Black Corporation: Joseon

Just as things seemed to be settling down, King Sejong suddenly called Hyang.

“Ah! I almost forgot. Crown Prince, the Ouchi clan has requested support with muskets to counter the firearms. What do you think we should do?”

To King Sejong’s question, Hyang immediately replied.

“Sh– I mean, shouldn’t we just hand over the copper guns? We can give them the manufacturing method, but we should provide the bullets and gunpowder ourselves.”

At Hyang’s answer, King Sejong thought for a moment and then nodded.

“Yes, that would be best. We must prevent the gunpowder manufacturing technology from falling into their hands as much as possible. Good job.”

“Yes. Then, I’ll return and start working on it right away.”

“Alright, good work.”

Hyang politely paid his respects to King Sejong and left Geunjeongjeon Hall.

Watching Hyang’s retreating figure, King Sejong instead became uneasy.

“Huh? Why is that boy being so docile?”

King Sejong had already seen through what kind of child Hyang was.

Knowing well that Hyang’s favorite thing was weapons development, King Sejong couldn’t understand Hyang’s docile reaction just now.

“I understand his reaction when I mentioned the budget, but the problem is that his reaction before that doesn’t seem normal…”

Noticing Hyang’s reaction different from usual, King Sejong turned to his ministers.

“Do you know why the Crown Prince is acting like that?”

“We’re not sure, Your Majesty.”

“But it’s definitely not something trivial!”

The ministers couldn’t hide their uneasiness at Hyang’s unusual reaction. Eventually, the ministers looked at Kim Jeom.

“How about releasing some of the reserve funds?”

“Don’t ask ‘How about’! Release them!”

Under pressure from the ministers, Kim Jeom looked at King Sejong. Seeing King Sejong’s face, Kim Jeom finally gave in.

“I will execute it immediately when the request comes in.”

“Thank you.”

***

Meanwhile, Hyang, who had returned to his office in Area 51, exploded in frustration.

“What kind of money-crazy bastard did this crazy thing! This ruins the pacing!”

Hyang had such an expression because his planned schedule had been disrupted due to an unexpected variable.

***

From the time he first made the Gapsik Jangchongtong – Gapsik Jangchong – Hyang had been making his own plans.

-The current musket uses a percussion cap system.

-If we follow the manufacturing method for fulminate well, we can hold out with percussion caps for 10 years at the shortest, up to 30 years at the longest.

-By then, either someone will take bribes and leak it, or craftsmen from other countries will accidentally discover something similar, and that’s when we’ll move one step ahead with breech-loading guns.

-If we develop gradually like this, we can indulge in our hobby leisurely without worrying about running out of capital.

-Perfect!

This was Hyang’s plan, but it had been disrupted.

***

After cursing about ‘some crazy bastard’ like that, Hyang returned to reality.

“No matter how I think about it, the military doesn’t seem to have any intention of giving up on conquering Tsushima Island… If that’s the case, I guess we should go with breech-loading rather than muzzle-loading after all.”

In Hyang’s opinion, to show the maximum effect with muzzle-loading muskets, volley fire from soldiers in formation was the answer.

However, it was difficult to form ranks in the forest. In the end, it meant that soldiers would have to be split into small units to engage in combat with the enemy.

For these small units to maintain fire superiority, breech-loading muskets with fast reloading were the optimal answer.

Having reached a conclusion, Hyang soon spread out a blank paper and began to ponder.

“Which method would be best…”

And before long, Hyang was humming a tune while drawing a concept diagram.

***

While Hyang was having his “joyful hobby time” to create a new musket, an envoy group led by Lee Maeng-gyun as the chief envoy visited Beijing.

“Chief Envoy, you look even healthier than when you came last time? Do you have some secret to rejuvenation?”

To Emperor Xuande’s joke based on his appearance from his previous visit, Lee Maeng-gyun bowed his head and replied.

“My lord has provided me with good medicine.”

“The King of Joseon truly cares for his subjects.”

At Emperor Xuande’s words, Lee Maeng-gyun inwardly muttered.

‘You don’t know how terrifying the cost of that medicine is.’

In this atmosphere softened by light jokes, Emperor Xuande broached the main topic.

“So, what is the reason for your sudden visit when it’s not the usual time for envoys? From what I hear, Joseon seems to be peaceful?”

To Emperor Xuande’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun spoke up with a strong voice to state his business.

“Actually, a serious matter concerning the safety of the Great State and our Joseon has arisen, which is why I have come as an envoy.”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s words, Emperor Xuande straightened his posture and asked again.

“A problem with safety? What do you mean by that?”

To Emperor Xuande’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun gestured to the vice envoy. Receiving a box from the vice envoy, Lee Maeng-gyun politely stepped forward and handed the box to a eunuch.

“Open it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Seeing the contents of the box, Emperor Xuande turned to Lee Maeng-gyun.

“Isn’t this a Dolhwachang? Both we and Joseon use better firearms than this, so what’s the problem?”

“If you look closely, Your Majesty, you’ll see that this is a Dolhwachang used by the Great State’s army. The problem is that these Dolhwachang are circulating in large numbers among the Japanese pirates.”

“What!”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s explanation, Emperor Xuande sprang up from his seat.

Coming down from his throne, Emperor Xuande took the Dolhwachang from the box and examined it meticulously.

After examining it from various angles and confirming the inscription on the body of the Dolhwachang, Emperor Xuande sighed.

“Huu~. It’s real. So you’re saying these Dolhwachang are circulating among the Japanese pirates?”

“That’s correct, Your Majesty. A lord who communicates with our Joseon sent an urgent report, saying that hundreds are already circulating and the number is still increasing.”

