Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 1220



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Side story 34. 1592 South Sea War. (34)

For nearly ten days, the ministers and negotiating team refined Yi Sun-sin’s strategy.

And, Lee Ju, who accepted this refined strategy, gave a meaningful evaluation.

“Indeed, indeed… . There is a difference between the way civil and military officials carry out their duties. I can now understand why Emperor Yi Do and Emperor Yi Hyang so strongly emphasized the balance between civil and military affairs. It is truly beautiful when civil and military officials join hands. It is truly beautiful. I will not forget your hard work.”

“The emperor is truly infinitely grateful!”

All of the parties involved, including Yi Sun-sin, bowed their heads in response to Yi Ju’s praise.

“Then let’s do it like this.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Three days later, the imperial negotiating team arrived in Yamaguchi.

Yi Sun-sin, who returned with the negotiation team, went straight to the Jingu Army headquarters and summoned the staff and commanders.

“Okay, let me report on the situation so far.”

“Since you’ve been all the way to Seoul, you should rest first… .”

“are you okay.”

Yi Sun-sin raised his hand and interrupted his advisor.

“When I went to Seoul this time, the high officials of the court gave me a health tonic as a gift. Thanks to that health tonic, I feel very energetic. So, let’s get to work right away. Bring me the reports.”

“… Yes, Your Majesty.”

After a while, Yi Sun-sin began to look over the mountain of reports piled up in front of him.

“Hmm… . It’s okay. Hmm… . This is also okay. This one seems to need some work. And, this one… Call the person in charge!”

“Yes, yes?”

“These people… I guess they had a good time while I was in Seoul?”

“Oh, no!”

“You’ll know if it’s inside or outside when you see it!”

“… .”

‘The commander has changed!’

‘This already fussy person became even fussier after going to Seoul! What on earth happened in Seoul!’

‘What was that joke just now? Why would you make such a boring joke at a time like this? What on earth happened in Seoul!’

* * *

While Yi Sun-sin was harassing his staff and commanders at the Jingu Army headquarters, the negotiation team was harassing the Japanese king and his officials.

“No matter what the circumstances, it would be rude to have His Majesty the King present here.”

Ryu Seong-ryong responded sarcastically to the remarks made by the Japanese negotiating team’s leader, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“His Majesty the King of Japan has requested to be present here because there is something he must see during these negotiations.”

“What is it?”

“You will understand now. First of all, here are the things we demand from Japan.”

The imperial official nodded and began to explain at the gesture of Ryu Seong-ryong, who handed over a list of requirements.

“… So, these are the requirements of our empire.”

“This is too much!”

As soon as Ryu Seong-ryong finished speaking, the Japanese minister sitting across from him suddenly raised his voice.

However, Ryu Seong-ryong faced the minister with a calm and composed attitude.

“What is too much? It is said that those who tie the knot will untie it. If you do something against the empire, shouldn’t you be held responsible for it?”

“So, you arrested Toyotomi Hideyoshi and raised the white flag to stop the battle!”

“Are you saying that only Toyotomi Hideyoshi is guilty and you are innocent? Does that make sense?”

“What is that…?”

“When Toyotomi planned such a reckless act, were there any among you who stood in his way?”

“That was… because Toyotomi was so cruel and ruthless, it couldn’t be helped!”

“If you look at the ancient history of the Central Plains and the history of our empire, there were more than a few people who risked their lives to call injustice injustice. Furthermore, you just stood by while Toyotomi covered the eyes and ears of the king and monopolized state affairs? Can’t you say that you are also in cahoots with that injustice?”

“It’s a conspiracy! As I said before, Toyotomi is so cruel and ruthless that there was nothing I could do!”

In response to the minister’s protest, Ryu Seong-ryong gestured to the official sitting behind him and whispered in his ear.

“Here it is.”

After a while, Ryu Seong-ryong, who had checked the report handed over by the manager, handed the document to the Minister of the Left.

“Please check.”

“What is this?”

“This is a document compiled based on information obtained from Japanese commanders and the front lines captured during this war. It contains records of the organization and size of the Japanese troops mobilized during this war, logistics, and forced conscription.”

“Why is this?”

“I’ll say it again, look at the documents carefully. Let’s say that Toyotomi and the Japanese military were in charge of the organization and scale. But what excuse will you give for the logistics? And how will you explain the forced conscription that followed? Do you think that Toyotomi and the Japanese military command alone could do this?”

