Black Corporation: Joseon

Episode 425: What was expected, what was unexpected. (2)

The price King Sejong paid was the change in his family members.

Unlike the history before the intervention of Hyang, King Sejong had only one queen and three queens and one chief minister. As a result, instead of having 18 sons and 4 daughters, he ended up having 10 sons and 3 daughters.

To sum up, he did not study Hunminjeongeum in the spare time he had while having Hyang act as a proxy for the government, but he studied Hunminjeongeum when he had time to look after his descendants.

* * *

In the midst of a fierce game of hide and seek between King Sejong, who tried to hand over government affairs, and Hyang, who tried to avoid it, the ministers carried out what they had to do.

Beijing Forbidden City.

“Envoys from Joseon, welcome.”

Emperor Seondeok, sitting on the throne, welcomed Lee Maeng-gyun and his party from Joseon.

“I come to see your Majesty. Long live, long live, long live.”

Lee Maeng-gyun and his party politely bowed according to etiquette.

After receiving the courtesy, Emperor Seondeok smiled slightly and asked Lee Maeng-gyun.

“There are two ways in which Joseon sends envoys urgently: unexpectedly good news or unexpectedly bad news. Okay, which one is it this time?”

“I came here because of the aftershocks.”

“Aftershocks? “I understand it’s quiet these days?”

Emperor Seondeok, who was questioning Lee Maeng-gyun’s remarks, soon recalled a memory and nodded.

“ah! Is it because of the ‘Dragon’s Way’? “I was already planning to send an envoy.”

The smile on Emperor Seondeok’s face had suddenly turned cold. And the Ming officials and eunuchs who saw this began to swallow dry saliva with pale faces.

“If you hadn’t come so quickly, Gyeongbokgung Palace would have been a bit noisy.”

At the icy cold words, Joseon’s envoys, including Lee Maeng-gyun, immediately fell to the ground and shouted.

“I came running as soon as I heard the news, but I’m still late! “I have absolutely no selfish intentions!”

* * *

Changes were significant in Joseon and Europe, but the biggest change was in Beijing.

Emperor Seondeok was still alive.

In history before Hyang intervened, it was Emperor Seondeok who died two years earlier, in 1435. After that, Jeong Jeong became emperor at the young age of 9, and from then on, the great empire of Ming began to explode.

However, in the history after Hyang intervened, Emperor Seondeok was managing government affairs in a healthy manner.

The starting point was Hyang’s visit to Beijing.

Although he was young, Emperor Seondeok was impressed by the unusual appearance of incense and began to research about King Sejong and incense.

In the process, Emperor Seondeok learned of the diet and exercise that Hyang recommended to King Sejong, and immediately began to adjust his diet and exercise similarly.

In addition, the enormous profits brought in through the joint venture with Joseon Dynasty, which occurred in the process of the great purge related to the circulation of currency, stabilized the finances with the enormous wealth obtained, and the psychological pressure was greatly reduced, leading to a longer life span.

Emperor Seondeok’s long survival and influence on the Ming Dynasty were enormous.

In history before the intervention of Hyang, the size of the Ming economy doubled during the reign of Emperor Seonde.

However, in the history after Hyang intervened, an unprecedented result of almost three-fold growth was produced.

However, just as there is darkness where there is light, not everything was good.

Rapid economic growth was soon leading to price instability, and speculation aimed at making a fortune was rampant.

In particular, many trading cities that were growing in size were suffering from a housing shortage, and real estate prices began to soar.

And there were problems in the political area as well. Officials and eunuchs focused on protecting themselves from Emperor Seondeok’s reign of terror, which was carried out through several successive purges. It became their daily routine to create and advocate for policies that would please the emperor before considering whether they were right or wrong.

Of course, this was similar to Joseon. However, King Sejong accepted any opinion that was better, even if it was contrary to his will. However, Emperor Seondeok’s subjects were his faithful servants.

* * *

In response to the desperate excuses of the envoys, Emperor Seondeok still asked in a cold voice.

“okay? Are you saying that Joseon has absolutely no impure intentions?”

“That’s right! “This is simply due to the foolish behavior of the narrow-minded Jurchen people!”

Lee Maeng-gyun explained the commotion caused by the Jurchen people who saw the railroad tracks.

“Hmm…”

Emperor Seondeok, who was listening to the explanation while stroking his beard, asked again.

“So, when the Jurchen people, who were blind to the world, saw the iron horse, they mistook it for a dragon and called the railroad the dragon’s road? “Is this the sound?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm…”

After hearing the answer, Emperor Seondeok fell into thought again, and the Joseon envoys, including Lee Maeng-gyun, swallowed their saliva and only looked at Emperor Seondeok’s face.

Emperor Seondeok thought for a moment, seemed to have made his own decision, nodded and opened his mouth.

“Let’s believe what happened was not Joseon’s intention. “Because so far, Joseon has not done anything to break my trust.”

“Hwang Eun is devastated! “Long live, long live, long live!”

“Long live, long live, long live!”

At Emperor Seondeok’s decision, all Joseon envoys cheered three times.

After putting an end to the incident, Emperor Seondeok asked another question.

“I heard a lot of rumors about this since the iron horse ran in Hanseong in the past. “Compared to the iron horse of the time, how much better is the iron horse now called a dragon?”

“It has become usable to some extent.”

“Please explain in more detail.”

“yes. “The size is…”

In response to Emperor Seondeok’s order, Lee Maeng-gyun explained to Emperor Seondeok to the best of his knowledge. While listening to Lee Maeng-gyun’s explanation, Emperor Seondeok did not ask any questions and only stroked his beard.

