Arriving at Jemulpo, Heo Hu boarded the waiting Haeeung-class warship. With help from surrounding tugboats, the warship left the dock and immediately raised all sails upon reaching open water.
“Hmm~ This really clears the mind!”
Enjoying the warship’s swift progress through the sea, Heo Hu showed an expression of satisfaction.
“No ship can match the speed of this Haeeung-class warship.”
“Is that so…”
Nodding at the captain’s proud words, Heo Hu turned to him.
“Wasn’t this warship also designed by the Crown Prince?”
“That’s correct.”
At the captain’s answer, Heo Hu muttered quietly.
“While it’s certainly good for us subjects that both father and son are so outstanding… sometimes I worry about the future. They say where light is brightest, darkness is deepest.”
***
Almost no one denied the excellence of Joseon’s current ruler King Sejong and his successor Hyang. It was because of these father and son that Joseon had begun dreaming of “ascending to heaven.”
However, among court officials, discussions about anxiety regarding the future were circulating.
Though the Crown Prince’s grandson Won showed decent qualities, preventing serious concerns, anxiety still remained.
As a result, the Royal Physicians suffered the most. Officials of senior fourth rank and above would visit at every opportunity to ask questions.
“Are you properly monitoring His Highness’s health?”
“Are you also properly checking the Crown Prince’s grandson’s health?”
No, it didn’t end with just questions – all sorts of precious medicinal ingredients were delivered to the Royal Clinic.
“They say it’s good for a boy’s growth…”
“They say if he just takes this well, there’ll be no worry about minor illnesses…”
The physicians made strange expressions upon receiving all these medicinal ingredients.
“I’ve only seen this ingredient in medical texts, where did they get this?”
“These officials, where are they getting these ingredients?”
The physicians became curious about the supply sources for the ingredients the officials were bringing.
And in Joseon, what had previously been a despised occupation considered harsh labor transformed into a new high-income professional job.
That was the mountain ginseng digger.
***
Seeing Heo Hu’s troubled expression, the captain carefully spoke up.
“I heard this diplomatic mission is extremely dangerous. Are you alright?”
“With the situation being poor, what choice do we have? If I must risk my life, then so be it…”
Though his words seemed calm, Heo Hu’s voice trembled slightly. Perhaps wanting to hide his anxiety, he immediately changed the subject.
“By the way… I hear Ming’s warships are also increasing in size these days?”
The captain nodded at Heo Hu’s question.
“Yes, the number of massive ships called Dafuchuan is gradually increasing.”
***
The historical changes from Hyang’s intervention were not limited to Joseon.
In the history before Hyang’s intervention, Ming’s shipbuilding stagnated, or rather declined, after Zheng He’s great voyages.
The biggest reason was the maritime prohibition edict.
The maritime prohibition edict, continuing since Ming’s founding, was strengthened after Emperor Xuande. Because of this, Chinese ships stopped developing. Even Zheng He’s treasure ships remained only in historical records as subjects of debate.
Of course, there were advanced technologies like watertight compartments, sails that could navigate against the wind, and fixed stern-mounted rudders, but that was the end.
However, after Hyang’s intervention, circumstances changed significantly.
Following Joseon’s example, active trade was conducted, which required increasingly larger ships.
Through this, the technology and experience used to build the treasure ships from Zheng He’s voyages weren’t lost but continued to develop.
Furthermore, when Joseon began producing large warships symbolized by the Challenger-class, Ming also began constructing large vessels to match.
A 15th-century “naval arms race” had begun.
***
This “naval arms race” triggered a massive chain reaction across Asia.
Surrounding countries that witnessed Joseon and Ming operating large warships and transport vessels also entered the shipbuilding race.
Starting with Dai Viet, nations with proper state organizations like Siam and Malacca all jumped into large ship construction.
Having seen Ming and Joseon gain powerful military advantages and economic benefits with their large warships and vessels, they had no other choice.
The problem was that building and operating such large ships required enormous funds.
Therefore, they began active foreign trade. A situation developed where ships from various Asian countries moved busily across the Indian Ocean, South China Sea, and East China Sea.
As maritime trade became active, paradoxically, this created an “era of pirate hardship.”
Initially, pirates everywhere preyed on these merchant ships. Only Joseon and Ming’s vessels could avoid the pirates’ clutches.
However, Asian nations that suffered losses from pirates began actively suppressing them using their newly acquired large ships.
Of course, some pirates had large ships matching the size of these nations’ warships, but there was a decisive difference.
Mass deployment of artillery.
Nations that witnessed Ming and Joseon’s warships obliterating pirates with mass artillery adopted and operated large numbers of artillery through various channels. But this was difficult for pirates.
And this decisive difference plunged the pirates into hardship.
***
Asian nations that entered the “naval arms race” between Joseon and Ming soon underwent political transformation.
The military power of large warships and benefits gained through trade weren’t easily shared with others. Therefore, Asian nations began strengthening their centralized systems. Though rebellions and dynastic changes occurred in this process, the result was the birth of highly centralized states similar to Ming or Joseon.
This later created unexpected situations when European nations advanced into Asia. The results were very different from the history before Hyang’s intervention.
