Black Corporation: Joseon

After sending Crown Prince Zhu Qizhen back to Nanjing, Emperor Xuande muttered while looking at the map with a tired face.

“Though the Northern Yuan is a problem, Joseon is the biggest issue. They’ve grown too big.”

When Joseon’s Crown Prince Hyang first visited to discuss the joint merchant group, Joseon’s position relative to Ming suited the phrase “neither too close nor too far.”

Though they couldn’t absolutely guarantee they would never rebel against Ming, they weren’t an enemy to be treated as a complete hostile state either.

Rather, Japan was more problematic due to Japanese pirates and pirates troubling Ming’s coastal regions.

Instead, it was beneficial to placate Joseon by pretending to accommodate their constant concerns.

In such circumstances, the joint merchant group Hyang proposed was advantageous to the Ming imperial court struggling with financial problems. Therefore, Xuande readily accepted Hyang’s proposal while allowing both the resolution of the Jonggyebyeonmu (종계변무) issue that Joseon had continuously requested and the recovery of Hwaryeong—the royal family’s origin place deeply imbued with Yi Seong-gye’s influence—and regions north of it.

“As long as Joseon’s kings inherit Yi Seong-gye’s bloodline, they will devote all efforts to recover that region. So by allowing this while making them bear the burden, and while they focus on recovering that region, they’ll set aside interest in Liaodong. During that time, we’ll firmly make Liaodong Ming’s territory.”

Under such calculations, Xuande granted Joseon’s requests. And initially, Xuande’s calculations worked well.

However, the first variable was that Joseon’s national power grew stronger than expected.

The second variable was Yi Manchu and Mengtemu. Caught between the pressure from both Ming and Joseon, Yi Manchu and Mengtemu picked a fight with Joseon and were annihilated, leaving only a tiny number of survivors. And Joseon took over Mengtemu tribe’s territory.

As the situation changed like this, Xuande gradually began paying attention to Joseon. Among Joseon’s policies, he introduced those deemed useful to Ming—most notably paper currency.

Of course, since the joint merchant group continued bringing substantial profits to Xuande, he wasn’t considering breaking it off.

However, when rumors of proper iron horses reached him and he saw actual prototypes with his own eyes, Xuande began viewing Joseon with caution.

“Joseon ships are frequently seen in Yunnan, Siam, Ryukyu, and Malacca?”

After confirming Joseon’s presence in internal investigation reports about Ming merchants, Xuande analyzed the situation secretly by himself.

“I understand now why they say ‘look at them anew.'”

Reading through the documents he had compiled himself, Xuande reached a conclusion.

“At this rate, whether Ming and Joseon want it or not, conflict is inevitable. Then the battlefield will be…”

Walking to the world map hanging in his office, Xuande pointed to one location.

“The battlefield will be right here, Liaodong. Like us, Joseon won’t want their territory devastated by war.”

Having foreseen even the location where war would break out, Xuande prepared for what came next.

“Both we and Joseon must settle things in a single large battle due to supply issues. To win that battle…”

Xuande analyzed meticulously based on his knowledge and information.

-Unlike the Jurchen or Northern Yuan, both Joseon and Ming center their forces on infantry.

-To properly operate large infantry forces, proper supplies must follow.

-The problem is that Joseon already controls the sea between Ming and Joseon. Though Ming’s navy has developed new warships and cannons, they’re still inferior to Joseon. Therefore, securing naval supremacy is impossible.

-To win in such circumstances, massive troops and supplies must be moved as much as possible in minimal time.

-Only railways can make this possible.

“Of the three sections, rails must be laid at least to the area between the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. Only then can we gather overwhelming troops and supplies. After gathering forces and supplies in Beijing through the Grand Canal, we’ll move them to Liaodong in one go via rails from Beijing.”

Drawing imaginary lines on the map with his finger while muttering, Xuande sighed.

“The problem is that the rails aren’t even properly laid yet. I’ll have to push the officials harder. From now on it’s a race against time. Those clever father and son in Joseon surely know this too. As they’ve done until now, that pair will lie low until they’re properly prepared. It’ll be too late to move when they bare their fangs. We must move early… Cough! Cough!”

Quickly pulling out a handkerchief from his sleeve to cover his mouth, Xuande coughed roughly. After several fits of coughing subsided, Xuande removed the handkerchief and exhaled deeply.

“Haaah… Huu…”

After catching his breath thus, Xuande looked at the handkerchief in his hand. Looking down at the blood-stained cloth, he gave a bitter smile.

“Is my only task to finish preparations in time? It’s difficult. And lonely.”

Xuande muttered with a strained expression.

As a result of the several purges that had occurred, Xuande couldn’t trust the empire’s core ministers, eunuchs, and military generals.

If I raise this matter as an agenda, those fellows will split into two groups. One saying it’s impossible and shaking their heads, the other wanting to invade Joseon immediately without thinking things through.

Therefore, Xuande had analyzed the situation and formulated plans alone in secret, even sending away the eunuchs.

“How sad that I can only hope to live until this plan is complete. The Crown Prince would certainly charge straight into Joseon. I must finish all preparations before then. Sigh…”

Letting out a long sigh, Xuande concluded with a face full of regret.

“If only the Crown Prince had capabilities like Joseon’s Crown Prince, this country could have achieved a thousand years of glory…”

***

Most ministers remained unmoved despite witnessing the three-second exchange between Sejong and Hyang in Geunjeong Hall.

“There is high possibility of discord arising between our Joseon and Ming, so contemplate countermeasures.”

“We receive your command.”

“Let’s end here.”

After the court session ended thus, the ministers immediately gathered again in the Prime Minister’s conference room.

