Black Corporation: Joseon

After confirming the contents of the official report, Jo Mal-saeng put it down and rubbed his forehead with his thumb and index finger.

“How should we interpret this…”

The discovery of unclaimed land unknown to others was the best news among good news.

However, the timing of the discovery was problematic.

***

A few months ago, due to an urgent report from Aden, it was decided to establish naval bases in Temasek and several other regions, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was busy moving forward with this.

To ensure smooth progress, Joseon distributed substantial bribes to influential figures in the relevant countries and regions. Fortunately, what these influential figures liked most was not gold and silver, but Joseon artifacts like crystal oil lamps, so the expenditure wasn’t as severe as expected.

Upon hearing about this, Hyang chuckled and muttered:

“That just means they’re making excessive profits.”

Thanks to buttering up the power holders in these regions, the Joseon navy was able to establish naval bases in these areas with ease.

“The problem is the port facilities…”

To Jo Mal-saeng, who was assessing the situation, the staff in charge responded smoothly.

“That doesn’t seem to be a big problem either.”

“Huh?”

Not only Chittagong, an active trading port, but also Temasek, Ryukyu, and even Luzon already had decent port facilities, so the Joseon navy’s main concern was preparing living spaces for the naval personnel and their families.

However, what those in charge of the budget were really worried about was something else.

It was the issue of the budget for ship construction and the costs involved in recruiting personnel.

“We’ll start by moving the existing Haeung-class ships, but in the long term, we’ll need to construct a large number of new ships.”

In response to the staff’s report, Kim Jeom offered his opinion to Jo Mal-saeng and Hwang Hui.

“For now, it’s best to draw from the reserve finances held by the military and the court, and then properly allocate the budget from next year.”

Jo Mal-saeng and Hwang Hui nodded at Kim Jeom’s words. As Hwang Hui examined the budget allocation plan proposed by Kim Jeom, he looked at Jo Mal-saeng and spoke.

“This seems like it will work for the new production of ships, but the problem is personnel recruitment. What does the navy say about this?”

Jo Mal-saeng immediately answered Hwang Hui’s question.

“The navy says they can handle everything well if they’re just given ships and budget.”

“Hmm…”

Unable to hide his unease despite Jo Mal-saeng’s answer, Hwang Hui summoned the Navy Commander-in-Chief.

“You called for me?”

As the Navy Commander-in-Chief, summoned, entered the Prime Minister’s conference room and took his seat, Hwang Hui got straight to the point.

“Are you really confident about recruiting talented individuals for the navy?”

“If the budget is properly supported, it’s entirely possible.”

“How?”

“Have you forgotten that the navy’s nickname is ‘Bibimbap’?”

“Ah…”

As Hwang Hui, Kim Jeom, and Jo Mal-saeng, who were already seated, nodded at his answer, the Navy Commander-in-Chief continued.

“As long as we have Hunminjeongeum and the government monopoly stores, personnel recruitment isn’t a big problem for the navy.”

***

As the social changes brought about by the reforms took root completely, and Joseon’s territory gradually expanded, non-native Joseon people from outside regions were no longer unfamiliar presences.

Just looking at the court in Hanseong, labor exploitation disguised as practical education – except for the Ministry of National Defense – was taking place, gathering those who had completed basic courses among the students sent from Ōuchi.

In the military, which had accepted outsiders early on, there were already some who had risen to middle management positions.

An interesting characteristic developed here.

While the land guard army, centered around cavalry and artillery, was mainly composed of Joseon people and Jurchens, the navy included not only Joseon and Jurchen people but also natives from Daeseoldo, Jongjangdo, and other regions where naval bases were located.

This was due to the navy’s policy.

“The problem is that seafaring isn’t something you get used to in a day or two, and getting accustomed to the sea isn’t a quick process either.”

As naval commanders pondered how to solve the situation where the seas they needed to patrol and explore were expanding, but finding skilled sailors was becoming increasingly difficult, their eyes fell on the natives of Daeseoldo and Jongjangdo who were going around in small boats.

Looking at these natives, the naval commanders all muttered simultaneously:

“There go the answers, wandering around?”

The natives who navigated the harsh northern seas in small ferries, or boats roughly made of leather and wood, were the best human resources for the navy.

“How should we lure them in…”

While the naval commanders were contemplating how to draw the natives into the navy, the best card was born.

It was Hunminjeongeum.

Just as the native Joseon people welcomed Hunminjeongeum, so did the natives from outside regions.

Most of the natives, except for the Jurchens, had no writing system to record their language. Of course, some of the Ainu people from Daeseoldo had learned and used Chinese characters or hiragana through contact with Japan, but Hunminjeongeum could perfectly record words that couldn’t be written even with Chinese characters or hiragana.

It was a natural result that the natives who could now record their language with Hunminjeongeum began to learn the Joseon language.

Even if they didn’t understand the meaning, it wasn’t difficult to read. And once they could read, understanding the meaning came in an instant.

The next thing that attracted the natives was, of course, the government monopoly stores.

The daily necessities in the monopoly stores had already become essential items for the natives.

Especially, fabrics like cotton cloth became items that had to be prepared as wedding gifts for their children.

As a result, the natives needed money.

