Black Corporation: Joseon

“Clusterfuck?”

At Mansur’s words, various Chinese characters swirled in Heo Hu’s mind.

Revised version? Published version? Intervening slopes?

When it became obvious Heo Hu hadn’t properly understood, Mansur elaborated.

“Everything’s gone to hell.”

“Ah! That’s what you meant?”

Seeing Heo Hu nodding as if finally understanding, Mansur recalled rumors about him.

They said he was a typical bookworm, and they weren’t kidding…

“Just how bad is the situation for you to call it hell?”

“Though not obvious enough for children to notice, an ominous atmosphere permeates everywhere.”

“Are war clouds really rising from just that level of tension?”

“Only when war has already broken out would it be obvious enough for children to notice.”

“Hmm…”

At Mansur’s response, Heo Hu groaned and sank into thought.

He’s certainly not talking nonsense. Not just his answer, but reports submitted by captains and merchant groups returning from Alexandria all contain similar content.

Judging the situation serious, Heo Hu asked one final question.

“Well, from brawls to wars, conflicts require opposing sides. Which sides are at odds? Surely Alexandria isn’t trying to gain independence from the Mamluks as rumored?”

***

Considerable time had passed since trade began, and the Mamluk dynasty had started to creak.

Many Joseon products that earned it the name “Country of Flowers” were expensive luxury goods.

Alexandria, where these items were distributed and sold, soon accumulated great wealth.

This accumulated wealth flowed to Mamluk royalty and nobles who sponsored the merchants.

With massive wealth flowing in, Mamluk royalty and nobles fell into luxury.

The problem was that over time, they began using Joseon luxury goods for showing off rather than selling them.

Naturally, profits decreased, and to make up for this decreased profit, Mamluk royalty and nobles began squeezing Alexandria’s merchants and people.

Unable to endure this economic exploitation, people in Alexandria slowly began talking about independence.

“Let’s protect our wealth and our freedom!”

“Protect them!”

This situation led Heo Hu to identify Alexandria itself as the primary suspect.

***

Mansur shook his head at Heo Hu’s question.

“If that were all, I wouldn’t call it hell. According to rumors carried on the wind, the Ottomans, Portuguese, Spanish, Byzantines, French, English, and even Italian city-states—basically every notable country is making moves.”

At Mansur’s words, Heo Hu unconsciously muttered.

“A real clusterfuck indeed.”

After sending Mansur away, Heo Hu sank into deep thought.

After long contemplation, he spread blank paper and grabbed his brush while muttering.

“This isn’t something we can ignore just because it’s happening in distant lands.”

***

Receiving Heo Hu’s report, Hyang immediately headed to Gangnyeongjeon Hall to find Sejong.

“There’s a report of trouble in Alexandria.”

“Have our Joseon people been attacked?”

“Not that, but war seems likely to break out.”

“I see.”

At Hyang’s response, Sejong called his attendant.

“Tell the Prime Ministers and Ministers to come to Geunjeongjeon Hall.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Soon after, starting with Hwang Hui, the Left and Right Prime Ministers and Ministers gathered in Geunjeongjeon.

Seated on the throne receiving the ministers’ greetings, Sejong explained why he had summoned them.

“According to the Foreign Affairs Department’s report, the atmosphere in Alexandria is unsettling. I’d like to hear your opinions.”

At Sejong’s words, Hwang Hui spoke first.

“I’ve confirmed the Foreign Affairs Department’s report. Indeed, Alexandria’s atmosphere is unsettling. However, Alexandria is too far from our Joseon, and besides our trade office, we have no other connections there. Therefore, I don’t believe our Joseon needs to take any preemptive action.”

Jo Mal-saeng supported Hwang Hui’s words.

“Indeed. Right now, our Joseon must focus most on Japan, then Ming. And the sea routes we must absolutely protect are those to India and New Lands.”

Sejong nodded at Hwang Hui and Jo Mal-saeng’s words.

Looking at current affairs, those Western regions were extremely distant.

According to reports submitted by captains commanding ships traveling to Alexandria, conflicts and wars occurred endlessly in those Western countries. Though large and small conflicts and wars kept breaking out, they had almost no impact on Joseon. Joseon’s merchant ships, Mansur’s merchant ships, and Spanish merchant ships still diligently crossed the seas, selling Joseon goods and bringing back needed items.

Therefore, most ministers’ reactions were along these lines:

Something seems off, but so what?

Why should our Joseon worry about war breaking out somewhere that doesn’t even share our borders?

After confirming the ministers’ reactions, Sejong looked at Foreign Affairs Minister Heo Hu. Receiving this silent question, Heo Hu immediately explained why he had submitted the report.

“Though those Western territories are indeed far from our Joseon, much of our wealth comes from trading with them, so I thought we shouldn’t neglect being vigilant.”

“The Foreign Affairs Minister did nothing wrong. Rather, he deserves praise for being diligent in his duties.”