When Lee Maeng-gyun’s explanation was over, Emperor Seondeok gave an order to the envoy.

“That was a good explanation. The envoys can go back and rest. Regarding this matter, I will write an edict to the king of Joseon.”

“I am devastated.”

Emperor Seondeok sent out the envoys and gave orders to his subjects in the main hall.

“It seems that the iron horses made by Joseon have become quite useful. “What do you think?”

Hobusangseo stepped forward and answered Emperor Seondeok’s question.

“It is said that it can run a thousand miles without stopping at the speed of a horse, and that it can carry hundreds of people and hundreds of thousands of coffins (1 coffin = 3.75 kg) on a cart at once. Of course, this may be an exaggeration, but even taking that into account, I think it will be quite useful.”

Emperor Seondeok shook his head at Ho Bu Sang-seo’s remarks.

“What Hufusangseo said was wrong. Why should Joseon exaggerate? That statement is probably a significant understatement of the truth. While dealing with Joseon all this time, have you forgotten what kind of country Joseon is?”

In response to Emperor Seondeok’s point, Ho Bu Sang-seo immediately fought back with a white face.

“God’s thoughts were short! “Please forgive me!”

Hobusangseo desperately begged for forgiveness. This was because if there was even the slightest mistake here, they would be dragged to the execution ground and their heads would be hanged.

“Of course, it’s hard to believe it until you see it with your own eyes. Jim also doesn’t believe me easily even if I say something like this. I’m just saying that because I’ve seen Joseon’s actions so far… and I also agree that it will be quite useful. Therefore, I will not hold Hobusangseo guilty. “Stand up.”

“Hwang Eun is devastated! “Long live, long live, long live!”

Emperor Seondeok, who was holding and shaking the book of fortune, looked at the other ministers.

“I’ll say it again, the iron horse that Joseon is currently using in that Jurchen land seems quite useful. So what should we do?”

In response to Emperor Seondeok’s question, a military assistant from the Cabinet University came forward and opened his mouth.

“I think it is a waste of time to ask for the iron horse in question to be offered as tribute. “Why don’t you ask for a blueprint?”

One of the military attachés refuted the military assistant’s suggestion.

“Why are you wasting time? “It’s easy and quick to just receive it as a tribute.”

An official from Hobu responded to that remark.

“Have you forgotten what the Joseon envoy said earlier? The cost to make one iron horse is 2,000 nyang gold. 2,000 nyang gold! Do you think it would be possible to lay a road and run it across the empire with just one or two iron horses? “If I were to ask you to pay that entire amount as tribute, you would end up with a hole in your finances while repaying the favor!”

At those words, an official from the military department raised his voice again.

“Why do we have to give thanks one by one to a small country like Joseon? A small country like Joseon is a country where our people are grateful if our people just preserve the national body, but we have to live with only the opinions of our people, a large country! “Why do we have to listen to Joseon’s opinions?”

At those words, the military officers around nodded their heads.

“That’s because if we mess with Joseon in the wrong way, we too will be in danger.”

The military officers, whose faces were full of pride and arrogance, turned pale at the sudden voice of Emperor Seondeok.

Emperor Seondeok, who had a pitiful expression on his face, glared at the military officers with his white face and continued speaking.

“You probably don’t know the power of the Jinui Committee’s musketeers and artillery committees, right?”

“I know very well.”

“Joseon is a country that has more musketeers and artillerymen than the musketeers and artillery committees of the Jingui Committee. The overall force has greater power than us, at least in terms of artillery and fuhrer. And it’s not just about the size. The Joseon people were the ones who frantically researched and distributed artillery from the time they first encountered it. But do you think that Joseon is nothing special?”

In response to Emperor Seondeok’s question, the military officers were all at a loss.

“Please forgive the gods for their shallow insight!”

However, Emperor Seondeok’s reprimand continued.

“Why did Emperor Hongwu, who was a hero to the world, care so much about Joseon and comforted it? Also, did the Emperor Yongna, who made the whole world tremble when he drew his sword, make peace with Joseon? “If you look down on Joseon, you may suffer the consequences.”

Emperor Seondeok, who had been speaking up to that point, suddenly corrected his words.

“ah! However, this does not mean that our people will be defeated if they fight against Joseon. Joseon will attack them with the determination that they will be ruined, and this is to prevent the wrong people from taking advantage of the wrong people while dealing with Joseon. But why does the military, which should know it best, look down on Joseon?”

“The gods have been foolish!”

In response to Emperor Seondeok’s reprimand, the military officers repeatedly hit their heads on the floor and asked for forgiveness. Seeing those military officers, Emperor Seondeok sighed.

“Whoa~. It’s not that I don’t understand their pride, but belittling Joseon is something that must be absolutely prohibited. I’ll just skip it this time, but don’t forget there won’t be a second time. “Get up.”

“Hwang Eun is devastated!”

“I will keep this in mind!”

“Long live, long live, long live!”

As with Hobu Sang-seo, the military officers who survived from the brink of death shouted at the top of their voices for national independence.

* * *

After organizing the situation, Emperor Seondeok asked a question to the military officer in question.

“Why do we have to ask for a blueprint?”

“The word has already been said, but if you demand an iron horse as tribute, you will have to pay several times that amount in return. “This would be fatal to the empire’s finances and must be absolutely avoided.”

“So you’re asking for the blueprints as tribute?”

In response to Emperor Seondeok’s words, the governor corrected his words.

“I am asking for a sale, not a tribute. And since there will be many difficulties in actual production based on the blueprint alone, we are asking you to sell three or four actual iron horses.”

“Sale, not tribute?”

To Emperor Seondeok’s question to confirm again, the military official answered firmly.

“Yes, it is for sale.”

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