Black Corporation: Joseon

The 30th year of King Sejong’s reign (1448, Year of Mujin), First Month.

In the main conference room of the Liaodong Guard, Zhu Qizhen looked at his generals.

“Are the preparations almost complete?”

At Zhu Qizhen’s question, Zhao Bingde stepped forward to answer.

“Yes. Training of the 350,000 troops is complete, and we’ve almost finished integrating the additional 50,000 troops sent from Beijing.”

“What about the artillery?”

“We have 200 pieces prepared, including three Fire Dragon Cannons and various other artillery.”

At Zhao Bingde’s answer, Zhu Qizhen immediately posed a question.

“Isn’t the number of Fire Dragon Cannons too few? Since we still have time, what about manufacturing more?”

There was a reason Zhu Qizhen wanted to increase the number of Fire Dragon Cannons.

***

Though there were several failures in early development, Wang Chong and the craftsmen finally succeeded in completing the Fire Dragon Cannon.

The reason they could create the Fire Dragon Cannon in such a short time was that they had made it once before.

Rather, the fact that they experienced failures again despite having such experience was proof of how difficult the Fire Dragon Cannon was to make.

In any case, the completed Fire Dragon Cannon demonstrated power matching its size to Zhu Qizhen and his generals.

Properly mounted on fixed installations, the Fire Dragon Cannon could launch iron cannonballs weighing 400 geun (about 240kg) nearly 5 li (about 2km).

The launched cannonballs created craters about 4 chi (about 1.2m) deep in the ground before bouncing and rolling.

Seeing the craters created by the cannonballs, Zhao Bingde exclaimed in admiration while reporting to Zhu Qizhen.

“It’s truly remarkable! To create a pit 4 chi deep in frozen ground and still have enough force to bounce! Truly incredible!”

“Is it powerful enough to make even you, General, exclaim so?”

To Zhu Qizhen’s question, who had little knowledge of artillery, Zhao Bingde nodded vigorously.

“The power is extraordinary! If the ground hadn’t been frozen, it would have created pits at least 1 zhang (about 3m) deep! That should be enough to break even the rumored walls of Joseon!”

***

This was why Zhu Qizhen proposed increasing the number of Fire Dragon Cannons.

To Zhu Qizhen’s proposal, Zhao Bingde immediately answered, unable to hide his regret.

“As the saying goes ‘the more the better,’ more would indeed be better. However, we lack time for both manufacturing and training soldiers to operate them. Moreover, we’re short on craftsmen to handle repairs in the field.”

“Is that so? That’s unfortunate.”

At Zhao Bingde’s answer, Zhu Qizhen also couldn’t hide his disappointment.

***

The Fire Dragon Cannon was not only difficult to make but also tricky to handle.

The barrel, nearly 3 zhang (about 9m) long and 1 chi (about 30cm) thick, was likely to bend downward under its own weight.

Therefore, the Fire Dragon Cannon’s barrel was divided in two, designed to be assembled when reaching the battlefield.

For secure assembly, the joining sections had screw threads. Around these joints were thick nodes with grooves cut at regular intervals. Upon reaching the installation site, workers would insert strong steel rods into these grooves and turn them like waterwheel spokes to join the barrels.

This complex assembly process, plus installing supports to handle the massive recoil and the Fire Dragon Cannon’s weight of 4,800 guan (about 18 tons), required at least 400 workers.

Additionally, as problems naturally arose in the barrel from using gunpowder to launch enormously heavy iron balls over 5 li, craftsmen had to constantly check its condition.

Ultimately, three Fire Dragon Cannons were both the best and maximum possible in Zhu Qizhen’s situation.

***

“Can’t be helped then. Though disappointing, let’s move past this point. How much gunpowder have we secured?”

At Zhu Qizhen’s question, Zhao Bingde checked his documents and immediately answered.

“2,400 guan (about 9 tons).”

“Is that enough?”

“It’s sufficient.”

Zhao Bingde answered confidently. Even in an era where gunpowder weapons had become the main force thanks to Hyang’s intervention, this was an enormous quantity.

The “2,400 guan” Zhao Bingde mentioned converted to 15,000 geun.

In the history before Hyang’s intervention, the Office of Military Supplies’ report in King Sejong’s first year stated:

-We need 4,000 geun of gunpowder annually but only have 3,300 geun now.

In other words, within months of Zhu Qizhen’s arrival in Liaodong, they had secured five times the gunpowder that Joseon – in the history before Hyang’s intervention – had possessed in Sejong’s first year.

This was why Zhao Bingde answered Zhu Qizhen with such confidence.

As a side note, Admiral Yi Sun-sin used over 1,000 geun of gunpowder in a single battle during the Imjin War.

After checking various other supply issues, Zhu Qizhen nodded.

“Good. We won’t miss our timing.”

“Indeed.”

At Zhao Bingde’s response, Zhu Qizhen stood up and issued new orders.

“Then prepare envoys to send to Joseon.”

“Envoys?”

To Zhao Bingde’s question, Zhu Qizhen answered with a sly smile.

“An imperial prince of Great Ming has established a royal residence right next door, yet they haven’t even come to pay respects. Shouldn’t we take them to task? We can also scout the route while we’re at it.”

At Zhu Qizhen’s words, Zhao Bingde immediately bowed his head.

“I’ll prepare right away.”

***

Fifteen days later, at Insanjin on the Yalu River.

Ding ding ding!

“Large cavalry force appearing across the river!”

Along with the clamorous bell, the sentry shouted at the top of his lungs. At the sentry’s cry, soldiers burst out of their quarters and ran to their positions.

Yi Hui-deok, the garrison commander in charge of Insanjin, hastily climbed the tower while adjusting his helmet strap.

“Where?”

