Black Corporation: Joseon

While Joseon was busy with a game of cat and mouse – or rather, a game of peek-a-boo – with Ming over the Oirat issue, they remained busy with other matters.

Among these, the biggest undertaking was the migration of Tsushima residents to Joseon, starting with the daimyo of Tsushima.

Japanese ships loaded with Tsushima residents headed toward Dongnae under the nominal escort of Joseon naval warships.

Upon arriving in Dongnae, the Japanese from Tsushima recovered from their journey at reception centers prepared by Joseon. After resting, they headed to the railway station under Joseon military supervision.

PEEEEEEEP! SCREECH! THUD!

“AAAAAH!”

“Oni! It’s an oni^[1]!”

“Namu Amitabha! Namu Amitabha!”

The Tsushima residents caused quite a commotion upon seeing the iron horse that produced loud whistles and heavy vibrations.

“Stay calm!”

After much effort from Joseon soldiers of surrendered Japanese origin shouting instructions, the residents’ chaos subsided. Once calm, they gazed at the iron horse with faces full of curiosity.

“So this is the rumored iron horse…”

“Impressive…”

“Look at that size.”

The Tsushima residents, examining the iron horse with curious eyes, boarded the train and headed north.

Their designated residence was Nokdundo. The lower-ranking samurai who moved with them would serve in the local police bureau.

These former samurai who became police officers would be selected through thorough monitoring and evaluation by Joseon police officers.

***

Unlike the Tsushima residents and lower-ranking samurai who went directly north, the daimyo Todo Unga (Sō Sadamori) and the Shoni clan members took a different train to Hanseong.

Looking through the passenger car window at the passing scenery, Todo Unga let out a soft sigh.

“Pride made me miss opportunities…”

***

During the previous Tsushima campaign, Todo Unga had managed to protect Tsushima by employing brinkmanship tactics – acknowledging submission to Joseon while demanding suitable land or islands for relocating residents.

This alone had severely wounded Todo Unga’s pride. But as Joseon’s navy grew incredibly powerful at an astounding rate, opportunities for revenge vanished. Having to surrender naval bases to Joseon’s navy due to their overwhelming military superiority inflicted an indelible wound on Todo Unga’s pride.

Since then, Todo Unga had completely closed his eyes and ears to anything regarding Joseon. Though he could have gathered information about Joseon through his retainers and merchants traveling there for trade, Todo Unga strongly resisted.

“Anyone who speaks of Joseon in my presence will be executed immediately!”

And this resulted in the current situation.

He had lost the people he governed to Joseon, and now found himself stripped of all positions, dependent solely on Joseon’s mercy.

Looking out the window, Todo Unga lamented his fate.

“If I had properly assessed the situation and made efforts, I could have avoided this fate…”

***

Upon arriving in Hanseong, Todo Unga and the Shoni party headed to Gyeongbok Palace.

When they arrived at the courtyard of Geunjeongjeon Hall, Hyang and the ministers came out to greet them.

“Welcome to Joseon’s embrace. I hope you will live peacefully within our nation’s care.”

After this brief welcome, Hyang departed, leaving Hwang Hui to handle the group.

“First, let me tell you where the daimyo’s family will live. We’ve already prepared accommodations near Heunginjimun Gate.”

“Thank you very much.”

“And you will receive a stipend equivalent to a vice minister’s salary until your death, so you need not worry about hardship.”

“Thank you very much.”

Todo Unga kept bowing his head and expressing gratitude at Hwang Hui’s explanation.

“The Shoni clan has also been assigned residences. Your accommodations have been prepared near Gwanghuimun Gate. The two eldest brothers will receive monthly stipends equivalent to administrative officials.”

“Thank you very much.”

The Shoni brothers also bowed their heads in gratitude. For them, this alone was more than they could have hoped for. Their family enemy, the Ouchi clan, had seized not only their stronghold in Kyushu but all of Japan. Taking root in Joseon was a far better choice.

As Hwang Hui explained about their accommodations and treatment, he continued with something he had almost forgotten.

“Ah! I forgot this – the stipends mentioned will only be paid during the recipients’ lifetimes. When a recipient dies, only their eldest legitimate son will receive treatment one rank lower. And when that eldest son dies, the stipend payments will cease. So if you want your descendants to live comfortably, encourage them to diligently pursue scholarship and establish themselves.”

“Yes…”

“This is not discrimination but the same policy applied to our Joseon royal family and meritorious subjects, so please do not complain.”

“Yes.”

***

The method of treating royal family members and meritorious subjects had been firmly established through Joseon’s founding process and the Reformation Plan.

For the royal family, the eldest legitimate son of a Grand Prince^[2] would be given the title of Prince^[3]. And Prince was the final rank in the royal clan that received stipends. Those after were recorded as royal family members but received no titles.

