Black Corporation: Joseon

“Father, I heard you summoned me. Do you have instructions?”

After being called to Gangnyeongjeon Hall, Hyang paid his respects and asked the reason for his summons.

Sejong nodded and answered Hyang’s question.

“Yes, I called you because I need people.”

“People? Should we increase the number of eunuchs?”

“Not eunuchs—I need people to take to New Lands to work.”

“I’ll put in a word with the General Affairs Department for that.”

Hyang, who had been answering professionally, hesitated. Sejong’s expression wasn’t good at all after hearing his response.

Why? What’s wrong?

Seeing Sejong’s dissatisfied expression, Hyang frantically racked his brains to determine the cause. As Hyang failed to provide an immediate answer, Sejong clicked his tongue.

“Tch! How can someone usually so clever suddenly become like this? Who would I want to take with me from your people?”

Hyang’s face turned pale at Sejong’s words. He asked with a trembling voice.

“Surely you don’t mean the people from Area 51?”

“Exactly. No more, no less—just half. Half is enough.”

In that moment, Hyang unconsciously prostrated himself and cried out.

“Oh Father, please!”

“This is necessary. You’re old enough to understand everything—why are you throwing a tantrum?”

“Why do you need as many as half?”

Hyang asked the reason with a tearful voice. Sejong immediately answered Hyang’s question.

“You’ve received the reports too, haven’t you? The expeditionary force that secured our foothold has already penetrated deep into New Lands’s east and discovered enormous lakes there.”

“I know.”

Finally planted our flag at the Great Lakes.

“And as continued reports show, the areas around the lakes have abundant forests and iron and coal deposits.”

“And I know they found plains suitable for farming to the south.”

“And they met a very large confederation of native tribes.”

The native tribal confederation Sejong mentioned was the ‘Iroquois League.’

***

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, Joseon established a foothold in what was called ‘British Columbia’ and, following Hyang’s plan, bypassed the northeastern Rocky Mountains to advance eastward.

They moved avoiding the harsh natural environment of the Rocky Mountains—in other words, their route indicated environments suitable for human habitation.

Naturally, the expedition advancing eastward encountered native peoples.

However, the expedition was well-versed in peaceful contact with natives through their exploration of Hokkaido, Sakhalin, and the northeastern archipelago.

The expedition built friendly relations by offering salt, sugar, iron spearheads and arrowheads.

Subsequently, they taught the natives how to record their language using Hunminjeongeum and shared useful medicines beyond their traditional herbs, winning them to Joseon’s side.

While steadily making contacted tribes Joseon’s allies one by one, the expedition responded decisively—in simple terms, annihilated—those who used force against them, just as they dealt with the Jurchen. Soon they became known as ‘the fearsome tribe with thunder sticks.’

Through this carrot-and-stick approach, Joseon’s expedition steadily strengthened their foundation while advancing east, finally reaching the Great Lakes three years ago.

“What kind of land is this…”

We thought it was the sea seeing the horizon, but tasting it proved fresh water.

The expedition team, initially overwhelmed by an environment far beyond the cognitive scope of those who had lived in Joseon’s narrow confines, soon grasped the situation and sent jubilant reports.

Receiving these reports, Joseon immediately dispatched large-scale reinforcements.

These reinforced expeditions crossed the lakes to advance south or moved east along the lakes.

In this process, they encountered plains so vast they could only be called ridiculous and discovered the Atlantic coastline.

Finally, they met the natives of the Iroquois League—more precisely, the ‘Kanonsionni’—who had settled in this region.

***

Sejong explained to Hyang why he needed many craftsmen from Area 51.

“To summarize the expedition’s reports, isn’t New Lands a region where ‘everything except people is huge’? In such lands, what’s the method to move large amounts of cargo quickly at once?”

“Railways.”

“Who’s making those iron horses that will run on the rails?”

“…Area 51.”

“How efficient would it be to transport all necessary rails and iron horses from here in Joseon?”

“…Extremely inefficient.”

“Who can build ironworks, make iron horses, produce artillery and gunpowder, and build ships?”

“The craftsmen of Area 51.”

While answering Sejong’s questions, Hyang gradually had to accept reality. But his face remained sullen, so Sejong emphasized the necessity further.

Of course, they could use expedient measures, but the research institute and Area 51 were places steeped in Hyang’s blood and sweat. To properly treat his son and future king, persuasion was the only answer.

“Crown Prince, you remember too. Those Jurchen who voluntarily submitted, revering the railway as the ‘Dragon’s Path.’ Wouldn’t it be the same in New Lands? According to the expedition, they’re still using stone tools or poorly smelted bronze.”

“A place without horses too.”

“Exactly! And I’m not saying I’ll take them all and bury them there. We’ll rotate personnel every five years.”

You’re basically planning to take them all and use them!

Though internally raging, Hyang ultimately had no choice but to nod.

“I understand. I’ll speak with General Lee Cheon about selecting personnel.”

“Thank you. Ah! Make sure to include Department Head Jang Yeong-sil!”

“Father! Are you planning to clean out all my resources?”

“You fool! Isn’t Jang about to retire anyway? Wouldn’t it be good for him to spend his retirement in a place with good water and air?”

It’s a deficit! A deficit!

“Besides, wouldn’t it be convenient for you too when you eventually cross to New Lands to have Area 51 already established there?”

