Chapter 135
Chapter 135
----------------------------------------------------------------- Translator: Ryuma Chapter: 135 Chapter Title: East India Company Joseon Branch (2) ----------------------------------------------------------------- So Yoshishige, the Lord of Tsushima, was a man who had strived in various ways to improve trade with Joseon, which had been mired in stagnation during his reign. But this kind of "trade" was not what he had hoped for. The two Dutch ships had presented a proposal that was utterly illogical—like something out of a dream.
"The Dutch East India Company has obtained official permission for trade with Joseon and established a branch in Wonsan, Hamgyong Province. Our trust with Nagasaki has already soured, and Tsushima is much closer to Hamgyong Province anyway, so the Supreme Council wishes to use this location as a gateway for trade with Japan."
If one observed carefully, they might notice that the speech and actions of "VOC Joseon Branch Manager Uyst Nacht" resembled a ventriloquist's puppet. However, there was no room for careful observation. Especially after Kim Unhaeng pretended it was a mistake and fired off three or four cannon shots at random. Yoshishige sent a reasonable reply through his agent, Matsuura Keisen.
"This is not a matter I can decide alone. Send someone to Edo and wait for the shogun's permission. The people of the country will be greatly confused, so keep it absolutely secret for now and have the ships withdraw first."
In any case, it was a request tinged with the concern of whether Tsushima could monopolize the new Dutch trade ships instead of Nagasaki. Thus, the wise lord So Yoshishige dispatched a fast ship to the Dongnae Magistrate, with whom the lords of Tsushima had long-standing personal ties. The current Dongnae Magistrate, Yi Yushin, was originally the man who, in actual history, uncovered Japan's ginseng smuggling around this time. Up to this point, he was just an ordinary wise local official. However, Yi Yushin's wisdom transcended such commonplace levels. He did not report the confiscated profits to the court. Regrettably, the Joseon government, which did not acknowledge this wisdom, dismissed him, but this alone reveals his extraordinary nature. Yi Yushin's wisdom, influenced by Han Jungnyang's threats (the Liberation Squadron could devastate Dongnae's tax administration if it wished) and Kim Unhaeng's bribes, was expressed in the form of humbly admitting his own ignorance. By the time that investigation bore fruit, Tsushima would likely be reduced to ruins in both political and military senses. Regardless of the Japanese dissatisfaction, by Joseon's diplomatic conventions, the Dongnae Magistrate and the Lord of Tsushima were equals. Matsuura Keisen, mere agent that he was, couldn't even tell the Dongnae Magistrate to shut up and get lost; instead, he wandered around the Dongnae office like a madman. And then, like a miracle, Kim Unhaeng appeared before him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Of course, since my name coming up would cause headaches, I didn't even set foot on Tsushima. I simply reminded Uyst Nacht once more that if his mouth ran amok, all his Dutch sailors would end up shark bait, handed the puppeteering role to Park Sangsoon, and returned straight to Dongnae. It was well within predictions that the Lord of Tsushima would check with the Dongnae Magistrate first. And spotting Matsuura while loitering around as if there on business wasn't hard. Matsuura displayed bold insight.
"Please be frank with me. How could the Dutch have reached Hamgyong Province without our knowledge? It's all lies, isn't it?"
And I ignored that insight.
"Who knows? I'm a civilian with no office, so I don't know court affairs, but judging by that document you're holding, it seems legitimate? It clearly says in Dutch that they've established a branch in Hamgyong Province."
"Isn't it a forged document?"
"How should I know? But if I may advise you for your sake, keep doubting the Dutch and the East India Company's trustworthiness like that, and they might run wild in Tsushima. As you said, the Dutch harbor resentment from being expelled from Japan."
The sailors on those two ships were mostly Joseon men who had inherited King Sejong the Great's spirit. So I subtly hoped for a chance to "exterminate the barbarians," but no naval battle had broken out yet. All of Tsushima's ships had surrendered at the sight of these two vessels. As expected of veteran pirates with a long history, their danger-sensing skills were exceptional. But battles can start if one side wills it. Matsuura wailed.
"This is all because of Joseon!"
"What nonsense is that? If I keep talking to you, I'll end up under suspicion too. Anyway, take care."
As I turned away without lingering, Matsuura grabbed my sleeve.
"Please don't go. Do you think I came to pay my respects just to complain? I've prepared an inkstone, so please help me. You said ten last time, right? I scraped them together with great difficulty."
"Do you have them now?"
"No. In Tsushima..."
"Then no deal."
"This is Dongnae! It's right under your nose—you can see it! I'll fetch them right away. Please! Just have those dreadful red ships withdraw first. If Joseon sold them the ships, doesn't that mean some goodwill with the Dutch?"
"Earlier you said it was all fake? Which tune am I supposed to dance to? Are you trying to fool me instead?"
