1592 The Empire We All Dreamed of - Chapter 319



Only Krnovel

1592 The Empire Everyone Dreamed of (319)

Spring again

The North Korean army crossed the Yalu River.

It took three full days for 20,000 troops to cross the river to the white sand beach using boats and rafts.

Soldiers who crossed the river one after another were checked for personnel, and units were reorganized from combat missions to security missions in the order of arrival.

Hanmungeuk omitted the complicated ceremony and reported the number of people.

“3,000 cavalry, 5,000 musketeers, 2,000 archers, and 10,000 swordsmen, axemen, and spearmen.”

“Everyone is lining up nicely.”

“Let’s reduce the number of soldiers. They look good and are easier to operate.”

“That’s right. A disciplined army is a strong army.”

After crossing the river, the North Korean army began building a camp on the riverbank.

This made the management of prisoners much easier.

“I’ll attach my interpretation.”

“My Korean is as good as any good interpreter’s.”

“Indeed, it’s a Chinese play. I wonder why Prime Minister Han Chang-geun can’t catch such a capable person.”

“Hahaha, I sure did cause a lot of trouble for my uncle.”

When his uncle’s name was mentioned for the first time in a long time, he burst into laughter.

“If there’s anything I’m worried about, it’s rations.”

“That’s okay.”

Jiwoo waved his hand as if telling her not to worry.

“In six months, 2,000,000 koku will arrive from Beijing and 400,000 koku from Honshu. Of course, this is the minimum and we can increase it.”

“Ugh.”

Numerically, it was enough to feed 2,400,000 people for one year.

The price for occupying the Beijing area after northern Honshu was sweet. They were able to freely attempt projects that would have been burdensome in the past.

After a while, Wang Jun, the former commander of the five armies, was summoned.

“I greet His Majesty the King of Goryeo.”

“Get up. You must be tired from encouraging the soldiers.”

“The soldiers happily work three meals a day and work four hours a day.”

“You have to eat well to be strong. I will provide you with cotton clothes in the winter, and as promised, after three years of hard labor, you will be free.”

“Your kindness is truly infinite.”

“Right now, the ministers and other dignitaries are preparing the Goryeo cabinet. If you wish, you will have the opportunity.”

Wang Jun opened his eyes wide after hearing the interpretation.

“There was a story behind their bright expressions.”

“Well, anyway, let me introduce myself. He is the commander in charge of security in the country.”

“This is a Chinese play. In order to strictly enforce military discipline in the future, we will resort to corporal punishment, so please understand.”

“Please be forgiving in your hands.”

Former Commander-in-Chief Wang Jun bowed deeply.

If it had truly been the Great Ming Dynasty, this would have been impossible, but what could it be? A chapter of history had already been written, so now this was the natural course of things.

“Since my intervention is purely a matter of force, you should just focus on administration as you are doing now.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Hanmungeuk glanced at Wang Jun as he returned to the scene.

“May I appoint the officials of the name to important positions?”

“But you can’t just take out Joseon officials, right?”

“I see.”

Perhaps it was a natural concern.

“Anyway, these people will lose their energy in about 10 years. In the meantime, I plan to fill the positions with new recruits as circumstances allow.”

“Aha, that’s a great idea.”

“Your seat will be empty, so just tell me whenever you want.”

“Hehehe, I don’t mind going anywhere as long as it’s out of sight of my uncle.”

“Really? Then what about the local magistrate here? Surely Prime Minister Han wouldn’t come all the way here to nag him?”

Hanmun Geuk blinked.

“Are you telling me to take charge of the new capital? Are you serious?”

“Did you think I was joking?”

Jiwoo put a stop to his recruitment.

“I will send a letter to the King of Joseon. I will borrow you and the Northern Army for a short while under the pretext of protecting the Koreans in Gando.”

“Ugh, I’m confused. So suddenly.”

“What can I do? I need talent right now.”

It is good to be well-educated and upright, but what is needed more than anything now are people like Heo Gyun or Hanmun Geuk who are flexible in their thinking and pursue practicality.

These are the people who will fit well with Solbin’s young talents.

“… … .”

The Chinese play has fallen into a state of long reflection.

“Your Majesty. I have word that the Minister of Construction has arrived.”

“Oh really? That’s good. Would you mind preparing a quick meal for me?”

“Yes. I will prepare it right away.”

Soon a sunshade and a table were set up on the hill. Then the soldiers brought water and lit a fire in a large brazier.

