Black Corporation: Joseon

At the captains’ cries for written documentation, the interpreters spoke to the customs officials.

“They’re asking for written documentation… but there’s an issue.”

“What sort of issue?”

“Letters from Europeans working in the research institute must undergo mandatory censorship.”

The customs officials’ expressions hardened at the interpreter’s words.

“Are you saying there could be problems if we provide written documentation?”

The interpreters responded with troubled expressions.

“Of course, for the research institute, it’s because many of their studies are confidential. However, couldn’t documents we thoughtlessly translate potentially provide other nations with clues to discover our secrets?”

“That’s true. Well then, it would be best to inquire with our superiors first.”

While this might seem like typical bureaucratic self-preservation, testing the bridge before crossing it was the wisest course of action.

The customs officials’ and interpreters’ inquiry quickly made its way up through the ministers to Seunghwadang.

“What do you think?”

In response to Hyang’s question, the ministers replied with dismissive expressions.

“Since we’re not writing about state secrets but about the ‘Heaven’s Mandate’, wouldn’t it be fine?”

“Indeed. I believe this is an excellent opportunity to enlighten these Westerners about our virtues.”

“Exactly. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if their monarchs could understand the ‘Way of Virtuous Rule'^[1]?”

Hearing the ministers’ responses, Hyang made his decision.

“Then let’s proceed with that.”

After the meeting, while organizing documents, Hyang muttered quietly.

“Contrary to the elders’ intentions, it seems we’ve dropped another massive bombshell… Or perhaps they know and are just pretending not to?”

After pondering briefly, Hyang signed the documents while muttering.

“Not my problem.”

***

Upon receiving their orders, the customs officials began drafting documents about the ‘Heaven’s Mandate.’ The work progressed unexpectedly slowly, as both customs officials and interpreters were civil service examination passers. Since they all possessed foundational Confucian knowledge, debates erupted during the documentation process.

“At this rate, we’ll miss the ships!”

Despite the anxious captains’ protests, the customs officials and interpreters waved them off.

“Now, now! Have patience! Just interpreting one sentence differently could completely change the meaning!”

“But…”

“If you really can’t wait, we’ll give it to you on your next voyage! Wait! Listen here! That’s not what that phrase means! According to the ancient sages…”

The captains looked heavenward while watching the customs officials and interpreters argue with veins popping in their necks.

“Oh Lord…”

After all this commotion, the captains finally received their documents just before departure.

“If we had more time, we could have refined it properly…”

“No, no! This is more than enough!”

The captains hurriedly boarded their ships, practically snatching the documents from the regretful customs officials and interpreters.

The documents, loaded onto each ship with one copy each just in case, sparked the captains’ curiosity.

But there lay the problem.

“Shit! It’s all in Latin!”

Those who could speak Latin but couldn’t read or write it dropped out first. Even those who knew Latin soon gave up as well.

“What the hell does this mean…”

The interpreters had learned Latin to deal with educated clergy and scholars. Their meticulously crafted sentences were profound and complex. In the end, no one could properly understand the documents until they reached Lisbon – not even Henry.

***

“How profound indeed…”

Pedro muttered with a serious expression after reading the documents from Joseon.

Even from a cursory reading, the contents seemed deeply philosophical.

“So they weren’t just a nation skilled with their hands? Or perhaps such technical prowess requires superior intellectual capacity?”

Pedro felt he needed to revise his perception of Joseon. They weren’t merely ‘barbarians with good manual skills’ but people possessing outstanding knowledge.

“At least on par with the Muslims.”

Though he still viewed them as somewhat inferior.

Pedro spread blank paper beside the document and picked up his pen.

“This warrants proper study. It could be valuable.”

***

Afterwards, Pedro wrestled with the documents after finishing his official duties. Though Portugal was a small nation on Europe’s periphery, Pedro was renowned for his scholarship.

From 1418 to 1428, he had pilgrimaged to major European courts and holy sites, and later even wrote a book of governance advice for his brother Duarte, who would become king.

With such scholarly background, Pedro became increasingly absorbed as he studied the documents.

“How profound…”

Pedro muttered while stroking his beard.

-Becoming a nation’s monarch is God’s will.

-However, when a monarch strays from the right path, God warns through the people, and this is the people’s will.

-Monarchs and nations that ignore God’s warnings through the people’s will must ultimately be replaced by new monarchs and nations, as the people will choose new ones.

-Of course, overthrowing monarchs and nations is an unjust act. However, overthrowing monarchs and nations that have abandoned God’s will is not unjust. This is following God’s will.

