Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Even Pirates Have Their Uses (6)
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Truth be told, Joseon knows next to nothing about Tsushima.
That's why even a third-rank Judicial Official like me mistakes the Lord of Tsushima for some big shot in Japan just because he shells out fifty taels of silver.
In Joseon, even a penniless bum who doesn't own a scrap of land can pass the civil service exams and rise to become prime minister... and suddenly he's lording over local gentry worth ten thousand or a hundred thousand seok of grain, treating them all like dirt beneath his feet.
Seeing how the Lord of Tsushima has boatloads of cash and handles all diplomacy with Joseon, we fool ourselves into thinking he's a real power player in the shogunate.
But let's be real—he's just a retainer to one of the shogun's daimyo.
"...What do you mean by that? Tsushima has never deceived Joseon."
"Then it won't matter if I send a letter to the shogun in the bakufu asking who the Governor of Tsushima—no, the Protector of Tsushima and his deputy are. If you're truly a key retainer under the shogun, you must at least hold the title of Governor of Tsushima."
Ever since the samurai regime took over, the title of Governor of Tsushima had lost almost all its meaning.
Sure, back in the day, the Governor of Tsushima actually ruled the island...
But with the rise of the Minamoto and Muromachi shogunates, the governorship became little more than an honorary badge.
It's just the bakufu's way of showing respect—nothing more.
But if you're a true heavy hitter in the shogun's inner circle, they'll give you the governorship of the actual territory you control.
For example, if your domain includes a place called Izumi, they'd hand you the title of 'Izumi no Kami'.
Those a rung lower, but still from prestigious families with real governing authority, get 'Izumi Shugo' or 'Izumi Shugodai'—deputy protector.
You don't need to know the intricacies of Japanese officialdom to get by, but when you're handling diplomacy, this stuff is crucial.
It's the tool for figuring out your opponent's real status.
"Shall I inquire with the bakufu?"
Cold sweat poured down the Lord of Tsushima's face.
For a split second, he seemed torn about whether to cut me down right there...
As if a lowlife like you could kill me. Fat chance.
I might play along with your bluster and treat you like you're above a Joseon senior official, but in reality, you're just the leader of Tsushima's pirate band. How exactly do you plan to off me?
"Oh, you'd do well not to even think about killing me."
"...Even if you're not a Joseon official, I could at least handle a lowly junior like you..."
"Looks can be deceiving. I've filed a memorial that branded an active Chief State Councillor a traitor and wiped out his entire clan. Sure, I'd die here, but if that happens, a storm of blood will sweep over Tsushima."
Mention of bloodshed seemed to dredge up memories of the Joseon conquest of Tsushima.
When Joseon gets dragged into a war like the Imjin Invasion, fields lie fallow, populations plummet, and the national strength takes a massive hit...
Tsushima's soil is so barren they can't even farm properly, and their main industry is piracy, so losing people barely dents them.
Besides, a guy like the Lord of Tsushima can just grab his samurai retainers and their families and hightail it to Kyushu.
So he probably doesn't fear full-scale war all that much.
"Oh, Joseon won't resort to war anymore. We can just replace you as Lord of Tsushima and call it a day."
The Lord of Tsushima bellowed at me.
"You insolent cur! Have you lost your mind? I've listened to your nonsense long enough—it's utterly ridiculous! Tsushima's samurai may lack the scholarship of Joseon's scholars, but we are the descendants of the brave warriors who stood firm against the Yuan hordes to the bitter end."
I nearly burst out laughing.
Back then, the regent was definitely Hojo Tokimune, and Japan did successfully defend against the Mongol invasions.
We should give them credit for that, but the truth is, Japan didn't save itself because they were superior fighters or anything.
It was that typhoon they call the 'divine wind' that sank the entire Mongol fleet anchored near Hakata Bay, cutting off their supplies and escape route.
That's it. Nothing else.
And I hear their fighting style back then was hilariously outdated.
The Mongols were waging proper warfare with arrows and primitive gunpowder weapons...
While the Japanese were busy doing their 'nani yori' intros to climb the ranks—samurai at the captain and major level introducing themselves got picked off by arrows by the truckload.
'I am the great-grandson eight generations removed of Tanaka Hanataro, peerless warrior under Lord Minamoto no Yoshie... and seven generations from Tanaka Shichisaburo, the samurai who conquered the Nagato region...'
