Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: Hidden Dagger (7)
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There was a saying in the scriptures.
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Based on that, Kim Dae-bung interpreted the Ming dynasty's actions in this way.
They were a nation with the world's strongest power, but like the states that had conquered the Central Plains in the past, they harbored a dark desire to be trampled by powerful barbarians.
So, by disparaging foreign countries like Joseon as barbarians, weren't they revealing their instinct to receive a thorough lesson?
Thus, Kim Dae-bung submitted a memorial to King Sejong and Yi Bang-won, outlining a scheme to satisfy Emperor Xuande of Ming's twisted fetish.
Yi Bang-won slapped his knee and laughed heartily upon reading the memorial.
"Ha ha, as expected of Kim Dae-bung! With ambitions like these, he could offer steadfast counsel even before the iron mace that slew Jeong Mong-ju. Truly an outstanding subject. Don't you agree, my son?"
"I concur with Your Majesty's words. I have many fine retainers, but among them, Kim Dae-bung stands out like a crane among chickens. He demonstrates remarkable ability no matter where he's placed."
"When that damned Ming emperor tried to nitpick our young crown prince, I was burning with rage inside. But thanks to Kim Dae-bung's deft handling, we averted a major incident. That alone merited a great reward and praise. And now, on top of that, he's devised a way to get revenge on Ming without them ever noticing, while filling our national treasury to boot... Truly an outstanding subject. I'm immensely pleased."
Both Yi Bang-won and Sejong despised Ming.
Yet Ming had summoned their young crown prince for a psychological showdown, and in the end, sent him back with a pat on the head like one might a dog or pig, as if to soothe his feelings.
This ordeal had intensified their hatred for Ming several times over.
They had even come to loathe sharing the same sky as them.
"Looking at the memorial Kim Dae-bung submitted, he says that since Ming treats Joseon as barbarians, it would only be right for Joseon to give them the full barbarian treatment. I find that reasoning quite sound. If they harass Joseon without cause, wouldn't it be fine to give them a proper reason to hate us?"
A sinister smile, evoking the scent of blood, crept across Sejong's face.
It was an expression that never appeared when he thought of Joseon's young subjects.
"Through Tsushima, we'll sell iron to pirate lairs like Iki Island and beyond, letting Joseon earn money while the pirates grow stronger with it, plundering Ming on a massive scale. For Ming, suffering the consequences, it will be unspeakably horrific."
"Upon reflection, it might be good to supply iron all the way to Annam through Tsushima. After clashing with the Yongle Emperor, they haven't dared challenge Ming to this day. They're surely short on iron too. If we spread word that we're selling it cheap, they'll eagerly buy."
Vietnam—or Annam, as it was called in this era—had wrested independence from Ming after a long war.
They had even signed a peace treaty with Ming.
Yet they were still treated as slightly better than Japanese pirates—mere barbarians.
Since this had happened just shy of ten years ago, they must still be deeply wary of Ming and working to bolster their defenses in preparation for potential conflict.
It was common sense that strengthening national defenses and expanding the military required more iron—ever more iron.
"With our ironworks expanded and iron plentiful, selling it to countries other than Ming sounds excellent. The proceeds will bolster the royal treasury, greatly aiding Joseon's future grand enterprises."
Yi Bang-won disliked Jeong Do-jeon.
But he agreed with a few of his ideas.
One was that those accursed Ming scum dominating the world grated on him, so they should conquer Liaodong to give them a taste of Joseon's spice.
Of course, it was an unrealistic goal that ignored Joseon's realities, opposed even by Yi Seong-gye...
'If we can, we must make Ming pay for tormenting us and avenge our deep-seated grudge.'
"But here's the thing. Even if we grant Tsushima the right to broker steel sales, do you think they'll hand over their silver mines?"
There was no silver refining technique in this era.
Thus, refining silver from their mines yielded pitiful amounts.
But on the barren rock of Tsushima, aside from trade (or piracy), the silver mines were their only reliable income source...
They had staked their lives on them.
Sejong knew this well, so he couldn't fathom what Kim Dae-bung was thinking by claiming they'd acquire the silver mines...
