Black Corporation: Joseon

Episode 1068: Pavement Stone (3)

“Hmm… Let’s start like this first.”

Imperial and Ming Japanese officials began to revisit the plans they had drawn up.

-First, diplomatic envoys and troops to escort them are sent to Tabriz, where Ismail is staying.

-Secure an appropriate beachhead while negotiating with Ismail from diplomatic missions.

-The bridgehead connected to the sea route and the land route near Basra are secured at Ragai (near modern Tehran).

-Afterwards, a railway connecting Basra to Tabriz and a railway connecting Ragai to Tabriz will be built.

-Afterwards, the railway starts from Lagai and continues eastward, expanding into an east-west crossing railway connecting Beijing and Liaodong.

The ultimate goal was to create one gigantic ring that connects airways and railways. If this were to happen, Ming and Japan would be able to reap stable and steady economic benefits through land and sea routes. Of course, the owner of a large stake was the empire. In addition, the safety of land routes would be lessened as Japan would take responsibility for the safety of sea routes. In particular, the land route that Ming would take charge of managing was the traditional Silk Road, so the empire would be able to expand its trade targets more easily.

“…..and the name of this plan…”

The title of the plan created by the working-level staff of the Three Kingdoms Union was soon reported to the Emperor of the Empire, the Emperor of Japan, and received approval.

“It’s okay…”

Unlike the monarchs who gave favorable evaluations, Hyang placed his hand on his forehead after receiving the report.

“If anything…”

The name chosen by the working-level officials was ‘One Belt, One Road.’

– Surrounds it with one path, like a belt.

“As others say, these guys also have poor naming skills. Is this what writers make a living out of? As long as I don’t get the results I know, it’ll be fine. Huh~.”

After letting out a long sigh, Hyang looked up at the sky and muttered.

“No matter how good our intentions are, let’s not go as far as the ‘Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.’”

I made a firm decision about what scent I was praying for that wasn’t a prayer and unfolded the paper.

“No, now that I’m thinking about it, it would be better to hit the player in advance.”

Hyang began writing a proposal to submit to Hyeon.

“…..Let’s make the word ‘Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere’ itself a taboo that cannot even be spoken.”

The person who first coined the term ‘Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere’ was an analytical philosopher who opposed militarism. However, contrary to his intentions, it has become a word that clearly symbolizes Japan’s militarism and imperialism.

“….That’s why we’re cutting it out in advance!”

The proposal sent by Hyang was immediately delivered to Hyeon. Hyun, who accepted his brother’s proposal, immediately gathered the prime minister and ministers.

“What do you think?”

“Han Chi-hyeong came forward and answered Hyeon’s question.

“If you think about the explanation, it is a really good word. Just thinking about it, it is difficult for me to agree with what Tae Sang-tae asked me to forbid. However, considering the words attached after that, I think it is reasonable. It’s just that the words have such a beautiful meaning that it’s hard to hide my regretful feelings.”

All the ministers nodded at Han Chi-hyeong’s answer. Hyeon also nodded at the ministers’ reaction.

”

Jim, I think the same way too. However, considering what Tae Sang-taeng added, it makes sense that Tae-sang Sang-tae recommended that it is better to abstain. “Ha~.”

Hyun couldn’t hide his disappointment and sighed. The contents of the proposal submitted by Hyang were summarized as follows:

-Dong-Ah refers to the area east of what Europeans call Asia. It is roughly the land of movement. It means and country.

– Pursuing the common prosperity of countries located in this wide area is truly a good thing.

– But look at the reality. There are countries that are prosperous and others that are not. There are people who believe in Buddhism. There are countries and there are countries that believe in Islam.

-When many people gather together, it is difficult to unite their thoughts and actions. Why is there the saying ’10 people and 10 colors’? -Look at it

even now. Empire and Ming. How much effort did Japan have to put in to work together? Even though it was the gathering of three countries who all equally pursued the ‘kingdom politics’ that the old sages had spoken of –

in the end, the ‘Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere’ was just a name to hide the separation. ). And the first country to say that word will be remembered as a country with two sides.

– In the worst case, it may become a public enemy of the East.

– Therefore, the ‘Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere’. It is reasonable to ban the word itself. Furthermore, it is best to look carefully at the reason for banning this word and refrain from it yourself.

“Haa~” Hyeon,

who sighed in regret, concluded.

“It is unfortunate, but the suggestion made by Tae Sang-hang Let’s accept it. An old sage also said to beware of ‘the color of one’s teachings,’ and one of the sayings passed down to Europeans is, ‘The road to hell is paved with good intentions.’ Therefore, let us ban it.”

“I obey your command.”

In this way, ‘Greater East Asia Management Sphere’ became a banned word and was spread throughout the empire in the newspaper. And soon, a war of words broke out among those who read the content. I started.

– I am well aware of how wise Tae Sang-tae is, but aren’t you worrying too much?

– No. Tae Sang-hang is a person who never makes a mistake or makes a wish. The things he worries about have always turned into big troubles once or twice. Is it right? It’s right to prohibit it!

– That’s right. For these people who are so insensitive to the world, was there anyone who said bad things? Everyone shouted for paradise on earth! But what was the result? It was hell in this world!

