Black Corporation: Joseon Chapter 290

Episode 290: Savior. (3)

The place where the fleet secretly sent from Joseon anchored was Yunotsu. It was about 20 ri away from Iwami, where it was rumored that there was a silver mine, but because the coastline was deep inland, it was the perfect place to hide ships.

“Welcome.”

The Joseon military officers who got off the ship were greeted by Ouchimorimi, the lord of Ouchi, and politely bowed.

“My name is Ahn Sang-taek, the Manho of the Joseon Navy.”

“Thank you for coming. But…”

Morimi paused for a moment and looked behind Ahn Sang-taek.

Five Joseon Panokseon anchored on the coastline.

‘It seems smaller than expected?’

Ahn Sang-taek, perhaps aware of Morimi’s feelings, immediately explained.

“I decided to move on a small scale because I thought other people would notice if I move on a large scale. “The second fleet will arrive in a few days.”

Morimi’s face brightened slightly at Ahn Sang-taek’s explanation.

“Is that something like that? And how much longer will it be?”

“First of all, there is a third plan. Until the second round, mainly troops will come to defend the area and the mine, and in the final third round, mining craftsmen will come. “After the craftsmen properly confirm the size of the mine, adjustments will be made accordingly.”

Morimi, who nodded to Ahn Sang-taek’s words, introduced the person who followed him.

“This is my nephew, Ouchimochiyo (大内持世). “I will lead the defense of this place and Iwami from now on.”

“Please take care of me.”

“I would like to ask you to take good care of me as well.”

Mochiyo and Ahn Sang-taek politely exchanged greetings. This was because both of them were well aware of the importance of the person standing in front of them. Afterwards, military officers under Ahn Sang-taek and samurai under Mochiyo exchanged greetings.

While the Joseon military commanders and important figures of the Ouchi family were meeting each other, the Joseon soldiers were diligently unloading cargo from the ship.

Once the cargo was unloaded, military officers and soldiers began building the camp in earnest.

The samurai who were watching the movements of the Joseon army soon discovered something strange.

The Joseon army unloaded a huge amount of artillery from the ship and piled it on one side.

“What is that used for?”

While Morimi, Mochiyo, and the samurai were curious, Ahn Sang-taek approached and asked.

“ah! “I have something to check, but is contact with the surrounding area well blocked?”

Morimi, who heard Ahn Sang-taek’s question, answered right away.

“We have relocated all residents within a radius of 5 ri (approximately 2 km) around this place. “The remaining residents are those who work in the mines.”

“Oh, I understand.”

“By the way, what are those sacks used for?”

To Morimi’s question, Ahn Sang-taek answered with strength in his voice, as if he was boasting.

“Used to build barriers.”

“Used to build a wall? “Can I take a look?”

“However much.”

After Ahn Sang-taek gave permission, the people of Ouchi watched the Joseon soldiers use the artillery.

“Huh… that kind of method…”

The people of Ouchi could not hide their surprise. Along the defense line surrounding the dock and camp, soldiers scooped up dirt and put it into sacks. Once the bags were full of dirt, they tied the muzzles tightly and began stacking the bags along the defense line.

One of the retainers who saw the scene opened his mouth.

“If we reinforce the dug holes just a little, a strong moat will be created.”

Hearing from the retainer, who was considered to be an expert in defense, Morimi and the others moved a little closer and looked at the batteries.

“Oh my god….”

Morimi and his retainers could not close their gaping mouths as they picked up the empty bag that had not yet contained dirt and inspected the material. This was because the cloth made from the sack was unusual.

The fabric of the sack was slightly thick, but very tightly woven.

“It’s quite luxurious.”

While Morimi was making that assessment, some of the middle- and low-level samurai who followed behind him sighed softly as they compared the fabric of the battery with the fabric of the clothes they were wearing.

High-ranking people brought in silk and high-quality cotton cloth through various channels to make their clothes, but the samurai of the middle class and below wore clothes made of poor quality cotton cloth, except for one or two pieces of clothing worn as formal attire.

However, the fabric of the sacks that the Joseon army used to pile up the soil was of better quality than the fabric of the clothes they were wearing.

“The fabric of the sack is quite good. “Isn’t it too much to use for sacks that barely contain dirt?”

Ahn Sang-taek answered Mochiyo’s question with a slight smile.

“It’s made from cotton, so it’s not very expensive.”

“Kwangmok?”

“It is a cloth woven from objects made by His Majesty the Crown Prince.”

Ahn Sang-taek’s face was full of pride as he mentioned ‘Crown Prince’.

* * *

When cotton first began to be mass-produced, merchants were concerned about lower-than-expected sales performance.

At this time, incense appeared like a savior.

“The reason for the poor performance is the lack of price competitiveness in selling prices. And that’s because the people still don’t know the usefulness of cotton wool.”

Hyang pointed out the cause and immediately presented the answer.

-Cotton is grown in Japan and brought in cheaply.

-Governments and the military use cotton in large quantities, showing its usefulness.

Hyang’s proposal was immediately accepted. In particular, the first solution had the intention of economic subjugation of the Japanese.

However, neither King Sejong nor any of the ministers could hear Hyang’s words to himself.

“It’s a suggestion I made, but it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. “The military is always the easiest solution.”

It was a scent that brought back painful memories of having to eat pork and chicken to avoid any problems with pig or poultry farms in the 21st century.

“If it was going to be like that, it would be outsourced to a proper restaurant or chicken restaurant. Do you like the market economy? Every time I ate the bokbulbok cooked by the cook…”

So, the first product delivered to the military and government officials was that sack.

