Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 786

Chapter 786: Inner sorrow (4)

Is it because of the words of encouragement and tarot that the emperor wrote in his own hand? Or has he faced the reality that if not this time, there will be no next chance?

“We will be with you too.”

“There must be times when we act boldly for the greater good.”

Finally, the conservatives decided to join the radicals.

Of course, there were some who did not lose their caution until the very end.

The representative of such people was Matsudaira Chikatada, who ruled West Mikawa.

After the meeting was over and everyone had left, Chikatada continued talking with Takeda Nobushige, the central figure of the radical faction.

“Are you really sure about that?”

Nobushige expressed doubt in response to Chikatada’s question.

“Who are you talking about?”

“Konoe Taro.”

“I’m sure.”

“Really? Has anyone confirmed that he met the Emperor?”

“There was someone who went in with me.”

“Hmm…”

Chikatada folded his arms and pondered in response to Nobushige’s answer. Seeing this, Nobushige asked a question.

“What are you worried about?”

Chikatada answered Nobushige’s question with a serious expression.

“The biggest problem is that he is from the Konoe family. Isn’t the Konoe family the family that was most thoroughly trampled upon after the Kuge family was defeated in the last civil war?”

As Jikatada said, Ouchi, who won the civil war, thoroughly crushed the noble families of the feudal lords who had rebelled against them.

They tracked down not only the direct lineage but also the collateral lineage and killed both men and women. Those who survived this process were only a small number of collateral families that did not participate in the civil war and a few lucky people who changed their surnames through marriage with other families.

That’s why Jikatada was suspicious of Taro Konoe.

“Do you think it is possible that you survived with the last name Konoe despite Ouchi’s persistent pursuit?”

Nobushige responded to Chikatada’s point.

“According to him, he made a living by stealing the battle tablets of those who died on the battlefield.”

“By stealing a fighting tablet? Ouchi’s fighting tablet was modeled after Joseon’s, and that was possible?”

As Jikatada pointed out, the new identity badge of the empire, made with the breath of incense, was famous for being difficult to forge. No, it was almost impossible.

* * *

The imperial identity card, which was created after several revisions, was divided into two pieces.

One of the two sheets contained the bearer’s name, date of birth, and place of birth. On the other page, the bearer’s facial features were recorded in detail, especially physical characteristics that could be recognized at a glance, such as moles on the face.

These badges were placed in a protective frame, which was secured with screws and lead was poured over the screw holes. Ultimately, the official seal was stamped on the lead seal to make it impossible for it to be counterfeited.

As soon as imperialists graduated from the Social Democratic Institute, they had to make a status card like the one above. The protective frame containing the identity badge was made in the form of a notebook, so imperialists had to carry it with them at all times.

If you were caught walking around without this identification card, you were immediately imprisoned and had to go through a notoriously difficult identity verification process. The reason why the question was asked again and again was because not only the person involved but also everyone around them were called in to check if it was the person.

In the case of loss, the same notorious procedures followed and the cost of reissuing was equivalent to ten days’ wages for an ordinary worker.

Thanks to this, the people of the empire took good care of their identity cards as if they were holding a sacred tablet.

Perhaps because of this inconvenience, complaints were occasionally made.

-Isn’t it impossible to forge and falsify and easy to possess by having a letter tattooed on your body like those who served in the military did in the past?

Every time an appeal like this came up, the court’s answer was the same.

-What should we do when verifying the women’s identities? Are we going to ask them to take off their clothes in the middle of the street?”

And although forgery and alteration are said to be impossible, it is possible.

Therefore, it is not allowed to replace one’s identity badge with a piece of advice.

Hyang, who was the emperor at the time, chuckled and muttered to himself. ‘

In the 21st century, instead of getting a tattoo , It was a biological chip, right? But what were the results?’

…

_

_

_ Did you see the scar? It’s an intentional wound. It is said that he chose someone with a similar impression, stole the battle tablet, and then used the injury as an excuse to get away with it.” ”

The bottom line is, you don’t know that he is the real Taro of the Konoe family.”

“The emperor is a direct descendant. In particular, it is said that he answered correctly when asked about the family head and family name. Especially things like facial expressions and speaking habits. Wouldn’t that be enough?”

Nobushige’s explanation made sense.

The heads of the Kosekke family and their families, who inherited the positions of government officials, were always in the Emperor’s inner circle. Therefore, the Emperor was a member of the Konoe family. He knew very well about his direct lineage. If Taro Konoe had not been able to answer properly, the Emperor would have doubted him.

“Hmm.”

Even after explaining, Chikatada could not hide his anxiety, so Nobushige raised his voice.

“It has already been done.” The work has begun! It’s a symbolic trend! Now is not the time to argue back and forth, but the time to run forward courageously and boldly!”

“Shh! Your voice is loud!”

Seeing Jikatada paying attention and looking around, Nobushige pounded his chest.

“It’s really frustrating! I know how cautious you are from past experiences, but this time you went too far!”

“Whew~”

Chikatada sighed long at Nobushige’s reprimand and nodded.

“You’re right. The work has already begun. Now is the time to run. I will cooperate with all my might.”

“Isn’t Issho Kenmei (One Life and One Life) the iron rule of a warrior? Let’s do our best.”