“Oh my…”

“The biggest worry now is that even the formula for gunpowder might have been leaked.”

At the words that not only had the Dolhwachang been leaked, but an even bigger problem might have occurred, Emperor Xuande exploded.

“I see! These traitors!”

Emperor Xuande, grinding his teeth, turned to the Grand Secretary.

“Form an inspection team immediately and investigate the truth! Go around all the armies throughout the empire, take inventory of the Dolhwachang, and uncover any irregularities! If anyone is found to be involved in this, regardless of their position, arrest them all! Not just the culprits, but arrest their ten branches of relatives! No, conduct a full investigation of not just the Dolhwachang, but all cannons and gunpowder! This is my imperial edict, and those who neglect it will also be charged with treason!”

“W-We receive your command!”

The terrified Grand Secretary answered immediately, stuttering.

Once again, a storm of blood began to blow across the empire.

***

Following Emperor Xuande’s strict orders, the largest investigation team in history was formed.

The investigation team, mobilizing not only the Censorate but also the Imperial Guard and the Eastern Depot, thoroughly shook down not just the imperial army but also the merchants connected to them.

Screams from the investigation team’s interrogation rooms crossed over walls, and dozens of people returned home as corpses every day.

The full picture of the incident revealed through this was as follows:

To maintain their merchant groups and gain more profits in the increasingly fierce competition, some merchant groups noticed the Dolhwachang being retired from the military.

According to the established law, these retired Dolhwachang were supposed to be moved to workshops in Beijing and various other places for recycling.

However, as copper was an expensive mineral, a considerable number of merchant groups approached officials, handed over bribes, and diverted the Dolhwachang.

While melting down these diverted Dolhwachang to make utensils, some merchant groups connected with pirates had another thought.

“We could probably sell these to pirates at a high price?”

For merchant groups that had already diverted and sold even Ming army cannons, this was an opportunity they couldn’t miss.

The pirates who contacted the merchant groups and heard their proposal welcomed it with open arms. Soon, Dolhwachang began to be handed over to the pirates.

The rumor that pirates had acquired Dolhwachang quickly spread to the Japanese pirates as well, and they also secretly made contact and demanded Dolhwachang.

That’s how Dolhwachang entered Japan.

However, to properly use the Dolhwachang, gunpowder was needed, and Chinese merchants began to supply gunpowder as well.

As Chinese people enjoyed fireworks for celebrations like New Year’s or weddings, gunpowder was easily obtainable. But merchants who were reluctant to spend money on gunpowder production contacted the military again.

The merchants contacted the military’s gunpowder managers and received gunpowder scheduled for disposal at low prices.

This was because gunpowder technicians working for the merchant groups could recycle it.

However, as the demand for gunpowder increased, merchants began to divert and sell even perfectly good gunpowder from the military.

In this process, it was natural that a chain of bribes was created. At first, it was just the on-site managers, but as the scale grew larger, the line reached up to the Provincial Military Commander who oversaw the army stationed in an entire province.

***

“I’m speechless…”

Emperor Xuande, after confirming the investigation report, looked as if he had aged several years in an instant.

“So, 30% of the total Dolhwachang were diverted like this, and although two-thirds of those diverted were melted down to make utensils, the remaining 10% is the problem. Even this alone is in the tens of thousands…”

Emperor Xuande, rechecking the contents of the report, completely closed his eyes when he saw the gunpowder section.

“It’s to the point where I’m afraid to look at it again. Why do I have to see such a report! Speak!”

At Emperor Xuande’s shout, everyone, including the Grand Secretary, prostrated themselves on the floor.

“Please bestow your mercy upon us!”

“Please forgive our negligence!”

“Huu~.”

Emperor Xuande, letting out a long sigh and suppressing his anger, looked at the list of involved parties written in the report and began to tremble.

“Four Provincial Military Commanders were involved? I trusted those men and slept peacefully? I will issue an order! The four Provincial Military Commanders shall be subjected to boiling punishment, and all ten branches of their relatives, including both paternal and maternal sides, shall be found and exterminated! And all those who embezzled weapons and gunpowder meant for the empire’s defense to enrich themselves, and all those associated with them, shall be executed by beheading and have all their property confiscated! And their three branches of relatives shall also be exterminated!”

At Emperor Xuande’s cruel order, everyone in the hall trembled in fear and answered.

“We receive Your Majesty’s command!”

With this, the entire territory of Ming was once again plunged into blood. The heads of countless people rolled on the ground. However, the ones who met the most miserable end were the four Provincial Military Commanders.

They were boiled alive in cauldrons.

This tragedy that turned the entire empire upside down brought great changes to the empire.

First, looking at the merchant world, an enormous number of merchant groups, from large ones boasting history and tradition to emerging ones, were swept away, and fierce competition began among the survivors to occupy the vacant positions.

Next, the government, eunuchs, and military underwent another purge. The ones who suffered the most damage from this purge were the eunuchs and the military.

A considerable number of high-ranking eunuchs who were gradually gaining political power due to Emperor Xuande’s policies lost their heads, and the same was true for the military.

The situation in the military was particularly serious, as almost all military units were involved in corruption, and as a result, an enormous number of generals and officers were purged and lost their lives.

Although new officers were recruited through military examinations and existing staff were promoted to fill positions, too many people with practical experience and leadership skills had disappeared.

To what extent? It was to the point where Hyang, upon hearing the story, evaluated it as follows:

“Well, this… This is similar in size to the Great Purge carried out by the Steel Marshal? The future of the Ming army should be interesting to watch.”