Black Corporation: Joseon

‘Though their lives were extended, they would toil throughout their lives.’

True to the monk’s words, Prince Gwangpyeong and Prince Pyeongwon worked tirelessly.

***

Upon reaching adulthood and receiving their princely titles, both had to enter court service.

“In building this nation’s wealth and military might, how can there be distinction between high and low!”

Following King Sejong’s command, the princes, lords, princesses, and royal ladies all had to find their respective roles.

Interestingly, even the great King Sejong initially had no intention of putting the princesses and royal ladies to work.

However, the situation changed when Princess Jeongseo declared she would become a physician, followed by Princess Jeongui announcing she would study mathematics at the research institute.

With the king’s eldest and second daughters stepping forward to work as a physician and researcher, the royal ladies, feeling pressured, also began seeking fields where they could contribute.

Fortunately, since Sejong’s children possessed various talents, they were evaluated as relatively useful talents and faced less pressure.

Among the princes and lords who entered national service, a considerable number found positions in Area 51 and the research institute, mainly due to Jinpyeong’s influence.

***

After experiencing the Deoktong Incident and choosing the path of iron virtue, Jinpyeong worked hard to achieve his dreams of iron virtue. However, some things couldn’t be resolved through effort alone – most notably, the budget.

“Get out, you brat!”

Facing rejection not only from his father Sejong but also from Hyang whenever he requested additional funding, Jinpyeong had to find alternatives.

“For now, I’m managing with my stipend, but it’s not enough.”

The Reformation reforms brought changes to the food stipends given to royal family members. Compared to the previous Goryeo dynasty, the significantly reduced stipends were increased again, but changed to monetary payments rather than actual land. Moreover, early in the Reformation period, these were heavily reduced due to insufficient funds for national reform.

These reduced stipends weren’t normalized until the Reformation reforms were nearly complete.

In this situation, Jinpyeong’s personal funds were limited. His status as prince demanded considerable expenditure.

The alternative Jinpyeong devised was simple yet efficient:

-Hook his younger siblings!

With this goal, Jinpyeong led the young princes and lords to the very room where he had experienced the Deoktong Incident.

“Wow~”

“Amazing~”

The young princes and lords couldn’t close their mouths, repeatedly exclaiming in wonder at the model iron horse puffing out steam.

“How is it? Fascinating, isn’t it?”

“Yes!”

“Would you like to research these iron horses with your brother?”

“Yes, please!”

***

While many princes and lords thus ended up working in Area 51 and the research institute, some took different paths.

Prince Gwangpyeong and Prince Pyeongwon were prime examples.

Prince Gwangpyeong, who had loved poetry and literature from childhood and showed talent in literary selection, ended up working with Prince Anpyeong.

Prince Pyeongwon, interested in military affairs, especially naval matters, found his place in the Defense Ministry.

However, at some point, both began sighing more frequently.

***

“Poetry is one thing, but even folk songs…”

Tasked not only with collecting and classifying folk songs circulating among the people but also writing and composing new ones, Gwangpyeong confronted Anpyeong.

“Brother! Let’s say recording new folk songs is fine! But isn’t it too much to demand composition and lyrics too?”

Anpyeong immediately responded to Gwangpyeong’s protest.

“I’m doing it too. Though it’s hard, it becomes quite fun after a while? Think about it – people across Joseon singing folk songs you’ve composed.”

“Still…”

“Ah! The Crown Prince got Father’s permission. New folk songs now have intellectual property rights.”

“What money could that possibly make? Seriously, it’s not like we can send officials into every brothel and marketplace across Joseon to count how many times each song is sung!”

“But people will know who composed them for generations to come, won’t they?”

Gwangpyeong’s expression turned peculiar at Anpyeong’s words.

He too didn’t want to end up as just another royal figure with only a name left in history.

Finally, Gwangpyeong surrendered.

“I understand. I’ll give it a try.”

“That’s my brother!”

Returning to his office, leaving Anpyeong’s flattery behind, Gwangpyeong grumbled while looking toward the Crown Prince’s Palace.

“That guy, not even a proper singer, yet going around singing new folk songs…”

***

“I wanted to sail warships on distant seas… sigh”

Prince Pyeongwon was equally dissatisfied with his work.

“I wish to serve in the military.”

“You do? How wonderful!”

Upon learning Prince Pyeongwon’s intention, Jo Mal-saeng and the high officials of the Defense Ministry and military unceremoniously stuffed him into the Finance Department.

“He’s a prince, isn’t he? He’ll be a great help in securing budgets.”

“Absolutely! Absolutely!”

Given the rank of Deputy Director Grade 2 post-Reformation – equivalent to Senior 4th Rank pre-Reformation – Prince Pyeongwon found himself fighting numbers in an office rather than waves at sea, and listening to budget-related complaints and pleading rather than tales of valor.

His front line of battle became the conference room where he engaged in verbal warfare with the Ministry of Finance and Economy over budget allocation.

“Why must I…”

Though initially lamenting thus, as time passed, Prince Pyeongwon became quite passionate about his duties.

“Joseon’s territory keeps expanding, but our military strength isn’t keeping pace! To resolve this, we need budget – and more of it!”