Chikatada added the word “isshokenmei,” which means “a samurai sacrifices his life to protect his territory.” ”

Are we the emperor instead of the prefect?”

“I guess so.”

” Speaking of the Emperor, do you really think he will help us?”

To Chikatada’s point, Nobushige immediately responded,

“He also knows very well that this is his last chance. Of course, you will have no choice but to risk everything.”

Chikatada nodded at Nobushige’s words.

* * *

After returning from the meeting, Chikatada looked out the window and pondered.

“He only said ‘Emperor.’ No, he said ‘he’ at the end… The bottom line is that he just wants to become the master of the shogunate. And he is capable enough. Unlike me.”

Takeda Nobushige was the inheritor of the influential family known as ‘Takeda’. Although he lost his fiefdom due to the ‘abandonment of the feudal lord’ in Ouchi, he still had great influence. Compared to that, his own influence was still strong

. The Matsudaira family was a family with a short and humble history. Thanks to this, they were able to survive the civil war between the Muromachi shogunate and Ouchi and the civil war between Ouchi and Kuge without any major losses. However, Ouchi was able to endure the civil war between Ouchi and Kuge

. Chi did not forget. Ouchi, who had a firm grip on Japan, took political revenge through a series of reforms, including the abolition of the feudal lords. That

is why Chikatada joined the half-Ouchi group.

Chikatada joined the group. He soon began to stand out. As Jiketada waited for an opportunity to come based on caution and patience and was sure to succeed, the number of his followers increased, and before he knew it, he had established himself as a symbol of the New School.

He also had ambition. Now that Kuge is gone, the position of ‘Ichigo, Tenjinji’ is what he was aiming for.

But the strongest competitor was, of course, Nobushige of the Takeda family. He was superior in every way.

“What is more important than that is still the existence of Taro Konoe. I’m so anxious…”

Jiketada was still unable to hide his anxiety.

In the end, after thinking for several days, Jikatada made a decision.

Gathering his sons together, Jiketada explained the situation.

“…Therefore, I am the Emperor . “I will dedicate myself to a fierce fight for the sake of the shogunate.”

“I will prepare.”

The sons nodded with calm expressions at Chikatada’s words. They already knew that their father had participated in the force that overthrew the shogunate. As expected, he wanted revenge for Ouchi’s political retaliation.

Jikatada nodded at the sight of his sons and continued,

“But the family line cannot be cut off. So, the youngest should indulge in this rebellion.”

“Father!”

“It is the order of the family head.”

“But it is the shame of a warrior!”

“If the rebellion succeeds, it will be a temporary shame, but if it fails, it will be the best move to continue the family. You’ve just gotten married, and won’t your first child be born soon?”

The eldest son, who had been listening quietly, asked a question.

“Does your father think this venture will fail?”

“It’s half and half. With the assistance of His Majesty the Emperor, and well-meaning patriots gathered their strength. However, the power of those Ouchi guys is so great that we will only know whether they win or lose when it is over. That’s why we left out the youngest son.”

In response to Jikatada’s words, the youngest son gritted his teeth and answered,

“I will follow. However, please be sure to succeed in your act and let this end to a brief shame.”

“Thank you.”

Jikatada lightly responded to his youngest son’s words and held out a heavy bundle.

“I put a new identity card and some belongings in it. It’s just one chance. If, by any chance, your heroism fails, you will have to live with the surname contained within it. Although the wealth contained may not be abundant, it will be enough to establish a stable position.”

At Chikatada’s words, the youngest son unpacked the bundle and checked his identity card.

“Tokugawa?”

“That’s right. If the rebellion fails, you will have to live as the Tokugawa clan.”

“I hope you succeed in the rebellion.”

“I will.”

The eldest son, watching the youngest son packing up his bags again, asked Chikatada.

“But how? Did you make a new identity card?” In response

to the eldest son’s question, Chikatada smiled slightly and answered,

“Isn’t it already a known fact that the dogs of Ouchi love bribes? I secretly gave him a few pennies and he made it right away. Is it because there is no recorder?”

“Hot!”

“Hahaha!”

The room, which had been filled with sadness, filled with laughter at Chikatada’s unexpected joke.

* * *

‘ Despite loud calls for ‘reform’ and ‘royal politics’, paradoxically, the corruption of lower-level officials of the Ouchi shogunate was considerable.

There was almost no corruption in the arms and tax collection areas directly managed by the shogunate’s leaders, but other than that, in the general administrative area. It was an open fact that all kinds of bribes were exchanged in the Empire. The

reason this was possible was because there was still no one to replace them. Those who studied abroad in the empire started in mid-level executive positions as soon as they returned, and there were still a small number of those who graduated from elementary and secondary schools and entered low-level management positions. In

the end , When those in power, especially those who studied abroad, learned of this, they raised their voices and advocated for the establishment of a record office.

“The reason they openly accept bribes is because they know full well that if they leave, there will be no one to work immediately! Rather than killing such arrogant bastards, we should show them suffering to the point of death!”

“The justification for the record office created by the empire is sufficient!”

Yoshinori and other retainers agreed with the Confucian scholars’ argument, and the record office finally appeared in Japan. I am ready to pay.