Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 285

“Minister, good morning to you!”

Early in the morning, a young official greeted the Imperial Guard Commander as he was heading towards the Imperial Guard Garrison. The Imperial Guard Commander replied with a bright face.

“A fine morning it is! Have a good day!”

“Thank you, Minister!”

After exchanging greetings with the Imperial Guard Commander, the young official suddenly stopped walking and turned his head to look at the Imperial Guard Commander.

“Did he dream of being granted resignation last night? His face is so bright…”

The young official, who had been tilting his head, stopped his thoughts there.

“Is that the problem now? If I’m not careful, I might have to work overtime again today!”

The Imperial Guard Commander’s steps towards the Imperial Guard Garrison were lighter than ever before. It wasn’t just his footsteps that were light. A smile never left his face.

“Five days from now, you will determine the leader of the newly formed organization. Until then, everyone should prepare thoroughly!”

That was King Sejong’s order to the Secret Police Unit Heads of the Geomgye yesterday. Although the Secret Police Unit Heads had long faces, once a clear decision was made, they burned with fighting spirit.

“We will prepare thoroughly!”

After the meeting with the Secret Police Unit Heads ended and while returning to the palace, King Sejong asked the Imperial Guard Commander.

“Imperial Guard Commander, you’re confident, right?”

“I will surely fulfill Your Majesty’s command!”

“A duel with the Geomgye… It’s been a while since my blood has boiled.”

Hot energy surged from the body of the Imperial Guard Commander as he headed towards the Imperial Guard Garrison.

The Imperial Guard Commander was overjoyed by King Sejong’s order.

***

The time when he first set foot in the world was during the transition period between Goryeo and Joseon.

With dreams of success, the Imperial Guard Commander threw himself into the storm of the turbulent times.

Starting as a mere nameless warrior, he faced numerous life-and-death crises and gradually rose higher and higher.

Finally, with the founding of Joseon and King Taejong taking the throne, he earned the title of ‘Joseon’s Best Swordsman.’ And when the previous Imperial Guard Commander, Kang Sang-in, disappeared into the dew of the execution ground through ‘Kang Sang-in’s Prison,’ he became the Imperial Guard Commander.

However, as Joseon stabilized, he had to spend his days in boredom. For him, who had been accustomed to risking his life in duels to the death since his youth, peaceful daily life brought him a sense of deadly boredom.

The only times he felt alive while suffering from boredom were when the Jurchen or Japanese pirates invaded. Each time, he would leave the palace, rush to the front lines, and engage in battles, feeling that he was truly alive.

Afterward, he submitted requests several times to be sent as a general to the front lines, but both the Retired King Taejong and King Sejong did not accept his requests.

“Only you can protect the King!”

In the end, the Imperial Guard Commander was withering away day by day in the shadows of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

***

“Minister! You’re here!”

“Welcome, sir!”

“Indeed!”

Responding energetically to the greetings of the Imperial Guard soldiers, the Imperial Guard Commander entered his room.

Examining the swords placed on a rack built into one wall, the Imperial Guard Commander fixed his gaze on two swords.

“Is my life blooming again after meeting His Highness the Crown Prince?”

The Imperial Guard Commander smiled even more deeply as he recalled Hyang’s face.

When they first met, Hyang seemed like just a slightly intelligent child, but as time passed, he began to occupy a larger place in the Imperial Guard Commander’s heart.

***

The relationship between the Imperial Guard Commander and Hyang deepened because of the spear and sword soldiers.

“Your Highness, did you call for me?”

“Yes. When I searched for someone renowned in swordsmanship, everyone pointed to the Imperial Guard Commander. They said you are ‘Joseon’s Best Swordsman’?”

“I have also been called by that empty title.”

“Please take a look at this book.”

“Pardon?”

Hastily receiving the book Hyang handed to him, the Imperial Guard Commander examined the cover. Unlike the books he had seen before, the cover of the book, which was bound in the opposite direction, had characters he had never seen before.

After turning the cover and examining the contents inside, the Imperial Guard Commander turned to Hyang.

“Is it a swordsmanship manual?”

“Yes. It’s the swordsmanship used by Westerners. I haven’t reported it to His Majesty yet, but Area 51 is developing a new type of armor. The armor resembles the one worn by the Westerners in that swordsmanship manual, so I thought it would be good to use their greatswords and techniques.”

“May I see the armor?”

And so, after trying on the armor under development and re-examining the swordsmanship manual, the Imperial Guard Commander responded to Hyang.