Considering the current situation urgent, Prince Pyeongwon fought fiercely with the Ministry of Finance to secure every possible coin of additional budget.

Watching him, Jo Mal-saeng and the military leadership smiled contentedly and cheered him on.

***

Time passed, and the Oirat envoys arrived in Hanseong under the strict escort – closer to surveillance – of the Joseon cavalry.

“Welcome. I am the Crown Prince of Joseon.”

“I am an envoy sent by the Taishi of Oirat. It is an honor to meet Your Highness.”

The Oirat envoy bowed deeply to Hyang in greeting.

“You must be tired from your long journey. We’ve prepared guest quarters at Bukpyeonggwan – please rest there first.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

That evening, a banquet hosted by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs was held at Bukpyeonggwan.

While exchanging drinks with the Oirat envoy, the Vice Minister tried to discover their reason for coming to Joseon. However, the envoy proved equally shrewd, and Joseon couldn’t determine their purpose until formal talks began.

***

When the talks began, only after the customary diplomatic pleasantries were extensively exchanged did the Oirat envoy get to the point.

“We Oirat wish to purchase Joseon’s weapons.”

“Weapons? I haven’t heard that Oirat was in dire straits?”

The Oirat envoy immediately answered Heo Hu’s question.

“Oirat has vast territories but few people. Lately, bandits targeting trade routes have increased dramatically. We need Joseon’s weapons to suppress these bandits.”

While nodding at the envoy’s plausible explanation, Heo Hu asked again.

“So what weapons do you want?”

“We want Joseon’s cannons.”

Heo Hu’s eyes widened at the envoy’s words.

“Cannons?”

“Yes.”

“Why specifically Joseon’s cannons?”

“I’ve seen the cannons operated by Joseon forces in Liaodong. Cannons mounted on large carts moving with cavalry would be perfect weapons for us Oirat.”

After a moment of silence at the envoy’s explanation, Heo Hu spoke.

“This isn’t something we can answer immediately. Let’s end here for today.”

The envoy bowed his head at Heo Hu’s words and pleaded.

“I pray for a decision beneficial to both Joseon and Oirat. We are prepared to pay an adequate price.”

“We’ll keep that in mind.”

***

When Heo Hu reported the meeting’s contents, Hyang and all the ministers were puzzled.

“Why cannons?”

Hyang questioned most strongly.

Why cannons? At this time, cannons only use solid shot. Using solid shot against bandits? That’s terrible cost-effectiveness.

This doubt wasn’t Hyang’s alone, as Hwang Hui spoke first.

“Defense Minister, wouldn’t muskets be better than cannons against bandits? Wouldn’t cannons be almost wasteful?”

“I have similar thoughts. Hmm…”

While nodding at Hwang Hui’s response, Jo Mal-saeng, deep in thought, called a subordinate official.

“Go summon General Lee Jing-ok.”

“Yes, sir.”

***

Lee Jing-ok, who had previously been busy in the north with Choe Yun-deok, Hwang Hui, and Kim Jong-seo, had recently returned to Hanseong.

Upon his return, Lee Jing-ok received the title of ‘General’ and was appointed as head of the ‘Northern Operations Division.’

He became responsible for a department researching strategy and tactics for ground warfare against the Jurchens of Liaodong and ultimately Ming, based on his northern experience.

***

After hearing Oirat’s request to buy cannons, Lee Jing-ok gathered his thoughts before speaking.

“It’s entirely possible.”

“Why?”

To Hwang Hui’s question, Lee Jing-ok began explaining his reasons.

-Both the Type A muskets used by Joseon forces and the iron guns used by Ming are muzzle-loaders. These aren’t easy for cavalry to use continuously while mounted. Even for infantry, the bow’s rate of fire overwhelms the musket’s. Even our Joseon cavalry, who’ve somewhat resolved this through intensive training, combat experience, and equipment improvements, prefer the Type B mounted gun unless long-range sniping is needed.

-Again, our Joseon cavalry only use Type A muskets primarily when long-range sniping is required. The Type A barrel version we sell to Japan or Ming’s iron guns are inferior in range and rate of fire to the bows Oirat uses.

Therefore, Oirat likely judged firearms as not particularly important.

-However, cannons not only have power but also considerable ability to suppress enemies with their sound. Particularly, our Joseon cannons’ mobility might be what Oirat wants.

“Hmm…”

“Oho…”

“That could be…”

The ministers nodded at Lee Jing-ok’s explanation. However, Hyang slightly shook his head and questioned Lee Jing-ok.

“While your opinion seems reasonable, wouldn’t the bandits in Oirat’s region also be cavalry? Could solid cannon shot be very effective against mobile cavalry?”

Lee Jing-ok nodded at Hyang’s point.

“That’s certainly true. That’s why our cavalry mainly uses tactics to draw Jurchen cavalry into the blast range of our thunder-crash bombs.”

“Then why do you think Oirat is requesting cannons?”

To Hyang’s follow-up question, Lee Jing-ok pondered briefly before answering.

“There are two most likely possibilities. One is that they’ve confused regular cannons with thunder-crash bombs. The other is that they’re planning to use them against something other than bandits.”

“Something else?”

“I believe it’s walls.”