Chapter 74
BACKTICK`CHAPTER_TITLE: Twisted Dealings
Damn it! What the hell is this mess?
It hadn’t seemed that bad at first. Not exactly great either. But after getting so tangled up, this was the only conclusion they could reach.
Returning from Ganghwado, Yi Yeon had agonized over it and finally sent Hwang Yun-gil to Ming China.
If they wiped out the Japanese pirates’ lair on Tsushima, the Ming would naturally benefit. They’d just demand some payoff as compensation.
Now, dealing with the pirates was no big deal. Not with the Heoxin and Hyeongmyeong steaming away. The two ships, powered by massive steam engines, were faster and tougher than ever. No more leaking through the hulls, no creaking in rough seas, and they could sail all the way to Tsushima and back in a single breath.
So after hitting Tsushima, Yi Yeon had planned to seize Iki Island next. That alone would stop the Japanese pirates from causing trouble and let Joseon trade directly with the Portuguese merchants.
But something still felt off.
It was because of what Kim Sensei had said.
“Master Yi, do you know what King Sejong got for taking Tsushima?”
“Got? Tsushima was a useless island to begin with. He just pretended to attack and then retreated, right?”
“Yes, but he used that as a pretext to seize the Four Commanderies and Six Prefectures from Ming China.”
“Really?”
“That’s what Kim Sensei told me, anyway. The story goes like this…”
According to Kim Sensei, Ming wasn’t just watching the Mongols and Jurchens. They were also keeping a close eye on Joseon, descendants of the fallen Goryeo kingdom.
Given how specialized Ming’s army was in formations, the cavalry archers were basically their natural enemies. And since Joseon was also Goryeo blood, they were right in their crosshairs.
Yet Joseon had quietly grown stronger anyway. No, they’d pretended to be weak.
When Ming threatened to exterminate the Japanese pirates, Joseon had “attacked” Tsushima on their own. Not really attacked, just the illusion of it.
That way Ming wouldn’t dare set foot on Joseon soil and waste precious strength fighting real pirates.
Then, once the Jurchens stirred up trouble, Ming had quietly taken the Four Commanderies and Six Prefectures and opened them up for settlement. Even so, Ming had simply watched from the sidelines.
They were supposed to reward Joseon for scratching their own itch. Ming had only pretended to overlook the northward expansion as some kind of favor.
“The King of Sejong was truly a wise ruler.”
“Exactly. While King Taejong gained nothing from Tsushima, King Sejong used the excuse to turn the Four Commanderies and Six Prefectures into permanent Joseon territory.”
Later, as Ming’s pressure tightened, Joseon had withdrawn from the Four Commanderies. But the Six Prefectures, with their milder climate and richer harvests, remained firmly in Joseon hands.
Whether the story was true or just Kim Sensei’s speculation, no one knew. Historians wouldn’t give a straight answer even if asked.
But one fact was clear: Ming suffered more from the Japanese pirates than Joseon ever did.
“That’s why the Ming imposed the Haenggeumryeong.”
King Wonjeong had lifted the ban, yet the Ming coast still had no residents. No one wanted to live where Japanese pirates might strike at any moment.
So Yi Yeon had decided to use that as leverage to claim Liaodong. If they couldn’t get it, well… too bad.
Yet something unexpected happened. Wonjeong showed surprising interest.
“Joseon is going to attack the Japanese pirates?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And you want Liaodong in exchange?”
“Th-that’s right, Your Majesty!”
Even before the fierce general of Liaodong, Li Chengliang, Hwang Yun-gil broke into a sweat and stammered. Not really stammering—just playing the role so the Ming emperor, lost in pleasure and power struggles with his ministers, would look down on him.
Whether it worked or he had some deeper plan, Wonjeong actually proposed negotiations.
“What can I give you?”
“Your Majesty, if Joseon crushes the Japanese pirates, it will save Da Ming a huge headache. So the great Ming must help us.”
“You’re right, but Liaodong is far too large. I can’t simply hand it over.”
“Forgive me, Your Majesty. If that’s the case, I suppose I was asking for nothing.”
“Hmph! Who do you think I am?”
“Huh?”
The emperor glared down at his high officials with icy eyes and continued, “Attacking the Japanese pirates only helps them. It brings me no benefit.”
“But there are people in the realm, Your Majesty!”
“Hmph! The people of the world are unreliable. Enough chatter. Tell me what you have to offer.”
With that, Wonjeong disappeared back into the harem and never showed his face again. He had dreamed of reform but, constantly blocked by his ministers, had given up.
In the end, Hwang Yun-gil had to negotiate separately with the high officials.
They held the real power.
“One million taels? That’s outrageous, sir.”
“Outrageous? I thought it was fair…”
“How is that fair? I heard Da Ming’s annual budget is only about four million taels. Now you’re asking for one million taels just to get Liaodong? Even if I wanted to give it, I couldn’t.”
“Come now! A little more would turn the emperor’s heart.”
“How so?”
“It’s all because of those spineless fools.”
Gao Gong pointed at the eunuch Li Qing and clicked his tongue.
*
Yi Yeon couldn’t trust Li Chengliang. Ming had quietly allowed coal mining in Liaodong, but nothing else had improved.
Yi Yeon had clearly told him, “Watch closely and decide which side you’ll choose within a year.”
But Li Chengliang had done nothing but watch. That meant he could betray them at any moment.
So Yi Yeon decided to remove him. Using Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng—two powerful ministers—and the eunuchs Yao Chen and Li Qing, who were close to the crown prince.
Yi Yeon first instructed Yao Chen and Li Qing to tell the prince what Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng were up to. They would only survive if they stayed loyal to him.
To Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng, he said to cooperate with them. That way, even if power shifted, they would remain safe.
But before anything could move forward, something exploded.
