“Sigh~. ‘A moment’s choice determines the course of one’s life,’ they say… The old proverb is not wrong.”
Hyang had created the plan, but the execution fell to Shin In-seon.
It was a position where overwork was a given, and even the slightest mistake could invite tremendous criticism.
Thus, though he shouted in frustration and sighed whenever possible, the ship had already sailed.
In the end, Shin In-seon uttered the maxim that had become tradition since the reforms:
“Dammit! I can’t die alone!”
Having made up his mind, Shin In-seon unfolded the personnel register.
“Let’s see… those who might be useful…”
Shin In-seon began sorting through the directory and personnel evaluation reports of the imperial navy’s generals, admirals, and high-ranking officers to find suitable candidates.
After spending several days and nights selecting those he found appropriate, Shin In-seon gathered them in one place.
Having assembled the generals and high-ranking officers in the large conference room at the Navy Headquarters, Shin In-seon went straight to the point.
“Gentlemen, we need to undertake a task together for His Majesty and the empire.”
And thus began the massive personnel transfer that excited the Ming Minister of War and Commanders-in-Chief.
***
Receiving the navy’s personnel transfer list through Min Shin, Hyang nodded.
“Quite a good selection of personnel.”
“However, too many highly experienced commanders will be leaving.”
While Hyang gave a positive assessment, Min Shin couldn’t hide his concern. In response to Min Shin’s worry, Hyang smiled slightly and replied:
“But considering the personnel stagnation problem in the navy, it’s a good selection. Besides, aren’t those filling the vacant positions all talents with outstanding abilities?”
“That’s true, but Ming might misjudge.”
‘As expected of the Defense Minister! Good instincts!’
Inwardly impressed by Min Shin’s concern about Ming’s potential misjudgment, Hyang gazed at him with a subtle smile.
Seeing the unspoken answer behind that smile, Min Shin’s expression hardened as he cautiously asked:
“Could it be that you’re deliberately inducing that?”
At Min Shin’s question, Hyang’s smile deepened. And within that deepened smile lurked a bloody aroma.
“If they still haven’t escaped from the delusions of the past, they will certainly take the bait. Well, in my opinion, they’ve already fallen for it from the moment they created that ‘Twin-Headed Flame Dragon’ or whatever… Crown Prince.”
“Yes, yes! Your Majesty! Command me!”
Startled by Hyang’s sudden call, Wan looked at him with alarm. Hyang issued his order to Wan.
“This is your first war, isn’t it? This is a good opportunity. Do it properly.”
“Pardon? You mean…?”
Turning pale, Wan questioned Hyang again. Seeing Wan’s reaction, Hyang explained more specifically:
“Ming’s cry for ‘reclaiming lost territory’ is nothing new. Their large warships mentioned earlier are the best example. Waiting until they’re fully prepared is a poor strategy. Create a plan to make them lose their reason and attack, a military plan to completely subjugate them when they do, and devise a strategy to prevent them from attempting such a thing again.”
At Hyang’s command, Wan immediately prostrated himself and raised his voice:
“Your Majesty! It’s beyond my abilities!”
Hyang firmly rejected Wan’s plea.
“No, your abilities are sufficient. What you lack is experience. Rather, this is a good opportunity. Because you have ministers with deep years of experience and who have already been through war around you. They are sufficient.”
“But…”
“Don’t worry. If things really go wrong, I’ll step in. However, if that happens, the Crown Prince will have quite a hard time.”
At Hyang’s words, Wan raised his voice:
“I will do my best with a readiness to die!”
That night, alone in his bedroom, Hyang grumbled softly:
“He’s still dissatisfied even when I offer to help…”
After grumbling at the recollection of Wan burning with determination as soon as his words ended, Hyang soon smacked his lips.
“Well… I’d work hard too if I heard such words.”
Having settled Wan’s matter, Hyang soon grumbled toward another subject.
“What’s with ‘Twin-Headed Flame Dragon’ anyway? Twin-Headed Flame Dragon… First the Black Flame Dragon, now this. Is the Ming imperial court and military filled with nothing but chunnibyou?”
Slightly shaking his head at the term that reeked of ‘chunnibyou,’ Hyang examined the navy’s personnel transfer list again.
After carefully reviewing the list of those who would be responsible for the Far East Fleet in the New Frontier, Hyang nodded.
“General Shin has chosen well.”
Most of the individuals Shin In-seon had selected were those who had been at the forefront during the transition from the Navy Force to the Navy. They were the ones who had handled the practical aspects of transforming from a Naval Force whose main mission was coastal defense to a blue-water navy dominating distant sea routes.
They had fought bloody battles with Japanese pirates in waters near the Korean Peninsula and with pirates in distant seas.
They weren’t just familiar with combat. From as close as Tsushima Island to as far as Suez, the locations of military ports where the imperial navy would stay and the selection of appropriate grades of warships—everything had passed through their hands.
“With their abundant ability and experience, they’ll be able to properly build the Far East Fleet. The pillars of the maritime barrier will be properly established. I’ll be able to catch my breath.”
Hyang nodded with a satisfied expression.
At the same time, the individuals in question were looking at the moon in the sky, heaving long sighs.
“Completely falling for those words ‘for the empire and His Majesty’… Starting from scratch at this age!”
***
Regardless, due to this background, the imperial navy was busy with personnel transfers.
And the Ming court, having secured information about the imperial navy’s personnel changes, was also moving busily.
“So the Minister of War and Commanders-in-Chief view this personnel change as ‘using someone and then discarding them’?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At the Jingtai Emperor’s question, the Minister of War and Commanders-in-Chief all bowed their heads and answered.