"Absolutely not. We're just in extreme confusion. Please..."
Employing a few skills that King Yeongjo used on his own son, Matsuura—who was even younger than Crown Prince Sado—started to sob. Sado lasted thirty years, but this guy's mental fortitude was weak. Was he raised with too much fatherly love? Still, he pulled out silver ingots matching his broken mentality and stuffed them into my sleeve, which was good for me. I returned half the silver, claiming a scholar wouldn't covet money, and took the inkstone like a true Neo-Confucian who prized only literary arts. Activating God's Eye confirmed no fakes. Direct overseas purchase was indeed superior.
"However, I cannot privately venture abroad."
"Have no fears. If it's discovered that we've been colluding on Ulleungdo affairs, my head rolls with yours. How could I betray you? The sea belongs to no one, so just say you were 'temporarily afloat at sea.'" As he said, I boarded a small skiff. Representing the Joseon inspection ships, I rebuked them with righteousness, and the red-haired pirates, unable to hide their shame, withdrew. Matsuura, moved or relieved, shed tears.
"You showed no fear even before those massive ships. As expected of someone beyond ordinary men!"
"The Japanese may not know, but diligently reading the sages' classics makes this commonplace. They probably won't come again."
Indeed. They would never come again. The VOC Joseon Branch had just been disbanded.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ So Yoshishige urgently ordered Matsuura Keisen to reopen the secret Ulleungdo smuggling route and probe the true nature of the Dutch East India Company Joseon Branch. Of course, even Joseon sailors would struggle to find Wonsan from Ulleungdo without information. For Japanese ships, they'd just be treated as Japanese pirates appearing in Hamgyong Province. Sure enough, not a single ship sent secretly that way returned. In the end, Matsuura Keisen could only report ambiguously: "Ships seeming Dutch keep passing between Uljin and Ulleungdo, so it appears to be true."
In any case, with the Matsuura clan and Han Jungnyang earning big from resumed Joseon-Japan smuggling, it wasn't all lamentation. Up to here, it was all within Kim Unhaeng's palm. But Edo's shogunate was slightly different. The shogunate's sense of gravity regarding this matter was more serious than Kim Unhaeng had anticipated. In Nagasaki, they had made contact with Batavia's Supreme Council through lawless elements from South China and the Philippines. As with all human intelligence, it was highly unstable and inefficient, consuming considerable time and money. You were expelled from Dejima for your crimes, and now you shamelessly cozy up to Joseon? Joseon and we have deep friendship as neighbors across generations, so turn back your ships at once, or we'll command the Joseon king to drive you out! But Batavia had also investigated Joseon sufficiently while sending those two ships. They scoffed: "Deep friendship? The kind where Joseon people build pyramids with our ears and noses?"
Moreover, the insinuation tacked on slyly—"Aren't you the pirates plaguing the southern seas lately?"—further discomforted Batavia. Such emotional barbs led Batavia's Supreme Council to scheme in a direction unfavorable to Japan. Using the lack of official channels as an excuse, Batavia ignored the missive and discussed countermeasures among themselves.
"Why are the Japanese suddenly spouting nonsense?"
"It could be misinformation from faulty reports. Or perhaps it's entirely baseless, but they want to reopen Nagasaki without losses, so they're bluffing."
"Considering Asian shamelessness, the latter seems likely. So how do we respond?"
The VOC were masters of stock manipulation who had survived over half a century on creative accounting. Ideas came swiftly.
"Toss the Japanese missive to the home country's board of directors? We'll say we really opened a branch in Joseon. Third-party verification boosts credibility."
"What?"
"We can no longer hide Nagasaki's downfall anyway. Reporting that we followed up by opening in Joseon ties it together. Before that traitor David Vollen whispers nonsense to the board, we confess part preemptively."
"We don't even know where this Wonsan is. Isn't it just a stopgap?"
"We'll make it real later."
"How?"
"We thought it natural factors until now... but with all sent ships vanishing, it must be due to some military force. Even if all reports are Japanese lies, the chance Joseon possesses Denis Veldt and Gustav Willem is very high. We can't underestimate them. Call the fleet."
"Call it to strike where? Joseon?"
"We'll see then. Actually, retaking Nagasaki with its facilities and connections is still more profitable. Negotiating with Joseon first to jointly pressure Japan is an attractive option."
"What if Joseon refuses? By your words, they've attacked our ships."
"Then we make the Japanese documents reality. With cannons. We established a branch in Wonsan, but Joseon arbitrarily closed it like Nagasaki, so we reclaim it. It fits perfectly."
The room buzzed. Some moderates voiced concerns.
"Is it feasible? The current stadtholder is not even ten years old. The homeland's in chaos with every scoundrel meddling in politics."
