Black Corporation: Joseon

“Hmm… Since it seems we’ve roughly reached a decision, let’s present this recommendation to the Crown Prince tomorrow.”

The ministers raised no objections to Hwang Hui’s decision.

The next day, Hwang Hui and the ministers entered Seunghwadang and reported to Hyang about this matter.

“…After such discussion, we think accepting His Majesty’s proposed plan would be most beneficial.”

Though Hwang Hui finished speaking, Hyang didn’t immediately respond.

After a moment of silence, Hyang asked Hwang Hui.

“Is the plan to educate New Territory natives and deploy them for practical work truly viable? How will we arrange personnel for education?”

Hwang Hui answered Hyang’s point.

“For teacher placement, we plan to select primarily those with sufficient experience from Daseoldo and Jongjangdo.”

“Is that so? Then how will you resolve the issue of officials? While only minimal personnel have gone in now during New Territory’s foundation-laying phase, many will be needed later to build proper organizations. And won’t there be integration issues between administrators from among the New Territory natives and those from Joseon?”

To Hyang’s point, Hwang Hui answered as if he’d been waiting for this question.

“For officials too, we’ll select primarily those with extensive experience working with natives in outer regions like Daseoldo and Jongjangdo.”

Hyang pointed out a problem with Hwang Hui’s words.

“Most Joseon officials desire to work in Hanseong. After struggling in outer regions, would they happily go to an even more distant outer region?”

Hyang’s point was valid.

The ultimate destination for those entering official service was senior official rank. And conventional wisdom held that working in Hanseong was the best path to reaching senior rank. This had led to petitions over local official terms in the early Reform period.

Hwang Hui smiled slightly and answered Hyang’s point.

“Of course, it’s true officials wish to work in Hanseong. Why would that be? Because Your Majesty is in Hanseong. But where is His Majesty now?”

“In New Territory.”

“Indeed. With His Majesty watching, who would dare cause trouble or work lazily? Moreover, there will be rotational assignments every five years as now, along with personnel evaluations.”

At Hwang Hui’s explanation, Hyang nodded and muttered internally.

No matter how brazen someone might be, they couldn’t work sloppily before the eyes of the king who held final personnel authority.

These fellows have mastered working people!

“Very well. Then, we’ll proceed according to Father’s revised plan.”

The ministers answered Hyang’s decision with bows.

After settling that agenda item, Hyang moved to the next.

“Next, considerable materials are currently going to New Territory. However, considering the current and future volume of materials being sent, and development efficiency, I think building transportation routes from the bridgehead to Dahogun and garrison posts to defend them is most urgent.”

“Indeed, Your Highness.”

“But there are limits to sending manpower from Joseon, and using New Territory natives still seems premature.”

“Indeed, Your Highness.”

The ministers nodded at Hyang’s points. Various construction projects were still ongoing throughout Joseon and the northeastern Daseoldo region. In this situation, organizing and sending large-scale construction-experienced workforce to New Territory was impractical.

Beyond economic aspects, security was also an issue. For this reason, current construction in New Territory was being carried out by engineering corps. Naturally, this resulted in slower progress.

“Sending additional engineering corps would be difficult, wouldn’t it?”

Jo Mal-saeng immediately answered Hyang’s question.

“I think it would be difficult. We’ve already sent everything to New Territory except minimum reserve forces. Considering the current Liaodong situation, we cannot send these too.”

***

Though Joseon had eroded considerable portions, the remaining parts of Liaodong were still vast. And among the remaining Jurchen in that vast region, some still remained hostile to Joseon. Additionally, many were wary of Joseon while relying on Ming’s shadow.

Therefore, the Liaodong situation was always volatile. If something happened in Liaodong, Joseon’s plan was for its army to immediately cross the Yalu River and establish a first defense line.

And the engineering corps held key responsibility for this river crossing and defense line construction.

***

Hyang nodded at Jo Mal-saeng’s answer.

“I asked to confirm once more. Indeed, manpower shortage is the problem.”

Hwang Hui picked up on Hyang’s words.

“To resolve that issue, starting with Shin Sukju, Foreign Ministry officials and interpreters are diligently learning New Territory native languages, so good news should come soon.”

“Even if they do their part, the numbers are woefully inadequate compared to the number and scale of construction sites. So. Minister of Defense.”

Jo Mal-saeng looked at Hyang with a very tense expression at his summons.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Please assign six additional Challenger-class warships starting with the next departing fleet.”

“What? But that would leave the Japan front empty.”

Jo Mal-saeng immediately expressed opposition.

Though warships were still being built at Wonsan and Dongbyeong Harbor shipyards, time was needed until their commissioning. To meet the Crown Prince’s request during that time, they’d have to redirect existing active warships. And in the current situation, they’d have to pull from Tsushima, which was quite dangerous given Japan’s situation.

Hyang immediately responded to Jo Mal-saeng’s words.

“Temporarily pause the retirement of panokseon. Panokseon firepower can sufficiently handle our coastal defense. And can’t we immediately fill the removed Challenger-class warships after this winter passes? It will only be tight until the northeastern route to New Territory freezes.”

At Hyang’s words, Jo Mal-saeng bowed his head with a resigned expression. With Sejong gone to New Territory, Hyang was now Joseon’s highest authority. No, he would be the highest authority going forward too.

