Chapter 165
Chapter 165
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: Ninefold Deception (9)
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To Tsushima's lord, So Sadamori, Joseon was an object of both love and hate.
Ever since Joseon had opened Jeju Island to them, allowing unrestricted trade, the people of Tsushima no longer had to worry about starvation.
It was because Joseon bought the goods they plundered from Ming China at good prices.
However, Joseon did not shower them with only favors.
In exchange for opening trade, King Sejong's close aide Kim Dae-bung had threatened that "the position of Tsushima lord can be replaced at Joseon's whim."
And this time, in exchange for the rights to intermediate trade of 20,000 geun of steel, they had to hand over the Tsushima silver mine.
On top of that, they even had to permit Joseon settlers to live around the mine.
"That vile bastard Kim Dae-bung."
He was a karo (high retainer) of the Shoni clan, one of Wakoku's great daimyo families, and held the authority to rule Tsushima as its lord...
Yet whenever that man appeared, he felt like he was no longer the lord of Tsushima but a slave to Joseon.
What infuriated him even more was that the words from that man's honeyed tongue were utterly impossible to defy.
How did Joseon know that his clan lacked even the official title of "Tsushima no Kami," symbolizing legitimate rule over Tsushima, or the Tsushima shugo post acknowledged by the shogunate?
And how did they know that they were rivals with the wako in Hirado (many of whom were Ming Chinese)?
"Ha, it's all because of that Kim Dae-bung."
During the previous Tsushima invasion, the Joseon side had mistaken them for the "leaders of the wako," and when the invasion ended, he had bluffed as if it were true—and Joseon had fallen for it completely.
But everything changed after Kim Dae-bung appeared in Tsushima.
Now, if he tried that again, Kim Dae-bung would immediately show up, oust him, and install some Hanata from the seaside as the new lord. He couldn't even dream of resisting.
In the end, the Tsushima lord muttered curses at Kim Dae-bung and Joseon to himself once more today.
He wanted to gather his retainers and curse them all together, but he couldn't risk it—those disloyal, unfaithful retainers might secretly report it to Joseon.
"My lord, the miners and their families sent from Joseon, along with the soldiers, have arrived at the harbor."
"They sure came quickly. It's been less than six days since Kim Dae-bung was here, and already they've brought miners, families, and even soldiers. Unless they were absolutely certain we couldn't refuse their proposal and prepared in advance, Joseon couldn't have sent people this fast."
He grumbled, yet the Tsushima lord was still dressed in the official robes bestowed by Joseon today.
If he fell out of Joseon's favor, he could lose not only his position but all the benefits granted so far at any moment.
The Tsushima lord hurriedly made his way to the harbor.
His life depended on currying favor with Joseon anyway—what difference did rolling in the mud one more time make?
Upon arriving at the harbor, So Sadamori greeted the Joseon people warmly in halting Joseon speech.
"I am Tsushima's lord, So Sadamori. As long as you don't cause major trouble during your stay here, I will do my utmost to assist you in repaying His Majesty's grace, so make yourselves at home."
The Joseon entrants to Tsushima were dumbfounded to see the lord welcoming them in their language.
At the same time, a sense of pride welled up.
The lord who had once constantly plundered Joseon and killed its people was now dressed in Joseon official robes, speaking their language to welcome them...
It made them feel just how much stronger Joseon had become compared to before.
"Who among you gathered here is the representative?"
"His Majesty appointed me as your representative, Lord of Tsushima."
"Welcome to Tsushima. Though I serve the Shoni clan, I too receive boundless grace from His Majesty of Joseon... I will treat you Joseon folk the same as Tsushima's people and care for you with all sincerity."
"Thank you, my lord. However, His Majesty worried that Tsushima lacks food and has few people, so its soldiers might have limits in protecting the miners from Joseon. Thus, along with the miners and their families, he sent 300 Joseon soldiers to guard them."
Tsushima's population was around 20,000, so strictly speaking, 300 soldiers alone couldn't perfectly protect the dispatched miners and families.
Yet dispatching soldiers anyway was King Sejong's warning to the Tsushima lord.
A warning that any funny business would turn Tsushima into uninhabitable land in an instant...
