Black Corporation: Joseon

“Malacca?”

King Sejong asked again as if to confirm the Chief of Staff’s opinion. The Chief of Staff responded with a resolute voice to Sejong’s question.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm…”

At the Chief of Staff’s firm answer, Sejong fell into thought without saying a word.

As Sejong closed his mouth, Hwang Hui spoke instead.

“Isn’t that too far?”

“That’s already the minimum distance we’ve considered.”

Lee Maeng-gyun continued after the Chief of Staff’s statement.

“The Kingdom of Malacca is quite a powerful kingdom. And it has been a faithful tributary state of Ming since its founding. You’re saying you want to establish a naval base in the capital of such a kingdom? Do you think that makes any sense?”

“But that’s the most optimal location.”

“No matter how optimal the location is, it’s a place where we can’t establish a military base! Are you not even considering the diplomatic issues? Fine! Let’s say we overlook Malacca since it’s a small country compared to our Joseon! Then what about Ming?”

The Chief of Staff fell silent under Lee Maeng-gyun’s pressure. As Sejong watched the Chief of Staff contemplating a suitable rebuttal, he spoke up.

“Enough. While it’s certain that Malacca has a good location, establishing a military base there seems like the worst option. If it’s absolutely necessary, the military should find another suitable location. And when you do, keep this in mind: ‘Think first about not increasing enemies abroad.’ Understood?”

“I will engrave it in my bones and mind, Your Majesty.”

The Chief of Staff, having answered Sejong’s words, quietly stepped back.

Hyang, sitting under the royal canopy and observing the proceedings, looked at the Chief of Staff with eyes full of doubt.

‘Until now, looking at the military’s movements, they never fell into military adventurism. But why now?’

Hyang couldn’t understand the military’s current actions at all.

Whenever there were issues with the natives living in the newly acquired northeastern islands and the areas north of Dongbyeong Harbor, or when the Jurchen tribes in the Liaodong region who hadn’t yet submitted caused problems, it was the military that advocated for the most moderate methods.

‘Even though it’s a country far from Ming, it’s a country that faithfully pays tribute to Ming and is within Ming’s sphere of influence. No, it’s become the center of rapidly increasing Asian trade in recent years, so they should know that Ming won’t just let it slide?’

No matter how much he thought about it, Hyang couldn’t understand the Chief of Staff’s statement and kept his eyes on him until the end.

And Hyang could see the Chief of Staff and Jo Mal-saeng slightly nodding to each other.

‘Could it be a ploy?’

Suddenly, Hyang could understand the military’s intentions.

‘Was it Plan A disguised as Plan B? Because if they just asked outright, all the ministers would oppose it? Were they trying to coax and persuade?’

At that moment, Hyang turned his head to look at Sejong. Seeing Sejong sitting with a subtle expression, Hyang realized that Sejong had also noticed. And when he turned his head, he saw that Hwang Hui and Kim Jeom had similar expressions.

In the end, Hyang inwardly offered his condolences.

‘Even bottom-dealing should be done considering the time and place. To think they’d try bottom-dealing in a place crawling with expert gamblers…’

“The Minister of National Defense and the Chief of Staff should report properly.”

At Sejong’s words, the Minister of National Defense and the Chief of Staff flinched for a moment but soon feigned ignorance.

“Pardon?”

In response to Jo Mal-saeng’s answer, Sejong’s voice turned sharp.

“What do you take me and the ministers gathered here for? Especially you, Minister of National Defense, do you want to go back to the Office of Records? If you go to the Office of Records this time, you might only leave in your coffin.”

‘We’ve been caught!’

As soon as they realized they had been caught by Sejong, Jo Mal-saeng and the Chief of Staff immediately prostrated themselves on the floor.

“Please spare us, Your Majesty!”

“We employed an unworthy trick, Your Majesty!”

“If you honestly tell me where you really want to establish the base, I’ll consider it.”