The same applied to meritorious subjects. State support was limited to the eldest legitimate son of the merit subject.

There were exceptions to this rule where support extended to grandchildren – limited to direct descendants. This applied to those who died or were injured in the process of protecting the nation and maintaining public order.

-Having lost their lives or become disabled protecting the country and people, it’s only natural to honor and follow their example.

“It’s best to eliminate the ridiculous mindset of ‘our children when needed, your children when trouble comes.'”

***

Meanwhile, the Portuguese merchant group that left Joseon safely arrived in Suez.

The Portuguese sailors, after anchoring and disembarking in Suez, shook their heads watching Joseon ships unloading nearby.

“Their ships are much bigger, yet we can barely keep up…”

Joseon’s Challenger-class warships and their modified merchant versions were famous not only for their massive size but even more for their speed.

Even when fully loaded with cargo, no ships could keep up with a Challenger-class when it caught the wind properly.

Interestingly, except for the first year or two, Challenger-class warships never sailed with all sails unfurled.

This was due to another characteristic of Challenger-class warships – their powerful armament.

After several incidents where fairly large pirate fleets were completely annihilated by single Challenger-class warships, merchant ships trading with Joseon began moving alongside these vessels.

Like ducklings swimming behind their mother, merchant ships trailing behind Challenger-class warships became a common sight along Joseon trade routes. Consequently, the warships stopped sailing at full speed to match the merchants’ pace.

Conversely, pirates found their business increasingly difficult, reduced to tears.

With Joseon naval bases established in Ryukyu and Temasek (modern-day Singapore), moving freely became challenging. The existence of naval bases was threatening enough, but the real problem was the warships stationed there.

“Damn those Haeung ships!”

Pirates cursed the Haeung-class warships stationed at these bases.

Though smaller than Challenger-class ships and unable to travel as far, their speed was the issue. Haeung vessels easily outpaced Challenger-class ships.

Once spotted by a Haeung-class warship, it was over. Pirates had to choose between surrendering under white flag to face imprisonment or being sunk to become fish food.

Escape was only possible with extremely good luck. Amusingly, when such cases occurred, temples and shrines near pirate bases would be flooded with offerings.

Some pirates tried operating outside the Haeung-class ships’ short operational range, but they didn’t fare much better. Their chosen areas either had no merchant ships or the merchants traveled with Challenger-class escorts.

***

After struggling to keep up with the Challenger-class ship to Suez, the Portuguese merchant group immediately headed for Alexandria.

Though they had to endure the local merchants’ territorial behavior in Alexandria with every shipment, they currently had no other options. Outside Alexandria, there were no adequate port facilities, and bandits were rampant.

Thus, a common opinion had formed among Portuguese merchants:

“We need our own port, closer to Suez and safer than Alexandria. We’re willing to cooperate fully for this.”

Upon reaching Alexandria, the Portuguese cargo began loading onto ships bound for Portugal.

“Stop! No passing without customs inspection!”

When Alexandria customs officials tried to halt loading over this pretext, Portuguese merchants handed them hefty purses.

“Hehehe. This time… a noble person urgently needs these…”

“A noble person? Urgently?”

Hearing the merchants’ words, the customs officials recalled a recent rumor about the marriage between Alfonso V, King of Portugal, and the daughter of Pedro, Duke of Coimbra, the regent of Portugal.

Must be wedding gifts…

The customs officials, nodding their heads, cleared their throats while accepting the purses the merchants discreetly offered.

“Ahem! AHEM! Fine! We’ll let it pass this time! But not next time!”

“Yes, yes. How could we dare otherwise?”

Having safely passed customs and completed loading, the merchants sailed full speed toward Portugal.

***

Arriving safely in Lisbon, the merchants immediately transferred the unloaded cargo to Duke of Coimbra’s mansion.

Many people witnessed the numerous boxes entering the mansion, and word quickly reached his political rival, Alfonso, Duke of Braganza.

“Many boxes from Joseon entered Pedro’s mansion? Hmm…”

Hearing this news, Alfonso stroked his beard. Soon, he nodded.

“So, that’s what it is?”

***

Last year, in 1445, Pedro had married his daughter Isabella to his nephew, Alfonso V.

After the wedding, Pedro had told Alfonso V:

“I humbly report that due to my inadequacy, I couldn’t secure wedding gifts in time. They’re expected to arrive from Joseon next year, so please wait a little longer.”

“From Joseon, you say?”

Alfonso V had brightened at Pedro’s words and nodded with a smile.

“Yes. I’ll wait. What’s a few months’ wait? I’m not displeased at all!”

***

Remembering last year’s events, Alfonso broke into a smirk.

“Yes. Such wasteful spending is good for me too. Very good.”

Alfonso was prepared for armed conflict against Pedro. Victory required substantial forces, which in turn required sufficient funds.

And now his opponent Pedro was spending money without restraint.