Black Corporation: Joseon

“Attention!”

As carriages carrying Sejong’s party arrived, the harbor master commanding the soldiers defending Dahogun barked out orders.

Snap!

At the harbor master’s command, the soldiers simultaneously snapped to attention, heads held high.

Moments later, as Sejong emerged from the carriage in armor, the harbor master called out another command.

“Military salute!”

“Loyal!”

“We greet His Majesty the King!”

As the soldiers rendered military honors, the officials simultaneously bowed at the waist.

Sejong raised his hand in acknowledgment of the soldiers’ salute as he walked forward.

“Well done.”

“Good work.”

“You’ve truly worked hard.”

Commending the soldiers and officials thus, Sejong entered the pioneer headquarters established in Dahogun.

Entering the courtyard of the headquarters, built on the foundation of a military camp, Sejong’s party soon split in two.

Queen Soheon, the royal concubines, and their court ladies entered the newly constructed building first, while Sejong headed toward the headquarters building, just as he had at the bridgehead. Seeing Sejong’s movement, Shin Sukju, the lead official, carefully suggested rest.

“Wouldn’t it be better to rest from your journey first?”

“The journey here was so enjoyable that I had no chance to accumulate fatigue.”

“Pardon?”

As officials tilted their heads at Sejong’s words, all sorts of animal carcasses were being unloaded from the last carriage.

“What are those?”

“New Territory is excellent for hunting on horseback.”

At Sejong’s words, Shin Sukju found himself nodding unconsciously.

“Ah…”

Hunting was the primary entertainment for soldiers and officials assigned to New Territory, including himself.

While the northeastern forest region containing Dongbyeong Harbor overflowed with all sorts of beasts, New Territory too teemed with game. The difference from the northeastern forests or Gaema Plateau was that New Territory had more wide plains, allowing for more pleasant horseback hunting.

Thanks to this, even Sejong, who disliked movement enough to prefer gyeokbang (Joseon-style golf) over hunting, came to enjoy mounted hunting.

“Oh? Isn’t that a buffalo?”

The massive buffalo scattered across the wide plains were especially prime game.

And here too, Sejong maintained his unique personality.

“I tried it grilled and it’s quite delicious. Less gamey than regular beef too. Our people will love it. Must think of good methods when time allows.”

At Sejong’s words, Shin Sukju slightly objected.

“According to the natives of New Territory, their violent temperament makes domestication impossible.”

“Is that so? Then what shall we do?”

At Shin Sukju’s words, Sejong stopped walking and fell into thought.

If even the natives who’ve lived on this land say it’s impossible, it must be truly difficult… But it’s regrettable to give up? Not only is it delicious, but the yield from one animal is substantial…

After pondering various angles, Sejong soon turned to Shin Sukju with a brightened expression.

“Is domestication really necessary?”

“Pardon?”

“According to the reports I’ve received so far, New Territory has few people compared to its vast territory. Then couldn’t we simply choose areas suitable for these buffalo to grow, restrict human access, and let them roam free?”

“Ah…”

Shin Sukju nodded vigorously at Sejong’s words.

Indeed, this is His Majesty! He has transcended what mere commoners could conceive!

“Now then, let’s go inside and review the situation here!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

***

“Oh? Did you prepare in advance?”

Arriving at the main conference room under Shin Sukju’s guidance, Sejong turned to him with sparkling eyes.

All sorts of reports were neatly arranged on the conference room table, and newly updated maps of Dahogun and surrounding regions hung on the walls.

At Sejong’s question, Shin Sukju lightly bowed his head and answered.

“Yes, hearing that you first reviewed progress at the bridgehead, we prepared just in case.”

“Is that so? Well done. Can I continue to expect such thoughtfulness?”

At Sejong’s question, Shin Sukju bowed deeply and answered.

“I will devote my entire being to service!”

Yes! I’ve made it to the starting line!

Shin Sukju was elated at having caught Sejong’s eye. But this was a misjudgment by Shin Sukju, who hadn’t yet directly experienced Sejong.

‘I expect much.’

This phrase actually meant ‘I’ll work you to death.’

***

After briefly examining the conference room, Sejong soon walked to the maps.

“Hmm? The shape differs somewhat from the map I saw at the bridgehead pioneer corps headquarters? Has it been newly updated?”

“Yes. It was updated two weeks ago.”

“Hmm…”

While listening to Shin Sukju’s answer, Sejong examined the map.

It was drawn according to the scale concept introduced by Hyang. However, unless one was an expert, it was impossible to grasp all the information contained in the map at a glance, and Sejong turned to Shin Sukju.

“Are we proceeding south from the east?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

While examining the map listening to Shin Sukju’s answer, Sejong pointed to a spot on the eastern coastline.

“How far is it to Eastern Fort One here?”

The point Sejong indicated was the first fort built by Joseon forces exploring eastward on the eastern coast.

It was the first location chosen for a fort due to optimal conditions for establishing a port.

And whether by coincidence or not, in the history before Hyang’s intervention, this was the place called ‘Boston.’

At Sejong’s question, Shin Sukju hurriedly rifled through documents and answered.

“About 1,100 li (approximately 440km) east from Malho in Dahogun.”