At Sejong’s words, Jo Mal-saeng and the Chief of Staff answered simultaneously.

“It’s a place called Tumasek or Temasek, Your Majesty!”

“Where is that? Bring a map.”

At Sejong’s command, court attendants brought a large world map that had been set up on one side.

Choosing a map depicting the geography of India and nearby regions, Jo Mal-saeng pointed to a spot on the map.

“It’s here, Your Majesty.”

Examining the place Jo Mal-saeng had pointed out, Hyang nodded slightly.

‘Singapore!’

“Explain why the military has chosen this place as a candidate.”

At Sejong’s order, the Chief of Staff stepped forward to explain.

-This area, called Tumasek or Temasek, is located right in the middle of the route to India and Aden.

-There’s a small strait north of Temasek. Being separated from the Malacca mainland by this strait provides considerable advantages in terms of defense.

-There are records that Temasek was once a fairly famous trading city that declined as Malacca prospered. In fact, there’s a suitable harbor for establishing a military base.

“…And as the Minister of Foreign Affairs said, it’s far from the capital of Malacca, so there shouldn’t be major diplomatic issues.”

Nodding at the Chief of Staff’s answer, Sejong asked him:

“It seems like a fairly good selection. Then shouldn’t you have mentioned this place from the beginning? Why did you resort to trickery?”

At Sejong’s question, Jo Mal-saeng and the Chief of Staff’s eyes turned to Kim Jeom. As their gazes converged on him, Kim Jeom unconsciously raised his voice.

“What did I do!”

Despite Kim Jeom’s protest, Sejong, Hyang, and the ministers all nodded.

“So that’s how it was.”

Leaving Kim Jeom unable to hide his sense of injustice, Sejong continued his questions to Jo Mal-saeng and the Chief of Staff.

“Now that I know where the military primarily wants to establish a naval base, I’d like to know about the other locations. You mentioned five places earlier, where are they?”

“Ryukyu, Luzon, Temasek, then Chittagong, and finally Aden, Your Majesty.”

“I understand Ryukyu and Temasek, but where is Luzon?”

At Sejong’s question, the Chief of Staff pointed to a spot on the map.

“It’s here, Your Majesty. The natives living there call it Luzon.”

After confirming the island the Chief of Staff had pointed out, Sejong murmured while looking at the map.

“Ryukyu, Luzon, Temasek…”

Drawing an imaginary line connecting the areas mentioned by the Chief of Staff, Sejong asked him and Jo Mal-saeng:

“Are you planning to go around the outside of Ming’s Dongfan (東藩, old name for Taiwan)?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. The area between Ming’s mainland and Dongfan is rife with pirates, and Ming’s navy is wary of our movements there.”

“That’s good…”

Nodding, Sejong continued his questions.

“Is Chittagong for the saltpeter?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Without the saltpeter coming from the Bengal Sultanate, our military would be crippled. No, not just the military, but food production would also take a big hit.”

At the Chief of Staff’s words, Sejong glanced at Kim Jeom and then said to the Chief of Staff:

“I understand up to Chittagong, but Aden is excessive. I think we can protect Joseon’s interests if we secure up to Chittagong, so plan accordingly. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should actively cooperate with the Ministry of National Defense.”

“We receive your command, Your Majesty!”

“We receive your command, Your Majesty!”

Jo Mal-saeng, the Chief of Staff, and Lee Maeng-gyun all bowed their heads and responded to Sejong’s order.

While the situation seemed to be settling down for now, Sejong’s questions continued.

Glancing at Kim Jeom once again, Sejong asked Jo Mal-saeng:

“Will you deploy Challenger-class warships to each of these military bases? If so, how many will you deploy?”

Jo Mal-saeng immediately answered Sejong’s question.

“The Challenger-class, given its size and power, can be intimidating to opponents. Therefore, we plan to deploy Haeung-class warships to these bases. We’re thinking of starting with six ships and eventually aiming for a minimum of 12 ships.”