“Hmm…”
Making a nasal sound as he pondered, the Jingtai Emperor looked at the Grand Secretary.
“What does the Grand Secretary think?”
At the Jingtai Emperor’s question, the Grand Secretary performed a ceremonial bow and immediately replied:
“I also think it’s a reasonable opinion. Since ancient times, the greatest threat to royal authority has been those who hold military power. Therefore, the Joseon king is trying to purge them.”
“Is that so…”
While nodding at the Grand Secretary’s words, the Jingtai Emperor was slightly hesitant.
‘The former Emperor said the Joseon king is extremely cunning and to remain vigilant until the end. Wouldn’t that still be true?’
After much deliberation, the Jingtai Emperor asked his ministers:
“Could this be a trap to lure us? Isn’t it quite coincidental? Just as we deploy our Twin-Headed Flame Dragons to the front line, suddenly there’s a personnel shuffle.”
At the Jingtai Emperor’s observation, the ministers considered the possibility and soon nodded.
“That possibility is also high.”
“The Joseon king is famous for his cunningness…”
“This too seems like the Joseon king’s scheme.”
Before long, the mainstream opinion among the ministers had shifted from ‘using and discarding’ to ‘Hyang’s trap.’
However, in any organization, there are always those who want to stand out for their own advancement.
“I humbly report that even considering this as the Joseon king’s plan might be part of the Joseon king’s plan.”
At the sudden counterargument, the Jingtai Emperor turned his head.
“Who are you?”
“I am Han Wanggyeom, Second-grade Secretary of the Ministry of Rites.”
“So, you’re saying that even our thinking that it’s the Joseon king’s scheme is part of his scheme?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Explain your reasoning.”
“There are widespread rumors that the Joseon king will leave for what they call the New Frontier within one or two years. Thus, he’s already having his prince serve as regent. If I were the Joseon king, I would want no threats until the prince’s power base becomes solid. That’s why he led this personnel transfer. Through this personnel change, he’s strengthening the prince’s power and securing time for the destabilized Joseon navy to stabilize again.”
“So you’re saying he’s trying to trick us into thinking this is a trap by the Joseon king, making us miss a good opportunity?”
At the Jingtai Emperor’s question, Han Wanggyeom immediately replied:
“Yes, just like in the old days when the dead Kongming pursued the living Zhong Da.”
“Aha!”
At Han Wanggyeom’s explanation, the Jingtai Emperor slapped his knee in admiration.
‘Got it!’
Realizing that the Jingtai Emperor had been convinced by his explanation, Han Wanggyeom spoke with greater conviction:
“Your Majesty must consider this ‘New Frontier’ that Joseon has newly acquired. The fact that the former king of Joseon is personally relocating there to work is evidence that it’s not just a small island. In addition, the former Joseon king has already passed sixty and is aging. Therefore, the Joseon king must personally go to the New Frontier within one or two years. For this reason, the notoriously cunning Joseon king has devised a plan to achieve two goals at once.”
“I see! That’s it!”
Repeatedly impressed by Han Wanggyeom’s explanation, the Jingtai Emperor turned to the Grand Secretary.
“What does the Grand Secretary think?”
“It has merit.”
“The Grand Secretary thinks so too? I agree as well! Whenever I thought only about Joseon, there were always inconsistencies, but connecting it with New Frontier makes everything fit together!”
The excited Jingtai Emperor shared his thoughts:
- Ming’s newly developed Twin-Headed Flame Dragons are warships that even Joseon would find difficult to handle.
- But now the Joseon king must soon go to the New Frontier.
- To transfer power stably, a purge of the military is necessary.
- However, time is needed for stabilization after the purge.
- Additionally, Ming must not move during that time.
- So he deliberately leaks information to confuse Ming.
“…When summarized like this, everything fits together! Indeed, the cunning Joseon king! Truly cunning!”
After uttering words that were ambiguously either praise or mockery, the Jingtai Emperor commanded his ministers:
“Launch spy ships in the Yellow Sea to carefully examine the situation of the Joseon navy!”
“We receive your command!”
After the court session ended, the Minister of War and Commanders-in-Chief who had left the throne hall gathered again in the conference room of the Ministry of War.
Facing each other with teacups between them, the three soon began exchanging opinions on what had happened earlier.
“What do you think? Is it truly a strategy of ‘dead Kongming defeating living Zhong Da’?”
“It’s a strategy possible for the Joseon king, but…”
In response to the Minister of War’s question, the Left Commander-in-Chief trailed off with a troubled expression. However, the Right Commander-in-Chief frowned and shook his head.
“The possibility that it’s not is too high. What if we really consider it an opportunity and attack? It’s too complicated and risky.”
At the Right Commander-in-Chief’s point, the Minister of War nodded.
“Indeed… There are even rumors that the Joseon king told Western monks, ‘Truth should be simple and clear.’ And in military strategy, it’s advised to avoid overly complex schemes.”
“But considering the cunning of the Joseon king… And to be honest, the Twin-Headed Flame Dragons are in optimal condition right now. As time passes, it becomes harder to be confident. So with the Joseon navy in disarray, this might be the optimal opportunity.”
“Are there many problems with the Twin-Headed Flame Dragons?”
“It’s not a problem with the Twin-Headed Flame Dragons themselves, but with the steam engines installed inside and the iron armor around them. Isn’t it a well-known fact that our Ming craftsmen’s skills aren’t as good as Joseon’s?”
As the Left Commander-in-Chief honestly acknowledged the problem, the Minister of War and the Right Commander-in-Chief unconsciously nodded.
“Time isn’t on our side, so should we take a gamble…?”
The three men were sinking deeper into worry.