Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: The Shadow of Sejong (2)
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Unlike the letter, the person who greeted me upon entering the Waegwan was not Overseer Yoshida Shichizaemon.
A Japanese man who looked every bit the sly deputy character bowed his bald head politely.
"I am Tada Kazue, the deputy magistrate in charge of this case."
Oh ho, these barbarians?
Daring to send a subordinate when the Joseon king's plenipotentiary envoy had arrived?
Of course, I wasn't foolish enough to show it.
Being seen as weak in negotiations was a big no-no, but if you had no intention of negotiating in the first place, that rule might not apply.
Once host and guest were seated, I offered what seemed like a casual pleasantry.
"Not even Dongnae Prefecture has an office this grand, let alone Hanyang. Impressive."
Park Sangsoon interpreted my greeting, and Tada Kazue responded with diplomatic rhetoric.
"It's all thanks to Your Majesty's king and court's gracious consideration."
Right. The Waegwan had been entirely built by Joseon.
I had no idea why they'd done something so stupid, but from the documents I'd received from the court before coming, building this thing had nearly bankrupted Gyeongsang Province's entire finances.
Yet this Japanese in front of me was spouting off as if this 'concession territory' was their natural right.
"I hope this matter can be resolved smoothly. The sudden halt in ginseng trade has caused trouble for many people."
So I shot back as if it were obvious.
"When even filing an account ledger or initial report on ginseng leads to punishment, how could the Dongnae Prefect not block everything to root out the source?"
In other words, you publicly returned the bellflower roots, and that's what tangled everything up.
"The Dongnae Prefect won't withdraw the order until the preliminary ginseng tribute is settled. If the Waegwan wants to trade ginseng again, you'll have no choice but to accept the preliminary tribute and leave."
Tada Kazue hesitated briefly before arrogantly questioning me.
"Even so, isn't it too much to make us take the bellflower roots as is? Our tribute gift..."
"Who asked for tribute gifts? Our country has no custom of luxury; gold, silver, or Japanese silk are utterly useless. The point of Chaegwan visits is profit, not sincerity, so there's even open talk of refusing tribute and burning it!"
This was the beauty of tributary trade. It wasn't business at all—just an exchange of gifts and return gifts—so fraud charges didn't apply.
I had no rush.
The longer this dragged on, the more the Waegwan's cumulative losses from the ginseng smuggling ban would snowball.
Business in this era boiled down to ripping open bellies. You had to gut them.
The bolder, more ruthless, and dirtier you were, the more you won. I'd set aside my modern civilized self for now.
Tada Kazue proposed with a face that said, 'I didn't want to do this.'
"Then promise in writing that Joseon will send proper preliminary tribute again. Lift the ginseng trade ban, and we'll withdraw."
Good. I knew you'd say that.
It would be easy to drag in the 'Japanese pirate incursions' on Hwanghae and Ulleungdo and thunder like a scholar, 'How dare pirates demand diplomatic surrender documents!' But I didn't.
The Waegwan's intelligence was decent, but from what I'd observed, they were clueless about Ulleungdo smuggling.
Because Han Jung-ryang hadn't let a single Japanese leave Ulleungdo alive. The most capable naval commander I'd seen in this era.
If it wasn't essential, better to hold your trump cards.
So instead of rejecting Tada Kazue's offer outright, I went into acting mode.
Impersonating the 'corrupt official'—the polar opposite of my position.
"Hmm... There's merit to that, but it might tarnish His Highness's virtue, so it's not easy. Convincing the high officials in the palace to petition would take some effort."
It was like Yi Sun-sin trying to impersonate Won Gyun.
I worried the acting might seem unnatural, but luckily, he bought it. Demanding 'Joseon admit fault in writing' was burdensome anyway.
Tada Kazue smiled slyly.
"We've accounted for that much."
He glanced aside, and the sliding door to the corridor opened.
There stood a box that screamed ostentatious price from its packaging.
And in front of it, two boys who looked like pages knelt side by side.
Why give bribes so flashily? And what were they?
Ah, right. No automatic doors here. Door openers.
In Joseon, they'd just stand by the door or go outside to the corridor or engawa for important meetings. This place emphasized service.
I couldn't receive it myself, so interpreter Park Sangsoon took it.
