Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 592

Episode 592: Hwangnyongrak (???) (7) As soon as

Emperor Xiande made his decision, the Ming court moved quickly. Otherwise, the country would be ruined.

Immediately, a battle line with a white flag hung from the mast went out to sea and was immediately captured by the Joseon navy.

When Joseon soldiers came over to search the ship, the official in the cabin appeared.

“I am a messenger sent by His Majesty the Emperor! “I would like to discuss the end-of-war agreement with North Korea!”

* * *

“War end agreement?”

After receiving the report, Hyang looked at the ministers.

“What do you think?”

Hwang Hee answered Hyang’s question right away.

“It appears that fame has now reached its limit.”

Following Hwang Hee’s words, Kim Jeom also spoke with a brighter face.

“I am truly fortunate. “Even though we prepared for a long time, we were slowly reaching our limits.”

The ministers all nodded at Kim Jeom’s words.

War was like a hungry ghost that ate up both people and property. The supplies that had been carefully prepared over a long period of time had been almost completely consumed through the war over the past few months. And the loss of life was significant. For Joseon, which had an overwhelmingly smaller population than the Ming, this was a more serious problem than the Ming.

“I also agree with your opinions. “But there are some parts that are a little bit difficult.”

Hearing Hyang’s words, the ministers began to analyze again what the problem was.

Heo Hu, who was carefully examining the documents the messenger brought, nodded and asked Hyang.

“Are you saying it’s an end-of-war agreement?”

Hyang nodded to Heohu’s question.

“That’s right. The current situation is bad, so they have come forward to negotiate, but the pride of the Chinese people will not accept it easily. So, if you simply say it is an end-of-war agreement, it is certain that facts will be distorted and spoken about in the future.”

“For sure…”

The ministers all nodded at Hyang’s words.

Even those who fled battles after suffering heavy losses ‘set a strict example and returned.’ It was the Chinese who wrote that.

Heo Hu responded to Hyang’s point.

“As expected, we need to get the name right first. “We need to make them acknowledge surrender, not armistice or end of war.”

“That’s right. So… I feel sorry for the former soldiers and people, but we have to fight a little longer. Send an order to Liaodong to put more pressure on the retreating enemy. And to the messenger sent by Ming, ‘There will be no negotiations until surrender.’ “Please tell them.”

“I follow your orders!”

* * *

“Surrender? Such a beautiful sight! Cough!”

“your majesty! your majesty!”

After hearing the answer sent by Joseon, Emperor Seondeok became angry and lost consciousness again, bleeding.

Emperor Seondeok, who managed to regain consciousness through the desperate efforts of Eui, called the cabinet assistants and ministers.

“What is the situation in the North?”

“Your Majesty’s soldiers are doing their best to defend it.”

“It sounds like you’re being pushed back.”

“….”

Emperor Seondeok looked at the silent Cabinet Secretary and asked a question again.

“How many well-trained troops are there that can be sent north now?”

“I am doing my best to train you.”

“So that means it’s not there right now. Huh~”

Emperor Seondeok sighed and gave an order to his assistant cabinet secretary.

“Please listen to Joseon’s will.”

“Your Majesty~ Hehehehe!”

“your majesty! Hehehehe!”

At Emperor Seondeok’s decision, all major and minor ministers, including the Cabinet Secretary, knelt down and wailed.

The center of the world was China, and the ruler of China was the Emperor.

Now, a tragedy occurred in which the great Emperor surrendered to a small and fast-moving country.

“Sirs, do your best to make a deal and bring the crown prince. “I will carry this dishonor with me.”

“your majesty! Hehehehe!”

“Hehehe!”

The ministers continued to wail at the calm words of Emperor Seondeok, who had already become aloof.

* * *

After Emperor Seondeok made his decision, negotiations continued quickly.

“The conditions that Joseon, the victorious nation, demands from the Ming, the defeated nation, are as follows.”

Heo Hu, who appeared as the representative negotiator, listed Joseon’s demands in a confident voice.

-First of all, we acknowledge that Joseon is an equally independent country, not a Ming Dynasty.

The Cabinet Secretary nodded to the first condition that came up. If it were Joseon, this was the first condition to be put forward.