As a side note, Japanese historians studying this period unanimously lamented Japan’s situation during this time.
-Due to internal constraints, they failed to catch this massive tide at the right time.
Though the Ōuchi clan took power, large and small feudal lords in the provinces still held real power and checked the Ōuchi.
The Ōuchi consumed enormous time and resources in the process of checking and suppressing these forces, and consequently fell behind by responding late to the changes encompassing the entire Asian region.
***
“How large are these giant ships?”
“A bit larger than the Challenger-class.”
“Then they must carry many cannons?”
“Though we haven’t confirmed exactly, they say it carries 80 guns.”
“80 guns! How many does the Challenger-class carry?”
“50 newly improved Type-Eul General Cannons, 10 grape-shot cannons, and 10 Type-Eul war wagons.”
At the captain’s answer, Heo Hu sighed with a worried expression.
“Hah~ When the Challenger-class first appeared, I heard many ministers were surprised at hearing it carried 50 ship guns. But 80 guns is serious business. And we don’t have time to build new warships.”
To Heo Hu’s worried words, the captain smiled slightly and answered.
“Trust in our navy. Though the Dafuchuan are large, rumors say they’re not as sturdy as Challenger-class ships. Also, while they carry more guns, Ming’s cannons have shorter range and weaker power than our Joseon cannons. Moreover, all our naval officers and men are elite.”
“Even so…”
As Heo Hu still couldn’t hide his concern, the captain asked in a low voice.
“Have you heard the rumors about the First Secret?”
At the captain’s question, Heo Hu quickly looked around and asked back in a quiet voice.
“Are you saying the rumors are true?”
“Yes.”
“I only heard it ‘could change the tide of naval warfare.’ Is it artillery? Or a warship?”
To Heo Hu’s question, the captain answered in a low voice.
“You’ll be able to see soon.”
“Hah~ Planning to just hint at it and leave it at that?”
“It’s a secret, isn’t it? I only heard that much myself.”
“Then let me ask one more thing. With the First Secret, can we make all of Ming’s seas Joseon’s?”
At Heo Hu’s question, the captain immediately nodded.
“I heard it’s fully possible.”
“Is that so? Then that’s enough.”
Ending the conversation with those words, Heo Hu turned toward the horizon.
The worry had disappeared from Heo Hu’s face as he gazed at the calm horizon.
Looking beyond the horizon toward Ming, Heo Hu muttered quietly.
“If that’s true, then it’s worth risking my life.”
***
Upon arriving at the Shandong Peninsula, Heo Hu’s party immediately boarded the iron horse heading to Beijing.
“Still slow as ever. Dreadfully slow. Like an old donkey.”
Complaining about the iron horse that ran slower than Joseon’s despite being laid several years ago, Heo Hu asked his subordinate.
“By now, news from the Yalu River must have reached the Forbidden City?”
“It should have certainly arrived.”
“I wonder how they’ll respond.”
At Heo Hu’s words, his party all nodded. Turning his head to look out the window, Heo Hu continued complaining.
“And to think we have to take another boat!”
Heo Hu’s party was currently heading to Beijing using the Grand Canal.
***
Arriving in Beijing, Heo Hu’s party dropped their luggage at the Huitongguan and immediately entered the Forbidden City.
“We seek audience with His Imperial Majesty!”
Emperor Xuande, showing clear signs of illness, answered the party’s greeting with a slight gesture and spoke.
“It’s not time for a diplomatic mission, so what brings you here?”
“I’ve come to report to Your Majesty about a tragic incident at the Yalu River.”
“Yalu River? Tragic incident? What is it?”
At Emperor Xuande’s words, Heo Hu immediately answered.
“How can it not be tragic when the King of Liaodong’s army has crossed the Yalu River and invaded our Joseon! What is the meaning of this!”
“King of Liaodong?”
As Emperor Xuande tilted his head, the Grand Secretary sitting with him immediately explained.
“He seems to mean the Eastern King.”
“Hmm… I see. But crossed Joseon’s border at the Yalu River? I haven’t heard of this?”
“No reports regarding this have come up yet.”
“Is that so…”
Nodding slightly, Emperor Xuande turned to Heo Hu.
“I will issue orders to investigate the details. But is conflict currently ongoing at the Yalu River?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Then immediately cease combat and withdraw. How dare a tributary state’s army oppose my Heavenly Army? This is not proper.”
“Impossible!”
Heo Hu raised his voice at Emperor Xuande’s order.
Finally, Heo Hu’s life-risking war of words with Emperor Xuande began.
***
“Impossible? Are you saying ‘impossible’ to me now?”
Though Emperor Xuande’s voice turned sharp, Heo Hu answered boldly.
“Yes! Although our Joseon maintains tributary relations with Ming, we are a nation with independent right of self-defense! Even for Your Majesty, this is unjust!”
“How dare you! I am the Emperor! Joseon must follow my orders!”
“I say again, this is impossible! Even for the Heavenly Army, we cannot yield Joseon’s borders!”
“I’m merely saying to withdraw temporarily while I investigate the details!”
“It is the Heavenly Army that must withdraw! Our Joseon cannot retreat even an inch!”