Black Corporation: Joseon

All ministers headed to Geunjeong Hall upon receiving the urgent report through the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Inside Geunjeong Hall, Hyang and Sejong were already waiting for them.

Though Sejong had been preparing to leave for the New Lands from Gangnyeong Hall, he summoned the ministers to Geunjeong Hall due to the matter’s importance.

When anomalies occurred in Japan or Ming, their repercussions immediately hit Joseon.

***

“Well. Let’s examine the current situation first.”

At Sejong’s words, Foreign Affairs Minister Heo Hu stepped forward to explain the overview.

“The current Japanese king – that is, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshikatsu died twenty days ago.”

“Cause of death?”

“Natural causes… As I recall, the Japanese king was very young?”

“He turned ten this year. He was six when he first became Shogun.”

A small stir arose among the ministers hearing Ashikaga Yoshikatsu’s age. However, the commotion soon settled as ministers listened to the Foreign Affairs Minister’s explanation.

“Hmm…”

Sejong, who had been thinking deeply while listening to Heo Hu’s explanation, spoke:

“Then, has the new Japanese king been decided?”

“Yes. Reports indicate Ashikaga Yoshimasa, third son of former Japanese king Ashikaga Yoshinori, will certainly become the new Japanese king.”

“And how old is he?”

“Just eight, Your Majesty.”

The hall stirred briefly again at Heo Hu’s explanation before falling silent.

“Hmm… Strange.”

Analyzing Heo Hu’s explanation, Sejong questioned him:

“Considering the shogunate’s authority, the Japanese king seems too young. Are there no suitable candidates among Yoshinori’s brothers?”

“Most have become monks, and the remaining one was exterminated in the previous civil war.”

Sejong snorted at Heo Hu’s answer.

“Hmph! I know that Yoshinori himself returned from monkhood to become Japanese king. Yet they’re disqualified for being monks? Does that make sense?”

“…”

The ministers all fell silent at Sejong’s point. Seeing this, Sejong called to Hwang Hui.

“What does the Prime Minister think?”

“I understand what those supporting Yoshimasa are thinking, but it’s too irreverent to speak aloud…”

Hwang Hui trailed off, and other ministers silently nodded.

At Hwang Hui’s response, Sejong spoke:

“They’re making the term ‘regency’ seem precious. Looking far back, we have the Ten Regular Attendants of Later Han, and looking closer, the military groups of the previous dynasty. Setting up young and weak rulers to manipulate state affairs. As I know, even Yoshikatsu’s ascension to Japanese king resulted from agreement among families holding the Kanrei position. So this new Japanese king will be the same? Like certain people who tried to make their move as soon as I took the throne.”

The ministers silently bowed their heads at Sejong’s words.

***

Though he now shared much authority with ministers, Sejong was an absolute monarch. Before him, officials couldn’t speak of dividing the monarch’s power among ministers.

Furthermore, while not explicitly naming them, Sejong issued another warning by mentioning the faction of Ryu Jeong-hyeon, an elder minister and founding merit subject.

-Do not carelessly covet royal power!

Thus, Hwang Hui and the ministers kept their mouths completely shut.

***

After warning the ministers, Sejong continued the meeting.

“If another child becomes Japanese king again, what do you think will happen to Japan’s political situation?”

Foreign Affairs Minister Heo Hu answered Sejong’s question first.

“The three families holding Kanrei positions form the core. Additionally, seven families who inherit the shogunate’s core institutions, called the Three Kanrei and Four Offices, have united their intentions. Moreover, they have the backing of the emperor and court who, though symbolic, are Japan’s symbols, so dissatisfaction cannot be immediately expressed.”

As soon as Heo Hu finished, Kim Jeom spoke:

“That may be so, but the probability of turmoil is not small. Many domain lords harbored dissatisfaction with Yoshinori’s tyranny, and Yoshikatsu’s time as Japanese king was too short to establish a foundation.”

Heo Hu raised a counterargument to Kim Jeom’s words:

“However, looking at how they suppressed the civil war that broke out after Yoshinori’s assassination, those seven families maintaining the shogunate are not to be taken lightly. Additionally, there are many families who insist on loyalty to the shogunate despite their dissatisfaction.”

Kim Jeom countered Heo Hu’s rebuttal:

“Even if they insist on loyalty, haven’t they already half-broken away from the shogunate? They act outrageously, calling themselves such-and-such country by attaching the character for ‘country’ to their domain names. If they were truly so loyal, why did the Kamakura Shogunate fall?”

“Even so, few would dare denounce the current shogunate and raise rebellion. The Japanese nature is truly cunning, routinely targeting others’ backs at the slightest opening. In other words, it’s not fear of the shogunate that prevents movement, but the surrounding domain lords.”

Beginning with Heo Hu and Kim Jeom’s debate, the ministers in Geunjeong Hall split into two sides engaging in fierce argument.

The court ministers showed such interest in Japan’s future because of the Japanese pirates.

When Japan fell into chaos, the Japanese pirates immediately began acting up. Of course, with the current Joseon navy’s strength, suppressing Japanese pirates wasn’t a problem.

