchs all stared at Kim Jeom with wide eyes.

As all eyes in Geunjeongjeon Hall focused on him, Kim Jeom looked at King Sejong with a flustered expression.

“Have I done something wrong, Your Majesty?”

“Ah, no, it’s just that you answered so promptly for the first time.”

At King Sejong’s words, Kim Jeom replied:

“The iron horse is certainly a device that will not only grow the nation’s economy but also greatly help the people’s lives. And since railways are already being laid and bridges are being built nationwide, isn’t it natural to prepare and wait in advance?”

“That’s true… Indeed it is…”

Although King Sejong kept nodding at Kim Jeom’s answer, the situation was still too unfamiliar.

***

In any case, as the Ministry of Finance and Economy executed the budget, Area 51 and railway construction sites across the country were bustling with activity.

In the production plant of Area 51, new iron horses were being mass-produced, and passenger cars much larger than those attached to the Hanseong iron horse and the post coaches attached to tractors were being steadily manufactured.

And at the nationwide railway construction sites, which were gradually entering the final stages, final inspections were ongoing.

In this final inspection process, the line supervisors were paying the most attention to the railway connecting Hanseong to Wonsan and the north-south railway along the east coast.

Coal from the north and Gangwon-do was transported to the ironworks located in Yeonil in the south. Also, iron products produced in Musan and Yeonil were either transported to Hanseong via the Gyeongwon Line or distributed nationwide using the completed land routes. The same was true for coal.

Following this east coast axis, the west coast and south coast axes were also entering the near-completion stage.

The railways planned and implemented by Joseon had their own characteristics. The primary lines were first created along the coastline, and branch lines connected from these main lines into the inland.

This approach was taken due to the mountain ranges that occupy 70% of the Korean Peninsula. Even Hyang, who was skilled in all sorts of specialties, had a weak point in architecture and civil engineering. Moreover, although locomotives with increasingly powerful outputs were being developed and researched, climbing mountains was still a challenging task.

Therefore, the main lines were laid along the coastline where flat areas continued, and branch lines extended inland.

At the center of this grand railway network was Hanseong.

On the day when the Hansu Railway Bridge, which was still under fierce construction, would be completed, the entire Joseon would be connected by railways.

And for that day, Jinpyeong was still riding around all over Joseon, offering all sorts of advice.

“The completion of the nationwide railway network in Joseon is the beginning of my dream! Starting from this Joseon, I will lay railways to Liaodong, the Central Plains, and beyond! I will travel by train to India and Alexandria!”

Jinpyeong was boldly shouting words that would make Kim Jeom grab the back of his neck if he heard them, as he roamed through the construction sites.

And hearing this, Hyang muttered with a truly serious face:

“What if that Gapyu Railway Incident dream turns out to be not just a silly dream but a prophetic one?”

***

While Joseon was moving peacefully on the surface and fiercely beneath, a variable was thrown in.

The 18th year of King Sejong’s reign (1436, the year of Byeongjin). April.

An envoy from Ouchi urgently visited Joseon. As this was a sudden visit, not during the regular annual period, King Sejong and his ministers became serious.

“Given that Ouchi Morimi, the head of the Ouchi clan, is quite old, has something happened?”

To King Sejong’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun answered:

“Although Morimi is quite old, he hasn’t yet reached his 60th birthday, and as he usually enjoys hunting and pays attention to his diet, I think the probability of such an issue is low.”

“Is that so?”

Answering briefly, King Sejong glanced at Hyang. Most of the things that Morimi was said to observe were what Hyang had insisted King Sejong must follow.

King Sejong cleared his throat and issued an order:

“Ahem! In any case, the sudden arrival of an envoy must be due to some complication. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, find out the details of this complication.”

“We receive your command!”

***

The officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who received the envoy drastically changed their expressions upon hearing the news delivered by the Ouchi envoy. They immediately submitted a report to Lee Maeng-gyun, who rushed to King Sejong.