Afterwards, Heo Hu presented conditions regarding the border.

-The Ming recognizes that Mt. Muyuriyeo and the eastern and northern regions of Heungseong are the strongholds of Joseon.

-The Ming Dynasty does not station troops in the area between Shanhaiguan and Xingcheng. The deployment of personnel to maintain public order in the area is permitted, but the number shall not exceed 30,000.

-The Ming recognizes the Dongbeon (??) and Pengho Islands as the powerful regions of Joseon.

“The Pengho system is a bit…”

The Cabinet Secretary, who appeared as a representative of Ming, looked a little troubled about the Pengho system.

The neighborhood name itself was Iju (barbarian land), so it wasn’t a big problem. However, the Pengho Islands were a strategic military location with a Ming naval base.

“Then can we just go and destroy everything and take over? Negotiations will be suspended in the meantime.”

The Cabinet Secretary gritted his teeth and lowered his head in response to Hu Hu’s pressure.

“I will accept it.”

“Okay. Now, let’s talk about war reparations.”

“War reparations? “You mean they took that much of our name’s territory?”

“Let’s get this straight. Did we go to war first? It was your proud Ju-Jin Jin who started the war. And while I’m at it, let me add that the Liaodong and Liaohe regions were our land during the old Three Han era. “It wasn’t taken away, it was restored.”

“….”

I had to keep my mouth shut due to Heo Hu’s point-by-point criticism.

“Sniff!”

Heo Hu snorted while looking at the cabinet report and immediately presented items related to compensation.

– To compensate for the damage suffered by Joseon in this war, the Ming Dynasty paid physical silver equivalent to 50 million taels of gold.

“If this is enough…”

The Cabinet Secretary looked somewhat relieved when he saw the amount of compensation offered by Joseon. Although the amount of 50 million taels of gold was a huge amount of wealth, it was not an amount that was impossible to pay.

Looking at the expression on the assistant cabinet secretary’s face, Heo Hu presented the next item.

-However, the exchange ratio between silver and gold follows the Joseon ratio.

“this!”

The assistant cabinet secretary had a look of despair on his face.

At this time, the value of silver as currency was higher than gold. In particular, the Ming Dynasty had used silver as currency since the previous dynasty.

Thanks to this, the exchange ratio between gold and silver in Joseon was 1:10, while in Ming it was 1:6 or 1:7. Because of this difference, there were people who played pranks for unearned income using foreign exchange profits, but they had to be withdrawn as the Joseon Dynasty government strictly managed the circulation of physical gold and silver.

Because of this background, the Cabinet Secretary had a look of disappointment on his face.

If the war reparations proposed by Joseon were adjusted to the standard of names, it would be a situation where one had to tighten one’s belt a bit, but if it was adjusted to Joseon’s standards, it would be a situation where one would have to tighten one’s belt even more.

“This is a bit excessive!”

Heo Hu responded to the assistant cabinet secretary’s protest with an expression that asked which family’s dog was barking.

“The money spent on war is not a waste, but this is a waste?”

“That’s not it…”

“Then shall we, Joseon, go directly into the Ming Dynasty and go from house to house to collect taxes directly?”

“Look!”

“If you did something, shouldn’t you be held accountable!”

Hearing Heo Hu’s scolding, the Cabinet Secretary closed his mouth with a gaping face.

Ultimately, the Cabinet Secretary had to accept all of the conditions put forward by Joseon.

This was because Emperor Seondeok’s condition had become very bad.

It was clear that if the crown prince did not enter the Forbidden City in time, there would be even greater chaos in the future.

Emperor Seondeok took the completed surrender document and sighed deeply.

“Whoa~. “Disregarding the opponent was the biggest defeat.”

Realizing his mistake, Emperor Seondeok placed a seal on the surrender document.

With this, the Ming officially acknowledged defeat.

* * *

Joseon stopped its military actions after Emperor Seondeok stamped the seal on the surrender document.

Since the Japanese pirates were still roaming around, the crown prince in Nanjing had to take a boat.

The ship carrying the crown prince headed to Cheonjin, escorted rather than escorted by the Joseon navy.

Meanwhile, the Ming army, which was retreating to Shanhaiguan, breathed a sigh of relief when the Joseon army’s pursuit stopped.

