During the New Frontier’s imperialization process, the natives rapidly departed from their former way of life.
More and more natives left their tribal homelands in search of new opportunities.
Learning new farming methods like deep plowing and fertilization techniques using cattle, horses, steam tractors, and steel farming tools from farmers who had immigrated from the Empire’s homeland, natives left their tribes in search of personal farmland rather than tribal communal fields.
“To be precise, I wouldn’t say they’ve completely broken away,” Hyang pointed out as he reviewed a report from the Land Management Bureau of the Ministry of Finance.
***
Hyang’s observation was accurate.
Although natives had left their homelands, they hadn’t gone extremely far like imperial citizens had.
In the past, such distances would have meant completely severing ties, but not anymore.
This was because natives had also acquired cattle, horses, and wagons imported from the Empire’s homeland.
Distances that previously would have taken a full day or two to walk could now be traveled in half a day by wagon pulled by cattle or horses.
As a result, meeting relatives who remained in the tribe was no longer difficult.
Seeing how well their relatives and brothers who had first left the tribal homelands were doing, those who remained also began to leave one by one.
***
“It’s not that they’ve completely abandoned their tribal homelands, but rather that the tribe’s territory has expanded. That would be more accurate.”
The Director-General of the Land Management Bureau bowed his head after hearing Hyang’s explanation and observation.
“Ah! Indeed, Your Majesty. Our thinking was too narrow.”
“Think more broadly and consider once more. Never forget that each policy you design and implement determines the future of this the New Frontier.”
“I will engrave it in my bones and heart!”
“Then rewrite it and bring it back.”
“…Yes.”
With a crestfallen expression, the Director-General gathered his documents and left Hyang’s office.
Watching the Director-General’s dejected back as he trudged away, Hyang muttered inwardly.
‘No matter what, we inevitably have to go with the American style.’
American culture, where living properly without a car was impossible due to vast lands and low population density, was gradually emerging.
The Director-General, who had received what was essentially a scolding from Hyang and retreated, shouted angrily as soon as he entered his office.
“All executives, gather here!”
When the startled executives gathered at his shout, the Director-General yelled at the top of his lungs.
“You people! Is this how you’re going to work? Should I hear from His Imperial Majesty that we’re incompetent? Huh?”
***
Meanwhile, Hyang was preoccupied with another concern.
“If we’re not careful, public safety could become a problem.”
Both imperial citizens who had relocated to the New Frontier and newly independent natives lived in households scattered far apart.
While there weren’t yet problems with bandits or thieves, invasions by wild predators were an issue.
“Of course, we allowed each household to have bows, but…”
Since bows were weapons, survival tools, and finally recreational implements for homeland people, each household was permitted to own two or three bows.
The same applied to natives.
As a result, monopoly office administrators in the New Frontier unexpectedly recorded decent sales of Korean bows.
This was because natives, having seen the performance of Korean bows, discarded their primitive bows and purchased Korean ones.
However, since bows were clearly long-range lethal weapons, strict management was necessary.
Initially, the prevailing opinion was to ban the sale of bows, but Sejong, who was administering the New Frontier at the time, opposed this.
“Currently, the military forces responsible for defending the New Frontier are severely understaffed. In such a situation, prohibiting bow sales is inappropriate.”
Sejong’s alternative was to engrave serial numbers on bows and arrows and record who purchased them each time.
“Can this be effective when both bows and arrows can be made directly?”
Many expressed such doubts, but Sejong responded:
“Of course, one might think so. But don’t both bows and arrows need to be properly crafted by artisans to serve their purpose?”
The opposition fell silent at Sejong’s observation. He was right.
***
Arrows used with Korean bows had been shaped to fit these bows over a long period. Therefore, arrows for Korean bows couldn’t be used with Ming or Japanese bows. The reverse was also true.
With such specialized bows and arrows, it was impossible for ordinary people to make them themselves. This was especially true for Korean bows, which were composite bows.
The same applied to arrows. Creating straight arrow shafts and attaching feathers required advanced skills. If the feathers were attached even slightly crooked, the arrow would likely fly in an unintended direction.
As a result, both bows and arrows were quite expensive, and most arrows had the owner’s name or a symbol only the owner would recognize carved between the feathers.
***
Taking over the New Frontier administration from Sejong, Hyang added some additional touches.
He added locations for engraving serial numbers on arrows and made the engravings deeper.
This meant that if someone removed the engravings for nefarious purposes, the arrows would no longer perform properly.
Additionally, Hyang added one clever trick.
Borrowing an idea from an American comedian he had seen on the internet in the 21st century, he increased the price of arrows.
Of course, he didn’t just sell them at higher prices. He also implemented a policy of giving discounts when people brought back broken or worn arrows.
