Day after day, debates raged in the Ming court over whether what was happening in the imperial navy was Hyang’s trap or not.
The problem was that Han Wanggyeom, the Second-grade Secretary of the Ministry of Rites who had made the sudden outburst, had risen to become one of the Jingtai Emperor’s favorites through his remarks. Seeing this, officials high and low scrambled to offer their own thoughtful opinions, triggering endless debates.
As a result, the Ming court fell into disarray.
Within the court, two major factions had emerged, with smaller factions within them engaging in verbal battles.
Constructive opinions gradually disappeared, replaced by opposition solely for the sake of opposition.
The court’s dysfunction was so severe that young, low-ranking officials were saying:
“Isn’t this exactly what the Joseon king was aiming for?”
The main reason for the Ming court’s chaos was that the Grand Secretary—the leader of the ministers—along with the Minister of War and the Commanders-in-Chief who would execute the war were maintaining silence.
They remained silent despite witnessing the daily mud-slinging.
“Why do you say nothing?”
When the exasperated Jingtai Emperor directly asked for the reason, the Grand Secretary performed a ceremonial bow, lowered his head, and replied:
“Since all their opinions have merit, how could I carelessly comment?”
“But you are the Grand Secretary! Isn’t the job of the Grand Secretary to listen to them, examine their words, and offer proper advice to me?”
“I am examining everything with utmost diligence. I will soon present my conclusion.”
“Sigh~.”
Heaving a long sigh at the Grand Secretary’s answer, the Jingtai Emperor leaned back in his throne and waved his hand.
“This is unlike the Grand Secretary I know. Fine. I’ll wait for your answer. But remember this: my patience is not very strong!”
At the Jingtai Emperor’s warning, the Grand Secretary once again bowed his head and replied:
“I will do my best.”
***
After the court session ended, the Minister of War and the Commanders-in-Chief visited the Grand Secretary’s office.
“Why did you do that? Don’t you know there are many waiting for the opportunity to push you out and take your position?”
“I know well.”
Seeing the Grand Secretary calmly nodding, the Minister of War clutched his chest in frustration.
“For someone who knows this, how could you act that way!”
At the Minister of War’s words, the Commanders-in-Chief nodded in agreement. The Grand Secretary explained in a calm voice:
“His Majesty listens to his ministers. That is both his strength and weakness. In situations like this, with so many opinions, he becomes swayed.”
“That’s exactly why you, who knows this well, should step in!”
At the Minister of War’s point, the Grand Secretary heaved a long sigh.
“Sigh~. To organize something, there must be something to organize, right? The words filling the court now are all empty wordplay. There’s nothing worth heeding, just word games where they pick at each other’s statements… In addition, information about Joseon’s political situation is too scarce. If just one more decisive piece of information were to come in, I would make a decision, whether adventurous or risky, but right now, there’s nothing we can do. Isn’t this the same reason you’ve remained silent?”
“…”
At the Grand Secretary’s question, the Minister of War and the Commanders-in-Chief closed their mouths. They had remained silent for the same reason.
***
Since the last war, Ming had desperately tried to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the empire.
Particularly, understanding the situation of the imperial army in the Liaodong region and the imperial navy protecting the inner sea—the empire called the West Sea the “inner sea”—which would be the first to face in a war, was the top priority.
For this purpose, Ming sent numerous spies to the Liaodong region and Jemulpo.
However, despite sending many spies, the results were meager.
Spies disguised as imperial citizens were caught due to the empire’s unique identity tags and the imperial bank accounts that all citizens possessed. And those spies who were caught quietly disappeared.
Those disguised as merchants were a bit safer, but their freedom of movement was very limited.
Spies moving to scout the empire’s inland fleet naval base or important military bases in Liaodong had to undergo inspections at every major transportation hub. Soldiers and officers who verified the certification that they were authorized to enter as Ming merchants asked the same question every time.
“Why would a Ming merchant come this far?”
“Ah? I heard there were good goods here…”
The responses from the imperial soldiers and officers were all similar:
“All such goods are at the government monopoly stores. Use those stores.”
“Oh, dear sirs! I need to buy things a bit cheaper to make more profit! Please let me through.”
Even with pleading and bribes, the imperial soldiers and officers wouldn’t budge.
“Come on! If I say no, it’s no! Go back immediately if you don’t want to be thrown in jail!”
In the end, spies who couldn’t pass through checkpoints tried to bypass them secretly to approach their targets, but they were intercepted by the Secret Police and eliminated.
The Secret Police had strong connections with the underworld through past relationships with the Inspection Department. Because of this, they also knew about the existence of guides who led Ming spies.
Helping foreign spies was a major crime amounting to treason, but many became guides, blinded by the large amounts of money they received for their trouble. And the Secret Police secretly monitored these individuals.
Thanks to this, spies trying to infiltrate military facilities or Area 51 using such guides were immediately caught by the Secret Police.
As time passed, the Secret Police went a step further. They disguised their agents as guides.
The Secret Police’s undercover agents gained the trust of spies by successfully completing a few minor operations deemed low-risk. Then, when the spy tried to access truly important secrets, they lured them to where the Secret Police strike team was waiting and disposed of them.
