Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Stirring Up Trouble in the Ming Dynasty (2)
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I hate the Ming Dynasty.
And it's not just me who hates the Ming Dynasty.
In fact, it's safe to say that hardly anyone in Joseon actually likes them.
Those rotten Ming bastards slap us with the title of "Honorable Barbarian State" and treat us like second-class citizens.
We're not some colony of the Ming Dynasty—we're a sovereign nation. So why the hell do we have to put up with that kind of treatment?
It's just like how the Japanese turned us into a colony, imposed all sorts of unfair taxes, and dragged off our girls to serve as comfort women.
The Ming bastards do the same: they take our princesses as tribute, demand ten thousand warhorses every year, and throw tantrums until we cough up gold and silver that don't even exist in Joseon.
Just thinking about those scum makes my blood boil.
"One day, just as we broke free from Japan, Joseon will soon achieve independence from the Ming Dynasty too."
When that time comes, I'll make damn sure they pay for every drop of blood and tear the Koreans have shed.
As someone who crossed over from modern Korea to Joseon, I see this as both my duty and my right.
"Could you pass along a message to the Minister of Rites that Junior Administrator Kim Dae-bung of the Ministry of Military Affairs has something urgent to request?"
The palace servant listened to me and immediately went off to find his direct superior.
After getting approvals from a few people that way, the servant returned to me and said,
"He said it's not normally allowed to request an urgent audience with the Minister of Rites like this. But since it's not some other deputy magistrate... and the one and only Junior Administrator Kim has something urgent to discuss, the Minister of Rites has graciously made time for you."
"I see. Thank you for passing the message—you've worked hard."
"This servant has merely done his duty."
That's what he says, but even after everything's done, he shows no sign of leaving. Instead, he keeps gazing at me with wistful eyes.
Ah, he's asking for a tip.
If some other Ministry of Rites official had pulled this, I'd have been annoyed and dumped a ton of work on the jerk.
But slaves are pitiful things who labor unpaid their whole lives, like public service workers. You can't be too stingy with them.
"Since you've gone to the trouble, do me one more favor. Come to my house after work tomorrow? I'll give you some rice."
"Oh, you don't have to... Thank you, my lord."
Palace servants aren't out there suffering like active-duty soldiers.
But they're still dragged in against their will to work, same as anyone.
Besides, these public slaves serve for life. It's only right to look after them.
They handle roles inside the palace like eunuchs, so if you piss them off, you might end up wearing shit out of nowhere.
Get on their good side, though, and they'll warn you if someone's in a bad mood today so watch out, or tell you someone's cheerful for this reason so butter them up first.
That's why most officials give them a bit of rice or something as thanks for these odd jobs.
I sent the palace servant off and headed to the Ministry of Rites to meet Heo Jo.
Heo Jo saw me and immediately started scolding.
"Junior Administrator Kim, there must be a reason you wanted to see me so urgently, but doesn't Joseon have laws and etiquettes? You're a rank-5 official, so first you should go to the Junior Administrator of the Ministry of Rites and ask if you can see the Minister. Then the Deputy Minister of Rites, then the Assistant Minister, in that order..."
"My apologies."
"If it were any other young punk, I'd have reprimanded you harshly so you never pull this again. But since it's you, Junior Administrator Kim, I'll let it slide with just this."
True to form, the old-school, by-the-book Heo Jo.
Other ministers would gladly make time if I said I had urgent business—unless it was something extraordinary.
They believe good things come even in their sleep when they hear from me.
After all, Hwang Hui and Jo Mal-saeng have benefited plenty, so no room for doubt.
But this guy lectures me on protocol?
No one else clings to rules like Heo Jo.
'Truth be told, calling a meeting like this does bypass the chain of command.'
If Heo Jo weren't such a stickler for rules, would he have dared submit a memorial saying it violated protocol and His Highness should reconsider when Yi Bang-won heard Kim Dae-bung's touching tale and wanted to send royal gifts?
"So, what's this urgent business that brought you here?"
"Could you slot me into this diplomatic mission?"
"You've earned great favor from the Lord of Tsushima during your trip there, and since you returned, the Japanese pirates haven't invaded. So I expect you could win over the Emperor or the ministers in the Ming Dynasty, and maybe even achieve more than I anticipate."
In any organization, people are judged by their accomplishments.
Those with big results get praised by everyone; those without don't, no matter their character.
I've racked up more achievements than any deputy magistrate could dream of.
That's why I can make an out-of-left-field request like this to Heo Jo.
If Kim Jong-seo, stuck under Hwang Hui at the State Council, tried this, what would happen?
Heo Jo would probably laugh heartily and slyly tell Hwang Hui, "How'd you train your subordinate? Kill the bastard."
"No one would oppose putting Junior Administrator Kim as deputy envoy. But you've already piled up enough merit to become a senior official. If you take the deputy envoy spot too, it might tarnish your reputation in court. People might say you're hogging all the glory. Why not give the chance to someone from the State Council, like Director of Reforms Kim Jong-seo or Assistant Director Hwang Bo-in?"
Joining the Ming diplomatic mission is a huge boost for promotions.
Me jumping in suddenly means snatching someone else's shot at advancement.
"In handling Ministry of Military Affairs duties, I often receive reports from the naval anti-pirate forces. According to them, Joseon's ships are fine for sailing near our eight provinces, but they can't carry much cargo and are slow. Ming treasure ships, on the other hand, are incredibly fast and can haul a ton."
Japanese pirates are pros at piracy.
To be good at it, you need to know the ships your targets use.
That way, you can plunder effectively.
Pirate-loving wretches know Ming ships, Joseon ships, and Japanese ships inside out.
I hate the bastards, but their knowledge is useful—might as well use it.
"Before the orchard law, there'd be no need for better ships. But per reports from the Ministry of Finance, production of local specialties has skyrocketed nationwide since the law passed. For example, pear trees in Icheon tripled in one year, and persimmon trees in Jinhae quadrupled."
Fruits like pears and persimmons don't bear fruit a year after planting.
Actual output will spike in 3-4 years.
But it's not just trees—herring pollack jerky, dried anchovies, crafts, all local specialties will explode too.
To sell them everywhere without rotting, commerce needs to boom nationwide.
"Easier transport means commerce grows, markets thrive everywhere, taxes rise, and court finances overflow."
"You're planning to join the envoy and secretly poach treasure ship builders. But is that feasible?"
"Right after Emperor Yongle halted his great expeditions, Ming tightened the sea ban. Even the late Emperor moved coastal villagers to Liaodong to form garrisons when pirates hit the shores."
Ming bastards are something else.
Mongols and Jurchens won't listen even for proper trade...
But pirates would stop if allowed to trade.
Simple reason: With ships and funds for piracy, they could trade and sell back home without starving in Japan.
That's why pirate raids vanished the moment the sea ban lifted in the late 16th century under unification policy.
"After the ban, from small fishing boat craftsmen to big treasure ship builders, they're all jobless—probably starving now. Offer them decent pay and food, shelter, clothing—who wouldn't come?"
Settling in unfamiliar Joseon beats starving in Ming, by a hundredfold.
If families want to join, just instruct them to sneak along.
"Crossing the Ming border is the key..."
"Bribe the Liaodong garrison troops, and they'll look the other way. Inside Ming proper, we'd act separately, of course."
"The deputy envoy can't do it himself..."
"There must be eager young officials or interpreters hungry for advancement who'll volunteer."
Just look around—you'll find them.
This could make their careers overnight.
Luck out, and they might land a lifetime post like me.
"I'll grant your request. I'll petition His Highness personally."