Black Corporation: Joseon

Similar conversations were taking place inside Geunjeongjeon Hall.

“I’ve heard that the purge carried out by the emperor was truly enormous.”

“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”

“According to the rumors and information we’ve received so far, starting with the purge of four Provincial Military Commanders and their ten branches of relatives, the three branches of all those involved in this corruption have been put to death.”

At the ministers’ report, King Sejong asked about the number of victims.

“Then how many have died in total?”

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

“At least 200,000…”

“200,000! Are you certain?”

“As it’s only heard through rumors, there might be exaggerations, but the analysis is that it’s very close to that number.”

“200,000… This is worrisome. If Ming’s national defense and governance are shaken, our Joseon cannot avoid negative effects…”

At King Sejong’s concern, many ministers nodded with similar expressions.

***

In any case, Ming was the largest military power in Northeast Asia. Although its color had faded somewhat as Emperor Xuande focused on trade-centered diplomacy rather than military projection, if Ming were to attack in earnest, the target countries would turn pale with fear.

Of course, entities like Northern Yuan or the Jurchens had troubled Ming. However, the Jurchens in the Liaodong region had already submitted to Ming, and Northern Yuan was gradually becoming economically dependent on Ming through the trade offices created by Emperor Xuande.

However, with the disappearance of many military commanders, the situation was likely to change again, and this was what King Sejong and his ministers were worried about.

***

“Unexpectedly, the possibility of military instability might not be that high, Your Majesty.”

Amidst this, Jo Mal-saeng offered an unexpected opinion.

“Why is that?”

To King Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng answered simply.

“Because the Imperial Guard remains intact, Your Majesty.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s answer, King Sejong nodded.

“Ah! I had forgotten about them. They are indeed still intact.”

Following Jo Mal-saeng and King Sejong’s words, Hwang Hui also joined the conversation with a relieved expression.

“That’s somewhat fortunate. Since the Imperial Guard is intact.”

As Jo Mal-saeng, King Sejong, and Hwang Hui nodded with expressions of mutual understanding, Lee Maeng-gyun interjected.

“Minister Jo, could you explain in a bit more detail? I’m a layman when it comes to military affairs.”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s words, Jo Mal-saeng explained in more detail.

-Looking at how the current Ming emperor uses troops, the Imperial Guard, especially the Gun Corps and Artillery Guard, are the main force.

-The duties of the troops stationed in the provinces are as follows: First is to deal with foreign invasions, and next is to serve as auxiliary forces and handle supplies for the main force.

-Fortresses have already been built at major military strongpoints. Even commanders with little experience should be able to properly conduct defensive battles relying on these fortresses.

“…Of course, there are occasionally incompetent individuals who fail even at this, but that’s beside the point.”

As Lee Maeng-gyun nodded at Jo Mal-saeng’s explanation, he raised an objection.

“But with the vacancies suddenly filled due to this great purge, has proper verification been done? If entities like Northern Yuan target this and cause unrest, won’t it become a big problem?”

“Again, as long as the Imperial Guard holds, it will be difficult for major incidents to occur. And…”

After catching his breath for a moment, Jo Mal-saeng continued.

“If there’s a leader in Northern Yuan with a functioning brain, they won’t touch Ming for at least 10 years.”

“Why?”

To Lee Maeng-gyun’s question, Kim Jeom, who had been listening to the conversation, interjected.

“As Minister Jo said, most of those filling the vacancies now have little experience. And as Minister Yi pointed out, they haven’t been properly verified. So, wouldn’t it be the greatest act of aiding the enemy to unnecessarily provoke them and give them opportunities to gain experience and verify their abilities?”

“Ah…”

Nodding at Kim Jeom’s answer, Lee Maeng-gyun muttered with a face full of regret.

“The problem is that there’s no such leader in Northern Yuan right now. There is the Oirat, but…”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s words, everyone present nodded.

After being driven back north by Ming, the Khan no longer held the power of his ancestors. And while the Oirat was gradually encroaching on this power vacuum, complete domination was still a distant future. Therefore, there was a high possibility that many of the Northern Yuan tribes would act shortsightedly, seeing only small immediate benefits.

This ongoing conversation was eventually summarized by King Sejong.

“We should take this incident in Ming as a lesson and be vigilant ourselves. Ming has many people and can quickly fill even large holes, but we cannot do the same. One such incident is enough.”

At King Sejong’s words, the ministers unanimously bowed their heads and answered.

“We will engrave it in our hearts and act accordingly!”

Beads of cold sweat were already forming on the foreheads of the ministers as they answered in unison.

The “such incident” King Sejong referred to was the Gapyu Rebellion.

The number of those who participated in the rebellion at the time and died either on the battlefield or later at the execution grounds easily exceeded tens of thousands.

When counting those who were taken as government slaves due to being young or female, and those who died opposing the rebellion, the number increased even further.

It was no exaggeration to call the Gapyu Rebellion “a tragedy that dried up the seeds of the nobility in the three southern provinces.”

And its aftermath was by no means light. While King Sejong’s power was absolutely strengthened, there was a shortage of talented individuals to supply the growing bureaucratic group. Although the doors were opened even to illegitimate children, those from the northwest, and women who had previously been restricted from official positions, the manpower shortage was not easily resolved.

Whenever these issues arose, the working-level officials sighed and grumbled.

“Huu~. If we wanted to take the easy way, we could have. But our King isn’t that kind of person, is he?”

