Imperial Year 9 (1457). Autumn. Nanjing.

A meeting was in full swing in the conference room of the Ministry of War. The Minister of War, along with the Left and Right Commanders-in-Chief, had gathered to discuss the expansion of naval forces.

“The issue is the budget…”

“As our budget increases, so does that of those Joseon bastards—it’s truly frustrating.”

“The official budget is frustrating enough, but what worries me is how much more they might be spending unofficially.”

At the Minister of War’s words, both Commanders-in-Chief nodded in unison.

***

When Joseon changed its name to the Great Han Federal Empire, Hyang established a system of officially announcing the imperial budget at the beginning of each year.

-It’s tax money from the people! Therefore, the people have the right to know where, how, and how much of their tax money is being used!

There was considerable opposition to Hyang’s decision, but he dismissed it.

“If you use it properly, there shouldn’t be any complaints!”

In the end, the ministers, outmaneuvered on principle, had to follow Hyang’s will.

With the budget made public, the empire’s citizens could examine how much of the budget had been executed last year and how much had been allocated for the current year at the beginning of each year.

And each time, a significant number of petitions would flood into Gyeongbokgung Palace.

The Jingtai Emperor of Ming and his officials discussed the empire’s behavior:

“They disclose such valuable information simply because ‘the people should know’—isn’t that fortunate for us?”

At the Jingtai Emperor’s words, all his ministers nodded.

Disclosing a budget was like revealing everything about oneself.

The self-proclaimed “Emperor” of Joseon cited the reason that the people should know, but that was nonsense.

The ignorant commoners would hardly understand what it meant and would only complain—what was the point of telling them?

The Jingtai Emperor continued with a sneer:

“Hmph! The Joseon king has become too arrogant after just one victory! Isn’t this extremely favorable for us?”

In response to the Jingtai Emperor’s words, the Grand Secretary stepped forward:

“While that may be true, we must be wary that this could be a hidden calculation by the Joseon king.”

“Hidden calculation?”

“Yes. Looking at Joseon’s recently announced budget, while the total amount and departmental budgets are listed, the details aren’t really provided. Above all, who knows if the total revenue they’ve listed is actually accurate? Your Majesty, the Joseon king has long been known for his cunning. While it’s possible he’s acting foolishly out of arrogance, there’s also a high likelihood it’s a deception to mislead other countries.”

“Indeed, that’s true!”

At the Grand Secretary’s words, the Jingtai Emperor slapped his knee and raised his voice:

“I almost fell into another trap! As expected, Grand Secretary! I will continue to rely on your keen insight!”

At the Jingtai Emperor’s praise, the Grand Secretary clasped his hands and bowed his head.

“I am overwhelmed by Your Majesty’s grace.”

***

It was because of such incidents that the Minister of War mentioned the “unofficial budget.”

“That’s certainly a concern. Especially when looking at Joseon’s warships patrolling the Yellow Sea—not only their numbers but also their unchanging condition… sigh~.”

The Left Commander-in-Chief trailed off and heaved a long sigh. The Right Commander-in-Chief seated beside him did the same.

“The same goes for their Assault Turtle Ships. With two of them standing guard in the Yellow Sea without moving… if even one of them would leave, we might have a chance, but otherwise, our two painstakingly built Twin-Headed Flame Dragons might be rendered useless.”

At the Right Commander-in-Chief’s words, the Minister of War expressed confusion:

“Hmm? Didn’t we agree to exercise restraint until the third ship was completed as planned?”

“The third Twin-Headed Flame Dragon is already complete. All that remains is to embark the sailors. However, facing two Assault Turtle Ships means we must be prepared to lose two ships in the worst-case scenario. That’s too great a loss.”

“Certainly…”

At the Right Commander-in-Chief’s response, the Minister of War nodded.

***

The Twin-Headed Flame Dragons were warships constructed at enormous expense. With massive budgets allocated to building these ships, rebuilding the navy, and strengthening northern defenses, the Ming court had to tighten its belt considerably.

As a result, the Jingtai Emperor would occasionally grumble, recalling his predecessor, the Xuande Emperor:

“The former Emperor should have dealt with the Oirats before Joseon…”

After losing the Liaodong region in the last war, the Oirats began showing their teeth stealthily.

Consequently, Ming was forced to pour money into defending its northern border regions as well.

But what angered the Jingtai Emperor and Ming officials even more was that the Oirats, who bared their teeth at them, prostrated themselves before the self-proclaimed “Empire” of Joseon like a dog showing its belly to its master.

However, the Oirats had no choice. They had witnessed the empire’s military power during the last war and had even tasted it firsthand.

After the Liaodong region became imperial territory, there were minor clashes between the Oirats and the empire in the border region north of Liaodong. In those clashes, the Oirat warriors mostly became food for beasts, leaving only a few survivors.

The problem was that the Oirat warriors had outnumbered the imperial cavalry by more than two to one.

Afterward, the empire mobilized its full force and completely annihilated the problematic Oirat tribe as a warning. After receiving this warning, the Oirats had to bow low to the empire.

***

“Hmm… if even one of those Assault Turtle Ships could be reduced, we could immediately look for an opportunity…”

“Indeed.”

“How frustrating.”

As the Minister of War and the Commanders-in-Chief expressed their frustrations, a young military officer hurriedly entered the conference room and saluted.