Thanks to the experience of living in the world and the achievements accumulated by Hyang, the people responded. The trend was to support the township. Incidentally, the story of the township related to this policy was also spread to Ming and Japan. And soon, the word ‘Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere’ became a taboo in Ming and Japan as well. What the township has done so far and its results are also known. It was Ming and Japan that I knew very well.

“It is best not to do what the state of the empire tells you not to do!”

In addition to this perception, Hyang’s last words were the most powerful reason.

– He uttered the words ‘Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.’ It will be Ja Dong-yi’s achievement!

The so-called ‘curse of incense’ was born. And even after century after century, no one came forward to use this word as a slogan.

It had become a taboo.

* * *

‘Enactment of a taboo’ Even though Gyeongbokgung Palace and Nanjing Yamaguchi were noisy, Hyang was busy.

“Tell this letter to the situation in Shinji immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And find the materials written here and bring them back.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Watching the eunuchs and officials who received Hyang’s orders moving around busily, Hyang lightly pointed his fingers and muttered,

“Let’s see… If we calculate the time when that letter will be delivered and Wani will arrive… roughly the time. I guess I can guess it.”

Hyang, who was calculating a schedule for something, grumbled as he licked his lips.

“Phone. It would have been nice to have at least a full body… ‘Come!’ If this happens, it’ll just end…”

Hyang, who was grumbling about the communication problem that still had a long way to go, unfolded a blank piece of paper and made up his mind.

“This will be my last paving stone for a possible war. After I do this, I’m really going to retire! Politics and everything else, I’m just going to get my hands dirty and be a fan! There are more than one blueprint of Jang Yeong-sil piled up in the warehouse! Da Vinci is getting older, too, so I can’t just keep doing this!”

Without knowing the true nature of this incense, rumors began to spread around Suganggung Palace and Gyeongbokgung Palace.

-Taesangwang began to think about something in earnest.

-I looked at the things he told me to find . It was all related to a big war!

“Then…”

The faces of all the officials who heard the rumor became serious.

“Whenever Tae Sang-hang made a move regarding war, a war broke out!” “

But a big war? A big war?’

“….Then…”

“War, that is, a big war will break out… The place where war is most likely to break out is related to the empire now…”

“Gibraltar?”

“Hmm…”

The officials gathered in small groups put their heads together and thought over and over again.

“For something to happen in Gibraltar, problems have to arise in Europe.”

“No. “Mediterranean Sea.”

“Mediterranean… What could possibly cause trouble in the Mediterranean?”

“Gibraltar alone is weak. It has to be bigger.”

“And Ottoman? It’s Osman!”

“I see. Osman is the most likely.”

“Hold on? If it’s Ottoman, doesn’t Persia also become a problem?”

“Eye~. Persia is just beginning. And are we the only ones going into Persia? Ming and Japan…”

The officials who had been analyzing up to that point froze. The Empire was a great power, but the Ming was also a great power. According to what the Ministry of National Defense studied and considered, the Ming power alone could take on more than half of Europe. It was to the extent of appearing.

And although it was far inferior to the empire, Japan was also a formidable country. And these three countries joined hands to advance into Persia. The rumor that problems were brewing in the Ottomans and Persia meant that there was a problem between Europe and the East. It was a sound that a problem was brewing.

In other words….

“It means the whole world is divided into two and fighting.”

The officials who had analyzed that far looked at Su Ganggung.

“Are you really thinking that far?”

And this is it. A similar conclusion was being drawn between the prime minister and the ministers.

“Do you really think of such a great war?”

“I don’t know. Because you haven’t said anything yet. Isn’t it just a guess?”

“Looking at the data that Tae Sang-tae asked me to find, I’m almost certain that I guessed it.”

“Huh~”

Han Chi-hyeong let out a long sigh and looked back at the Minister of National Defense.

“Just like the story that just came out . What do you think will happen if a war of such an enormous scale breaks out?”

To Han Chi-hyeong’s question, the Minister of National Defense briefly answered,

“Unprecedented.”

“Unprecedented?”

“That’s right. This is unprecedented. War is a monster. War is something that cannot do the simple calculation that if it is twice as big, it eats twice as much.”

In response to the Minister of National Defense’s answer, Han Chi-hyeong and the other officials sighed.

“Whew.”

“What did you expect, Tae Sang-tae? …..”

And as time passed, Wan returned from Sinji. Arriving in Wonsan, Wan went straight to Sugang Palace without any official welcome ceremony. Not long after Wan entered Sugang Palace, Hyeon and Crown Prince Woo also entered Sugang Palace. From then on ,

the eyes and ears of all the officials in Seoul were focused on Sugang Palace.

“The reason I urgently asked you to come here is so that we can discuss this together.”

Hyang opened his mouth like this and distributed hand-made reports one by one.

“If anything ,” he said. I didn’t know if it would be leaked beforehand, so I made it myself.”

At Hyang’s words, Wan and Hyunwoo had the same thought at the same time.

‘Then I guess I can keep it as an heirloom?’

Wan and Hyun, who checked the cover of the report while avoiding random thoughts that suddenly came to mind, simultaneously expressed their doubts:

“Total national war?”