As intelligence gathering using spies became sluggish, Ming began deploying spy ships, the most traditional method.
And thus, a life-or-death game of hide-and-seek between imperial navy patrol ships and these spy ships unfolded intensely in the inner sea.
***
“Setting aside spies, are the spy ships still not yielding anything?”
At the Grand Secretary’s question, the Left Commander-in-Chief placed his hand on his forehead.
“It’s not easy. They spend more time fleeing than actually spying…”
“Sigh~.”
“Haah~.”
At the Left Commander-in-Chief’s response, everyone present simultaneously exhaled.
“If only one decisive piece of intelligence would come in, we could make a decision immediately…”
“I agree.”
“Because of this, I’m dying of frustration these days.”
Those expressing such difficulties all wished for one thing:
-Just one decisive piece of intelligence from anywhere!
They wished this because they were exhausted by the court’s chaos.
-We’re tired of wasting our mental energy! Let’s just end this once and for all!
***
Did their wish come true?
Just as autumn was turning to winter, a badly damaged spy ship that had returned brought valuable intelligence:
-One of Joseon’s Assault Turtle Ships has entered repair!
“A report that one Assault Turtle Ship has been dry-docked!”
At the Left Commander-in-Chief’s announcement, the Minister of War’s face brightened.
“Is it certain?”
“It’s a report from the spy ship that just returned! To be sure, we sent another spy ship to verify, and only one imperial Assault Turtle Ship is moving!”
At the Left Commander-in-Chief’s words, the Minister of War immediately rose from his seat.
“Let’s go to the Grand Secretary!”
***
After hearing the story from the Minister of War and the Commanders-in-Chief, the Grand Secretary immediately rushed to the Jingtai Emperor.
“Hmm… One of Joseon’s Assault Turtle Ships has been dry-docked for repairs?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. If it’s being repaired in dry dock, it means it’s a major operation that will take a long time. I believe this is an excellent opportunity.”
At the Grand Secretary’s words, the Jingtai Emperor nodded.
“Indeed… It’s certainly more advantageous for our three Twin-Headed Flame Dragons to face only one Assault Turtle Ship instead of two. The losses would be smaller too.”
“That’s correct.”
While nodding at the Grand Secretary’s words, the Jingtai Emperor sought further confirmation.
“Does it seem unlikely to be a trap by the Joseon king?”
“It seems highly unlikely.”
“But why now?”
At the Jingtai Emperor’s question, the Right Commander-in-Chief stepped forward to explain:
-Although the Yellow Sea is famous for being calm, the winter Yellow Sea is quite rough. Of course, not as much as during summer storms, but still not very suitable for forming a fleet and engaging in naval battles.
-Just as we send out spy ships, Joseon also sends out spy ships to observe us. Seeing that our third Twin-Headed Flame Dragon is still only moving near the coast, they probably judged that it’s not yet fully operational and entered repairs.
“Hmm…”
Nodding at the Right Commander-in-Chief’s explanation, the Jingtai Emperor asked another question.
“Even if it’s in dry dock, wouldn’t they put it back in the water if they learn we’re moving?”
“That possibility is substantial. However, if it’s a repair significant enough to require dry-docking, even if they put it back in the water, it would struggle to perform at full capacity.”
“I see…”
Trailing off and falling into thought, the Jingtai Emperor remained silent for a long time.
After a considerable time, having made some sort of decision, the Jingtai Emperor looked at his ministers.
“Good! We will attack Joseon’s fleet! Let’s make sure Joseon clearly understands who the Yellow Sea belongs to!”
At the Jingtai Emperor’s declaration, all the ministers simultaneously bowed their heads and replied:
“We receive your command!”
***
Although the Jingtai Emperor had firmed his resolve, the Ming court was still noisy.
This time, the fight was over when to start the war.
-We’ve decided to go to war, but we can’t fight right away. Planning operations and supplying provisions to the warships all take a lot of time! By then, it will be winter! Engaging in naval battles in the rough winter seas is too dangerous! We should postpone until spring!
-We must finish preparations as quickly as possible and enter battle! By next spring, the aftereffects of the personnel changes will have subsided, and the Assault Turtle Ship’s maintenance will likely be completed. If that happens, we’ll be throwing away a heaven-sent opportunity! We must bear the risk and depart immediately!
“What does the Grand Secretary think?”
At the Jingtai Emperor’s question, the Grand Secretary immediately replied:
“I believe we should depart as quickly as possible. We should strike before they recover from the aftereffects of their personnel changes, and while they are complacent, trusting in the winter sea.”
“If even the Grand Secretary speaks so decisively…”
Nodding, the Jingtai Emperor announced his decision to the ministers:
“Prepare as quickly as possible and target when they are off guard. Ministers, do your utmost to ensure perfect supplies.”
“We receive your command!”
***
While Ming was going all-in on this gamble, workers at the imperial fleet maintenance yard in Asan were grumbling.
“Fuck! These barnacles!”
The workers were constantly complaining as they removed barnacles attached to the hull of the dry-docked Assault Turtle Ship.
“What a hardship in the dead of winter!”
The Assault Turtle Ship being in dry dock was in fact a trap set by Hyang and Shin In-seon.