Thank you SO much!

Though grumbling internally, Hyang had no choice but to accept Sejong’s opinion.

“I’ll do as you say.”

“Thank you. Ah! One more thing! Make sure to exclude Jinpyeong. Though looking at his behavior he’ll certainly cause a fuss, absolutely exclude him. Of course, seeing his current behavior there’s no need to worry, but politics is a strange beast that can change people at any time.”

“I will. However, we’ll need to recruit new people to replace those who leave. Please help with the budget allocation.”

“I shall.”

Thus, Hyang was able to reach an agreement with Sejong.

And receiving the order written by Hyang and sealed with Sejong’s royal seal, Lee Cheon looked up at the sky and muttered.

“Ah… Suddenly I want a drink.”

Meanwhile, hearing the news, Jinpyeong immediately sought out Hyang without considering right or wrong.

“Your Highness!”

“What?”

“How could you exclude me from such an important task!”

“It’s not time yet.”

“What do you mean not time! The current situation is perfect!”

“I said it’s not time!”

Bursting out angrily, Hyang immediately continued.

“You’re coming with me.”

“What?”

“Do you think Father will stay in New Lands forever? When the time comes, I’ll go in Father’s place, and you’ll come with me then. That will be the perfect timing you spoke of.”

“What?”

Seeing Jinpyeong still looking confused, Hyang explained more thoroughly.

“Right now, they’re only building railways between the foothold and the Great Lakes. Want to just lay those and come back? Would that satisfy you?”

Jinpyeong unconsciously nodded at Hyang’s question. Watching his face, Hyang continued.

“But when I go, we’ll build a railway network across all of New Lands. I guarantee it won’t be an easy task. To succeed in this great enterprise, we need someone to push forward aggressively. I think that’s you. Am I wrong?”

Jinpyeong answered Hyang’s question with a raised voice.

“No! Absolutely not!”

“So stay here and focus on improving the iron horses and steam engines. The current iron horses won’t be sufficient for New Lands’s vastness. Understand?”

“Yes! I’ll do my best!”

“Then go back to work. And a man with ambition should know patience too. Stop running here every time you hear a rumor.”

“Yes.”

After scratching his head at Hyang’s mild rebuke, Jinpyeong immediately paid his respects and left.

After sending Jinpyeong away, Hyang grumbled quietly.

“Even conning people is hard…”

***

With this policy decided, Area 51 buzzed with activity for a while. As those departing were chosen, farewell parties were held day after day.

Soon after, a large fleet departed from Wonsan.

Ships lined up to leave Wonsan port, loaded with miners and their families who would handle prospecting and mining in the Great Lakes region, Area 51 craftsmen and their families who would build industrial facilities starting with ironworks, minimum quantities of rails for laying between the foothold and Great Lakes, and cattle and vaccine strains for implementing vaccination.

Amidst all these overflowing people, one person in particular grumbled with an aggrieved expression.

“Why me…”

It was Shin Sukju, the ‘language genius.’

***

While movements were busy to make the foothold and Great Lakes region firmly Joseon’s, Sejong was also slowly preparing to move. Since it wasn’t just the royal couple moving, preparations had to be made well in advance.

“Finally departing next year.”

“Yes, Father.”

At Hyang’s response, Sejong expressed slight regret.

“I wanted to go this year…”

Hyang bowed his head at Sejong’s words.

“I apologize. My abilities are still lacking…”

“Don’t say things others would curse you for.”

***

Though steam ships had been introduced, voyages between Joseon and New Lands could only be made twice a year at best. Not enough steam ships had been deployed yet, and returning ships underwent thorough inspections after each long-distance voyage.

Unmatched under heaven.

Though Joseon made such grand self-assessments, they still had far to go.

We could only come this far because the Crown Prince stepped up.

This was the common assessment, and none opposed it.

That’s why Sejong told Hyang it was “something others would curse you for.”

***

“By the way… I had someone skilled in the observatory pick an auspicious date. I will abdicate on a good day.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang immediately knelt.

“Please withdraw the abdication!”

“Don’t say ridiculous things. No one doubts your abilities now.”

“It’s not just that! I haven’t yet fulfilled my promise to Father!”

“Promise to me?”

As Sejong searched his memories at Hyang’s words, he suddenly smiled.

“Stand up. I’ll do as you wish.”

“Your grace is boundless!”

“You rascal…”

Lightly patting Hyang’s shoulder, Sejong gave a warning.

“Knowing you, I’ll happily await the day of abdication. But never rush it.”

“Yes!”

From this day forward, Sejong definitively stepped back.

***

The world outside Joseon was moving as busily as inside.

As information about the Mediterranean region kept flowing in through Joseon ships traveling to Alexandria, the faces of the Foreign Affairs Department, Defense Department, and Hyang grew serious.

“War clouds?”

Scanning the report, Heo Hu called his subordinate.

“Has the Mansur caravan arrived?”

“Yes.”

“Then call Mansur.”

Thus summoned to the Foreign Affairs Department, Mansur visited Heo Hu’s office.

“You called for me?”

“Yes, Caravan Leader Mansur. I’ll ask directly. How serious is Alexandria’s current situation?”

After briefly contemplating Heo Hu’s question, Mansur answered.

“Though it’s a crude expression, I can’t find a more suitable word than ‘clusterfuck.'”