“It seems possible.”

After that, the Imperial Guard Commander and Hyang put their heads together and developed a greatsword technique for the spear and sword soldiers.

During this process, the Imperial Guard Commander made an assessment of Hyang.

“The subordinates say your military talent is outstanding, and indeed it is. It’s a pity that your archery skills are a bit lacking though…”

The Imperial Guard Commander, who couldn’t hide his disappointment as he recalled the memory of Yi Seong-gye, who was called the ‘Divine Archer,’ had to revise his assessment after seeing Hyang shoot the Jangchongtong and the Masangchongtong.

“They say you can’t steal skills…”

***

Having established such a connection, Hyang sometimes gave the Imperial Guard Commander headaches, but he became a truly precious existence to him.

Although Hyang made him break out in a cold sweat by causing trouble to have a private meeting with the Secret Police Unit Heads of the Geomgye, it was Hyang who took the lead more than anyone else in suppressing the rebels during the palace intrusion in the Giyu year.

As he became involved with Hyang, the Imperial Guard Commander gradually regained his vitality.

***

The collaboration between the Imperial Guard Commander and Hyang took place again after that.

The opportunity for the collaboration arose because of the Geomgye.

After the palace intrusion in the Giyu year was suppressed, Hyang asked the Imperial Guard Commander.

“What kind of sword is the Iris Sword^[1] used by the Geomgye?”

“Why are you suddenly asking about the Iris Sword?”

“The Geomgye made a significant contribution in suppressing this palace intrusion, so I personally want to make a few swords to reward them. When I asked the artisans in Area 51, they said they had never made swords of such low class.”

The Imperial Guard Commander corrected the fact at Hyang’s words.

“It’s not that the class of the sword is low, but the class of the user is low. It’s because the Geomgye uses it. Hmm… But since Your Highness wishes for it, I will procure them for you.”

“Don’t go through the trouble. Let’s meet the users directly.”

“Pardon?”

At Hyang’s words, the Imperial Guard Commander grumbled inwardly.

‘What trouble are you trying to cause again?’

In the end, under the condition that ‘the Imperial Guard Commander will personally escort,’ Hyang met with the Geomgye again.

“Is this the Iris Sword?”

“Yes, it is.”

Hyang, who received the Iris Sword from the Secret Police Unit Heads of the Bukchon Geomgye, drew the sword and muttered with a chuckle.

“They say people’s thoughts are all the same…”

“Pardon?”

“Your Highness, what do you mean?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Hyang, who had muttered some incomprehensible words, engaged in various conversations with the Secret Police Unit Heads.

“So, you mainly use thrusting techniques, you say?”

“That’s right. The alleys of Hanseong are too narrow to swing a sword.”

“As expected…”

“Pardon?”

“Just talking to myself.”

And so, what Hyang made and gave to the Geomgye was a modified rapier—with a foldable guard. And on the blade, the four characters ‘在陰衛國 (Existing in the Shadows to Protect the Nation)’ were engraved.

***

Seeing the rapier Hyang had made, the Imperial Guard Commander requested Hyang to make a rapier exclusively for the Imperial Guard.

“You want the Imperial Guard to use the Iris Sword? Why?”

“The palace is a place filled with narrow and complex passageways, just like the alleys of Hanseong. It’s quite awkward to swing a long sword in such places.”

“But it’s difficult to deal with armor using the Iris Sword.”

“As you saw in the recent palace intrusion, plate armor or brigandine are not easy to obtain. At best, it would be chain mail or padded armor. Chain mail or padded armor can be handled sufficiently with the Iris Sword. And most importantly, the main armament of the Imperial Guard is the Masangchongtong. The sword is likely to be used for finishing blows.”

“I see. I understand.”

And so, Hyang began supplying properly made rapiers to the Imperial Guard.

***

Looking at the two rapiers he had received from Hyang through such a process, the Imperial Guard Commander drew one and attached it to his waist before going outside.

“All members, assemble!”

At the Imperial Guard Commander’s order, the Imperial Guard soldiers who were training quickly gathered.

Examining the lined-up Imperial Guard soldiers and officers, the Imperial Guard Commander spoke.

“Top 50 in swordsmanship, step forward.”

At the Imperial Guard Commander’s order, 50 Imperial Guard soldiers and officers stepped forward. Seeing them, the Imperial Guard Commander immediately stated his purpose.

