Joseon Military Officer, Establishing Balhae - Chapter 296



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Episode 296

Steam Crane (2)

Even while talking to Heo Gyun, Middleton kept glancing at the crane in action.

“Well, I need water too.”

“I don’t know.”

Heo Gyun stared blankly at the worker pouring water.

“What about Formosa? I heard you took over southern Formosa.”

“Yes, it is currently under development.”

“You must be busy.”

Heo Gyun smiled bitterly. It was as if he knew everything about the British misdeeds that were happening in southern Formosa.

Henry Middleton also knew that and avoided Heo Gyun’s gaze.

The British East India Company eventually occupied the Macau (Kaohsiung) region, and Henry Middleton was appointed Governor of the Colony of Southern Formosa by the British Crown. In other words, he concurrently held the positions of Governor and President of the East Asia Branch of the East India Company.

The company also recently succeeded in establishing a base in Singapore. This was thanks to the company’s continued support from its headquarters, which strengthened its power, and its ability to make good use of the complex dynamics on both sides of the Strait of Malacca.

The Sultanate of Johor, located in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula, which owns Singapore, and the Sultanate of Aceh, located across the strait in the northern part of Sumatra, have long been known as enemies. However, when the balance of power was broken and Aceh’s power grew stronger, Johor, cornered, eventually reached out to the British East India Company. Thanks to this, the British company was able to establish a base in Singapore without difficulty.

As soon as Henry Middleton acquired Singapore, he decided to withdraw from Banten. The Dutch East India Company was gaining influence in the Banten Sultanate, so there was no need to take risks.

“It seems that Spain is also expanding its influence in eastern Formosa. Have you ever encountered any conflicts?”

“Yes, it’s still okay since our areas don’t overlap.”

Spain, which occupied Kirai (Hualien), named it Santa Ana. After initially settling at the mouth of the Hualien River, they continued to expand their territory as planned, successfully securing a plain area of ​​about 30 square meters from north to south, and securing a fairly good base.

“But you must be busy with business in the South, so why did Lord Middleton come here in person?”

“I was recently appointed governor, so I wanted to say hello to you after a long time… I also have a gift from my home country.”

“Oh! Really? Congratulations.”

Heo Gyun saw through Middleton’s intentions. After the Dutch power was wiped out in Northeast Asia, the British company was making every effort to win Balhae’s favor.

“Oh, and regarding your return to the country, I heard a story from a Portuguese merchant in the south.”

“Oh! What is it?”

“The relationship between the Ming and Dutch East India Company is not simple. I don’t know if that is the will of the Ming court or the will of Fujian Province.”

When he heard the information Middleton provided, Heo Gyun’s expression instantly hardened.

“If it’s not normal, does that mean we have a close relationship?”

“Yes.”

“Well, have you heard anything else?”

“Are there perhaps dark clouds gathering over Northeast Asia?”

“Haha! Even a three-year-old child would know that. There was a big war once, but the problem wasn’t solved.”

“It looks like the Netherlands will intervene.”

“Thank you. You have given me important information. I will report this to the King. Is this the story you came to tell?”

“Well, I guess I’ll do it anyway…….”

Of course, providing this information was helpful to the British company, but it was also a great gift to Balhae.

“Welcome. I have received an order from King Giha to inquire with you about Kabe.”

“Oh! Is that so? But why Kabe… Don’t we sometimes buy and sell those?”

Kaveh was the term used to refer to coffee at this time. It is currently cultivated in Arabia and East Africa, but Arabian merchants strictly prohibited the export of seeds or seedlings in order to maintain their monopoly on coffee. Therefore, European merchants could only obtain the finished product at a high price.

“Can I get some saplings or seeds from that cave?”

“It’s not easy, though.”

“I heard that it is also cultivated in India. I heard that it was leaked from its original place a long time ago.”

The current ruler of the Indian subcontinent is the Mughal Empire.

“Well, is that so? But why?”

“I wonder if it would be possible to grow caves in Formosa.”

“Well, considering the climate, it might be possible. Then I’ll ask around.”

“If you get any seeds or seedlings, sell them to us.”

“Haha! That’s right.”

“And try growing it in Namformosa too. Then, Balhae will buy it in large quantities.”

“Well, in bulk? Okay.”

If coffee could be grown in Formosa, it would provide another export commodity, one that could even be sold in Europe, making it a viable business for the British East India Company itself.

Taegeon, who had acquired the Damsu County and Hani Islands of Formosa, decided to produce tea and coffee on his own. Formosa was part of the so-called ‘coffee belt’ where coffee farming was possible, and it was a land where high-quality tea was produced.

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“Then, when you have time, make an appointment at the governor’s office and visit. I have to go in now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Heo Gyun hurriedly left, Middleton quickly spoke to his staff.

“Translate that crane into a drawing quickly.”

“I’ve already drawn it.”

“Well done.”

Carling asked Middleton.

“Will you report that to your home country?”

“Of course we should. Suppose that machine were to become widespread in England. What do you think would happen?”

“Well, the results would be amazing.”

“But why did Balhae reveal this now? It seems they were trying to hide the existence of such a machine and prevent foreigners from visiting Seoul.”

“Doesn’t that mean that the power source for that new type of crane can be released to the world?”

“I guess so? Phew! Balhae really surprises people in many ways. They keep churning out new things.”

Middleton’s eyes were still fixed on the steam crane. He could not leave the dock for a long time.

