Black Corporation: Joseon

King Sejong explained why it was not possible.

“It’s not right to respond by unconditionally subjugating them without considering the consequences. Although they haven’t submitted yet, we ultimately need to bring them in as our Joseon people. Therefore, unconditional subjugation is not possible.”

As soon as King Sejong finished speaking, Jo Mal-saeng opened his mouth.

“The military also analyzes that subjugation is not a good option. The areas where railway theft mainly occurs are the land routes connecting to Dongbyeong Harbor. The forests in that area are dense, and there are climate issues, making a full-scale subjugation impossible.”

Jo Mal-saeng continued to explain why subjugation was difficult.

-Most of the tribes in this area connecting to Dongbyeong Harbor belong to the Udiha (Udege).

-The area where the Udiha tribes live is covered with primeval forests, unlike the Uriangkhai (Orankai, barbarian) areas we’re familiar with.

-In such primeval forest areas, cavalry is at an absolute disadvantage.

-To carry out proper subjugation, infantry must ultimately be deployed. However, we still haven’t properly grasped the situation inside the maze-like primeval forests. Therefore, the size of the deployed forces needs to be larger than usual. According to military calculations, even mobilizing more than three times the usual force would make it difficult to achieve proper results.

-In particular, there are dangerous factors such as poisonous insects that our Joseon still doesn’t know well, scattered throughout the primeval forests.

“…Therefore, if we need to deploy troops for subjugation, we must be prepared to invest more time than expected, deploy more troops than expected, and consume an enormous amount of war funds.”

When Jo Mal-saeng finished his explanation, all the ministers had the same thought.

‘If even the military, which only knows how to spend money, says such things, subjugation must be unreasonable.’

“However, if we continue to leave their theft unchecked, the construction period will keep extending, and costs will continue to increase…”

The Minister of Land Development trailed off, watching King Sejong’s reaction. At the minister’s statement, King Sejong nodded.

“Of course, a solution to that problem is needed. However, unconditional subjugation is not the only answer to this issue. Therefore, I want you to think about solutions to this.”

To this, Jo Mal-saeng spoke again.

“Lee Jing-ok, the Commander of Hamgil Province, has submitted a memorial regarding this. As a result of research by the military and the General Staff, it was deemed a very good idea, and we were about to report it to Your Majesty.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s report, King Sejong, after briefly searching his memory, looked at Jo Mal-saeng with eyes full of doubt.

“Is that so? Lee Jing-ok… He was a very capable general. But I know him to have been very harsh towards the Jurchens?”

‘The only good Jurchen is a dead Jurchen.’

This was what Lee Jing-ok had publicly said when he was deployed to the north during the early days of the reforms.

Lee Jing-ok, who spent his time fighting the Jurchens in the north as soon as he entered military service as a Gapsa (armored cavalry), and then again after passing the military examination, would grind his teeth at the mere mention of Jurchens.

Even King Sejong would mention Lee Jing-ok as the most extreme person.

Due to these memories and reputation, when King Sejong showed a dubious expression, Jo Mal-saeng answered with a smile.

“Haha! Your Majesty! Wonbong, that man has become much more lenient as time has passed and he’s continued to interact with the Jurchens.”

“Is that so? Well then, let’s hear what plan Lee Jing-ok has thought of.”

At King Sejong’s words, Jo Mal-saeng explained the alternative proposed by Lee Jing-ok.

“The start is simple. They steal the railway tracks because they lack well-refined iron. What they make with the stolen tracks includes weapons, but also many daily necessities like axes, kitchen knives, and pots. We use this. That is…”

“A monopoly store?”

At King Sejong’s interjection, Jo Mal-saeng paused for a moment before nodding.

“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”

“If they submit, they’ll be allowed to use the monopoly store, is that it?”

“We’ll let them use the monopoly store even if they don’t submit. However, there’s an additional condition. They patrol the area around the railway on our behalf and prevent theft of the tracks. Then we’ll grant them the qualification to trade at the monopoly store.”

“Trade… Not giving unconditionally, but granting the qualification to trade… That’s good.”

Nodding and giving a positive evaluation, King Sejong looked at Kim Jeom.

“What does the Minister of Finance and Economy think?”

“I think it’s a very good idea, Your Majesty!”

Nodding while hearing Kim Jeom’s very positive answer, King Sejong suddenly burst into laughter.

“Hah! Come to think of it… When it comes to dealing with outsiders, the monopoly store becomes the best solution. The monopoly store is truly a panacea. In my opinion, the Crown Prince’s greatest achievement is the monopoly store. What do you think?”

At King Sejong’s sudden bragging about his child, the ministers were momentarily dumbfounded but soon had no choice but to nod.

As King Sejong said, there were numerous problems solved using the monopoly store.

‘Suddenly bragging about his child… But with results like these…’

‘By the time the Crown Prince ascends to the throne, my own children should be in good positions… Sorry! You’ll have to work hard.’

***

And so, Lee Jing-ok’s proposal was adopted. Upon hearing the story, Hyang soon showed a surprised expression.

“Lee Jing-ok, that extremist had such an idea?”

At Hyang’s words, which were similar to King Sejong’s evaluation, Choi Hae-san picked up the conversation.

“Wonbong, that man has experienced a lot and is very capable, so he must have changed.”

“Is that so?”

To Hyang’s question, Choi Hae-san nodded.

“A truly excellent general never neglects to observe and understand the enemy. Wonbong, that friend has changed a lot while dealing with and carefully observing the Jurchens. Moreover, aren’t there quite a few Jurchens under his command now?”

“Ah…”

At Choi Hae-san’s words, Hyang nodded.