"According to what the Kim Man-deok merchant group, based in Jeju's Jeongui County, heard from their frequent Japanese trading partners, Tsushima is so barren and poor that without trade with Joseon, they'd starve immediately. So if the island lord displeases us, we can simply transfer his Joseon trade rights to another on Tsushima. That way, we can replace him at will."
"......I knew Tsushima relied on trade with Joseon, but I never imagined such vulnerabilities behind it."
"Thus, to survive, the island lord has no choice but to yield the silver mines to Joseon's will."
"Kim Dae-bung's scheme is a great boon to Joseon and a catastrophe for Tsushima."
Yi Bang-won thought that even if he were the island lord, he'd see no escape from Kim Dae-bung's grasp.
"And once we take the silver mines, he'll build a new village there for Joseon settlers. He'll also test new silver smelting techniques."
"Now I'm pondering whom to send."
"I'll order the Executive Office to recommend a suitable candidate."
And soon enough, a delegation was formed, led by Kim Dae-bung.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ As multiple relay ships were built, Joseon's transportation improved dramatically.
Previously, the trip from Busan to Seoul took over half a month one way, but now it took less than three days to reach Busan.
And from Busan by ship to Tsushima was just a day, so ships were indeed supreme in this era.
That's why the ancestors preferred sea routes over carving paths through land.
"Aigoo, Lord of Tsushima. What an honor to meet you again like this."
Last time I first came to Tsushima, the island lord had subtly looked down on me.
But now, he treated me like a demanding patron.
"The honor is mine to meet you again. I never dreamed you'd return so soon."
"For the friendship between Tsushima and Joseon, I'd come hundreds—no, thousands of times."
"Ha ha, I'm truly grateful for that sentiment. And take a look at the official robes I'm wearing now."
"You're wearing the robes bestowed by Joseon."
"Of course. Though I'm a subject of Japan in name, that's merely formality. In my heart, there's only Joseon. I'm always grateful for the boundless grace Your Highness has shown. To express even a fraction of that, I always wear Joseon robes, study the Joseon language too. How's my Joseon speech? Not bad, eh?"
His pronunciation was clumsy, but it was fluent enough for conversation.
For a man of his age to master Joseon to this level in just a few years... He must have put in bone-grinding effort.
This was all because I had 'educated' the island lord by declaring 'Joseon knows everything.'
"You could pass for a Joseon man now."
At 'Joseon man', the Tsushima interpreters and lord winced in unison.
Yet none dared protest.
They knew exactly who held their leashes—or rather, their rice bowls—so they managed their anger well.
"Is my Joseon that fluent? I'm delighted by your approval. It was worth the hard study."
"His Highness will be overjoyed to hear this. That the Lord of Tsushima, moved by Joseon's virtue, learned our language of his own accord. It shows how profound Joseon's grace is."
"You're embarrassing me. Come inside. I've prepared a very special banquet for you."
"Thank you. In return, allow us to offer you a splendid entertainment."
As I said 'entertainment', a hwacha was unloaded from the ship I'd arrived on.
"It's fireworks. We ignite gunpowder to paint the night sky beautifully."
Japan in this era had no concept of fireworks.
Because they lacked gunpowder production technology and proper gunpowder weapons.
Meanwhile, Joseon had a tradition of lavish fireworks displays using massive amounts of powder for visiting Ming envoys.
Fireworks devoured gunpowder like a monster, but this time it was a tiny amount—no great waste.
At my signal, dozens of arrows launched skyward simultaneously.
Trails of multicolored sparks traced their paths.
Soon, explosions at the trails' ends dyed the sky in vibrant hues.
This simple repetition left the Tsushima folk, lord included, frozen in awe.
"This is the hwacha, a new weapon devised by Crown Prince Suyang. It fires dozens of arrows at once."
In truth, the hwacha itself wasn't highly efficient.
But the sight of dozens of arrows raining down instilled terror in enemies.
Thus, I judged it useful in battle.
After all, wars in this era often boiled down to whose morale crumbled first, breaking their formation.
"Impressive power, isn't it?"