“Over there, sir!”

At the soldier’s pointing finger, Yi Hui-deok extended the tube of his monocular and put it to his eye.

“Not Jurchen, they’re wearing Ming army uniforms… Could they be soldiers from that much-discussed Eastern King’s residence?”

Yi Hui-deok muttered in a tense voice while examining the soldiers’ appearance through the monocular.

There had been information from above recently.

-Ming has established a royal residence in Liaodong.

-The problem is that this residence’s purpose is very likely aimed at attacking our Joseon.

Having received such warnings, Insanjin had been reinforced with one additional division (사(司, sī = division of about 3,200 men)) beyond its existing garrison.

“Now I have three divisions, so…”

After calculating his forces including the reinforcements, Yi Hui-deok counted the cavalry visible in the distance.

“At most one company^[1]. Reconnaissance?”

While pondering the purpose of those gathered across the river, five Ming cavalry carrying white flags crossed the river.

The Ming cavalry who crossed the river stood before Insanjin’s gate and raised their voices.

“We are envoys sent by His Highness Eastern King! Open the gates!”

At the Ming cavalry’s shout, Yi Hui-deok called for an interpreter. Shortly after, the interpreter arrived and conveyed Yi Hui-deok’s words.

“Show your credentials!”

After verifying the credentials, a ferry carrying the envoys cut across the Yalu River.

“I am Han Sam-nam, sent by His Highness Eastern King.”

“I am Yi Hui-deok, commander of Insanjin. Welcome to Joseon.”

“Thank you.”

During this brief exchange of greetings, Yi Hui-deok immediately noticed one thing.

Not a civil official, but a military one!

Having realized Han Sam-nam was a military official, Yi Hui-deok moved quickly.

“There’s a guesthouse east of the garrison. Stay there for now. We’ll notify Hanseong as quickly as possible.”

“Can we not stay within the garrison?”

“Not possible.”

At Yi Hui-deok’s firm answer, Han Sam-nam headed to the guesthouse with his party.

Watching Han Sam-nam’s party disappear into the guesthouse, Yi Hui-deok issued orders to his subordinates.

“Report to Hanseong immediately via signal fire. Also have messengers ready to carry the official report.”

“Yes, sir!”

“And raise the garrison’s alert level to highest grade! Until they leave!”

“Yes, sir!”

***

Two days later, Yi Hui-deok met Han Sam-nam again.

“Word has come from Hanseong. In two days, troops will arrive to escort the envoys. You can travel to Hanseong with them.”

At Yi Hui-deok’s words, Han Sam-nam’s eyes sparkled.

“Already? That’s quite swift!”

To Han Sam-nam’s words, Yi Hui-deok replied with an expression suggesting it was nothing special.

“We Joseon people like speed.”

“Is that so?”

Two days later, the cavalry unit to escort Han Sam-nam’s party arrived at Insanjin.

“How strict…”

Seeing the Joseon cavalry surrounding them more like prisoners than escorts, Han Sam-nam briefly frowned at their strict discipline. But he quickly composed his expression and asked the cavalry commander in a casual voice.

“Which route will we take to Hanseong? I hear there are famous pleasure quarters along the way – will we visit those?”

To Han Sam-nam’s question, the cavalry commander answered in a dry voice.

“We’ll take the iron horse from Uiju straight to Hanseong.”

“Is that so? How disappointing. Tsk.”

Han Sam-nam clicked his tongue, openly showing his disappointment. It was genuine disappointment.

It was the perfect chance to check the invasion route… Guess I’ll have to make do with just surveying up to Uiju.

***

Thanks to the iron horse, Han Sam-nam’s party arrived quickly in Hanseong.

Meeting Hyang at Seunghwadang, Han Sam-nam respectfully presented Zhu Qizhen’s personal letter on a silver tray.

“This is a personal letter from His Highness Eastern King.”

“I’ll receive it on behalf of His Majesty.”

Receiving Zhu Qizhen’s letter through a eunuch, Hyang broke the seal and checked its contents.

After confirming the letter’s contents, Hyang looked at Han Sam-nam with a strange expression. Looking at Han Sam-nam with a mixture of displeasure and contempt, Hyang spoke.

“I’ve confirmed the letter well. We’ll prepare a reply soon, so rest at the envoys’ quarters.”

“Yes.”

After Han Sam-nam left, Hyang checked the letter’s contents once more and made an expression of disbelief.

“Good grief! Everyone, please read this.”

“Yes.”

The ministers received Zhu Qizhen’s letter through a eunuch and took turns reading its contents.

“Hah…”

The ministers’ expressions after reading the letter were little different from Hyang’s.

“What do you think?”

To Hyang’s question, Hwang Hui answered on behalf of the ministers.

“He’s written this monumental bullshit quite elaborately.”

When profanity burst out in an official setting, the court historians and scribes looked at Hwang Hui with surprised eyes.

But Hyang immediately nodded.

“Indeed? It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen such bullshit.”

At Hyang’s words, Kim Jongseo spoke up.

“His writing skills aren’t even worthy of the records office.”

“It’s not just discourteous, it’s completely filled with impropriety. Wonder who taught him… tsk!”

The contents of Zhu Qizhen’s personal letter to Joseon were as follows:

-By His Majesty the Emperor’s command, I have established a royal residence in Liaodong.

-I am His Majesty the Emperor’s eldest son and am now responsible for defending this Liaodong.

-So why has Joseon not sent envoys to greet me? Do you look down on me, who will be responsible for the safety of Joseon’s northern regions? If not, send envoys immediately.

-As I am His Majesty the Emperor’s eldest son, I deem it appropriate for Joseon’s Crown Prince to come.

This was why not only Hyang but all the ministers joined in calling it “bullshit.”

Story Arcs