After repeatedly contemplating these core points he had written, Pedro turned his head. As it happened, where he turned, there was a Bible placed beneath a wall adorned with a crucifix and the royal coat of arms. As Pedro absent-mindedly gazed at the royal emblem and Bible, his eyes suddenly widened and he dropped his pen.

Staring at the Bible with trembling eyes, Pedro soon cried out in ecstasy.

“This is destiny! This is God’s will!”

***

Pedro explained about ‘God’s will’ to Alfonso V.

“…Therefore, God’s will was manifested through the people’s will, and thus our Portugal was born! Think about it! The powerful Moors who seemed they would forever dominate this Iberian Peninsula fell! The Reconquista succeeded because we properly followed God’s will! We were able to gain independence from the hands of that despicable Spain because it was God’s will! Why else would the Pope override Spain’s wishes and recognize Portugal’s independence! Everything is God’s will (voluntatem Domini)! Because we moved according to God’s will, our kingdom was born and you became king!”

As Pedro’s speech lengthened, Alfonso V’s eyes grew increasingly dreamy.

Pedro continued his impassioned speech.

-The nobles who died for treason had clouded the king’s eyes and ears for their own benefit, manipulated state affairs, and extorted from the people.

This was an unjust act that abandoned God’s will.

-Perhaps executing all the traitors without proper trials might seem unjust.

However, this was merely an unavoidable choice to protect royal authority. And this followed God’s will.

As written in the Bible, ‘The Lord works all things together for good.’

When Pedro finished speaking, the great hall was filled with silence. From Alfonso V to the surviving nobles and officials, all stared at Pedro with dazed eyes.

Soon after, nobles and ministers began to speak up one by one.

“Indeed! This followed God’s will!”

“Since ancient times, the throne has been ordained by God!”

“This matter is God’s will!”

The surviving nobles earnestly emphasized that it was ‘God’s will.’ This was both an effort to stay in Pedro’s good graces, who had completely monopolized power, and an attempt to ease their guilty consciences about their own survival.

***

As the nobles’ and ministers’ cheers subsided, Pedro continued.

“I say again, both the founding of our kingdom and Your Majesty’s ascension to the throne were all God’s will! Therefore, intimidating Your Majesty and extorting from the people is a path that abandons God’s will. Those who take such paths must be firmly purged! Thus, I will conduct both purification!”

Alfonso V’s eyes sparkled at Pedro’s words.

“By rectification, you mean?”

“I will abolish the practice of assigning public duties merely because one is noble or serves nobles! We will operate the kingdom with proper officials selected through strict examinations like the civil service examination of Joseon! Furthermore, I will reform the institutions to make this kingdom more prosperous and spread Your Majesty’s prestigious name far and wide!”

Thus began what would later be called ‘Pedro’s Reforms,’ a sweeping transformation.

***

An edict summarizing Pedro’s statements from that day was once again posted throughout the kingdom.

“Reform…”

“God’s will…”

Many people began debating as they read the edict’s contents. However, the intellectuals were the most dramatically affected.

Countless scholars began discussing the legitimacy of ‘God’s will’ as described by Pedro, and young university students began burning with dreams of government service.

Simultaneously, interest in Joseon surged once again.

“What’s this civil service examination they conduct in Joseon?”

Consequently, the volume of letters from Europe to Joseon increased significantly.

***

Before long, Pedro’s edict spread to various European countries, triggering various reactions.

First, another internal conflict erupted within Christianity.

‘God’s will moved the Pope.’

This was the cause.

“This proves the Pope’s dignity! God’s will is manifested only through the Pope!”

The Pope’s supporters argued thus, while the opposition countered.

“Nonsense! The Pope merely followed God’s will! Why don’t you mention that the people’s will is God’s will! Similarly, the council’s will is God’s will!”

While the religious community was in uproar, political disputes also began.

“The throne is given by God! Therefore, the king’s rights are God-given rights!”

“Nonsense! We nobles are the ones who elected that king! Our choice is God’s will!”

“God’s will is manifested through the people! The people’s will is God’s will! We need neither king nor nobles!”

“Nonsense!”

The political sphere also grew tumultuous as absolute monarchists, nobles seeking power-sharing, and even nascent republicans emerged.

Amid this chaos, the rift between Portugal and Spain deepened further.

“What? Portugal’s independence is God’s will? Are you saying we defied God’s will?”

Spain ground their teeth in anger toward Portugal.

***

Meanwhile, Cosimo, observing these developments, smiled slightly and muttered.

“I should send the Duke of Coimbra some premium wine.”

With Europe thus plunged into chaos, they had no leisure to look outward.

This meant that for the foreseeable future, the Mediterranean-centered trade route would remain the only overseas trade route, and the Medici family’s prosperity would continue even longer.