True enough. The Dutch "Republic," long suspected of being a monarchy in all but name under figurehead stadtholders, was dispelling all doubts under young Stadtholder William V—a minor under regency. With the child stadtholder sidelined, every loose-tongued fool claimed regency or representation, creating a farce visible even from Batavia. No one doubted the Netherlands was a true republic anymore. Kim Unhaeng would have lamented the collapse of king-subject propriety. Large-scale support seemed unlikely. Yet Batavia still lingered in the fading glory of the Golden Seventeenth Century. No matter VOC's decline, they were history's first—and largest—joint-stock company. They could undertake military action by straining the homeland considerably. Thus, the ten red inkstones that stirred a minor international ripple finally reached Kim Unhaeng's hands.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ With the operation flawlessly completed and Dongnae Magistrate Yi Yushin skillfully submitting a report of "no irregularities in Dongnae," I returned to Seoul. Ties with the Four Directions grew even more solid. Entering home, Se-hwa welcomed me warmly as always, having prepared a feast and invited neighbors.
"I was so worried hearing you'd board a ship. Thank goodness you returned safely."
"It's not my first time on a boat—what's there to worry about?"
I brushed it off casually and tried to pass, but Se-hwa extended her hand.
"It seems the talisman you took proved effective."
Ah, right—that. Se-hwa had given me a safety-at-sea talisman written by Yeon-i, embracing me in front of the servants. No, honestly, how could I trust a talisman from Yeon-i's family? We two made their reputation. Would Jesus believe 21st-century pastors if he resurrected? With my head full of stray thoughts, I absentmindedly replied.
"Relying on such sorcery to pursue endeavors is..."
Se-hwa beamed and cut me off.
"It worked, didn't it?"
"No, I mean..."
"It worked, didn't it?"
The tone felt eerily familiar. Finally realizing, I rummaged in my bosom, pulled out the talisman, and held it high.
"Indeed. There were fierce storms en route and even bandit encounters, yet I returned unscathed—truly effective."
The gathered crowd couldn't hide their admiration. Now, this was a bestseller ready for sailors. Leveraging my strengthened naval connections, nationwide sales were possible. Se-hwa planning a business herself—probably because my heavy spending on her family weighed on her. No need; just work Hong Daeyong harder. I praised my wife's "wise support" a few words. The skeptical neighbors picked at the food while glancing toward Inwangsan. Yeon-i seemed busy today. That evening in my room, I reviewed recent events to ensure I hadn't overlooked anything (like Se-hwa's talisman). First that came to mind: info from the Matsuura clan via Park Sangsoon that the shogunate was attempting contact with the Dutch. But I ignored it. To project national-subjugating force to the distant Far East required Great Britain-level power. Not steamboats, but state-scale frenzy selling opium. Having long observed Dutch slaves, mid-18th-century Europe was nothing special. In my view, even if all Europe formed a crusade, they couldn't deny the Qianlong Emperor's claim as lord of humanity. They scorned Jurchens as earth-attuned, but level 99 renders affinities meaningless. Qing wouldn't tolerate foreigners rampaging in their turf either—they'd help. Our Emperor Jangmok had bent like a bow before the world's eyes; they'd restore order. Far more important matters occupied me.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Mandatory Objective: Acquire 10 or more red inkstones, specialty of Shimonoseki. Transactions via Japanese outpost not accepted (Achieved: 14/10+).] [Tuition Accrued: 4/12 times] [Bonus Objective: Send a non-state-owned vessel to Japan (Achieved).] Perfect. How about that, Status Window? Moreover, achieving goals this way served my other intended purposes. It was around securing Shin Sukju's loyalty, I think. I had resolved to probe and shake the system's loopholes. To me, the Status Window resembled the transcendent constellations or immortals from novels I'd read in my past life. Possessing incomprehensible overwhelming power, yet bound by their own rules. I couldn't know all those rules. But one thing was clear. The bigger the scale I operated on, the more they panicked. Though partly for my future plan to kick King Yeongjo's butt someday, the inkstones and Japan smuggling could have been handled quietly over time without involving admirals. But I chose this path deliberately. Now I could guess their original purpose within certain bounds. Did they take my intellect for King Gojong's? It won't go your way. If my guess was right, the Status Window glitched severely, like when it gave Guan Yu's Patience skill. In that moment, outwitting them brought more satisfaction than soul security. Now, hand over the skill. What's the main quest reward? No need for a skill. An item like last time—say, a rice chest to seal Great Demon King Yeongjo with sealing magic... anything. But the Status Window displayed no more text. What? Did I overdo it? Fatal error where memory can't be written?
⚠️ SYSTEM GLITCH ⚠️
Fa......] A woman's voice, like an ominous sigh, made my body stiffen instantly. Chills ran down my spine, belying my earlier dismissal of "sorcery." Excluding cheap sound effects, this was the first time the Status Window vocalized. After gulping, I realized the voice's identity and recoiled again.
⚠️ SYSTEM GLITCH ⚠️