In the meantime, Hanmun Theater came to its senses.

“It’s dinner time. Who else is coming?”

“I told you to keep it simple, but I hope it’s not lacking. Here it comes.”

“Hahaha, Your Majesty. Congratulations on your victory. Long live Goryeo!”

Oh Jong-gil, who had run up the hill in one go, fell flat on his face.

Jiwoo let out a bitter smile and grabbed his shoulder.

“Okay, I understand. So get up.”

“Solbin is all about the victory celebration. Ah! That’s right.”

Oh Jong-gil raised his head and licked his lips. Ji-woo frowned at the secret smile of the bearded man.

“You. You’re doing something you’ve never done before. Just sit down here… … .”

“The baby was born.”

“… … !”

Jiwoo grabbed Oh Jonggil by the collar.

“What about the mother? Is the lower abdomen okay?”

“Keep on going, Your Majesty is healthy. Everyone says it was a safe delivery.”

“Oh really? Phew, I guess I got a little excited. Thanks for the good news.”

Jiwoo, who had fixed Oh Jong-gil’s clothes, only then mentioned the baby.

“What about the child? Are all his limbs intact?”

“Oh, of course. He is a healthy prince.”

“Tch, man? I wish my first child had been a girl.”

“Sigh, I don’t know what Your Majesty is thinking.”

Oh Jong-gil’s gaze, nodding his head, turned toward Hanmun Geuk.

“I thought I’d seen you somewhere. You’re the military officer I saw in Jongseong ten years ago. Or are you a general now?”

“Do you know me? Maybe from 10 years ago?”

Jiwoo intervened.

“Let me introduce you. This person is the Minister of Construction, which in Joseon terms would be the Minister of Public Works. This person is the person who will be appointed as the Minister of Internal Affairs.”

“Wasn’t he your highness’ former superior? He must have been quite a capable person to be entrusted with such an important task.”

Oh Jong-gil’s attitude instantly changed to a friendly one.

Solbin’s leadership judged people based on their ability and helpfulness. That’s how they lasted for the past 10 years.

While we were getting to know each other, food arrived.

“Let’s start with the low ones first.”

“thank you for this food.”

The meal began with Jiwoo picking up his spoon.

It was a red-seasoned meat, soup, and rice dish, and the scent of green onions and pepper was fragrant.

“How large should the palace be?”

“There are still traces of the old palace, so I hope you can rebuild it on that scale. I hope you take the time to build up to Yukjo Street. The rest can be finished along the district line.”

“There will be no problem, since we have brought in a fairly capable ranch owner.”

Oh Jong-gil carefully pulled off the meat attached to the bone.

“What about the bricklayer?”

“I brought it. Starting tomorrow, I will find suitable soil and set up the kiln.”

“Okay. Everything is perfect.”

After the meal, the teacups were placed.

Slurp.

“How about the sewage treatment plant you mentioned, to the southeast of the palace? It’s low and connected to a valley, so the damp terrain is perfect for decomposing sewage.”

Dalgrak.

Jiwoo, who had savored the scent of the tea, put down his cup.

“It’s your right. I will never compromise on the results.”

“thank you.”

As Oh Jong-gil waved his hand, a piece of paper and a pencil were placed on the table.

“Okay, then I will dig a sewer 20 feet (6m) deep and 20 feet wide based on the Yukjo Street. The side road connected to it will be a sewer 10 feet wide.”

“Yes. You understand very well.”

“I’ll finish the interior with bricks to prevent dirt from seeping in. What do you think?”

“It’s perfect. What do you think? Are there any problems with the construction?”

Oh Jong-gil was confident as always.

“We have 150,000 people available. And three years is more than enough.”

“It would be cleaner than expanding and maintaining Solbin.”

He sympathized strongly.

“Whew, it’s crazy trying to control the flow of people during construction, carry materials through the crowds, and find guys hiding here and there. Jong-seok is going to have a hard time.”

“The Vice Minister of Construction? He was your cousin, wasn’t he? Your family has suffered a lot under me.”

“That is not right. Would it be more difficult for you to go through this than Your Majesty, who says the world is small and goes from battlefield to battlefield?”

“Oh, that was hard.”

Surprisingly, Jiwoo did not deny it.

“The soldiers did the fighting, but I also suffered a lot mentally.”

“It was difficult for us to prepare the evacuation ship while waiting for the inevitable victory.”