As a result of implementing these policies, managing bows and arrows became much more convenient.
Checking the report, Hyang smiled slightly and muttered.
“Long live capitalism.”
***
While strictly preventing individuals from arming themselves haphazardly, concerns about public safety and security due to low population density resurfaced.
“But allowing gun ownership is out of the question…”
After pondering from various angles, Hyang eventually devised his own countermeasure.
The first step was to create vigilante groups by grouping 30 households together.
These vigilante groups built tall watchtowers in the center of the village to monitor all directions.
Additionally, each house was distributed well-sealed signal rockets.
In case of emergency, they were to break the seal and launch the rocket. The vigilante group would then mobilize upon seeing this signal.
And for every 150 households, a military unit of squad size (25 people) was stationed to be responsible for security and safety.
If there was an emergency serious enough for the vigilante group to mobilize, they would alert in all directions through a light communication device installed in the watchtower, and the squad responsible for that area would notify their superior unit and deploy simultaneously.
In such cases, speed was essential, so vigilante members had to be skilled in horseback riding, and the stationed troops were deployed as cavalry.
Creating such a complex system, Hyang maintained a resolute expression.
“Gun liberalization? Don’t make me laugh!”
***
Among the professions chosen by the New Frontier natives seeking to escape their former way of life, military service was as popular as becoming independent farmers.
Expanding military power was urgent to imperialize the New Frontier and defend against European powers expected to approach soon through the Atlantic.
However, there was a limit to bringing troops from the Empire’s homeland.
Although Ming’s momentum had been weakened through two wars, and a pro-imperial regime had been established in Japan, they couldn’t be completely complacent.
Therefore, the Empire actively recruited natives into the military.
Natives also viewed joining the military favorably. This was due to their tradition of considering it an honor to become renowned warriors, and the imperial military’s characteristic of valuing ability and rank rather than background.
Sejong and Hyang assigned nearly 70% of these natives entering the military to the navy.
“It’s more efficient to handle European forces at sea from the beginning than to block them after they’ve landed.”
Here, “handle” meant “eliminate.”
Inheriting Sejong’s decision, Hyang wore a bitter expression.
“If someone who knows my true identity saw this, they’d curse me…”
From the 21st century perspective that valued “life” and “human rights,” this decision was very cold and inhumane.
Hyang was certain that the record of this decision being made by Sejong, who was famous for his love of the people, and inherited by Hyang, would definitely become problematic for future generations.
“But if we allow European advancement without proper preparation, we’ll have to wage an intense, prolonged war. Until preparations are complete, we have no choice but to be ruthless.”
Emphasizing the justification to himself, Hyang composed his emotions.
“Curse all you want! I’ll be dead by then anyway!”
***
In accordance with Sejong and Hyang’s decision, the imperial navy stationed in the New Frontier rapidly expanded.
As it grew, the navy didn’t just focus on defense but began actively exploring the surroundings.
As the navy’s exploration range widened, maps recording the New Frontier’s east coast began to document increasingly broader areas with greater precision.
Examining maps that expanded increasingly north and south, Hyang stroked his chin with a serious expression.
“The north is one thing, but the south is problematic.”
Proper surveying was essential to accurately map the eastern coastline. And for proper surveying, landing was absolutely necessary.
The problem was the civilizations in the southern region.
“There will definitely be armed conflicts. If we attempt peaceful negotiations or incorporation, the entire Empire will rise up immediately.”
Aware of the issues with civilizations in that region, Hyang had determined that military subjugation was the only answer.
Having made this decision, Hyang quietly cursed.
“Damn human sacrifice…”
Unlike the history before Hyang’s intervention, the Empire had not established dogmatic Neo-Confucianism.
However, even with their more flexible values, human sacrifice was something neither the Empire nor its citizens could accept.
“A tragedy committed by those still uncivilized”
No matter how Hyang might argue this, imperial citizens would not accept it.
If this were carelessly disregarded, there was a significant possibility that the imperial authority, just beginning to establish itself, could collapse.
Therefore, Hyang was certain that after the navy made contact with the Central and South American natives, a massacre disguised as war would follow.
***
While Hyang was deeply concerned about those in Central and South America, intelligence about the New Frontier arrived from the homeland.
After confirming the intelligence sent from the homeland, Hyang sighed deeply.
“A definite butterfly effect.”
According to the intelligence, talks about a “western route” were beginning to surface in Europe.
“In that case, there’s no choice.”
Having confirmed the intelligence, Hyang began writing orders to send to the navy.
After completing and reviewing the orders, Hyang sighed softly.
“Why does it have to be Order No. 65? That makes me uneasy…”