The Ming army, who returned to Shanhaiguan with a body covered in wounds, also found an order from Emperor Seondeok.

– Immediately climb the wall and go north to defeat the Dalja.

“The soldiers are very tired. “You should rest a little before moving.”

At Hanilshin’s words, a general belonging to the Geumuiwi shouted.

“Because of your reckless actions, the country’s prestige has fallen to the ground! And yet you talk about rest! “I should have beheaded you right here and now, but His Majesty showed me mercy by telling me to compensate for the punishment through merit!”

Hearing the shouts from the general of the Geumwiwi, Hanilshin shouted “Hurray” with a very tired face.

“Long live, long live, long live!”

* * *

Ju Ju-ok arrived at the Forbidden City and immediately went to the place where Emperor Xuande lay.

Ju Ju-ok, who saw Emperor Seondeok lying on his bed in a clearly ill state, ran to Emperor Seondeok’s bed and clung to him.

“your majesty! your majesty! What happened? Hehehehe!”

“Are you here?”

Emperor Seondeok raised his eyes to the cry of Joo Gi-ok, who was covered in tears, and answered with difficulty and gave an order to the eunuch.

“Please support the luggage.”

“your majesty.”

“Uh huh.”

Emperor Seondeok stood up with the help of the eunuch and handed the scroll he had left on one side of the bed to Joo Joo-ok.

“Open it and read it out loud.”

At Emperor Seondeok’s command, Joo Gi-ok unfolded the scroll.

“This is…”

“This is a will written in Jim’s blood. “Read it out loud.”

In response to Emperor Seondeok’s order, Joo Gi-ok read the instructions in a loud voice.

“Never ruin the country!” Excessive desire! Consultation for your body and body! “Gwontojungrae (????)!”

It meant not forgetting today’s humiliation, but avenging the defeat by being patient and enduring hardships, just as Han Xin crawled between his crotches.

After reading Emperor Seondeok’s instructions, Joo Ju-ok bowed down on the floor and cried out.

“Son, I will definitely achieve Your Majesty’s wish!”

“We need to learn from Jim’s failure and prepare properly. For this to happen, 10 years will be short and 30 years will be just a moment. But don’t forget the lesson of Wukong Yisan.”

“I will keep this in mind!”

Three days later, Emperor Seondeok passed away.

* * *

When the news of Emperor Seondeok’s death came, Hyang asked the ministers.

“There is no need to wear mourning clothes like before, but it would be acceptable to send an envoy, right?”

“That’s right.”

According to the decision of the township and government, a condolence group was formed and headed to Beijing. What was different from before was that it was not the ministerial level that moved, but the vice ministerial level official that moved.

The envoy who went to Beijing politely expressed his condolences and returned. Joo Ki-ok, who was newly ascended to the throne, also politely returned the favor. However, what was different from before was that they were treated as equal countries rather than a relationship between a superior and a vassal state.

The delegation returned after paying condolences and conveyed to the local officials the atmosphere they had seen in Beijing and the Ming Dynasty.

“Although the north is still noisy, the central region seems to be finding stability.”

“is it?”

The local government officials nodded to the delegation’s report.

* * *

As soon as the surrender document was stamped, Joseon immediately contacted Ouchi.

-Withdraw immediately. The Ming army is returning.

Upon receiving the call from Joseon, Ouchi immediately informed the allied lords who still remained in the Ming Dynasty.

What is interesting is that Ouchi returned early and was concentrating on internal affairs. What they were after was not wealth, but people. Ouchi, who swept away craftsmen and intellectuals with various skills and their families, quickly escaped from the Ming.

Most of the lords who received communication from Ouchi immediately resigned from the Ming. This was because if they did not retreat now, they would not be able to receive the protection of the Joseon navy. Of course, tolls had to be paid, but the protection of the Joseon navy guaranteed safety.

As soon as the forces of the feudal lords under Ouchi’s orders left Ming, Joseon and Ouchi simultaneously issued a statement.

-Now that Japanese pirates are rampant, they will be subdued as soon as they are discovered!

In this way, Ouchi was able to eliminate many of the forces that were rebelling against them.