"It seems His Majesty has sent Joseon's elite troops. The 300 soldiers move in perfect unison, like a single body—truly impressive. I wish Tsushima had more samurai like this."
At that moment, a military officer contradicted the Tsushima lord.
"These are merely ordinary soldiers fulfilling their military service in Joseon. However, since they are now serving far from the Eight Provinces of Joseon, they are paid generously as compensation."
"......Ordinary soldiers?"
"Yes, that's correct."
Strictly speaking, they weren't randomly selected.
With the condition of granting one gyeol of land after three years of service in Tsushima, many had volunteered to change their fates.
Only those who passed fierce competition were selected.
However, among them, those comparable to samurai—military officers, armored constables, or even low-ranking officers—totaled barely 20.
As the officer said, most were indeed ordinary soldiers.
The Tsushima lord initially doubted the officer's words but, seeing his expression, accepted it as truth.
'Not a hint of bluffing.'
"And the food for the Joseon soldiers, miners, and their families will be regularly supplied from Joseon, so no need to worry."
"I am deeply grateful for the grace."
"And as promised by Lord Kim Dae-bung of the Ironworks Bureau, we have brought 20,000 geun of steel."
"My thanks."
The Joseon soldiers openly displayed the 20,000 geun of steel before the gathered Tsushima people.
At the same time, massive amounts of grain and livestock were unloaded.
"That's enough food for nearly half a year..."
"Ah, to Joseon people, that's barely two months' worth."
If they weren't running a mukbang channel, eating a lot wouldn't be a big boast in the 21st century.
But in the pre-modern era, even a commoner eating abundantly signified the nation's strength.
Imagining the overwhelming appetites of Joseon people, the Tsushima lord was speechless before Joseon's power.
"His Majesty said to dispose of the steel as you see fit, Lord of Tsushima. We will head straight to the silver mine to prepare mining and set up facilities so the people can live."
"Yes, do so..."
The Joseon miners, families, and soldiers, gathered after disembarking, hurriedly set off toward the silver mine.
Watching Joseon's abundance that could consume such vast food and the soldiers moving in orderly unison like one body, the Tsushima lord thought:
Never defy Joseon. And focus on riding Joseon's order to prosperity for Tsushima.
"Yanagawa!"
"Yes, my lord."
"Mobilize Tsushima people to help the Joseon miners build houses and settlements. And tell the karo and samurai to accommodate their requests as much as possible."
"Isn't that too much?"
"Our Shoni clan is being pushed by the Ouchi scum and could fall any day. Didn't you just see it with your own eyes? Joseon is rock-solid and prosperous. How can you spout such nonsense after witnessing that?"
"My apologies."
The Tsushima lord clicked his tongue inwardly. With fools like this as karo, was Tsushima doomed?
"And once the Joseon miners start full operations at the mine, we head to Hirado."
"Isn't that enemy territory?"
"We'll forge weapons and armor from 20,000 geun of steel and show them our strength. Then tempt and coax them that if they follow us, we'll give them steel. The Hirado wako will surely join us."
To wako, iron meant power. Because processing iron made weapons and armor. Good weapons and armor made plundering Ming China or the natives in Luzon (Philippines) much easier.
"Prepare at once."
Time passed, and when the Joseon miners were ready to extract silver and apply silver refining techniques, the Tsushima lord led his samurai straight to Hirado.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Where's Matsuura?"
The Tsushima lord demanded the Hirado wako leader immediately upon arrival.
The Hirado wako bristled at this...
But seeing not only Tsushima's samurai but even its common soldiers armed with steel weapons, they quickly became compliant.
"Why are you here, Tsushima lord?"
"Won't you join us in plundering the Ming coast?"
It's better to plunder in large groups with multiple factions.
That reduced the chance of bad luck running into Ming garrison troops and getting crushed.
"......And if we refuse?"
"Then refuse. But if you join the plundering with us, we'll sell you steel."
"You have steel left after arming yourselves? Fine, whatever. Plundering's on the agenda anyway. Plunder and buy steel—two birds with one stone."
Thus, the Hirado wako and Tsushima lord joined forces.
And these two turned Fujian Province along the Ming coast—precisely the areas they passed—into scorched earth before returning.