“1,100 li… hmm…”

While examining the map and listening to Shin Sukju’s answer, Sejong soon turned and sat down.

The moment Sejong took his seat, the officials tensely watched him.

After meticulously examining the documents prepared by the officials, Sejong looked at Shin Sukju and the officials.

“So there are no major problems with infrastructure construction?”

“That is correct.”

“What’s the reason for the natives’ insufficient submission? The report states ‘A wait-and-see attitude predominates among the natives.’ Shouldn’t we take a more active approach?”

To Sejong’s point, Shin Sukju stepped forward to answer.

“To encourage active submission, we must be prepared for the worst case. However, we currently lack sufficient military force to annex the native villages occupying the area around Dahogun.”

“What about means other than military force?”

“With limited supplies coming from the homeland, it’s not easy. Completing the ironworks and other industrial facilities, especially the locomotive and rail manufacturing plants, must take priority.”

At Shin Sukju’s words, Sejong tapped his fingers on the table and asked.

“You mean… for now we can only be perceived as the ‘Thunder Stick Tribe’?”

“Yes. Everything begins with completing the ironworks. We must quickly finish the ongoing railway construction using rails made from iron produced at the ironworks.”

After sending a substantial amount of rails and three locomotives from Joseon, construction of the railway connecting the bridgehead and Dahogun began immediately.

The basic plan was to lay track toward Dahogun using rails sent from Joseon, and toward the bridgehead using rails produced from Dahogun’s ironworks.

“Indeed, completing the ironworks truly marks the real beginning. Can you meet the timeline?”

At Sejong’s question, the official in charge of ironworks construction stood and answered.

“Barring major unforeseen circumstances, we can meet the deadline!”

“You look familiar from Area 51?”

“Yes! I am Jeong Taek, formerly facilities department head in charge of facility development at Area 51!”

“If you’re from Area 51, I can trust you. Please do your best.”

“I will do my utmost!”

Having heard Jeong Taek’s answer, Sejong examined the map again and called him.

“Facilities Department Head.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Are all the Joseon technicians dispatched to New Territory currently at the bridgehead?”

“Yes, that’s correct! They’re building Challenger-class warships and transport ships at the bridgehead shipyard!”

According to Hyang’s plan, ships built at the bridgehead shipyard would immediately be crewed and deployed for transport operations.

“Hmm…”

While contemplating something as he listened to Jeong Taek’s answer, Sejong called him again.

“Facilities Department Head, where do you get the timber for facilities being built here in Dahogun?”

“From the forests near Dahogun and to the east!”

“How is the wood quality?”

“It’s as dense and sturdy as the wood from the northeastern forests!”

“How would it be for warships?”

“It would make the finest material!”

“Excellent!”

At the facilities head’s answer, Sejong immediately made a decision.

“As soon as the ships currently under construction are commissioned, move the craftsmen and workers from the bridgehead shipyard to Dahogun here.”

“Pardon?”

“Your Majesty?”

At Sejong’s sudden order, all officials in the conference room wore bewildered expressions.

Moving to stand before the map, Sejong traced his finger along New Territory’s eastern coastline as he continued.

“In my current thinking, our best course is to build a shipyard near Eastern Fort One, deploy naval forces sent from the homeland, and have them survey this eastern coast. As they survey the coast, establish naval bases at locations suitable for ports and station warships there.”

At Sejong’s words, Shin Sukju immediately raised an objection.

“Though I hesitate to speak, such expansion of naval bases would consume excessive time, cost, and manpower.”

“Correct. Therefore, we cannot follow the conventional step-by-step expansion.”

“Pardon?”

“We must maximize the advantages of our Challenger-class and Haeung-class warships.”

Sejong explained his planned strategy:

-First, survey north and south from Eastern Fort One to build naval bases, with minimum distances of 600 li (about 240km) between bases.

-However, due to limited manpower and resources, initially restrict to 3,000 li (about 1,200km) north and south of Eastern Fort One.

“This way, we’d end up with at most ten naval bases. Correct?”

“Yes.”

As Shin Sukju and the officials nodded, Sejong continued his explanation:

-Later, once manpower and equipment reach proper levels, establish additional naval bases between the first-phase bases.

-While the first phase focuses on deploying Challenger-class ships, increase efficiency from the second phase by deploying Haeung-class ships.

Having finished explaining, Sejong described why this approach was necessary.

“We must build a strong wall along New Territory’s east coast to block others’ approach. Of course, it’s impossible for our Joseon to claim everything in New Territory. However, our best option is to build walls to block others’ advance while simultaneously digesting what’s inside as our own. Moving from inside outward later could create even greater difficulties.”

Shin Sukju and the officials nodded at Sejong’s explanation.

“We follow Your Majesty’s command. We’ll begin preparations immediately.”

“Prepare the orders and bring them to me.”

***

That night, alone in the conference room, Sejong muttered while looking at the map.

“Looking at Europe’s current situation, they’re engaged in a survival match. Such matches rarely end in draws. Winners and losers must be decided. But for their nation’s survival, the losers will surely seek another path, and ultimately challenge finding the western route. And being losers, they’ll be even more greedy. We must build the strongest possible wall before they appear!”

And thus began the infamous reputation of the Challenger-class warships.