“Why did no one say anything?”

Jo Gye-saeng was first to speak as soon as they sat down.

“What do you mean?”

When Prime Minister Hwang Hui asked back, Jo Gye-saeng raised his voice with an exasperated expression.

“Does it make sense that Ming would target our Joseon?”

Several ministers nodded at Jo Gye-saeng’s words.

Those ministers agreeing with Jo Gye-saeng had something in common—most had entered the court during the latter half of the reforms.

To such criticism from Jo Gye-saeng, Hwang Hui responded as if it were no big deal.

“What’s so surprising about that… His Majesty and the Crown Prince have been anticipating this since the reforms began.”

“Huh?”

When Jo Gye-saeng and several others blinked in apparent incomprehension at Hwang Hui’s words, Kim Jeom beside him continued.

“Isn’t it the natural course when you think about it? Would Ming stay quiet while Joseon’s capabilities keep growing? This involves suzerain rights too. No, do you think our Joseon should continue accepting Ming’s exercise of suzerain rights?”

“Th-that’s not what I mean.”

Jo Gye-saeng hastily denied. Looking at such a Jo Gye-saeng, Jo Mal-saeng spoke up.

“When the Minister of Education was still in the countryside, by His Majesty’s command, the military established a strategy called ‘Eastern Advance.’ It was in preparation for this time.”

Jo Mal-saeng’s face showed clear satisfaction as he spoke thus to Jo Gye-saeng. He very much disliked his brother who acted self-righteous while claiming to be an incorruptible scholar.

“Then…”

As Jo Gye-saeng finally showed an expression of understanding, Hwang Hui concluded.

“The true meaning of the conversation His Majesty and Crown Prince just shared is that Ming’s emperor has only now noticed. Our preparations are already substantial. Even if Ming prepares, we are considerably ahead, and Ming will need to invest much more time and budget. Of course, from now on we too must seriously push in budget.”

“Damn it!”

“Shit…”

Kim Jeom and the Minister of Finance provided the accompaniment to Hwang Hui’s final words with curses.

***

It was while Ming and Joseon were steadily moving to prepare for the certain future war that the Battle of Gamoksabo occurred.

“Your Majesty. As commanded, the newly developed guns are ready.”

When the Chief Minister of the Imperial Stables reported after receiving his subordinate’s report, Xuande rose from his seat.

The place Xuande and Ming’s ministers moved to was the training ground of the Embroidered Uniform Guard within the Forbidden City.

“This is the iron gun the gunners have been using until recently, this is the improved iron gun, and finally, this is the iron gun with greatly increased range and accuracy.”

“They’re long.”

At Xuande’s brief evaluation, the Chief Minister immediately nodded.

“Yes. The improved iron gun is about 4 chi (about 120cm) long, and the final iron gun, which the Imperial Stables named the ‘Long Bamboo Gun,’ is 4 chi 3 cun (about 130cm) long.”

“The accuracy?”

“For the improved iron gun, it’s as reported earlier, and for the Long Bamboo Gun, within 40 bo (about 72m) it can hit about 7 out of 10 shots.”

“They’re long—can the gunners handle them well?”

To Xuande’s question, the Chief Minister immediately answered.

“They will operate with gun rests, and we plan to select and organize separately those gunners who are physically large and excellent at marksmanship.”

After brief contemplation at the Chief Minister’s answer, Xuande soon nodded.

“Good. Proceed as planned.”

“We receive your command!”

“I expect good results in other areas too.”

“We will do our utmost!”

***

When Xuande, satisfied with the new guns, returned to Wuying Hall, a eunuch was waiting with a tray containing scrolls.

“What is it?”

“A memorial regarding the Ministry of Rites.”

“A memorial…”

After examining the contents of the memorial taken from the tray, Xuande put it back down and turned his head.

“Minister of Rites.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Tell the one who submitted this memorial thus: ‘Those who cannot even properly learn the 2,300 characters listed in the Characters Common People Must Learn are not worth using greatly.’ The Chinese characters contain the essence of our Middle Kingdom’s thousands of years of history. Because they contain such essence, they are difficult to learn, which is why we specified 2,300 absolutely necessary characters to learn! Yet you want to modify the writing system because even that is difficult? Rather, those who can’t learn are the problem! Minister of Rites, keep this in mind and teach the people!”

“I will keep it firmly in mind!”

Seeing Joseon operate public schools, Xuande too created the Foundation Academy as a basic educational institution for teaching the people. And mobilizing personnel from the Ministry of Rites and Imperial Academy, he selected 2,300 essential Chinese characters, named them “Characters Common People Must Learn,” created textbooks, and distributed them to the Foundation Academy.

However, due to the pictographic nature of Chinese characters, properly learning those 2,300 characters was no easy task. Simply put, countless people emerged who could read but not write.

Therefore, opinions to modify the “writing system” itself kept emerging, but Xuande stubbornly refused.

“Chinese characters are the soul of the Middle Kingdom!”

***

Later historians, especially Chinese historians, evaluated Xuande thus:

‘The Emperor of Nine Perfections.’

-Xuande could be called an unprecedented wise ruler in Chinese history without dispute.

However, falling one short of “Ten Perfections” to become Nine Perfections was due to his pride.

His pride as emperor and conviction that Ming was the world’s center and greatest nation caused him to continue taking losses that could have been avoided.

Notable examples include missing opportunities to suppress Joseon starting with allowing the joint merchant group, wasting much time believing in Ming’s technological capabilities, and blocking writing system reform.

Had he handled just these aspects well, he would have become the Emperor of Ten Perfections.

This was later historians’ evaluation of Xuande.