“I will follow Your Highness’s command.”

“I apologize for the unreasonable request. However, this is absolutely necessary.”

“Your Highness.”

Hwang Hui, who had been silently listening beside them, addressed Hyang.

“Why suddenly assign more ships? The current fleet seems sufficient for transporting materials His Majesty needs in New Territory.”

To Hwang Hui’s point, Hyang answered with a smile.

“Ah! The devices Director Jang Yeong-sil and I conceived have finally been completed! I plan to send these to New Territory. These devices should greatly help with New Territory’s manpower shortage.”

At Hyang’s words, Hwang Hui and the ministers’ eyes began to sparkle.

“May we know what they are?”

“First are the excavator and earth mover.”

Hyang and Jang Yeong-sil’s joint creation were the power shovel and bulldozer.

***

The excavator and earth mover began with Hyang’s intervention after seeing the exoskeleton Jang Yeong-sil made for entertainment.

Hyang’s concept combined with Jang Yeong-sil’s design ability, plus Area 51 craftsmen’s blood, sweat, and tears, created these machines through various trial and error.

As a side note, around when these machines were being refined to usability, Jang Yeong-sil was dragged to New Territory. Though he tried everything to avoid it, Sejong personally took him along.

And not long after, the excavator and earth mover were completed.

These machines had both advantages and disadvantages.

The disadvantage was their enormous size, still unavoidable due to technical limitations. And the advantage born from this disadvantage was their tremendous power output.

“Since we can’t reduce the size anyway! While making them big, let’s make them super powerful!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The resulting earth mover was about the size of a typical thatch-roofed house. The excavator with its steel arm was the size of a tile-roofed house.

And both rode on caterpillar tracks.

***

“Oho~”

“My my~”

The ministers exclaimed in admiration as they took turns reading the report from Area 51.

Kim Jeom spoke first.

“One of these devices could replace dozens of workers, truly useful! Is mass production possible?”

To Kim Jeom’s question, Hyang slightly shook his head and answered.

“More finishing work is still needed. That’s why we’re sending them to New Territory. Working them hard there should easily reveal undiscovered problems, improving efficiency of improvements.”

“Ah…”

As Kim Jeom showed a disappointed expression, Hyang looked at Jo Mal-saeng.

“These devices necessitate the additional assignments. Due to their size, one Challenger-class warship can carry one machine. That’s completely disassembled. With the disassembled machines and craftsmen to reassemble them in New Territory, there likely won’t be space left.”

“So it seems. But speaking of these devices, especially the excavator would seem excellent for military use – would that be possible?”

“Military use? Where would you use it?”

To Hyang’s question, Jo Mal-saeng immediately answered.

“It would be very useful for breaking fortress walls.”

“Ah!”

“Aha!”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s words, Hyang and the ministers all exclaimed.

Jo Mal-saeng’s words brought images of excavators doing demolition work to Hyang’s mind.

Should we make rock drills too? No, no! One of those huge metal balls like in Hollywood movies would do it!

Seeing Hyang and the ministers’ positive reactions, Jo Mal-saeng continued excitedly.

“Of course, we’d need to add armor to protect the operator from enemy attacks, but with that excavator’s power, it should handle that fine. If such a heavily armored excavator approaches fortress walls and swings that huge shovel, even fairly strong walls would collapse immediately.”

Jo Mal-saeng and the others imagined the scene. After a moment, Hwang Hui pointed out an issue.

“What if the enemy has artillery and attacks the excavator with it? There must be limits to how much armor can be added?”

To Hwang Hui’s question, Jo Mal-saeng immediately answered.

“Then we fire our artillery first. After our artillery takes out their artillery, we deploy the excavator to make a wide path through the wall. That shovel blade should not only break well but also clear away the broken wall pieces efficiently, wouldn’t it?”

“That’s true.”

As Hwang Hui nodded, Heo Hu raised an objection.

“Many Japanese castles are on high ground – wouldn’t using these excavators be difficult?”

Jo Mal-saeng’s answer to Heo Hu’s point was truly meaningful.

“Ming’s fortresses are all on plains.”

At Jo Mal-saeng’s answer, Heo Hu turned pale and looked at the other ministers.

Hyang, Hwang Hui, and other long-serving ministers showed no particular reaction.

Seeing this, Heo Hu could understand clearly.

They’re not just anticipating deteriorating relations with Ming! Everyone is prepared for battle with Ming! If everyone thinks this? It means even His Majesty thinks the same!

While Heo Hu was shocked, Hyang handled business quickly.

“I think the Defense Minister’s proposal is good. What does the Prime Minister think?”

“I also think it’s good.”

Having gained Hwang Hui’s approval, Hyang asked Jo Mal-saeng.

“Then which branch will you assign the military excavators to?”

“Engineering corps of course! And adding some artillery for excavator protection would be perfect, wouldn’t it?”

When Jo Mal-saeng mentioned artillery, Hyang muttered internally.

Just mount artillery and it’s basically a tank… Ah, shame we don’t have recoil mechanisms and breech-loading cannons yet! If those came out well we could mount them right away! Steam engine tanks! Steampunk! Exactly my style!

And thus the world’s first “Combat Armored Engineers” were born.