This bag also had a touch of incense. It was simply two pieces of fabric overlapped and sewn tightly together, and the scent called Jang Yeong-sil.

“Let’s come up with a loom that can weave sacks!”

“yes? Yes….”

Jang Yeong-sil, who received the order from the village, returned to her workplace and screamed.

“Everyone gather under me! right now!”

We started developing the loom like that, but we didn’t know when the prototype would be released. Therefore, although the sacks were made by sewing by hand, the military units that received them soon realized their utility and began using them in large quantities.

The artillery showed its true value in the process of hastily building defense facilities in the newly acquired area.

Artillery was not only popular in the military. The government soon realized its usefulness and began to put it to good use in the field of natural disasters, especially floods.

As people became more familiar with cotton, the demand for cotton began to increase even among the general public.

* * *

Anyway, Morimi, who was stuck in the battery, asked Ahn Sang-taek.

“Is it difficult to get that battery?”

“No. Please send me the documents if you need them. “I will notify Hanseong via the ferry.”

“Hmm…”

Morimi thought for a moment and made a decision right away.

“I will write the document and deliver it to you soon.”

“I understand.”

After that conversation, Morimi left the dock.

Morimi, who had reached the crossroads dividing Iwami and Nagato, once again asked Mochiyo.

“I’m sure you haven’t forgotten why my older brother and your late father, Lord Jeondae, had to lose his life, right?”

“I know very well.”

“In order to resolve the grudge and become the ‘master of the world’, which is the family’s secret wish, that Eunkwang is absolutely necessary. No matter what happens, we must protect Eunkwang.”

“hot!”

Morimi’s face brightened as if she was relieved at Mochiyo’s firm answer. Looking at Morimi like that, Mochiyo asked.

“But are you sure you will order the sack?”

“What do you think?”

“I think it would be good for building defenses in the mine. “I would like to build a castle, but that would be too loud.”

“I saw it well. And I think it will be needed in Buzen as well.”

“Shoni and Otomo are holding you back until the end.”

The two families, indigenous to the Kyushu region, stood as the biggest obstacle in the process of the Ouchi family taking control of Kyushu.

When Mochiyo mentioned Shoni and Otomo, Morimi nodded.

“In order to become a member of the world, you have to put an end to those two families first. By the way… Joseon’s culture is amazing.”

Everyone surrounding Morimi nodded at his words.

Even the cloth in the sack that contained mere dirt or sand was of incredible quality.

In addition, the discipline and strictness of behavior of the Joseon soldiers who got off the ship were not those of simple soldiers.

The lords and vassals of the Ouchi family began to be psychologically oppressed by Joseon without their knowledge.

* * *

As Ahn Sang-taek said, the third fleet that arrived had mining engineers on board.

The craftsmen who had rested from their travels at Yunotsu, which now clearly looked like a dock and garrison, set out for the Iwami mines, escorted by the Joseon army and Ouchi clan soldiers.

“This place.”

Guided by Mochiyo and the samurai, the craftsmen arrived at the mine, set up a tent, and immediately began exploring the surrounding area.

Ouchi’s samurai followed in the footsteps of Joseon craftsmen. The orders the samurai received were simple.

-Protect the craftsmen of Joseon, even if it means giving up your lives!

After about a month, the craftsmen reported to Ahn Sang-taek and Mochiyo.

The craftsmen laid out the map they had drawn while climbing the mountain and pointed out three locations.

“I recommend these three veins.”

“There are other veins, but I think it would be best to start here first.”

Mochiyo’s face brightened after hearing the craftsmen’s words through the interpreter.

“Then we will send in the workers right away!”

The Joseon craftsmen who heard Mochiyo’s words shook their heads.

“First of all, we need to bring in tools from Joseon.”

“you’re right. Why… No, I saw the pickaxes and shovels of the Japanese, but they were all unusable.”

“And we need some gunpowder.”

“There must also be a mine car and a water blower.”

Ahn Sang-taek nodded and answered the craftsmen’s words.

“Tell me everything you need. “Write a report and send it to Hanseong.”

“All right.”

Mochiyo, who was listening to the story through a Japanese interpreter next to him, joined the conversation.

“What are mine carts and pump blowers?”

“These are essential items to safely mine a lot of silver ore. “I don’t know much more than that, but…”

Ahn Sang-taek, who briefly explained to Mochiyo, asked the craftsmen.

“What else? And once all the equipment is ready, when will mining be possible?”

“Once the equipment is properly prepared, mining is possible immediately. ah! Please send some laborers, not just artisans. “The Japanese are very clumsy.”

“Okay.”

While Ahn Sang-taek nodded and answered, a military officer sitting next to him diligently wrote down a piece of paper on a tablet.

When all records were finished, Ahn Sang-taek spoke to Mochiyo.

“Even before the equipment arrives, we need to build the necessary buildings first.”

“yes? yes.”

Mochiyo, who was watching the actions of the Koreans, responded with a half-fazed expression.

‘What on earth are they talking about… I can’t understand a word!’

* * *

When the equipment requested by the craftsmen arrived and preparations for mining began in earnest, Mochiyo and the samurai were dumbfounded.

By pouring a mixture of sand and an unknown gray powder into a framework made of iron bars and a form made of wooden boards, a warehouse and accommodation made of sturdy stone were created at some point.

“It’s not some kind of goblin game…”

Suddenly, Mochiyo became ‘Mochiyo in Wonderland.’