Chapter 638

Episode 638 Wild Wild North (4)

One day after the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Hyang, who was sitting alone in the bedchamber of Gangnyeongjeon, thought hard, tapping his fingers on the table.

“Hmm... Seongsammun can tie up Jinpyeong to some extent, but I’m still uneasy.”

Even after Seongsammun was hung up on Jinpyeong, the feeling of uneasiness did not go away.

“No... Jinpyeong is not the only problem. In some ways, the northern region itself is perfect for doing business.”

Hyang concluded with a long sigh.

“Whoa~. “It’s a joke.”

* * *

As Hyang said, Bukji was Gyereuk.

Although it was not a very good environment for farming, the potential of that vast plain was considerable.

It seemed possible to become self-sufficient if one cultivated sorghum, the new sorghum that is currently being developed, corn, or existing sorghum or beans.

There was ample market potential for livestock farming, raising horses and sheep using the wide plains.

But the most unmissable thing was the mines located in the north.

Immediately, enormous amounts of iron and copper coal were being produced from the mines of Fushun, next to Liaodong Province. They were almost like open-pit mines, not ones that had to be dug deep into the ground like the mines in Gangwon-do or Hamgil-do.

What Hyang was struggling with was the rebellious nature of the residents of the northern region.

Not only the remaining Ming people and Hanzhou Jurchen people, but also most of the Yain Jurchen people and a significant number of Jurchen people were rebellious.

If there was someone who could unite the Jurchen people who were skilled at horseback riding, it could be quite a headache.

For now, it would have been enough to suppress it with the force of the imperial cavalry, but in the long run, it would have done more harm than good.

Continuing military spending was an immediate problem, and the military concentrated excessively in the northern region could turn into another political force.

“The best example is the Kwantung Army. No, it would be the entire Japanese army. The Japanese army did not listen to the cabinet... The Kwantung Army was made up of bastards who did not listen to the advice of the head commander in charge of the Japanese army...”

In order to solve this problem, the best way to assimilate it into the empire was to pursue a large-scale civil society policy.

“After a long time, I remember the words of Master Samcheonpo...”

-Why would King Gwanggaeto strike the north once and then the south once? We didn’t need land, we needed people! The humans here in Manchuria were so rough that it was done to make them docile! It was because I needed people who could communicate well to some extent even though there were a lot of dialects mixed in!

However, there was something the fragrance was concerned about in this area.

-There are no people in the empire!

This year, the mainland’s population finally surpassed 13 million. However, the number of minors still exceeded 40%.

Considering the manpower that would be input into the growing commerce and industry and the number of people who would immigrate to the new region, it was very difficult to promote full-scale civilian population in the northern region.

“Compared to Shinji right now, telling me to go to the North is similar to telling me to starve to death... Oh, isn’t it? “Why did Thanksgiving come about?”

Of course, the current situation could be seen as completely different from that of the English Puritans who boarded the Mayflower.

According to what is known, none of the Puritans who sailed to America on the Mayflower at the time were engaged in farming or fishing.

However, the civil policy that the empire would now implement was aimed at those who make a living from agriculture and fishing. There would be full support from the state.

Once agriculture and fishing took root and the industry symbolized by Area 52 laid the foundation, the next step was commerce.

The plan was to operate commerce starting with a monopoly, and to foster commerce in earnest once the railroad connecting the bridgehead and the Great Lakes (Great Lakes) was completed.

Hyang continued his thoughts.

“You can use the obedient people among the Japanese and remaining Ming Dynasty people from Tsushima Island who were pushed into Hamgil Island, but these people are the ones who built and sustained Chinatown and Japantown... Of course, if you pay what you are told and do well, there is no problem. The problem is that there are very few people who have good feelings about the empire. “The creation of an ‘anti-imperial coalition’ is unfortunate.”

Hyang, who had analyzed up to this point, sighed once again.

“The ‘military police rule’ and ‘cultural rule’ that the Japanese Empire implemented on the Korean Peninsula may be the easiest methods, but this is absolutely unacceptable psychologically...”

Hyang, who had been thinking that far, burst into laughter.