“I say it again… .”

“Tacit agreement, or active cooperation. Which word do you prefer?”

The minister’s mouth was tightly shut at Ryu Seong-ryong’s sharp words.

Ryu Seong-ryong, who had blocked the mouth of the minister of the left, bowed his head respectfully and opened his mouth while looking at the Japanese king, Ouchi Takayo.

“This is precisely why I have the impudence to invite Your Majesty to sit with me. Toyotomi Hideyoshi is not the only one who has started this war and broken the peace between our two countries. Why did the saying, “A single hand cannot make a sound unless it is clapped” come about? It is because there are those who, despite their zeal for Toyotomi’s actions, now stand before me and say, “I am innocent.” That is why the terms of our empire’s demands include the “punishment of those in the military and the court” and the “establishment of a Residency-General.” This is to expel those who have been swayed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s actions and to help the righteous form the court to assist Your Majesty.”

“This is a clear interference in internal affairs! Your Majesty! This must absolutely not be accepted!”

As soon as Ryu Seong-ryong finished speaking, the minister of the left insisted on interference in internal affairs and insisted that it was impossible.

Unlike the Japanese negotiating team, who could not hide their indignation, the imperial negotiating team, led by Ryu Seong-ryong, had relaxed expressions.

“Interference in internal affairs… Yes, it is interference in internal affairs. But, isn’t it inevitable?”

“What! This shameless bastard!”

Although the Minister of the Left shouted, Ryu Seong-ryong still maintained a cynical expression.

“Do you think you are interfering in Japan’s internal affairs because you want to call it your empire? Isn’t that what you did? If you didn’t want to see this, you should have stopped Toyotomi from doing anything. Isn’t that right?”

“Hey, profit!”

The minister had no choice but to grit his teeth and suppress his anger.

‘I am inferior in every way to this author’s words! It is truly infuriating! It is said that among the officials of the current imperial court, there are many who are as good at sharp remarks as during the time of Emperor Ido and Emperor Ihyang, and it is true! Now, Japan is finished!’

It was the left-wing ministers and the Japanese negotiating team that went from anger to frustration.

* * *

As a side note, there was a strange perception in other countries regarding the imperial officials.

‘Competent = Good at being sarcastic.’

The ministers, who had been trained by the caustic tongues of Emperor Ido, Emperor Sejong, and Emperor Yi Hyang, generously displayed their caustic tongue skills on their subordinate officials.

As emperors and officials passed down their generations, they honed their ability to be sarcastic, and sarcastic remarks became a kind of job skill.

As this practice continued for generations and harsh language became a daily occurrence, unspoken rules were created.

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-Do not use things outside of work as material for harsh criticism.

The best example would be if you started an argument by asking about the well-being of the other person’s parents, even those in the same faction would come out and curse.

It was partly because of Sejong’s orders, but also because if they used materials other than work, it would become a life-or-death fight.

Whenever such situations arose, the emperors’ response was simple.

“Yeah. You all join hands and become recorders. The deadline is indefinite.”

It was an unspoken rule that naturally took hold in the process of avoiding a situation where ‘you die, I die, we all die.’

Of course, there was one exception to this rule.

It was the ranking of the past exams.

* * *

‘Toyotomi Hideyoshi! Because of this monkey-like guy, our Japan is being shamed!’

While the Japanese officials involved in the negotiations were secretly cursing Toyotomi, Takayo opened his mouth.

“Listen to the Imperial Negotiation Team’s official statement.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Jeongsa openly said that he would interfere in Japan’s internal affairs. The empire has been called a country of gentlemen since ancient times, and a gentleman is said to be one who knows and follows the principles. However, Jeongsa’s words now seem to go against the principles. Isn’t that right?”

In response to Takayo’s criticism, Ryu Seong-ryong gave a polite response, but his response was still full of venom.

“Of course, it is against the law. I beg you to please acknowledge this, but the purpose of establishing the Residency-General is to clear away the current confusion in the Japanese government, and to protect the Japanese royal family, the well-being of Japan, and the peace between Japan and the Empire.”

“But isn’t interference in internal affairs an abuse of power by the Empire? Isn’t this too much?”

“Your Majesty, I am ashamed to say this, but what the Empire intends to do is not to interfere in internal affairs, but to supervise them.”

“Internal supervision?”

“That’s right.”

“Shouldn’t we fill the vacancy left by those who conspired with Toyotomi Hideyoshi to monopolize state affairs and blind His Majesty’s eyes and ears?”