* * *

The King of Joseon had to watch his subjects’ fierce debates at the court today. Not only the court, but the entire country was in turmoil over the issue of joining the alliance.

The students of Sungkyunkwan also went into the most intense protest, the so-called ‘Gonggwan’. At first, the students of Sungkyunkwan submitted a petition signed by all the students, demanding that the barbarians and rebel group of Later Balhae be subdued in response to the request of the Ming Dynasty, who had received a benevolent rebuke. When the king did not accept this, they went through a process called Gwondang, which could be called a collective leave of absence, and eventually entered the process of Gonggwan, that is, holding a memorial service at the Confucian Temple, and then leaving Sungkyunkwan and going their separate ways home.

In Joseon, a Confucian state, the mass withdrawal of Sungkyunkwan students was bound to cause a great uproar. This is because the Confucian shrine, which houses the memorial tablets of Confucius and other Confucian sages, is located in Sungkyunkwan. Since the act of Sungkyunkwan students guarding the Confucian shrine leaving their posts symbolizes a great deal, the kings of the past tried to prevent this situation from escalating. Sungkyunkwan students also knew this, and often used the Confucian shrine’s location as a hostage to actively intervene in politics.

It wasn’t just them. Local Confucian scholars also went to the capital to submit petitions and protest. That’s why the area in front of Donhwamun Gate of Changdeokgung Palace, the new royal palace, was always noisy and tumultuous.

As soon as the inquiry was over, Jeong In-hong, Gi Ja-heon, Lee I-cheom, and Ryu Hee-bun entered the side room as if they had been waiting.

“Phew! Why is everyone like this?”

The king shook his head and cried out.

“After the visit of the famous envoy, public opinion has become more inclined towards joining the alliance, and now even petitions opposing it are not being submitted.”

These were the words of Do Seung-ji Ryu Hee-bun.

The Ming court sent envoys steadily through the sea route from Dengzhou in Shandong Province across the West Sea. They sent envoys urging them to join the alliance the year before last and last year. However, just a few months later, early this year, they sent another envoy, fiercely criticizing Joseon as being worse than an ungrateful beast. In the end, the envoy’s remarks became the fuse that set off the Confucian scholars, and as a result, opinions to join the Northerners began to arise.

“What is the public opinion of the military?”

The king asked Ki Ja-heon, the Minister of War.

“It was split evenly. There were many non-partisan officials who refrained from speaking, but they also did so because of the words of the famous envoy.”

“But do you know why Myeong has become so desperate?”

The king found it strange that the pressure from Ming had suddenly become so intense, and asked his subjects. When the idea of ​​a three-nation alliance first arose, they had simply told him to consider it. Ming also had a somewhat negative outlook on Joseon’s participation. In any case, if a war broke out with Balhae, the main battlefield would have to be Liaodong.

However, two years ago, Ming’s attitude changed to the point where Joseon had to participate. Ming did not even hesitate to incite the opposition. The envoy specially invited only the opposition officials to hold banquets or gave them gifts bestowed by the Ming emperor. It was quite a serious interference in internal affairs. However, the officials who were hardened by servility were moved by this and pressured the king and the Northerners’ government even harder.

“Isn’t it because we Joseon in the south need to keep the latter Balhae in check so that the latter Balhae’s military power can be dispersed? And this time, it seems that they have definitely decided to go to war. Before, the idea of ​​this three-nation alliance itself felt like it was put forward as a means of keeping the latter Balhae in check or as a means of power struggle.”

The king frowned at Gijaheon’s general theory.

“That’s a well-known fact. The question is why the demand for fame has suddenly become so strong.”

“I actually found that strange, too. Especially since the Later Jin Dynasty is joining hands with a powerful enemy of the future.”

Although the Ming and the Later Jin were now allied, all Joseon officials knew that the two countries were like oil and water and could never mix.

No one could give a clear answer to the king’s question. However, Ryu Hee-bun, who had been lost in thought, opened his mouth with shining eyes.

“Your Majesty, there is one piece of information that I have come to mind from the Later Balhae newspaper. It is that the Later Balhae navy is also very active in the south, and it seems that this poses a great threat to the Ming.”

“Because of the navy?”

“Yes, aren’t the huge warships of Later Balhae threatening Dengzhou in Shandong Province?”

“That’s true.”

Left State Councilor Jeong In-hong nodded. He knew that much because the Ming envoy had been talking so much. He had complained many times that even the sea route to Dengzhou had become dangerous due to the appearance of the Balhae navy.

“But now even Gangnam seems to be in danger. I have read a newspaper article that says that the late-blooming navy is frequently ploughing into the waters off Fujian Province, irritating Ming’s nerves.”

“Oh! That makes sense. Shandong is right in front of Beijing, where the capital is, and Jiangnan is a granary that feeds the people and a region where commerce flourishes.”

Jeong In-hong responded by hitting his knee. The others also showed expressions that their curiosity had been somewhat relieved.

In fact, Ming was earning a lot of silver through Gangnam. Silver from Spanish colonies in South America and Japanese countries was coming in through Gangnam. Therefore, the moment the circulation of silver was blocked, the economy of Ming, a silver-based country, was bound to plummet. Of course, the Joseon vassals present there could not have known about such circumstances.

“That’s right. It seems like that kind of behavior really irritated the king.”

“By the way, what should we do now? Should we join the alliance in the end?”

The king asked again. The discussion returned to square one.

“Your Majesty, just a moment……”

When Yi I-cheom looked at the king, the king nodded. It was a signal to have a secret conversation since there were many ears listening in.

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