Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 825

Episode 825: Ming and Japan – Internal Strength and Expansion (4)

Going through this ‘support and stir’ situation, Seonghwaje and Jamryonghoe steadily took control of the power of the Ming Dynasty.

“The most important thing is to control public sentiment.”

“That is correct.”

Seeing a consensus, Seonghwaje and Jamryonghoe devoted all their efforts to controlling the public sentiment.

It started with correcting tax administration.

After correcting the government, the method of mobilizing manpower to carry out the country’s civil engineering projects was also improved.

What had previously taken the form of unconditional conscription was changed to a form of employment through the sanctification system.

“By doing this, we can help those who beg for glass to settle down. Is that it? “As those who receive the money spend the money, nearby commerce prospers, so it’s a win-win!”

The ministers expressed their disapproval at Seonghwaje’s decision.

“Your Majesty’s intentions are truly beautiful, but the problem of finances is….”

“You can collect a small amount of income tax while paying wages, and you can also collect taxes from merchants who made their money by doing business with workers. And it is enough to find and prevent leaks and embezzlement in the area of executing finances!”

“Yes, it is unprecedented. “It is difficult to be sure of success.”

“There is no precedent for success? There is a precedent for success when it was implemented when that empire was Joseon! And yet there is no precedent? “Are the eyes of the monks just knotholes?”

“Joseon is a small country. The land is small and the population is low. But our name is a great country. The land is large and the population is large. There are many different cases to apply it right away.”

“Are you saying something like that after trying it?”

“….”

“Right now, our name is in critical condition! In order to overcome this crisis, it is the responsibility of the minister to not only look back at past and present cases, but also look at other countries’ cases! Why are you just saying that you can’t do anything? “And you are still a minister under this title!”

The ministers who lost their justification for Seonghwaje’s actions followed Seonghwaje’s wishes and pursued a policy of hiring workers for large-scale civil engineering projects.

This was followed by a policy of encouraging artisans and merchants’ will to develop through the establishment and operation of the ‘Intellectual Property Management Office’.

As these improvements, reforms, and implementation of new policies continued, the people of Ming gradually began to support the Holy Fire Festival.

Nevertheless, the people of the Ming Dynasty called Seonghwaje by nicknames such as ‘the Emperor of Joseon’ and ‘the Emperor of Goryeo.’

This was because most of the policies implemented by Seonghwaje were imported and modified from those that had been implemented in the empire and had achieved good results.

* * *

Unlike the growing number of people supporting the Seonghwaje, the ministers were ready to die.

“Why did I become an official through the civil service examination…”

“This is Won… Aren’t we in the same situation as Uma, who just follows the orders given by the emperor?”

“This is all because of the Jamyunhoe!”

The great and small officials of the Ming Dynasty had a lot to say about the emperor’s excessive personal affection.

To be precise, there was a lot of talk about the Jamryonghoe crouching in the secretariat.

– Revitalize the fallen people!

Under this cause, Seonghwaje changed many things. However, most of these reforms and improvements came from the leadership of the Jamryonghoe.

The Cabinet of Ministers and officials of each ministry also followed the wishes of the Holy Fire Emperor and introduced various policies. However, most of the proposals they presented were evaluated as ‘old-fashioned’ and were rejected.

In the end, the cabinet ministers, ministers, and officials below them became mere puppets who actually carried out the orders given by the Holy Fire Emperor.

And officials who were dissatisfied with this area were holding Jamryonghoe in their mouths.

But this issue has rarely surfaced.

This was because the aftereffects of the previous purge still remained, and the Dongchang and Geumui Committee were closely monitoring the large and small officials and officials.

Eventually, many officials began to show passive behavior, simply doing what they were told.

However, a small group of ambitious people smiled in remorse.

* * *

“Tsk tsk tsk… That’s why I hear people say it’s old-fashioned.”

“You still don’t know that the world has changed….”

“The time has come for the Yangtze River’s rear water to push out the front water!”

Young and ambitious officials, realizing that they had an opportunity to advance, began to act diligently.

“There is an answer in what Your Majesty said!”

In order to seize opportunities for advancement, young officials looked back at the policies implemented by previous dynasties and looked at policies implemented in the empire and Japan.

“The policies implemented in Japan are all modeled after those of the empire, right?”

“Is empire the only answer?”

The young officials began to eagerly analyze the empire’s policies.

And the officials who came up with a pretty good plan submitted their plans to their superiors.

However, most of the answers they received were swear words and reprimands.

“Why are you doing something you weren’t told to do? huh? “Why are you doing something you weren’t told to do?”

“When you have time to do something like this, do what you’re told to do properly!”

After hearing such abuse and reprimand, the young officials became discouraged and had no choice but to step down. However, there were people who were watching them carefully.

It was an alumni and gold medalist.

-It may be a truly insignificant plan, but if not, you can achieve great results!

After completing the calculations, the alumni and members of the Gold Council found the appeal and submitted it to the Secretariat.

Jamryonghoe, who heard the story of the appeals, immediately reported it to Seonghwaje.

“Are there such killers?”

After receiving the report, Emperor Seonghwa was very angry and summoned the cabinet secretaries and ministers.

“How do gentlemen greet each other!”

Seong Hwa-je, who reprimanded the cabinet assistants and ministers, identified and executed all the officials who had blocked the appeal.

“If you are not rebels, then who is?”

