Black Corporation: Joseon

Joseon’s establishment of trading posts in Japan was not simply aimed at making money.

-Acquire information about the host country through trading posts and build a network of influential people favorable to Joseon.

This was the reason Joseon established trading posts in Ming and Japan.

To achieve this purpose, Joseon set up trading posts in Naniwa and Nagato in Japan.

While the trading post in Naniwa dealt with the bakufu based in Kyoto and the daimyo of the Kanto region, the trading post in Nagato was aimed at monitoring the Ouchi and persuading and monitoring the daimyo of the Kansai region.

Lastly, the monopoly office established in the domain of the Kyushu Tandai was carrying out similar activities targeting the Shibukawa and daimyo of the Kyushu region.

And in April of the 20th year of King Sejong’s reign (1438, the year of Muo), Joseon was able to obtain a very meaningful result.

They completed the ‘Complete Map of Japan’ (倭國全圖).

***

Even in the history before Hyang’s intervention, a map of Japan was completed in the same year.

It was a map that Park Don-ji, the Provisional Senior State Councillor, had obtained when he went to Japan as an envoy in 1400.

Heo Jo received it in 1419 and presented it to King Sejong. However, it had the drawback of being so detailed that it was rather difficult to understand properly. In response, in 1434, King Sejong ordered the Ministry of Rites to have the Bureau of Painting modify and recreate it, and the map was completed four years later.

However, with Hyang’s intervention, the fate of this map also changed.

***

While it was based on the same map that Park Don-ji had obtained, it had become even more accurate.

In particular, the topography and geography of the areas facing Joseon were made more accurate through observations by the navy.

Of course, the daimyo of the relevant regions in Japan expressed their discomfort regarding this.

“Well, in a way, it could be considered a 15th-century reverse version of the ‘Unyo incident’…”

Hyang evaluated it this way when he heard about it, as the Joseon navy conducted measurements sticking very close to the coastline.

It was to such an extent that even Ouchi Morimi stepped forward to say it was excessive.

To this, Joseon asserted its justification as follows:

-The sea between Joseon and Japan is an area where many merchant ships come and go. A well-made nautical chart is essential to avoid possible accidents.

Joseon insisted to the end that it was a nautical chart, not a map. At the same time, they employed a carrot-and-stick approach.

While presenting various gifts to the daimyo of the relevant regions and seeking understanding, a Joseon naval squadron loitered in the waters in front of those regions.

“Recently, there has been a sudden increase in the activities of Wokou and pirates. Therefore, we will strengthen maritime inspections.”

Saying this, the Joseon navy meticulously searched ships moving in the area.

For merchant ships, they not only checked trade permits but also searched the cargo hold for goods. For fishing boats, they searched the cabin and hold to check if weapons were loaded. If weapons were found, the crew was detained on the spot and the fishing boat was seized.

And Joseon immediately sent an official letter to the daimyo of the domain to which the fishermen belonged.

-Weapons were found on a fishing boat belonging to your domain. Can you guarantee that they are certainly fishermen and not Wokou?

In the end, the Japanese daimyo had to be satisfied with receiving gifts from Joseon.

And those gifts were quite good.

The Joseon navy presented nautical charts that accurately recorded the coastal topography of the relevant areas.

As this was quite useful for the daimyo as well, discontent easily subsided.

Here again, there was a trick by Joseon – more precisely, Hyang.

The nautical charts handed over to the daimyo only recorded their own region. It was a half-completed product with no record of the coasts of the domains to the left and right of that daimyo.

“Wouldn’t it be possible for the daimyo to match the maps with each other?”

To this concern raised by someone during the implementation of the plan, Lee Maeng-gyun stepped forward to answer instead of Hyang.

“That will absolutely never happen. I’ve never heard that the Japanese daimyo are on good terms with each other.”

“Ah…”

While the coastline of the areas facing Joseon was recorded by the navy in this way, the trading posts played a big role in mapping the interior.

The officials stationed at the trading posts in Nagato and Naniwa, and the monopoly office in Kyushu, obtained maps through various methods.

“We still get merchants from domains we’ve never heard of before, and we can’t tell if they’re real or fake.”

The officials and merchants of the trading posts and monopoly offices complained to the Japanese merchants and officials with whom they had formed connections.

“Domain? Oh, you mean kuni (國)? Well, there are quite a few kuni in Japan.”

“So I was wondering if we could get a gazetteer or map?”

In this way, while making human appeals and giving small gifts, they obtained gazetteers and maps, and the officials and merchants immediately began to replicate them.

They had a mission to send them to Joseon, but they also needed them for themselves.

And with the information gathered in this way, a completed product was produced two months later than in the history before Hyang’s intervention.

And its accuracy, readability, and usefulness were incomparable.

***

Because Joseon had made such efforts to collect information about Japan, they already knew that Ouchi had ambitions.

“Do you think the Ouchi clan will make a move this time?”

To King Sejong’s question, Lee Maeng-gyun stepped forward to answer.

“It doesn’t seem likely. Although there was a battle, the losses of Ashikaga Yoshinori, the shogun of the bakufu, were not significant. Moreover, it’s problematic that Yoshinori used the justification of ‘enemy of the court’ when dealing with Ashikaga Mochiuji who raised the rebellion. Although the Ouchi clan has grown powerful, it’s too much for them to face all of Japan.”

Sejong and the ministers nodded at Lee Maeng-gyun’s detailed analysis of the situation. Hwang Hui, who was doing various calculations while listening to Lee Maeng-gyun’s story, asked him.