“For the next three days, I want you to spar with me.”

“Hiccup!”

“Eek!”

At the Imperial Guard Commander’s words, the faces of the 50 turned pale.

***

Five days later, at a safe house of the Dadong Geomgye located somewhere in Hanseong.

Thanks to the flames lit in various parts of the courtyard, the courtyard was brightly illuminated.

King Sejong and Hyang were sitting in the main hall of the inner quarters.

Selected Imperial Guard members were standing guard around the two, and on the opposite side, the Secret Police Unit Heads and members of the three major Geomgye in Hanseong were seated.

“Well then, let’s begin.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

And so, the duel to determine the leader of the newly formed secret organization began.

The winner of the duel, which lasted for about 1 shichen (2 hours), was none other than the Imperial Guard Commander.

25:0

That was the result of the duel that took place over 1 shichen.

In an attempt to chip away at the Imperial Guard Commander’s strength even slightly, the Geomgye engaged in a war of attrition, but anyone who stepped forward had to taste bitter defeat at the hands of the Imperial Guard Commander.

“The result is clear. Any objections?”

At King Sejong’s question, none of the Secret Police Unit Heads or members raised any objections.

“No, Your Majesty.”

“It’s rather an honor to have crossed swords with Joseon’s Best Swordsman.”

“It was a swordsmanship I’ve never seen before in my life. Indeed, he is Joseon’s Best Swordsman.”

At the mention of ‘a swordsmanship I’ve never seen before,’ the Imperial Guard Commander looked at Hyang with a smile, and Hyang also responded with a smile.

‘The hobby I started for business purposes has paid off.’

***

In the 21st century, Hyang did not open a blacksmith shop simply as a hobby.

He had chosen it as his livelihood, so Hyang diligently ran his business.

“The competition for Joseon swords or Japanese swords is too fierce. In that case, it should be… Western swords. Direct purchase is expensive, but it’s also complicated to go through customs.”

Having reached that conclusion, Hyang targeted clubs that studied Western swordsmanship for his business.

In the process, it was a bonus that his hobby expanded to include Western swords and Western swordsmanship.

And that hobby paid off handsomely when he collaborated with the Imperial Guard Commander to develop swordsmanship.

***

With the leader determined, King Sejong moved on to the next step.

Taking out a piece of paper from his bosom, King Sejong handed it to the Imperial Guard Commander.

“This is the name of the newly formed organization.”

The Imperial Guard Commander unfolded the paper and examined the contents.

Only two characters were written on the paper.

-Milwi (密衛, Secret Guard)

“As the name suggests, I hope you will protect the king and the nation while remaining hidden.”

At King Sejong’s request, the Secret Police Unit Heads and members of the Geomgye quietly bowed their heads.

“Yes!”

***

With the name of the organization determined and the leader chosen, the movements of the Geomgye became active again.

“The first step is to recruit people. Should we absorb other Geomgye?”

At the Imperial Guard Commander’s question, the Secret Police Unit Head of Bukchon immediately answered.

“That would be the fastest way. I was already checking the rumors around Jemulpo, and I heard that the Geomgye there is gradually expanding in size. It’s best to take action early before they grow any larger.”

“Of course, we should also send our guys to find and bring in capable individuals.”

Nodding at the Secret Police Unit Heads’s answers, the Imperial Guard Commander spoke.

“Then let’s utilize both methods. However, I have a request. Make sure to fill the ranks with people who have no issues with their character. Aren’t we now His Majesty’s secret royal guard?”

Suddenly, the safe house fell silent.

The Secret Police Unit Heads and the members all closed their mouths and looked at the Imperial Guard Commander.

“What? Did I say something wrong?”

At the Imperial Guard Commander’s question, the Secret Police Unit Heads of Dadong answered with a dumbfounded expression.

“Minister, as you know, we are the Geomgye. The ones who will join us in the future are also Geomgye. Do you think there are any guys in the Geomgye who don’t have issues with their character?”

At the Secret Police Unit Heads of Dadong’s answer, the Imperial Guard Commander put his hand on his forehead.

After pondering for a moment, the Imperial Guard Commander spoke.

“Let’s make a correction. Choose and fill the ranks with guys who can be reformed.”

1. Changpogum, also known as the “Iris Sword,” is a type of Korean sword named after the iris flower (changpo). It is characterized by its slender, single-edged blade and often features a decoration resembling an iris flower on the sword’s guard or handle. The term literally means “iris sword.”[↩]