Li Chengliang had revealed everything to the emperor about the monopoly on coral and glass mirrors.
Thinking his monopoly had been stolen and he was in danger, Li Qing had reported Li Chengliang to the emperor. Li Chengliang had no choice but to confess everything under pressure.
The emperor was furious, but he couldn’t punish them. What Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng had done didn’t violate any Ming law. They hadn’t embezzled state funds or broken trade bans. They had simply traded with Joseon, receiving legitimate payment while the Ming’s cotton, silk, and tea industries grew rapidly.
Yet he was still annoyed. Every time he wanted to act, he lacked the money. But these men were making it easily.
So he listened to every word from the Joseon envoy. Better to listen than risk them leaving if he nitpicked.
And the moment he thought he had them, he said the words: “Pay a fair price and take it.”
After all, Liaodong was just a useless land. The Jurchens had to be managed or they would grow powerful and invade. That drained Ming’s strength every year.
But if Joseon took it, they wouldn’t have to worry. Joseon would naturally block the Jurchens and restrain the Mongols.
Joseon’s strength was simply unmatched with its powerful artillery. They couldn’t copy it.
So Wonjeong’s final decision after thinking it over was simple: wait.
Wait until Ming’s artisans could replicate Joseon’s cannons. He planned to enjoy himself until that day came.
Of course, he needed funds. And because the deal had gone this far, Joseon would have to pay one million taels to claim Liaodong.
He could afford it. Silver from years of trade had piled up.
But he didn’t want to give every tael they asked. He felt like they were taking advantage, so he demanded they cut the price to the bone.
*
“Anyway, we weren’t planning to demand anything right away, were we?”
“We can’t sell coral and mirrors because we don’t have any left, sir. That’s the situation.”
“So you refuse? You’re offering the Liaodong lands Joseon has been desperate to obtain.”
“Even so, one million taels is hard.”
“Then what’s the minimum?”
“Half! Exactly half! Fifty thousand taels, and we’ll find a way to scrape it together.”
“Good. It’s settled. But you must supply Bingchao Bird Mountain under monopoly.”
“How did you know…”
“Anyway, deliver the emperor our best wishes for victory.”
“Understood, sir.”
In the end, they agreed to hand over fifty thousand taels and claim Liaodong.
Hwang Yun-gil, believing he had been forced, was utterly defeated.
Yi Yeon, however, thought it was a wonderful outcome.
“Who knows what will happen next, but from now on, Liaodong is Joseon’s land. We can claim it forever without fear.”
*
*
In the end, the Tsushima lord, Sō Yoshishige, submitted and swore allegiance to Joseon.
The next words he offered were, “Prepare to strike Iki Island.”
Startled, the lord bowed deeply to Kim Seong-il.
“Envoy-nim, attacking Iki Island is the same as declaring war on the main island.”
“That’s right, Lord. Joseon plans to fight the Japanese pirates. That’s why the lord promised to join us.”
“Ah, yes, that’s right. Yes, yes.”
The lord had no such intention. He only wanted to survive this crisis.
But Joseon was different now. They didn’t believe easily and weren’t coercive. They gave a choice and offered something sweet.
“Lord, if we occupy Iki Island, we’ll build a planned industrial complex there and station a garrison unit.”
“Eh?”
“In the future, that place will become a trading port for Japanese pirates. The lord will manage it.”
“Is that true?”
“True. So gather everyone and prepare to strike Iki Island.”
“Hai! Understood, Envoy-nim.”
Iki Island, fifty kilometers southeast of Tsushima, was much smaller than Tsushima itself. Yet it had far more flat land, making it far more livable.
So Yi Yeon planned to use it as a forward base for the archipelago invasion.
*
*
The officers of the Hwaryeok Military Academy who had seen the Heoxin and Hyeongmyeong were overjoyed on the first day. They got to ride the ironclad ships they had only heard about.
Starting the next day, they would run themselves ragged.
“Number Three Penguin?”
“Yes! Number Three Penguin!”
“That slow? When are you going to fire the cannons?”
“Sorry! I’ll fix it!”
“You’d better fix it. Otherwise you’ll be the land penguin. Got it?”
“Yes!”
The academy officers, who had seen the grander Heoxin than the royal palace’s Geunjeongjeon, all shouted that they would join the navy.
The officers who had seen the Hyeongmyeong, which could withstand cannon fire with no problem, simply lay down and declared they would die there.
Life aboard was cramped and temperamental, yet some of them laughed brightly anyway.
In total, one hundred twenty Hwaryeok Military Academy personnel, including professors and officers, boarded the Heoxin and sailed to Tsushima.
Ten paddle-wheel boats carrying only steam engines followed behind.
As soon as Sō Yoshishige saw them, he dropped to his knees and bowed.
“This subject, Sō Yoshishige, greets His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Joseon.”
Even though he knew Yi Yeon wasn’t there, he shouted it anyway, as if someone might hear.
Meanwhile, one of the servants who had come looking for work was startled by the roar of the tigers and dropped his load with a loud thud.
“Krrruung!”
“E-envoy-nim, what-what is that?”
“The striped one is a tiger. The spotted one is a leopard.”
“I know that too. But why are you bringing such monsters here?”
“We need them so the Japanese pirates can’t live here anymore. If anyone is still hiding, come out immediately.”
“Ah, yes, yes, yes.”
From that moment, the Tsushima lord who called himself Sō Yoshishige released the village people immediately.
Come out, don’t hide, or you’ll become tiger food.
And the next day, they decided to build a planned industrial complex on the site where Tsushima Airport had once stood, complete with a garrison unit.
The canal linking northward would be blasted open with explosives.
After that, Tsushima would be left untouched.
Hoping it would one day become a magnificent natural ecological park and zoo.
*
*