“Heh! In the end, it all goes back and forth and says, ‘Long live capitalism’... Monopoly stores become a panacea.”

Five days later, a meeting of Naegeumwi chiefs and executives was held again at Milwi’s safe house.

In this position were the commanders of the nationwide milwi (in other words, the heads of the nationwide swordsmen belonging to the milwi) and their staff.

Those who led the meeting were the staff.

“There is something we need to know in advance before carrying out the orders given by His Majesty.”

“Something?”

One of the staff members answered Naegeumwiwi’s question.

“Are the officials dispatched to the North the only ones we need to monitor? Or does it also include influential figures in the North? “You have to know that before you can move on.”

“To add, there is also the issue of funding. “A stoma is not something that can be opened by spending a penny or two.”

“Hmm....”

When Naegeumwijang looked embarrassed and was unable to speak at the advice of the aides, the aides’ expressions also became embarrassed.

‘I knew it!’

‘Do you know that you can just tell them to make it?’

While everyone attending the meeting was looking embarrassed, Hyang’s voice was heard from behind the folding screen at the back of the conference room.

“Let me tell you that part.”

When the incense appeared along with the words, everyone from the Militia Committee gathered in the conference room bowed in unison and shouted.

“Jaeumwiguk (在陰衛國)!”

“It’s a lot of hard work. “The empire is safe because of your hard work behind the scenes, and I will not forget that contribution.”

“Gwangyeong (光榮) is coming!”

‘The scholar said that he would sacrifice his life for those who recognize him! Even though we come from the violent world of swords, we risk our lives because His Majesty knows!’

‘Even if I tell you to go to the north and die, you will die!’

They were the people of Milwi who were even more loyal under the rule of Hyang.

* * *

With Hyang attending, the atmosphere in the conference room became more serious.

“I pointed out the funding issue earlier, but the funds will be paid separately from the imperial family. And the targets of surveillance will be priority officials and military commanders who will be dispatched to the north, as well as indigenous people who will come into contact with them. In addition, when a comprehensive entertainment center is opened, the reaction of indigenous residents will need to be monitored. “The officials of the Entertainment Office will also look at the public sentiment, but shouldn’t the people be careful about what they say in front of people in official uniform?”

At Hyang’s words, the executives and staff of the Milwi nodded their heads.

It was customary for even those who had melted into the exciting atmosphere of the entertainment venue and completely relaxed from the alcohol they had consumed to be cautious about what they said when they saw officials in official uniform and police officers from the provincial government.

However, there was nothing like that in front of the secretaries who came to protect the courtesans who appeared in the performance, and the secretaries collected everything and reported it to track public sentiment.

After hearing Hyang’s answer, one of the staff members stood up and spoke.

“Is it better for the courtesans to be supplied locally?”

“What method would be better?”

The staff member, who thought for a moment about Hyang’s rebuttal, soon expressed his opinion.

“I think we shouldn’t accept local women as courtesans for at least 10 years. No, if you don’t have a certain level of talent, you shouldn’t receive it at all.”

Hyang’s eyes sparkled with curiosity at the staff member’s remarks.

“The reason is?”

“It’s because of foot binding. Since ancient times, the Chinese have had the custom of binding women’s feet, which means they cannot dance even if they are taught to dance. No matter what anyone says, the basics of courtesans are singing and dancing. If you are not good at singing and dancing, you will become nothing more than a prostitute who only engages in prostitution. Then the higher-ups will not be looking for you.”

“I see...”

Hyang nodded at the staff member’s remarks.

The I-pae and Sam-pae gisaengs, excluding the Il-pae gisaeng, who were the highest-class gisaeng and danced and sang only in front of the king, also engaged in prostitution, albeit unofficially. But for them, dancing and singing were also the basics. No, even nondani who wandered around and sold themselves had to have the ability to sing a song.

The staff member’s voice gained strength after seeing the positive response from the scent.

“After Sang Sang raised the status of courtesans and entertainers to yangin, the people’s perception of them has improved a lot. However, if the gisaeng in the North are treated like prostitutes, then the gisaengs and entertainers in other regions will soon be treated the same way.”