With 'Guan Yu's Patience,' I tuned my ears: definitely silver. I'd gotten good at distinguishing gold and silver in liquor jars with just a stick during my time in the Censorate's gold and silver room.
Kazue signaled with his eyes, and the door closed again.
The pages' skill was so flawless—no sense of motion, yet the sliding door glided like an automatic one.
Hmm. Japanese gift-giving had real impact. I should try it sometime.
"As a mere low official, it's tough, but I'll put in a word."
"Low official? Nonsense. I hear Deputy Envoy is the Crown Prince's confidant. Who wouldn't fear your word? Even Prefect Dongnae would respect your will."
These guys thought one box would cover the Dongnae Prefect's ginseng ban and the court's preliminary tribute recall. No way.
I kept up the Won Gyun act and glanced out the door.
"The court ministers are stubborn, so I can't promise..."
Same province as Won Gyun's faction—he'd get it. Give more.
Tada Kazue didn't disappoint. He made a universal face transcending interpreters.
"I'll ensure everything is handled seamlessly, without shortfall."
Clear implication, even if I didn't speak Japanese.
By tonight, 'no shortfalls' measures would follow.
Not money—they'd already given that. Too crude even by this era's standards.
And if I was right, Choryang Waegwan was closing for business tonight.
In East Asia, foreign trade enclaves bring to mind Japan's Dejima for the Dutch in Nagasaki or Tojin Yashiki Chinese quarters—mostly Japanese ones.
But those two paled in scale to Choryang Waegwan.
As Kim Unhaeng thought, the vast 100,000 pyeong site housed 500 to 1,000 residents.
A quick visit clearly couldn't fulfill the 'spy on the Japanese' mission.
So after the meeting with Tada Kazue, Overseer Yoshida Shichizaemon suggested Kim Unhaeng 'thoroughly inspect' the Waegwan.
Kim Unhaeng accepted as the 'Deputy Envoy's natural duty.'
As a result, he received lavish treatment, lodging next to the overseer's residence deep in the Waegwan.
Park Sangsoon and Eoji went to an outer room for underlings.
Tada Kazue magnanimously offered them central rooms too, but after Kim Unhaeng spoke, Park Sangsoon quietly led Eoji away.
This convinced Kazue his hunch was right.
That night, visiting the overseer, Kazue said confidently.
"That Kim Unhaeng definitely came for greed. Separating his underlings shows his intent. It'll cost a lot, but compared to ginseng trade profits, it's a drop in the bucket."
Shichizaemon spread his fan, pleased.
"Going as planned. A man who craves wealth rarely ignores beauty."
As Kim Unhaeng knew, despite strict bans on foreigners, Choryang was Joseon's most developed 'that business' spot.
Centered on chonin townsfolk and lower inspectors, local Joseon thugs colluded with Waegwan servants to lure poor widows and connect them.
Of course, banned post-Sukjong by adultery clauses—death penalty aside.
Superiors could 'uncover' tolerated crimes and exploit them. (Unlikely) Handing to Joseon officials sufficed.
But Yoshida Shichizaemon wanted more.
As Tsushima lord's kin, he had shrewd insight.
"I glimpsed him earlier—his tastes might be unique."
"What do you mean?"
"In Edo, many nobles would duel over him. Ten years younger, definitely. Joseon can't be much different. He's handled plenty of men."
Unlike Shichizaemon, frequent in sankin kotai, Kazue had less capital experience.
He didn't intuit it but knew by hearsay.
Tada Kazue looked enlightened.
"I overlooked it. During our meeting, he eyed the wakashu boys. Not wealth—something else. As deputy, I should advise the overseer, yet learn from him. Shameful."
"Ha. Natural—you lack Edo's refined ways."
Sankin kotai spread Edo culture, bolstering 300 years of peace via centralization.
Shichizaemon, showing wisdom, ordered sternly.
"Send both, just in case. Pick the fairest, youngest boys with the woman. No man resists that."
Even veteran diplomat Tada Kazue admired the overseer's savvy. Flawless plan.
Kim Unhaeng, expecting women but not Japan's famed wakashudo, broke cold sweat eavesdropping with maxed 'Guan Yu's Patience.'
That night around first watch, a Japanese in his early thirties loitered under a pine inside the Waegwan wall, at the appointed spot.