They'd prattle on like that and get mowed down in droves. True story.
It was so absurd I almost cracked up, but I held it in.
"Tsushima's samurai would not fear death for my sake."
"Are you seriously asking me to believe that?"
Thanks to movies and all that, we picture samurai as men who charge into death for their lord without hesitation...
But that ideal only became widespread in the Edo period—more precisely, after Confucianism spread widely in Japan, from the mid-Edo shogunate onward.
Before that, even samurai betrayed their lords when things got dicey, or switched allegiances for better deals all the time.
"It doesn't matter to Joseon who becomes Lord of Tsushima. Oh, you might not grasp that."
No matter how great my boss is as a person, or how many decades I've loyally served him...
The second he stops paying my salary, he's just a former benefactor. Two months of back pay, and he's a rotten boss.
That's the brutal reality of human society.
"Truth is, if His Majesty so willed it, he could elevate the lowliest wretch on Tsushima and make him the new lord."
"You think that's possible? The samurai would never accept it!"
"They'd serve him with utter loyalty. Because as long as that lowly scum holds the title, free trade with Joseon will be permitted."
Just like how even the best boss turns evil the moment paychecks bounce...
Or conversely, even a scumbag boss becomes a saint if he wires 500,000 or 600,000 won into my account every month.
Thanks to him, I can take paid leave for overseas trips, treat my parents to nice meals, brag to friends, and hold my head high with my girlfriend...
What if Tsushima's samurai saw their real incomes double or triple by bowing to some lowly upstart as their lord?
They'd polish his boots, no question.
"Lord of Tsushima, Joseon has no intention of coddling or coaxing you anymore. We've realized we don't need to."
Diplomacy with Tsushima had always been about each side filling the other's gaps.
That's why Joseon kept sweet-talking them to maintain relations.
But from now on, everything changes.
The Lord of Tsushima will have to swear unconditional loyalty to Joseon to protect his life and power.
Otherwise, King Sejong will hand trading rights to someone else.
"So from here on, you'll follow the order Joseon sets. Otherwise, we'll have no choice but to replace you."
The Lord of Tsushima's hands shook violently. Sweat poured down his face like rain.
"...So be it."
"Excellent."
It's so much nicer when conversation flows smoothly.
But these Japanese are sly as foxes, so to drive the point home, I need to show him just how mighty Joseon is. How?
After a moment's thought, I hit on a brilliant idea.
"Oh, and since I've shared such valuable intel, you'll naturally want to show your gratitude, right?"
"Of course."
Even though I'm here as vice envoy, I'm just a lowly fifth-rank official.
For a guy like me to openly threaten to kill him unless he forks over bribes—and for him to be powerless to resist—that experience alone should hammer home Joseon's greatness.
"Give me 600 taels of silver."
"...Isn't that a bit much?"
"You think Joseon doesn't know Tsushima's crawling with silver?"
Japanese history records one of their first silver mines as the 'Tsushima Silver Mine'.
So yeah, they've got plenty.
"I'm offended. Make it 1,000 taels."
"......"
Does our Lord of Tsushima have anger issues, or is he just incapable of reading the room?
The man who should be scrambling to pay up right now is sitting there mute.
"I get it must feel like a bolt from the blue, but if you knew how much I've advocated for you, you wouldn't react this way. His Majesty was itching to replace you on the spot, but I barely talked him down. Honestly, without me stepping in, you wouldn't be keeping your seat right now."
The Lord of Tsushima trembled all over. He ground his teeth, then nodded.
"I'll have the 1,000 taels of silver ready the day after tomorrow."
"Thank you. I'll retire to my room now. And no need to send geisha to my quarters. Aside from my favorite concubine back in Hanyang, I have no use for other women."
With that, I withdrew.
If he hands over those 1,000 taels, I'll secretly report it to King Sejong and offer it up.
I could launder it for myself with some effort, no problem, but dedicating 1,000 taels to the Joseon court could ease the burden on countless commoners.
Once Kim Dae-bung had left, the Lord of Tsushima flew into a rage, smashing everything in the room and roaring.
"Find out what the hell this Kim Dae-bung guy from Joseon really is! Is he some mangnani bastard who's learned nothing but gutter trash tricks? Dig up everything on him!!"