As the working-level officials said, King Sejong had opened the doors, but he hadn’t lowered the threshold. As a result, many still had to taste the bitter cup of failure, and government agencies across the country, including Hanseong, couldn’t escape from the hell of overtime work. Except for one place, the soldiers on the frontlines.

The only units that were ‘fully staffed with everything from personnel to provisions’ were those patrolling the border areas and seas.

***

Contrary to the expectations of the people of Joseon, including King Sejong, this great purge was also a significant bloodletting for Ming.

Blood flowed from all directions, not just the military but also administrative officials and eunuch organizations. Anyone even slightly involved in corrupt activities was executed without exception.

Especially in Beijing’s Forbidden City, Emperor Xuande personally oversaw interrogations and conducted investigations.

“Who else but I can properly inspect the eunuchs, Imperial Guard, Cabinet, and court!”

Emperor Xuande, who thundered thus, thoroughly searched the interior of the Forbidden City to uncover corruption.

Because Emperor Xuande took the lead in this way, dozens or hundreds of heads were cut off and hung on spears daily in Beijing.

As a result of this massive purge, administrative vacancies occurred throughout the empire, and to fill these, the largest civil service examination in history was held. However, unlike Joseon, instead of expanding the pool of candidates, they greatly lowered the threshold.

Through this examination, tens of thousands of talents were again injected into Ming’s administrative organization.

“It will take quite some time for them to become worth their salt…”

Those who survived the purge lamented the bleak future, but there was nothing they could do.

However, the biggest victim was Emperor Xuande, who had initiated this.

Although the holes were filled, the situation where experienced personnel who could control the work had greatly decreased presented Emperor Xuande with murderous overwork.

Emperor Xuande, who had to personally handle most of the affairs coming up from all regions of the vast empire, soon had to share power.

However, before sharing power, Emperor Xuande had to take preventive measures.

***

First, he started with the eunuch organization.

He strengthened the Neishufang (Inner Court). The size was increased from the initial 300 to 1,000, and those produced here would take on the core of the eunuch organization.

The problem was not just increasing the size. Children between 8 and 10 years old were admitted, and for the first three years, they were made to engrave absolute loyalty to the emperor in their minds.

This was possible because those in charge of education were eunuchs with absolute loyalty to the emperor who had survived the purge.

Following the Eastern Depot, he created the Western Depot, making them monitor each other as well as inspect the officials.

The task of inspection was not only given to the Eastern and Western Depots. The traditional inspection agency, the Censorate, also had its size and capabilities strengthened. In addition, an inspection organization called the Inspection Guard was created within the Imperial Guard.

As a result, these four organizations monitored each other while inspecting the entire administrative organization of Ming. And the one holding the leash of these fierce hunting dogs was Emperor Xuande.

As long as Emperor Xuande held the leash and food, these four inspection organizations would show absolute loyalty to Emperor Xuande and bare their teeth at others.

***

Only after securing these hunting dogs did Emperor Xuande finally share power.

No, rather than sharing power, he shared workload.

He largely transferred to the Cabinet most of the approval rights for various tasks that had been flooding to him.

Of course, he confirmed that he would continue to handle tasks related to the budget, including taxation, diplomacy, and national defense until the end.

And even for the tasks handed over to the Cabinet, it wasn’t just receiving reports.

The Grand Secretary and the scholars of the Cabinet, as well as the officials of the Six Ministries, could only get approval through meetings conducted in the presence of Emperor Xuande.

Although he shared power, he didn’t give everything away until the end.

***

The military was unanimously acknowledged as the biggest victim in this great purge and subsequent handling.

Emperor Xuande summoned those entering the vacant positions to the Forbidden City and declared firmly:

“What I want from you is simple! Loyalty to me and integrity! That’s all! Speaking of military matters, I will never initiate conquests first, so you should focus only on defense! Don’t seek unnecessary military achievements! The best defense will be the greatest merit!”

At Emperor Xuande’s resolute order, the newly appointed commanding officers shouted loudly:

“We follow the imperial edict! Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!”

Although he declared this “emphasis on defense” and stressed loyalty and integrity, Emperor Xuande didn’t truly trust the military.

Still unable to erase his distrust of the military, Emperor Xuande created a new position to keep them in check.

This was the position called ‘Loyalty Inspector.’

These individuals moved with the commanders of each unit and monitored their every move.

Their assigned duties were as follows:

-Is the commander’s loyalty unwavering?

-Is he doing his best in commanding the unit?

-Does he always check the supplies to ensure there are no difficulties in unit operation and maintaining soldier morale?

-Does he unnecessarily seek military achievements and try to engage in useless battles?

-Conversely, does he avoid battles unconditionally, causing damage to the empire’s territory and people?

The Loyalty Inspectors examined such items and reported to their superiors, and based on their reports, the commanders’ personnel evaluations were determined.

Separately from this, the military was largely divided into two organizations.

One was the general Ming army symbolized by the Five Chief Military Commissions, and the other was the Imperial Guard.

Although the Imperial Guard started as a guard unit defending the Forbidden City, Emperor Xuande was giving them offensive duties, starting with the active protection of the trade offices established in the border areas with Northern Yuan.

And as a result of the purge, the core of the military shifted from the Five Chief Military Commissions to the Imperial Guard.

In other words, the political voice shifted from the Five Chief Military Commissions to the Imperial Guard.