Gennosuke—no clan name—this youth was the Waegwan cook's servant. The type mobilized for such jobs.
Gennosuke glanced at the moon. Time.
He removed stones from the wall base, revealing a hole barely for one person.
Sukjong's stone wall raise wasn't armchair policy.
Originally low earthen walls with boosts, now this hassle.
Gennosuke cuckoo-called mouth-covered. Cuckoos don't call at night—funny to birds, passable to humans.
Soon, a hand poked from the hole.
"Twenty taels."
Fluent in Joseon speech, Gennosuke countered.
"Boss's orders. Not my greed. Sneaking around."
"Why care for Japanese bosses? Ambush troops are picky. Bribes everywhere—nothing left for me."
No haggle time. Stuck at approved 'thirty taels' fee, minus his cut.
Gennosuke reluctantly gave ten.
"Rest when woman enters. Hurry."
"Tch, typical wae no."
Grumbling brief, footsteps came. Gennosuke relaxed.
But unease flickered.
Footsteps from behind. Not front.
Gennosuke spun. No Waegwan night beauty.
Darkness engulfed him.
Realizing it was a pot-lid hand too late, Eoji's monstrous slap smashed Gennosuke into the stone wall.
"Well done."
The阴沉 praise wasn't Kim Unhaeng.
Interpreter Park Sangsoon, pre-sent 'outside' by Kim Unhaeng.
Park's dead-fish eyes showed no shock. Knew before entering Waegwan.
"Over the wall: procurer and woman. Capture."
Ordered to obey Park as Kim Unhaeng, Eoji vaulted wordlessly. Man-woman screams erupted.
Full wrap-up took less than a jujube stick's burn—ten minutes.
Rather, clearing Park Sangsoon's instant誤解 from the slight tug on Kim Unhaeng's sleeve took longer.
"I delayed soothing her—she said she'd die if returned."
"Didn't know you spoke Japanese so well, Deputy Envoy. Next time, align words tighter."
"No!"
Their bickering heard Prefect Yi I-jang's fake cough.
"Not time for nonsense. Six armies assembled—what now?"
Waegwan's east, west, south: six ambush troops, first and second divisions each.
Pre-Waegwan, Kim Unhaeng via Prefect ordered: surround airtight on 'adultery witnesses.'
Yi I-jang stroked beard.
"Exposing crime to humble them is ideal, but can't muster this force. Not first time."
Kim Unhaeng released Park's collar, faced Prefect.
"No weapons needed. I hate hurting people lifelong. Just spread troops—no escapes."
"Land easy, but southwest river-sea. Dock troops or not, skilled Japanese row to Tsushima in days. Past, they released adulterers, dodging trial."
Kim Unhaeng assured with Yi I-jang's recent Sima Zhongda smile.
"They won't dare."
Deputy Envoy proxies king.
Not true plenipotentiary, but 'emergency' field troop request authority.
Unleashed Wolsong Marines—taxes, conscripts from Ulleung sweep—grew mighty sea force.
Han Jung-ryang, similar Ulleung raider, easily agreed Kim's en-route proposal.
Regular navy: political burden. Marines: profit, future smuggling hints sufficed. Privatized.
Plus ample pretext.
Insolent foe breached borders twice, now violated Sukjong treaty adultery ban.
Only '異種武'—foreign subjugation.
Plus Jangbok and Hwang Do-myeong fulfilled pre-Waegwan missions superbly.
Result: three days later, 12 Wolsong Marine ships blockaded Waegwan docks.
Overseer Yoshida Shichizaemon, fearing rebuke, missed Tsushima ship—nearly collapsed realizing.
All Tsushima folk isolated on barren Waegwan land.
Resident ~1,000 inflated.
Over 10% Tsushima adult males.
Tsushima folk's long-forgotten Sejong shadow loomed nightmare-like again.
Author's Note
1. Strictly, wakashudo isn't just male homosexuality—it's the spiritual-physical bond between young boys and warriors (nobles). That's their dressed-up term; this era's was closer to power-based sexual violence than modern homosexuality.
East Asia then (Joseon aside) saw no oddity (openly), so records abound. Grabbing sleeves meant 'visit me.'
2. Final Tsushima population counts island only—not Tsushima Fuchu clan. Still ~3%. Based on Japanese study ≪Early Modern Japan-Joseon Trade History Research≫.