“With six ships, two for patrol, two for maintenance and supply, and two on standby, is that right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Jo Mal-saeng immediately answered Sejong’s question, which was based on the operational rules of the Joseon navy.

“That’s fine. Go ahead and make a proper plan and put it into action. I have high expectations.”

At Sejong’s decision, which was now more favorable than before, Jo Mal-saeng and the Chief of Staff immediately bowed their heads.

“We will do our utmost, Your Majesty!”

***

With Sejong’s decision, the court and military began to move busily to establish naval bases overseas.

However, at the end of the Gimi year, just before the winter solstice, the navy dropped a major bombshell.

It was such a big event that not only Jo Mal-saeng, who received the official report from Wonsan, but also Kim Jeom, who heard the story, all jumped up from their seats and shouted.

“Hey! You damn navy bastards!”

The official report that came up from Wonsan was sent by Kang Nam-gil, the captain of the Challenger-class No. 3 ship, the Maengjin.

***

Two years ago, the Maengjin, deployed for eastern exploration, prepared thoroughly at the naval base on Jungdongdo (中東島, 21st century’s Adak Island), the easternmost base of the Joseon navy, and prepared to set sail eastward.

“According to the last survey, the archipelago continues to the east. Your mission is to confirm how far these islands extend,” explained Lee I-don, the commander in charge of the Jungdongdo base. Kang Nam-gil nodded lightly.

“I understand. Well then, see you when we return.”

As Kang Nam-gil bid farewell, Lee I-don urged with a face full of concern:

“Be careful, very careful. The southern seas are fierce, but these northern seas are even fiercer.”

“Hahaha! I’ll be extremely cautious.”

Laughing heartily, Kang Nam-gil boarded the Maengjin, and the Maengjin set sail towards the east.

And even after the promised date had passed, the Maengjin did not return.

Finally, when winter passed and spring came again, and the sea thawed, Commander Lee I-don wrote an official report and sent it to Joseon.

After a three-month journey, the report sent by Lee I-don arrived in Hanseong.

Jo Mal-saeng, who received the report, clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! The loss of a Challenger-class warship…”

Although Challenger-class warships had been steadily produced, they were still treated as precious. And now, one of these precious warships had been lost.

When they heard the story, the naval commanders discussed with serious faces.

“Although Captain Kang Nam-gil’s personality was a bit rash, his ship-handling skills were extraordinary.”

“And it was a Challenger-class warship.”

“Just how fierce must the sea have been…”

The Challenger-class warships were not only formidable in firepower but also in survivability.

They were ships that, even when battered by unexpected typhoons during voyages between Suez and Joseon, managed to survive until the end and return to Aden or Joseon.

Such a tenacious Challenger-class warship had disappeared.

Upon receiving the report, Sejong ordered Jo Mal-saeng:

“Inform the families of the Maengjin’s crew about their missing status. Remember, they are missing, not dead.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Although Sejong who gave the order and Jo Mal-saeng who received it said so, inwardly they both thought the crew must be dead.

The families felt the same way.

But now, the Maengjin that had disappeared like that had returned.

***

“It’s home!”

“We’re back!”

As Wonsan Harbor came into view, the sailors aboard the Maengjin cried out in emotion, looking at the harbor.

“What’s back?”

“The Maengjin is back?”

As news of the Maengjin’s return spread, not only the naval personnel around the dock but even the harbor commander came running with surprised faces.

From the Maengjin, which had many scars here and there but was overall intact, a gangway was lowered, and the sailors disembarked in a line.

And when the official report written by Kang Nam-gil, who was the last to disembark, arrived in Hanseong, the bomb dropped.

The contents of the report can be summarized as follows:

-After sailing continuously eastward, discovered a coastline stretching southward.

-Sailed south along the coastline for more than 4,000 li, but it continued to extend southward.

-Landed and searched the surroundings during the journey, but found no traces of Westerners.

-Conclusion: Presumed to have discovered a new land that no one knew about.