“The hunting and fishing we’ve been doing so far don’t provide steady income…”

“This place isn’t good for farming either…”

While everyone was pondering like this, the navy posted a large paper on the bulletin board.

On the paper, there was a message written in large letters using Hunminjeongeum.

-Navy Recruitment.

-Those familiar with the sea and seafaring.

-Preference given to those fluent in the Joseon language.

-No discrimination.

-Joseon language education provided. However, only 1/3 of normal salary paid during the education period.

-Quick promotion guaranteed for outstanding performers.

Not long after the notice was posted on the bulletin board, natives lined up at the entrance of the naval base.

“I want to join the navy!”

“I’m the perfect candidate!”

“I really want to do this!”

Thanks to this, the navy was able to easily recruit personnel. And the navy earned the nickname ‘Bibimbap’.

***

As a side note, historians studying this period discovered an interesting point.

Until then, when any country acquired new territory, it was common for the inhabitants of the newly acquired region to mostly become slaves.

Of course, in Islamic territories, according to their laws, fellow Muslims were not enslaved, but the subjugated people still had to live lives almost similar to slaves. And non-believers had to become slaves.

Thus, while it was generally the case that the fate of the inhabitants of new territories fell into the abyss, this was not so with Joseon.

Joseon accepted without discrimination those who wished to become Joseon citizens. And these newcomers soon began to be active in various parts of Joseon society.

This case was most prominently displayed in the military. Generally, the military was considered the most conservative place, but the Joseon military had almost as many people from outside regions as the ancient Roman Empire.

And the historians researching why this happened tore their hair out.

“It’s the Crown Prince again!”

***

Around the time Joseon was emerging from its period of stagnation, its situation was similar to that of the navy. It was trying to solve the problem of insufficient population through active external infusion.

Thanks to this, in the Gimi year, it finally surpassed 11 million in population.

“Of course, it’s a problem that most of the increased population are newborns.”

“We need to pay more attention to education and healthcare.”

“Anyway, it seems the issue of the ocean-going naval bases has been roughly resolved, so can’t we take a breather?”

While the ministers were feeling relieved like this, the navy dropped a massive bomb.

***

Jo Mal-saeng, who was contemplating while looking at the official report, looked at the Navy Commander-in-Chief sitting in front of him.

“For something pushed through with that out-of-the-blue idea of ‘harmony of yin and yang’, the result is quite remarkable, isn’t it?”

The reason given when they first started exploring eastward was ‘harmony of yin and yang’.

-The world is a place where the harmony of yin and yang is achieved. In other words, it’s impossible for all the lands in the world to be concentrated on one side!

With this plausible yet implausible reason, the navy diligently sent ships eastward. Of course, Kim Jeom raised hell, breathing fire, but the navy was able to block Kim Jeom’s anger by continuously discovering islands.

In response to Jo Mal-saeng’s words, the Navy Commander-in-Chief smiled slightly and answered.

“Of course, that was the superficial reason, but internally, there was another reason.”

“Another reason?”

“Confirming the shortest sea route to Western countries. That was the navy’s goal. There are too many pirates on the route we’re currently using. Of course, we’re not afraid of pirates, but they are a bit of a nuisance, aren’t they?”

“Ah…”

As Jo Mal-saeng nodded at the Navy Commander-in-Chief’s words, he asked another question.

“Wouldn’t it have been better to use that as the reason from the beginning?”

“Then wouldn’t it have become a political issue?”

At the Navy Commander-in-Chief’s words, Jo Mal-saeng nodded and muttered.

“Here we go again with Ming being involved.”

The Navy Commander-in-Chief quietly nodded at Jo Mal-saeng’s words.

Although it had become almost nominal, Ming was still Joseon’s suzerain state. The trade that Joseon was currently conducting was nominally with countries that paid tribute to Ming, so there were no particular problems. However, for Joseon to directly contact and communicate with Western countries without going through Ming would be disrespecting Ming as the suzerain state. After all, Joseon was still in a situation of paying tribute to Ming.

In other words, direct contact between Joseon and the West would be an open declaration that Joseon was an independent country equal to Ming. In other words, it would become an expression that Ming was no longer Joseon’s suzerain state.

And this could be seen as an act akin to a declaration of war against Ming.

***

After a moment of silence, the Navy Commander-in-Chief continued.

“His Majesty probably knew all of this.”

“His Majesty?”

Jo Mal-saeng, who briefly expressed doubt, soon nodded.

“That’s right. Given who His Majesty is, there’s no way he would have given approval based on such an unconvincing reason.”

“That’s correct.”

After hearing the Navy Commander-in-Chief’s answer, Jo Mal-saeng fell into silence again. After staring at the official report with his mouth shut for a long time, Jo Mal-saeng soon let out a long sigh.

“Sigh~”

After sighing deeply enough to sink the ground, Jo Mal-saeng glared at the Navy Commander-in-Chief.

“You report this matter directly to His Majesty in the main hall.”

“Minister, please!”

“Thanks to this report, my work has at least doubled. I can’t die alone, can I? And I certainly can’t die in your place.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, the face of the Three Provinces Navy Commander-in-Chief turned pale. In his ears, he could already hear Kim Jeom’s roaring voice.

No, he could already hear Kim Jeom’s voice from far away.

“You fucking navy bastards! Where’s the Navy Commander-in-Chief! Let’s see you die today!”