Translator’s Notes:
Since Hyang abdicated his Emperor position at this point, all three Emperors will be known as such
- Wan – Emperor
- Hyang – Emperor Emeritus
- Sejong – Venerable Emperor
****
“Thanks to the government stores, the submission of the natives is proceeding smoothly.”
“Is that so?”
Examining the report while listening to the official’s explanation, Hyang let out a hollow laugh.
“Well, this is interesting… Were the reports I received in Seoul truncated versions?”
The information in the report Hyang was now checking contained far more than what had been received in Seoul.
The reports that reached Seoul had only included basic information—how many new government stores had opened, their profits and expenses, which locations were operating at a loss and which had turned profitable—though even these basic reports had filled several thick volumes. What Hyang was looking at now contained much more detailed circumstances.
“Well, this is something…”
Hyang was speechless as he confirmed the contents of the report.
“These can hardly be called simple government stores.”
At Hyang’s assessment, the official immediately nodded.
“Your Majesty’s evaluation is most accurate.”
As Hyang reviewed the content related to the government stores while listening to the official, he fell into deep contemplation.
“How should I describe this? Not only are they centers of trade, but they also serve as hubs for political communication and even as bases for maintaining public order…”
***
As Hyang observed, the government stores in the New Frontier were vastly different from those in the homeland.
The only similarities were that they sold government monopoly goods like salt, sugar, and pepper alongside products from private merchants, and that their size and number were determined by the population they served.
The government stores in the New Frontier had taken on many additional roles.
Traditionally, these stores familiarized the people with market economics by selling monopoly goods and other products, gauged public sentiment through the people who frequented them, and assessed the people’s standard of living by observing their consumption patterns.
The stores in the New Frontier had additional functions.
First, they served as imperial army garrisons and supply depots.
The imperial forces stationed in the New Frontier maintained nearly identical formations to those operating in the Liaodong region, centered around cavalry and artillery.
To effectively control vast areas with small units, having powerful mobility and firepower was the correct answer.
The problem was that proper supplies were essential for smooth operations.
For war horses to function effectively, they needed proper feed, not just grass. The guns and artillery used by cavalry and artillery units were the same. There needed to be well-maintained facilities with properly managed bullets, artillery shells, and gunpowder in sufficient quantities.
And the places that made this possible were the government stores, which received regular supplies.
Of course, the imperial army didn’t unconditionally freeload at the government stores.
There were always those who targeted places full of valuable goods like salt, sugar, and spices. This was also true in the New Frontier. No, the desire was even more intense there.
Salt, sugar, and spices that they had never tasted before, and cloth so soft it was hard to believe it was man-made—thanks to these temptations, the stores initially had to struggle against native people attempting to plunder them.
However, as the imperial army established itself, the stores secured their safety.
Second, they served as venues for political negotiation.
This second role emerged naturally after the first one was established.
Like the government stores in the homeland, those in the New Frontier were also established based on population size.
Large tribal confederacies like the Iroquois Confederacy had around ten stores, while in the outlying areas where smaller tribes resided, one store would serve 2-5 tribes.
Despite these differences, the criteria for their location remained the same:
—Places with convenient transportation and immediate access to drinking water.
Government stores established according to these criteria became the most ideal meeting places.
When people gathered this way, discordant voices inevitably arose, and it was a natural progression for tribal political leaders to gather at the stores to discuss and resolve these issues.
Interestingly, just as neighboring countries rarely got along well, nearby tribes often had strained relationships.
Even offshoot tribes from the same large tribe would growl at each other whenever they met. Given these circumstances, it was common for smaller tribes to draw weapons as soon as they encountered each other.
This is where the imperial army shone. No fool would draw weapons in a place where the imperial army was stationed. The imperial army took it a step further by requiring natives entering the stores to leave their weapons with imperial soldiers before they could use the facilities.
And Sejong was not one to simply observe such a situation.
Sejong immediately applied the imperial army’s presence to all government stores being established in the New Frontier.
Through this process, he strengthened the empire’s control over the tribes that had submitted to imperial rule.
He then pushed policies to make the government stores demilitarized zones—except for the imperial army.
When tribes resisted, he dispatched imperial forces to demonstrate military might. However, some tribes used force against Sejong’s messengers and continued to reject his policies to the end, and Sejong mercilessly suppressed these tribes.
Of course, he didn’t rely solely on such harsh measures. He invited the political leaders—chiefs, elder warriors, shamans—of tribes that had already submitted, as well as those contemplating submission, to feasts for negotiations. He also served as a mediator between conflicting tribes and successfully coordinated resolutions.
Empress Soheon also played a significant role in this process. In most native tribes—especially the Iroquois Confederacy—women held considerable political power. Empress Soheon invited the “clan mothers” of these tribes to talk and build friendships.
Through these government stores, Sejong had firmly secured political control over the New Frontier.