In the worst case scenario, Solbin planned to move to Hokkaido. The soldiers did their best, risking everything, but it was also a time when the families who remained in Solbin risked everything.

Regardless of time and place, the founding of a nation is a history that requires everything to be staked.

‘Was I foolish? Even if the fruit was sweet, that wouldn’t be all there was to it.’

‘Amazing. Defeating Ming and establishing a country.’

There was a sense of awe in the eyes of those who had accomplished it.

* * *

A medium-sized galleon with a length of 30 meters was anchored on the high seas.

“Drop anchor.”

Knock, knock, splash.

As if not all galleons in the world were the same size, over time a larger galleon was added to the side.

thud.

Dull.

After a major collision, the platform between the two ships became stuck.

A moment later, Jan and Admiral Rohan Rubastin of Fort Zealandia crossed over in a large ship.

“Come this way.”

Admiral Joao Fernando of Portugal personally guided the two men. At each location he led, the host stood up and greeted the guests.

“Good to meet you. I am Walter Haines, Admiral of the English Eastern Fleet.”

“Admiral Rohan Rubastin of Zealandia.”

“Baron Jan Belzep, Governor-General of Taiwan, Koryo-ryeong.”

“Korea? Not China?”

“There are many countries in the East besides China.”

“I see. Thank you for teaching me.”

After a while, a hot teapot was placed.

Slurp.

“This is the finest jasmine. Enjoy it.”

“Thank you. The fragrance is exquisite.”

The somewhat tense atmosphere eased. For a moment, the sound of teacups clinking, the gentle sea breeze, and the rolling of waves came together.

As the tea cooled, Jan opened his mouth.

“Let me ask you first. Is it clear whether your side intends to declare war?”

“I, Walter Haines, Admiral of the English Eastern Fleet, hereby declare that I will oppose Holland and his allies who are blocking the Taiwanese waters and impeding navigation.”

“We are willing to negotiate.”

One corner of Walter Haines’ mouth went up. It was an obvious sneer.

Dalgrak.

Admiral Walter put down his teacup and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“Would you be able to feed my Eastern Fleet by giving up a little of your profits?”

“The continent is large and populous. It can be peaceful.”

Admiral Walter Haines raised his hand and cut Jan off.

“What will you do about the losses our company suffered during this time of unrest?”

“Are you really saying there is no agreement?”

It is better not to go to war. However, the other party seemed determined to settle the matter through war.

‘That means I’m familiar with war.’

Slaughter your opponents and the winner takes all. How neat.

Jan nodded inwardly.

“I apologize for blocking your merchant ships for the benefit of Taiwan. Please act in a gentlemanly manner… … .”

“Well then, I will tell you what I want.”

“I am ready to listen.”

Jan smiled bitterly on the outside, but on the inside he was happy.

‘This isn’t a meeting or anything. It’s just a place to receive notifications.’

Slurp.

Admiral Walter Haines, filling his empty glass, made his demands known.

“As compensation for the time being, we demand 2,000 pounds of gold and 10,000 pounds of silver.”

“Okay.”

Jan’s face was red for a while.

“I will review it proactively… … .”

“I will consider it if you cede Fort Zealandia there.”

bang.

Jan slammed the table and stood up.

“There was no choice from the beginning. It was only war.”

“I don’t think the person who provided the cause should be excited?”

“Even so, is it right not to even give them a chance to apologize and compensate?”

Admiral Walter Haines threw back his head and laughed heartily.

“Are you talking about justice in the face of power right now? You guys? Oh my, I meant it. I have no shame at all.”

As the great powers moved out of the Mediterranean and established colonies and reaped profits, their definition of justice was power. Dialogue was merely a means to an end when power was in short supply.

“We have been making a lot of profit while we were at war with Spain. So let’s end it our way. The winner takes all. Isn’t that neat?”

When you have a strong force behind you, your negotiating power is doubled. But if you have more power than that, negotiation is not an option in the first place.

England, having destroyed the Invincible Armada, was brimming with confidence.

‘This doesn’t seem like someone else’s business.’

Jan felt a strange sense of foreboding and smiled bitterly inside.

After a while, the people in the audience stood up.

“On 29 March 1605, the English Eastern Fleet declared war on Fort Zealandia and its allies.”

“I accept this in the name of His Excellency Jan Belzep, Governor-General of Taiwan.”

“Baron João Fernando of Portugal attests.”

Thus began the naval battle in the East Asian seas.