“So, what is the reason for the sudden visit of the Ouchi clan’s envoy?”

“They are requesting to purchase the muskets used by our Joseon army.”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s words, Jo Mal-saeng, who was present, blurted out a harsh remark:

“They want muskets? These bastards, we’ve been nice to them all this time, and now they spout such nonsense…”

“Minister!”

“Ahem! Hrm!”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s urgent cry, Jo Mal-saeng regained his senses and bowed his head to King Sejong.

“Your Majesty! Please forgive me for momentarily losing my reason and showing such unseemly behavior!”

“It’s alright. That’s what I wanted to say. So… What is the reason they suddenly came asking to sell muskets? Surely they must know how we in Joseon manage our cannons and muskets? Has some calamity befallen Japan?”

To King Sejong’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun immediately answered:

“It has been confirmed that the Japanese who are at odds with the Ouchi clan have acquired firearms.”

“What!”

King Sejong shouted, springing up from his seat.

***

Upon receiving the report that ‘the Japanese have acquired firearms,’ King Sejong immediately ordered Jo Mal-saeng:

“Dispatch inspectors to all of Joseon’s land and naval forces immediately to assess the management status of cannons, muskets, and horse-mounted guns!”

“I receive your command!”

After giving orders to Jo Mal-saeng, King Sejong turned to Lee Maeng-gyun.

“So that’s why the Ouchi clan’s envoys have come to us?”

“That is correct. Especially, considering that the one who came as the head of the envoys is Ouchi Mochiyo, we can see the urgency of the Ouchi clan.”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, King Sejong, after pondering for a moment, opened his mouth:

“I will meet the envoys directly. Make preparations.”

***

The next day, the Ouchi clan’s envoys, led by Ouchi Mochiyo, were able to meet King Sejong in Geunjeongjeon Hall.

As Mochiyo and his party entered Geunjeongjeon, they immediately prostrated themselves and bowed deeply upon seeing King Sejong seated on the throne.

“Ouchi Mochiyo of the Ouchi clan greets the sovereign of Great Joseon!”

“You must have had a difficult journey. Eunuchs, bring chairs for the envoys.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the envoys sat on the chairs brought by the eunuchs, a barrage of questions from King Sejong and his ministers followed.

“I heard that those at odds with the Ouchi clan have acquired firearms. Is this truly certain?”

To King Sejong’s question, Mochiyo answered in broken Korean:

“It is certain.”

“Which clans are they?”

“As far as we have confirmed, it’s the Otomo, Shoni, and Shimazu.”

“Otomo? Shoni? Shimazu?”

At King Sejong’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun, who was present, immediately explained:

“They are the Otomo, Shoni, and Shimazu clans, Your Majesty.”

As King Sejong nodded at Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, something caught his attention.

“Wait… Isn’t the Shoni clan the one that the So clan, the lords of Tsushima, follows?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“I’ve been informed that the Shoni clan is currently staying in Tsushima, dreaming of a comeback. Is this accurate?”

“It is, Your Majesty.”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, King Sejong’s face became even more serious.

“For such people to have acquired firearms… This is a big problem…”

Realizing that the situation was more serious than expected, King Sejong continued to question Mochiyo:

“Among the firearms they are said to possess, has the Ouchi clan acquired any?”

“We have, Your Majesty.”

Mochiyo, who answered immediately, ordered his subordinate behind him. At Mochiyo’s command, the subordinate came forward with a wooden box he had been carefully holding. As Mochiyo’s subordinate came forward with the box, the nearby Imperial Guard soldiers all tensed up at once. Under the watchful eyes of the tense soldiers, Mochiyo’s subordinate put down the box and carefully retreated.

“Open the box.”

At King Sejong’s order, a eunuch opened the lid of the box and showed its contents to King Sejong.

Inside the box was a firearm with joints like bamboo.