“What is it?”

At the Minister of War’s question, the officer immediately replied:

“There’s been a personnel change in the Joseon navy! The Joseon Navy Chief of Staff and numerous generals have been removed from their positions!”

“What!”

At the officer’s report, the Minister of War and Commanders-in-Chief simultaneously jumped to their feet.

According to the report brought by the young officer, those who had commanded the Joseon navy since the last war, along with others of similar experience, had been simultaneously pushed out of their positions and transferred to the “Far East Fleet Command.”

“Far East Fleet Command… is that the fleet the Joseon bastards are building on that island they call New Frontier?”

“That would likely be the place.”

At the Minister of War’s question, the Left Commander-in-Chief nodded.

***

When New Frontier was discovered and rumors about it began gradually circulating, the court entered into strict confidentiality control and active disinformation.

• There’s an enormously large island further east from the Northeastern Archipelago. That’s New Frontier.
• New Frontier is about three times the size of Daseoldo. That’s how it got its name.
• New Frontier is mostly plains.

At the rumors spread by the court as disinformation, the empire’s citizens nodded:

“Daseoldo is already a huge island, but it’s three times larger? Then it’s practically a continent.”

“Of course!”

“They say it’s mostly plains—I wonder if farming is viable? Maybe I should apply for immigration later?”

While diligently spreading misinformation, the empire strictly controlled confidentiality. Letters sent by Europeans to their homeland were even more strictly censored, as were letters sent by imperial citizens who had volunteered to immigrate to the New Frontier to their relatives.

Through this disinformation and censorship, the New Frontier as conceived by ordinary imperial citizens and foreigners was much smaller than it actually was.

***

Because of this perception, the Minister of War, the Commanders-in-Chief, and the officer who reported this all thought in terms of “removed” or “pushed out.”

“Deliver this report to the Grand Secretary immediately.”

“Yes, sir!”

After sending the officer back with the documents, the Minister of War turned to the Commanders-in-Chief.

“What do you think? In my opinion, it seems the Joseon king is preparing something for his son?”

At the Minister of War’s words, all the Commanders-in-Chief nodded.

“I agree.”

“There were widespread rumors that the Joseon king would step down next year or the year after—it seems those were true.”

The Minister of War and Commanders-in-Chief believed the cause of this personnel change was political purging.

• It’s an amusing matter, but the current ruler of Joseon is rumored to be eager to abdicate quickly.

• According to other rumors, he plans to go to New Frontier immediately after abdicating.

• The Joseon prince who will inherit the throne still lacks political experience.

• Therefore, political purging is necessary for a stable transfer of power.

• Since the last war, the military, especially the navy, has been rising in status.

• Thus, a purge disguised as personnel changes has occurred.

Having analyzed the situation to this point, the Minister of War turned to the Commanders-in-Chief:

“The atmosphere in the Joseon navy must be quite unsettled.”

“Extremely unsettled indeed.”

“If we handle this well…”

The Right Commander-in-Chief trailed off, but everyone else knew what would follow:

‘With good handling, the best opportunity for revenge could arise!’

***

Just as the Minister of War and Commanders-in-Chief imagined, the atmosphere in the imperial navy was indeed unsettled. Particularly at the Imperial Navy Headquarters in Seoul, a cold north wind was blowing.

From the lowest private to the generals, everyone was moving cautiously, watching only for the Navy Chief of Staff’s reactions.

“Aaargh!”

“Eek! He’s exploded again!”

“Run! Run!”

When a sudden scream-like shout erupted from the Chief of Staff’s office, the soldiers, officers, and generals nearby immediately disappeared from sight.

“At my age! To start building a fleet from scratch again! At my age!”

The one shouting furiously into the air was Navy Chief of Staff Shin In-seon.

“Whew~. Whew~.”

After calming his anger through deep breathing, Shin In-seon placed his hand on his forehead and lamented:

“I’m such a fool… falling completely for His Majesty’s words, ‘Only you, General, can accomplish this great task’…”

***

Recently, Shin In-seon had had a secret meeting with Hyang.

“General, how much do you know about the construction of the Far East Fleet stationed in New Frontier?”

“I know that a fleet of considerable size is being formed.”

“Not just considerable—far beyond that.”

In response to Shin In-seon’s answer, Hyang explained about the “Maritime Barrier Plan” conceived by Sejong and refined by himself.

“…That is the Maritime Barrier Plan. I would like the General to join me in completing this plan.”

“Pardon?”

Hyang explained more in detail to Shin In-seon:

-Despite our best efforts to contain it, rumors about New Frontier are gradually reaching Europe.

-Europeans will certainly come toward New Frontier.

-If so, they are most likely to approach from the east.

-Therefore, we must complete the maritime barrier as much as possible before they arrive…

“And there’s another reason. That is Ming.”

At Hyang’s words, Shin In-seon immediately grasped the point:

“Are you attempting to induce Ming to misjudge?”

“Exactly. You are the only one who can successfully accomplish this great task of properly achieving both these objectives. Please grant my request.”

Seeing Hyang bow his head, Shin In-seon was startled and waved his hands:

“A request? That’s absurd. You need only give the order.”

“Then you’ll join me?”

“I will!”

And thus, the personnel change was decided.

***

Recalling that moment, Shin In-seon again heaved a long sigh.

“Whew~. I’m such a fool!”