Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 706

Episode 706: The Second Battle of the Yellow Sea (4)

The Ming Dynasty’s court was debating every day about whether what was happening in the Imperial Navy was a Hyang trap or not.

The problem was that Han Wang-gyeom, the protagonist of the sudden sudden remark, rose to become one of the Gyeongtae Emperor’s generals through his remark. The ministers of both large and small departments who saw the scene rushed to come up with their own thoughtful opinions and a heated debate broke out.

As the situation progressed, the adjustment of names became a mess.

Within the royal court, there were two large factions and a large and small faction within them, leading to a war of words.

Before we knew it, constructive opinions were gradually disappearing, and only opposition for the sake of opposition was rampant.

Seeing the government in such dire straits, this was even said among young, low-ranking officials.

“Isn’t this what the King of Joseon was aiming for?”

Among the reasons why the government of Ming Dynasty became such a mess, the biggest reason was that the Minister of Cabinet, who could be said to be the head of the ministers, the Minister of Defense, who was the head of the military that would carry out the war, and the provincial governors were keeping silent.

They remained silent even as they watched mud fights taking place every day.

“Why aren’t the monks saying anything?”

When Gyeong Tae-je, who could no longer bear it, asked the reason directly, the head of the cabinet answered by bowing his head while holding his hand.

“They all have the same opinions, so why would God argue so rashly?”

“Still, the Lord is better than a cabinet member. “Isn’t the assistant cabinet secretary’s job to listen to what they say and give him the right advice?”

“We are doing our best to look into it. “I will come to a conclusion soon.”

“Whoa~.”

Emperor Gyeong-tae let out a long sigh in response to the assistant cabinet secretary’s answer, leaned forward on his throne, and waved his hand.

“You don’t look like the cabinet secretary I know. good night. Don’t wait for an answer. But keep in mind. “A person’s patience is not that strong!”

To Emperor Gyeongtae’s warning, the Cabinet Secretary responded by bowing his head again.

“I will do my best.”

* * *

After the assembly, the sick inspector and provincial governors visited the office of the Assistant Cabinet Secretary.

“How did you do that? “Don’t you know very well that there are more than a few people who are just looking for an opportunity to push Subo out and take his place?”

“I know very well.”

Seeing the Assistant Cabinet Secretary calmly nodding his head, the sick secretary pounded his chest in frustration.

“How can someone who knows so well be like that!”

The provincial governors also nodded as if they agreed with the words of the sick man. The Cabinet Secretary explained this in a calm voice.

“Your Majesty listens to your subjects. Those are your strengths and weaknesses. “When you talk a lot like this time, you start to sway back and forth.”

“That’s why Subo, who knows this well, shouldn’t step forward!”

The Cabinet Secretary let out a long sigh at the point made by the sick report.

“Whoa~. Don’t you need to organize something to organize it? All the words that fill the court now are just empty puns. There is nothing worth taking note of, just things that are close to puns that are used to pick on the other person’s tail... and there is too little information about the situation in Joseon. If I could get more decisive information, I would decide to take a risk or gamble, but right now I can’t do anything. “Isn’t that the same reason why the monks are silent?”

“....”

In response to the Cabinet Secretary’s question, the Minister of Injuries and Provincial Governors remained silent. It was for the same reason that they remained silent.

* * *

After the last war, the Ming desperately tried to discover the flaws of the empire.

In particular, if war broke out, the first priority was to know the situation of the imperial army in the Liaodong region, which would be the first to be dealt with, and the imperial navy protecting the inland sea (the empire called the West Sea the inland sea).

For this purpose, the Ming Dynasty sent numerous spies to the Liaodong region and Jemulpo.

However, compared to the many spies sent, the results were minimal.

Spies disguised as citizens of the empire were caught using the empire’s unique identity card and battlefield accounts that all imperial citizens had. And the spies caught in that way quietly disappeared.

Those disguised as merchants were a little safer, but their freedom of movement was very limited.

The assistant cabinet secretary, who heard the story from the sick inspector and provincial governors, immediately ran to Emperor Gyeongtae.

“Hmm... One of Joseon’s assault ships has entered the election and is undergoing repairs?”

“That’s right. They say that putting it up for election and repairing it is a big task that will take a lot of time. “I believe this is a golden opportunity.”

Emperor Gyeongtae nodded at the words of the Assistant Cabinet Secretary.

“Of course... it is much more advantageous to have three double-headed flame dragons against only one ship than two assault ships. “There will be less damage.”

“That’s right.”

While nodding his head to the words of the Assistant Cabinet Secretary, the Minister of Economic Affairs began to confirm once again.

“Does it seem unlikely that it was a trap for the King of Joseon?”

“It looks very shallow.”

“But why now?”

In response to Emperor Gyeongtae’s question, Governor Wu stepped forward and explained.

-The Yellow Sea is famous for being calm, but the Yellow Sea in winter is quite violent. Of course, it’s not as bad as when a summer storm comes, but it’s still not a good idea to form a fleet and engage in a naval battle.

-Just as we send out spy ships, Joseon also sends out spy ships to check on us. Seeing that the third Two-Headed Flame Dragon was still only moving in the coastal waters, they probably decided that it had not yet been properly powered and began repairs.

“Hmm...”

Gyeongtaeje, who had been nodding at Governor Wu’s explanation, asked the question again.

“Even if we get elected, if they find out we are moving, won’t they send us back into the water?”

“The possibility of that happening is quite high. However, if it were to be put up for election, it would be a very large repair, and even if it were to be refloated, it would be difficult to demonstrate its full potential.”

“I see...”

Gyeong Tae-je was silent for a long time, lost in thought.

After some time had passed and Gyeongtaeje had made a decision, he looked at the ministers.

“good night! Attack the Joseon fleet! “Let’s at least make it clear to Joseon who owns the Yellow Sea!”

All the ministers responded to Emperor Gyeongtae’s declaration by simultaneously bowing their heads.

“I follow your orders!”

* * *

Emperor Gyeongtae had made up his mind, but the Ming court was still noisy.

This time, a fight broke out over the timing of the start of the war.

-You have decided to start a war, but you cannot fight right away. Planning a strategy and supplying supplies to the front lines all take a lot of time! Then it’s winter! It is too dangerous to engage in a naval battle in the rough seas of winter! It has to be postponed until spring!

-You must finish preparations and enter battle as quickly as possible! It is highly likely that by spring next year, the aftereffects of personnel changes will have subsided and the maintenance of the sudden return line will have been completed. If you do that, you are just throwing away the opportunity given by heaven! We must take the risk and set out right away!

“What does the Cabinet Secretary think?”

The Cabinet Secretary responded immediately to Gyeongtaeje’s question.

“I think we should move out as quickly as possible. “We must strike them before they escape the aftereffects of personnel changes and while they are lazy and trusting in the winter sea.”

“If even the Cabinet Secretary speaks so decisively...”

Gyeongtaeje nodded and made his decision to the ministers.

“Prepare as quickly as possible and take advantage of the moment they are off guard. Ministers, do your best to ensure supply.”

“I follow your orders!”

* * *

While Myeong was going all-in on the gambling table, workers were grumbling at the imperial fleet maintenance depot in Asan.

“Shit! “You damn barnacles!”

The workers were grumbling incessantly as they removed the barnacles that had clung to the hull of the assault ship that was on board.

“What a hardship in the harsh winter!”

The sudden return to election was a trap set by Hyang and Shin In-son.