Compared to the last purge, the scope of the purge was smaller, but it was once again bloody. The officials looked at each other in silence and muttered.

“This is it… The more capable the emperor is, the more difficult it is for him to survive…”

“The nightmare of the old Emperor Xuande’s days is coming back to me.”

Emperor Seondeok, who would have been known as ‘a great prince never again in history’ if he had not waged war with Joseon, was also synonymous with purges.

Although there was a huge uproar, the Jamryonghoe selected the good ones among the appeals that came in and submitted them to the Seonghwaje.

Seong Hwa-je, who received and read the appeal, called the author, highly praised him, and immediately gave him a high-ranking official position.

“From now on, appeals related to reform and improvement of state administration should be submitted directly to the Secretariat!”

Following Seonghwaje’s decision, the secretariat began to be filled with plans from ambitious new officials.

As they looked at the increasing number of plans, the comrades of the Jamryonghoe collectively sighed.

“We dug our own grave…”

But the Jamryonghoe knew well that there was nothing they could do.

“If Alumni and Geumuiwi are the eyes and ears, we need limbs to replace us.”

“that’s right. “We need stones to fight those embedded stones for us.”

“by the way. “What if they raise him like that and then confront us later?”

“Before that, the emperor and we must secure power.”

“We just have to raise it to an appropriate level. “You can’t make the mistake of turning your dog into a tiger.”

In such calculations, Seonghwaje and Jamryonghoe raised new officials with their own hands and feet. And the new officials grew up as expected.

The most representative one was the title for the empire.

Most high-ranking officials in the Ming Dynasty still referred to the empire as ‘Joseon’. However, most new officials referred to the empire as ‘Daehan’ or ‘Korean Federation’. There were even people who called it ’empire’, like Seonghwaje or Jamryonghoe.

-We must acknowledge that the current empire is not the Joseon of the past.

-You have to admit what needs to be acknowledged.

This was the thinking of the new officials.

And as he was favored by the Seonghwaje, he also developed a close relationship with the Jamryonghoe. As they built up their power, new officials came to the forefront of political struggle with older generation officials.

* * *

The power struggle taking place between the Seonghwaje and Jamyonghoe new officials and the older generation officials was conveyed to Seoul as quickly as possible.

The imperial army dispatched to protect not only the court ladies who followed the Seonghwa Emperor and the Empress to Nanjing, the Seonghwa Emperor and his wife, but also the Jamryonghoe comrades included well-trained spies.

The spies dispatched in this way immediately conveyed what was happening in Nanjing to Seoul.

They weren’t the only ones.

Wan knew more deeply through Milwi.

This was because Milwi succeeded in recruiting three of the Jamryonghoe comrades.

In order to recruit them, Milwi even asked Wan for help.

“If that’s the case, Jim should definitely step up!”

Wan, who responded to Milwi’s request, met with Jamryonghoe’s comrades at the safe house Milwi had built. It was not a meeting between Wan and all of the comrades he was recruiting, but a one-on-one meeting.

“Please help for the sake of the empire. However, this does not mean that you should betray your faith. “All you have to do is tell the truth about what is happening.”

The Jamryonghoe comrades who met Wan were so moved that they immediately bowed down and responded.

“As a citizen of the empire and a subject of Your Majesty, it is my natural duty to do so! “I will perform this with all my might!”

In this way, Milwi was able to bury his ears into the deepest part of Nanjing.

As an aside, the three comrades who were recruited by the Secret Service knew that they were the only ones who saw the emperor through the Secret Service and that they were the only sources in the Jamryonghoe.

Thanks to this, Milwi was able to identify any abnormalities by comparing the intelligence sent by each of these three people.

After being founded by Hyang and King Sejong, the Secret Intelligence Service established itself as the world’s most powerful and world-class intelligence agency at this time by taking charge of all kinds of missions.

* * *

“Hmm… In the end, it appears that the name has decided on strengthening its internal stability. “I don’t think we need to worry much about the military for the time being.”

Hwang Bo-in responded to Wan’s words.

“That’s right.”

“The problem is that it is good not to worry about military matters, but managing intellectual property rights takes a while. If they make sound efforts at commerce and industry, wouldn’t it be disadvantageous for us? “If you think about their vast land and population.”

Hwang Bo-in responded to Wan’s point with a slight smile.

“The problem lies in the vast land and population. No matter how much the Ming emperor tries to spread his good intentions, it will take a long time because the land is so vast. In addition, it is impossible to correct this right away because it has been a daily routine for people in the Middle Plains to create imitations and forgeries since ancient times. In my opinion, it will take at least 100 years for it to become established. That’s 100 years, assuming there’s nothing wrong with Nanjing.”

Following Hwang Bo-in’s words, Kim Jong-seo spoke.

“In addition, the corruption of the low-level officials ruling the Ming region continues, so even 100 years is a short period of time. No, even if things are corrected within 100 years, the empire will be further ahead during that time.”

“I should, but I’m very worried. It is difficult to break away from injustice and corruption, and isn’t this the same for our empire?”

Kim Jong-seo smiled and responded to Wan’s concerns.

“Hahaha~ Your Majesty. “Our empire has a recorder!”

As soon as the word ‘Recorder’ came out, all the officials in Daejeon and even the eunuchs were shocked.

Wan opened his mouth at Kim Jong-seo’s words, whether he knew it or not.

“ah! Speaking of the recorder…”