“Then, as long as Yoshinori holds out, do you think there’s no chance of the Ouchi clan raising an army first?”

“That’s the most likely scenario.”

“The question is whether someone with the power of the Ouchi clan can really endure and hold out well.”

Hwang Hui, who was considering the risk factors while listening to Lee Maeng-gyun’s words, reported to Sejong.

“If we’re not careful, our Joseon might get involved too, so it might be good to tell the Ouchi clan to exercise restraint.”

Lee Maeng-gyun immediately raised an objection to Hwang Hui’s words.

“If we do that, the Ouchi clan will know that we are monitoring them. Simply strengthening our vigilance is the best course of action.”

“Don’t you think the Ouchi clan already knows to some extent?”

“Isn’t there a difference in how they respond between knowing to some extent and being certain?”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s rebuttal, Hwang Hui closed his mouth and fell into thought. The other ministers listening to the conversation also pondered which opinion between Hwang Hui and Lee Maeng-gyun would be more beneficial for Joseon.

As the silence continued, Sejong opened his mouth.

“If the reports I’ve received are accurate, I understand that the ambition to plot against Japan is not just the intention of Ouchi Morimi who currently leads the Ouchi clan. It was said to be the will of the successive leaders who led the Ouchi clan. Is that correct?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

Having heard Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, Sejong closed his mouth again and fell into thought. Nodding to himself as he pondered, Sejong spoke.

“If he’s inherited an ambition carried through generations, he might be able to endure a bit longer. That is, if nothing unexpected happens.”

“What do you mean by unexpected, Your Majesty?”

To Hwang Hui’s question, Sejong posed another question.

“I’ve heard that the temperament of Ashikaga Yoshinori, who currently leads the bakufu in Japan, is very poor. Is that correct?”

“Yes, he’s a cruel person who governs solely through fear and force, neither the way of virtue nor the way of might.”

“Then, the bakufu must have lost a lot of popular support?”

“That is correct.”

At Lee Maeng-gyun’s answer, Sejong drew a conclusion.

“If something unexpected happens to Yoshinori, that would be the time for the Ouchi clan to make their move.”

Lee Maeng-gyun followed up on Sejong’s conclusion.

“That would be the most appropriate, but the question is whether such a thing could actually happen. Yoshinori maintains a powerful personal guard called the Hokoshu (奉公衆).”

“It’s not an external problem, but an internal one. As far as I know, even his close associates only watch his mood. So isn’t there a high possibility that he might fall victim to an assassination at some point?”

The ministers nodded at Sejong’s words.

“Well…”

“Looking at history…”

Looking at past history, there were not just one or two cases where a minister or close associate who couldn’t bear the tyranny of a monarch had harmed their lord.

Sejong added more to his conclusion.

“According to the reports I’ve received, although Yoshinori tried to kill all of Mochiuji’s clan, there were some who escaped. Judging from the character of the Japanese people and Yoshinori’s personality, the survivors will continue to rebel for their survival, and Yoshinori will deal with them cruelly. The more cruel he becomes, the more dangerous it becomes for his close associates, and the likelihood of someone carrying out an assassination increases. If Yoshinori disappears in this way, what do you think will happen to the bakufu?”

To Sejong’s question, Hwang Hui stepped forward to answer.

“The families that assist the shogun of the bakufu will confer and support the next shogun. As far as I know, Yoshinori has a legitimate son, but he’s still a young child.”

Sejong immediately followed up on Hwang Hui’s answer.

“If that happens, a regency will inevitably follow, and the Ouchi clan will seize the justification.”

Having foreseen this far, Sejong ordered the ministers.

“For the time being, just strengthen our vigilance. If we move rashly, the situation in Japan might deviate from our expectations. Therefore, our Joseon should take a stance of stillness in motion.”

“We receive your command!”

While listening to the ministers’ responses, Sejong added an order.

“If the Ouchi clan raises an army and all of Japan falls into chaos, it might take a long time for a conclusion to be reached. During that time, think of ways for our Joseon to gain benefits.”

“We receive your command!”

And the situation was unfolding as Sejong had anticipated.

***

Ano-maru and Shuno-maru, sons of Mochiuji who escaped from Yoshinori’s massacre, joined the Yuki clan, leading the surviving subordinates.

The Yuki clan, having joined forces with the brothers, soon raised an army and rebelled against the bakufu.

The Yuki clan rebelled against the bakufu because they wanted to place their own child in the now vacant position of Kamakura-dono.

-We cannot allow outsiders into the land of Kanto!

This was the reason the Yuki clan raised an army.

As this rebellion occurred again, Yoshinori ordered Norisane, who had been in seclusion, to subjugate them.

However, not only Norisane but also the daimyo of the Kanto region unanimously refused. The reason was that they hadn’t recovered from the losses suffered in the last expedition, but they also didn’t want Yoshinori’s child to sit as Kamakura-dono.

In the end, Yoshinori had to mobilize a large number of his personal troops.

After a prolonged siege, the situation was concluded with the defeat of the rebel army in the 21st year of King Sejong’s reign (1439, the year of Gimi).

The Yuki clan either died in battle or committed suicide, leaving only their youngest, and the brothers Ano-maru and Shuno-maru were beheaded during their transfer to Kyoto.

However, the issue of Kamakura-dono still had embers remaining, and this irritated Yoshinori.

In any case, Yoshinori’s power was further strengthened by the suppression of these rebellions.

And his recklessness accelerated even more. As his recklessness continued, each day in Kyoto became increasingly uneasy.