Black Corporation: Joseon

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The content of the meeting that took place between the Hyang and the civil officials was immediately documented and reported to King Sejong as soon as it ended. King Sejong examined the documents with his ministers.

“Hmm… It seems best to proceed with this matter as the Crown Prince suggested.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

“And as for the Joseon Office… I think this is acceptable, but if we request the Ming Dynasty to establish the Joseon Office, which location would be most likely?”

“…”

None of the ministers immediately responded to King Sejong’s question. Observing their silence, Sejong’s expression grew sharp. “Why is no one answering? Is it because discussing such lowly trade is beneath you?”

“No, that’s not it…”

Pressured by Sejong, Kim Jeom, the chief of the Office of Taxation [simple_tooltip content=’A high-ranking official position in one of the six ministries in Joseon government, responsible for managing administrative affairs and finances.’][1][/simple_tooltip], stepped forward.

“In my humble opinion, if a market is established in the Yoha[simple_tooltip content=’Liao river.’][2][/simple_tooltip] region, the presence of our Joseon troops would be inevitable due to the Jurchen[simple_tooltip content=’In the raws, the Koreans refer them as Yeojin people. However, I think for the sake of clarity, I think writing it as the Jurchens would be clearer to readers. The Jurchens are a group of people who inhabited the region encompassing Manchuria, Siberia and parts of Korea and China. They had a long history of conflict with Joseon and Ming at the time.’][3][/simple_tooltip] issue. As this would not be welcomed by the Ming Dynasty, I believe it is more likely that the office will be established in the Sandong region.”

“That could be possible. On the other hand, if the Ming wishes to establish a market near the Amnok[simple_tooltip content=’Amnok River (압록강): Also known as the Yalu River, it is a river that forms part of the border between North Korea and China.’][4][/simple_tooltip] River, what should we do?”

“In that case, our Joseon must oppose it.”

“Oppose…” King Sejong, who had been mulling over the words, nodded his head. “It seems we have no choice. Then, what do you think about the permanent establishment of the trading posts?”

“I believe it would be better than having them accompany the envoys each time.”

After considering the response from the Chief State Councilor[simple_tooltip content=’

Prime Minister in today’s time.

‘][5][/simple_tooltip], King Sejong turned to look at the Senior Second State Councilor. “Senior Second State Councilor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Convince the Ming Emperor on this mission to successfully establish the trading posts.”

“…I will accept the order.”

King Sejong glared at the Senior Second State Councilor, who hesitated before responding. “Senior Second State Councilor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Are the other officials, like the Crown Prince, concerned about Joseon’s security, or are they stubbornly trying to break the spirits of you and the Crown Prince?”

“Your Majesty! The officials have never harbored such disloyal thoughts!”

“It seems to me that I see the figure of Sam-bong (Jeong Do-jeon)[simple_tooltip content=’Please read the Extra notes at the end of this chapter. ‘][6][/simple_tooltip] in you all.”

“Your Majesty! The loyalty of the officials is as solid as a rock! Please put your doubts to rest!!”

“Your Majesty! Please forgive us!”

For the officials who had experienced the Prince’s rebellion and King Taejong’s reign, even mentioning ‘Jeong Do-jeon’ was a taboo that should not be spoken of. However, the fact that Sejong had brought up Jeong Do-jeon was like a final warning.

“Your Majesty, please grant us your guidance!”

Upon hearing the cries of the officials prostrated on the floor, King Sejong stood up from his seat.

“We will see about that. I need to rest for a moment.” This statement seemed like the final ultimatum.

◈◈◈

When Sejong left the room, the officials followed suit and came out one by one.

“Sigh~.”

“It’s stuffy in there.”

“That’s right.”

The officials’ faces were gloomy. Chief State Councilor Ryu Jeong-Hyeon looked up at the sky with a sullen face and glared at Inspector General[simple_tooltip content=’Aside from the State Council, which almost directly controlled the Six Ministries office, there is another collective body called Three Offices—in which the officials provide checks and balance on the king and the officials. The highest rank in this group is Inspector General.’][7][/simple_tooltip].

“Don’t forget that this whole thing started because of your slip of the tongue.”

At the Chief State Councilor’s rebuke, the Inspector General became visibly angry. “Your Excellency! That’s going too far! What slip of the tongue have I made? I haven’t said a word today!”

“Who’s talking about today’s events? Whose idea was it to provoke the Crown Prince in the first place?”

“Hmmph.”