When Sejong praised the Foreign Affairs Minister, Hwang Hui and Jo Mal-saeng’s faces hardened. They had just dismissed the Foreign Affairs Minister’s actions as needless worry.

Whether aware of Hwang Hui and Jo Mal-saeng’s feelings or not, Sejong continued.

“And the Prime Minister and Defense Minister’s words aren’t wrong either. Those Western territories are so far from our Joseon that even major events there would have minimal impact on us.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang internally muttered.

Considering the amount of wealth coming in from Alexandria, this isn’t just a distant country’s story?

However, Hyang could understand Sejong and the ministers’ reactions.

Well, looking at the current situation, Europe has almost no value beyond being a market for goods. Compared to Japan or Ming, which could immediately shake our nation’s security with the slightest misstep, they are dismissible. Still, we shouldn’t disregard them like this… Here I go again…

Just as Hyang was about to open his mouth, Kim Jeom stepped forward.

“Forgive my presumption, but the Prime Minister and Defense Minister seem to be taking this situation too lightly.”

“Too lightly? I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

As Sejong showed interest, Kim Jeom spoke with force.

“Please consider the wealth we earn from trade with those Westerners. If their conflicts halt trade, our Joseon’s finances will receive a massive shock. Of course, we might think these concerns groundless since trade continues despite the current ominous atmosphere. But isn’t it just an ominous atmosphere so far? If things actually break out, could those ships properly travel? If trade stops like that, our Joseon’s income would decrease by nearly 40 percent.”

“If it’s around 40 percent…”

As Jo Mal-saeng tried to object, Kim Jeom immediately shot back.

“You find a 40 percent reduction in Joseon’s incoming wealth laughable! Then we’d have to reduce the budget, and that would immediately stop artillery production!”

“Not the artillery!”

Leaving Jo Mal-saeng’s cry-like response behind, Kim Jeom continued his explanation.

“If we must immediately cut the court’s budget, we can only start with defense. Education comes next.”

“Wouldn’t that shake our nation’s security and future?”

To Sejong’s point, Kim Jeom answered with a resolute expression.

“We’d have no choice. Defense and education at least have accumulated reserves that could endure cuts for a while, but other areas don’t. Especially considering the budget being executed for New Lands, we’d have to cut defense and education. However!”

Pausing briefly, Kim Jeom caught his breath and continued.

“This would only happen if the Western conflicts completely close trade routes. If they remain somewhat open, we could avoid critical damage, and the court should make plans for this in advance.”

“Indeed.”

Nodding at Kim Jeom’s words, Sejong turned to Hwang Hui.

“Do you find the Left Deputy Prime Minister’s words reasonable? What does the Prime Minister think?”

“My insight was shallow.”

As Hwang Hui waved the white flag, Sejong summarized the situation.

“Work with the Crown Prince to devise appropriate countermeasures and present them.”

“We receive your command!”

***

Receiving Sejong’s order, Hyang and the ministers left Geunjeongjeon and moved to the conference room in Seunghwadang.

After taking their seats, Hyang and the ministers began exchanging opinions about this matter.

“By the way, Lord Kim, your words were rather harsh. Saying we’d have to stop artillery production…”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s grumbling, Kim Jeom snorted.

“Hah! What good are piles of artillery when we have no gunpowder to fire shells and soldiers too hungry to lift the guns?”

“Surely it wouldn’t get that bad…”

“That ‘surely’ is what kills people!”

“Urgh…”

With that groan, Jo Mal-saeng waved the white flag.

***

After this little drama between Kim Jeom and Jo Mal-saeng ended, Hyang presided over the meeting.

“True, if we consider distance alone, conflict in Alexandria would certainly be a distant matter for us. But considering profits, it becomes a crisis as precarious as a candle in the wind.”

The ministers nodded at Hyang’s words. With all ministers agreeing, Hyang moved on.

“First, I’d like to predict how things might unfold based on the information we’ve gathered. What materials would we need for this?”

At Hyang’s question, the ministers soon thought about and answered what was needed. Shortly after, administrators and eunuchs working in Seunghwadang rushed to the Six Ministries Street and the Records Office.

***

While the eunuchs and administrators moved busily, Hyang addressed the ministers.

“Though this is my shallow opinion, Prince Henry of Portugal is certainly the one who lit the spark of conflict.”

Kim Jeom immediately questioned Hyang’s words.

“Henry… You mean Portugal’s Prince?”

“Yes.”

At Hyang’s answer, Kim Jeom briefly searched his memories before nodding.

“Indeed, he’s highly likely. His behavior wasn’t ordinary from when he first came to Joseon. He talked about wanting to buy iron horses and rails. Ah! Later he even proposed a partnership.”

Hwang Hui cut in at Kim Jeom’s words.

“Ah! I remember! He made that absurd proposal about laying rails across the vast African continent?”

“Yes.”

At Hwang Hui and Kim Jeom’s responses, Heo Hu spoke up.

“Someone with such a record would indeed be the one to light the spark.”

While Joseon was pointing to Henry as the prime suspect, the true arsonist was moving busily.