As Choi Hae-san said, Lee Jing-ok meticulously studied the customs and history of the Jurchens to deal with them as the powerful enemy right in front of him.

As he delved into the Jurchens in this way, Lee Jing-ok gradually began to change his exclusive thoughts.

In addition, as the number of submitted Jurchens increased and he saw more and more Jurchens working under his command, Lee Jing-ok began to study how to use carrots instead of sticks.

“Anyway, if we use this plan well, not only will we ensure the safety of the land route to Dongbyeong Harbor, but we’ll also gain quite a bit of additional income. The Minister of Finance and Economy will be very pleased.”

At Hyang’s last words, everyone present nodded simultaneously.

“In that sense, I should go and offer some advice for a moment.”

As Hyang said this and stood up, Choi Hae-san and the others also rose from their seats. As they saw Hyang off, they all had the same thought.

‘From today, some people will suffer, blaming their own heads.’

Whenever Hyang interfered, the relevant working-level staff had to struggle.

“What, are you trying to omit this part? Do you have any thoughts or not?”

Every time they received Hyang’s criticism, the working-level staff had to work overtime, suffering from self-deprecation.

***

The plan, to which Hyang had added a bit of MSG, was soon implemented for the Jurchens in the relevant area.

-If you guard the railway being built to Dongbyeong Harbor on our behalf, we’ll give you the right to use grain and the monopoly store.

-Being able to use the monopoly store means that the tribe can sell medicinal herbs, furs, etc. that they’ve gathered to the monopoly store and freely obtain necessary goods.

Joseon proposed this to tribes who, although not yet submitted, were friendly to Joseon and lived near the railway.

The tribal chiefs and elders who heard Joseon’s proposal put their heads together.

“Should we accept Joseon’s proposal?”

“Wouldn’t it be good to accept? I hear there’s nothing the Joseon-run monopoly store doesn’t have.”

“Think about the Ming merchants and merchants from other tribes we trade with. When have they ever paid us fair prices?”

“But couldn’t we be backstabbed by Joseon if we’re not careful?”

“I hear that Joseon at least doesn’t break its word first.”

Although opinions varied among the tribes that received the proposal, the conclusion was to accept Joseon’s offer.

After all, Joseon was abundant in everything compared to their own tribes, which struggled to escape poverty no matter how hard they tried.

***

Thus, as the tribes near the railway came forward to protect it, construction began to pick up speed.

As the construction sites became active, nearby Jurchens unexpectedly gained opportunities to earn money. They began receiving wages by working as laborers at the sites.

With this earned money, the Jurchens became regulars at the monopoly stores.

“If we do this well…”

Seeing the performance charts steadily rising, the managers of the monopoly stores began to light up their eyes.

Although it was a monopoly store in a dangerous area that they had come to at the risk of their lives, performance was accumulating that could earn them bonuses and good work evaluations if they just pushed a little more.

***

The Jurchens who participated in the railway construction to Dongbyeong Harbor all came to have one question.

“But why are they laying this kind of road?”

It was a complicated and labor-intensive construction that meticulously prepared the foundation, laid gravel on top, and placed sleepers and rails.

Although they saw the sight of wagons pulled by horses nearly three times the size of their own horses coming on these rails and unloading materials, the Jurchens still tilted their heads in confusion.

“Of course, they’re enormously large wagons pulled by enormously large horses, but it doesn’t seem right to lay such a road just for those wagons to travel on?”

“Right?”

“Why on earth are they laying this kind of road?”

Unable to resolve their questions, the Jurchens made all sorts of speculations whenever they gathered in small groups.

And on the day the construction section was completed, the Jurchens found out what travels on those rails.

Wheeeeeeee!

The Jurchens standing around the railway scattered in terror at the sight of the huge iron mass approaching with a loud whistle.

“Kyaaaah!”

“It’s a monster!”

“Run away!”

The terrified Jurchens screamed and scattered in all directions, and those whose legs gave out and couldn’t flee immediately prostrated themselves on the ground, clasping their hands above their heads.

“Oh, Buddha!”

***

Such commotions were repeated several times until the railway was connected to Dongbyeong Harbor and the iron horse began to run.

King Sejong, upon receiving reports of such commotions, chuckled at first but soon became serious and asked Hwang Hui:

“Do we have such incidents within our Joseon as well?”

“Although we hold ceremonies for safe operation, there have been no such commotions or shamanic rituals extorting wealth from the people.”

At Hwang Hui’s answer, King Sejong showed a relieved expression but didn’t forget to add a caution.

“Even seeing it directly, that iron horse and railway are hard to believe. We must pay attention to educate the people well so that no one comes out to deceive them. We must absolutely prevent a recurrence of the Dubaksin incident.”

At King Sejong’s caution, Hwang Hui bowed his head and answered.

“I will engrave it in my bones and mind!”

***

Last May, a truly bizarre incident occurred.

A man wrote the names of executed civil and military ministers on paper, tied them to poles, and called them ‘Dubaksin’.

‘Dubak’ means ‘to fall and die’, so Dubaksin literally meant resentful ghosts who fell and died.

Soon, wherever rumors spread, similar incidents occurred where people tied papers with names written on poles, held rituals, and offered sacrifices.

Seeing this scene of deception, the magistrate of Yongin, Jang-a, immediately confiscated and burned these poles and submitted a report.

Upon receiving the report, King Sejong immediately ordered a strict investigation, and soon Kang Yu-du, Park Du-eon, Choe U, and others were captured and punished. (Note 1)

Therefore, King Sejong, concerned that such incidents might occur again, ordered that they be strictly prevented.

***

Note 1) The Annals of King Sejong Read in One Volume. Written by Park Young-gyu. Woongjin Knowledge House