Despite the Chief State Councilor’s anger, the Inspector General only grumbled in frustration. Despite the legitimacy of the Crown Prince’s concerns about tradition, King Sejong had not brought up any related topics except for one instance. Nevertheless, the officials had to be cautious around King Sejong for a while. However, King Sejong was always one step ahead. Just when the officials thought the tension had eased, King Sejong suddenly struck with the forbidden ‘Jeong Do-jeon’ incident.

The Inspector General, who had been grumbling, turned to Chief State Councilor and said, “Alright! Let’s say I provoked the Crown Prince! But haven’t you done anything wrong as well, Your Excellency? What did you do to the Crown Prince today? Even a three-foot child knows that you shouldn’t underestimate the Crown Prince. If you’re going to cause trouble, prepare properly and do it right!”

“Hmph.”

In response to the rebuttal from the Inspector General, the Chief State Councilor had to make groaning sounds with a face that looked like he was chewing on feces. The Inspector General, whose breathing became rough due to anger, came to a conclusion. “What’s the use of determining whose fault it is? We have already missed the opportunity. For the time being, we have no choice but to act according to the will of the king.”

“If we make a mistake, the monarchy’s tyranny may intensify.”

“What can we do? We have to rely on the wisdom of the king for now.”

“Ha~.”

“How did we establish Joseon in the first place…?”

“Sigh~.”

Not only the Chief State Councilor and the Inspector General but also the assistants who gathered around them all let out a sigh.

◈◈◈

Who is Sam-bong or Jeong Do-jeon?

Sam-bong (삼봉, 三峰) is a nickname for Jeong Do-jeon, a prominent Korean scholar-official and politician during the late Goryeo and early Joseon periods. The term “Sam-bong” is derived from Hanja (Chinese characters used in the Korean language) and can be translated as “Three Peaks.” It symbolizes Jeong Do-jeon’s multifaceted talents and prominence in the fields of politics, scholarship, and philosophy.

The nickname reflects Jeong Do-jeon’s significance and achievements in these areas, as he was instrumental in the founding of the Joseon dynasty and the establishment of its legal and institutional framework. The term “Three Peaks” emphasizes his exceptional contributions and high regard in these fields, making him a key figure in Korean history.

Why mentioning Jeong Do-jeon is considered taboo?

Mentioning Sam-bong (Jeong Do-jeon) was considered taboo during King Sejong’s reign due to the controversial role he played in the founding of the Joseon dynasty and his eventual execution by Sejong’s father, King Taejong.

Jeong Do-jeon was a prominent scholar-official and politician who played a crucial role in the establishment of the Joseon dynasty. He was instrumental in overthrowing the Goryeo dynasty and helping King Taejo, the founder of Joseon, ascend to the throne. Jeong Do-jeon was a key figure in drafting the new laws and institutions that shaped the early years of the Joseon dynasty. However, his radical reforms and increasing influence led to conflict with the royal family, particularly with King Taejo’s son, who would later become King Taejong.

When King Taejong took the throne, he saw Jeong Do-jeon as a threat to his power due to his strong influence in politics and his reformist ideas, which sought to limit the monarchy’s authority. This resulted in a power struggle between Jeong Do-jeon and his faction and King Taejong. In the end, King Taejong had Jeong Do-jeon arrested and executed, effectively consolidating his power and marking the end of Jeong Do-jeon’s faction.

King Sejong, the son of King Taejong, was aware of the controversial history surrounding Jeong Do-jeon and his father’s role in his execution. Mentioning Jeong Do-jeon’s name during Sejong’s reign was considered taboo because it could bring up uncomfortable memories of the power struggle and remind the court of the brutal actions taken by his father to secure the throne. This could have potentially undermined Sejong’s authority, as the legacy of Jeong Do-jeon’s execution was still a sensitive issue within the royal court.

◈◈◈

As for Hyang, why did he not want the Ming officials to accompany them during their tribute procession to the Ming?

Accompanying the Joseon envoys allowed Ming officials to monitor and control their activities, ensuring that they did not engage in unauthorized trade or diplomatic activities outside the scope of the tributary relationship.

So, how will Hyang accomplish his plans of not allowing the Ming officials to accompany their entourage?

Well, let’s just see how it rolls out in later chapters. (👉ﾟヮﾟ)👉

Translator’s Notes

Second half of this chapter is coming soon!

Kirara

Hi there! My name is Kirara and as you might have guessed, I absolutely adore everything that sparkles. My love for reading webnovels and light novels is just as bright and shiny, and I have a passion for bringing these stories to life through translation. If my translations are your cup of tea, kindly consider fueling my passion by purchasing me a Ko-fi or subscribing for early access to advanced chapters of all my translated works.