However, as the saying goes “Ten policemen can’t catch one thief,” there was considerable possibility of damage from breaking through Joseon navy’s defensive network.

Therefore, the most important issue was whether to emphasize shogunate stability or civil war outbreak. All of Joseon’s policies would move according to this emphasis.

***

While the ministers engaged in heated debate, Hyang quietly watched.

As the ministers’ passion somewhat subsided, Hyang joined the conversation.

“From what I’ve heard so far, it seems the biggest reason civil strife is difficult is that major domain lords can’t ally with each other. Is this correct?”

Heo Hu immediately nodded and answered Hyang’s question:

“Yes, Your Highness. As mentioned earlier, alliance is a difficult task due to the Japanese cunning nature. No, it might be closer to impossible.”

“But don’t the Japanese also have the trait of submitting to the strong? Wouldn’t it be possible for such a strong one to subjugate surrounding domains and build power?”

Heo Hu immediately responded to Hyang’s point:

“Of course such a trait exists. However, for this to be possible, one would need military strength overwhelming enough to dominate even if all surrounding domains allied. No, beyond military strength, sufficient finances…”

Suddenly, Heo Hu stopped as if remembering something. Simultaneously, Kim Jeom spoke:

“There is one who has both military strength and finances. We’ve all forgotten about the Ouchi clan.”

Minister Jo Mal-saeng continued after Kim Jeom’s words:

“That’s understandable. Looking at the Ouchi clan’s actions so far, they could be considered a dependent territory of our Joseon rather than a Japanese domain.”

All ministers nodded at Jo Mal-saeng’s words.

***

As Jo Mal-saeng said, the Ouchi clan was sufficient to be called “Another Joseon.” Ouchi was Joseon’s most diligent economic partner in developing silver mines and establishing trade offices.

This wasn’t just economically but culturally as well. They created basic educational facilities modeled after Joseon’s People’s School and promoted commerce and industry.

Additionally, they actively utilized students who had learned knowledge and practical affairs in Joseon to greatly renovate their domain’s administrative organization.

Consequently, Ouchi’s society and culture had become almost completely Joseonized.

Meanwhile, they began properly strengthening their military based on growing economic power and funds from silver mines.

Instead of filling their most basic infantry, the ashigaru, with forcibly conscripted farmers or mercenaries, they filled it as much as possible with properly trained regular troops.

Ashigaru with unified weapons and uniforms were trained into elite troops through strict training.

Of course, besides these standing troops, there were considerable conscript forces, but most of these conscripts were assigned only to fortification construction or rear supply duties.

The biggest characteristic distinguishing Ouchi from other domains was their “large-scale use of gunpowder weapons.”

Ouchi mass-produced bronze guns imported from Joseon and cannons from Ming. Additionally, they brought powder craftsmen from Ming to manufacture gunpowder, an essential element for operating such weapons.

Ouchi tried their best to hide the existence and scale of these cannon and gun units. As part of such efforts, Ouchi minimized projecting military power externally.

For example, when requested to dispatch troops during the rebellion suppression after Yoshinori’s assassination, Ouchi held out until the end.

-Cannot spare soldiers because of the Japanese pirates!

Receiving Ouchi’s reply then, Hosokawa Mochiyuki had to mutter with a bitter smile:

“‘Troubled by Japanese pirates?’ A clan that rules half of Kyushu and half of western Honshu?”

***

With Ouchi emerging as a candidate, the weight shifted slightly toward ‘civil war outbreak.’

“In my opinion… I think there’s quite a high possibility Ouchi will make a move?”

Hwang Hui agreed with Sejong’s analysis.

“The possibility is quite high. With the power Ouchi has accumulated so far, they have the capability to act. The question is whether they have the will.”

Heo Hu continued after Hwang Hui’s words:

“We should consider them to have sufficient will too. Your Majesty, do you remember when Ouchi’s head changed a few years ago? Though the previous head was aged, conditions were sufficient to maintain his position. Changing heads then was, I think, to not miss a good opportunity.”

Following Heo Hu’s words, Hwang Hui concluded:

“Considering the bad blood between the shogunate’s Japanese kings and the Ouchi clan, Ouchi is considered to have sufficient possibility of rising to arms.”

Sejong nodded at Hwang Hui’s conclusion.

“I agree. Then, if civil war breaks out in Japan as we expect, what do you think our Joseon should do?”

The hall grew noisy again at Sejong’s question.

The debating ministers divided largely into three groups:

-Active intervention.

Japan’s chaos could negatively affect our Joseon. Therefore, we must actively intervene.

-Active observation.

We lack justification for active intervention. If our Joseon interferes without justification, they will unite against us. Therefore, we must only guard the sea between Joseon and Japan and absolutely not intervene.

-Passive intervention.

It’s true we lack justification for active intervention. However, mere observation carries great risk. Therefore, the answer is appropriate intervention at appropriate times.

While the ministers split three ways engaged in another fierce debate, Sejong turned to Hyang.

“What does the Crown Prince think?”