Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 490

Episode 490: Picking the pockets. (3)

When the messenger who went to Joseon returned with a document recording the local requirements, Mochiyo summoned the major retainers, including his successor, Norihiro.

“This is a request letter sent by the Crown Prince of Joseon.”

Mochiyo handed the letter to Norihiro, and Norihiro and the retainers took turns reading the letter.

Mochiyo, who read all the letters up to the last vassal and returned the letter in question, looked at his vassals and opened his mouth.

“What do you think?”

The first person to open his mouth to Mochiyo’s question was Norihiro, who took over the reading.

“Tsushima was already expected.”

The retainers nodded at Norihiro’s words.

* * *

Before sending the messenger, Ouchi also predicted how Joseon would respond.

During these meetings, the Confucian scholars who returned from Joseon stood out.

“What I felt when working with Korean officials in Joseon was that Joseon distrusts Tsushima.”

“I’ll buy it back. “North Korea will definitely pursue Tsushima if given the opportunity.”

‘Joseon will demand Tsushima.’

Norihiro and the senior retainers, who concluded that the conclusion reached by the Confucian scholars was correct, reported their conclusion to Mochiyo.

“Joseon will demand Tsushima.”

“Tsushima? Is it okay if I give it to you?”

The most senior retainer answered Mochiyo’s question.

“It would be better to give it away for a better cause and make more sense.”

The elder explained the benefits that could be gained by handing over Tsushima to Joseon.

-If you look at the location of Tsushima, it is right in front of Dongrae. Therefore, Joseon will continue to monitor Tsushima.

-The Joseon military is still stationed here, but it is certain that Joseon will try to completely dominate Tsushima.

-Therefore, if Tsushima is handed over to Joseon in advance, the military burden will be reduced and diplomatic gains can continue to be made.

-What is more important is the remnants of the Shoni who are squatting on Tsushima. By handing over Tsushima to Joseon, it is possible to implement a road murder order that can deal with them at the same time.

“I like the last one the most.”

Mochiyo, moved by the prospect of being able to deal with the family’s archenemy, the Shoni clan, made a decision.

“good night! “If Joseon demands Tsushima, we will hand it over under the pretense of negotiation!”

* * *

In this way, Tsushima was expected, but other conditions were not expected, so Mochiyo summoned his vassals.

Norihiro continued speaking.

“If you think about the second request carefully, Joseon’s request seems natural. “It is a transit point for Joseon ships returning from trade with Cheonchuk to the west, so it is natural for Joseon to demand its safety.”

A senior retainer objected to Norihiro’s words.

“It may be true for Joseon, but the problem is for us who have to accept it. “If something happens after we come forward and confirm it in writing, North Korea will try to hold us responsible.”

Norihiro immediately responded to the elder’s point.

“If Joseon holds us accountable, isn’t that also a good thing? “Who are these people who are harassing Ryukyu now?”

“Shimazu… Aha!”

The senior retainer who was answering Norihiro’s question let out an exclamation as if he finally understood.

Seeing that reaction, Norihiro explained the reason to Mochiyo.

“The fact that Joseon asked us to confirm this in writing means that they have already almost recognized us as the masters of the world. This is the first benefit. Second, if Shimazu touches Ryukyu, we can subdue Shimazu based on this promise. Even now, in Kyushu, the leaders of those who go against our family’s will are the Shimazu monkeys.”

“Shimazura… It’s okay.”

While Mochiyo was nodding, Norihiro continued.

“Also, we can take advantage of the assurance of Ryukyu’s safety to advance into Ryukyu. “Not only will we be able to ship ships to the Ryukyus, but we will also have the opportunity to trade with distant countries.”

Mochiyo, who was nodding at Norihiro’s words, looked back at the other retainers.

“I understand that up to this point it is beneficial to us as well. “Then what about the other two?”

An elder retainer stepped forward and answered Mochiyo’s question.

“Joseon’s intention to increase the number of troops stationed at mines and Sanghangs is a reasonable cause, so there is nothing to stop it. Rather, if the Joseon military were to take charge of the defense of the mine, we would be able to have more leeway in managing our troops. The same goes for your superiors. If the shogunate bastards mess with their superiors, this will be a good excuse for Joseon to send the army right away. Likewise, it is also in our interest to provide treatment to wounded soldiers.”

“Hmm….”

“And the most important thing is that if you meet this condition, you can secure Bigyeokjincheonrei. “If you have Bigyeokjincheonroe, it will be a great help in accomplishing your great cause.”

At the senior retainer’s answer, the younger retainers, including Norihiro, all nodded.

After hearing the answers of his retainers, Mochiyo thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“It looks good, but it’s hard to make a decision right away. “I will think about it a little more.”

To Mochiyo’s decision, the retainers all bowed in response.

“hot!”

* * *

After settling the situation with a brief pause, Mochiyo moved on.

“By the way, what is the situation like?”

“It’s going smoothly. “The number of daimyo joining us is increasing one after another, and we are winning battle after battle.”

In response to the retainer’s reply, Mochiyo did not forget his request.

“Prepare for a meeting with the newly joined daimyos. “We need to get the momentum going in advance.”

“hot!”

“And those who joined like that might try to stab you in the back, so be especially careful.”

“hot!”

“And the main force of the shogunate’s three crown families has not even been able to see their noses. “Keep in mind that when they appear, it will be the time of decisive battle.”