After confirming the firearm in question, King Sejong turned to Jo Mal-saeng.

“It looks a bit different from the firearms our Joseon army used to use, doesn’t it?”

“It does, Your Majesty. No, it’s certainly different.”

“Hmm…”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s confirmation, King Sejong stroked his beard, organizing his thoughts, and then ordered the Chief Royal Secretary:

“Summon General Choi Hae-san and General Lee Chun immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

***

At King Sejong’s summons, Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun, who were working in Area 51, hurriedly entered Gyeongbok Palace.

Choi Hae-san, who had stabilized the northern region, volunteered to work in the Weapons Bureau established in Area 51 as soon as he returned.

For him, who was strongly influenced by his father Choe Mu-seon, the Weapons Bureau in Area 51 was his true calling.

Thus, Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun were in charge of overseeing the development and improvement of gunpowder weapons in Area 51 and the research institute.

And seeing such Choi Hae-san, Hyang had commented like this:

“When it comes to gunpowder, he’s an even more hardcore enthusiast than me. I’m second, and General Lee Chun is No. 3.”

***

These hardcore enthusiasts, Choi Hae-san and Lee Chun, examined the firearm in question and came to the same conclusion.

“It’s a Dolhwachang (突火槍).”

“Indeed it is.”

Having reached an agreement, the two immediately reported to King Sejong.

“It’s a Dolhwachang used by the Ming army, Your Majesty.”

“A firearm of the Ming army, you say?”

“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”

“I see. You may be seated.”

Having learned that the firearm in question was a Dolhwachang used by the Ming army, King Sejong asked Mochiyo:

“Do those three clans threatening the Ouchi clan have many of these firearms?”

“We know they have at least several hundred, and the number is still increasing.”

“Hmm…”

At Mochiyo’s explanation, King Sejong once again fell into thought. After pondering for a long while, King Sejong seemed to have made a decision and spoke:

“Listen, Ouchi Mochiyo. The fact that those at odds with the Ouchi clan are using such firearms is a very serious matter. The Ouchi clan and our Joseon have maintained neighborly relations until now, how could we just let this pass? We will soon find a good answer and let you know, so return to the guest house and wait.”

At King Sejong’s order, Mochiyo immediately prostrated himself and replied:

“We earnestly hope that you will look upon our unworthy clan with compassion and provide us with assistance!”

“We will find a good answer for you.”

***

After sending the envoys away, King Sejong turned to his ministers.

“It seems we should help them. The Ouchi clan and we are in a relationship of mutually beneficial interdependence. If something happens to the Ouchi clan, we will be in trouble too.”

At King Sejong’s words, Jo Mal-saeng immediately stepped forward.

“That’s correct, Your Majesty. In particular, the biggest problem is the Shoni clan. Now that they have established themselves on Tsushima Island, there’s a high possibility that the Japanese pirates might become rampant again if we’re not careful.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, all the ministers nodded. Seeing the ministers’ reactions, Jo Mal-saeng went a step further.

“While it’s important to help the Ouchi clan, it’s also important to deal with potentially problematic issues in advance.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s statement, Hwang Hui interjected.

“Preemptive action? Are you suggesting we attack Tsushima Island?”

“The Shoni clan’s problem is not only the Ouchi clan’s problem but also our problem. Isn’t it common knowledge even to a three-year-old child that the Shoni clan is plotting a comeback after their defeat to the Ouchi clan in the last battle? Where do you think they’ll get the funds for this comeback? What else but piracy? They may seem docile now, but we never know when they might stab us in the back, so we shouldn’t miss this opportunity!”

“Do you think war is easy? Have you forgotten how we struggled to prepare the army and secure war funds during the Tsushima Island conquest in the past year of Hae?”

“The Joseon of then and now are worlds apart! The current Joseon wouldn’t have to struggle as much as back then!”

As the topic suddenly shifted to a ‘Second Tsushima Island Conquest,’ the hall became noisy.