***
Having understood the situation to this point, Hyang’s face turned serious as he muttered, “The Venerable Emperor has left me quite a difficult assignment.”
Hearing Hyang’s muttering, the official unconsciously nodded.
Though it had been only ten years, Sejong had established a firm foundation in the New Frontier. The officials who had witnessed this up close could only shake their heads in amazement.
‘Truly worthy of being once called an Emperor!’
‘The elders’ stories about the Emperor Emeritus were not exaggerations!’
These officials who had seen and experienced Sejong directly now looked at Hyang, who had succeeded Sejong in managing the New Frontier, with expressions mixing expectation and concern.
‘They say the current Emperor Emeritus is no less talented than the Venerable Emperor, but still…’
‘The situation in the New Frontier is completely different from the homeland, so can he really…’
Whether or not Hyang was aware of the New Frontier officials’ thoughts, he began to formulate his own plans.
Relying solely on military power is problematic. There’s a limit to supplying troops from the homeland. And there’s a high possibility that Europe will cross the Atlantic within ten years at the earliest, even without Columbus.
Fully aware that history had significantly changed due to his involvement, Hyang was convinced that European expansion would be faster than expected.
The answer is to bring the natives into the military. For this, harsh military rule would be the worst approach. The problem is that we need to simultaneously expand the territory of the New World… hmm… what to do?
Lost in thought about future challenges, Hyang unconsciously let out a sigh.
“Sigh~ The gates of hardship have swung wide open.”
Did the Venerable Emperor deliberately set me up?
Hyang could almost see Sejong smiling mischievously. And this was somewhat true.
Before Hyang departed for the New Frontier, he had explained his plans to Sejong.
At that time, Sejong mostly listened, offering little advice.
“Your Majesty, though I’ve written it briefly in the report…”
He only occasionally interrupted with comments like that to prevent Hyang from going too far.
Consequently, upon arriving in the New Frontier, Hyang found himself holding his head in his hands inside the iron horse heading to Mississippi.
Observing Hyang’s predicament, Jinpyeong casually remarked, “This is why you should have stayed on the Venerable Emperor’s good side. You only did what was required and spent every spare moment at Area 51 and the research institute… Perhaps he devised this scheme fearing you’d do the same here?”
At those words, Hyang gritted his teeth and replied, “Jinpyeong, would you like to step outside for a moment?”
“While the iron horse is running, you want me to step out?”
“Yes.”
At Hyang’s brief answer, Jinpyeong immediately prostrated himself.
“I’ll keep my mouth shut and focus only on organizing the railway plans!”
Glaring at Jinpyeong, who had buried his nose in the map, Hyang sighed again.
“Sigh~ I have no choice but to do it properly. The Venerable Emperor wouldn’t have left me an impossible task…”
Everyone knew that while Sejong’s assignments were always difficult, they were never impossible.
Therefore, although Hyang grumbled, he didn’t lose his motivation.
***
Having composed himself, Hyang admired the surrounding scenery with a more relaxed mind and enjoyed the unique food of the New Frontier.
“The soup has an unusual flavor. Strange, but not unpleasant.”
The cook who had served the food beamed at Hyang’s assessment and replied, “It’s a broth made with meat cakes produced by the people of the New Frontier, Your Majesty.”
“Meat cakes?”
When Hyang showed curiosity, the cook explained in more detail.
“Meat cakes are made by turning bison or deer meat into jerky, mixing it with grain flour, and then kneading it with hardened fat, Your Majesty.”
As he listened to the cook’s explanation, Hyang soon realized what it was.
Pemmican? Not factory-made but authentic traditional pemmican? Not bad at all.
After taking a few more spoonfuls of the soup, Hyang continued his assessment.
“Though it’s a broth made with fermented paste, it has less of a gamey smell than I expected. You must be quite skilled.”
At Hyang’s praise, the cook grinned broadly and bowed his head.
“You flatter me, Your Majesty. The ingredients were good. When I first encountered meat cakes, I struggled with how to incorporate them into dishes. But the meat cakes produced these days have almost no gamey smell.”
“Is that so?”
In response to Hyang’s reaction, a nearby official added, “The imperial navy has expressed interest in purchasing them in bulk. If they succeed in securing a military contract, some New Frontier residents could become as wealthy as the rich in the homeland.”
“Oh? How so?”
When Hyang showed interest, the official enthusiastically explained the reason.
When imperial citizens first encountered meat cakes, they struggled with the gamey smell.
“It’s convenient to eat, but the gamey smell is quite strong.”
“Despite being meat, the gamey smell is too intense! And the taste is so bland!”
Despite these complaints, imperial citizens couldn’t discard the meat cakes. It was due to their characteristic sincerity about food.
“Besides, it’s meat! Meat!”
Eventually, imperial citizens began to make soup to make it more palatable. They were finally happy after eating broth flavored with soybean paste and locally found vegetables.
“Yes! This is the taste I want!”