“hot!”

* * *

At the end of the meeting, Norihiro handed out a thick scroll.

“What is it?”

“I have compiled a list of plans that would be good to implement after your lord ascends to the position of a man of the world.”

“Isn’t this going too far?”

“It may seem that way, but I thought that in order for our family to live a long life as a family that rules the world, we had to prepare in advance.”

“Is that so? I get it.”

After receiving the scroll, Mochiyo untied the string that bound the scroll and began to read its contents.

“Hmm…”

Mochiyo, who was nodding and reading the contents, raised her head and looked at Norihiro.

“Relocating the capital?”

“That’s right. Kyoto is too far from the family’s home base, and the roots of those already established are deep and strong. Think about it. No matter how deeply rooted a tree is, when there is a drought, the furthest branches wither and die. So rather than staying in Kyoto, we must bring the Emperor to our side.”

At Norihiro’s words, Mochiyo looked at the elders. The elders who were asked the silent question soon began to open their mouths one by one.

“Everything is already in Kyoto, so it seems unnecessary to move it.”

“I’ll buy it back. “Please think about the meaning of Kyoto.”

“If we do something wrong, the situation where the southern and northern dynasties were divided could be repeated.”

Most of the elders were against it, but there were also a few in favor.

“It seems like a good idea. “Kyoto is a burden to us because of its symbolism.”

“Even when considering the art of war, Kyoto may cause more harm than good. “The issue of relocating the capital is worth thinking about.”

As the elders were expressing their opinions, Norihiro spoke again.

“When my lord becomes a person of the world, the most important thing is not Kyoto but the emperor. We must ensure that we have the Emperor within reach of our lord, not in Kyoto, so that others will not have their dreams in vain. This is something that those who have conquered the world, regardless of age or age, always do. Looking at it from afar, what could be the reason that Dong Zhuo burned Luoyang and moved the capital to Chang’an, even though he failed, or that Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty moved the capital to Beijing, or that Yi Seong-gye, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty, moved the capital to Hanseong? Through the transfer of the capital, we must make sure that even the ignorant people know who the owner of this world is.”

Despite Norihiro’s strong words, Mochiyo did not easily open her mouth.

After being silent for a while, Mochiyo finally made a decision.

“The issue of relocating the capital has pros and cons. Therefore, we will take time to consider this slowly.”

* * *

That night, Mochiyo visited Morimi, who was in hiding, and asked for his opinion.

“Huh…”

After hearing Joseon’s demands, Morimi pondered for a while and then opened his mouth.

“It would be better to accept Joseon’s opinion. house owner.”

“I thought so too. “I just needed time to show that I don’t make decisions too lightly.”

“Good job. “Then I guess you found it because there was another problem?”

“yes.”

Mochiyo talked to Morimi about ‘transferring the capital’. After hearing Mochiyo’s story, Morimi’s impression hardened.

“Cheondo-ra… I’m definitely worried.”

For the elder generation like Morimi, Kyoto was a symbol of being on the same level as the emperor.

Kyoto was built modeled after Changan during the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, when the head of the family that conquered the archipelago entered the country and greeted the emperor, it was called ‘Sangrak (??)’.

In a situation like this, deciding to move the capital could have been a self-defeating decision. Because of this, not only Mochiyo but also Morimi could not make a decision easily.

“It is true that things will get more complicated if you stay in Kyoto.”

“Not really. However, if you open your mouth hastily, there is a high possibility that things will go wrong, so it would be better to do it after completing the great task.”

They were the two who implicitly decided to move the capital.

After overcoming this difficult moment, the two soon moved on to the next item on the agenda.

“I think we will soon need a generational change.”

“I heard some of the story. Old people came to me and complained. This is it… There is still a long way to go until the great work is completed…”

Mochiyo’s expression became fierce at Morimi’s words.

* * *

After the uprising with the goal of ‘overthrowing the shogunate’, everything went smoothly and factions began to split internally.

They were divided into the Mudan faction, which valued military power, and the Munchi faction, which dreamed of a Joseon-style bureaucratic system.

Most of the senior retainers were the Mudan faction, and the younger forces who returned from studying abroad in Joseon and those centered around Norihiro were the Munchi faction.

“Power decides everything!”

“It is a shame to decide everything by force! What was the reason for Xiang Yu losing to Liu Bang? “Once the lord becomes a man of the world, the whole system must be changed!”

“Look at Song! “Didn’t we ruin it because of our culture?”

“But if you insist on doing nothing, your life will be short-lived!”

The two factions were engaged in a heated war of words over Ouchi’s actions after taking power.

The financial situation was critical for both factions. Because it was a time of war, the Munchi faction had a cause, but the Munchi faction was gradually gaining power through the joining of the next successor, Norihiro.

“Hmm…”

After hearing the situation, Morimi looked at Mochiyo.

“I think it will be necessary to clean up after the great project is successful. “Don’t forget this.”

“What do you mean?”

“Tosagupin. What the young guys say is right. The family’s army should be the lord’s army, but the army sent by the vassals is likely to become a sniper. “Don’t forget that the deepest and most painful wound is when your dog bites you.”

Mochiyo bowed her head deeply in response to Morimi’s words, which hinted at the elimination of senior vassals with military force.

“I will keep this in mind.”

* * *

At the same time that political intrigue was sprouting in Japan, King Sejong was being tipped off in Joseon.