“That’s true.”

“It will take a long time for those who fill these vacancies to mature, and they will make many mistakes. The Empire is only trying to help them through the Residency-General.”

“Isn’t the empire trying to become Toyotomi Hideyoshi?”

Ryu Seong-ryong answered Takayo’s question with a strange smile.

“The Empire is not in such a difficult position to attack Japan.”

At that moment, all the Japanese people present, including Takayo, wore miserable expressions.

* * *

Japan, whose last bit of pride had been shattered in the early war of words, was helplessly dragged around by the empire.

“With this, the Empire and Japan have agreed to end the war.”

The war officially ended when the Japanese seal was affixed to the armistice and the signing of the agreement by Yi Sun-sin and Ryu Seong-ryong was added.

But the real thing was just beginning.

The empire began to execute its previously prepared plans one by one.

The first step was the establishment of the ‘Tong-Gam-Bu’.

– Supervise the administration of Japanese state affairs for the well-being and peace of the Japanese Imperial Family.

The Residency-General was established with the slogan of Ryu Seong-ryong’s words, and Yi I took office as the Residency-General.

“Your Majesty, I present His Majesty the King of Japan.”

When Ii visited the palace to pay his respects and bowed politely, Takayo welcomed him with a bright face.

“Oh! The name of the Duke has been heard! It is truly a great feeling to see one of the most talented people in the Empire!”

“You are too kind.”

Unlike history before the intervention of incense, Yi Yi survived until this time.

And he was active as the Minister of Finance and Economy. Although he was notorious as the ‘second Jeon Dok (money poison)’ and the ‘reincarnation of Kim Jeom,’ he was recognized for formulating and implementing sound and balanced fiscal policies.

Not only was his ability as the Minister of Finance and Economy known, but so was the depth of his knowledge that it was even known in Ming and Japan.

Thanks to that, Takayo was delighted.

However, it was difficult to face a situation where the Empire interfered with or supervised Japan’s national affairs.

When Takayo subtly pointed this out, Ii smiled gently and answered.

“Aren’t the Japanese officials also capable people? Many things have gone wrong due to Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s corruption, and the Japanese officials themselves will correct this. The Residency-General will only provide a small amount of help.”

“Are you sure you will do that?”

“Isn’t that obvious? So, I expected it to take 10 years.”

Takayo let out a sigh of relief at Lee’s answer.

“Whew~. I feel relieved to hear your words.”

“I will do my best.”

And Lee kept his word.

* * *

The first people Lee Yi touched were the Japanese military.

-The finances are severely lacking due to the actions of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Using the excuse of ‘lack of finances’, Lee swung the sword of disarmament at the Japanese military.

“Are we really short on finances? No matter how I look at it….”

Whenever Japanese officials raised questions, Lee answered with a smile.

“Even though it looks like this, he was the Minister of Finance of the Empire.”

“… .”

It started with a drastic reduction in various welfare policies for soldiers. The trap was that although the precondition of ‘temporary’ was attached, the exact period was not specified.

“… Even if our Residency-General leaves Japan and Japanese officials take over again, it will take a long time for the military budget to expand again. The budget is always insufficient. Increasing the welfare budget for soldiers on an already insufficient budget? It won’t be easy.”

Following this, Yi I reduced the size of the Japanese army and made it weaker, while strengthening the security organization.

This also provided Toyotomi Hideyoshi with a very good justification.

As the prospect of an imperial invasion of Japan became apparent during the previous war, Toyotomi swelled the size of the Japanese army through forced conscription.

However, the hastily assembled Japanese soldiers had low morale and their discipline was in disarray.

The Japanese army collapsed like a sand castle as the Imperial Army advanced, landing in Shimonoseki and Kitakyushu, and many Japanese soldiers scattered and fled.

It was only a matter of time before these deserting Japanese soldiers turned into a criminal organization.

On the other hand, there were those who refused the Japanese emperor’s order to ‘raise the white flag’, deserted, and called for a ‘fight to the death’.

In any case, for this reason, public security within Japan began to deteriorate, and Lee used this as an excuse.

And, this decision also brought some relief to Takayo.

-They reduced the military, but expanded the security organization.

-I have absolutely no intention of weakening Japan’s military power.

—–

Author’s note.

In this episode, Ryu Seong-ryong imagined and wrote about Kim Sang-joong.

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